Han family achievements

Chapter 577: Deposing the Elder and Enthroning the Younger
The carriage was shaking, and Yuan Shang earnestly asked Guo Tu various questions.

Guo Tu seemed to be trying his best, but in fact he had a prudent "answer" hidden in his mind.

Even so, Yuan Shang still got what he wanted.

Guo Tu clearly expressed his support for him. With the support of Guo Tu, a "powerful official" who was second only to the emperor in Yangzhou, Yuan Shang's ascension to the throne was almost certain!
When approaching Kuaiji, Guo Tu whispered to Yuan Shang, "When you get to Kuaiji, the Third Young Master must meet everyone. Go directly to the provincial government and cry when you see Master Yuan. Don't talk about anything else. If Master Yuan asks, hesitate and don't answer. When you meet the Second Young Master and others, be cautious and respectful. Don't conflict with them."

After hearing this, Yuan Shang thought for a long time and understood what Guo Tu meant. He said, "Sir, then I will live in the state capital and fulfill my filial duty to my father."

Guo Tu's eyes lit up slightly, and he praised: "The Third Young Master is very filial. I admire you."

Yuan Shang smiled happily and said, "It's all thanks to your guidance, sir."

The two looked at each other and smiled without saying a word.

When Yuan Shang returned to Kuaiji, the first thing he did was to rush into Yuan Shao's bedroom.

Looking at his father lying on the hospital bed, coughing constantly, with a gaunt face and sunken eyes, Yuan Shang burst into tears. He knelt on the ground with a plop, sobbing and saying, "Father, my unfilial son...is back..."

Yuan Shao half-lying down, tilting his head to look at Yuan Shang, forced a gratified smile, and said: "A real man, don't act like a child. Get up, have been in jail, and let your father take a look at you."

Yuan Shang wiped the tears from his eyes vigorously, stood up, and sat down beside the bed, but he still couldn't stop crying. Looking at Yuan Shao's dying expression, he gritted his teeth and couldn't utter a word.

Yuan Shao looked at him and thought of his eldest son Yuan Tan, then his second son Yuan Xi. He sighed inwardly and said with a smile, "He is a little fatter than before. It seems that he is living well in Luoyang."

Yuan Shang said: "Yes, my son is doing well in Luoyang, father, don't worry. Doctor, the doctor said that if you take good care of yourself, father will live a long life. Father, father, don't work too hard..."

Yuan Shao smiled, glanced outside, and said, "Mr. Guo, did I tell you?"

Yuan Shang lowered his head, remained silent, and just wiped the tears from his chin with his hand.

Yuan Shao sat up a little, looked at Yuan Shang's expression, and said, "Your second brother is a pedantic person and is not suitable to inherit the Yuan family's foundation. If I hand over the foundation to you, what will you do?"

The corners of Yuan Shang's face twitched, as if he was struggling, but he still lowered his head and remained silent.

Yuan Shao said: "There are only you and me, father and son, here, you can speak freely."

Yuan Shang looked up at Yuan Shang, then lowered his head and said, "Father, I am far inferior to my second brother. My second brother...is loyal and filial, and has outstanding abilities. Yes, he is suitable..."

Yuan Shao took in Yuan Shang's expression, then lay back down and said indifferently, "Did Mr. Guo teach you that?"

Yuan Shang was startled, and stood up quickly, prostrating himself and said, "Yes, yes, I dare not lie to father. Mr. Guo said that my eldest brother has passed away, and my second brother is the eldest son. There is an order of seniority, and it is a taboo to depose the eldest and enthronize the youngest. Mr. Guo advised me to give up, otherwise Kuaiji and even Yangzhou will be in chaos, which will give the court an opportunity. Father, father should listen to the advice of Kuaiji's civil and military officials, pass the foundation to the second brother, and I will continue to go to Luoyang as a hostage. As long as the brothers are united, father's great cause, great cause can be expected..."

Yuan Shao was stunned for a moment, the anger that had risen in his eyes quickly subsided, and he remained silent.

He originally thought that Guo Tu would teach Yuan Shang how to "seize the throne", but he never expected that he would ask Yuan Shang to give up.

"Deposing the eldest and enthroning the youngest" is a taboo, and Yuan Shao is not unaware of this truth. Take the scene in Luoyang city more than ten years ago for example. If Emperor Ling was still alive, he would have made Liu Bian's status clear instead of wanting to depose the eldest and enthronize the youngest, and would have made Liu Xie the crown prince, then those tragedies would not have happened.

Yuan Shao was an eyewitness and knew the danger and horror involved.

But he is now the "Emperor Ling", and he is not only considering the present, but also the future.

Yuan Shang was a loyal and filial man, capable of both literature and martial arts. He had a sharp mind since childhood and was very similar to his father.

On the other hand, Yuan Xi was only concerned with various topics all day long, hanging out with a bunch of literati, and even secretly fabricating stories that his father had "flaws in his conduct as a minister".

If Yuan Shang succeeded to the throne, with the assistance of Guo Tu, Gao Gan, Zhang He and others, there might really be a chance if the court changed drastically in the future.

In short, handing it over to Yuan Xi would be an act of self-destruction.

Yuan Shao glanced at the man kneeling on the ground, shivering, the ground was wet, and tears were still dripping.

Yuan Shao sighed in his heart, thinking it was hard for this child.

"Get up and sit here." Yuan Shao said.

Yuan Shang wiped his tears again, sat down beside the bed, looked at Yuan Shao with concern and said, "Father, it's more important to take good care of your health. We can talk about other things later."

Yuan Shao didn't say anything, he was still thinking.

No one knew the situation in Kuaiji better than he did.

Feng Ji, Yuan Huan, Gao Gan and others gathered around Yuan Xi. Yuan Shang had been a hostage in Luoyang for many years and had no roots in Kuaiji. If he wanted to compete with Yuan Xi, he would not have any chance of winning.

Guo Tu was a lone minister who seemed to be in a high position and had great power, but in fact he had no soldiers and no authority.

Yuan Shao looked outside. Once he died, Yuan Shang and Guo Tu would have no way out.

Yuan Shang's eyes were red and he couldn't stop crying. He whispered, "Father, before I came here, the Honglu Temple told me that I must return in three days at most. I want to stay in the governor's mansion for a few days, bring soup and medicine to you, and return to Luoyang when you get better. Please rest well these days, don't make me worry thousands of miles away..."

Yuan Shao looked at his son and felt extremely relieved but also upset.

Only in times of crisis can one see the true nature of people's hearts.

Yuan Shao took Yuan Shang's hand and said with a smile: "Your words are better than countless medicines. Your father has chosen a marriage for you. Take a look at it during this period of time. If it suits your heart, we will decide on it as soon as possible."

Yuan Shang wiped his tears again and said, "Yes. I want to get married as soon as possible to bring happiness to my father."

Yuan Shao felt even more upset, and suddenly he felt that with such a filial son, what more could he ask for. "Master, the second young master is here."

At this time, a guard outside the door turned around and stood outside the threshold and said loudly.

Yuan Shao remained calm and said, "Let him in."

Before Yuan Shao finished speaking, Yuan Shang quickly stood up and used both hands to quickly wipe the tears from his face.

Seeing this scene, Yuan Shao frowned, but said nothing.

Not long after, Yuan Xi, a tall, handsome man dressed in white, came quickly and said in a hurry: "Father, I heard that my third brother is back..."

"Hello, second brother." Yuan Shang quickly raised his hands and saluted Yuan Xi.

Yuan Xi went straight to Yuan Shang, took his hand, and said with a worried look on his face: "I am very relieved that you can return safely. You don't know how worried I was about you these days."

Yuan Shang smiled stiffly and said, "Yes, thank you for your concern, Second Brother."

Yuan Xi shook his head and said, "You and I are brothers, we are blood relatives. It is strange for you to say this, third brother. Tonight, I will hold a banquet in my house to welcome you..."

Yuan Shang looked back at Yuan Shao and said, "Um, second brother, I, I think..."

"That's it!"

Yuan Xi did not allow Yuan Shang to refuse, and said to Yuan Shao: "Father, I have also bought a house and servants for you, father, please do not worry about you, I have arranged everything. If you are not satisfied with anything, just tell me..."

Yuan Shang stood there in a daze, stammering and unable to utter a word.

Yuan Shao watched their every move and remained silent until now, when he said calmly: "Shang'er, your second brother has welcomed you and arranged servants for you. This is the love between brothers. You should have a few drinks with your second brother tonight."

"But father, I still want..." Yuan Shang suddenly became anxious.

But before he could finish, Yuan Xi said, "Okay, Third Brother, you should have a good rest first. We can sleep side by side tonight and talk about your life in Luoyang to ease Second Brother's longing for you."

Yuan Shang's face was frozen, and he was at a loss as to what to do. After a long while, he could only muffle his words and say, "Yes, yes, thank you, second brother."

Yuan Xi smiled and said, "Then it's settled. Third brother, you've worked hard on the journey. Go and have a rest first. Father and I have some business to discuss."

Yuan Shang looked at Yuan Shao, and without waiting for his "rescue", he could only silently raise his hand to salute and quietly retreat.

After he walked out of the door, he kept walking, rubbing his eyes with his hands, muttering to himself: This stuff is really spicy, I applied too much.

Yuan Xi stayed in Yuan Shao's bedroom for a full hour before coming out.

Yuan Shao, who was half lying down, looked increasingly tired and kept coughing.

His eyes were dry and lifeless. He looked at Yuan Xi's leaving back with a worried look and was lost in thought.

With the support of Feng Ji, Yuan Huan, Gao Gan and others, Yuan Xi has been involved in all matters major and minor in Yangzhou, and has countless supporters in Kuaiji.

At first, Yuan Shao was relieved that Yuan Xi could share the affairs with him, but now he feels a little regretful.

Yuan Xi was becoming more and more powerful and had considerable abilities.

How could Yuan Shang, who had just returned from Luoyang alone, compete with Yuan Xi?
Yuan Shao suppressed his cough, frowned, and analyzed everything going on in Yangzhou in his mind.

He wanted to pave a way for Yuan Shang. If Yuan Shang could completely suppress Yuan Xi and successfully inherit the throne, with Yuan Shang's determination and Yuan Xi's courtesy to the wise and humble, and the brothers' unity, they would surely be able to quell the chaos after his death and make the people of Yangzhou return to their roots and work together for great achievements!

"Somebody come!"

After a while, Yuan Shao spoke in a deep voice to the outside.

"Master." A guard came in and said.

Yuan Shao was silent for a while, and then said, "Send Zhang He and Ju Yi to Kuaiji, and ask Mr. Guo to come later."

"Yes." The prince responded.

Yuan Shao wanted to say something when he felt sleepy. He opened his eyes tiredly, waved his hand, and lay down with the quilt.

Even in the hot summer, he still felt cold.

"Report!"

Suddenly, a clerk rushed in, holding a document, looking extremely flustered, and rushed in without notifying anyone.

Yuan Shao, who was about to lie down, forced himself to sit up again and looked at the clerk who rushed in with an expressionless face.

The clerk didn't care about Yuan Shao's expression. He came to the bed, handed over the document, and said, "Master, the news from Nanhai County is that Shi Xie has entered the capital and is about to submit to the court!"

Yuan Shao's face suddenly changed and he snatched the letter. Before he finished reading it, his eyes widened in anger and his whole body trembled.

噗

A mouthful of blood spurted out, and Yuan Shao fell straight down.

(End of this chapter)