Xun You fell silent after hearing Zhang Xin's plan.
The logic was cold—but airtight.
If Zhang Xin truly intended to side with Dong Zhuo, he wouldn't still be standing here, risking everything. And Yuan Shao… Yuan Shao held the knife to his throat in the form of grain.
Once the truth was laid bare, the world would judge for itself.
And the world… would not believe Yuan Shao.
After a long moment, Xun You exhaled slowly.
"Since that is the case… how does my lord intend to proceed?"
Zhang Xin's gaze shifted.
"Zhang Liao."
"This general is here."
Zhang Xin studied him for a moment, then asked flatly, "Your rear army—one hundred thousand. Can you crush Yuan Shao's thirty thousand in Huai County?"
Zhang Liao didn't hesitate.
"Their men feast and drink while neglecting discipline," he said with a sharp grin. "Thirty thousand? Even fifty thousand—I will break them."
"Good."
Zhang Xin nodded.
But Xun You's brow furrowed.
"My lord… if Zhang Liao strikes Yuan Shao, does that mean… you intend to face both Yuan Shao and Dong Zhuo at once?"
Zhang Xin didn't deny it.
"Yes."
The word fell like a blade.
Xun You's expression tightened.
"Then our position is far worse than it appears. Of our forces, ten thousand are with Zhang Liao, three thousand guard the granary under Zhao Yun… that leaves barely twelve thousand."
"Twelve thousand," he repeated, voice heavy, "to hold the camp, watch Wang Kuang… and attack Dong Zhuo?"
He looked up sharply.
"My lord, this is not enough."
Zhang Xin tilted his head slightly.
"Why would we need to guard against Wang Kuang?"
Xun You paused.
Zhang Xin continued, his voice quieter now.
"Dong Zhuo went to great lengths—sending his granddaughter, spreading rumors… do you really think this was merely to create discord?"
Xun You's eyes narrowed.
At first, he answered instinctively.
"To divide us… and let the alliance collapse."
Zhang Xin smiled faintly.
"Is that all?"
The question lingered.
Then—understanding struck like lightning.
Xun You's expression changed.
"…He wants to cross the river."
"And crush the allied army in one stroke," he finished, voice low.
"To establish absolute dominance."
Zhang Xin nodded.
Finally.
He pointed at the map—Mengjin.
"If I withdraw Xu He's vanguard… and Zhang Liao moves against Yuan Shao, what do you think Dong Zhuo will do?"
"He'll seize the moment," Xun You replied immediately. "He won't hesitate."
"Exactly."
Zhang Xin's finger slid across the map.
"If I were him, I would send a force to cross at Mengjin as a feint…"
His finger tapped again—Xiaoping Ford.
"…and send the real army across here. Strike Wang Kuang from the rear. Break him in one blow."
Xun You's breathing slowed.
The pattern was becoming clear.
"And then," he said carefully, "my lord will cross from Xiaoping Ford as well… and strike Dong Zhuo's main camp."
Zhang Xin's smile deepened.
"Not just that."
His voice dropped.
"When Dong Zhuo's army finishes crushing Wang Kuang… they'll be exhausted. Disordered. Overconfident."
"And at that moment…"
His eyes gleamed with something dark.
"I will send in the cavalry."
Silence.
A long, suffocating silence.
Xun You stared at him, disbelief creeping into his expression.
"My lord… you intend to defeat all three… in a single battle?"
Zhang Xin didn't answer directly.
Instead, he asked:
"Can it be done?"
Xun You lowered his gaze to the map.
His mind raced—calculations, possibilities, risks stacking upon risks.
Any single misstep would mean annihilation.
But if it worked…
After a long time, he spoke.
"…It can."
"Then we do it."
The decision was made.
No hesitation.
No retreat.
"Zhang Liao," Zhang Xin ordered, "return to the rear army. Maintain appearances—drills, noise, activity—but conserve strength. No unnecessary movement."
"Xu He, return to the vanguard. Stabilize morale. Await my signal."
Both men stepped forward, eyes burning.
"Yes, my lord!"
They left quickly—almost eagerly.
War was coming.
Zhang Xin turned back to Xun You.
"Refine the details with me."
Xun You nodded, though unease lingered in his chest.
What reassured him… was also what terrified him.
Zhang Xin was too capable.
Too decisive.
Too willing to gamble everything.
If the lord is this strong… what is left for the strategist to do?
The thought lingered, unanswered.
That night, orders spread like shadows.
Jishu was summoned.
Under the cover of darkness, the Wuhuan cavalry began to move—small groups, night after night, vanishing into the Taihang Mountains near Zhi County.
Two thousand five hundred riders.
Silent.
Hidden.
Waiting.
A blade concealed in the dark.
At the same time, a letter was sent to Sun Jian in Yingchuan.
A simple message.
Attack Guangcheng Pass.
Draw Dong Zhuo's attention.
It's time to move.
More letters followed—this time to Yuan Shao and the other lords.
Demands for grain.
Accusations laid bare.
Let the world see who was truly breaking the alliance.
Far away, Dong Zhuo laughed when he heard the reports.
"Wenhe's plan is nearly complete!"
He left Luoyang without delay, heading straight for the Mengjin front.
Victory… was within reach.
Or so he believed.
Days passed.
The tension thickened.
Yuan Shao replied—cold, dismissive.
Cross the river and attack Dong Zhuo. Prove your innocence.
Zhang Xin countered, exposing his winter campaign plan, arguing relentlessly.
The other lords hesitated.
None dared commit.
Yuan Shao, however, did not yield.
The grain remained cut off.
So Zhang Xin struck back.
Accusations of collusion.
Claims that Yuan Shao sought to join hands with Dong Zhuo to destroy him.
Yuan Shao denied it.
Zhang Xin declared he didn't believe him.
Then—
he withdrew Xu He's forces.
A defensive posture.
An opening.
On the north bank of Mengjin, only Wang Kuang's twenty thousand remained.
Exposed.
Vulnerable.
Dong Zhuo could no longer contain himself.
"The time has come! We march today!"
But Jia Xu stepped forward.
"Chancellor… wait."
Dong Zhuo frowned.
"Wait for what?"
Jia Xu's eyes were calm—too calm.
"Zhang Xin is not a man to be underestimated. This may be a counter-scheme."
"If Yuan Shao's actions are false, the illusion will soon collapse. If they are real… we lose nothing by waiting a few more days."
Reluctantly, Dong Zhuo held back.
Patience… over impulse.
Meanwhile, Zhang Xin escalated the pressure.
Three days of grain left.
If my soldiers mutiny and march on you… I will not stop them.
Yuan Shao's reply was unchanged.
Attack Dong Zhuo first.
Elsewhere, Cao Cao cursed under his breath.
"Yuan Shao… a fool!"
He abandoned recruitment efforts entirely, gathering what little force he had and marching north.
If this continued, the alliance would destroy itself before Dong Zhuo ever needed to act.
At last, the preparations were complete.
That night, Zhang Xin summoned his generals.
The air inside the tent was heavy.
Final.
"Zhang Liao."
"This general is here."
Zhang Xin handed him a command arrow.
"Lead the rear army. Strike Yuan Shao's main camp at Huai County."
"Cook at the third watch. March at dawn. Raise banners—make it seem like two hundred thousand strong."
"Confuse Dong Zhuo."
"Do not fail."
Zhang Liao accepted the order, eyes blazing.
"Yes, my lord!"
"Yu Jin."
"This general is here."
"Move under cover of night. Hide near Zhi County. Once Dong Zhuo's army crosses the river… seize the pontoon bridge."
No bridge meant no retreat.
No retreat meant slaughter.
Yu Jin understood.
He took the arrow.
"Yes, my lord."
Orders were sent to Jishu.
The cavalry would cross after Dong Zhuo committed—cutting open the battlefield for the infantry.
Everything was set.
Everything balanced on a knife's edge.
Then—
Zhang Xin did something unexpected.
He removed his sword… and handed it to Xun You.
"If I do not return," he said calmly, "all forces will obey the Military Advisor."
His gaze swept across the tent.
"Any who disobey…"
His voice turned cold.
"Execute them."
The generals stiffened.
"Yes, my lord!"
Zhang Xin turned away.
No more words.
No more hesitation.
"The time has come."
His voice echoed like a death knell.
"Raise the army."