Chapter 909: Prepare to Mediate by Changing Flags and Banners

After receiving the message, Fa Zheng quickly informed Liu Bei's Army, and their blockade against both the Cao Army and the Yuan Family was lifted. The next day, Xiahou Yuan received an urgent report sent over an incredible 800-li distance. It was encrypted intelligence from Yuan Tan's faction addressed to Guo Yuan, instructing him to retreat to Zhao County.

This encrypted message was penned by Cui Yan during his retreat. At this point, only such high-level communication could reach Guo Yuan, as nearly all other correspondence had been intercepted by Liu Bei's Army.

Upon receiving this intelligence, Xiahou Yuan learned of Yuan Shao's unexpected death and was momentarily at a loss as to how to proceed. According to Cao Cao's orders, upon confirming intelligence of a major victory by Liu Bei's Army, Xiahou Yuan was to don the ceremonial armor of the Emperor's Guard and pose as a mediation force to intervene with Liu Bei's Army.