Han family achievements

Chapter 579 Ancestral Rules
The city of Luoyang is sharpening its swords and the atmosphere is murderous, and the fight for the throne in Kuaiji city is also becoming increasingly fierce.

It was obvious that Yuan Shao's days were numbered. As Yuan Shang had no roots or base, he had no time to take his time and had to openly try to win over other forces in order to fight against his second brother Yuan Xi.

Feng Ji's residence.

Yuan Huan came hurriedly with a worried look on his face. He didn't have time to say anything polite as he entered the room. He said, "Yuan Tu, have you heard the news? Guo Tu is collecting evidence of your crimes and wants to arrest you!"

Yuantu, the name of Feng Ji.

Feng Ji had a blank expression on his face, with deep gloom in his eyes, and he just kept drinking.

Seeing him like this, Yuan Huan said impatiently: "I say, my brother Feng, you still have the mood to drink now? Yuan Shang is back!"

Feng Ji looked up at him and sneered, "What does it matter if Yuan Shang comes back or not? Jiaozhi's surrender to the court will surely boost morale. Do you think the court will wait until Yuan Shang dies before sending troops? Yuan Shang is seriously ill and has no money or food. Isn't this a godsend? If you were in the court, would you wait?"

Yuan Huan's expression suddenly changed. He sat opposite him and said, "Are you saying that the imperial court is going to send troops?"

Feng Ji poured himself a glass of wine and sneered, "Destruction is right in front of you, and you are still fighting and robbing? Wait until the imperial army attacks Kuaiji City, and then I'll see how you fight and rob."

Yuan Huan looked at Feng Ji, stunned and speechless.

Because Feng Ji is right.

The imperial court does not necessarily have to wait until Yuan Shao's death before mobilizing troops. Now is the time when Yangzhou is the weakest!
The soldiers are tired, money and food are running out, and people's hearts are gradually scattered. Isn't this the best time to attack?
Yuan Huan became nervous and said, "Brother Feng, then, what should we do?"

Feng Ji was drinking by himself, not even raising his eyelids, and asked, "What should I do?"

Yuan Huan was anxious and said, "Brother Feng! Once Kuaiji City is captured, you and I will be traitors and our entire clans will be killed!"

Feng Ji took another sip, tilted his head, looked out the door with cold eyes, and said, "How many good opportunities have you missed? When Lord Yuan was in Luoyang, he had countless opportunities. Then he was released, with 50,000 troops under his command, and the court was in turmoil. How many good opportunities did he have? Then he went to Yangzhou, went south, north, and west. The same great cause was in front of him, but what was the result? Brother Yuan, it's time to wake up."

Yuan Huan felt a chill in his heart, but he couldn't help but say, "Brother Feng, it's useless to say that. How are we going to get through this difficult time? Even if you don't consider yourself, you still have to consider your parents, wife, and children, right?"

This sentence seemed to touch Feng Ji. He stopped drinking, put down his glass, and was silent for a while. He said, "If the court sends troops, it must be very urgent. In addition, winter is approaching, so they must seek a quick victory. As long as the people of Yangzhou are united and hold the city without fighting, if two months pass, the court will have no choice but to withdraw its troops."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Huan's expression eased slightly, and he said, "Then, where do you think the imperial court will send troops from? Wujun, Jiujiang, or Jingzhou?"

Feng Ji looked up at him with a strange expression.

Yuan Huan was stunned for a moment and asked, "Brother Feng, what do you mean?"

Feng Ji's mouth curled up with sarcasm, and he said, "Do you think that the people of Yangzhou can really unite as one? Not to mention the county magistrates, governors, and garrison commanders in various places, can even the city of Kuaiji be united?"

Yuan Huan naturally knew what he was referring to, and quickly said, "As long as Lord Yuan is here, no one else can make trouble. As long as Lord Yuan gives an order, no one will dare to act recklessly! Brother Feng, come with me to see Lord Yuan, tell him our opinions, and take precautions early."

Feng Ji shook his head and said, "You are still too optimistic. With Lord Yuan's physical condition, it is impossible for him to lead the army again. If he is trapped in Kuaiji, I am afraid that all places will have unpredictable intentions and will continue to rise and fall. Moreover... Lord Yuan will not see me."

Yuan Huan suddenly remembered something, his face full of anger, he said: "Is it that villain Guo Tu? I will go to see Yuan Gong right now. Guo Tu looks loyal but is actually a traitor. He cannot be trusted!"

Feng Ji didn't respond, picked up the wine glass and continued drinking.

Yuan Huan was thinking too simply.

How could Guo Tu have accomplished what he did without Yuan Shao's tacit approval? Did Yuan Shao really know nothing about what Guo Tu did?

What means did Guo Tu use to make the court release Yuan Shang?
Yuan Shang was appointed governor of Kuaiji. Isn’t this obvious enough?
After all, Yuan Shao was fighting for his rule, and Guo Tu was just a knife.

Now that Yuan Shao has made up his mind to depose the eldest son and enthrone the youngest, how can those "old ministers" who support the second son Yuan Xi still survive?

Seeing Feng Ji was already disheartened, Yuan Huan was anxious like an ant on a hot pot. He suddenly stood up, took Feng Ji's hand and said, "Brother Feng, it's already this hour, why are you still throwing a tant? Come with me to see Lord Yuan. No matter what, we can't just sit there and watch..." Feng Ji was caught off guard by him. Just as he was about to speak, the servant ran in and said, "Master, Lord Yuan has sent a message for you to go to the prefecture as soon as possible!"

Before Feng Ji could say anything, Yuan Huan was startled and asked, "What happened?"

The servant said, "It is said that the imperial navy appeared in the sea east of Kuaiji. There are more than 70 warships and they seem to be going ashore."

Yuan Huan's face changed. Not only him, Feng Ji also sobered up. Huang Men stood up and said, "Hurry up and leave!"

The imperial court’s navy is not scary, what is scary is not just the navy!
The navy landed in Kuaiji, but what about other places? What were Guan Yu in Jingzhou and Xiahou Dun in Xuzhou doing?
Have they already sent out troops?

Yuan Huan and Feng Ji rushed to the provincial capital in a hurry.

At this moment, Yuan Shao and others were already waiting.

Yuan Shao looked worse than in the previous few days. He was skinny, like a bag of bones, with sunken eyes, pale face and dull gaze. Even though he tried his best to hold on, he no longer had his former spirit and majesty.

After everyone was seated, Yuan Shao looked around and said, "The imperial navy has appeared on the sea east of Kuaiji. Does that mean the imperial court has decided to send troops?"

Yuan Shao leaned there, his tone dull, full of fatigue and powerlessness.

Seeing this scene, Yuan Huan and Feng Ji felt uneasy and they looked at each other subconsciously.

Yuan Xi was present this time and spoke first: "Father, I think that even if the imperial navy appears overseas, they don't necessarily want to land. They are just a deterrent, just like Guan Yu in Jingzhou. We just need to deploy more defenses and monitor on the shore. The most important ones are Guan Yu in Jingzhou and Xiahou Dun in Xuzhou."

Yuan Shao seemed not to have heard it. He searched for a moment and then fell on Feng Ji's face. He said calmly, "What do you think, Military Advisor Feng?"

Feng Ji was drunk, but now his mind was clear. He said, "Mr. Yuan, what the Second Young Master said makes sense. What we need to do now is to deploy defenses. We must pay attention to it, but there is no need to panic."

Yuan Shao showed no expression. He turned around and finally stopped at Guo Tu and asked, "What do you think, sir?"

Guo Tu was no fool. He had a strong sense of uneasiness in his heart. The imperial navy was not here to "intimidate". He analyzed quickly and said, "Mr. Yuan, it is only two months away from the beginning of winter. If the imperial court sends troops, it will be a thunderous move to strive for a quick victory. I think, I think, we should take the initiative!"

Yuan Shao's lifeless eyes sparkled with a hint of light, and he asked, "How do you take the initiative?"

Guo Tu raised his hand and said in a deep voice: "With lightning speed, pacify Wujun. Wujun is separated from Xuzhou by a natural chasm and has no great advantage. Destroy the imperial court's troops in Wujun, quickly withdraw troops, and hold out against Guan Yu in Jingzhou. With proper planning, the war can be dragged into the winter. Once the imperial court has a handle on us, they will not come again next summer. We can get through this year and have no worries next year."

A hint of satisfaction appeared in Yuan Shao's eyes, and he said to Yuan Shang: "Shang'er, what do you think?"

Yuan Shang had obviously discussed this with Guo Tu beforehand, and said directly: "Father, I suggest that Zhang He lead the troops to fight."

Yuan Shao did not respond immediately. He looked at Gao Gan and said, "Gao Gan, what do you think?"

Gao Gan was a straightforward person. When Yuan Shao asked about this, he suddenly became angry and shouted, "Mr. Yuan, please establish a crown prince to calm the people in Yangzhou!"

After these words were spoken, everyone held their breath and dared not breathe.

It was common knowledge that Yuan Shao was seriously ill, but he never revealed a word about the 'crown prince'.

As Yuan Shang returned from Luoyang, disturbances began to appear in Kuaiji City, and the civil and military officials under Yuan Shao's command unknowingly took sides.

The "evil" led by Guo Tu stood behind the third son Yuan Shang, while Gao Gan, Feng Ji, Yuan Huan and others were always the second son Yuan Xi.

Because Yuan Tan was dead, Yuan Xi was the "eldest son", and it was the ancestral rule to make the eldest son the heir.

(End of this chapter)