Chapter 137: The Situation of Yuan's Army

Right now, Liu Xie finally understood where his so-called unease was coming from.

It stemmed entirely from his thorough familiarity with this world.

Precisely because he knew this world all too well, this sense of unease had arisen.

For a long time, he had regarded the people of this world merely as chess pieces.

After all, his understanding of this world was profound.

He was well-versed in the history of the Three Kingdoms, knowing every single person and every event like the back of his hand.

Even when he initially escaped from the imperial palace in Xuchang, he had not felt the slightest sense of danger.

To give the simplest example, when he used to carry out missions back in the twenty-first century, he was always extremely cautious because he knew that countless dangers lurked within them.

A single misstep would cost him his life.

Yet now, having time-traveled into this world, he had treated it as if it were a game.

He knew all the rules of the game, allowing him to act with unbridled recklessness.

Little did he realize that as he stepped into this world, the world itself was quietly undergoing subtle changes.

At the very least, the people in this world were creatures of flesh, blood, and intellect.

They were people fully capable of putting him to death.

Take the Battle of Guandu, for instance. Liu Xie knew every detail of how it unfolded.

However, the people of this world would not strictly adhere to the sequence of history.

After all, this world now contained him.

With Liu Xie’s arrival, the people and events of this world were shifting in subtle ways.

Similarly, with his active participation, the progression and events of the Battle of Guandu were undergoing subtle alterations.

This time, Liu Xie leading the Shadow Wolf Guard had dealt a severe blow to Cao Cao.

Under such circumstances, Cao Cao would undoubtedly find a way to retaliate against him.

At this moment, Cao Cao had brilliant strategists and talented individuals by his side.

These gifted individuals possessed the capability to drive Liu Xie to his grave.

He believed that those tacticians had already discerned that the appearance of the Shadow Wolf Guard was intended to balance the battlefield.

If that was the case, the opposition could completely exploit this point.

They could intentionally manufacture the illusion of an unbalanced war situation and then wait for him to walk right into the trap.

At this thought, Liu Xie’s mind instantly cleared up considerably.

Simultaneously, a trace of pressure washed over him.

Now, he began to gradually realize that this world was not a game.

Instead, it was a perilous realm fraught with numerous crises.

At this moment, Zhao Yun and Gao Shun slowly walked up from behind.

"Your Majesty, you have been sitting here for several days. Is something weighing on your mind?"

"Can we, your subjects, share Your Majesty's worries?" Gao Shun asked softly.

Liu Xie turned around with a smile and looked at the two of them. Having figured out many things, his mood had also grown much lighter.

"It is nothing. I have no more worries on my mind. Now, it is time for us to set out."

"Go, whip the army into shape. We, too, are heading to Guandu."

With that, Liu Xie descended the mountain, leading his grand army toward the camp of Cao Cao's forces at Guandu.

However, for the next few days, Liu Xie consistently led his army on the march only under cover of night.

Moreover, they exclusively traveled through uninhabited regions.

In this way, no one would discover them, achieving absolute secrecy.

To this day, Cao Cao remained entirely oblivious to their existence.

Naturally, Yuan Shao's side was likewise completely in the dark regarding this troop.

Speaking of Yuan Shao:

Following their return, Wen Chou and Yan Liang were presently reporting the recent events in meticulous detail.

"The Shadow Wolf Guard?"

"You are saying that these Shadow Wolf Guard are the subordinates of Liu Xie from Jingzhou, and that they have also arrived here this time?"

Upon receiving the report from Yan Liang and Wen Chou, Yuan Shao wore an expression of utter perplexity.

"Indeed, My Lord. We heard from our subordinates that this Shadow Wolf Guard is a troop personally trained by His Majesty himself."

"They are also His Majesty's personal vanguard."

"Once, relying on a mere eighteen men, they rescued Zhang Xiu, Jia Xu, and others right out of Xuchang."

"It was also those same eighteen men who, amidst the heavy encirclement of Cao Cao's army in Xuzhou, rescued Lü Bu and all his subordinates."

Yan Liang recounted everything that the soldiers had reported earlier.

Hearing the conclusion, Yuan Shao's expression turned grave in the extreme.

"They have come here as well? What on earth are they trying to do?" Yuan Shao muttered, bewildered.

At that moment, his strategist, Xu You, stepped forward.

"My Lord, in this humble subordinate's view, their arrival here is most likely to balance the battlefield."

Hearing this, Yuan Shao could not help but raise an eyebrow, asking in confusion,

" Oh? Balance the battlefield? What is that supposed to mean?"

Xu You nodded solemnly and continued, "Yes, My Lord. Liu Xie is also well aware of this."

"Regardless of whether we or Cao Cao emerge victorious after the Battle of Guandu, it will ultimately bring no benefit to them."

"Whichever of us wins this victory will inevitably march south afterward to trouble them."

"Their presence here now is precisely to drag out the conflict so that both of us will suffer mutual exhaustion."

"As long as the strength of both our sides is drastically depleted, that will present the ultimate opportunity for them."

Xu You proved himself to be a renowned scholar of the age, laying bare the profound mechanism behind the situation in a single sentence.

Yuan Shao gradually fell silent, pondering what their next course of action should be.

"Then, Xu You, what do you think our next step ought to be?"

"Should our war with Cao Cao continue, or...?" Yuan Shao asked the strategist below him.

Xu You bowed deeply. "My Lord, the bow is already drawn and the arrow shot between us and Cao Cao; there is no turning back."

"Stopping now is already an impossibility."

"However, regarding the matter of the Shadow Wolf Guard, this subordinate believes we need not be overly anxious."

"For I sense that this Shadow Wolf Guard harbors no apparent malice toward us."

"After all, regardless of everything else, if not for their intervention this time, Generals Yan Liang and Wen Chou might have met their doom."

"Therefore, viewed from this perspective, the stance of the Shadow Wolf Guard leans somewhat in our favor."

Truth be told, they were not entirely clear on why the Shadow Wolf Guard would favor their side.

Could it be that the Shadow Wolf Guard felt they held an unfavorable position in this war?

Yet, from their own perspective, they believed they possessed an overwhelming advantage in this conflict.

First was their manpower, which was several times greater than Cao Cao's.

Furthermore, the battleground was located on their home turf.

It could truly be said that they held every advantage in timing, geographical position, and human harmony.

They refused to believe they suffered from any disadvantage in this war.

Be that as it may, the Shadow Wolf Guard's attitude toward them seemed rather favorable.

"Very well. Since that is the case, we shall advance as well."

"Yan Liang, Wen Chou, the two of you shall serve as the vanguard generals and lead the army forward."

"I will bring up the rear to anchor your flanks."

Yuan Shao's robust voice resounded. Following this, he began assigning generals and arranging his forces, preparing to launch a fierce and decisive battle against Cao Cao.