I did it all for the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 423 Yuan Shao (Decisive Version)

Yecheng, Hebei.

"Your Majesty, Liu Miao has begun mobilizing the imperial guards, ready to march north at any time."

Guo Tu reported the intelligence he had gathered from the south to Yuan Shao.

"Liu Miao... truly is unwilling to suffer even the slightest loss. As soon as something happened in Qingzhou, he was unwilling to wait even a day longer."

Yuan Shao's tone was ambiguous, neither praising nor disliking him, and Guo Tu dared not speculate, continuing to obey orders.

"In that case, Hebei should also make full preparations and begin this battle."

Guo Tu: "What about His Highness the Prince of Qin..."

"I don't care about anything else! Everyone else! Start mobilizing now!"

"Here!"

Guo Tu immediately agreed and dared not say anything else to Yuan Shao.

At the same time, Guo Tu also seemed a bit puzzled.

Yuan Shao was a man of many plans but few decisions.

This is Xun Yu's evaluation of Yuan Shao.

Guo Tu and other Yuan officials naturally did not think so. They preferred to describe Yuan Shao's behavior as respecting and listening to scholars.

However, in recent days, Guo Tu has clearly felt that Yuan Shao has become much more domineering and tyrannical.

On ordinary days and holidays, Yuan Shao would always ride in his jade carriage to visit the elders in the countryside and counties, presenting them with gifts. If there were famous mountains and rivers or the former residences of heroes nearby, Yuan Shao would personally go to pay his respects in order to win their favor and gain fame.

But nowadays, there are fewer and fewer of them.

In the past two months, Yuan Shao has stayed in the palace issuing orders, and anyone who outwardly obeys but inwardly disobeys will be executed, regardless of their status.

This version of Yuan Shao was somewhat unfamiliar to Guo Tu.

"Your Majesty, are you well?"

Such a tone is not like a subject greeting the emperor, but rather like the concern between friends.

Yuan Shao looked at Guo Tu with a puzzled expression.

Clearly, Yuan Shao was somewhat uncomfortable with this change.

"I am fine."

The two fell silent again.

After the rift between the ruler and his subject was pierced by the sword of friendship, both were left somewhat at a loss.

"Public principles".

It was Yuan Shao who broke the silence first.

As assertive as he is, he would never allow himself to be in a passive position.

Whether one is a son, an elder brother, a friend, a father, or an emperor, this applies to all.

Guo Tu also felt some regret for his rash overstepping of authority, and at this moment he lowered his head even further.

"Gongze, I ask you, between these two children, Xiansi and Xianfu, which one is better?"

"belch!"

Guo Tu thought Yuan Shao would continue to discuss the war with him, but he did not expect Yuan Shao to suddenly bring up Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang.

Guo Tu was already a little nervous because he had violated the taboo between the ruler and his subject, and now when he heard Yuan Shao suddenly talk about Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang, he became even more nervous and hiccuped.

Guo Tu quickly cleared his throat: "It would be unfair for me to speak on this matter."

Who in the entire Northern Zhao didn't know that Guo Tu was a staunch supporter of Yuan Tan?

As everyone in Northern Zhao knows, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, Shen Pei, is a supporter of Yuan Shang.
Asking Guo Tu this question? What's the difference between that and finding a question based on an answer?
But Yuan Shao's voice left no room for argument: "I want to hear it."

Nothing.

Once again feeling Yuan Shao's domineering attitude, Guo Tu could only cautiously say, "I believe it depends on the situation."

Yuan Shao closed his eyes and remained silent, clearly wanting to hear everything clearly.

"Your Majesty, I have accompanied you and His Highness Prince Qin from humble beginnings to where you are today."

Although Yuan Shao's "minor" status was already an unattainable goal for 99% of the Han people.

"I have carefully observed Your Highness and realized that only someone like Your Highness can inherit His Majesty's mantle and continue the Zhao dynasty in times of chaos."

"At the same time, I have also observed the Third Prince."

"The Third Prince does bear some resemblance to His Majesty in his youth. Not only is he handsome and dignified, but he is also kind, values ​​his reputation, and is extremely shrewd and resourceful. If the world were still at peace, I believe the Third Prince would surpass His Highness Prince Qin!"

Perhaps because of the barrier that had just been broken, Guo Tu has now said everything that should and shouldn't have been said.

Because Yuan Tan was much older than Yuan Shang and had experienced everything in the chaotic world with Yuan Shao, his behavior and style were similar to the mature Yuan Shao.

However, Yuan Shang was still young, and by the time he came of age, Yuan Shao had already settled down. Influenced by his family's traditions, Yuan Shang actually resembled Yuan Shao in his youth.

Guo Tu sometimes thinks about it.

Yuan Shao favored Yuan Shang but not Yuan Tan. Could it be that Yuan Shao himself preferred his younger self to his current self?

In his youth, Yuan Shao frequented the company of renowned scholars and Confucian masters, his carriages and palanquins filling the streets. With the powerful Yuan family of Runan as his backing, how carefree and untroubled he must have been.

But having experienced such a dramatic change, Yuan Shao also began to become cunning, mercenary, greasy, and hypocritical... Perhaps this was not a change, but merely the exposure of his original nature, yet Yuan Shao still could not accept himself.

In Yuan Shao's eyes, he should be like Yuan Shang, not like Yuan Tan, who was ravaged by the chaos of the world.

After hearing Guo Tu's assessment, Yuan Shao nodded with satisfaction: "I know you have always supported Xian Si, but what you said is indeed pertinent."

"In times of chaos, it is naturally the will of Xian Si who will come."

"If it is a prosperous era, then Xianfu will naturally take charge."

"In that case, we will have to rely more on Xian Si to quell the chaos." Yuan Shao's words confused Guo Tu, who did not know what Yuan Shao's true intention was.

After exchanging those two sentences, Guo Tu didn't know whether he had gotten closer to or further away from Yuan Shao. He chatted for a few more minutes before Yuan Shao dismissed him.

But what Guo Tu didn't see was that just as he was about to leave the palace, Yuan Shao suddenly raised his arm, as if to beckon Guo Tu to stay and talk to him some more.

But Yuan Shao remained silent until Guo Tu's figure disappeared from sight. Instead, he lowered his arms dejectedly, his eyes filled with bewilderment at his current situation.

Yuan Shao returned to a palace below the Bronze Sparrow Terrace.

Right here in this forbidden garden, there were armored soldiers guarding the surrounding area.

The plants planted around this palace were not some beautiful or fragrant exotic plants, but rather heather trees with a strong aroma.

No, no one is allowed to enter this place, not even Empress Liu.

Yuan Shao arrived alone, skillfully removed his clothes, revealing his weathered body, as if he were about to have a secret rendezvous with a mistress.

But the person walking towards them was a doctor with white hair and a youthful face.

"I have met His Majesty."

"Yuanhua, there's no need for such formalities."

Yuan Shao came to a specially made medicine bed, gently lay down on it, and eventually unconsciously let out a painful groan, while Hua Tuo began to massage Yuan Shao's limbs.

"Your Majesty is recovering well now. However, this diabetes has been afflicted for a long time, which has led to the depletion of Yin and the loss of Yang. The heat has caused the loss of body fluids and blood stasis, resulting in the injury of both Qi and Yin. Both Yin and Yang are deficient, the collaterals are blocked, the meridians are not nourished, and the Qi and blood are disordered. There are already carbuncles on your feet, making it difficult for you to walk."

Hua Tuo used silver needles to touch the two carbuncles on Yuan Shao's toes. Even though the needles were inserted, Yuan Shao did not react at all, clearly having completely lost sensation in those two areas.

"Yuanhua, just prepare more medicine for me."

Yuan Shao was fully aware of his current physical condition.

"I must finish this battle! I only need this last one!"

"But……"

"No buts!"

Yuan Shao's tone remained as firm and unyielding as ever.

"I remember that it was Chen Gui, the Chancellor of Pei, who recommended you as a candidate for the civil service examination in the second year of the Zhongping era?"

"Yes."

"From the second year of Zhongping to now, it has been exactly the most chaotic twenty years."

Yuan Shao's eyes were sharp, as if he were interrogating Hua Tuo.

"In these twenty years, how many people have you seen whose lives were ended by the chaos of war?"

"Practicing medicine may save a hundred people, but peace can save ten thousand!"

"Isn't that precisely why Yuanhua came to Yecheng, hoping to obtain an official position?"

Seeing Hua Tuo's ashamed expression, Yuan Shao softened considerably.

"Now, Liu Miao is the only enemy left in the world."

"Once Liu Miao is pacified, whether it is Liu Bei and Gongsun Du in Liaodong, Ma Teng and Han Sui in Xiliang, or Shi Xie in Jiaozhi, they are nothing more than a minor ailment! When that time comes, the chaos will naturally end! And the world will naturally be at peace!"

"Is it not worth it to exchange my life for the peace of countless people under heaven?"

Hua Tuo hesitated for a moment: "But if we can remove the carbuncle, perhaps we can cure the disease once and for all."

"Having his feet cut off, he can't walk? In this chaotic world, can there really be a place for an emperor who can't even walk?"

Yuan Shao rejected the treatment plan once again.

The world will not tolerate a crippled emperor, and Yuan Shao himself cannot tolerate a crippled Yuan Shao.

"Prepare six months' worth of ointments and decoctions."

"If the war cannot be ended in six months, it means that I will probably never be able to defeat Liu Miao in my lifetime."

Hua Tuo remained silent for a long time before finally making a move.

He performed acupuncture, massage, and qi circulation on Yuan Shao.

Carefully apply ointment to the carbuncle to inhibit its further spread and keep the rest of the foot clean and healthy.

Another bowl of dark and thick medicine was brought over. Yuan Shao merely wrinkled his nose, then picked up the bowl and drank it all in one gulp!

"Whoo~~~"

After resting for a while, Yuan Shao felt much better, and his mind became clear again.

"I haven't felt this comfortable in a long time!"

Only then did Yuan Shao remember something. He rummaged through his clothes and found an imperial edict, which he then handed to Hua Tuo.

Hua Tuo was immediately excited when he saw the imperial edict!
"Your Majesty, this is...!"

"I never go back on my word."

Yuan Shao put his clothes back on and comfortably moved his limbs.

"The magistrate of Neihuang County will be promoted to the position of Assistant Prefect. Once the year is over, you can go and take up your post."

Hua Tuo carefully held the imperial edict, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty!"

"No need, you deserve it."

Yuan Shao pushed open the tightly closed door.

The rich scent of photinia flowers always surpasses the mixed herbal smells in the room.

Yuan Shao took two deep breaths, intoxicated by the outdoor air.

"Liu Miao, I've arrived!"

(End of this chapter)