Chapter 66 Seeing is Believing

Yuan Shao was a suspicious man to begin with, and after Yuan Xi's persuasion, he began to suspect Cao Cao.

His reluctance to mobilize troops and conquer Qingzhou and Youzhou was largely due to his wariness of Cao Cao.

The best scenario, of course, would be to launch an attack while Cao Cao and Yuan Shu were fighting each other, so that there would be no worries about the rear.

After Yuan Xi's prediction of the Ye City rebellion came true, Yuan Shao's opinion of Yuan Xi gradually changed. This son, whom he had previously not valued, might indeed have exceptional qualities!

Over the past three years, Yuan Shao was not completely unaware of what Yuan Xi had been doing in Beixin City. He also understood that only by conquering Youzhou and pacifying the north as soon as possible could he free up his hands to deal with Yuan Shu in Yuzhou to the south.

However, Youzhou was not so easy to conquer, because the surrounding provinces of Ji Province were currently unstable.

To the west, Bingzhou had Zhang Yan's Black Mountain bandits and Yu Fuluo, the Southern Xiongnu Chanyu.

To the east, Qingzhou had Tian Kai and Kong Rong, who were attached to Gongsun Zan.

Tao Qian of Xuzhou in the southeast was even more of a troublemaker, ostensibly allied with Yuan Shu and Gongsun Zan, but in reality, pursuing his own agenda.

And now, the only allies who could help Yuan Shao were Cao Cao of Yanzhou and Liu Biao of Jingzhou, but Liu Biao was just a self-preservationist who only talked and didn't act.

Yuan Shao currently had to rely on Cao Cao of Yanzhou, and only Cao Cao could withstand Yuan Shu in the south and Tao Qian in the east.

So even if what Yuan Xi said was true, Yuan Shao absolutely could not fall out with Cao Cao now.

Previously, Yuan Shao had killed Qu Yi and driven away Lu Bu, and the people he could use were becoming fewer and fewer. Although there was an element of discarding bridges after crossing the river, the unpredictability and difficulty in managing the generals from Bing and Liang provinces was also a reason.

Yuan Shao and Cao Cao were now following very similar paths, both relying on blood relatives as their most important confidants. Cao Cao relied on the Cao and Xiahou clans, while Yuan Shao relied on the three sons of the Yuan family and his wife's clan, the Gao family.

Among the three sons of the Yuan family, Yuan Tan led troops independently, Yuan Shang was already able to handle the military affairs of Ji Province with composure, while Yuan Xi was the least conspicuous.

Guarding the city with a few hundred people for three years, although it sounded good, didn't have any outstanding achievements.

One reason why Yuan Shao didn't increase troops was that he couldn't spare them. From Ji Province to Beixin City, several prefectures and counties along the way had not been pacified, making it very difficult to transport troops and supplies. Another reason was that he wanted Yuan Xi to soften first.

The actions of the father and son in Beixin City were more like a fit of pique.

Yuan Shao was also having a headache at the time. If the Ye City rebellion hadn't happened, and Yuan Xi really hadn't returned, would he have to swallow his pride and call him back?

However, now that the father and son had finally met, Yuan Shao didn't say it on the surface, but he was still somewhat happy in his heart.

So when Yuan Xi proposed the bet, Yuan Shao immediately agreed.

A few thousand soldiers were nothing. As a father, couldn't he afford to give them?

Yuan Xi was extremely surprised. He didn't expect Yuan Shao to agree so readily. He knew that with two thousand people in his hands, coupled with Youzhou's abundant horses, salt, and iron, as long as there was enough money and food, a qualitative change would occur in a year or two!

Yuan Xi felt a heavy weight lift from his heart. Without people, nothing could be done. His return to Ye City was secondary. Obtaining soldiers was the most crucial!

He quickly thanked him with great joy, and Yuan Shao said with a straight face: "Don't be too complacent. If you really win the bet by chance, come to my study and let me test you. If you don't respond properly, I won't hand over the troops to you."

Yuan Xi agreed immediately, but Yuan Shang was anxious.

His father seemed to value his second brother very much!

Things were starting to get out of control!

He lowered his head, his eyes darting around, not knowing what he was thinking.

In the Zhen mansion of Ye City, the three siblings sat facing each other.

After hearing what Zhen Yao said, Zhen Rong was somewhat angry, "What, that Yuan Xi actually brought dozens of concubines back openly?"

"I thought he was fighting outside, but I didn't expect him to be sightseeing. I heard that the two sons of Governor Yuan are both extremely outstanding. How could this Yuan Xi be so unbearable?"

Zhen Yao was a young man in his twenties, only a few years older than Zhen Rong, and still somewhat naive. He said, "Although I don't know what those women are for, it is true that they were brought back by the Second Young Master Yuan."

"Mr. Pang Ji asked me to settle these women. If it weren't for this, I wouldn't have known about this matter."

Zhen Rong said angrily to Zhen Mi, "Sister, this matter is clearly the Yuan family giving us a hard time. They all know that Yuan Xi is back, and there's a high chance he's here to marry you, but now they're pulling this stunt!"

Zhen Mi bit her lip, her face a little pale, and said in a low voice, "Maybe there's another story."

Zhen Yao sighed, "It's really wronged my little sister. Now our Zhen family can't help ourselves."

"If this Second Young Master Yuan had half the ability of the Third Young Master, I wouldn't worry about my sister marrying over."

"Speaking of the lord's three sons, the Third Young Master Yuan is the most talented. It's a pity that he's already married."

Zhen Mi suddenly moved her eyes and raised her head, "Mr. Pang Ji and the Third Young Master have a good relationship?"

Zhen Yao nodded, "Mr. Pang Ji is most optimistic about the Third Young Master."

Zhen Mi pondered and said, "Third Brother, this is a family matter of the Yuan family. It's not appropriate for our Zhen family to interfere. Let's just pretend we don't know."

"Third Brother, don't mention a word about this matter again."

Zhen Yao also reacted and said, "Little sister is right, I understand."

After sending Zhen Yao away, Zhen Rong saw that Zhen Mi was still thinking about something and wanted to comfort her, but Zhen Mi suddenly said, "I want to go to the Yuan family."

Zhen Rong was stunned, "You're going directly there, what else can you do, argue with that Yuan Xi?"

Zhen Mi shook her head, "No, sister, go in the name of visiting Sister Yuan Xing, and I'll pretend to be my sister's maid."

"Since the two families have a marriage, Sister Yuan Xing is very likely to let Yuan Xi come over to meet my sister."

"Seeing is believing, I want to see his true colors with my own eyes."

Hearing this, Zhen Rong was dumbfounded, "Little sister, you have always been bold, but this is too whimsical!"

"What if you are discovered?"

"And with your appearance, how can you pretend? How can there be such a beautiful maid?"

Hearing this, Zhen Mi's extremely beautiful face also showed a look of depression. She frowned slightly: "Think of a way to paint it uglier?"

Zhen Rong sighed, "It's really not easy to paint your face uglier, it's better to find two plasters to stick on."

Hearing this, Zhen Mi laughed: "That sounds good too."

Seeing Zhen Mi smiling like a flower, Zhen Rong thought to herself that her little sister usually liked to laugh the most, and hoped that she would not be wronged after marrying into the Yuan family.

That Yuan Xi was so promiscuous and dissolute, it was really hateful!

Yuan Xi walked out of Yuan Shao's room, feeling much more relaxed.

The situation in these four provinces was like a tangled ball of thread, making it difficult to sort out a clue.

His only advantage now was knowing the historical development of later generations, but he couldn't just copy it blindly, after all, the current situation was completely different from the original.

He would not fully reveal his cards and purposes to the Yuan family, after all, his goals were not completely the same as the Yuan family's.

With one person's strength, wanting to use the power of the Yuan family without being seen through was really too much pressure, and he couldn't find a strategist who could completely confide in him and give him advice.

If Zhuge Liang was five or six years older, he would have run to Nanyang to snatch him over no matter what.

The only person who could give him ideas was Wu Zhao. He was worried and walked towards his room.

When he reached the door, he heard Wu Zhao talking to another woman.

He looked at it and said, "Sister, why are you here?"

The woman raised her head, saw Yuan Xi, and complained, "Second brother, you've been gone for so long, do you still remember me?"