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

Chapter 254 Imprisoning Yuan Shao and Seizing Military Power, Yuan Shang Demands to Control the Troops in Hebei (1st Update)
"Xianfu, you are no match for Cao Cao, nor for Liu Bei. Listen to my advice: from now on, follow Liu Bei to achieve great things. Liu Bei values ​​loyalty and righteousness. If you accept my kindness, he will treat you well. After you help him eliminate Cao Cao, you will not lose your title of marquis and you can continue the name of the Yuan family, which has been known as the family of three dukes for four generations."

Although Yuan Shang was facing off against him, he was, after all, Yuan Shao's son whom he had doted on for many years. Yuan Shao did not want Yuan Shang to go down a path of no return, so he earnestly tried to persuade him again.

However, Yuan Shang was determined to fight Liu Bei and wouldn't listen to Yuan Shao's advice. He sneered, "Father, I think you're confused. Liu Bei is just a weaver of mats and a seller of shoes. What right does he have for me, a descendant of the Yuan family who has held high office for four generations, to follow him? Besides, if I follow Liu Bei, even if I kill Cao Cao, my rank will only be a marquis, I'll only have one carriage, one horse, and a few attendants. How can that compare to ruling as the emperor?"

Power is both poison and wine.

Even before being poisoned to death, it was still an intoxicatingly fragrant wine. Even though Yuan Shang knew the cruelty of the power struggle, he still risked his life to move forward. The victor is king, the loser is villain. Who knows if he will not be king?

Yuan Shang's rebuttal left Yuan Shao speechless.

At this moment, Yuan Shao suddenly understood Ju Shou and Tian Feng.

Ju Shou and Tian Feng had earnestly advised Yuan Shao in the past, but Yuan Shao did not listen.

Now, Yuan Shao tried to persuade Yuan Shang with earnest words, but Yuan Shang wouldn't listen.

The boomerang he threw eventually hit him.

"Father, I'm very busy." Yuan Shang stepped forward, not wanting to reason with Yuan Shao anymore, and asked again, "Where is the General's seal?"

Yuan Shao closed his eyes and remained silent.

The blow of his wife's betrayal and his son's departure weighed heavily on Yuan Shao's previously relieved mood.

Originally, I wanted to stay at the former residence of Yuan An in Bohai for a while, study the classics left by my ancestor Yuan An, think carefully about the way to continue the family line, and how to continue to uphold the title of one of the Three Dukes of the Yuan family after Liu Bei came to power.

But now, Yuan Shao finds himself completely out of control.

You can't control the general trend of the world, and you can't control the small trend of your family either.

Seeing that Yuan Shao remained silent, Yuan Shang's coldness intensified: "Since Father is unwilling to speak, then I will have no choice but to take it myself." He then turned to Liu Shi for further questioning.

After thinking carefully, Liu said, "The General's seal should be in this room."

Hear the words.

Yuan Shao's mood was even more somber, and he didn't even have the energy to scold Liu Shi.

After searching for a while, Yuan Shang found the General's Seal hidden in the book. Looking at the four characters "General's Seal" engraved on the bottom of the seal, Yuan Shang's eyes became extremely eager.

"Finally found!"

"Hahaha! From this day forward, I am the Great General!"

“Father, you were not decisive or ruthless enough, which is why you lost to Cao Cao and Liu Bei today.”

"But my son is different. I will show you how a true general stands tall in Hebei and heads south to contend for the world!"

With the general's seal hanging at his waist, Yuan Shang exuded heroic spirit. He then pulled Liu Shi aside and whispered, "Mother, before I defeat Liu Bei, you must not let Father leave Lu Nu without permission. I will allocate a hundred cavalrymen to you. Anyone who dares to trespass will be killed without mercy!"

Seeing that Yuan Shang had received the seal of the Grand General, Lady Liu was also happy and said, "Xianfu, don't worry, with me here, I will never let outsiders trespass."

After Yuan Shang left, Lady Liu turned to Yuan Shao and said smugly, "General, Xianfu is so heroic and dashing, even more so than you were back then. You should be happy and proud. Considering our past as husband and wife, as long as you don't think about escaping Lu Nu and ruining Xianfu's plans, I will still be your bedmate. But if you don't care about our father-son relationship and husband-wife bond, then don't blame me for being ruthless."

Yuan Shao remained silent. Liu Shi also said little, but ordered her trusted confidants to guard all the gates and not allow anyone to enter or leave without her permission.

It's pitiful that this once-powerful figure is now under house arrest by his wife and children.

Meanwhile, at the Prime Minister's residence.

Upon hearing that Yuan Shang had led eight hundred cavalrymen into the city, Tao Sheng felt his eyelids twitch.

Tao Sheng immediately summoned his son Tao Jing and instructed him: "You must immediately pretend to go on a trip and take your mother out of the city through the north gate. After you leave the city, do not look back. Go to Zhuo County to find Military Advisor Zhuge."

Tao Jing was puzzled: "It is only natural for Young Master Shang to come and see the General. Father, are you worrying too much?"

Tao Sheng frowned: "Riddles are flying around, saying that the General intends to step down and give way to the Left General. How could Young Master Shang let this go? He has brought troops here again, and there may be some unexpected events. I have survived until today because of my caution and foresight. Don't be suspicious, and quickly take your mother out of the city."

Seeing Tao Sheng's urgent tone, Tao Jing couldn't help but panic: "Father, why don't you come with me?"

Tao Sheng shook his head: "I am the Prime Minister of Zhongshan. How can I abandon my post? Moreover, the General has been kind to me. How can I abandon him? Don't doubt me. I know what I'm doing."

Not long after Tao Jing left the mansion, Yuan Shang had already led his troops to surround the front and back gates.

In the past, Liu Bei impersonated Tao Sheng to question Yuan Shang about why he "abandoned his army and fled," which made Yuan Shang hate Tao Sheng, believing him to be an ungrateful thief with disloyalty ingrained in his very being.

Now that Yuan Shang has placed Yuan Shao under house arrest, he naturally dares not allow Tao Sheng to continue serving as the Chancellor of Zhongshan. Otherwise, with Liu's hundred cavalrymen, they would not be able to stop Tao Sheng as the Chancellor of Zhongshan at all.

"really."

Upon seeing Yuan Shang approaching in armor and weapons, Tao Sheng's heart sank. He hurriedly stepped forward and greeted him, saying, "I was unaware of Young Master Shang's presence. I apologize for failing to greet you properly."

Upon seeing Tao Sheng, Yuan Shang felt a surge of disgust. He then raised the general's hat and said, "You should call me General now!"

Tao Sheng's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately knelt down with a thud, kowtowing and swearing: "This humble general pays his respects to the Great General! I am willing to serve the Great General at his feet!"

Seeing Tao Sheng kneel so readily, Yuan Shang's words of reproach were stuck in his throat.

I had planned to execute Tao Sheng if he raised any objections, but Tao Sheng was so compliant that it seemed he had already decided that Yuan Shang should be the great general.

"From this moment on, you are no longer the Chancellor of Zhongshan. Hand over your Chancellor's seal and remain in the residence, awaiting further instructions." Yuan Shang made a compromise, first getting Tao Sheng to hand over the Chancellor's seal. As for the future, he could easily find any of Tao Sheng's enemies to deal with him.

Just like Zhu Han, who once sent troops to besiege Han Fu's residence and broke the legs of Han Fu's eldest son, Yuan Shang was able to use the killing of Tao Sheng by Tao Sheng's enemies to intimidate the officials and win over the hearts of the people.

Tao Sheng offered no rebuttal and respectfully handed over the seal of the prime minister.

After obtaining the seal of the prime minister, Yuan Shang handed it directly to Liu Yu, a member of the Liu clan, and instructed him: "From now on, you are the prime minister of Zhongshan. Take this seal and take command of the troops of Zhongshan immediately. There must be no mistakes!"

Liu Yu was overjoyed and quickly bowed in gratitude, saying, "I will certainly live up to the General's expectations!"

A moment later, watching Yuan Shang's departing figure, Tao Sheng clenched his fists and said resentfully, "Yuan Shang, you forced me to do this!"

　Chapter 1 is here! Please vote with your monthly tickets!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)