Banquet of princes.
At this time, the eighteen princes attended a banquet and discussed Dong Jin's strategy.
Everyone was talking to each other, drinking and drinking, it was very lively, Gongsun Zan looked around and spoke first.
"Everyone be quiet, please listen to what I, Gongsun Zan, have to say."
"Today we are pursuing righteousness to challenge Dong. The eighteen princes are not in charge of each other, and the military order will be in chaos."
"We must first select an alliance leader that everyone recognizes and issue orders before we can march."
"After the fourth and third generations of Yuan Shao and Yuan Benchu, there are disciples and former officials all over the world who can be elected as the leader of the alliance."
Cao Cao looked at Gongsun Zan and was a little surprised. What Gongsun Bogui said was exactly what he thought, and he immediately said.
"What Grand Administrator Gongsun said is very reasonable. Brother Yuan Shao is a descendant of a famous Han Dynasty prime minister. His reputation has spread all over the world, so he should be the leader of the alliance."
"Yes, Yuan Benchu can take on this important task!"
"Yes, I also agree with Yuan Benchu as the alliance leader."
All the princes spoke one after another to approve Yuan Shao's appointment as the leader of the princes alliance, but Yuan Shu was the only one who was secretly angry about this.
Hearing that all the princes wanted to recommend him as the alliance leader, Yuan Shao was so happy. Taking the title of alliance leader meant he had great righteousness. In the future, Yuan Shao would have the first share of the credit for Dong Gong's success.
Although he couldn't wait to be the leader of the alliance, Yuan Shao still declined on the surface.
"I, Yuan Benchu, have little talent and little knowledge. How can I take on this important task? I should choose another capable person as the leader of the alliance."
After repeated refusals, Yuan Shao agreed to be the leader of the alliance.
...
The next day, a three-story high platform was built at the coalition station. The platform was three feet high. The high platform was covered with five flags, white flags, yellow axes, and military symbols.
The princes invited Yuan Shao, the leader of the alliance, to come to the altar and swear an oath of alliance.
Yuan Shao looked solemn, arranged his clothes and sword, climbed to the high platform, burned incense to worship, and solemnly swore an alliance.
"Unfortunately for the Han Dynasty, the emperor lost his authority. The traitor Dong Zhuo took advantage of the provocation to cause harm to the supreme leader and tortured the people. Shao and others were afraid of the loss of the country, so they gathered rebels and went to the national disaster. All our allies will work together to There must be no two ambitions in the loyalty of ministers. If you have this alliance with Chongqing, you will lose your life and have no inheritance. The emperor, the queen, the land, the ancestors are wise, we all learn from this fact!"
After the oath of alliance was completed, all the princes shed tears because of Yuan Shao's impassioned and generous words. Then eighteen princes shed their blood for the alliance to fight against Dong.
Making an alliance with blood is not like scratching the palm of your hand with a sharp knife and drinking wine spilled with blood.
In ancient times, making a blood alliance was a very solemn matter. Generally, a high platform was built, an animal sacrifice was set up, the animal was killed and the blood of the animal was taken into the mouth or the blood of the animal was smeared on the face to show that if you disobey the alliance, you will be punished by the gods. Sanctions make human life like a sacrificial animal.
After forming a blood alliance, the eighteen princes headed by Yuan Shao raised their tents to discuss the strategy of marching.
As the leader of the alliance of princes, Yuan Shao sat in the main seat, and the remaining seventeen princes sat in two rows according to their titles and ages.
After drinking for a few rounds, Cao Cao stood up and said.
"Now that the leader of the alliance has been elected, the princes from all walks of life are at their disposal to support the Han Dynasty. When everyone is united, there is no need to care about the strength or weakness of the princes."
When Gongsun Zan saw Cao Cao speaking out, he also said:
"What Brother Meng De said is true. I, Gongsun Zan, have made it clear that I am here to make an alliance to fight against the thieves. The purpose of this trip is to report to the country and bring peace to the people. I will never care about personal gains and losses."
As soon as this statement came out, all the princes in the tent had different expressions, and there were many who had evil intentions.
Cao Cao was very happy. He had never thought that Gongsun Zan could understand the righteousness so well, and he immediately felt like a comrade.
The leader of the alliance, Yuan Shao, saw that Cao Cao and Gongsun Zan had expressed their opinions, and immediately stood up and said.
"Although I, Yuan Shao, am not talented, since I have been elected as the leader of the alliance by all the princes, meritorious deeds must be rewarded, and guilty must be punished. The country has punishments and the army has disciplines. You should abide by them and do not violate them."
