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

Chapter 193 Yuan Shao was blinded by his own interests; Zhuge Liang was the one truly in control (3rd update)
this time.

Cao Cao indulged in pleasure with widows and young women in Xuchang, Liu Bei visited renowned elders in Zhongshan to cultivate public support, Zhuge Liang recruited wise men and devised strategies in Changshan, while Yuan Shao abstained from alcohol and women in Yecheng and struggled to establish an heir.

Previously, Yuan Shao felt that wine and women were harming his health and making him look haggard, so he stopped drinking. Later, Yuan Shao was troubled by the uncertainty of his succession and could not sleep day and night, so he also stopped enjoying the pleasures of the boudoir.

As the saying goes: wine is a poison that burns through the intestines, and lust is a steel knife that scrapes the bones.

After a ten-day period of admonishment, Yuan Shao indeed appeared refreshed and in good health. He then gathered his civil and military officials in the hall and said, "Cao Cao is now eyeing Henan with hostility, and the matter of succession cannot be delayed any longer. I have three sons. My eldest son, Tan, is upright and prone to killing; my second son, Xi, is weak and cowardly and difficult to establish. Only my third son has the appearance of a hero and is also respectful to scholars. I intend to establish Shang as my successor. What do you gentlemen think?"

After agonizing for many days, under the influence of Liu's pillow talk, Yuan Shao still sided with Yuan Shang.

However, during this period, the factional struggle in Ye City intensified. The faction led by Shen Pei and Feng Ji supported Yuan Shang, while the faction led by Guo Tu and Xin Ping supported Yuan Tan. Xu You, Meng Dai, Jiang Qi and others, who had originally remained neutral, also supported Yuan Tan.

No sooner had Yuan Shao finished speaking than a dispute broke out between the civil and military officials in the hall.

Guo Tu was the first to object: "Of the three sons, Young Master Tan is the eldest and the legitimate son. He is capable of governing a prefecture and county through his literary skills, and of leading troops into battle. In the past, it was Young Master Tan who defeated Tian Kai in the north and attacked Kong Rong in the east, displaying his military prowess in the coastal areas, which enabled the General to take charge of Qingzhou. On the other hand, Young Master Shang, who occupies the rich land of Jizhou and oversees both civil and military affairs, allowed Shen Pei to arrest Xu You's family during the crucial Battle of Guandu, ultimately forcing Xu You to rebel and causing a great disaster. He is incapable of managing his subordinates through his literary skills and of suppressing traitors through his military skills. How can he be worthy of the heavy responsibility of being the heir? I urge the General to reconsider!"

Upon hearing Guo Tu's objection, Yuan Shao felt a headache coming on.

Yuan Shao is in a dilemma. He dislikes Shen Pei's monopolization of power, but he also dislikes Feng Ji's secret alliance with Shen Pei. However, it is Shen Pei and Feng Ji who are the leaders supporting Yuan Shang.

He befriended scholars from Yingchuan such as Guo Tu and Xin Ping, but Guo Tu, Xin Ping, and others ended up supporting Yuan Tan.

In Yuan Shao's ideal plan, scholars from Yingchuan such as Guo Tu and Xin Ping should support Yuan Shang, while Yuan Shang should also win over Guo Tu, Xin Ping, and others. This would weaken powerful clans in Hebei like Shen Pei, and allow the factional forces to check and balance each other.

Contrary to expectations, not only did Guo Tu, Xin Ping, and other scholars from Yingchuan not support Yuan Shang, but Yuan Shang also felt that Guo Tu, Xin Ping, and others were not worth winning over.

What troubled Yuan Shao the most was that after Yuan Shang returned to Ye City, he openly impeached Xu You for speaking out against Shen Pei, causing Meng Dai, Jiang Qi and others who had a grudge against Shen Pei to worry that they would also be purged in the future. After being persuaded by Yuan Tan, they directly changed from neutral to support Yuan Tan.

Xu You, having guessed Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang's intentions, originally did not want to support either Yuan Shang or Yuan Tan. However, due to Yuan Shang's open impeachment and Yuan Tan's open defense, he chose to support Yuan Tan.

Without any choice.

Yuan Shao could only give Shen Pei and Feng Ji a look, signaling them to quickly refute Guo Tu.

Shen Pei was already dissatisfied with Guo Tu's statement that "forcing Xu You to rebel led to a great disaster." After receiving a signal from Yuan Shao, he retorted, "Why did Zhang He and Gao Lan rebel? Don't you know yourself, Guo Tu? Even if I forced Xu You to rebel, you also forced Zhang He and Gao Lan to rebel. What right do you have to criticize me?"

Seeing Guo Tu's setback, Xin Ping sneered and laughed: "That's perfect, then neither of you should say anything. I haven't forced anyone to rebel. I support Young Master Tan, but who has any objections?"

Meng Dai, Jiang Qi, and others echoed, "That's absolutely right. We haven't forced anyone to rebel, and we all support Young Master Tan."

Shen Pei was speechless for a moment, and could only hum in response: "No matter who you support, the Shen family of Wei Commandery only recognizes Young Master Shang."

Seeing that the civil and military officials were still arguing, Yuan Shao suddenly had an urge to flee Ye City: I don't care who it is, I don't want to deal with it anymore!
If this were the Yuan Shao before the Battle of Guandu, he could still maintain control with his prestige and kill whomever he wanted; however, the current Yuan Shao has lost control over his civil and military officials. Especially after the succession struggle between Yuan Shang and Yuan Tan became public, the civil and military officials privately sought out either Yuan Shang or Yuan Tan, driven by self-interest, and Yuan Shao had to step aside.

Just as they were arguing, someone announced that Yuan Xi was requesting an audience.

Feng Ji was overjoyed: Yuan Xi has always followed the lead of Young Master Shang. If Yuan Xi also supports Young Master Shang, why should he listen to the opinions of Guo Tu and others?
Yuan Shao had obviously thought of this as well, and hurriedly ordered someone to summon Yuan Xi inside.

Feng Ji took the initiative, first greeting Yuan Xi below the hall, and then carefully instructing Yuan Xi: "Today, the General wants to establish Young Master Shang as his heir, but Guo Tu, Xin Ping, and others are opposing it. As long as Young Master Xi says that all seven counties of Youzhou support Young Master Shang, the General can establish Young Master Shang's position as heir today. Once Young Master Shang becomes the heir, you will certainly not be treated unfairly!"

Yuan Xi sneered inwardly: Luckily I arrived in time, otherwise I would have made a wasted trip if Yuan Shang had seized the position of heir.

After giving Feng Ji a perfunctory reply, Yuan Xi strode over to greet Yuan Shao: "Now that the summer heat is gradually rising, I am worried that Father will not be able to bear the scorching heat of Ye City. Therefore, I have found a summer resort in Zhongshan and would like to invite Father to move to Zhongshan. I will serve you every day to fulfill my filial duty."

As soon as he finished speaking, Feng Ji was instantly stunned.

what's the situation?
I asked you to support Young Master Shang in order to move the General to Zhongshan to escape the summer heat.
Yuan Shao was taken aback by Yuan Xi's purpose: "Xianyi, let's put aside the matter of moving to Zhongshan for now. Today I want to establish an heir, so you can give me some advice. Who do you think should be the heir?"

However, Yuan Xi did not answer but asked in return: "Father is in his prime, in the throes of youth. He could easily live another thirty years. Why is there such a rush to establish an heir at this time?"

This question once again stunned Yuan Shao.

Before Yuan Shao could react, Yuan Xi berated his men: "It is all because of you treacherous villains who have sown discord between my father and my brothers, causing my father to suffer. With a formidable enemy at hand, instead of working together, you fight amongst yourselves, always either supporting your third brother or praising your eldest brother! Don't you know the principle that when the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits?"

Whether it was Shen Pei, Feng Ji, Guo Tu, Xin Ping, Meng Dai, Jiang Qi, or others, they were all stunned by Yuan Xi's reaction today.

what's the situation?
Isn't Young Master Xi always a supporter of Young Master Shang?

Why is it that today it seems they deliberately don't want Young Master Shang to be their heir?
The crowd whispered amongst themselves, speculating and filled with doubt.

Only Xu You, who had already seen through the mystery, crossed his arms and sneered.

However, Xu You did not intend to expose Yuan Xi's intentions. Yuan Shang's public impeachment made Xu You realize that as long as Yuan Shang became the heir, his life would be in danger.

Therefore, as long as Yuan Shangdang does not have an heir, it makes no difference whether the heir is Yuan Tan, Yuan Xi, or even Yuan Mai!

Seeing that everyone was still whispering, Xu You spoke up in support of Yuan Xi: "General, what Young Master Xi said is absolutely right. In ancient times, the establishment of an heir was usually done when the dying man entrusted his son to someone. General, you are not yet fifty years old and are in your prime. Why are you in such a hurry? Why not fulfill Young Master Xi's filial duty and go to Zhongshan to escape the summer heat? If he still has the intention to establish an heir after autumn, it will not be too late to discuss it again."

　Update 3 is here!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)