Yuan Shao asked Cui Yan to wash up and change clothes, and then took the opportunity to pull Yuan Xi to his seat and inquire in detail about the major and minor matters since going to Qingzhou. Yuan Xi selectively reported some things and publicized the achievements of his confidants.
Yuan Shao was naturally satisfied with what his son had done. No matter what his heart was, everyone had different attitudes towards Yuan Xi, but they had to lament his youth and achievements. They followed Yuan Shao's wishes and praised Yuan Xi one after another.
"It's just my second nephew. If you only bring these thousands of people to Jizhou, they won't be of much use to the war situation!" Chunyu Qiong complained.
Yuan Shao also looked at Yuan Xi, hoping he would give a reason.
"Father, after my son occupied Qingzhou, he also gathered tens of thousands of usable Qingzhou soldiers. However, they just recently conquered Tao Qian and they still need some time to rest. In about a month, they will be able to go north to Jizhou for my father's dispatch." Yuan Xi explained.
Yuan Shao narrowed his eyes, smiled, nodded, and said, "As expected, as Zi Yuan said, my son Xian Yi can be used at the critical moment."
Xu You also smiled and said: "Second Young Master has made such a great contribution, Lord, should I be rewarded?"
"That's right, Xianyi, please draft a document and report the meritorious officials and generals so that your father can advance them." Yuan Shao said with a smile.
Yuan Xi knew that Xu You was asking for a reward for him so that he could win over his subordinates, so he gave Xu You a grateful look, and then thanked Yuan Shao repeatedly.
"Father, you see that the third brother has also come to the Hejian front line. What should we do about the counterattack against Gongsun Zan?" Yuan Xi asked. At this moment, Yuan Shang suddenly turned back and left again, obviously coming for Yuan Shao. .
"Xianyi, you are tired from the march. This is not a matter of discussion. We will wait for two days of rest before making any calculations." Yuan Shao said.
Yuan Shao asked everyone to disperse, and after arranging Yuan Xi's men, he took Yuan Xi to the study and screened away the others. After all, some things cannot be said in public.
Yuan Shao looked at his handsome and heroic son and felt sincerely pleased. He smiled and said, "Xianyi, there was something that happened just now, but you didn't say it in public, right? There are no outsiders now, so feel free to say it."
Yuan Xi knew that there were some things that he still needed to communicate with Yuan Shao, so he reported some things to him.
Yuan Shao breathed a sigh of relief and said, "The documents from Qingzhou have been sent to my case before. I am deeply pleased with your performance in this battle, Xianyi. Others see that you have won consecutive battles in Qingzhou. I don’t know the hard work involved. I did a good job in helping Cao Mengde avenge me. As for the peace talks with Tao Qian, it’s nothing. Having another ally is a good thing after all.”
"Really? How come Qingzhou's documents are reported so quickly!" Yuan Xi was a little surprised. In fact, everything was arranged by Yuan Shao. He had already sternly warned the various states and county magistrates to hurry up and send the documents to Yecheng. .
Yuan Shao nodded and said: "My father will be rewarded for his merits, and punished for his mistakes. You have merited this time, and my father has decided to ask the court for your merits. Go back and go to Qingzhou to practice hard. The few people you recommend will all be punished." !”
"Thank you, father!" Yuan Xi was so excited that he knelt down on one knee and thanked him. At this moment, I felt that this dad was okay, not so cruel!
However, Yuan Shao's eyes suddenly became complicated. He stood up, stepped off the Jinqiu throne, put his hands behind his back, and walked in front of Yuan Xi.
Suddenly he said quietly, "My father doesn't object to your recruitment of talents, but he doesn't want your brothers to form cliques. What a tragedy it would be if one day, my father is gone and your brothers are at war with each other."
When Yuan Shao said this, his brows were furrowed, and he suddenly changed from a powerful overlord to a loving father who was worried about his death. The chaotic steps were a reflection of his inner hesitation. Yuan Xi's face was expressionless, making it impossible for Yuan Shao to detect his true inner thoughts.
"Then the father didn't blame the child for marrying the Mi family without permission?"
Yuan Shao smiled and said, "Why should you blame me? You did a good job. You not only dealt a blow to Tao Qian and Yuan Shu, but also did not let Cao Mengde's family become bigger. You are really my son, Yuan Benchu."
"But Uncle Cao Shi is our ally, father..." Yuan Xi tried, he wanted to know what Yuan Shao was thinking.
"Ally?" Yuan Shao sneered, his expression became serious, and said, "How could I not know that Cao Cao secretly looks down on me, Yuan Benchu."
"Father, how many times have you helped him?" Yuan Xi was slightly shocked. He was confused by the authorities. He had always underestimated this father, but he didn't expect him to know Cao Cao's thoughts clearly.
Yuan Shao looked at Yuan Xi and said meaningfully: "Xianyi, you can't help but do some things based on your likes and dislikes. Yuan Shu's soldiers are fierce and aggressive. Helping Cao Cao means helping yourself to resist Yuan Shu's attack!"
Yuan Shao went on to say: "I have played with Cao Ah Man since I was a child. He knows me, but why don't I know him? Cao Ah Man has been scheming since he was a child, and he does things based on his likes and dislikes. If he offends him, he will not hold him accountable, but He is always waiting for an opportunity to retaliate."
Yuan Xi thought to himself that they had grown up playing together and knew each other very well. Yuan Shao still knew Cao Cao's temperament quite clearly. Anyone who offended Cao Cao in history did not end well, including Kong Rong, Cui Yan, and even Xun Yu.
"Xianyi, can Tian Yuanhao fully assist you in renovating Qingzhou?" Yuan Shao suddenly asked.
"Mr. Yuan Hao is indeed a capable person. When Qingzhou was first established, everything was difficult. Fortunately, he managed everything in an orderly manner. So when it comes to rewards for merit, he has the greatest credit."
Yuan Shao hummed, and said meaningfully to Yuan Xi: "I was afraid at first that you wouldn't get along with him, or that you wouldn't be able to suppress him. Tian Yuanhaoxiong is very capable, but sometimes he is more straightforward and shows off to you. You have to make your own decisions. You cannot listen to him in everything, nor can you give him all the power. Support some of your own confidants and let them restrain each other. This is the way to balance the employment of people."
Yuan Xi knew this, and he also let Guo Jia, Guoyuan and others take some power. But after listening to Yuan Shao's words, I realized that I had underestimated this father in the past. In terms of other talents, Yuan Xi was much better than Yuan Shao, but when it came to the struggle for power, Yuan Shao, who had been struggling in the court for many years, was indeed this Medium veteran.
"Father, you see that your third brother is also joining the army. What position should you give him?" Yuan Xi thought of Yuan Shang who was still outside.
"Your third brother?" Yuan Shao thought for a while and sighed: "Of the three of you brothers, you are the most talented, your eldest brother, but you are impetuous and always want to compete for the limelight. And your third brother? , he has always been arrogant, I'm afraid he won't be able to suppress his subordinates in the future!"
"Talent can be developed through experience, and temperament can also be changed. Mr. Zhengnan asked me to send a message to my father, saying that I can give my third brother hard work and let him suffer some hardships." Yuan Xi said.
Yuan Shao was a little relieved and said with a smile, "Among the three brothers, you and Xianfu are the ones who get along the best. Your eldest brother is too competitive and always wants to suppress you. Logically speaking, your eldest brother Xiansi has been fighting everywhere and has achieved great results through hard work. Moreover, he is the legitimate son of the family, so he should inherit his father's title. However, he was adopted by your uncle when he was young, so in my father's heart, Xiansi cannot be the successor."
Just like Sima Zhao's son Sima once adopted Sima Shi, who had no son, so there was an innate obstacle to inheriting the throne, and of course it was just an obstacle.
Yuan Shao looked up at the beams and pillars above the hall, pacing back and forth in front of Yuan Xi, as if he was confiding to Yuan Xi, and seemed to be talking to himself.
"Now, your eldest brother Xiansi has the support of Guo Tu and Xin Ping. He has 30,000 elite soldiers under his command, and he has the support of the Jibei family. As a father, I am afraid that he will die when I die, and your eldest brother will not accept you and Xianfu. , you kill each other and bring trouble to Xiao Qiang, how can your father feel at ease under Jiuquan?" Yuan Shao ended his pacing and finally stopped, standing at the door of the conference hall, looking at the high steps outside the conference hall, if Thinking.
The visitor climbed up the stairs and finally entered the core of northern power. This hall was the symbol of the Yuan family's power. He has never thought about becoming the world leader.
It's just that the messy family affairs are gradually making him lose the motivation of his youth. Yuan Shao seems to feel that in his lifetime, he may never stand on the Golden Palace and look down at the people below! Yuan Xi didn't speak. It would be bad to talk too much at this time. It is smartest to let Yuan Shao talk on his own and be a listener.
"So, my father wants to train you to become a talented person and hope that you will participate in the military. This is also my father's true intention of letting you go with the army. I hope that after a hundred years as a father, if your eldest brother conflicts with you... you, You must unswervingly help stabilize Jizhou!" Yuan Shao's lips trembled slightly when he said this, and it was obvious that this decision made him uncomfortable.
Yuan Xi sighed secretly in his heart. Although Yuan Shao refused to admit it, from the beginning, he still preferred Yuan Shang in his heart, even though he also had thoughts about passing the throne to himself.
So later historians said that Yuan Shao was indecisive when faced with the competition between his sons, but wasn't Li Yuan indecisive when faced with Li Jiancheng and Li Shimin's brothers fighting for the throne? That was not hesitation, that was helplessness. His sons were all excellent, and putting themselves in their shoes I think we can do better than them.
"Father, don't worry. My son will work hard to learn military affairs and live up to his father's trust in the future." Although Yuan Xi thought so in his heart, he still had to answer honestly and according to Yuan Shao's wishes.
Yuan Shao nodded, with a look of relief on his face. He reached out and patted Yuan Xi's shoulder gently and said: "When Youzhou is captured, I will make your eldest brother the governor of Youzhou and Yuancai (high official) to be Bingzhou." The governor will defend Jizhou together."
He paused and suddenly asked: "Xianyi, tell me, our Yuan family has laid a huge foundation in the future, do you want to inherit it?" Li Yuan had also tested Li Shimin in this way, so Yuan Xi had to be wary.
Yuan Xi was shocked, wondering if Yuan Shao was testing him. In the past, he could have dealt with it casually. However, after a conversation between father and son, Yuan Xi found that he could not fully understand Yuan Shao, this all-powerful prince.
Yuan Shao smiled and snorted, "Why, you just think about it if you want to, and you don't want to if you don't want to. What's the hesitation?"
For the first time, Yuan Xi felt that he was in a dilemma in front of Yuan Shao. His throat was a little dry and he hesitated, "My child..."
Yuan Xi's mind changed quickly and he replied: "Father, you are in the prime of life and are leading our brothers to create the foundation. It is too early to say whether to inherit or not. And who should do it, my father has no idea in his heart." I understand that I will definitely choose someone who can carry forward the family business, but it is too early to discuss this matter at this time."
Yuan Xi did not answer directly, but pushed the question back to Yuan Shao, because he did not have an absolute advantage now. Yuan Shao looked a little excited: "I am not the legitimate son, but in what way am I inferior to Yuan Shu? That's it. The eldest brother breaks the rules, and Yuan Gongdao has bullied me everywhere over the years!"
Yuan Xi was shocked. He didn't expect Yuan Shao to vent his inner dissatisfaction. Yuan Shao seemed to realize that his words were too extreme. He paused and said, "I mean, if it weren't for my own struggle and your uncle's support, our family business wouldn't be what it is today. You're right, we need to Choose someone who can carry forward the Yuan family, rather than someone who breaks the rules."
Yuan Shao said solemnly: "You are the most talented and filial one among the three brothers. The boss is impetuous and ambitious. He can protect a state, but he cannot make his family great. But recently, some people have been raising the idea of establishing a heir apparent. If it’s something, try your best to push your eldest brother forward.”
Yuan Xi knew that someone would always raise this issue. At that time, except for Fengji and Shenpei, who had disputes with him, everyone else would be neutral or support Yuan Tan. Maybe Tian Feng, a defender of Confucianism, would also I support the election of Yuan Tan. Fortunately, Yuan Shao's personality was foresight and indecisive, and he would not establish the heir apparent too early.
Sure enough, Yuan Shao comforted him and said: "But I suppressed this proposal. Don't ask who made the proposal. It just so happened that you came back to help Jizhou this time, so you should do some great things for him to silence those people." "
Yuan Shao's move created Yuan Xi's path to seizing the throne, while Li Yuan's hesitation created Li Shimin's Xuanwumen incident.
Yuan Xi understood that Yuan Shao valued him and wanted to put him in power, but he also relied heavily on the Xin family and the Guo family and would not help him eliminate his political enemies. So he said, "I understand, father. I have arranged for my mother to be successful. You can take the time to visit her. She misses you very much."
Yuan Shao agreed, but he was a little scrupulous about Mrs. Liu's liking. Mrs. Liu became jealous, which caused a lot of trouble. Although Yuan Shao also kept a concubine, he tried to avoid Mrs. Liu when doing these things.
"The child will never disappoint his father." Yuan Xi bowed and left. Yuan Xi declined Yuan Shao's offer to stay and insisted on returning to the camp outside the city. He said goodbye to Yuan Shao and left the city with a group of personal followers.
He was a little hesitant and had doubts about his plan to seize the heir. Is it right or wrong? Now it seems that Yuan Shao's attitude towards him is gradually changing. As he gradually becomes stronger, Yuan Shao finally treats himself fairly from the perspective of a father.
If it weren't for knowing the outcome of the Yuan family, I wouldn't have made a cruel plan to seize the heir. If Yuan Shao really fulfills his promise and grants himself a state, then he can develop stably, recruit talents, increase his strength, and eventually compete for world hegemony.
But now, everything is full of variables. No matter whether the matter of seizing the legitimate son is successful or not, once the matter is revealed, he will be placed in an irreversible situation!
"But... if I don't do this, what will happen to my wives and concubines? Do I have to watch them marry and become other people's wives? What's the use of my country if the beauty is gone?" Yuan Xi shouted in his heart, whipped his horse, and ran forward. .
The four hooves of the clouds created the wind, just like soaring clouds, leaving Xu Chu and others behind in the blink of an eye.
"For you...why should I be the enemy of the world!"
I would rather teach everyone to gnash their teeth and hate me than teach me and no one will scold me! Looking at the world for five thousand years, where are the heroes who don’t kill people?
