Chapter 806: Heaven’s Will

"Do you have any evidence for your claim, Gongren?" Yuan Shao asked.

"I don't, but I find it strange that Liu Bei has the confidence to wage war on two fronts, both north and south," Dong Zhao replied, his gaze distant.

"If he doesn’t attack us, will we not attack him? Liu Bei’s campaign against Yuzhou was a move born out of necessity. Ziyuan’s strategy forced Liu Bei into fighting Yuan Shu before engaging us in battle," Xin Ping said, shaking his head.

"If it were really that simple, then why did the rebellion in the Qing, Xu, and Taishan regions end so quickly? And how was Liu Bei able to mobilize his troops to Yuzhou so swiftly? Even if Guan Yu and his forces had the authority to act independently, their timing was too perfect," Dong Zhao said, his expression unreadable as he looked at the group.

"To be honest, if the Xuanyuan Cauldron hadn’t emerged, triggering the power of the Imperial Seal, we wouldn’t have paid much attention to Yuzhou. Without that, we would still be in the dark about the complexities of the southern situation. Doesn’t it seem a little too convenient?" Dong Zhao continued, speaking without regard for the expressions of those around him.

"What does that prove?" Xin Ping asked, his gaze fixed on Dong Zhao.

"If all these events can be explained by mere coincidence, it would only suggest that someone is orchestrating our every move," Shen Pei muttered after a moment of thought, clearly displeased.

"There’s no way all the information we’ve gathered could be false. Liu Xuande wouldn’t waste so much effort and resources on such unnecessary deceptions," Ju Shou said, frowning. "But Gongren’s suspicions are not without merit."

"Even if we’ve been played, what difference does it make given the current situation?" Xin Pi, Xin Ping’s younger brother, stepped forward, staring at Dong Zhao. Compared to Xin Ping, Xin Pi was even more impressive in both his insight and demeanor.

"That’s a valid point," Dong Zhao nodded slowly, showing no hesitation in the face of Xin Pi’s challenge. "Zuo Zhi speaks the truth."

Xin Pi cast a long glance at Dong Zhao before retreating. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off about Dong Zhao.

"Even though it might not have much impact, we should still be cautious of being manipulated. I may have overlooked something before. Zuo Zhi, Gongren, would you assist me?" Ju Shou asked, addressing Xin Pi and Dong Zhao in Yuan Shao’s presence.

"I’d be happy to help," Xin Pi responded with a smile.

"I’m not very skilled in these matters, but I can offer some advice," Dong Zhao replied, his expression calm and indifferent as always, as if nothing truly interested him.

Dong Zhao followed Ju Shou closely, maintaining a composed demeanor. He couldn’t help but wonder whether he would get a chance to meet Liu Xuande. Compared to Yuan Shao's gradual approach, Liu Xuande seemed to be meticulously prepared for every step. The only time Liu Bei’s plans had been disrupted was now.

As Dong Zhao mused while walking behind Ju Shou, he wondered whether this opportunity was given by heaven to help Yuan Shao or to allow the wise men of the land to clearly see the gap between Yuan Shao and Liu Xuande.

With his expression unchanged, Dong Zhao followed Ju Shou without fear. Though there was no concrete evidence, he was convinced that the rebellions in Qing, Xu, and Taishan had been part of a grand strategy devised by the masterminds in Taishan. Even Xu You's reactions had likely been factored into their calculations. The counteroffensive in Yuzhou might also have been preplanned.

This level of planning was indeed impressive. However, it also indicated internal problems within Liu Bei’s camp that had forced them to resort to such drastic measures. Liu Xuande’s rapid rise had outpaced his ability to address some issues, and even with subordinates capable of anticipating ten moves ahead, there were some problems that couldn’t be dealt with slowly.

While Dong Zhao suspected that Yuan Shao had likely fallen into Liu Bei’s trap, he wasn’t overly concerned. If the Xuanyuan Cauldron had appeared just two months later, Yuan Shao’s chances of victory would have been reduced to thirty percent at best.

As things stood now, Dong Zhao was still optimistic about Yuan Shao’s prospects. Unlike Liu Bei, who was engaged on two fronts and had limited room to maneuver, Yuan Shao had freed both hands and could now fully focus on confronting Liu Bei’s forces.

It was indeed a stroke of luck, but luck was a form of strength as well. Yuan Shao’s army was not inferior to Liu Bei’s in any aspect, and Yuan Shao had no need to worry about defending his rear. In that sense, Xu Ziyuan’s strategy to involve both Yuan brothers in attacking Liu Bei had succeeded. It was as if Heaven’s will had shaped events like a sharp blade.

As Dong Zhao followed behind Ju Shou, his mind deep in thought, Ju Shou himself kept glancing at Dong Zhao. The words Dong Zhao had spoken earlier had planted a seed of doubt in Ju Shou’s mind, causing him to reflect more deeply.

In the end, Ju Shou thought, just as Zuo Zhi had said, even if Liu Xuande had been manipulating them, most of the decisive battles would take place on the battlefield. Given that, it was better to fully unleash the advantages of Yuan Shao’s army!

With this thought, Ju Shou naturally activated his Spiritual Talent. In an instant, the morale and quality of Yuan Shao’s 250,000-strong army surged. The sheer numerical strength of Yuan Shao’s forces, already their greatest advantage, was enhanced even further.

"Have you activated your Spiritual Talent, Gongyu?" Shen Pei asked, frowning slightly as he waited for Ju Shou to pass by.

"Yes, our greatest advantage lies in our numbers. I’m increasing the overall quality of the 250,000 troops to help them acclimate," Ju Shou replied with a smile. Even though he had rarely used his Spiritual Talent before, he remained unaware of a significant flaw in it—while enhancing the greatest strengths of his forces, it also amplified their greatest weaknesses in equal measure.

To be honest, if not for that drawback, Ju Shou’s Spiritual Talent would undoubtedly be one of the strongest in the land. The mere ability to raise the quality of a 250,000-man army was enough to bring any general to tears. The fact that it could be used in other situations as well made it nearly invincible!

But alas, there was no such thing as a perfect Spiritual Talent in this world. By magnifying the strength of his 250,000 soldiers, Ju Shou had also created a vulnerability proportionate to their increased strength. For every sip of water, there is a balance in Heaven’s plan.

"That’s quite the useful Spiritual Talent," Shen Pei remarked, somewhat enviously. Compared to Ju Shou’s ability, Shen Pei harbored considerable resentment toward his own Spiritual Talent. If possible, he’d prefer never to activate it in his entire life.

"Zhengnan, come to think of it, you have a Spiritual Talent too, don’t you? But I’ve never seen you use it," Ju Shou asked curiously. Dong Zhao also perked up, listening with interest, as this was a subject that fascinated him.

"I don’t!" Shen Pei responded with a scowl. He snapped the reins, spurred his horse, and galloped away. His Spiritual Talent was a joke, and anyone who mentioned it was asking for a fight. He hated when people asked him about it.

"What’s his problem?" Ju Shou asked, bewildered.

"Who knows? Maybe he’s troubled by something," Xin Pi said casually as he rode by. "A Spiritual Talent? Does anyone really believe Shen Pei doesn’t have one?"

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