What a pity. No matter how frustrated the Cao clan of Xudu was over there, for the Great General Yuan, who had been born into nobility since childhood, to accept? That was impossible.
If he could set aside that arrogance and self-importance, completely descending into the ranks of those who betray trust and repay kindness with enmity, then he would not be the Great Master Yuan.
Of course, there was also a crucial point:
"To think that taking the lead in an alliance would allow them to seize the initiative, attacking the enemy when they are unprepared. Aman has clearly underestimated that person too much."
Thinking of certain individuals who had been constantly stirring up trouble in the camp recently, as he polished the high-grade longsword in his hand that faintly glowed with white light, Great General Yuan couldn't help but sneer inwardly.
Putting aside other matters, he had personally experienced the defensive capabilities of that person in the north before.
If that person's offensive power could be rated seven out of ten, then their defensive capability was a full twelve.
And that was just before. Now?
I'm afraid the mont their side united and marched, the other side would imdiately receive the news.
Besides...
Inside the room, accompanied by a heavy downward swing of the treasured blade in his hand, a palm-sized purple bronze incense burner not far away was instantly split cleanly in two along its central axis.
The force and sharpness of the blade strike were so fierce, its speed so fast that the attendants nearby hadn't even reacted. It was completely unimaginable that this ca from a man past fifty.
Now, it had been eight years since he received that pill on the brink of death.
Back then, everyone viewed it as a delaying tactic by that person across from him, at most extending his life by a few years. Once he and the Cao Camp fought to a mutual standstill, and that person had firmly established themselves, it would be ti for him, Yuan Benchu, to make his final exit.
Including himself at that ti, he thought the sa in his heart. Even in that first year, he had prepared himself for an early demise.
However, no one had anticipated that the reality would be precisely the opposite. Everyone had underestimated this person's magnanimity.
It was not a final rally, nor a desperate extension of life. The facts proved that pill truly cured him of his chronic, deep-seated illness.
Even to this day, at this very mont, when his tily death would clearly be of greatest benefit to that Young Lady...
He stopped listening to the surrounding "idle chatter." Pressing down the longsword in his hand with force, he heard the leading Young Master Yuan say in a deep voice:
"There is no need for you all to say more. I, Yuan Benchu, am not a good man, nor do I claim to be a paragon of benevolence and righteousness. However, since others have placed their trust in , I absolutely cannot commit such an act of petty villainy today!"
"Whether we succeed or fail in the future, I will have absolutely no regrets!"
Inside the main tent, everyone exchanged glances and couldn't help but sigh in unison.
But if you asked if they were terribly disappointed, not really.
No one understood that Young Lady's strength better than they did. Since an alliance was destined to have little chance of success, a dignified retreat from this coming battle might not be a bad outco.
Even with profit as the foremost priority, everyone still valued integrity and honor.
Besides, that person was, as everyone knew, not soone who reveled in slaughter and plunder.
If you asked who was truly vexed at this mont:
Cao Aman, who received the news and was once again flatly refused: "..."
The facts proved that for so people, oaths and trust were nothing but farts, while for others, keeping one's word after speaking was never just empty talk.
In the following years, as An Ning consolidated You Prefecture and guarded the passes to suppress the scattered northern nomadic tribes, this Great General Yuan, apart from striving to strengthen himself and bolster his defenses, did not cause her any disturbance whatsoever.
It was just as he had said: I am no gentleman, yet I also do not wish to be a petty villain who betrays trust.
It wasn't until three years later, when An Ning's army once again stood before the city walls. This ti, the one directly facing him was An Ning herself.
"General Yuan!"
Reaching out to knock away the longsword he had placed against his own neck, An Ning didn't say much. She only ordered soone to present the seal and letter of authority belonging to the Great General on their side. Then, clasping her hands in salute, she said earnestly:
"General, I have always greatly admired both your capabilities and your character. If you are willing, you can still be the Great General holding military power in the new dynasty to co."
"As for your subordinates..."
In the cold wind, they heard An Ning decisively utter four words:
"Remain as before!"
As her words fell, not to ntion the soldiers behind her, even Yuan Benchu himself, clad in blood-soaked crimson armor and unwilling to live in disgrace, was montarily stunned.
After a mont, he reacted and then laughed heartily:
"Hahahaha! Truly worthy of being the master of the northern lands. What remarkable boldness!"
To be honest, did Yuan Shao believe these words?
Given his understanding of the person before him, of course he did!
"However, Young Lady, have you ever considered that with your abilities today, you may be able to suppress all sides. But what about in the days after? Will your successor possess even a third of your capability?"
"If not, what then?"
At this point, leaving behind such a massive force might not be a wise move.
But speaking of successors, Great General Yuan himself couldn't help but feel a lump in his throat for a mont.
Especially earlier, when external enemies were at the gates, those people still hadn't forgotten to fight among themselves, stubbornly treating him, their own father who could eat five bowls of rice in one sitting, as a man on death's door. He wasn't even dead yet, and they were already scrambling for power.
Although there was no shortage of major interest groups fanning the flas behind the scenes, such behavior still made one feel a mouthful of old blood choking their heart.
However, the person before him likely didn't suffer such tornt. Yet, having only one heir, in his view, might not necessarily be a good thing either.
"What the General says is correct." In the cold wind, An Ning gave an almost imperceptible nod, but then quickly changed her tone:
"In the General's view, should the rebellion and chaos of the Han court be blad entirely on the likes of the Dong family?"
That naturally was impossible.
This point, even Yuan Shao, who had once led campaigns against him, was very clear about.
Court politics in chaos, popular resentnt rising everywhere, culminating in millions of displaced people rising up in rebellion—how could that be the work of one man alone?
It's hard to say whether treacherous ministers caused the entire system to collapse, or whether the collapsing system produced the treacherous ministers who monopolized power for a ti and wantonly trampled upon the dignity of the sovereign.
"That's right!" Facing the swirling snowstorm, An Ning raised her eyes again, looking at the man before her as she said gently:
"I imagine you also understand, General, that given the situation at the ti, even if there had been no Dong Zhuo, there would have been a Sun Zhuo or a Wang Zhuo then."
"If my future successor cannot even handle these matters, then at that ti, it might not be a bad thing for the capable to rule this land."
"At the very least, collapse from within is far better than conquest from without."
Furthermore, in An Ning's view, placing a successor who is already gradually maturing within a completely secure fortress on all sides—would that really be a good thing?
Dividing, suppressing, and maintaining the balance of power—these are precisely A Yue's own lessons to learn.
Amidst the wind and snow, the voice of the young lady opposite was not loud. There were no oaths, nor any deliberately exaggerated or flamboyant tones.
But at this mont, Yuan Benchu undoubtedly believed her.
In fact, at this mont, his curiosity about the future course of events even suppressed the death wish and that proud unwillingness to admit defeat that were urgently welling up in his heart.
He desperately wanted to know what this defeat truly ant for him.
After a long silence, the seal was finally fully accepted by the man before her. And An Ning did not break her word. Apart from those who plundered the common people and committed nurous evil deeds, all the rest of his forr subordinates, without exception, were returned to his command.
She didn't hesitate in the slightest, even granting him the authority to lead troops in battle.
Sensing sothing amiss and just preparing to stir up so trouble amidst the chaos, only to turn around and find the person opposite was still his childhood friend, Cao Aman: "..."
However, soon, everyone had no ti to dwell on these matters.
For no other reason than this: the day after completely subduing Ji, Bing, and several other prefectures, on an utterly ordinary morning. Within the northern capital city, An Ning suddenly dropped a bombshell.
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