Chapter 80: No Face

Before coming to Ye City, Yuan Xi hadn't expected Yuan Shang to be so difficult to deal with. He was like a stubborn plaster, with schemes interlocking and utterly disgusting.

Yuan Tan, who was forced out of Ye City, was not a mediocre person in history. On the contrary, he was absolutely underestimated.

In later generations, he and Yuan Shang fought for power and lost, going to Qingzhou alone. He had no great generals under his command, but he defeated Tian Kai and Kong Rong in a short time, completely occupying Qingzhou.

During the Battle of Guandu, Yuan Tan was the only one of Yuan Shao's three sons who participated. After Zhang He and Gao Lan surrendered and the situation deteriorated, Yuan Tan led eight hundred cavalry to cover the retreat, escorting Yuan Shao safely back to Ye City.

After Yuan Shao's death, Yuan Tan, Yuan Shang, and Cao Cao fought back and forth for several years. The final Battle of Nanpi in 205 AD was extremely fierce, as can be seen from the Book of Wei.

At that time, Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang attacked each other. Yuan Tan had few soldiers and asked Cao Cao for help. Cao Cao sent troops to defeat Yuan Shang and confronted him in Ye City.

At this time, Cao Cao suddenly broke his promise and turned to attack Yuan Tan. Caught off guard, Yuan Tan abandoned Pingyuan and retreated to Nanpi in Bohai.

At this time, Yuan Tan gathered the remnants of his defeated army, about ten thousand people, with basically no strategists or generals.

Cao Cao's side brought an exaggerated number of people.

Strategists Xun You and Guo Jia, plus Cao Cao personally commanding.

Generals Cao Chun, Zhang Liao, Yue Jin, Xu Huang, and Zhang He.

Excluding the thousands of Tiger and Leopard Cavalry who went into battle, the other troops added up to more than twenty thousand.

What was thought to be a one-sided decisive battle turned out to be "undecided from dawn until midday, with many soldiers of Cao Cao dying."

Cao Chun described the battle as "they were arrogant because of their victory, and we were fearful because of our defeat," completely suppressed by Yuan Tan. Cao Chun even ran to Cao Cao and suggested withdrawing the troops.

However, at the last moment, Cao Cao still exerted his greatest advantage: decisiveness.

Cao Cao decided to personally go into battle, pressing the entire army forward for a desperate fight.

"Book of Wei"— "The Duke himself held the drumsticks, and the soldiers were all invigorated. They broke through the enemy in response to the moment. Tan wanted to go out to fight, but his army was broken before it could engage."

Yuan Tan lost the battle and died due to a moment of misjudgment, but at this point in time, even Liu Bei could not push Cao Cao to such an extent.

This was why Yuan Xi was willing to join forces with Yuan Tan. Yuan Tan himself was very capable in battle.

Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang were not mediocre people, otherwise Yuan Clan's strategists would not have taken sides one after another. On the contrary, Yuan Xi, who seemed extremely transparent, was not relied upon by anyone, which was normal.

Because from the performance point of view, Yuan Xi was indeed some distance away from his two brothers.

While pondering, Yuan Xi walked to Yuan Shao's door and asked the guard to inform him.

However, to his surprise, it was Tian Feng who came out.

Yuan Xi quickly saluted and said, "Mr. Yuan Hao."

Tian Feng nodded, but handed over an official seal.

Yuan Xi took it with a puzzled expression, and Tian Feng spoke.

"The Lord said, let you go to Zhang He to gather troops."

Yuan Xi was stunned, "I came here with something to discuss with my father."

Tian Feng chuckled, stroked his beard, and did not answer.

Yuan Xi immediately reacted: "Father doesn't want to see me?"

He suddenly understood, "I must first lead troops to win the bet and prove that I have the right to speak?"

Tian Feng had a hint of mockery on his face, "Does the Second Young Master feel that it is very unfair?"

Yuan Xi listened and said indifferently: "I fell into a trap. It is normal for my father to think that I am useless."

A strange color flashed in Tian Feng's eyes. This should be Yuan Shao's idea.

Yuan Shao probably knew the truth, but Yuan Shang did things flawlessly, without leaving any evidence. Then Yuan Xi lost in the confrontation, regardless of any excuses.

It's like on the battlefield.

Yuan Shao was already biased towards Yuan Shang. Since nothing major happened, settling the matter was the best choice for the Yuan family.

Thinking of this, he said to Yuan Xi: "Things should be decided decisively, and be ruthless when necessary. The Lord indulges Cao Cao, which will inevitably lead to disaster sooner or later. Take care of yourself." After speaking, he turned and went in.

Yuan Xi was a little stunned. Tian Feng really dared to say that, no wonder Yuan Shao didn't like him.

However, Tian Feng might be the only strategist under Yuan Shao who was extremely wary of Cao Cao. Perhaps he had a good impression of himself because he had repeatedly suggested dealing with Cao Cao?

It would be ideal to win over Tian Feng, of course, but Tian Feng had a very stubborn temper and could not be won over in a short time.

Yuan Xi weighed the official seal in his hand and turned to leave.

He first went to find Yuan Xing, briefly explained the matter, and then found Wu Zhao, saying: "I have to leave now."

Wu Zhao was surprised: "So urgent?"

"Did you see the Governor of Yuan Province?"

Yuan Xi smiled bitterly: "He won't see me."

He explained the situation, and Wu Zhao listened and said: "I'll go with you."

"No, this time it's going to war, you stay." Yuan Xi flatly refused, "You stay with Yuan Xing for the time being, I'll be relieved that way."

Wu Zhao knew that Yuan Xi had made up his mind, so she whispered: "Then protect yourself, don't be as reckless as last time."

Seeing Wu Zhao's uneasy look, Yuan Xi patted her shoulder and comforted her: "Don't worry, I will give you a title when I come back."

Wu Zhao whispered: "I don't want a title, it's good as long as you come back safely."

Yuan Xi listened, hugged Wu Zhao in his arms, and turned to leave.

Wu Zhao stood at the door, watching Yuan Xi's back disappear, standing there blankly for a long time.

Learning that Yuan Xi had gone to the military camp and left the city with Zhang He and five hundred soldiers, Madam Liu happily said: "Shang'er, that lowly bastard is finally gone. It would be best if he died on the battlefield, then the two of us would be worry-free."

Yuan Shang did not answer, and after a long time, he said: "I'm suppressing him, not letting him die."

Madam Liu listened and said disdainfully: "You still have compassion for that little beast?"

"A son of a concubine, and he wants to be assigned such a large place as You Province in the future?"

"These four states of the north, and even the world, belong to Shang'er!"

"That Yuan Tan and Yuan Xi, they won't get a single bit!"

Yuan Shang heard it in his ears and felt a little irritable. In fact, Madam Liu's ideas were too extreme and difficult to achieve.

People who truly accomplish great things always need reliable confidants. It is impossible to conquer the world on one's own.

After fighting with his two older brothers, Yuan Shang felt that Yuan Tan and Yuan Xi were both quite capable. If he could subdue them, they would be his strong assistants.

But Yuan Tan's power was not bad, and Yuan Xi carried a prophecy that made Yuan Shang extremely jealous. So Yuan Shang didn't know for the time being whether his two older brothers could be used by him.

If not, they must be dealt with as soon as possible.

Yuan Shang squeezed his knuckles hard. He couldn't tell which was the bigger threat, Yuan Tan or Yuan Xi, but this time Yuan Xi went to Mount Tai County, he would be able to see some clues.

If Yuan Xi's performance exceeded his expectations, he could only use the trump card against Yuan Tan on Yuan Xi first!

In the Zhen residence, the mother, Zhang, sat at the head, and Zhen Yao, Zhen Rong, and Zhen Mi sat below.

Zhang was impatient. After listening, her face turned cold, and she said to Zhen Rong: "What a good thing you've done!"

Zhen Rong was so frightened that she knelt on the ground.

Zhen Yao also knelt down and said: "Fourth sister was deceived..."

"Shut up!" Zhang shouted: "You are now an aide to the Third Young Master Yuan, everything he does is right!"

Zhen Mi listened and knelt down and said: "Mother, the Third Young Master Yuan seduced Fourth Sister and framed my future husband. If everything he does is right, then what am I?"

Zhang loved this daughter of hers very much, and sighed when she heard this: "Then what can we do?"

"Your father died early, and Zhen Yao is now the only adult male in the Zhen family. If we don't continue the family line, how can I be worthy of your father?"

"Now the Yuan family controls Ji Province. Even if the Third Young Master is wrong, what can we do?"

"The news just came from the city that the Second Young Master Yuan has already left the city. Obviously, he can't defeat the Third Young Master."

Zhen Mi bit her lip, thinking, could it be that the benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, and faith mentioned in the books are all fake?

I don't believe it!