Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator.

A raging fire erupted in the Cao army's camp, engulfing the granaries.

Yuan Shao had no time to order a rescue, nor was rescue even possible.

Bathed in the firelight, Yuan Shao's face was utterly devoid of color.

“Cao Cao, you… you are treacherous…”

Yuan Shao spat out a mouthful of blood. He realized that Cao Cao's decision to burn such a large quantity of grain wasn't just because he couldn't carry it all while retreating in haste.

More importantly, Cao Cao was burning the grain in plain sight of countless Yuan soldiers.

The Cao army was also out of supplies.

Even if the Yuan army defeated Cao Cao and continued to pursue them, there would be no provisions for the Yuan army to seize.

The morale that Yuan Shao had painstakingly built up through various means was now collapsing uncontrollably.

Along with it, Yuan Shao's spirit and energy were also draining away.

This burning, along with Yuan Shao's forced uplift of spirit these past few days, was completely incinerated.

“Yan Liang! Wen Chou!”

Yuan Shao, astride a white horse captured from the White Horse义Cong, was tottering and on the verge of collapse as he urgently called out.

“Lord!”

Yan Liang and Wen Chou, seeing Yuan Shao's condition, were filled with worry.

But Yuan Shao, recognizing that the situation had reached this point, understood that he had no way out.

The state of the grain supply, seemingly revealed to the entire army, was actually exaggerated by Yuan Shao by half.

At most, it would last until the day after tomorrow before being completely exhausted.

If they couldn't find Cao Cao's main force before then, the Yuan army would be like lambs waiting to be slaughtered.

“Quickly, search for traces of Cao Cao's retreat! No matter what, you must find Cao Cao's location as soon as possible. The life and death of our army rests in your hands!”

Yuan Shao, his bloodshot eyes wide, stared intently at Yan Liang and Wen Chou as he gave the order.

This was undoubtedly Yuan Shao's last hope.

As long as they could find Cao Cao's main force and defeat them before the grain ran out, there would still be a chance to turn the tables in this desperate situation.

“Feng Ji, Guo Tu, you two will accompany Yan Liang and Wen Chou, respectively, as advisors, seeking Cao Cao's whereabouts. Do not fall for his delaying tactics…”

“The affairs of the army will temporarily be managed by Ju Shou…”

After Yuan Shao forced himself to finish these sentences, he could no longer hold on and fell from his horse.

Fortunately, Chunyu Qiong, who was guarding Yuan Shao's side, was quick-witted and supported Yuan Shao in time, helping the unconscious Yuan Shao to the ground to rest. All the civil and military officials who witnessed this scene felt as if the sky had fallen, and everyone's face was filled with worry.

Especially Yan Liang and Wen Chou, these two burly men couldn't stop their tears. They wanted to protect Yuan Shao and seek a physician to treat him.

In the end, it was Shen Pei, cooperating with Ju Shou, who took the initiative to stabilize the situation. While ordering the soldiers to rest on the spot to alleviate the fatigue from the past few days of intense attacks, they urged Yan Liang and Wen Chou to immediately lead the cavalry to pursue Cao Cao's whereabouts.

Ju Shou, Shen Pei, Feng Ji, and the other strategists, after calming down, made a judgment similar to Yuan Shao's.

Cao Cao had no horses. Even if he ran non-stop for a night on foot, he couldn't have gone far.

Now that Yan Liang and Wen Chou were each leading cavalry to pursue, they should be able to find Cao Cao's trail quickly, then latch onto Cao Cao and use heavy troops to encircle and kill him on the plains south of Jieqiao, where there were no defenses.

There is… hope!

Yuan Shao's strategists, at this critical moment of life and death, made a rare unanimous judgment, working together to stabilize the morale of the Yuan army.

However, this glimmer of hope...

Disappeared when Yan Liang quickly followed Cao Cao's retreat and discovered a Cao army camp with extensive fortifications about thirty miles away from Jieqiao.

Cao Cao couldn't have conjured up a nearly armed-to-the-teeth camp overnight.

There was only one answer.

Cao Cao must have started building another camp in the rear five or six days in advance.

When Yuan Shao, who had been sleepless for days, woke up after being unconscious for a day and a night, the first thing he did was ask Yuan Tan, who was guarding his side, if they had found Cao Cao's main force.

When Yuan Tan said with difficulty that Cao Cao still had a camp, and that the generals had been attacking fiercely for a day without stopping, but Cao Cao's camp had not yet been breached.

Yuan Shao stared blankly at the ceiling for more than ten breaths, frightening Yuan Tan and Yuan Xi, who were guarding the bedside, to call out repeatedly, but there was no response.

The next moment, Yuan Shao, who had been pale, suddenly sat up. His face instantly turned extremely rosy, his voice was loud and full of majesty, and he said.

“Bring me my seal and paper and brush.”

Yuan Tan quickly prepared all the necessary items for Yuan Shao, who then rose with imposing strides and knelt at the table beside the bed. With great dignity, he wrote a document and then affixed his seal.

Immediately afterward, Yuan Shao handed the still-wet document to Yuan Xi, who was standing nearby, and said in a deep voice.

“My life is nearing its end, and these tens of thousands of elite soldiers will also be lost here, but there are still virtuous ministers and brave generals who can be used, and the territory is still thousands of miles away. Next year, there may still be a chance to compete with Cao Cao.”

“You should listen to good advice and use brave generals. The great cause of the Yuan clan is entrusted to you.”

Yuan Xi took the document blankly, unable to react for a moment.

Yuan Tan, as the eldest son, was filled with jealousy and incomprehension, and his eyes even revealed a fierce look as he looked at Yuan Xi.

However, when Yuan Shao looked over, Yuan Tan quickly restrained his expression and began to cry to Yuan Shao.

“Father entrusts the foundation entirely to my second brother. Does he think that I am not capable of being reused and am not worthy of the Yuan surname?”

Yuan Shao ignored Yuan Tan's cries, even as if he hadn't heard them at all. While handing his waist token to Yuan Tan, he muttered to himself.

“Tan'er, you can use my waist token to mobilize the personal guards. Quickly protect you all the way south, and seek refuge with Liu Bei. Just tell Liu Bei that your father once drew his sword and angrily pointed at the traitor Dong Zhuo, and also joined forces with him to punish Dong Zhuo. He will definitely not make things difficult for you…”

Yuan Tan, who had been lowering his head and listening, found that Yuan Shao's voice was gradually weakening. When he looked up, he found that Yuan Shao's head was drooping and there was no sound.

This scene stunned Yuan Tan and Yuan Xi, who had initially come to show their filial piety.

Yuan Shao, who was in his prime, actually died…

The next moment, Yuan Tan's eyes did not shed tears, but he suddenly reached out and tried to snatch the document from Yuan Xi's hand.

Yuan Xi's reaction was also extremely quick. He retreated backward to avoid it, and frowned.

“What does brother intend to do?”

“Hand over the document, or don’t blame me for not considering brotherly affection.” Yuan Tan said sternly.

“Father’s body is not yet cold, do you want to kill each other?” Yuan Xi asked in shock.

“Bring the document!”

Yuan Tan, staring intently at the document, didn't even give Yuan Xi a chance to talk nonsense. He drew his sword and stabbed at Yuan Xi.

Seeing this, Yuan Xi didn't have time to draw his sword. He almost rolled and crawled out of the camp, shouting for help.

Yuan Tan, who followed closely with his sword, wanted to continue chasing Yuan Xi, but he saw a large number of personal guards standing outside the camp, looking confused and puzzled.

The next moment, Yuan Tan had a flash of inspiration. He raised the waist token in his hand and shouted.

“All personal guards, listen to my orders! The rebellious younger brother Yuan Xi angered our father to death. Quickly capture him. If there is any resistance, kill him without mercy!”

(End of chapter)