The four people present here each have their own secrets, and they are trying to test each other with hidden secrets in their words.
Zhao Yun stood guard outside the house with his sword and listened to the conversation of several people in the house. It turned out that there were no ordinary people in the Xindao family.
Yuan Xi said apologetically before that Zhao Yun was originally qualified to participate in this dust-cleansing banquet, but the person who came was unkind and Zhao Yun did not understand the internal affairs of the Yuan family, so he was wronged.
Zhao Yun expressed his understanding. He was listening to the words in the room outside, and only then did he realize that this banquet was dangerous, and he really couldn't handle it with his temper.
The three people who came, Yuan's eldest son, the mastermind, and the four pillars of the court, were not simple figures.
What particularly surprised Zhao Yun was that Yuan Xi also had a side that he didn't understand.
Facing the three of them, he didn't feel at a disadvantage at all. He talked eloquently and looked like he was sure of victory.
Where does his confidence come from?
Yuan Xi tapped his hand on the desk and said: "Everyone knows that I was trapped in Beixin City for three years, and my life was quite miserable."
"I didn't know how to lead troops back then, so I defeated the new recruits to defend the city, and I narrowly escaped death several times."
"I was besieged several times, but no reinforcements came from Jizhou. I was left to fend for myself."
Yuan Tan coughed and said, "My second brother is overthinking. The truce is an order from the imperial court, and there are also difficulties on my father's side."
Yuan Xi sneered and said: "So I have been surrounded for more than half a year. At that time, let alone having enough food, it would be good to have something to fill my stomach."
"I've eaten rats, smelly meat, moldy rice, and tree bark."
Yuan Tan and others' faces froze, and they suddenly felt that the meaty meat in their mouths tasted like chewing wax.
The three of them cursed in their hearts, "You served us a bowl of meat with dead people and dead mice. You didn't want us to eat comfortably."
Yuan Xi smiled and said: "So at that time I found out that several noble families in the city secretly stored a large amount of grain in their cellars, and I got angry."
"The soldiers have no food to eat. If the city is destroyed, what will these nobles do to collect food?"
"Oh, by the way, generally don't kill the nobles when the city is broken, otherwise they will be criticized by the world. They are quite safe."
"But I'm probably going to die."
"While you are in the city, you are secretly collecting grain. Mr. Xun, do you think this counts as collaborating with the enemy?"
Xun Chen suddenly saw Yuan Xi smelling him and laughed a few times: "Of course."
"But just kill them..."
Xun Chen was in a dilemma, and Yuan Xi persisted in insisting that the nobles collaborate with the enemy. This was really a righteous act, and no one could say anything.
Yuan Xi chuckled: "I am a bastard and I don't understand any rules. If he pisses me off, of course I will never end it with him."
Xun Chen's face froze, aren't you secretly scolding your father?
He secretly thought in his heart, on the one hand, Yuan Xi did not shy away from being ruthless and decisive in doing things, but on the other hand, he faintly showed his dissatisfaction with Yuan Shao. What did he want to do?
He looked at Yuan Tan and found that he was also thoughtful. He wanted to speak several times, but after looking at himself and Gao Lan, he held back.
Xun Chen understood, he held his stomach and let out an ouch, "I occasionally ride a horse, but I try to be brave, and my stomach hurts. Now I can't sit still."
Yuan Xi heard this and said, "Do you want me to find a doctor for you?"
Xun Chen waved his hand and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Second Young Master. I'll go back and lie down. It would be better if someone could help me rub my belly."
After hearing this, Yuan Xi thought that this Xun Chen was a wonderful man. He described asking for a maid in a fresh and refined manner. He then said to the girls: "Come two people and help Mr. Xun go back to his room to rest."
The women looked at each other, and two young ladies rushed out and helped Xun Chen back to his room.
At this time, Gao Lan also stood up and said to Yuan Tan: "My eldest son, I will go outside the city to see how the soldiers are camping in case they are attacked by others."
Yuan Tan nodded in agreement, and Gao Lan bowed to Yuan Xi again and left the house.
Yuan Xi looked at Gao Lan's back, thoughtfully, this Gao Lan is not simple!
Using the patrol as an excuse, he sealed his temptation to send the maid away without leaving any trace. It was obvious that this person had serious ambitions, and he probably came here with a purpose.
Yuan Tan watched Xun, Chen and Gao Lan leave and said with a smile: "Now we two brothers can talk behind closed doors."
Yuan Xi nodded and said to the girls: "You go out first and close the door."
After a while, there were only two people left in the room, and Yuan Tan said directly: "Second brother, I won't beat around the bush."
"Have you and Gongsun Zan made any agreement?"
Yuan Xi smiled: "Brother, do you think it's possible?"
"Gongsun Zan and I are in a fight to the death. I have killed so many of his soldiers. What can he talk to me about?"
Yuan Tan said: "My father implemented benevolent policies in Jizhou and made good friends with the nobles to stabilize the local situation. Over the past few years, Ye City has been prosperous and fertile."
"You followed your father's example in governing Beixin City with benevolence and righteousness, distributing food and providing relief to the people. You have done a great job."
"I don't quite understand why you have to do things so absolutely?"
"Killing nobles and robbing tombs without mercy, the Southern Huns who could be allies also killed them without mercy. Is the killing too heavy?"
Yuan Tan added: "One is ruthless and murderous, and the other is benevolent. Which one is the real you?"
After hearing this, Yuan Xi smiled and said: "The two are not contradictory, they are both me."
"I do this for my own purpose."
Yuan Tan was startled: "What is the purpose?"
Yuan Xi sighed: "I am doing it for you, brother."
Yuan Tan was stunned: "For me?"
Yuan Xi leaned forward and said, "Brother, life has been difficult these past two years, right?"
Yuan Tan was stunned for a while, then slowly said: "What do you know?"
Yuan Xi smiled slightly: "Brother is a smart man. My father asked me to guard Youzhou and asked you to attack Qingzhou. The arrangements have been made very clear."
“Who is Jizhou left to?”
Yuan Tan clenched his fists in his sleeves, "The third brother is still young and cannot lead troops. It is normal to stay in Jizhou."
Yuan Xi smiled and said: "Brother, don't lie to yourself. Let me ask you, if the thing you least want to see happens, is there a way to deal with it?"
Yuan Tan snorted coldly: "I am the eldest son, and the Han system does not tolerate it. Who can do anything to me?"
"As long as I make military exploits, be cautious, and make no mistakes, who can do anything to me?"
Yuan Xi looked at Yuan Tan's complicated face and wondered if he had already heard the news?
Test it out!
Yuan Xi said: "I remember that our father was originally a bastard from Yuan Pang's clan, right?"
"There was also a legitimate son and servant Yuan Ji, who was appointed Marquis of Anguo Ting. During the Luoyang Rebellion, more than fifty members of the Yuan family were killed by Dong Zhuo."
"The Yuan family will definitely not give up this position, and there is no possibility that they will find someone to adopt him."
"Brother, guess who this person will be?"
Yuan Tan's face turned pale, "You've been away for three years, how come you are so familiar with things in Yecheng?"
"Second brother, you are not simple. Yecheng still has your eyes and ears!"
As soon as Yuan Xi saw it, he knew that he had guessed correctly. There were many noble families who had joined Yuan Tan. There was no way that he knew nothing about this rumor of adoption.
As expected, things that happened in later generations still took shape early in this life.
Yuan Xi sighed: "Brother, your road is narrow."
Yuan Tan couldn't bear it any longer and punched the table: "Damn it, isn't it true that he is of clan blood, and as the third youngest, he still bullied me!"
Seeing that the time was ripe, Yuan Xi said: "Brother, there is no conflict between us on this matter."
"On the contrary, I can help you solve this matter!"
Only then did Yuan Tan realize, "Do you have any idea?"