Chapter 92 Return to Yecheng

Yuan Xi didn't know he had missed Zhuge Liang, after all, he wasn't truly skilled in the art of astrology.

He was currently directing everyone to dig pits outside the city to bury the recently deceased civilians and soldiers.

As for those who had been slaughtered during the city's fall, even though it was almost October, their bodies were already rotting and stinking, and there was no way to take care of them.

Several hundred corpses were moved into the large pit, and soil was filled on top. Yuan Xi dismounted and took the lead in offering sacrifices. Zhang He and his soldiers, seeing this, also came over one after another.

Zhang He's mood was complicated. On the battlefield, soldiers died and often didn't even have a place to be buried. No one cared, after all, everyone had been prepared for this before going to the battlefield.

But Yuan Xi was different from others.

The sound of footsteps came, and Zhang He saw the people of Xuzhou also coming one after another, kneeling down and offering sacrifices in front of the soldiers' graves, and he was lost in thought.

Yuan Xi finished his sacrifice, stood up, and said, "Brother Junyi, let's go."

He looked back at the lifeless Fei County. The dilapidated city walls stood tall, like a huge grave, burying countless corpses.

The group got on their horses, leading hundreds of large carts, followed by nearly a thousand civilians, heading west all the way.

It was half a month later when Yuan Xi led his people back to Ye City.

He and Zhang He parted ways in Ye City. Yuan Xi respectfully said, "This trip was thanks to Brother Junyi's help. Many of your soldiers were killed or injured. I have prepared two carts of wealth as compensation."

Zhang He couldn't refuse, so he had to accept it, thanked him, and left.

Ye City had already learned the news that Yuan Xi was bringing the people of Xuzhou back, so officials came out to arrange for their settlement. Yuan Xi saw that the arrangements were reasonable, so he said goodbye to the people and prepared to enter the city.

But then he saw the people of Xuzhou kneeling down all at once, kowtowing to thank him.

These people's hometowns had been slaughtered by Cao Jun's army, and they were forced to flee. As a result, the soldiers sent by Xuzhou also wanted to kill them. They were desperate at the time, but they never expected that the Yuan army, which was allied with Cao Jun, would save them and save their lives.

Yuan Xi had no choice but to dismount and help the people up.

Above the city gate, Yuan Shang squeezed a brick tightly, with such force that his fingertips turned white.

This second brother is so cunning, he's actually buying people's hearts to create momentum!

Father Yuan Shao always favored benevolent governance of the people. This move by the second brother will surely spread throughout Ye City within a few days and will definitely please Father!

Why does it feel like the second brother is even more difficult to deal with than the eldest brother!

Thinking of Yuan Xi's prophecy, Yuan Xi felt even more uncomfortable. He was said to be a son of a concubine, but if something happened to himself and the eldest brother, wouldn't the second brother be the next head of the family?

Should I use the trump card that was prepared for the eldest brother on the second brother in advance?

But it feels a bit too wasteful!

Yuan Xi turned his head and saw Yuan Shang, bowing his hands from afar.

When Yuan Shang saw him, he quickly walked down the city tower and walked up to Yuan Xi with an excited expression: "Second brother, this trip has greatly increased your fame!"

"Killing Zhang Kai, repelling Liu Bei, and rescuing Cao Gong's family, second brother's bravery has spread throughout Ye City!"

Yuan Xi smiled and said: "Thank you for your concern, third brother. This time, let's really have a good drink together."

Yuan Shang's heart skipped a beat, and he laughed: "Then I have to find some wine that won't go to your head, so as not to be punished by second brother."

The two looked at each other and smiled knowingly.

People are very strange. Even if they want to kill each other in their hearts, they can still not show it on their faces at all.

What's more, the relationship between the two has not yet reached the point of killing each other. Even if Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang dared to do so, Yuan Shao would never allow it.

It was because the shackles on his body were too troublesome that Yuan Xi wanted to be adopted out as soon as possible.

However, everything has its advantages and disadvantages. If Yuan Xi is adopted out, he will have less restraint, but he will also lose most of Yuan Shao's protection.

At that time, if Yuan Xi wanted enough strength to protect himself, it would depend on how much of the Yuan family's foundation he could undermine beforehand.

The two brothers returned to the Yuan Mansion with their own agendas. Yuan Xi didn't even take off his armor and went to see Yuan Shao.

Yuan Shao opened his eyes, looked at Yuan Xi, and found that the armor on his body was covered with dust and dried blood, and said, "You did a good job this time."

The strategists such as Xin Ping and Tian Feng praised: "The second son is showing his talent, which is really a blessing for the Yuan family."

Xin Ping smiled and said: "Zhang Kai is nothing, but Liu Bei is a capable fighter. The fact that the son can force him back shows that he has the talent of a great general."

Pang Ji, Shen Pei and others had to echo a few words. They had all fought with Yuan Shao in Pingyuan State and knew that Liu Bei was very difficult to deal with.

Yuan Xi said modestly: "I am ashamed, all thanks to Commander Junyi's desperate fight and the soldiers' efforts."

Yuan Shang gritted his teeth secretly. He had already received the news that Yuan Xi's private army cavalry also participated in the battle at that time, and the people inside were all elite soldiers and strong generals.

Yuan Shang knew that the cost of raising a fully armored cavalry was an extremely astonishing number. He didn't expect that even though he had deducted food and grass so much, the second brother could still secretly save so many cavalry!

Hidden so deeply!

Xin Ping praised again: "What's even more amazing is that in the midst of the battle, the son first rescued Cao Gong's family, and then protected thousands of people. This has already spread in Ye City, and everyone says that the son has a benevolent heart."

Even Yuan Shao nodded slightly. Yuan Xi's move established a good reputation among the gentry and the people, which was a great help to the Yuan family's reputation for benevolence.

Yuan Xi dealt with everyone, always feeling that everyone's expressions were a bit subtle. He didn't want to ask in public until Yuan Shao asked him to go down and rest. Then he got up to say goodbye and went to the back house to find Yuan Xing.

Yuan Xing was talking to Wu Zhao. When she saw Yuan Xi, the first thing she said was, "The Zhen family has some trouble."

After a few words of conversation, Yuan Xi learned the cause and effect.

Yuan Shang had reported to Yuan Shao that Zhen Rong had tried to poison Yuan Xi during the banquet, but the matter had not been resolved.

Yuan Shao had only temporarily sent soldiers to seal off the Zhen family and put Zhen Rong under house arrest.

After hearing this, Yuan Xi sighed: "The third brother really eats people without spitting out bones."

The Zhen family was used to the extreme by Yuan Shang. First, he used Gao Lan to test the waters, then he used the news of Gao Lan's disappearance to bewitch Zhen Rong. When Zhen Rong failed, he turned around and blamed her.

Yuan Shang had prepared for the failure of each link, and it can be said that no matter what accident happened, he could guide the result to an ending that was beneficial to him.

Yuan Xing said: "It seems that the third brother is determined to ruin your marriage. Zhen Rong and I have always been on good terms. She was also confused for a while. Can you think of a way?"

Yuan Xi nodded and said: "This matter can't be rushed. I'll go back and think about it carefully."

Now that he has privately subdued Gao Lan, Zhen Rong must be saved. Yuan Shang obviously covets the Zhen family, and he must not let him get his way.

Seeing that Yuan Xi was covered in dust and looked tired, Yuan Xing knew that he was tired from this trip, and hurriedly said: "The battlefield is dangerous. It's good that you came back safely. Go and rest first."

Yuan Xi said goodbye to Yuan Xing and returned to the house with Wu Zhao. Wu Zhao helped Yuan Xi untie his armor and said, "I have already asked the maid to boil water in advance. Go and wash up."

Yuan Xi grabbed her hand and smiled: "Still calling me 'Gongzi'?"

Wu Zhao's face turned red and she whispered: "Then what should I call you?"

Yuan Xi also had a headache. Cai Yong's daughter could not be a concubine, not to mention the identity of the widow of the Wei family. Wu Zhao also understood this, so she didn't want to restore her identity.

He thought that many things could not be rushed and could not be solved in a short time.

Wu Zhao pulled her hand twice, but Yuan Xi didn't let go. She had to say with a red face: "Go take a bath first."