Han officials

Chapter 269 Father and Son [4K]

Ye City, the governor's residence.

The once-filled council chamber is now shrouded in gloom.

Although Yuan Shang, who had not yet come of age, was still just a young boy, he already knew a bit about the ways of the world.

He sat anxiously on the couch, his face filled with fear, and said:
"General Gao, how is my father now?"

Although Yuan Tan was the eldest son, Yuan Shao favored his third son, Yuan Shang.

In addition, Yuan Tan had been leading troops for a long time and had followed Yuan Shao in battles all over the years, which could be considered a contribution.

Therefore, in this expedition, Yuan Shao took Yuan Tan and Yuan Xi with him, but left Yuan Shang to guard Ye City, and appointed Gao Lan to assist him.

Originally, this was just Yuan Shao's slight favoritism towards his third son, but unexpectedly, it has now become the Yuan family's only chance of survival.

……

Let's go back eight days.

That day, Zhang Liao led the Trapped Camp to kill Wen Chou, and Taishi Ci led the Black Armored Battalion to cleave Yan Liang in two.

As the Wei army beheaded generals and cut down flags, Shen Pei was instantly crushed under the hooves of Wei cavalry, his body left without a complete corpse.

At this point, the 40,000 Yuan troops led by Shen Pei were like headless flies and collapsed immediately.

Especially after Yuan Shao's garrison in Xindu deserted in the face of battle, the Yuan army in the central route lost all will to fight.

In just half a day, most of Yuan's 40,000 soldiers surrendered, saving the Wei army a lot of time.

As for Yuan Shao, who was detached from the battlefield, he was not much better off.

Youzhou may not have much else, but it has the most cavalry.

Before Yuan Shao's forces had gone far, Taishi Ci led over ten thousand light cavalry to catch up with the fleeing Yuan army.

Although they could not defeat Yuan's army, Taishi Ci's presence greatly slowed down their march.

Yuan Shao, who originally wanted to return to Ye City to defend it, was thus forced to stay in Guangzong.

Once they stopped, they were completely unable to move.

Because Xu Rong led 20,000 Bingzhou troops in a large-scale flanking maneuver, directly cutting off his rear.

Of course, this sounds simple, but it's not so easy to actually do.

To achieve this, Xu Rong and his men would have to traverse Changshan State and Julu Commandery to block Yuan Shao's return route between Guangzong and Ye City.

These counties were all in enemy territory, making it extremely difficult to outmaneuver and seize control of the enemy's territory.

Fortunately, Zhao Yun and Xu Rong cooperated well, which prevented them from missing the best opportunity.

However, this also shows that the gentry of Ji Province had begun to turn their backs on Yuan Shao.

Otherwise, even if Zhao Yun was incredibly brave, he wouldn't have been able to roam freely in enemy territory and clear the way for the army.

The Zuo Zhuan states:
What you begin with, you will surely end with.

Since Yuan Shao initially decided to base his rule on the gentry, he is now naturally facing the corresponding backlash.

But it's too late to say all this now.

Outside Guangzong City, the Wei army besieging the city numbered nearly 70,000, completely surrounding the city.

Even now, due to the defeat at Xindu, there are still 30,000 Yuan army prisoners who can be used as resources for the Wei army's siege.

The Yuan army inside Guangzong City numbered only about 20,000, and they were a defeated force.

Given such dire circumstances, even if Yuan Shao was extremely ambitious, he knew that his forces were already on the verge of collapse.

In fact, when Yuan Shao saw Xu Rong leading the Bingzhou army behind him, he already knew that things were hopeless.

So after much deliberation, he disregarded the casualties and ordered his men to escort the messenger to break through the siege and deliver the letter to Ye City.

……

Inside the council hall, Gao Lan, the young master, looked at him with fear and unease but said nothing more.

With a somber expression, he solemnly handed a letter to Yuan Shang.

Upon seeing this, Yuan Shang immediately opened it without hesitation.

However, after reading only the beginning, his face turned pale and his fingers began to tremble uncontrollably.

Because at the very beginning of the letter were the words "last words": —

Xianfu, my son:

Alas! My father is now in dire straits in Guangzong, his fate as precarious as a pile of eggs. This letter is not a plea for help, but his last instructions.

Victory or defeat is determined by Heaven, not by the degree of one's virtue. If Heaven does not favor Yuan, what can human effort accomplish?

My defeat is due to fate, and I have no one to blame but myself!

My son, remember this well, and never again harbor any thoughts of coveting it.

My Yuan family of Runan has produced four generations of high-ranking officials, with their halls of fame stretching as far as the eye can see. However, due to the calamity of Dong Zhuo, our family has fallen into ruin. This serves as a stark warning against future strife. Now, the weight of our succession rests on your shoulders.

You should emulate your ancestors' profound knowledge of the classics and laws, abandoning warfare and embracing ancestral rites. Duke Wei is dignified, generous, and magnanimous; on the day the city falls, you should submit to him. Even if you are appointed as a gatekeeper, you should be diligent and cautious. This is the best way to preserve your ancestral lineage; do not harbor any thoughts of revenge.

As for your uncle, Gonglu, he is a wolf in sheep's clothing. I have known him since childhood that he is not someone to be trusted. If he sends you any correspondence, burn it immediately; if he utters any rebellious words, report him to Lord Wei immediately. This man has no long-term vision and will surely bring about his own downfall. Be careful not to let him implicate you.

The question of life and death is beyond words.

Alas, you should take my experience as a warning!
I am leaving now. Take good care of your mother and treat yourself well.

Life and death are unpredictable, so take good care of yourself!
—Father Shao's last words

June 15th, the fourth year of the Chuping era (694 AD)
-

After reading the letter, Yuan Shang's face was covered in tears, and he was sobbing uncontrollably.

Upon seeing this, Gao Lan's face turned pale and his expression became sorrowful.

Yuan Shao also wrote him another letter, instructing him to assist Yuan Shang in controlling Ye City and to surrender when the Wei army approached. Yuan Shao even further instructed him in the letter that if anyone in the city caused trouble, he should say it was on his orders. This way, he could save both his life and his reputation.

But the more magnanimous Yuan Shao was, the more sorrowful Gao Lan felt.

However, remembering Yuan Shao's instructions, Gao Lan suppressed his sadness and advised Yuan Shang to cheer up.

Regardless of Yuan Shang's choice, at the very least, he must first take control of Ye City.

They don't have many chips left now, so they must not be careless anymore.

Upon hearing Gao Lan's words, the grief-stricken and bewildered Yuan Shang stopped sobbing and began issuing orders.

It's true, there are indeed undercurrents swirling in Ye City these days.

In the original history, Yuan Shao was only at a stalemate with Gongsun Zan when some soldiers in Wei Commandery dared to rebel and collude with the Black Mountain Army to kill the governor of Wei Commandery and occupy Ye City. Now, it goes without saying that things are even more complicated.

Gao Lan's secret investigation quickly revealed that some of the garrison officers harbored ulterior motives and intended to commit treason.

So even though they also intended to surrender the city, Yuan Shang, relying on veteran officials like Gao Lan, still managed to clear out Ye City before the Wei army arrived. Even those gentry members who dared to cause trouble in the city were killed without hesitation.

Only after a series of ruthless measures was the situation in Ye City stabilized.

……

Luoyang, Jinyong City.

Night had fallen, but the Sili Commandant's residence was still brightly lit.

In the large council hall, Shi Sunrui sat high in the main seat, while Lü Bu sat comfortably on the right.

Just as the two were discussing the next steps for the Han army in Luoyang, Shi Sunmeng suddenly arrived in a hurry.

He sat down with a shocked expression, gulped down a glass of fruit wine, and then said in a complicated tone:

"Father, the battle of Ji Province has come to a conclusion!"

"What? So fast?" Lü Bu was utterly astonished. Even though Lü Bu was confident in his bravery, he knew how difficult it was to conquer a powerful province like Ji Province.

He originally thought that this war between Yuan and Wei would last at least one or two years.

That's why Lü Bu wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to get a share of the spoils.

For example, the reason he stayed so late tonight was to persuade Shi Sunrui to make it easier for him to launch a surprise attack on Ye City.

After all, the main force of Yuan's army is now basically tied down by Wei's army. If they take the opportunity to launch a surprise attack, they will surely succeed quickly, and there is even a great chance that they will occupy Wei County.

If they could capture Wei Commandery, a first-rate and prosperous region, the Han army in Luoyang would undoubtedly see a significant increase in strength.

Well, judging from this plan, Lü Bu has some brains, but not many.

Because Lü Bu never considered that once they occupied Wei Commandery, no matter who won the battle, they would not be spared.

Yuan Shao wouldn't, and Wei Zhe even less so; Shi Sunrui had no doubt about this.

Therefore, he has been earnestly persuading Lü Bu to give up this idea.

Instead of trying to take advantage of the chaos in Ji Province, it would be better to take advantage of the situation in Yan Province.

After all, compared to the two powerful figures Yuan Shao and Wei Zhe, Liu Bei and Cao Cao of Yanzhou were easier to bully.

However, Shi Sunrui couldn't care less about Lü Bu at this moment, and immediately looked at his son and asked:
"How's the battle going?"

"After the great victory at Xindu, General Zuo led an army of 100,000 to besiege Guangzong. After only a few days of siege, Yuan's army was defeated again, and Guangzong soon fell. Yuan Shao committed suicide by burning himself on the city wall."

Shi Sunmeng sighed, "Zhao Yun led only five thousand cavalry and easily captured Ye City with a swift march. Not only did Yuan Shang surrender the city, but he also helped the Wei army persuade other counties in Ji Province to surrender... Sigh~"

At this moment, Shi Sunmeng was at a loss for words regarding Yuan Shang's actions.

You should know that when he first heard that Yuan Shang was governing Ye City with an iron fist, he thought that he would also put up a stubborn resistance.

But now it seems he was overthinking things; Yuan Shangyuan wasn't as principled as he thought.

However, Shi Sunrui did not think so. After listening to his son's words, he sighed softly:

"With this son, the ancestors of the Yuan family in Runan can enjoy sacrifices!"

After lamenting about the Yuan family, Shi Sunrui couldn't help but fall silent.

There was no way around it; the downfall of the Yuan family was indeed too shocking for him.

That was Jizhou, the heart of Hebei, how could it have perished like that?

Youzhou is bitterly cold, and Wei Zhe is from a poor family in a border region, so how could he...?

Well, Shi Sunrui does indeed harbor some prejudice against people from poor families.

It wasn't really a prejudice, after all, he came from a prominent aristocratic family, and he and Yuan Shao were the same kind of people.

Seeing Yuan Shao, a descendant of four generations of high-ranking officials, being completely used as a stepping stone for Wei Zhe, he couldn't help but be shocked.

He wasn't unaware that Yuan Shao would lose to Wei Zhe, but he just didn't expect it to happen so quickly.

In Shi Sunrui's view, even if Wei Zhe were to occupy Ji Province, it would take at least seven or eight years.

It's even possible that Wei Zhe will wait until Yuan Shao dies before he can completely bring Ji Province under his control.

However, Wei Zhe's performance in this battle truly frightened Shi Sunrui.

In less than half a year, the Wei army crushed Yuan Shao's army and killed him.

Is such formidable combat power something a mere subject could possess?
Of course, while Shi Sunrui was surprised, Wei Zhe didn't think his own family was particularly lucky.

After all, he had made so many preparations to defeat Yuan Shao; it would be strange if he couldn't sweep through Ji Province.

Winning is the norm; if he doesn't win, it's only because he's afflicted with "Prime Minister Cao's ailment"!
Compared to Shi Sunrui, Lü Bu's ideas were much simpler.

He didn't say anything, just kept drinking one glass after another.

Shi Sunrui tried to dissuade him for a whole day, but the idea didn't change, and it vanished in the blink of an eye.

Despite his arrogance, Lü Bu was still aware of his own limitations.

The thought that Jizhou, Youzhou, Qingzhou, and Bingzhou would all fall into Wei Zhe's hands filled him with a sense of dejection and defeat.

Even if he is invincible, so what?

Even if Wei Zhe fought until he vomited blood, he was no match for him, as he controlled four provinces!

At this moment, even Lü Bu had to admire Shi Sunrui's foresight in stopping him in time.

Otherwise, they would probably have become mortal enemies with Wei Zhe by now.

Meanwhile, as news from Ji Province spread, the whole country was shaken.

……

Yanzhou, Chenliu Commandery.

On the battlefield, just as Cao Cao was riding his horse with his sword drawn, feeling triumphant, he also received news from Ji Province.

In the blink of an eye, Cao Cao, who had just been laughing heartily, suddenly became serious.

It must be said that Cao Cao did not have an easy time during this period.

Since Yanzhou defected to Liu Bei, Cao Cao has been fighting almost every day for the past six months.

As a result, they managed to recover the lost territory bit by bit from the initial three counties, forcing Liu Bei to retreat repeatedly.

After capturing Chenliu County today, he has completely recovered Yanzhou.

After wandering around for more than half a year, Liu Bei seems to have returned to square one.

No, he was once the governor of Yanzhou, so he has some respectable qualifications.

For Liu Bei, the biggest gain in the past six months was probably his strategist Chen Gong.

After losing Yanzhou, he did not give up. Instead, Chen Gong led his remaining 4,000 troops to flee to Nanyang based on advice.

This was the only thing Cao Cao regretted.

It should be noted that Cao Cao killed almost all of those who betrayed him this time.

In the Battle of Yongqiu, he trampled Zhang Chao to death with his horses. He also threw Zhang Miao, who had once been a sworn brother of Cao Cao, into the Pu River and drowned him. The deeper the friendship between the two, the stronger the hatred in Cao Cao's heart after being betrayed by Zhang Miao.

Therefore, Cao Cao was still furious after drowning Zhang Miao, and went so far as to exterminate Zhang Miao's entire clan.

After counting them up, the only enemies I haven't dealt with are Liu Bei and Chen Gong.

Cao Cao originally intended to continue pursuing Liu Bei, Chen Gong, and others, but after reading the battle report from Ji Province, he no longer cared about those few who had escaped, because his troubles were far from over.

After a long silence, Cao Cao couldn't help but look up at the sky and sigh.

To be honest, he originally intended to immediately support Ji Province after recovering Yan Province.

It wasn't because of his deep friendship with Yuan Shao, nor because Cao Cao was particularly grateful.

Cao Cao knew that whether Yuan Shao or Wei Zhe unified Hebei, Yanzhou would be their next target.

Therefore, Cao Cao didn't care who won; he only wanted both sides to suffer heavy losses.

Given time, Cao Cao was convinced that he would eventually unify the Central Plains.

Whether it's Xuzhou or Yuzhou, they'll be his sooner or later.

He will have a certain ability to resist whoever unifies Hebei at that time.

Unfortunately, Yuan Shao was defeated too quickly, so quickly that Cao Cao didn't even have a chance to secretly develop his strength.

For a moment, Cao Cao couldn't help but curse Yuan Shao in his heart.

What a useless piece of trash! He even followed this guy for so long before!
But even after he had already cursed Cao Cao, he still had to face reality.

Looking at Wei Zhe's name on the battle report, Cao Cao felt as if a mountain was pressing down on him, making it hard to breathe...

(End of this chapter)