Chapter 123: Mission Completed

Guo Jia, courtesy name Fengxiao, was a native of Yangdi in Yingchuan. He came from the Guo clan of Yingchuan and was originally a subordinate of Yuan Shao, but he left Yuan Shao not long after.

In later generations, he said to Xin Ping and Guo Tu when he left: "Intelligent men can carefully weigh their lords, so all their actions are well-considered, thus they can establish merit and fame. Lord Yuan only wants to imitate the courteousness of the Duke of Zhou, but he doesn't really understand the principle of using talent. He is indecisive and lacks key points, likes to plan but lacks decisiveness. It is really difficult to save the country from danger and establish a great cause of kingship and hegemony with him!"

From then on, Guo Jia disappeared. It wasn't until several years later, after Xi Zhicai passed away, that Xun Yu recommended Guo Jia to Cao Cao, and Guo Jia made many contributions afterward.

Yuan Xi certainly felt that Guo Jia was an excellent choice for a strategist, but firstly, Guo Jia had already offended Yuan Shao, and secondly, the place where Guo Jia was in seclusion was likely his hometown of Yingchuan.

Yingchuan Commandery was in Yu Province, controlled separately by Cao Cao and Yuan Shu. Yuan Xi was separated by Yan Province, making it difficult to run to Yingchuan to poach people. Besides, even if he met him, the hope wasn't great.

Guo Jia had high standards and looked down on even Yuan Shao. Cao Cao at this time didn't catch his eye either, otherwise Guo Jia would have gone to join him long ago, let alone Yuan Xi, a junior?

In addition, Yuan Xi had been busy fighting, and gradually he lost this thought, until he instigated Lu Bu to attack Cao Cao and then coerced Cao Cao to come to Yan Province for negotiations.

When he saw Cheng Yu for the first time, a thought uncontrollably emerged.

Since it was Cheng Yu who came, and not Xi Zhicai or Xun Yu, it might be possible!

Cheng Yu, although loyal to Cao Cao, had a very low bottom line when it came to doing things.

The "Biography of Cheng Yu" in the "Records of the Three Kingdoms" says that Cheng Yu was "of a rigid and violent nature, often conflicting with others," meaning that Cheng Yu was a person with a strange personality and a violent temper.

Since Cheng Yu could slaughter his own hometown, if he was given enough bargaining chips, he might do unimaginable things.

Yuan Xi's idea was very simple: since he couldn't find Guo Jia himself, what if he had someone else send Guo Jia over?

If Guo Jia wasn't willing to join him simply by being treated with courtesy, what about changing his approach and directly using force?

He found Tian Feng and revealed his idea: how could he get Cheng Yu to send Guo Jia over without leaving a trace?

Tian Feng owed Yuan Xi a favor, and several members of the Tian clan had been arranged for official positions in You Province, so he agreed without hesitation after hearing Yuan Xi's request.

If Yuan Xi made the request, Cheng Yu would likely see through it, but Tian Feng was an old fox who had been in the gentry circle for many years, so he was naturally skilled in this.

After Tian Feng argued for two days straight, Cheng Yu had become impatient. Seeing that the time was ripe, Tian Feng took the opportunity to suggest that several gentry members had offended Yuan Shao in the past, and now Yuan Shao wanted to punish them.

If those people could be tied up and brought over, they could replace the Cao clan's children!

Cheng Yu was initially reluctant, but Tian Feng insisted that if they didn't do this, they would have to let Cao Pi and Cao Zhi be hostages.

Cheng Yu was naturally even more unwilling. This was Cao Cao's weakness. What would Cao Cao think if he agreed?

However, after hearing the names of the gentry members that Tian Feng proposed, Cheng Yu became even more conflicted.

Several of them were familiar to him!

In the end, Cheng Yu chose Guo Jia, the least famous and the one with whom he had the least connection.

According to records, when Guo Jia was young, he secretly associated with heroes and did not interact with the secular world, so his reputation was not prominent.

Yuan Shao liked prominent gentry, Confucian scholars, and celebrities, and did not pay much attention to ordinary gentry, so when Guo Jia joined Yuan Shao, he felt neglected, so he angrily left, and by the way, scolded Yuan Shao.

Tian Feng used this as an excuse to have Cheng Yu exchange Guo Jia and others. Of course, the others were just a smokescreen.

Cheng Yu was a pragmatist, always doing what he said. Once he made up his mind, he mobilized his private soldiers and rushed to Yangdi in Yingchuan overnight, secretly kidnapping Guo Jia's family.

In Cheng Yu's mind, Guo Jia was just an insignificant figure at this time, most suitable for replacing Cao Cao's descendants.

Guo Jia was sitting at home, and the pot fell from the sky. He was sleeping at home when he was tied onto a carriage by a group of wolf-like soldiers and taken to Dongwuyang in a daze.

The reason why Yuan Xi hesitated so much about the two sisters' request was because his real purpose was to exchange for Guo Jia, so he didn't want to create unnecessary complications.

Although Guo Jia might not be able to be used by him, at least Cao Cao couldn't use him either.

After Guo Jia was kidnapped, Yuan Xi felt a weight lifted from his heart and went to find Tian Feng to plan the exchange of the Huan sisters.

Tian Feng was exceptionally helpful. After Yuan Xi stated that he would bear the consequences of this matter alone, Tian Feng went to bargain with Cheng Yu, specifically asking for the Huan mother and daughter.

Cheng Yu also guessed that it was because of Bian Rang and understood that the Huan sisters were a rare commodity. This turned out to be much more difficult than exchanging for Guo Jia.

In the end, the two sides still negotiated with difficulty, using the Huan sisters to exchange for all of Cheng Yu's gentry friends who had feuds with Yuan Shao, making everyone happy.

Yuan Xi was ecstatic in his heart, but he remained calm in front of Cheng Yu and Yu Jin. It wasn't until all the Cao troops had left that he found Guo Jia and revealed his petty triumph.

He smiled at Guo Jia and said, "I am Yuan Xi, the second son of the Yuan family. I am here to ask on behalf of my father, does the gentleman still remember what he said when he left Ye City back then?"

"Mr. Fengxiao, I'm afraid your prospects are worrying this time you return to Ye City."

Guo Jia calmed down, looked at Yuan Xi coldly, and said, "At worst, I'll just die, what do I have to fear!"

"Good!" Yuan Xi clapped his hands, "I admire Mr. Fengxiao's integrity!"

He clapped his hands, casually walked out, and said, "People always die, but it's a pity that fine wine and beautiful women can no longer be enjoyed, what a pity!"

Guo Jia felt extremely aggrieved when the door closed behind him. How did this Yuan family scion know that he liked fine wine and beautiful women!

When he left Yuan Shao, he vented his anger, but he didn't expect the renowned and benevolent Yuan clan to be so petty. He had been captured again, how depressing!

Yuan Xi was still in Dongwuyang, under Cao Cao's control, and deliberately pretended to be very hostile towards Guo Jia, so as not to be discovered.

This time, most of the hostages he exchanged were used for his own personal gain, but on the surface, it was justifiable. At least Cao Cao had sent his own father over, so this trip could be considered a completed mission, and it was time to set off back.

He discussed it with Tian Feng and Zhao Yun and decided to take these Cao family members away immediately, lest there be unexpected troubles.

As soon as this order was given, the people in the mansion hurriedly packed their luggage. Although they were from aristocratic families, they had carriages to ride in, unlike the commoners and servants who could only walk on foot. However, such a hasty departure made them feel even more afraid.

Of course, there were also exceptions. The Huan family, mother and daughters, were full of anticipation.

After all, no matter how bad the situation was, it couldn't be worse than being Cao Cao's concubines.

Huan Shi had also thought about seeking death, but the thought of what would happen to her daughters after her death made her shudder, even surpassing her fear of death.

This was truly a living hell, wasn't it?

Now, she could finally see a glimmer of hope.

When Yuan Xi appeared in front of her with Wu Zhao, Huan Shi immediately knelt on the ground and kowtowed, thanking them for saving her life.

At that time, the concubine's clothes barely covered her chest. From Yuan Xi's standing perspective, he could only see a expanse of white. He immediately turned his face away and asked Wu Zhao to help Huan Shi up.

Unexpectedly, Huan Shi bowed to Wu Zhao again and said, "Thank you, Miss, for saving my life. Miss was still young at the time, perhaps you have forgotten, but your concubine and my husband were in…"

Yuan Xi's expression changed and he said, "Shut up."

Wu Zhao had been recognized?

Huan Shi then realized what she had done, her face turned pale, and she kowtowed, "This concubine is foolish and will never reveal a word, otherwise may I be struck by lightning and my whole family die!"

At that moment, Yuan Xi had the intention to kill, but when he heard Huan Shi swearing an oath, he thought of the similar words he had said on the city wall of Beixin City, and couldn't help but hesitate.

Wu Zhao tugged at Yuan Xi's sleeve and whispered, "It's okay, I'm fine."

Yuan Xi's expression changed for a long time, and finally he said to the Huan family, mother and daughters, "When we set off later, you will ride in the same carriage as me. I have something to ask you."

Half an hour later, a long line of carriages formed, and the Cao family members entered the carriages one after another. Escorted by soldiers, the convoy drove out of the city.

Guo Jia was stuffed into a separate carriage, and then his feet were tied up, which made him quite unhappy.

Tian Feng stared dumbfounded as the Huan family, mother and daughters, got into Yuan Xi's carriage, and it took him a long time to react.

Could it be that the Second Young Master Yuan was that kind of person?

Was he playing it that way?

Alas, the young people nowadays are amazing, truly new people surpass the old ones generation after generation.

Only Zhao Yun's expression was calm, and he still sat upright on his horse, vigilantly looking around.

The convoy left Dongwuyang City, turned west, and headed straight for Wei Commandery.

Inside the carriage, Wu Zhao took off her veil and said to Huan Shi, "How did Madam recognize me?"

She thought to herself, it's really strange. Even though her face has become like this, Dong Zhao could recognize her, and Huan Shi could also recognize her. Could it be that there was some obvious mark on her face?

Impossible, right?

Seeing Huan Shi looking at him uneasily, Yuan Xi said, "It doesn't matter, just say it."

Huan Shi then spoke, "Miss may not know, but even if your appearance has been changed like this, it is rare to see someone with such proper features, which left a deep impression on me."

"Moreover, the Miss when you were young and now have not changed much in appearance. In addition, your answers to my daughter show that you are extremely familiar with the late husband's poems and essays."

"There are very few aristocratic women like this in the world, so I boldly guessed it."

Yuan Xi nodded. Sometimes, while identifying other people's identities, you will also expose your own details. This is also a lesson.

But now the troublesome thing has come. The Huan family, mother and daughters, know Wu Zhao's details, and it will be difficult to avoid them leaking it out in the future.

He directly said to Wu Zhao, "What do you think should be done with them?"

As soon as these words came out, the Huan family, mother and daughters, trembled slightly.

Wu Zhao chuckled, "The way Young Master says that makes it sound like you want to silence them."

"Besides, my identity is not a big deal."

Yuan Xi said in a deep voice, "But I'm a little worried."

Wu Zhao was moved in her heart. She shook her head and then said, "It's okay."

"Recently, I have been sorting out Confucian classics and documents. Young Master is unable to take care of many things around you. If Young Master is worried, why not let them help manage things around you."

"Otherwise, without protection in Ye City, who knows what predicament they will encounter."

As soon as these words came out, before the Huan family, mother and daughters, could react, Yuan Xi was stunned and said, "They are from the Bian family, how can I let them be maids?"

Wu Zhao had a sly look on her face, "But now they are Cao Cao's family members."

Hearing this, Huan Shi said, "Miss is right, it is safer for us to be sheltered by Young Master."

Yuan Xi shook his head, feeling a little awkward, and casually said to the two sisters, "What are your names?"

"Cao Xian."

"Cao Jie."