Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Shu, Loyal Officials of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 230 He harbors a secret that cannot be told to others, and secretly harbors an ambition to swallow the heavens and the earth!
"What our lord says is reasonable and logical. Upon careful consideration, it is truly terrifying!"

"Yes, we didn't suspect anything before. Now that we think about it, the Yuan family has produced outstanding people for four generations, with a profound foundation. How could they possibly raise an arrogant and dissolute playboy as their successor?"

After your analysis, my lord, it is clear that only a remarkably wise and shrewd individual, hidden in the shadows, truly fits the reputation of the Yuan family, whose disciples and former officials have brought them immense power.

Indeed, the Hongnong Yang family, starting from Yang Biao, has a lineage of four generations of high-ranking officials, including Yang Ci (father), Yang Bing (grandfather), and Yang Zhen (great-grandfather). Even Yang Xiu, Yang Biao's son, was known as a child prodigy. It can be said that every generation has produced outstanding individuals.

The Yuan family was the same. Counting back from Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao, their fathers were Yuan Feng and Yuan Kui, their grandfathers were Yuan Tang, their great-grandfathers were Yuan Jing and Yuan Chang, and their great-great-grandfathers were Yuan An. Four generations of them held high positions, a place of outstanding people and beautiful scenery.

Other families, such as the Xun family, had eight dragons in the previous generation, and in this generation, there are also Xun Yu and Xun You, uncle and nephew.

The same applies to families such as the Chen and Zhou.

This is because in this day and age, talented people come from prominent families, which also have profound cultural heritage and specialized talent cultivation.

Unless someone is truly unlucky and the heir is born with intellectual disabilities, anyone who can step forward to become the heir is unlikely to be too bad.

The key is that the reputation and public opinion of the time are in the hands of these powerful families. Therefore, it is not necessary for each generation of heirs to have extraordinary wisdom. As long as their abilities are barely passable, they can be praised to an unprecedented height.

But what about this generation of the Yuan family? They are indeed quite strange.

Yuan Shu, who should have been the heir in law, had only one praiseworthy trait: his chivalrous spirit.

No? Your students and former officials are all over the world. You are the heir of the Yuan family, which has produced three dukes for four generations. Your virtues are chivalry and righteousness.
On the contrary, Yuan Shao was portrayed as a god-like figure, wise and powerful, and a great ruler of his time.

However, most of the people under Cao Cao's command were Xun Yu's friends, so they naturally already knew about this from Xun Wenruo, who had come to join Cao Cao from Yuan Shao.

Yuan Shao was indeed a man whose reputation was built on the pedigree of aristocratic families; in reality, he was greedy, reckless, indecisive, and not a wise ruler.

But if the Yuan family could produce a Yuan Shao, why couldn't their heir, Yuan Shu?
Clearly, the so-called wise and powerful Yuan Shao was merely a figurehead pushed out by the Yuan family to serve as a shield for Yuan Shu!
Previously, people might have doubted that Yuan Shu was the kind of person who was utterly useless and had no redeeming qualities, so that the Yuan family couldn't be praised even if they wanted to.

But now, faced with such a blatant record of victories, who would dare to underestimate this Lord Yuan of Huainan?
Everyone knows that wisdom and strategy are things that are accumulated over a long period of time, from small beginnings to large ones.

No one can achieve great things overnight, suddenly transforming from a fool into a peerless hero. This is the law of nature!

As for the claim that he obtained the Imperial Seal of the State, was ordained by Heaven, and thus underwent a complete transformation, as if he had become a different person.

Such rhetoric can only fool the ignorant people in Lujiang City who wear yellow turbans. If they actually believed this, they might as well believe that Yuan Shu also possessed magical powers.

If that's the case, then only the one possibility that Cao Cao just mentioned remains.

Yuan Shu concealed his true abilities from beginning to end!
Who would need to endure and hide themselves for decades?
[He harbors a secret he cannot reveal, and secretly harbors ambitions to conquer the world!]

This is a colossal lie that has been orchestrated for decades, a conspiracy that has spread across the world.

For decades, Yuan Shu has been hiding in various identities at key junctures in the course of history, acting as a behind-the-scenes manipulator of major events.

As one of He Jin's trusted advisors, he was the one who secretly instigated He Jin's plot to eliminate the eunuchs.

For the Tiger General, who was in charge of the Imperial Guards, passing on messages to guide the Ten Attendants to kill He Jin was an easy task.

As the eldest son of the Yuan family, he manipulated the illegitimate son Yuan Shao, using him to facilitate Dong Zhuo's entry into the capital and ultimately destroy the foundation of the Han Dynasty!
He served as the deputy leader of the eighteen warlord alliance, in charge of the army's provisions, and through Dong Zhuo, he weakened Sun Jian's strength, manipulated the alliance's dissolution, sent the message of the Imperial Seal to Liu Biao, orchestrated Sun Jian's death, and ultimately annexed Sun Jian's army to take control of the Imperial Seal!

All of this was for one purpose: to plot and scheme, bit by bit, to invite the Great Han to his death and rebuild the Yuan family's empire!
Horror!
"I have heard that this was the case when Wang Mang usurped the Han throne!"
It is said that before he usurped the Han throne, he was filial to his parents, respectful and frugal, and was a moral exemplar of his time.

He spread benevolence and righteousness, won people's hearts, and had the ambition to help others. He was known as a wise and virtuous man who saved the world.

But after usurping the Han throne, his true colors were revealed!

Reflecting on Yuan Gong's past, his feigned arrogance and decades-long concealment of his true nature mirrored Wang Ni's feigned humility, which he also concealed for decades.

These behaviors cannot be described as merely similar; they are exactly the same!
How hateful! How pathetic! Does our great Han Dynasty have to produce a monstrous troublemaker like Wang Mang or Yuan Shu every two hundred years, through twelve emperors?

"The cunning and scheming of such a demon are beyond the comprehension of ordinary people like us."

I now have reason to suspect that this person was behind the late emperor's prolonged indecision in choosing an heir, often wavering between the Prince of Hongnong and Your Majesty!

"Ha! I think that the death of Consort Wang and the struggle between Empress Dowager He and Empress Dowager Dong may not have been without his calculations."

"More than that! The Rebellion of the Ten Attendants and the several partisan struggles were definitely orchestrated by this person to solidify the Yuan family's power and lay the groundwork for the future."

Otherwise, why were all the officials in the court either demoted or executed, while the core members of the Yuan family, by leading the officials and countering the Ten Attendants, became increasingly secure in their positions at court?

"If that's the case, then Zhang Jiao's Yellow Turban Rebellion must have been his doing, with the aim of bringing disaster to our great Han Dynasty and realizing his ambition to become emperor."

Otherwise, look at the people in Lujiang City. Even if Zhang Jiao were to be resurrected and witness this scene, they would be shocked and doubt whether he or Zhang Jiao was the true heir to the Yellow Turban Rebellion.

"And there was the Li-Guo Rebellion!"
What a coincidence! Just as Li Guo made a big scene in Chang'an, he sent Liu Yao there and started to boast every day that Yuan Shu was a loyal subject of the Han Dynasty.
"If it weren't for your swift and decisive action, sir, rescuing His Majesty from peril, the Emperor would have already fallen into his hands, and the traitor's plot would have succeeded."

"This scoundrel has never given up his desire to destroy our great Han Dynasty. He will stop at nothing to achieve his goal. He is truly hateful, terrifying, and awe-inspiring!"

The more people analyzed it, the more reasonable it seemed, as if all the bad things were Yuan Shu's secret schemes.

With his own strength, he gradually pushed the course of the world, planning for decades, and scheming to turn the great Han dynasty's empire into the current situation of the Nine Provinces being divided and the Warring States vying for supremacy.

Even though Yuan Shu was already the most powerful warlord in the world, capable of ruling as a sovereign in the south, his strategic planning and cunning were simply astonishing.

Terrifying! Respectable! Awe-inspiring!
Now everyone understands why Yuan Shu was always one step ahead, anticipating the enemy's moves and controlling the tide of the world.

After everyone's analysis, it was concluded that the current situation in the Nine Provinces of the Han Dynasty was entirely caused by Yuan Shu.

As the creator of the current world situation, isn't it only natural that he can control the world's trends and anticipate the enemy's moves?

It wasn't that no one had differing opinions; for example, some pointed out that Yuan Shu was still young when the Party Proscription was launched.

He was just a teenager at the time; how could he possibly manipulate the Yuan family and control the world like a puppet?
However, such remarks are not in line with the mainstream, lack political correctness, and are not popular with the public.

He was immediately ridiculed by everyone!

"Have you not heard of Gan Luo, who became prime minister at the age of twelve during the pre-Qin period?"

"Don't you see that Lu Xun, at the age of fourteen, already took control of the Liang Kingdom and fiercely resisted our army?"

"Even Yang Dezu of the Yang family was known as a child prodigy. It is said that Yang Biao and Liu Yao caused trouble for the emperor several times in the court, which was due to his schemes."

“How can we judge Yuan Shu, a monstrous figure like Wang Mang reincarnated, who appears only once every two hundred years in our Han Dynasty, by ordinary standards?”

"Exactly. If it were you, could you possess unparalleled strategic talent and yet remain hidden from the world for decades without anyone knowing?"

Faced with a chorus of sneers and rebuttals, those with differing opinions are immediately made to doubt themselves.

They were quickly persuaded and joined the mainstream conspiracy theory about Yuan Shu, continuing to add fuel to the fire of any possible conspiracies Yuan Shu might have committed over the decades.

Under this politically correct consensus, the members of Cao Cao's camp quickly reached a joyous agreement and bowed to Cao Cao. "The Han dynasty is in ruins, the people are in chaos, and this monster has brought disaster to the country!"
In this world, perhaps only you, Prime Minister, who saw through this man's disguise, could quell the chaos and avert disaster!

"Yes! We must expose this man's wicked deeds to the world, so that everyone will know of his sinister schemes that have wreaked havoc on the Han Dynasty!"

"Yes! We will surely expose Yuan Shu's true colors and let the world know!"

After everyone finished speaking, Xun You stepped forward and bowed.

"Now that things have become so urgent, Prime Minister, you must not delay in Huainan. You should return to Luoyang immediately, report the traitor's actions to the court, and inform the Emperor and all the officials!"

Cao Cao nodded, “It’s not that we are no match for him, but this matter is of great importance. What you gentlemen say is very true. We should return to the court and expose this man to the Emperor.”

Yes, they were fighting well before, but then they withdrew their troops for no reason. They went on a long and arduous expedition and gained nothing, which damaged the prestige of the Han Dynasty's Prime Minister.

In addition, there were people like Liu Yao and Yang Biao in the court who were always at odds with him. If he were to be defeated and return to Luoyang, it would be inevitable that people in the court would be unsettled.

But things are different now. With Yuan Gonglu, this monster who is Wang Mang reincarnated, they will surely unite against the enemy after returning to the court!
Because of political correctness, people learned that the reason why the Han Dynasty was in its current state was all due to Yuan Gonglu's misdeeds, and even the emperor had to be completely bound to the anti-Yuan war chariot.

Those who are loyal to the Han dynasty should unite to punish this scoundrel!
Upon seeing that Cao Cao had agreed to withdraw his troops immediately, Xun You went on to discuss the matter.

"At present, Xiangyang has been captured by Yuan Shu, and Jingzhou has all turned against Yuan Shu."

The only course of action for our lord now is to retreat from Jiangxia to Nanyang and return home.

"Once Jingzhou and Xiangyang fall into Yuan Shu's hands, Nanyang will become our crucial barrier against Yuan's army. Such a vital location must not fall into the hands of others."

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao's gaze darkened slightly.

Xun You understood what he meant. With Liu Jingsheng as a cautionary tale, they could no longer trust the fighting ability of these teammates in the face of Yuan Shu.

Zhang Xiu's garrison in Nanyang seemed to serve as a shield, isolating Yuan Shu from view.

However, the vast barrier of the nine counties of Jingxiang was destroyed by Yuan Shu in a short period of time.

If we really rely on Zhang Xiu, who knows when Yuan Shu will launch an attack? But Zhang Xiu was defeated and surrendered, Nanyang was lost, and Yuan Shu directly marched his troops towards Luoyang. Where can we find justice in this?

These allies are now uncertain whether they can be relied upon. It is best to keep such a vital territory firmly in our own hands.

Cao Cao pondered this for a moment, seemingly already having a plan in mind, but realizing it wasn't appropriate for his lord to say it, he asked:
"Gongda's words are very true. I wonder how you can teach me?"

Xun You chuckled and began to explain.

"Borrowing a route to attack Guo!"
Previously, we passed through without committing any offenses. Now that we are returning, Zhang Xiu will certainly be completely unprepared.

The strategist Jia Xu, who resides in the city, might see through this plan, but his loyalty lies with the court. He would not only refrain from warning Zhang Xiu, but might even secretly aid his lord.

"good."

Just as Cao Cao's camp reached a consensus on Yuan Shu's conspiracy and hastily withdrew its troops.

A troop of soldiers arrived, carrying a large banner with the character "文" (wen, meaning culture/literature) written on it.

It was Wen Ping who arrived, requesting an audience with Cao Cao. Cao Cao granted his request, and upon his arrival, Wen Ping bowed and said:

"Why did the Prime Minister withdraw his troops so quickly?"

After all, they were allies. Unlike the unreliable Liu Biao, Wen Ping and he fought against Zhang Xun along the way, and their cooperation was quite pleasant.

When Cao Cao hastily withdrew his troops and was asked by his allies why, a look of sorrow appeared on his face. He was about to explain Liu Biao's defeat when Wen Ping, with tears in his eyes, spoke first.

"Prime Minister, there is no need to say more. I already know everything about my lord's defeat and surrender."

However, this matter must have been done under duress from the traitor Yuan, and surrendering was by no means my lord's intention.

The Han Dynasty is crumbling, the pillars of heaven are collapsing, we beg the Prime Minister to step in and save the day!
Please send troops to Xiangyang to rescue my lord from this perilous situation and help him reclaim the nine counties of Jingzhou and Xiangyang. I will obey your orders completely, and it will not be too late for us to fight the traitor Yuan again!

Cao Cao: "."

Still want to save?

They've already gotten themselves into such a mess, what's the point of saving them?

If we rescue Liu Biao again, what if news comes in a couple of days that Yuan Shu has captured Nanyang in one battle and Zhang Xiu has been defeated and surrendered?

At that time, Jingzhou and Yuzhou will be connected, surrounding Jiangxia in the center. There will be no way to escape, and they will have to lose their isolated army as well.

But after all, this was the last general of Jingzhou, commanding 20,000 troops.

Moreover, Jiangxia is still in Wen Ping's hands. If things really fall apart, he won't be able to go back to Luoyang, let alone get to Jiangxia.

Suppressing his emotions for the moment, Cao Cao sighed repeatedly to Wen Ping.

"General Wen."

It's not that I'm unwilling, but that I simply can't.

Your lord has already surrendered. It is said that Yuan Shu did not kill him, but instead sent him to Luoyang to plead guilty to the emperor.

The news has reached us, and Liu Jingsheng may already be on his way to Luoyang. This mission to relieve Xiangyang is not to be underestimated, given the formidable city's strength.

We are a lone force deep in enemy territory, without your lord Liu Jingsheng to provide support in Jingzhou and Xiangyang. Even if we capture Xiangyang, it will be an enclave.

They were all surrounded by Yuan's army on all sides, trapped in their predicament, and could only wait to die!

Cao Cao explained his predicament. Wen Ping was no stranger to military strategy or understanding of the situation, but things had come to this point. His lord had surrendered, and he, as a general in the field, was truly at a loss, not knowing where to go or what to do.

Cao Cao guessed his thoughts and was overjoyed, but he also knew that now was not the time to directly subdue Wen Ping and his troops. He devised a plan to deal with him gradually, and said to him:

"Since Brother Jingsheng has already gone to Luoyang, General Wen, why don't you come back to Luoyang with me, find Brother Jingsheng, and then we can make further plans?"

General Wen, rest assured. With the Holy Emperor in court and me, the Prime Minister, as your guarantor, how could the court possibly accept Yuan's so-called words of pleading guilty in court?
Once we find Brother Jingsheng, we can recuperate and prepare our forces. Perhaps one day we will march out of Nanyang, launch a counterattack against Yuan Shao, and reclaim Jingzhou and Xiangyang.

In his mind, now that he had tricked Wen Ping into going to Luoyang, he was sure that Wen Ping would be his for the taking.

As for Liu Biao? He's so weak, wouldn't he be a pushover in Luoyang? If he were truly capable, would he have been beaten so badly by Yuan Shu?
"Go to Luoyang to find our lord?"

Wenping thought about it briefly and found it to be reasonable, so he immediately nodded.

"Things have come to this, and this is the only way."

(End of this chapter)