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

Chapter 195 Zhuge Liang's Secret Plan, Yuan Shang and Yuan Tan Attack Each Other (5th Update)
Three days later, Yuan Shao, accompanied by Lady Liu and several concubines, and guarded by Yuan Xi, Yan Liang, and Wen Chou, went to Zhongshan State. Xu You also took the opportunity to bring his family to accompany Yuan Shao.

The reason Xu You followed Yuan Shao to Zhongshan was because he had a premonition that something would happen in Ye City once Yuan Shao left.

Those who support Yuan Shang and those who support Yuan Tan are already on the verge of conflict. While Yuan Shao was in Ye City, both sides were able to restrain themselves; but now that Yuan Shao is not in Ye City, some people will definitely not be able to hold back.

Xu You's premonition was very accurate.

On the day Yuan Shao left, Yuan Shang summoned Shen Pei and Feng Ji to discuss: "Now that the General has gone to Zhongshan, Yuan Xi and Liu Bei will surely urge the General to adopt Yuan Tan as his heir. If Yuan Tan succeeds, we will have no place to stand in Hebei! I intend to detain Yuan Tan in Ye City. What do you two think?"

Ye City is Yuan Shang's territory. Yuan Tan is a guest, and Yuan Shang is the host. Whether to keep the guest or send him away depends entirely on Yuan Shang's word.

A ruthless glint flashed in Shen Pei's eyes: "I have no grudge against Yuan Tan, yet he tries to kill me and pins the blame for Xu You's mistake on me. He is unrighteous, so don't blame me for being unjust. Just say the word, Young Master Shang, and tonight I will send troops to surround Yuan Tan's post station!"

Feng Ji was startled: "The General just left today. If we surround Yuan Tan's post station tonight, what explanation will we give if the General returns?"

Shen Pei sneered: "Wei Commandery is full of thieves, and Yuan Tan is a guest. What's wrong with me sending troops to protect Yuan Tan?"

Yuan Shang also sneered: "With this explanation, even if the General returns, he can't blame me; moreover, the General originally intended to make me his heir, but only because Guo Tu and others supported Yuan Tan did he have to compromise. Now, the General seems to be going to Zhongshan with Yuan Xi, but who knows if the General isn't giving me an opportunity to deal with Yuan Tan? Hmph! In this Ye City, I am the butcher, and Yuan Tan is the fish on the chopping block. How can a fish caught in a net escape my grasp?"

After thinking it over carefully, Feng Ji also felt that Yuan Shang and Shen Pei's words made sense, and then asked, "Should we also surround Guo Tu and the others?"

Shen Pei shook his head: "Surrounding Yuan Tan's post station can be considered as sending troops to protect it. But if Guo Tu and others are also surrounded, then it is a rebellion. I also believe that the General should observe the methods of both Young Master Shang and Yuan Tan. As long as Yuan Tan is not killed and Young Master Shang is not burdened with the name of fratricide, Young Master Shang can remain invincible!"

Yuan Shang made up his mind: "In that case, gentlemen, you should quickly mobilize your troops. We cannot let Yuan Tan escape!"

And on the other side.

Guo Tu and Xin Ping gathered around Yuan Tan to discuss countermeasures.

Guo Tu, being cautious, strongly advised, "Now that the General has left Ye City, Yuan Shang and the others will have no more scruples and may harm Young Master Tan. Young Master Tan should not stay in Ye City for long and should return to Qingzhou immediately."

Those who are good at harming others are generally very cautious. If Guo Tu put himself in Shen Peifengji's shoes, he would also advise Yuan Shang to keep Yuan Tan in Ye City.

However, Yuan Tan ignored Guo Tu's advice: "Yuan Shang usually boasts that he is the most like a great general, but when it comes to fighting, he is timid and hesitant. I was able to drive out Tian Kai in the north, attack Kong Rong in the east, and display my troops in the coastal areas, all because of my martial prowess. I have eight hundred cavalrymen here. Even if Yuan Shang wants to keep me here, what can he do to me? I want to see if Yuan Shang really dares to send troops to surround me! If he really has the guts, then I will have a legitimate reason to fight."

Jiao Chu was startled to see that Yuan Tan was actually going to use himself as bait.

Jiao Chu pondered to himself: Young Master Tan is the eldest son of the Grand General. Even if he is surrounded by Yuan Shang, he may not die. But I am different. Young Master Xi has already fallen out with Young Master Shang. I may lose my life because of this.

Thinking of this, Jiao Chu felt a chill run down his spine.

When Yuan Xi left Ye City, Jiao Chu did not leave with him, but stayed by Yuan Tan's side while carrying out Zhuge Liang's mission.

Zhuge Liang's mission deadline was also very clear: if he didn't finish using the secret plan, he would follow Yuan Tan.

Thinking of the brocade pouch, Jiao Chu recalled Zhuge Liang's advice: when encountering danger, one can look at the brocade pouch with the character '丙'.

Yes, a brocade pouch! Jiao Chu always carried Zhuge Liang's brocade pouch with him, fearing that he would die before he could open it in time if he encountered danger.

Jiao Chu secretly opened the brocade pouch, and his pupils shrank in surprise: The strategist had even foreseen this?
The brocade pouch read: "If the General leaves Ye City, he should quickly persuade Yuan Qingzhou to return to Qingzhou. If he does not listen, he may withdraw on his own."

When Zhuge Liang learned that Yuan Shao had sent Yuan Shang to Dongwuyang to fight Cao Cao, he guessed that Yuan Shao intended to take this opportunity to establish Yuan Shang as his heir. Therefore, he sent Jiao Chu to Pingyuan to deliver a message.

He then gave Jiao Chu three more brocade pouches.

The first secret package is opened after meeting Hua Yan. The contents are very simple, just one sentence: Do you still remember Zhuge Liang? The purpose is to urge Hua Yan to quickly inform Yuan Tan to enter Pingyuan.

The second secret plan is to be opened after meeting Yuan Tan. Its contents are relatively complex: If Cao Cao retreats to the south bank, the General might take this opportunity to adopt Yuan Shang as his heir. You can inform Yuan Qingzhou about this. The purpose is to lure Yuan Tan into Ye City.

The third piece of advice was Zhuge Liang's prediction that Yuan Shao would not be able to control the situation. Even without Yuan Xi's request, Zhuge Liang would find a way to make Yuan Shao leave Ye City, thereby triggering further conflict between Yuan Shang and Yuan Tan. However, this conflict would bring danger to Jiao Chu, hence the advice in the piece of advice: "If the General leaves Ye City, you should quickly persuade Yuan Qingzhou to return to Qingzhou. If he does not listen, you may withdraw on your own."

This is one of the reasons why Zhuge Liang said that Liu Bei underestimated him after learning that Liu Bei intended to use Xu You to cause chaos in Ye City. His plan was going well, but suddenly Liu Bei threw the resourceful Xu You into the game. Fortunately, Zhuge Liang was experienced and calm afterward. Anyone else would have overturned the game and thrown the chessboard at him.

After reading the contents of the brocade pouch, Jiao Chu immediately advised, "Young Master Tan, this place is not safe to stay for long. You should leave the city as soon as possible."

Yuan Tan remained unconcerned: "General Jiao, rest assured, with me here, Yuan Shang wouldn't dare to touch you."

Jiao Chu dared not easily trust Yuan Tan. If he didn't carry out Zhuge Liang's brilliant plan, he would be ridiculed even after death.

Seeing that Yuan Tan refused to listen to advice, Jiao Chu said, "If Young Master Tan insists on not leaving the city, this humble general will have no choice but to leave first."

Yuan Tan frowned.

Guo Tu pondered for a moment and said, "Why don't General Jiao and I go out of the city first? If Yuan Shang really makes a move, we can quickly go to Pingyuan to bring reinforcements."

Xin Ping also advised, "Young Master Tan, I also think we should be more cautious."

Although Yuan Tan still disdained Yuan Shang, he no longer insisted on keeping him, and instead sent Guo Tu and Jiao Chu out of the city ahead of time to provide support.

After leaving the city.

Guo Tu then voiced his doubts: "General Jiao also understands the situation in Ye City?"

No matter how you look at it, Jiao Chu is just a burly, ruthless fighter. Guo Tu doesn't believe Jiao Chu has that kind of ability.

Jiao Chu thought for a moment, but did not reveal the matter of Zhuge Liang's secret plan. He simply said, "I am under the command of Young Master Xi. If Yuan Shang really wants to make a move, I will be the first to die. Since Mr. Guo has also left the city, there is nothing more for me to do here. I should go back to see Young Master Xi. Farewell!"

Watching Jiao Chu leave in a hurry, Guo Tu became even more puzzled: Strange, I feel like I forgot to calculate something.

　Update 5 is here!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)