Ju Shou's expression darkened.
For a man famed across Jizhou for calm judgment, it was rare—but not impossible—for irritation to show. Today was one of those moments.
"Is that the best opening you persuaders can manage?" he said coldly. "For centuries, and still the same tired trick?"
He stepped forward, eyes sharp as drawn steel.
"Yuan Shao is cornered—that much is obvious. He sends you here to beg for aid, yet you dare twist it into saving my lord's life?"
The hall grew still.
Xun Chen's heart tightened—but his face did not change.
He had expected resistance.
What he had not hoped for… was Ju Shou.
Han Fu shifted uneasily on his seat.
"courtesy name of Xun Chen… what exactly is going on here?"
His voice carried confusion more than authority.
Xun Chen steadied himself.
Smile.
Breathe.
Control the rhythm.
"My apologies," he said lightly, turning to Ju Shou. "May I ask who this gentleman is?"
A simple question—but a calculated one.
Know your enemy.
Or die speaking.
"I am Ju Shou," came the reply, firm and unyielding. "Biejia of Jizhou."
His gaze said the rest:
Try anything… and I will tear it apart.
Xun Chen nodded politely.
But inwardly—
Trouble.
Ju Shou was no ordinary official. His reputation as a strategist had spread far beyond Jizhou. If Han Fu had even half a brain, it was because Ju Shou was standing behind him.
Persuading Han Fu alone?
Child's play.
Persuading Han Fu with Ju Shou present?
A battlefield.
So Xun Chen changed tactics.
If the wall is too strong—
go around it.
He bowed briefly to Ju Shou, then turned directly to Han Fu.
"My lord," he said calmly, "may I ask… how do you compare yourself to Dong Zhuo?"
"Impudent!"
Ju Shou's voice cracked like thunder.
"What are you implying, comparing my lord to a traitor?! Guards—drag him out!"
Armor clattered.
Steel shifted.
The atmosphere snapped taut.
Ju Shou's mind was already racing ahead.
He had seen through it.
Han Fu feared Zhang Xin.
Yuan Shao feared Zhang Xin.
So Yuan Shao sent this man—to bind them together. To turn fear into alliance. To drag Jizhou onto his war chariot.
Survival through unity.
A clever move.
If the opponent were anyone else—
Ju Shou might have agreed.
But the enemy was Zhang Xin.
The man who broke Luoyang.
The man who crushed Dong Zhuo.
The man who turned armies into dust.
Even Yuan Shao with Dong Zhuo could not stop him.
And now Yuan Shao wanted to add Han Fu?
Ridiculous.
Jizhou's plains were wide and open—no mountains, no passes, no walls that could hold back that storm.
This wasn't alliance.
This was suicide.
"Remove him!"
The guards stepped forward.
And then—
laughter.
Sharp.
Sudden.
Deliberate.
"Hahahahaha!"
Xun Chen threw his head back and laughed, his eyes flicking—just once—toward Han Fu.
Hook set.
Now pull.
"A lord stands on the brink of death… yet shuts out the one who would save him."
He shook his head, turning as if disappointed.
"Very well. If my presence offends, I shall leave."
He took a step.
Two.
Graceful. Unhurried.
Inside his mind—
One…
Two…
Three…
"Wait!"
Han Fu's voice rang out.
The guards froze.
"You may withdraw," Han Fu said quickly.
"Lord!" Ju Shou stepped forward, alarm flashing across his face.
But Han Fu waved him off.
"courtesy name of Xun Chen has come from afar. Driving him out like this… is hardly proper."
He turned, forcing a smile.
"Let us hear him out."
Ju Shou clenched his fists.
But the guards had already withdrawn.
The opening—
had been created.
Xun Chen turned back slowly, hiding the relief in his chest.
"My lord," Han Fu said, leaning forward, "what did you mean earlier?"
Xun Chen smiled faintly.
"Then please, answer my question first."
Han Fu's expression darkened.
"Are you here to insult me?"
Xun Chen widened his eyes in mock surprise.
"My lord… do you truly not realize?"
His voice dropped.
"You are Dong Zhuo."
Ju Shou stepped forward again—
but Han Fu raised his hand.
"Let him speak."
His pride had been struck.
And pride… was easier to manipulate than fear.
"The lords swore to destroy the traitor," Xun Chen said slowly. "Marquis Xuanwei fights on the front lines…"
"And yet—"
He leaned in.
"You cut off his grain."
Silence.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
"If he takes Chang'an… if he brings back the Son of Heaven… if an imperial edict arrives condemning you…"
Xun Chen's gaze sharpened.
"Can you resist?"
No answer.
Only tension.
"Fight him," Xun Chen pressed, "and what are you, if not the next Dong Zhuo?"
"That is nonsense!"
Ju Shou cut in immediately.
"It was Yuan Shao who cut the supply—not us!"
He stepped forward, voice firm.
"Jizhou has already exhausted itself supporting the alliance. The grain is prepared—it will be sent."
"And Yuan Shao colluded with Dong Zhuo first. If Marquis Xuanwei strikes, Yuan Shao will be his first target—not us!"
"Yes—yes!"
Han Fu seized the lifeline.
"This is merely a misunderstanding! Once the grain is delivered, all will be resolved!"
"Marquis Xuanwei is righteous—he would not attack without cause!"
Laughter.
Again.
Louder.
Colder.
"Hahahahaha!"
Xun Chen shook his head, sighing deeply.
"I laugh… at your innocence."
Han Fu's face stiffened.
"Innocence?"
Ju Shou's expression changed.
This was bad.
Han Fu was being pulled—step by step—into Xun Chen's rhythm.
"Guards!" Ju Shou barked again.
"This man speaks poison—remove him!"
"Withdraw!"
Han Fu suddenly shouted.
The guards froze, caught between two commands.
"Remove him!" Ju Shou repeated.
"Withdraw!" Han Fu snapped back.
"Withdraw!"
"Lord!"
Ju Shou's voice carried urgency now.
But Han Fu ignored him completely.
His eyes locked onto Xun Chen.
"Speak," he said. "Explain yourself."
His pride demanded it.
His ego required it.
Xun Chen bowed deeply, hiding the flicker of triumph in his eyes.
Done.
Hook.
Line.
Sinker.
"My lord…"
He straightened, voice soft—but cutting like a blade.
"Have you forgotten…?"
A pause.
Just enough to tighten the silence.
"You…"
"…are a Partisan."
The word fell—
like a verdict.