Second-hand time travel: Liu Bei, the big-eared bandit

Chapter 262 King Murder?

South of Luoyang City, outside Pingcheng Gate.

Yuan Shu is here.

After blocking Liu Bei outside the North Palace Gate for a while, Yuan Shu originally planned to leave Luoyang.

Yuan Shu didn't care about the lives or deaths of those Tiger Warriors—the Tiger Warriors were Yuan Shao's subordinates, not Yuan Shu's men.

Although Yuan Shu had served as a Tiger-General a few years ago, the current Tiger-General is not the same as the one from a few years ago.

Liu Bei said that Yuan Shu "followed Yuan Shao's orders," which greatly displeased Yuan Shu.

Yuan Shu was unwilling to listen to Yuan Shao's orders, nor did he want to listen to the orders of Yuan Wei and Yuan Ji.

Yuan Shu knew that Luoyang would be in chaos, and that Yuan Kui and Yuan Shao wanted to support He Jin in vying for the throne with Shi Hou, but he knew nothing about the specifics of the operation.

Because Yuan Wei and Yuan Ji did not tell Yuan Shu the detailed plan, but only told Yuan Shu to obey He Jin's orders...

But He Jin's order was indeed Yuan Shao's idea—he was indeed following Yuan Shao's orders!

This is even more annoying...

So Yuan Shu had a sudden idea and intercepted the daughter-in-law that Yuan Shao had his eye on.

Of course, he was also tempted by her beauty. Yuan Shu had seen Feng Fang's daughter, and she was indeed stunningly beautiful.

Feng Fang's home was located outside the city by the Yi River. Yuan Shu did indeed send a matchmaker to Feng Fang's home to propose marriage, in order to avoid the troubles in Luoyang.

Meanwhile, the two thousand Xiyuan soldiers that Yuan Shu himself recruited were also stationed at Yishui Camp, and these were Yuan Shu's own troops.

Of course, there are many procedures involved in getting married. Now that he was preparing to ask for a matchmaker, Yuan Shu returned to say goodbye to his future father-in-law, Feng Fang, and then planned to go back to Runan to properly prepare for the wedding.

However, when Yuan Shu returned to Pingcheng Gate, he found that the guards had been replaced by Yuan Shao's subordinates.

When asked about Feng Fang's whereabouts, they learned that Feng Fang had been killed by Yuan Shao!
It was said that Feng Fang was plotting a rebellion.

Yuan Shu was furious on the spot...

He didn't know what Yuan Shao was plotting in Luoyang, but he knew what kind of person Feng Fang was... a treasonous plot?
Could it be that he killed Feng Fang because he stole her from her wedding?
Is this how the benevolent and virtuous Yuan Shao accomplishes great things?

"Is the chivalrous Yuan Gonglu also planning to murder an eight-year-old child?"

The image of Liu Bei questioning Yuan Shu with a knife once again flashed before his eyes.

No one told me when I tried to assassinate Lord Dong...

It seems I'm the only one in the family being kept in the dark! Yet they're carrying out this clan extermination, and they're making me do dangerous work...

Does this person think they're a fool?
Yuan Ji was the same. When he was sent to Youfufeng, he seized power everywhere in the court, but he had no intention of getting himself back.

It seems like the whole family feels they can't be relied on?

Even if he really can't be trusted... why is he keeping everything from me? Is he afraid that Naigong will tell on him?

Yuan Shu knew Liu Bei's attitude towards those around him... Grand Commandant Zhang Wen hindered Liu Bei from rescuing the families of his comrades, yet Liu Bei managed to remove Zhang Wen from his post. However, Yuan Shao sent assassins to kill Dong Zhuo, resulting in the death of Liu Bei's teacher...

Then, he asked Nai Gong to guard the North Palace Gate?

Why don't you, Yuan Shao, come and guard the palace gates yourself? You're the Tiger General, it's your job to guard the palace gates!

Yuan Shu once again recalled what Liu Bei had said to him in Youfufeng—who is the person who most wants to kill him?
Yes, Yuan Ji was a biological brother, and Yuan Shao was a cousin, but how often do brothers fight each other these days?
He Jin and He Miao were also brothers.

Marquis Shi and Marquis Dong were also brothers.

If Yuan Shao was able to kill Feng Fang... did he really consider himself a brother?
Fine, you go your way... I'll go mine.

Everyone has their own path to take. If given a choice, Yuan Shu would actually prefer to roam the martial arts world.

In fact, Yuan Shu did indeed roam the Jianghu (江湖, the world of martial arts and outlaws) in his earlier years, working as a lecherous thief, a mountain bandit, befriending many outlaw heroes, and even serving as the leader of the Huainan Canal Gang.

Although most of these things were done with the help of the Yuan family of Runan, one's background is also a part of one's strength. Most of the wandering knights without a background would end up in prison.

Yuan Shu took one last look at Luoyang City behind him, where he could see flames rising from within the city.

It seems Yuan Shao is already working on his big plan.

"You're quitting..."

Yuan Shu muttered something to himself, then turned and beckoned to his men, "Zhang Xun, let's go..."

At this time, Yuan Ji had already died in prison, and the Yuan family had suffered heavy casualties at the hands of Zhang Fei. Yuan Wei had just been taken in by He Jin, and Yuan Shao was massacring the eunuchs of the Southern Palace. Yuan Shu went to Feng Fang's house, took Feng Fang's daughter directly, and went to Nanyang, escaping this vortex of turmoil.

……

He Jin was still attacking the Vermilion Bird Gate of the Northern Palace at this moment.

But calling it an attack might be a bit inappropriate.

It seems that He Jin was surrounded by four groups of people outside the Vermilion Bird Gate...

He Jin had been hoping that the armies of Yuan Shao, Chunyu Qiong, and Xia Mou would arrive to provide assistance as soon as possible.

After "finding" Yuan Wei, He Jin even sent someone to find Yuan Shao, intending to have Yuan Shao come and pick up Yuan Wei.

But Yuan Shao didn't come; instead, a considerable number of enemy troops arrived...

First, Dong Zhuo's troops came from the south to the north and launched an attack from his rear.

Then a fellow named Zhang Fei led his troops from the east, and with just one attack, he disrupted his own army's formation.

And now, He Miao's men have arrived from the west... He Miao's forces are few, but they are all fighting to the death, as if they have a deep-seated hatred—He Jin recognized them; those men were soldiers of the Northern Commandant whom He Jin personally ordered to be imprisoned. They were unjustly imprisoned, so they were indeed enemies.

Liu Bei's troops, who were guarding the North Palace Gate, also opened the gate at this moment... Qian Zhao looked quite formidable.

In fact, He Jin's subordinates were very hardworking. He Jin may have been mediocre in ability, but he was good to his subordinates and always generous in his rewards, so his subordinates were willing to follow him.

The problem is that He Jin doesn't know how to fight.

He Jin really hadn't studied this stuff; he's definitely not a professional...

He Jin wanted to run away, but he couldn't even decide which way to run!
Enemies are all around us, and they all look pretty fierce...

"Yuan Shao... how dare he deceive me!"

Although He Jin wasn't particularly bright, he had already realized by this time that Yuan Shao wouldn't be coming...

He turned around and looked around, only to see Yuan Wei beside him. He reached out and grabbed Yuan Wei's collar: "Yuan Ciyang, your nephew doesn't even want you anymore!"

"Cough... He Suigao... Dong Zhuo and I have a past relationship. If you surrender to Dong Zhuo, you will surely save your life!"

Yuan Wei had been awake for a while. He had been thinking about the deaths of Yuan Ji and Empress He, and his mind was a little numb.

Seeing He Jin's frenzied, bared teeth, Yuan Wei reacted instinctively.

Yuan Wei didn't understand why Yuan Shao didn't send reinforcements, but he reacted quickly and immediately found the only way out at that moment.

“Dong Zhuo…yes, Dong Zhongying and I also have a past relationship…”

He Jin, as if grasping at a lifeline, quickly led his guards south.

"Zhong Ying, I am willing to surrender!"

He Jin led his guards and charged toward Dong Zhuo's banner.

In fact, if He Jin had focused all his efforts on breaking through in any direction, he could have succeeded...

The forces surrounding He Jin were not large; their goal was to defend Beigong and repel He Jin, and they had no intention of annihilating He Jin's main force at first.

But Yuan Wei did not want He Jin to break through the encirclement...

Once they break through, Yuan Wei, this burden, will be abandoned.

For Yuan Wei, Dong Zhuo was indeed the only possible way out, because Yuan Wei had helped Dong Zhuo when Dong Zhuo lost his official position due to being implicated by Zhang Huan.

However, Dong Zhuo had already received news from Nangong.

"General, Yuan Shao has led his army to break through Nangong... The Emperor was alarmed... and has passed away!"

The messenger was Guo Si, who had broken through the siege to seek reinforcements.

"What?! Yuan Shao... murdered the emperor?!"

Dong Zhuo was terrified.

"His Majesty was already seriously ill and in a coma when Yuan Shao's army attacked the Southern Palace... During my breakout, I heard the palace guards shouting that His Majesty had been frightened and died..."

Guo Si nodded and said, "Lord Shi is still in the Southern Palace; I fear he too has fallen into Yuan Shao's hands..."

(End of this chapter)