About Cao Cao's reincarnation as the emperor's uncle

Chapter 42 The Sky's Cleared, Let's Go, Everyone

Xu Shao stroked his beard and chuckled, raising a slight brow at the corner of his eye:
"There's another interesting story. Back then, Yuan Shu considered himself a chivalrous hero and wanted to snatch He Yong away from Yuan Shao."

"To his dismay, Yuan Shu, enraged at being turned away, began to hurl insults at He Yong in front of his gate..."

Liu Fang gave a forced smile and lightly tapped the table:

"Okay, time to get down to business."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Shao stopped smiling, Jian Shuo quickly sat up straight, and Feng Xu pushed his teacup away.

Liu Fang's gaze swept over everyone, finally settling on Xu Shao:
“Zhang Mengzhuo values ​​righteousness over profit. As long as we make it clear that we want to eliminate corruption, he will come to us.”

"I will personally go to meet with the Primordial Lord. The remaining two..."

"Xu You was then handed over to Zijiang, and as for He Yong..."

Feng Xu understood immediately, and bowed deeply.
“Xu is willing to accept the order.”

Jian Shuo felt somewhat lost, seeing that nothing concerned him.

"My lord, what should I do?"

Liu Fang turned to Jian Shuo and couldn't help but laugh:
"Zilie's scheme yesterday kept many people up at night."

Jian Shuo's triangular eyes twitched, his smugness overflowing:
"Your Excellency, you are so complimentary!"

Liu Fang interrupted him:
"So, who should be replaced, and in which positions should our people be placed..."

He reached out and pressed down on Jian Shuo's shoulder:

"Such a momentous matter can only be accomplished by Zi Lie."

"I knew it. What you value most, sir, is..."

Just as Jian Shuo was feeling pleased with himself, he suddenly caught a glimpse of Xu Shao's ambiguous smile.

He immediately fell silent, stepped back to Xu Shao's side, and whispered in his ear:
"General, do you need my help?"

Xu Shao stroked his long beard to the other side and glared at Jian Shuo:
"How dare I trouble Jian Huangmen with a mere Xu Ziyuan?"

Seeing Xu Shao's expression, Jian Shuo couldn't help but laugh:
"I almost forgot... Zijiang has experience in this kind of thing."

Hearing the teasing tone in Jian Shuo's words, Xu Shao wasn't angry. Instead, he sighed deeply.
“That makes sense. If it weren’t for you, sir, there would be no General Xu today.”

Liu Fang knew what Xu Shao meant, and shook his head with a smile:
Why keep bringing up these old stories?

After saying that, his gaze fell on the increasingly dense rain outside the window.

……

Xu Shao's so-called experience.

It is precisely the kind of compromise and expediency found within aristocratic families.

This is also the reason why he became acquainted with Yuan Shao and Xu You.

Although Xu Shao was born into the Xu clan of Runan, he belonged to a collateral branch.

Like Yuan Shao, his biological father died early, and he did not receive care from his biological mother from a young age.

He had an older brother named Xu Qian, who was raised by the matriarch of this branch of the family.

Although the mistress treated them well, her son, Xu Jing, who was also his cousin, always found fault with him and Xu Qian.

It's not that Xu Jing is a bad person, but he always likes to act like an elder brother or father, pointing fingers at them.

Moreover, Xu Jing's abilities were average. He relied on his age and his good relationship with the direct descendants to become the most famous member of the Xu family in this generation.

When they were young, Xu Xiang, the eldest son of the direct line, always bullied them, while his elder brother Xu Qian protected him, and Xu Jing always played the good guy.

After they had been bullied, Xu Jing put on a magnanimous act and realistically advised them to be patient and not to fight with the direct descendants.

After all, he had been living under someone else's roof for many years, so Xu Shao had tolerated it.

Until that day...

Three-foot-long icicles hung from the eaves of the old Xu family residence in Runan, and young Xu Shao clutched his frozen fingers.

He watched as his elder brother, Xu Qian, shielded him, while Xu Xiang slashed his back, leaving several bloody welts.

Because of his young age and the cold that damaged his body, Xu Qian developed a chronic illness at that time, and his health has been poor ever since.

Even this time, Xu Jing didn't help them get their way; he just stood by the door and opened his mouth.

With a soft sigh, came that familiar phrase:

"Just bear with it, the direct descendants are ultimately..."

This event left a deep impression on him.

His connection with Yuan Shao began with the similar snow outside the ancestral hall.

They were both born into poverty and were both orphaned at a young age.

And then there's that phrase, "bastard," from the mouths of the direct descendants.

Xu You's arrogance at first sight was just like my own when I clenched my fists in front of the Xu clan ancestral hall back then.

Although he nominally belonged to the Xu family of Runan, he was in reality no different from a poor family.

When he grew up, he was still unappreciated and encountered setbacks everywhere, even ending up homeless.

...In a dilapidated temple west of Luoyang City, Xu Shao huddled on a straw mat, his thin blue robe offering little protection from the biting December wind.

He touched his empty sleeve pocket, his fingertips brushing against the frayed thread at the collar.

Just as he was drifting into a daze, the temple door creaked open, and a young figure was swept in by the wind and snow.

The man took off his fox fur coat and draped it over him, then handed him a bowl of still-warm meat porridge.

"Is it Xu Zijiang of Runan?"

His hand holding the rough porcelain bowl trembled violently, and scalding hot porridge splashed onto his palm, but it couldn't compare to the shock in his heart.

……

This person was none other than Liu Fang.

Under Liu Fang's guidance, he gradually began to change, at least outwardly lowering his proud head and going to see his cousin Xu Jing.

Afterwards, he gradually took advantage of Xu Jing's reputation and, under the guise of the Xu family of Runan, started making monthly reviews.

Xu Zijiang is now famous throughout the land, but who knows what lies beneath the snow and wind in that dilapidated temple...

It was the wise man who gave him recognition, dignity, and hope.

"Your talent should be judged by the world, not confined by your clan..."

……

The charcoal brazier suddenly crackled, startling Jian Shuo so much that he accidentally knocked over the lampstand on the table.

"Eh……"

Feng Xu shook his head helplessly and reached out to straighten the lampstand.

The commotion pulled Xu Shao from his memories.

The rain outside the window had stopped sometime ago, and the sound of dripping water from the eaves tapping on the bluestone was even clearer than the sound of the rain just now.

Xu Shao looked at Liu Fang standing by the door and vaguely saw the figure of the boy in the dilapidated temple from that year.

He hurriedly got up and walked closer:

"Shao will certainly not fail in his mission."

Liu Fang turned around and looked at the burning passion in Xu Shao's eyes...

When he took off his fox fur coat, the scholar was stiff as ice. He only shed tears after eating hot porridge, but he gritted his teeth and refused to admit that he came from the Xu family of Runan.

Looking at Xu Zijiang today, he has completely changed. How wonderful...

"A great era is about to begin; go forth and do it!"

After saying that, Liu Fang pushed open the wooden door, and the wind after the rain, carrying the smell of earth, rushed in.

The puddles in the courtyard reflected the sunlight as he strode out the door.

Jian Shuo, with his protruding belly, was the first to catch up, while Xu Shao and Feng Xu walked side by side.

Once Liu Fang had stood still, the crowd exchanged smiles and bowed respectfully.

"Here!"

Suddenly, a simple, honest voice came from under the eaves:
"Here!"

Everyone turned their heads and saw Xu Feng, who had been guarding outside the door, scratch the back of his head and inexplicably bow.

There were still a few leaves stuck to the hair ornament, I don't know when they were rubbed off.

Liu Fang was taken aback, then couldn't help but smile.

Laughter then erupted in waves.

"The sky has cleared, let's go, everyone..."

Wind blows.

Jian Shuo's men began to assemble at the street corner.

The secret report from Feng Xu rustled in his sleeve.

Xu Shao walked alone on the long street after the rain...

He was never a renowned scholar from the Xu family of Runan; he was merely Xu Zijiang, a subordinate of Liu Yuanyi.

　Note:

　　【①Xu Xiang】

　　The Book of the Later Han Dynasty states: "Shao followed his grandfather Jing, whose son Xun, and Xun's son Xiang, all of whom became three dukes. Xiang was known for his ability to flatter eunuchs... He repeatedly sent people to invite Shao. Shao disliked his treacherous behavior and ultimately refused to listen to them."

　　【②Xu Jing】

　　The Records of the Three Kingdoms states: "Xu Jing, courtesy name Wenxiu... was famous in his youth along with his younger cousin Shao, and both were known for their moral character and conduct, but their personal relationships were not harmonious."

　　【③Xu Qian】

　　The Book of the Later Han Dynasty states: "His elder brother Qian was also well-known. People from Runan said that there were two dragons in Pingyu Abyss."

　　
　
(End of this chapter)