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

Chapter 281 Although Yuan Shao was a warlord at the end of his career, he still retained some dignity (3rd update)
Yuan Shao's sigh carried a hint of helplessness, like "My son is a fool": Was he comparing Xuande to the likes of Shen Pei and Hua Yan? Would Cao Cao really consider the likes of Shen Pei and Hua Yan as heroes worthy of him? I wouldn't even dare to dream of such a thing!

Yuan Xi opened his mouth, but hesitated to speak. It wasn't that Yuan Xi didn't understand the difference between Liu Bei and the likes of Shen Pei and Hua Yan, but he just couldn't accept Yuan Shao's favoritism towards Yuan Shang.

Avoiding Yuan Shao's counter-question, Yuan Xi changed the subject, his words becoming even sharper: "I am already dissatisfied with having no one to support me, so how could Yuan Shang and Yuan Tan, who have support, be content? Yuan Shang even sent troops to Huguan City to try and cut off the Left General's retreat route. Such actions have already angered the Left General. With the intelligence and strength of the civil and military officials under the Left General, whether Yuan Tan or Yuan Shang try to deal with the Left General, they are merely moths to a flame, courting their own destruction. Both of your sons will meet their end. Father, do you have any regrets?"

The fishing rod in Yuan Shao's hand trembled instantly, and the veins on the back of his right hand suddenly became prominent.

Yuan Xi first stirred up Yuan Shao's sensitive spots by saying, "My father and I were both born to maids," and now he stirred up Yuan Shao's sensitive spots again by saying, "Both of my legitimate sons will meet their end."

If Yuan Shao hadn't seriously considered this issue in the past few days and hadn't discussed it with Tian Feng, he probably would have jumped up in anger and cursed Yuan Xi, "How dare you, unfilial son!"

Taking another deep breath, Yuan Shao suppressed his urge to get angry, and the veins on the back of his right hand gradually disappeared.

"Everyone chooses their own path." Yuan Shao's tone held a hint of world-weary wisdom: "Back then, when Dong Zhuo was in power, my uncles and brothers in Luoyang only thought of appeasement, and as a result, they were killed by Dong Zhuo; I raised an army with Gong Lu, but Gong Lu, unaware of the situation, insisted on going north to fight me, and ultimately died far from home; I, too, was defeated by Cao Cao at the Battle of Guandu due to arrogance and underestimation of the enemy. The world is unpredictable, and fate is uncertain. Whether one should compromise or rebel, no one can say who is right and who is wrong. It's all just a matter of wanting to survive in this chaotic world and to gain fame among the warlords. Xian Si and Xian Fu have their own paths to walk, so what do I have to regret?"

"And what about me? Don't you care at all about the path I have to take?" Yuan Xi clenched his fists, even more dissatisfied with Yuan Shao's differential treatment.

Yuan Shao looked at the indignant Yuan Xi and sighed: "Xianyi, your nature is weak and cowardly, making it difficult for you to achieve anything. Rebellion is not suitable for you, and yielding to the enemy may not be wrong. If you can find your place, you can remain under Xuande's command and still be granted a title. If Xiansi and Xianfu also perish like moths to a flame, what you are fighting for will be within your grasp."

Yuan Xi's anger suddenly stopped. If Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang were to die like moths to a flame, wouldn't the position of heir be within his grasp?
However, for some reason, even though he could obtain the position of heir simply by waiting for Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang to die and then willingly serving under Liu Bei, Yuan Xi felt no joy at all.

“Foolish child! You can’t even figure out what you really want, so why do you have to envy Xiansi and Xianfu?” Yuan Shao stood up and patted Yuan Xi on the shoulder, saying, “Go back, go back and ask Xuande for a chance to settle down and make a living. That is the path you should take.”

Yuan Xi felt a pang of sadness and walked out of the courtyard in a dejected manner, seemingly ignoring the calls of Yan Liang and Wen Chou, and walked on his own without paying any attention.

"Ignore him, it's your turn to see the General." Tian Feng shook his head secretly, let Yan Liang and Wen Chou in, and instructed them, "When you see the General, just tell the truth."

Yan Liang and Wen Chou clasped their fists to Tian Feng, then turned and went into the courtyard to see Yuan Shao, where they knelt down to pay their respects.
"Get up." Yuan Shao stood with his hands behind his back, watching the fish swimming in the pond for a long time without saying a word. Yan Liang and Wen Chou also stood quietly on either side of Yuan Shao without speaking.

After an unknown amount of time, Yuan Shao finally spoke slowly, asking, "Tell me, what are your plans for the future?"

Yan Liang and Wen Chou exchanged a glance and said in unison, "We are only willing to protect the General, even at the cost of our lives!" Yuan Shao smiled and said, "You two are indeed loyal, much better than my good-for-nothing sons." He then added, "Considering your loyalty, I will not make things difficult for you. From now on, you two will serve under the Left General."

Yan Liang and Wen Chou were taken aback and quickly kowtowed, saying in unison, "General, we have no intention of betraying you!"

"Don't overthink it." Yuan Shao turned around and helped Yan Liang and Wen Chou up. "You two risked your lives to follow me, but I was unable to grant you titles and riches, which is truly regrettable. Right now, I am powerless to deal with Cao Cao, and my sons are all useless. If I were to hand you two over to them, I don't know when you would die on the battlefield, which is not my wish either."

Seeing the two men's surprised and doubtful expressions, Yuan Shao continued, "Xuande is a man of great loyalty and righteousness. I have been kind to Xuande in the past. Entrusting you two to Xuande, he will certainly not mistreat you. In the future, you will follow Xuande to restore the Han Dynasty and eliminate the traitor Cao Cao, and you will certainly be granted a title of marquis. If Xiansi, Xianyi, and Xianfu are ever to perish in the future, you can protect my young son Yuan Mai to continue the name of the Yuan family. If that is done, I will be content!"

Both General Yan Liang and Wen Chou choked up with emotion.

On their way here, Yan Liang and Wen Chou considered many possibilities and came up with many excuses, but they never expected that Yuan Shao would so readily order them to serve Liu Bei.

What Yan Liang and Wen Chou didn't know was that it was that phrase, "I only wish to protect the General, even at the cost of my life!" that made Yuan Shao completely abandon the idea of ​​sending Yan Liang and Wen Chou to Ye City to assist Yuan Shang.

Tian Feng and Tao Sheng were not tolerated by Yuan Shang, and Qian Zhao was a close friend of Liu Bei. If these three went to Yuan Shang, they would not only not be given important positions, but their lives would also be in danger. Therefore, Yuan Shao readily agreed to recommend the three to Liu Bei.

However, Yan Liang and Wen Chou were always similar to Yuan Shao's retainers. Yuan Shao seemed to resent Yuan Shang on the surface, but he secretly hoped that Yuan Shang could achieve great things. Therefore, he also had the idea of ​​sending Yan Liang and Wen Chou to Ye City.

Yuan Shao's current thinking is more like that of a powerful clan making multiple investments: letting Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang compete for supremacy by force, letting Yuan Xi submit to Liu Bei, and finally tacitly allowing Yuan Mai to stay in Zhuo County in case of emergency.

If Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang fail and Yuan Xi is unwilling to be inferior, Liu Bei will treat Yuan Mai well in order to win over Yuan Shao's former civil and military officials. Only if Liu Bei treats Yuan Mai well will Yuan Shao's former officials feel at ease.

Although Yuan Shao was giving up, he didn't completely give up. He simply had a clearer understanding of the current situation and tried his best to ensure that the Yuan family line could survive in this chaotic world.

Then, Yuan Shao handed the letter he had prepared to Yan Liang and Wen Chou, saying, "You two should take this letter and quickly return to Huguan City to give it to Xuande. After seeing the letter, Xuande will understand my intention."

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(End of this chapter)