"Governor Ding, General Yuan urgently summons you for a meeting!"

Half a quarter of an hour later, Yuan Shao sent someone to invite Ding Yuan.

Ding Yuan was also thinking of going to Yuan Shao to discuss how to avoid internal strife with Dong Zhuo and unite against Liu Wei.

Seeing that Yuan Shao had just invited him, he took several guards with him and did not allow Lü Bu to accompany him, and hurriedly went there.

“Father, Yuan Shao is suspicious of you. Now Dong Zhuo is deliberately attacking Yuan Shao but not you, which is clearly an attempt to sow discord between you and Yuan Shao.”

"It would be best to be cautious if we went to meet Yuan Shao now!"

Lü Bu said, "I am worried that Yuan Shao will be detrimental to you, so I request to accompany you."

“I and Yuan Shao are both ministers in the same court. His family has held high office for four generations and is renowned. Although we have different political views, under the watchful eyes of all the ministers in the capital, he would never do such a perverse thing!”

Ding Yuan was very confident. He waved his hand, telling Lü Bu not to worry, "You stay in the camp and guard against Dong Zhuo's sneak attack."

After saying this, he led his guards, mounted his horse, and headed towards Yuan Shao's camp.

The messenger brought Ding Yuan into the camp.

Inside the large tent, only Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu were present.

Ding Yuan didn't care at all and stepped forward: "Benchu, I'm here!"

"Jianyang, please sit down!" Yuan Shao gave a fake smile and waved for Ding Yuan to take a seat.

Ding Yuan asked, "I wonder what matter Yuan Shao has invited me here to discuss?"

"Jianyang, Dong Zhuo has now taken His Majesty hostage, and we have been unable to conquer him despite our prolonged siege. Therefore, we have come to you to discuss countermeasures."

Yuan Shao said, "A scout just reported that Dong Zhuo's reinforcements have arrived in Heyang. They number no less than forty or fifty thousand! It must be Dong Zhuo's entire army from Bingzhou coming here!"

"If they join forces with Dong Zhuo again, we will have no chance of winning at all."

Upon hearing this, Ding Yuan nodded in agreement: "I have also received intelligence on this matter. However, Dong Zhuo is a minor ailment; Liu Wei is the real threat!"

"A messenger from Liangzhou reports that Liu Wei's troops have already attacked my five counties in Longyou. If his troops from Hexi and Hetao are to join forces in Guanzhong, then neither of us will have any chance of winning."

Yuan Shao frowned, but said, "But as long as the matter of Dong Zhuo is not settled, we will not be able to unite against Liu Wei."

"I summoned Jianyang to ask you to send troops to Heyang to stop Dong Zhuo's Bingzhou reinforcements from reaching Luoyang."

"As long as we prevent Dong Zhuo's reinforcements from arriving, Dong Zhuo will run out of supplies, and we can easily take down Dong Zhuo and rescue His Majesty."

"We have over 100,000 troops at our disposal, plus Dong Zhuo's troops, totaling over 200,000 elite soldiers. Moreover, we are fighting in the capital. What do we have to fear from Liu Wei alone!"

Ding Yuan was taken aback after hearing Yuan Shao's explanation: "If our army goes to Heyang, and Dong Zhuo's cavalry charges out, how can you possibly defeat them?"

"If he were to storm into Luoyang, wouldn't things be even worse?"

"In my opinion, it would be better to have the Empress Dowager and the Grand Tutor come forward, sit down and talk, and avoid war and bloodshed."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shao's face darkened: "So, Ding Jianyang, you think you can underestimate our troops just because you won against Dong Zhuo?"

"I sent you to Heyang to block Dong Zhuo's reinforcements, but you want to negotiate with Dong Zhuo. It seems that there must be something shady going on in your correspondence."

Upon hearing this, Ding Yuan immediately became furious: "Yuan Benchu, I told you that this is Dong Zhuo deliberately sowing discord between us."

"He also deliberately gave my adopted son a letter, intending to bribe him."

"Didn't you see through such a crude scheme?"

"Furthermore, he also privately wrote a letter to the Grand Tutor. How do you explain that?"

Yuan Shao also said, "Of course I can see that! But why did he only attack my camp today, while your troops retreated as soon as they arrived, repeatedly?"

"Now I ask you to go to Heyang to block Dong Zhuo's reinforcements, but you refuse to go."

"You and Dong Zhuo have a very good understanding, don't you!"

“Yuan Shao, you are slandering me! I, Ding Yuan, am upright and honest, and I have no selfish motives whatsoever. I serve the country and the nation.” Ding Yuan retorted angrily.

"I told you to go to Heyang, so why didn't you go?" Yuan Shao pressed.

"It's not that I don't want to go, but peace talks are the best solution," Ding Yuan said loudly.

"Ding Jianyang, just how much did Dong Zhuo promise you to make someone like you, who already had a grudge against him, insist on peace talks?" Yuan Shao sneered. "You've disappointed everyone greatly!"

"If we can't see eye to eye, there's no point in talking anymore, Yuan Benchu. I have nothing to say to you!"

Ding Yuan was furious and turned to leave.

It's better to consult the Empress Dowager and the Grand Tutor than to discuss it with Yuan Shao.

Just then, Yuan Shu led more than ten armored soldiers out from the side and blocked Ding Yuan's way.

"Yuan Benchu, what do you mean by this?" Ding Yuan questioned loudly.

"Ding Jianyang, I'm sorry, but please stay with us for a few more days."

Yuan Shao sneered, "If I let you go back, and you take your troops to Dong Zhuo, wouldn't that be terrible!"

"Foolish, absurd!"

Ding Yuan angrily cursed, "Neither of you brothers is normal!"

"Back then, it must have been your Yuan family's bad idea to persuade the General to order the feudal lords to lead their troops to the capital for a military remonstrance!"

"The current situation in the Han Dynasty is entirely your doing!"

"You actually want to detain me now? No way!"

"Aren't you afraid that the world will find out and laugh at your Yuan family for doing something that pleases your enemies and your own family!"

Ding Yuan's angry rebuke made Yuan Shao's face burn with embarrassment, and he remained silent.

Seeing this, Yuan Shu ordered his men, "Make your move and capture Governor Ding."

Ding Yuan's guards drew their swords in resistance, but were disarmed and subdued by Yuan Shu's men.

"Governor Ding, please! We will not harm you, please cooperate!"

This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!