I am not Yuan Shu

Chapter 365 Primordial Beginning, Make Your Move!
According to the plan, when Yuan Ji came out and publicly announced at the banquet that he would never agree with Yuan Feng's opinion and would never relinquish power to his eldest son, Yuan Shao would lead these hundreds of armed men to launch a sudden attack, kidnap all the Yuan clan members and high-ranking officials present, and force them to hand over power.

The main issue is military power.

After obtaining the military tally, Yuan Shao would mobilize troops to take control of the army in Luoyang City. He would then launch a surprise attack and surround the palace, and do his utmost to defeat the Tiger Warriors and Feathered Forest Guards. In this way, Luoyang City would be completely under his control.

The next step was to use party members to replace some important officials, maintain the operation of power in Luoyang, and immediately begin a major purge against Yuan Shu's faction.

He wanted to completely wipe out Yuan Shuliu's forces in Luoyang City, leaving no one alive.

Sitting below Yuan Feng, Yuan Ji, drinking, looked at the Yuan clan members, high-ranking officials, and his father Yuan Feng, who were all drunk and clinking glasses, and felt a surge of resentment, anger, and a burning ambition ready to erupt.

Before the banquet officially began, Yuan Feng called Yuan Ji to his side and said something to him, basically telling him not to cause any trouble and to honestly announce his abdication at the banquet, handing over the right of succession to Yuan Shu.

In this way, everyone benefits, and it's a good thing for everyone.

"As your father, I don't want to see any setbacks, do you understand?"

Yuan Feng looked intently at Yuan Ji and gave him one last warning.

Yuan Ji, however, showed no emotion. He lowered his head and bowed respectfully, indicating that he understood.

He certainly wouldn't do things the way Yuan Feng expected. He knew very well that if today's operation succeeded, he, Yuan Ji, would become the helmsman of the Yuan family and even the entire Han Empire, and he would become the master of the world.

He believed that Yuan Feng would definitely regret it afterward.

Because he originally only wanted to become the master of the Yuan family, and never thought of becoming the ruler of the world, it was Yuan Feng who wanted to take everything away from him, which forced him onto the path of full-scale confrontation. Therefore, Yuan Ji believed that it was all Yuan Feng's fault.

Of course, Yuan Shu was also at fault. That brat dared to covet the eldest son's right of inheritance and dared to disregard social norms and ethics. He was utterly wicked and had audacity beyond belief!
Do you really think that having talent means you have everything?
snort!
Yuan Ji had already planned it all out. After the deed was done, he wouldn't kill Yuan Shu. Instead, he would kill all of Yuan Shu's subordinates, put Yuan Shu and Yuan Feng under house arrest, and make Yuan Shu guard Yuan Feng's tomb for the rest of his life after Yuan Feng's death.

Aren't you two a father and son with a deep bond?
Then let's never be apart!

As Yuan Ji drank, he dreamed about the future.

After several rounds of drinks, it was almost time. Yuan Feng, holding his wine cup, discussed some official matters with his fifth son, Yuan Dun, before turning his gaze to Yuan Ji, indicating that it was time to begin the public announcement.

The time has come for you to show your elder brotherly demeanor.

Yuan Ji tilted his head back, drank the wine in his cup dry, then took a deep breath, slowly got up, and walked to the center of the garden.

The singing and dancing ended, and all eyes of the banquet guests turned to Yuan Ji. Some people looked at Yuan Feng while also glancing at Yuan Ji.

Apart from Yuan Kui, even Yuan Dun was unaware of what had happened. He thought it was just an ordinary banquet where everyone would drink and eat meat, and then take back the Wuwei wine and top-quality Shu brocade given by Yuan Feng to show off.

Are there any mini-shows during the event?
That's not right. If there really is a performance, it should be performed by Yuan Ji's son's generation. Yuan Ji is already thirty years old, why would he need to come up and perform?

Yuan Xun didn't understand.

However, Yuan Ji quickly spoke up, dispelling everyone's doubts.

"Uncles and elders, today's banquet should not have been any different from the past. It was just a banquet, just like every one before. But because of one event, today's banquet will be a little different from the past. Of course, this event was not requested by me, but by my father, Yuan Sikong."

Yuan Ji had originally been facing away from Yuan Feng, but at this moment, he turned around and faced Yuan Feng.

Yuan Feng closed his eyes.

Yuan Wei sighed softly and slowly shook his head.

Yuan Ji did not notice anything amiss in this scene.

He spoke his heartfelt words, which he had prepared for a long time.

“My father told me that because my younger brother Yuan Shu was more outstanding and more suitable to inherit his position and become the next head of the Yuan family, he asked me to voluntarily give up the right of inheritance that should belong to me as the eldest son.”

As soon as Yuan Ji finished speaking, everyone in the room looked at Yuan Feng, who had his eyes closed, with puzzled expressions.

To be honest, this is not big news. Because of Yuan Feng's repeated public and private statements day after day, everyone was already prepared for the possibility that Yuan Feng would pass on his position to Yuan Shu. They were not surprised.

However, how this matter will be handled, how the relationship between Yuan Ji and Yuan Shu will be defined, and how the two sides will complete this transfer of inheritance rights are still matters for discussion.

Moreover, in their view, this matter should have been discussed and decided internally by the Yuan family before being announced to the public. It was not appropriate for Yuan Ji to announce it to the public in public at this moment.
Moreover, judging from Yuan Ji's tone and demeanor, he was quite dissatisfied with the matter.

Ok.

To kill someone, you must first destroy their spirit; what Lao Yuan did was truly despicable.

However, as members of a vested interest group, they had little to criticize Yuan Feng. They generally agreed with Yuan Feng's decision to pass the leadership to Yuan Shu, and acknowledged Yuan Shu's strength and intelligence. They just couldn't say it openly. Frankly, you father and son can discuss this privately, but you shouldn't bring it up in this kind of setting and cause an argument, right?
This feels a bit like airing dirty laundry in public.

Yuan Ji's "counter-offensive" is clearly not over yet.

“I know that my abilities are far inferior to my younger brother Yuan Shu, and I also know that Father has long favored him. But what I don’t know is, when did the status of the eldest son become so lowly? Isn’t it only natural for the eldest son to inherit the father’s position?”

From the time I was old enough to understand, everyone told me that I was my father's eldest son and would inherit his position in the future. I believed this and prepared accordingly. For this reason, I was cautious and dutiful, and never dared to overstep any boundaries.

I may not be as outstanding as my younger brother, but I haven't made any mistakes either. Though I'm mediocre, I haven't done anything wrong. I've been filial to my father, respectful to my elders, and courteous to those of lower status—I've done everything I should! So why am I still being abandoned?

Yuan Ji's eyes reddened, and large tears fell to the ground one by one. Facing Yuan Feng, he tearfully accused him and poured out his grievances.

Such a tearful accusation did indeed have a significant impact on everyone present. Many people agreed with Yuan Ji's words, felt that what Yuan Ji said made sense, and felt some sympathy for him.

The eldest son inherits the throne; it is a rule passed down from our ancestors, passed down from generation to generation. Emperors have come and gone, but this rule has never changed, which shows its importance.

It's really hard to believe that Yuan Feng would dismiss his eldest son simply because he favored his youngest.

However, while we may sympathize with them, it's clear they wouldn't actually stand up and say anything.

the reason is simple.

Yuan Shu's influence is too great.

Putting aside everything else, Duan Jiong, the Grand Commandant and General of the Cavalry, was calmly drinking wine at the very moment, sitting to the right of Yuan Feng. Meanwhile, Duan Wei, the Commandant of the Capital Region, was also calmly drinking wine, sitting third from the bottom of the line.

As for the last person in the queue, Minister Jia Xu was still calmly drinking.

These three were all Yuan Shu's confidants.

Especially Duan Jiong, the foremost general of the dynasty and a renowned war god.

Many people previously believed that Duan Jiong was Yuan Feng's man. However, at the end of the second year of the Zhengshi era, Yuan Shu won a battle in the north. Duan Jiong quickly submitted a memorial suggesting that Yuan Shu be awarded the title of Left General. At a banquet, he publicly stated that it was Yuan Shu who recommended him for the position of Grand Commandant, so he wanted to return the favor.

By then, many people finally realized that Duan Jiong was actually Yuan Shu's man!
The Duan brothers are all Yuan Shu's men!

Their true allegiance was not to Yuan Feng at all!
Thus, Yuan Shu's influence once again shocked the entire imperial court.

Given his formidable strength, is it possible that he cannot succeed Yuan Feng in his position?

With such deep roots and influence, is it possible for Yuan Ji to replace him?

Even a fool would know it's impossible.

Therefore, Yuan Ji's tearful accusations could only elicit sympathy, not any substantial help.

Yuan Ji seemed to realize this as well. He found that his tearful accusations could only earn him Yuan Feng's closed eyes, Yuan Wei's sighs, and the sympathy of the other onlookers.

But not a single person stood up to support him.

Therefore, it is clear that his decision was correct.

Crying is a waste of time and has no practical effect.

Only a knife can have a practical effect.

So, his crying and pleading are over; now it's time for the main course!

He wiped away his tears, changed his expression, and looked at Yuan Feng with a rather fierce look.

“Father, you often admonished me to read more books, especially history books. I am very filial, so I have read a lot of history books, especially the Book of Han. Do you know why? Because the Book of Han records the life and final fate of Liu Ju, the Crown Prince of Emperor Wu of Han.”

Tragedy can occur when there is mutual suspicion and dissatisfaction between father and son. The son, who has done nothing wrong, loses everything because of his father's suspicion and dissatisfaction. This is too cruel for a son who has done nothing wrong.

I don't want to become like Liu Ju, I don't want to repeat his mistakes, so I must do something. I must let Father know that I am not as incompetent as you think! I am not a blindly filial person who only knows how to cry and whine!

After saying that, Yuan Ji gave a sharp shout.

"Primordial One! What are you waiting for? Why haven't you made your move yet?"

(End of this chapter)