Yuan Shao, the father of Fanghua in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 536 Finding a way out
When Yuan Shu saw that it was Yuan Yin who came out, he immediately realized that the most important thing at the moment was to stabilize people's hearts. Otherwise, Shouchun wouldn't need enemies to attack him, and all the officials would run away!

Thinking of this, he tried to calm down his anxious mood and said to everyone in the hall with a pleasant tone: "My dear friends, the bandit army is too cunning. Although our army was occasionally frustrated, there are still hundreds of thousands of them, which is far more than the total enemy army."

"As long as you all work together, you will be able to defeat them one by one."

"After all, destiny is mine!"

After hearing this, the alchemists and witches beside him also stood up and said that observing the sky at night would make the Zhong family prosperous. Although there are twists and turns now, they will definitely be able to replace Han in the future.

Although some of the officials were full of doubts, no one would open their eyes at this time to touch Yuan Shu's bad luck, and they all praised him immediately.

Yuan Yin became anxious when he saw that all the officials were only saying flattering words. He thought to himself, "How long has it been since this happened?" Now we need your advice, not just talk!
At that moment, he cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, we still need to make early decisions on how to mobilize food and grass, how to shrink troops and horses, and where to place reinforcements."

"Such as the siege of Hefei, if it is not resolved immediately, I am afraid that the entire Yuzhou will be in chaos!"

Yuan Shu heard this and said, "Dear ladies, do you have any clever ideas?"

All the officials looked at each other. They naturally knew that the situation was urgent, but the matter was so big that no one dared to speak first. Otherwise, who would be able to bear the responsibility if something happened?

When Yuan Yin saw it, he sighed secretly and said: "The siege of Hefei should be lifted as soon as possible."

"If Shouchun's troops cannot act rashly, can we send a letter to Liu Xun, the governor of Lujiang, asking him to go north from Wancheng to attack Liu Bei and Yuan Xi's armies to break the siege of Hefei?"

Everyone was talking about it, and they all felt that this strategy was good. However, Yan Xiang, the chief secretary in the hall, said: "Liu Xun sent military information the day before yesterday, saying that he led the troops to fight at sea and fainted."

"What!" Yuan Shu said angrily: "Why are you going to attack the city at this time? What does he think?"

Yan Xiang said: "His letter said that Lujiang was short of food and could no longer sustain it for long, so he had no choice but to do so."

After hearing this, everyone suddenly became quiet. After the locust plague, the people in the Jianghuai River ate each other, and the same was true in Shouchun. Even the officials had to guarantee that they would not go hungry.

But in comparison, Yuan Shu's life became more and more extravagant and luxurious. The girls in his harem were all dressed in silk and satin, and they spent a lot of money on makeup and accessories for daily use.

The concubines, not to mention Yuan Shu himself, had a constant supply of delicacies, wine, and honey, but this was actually a common way of life among the nobles at that time.

Jianghuai was originally a prosperous place. The nobles in Yuzhou and Yangzhou had a habit of enjoying life. Not only Yuan Shu, but also Cao Cao and other princes who came from Jianghuai were accustomed to eating rare things every day.
Most of the people who relied on Yuan Shu were nobles who were used to living a good life. The officials were living a little hard now, and they behaved the same as Yuan Shu before.

Yuan Shu himself should also know that the current situation is not good and should not be so wasteful, but he was used to extravagance when he was young, and this habit cannot be changed at all.

Nowadays, rumors about his dissolute and shameless life have gradually spread to the people, and the already unstable situation in Jianghuai has become even more precarious.

Yuan Yin looked at the room full of people and felt that there was really no hope. If this situation continued, it would be difficult to survive the counterattack of the five princes!
As the days passed, Yuan Shujun made many responses, but the situation inevitably began to deteriorate as Yuan Yin had expected.

Zhang Xun's Northern Route Army had completely given up attacking Chen Guo, and instead retreated to the Runan line and defended the city. Cao Jun did not launch an offensive for a while, and the two sides were in a stalemate.

Lu Bu's army's offensive in the Yingchuan area also stopped. The reason is very simple. Sili also suffered a locust plague, which led to the loss of military supplies, so Lu Bu could only find food nearby.

But the other two directions are not very optimistic.

Yuan Shu's tens of thousands of troops finally gave up Xiapi and retreated to Jiujiang to deploy defenses. Zhao Yun, who was following behind, took the opportunity to send people to recapture Xiapi.

However, Yuan Tan's army in Tancheng failed to detect the withdrawal of Yuan Shu's army in time and missed Xiapi. They could only bypass Xiapi from Tancheng and send troops diagonally to the southwest. Finally, they met Yuan Shu's army who had withdrawn from Xiapi. The border of Jiujiang County faces each other across the Huai River.

The two sides took the opportunity to fight a few battles. Yuan Shu's army was short of food. Although Yuan Tan's army was stronger, its military discipline was loose after the Taishan bandits were incorporated. In addition, there was no navy and they could not cross the river, so the two sides became deadlocked.

But if Yuan Shu's army loses this way, there will only be a few cities to the west of Shouchun that can resist.

The worst situation is on the South Road.

If the first three routes cannot be blocked, Yuan Shu's army will probably go south from Shouchun and flee into Yangzhou and Jiaozhou, and maybe they can separate themselves into one side.

But Yuan Xi and Liu Bei cut off this retreat, and they were stuck on the Hefei route. The entire Chaohu area was controlled by the naval forces of the two armies. If Yuan Shu wanted to escape, he might not even be able to see the Yangtze River.

To make matters worse, Sun Ce took action against Lujiang County. He successfully deceived Liu Xun into attacking Haihun, and then ambushed Liu Xun's army halfway and defeated it.

Now that the whereabouts of Liu Xun and his soldiers are unknown, people in Wancheng are panicking. Everyone knows that Sun Ce will definitely come to attack Wancheng next!
Shouchun was even more in disarray. If Liu Bei and Yuan Xi besieged Hefei, they only blocked most of Yuan Shu's retreat, but Sun Ce and Liu Xun's fall out almost directly cut off Yuan Shu's last retreat!
This not only shattered the last illusion of Yuan Shu and his officials seeking help from Sun Ce, but also forced Yuan Shu into a corner. Now no one in the world stands with Yuan Shu!

In the palace, this time Yuan Shu only summoned a few people closest to him, including his son Yuan Yao, his younger brother Yuan Yin, his son-in-law Huang Yi, and Ge Yin. What they discussed was the future retreat, and they must not let outsiders know.

Yuan Shu hissed: "Damn it, Sun Ce's unfamiliar dog, as my adopted son, betrayed me!"

"If I catch him, I will cut him into pieces!"

Everyone is thinking that now we cannot protect ourselves, Sun Ce must still be waiting for us to die!

Yuan Shu shouted: "Who else in the world can help me now?"

Yuan Yao and Huang Yi looked at each other, neither of them dared to speak first, but Yuan Yin said bluntly: "The only way out now is to try to ask for help from the only person who can possibly help Zhong Gong."

Yuan Shu asked: "Who?"

Yuan Yin said slowly: "Yuan Benchu."

As soon as these words came out, Yuan Yao and Huang Yi's expressions changed, and Yuan Shu tightened his grip on the armrest of the dragon chair.

But they couldn't refute it. Yuan Yin was right. Although the two Yuans were hostile, the only one who could give Yuan Shu a way out now was Yuan Shao!
If Yuan Shu surrenders to Yuan Shao and is willing to surrender, and Yuan Shao opens his mouth to accept Yuan Shu, then the offensive of the five princes will naturally stop!
Not to mention Yuan Tan and Yuan Xi, Cao Cao and Liu Bei are considered dependent on Yuan Shao, so they have to give face to Yuan Shao no matter what. The remaining Lu Bu is still related to Yuan Xi.The premise is that Yuan Shu is willing to bow his head.

But the key is here. As expected, Yuan Shu hissed: "How can I bow to the slave of the Yuan family!"

"I haven't reached the end of my rope yet, and I will never attach myself to that slave!"

Yuan Yao said: "Uncle, is there no other way?"

Yuan Yin sighed and said: "It's not nothing."

"If Mr. Zhong really doesn't want to seek advice from Mr. Benchu, he can find a way on one of the five routes."

Yuan Shu said: "Sun Ce?"

"impossible!"

"If I bow my head to my former adopted son, won't I become the laughing stock of the world?"

After hearing this, Yuan Yin shook his head and said, "It's not Sun Bofu."

"It's Yuan Xianyi."

Yuan Yao's expression changed after hearing this, "Why him?"

Yuan Yin sighed: "Because among these five paths, he can influence the other four."

"And he has a blood feud with Cao Cao. If we find a way to bribe him, he might be able to help us deal with Cao Cao."

Huang Yi wondered: "Although Yuan Xi was adopted to Yuan Ji, I heard that he still has a good relationship with Yuan Benchu. Why should he risk falling out with Yuan to help us?"

Yuan Yin said: "Because this person is very ambitious."

"He wants to be the second Prime Minister."

"If we can give him what he wants, we may not be able to win him over."

He immediately said: "But this man also has a big appetite."

"Maybe the price we have to pay will be far higher than imagined."

"Is Mr. Zhong willing to give it up?"

Yuan Shu suddenly thought, "What do I have to pay?"

Yuan Yin thought for a while and began to speak in a lower voice.

After hearing this, Yuan Shu and the other three people's faces changed drastically at first, then showed anger, and finally looked dejected.

Yuan Shu sat on the dragon chair, his body seemed to be hunched over, and he said: "This is a last resort."

"What's the difference between this and me bowing to Yuan Shao?"

Yuan Yin sighed: "It depends on whether Zhong Gong cares about this imperial title."

Yuan Yao thought of the shame of being defeated by Yuan Xi in Huaicheng, and also thought of the price his father would have to pay, like thousands of ants eating his heart. These things should have been his!

Yuan Shu was already old and his health was deteriorating. Yuan Yao felt that Yuan Shu would not survive five years at all.

At that time, he will be the Zhong Emperor, and everything about his father will be his!

Now, most of these things belonging to his father have to be given to Yuan Xi. How can Yuan Yao accept this?

Thinking of this, Yuan Yao came out and said: "Father, things are not so bad yet!"

"We still have a hundred thousand troops, why don't we fight to the death first?"

"If it's impossible to do anything, it's not too late to give in!"

"Can't we pretend to negotiate with the Yuan family's children first, and then take the opportunity to fight off the other parties and gain opportunities?"

"As long as it takes a year and a half to survive this locust plague, Yuzhou will definitely be able to make a comeback with its rich heritage!"

After hearing this, Yuan Shu was a little moved and nodded: "I will first follow your plan and find a way to negotiate with Yuan Xi and Yuan Tan to hold them back."

“It would be even better if we could make it work for us.”

After hearing this, Yuan Yin sighed in his heart, Yuan Tan aside, is that fierce tiger really that easy to deceive?
A few days later, Yuan Xi took a letter to Lu Xun in the military camp and said: "In Boyan's heart, does Hefei have to be captured now?"

Lu Xun said without hesitation: "No."

(End of this chapter)