I did it all for the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 353 To Become the Crown Prince, First Become a Traitor

The supreme position...

miss you!
Yuan Tan really wanted it!

From the moment Yuan Shao ascended the throne, Yuan Tan never stopped thinking about this matter!

However, after his defeat to Liu Miao in the Battle of Hedong, Yuan Tan had long buried this idea deep in his heart.

Although Liu Miao later defeated Yuan Shao at Kunyang, which slightly improved Yuan Tan's reputation, it was still far from what it used to be.

Yuan Tan dreamed of ascending to the supreme throne! But now, seeing Xu You with his face pressed close to his ear, Yuan Tan dared not respond rashly.

After all, Xu You's reputation wasn't good within the Zhao state at the time. Moreover, although the Grand Master of the Palace was one of the Nine Ministers, it was a nominal position without any real power, and how much assistance he could provide was truly uncertain.

Yuan Tan took a half step back, glanced left and right, then bent his neck, buried his head in his chest, and whispered, "What does the Grand Master of the Palace mean by this?"

"Young Master, now that things have come to this, do we, two disillusioned people, still need to be so wary?"

Xu You took another half step forward, leaving no room for Yuan Tan to maneuver between them.

"I thought that after making great contributions in Xuchang, even if I didn't get a real position like Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, I should at least be in one of the Three Dukes... But I never expected that I would only be a Grand Master of the Palace."

Although Xu You's tone was calm, there was an underlying sense of despondency and resentment that he could not hide.

"The eldest son can't even get close to the Crown Prince now... We are so disappointed. If we don't fight hard, how can we defy fate?"

Yuan Tan could clearly feel his pulse pounding in his neck, making the veins on his forehead bulge.

Change your destiny against the will of heaven!

The throne of the emperor!

Yuan Tan's mouth was dry, and the wariness in his eyes when he looked at Xu You was no longer there.

After all, if Yuan Tan had told Yuan Shao what Xu You had just said, Xu You would probably have been in grave danger!

Now that Xu You has brought this incriminating evidence against him, it is clear that he intends to use it to gain Yuan Tan's trust.

Yuan Tan glanced around again, then bowed and said, "There are too many people here, so please let me have a talk in the inner room."

Xu You gladly went there. As he passed through the courtyard, he saw the densely packed holes on the target and immediately praised it.

"I visited the Third Young Master's residence once before, but I only saw him drinking and chatting happily with famous scholars and Confucian masters... Compared to the Third Young Master, the Eldest Young Master is rather arrogant and impetuous, showing the potential to achieve great things!"

Yuan Tan was not pleased to hear the praise.

"Young Master, Third Young Master..."

Yuan Tan was somewhat helpless upon hearing this inappropriate title.

"Now that Father has become Emperor, how can he still be addressed as 'Young Master'?"

"Because His Majesty has not yet made up his mind."

Xu You answered the question naturally.

Although Yuan Shao had already declared himself emperor, Xu You, as his friend, was still able to easily guess what Yuan Shao was thinking.

“If we really follow the example of enfeoffing princes with the surname Liu, then all things will be over. Even His Majesty will no longer be able to make decisions on this matter at will.”

"Therefore, His Majesty is still delaying this matter, because he has not yet made up his mind."

The two walked through the long corridor and came to a narrow side room.

Inside, an envoy had brewed tea. Xu You only took a light sniff before immediately praising, "Tea produced in Kuaiji, Jiangdong, this is considered top-grade! Young Master is quite fortunate."

"The Grand Master of the Palace is truly learned. This tea was a gift from a friend, and I have no idea of ​​its value."

Xu You smiled slightly: "This kind of tea is worth the same as gold."

Yuan Tan, who hadn't thought much of it at first, suddenly widened his eyes: "How can it be so valuable?"

"This tea has only become popular in recent years. And for some reason, people always associate this tea with self-cultivation, so it is highly praised by scholars. Also, because this thing is only produced in the south, and now trade between the north and south has been cut off, it is so precious."

Upon hearing Xu You's explanation, Yuan Tan felt a pang of resentment.

Since tea is produced in the south, doesn't that mean Liu Miao made all the money?
Instantly, the fragrant aroma of tea turned into a restless struggle, making Yuan Tan feel uncomfortable all over.

Xu You, on the other hand, was quite relaxed. Not only did he drink his tea, but he also began to explain to Yuan Tan how to distinguish between good and bad tea...

While Xu You was rambling on and on, Yuan Tan was already getting impatient.

"Is the Grand Master of the Palace here today to discuss tea with me?"

"of course not."

Xu You stopped explaining about the tea with regret in his eyes, then said seriously, "Young Master has not yet answered me. Does the Young Master still have any desire for the supreme position?"

Yuan Tan's eyes widened: "That was originally mine!"

Who admits it?

Xu You bluntly shattered Yuan Tan's dream.

"Now that Shen Pei has assumed the position of Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, everyone knows that he has always supported the Third Prince Shang. But who can support the Eldest Prince now?"

Yuan Tan paused for a moment.

He originally wanted to mention Guo Tu's name, who had already been appointed as the Commandant of the Capital Region, but considering the obvious difference in their reputations, he ultimately remained silent.

"It seems the eldest son has thought it through. If he continues to stay in Ye City, he has no chance of winning! If he's lucky, he might get a fiefdom like Liu Fei, the eldest son of Emperor Gaozu of Han, and live a life of ease; if he's unlucky..."

Xu You's words shattered Yuan Tan's last line of defense!
The reason why Prince Liu Fei of Qi was able to enjoy his old age peacefully as the eldest son was because he had a really good relationship with Emperor Hui! The cowardly Emperor Hui even risked offending his own mother, Empress Lü, to save Liu Fei... But what about Yuan Shang?
Ah!
If Yuan Shang really succeeds to the throne, it would be a miracle if he didn't kill his elder brother!
The thought that Yuan Shang might succeed him in the future sent chills down Yuan Tan's spine!

Only then did Yuan Tan finally steel his resolve! He finally made up his mind!

"What brings the Grand Master of the Imperial Stud here?"

Although Yuan Tan knew that Xu You had extraordinary abilities, he did not believe that Xu You had the ability to change Yuan Shao's mind, so he still did not understand Xu You's intentions.

Xu You finally stopped hiding it.

"Is the eldest son aware of Liu Miao's recent frequent troop movements in the Central Plains?"

"Of course I know."

"It's fake! He's putting on an act for us!"

Yuan Tan was suddenly startled!
How did the Grand Steward find out?

"Young Master, you don't need to concern yourself with such trivial matters."

Xu You narrowed his eyes. "His Majesty originally intended to intimidate Guanzhong and completely cut off the warhorse trade in the south... but now that something has happened in the Central Plains, Guanzhong naturally has no time to worry about it."

"This is the young master's opportunity!"

Yuan Tan's heart was pounding!

He had already guessed... what Xu You was going to say!
"Young Master, you can take this opportunity to volunteer to go to Guanzhong. At that time, Zhong Yao, Xiahou Dun, Ma Teng, and others will all respect you as their master!"

"To reclaim Guanzhong without shedding blood... At this critical juncture, the prestige one can gain from such an achievement should be self-evident to the eldest prince, shouldn't I?"

Yuan Tan was instantly smitten!

However, as a former warlord who had truly ruled a region, Yuan Tan was clearly not an idiot.

How could Cao Cao's staunch supporters like Zhong Yao and Xiahou Dun, as well as Ma Teng, a border warlord with an ambiguous relationship with Liu Miao, suddenly change their minds and pledge allegiance to him, handing Guanzhong over to him?

Therefore, Yuan Tan immediately asked, "What is the price?"

"The eldest son is indeed intelligent!"

Xu You enjoyed dealing with intelligent people!

"Zhong Yao and Xiahou Dun requested that the old Cao army's military structure be preserved so that it could be used to coordinate with Cao Cao and prevent him from losing his life."

Although Yuan Tan knew that the other party would make some outrageous demands, he did not expect them to be this outrageous!
"How can this be?"

"How is this impossible?"

Xu You patiently persuaded him: "They're not plotting a rebellion. Besides, Cao Cao is right under His Majesty's nose right now, they can't cause any trouble. Even if we tell His Majesty directly about this, he will agree to it!"

Yuan Tan lowered his head, and after a long while, he raised it again: "Is that all you ask for?"

"Another point."

Xu You swallowed.

This last point is the key, and it's also the reason why Xu You was willing to get involved in this matter.

"I hope that after the eldest son takes charge of Guanzhong, he will not sever trade with the south..."

"Xu You! Do you know what you're saying?"

Yuan Tan suddenly shouted, glaring at Xu You.

Although Xu You put it in a roundabout way, he couldn't understand what was going on.

This is to continue providing Liu Miao with warhorses!

How can such a thing be allowed?

Isn't this treason?

Moreover, while others may not know how terrifying Liu Miao was, how could Yuan Tan not know how terrifying Liu Miao was?
Once Liu Miao has accumulated enough warhorses and cavalry, who can guarantee the survival of Yuan and Zhao?
Yuan Tan refused the offer without even thinking about it!

As Yuan Shao's eldest son, he couldn't bring himself to betray the Yuan family!

Xu You was not anxious.

"The eldest son is truly kind-hearted."

"Since that's the case, then I have nothing more to say."

Xu You bowed to Yuan Tan and was actually about to leave!

"Where is the Grand Master of the Palace going?"

"Naturally, we'll go to the Third Young Master's place."

Xu You looked relaxed.

“Since the eldest son doesn’t value the achievement of recovering Guanzhong, someone else will.”

"In any case, with the wisdom of the Third Young Master, he should understand that selling warhorses to Liu Miao is certainly a dangerous thing, but if the supreme position does not fall into his hands, it is an even more dangerous thing."

"This is not a difficult calculation; I believe the Third Prince should be able to do it clearly."

Upon hearing Xu You's words, Yuan Tan's heart skipped a beat!
The matter of Guanzhong...

It was treason, indeed treason.

But it is indeed an achievement!
In particular, Yuan Tan had once suffered a crushing defeat in Guanzhong.

If Yuan Shang really succeeds in this, Yuan Tan doesn't need to think twice to know what his reputation will be like!
"What the eldest young master cannot do, the third young master can do with ease!"

"The Third Young Master's abilities are indeed far superior to the Eldest Young Master's!"

"Then what else is there to say? We beg Your Majesty to appoint the Third Prince as Crown Prince!"

"..."

Thinking of all this, Yuan Tan instantly shuddered!

He was thinking of the state of Zhao, but who in Zhao was thinking of him?

But Yuan Tan still couldn't overcome that hurdle in his heart!
"Ta, Tai servant..."

Yuan Tan stammered and hesitated.

"If this matter is exposed in the future..."

Xu You stopped in his tracks.

"When the eldest son truly inherits the throne in the future, will anyone blame you for this?"

"Similarly, if you are unable to inherit the throne in the future, would you change your fate by not doing this?"

"Besides."

Xu You asked, "Does the eldest son still believe that even if he inherits the throne and controls the north, he still cannot defeat Liu Miao?"

The last few words struck a chord with Yuan Tan!
Yes!

Would Yuan Shang let me off the hook if I didn't do it?

At worst, I can just personally eliminate Liu Miao after I inherit the throne! Then who would dare to criticize me?
Yuan Tan took a deep breath and bowed to Xu You's retreating figure.

"Please, Grand Master of the Palace, teach me!"

(End of this chapter)