novelSusiti Chapter 54: I've used this trick of using someone else to kill me; how are you going to deal wi
Chapter 54: I've used this trick of using someone else to kill me; how are you going to deal wi
Man Chong?
Was that one of Cao Cao's confidants?
This edict was less of an imperial decree and more of an order from Cao Mengde.
But what right does a mere eunuch have to order me around, a man from a family that has held high office for four generations?
Yuan Shao subconsciously felt displeased.
His brows furrowed slightly.
"Announce."
A moment later, Man Chong entered with a steady gait, holding the imperial edict.
Without looking to the side, he bowed to Yuan Shao and the others, unfolded the imperial edict, and read it aloud.
The imperial edict was beautifully written, first praising Yuan Shao as "a man whose family had held high office for four generations, and whose family had always been loyal and virtuous," then sternly rebuking Yuan Shu for "usurping the throne and arousing the wrath of both heaven and man," and finally revealing its true intentions, bestowing upon Yuan Shao the title of Grand General and making him the military commander of the four provinces of Ji, Qing, You, and Bing, ordering him to quickly dispatch elite troops south to Shouchun to jointly suppress the traitor and demonstrate the might of the emperor!
After reading the imperial edict, Man Chong closed the silk scroll, his tone calm yet carrying a hint of pressure:
"General, His Majesty eagerly awaits our arrival, and Cao Cao is also ready to fight at the gates of Shouchun. We urge you to prioritize the affairs of the state, quickly dispatch your righteous army, and join us in this great undertaking. Do not fail the Emperor's grace."
The hall was deathly silent.
This imperial edict was like a hot potato to him.
Then, troops would have to be sent south, getting caught up in the chaos of the Central Plains and depleting their strength;
Refusing to accept the order would be disobeying the imperial decree, giving Cao Cao an excuse to criticize him.
Yuan Shao's expression shifted between light and dark.
Fighting Yuan Shu? Deep down, he wasn't unwilling. Although Yuan Shu was his half-brother, the two had never gotten along since childhood. Moreover, Yuan Shu's declaration of himself as emperor was a slap in the face to the Yuan family.
However, fighting under orders from the court controlled by Cao Cao in this way made him feel frustrated, as if he were being used as a pawn by Cao Cao.
More importantly, who should be sent? How many soldiers should be sent?
Sending too few is useless, sending too many... what if Ye City becomes empty?
Although Gongsun Zan was defeated, Gongsun Du still existed in Liaodong, and the Black Mountain bandits in Bingzhou had not been eradicated.
He pondered for a long time before slowly saying:
"Minister Man has come a long way and has had a hard time. I will obey His Majesty's decree. However, mobilizing troops and preparing provisions will take some time. Please reply to His Majesty and Lord Cao that I... will soon send troops south."
This statement is tantamount to not specifying a timeframe; it's a classic example of stalling.
Man Chong seemed to have expected this, and without pressing the matter, he bowed and said:
"In that case, I will report back to His Majesty and Lord Cao, and await good news from the General."
After speaking, he gave a meaningful look to everyone in the hall, especially Yuan Shang, Feng Ji, and others with their various expressions, and then took his leave.
As soon as Man Chong left, the hall erupted in chaos.
How to deal with this imperial edict became a more pressing issue than debating Yuan Tan's military achievements.
Feng Ji immediately said:
"My lord! Cao Cao's plan is to use one tiger to devour another, aiming to weaken our strength in Hebei! We must not fall for his trap! We only need to feign compliance and buy time!"
Guo Tu stepped forward and offered a different perspective:
"My lord, while what you say makes sense, openly defying the imperial decree may damage your reputation. Moreover, Yuan Shu's actions are perverse and he has been abandoned by the world. Our Hebei troops are well-trained and well-supplied. If we do not participate, it may make the heroes of the world feel ashamed. In my opinion, the troops... can be sent out, but we must be cautious."
"How many should we send? Who should be the general?"
Yuan Shao asked the crucial question.
Silence fell over the hall once more.
Everyone knows that heading south to Shouchun means facing Yuan Shu, whose city walls are high and strong, and who is waiting in comfort, as well as various warlords with their own ulterior motives.
They might not get credit, but the chances of losing troops and generals are extremely high.
This is a tough job, and a dangerous one.
Just as everyone hesitated, Yuan Shang, who had been silent all along, suddenly stepped forward and spoke in a clear voice:
"Father, gentlemen, there is something else I wish to say, but I am unsure whether I should."
Yuan Tan looked preoccupied, as if he were sharing his father's burdens.
Yuan Shao looked at him:
"My son, please speak freely."
Yuan Shang's gaze swept over everyone, finally landing on his father's face, and he slowly said:
"Father has been newly promoted to Grand General, overseeing four prefectures, and his prestige extends throughout the land. This edict from His Majesty is both a royal command and an expression of trust. If Hebei hesitates and does not advance, it will become a laughingstock to the world. However, Ye City is the foundation, and Youzhou has not yet been pacified. Father and the other officials should not act rashly."
He abruptly changed the subject, his tone even becoming somewhat wistful:
"My elder brother has just pacified Qingzhou and won battle after battle, his military prestige is at its peak. What is even more commendable is that my elder brother is Father's eldest son, and he is leading the army in his father's stead to quell the rebellion. This not only upholds the reputation of loyalty and filial piety, but also demonstrates the unity of the Yuan family, father and sons, and the harmony of brotherly love and respect. Isn't this the best of both worlds?"
He raised his voice slightly to make sure everyone could hear him:
"Moreover, with my elder brother in Qingzhou, he has the advantage of proximity and convenient transport of supplies. With his abilities, leading the troops of Qingzhou south to hunt at Shouchun, he will surely enhance the prestige of our Hebei army and live up to the great trust placed in him by His Majesty and Father! This truly embodies the saying: 'The son takes on the father's burden, the elder brother leads the younger,' a blessing for the family and a boon for the court!"
His words were spoken in a grand and dignified manner, full of deep emotion.
The difficult and dangerous task of heading south was cleverly and reasonably pushed onto Yuan Tan, and he even attached the great labels of "loyalty and filial piety", "harmony" and "sharing the father's worries".
Feng Ji's eyes lit up, and he immediately chimed in:
"The Third Young Master is absolutely right! The Eldest Young Master is brave and skilled in battle, and has recently rendered great service. This is a perfect opportunity for him to achieve even greater merit, to repay the Lord's great kindness, and to demonstrate the outstanding talents of our Yuan family!"
Guo Tu stroked his beard and nodded: "If the eldest son can achieve merit in Shouchun, then the lord's prestige will be further enhanced, which will also greatly benefit the eldest son's future. It is indeed a win-win strategy."
Goodness, he's got a real silver tongue as soon as he opens his mouth.
They had just been questioning Yuan Tan's contributions, but in the blink of an eye, they said his army was at its peak.
A win-win solution.
He's spewing filth.
Tian Feng wanted to say a few words of protest for the eldest son, but when he was about to speak, he found that he didn't have any good reason to refute him.
Sending Yuan Tan, with the weak forces of Qingzhou, to stir up trouble in the Central Plains would not guarantee him all the credit if he won, but if he lost, he would suffer heavy losses and might even perish at the gates of Shouchun.
This is a calculated scheme, a way to kill someone with a borrowed knife!
However, he could not directly refute the moral banner of "sons doing the work of their fathers".
Ju Shou sighed inwardly, thinking that Yuan Shang's plan was truly ruthless.
However, he also knew that with Yuan Shao already wary of Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang's faction gaining power, the matter was likely irreversible.
He only hoped that Yuan Tan could see the danger involved and deal with it properly.
Yuan Shao stroked his beard, deep in thought.
Yuan Shang's words struck a chord with him.
This saves face, preserves substance, and also allows us to... take the opportunity to see just how capable this increasingly unpredictable eldest son really is, and whether he can stand firm in a more complex situation.
As for risks... how can one achieve great things without taking risks?
After a long silence, he slowly nodded and made his decision:
"What Xianfu (Yuan Shang) said is wise and experienced in planning for the country. Based on this proposal, I hereby issue an order to Qingzhou: Xiansi is to prepare troops and horses and march south in a timely manner to fight against the traitor Yuan Shu and hunt at Shouchun! All provisions and fodder shall be provided by Qingzhou itself, and Ye City... may be allocated some as support as needed."
"Father, you are wise!"
Yuan Shang bowed, his lips already curling into an uncontrollable smile.
I've used this trick of using someone else to do my dirty work. What can Yuan Tan do to deal with it?
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