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

Chapter 194 Yuan Shao moves to Zhongshan State, Zhuge Liang's plan begins to take shape (4th update)
What is a chess player? A chess player is someone who can use moves outside the board.

Although Zhuge Liang did not directly intervene in Yuan Shao's succession dispute, he was able to interfere through underhanded means.

Yuan Shang and Yuan Tan were eager to win over Yuan Shao's civil and military officials, hoping to sideline Yuan Shao; Yuan Xi, however, directly used filial piety as a starting point at this crucial moment.

The Han people placed the utmost importance on filial piety.

Even a tyrannical figure like Dong Zhuo had a reputation for filial piety, and Cao Cao mourned Cao Song before attacking Xuzhou.

In this comparison, Yuan Xi instantly became a filial son, while Yuan Shang and Yuan Tan became unfilial sons who hoped for Yuan Shao's death so they could divide the family property.

Xu You added a decisive line: "Ensure Yuan Xi fulfills his filial piety, retreats to Zhongshan for the summer, and discusses the matter again in the autumn." This completely overturned the entire chessboard of Yuan Shao's succession plan.

Why bother with establishing an heir? Let's go to Zhongshan to escape the summer heat first!
For a moment, Yuan Shao couldn't think of anything to refute. Instead, he vaguely felt that Yuan Xi and Xu You were right: "That's right, I'm not even fifty yet, why should I rush to establish an heir? Do you all want me to die?"

Many people wished for Yuan Shao's death. Anyone with ambitions to conquer the world, whether it was Cao Cao and Liu Bei from the outside or Yuan Shang and Yuan Tan from the inside, all hoped for Yuan Shao's demise.

However, everyone has different opinions on when and how Yuan Shao died.

Cao Cao hoped Yuan Shao would die soon, preferably today; Yuan Shang and Yuan Tan hoped Yuan Shao would establish an heir before dying; Liu Bei hoped Yuan Shao would die when he had the strength to confront Cao Cao head-on.

Zhuge Liang's plan for Liu Bei naturally aimed to ensure that Yuan Shao would allow Liu Bei to gain more benefits and advantages before his death.

The struggle for power is so cruel and ruthless; those lacking in fortune can only be mercilessly divided up.

The debate over succession ended inconclusively due to arguments between supporters of Yuan Shang and Yuan Tan, as well as the sudden intervention of Yuan Xi.

Yuan Tan didn't feel too much regret. He was never favored by Yuan Shao, and as long as Yuan Shang didn't become the heir, Yuan Tan wouldn't have lost.

Yuan Xi's lack of support for Yuan Shang today has made Yuan Tan completely believe that Liu Bei is not on Yuan Shang's side.

As for why Liu Bei didn't openly support Yuan Tan, Yuan Tan also imagined the reason: Liu Bei didn't want to completely break with Yuan Shao yet, so he only sent Yuan Xi to Ye City to stir things up.

Yuan Tan also supported Yuan Shao going to Zhongshan. In Yuan Tan's view, if Yuan Shao went to Zhongshan, Liu Bei would have more opportunities to persuade Yuan Shao to make him his heir.

This is good news!

Yuan Tan felt no regret, but Yuan Shang was furious.

Yuan Shang was already annoyed by Meng Dai, Jiang Qi and others joining Xu You in turning against Yuan Tan. He never expected that Yuan Xi, who always followed his lead, would betray him at such a crucial moment!

"That damned Yuan Xi dared to betray me! How despicable! How hateful!" Yuan Shang overturned the wine vessel on the table, his tone so vicious it sounded like he wanted to kill someone.

Just as she was getting angry, Madam Liu arrived with her maids. Seeing Yuan Shang venting his anger on the tables, chairs, and wine vessels, Madam Liu couldn't help but scold him: "Look at you! So what if you didn't become the heir today? If the General sees this, he will be even more dissatisfied with you."

Upon seeing Madam Liu, Yuan Shang felt aggrieved: "Mother, I am truly furious that even that maid Yuan Xi dared to betray me!"

Madam Liu sneered, "Who told you not to listen to my advice and insist on letting Yuan Xi take Zhen Mi to Zhongshan? Without Zhen Mi as a hostage, Yuan Xi could be won over by Yuan Tan. You deserve this punishment for not listening to me. Now that little bastard Yuan Mai has also been tricked by Yuan Xi into going to Zhongshan. It must have been premeditated. Now Yuan Xi is advising the General to go to Zhongshan to escape the summer heat. He clearly wants to take this opportunity to persuade the General to make Yuan Tan his heir. I have decided to go to Zhongshan with the General to prevent Yuan Xi from slandering him. You stay in Ye City and do not act impulsively."

Yuan Shang was even more indignant: "That maid Yuan Xi dares to make Mother work so hard! When I become the heir, I will make sure that maid is raised to be a sight to behold!"

"Enough!" Madam Liu interrupted, "Don't be so angry. In this struggle with Yuan Tan, even Meng Dai and Jiang Qi sided with Yuan Tan, all because of your past favoritism towards Shen Pei. If you rely solely on Shen Pei and allow the Shen family to wield power, even if you become heir apparent, you will be like that little emperor in Xu Du—a figurehead without real authority, unable to act on your own. If that's the case, what use is your position as heir apparent? I've heard you've even fallen out with Yan Liang and Wen Chou; how foolish you are!"

Yuan Shang, however, was unconvinced: "Yan Liang and Wen Chou are merely nominal and incompetent. How can they compare to Shen Pei? I know my mother is worried that Shen Pei will seize power, but the Shen clan in Wei Commandery is large and powerful. I need Shen Pei to recruit soldiers and raise supplies for me. These are things that Yan Liang and Wen Chou cannot do."

Seeing Yuan Shang's insistence, Lady Liu sighed and said, "Fine. I will not interfere with how you conduct yourself in Ye City. Just remember this lesson: those who achieve great things do not concern themselves with trifles. Before establishing an heir, even if it is just for show, you must show your magnanimity and composure. Do not let people like Meng Dai and Jiang Qi, who originally disliked Yuan Tan, also join Yuan Tan's faction."

After giving instructions to Yuan Shang, Lady Liu returned to see Yuan Shao.

On the way, she caught a glimpse of Xu You walking out of Yuan Shao's inner courtyard, and Lady Liu felt even more threatened: Could it be that Xu Ziyuan has given the General some dirty tricks again?
Xu You's sudden return greatly displeased Lady Liu.

Especially after Xu You returned, Yuan Shao actually downplayed the crime of colluding with the enemy and deserting, turning it into a case where the crime of Xu You had to be investigated in the same way as the crime of Shen Pei.

What angered Madam Liu even more was that Xu You deliberately gave her a mocking look, clearly trying to trip her up.

really.

As soon as Lady Liu entered, Yuan Shao said, "I am truly worried about Xianfu when I go to Zhongshan to escape the summer heat. You can stay in Ye City and assist Xianfu in making decisions. When I go to Zhongshan to escape the summer heat, I can ask Xuande for his opinion. If Xuande can also openly support Xianfu, even if everyone opposes it, I can still make Xianfu my heir."

Upon hearing this, Madam Liu couldn't help but curse Xu You inwardly as shameless.

While it may seem that Xu You was thinking of Yuan Shang's best interests, he actually wanted to separate Lady Liu from Yuan Shao. Without her influence, Yuan Shao might change his mind about making Yuan Shang his heir.

How can we be sure it wasn't Liu Bei who persuaded Yuan Shao to openly support Yuan Tan?

Thinking of this, Lady Liu feigned tears: "Does the General despise me? I have been unable to sleep day and night these past few days because of Xianfu's matter, and I also wish to go to Zhongshan to escape the summer heat and calm my mind. Moreover, General Zuo and I are both descendants of the Liu family of Zhongshan. If I go with the General, he might support Xianfu out of consideration for me. Last time when General Zuo came to Yecheng, Xianfu also treated General Zuo with the courtesy due to a junior. Has the General forgotten?"

Although Lady Liu gave birth to Yuan Shang, she was only thirty-five or thirty-six years old. Coupled with her pampered life, she was no less mature than someone in their twenties. If Cao Cao saw her, he would have to ask, "Lady, would you like to share a bed with me tonight?"

Upon seeing this, Yuan Shao immediately softened, and since what Lady Liu said did indeed make sense, he said, "Very well. Lady Liu, you may come with me to Zhongshan."

　Update 4 is here!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)