Yuan Shao, the father of Fanghua in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 603 Open and honest

After hearing Xun Chen's words, Yuan Xi did not answer, but picked up the copper pot at hand, took two steps forward, tilted the spout slightly, and poured it into the tea bowl in front of Xun Chen.

Xun Chen found that Yuan Xi's hand was very steady, and seemed to be more stable than when he met in Beixin City three years ago.

Moreover, there was an indescribable demeanor in his movements, which in Xun Chen's eyes seemed to be a kind of calmness and calmness that was not suitable for his age.

Xun Chen has seen a few people with this kind of magnanimity, but they can only be seen in people with high positions and strong self-confidence.

He didn't understand. Although Yuan Xi had made many military exploits, he was still young and the current situation was not very good. Where did he get such confidence?
Thinking of the situation inside Ye City, Xun Chen's heart tightened. Could it be that Yuan Xi was planning to capture Ye City directly?

If you really think so, it’s not self-confidence, but arrogance!
Because Xun Chen knew some obscure inside information, both the Yecheng and the Jizhou nobles were actually very resistant to Yuan Xi. If Yuan Xi really dared to stand on the city and stand on his own, not only would he be besieged by Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang, but no one in Yecheng would do it. Support, maybe one day they will rebel against Kaicheng and welcome Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang.

This is attributed to the land policy adopted by Youzhou, which is simply digging up the roots of the wealthy landlord families, so no one wants Yuan Xi to take office!

From the corner of his eye, Yuan Xi saw Xun Chen's expression change slightly, and he had some idea in his mind. He raised his wrist slightly, straightened the copper pot, then walked to his seat and sat down. He put the copper pot aside and spoke. He said: "Sir, have you ever thought about where to go from now on?"

Xun Chen asked: "From what point on?"

Yuan Xi laughed and said, "I already knew that sir was great, but I didn't expect that this sentence would make it difficult for me to deal with him."

He leaned forward slightly and asked, "Did Xiansi promise anything to Mr. Xiansi?"

"Sir, do you think his promise is reliable?"

Xun Chen was surprised and asked, "What do you know?"

Yuan Xi didn't answer, picked up the copper pot again, and poured hot water into the teacup in front of him.

The sound of water rushing into the bowl made Xun Chen a little anxious. He didn't think Yuan Xi was an easy talker. Shen Pei's nephew was imprisoned by him and has not been released yet. Who knows what happened!
He said aloud: "Are you doubting me?"

Yuan Xi tapped his fingers lightly on the table, "If I really want to harm you, I'm afraid that you won't be sitting here anymore."

A trace of anger surged in Xun Chen's heart, "Do you want to do whatever you want in Yecheng?"

Yuan Xi raised his head, "Why not?"

"I am ordered by Duke Benchu ​​to protect Yecheng. Under this premise, whatever I do is reasonable."

"After all, I have no reason to hand this city over to Cao Cao."

"But in other words, it seems that there is no need for me to hand over Yecheng to any of the Yuan family's children after paying a huge price for myself."

"That seems to be too uneconomical for me, and no one will compensate me, right?"

Xun Chen heard the implication from Yuan Xi's words. Yuan Xi really had little interest in Yecheng. In this case, he would not devote all his troops to the battlefield to fight Cao Cao to the death.

Anyway, Yuan Tan and Yuan Xi will come back sooner or later, and their goal must be to enter Yecheng. When the time comes, the initiative in making the decision will be in Yuan Xi's hands.

Before that, on the premise of guarding Yecheng, no one restricted Yuan Xi in what he could do in Yecheng.

As for when Yuan Xi gave up Yecheng later, what changes had happened in Yecheng compared with before was not within the scope of Yuan Xi's consideration.

The meaning of Yuan Xi's words is obvious. During this period, he has the final say in Yecheng.

And as long as he keeps Yecheng, under this premise, anything happens in Yecheng, including the death of some people.

Xun Chen smiled bitterly and said, "Shijun is so powerful, it's even far beyond my expectation."

"But this kind of power is sharp but not cruel. It's just right."

"It's difficult for the other two young masters to grasp this degree of control in doing things. One of them failed in the pattern, and the other failed in the ruthlessness. They both went too far."

Yuan Xi heard the good intentions in Xun Chen's words, so he took the opportunity to ask, "Has Xian Si ever had any dealings with Cao Cao?"

Xun Chen smiled bitterly and said, "Young Master asked me if I have found the wrong person?"

"How could I possibly know?"

Yuan Xi heard this and said: "Xiansi is really not the character to tell people outside of him about this kind of thing."

"But I also believe that sir, you can definitely guess it."

Xun Chen faced Yuan Xi's burning eyes and felt his tongue was a little dry. "Will my words or not have a great influence on the young master's decision-making?"

Yuan Xi smiled, "It does not have much impact, but it has a great impact on Mr.

"Because as soon as I walked out of this room, the purge started."

"At that time, everyone in the city will think that this list was told to me by sir."

Xun Chen's breathing stopped suddenly, and after a while he said angrily: "Why are you forcing me like this?"

"I have never done anything to be sorry for you!"

Yuan Xi sat up straight, "Yes, that's why I want to point out a way to survive, sir."

"I still say what I said just now."

"Sir, have you ever thought about where you will go from here?"

"On the surface, Mr. Xiansi is seeking refuge with Mr. Xiansi. However, if Mr. Xiansi rises to power later, he will not be able to accommodate Mr. Xiansi."

"But even if Xian wants to be in power, based on his previous connection with Cao Cao, he will definitely cut off all evidence of his connection with Cao Cao, including the Xun clan members who have old relations with Cao Cao." "In other words, no matter what the situation is, sir , the end will not be good."

Xun Chen kept smiling bitterly. He had to admit that Yuan Xi's vision was accurate, but then his eyes flashed, "But don't forget, there is a worse situation."

"The final winner is Shijun."

"Your Majesty and Cao Cao have already been fighting to the death, how can I deal with myself then?"

Yuan Xi sighed: "Yes, sir, you are in a dead situation."

"Unless you kill me immediately, take my head and escape from Yecheng, and ask Cao Cao for credit, at least you can be replaced by a state pastor."

After hearing this, Xun Chen realized in an instant that this was indeed the only way to break the situation!

But can he?
It’s not something that I can’t think of, it’s that I simply can’t do it!
He, a scribe who slept with several concubines in his arms every day, was going to fight for his life with a commander who had killed several generals with his own hands and whose reputation was spread throughout the world?
Is the other party trying to trick me into taking action and then find an excuse to kill me?
Thinking of this, he didn't dare to act rashly. Instead, he put his hands on the table and said harshly: "Your Majesty, you are forcing me to die."

Yuan Xi smiled slightly, "So now I am the only one who can give Mr. a way to survive."

Xun Chen's eyes flashed, "Can you really let me go?"

"I know that Gongda targeted Shijun several times, causing him to suffer a lot of losses."

Yuan Xi waved his hand, "He is him, sir is sir."

"Gongda aside, I still admire Wenruo very much."

Xun Chen was stunned. Among the Xun family, Xun You's status and strategy were higher than Xun Yu's, but in Yuan Xi's tone, it seemed that the two were the other way around?

Seeing Xun Chen's wavering, Yuan Xi continued: "I know that Sir knows something that I don't know, so I came here to ask for advice from Sir."

Xun Chen cursed in his heart, Yuan Xi was too cunning. This sentence meant that he said nothing. He had to say as much as he wanted to satisfy the other party!
Yuan Xi took the opportunity and said, "If you, sir, will not hesitate to give me your advice, I can't guarantee anything else, but I promise to keep you safe."

Xun Chen groaned after hearing this, and Yuan Xi was not in a hurry, sitting quietly and waiting.

He knew that at this time, the two sides were going back and forth, and there were more than ten rounds of verbal exchanges. There were temptations, threats, shirks, and hesitations.

But he was the one who had the advantage. When he approached this room, no, when he entered Yecheng, the current situation was already doomed.

When he enters Yecheng, he can decide the life or death of most people, just like he sees other people's trump cards at the poker table in advance, and the outcome is already determined.

This is why he rushed back to Yecheng at all costs. He put in so much effort and paid so much. If he didn't collect some interest from it, wouldn't it mean that he ran away in vain?

Xun Chen hesitated for a while, then slowly said: "According to my speculation, Mr. Xiansi should have a relationship with Cao Mengde."

"Although he didn't tell me clearly, his behavior in Qingzhou seemed as if Cao Mengde was not here. It would be unreasonable to say that there was no contact between the two parties in advance."

Yuan Xi nodded, "Sir, this reason is indeed very reasonable, but based on this alone, it is not enough to make a conclusion, right?"

Xun Chen hesitated and whispered: "Master Xiansi once ordered me to write letters to Gongda and Wenruo respectively."

Yuan Xi let out a sigh of relief, "What happened next?"

Xun Chen said: "I didn't receive a reply later."

Yuan Xi understood that just because Xun Chen didn't receive it, it didn't mean that Yuan Tan didn't receive it.

And even if Xun Yu and Xun You did not reply to the letter to avoid suspicion, they would definitely inform Cao Cao of the matter. According to Cao Cao's character, if he wanted to bribe Xun Chen, he would definitely find other ways to contact him.

If he wanted to harm Xun Chen and alienate the Yuan family, he would definitely write a letter back and leak it to Yuan Shao, and then let Yuan Shao find the letter.

If I only did some tricks in the letter before, such as blacking out a few lines, Xun Chen would jump into the Yellow River and not be able to wash it out.

Of course there is a third possibility.

Cao Cao understood Yuan Tan's intention, so the reply letter was addressed directly to Yuan Tan.

This letter must have been delivered directly to Yuan Tan through some secret channel, so Xun Chen naturally didn't know.

Thinking of this, Yuan Xi let out a long breath, "Xiansi is really confused in his work."

Xun Chen cast a strange look, "No, what was strange in everyone's eyes at that time was Shijun and Duke Yuan Hao."

"Although many of us felt that Cao Cao was too big to lose at that time, we guessed that he would not fall out with Lord Ben Chu until the world is at peace."

"I never imagined that Cao Mengde would actually show his fangs at this moment. This is really..." He smiled bitterly, "It seems that the rest of us are dead."

Yuan Xi smiled and said: "Sir, are you slandering me that I am partly responsible for Cao Mengde turning his back so quickly?"

Xun Chen was speechless. Indeed, in his heart, if Yuan Xi hadn't behaved like this in the past two years, Cao Cao would never have turned against him so quickly!
In Juancheng, Yanzhou, inside the official residence, Xun Yu and Xun You were sitting at a table respectively, handling official documents.

Xun Yu was in charge of domestic affairs, and Xun You was in charge of foreign affairs. The two complemented each other quite well. At this time, Xun You put down his pen and sighed.

Xun You raised his head and said, "Gongda planned for Cao Gong and manipulated the world's forces with applause. Now even more troops are approaching Ye City. Why are you sighing?"

Xun You sighed: "Do you think I came up with such an idea?"

"We attacked Yecheng because we had no other choice!"

(End of this chapter)