I am not Yuan Shu

Chapter 362 The Last Straw

Seeing Yuan Shao's guilty look, Yuan Wei became even more dissatisfied with him.

"Rumors? What rumors could I possibly hear?"

Yuan Wei sneered, "I hear rumors all over the world every moment. I've seen more fools than you have, and I've dealt with more traitors than you've eaten rice. What rumors do I need? As for you, have you heard any rumors?"

Even at the most crucial moments, Yuan Wei's speaking style remained traditionally roundabout and riddle-like, never speaking directly and clearly, as if speaking directly and clearly would diminish his sophistication.

So Yuan Shao found it rather strange.

Haven't you heard the rumors?

Why was Changshui Camp transferred away?
Is it...

Is it just being prepared for a rainy day?

It was only because they were genuinely worried that he and Yuan Ji would launch a counterattack that they transferred the Changshui Battalion away, as a warning to the two brothers not to act recklessly.
In a flash, Yuan Shao considered this possibility and quickly expanded his thinking, arriving at a rather reasonable and, in a sense, correct conclusion.

Yuan Feng and Yuan Wei were indeed warning Yuan Ji and Yuan Shao against acting recklessly, and their intentions were not wrong.

Their act of transferring troops did indeed fit this line of thinking, which prevented Yuan Shao from further verifying whether their plan had already been leaked.

Perhaps Yuan Shao himself was avoiding this speculation, unwilling to acknowledge it, because once he did, he and his brother would be utterly defeated.

The decision that was just made has been leaked. Who is the mole? Who is the reliable accomplice?

This problem could instantly destroy all their efforts and hopes.

Not only did he violate national laws, but he also broke family rules, making it impossible for him to ever recover, and he may even become a prisoner or a death row inmate.

this is too scary.

The young Yuan Shao could not bear the consequences of such speculation.

Therefore, when faced with Yuan Wei's warning, Yuan Shao's thoughts drifted to another place.

“I haven’t heard any rumors, but I’ve heard that my second uncle is going to designate Zijia as the next successor of the Yuan family.”

"This is enough."

Yuan Wei stared intently at Yuan Shao and slowly asked, "What is your opinion on this matter? Do you support your second uncle's decision?"

Of course I don't support it!

Of course I object with both hands and feet!
But do I keep my word?

Do I have the right to object?

Yuan Wei's casual question almost broke Yuan Shao's composure. He suppressed the urge to launch into a tirade and said softly, "Uncle's decision is not something I can comment on. I believe that Uncle has his own reasons for doing this."

"Is this what you really think?"

Yuan Wei did not believe Yuan Shao's statement and said coldly, "Over the years, you and your brother have become very close and have had many interactions. Your brother did so unwillingly, and you persuaded him to accept it?"

Yuan Shaotian licked his slightly chapped lips.

“My brother is indeed very unwilling. After all, he is the eldest son and has been working towards inheriting the position of family head for many years. Suddenly changing the candidate is not something that anyone would easily accept. I understand my brother’s difficulties.”

So, after much persuasion from his nephew, his brother's mood has improved considerably. Yesterday, his brother was crying and making a scene, saying that his second uncle was too biased towards Zijia, but he doesn't say those things now. He just still doesn't really want to eat.

Yuan Shao could spout such nonsense without thinking; he bragged without batting an eye.

If Yuan Wei hadn't learned from Yuan Feng what they had actually done, he might have actually believed Yuan Shao's lies.

However, Yuan Wei was actually very angry about this matter. He was angry that his two unfilial sons, Yuan Ji and Yuan Shao, dared to conspire with outsiders to plot against his father. This was simply outrageous and contrary to the will of Heaven!

Even if your father has done similar things in the eyes of others, how can you sons do the same to him?
Moreover, your father at least had the righteous cause of killing the eunuchs, and the whole world would support him. What righteous cause do you have?
In this world, it has always been the case that officials are allowed to set fires while ordinary people are forbidden to light lamps. How dare you follow suit?

Rebel!

Yuan Wei didn't intend to spell things out; he would stop short of revealing the truth. If they truly had any remorse, they should know to pull back from the brink.

If they still refuse to give up and continue to cause trouble even without the Northern Army, then don't blame Yuan Feng for taking drastic measures against them later.

Upon realizing this, Yuan Wei shook his head.

"This matter is settled. Your second uncle and I have discussed it for a very long time. It is a very careful decision. As members of the Yuan family, you enjoy the family's protection and should abide by the family's decision so as not to lose your wealth and honor."

If you disobey the family's decisions and act recklessly, violating any rules, once discovered, not only will you be punished by national law, but you will also be condemned by family rules. In that case, you will lose even your wealth and honor! I have said all I have to say!

After saying this, Yuan Wei led his men away from the Changshui Camp.

After Yuan Kui left, Yuan Shao remained in the military tent, his face ashen and his teeth clenched.

Are you old guys really going to such lengths for Yuan Shu?
Are they not even willing to leave us the slightest possibility of resistance? Intense dissatisfaction, resentment, unwillingness, and jealousy filled Yuan Shao's mind, tearing at his reason.

A short while later, Yuan Shao stood up, rode back to Luoyang City at full speed, and went to Yuan Ji's residence to tell Yuan Ji about the matter.

Upon hearing that even the troops of the Changshui Camp had been transferred away, Yuan Ji panicked and became completely disoriented.

"What are we going to do? The Changshui Camp is all gone. Do we even have five hundred men left? With so few men, how can we possibly succeed? What... what should we do? Father and Third Uncle... won't catch me... won't execute me, will they?"

Seeing Yuan Ji's flustered and incompetent appearance, Yuan Shao immediately realized that Yuan Feng and Yuan Wei might not have made the wrong decision after all, and that Yuan Shu was indeed far superior to Yuan Ji.

If everyone panicked like Yuan Ji in every situation, how could the successive heads of the Yuan family have maintained the family's prestige amidst the turbulent political struggles of the court?

Yuan Ji is really not suited to be the head of a family!

Things might be better in peacetime, but is it peaceful now?
At this thought, Yuan Shao even considered taking over the throne, but he quickly realized his status as an illegitimate son and the heir of Yuan Cheng's lineage, and was immediately disappointed.

However, he quickly composed himself, took a deep breath, and offered his advice to Yuan Ji.

"At this moment, it is indeed a matter of life and death. However, firstly, my second and third uncles do not know what we are planning to do. They are doing this only to warn us and take precautions, which is of course very disadvantageous to us."

"But brother, every crisis contains opportunity. Think about it, did our second and third uncles transfer our men away from Luoyang, weakening our forces, to send us to our deaths? If so, why add unnecessary complications? Just send the Commandant of the Capital Region to arrest them."

Yuan Shao's words calmed Yuan Ji down a little in his panic.

He swallowed hard and looked at Yuan Shao.

"Benchu, do you mean... Father and Third Uncle didn't want to kill me?"

"How could that be? You are the eldest son of the Yuan family. No matter how dissatisfied your second and third uncles are, they would never kill you!"

People can actually laugh when they're extremely speechless.

Facing Yuan Ji, who was like a puppet on a string, Yuan Shao smiled helplessly and said, "Brother, at this moment, although there are many crises, after the Changshui Battalion was transferred, you and I brothers no longer have any troops to turn the situation around. This is something that everyone knows."

So at this point, would your second and third uncles still believe you're going to rebel? Would they still believe you've actually gained a lot of support and are preparing for a final stand? Would they still be wary when you return to the Sikong Mansion?

At this moment, Yuan Ji had no thoughts of his own. He listened to what Yuan Shao said and found it very reasonable and agreeable.

Yes, I have no soldiers left. I'm like a toothless tiger, no threat anymore. So, will they still be on guard?
If they weren't on guard, they wouldn't have brought so many guards back to the Sikong Mansion.

In this way, within the Sikong Mansion, with just a little arrangement, his power would gain an absolute advantage.

At that time...

The June sky mirrored Yuan Ji's face. At this moment, Yuan Ji had experienced a dramatic emotional rollercoaster and was quite sensitive. Just a moment ago, the sky was overcast and a heavy rain was imminent, but in an instant, the sun shone brightly and the sky was cloudless.

Looking at Yuan Ji's expression, Yuan Shao knew that Yuan Ji had been persuaded.

Even if Yuan Shao himself was just a straw to grasp, for Yuan Ji it was a lifeline when he was about to drown.

catch!

Hold on tight!
So Yuan Ji stepped forward and grabbed Yuan Shao's hand.

"Benchu, right now, only you and I, brothers, can help and trust each other. I have no one else to trust. Benchu, everything depends on you! You are my last resort!"

Yuan Shao lowered his head and looked at Yuan Ji's hands. For some reason, a strange feeling of absurdity arose in his heart.

Can even plastic brothers reach this point?

Or is it all driven by self-interest?

If that's the case, then the Yuan brothers...

That's so sad.

However, Yuan Shao had no time to vent his emotions. What he needed to do most now was to formulate a new plan in order to find a glimmer of hope in this desperate situation.

This is no longer a losing situation.

If situations can be categorized as mild, moderate, and severe, then this situation is clearly of the Indian level.

Yuan Shao knew that he only had one last chance left.

To catch the thief, first catch the king. Take down Yuan Feng, and then take down all the important Yuan family officials in the mansion at the time, forcing them to hand over their military power. This is their last chance to survive.

Otherwise, you'll never be able to turn things around!

As for failure…

Failure means death!
He'd rather be dead than live a life of humiliation under Yuan Shu's feet!
(End of this chapter)