Battle Royale of the Sinners

At noon.

A messenger from Yuan Shao forces arrived at Anping and requested an audience with Tong.

Though Tong was still exhausted from the morning activities with Friday, he attended the meeting.

The messenger this time was Shen Pei, one of Yuan Shao's strategists.

"Young master Zhang, we wish to apologize for the misunderstanding and the recent incidents. I've brought a tribute with me. I hope that you can forget our past and be good friends."

Shen Pei did not come here with empty hands. He brought several boxes of gold nuggets, colorful silk clothes, and a hundred of young female slaves.

Tong flinched by the sight of the crowd of slaves. Had Tong not entangled with Hua Shi and Friday beforehand, he would have been swayed by the harem of the girls.

"Please give Lord Yuan Shao my thank. I also hope for the restoration of our friendship as well."

As Jia Xu had advised, Tong agreed to form a truce and restore their trade routes between their cities. While Tong and Shen Pei drafted treaties and contracts, the soldiers in Anping already heard the news and cheered.

They did not have to fight anymore.

Lu Bu also heard the news.

"Tsk!"

Unlike Tong, Lu Bu's mentality was not mature enough to understand the complicated world of politics. He could not compromise with Yuan Shao who killed many of his soldiers.

Unfortunately, all of his hand-raised soldiers were stolen by Tong. It was as if his children were calling someone else as their father.

"It's getting harder to work under that brat. I'm going home."

Lu Bu packed his belongings and left Anping County alone. His eyes gazed into a distance in loneliness.

...

April 4th.

Shen Pei departed from Anping with a smile. With the successful negotiation and the contract treaties, he would obtain a reward from Yuan Shao.

Tong sent him off with his politic smile. As soon as he turned around, his smiling face disappeared.

Friday, who was beside Tong, smirked as she knew what Tong was feeling.

"Lu Bu left this camp without our permission two days ago. Do you want me to kill him?"

Tong shook his head, "No. Killing him now will piss off Zhang Liao and the others. It's best to leave him alone for the time being."

"If he were to rebel?"

"Obviously, we'll kill him," Tong answered with a deep frown.

...

...

April 11th, 183 A.D.

Nanpi City.

Shen Pei returned and informed Yuan Shao with the good news.

Inside the government hall, Yuan Shao, Tian Feng, Liu Yan, and Yan Yan were there.

Yuan Shao Army managed to return to Nanpi before Liu Yan decided to betray them. Thus, they wore their façade and pretended to be on a friendly term as usual.

The negotiation and the agreement between Liu Yan and Yuan Shao had ended. They were waiting for the diplomat result from Anping.

Shen Pei passed the signed treaties to his Lord, which Yuan Shao read it without missing a word.

"Good work, Shen Pei! I'll reward you a thousand gold for completing this job."

"Thank you very much, my Lord."

Yuan Shao turned to Liu Yan, "Lord Liu, now that we obtain peace. We can fulfill our agreement."

Liu Yan smiled, "Of course. All my soldiers will be transferred to you. I hope we can get the supply I have requested."

"That won't be a problem. I'll add 10,000 gold to compensate for the troubles."

…

Liu Yan and Yan Yan left the same day with 1,000 elite bodyguards and wagons of supplies and gold. Yuan Shao and Tian Feng sent them off at the gate.

After the caravan disappeared into the horizon, Yuan Shao turned to Tian Feng.

"Have you confirmed the status of Qu Yi, Gao Lan, and Te Langpu?"

"Yes, Lord. The three of them indeed are still alive. However, they have surrendered to Zhang Tong, and they are working for him now. From my latest intel, Te Langpu has moved to Julu while Gao Lan and Qu Yi are transferred to Shangdang."

"Too bad. We can't use Gao Lan and Qu Yi as a double agent. Can we still use Te Langpu?"

"He doesn't have a family in Nanpi like Gao Lan. We can't control him."

"Well, fine. Execute all Qu Yi and Gao Lan's families. Leave none alive."

Tian Feng had a bitter smile on his face, "That's something I can't do."

"What? Are you disobeying my order?"

"You misunderstood, my Lord. Their families left the city ten days ago. That's why I told you that I can't complete this task."

Yuan Shao snorted. His eyes gazed at the direction of Anping County.

"Was it Jia Xu's work?"

"I believe so."

"Hmm. Forget it. Let's move on with our previous plan. Go and make the announcement!"

"Understood."

…

April 12th, 183 A.D.

It was a day that shocked the entire citizens of Nanpi. Yuan Shao announced that his third son, Yuan Shang, was actually Liu Xie in disguise while the dead Liu Xie was a double-body.

He Jin, the former Chancellor of Han, testified and guaranteed for Yuan Shang's identity, after which he declared that Yuan Shang was the true successor of the throne.

Therefore, they would hold a coronation ceremony in a few days and changed the Capital City from Luo Yang to Nanpi instead.

The scholars in the city noticed the oddness of this news. Yuan Shang was 6 this year, but Liu Xie was supposed to be only 2 years old.

The controversy aroused the suspicion among the city merchants and the wandering scholars. However, all nobles kept their mouth shut and refused to comment on this topic.

Many outspoken figures approached the city hall and protested, but they were arrested and were given a death sentence on the same day.

"This is tyranny! These guys are traitors of the Han!"

"Shh! Do you want to get yourself killed? Shut it!"

People gazed at the officials, nervous by the overall situation in their city.

…

…

April 18th. 183 A.D.

The news about the coronation of another Liu Xie reached Anping, Julu, and Ye City.

He Xing, who resided in Julu with the real Liu Xie, could not help but sigh.

"Brother, what have you done?"

Her half-brother, He Jin, was too ambitious. At first, he wanted her to marry Yuan Shao so the person could become the next Emperor. Because of her arrival here, He Jin changed his planned to crown Yuan Shao's son as the next Emperor to get ahead in his career.

Hua Shi consoled He Xing, placing her hand on her shoulder.

"It's alright. We won't use you and the boy. We'll take care of He Jin in your stead."

He Xing bitterly smiled, "Thank you. Please tell your husband, he doesn't have to hold back for me. It's fine if he wants to kill He Jin."

"Oh? Isn't him your brother?"

"A brother that tried to sell my son and me to someone else? I don't have a brother like that."

He Xing's eyes revealed her killing intent. Her firm resolute will impressed Hua Shi.

'As expected of a former Empress. She can kill her relative without batting an eye.'

Hua Shi laughed, "Well, don't worry. He'll get what he deserves. By the way, have you seen lady Zou?"

"Zou Shi? Her husband and her cousin returned from Ye. I think she's with them."

"Oh, right. I forgot. I hope Shi can get her long-awaited baby and join our club."

"C-Club?"

"Yup! A mama club!"

Hua Shi glanced at the crowd of servants which were the hundred female slaves that Yuan Shao gave Tong. Because they did not have a place to go after they were transferred to Julu, Hua Shi took them in as her private maids.

"We'll form a society that only young mothers like us can join."

…

Meanwhile, Jia Xu and Tong were conversing in the clan chat. The news that Jia Xu was reporting shook Tong's heart.

"Last month when we were busy fighting that cocky Yuan, Dong Zhuo found the Imperial Seal and Emperor Sword. With those, he declared himself as the new Emperor of Guige Dynasty to replace the Han Dynasty."

"Yuan Shao probably knew about the incident in the Capital. He put his third son on the throne and claimed that Yuan Shang is Liu Xie. He Jin is also supporting this idea. I think Yuan Shao must have bribed this idiot. The coronation date has been set on next week."

"Xuchang is also in chaos. There were fellows called Wang Yun and Cao Cao over there, and they had a bogus decree, saying that Liu Ping left a will that they had to pass the throne to a little girl called Diao Chan to be the next Empress of Han Dynasty. The coronation has already finished long before Dong Zhuo. I believe it's either Wang Yun or Cao Cao that sent an edict to Sun Jian to make him Changsha Governor."

Tong covered his face with his hands, leaning back on a chair.

"This is a headache. All of a sudden, we have three factions trying to proclaim themselves as royalties? Our internal management hasn't settled, and Lu Bu is potentially rebelling. Yet, I'll have to prepare for these uprising factions on top of those?"

The stress from all pressing issues dizzied Tong. He understood now why Cao Cao in history died from headache.

Tong took a deep breath and continued reading Jia Xu's report in the chat. To his surprise, Xun Yu also gave his report.

"While you were busy, we received two Imperial decrees from two factions."

"The first decree came from Dong Zhuo. He demanded us to surrender our territories, gold, young women, soldiers, and slaves to him unconditionally or he will brand us as ingrate traitors. From our investigation, he sent several similar decrees like this to all nobles. However, because young master Zhang has taken in Dong Bai, he thought of you as his son-in-law and told every warlord about your relationship with his granddaughter."

"The second one from Xuchang arrived this month. The Empress Diao Chan offered an alliance with us and wanted us to integrate into their dynasty. In other words, she wants us to surrender the Yellow Turban under her rules."

"Funny matter is, there is a short letter that the messenger wanted to send to young master Zhang. It is written in a code that nobody managed to decipher it but Sir Li Feihong. He read it and said we have to give this to you directly. He refuses to tell us what is written in there though. The letter should arrive in your hands within today."

Tong replied into the chat.

Tong: Why did you keep it a secret, Feihong?

Li Feihong: It relates to your personal life. I'm sure you and Xiao Wu will understand once you read it.

Jia Xu: Does it hurt for sharing it with us?

Li Feihong: It contains a secret of us, immortals.

Li Feihong: What I can say is, Diao Chan is also an immortal.

All members in the clan chat sucked in cold breath as the discovery of another otherworlder and her position shocked them.

Friday rushed to Tong's side after she read the messages. She chased all the guards away.

"What's wrong?"

Friday stared into Tong's eyes, "I have a shitty news and a bad news. Which one do you want to hear?"

"Dafuq? It's the same! Tell me what happened."

"First, my mom is also in this world."

"That part I know. You told me before that you came here to delete my [Plot Armor] skill while Medusa came here to kill Liu Ping."

"Yes. That comes to another bad news. Meddy came here as Diao Chan."

Tong choked as he could not keep up with the sudden shock. He coughed and wheezed as if there was something in his lung.

"She WHAT!?"

"Medusa is Diao Chan."