Chapter 27 This anti-Dong Zhuo alliance is more fragile than expected.

Yuan Shu's words were harsh, and his veiled criticisms were directed at Liu Bei and his party.

All eyes inside the tent immediately focused on it.

Liu Liang retorted sharply, saying, "Lord Yuan's willingness to be the vanguard is commendable. However, I believe that the great cause of defeating Dong Zhuo cannot be accomplished by the courage of a mere mortal."

Yuan Shu raised an eyebrow and said with a sinister smile, "Oh? What 'profound' advice does Mr. Liu have now? Perhaps he's advising us to shrink back?"

Liu Liang, unhurried and composed, faced Yuan Shao and the other warlords, and said, "It is not that I am afraid of battle. It is just that in the art of war, one must know oneself and one's enemy. Dong Zhuo is indeed a traitor to the country, but he has been able to run rampant in the capital region. How can he be easily dealt with? The Liangzhou army has been fighting against the Qiang and Hu tribes for many years. They are true border troops who have been through countless battles. They are brave and skilled in battle and are by no means vulnerable. This is the first point."

"Secondly, I have heard that Dong Zhuo has recruited a general named Lü Bu, courtesy name Fengxian. This man is exceptionally brave and strong, unparalleled in the world in wielding a halberd and riding a horse, possessing the courage of ten thousand men, and also harboring wolfish ambitions, making him a truly formidable threat. In addition, his vanguard Hua Xiong is also a fierce general and should not be underestimated. If the allied forces underestimate the enemy and advance rashly, they may be countered by his elite troops and generals, thus damaging their morale."

There was a moment of silence inside the tent, followed by whispers and soft laughter.

Yuan Shu was the first to scoff: "Mr. Liu, you're really boosting the morale of others! Lü Bu? Just a mere warrior, is he really worthy of your high praise? Hua Xiong was nothing more than a loyal dog under Dong Zhuo. My eighteen warlords, with their many renowned generals, why would we fear a few barbarian generals from Xiliang? Are you perhaps cowardly?"

Gongsun Zan also said sarcastically, "Mr. Liu, have you been staying in this remote corner of Youzhou for too long and heard some rumors about the borderlands, which you are now using to scare us?"

Other feudal lords also largely disagreed.

In their view, their forces had an absolute advantage, and they had many famous generals and strategists. Dong Zhuo was already doomed, and Liu Liang's words were pure alarmism.

Liu Liang remained expressionless, knowing that further words would be of no use at this point.

History had not yet unfolded, Lü Bu's terror had not yet been revealed, and Hua Xiong's prowess had not yet been tasted.

Liu Liang said, "I am merely stating the facts to remind you gentlemen that Dong Zhuo is not one to sit idly by and wait to die, and a fierce battle will surely be difficult. The way of warfare is to despise him strategically but take him seriously tactically. If we can advance steadily and surely, first cutting off his wings and weakening his morale, then our chances of victory will increase."

Sun Jian said, "What Liu Zishan said is not without reason. Dong Zhuo's Xiliang troops are indeed fierce. It's always better to be cautious in our military operations."

Before Sun Jian could finish speaking, Yuan Shu glanced at him sideways and smirked, "Brother Wentai, you're quite good at making excuses for others. What, do you also think that we eighteen warlords are afraid of Dong Zhuo's barbarian soldiers?"

Sun Jian's face darkened. He had long been impatient with Yuan Shu's arrogance and immediately replied, "It's not out of fear, but because in warfare one must know the enemy's strengths and weaknesses. If Brother Gonglu thinks my words are inappropriate, you are welcome to lead your elite troops and test Hua Xiong's prowess first."

Provoked by these words, Yuan Shu flew into a rage: "Sun Wentai! Don't you dare embolden the enemy here! How could my brave men of Nanyang be afraid of a mere commoner from Xiliang? It is you who, perhaps, are plotting something with that mat weaver and sandal seller to undermine the morale of the army?"

"Yuan Gonglu!" Sun Jian abruptly stood up, his hand already on the hilt of his sword. "You need to be clear in your speech! I, Sun, act with integrity and uprightness; why would I need to scheme against anyone? As for you, all you do is spout nonsense here. Do you dare to come with me to the pass and see what's really going on?"

The two glared at each other, their words growing increasingly heated.

Upon seeing this, Yuan Shu's generals Ji Ling and Zhang Xun stepped forward, their hands on their sword hilts.

Behind Sun Jian, four generals, Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, Han Dang, and Zu Mao, also stepped forward, their hands on their weapons, their eyes fixed coldly on the opposite side.

The atmosphere inside the tent instantly became tense.

The other feudal lords all changed color; some spoke up to offer advice, while others watched coldly from the sidelines.

Seeing the tensions between the two sides, Yuan Shao, as the leader of the alliance elected by the eighteen warlords, had no choice but to speak up and mediate.

He frowned, coughed heavily, and said, "Enough! With a formidable enemy at hand, what kind of behavior is this, starting a fight among yourselves!"

Yuan Shao first said to Sun Jian, "Wentai, you are also a veteran of the battlefield. You should know that in military discussions, one should not act impulsively."

He then turned to Yuan Shu, saying, "Gonglu, as a key figure in this region, you should consider the overall situation and be mindful of your words and actions."

These words, while seemingly blaming both sides equally, are actually a light touch and lack any real binding force.

Cao Cao's eyes flashed, and he said, "Gonglu and Wentai are both fighting for the country against the rebels. Why should they argue amongst themselves? Since you each hold your own opinions, let's wait until the battlefield to see who prevails. Alliance Leader, the most important thing right now is to discuss the deployment of our troops."

Yuan Shao hurriedly nodded and said, "Dong Zhuo is a traitor to the country. The matter of punishing him concerns the whole country and is not a matter of personal gain for any one person or region. Since you have all elected me as the leader of the alliance, I hope you will put aside your personal feelings for the time being and work together with one heart and one mind. Today's military meeting will mainly focus on how to advance the troops and how to allocate supplies. There is no need to discuss other minor details."

Yuan Shu and Sun Jian each snorted coldly, glared at each other fiercely, and then signaled their generals to retreat.

But this incident has laid bare the cracks within the coalition forces for all to see.

Liu Liang watched silently, understanding dawning on his mind.

This anti-Dong alliance is more loose and fragile than expected.

Yuan Shao sat upright in the main seat and said in a deep voice, "Dong Zhuo is holding the passes. If our army wants to advance, we must first eliminate his henchmen. Sishui Pass is the first point of attack. We should send a vanguard to challenge the enemy at the pass, blunt their morale, and probe their strength. The rest of the troops should set up camps in strategic locations, forming a defensive network to support each other. As for the army's provisions and supplies, they are of great importance and must be managed by a reliable person. Gonglu, you are meticulous, so you will be in charge of the provisions and the allocation of supplies among the various camps. You must ensure that everything is in order and that there are no shortages."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shu could not hide his smugness.

The governor's position was high-ranking and lucrative, so it wasn't a bad job.

But compared to the vanguard position where one personally leads the charge, slaying enemy generals and capturing flags, it ultimately lacks the glory of achieving fame and fortune on the spot.

Yuan Shu knew all too well that his elder brother was using his usual tactics to appease him with tangible benefits while reserving the position most likely to achieve outstanding military exploits for someone else, or for someone he would personally promote in the future.

Yuan Shu rose and said, "As the leader of the alliance, elder brother, once your orders are given, I will obey without question! This matter of provisions concerns the lifeline of the entire army, and I will do my utmost to ensure that our allied soldiers do not go into battle empty-handed!"

Yuan Shao said, "My brother is brave and resolute, and he also considers the overall situation. I am very pleased that he can shoulder this important task. With a stable supply of provisions, our army's morale will be stable. This achievement is no less than beheading a general on the battlefield."

Just then, Sun Jian suddenly stood up, clasped his hands in a fist salute to Yuan Shao, and said, "Alliance Leader! I, Sun Jian, am unworthy, but I am willing to lead my troops as the vanguard of the main army, straight to Sishui Pass! If I fail to capture any generals and flags, I am willing to accept military punishment!"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shao was secretly delighted.

Sun Jian was brave and fierce, making him an excellent choice for the vanguard. He could test the strength of Dong Zhuo's army without fear of losing his own loyal followers.

What's even better is that Sun Jian volunteered, which resolved the potential internal dispute over the choice of vanguard and put Yuan Shu in a stronger position.

Yuan Shao immediately clapped his hands, revealing an approving expression: "Excellent! Wentai is brave and valiant, truly a pillar of the nation! This crucial vanguard duty is best left to Wentai! As you request, lead your elite troops and march on Sishui Pass immediately! I will personally lead the main army to support you!"