Yuan Shao actually didn't know that this was the time Yuan Xi had carefully searched for.
In later history, after Yuan Tan captured Qingzhou, he was appointed governor of Qingzhou. In order to avoid a dispute between Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang, Yuan Shao adopted him to the deceased Yuan Ji.
What Yuan Xi has to do now is to take Yuan Tan's place.
Although after the adoption, the support from the Yuan family will be much less, and nominally you still have to obey Yuan Shao, the head of the family, but in terms of righteousness, there are many fewer restrictions!
Therefore, Yuan Xi feels that half a year or so now is the best opportunity for him to adopt.
When Yuan Tan was adopted in later generations, it was the Yuan family that occupied the four northern states, and the situation was very good. Therefore, even if Yuan Tan was adopted, the situation in the north would not change drastically. Facts have proved that this is also the case. As long as Yuan Shao suppresses it, Yuan Tan will also
Can't make any waves.
But against all odds, the Yuan family was defeated at Guandu, and Yuan Shao died prematurely two years later, causing the two sons of the Yuan family to fight and the situation got out of control.
The current situation is that the Yuan family only occupies two states, and they cannot do without Yuan Tan, who also needs other troops to lead the attack.
At this time, Cao Cao did not occupy the five states. He was still fighting against Lu Bu and had not yet posed a threat to the Yuan family.
Therefore, the current window of opportunity is very ideal for Yuan Xi.
So under Yuan Xi's instruction, Yuan Tan's cronies began to spread various rumors, some of which not only promoted Yuan Xi's reputation, but also contained a rumor that was very taboo for the Yuan family.
Was Yuan Shao suspected of Yuan Ji's death?
This rumor spread more and more in Yecheng, and Yuan Shao soon couldn't sit still.
He had to do something to clarify.
Now sitting in the seat, Yuan Shao looked at Yuan Xi, undecided in his heart.
It is possible that Yuan Xi will achieve much more than this. Is it a good or bad thing to push him away from the Yuan family at this time?
There was also an excuse for the adoption, and Yuan Shang collected Yuan Xi's remarks about swearing against the Yuan family in Beixin City.
This is already considered unfilial, but the matter can be big or small. In fact, when investigated, it is not serious at all.
After all, the nobles all understand that this is all superficial, and although it sounds nice, not many people can do it.
What the lord needs is the loyalty of his subordinates, not filial piety. If the nobles patronize the family, they will naturally not be completely loyal to the lord.
Later, when Jiang Wei abandoned Wei and surrendered to Shu, the Wei state threatened his mother to surrender. Jiang Wei directly replied and said that he could not fulfill his filial piety, and no nobles at that time dared to say anything.
In the final analysis, the nobles are just different from what they appear to be, and they just act according to the prevailing circumstances.
But Yuan Shao's worries don't stop there.
Because Yuan Xi's identity and experience were too similar to Yuan Shao's, he knew very well how much harm Yuan Shao had caused to the Yuan family.
What if Yuan Xizhen is the person who fulfills the prophecy?
Therefore, Yuan Shao has been unable to make up his mind.
Yuan Tan and Yuan Xi lowered their heads to the ground. Seeing that Yuan Shao had not said a word, they wondered what was going on?
Yuan Shao came to his senses and said: "You guys should get up first."
Yuan Xi breathed a sigh of relief and then raised his head.
Yuan Shao turned to Jushu and said, "Gongyu, how is the situation in Qingzhou now?"
Jushu turned sideways and explained the situation of several battles in Qingzhou, and finally said: "Except for the Taishan bandits between Qingxu and Qingzhou, most of Qingzhou has been pacified."
"The Taishan thieves cannot easily leave their territory. As long as we don't provoke them, we should not be disadvantageous to Beihai and other counties for the time being."
After hearing this, all the counselors congratulated Yuan Shao.
A few years ago, Gongsun Zan was still the overlord of the four northern states. Now that Jizhou and Qingzhou have been captured, most of Gongsun Zan's empire is gone!
Yuan Shao nodded with satisfaction: "Okay!"
"I am planning to mobilize all the troops in Jizhou to attack Yi Jing in the spring of next year and fight Gongsun Zan to the death!"
"But before that, I would like to hear your opinions on the dispute between Cao Cao and Lu Bu in Yanzhou."
Pang Ji spoke first: "Cao Cao may not be able to hold on any longer."
"I heard that he sent Cheng Yu to Dong'a to kill people in several cities and make dried meat to serve as army rations."
As soon as these words came out, everyone present showed hesitation.
Especially Cheng Yu, who is from Dong'a himself. When he does this kind of thing in his hometown, he obviously doesn't care about human ethics at all.
Tian Feng said in a deep voice: "Cao Cao is a vicious man and we must guard against him."
Shen Pei said disapprovingly: "They have reduced themselves to cannibalism. What is there to be afraid of?"
"Lü Bu surprised me. It is said that he had stocked up on food in advance and was hardly affected by the locust plague. Although he was defeated by Cao Cao several times, he still had enough food and grass, but Cao Cao could no longer support him."
Guo Tu spoke up: "The matter of cannibalism has greatly affected the Yuan family's reputation. If he continues like this, it will be difficult for Jizhou to answer him."
Xu You said: "Cao Cao cannot be destroyed. There is a rift between Lu Bu and my lord. If he defeats Cao Cao, he will definitely threaten Jizhou!"
"I also hope that my lord will help Cao Cao's soldiers with money and food so that they can fight against Lu Bu, so that our army can attack Gongsun Zan with confidence next year."
Xin Ping sneered and said: "My lord has already mentioned that as long as he sends his family members to Yecheng, he will send troops there, but he is stubborn and would rather eat human flesh than agree."
Everyone was silent. Sending their family members to Yecheng was equivalent to being used as hostages. Cao Cao was unwilling to do so, which was human nature.
Everyone was talking about it, and Yuan Shao was also undecided. According to what Yuan Xi said, he had sent people to find Cao Cao and said that he was sending half of his family members to Yecheng.
When Cao Cao was in trouble, he was tempted, but after defeating Lu Bu several times, he saw the light of day, so the matter was shelved again.
He looked at Yuan Xi and said, "What do Xian Yi have in mind?"
This time everyone looked at him with suspicion. Yuan Shao didn't ask Yuan Shang or Yuan Tan, but directly asked Yuan Xi!
Yuan Xi already had an idea in his mind and said: "I am willing to go to Juancheng to try to persuade Cao Cao."
As soon as these words came out, everyone looked at each other.
Yuan Shao looked around at the group of counselors: "Xian Yi is very courageous. Which of you is willing to go with him?"
There was silence at the table for a while, and the last voice said: "I am willing."
When everyone saw it, it turned out to be Tian Feng.
Tian Feng had recently had disagreements with Yuan Shao and had repeatedly contradicted him, which made Yuan Shao dislike him. Everyone thought that Tian Feng was eager to make meritorious deeds and regain his position?
Yuan Shao thought for a while and said: "We will discuss this matter in a few days. This great victory in Qingzhou is a major event worthy of celebration."
"Come here, let's have a banquet!"
The reception banquet lasted until it was getting late. Yuan Xi was repeatedly toasted and could not resist, so he was forced to drink a lot of wine.
Although it was not easy to get drunk from rice wine, he couldn't handle the overdose. He finally waited until the banquet was over, got up and walked back in a daze.
Two maids supported him, and as soon as he turned out of the corridor, he saw Wu Zhao waiting outside with another maid.
Previously, the two maids knew that Wu Zhao was Yuan Xi's personal maid, so they had no choice but to hand Yuan Xi over to the other party with regretful expressions, and turned to leave.
Yuan Xi looked at Wu Zhao dazedly and said with a smile: "Are you here?"
He staggered and almost fell. Wu Zhao and the woman quickly supported him.
Wu Zhao felt distressed and said: "Why do you drink so much?"
Yuan Xi waved his hand and said, "There is no other way. You can help me to the running water."
The two women supported Yuan Xi, who knelt down by the stream, squeezed his throat hard, and vomited out the wine and a lot of food in his stomach.
He felt a lot clearer and sighed: "What a waste of food."
Wu Zhao sighed: "Why do you have to do this? Can't you just go back and rest for one night?"
Yuan Xi shook his head and said: "If you drink too much, your brain will be numb. I have a lot of things to worry about."
He felt the hand of the maid holding his arm tighten. He turned around and saw that her face was heavily made up, and her eyebrows were somewhat familiar. He asked doubtfully: "You...?"
Wu Zhao hurriedly said: "Let's talk about it when we go back to the house."
After returning home, Yuan Xi washed his face a few times and drank two cups of hot tea. Only then did his mind completely wake up. He stared at Zhen Mi in surprise and said, "Why are you here?"
Zhen Mi wiped off the messy heavy makeup on her face, revealing her stunning face, and whispered: "I just wanted to come and see if the young master is still alive."
When Yuan Xi heard Zhen Mi say that he had nightmares about his own death several times, he burst into laughter and said, "Don't worry, girl, I won't die that easily."
"But if the old lady knew you were here, I'm afraid she would blame me again."
Zhen Mi lowered her head and chuckled: "Didn't Master say that everyone can pursue freedom? I wanted to see you, so I came here."
Yuan Xi saw Zhen Mi kneeling on the mat, with a slender figure and a smile as bright as a flower. Even wearing coarse linen servant clothes could not hide the elegance of a master, just like a red plum blossoming in the snow-white world.
He smiled and said: "The girl still remembers my words."
There was a hint of pride on Zhen Mi's face, "I remember every word the master said."
"It's just like the candy cake that the young master made that time. It's memorable, but I've gone back and made it several times, but I can't find the taste anymore."
Yuan Xi smiled: "The days are long, and there will be plenty of opportunities to make food for you in the future."
Zhen Mi's face turned red: "I remember what you said, oh my."
She suddenly reacted: "I heard that the young master was coming to the city, and I wanted to come and see him before going back. But I waited for a long time, and I was afraid that my mother would lose her temper once she found out."
"I'm leaving!"
Yuan Xi also laughed, called Wu Zhao outside the house to come in, and said, "Send the Zhen family girl back."
Wu Zhao nodded and saw Zhen Mi reluctantly saying goodbye to Yuan Xi, so he sent her to the back door, where the Zhen family's carriage was already waiting.
Wu Zhaodao: "Girl, wait a moment, I'll call for a carriage."
Zhen Mi smiled and said, "It's not that troublesome. Sister, just go back with me in the car and I'll have someone take you back. Isn't that okay?"
Wu Zhao heard this and thought it was convenient, so he followed Zhen Mi into the carriage.
The horses' hooves made a sound on the streets of Yecheng. Zhen Mi suddenly turned around and said, "Sister, what is your relationship with the young master?"
When Wu Zhao was suddenly asked by Zhen Mi, he suddenly panicked and said, "I'm just a lord and a maid."
Zhen Mi looked Wu Zhao up and down and said suspiciously: "You are lying."
"Although I don't leave my house, I'm not stupid."
Wu Zhao thought it was great to be young. Once upon a time, when he was young, he also had an exclusive desire for the things he liked.
She whispered: "No matter how I am, I am just an outsider. The young master belongs to you."
After hearing this, Zhen Mi chuckled and said, "Sister, you may have misunderstood. That's not what I meant."
"I know that even if I marry the young master in the future, I will probably not be able to follow him back to Youzhou. I will have to stay in Yecheng, waiting for his return day after day. After a brief reunion, we will part ways again, just like I
The fourth sister is like that."
"So I am very envious that my sister can be with him. I just want to hear about the happy things when I am with him."
"It's like I've become a sister, and I can share the same joy after spending time with the young master."