Chapter 43 A tentative agreement

Hearing Yuan Xi say that, Yuan Tan felt a little strange.

Was this kid secretly mocking their father?

Yuan Shao escaping from Luoyang and starting an army against Dong Zhuo indirectly caused the death of over fifty members of the Yuan clan, including Yuan Kui and Yuan Ji. This had always been a thorn in the side of the Yuan family, who constantly felt that the world was criticizing them.

However, it was impossible to silence everyone. Even if Yuan Shao's original intention wasn't like that, the event had already occurred and could only be left to people's judgment.

Now, Yuan Tan understood Yuan Xi's meaning. Even if Tao Qian used Cao Cao's father's life to threaten Cao Cao, Cao Cao probably wouldn't withdraw his troops.

Listening to this, wasn't it somewhat similar to what his father, Yuan Shao, had done?

Moreover, with filial piety ruling the world, would Cao Cao really dare to risk the world's condemnation and cause the death of his clansmen, including his father, Cao Song?

Yuan Tan pondered and said, "If my second brother can rescue Cao Cao's clansmen and send them back to Cao Cao, he will no longer have a legitimate reason to attack Xu Province."

"Although stopping him from attacking Xu Province is unlikely, at least it will deprive him of moral high ground. Second brother can also gain fame. It is indeed a plan that kills two birds with one stone."

"However, the key is that it might displease Father."

Hearing this, Yuan Xi smiled and said, "Wouldn't that be even better?"

Yuan Tan was startled, then immediately understood. In that case, Yuan Shao might be even more eager to adopt Yuan Xi!

He laughed loudly, "Not bad, not bad! Second brother truly has the talent of a strategist!"

"Since that's the case, elder brother will also show some sincerity."

"What does second brother need me to do?"

Seeing that he had persuaded Yuan Tan, Yuan Xi nodded and said, "Since that's the case, then I, your younger brother, won't stand on ceremony."

"Firstly, I want to do this personally, so I have to leave Bei Xin City. During this time, I will trouble elder brother to watch over it for me."

"I will leave General Zhao Yun behind to fully represent me in exercising the duties of the city defender, and he will not be under elder brother's jurisdiction. Is that acceptable?"

Yuan Tan said without hesitation, "No problem."

"My coming here was originally to bring father's message, asking you to return to Ye City. You can take this opportunity to plan."

He then asked in confusion, "That Zhao Yun is just a surrendered general. Why do you value him so much that you can entrust him with the entire city?"

"Are you not afraid that he is a spy sent by Gongsun Zan and will rebel again?"

Yuan Xi smiled and said, "I don't think so."

"If he really does that, I will give You Province to elder brother."

Seeing Yuan Xi was so certain, Yuan Tan didn't say anything else and nodded in agreement.

"Secondly, when I manage You Province in the future, I will need a large number of artisans, blacksmiths, carpenters, leatherworkers, etc., at least a thousand people."

Hearing this, Yuan Tan clicked his tongue and said, "Second brother, you also know that in this chaotic world, artisans are extremely valuable. Even if elder brother conquers Qing Province in the future, I'm afraid I won't be able to give you many."

Hearing this, Yuan Xi said, "It doesn't matter. Half will do, but let them bring more apprentices."

Hearing this, Yuan Tan felt that he could come up with five hundred artisans, and then nodded in agreement.

Yuan Xi was secretly pleased. Generally speaking, it would take several years or even more than ten years for an apprentice to become an artisan.

But that was under normal circumstances. Yuan Xi planned to imitate Liu Biao of Jing Province's practice of widely opening schools of righteousness, allowing skilled artisans to pass on their skills on a large scale.

Of course, apprentices must first learn to read, to broaden the people's wisdom, so that learning skills will be more effective.

This was also why he had Wu Zhao teach the women to read some time ago. He wanted to see if his idea was feasible.

The result was a pleasant surprise to him. Those women actually learned to read quite quickly, which greatly exceeded his expectations.

This shows that as long as the teaching method is good, the learning speed can be significantly accelerated, which is a great improvement.

Yuan Xi knew that all of this was Wu Zhao's credit. He had seen Wu Zhao teach the women to read, explaining in a simple and easy-to-understand manner, as if he had a wealth of experience in how to teach others.

Yuan Xi's idea was to widely establish schools of righteousness in the future, using the experience and knowledge of his previous life, combined with the knowledge of this world, to compile a set of simple and easy-to-learn textbooks, teaching basic knowledge to children and apprentices, in order to cultivate officials and artisans from humble backgrounds.

Only in this way can the potential of You Province be brought into play.

However, this method has high returns in the later stages, but slow results in the early stages, so investment is essential. Therefore, he joined forces with Yuan Tan to seek help in terms of manpower and material resources.

So far, Yuan Xi has not designed any inventions other than telescopes, but has only been farming step by step. In other words, he has been hoarding his knowledge.

Because he knows very well that with his current strength and territory, inventing some useful things in advance will not be able to protect them, but may instead help potential enemies.

Just like the stirrups, he only has dozens of cavalry, while others have hundreds or thousands of cavalry. If he invents the stirrups in advance and then lets enemies like Gongsun Zan learn them, wouldn't he be making trouble for himself?

Only when he has enough power can he protect his inventions. Otherwise, he will only be making wedding clothes for others.

Yuan Xi stretched out his third finger: "Third, I need weapons, food, and wealth. I also need elder brother's support."

Yuan Tan said with embarrassment: "I'm helping you defend the city, which is only for these few months during the New Year. After that, I will go to attack Qing Province."

"These things are also what I urgently need."

Yuan Xi said decisively: "At that time, I will find a way to help elder brother take Qing Province in the shortest possible time."

"When the time comes, elder brother will reward me according to my merits."

"Good!" Yuan Tan slammed the table: "If second brother can really help me a lot, it's not impossible to give second brother a county in Qing Province in the future!"

What Yuan Tan lacks most now is time.

The sooner he takes Qing Province, the sooner he can manage it, and the sooner he can plan to move south!

This is too important to him!

As for You Province, it is a place of four wars, with the Southern Xiongnu in the west, the Wuhuan and Xianbei in the north, and the Gongsun family in Liaodong. Yuan Tan has little interest.

Yuan Xi wants You Province, and Yuan Tan can't wait for Yuan Xi to help him defend the northern border and ensure the stability of the area around Qing Province.

The two brothers each had their own thoughts, and then laughed and slapped their palms, thus forming a temporary alliance.

Yuan Tan drank a few more cups, excused himself for being unable to hold his liquor, and then bid farewell and left, taking away four maids with him.

Yuan Xi sent Yuan Tan away, feeling more tired than after fighting a battle. He understood that the two were all smiles on the surface, but in reality, neither would fully reveal their bottom line.

Moreover, the relationship between Yuan Tan and Xun Chen was definitely not as indifferent as it seemed on the surface. After Yuan Tan returned, he would likely tell Xun Chen what happened tonight and ask him to help him come up with a plan.

Because according to Yuan Xi's knowledge from later generations, Yuan Tan had the support of the Yingchuan gentry.

But it didn't matter anymore, because what Yuan Xi said to Yuan Tan was mostly a mixture of truth and falsehood, just like the plan to rescue Cao Song, he had concealed a lot.

On the surface, he did plan to rescue people, but secretly, he wanted to participate in another matter.

The rebellion in Yan Province.

This was Yuan Xi's true purpose, to delay Cao Cao's rise as much as possible, and during this window period, to divide the four provinces with his two brothers in advance.

Since the internal strife of the three sons of the Yuan family was inevitable, it would be better to greatly advance this process!

Fighting while Yuan Shao was alive was much better than fighting after Yuan Shao died!

Going against the grain!

Because now was the strongest time for the Yuan family. If they didn't fight at this time, it would be too late to fight again after the Battle of Guandu, when their vitality was greatly damaged!

After thinking it over, Yuan Xi made a seemingly absurd choice.

Temporarily not joining forces with Cao Cao and Liu Bei, but secretly colluding with Lu Bu!

It wasn't that he thought Cao Cao and Liu Bei were not good, but that they were too good.

Yuan Xi was very clear about his abilities. He had no ability to control Cao Cao and Liu Bei. Cao Cao was a hero, and Liu Bei was a great man. Both were the most outstanding heroes of the Three Kingdoms and would never remain under someone for long.

But how to use Lu Bu was also something to be considered.

Lu Bu was too easy to betray his teammates, so Yuan Xi was not prepared to use his real identity.

Instead, he would change his identity.