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

Chapter 143 The Yuan family, father and son, are a den of snakes and rats; Liu Bei becomes a mercenary again (3rd update)
Liu Bei readily agreed: "If the General needs anything, the infantry and cavalry of Youzhou can march south immediately. I have three generals who are sufficient to serve you. Guan Yu can be stationed at Liyang to prevent Cao Cao from advancing north from Yanjin; Zhang Fei can be sent to patrol Hanoi to prevent Cao Cao from launching a surprise attack on Yecheng; and Zhao Yun can be sent to guard Cangting to prevent Cao Cao from crossing the Cangting Ferry. With these three generals outside, I will assist the General in directing their movements from the center. What is there to worry about?"

Seeing that Liu Bei readily agreed, Yuan Shao was overjoyed: "With Xuande's help, Ji Province has someone to rely on! I have some wine to offer, let's drink together today."

Yuan Shao immediately ordered a banquet to be held.

Since Yuan Xi was present, Yuan Shao couldn't easily send him away, so he ordered Yuan Xi to stay with him.

Yuan Xi was overjoyed. He didn't have many opportunities to spend time with Yuan Shao, and today was the perfect chance.

During the banquet.

Liu Bei praised Yuan Xi's achievements in governing Youzhou, which greatly surprised Yuan Shao: "Xuande, are you deliberately giving the credit to Xianyi?"

In Yuan Shao's eyes: his eldest son Tan was ruthless and prone to killing; his second son Xi was weak and indecisive; and his third son Shang had the appearance of a hero.

Now Liu Bei was recounting Yuan Xi's "civil and military achievements" in Youzhou, which surprised Yuan Shao, who thought, "This son is truly my son."

Liu Bei laughed and said, "Young Master Xi, under the protection of the General, prioritized filial piety and thus appeared weak; now, governing a province alone, he is like a fledgling eagle soaring alone, undergoing trials and tribulations before finally becoming a soaring eagle. Young Master Xi's intelligence and wisdom are truly astonishing. If it weren't for Young Master Xi's foundational contributions, how could I have pacified six counties in just two months? It's not that I'm deliberately denigrating, but Young Master Xi truly possesses the qualities of the General, a cause for celebration!"

These words delighted Yuan Xi and pleased Yuan Shao.

Although Yuan Xi was not Yuan Shao's favorite son, he was the son of a favored concubine. When Liu Bei praised Yuan Xi in front of Yuan Shao, Yuan Shao felt proud and laughed.

Seeing that Yuan Shao was happy, Yuan Xi quickly offered him a toast, showing his filial piety.

However, the joy of this banquet displeased Yuan Shao's second wife, Lady Liu.

Madam Liu secretly sent someone to invite Yuan Shang, and then deliberately came to the banquet to inquire about etiquette.

Yuan Shao was drinking when Lady Liu suddenly arrived. He then said to Liu Bei, "Xuande is a descendant of Prince Jing of Zhongshan, and my wife is also from the Liu family of Zhongshan. In terms of lineage, we are of the same clan."

(The above is unofficial historical record)
Madam Liu smiled charmingly, her words seemingly implying: "General Zuo and I both come from the Liu family of Zhongshan. In that case, Shang'er can also call General Zuo 'uncle'."

Liu Bei hurriedly greeted Lady Liu, saying, "I am merely a member of a branch of the Prince of Zhongshan, and I dare not compare myself to you, much less presume to speak to your esteemed elder."

Madam Liu chuckled, "General Zuo is too modest. With your current reputation, it would be an honor for Shang'er to call you 'Uncle.' What do you think, General?"

Yuan Shao laughed heartily: "What you say is very true, madam!"

Upon hearing Lady Liu's words establish a maternal kinship between Liu Bei and Yuan Shang, Yuan Xi was immediately enraged: "If General Zuo really becomes Yuan Shang's uncle, will he still help me fight against Yuan Shang? This old woman and her son are truly of the same ilk. The younger one doesn't treat me like a brother, and the older one looks down on me. How hateful!"

Although Yuan Xi was gentle and weak, he was not stupid.

Lady Liu had no prior relationship with Liu Bei. She only came to Yuan Shang to claim kinship with him because she saw that Liu Bei and Yuan Xi had a close relationship and was afraid that Liu Bei would support Yuan Xi. She also wanted to warn Yuan Xi not to have any improper thoughts.

Not long after.

Yuan Shang entered from outside.

Lady Liu hurriedly rose and instructed, "Shang'er, the General is hosting a banquet for General Zuo today. I only learned today that General Zuo has quite a connection with my Liu family of Zhongshan. You are a junior, so you should offer a toast to General Zuo." Yuan Shang was surprised, but seeing Lady Liu winking at him, he immediately understood. He took the wine and went to Liu Bei's table, saying, "Junior Yuan Shang was unaware of General Zuo's arrival and has failed to greet you properly. This is just a small cup of wine, nothing more than a token of my respect."

Seeing Yuan Shang's insincere toast, Yuan Xi's hand holding the wine cup bulged with veins, and his heart was filled with anger.

If Yuan Shao hadn't been there, Yuan Xi would have smashed the wine cup and left.

Liu Bei quickly scanned the expressions of everyone at the table, then stood up and retorted, "I have long heard that Young Master Shang has the appearance of a hero and is respectful to scholars; indeed, the reputation is well-deserved."

After chatting with Yuan Shang for a while, Liu Bei made a judgment: compared to Yuan Xi, Yuan Shang was more shrewd and indeed more suitable to be Yuan Shao's successor than Yuan Tan and Yuan Xi.

However, for Liu Bei, a simple-minded Yuan Xi was obviously more suitable to befriend than a more cunning Yuan Shang. Liu Bei wanted allies, not lords, so he would not give up on Yuan Xi just because of a few words of marriage proposal from Lady Liu and a toast from Yuan Shang.

With Lady Liu and Yuan Shang joining them, Liu Bei pretended to be drunk and asked to leave after drinking for a short while.

As Liu Bei and Yuan Xi left, Yuan Shang's eyes instantly turned cold.

Clearly, Yuan Shang was not as respectful to scholars as he appeared. His self-deprecating manner in front of Liu Bei made him uncomfortable.

After learning from Yuan Shao about Liu Bei's plan to divide his troops and send generals away, Yuan Shang slandered him, saying, "Liu Bei saved Tian Feng's life, and the officials and people of Ye City will definitely have more dealings with Liu Bei. We must be wary of this. Now he wants to send three generals to live outside while he himself stays in Ye City. This will surely cause trouble in the long run. It would be better to send them back to Zhuo County and just use Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun to guard the three places."

Lady Liu looked at Yuan Shao and said, "Shang'er is right. Liu Bei has a lot of influence. It would be useless to let him live in Ye City to win people's hearts. Anyway, the general just wants to use Liu Bei's elite troops to deal with Cao Cao. Whether Liu Bei is there or not is not important."

Yuan Shao neither agreed nor disagreed, but simply ordered the two to leave for the time being.

Only when he was alone did Yuan Shao sigh deeply: "Liu Bei is no ordinary man; how could he willingly hand over his troops and generals? Shang'er is still too young!"

However, Yuan Shao was also aware of Yuan Shang's concerns. Ji Province was seized from Han Fu by Yuan Shao through trickery. If Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun were to be stationed in three places while Liu Bei resided in Ye City, it would be uncertain who would rule and who would be the subject of Ye City in the future.

a long time.

Yuan Shao's eyes turned cold as he devised a plan: "Liu Bei can stay in Ye City, but he can't use all of his troops and generals. It would be better to send him to recruit and train new soldiers, and then I will send Yan Liang and Wen Chou to control them. In this way, we can both use Liu Bei to deal with Cao Cao and not worry about losing military power."

The other end.

Yuan Xi returned to the camp in a huff after leaving the General's Mansion.

Today, I originally wanted to make a good impression on Yuan Shao in order to gain his approval, but Lady Liu and Yuan Shang interfered and only made me feel annoyed.

Seeing Yuan Xi's impatience, Liu Bei secretly shook his head and gently comforted him: "Governor Yuan and I have a bond of friendship in pacifying the six commanderies. How can you compare to Yuan Shang? Moreover, Yuan Shang has many capable men under his command. I won't gain much benefit if I go. Governor Yuan, please don't be suspicious."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Xi was taken aback, then overjoyed. The anger that had accumulated during the banquet dissipated, replaced by a fawning promise to Liu Bei: "Yuan Shang appears magnanimous but is actually suspicious. Today, he referred to himself as a junior before the Left General at Lady Liu's behest, not of his own volition. Yuan Shang will surely be ashamed of this! I, Yuan Xi, am different; I deeply admire the Left General."

As Liu Bei listened to Yuan Xi's promises with a smile, he was actually pondering the questions Yuan Shao had asked during the banquet.

After calming Yuan Xi down, Liu Bei went directly to Zhuge Liang's separate tent and told him the truth about rescuing Tian Feng and the banquet.

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(End of this chapter)