The Three Kingdoms: Hindsight is 20/20, and the Three Revivals of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 133 Success and Failure Both Happened in Hebei: Yuan Shao's Crisis Arrives (4 Updates)
Guandu Camp.

Yuan Shao stroked his magnificent beard, and laughter began to rise.

"Xianyi did not disgrace me."

Upon seeing the memorial sent by Yuan Xi, Yuan Shao felt as if his heart had been coated with honey.

Although Yuan Shao loved his youngest son Yuan Shang more, he also had expectations for Yuan Xi, the son born to a maid. After all, Yuan Shao was also born to a maid, so he would naturally have a psychological affinity for Yuan Xi.

Xu You took Yuan Xi's memorial and quickly scanned it. He noticed that besides Yuan Xi's governor's seal, Liu Bei's left general's seal was also present at the bottom of the memorial. He frowned and said, "Strange, the memorial is a joint memorial by Yuan Xi and Liu Bei. Liu Bei actually gave most of the credit for pacifying the six counties to Yuan Xi?"

Yuan Shao, however, was unconcerned: "It must be that Liu Bei, seeing my repeated victories at Guandu, deliberately gave the credit to Xianyi as a way to curry favor with me! Not to mention Liu Bei, even many of the soldiers and commoners in Cao Cao's rear have defected to me. The world's power is in my hands; who dares to disobey?"

Xu You looked worried: "That's true, but Liu Bei is not one to be subservient to others for long, so we must be wary."

Yuan Shao laughed loudly: "Ziyuan, don't overthink it. As long as I capture Cao Cao, even if Liu Bei is a dragon, he will have to kneel down before me!"

Seeing that Yuan Shao didn't take it seriously, Xu You sighed inwardly and then advised, "General, you and Cao Cao have been locked in a stalemate at Guandu for several months, and many of your soldiers are wounded or sick. Now that winter is approaching, it is becoming increasingly difficult to gather supplies from the rear. I observe that Cao Cao has few troops, and his main force is mostly at Guandu. Why not select a light force to launch a surprise attack on Xuchang? If we can capture Xuchang and welcome the Emperor, then use the Emperor's name to attack Cao Cao, Cao Cao will surely be defeated. Even if we fail to capture Xuchang, we can still force Cao Cao to be preoccupied with one thing and do another."

Yuan Shao frowned: "Why did you bring this up again, Ziyuan? I can capture Cao Cao alive even without sending light troops into Xuchang. Why go to such lengths instead of sending light troops? If we send light troops into Xuchang to welcome the emperor, the generals will have to report any action they take. If they obey, it will delay the battle. If they don't obey, it will be considered disobeying orders. This is not a good strategy!"

Even before the main army entered Guandu, Xu You suggested that instead of engaging Cao Cao in a direct battle, they should use a strategy of dividing their forces to feign an attack on Guandu to contain Cao Cao's main force. Then, Yuan Shao would personally lead his elite troops to take a shortcut to Xuchang to welcome the emperor. They could then use the emperor's righteousness to command Cao Cao, thus achieving a swift victory.

However, Yuan Shao, confident in his 100,000 infantry and cavalry, believed that a direct attack would be enough to capture Cao Cao alive, and there was no need to go and offer up the emperor's presence, which would only impose additional constraints.

If Yuan Shao had defeated Cao Cao in a direct confrontation, he could have secretly plotted to kill the emperor and frame Cao Cao, and then legitimately reinstate "Da Zhong" as emperor; if he had welcomed the emperor, then Yuan Shao would have been a Han official for the rest of his life!
Seeing that Yuan Shao remained stubborn, Xu You couldn't help but feel depressed.

To win quickly, you have to fight tooth and nail; that's like forcing yourself to endure hardship.

Yuan Shao didn't think so. In his eyes, the advantage of Guandu was in his hands, and it was only a matter of time before he defeated Cao Cao. Wouldn't it be nice to enjoy the pleasure of tormenting Cao Cao?

While they were talking, someone reported that Shen Jinghe and Shen Zhong requested an audience.

Shen Jing was Shen Pei's eldest son, and Shen Zhong was Shen Pei's second son. Although Shen Pei was transferred back to Ye City, Shen Jing and Shen Zhong still led the Shen clan's troops in Guandu.

Xu You frowned and was about to leave with his hands clasped in respect, clearly unwilling to be ranked alongside Shen Pei's two sons.

But before Xu You could even leave the tent, Shen Jing and Shen Zhong arrived in a rage.

Seeing that Xu You was about to leave, Shen Zhong stopped him directly, while Shen Jing knelt down and cried to Yuan Shao: "Xu You condoned the lawlessness and instigated his wife and children to harm my Shen clan. Please, General, do justice for my Shen family!"

Xu You's expression changed drastically, and he shouted, "Shen Jing, how dare you slander me?"

Shen Jing didn't even glance at Xu You, and directly presented the memorial that Shen Pei had sent by fast horse: "The memorial is here, please take note, General!"

Yuan Shao's face turned ashen. He didn't even need to read the memorial to guess its contents.

With a cold expression, Yuan Shao glanced at the contents of the memorial, then his face suddenly changed drastically. He shouted, "Shen Pei, how dare you! Without my permission, how dare you take your son, wife, and children into custody!"

Xu You felt a sudden darkness before his eyes, staggered two steps, and snatched the memorial. When he saw the memorial listing the illegal crimes of the Xu family, the imprisonment of his wife and children, and the confiscation of his property, Xu You immediately drew his sword and pointed it at Shen Jing: "How dare you, you scoundrel!"

Unexpectedly, Shen Jing, in a moment of "panic," deliberately crashed into Xu You's sword, causing him to bleed profusely.

Shen Zhong, standing at the door, was "shocked" and rushed forward to knock Xu You's sword away. He helped Shen Jing up, both angry and aggrieved: "General, Xu You has allowed his wife and children to harm my Shen clan, and now he wants to kill my brother to silence him. Please, General, do justice for my brother!"

Shen Jing clutched his shoulder again and argued, "The General ordered Young Master Shang to oversee Ye City, and my father had Young Master Shang's permission to detain Xu You's wife and children!"

Yuan Shao's anger froze instantly upon hearing the words "Young Master Shang," and an expression of disbelief appeared on his face, clearly not understanding why Yuan Shang would do something so foolish!
"Take your brother to get treatment first. This matter is not to be told to anyone without my permission. Anyone who disobeys will be executed!" Yuan Shao coldly dismissed the brothers from the court.

He then reassured Xu You, "Ziyuan, don't worry. Once I defeat Cao Cao, I will definitely have Shen Pei release your wife and children safely. You were too impulsive just now!"

Xu You was indignant: "Benchu, why wait until we defeat Cao Cao? Didn't you see that Shen Pei was taking revenge for personal reasons?"

Yuan Shao, angered that Xu You addressed him by his courtesy name, said, "The evidence in the memorial is conclusive, and Xianfu has given permission to detain Ziyuan's wife and children. If we don't wait until we defeat Cao Cao, how can I use this opportunity of a great victory to pardon Ziyuan's family? Does Ziyuan want me to break the law at this time? If I order Shen Pei to release Ziyuan's wife and children now, wouldn't that mean releasing Tian Feng as well? There are many in the army who are on good terms with Tian Feng. If the law is unclear, how can I command this army of 100,000?"

Seeing that Xu You was still indignant, Yuan Shao softened his tone and comforted him, "Ziyuan, the great cause is right before us, and I intend to share it with you. A small act of impatience will ruin the great plan!"

Under Yuan Shao's reassurance and promises, Xu You suppressed his impulse to kill Shen Pei and resigned from the main tent.

As soon as Xu You left, Yuan Shao's face turned ashen.

If it weren't for the critical moment in the confrontation with Cao Cao, Yuan Shao would have arrested the brothers Shen Jing and Shen Zhong today on charges of disrupting the morale of the army.

Yuan Shao tacitly approved of Xu You, Guo Tu, and others framing Shen Pei because Yuan Shao did not want the powerful clans in Hebei to become too influential.

The transfer of Ju Shou, the imprisonment of Tian Feng, and the reassignment of Shen Pei were less due to the slander of Xu You, Guo Tu, and others, and more because Yuan Shao had already had these ideas, which gave Xu You, Guo Tu, and others an opportunity to "guess the emperor's intentions."

If Shen Pei were to turn against Xu You, it would be like tearing Yuan Shao's flesh apart, attempting to clip Yuan Shao's wings, and turning Yuan Shao into a puppet who could only rely on the powerful families of Hebei.

How could Yuan Shao possibly agree to that?

"Once I capture Cao Cao, I will settle accounts with you all!" Yuan Shao kicked the wine table in front of him away, his tone exceptionally gloomy.

　Chapter 4 is here!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)