Han family achievements

Chapter 586: Outrageous Brothers
Not long after, Yuan Huan found Yuan Xi who was patrolling the army.

Yuan Xi was dressed in armor, looking both elegant and heroic. He looked more like Yuan Shu than Yuan Shao.

He took Zhang He and Gao Gan to inspect the military camp to boost morale, showing a sense of respect for the wise and humble and having fun with the soldiers.

When he came back from his inspection, he saw Feng Ji and Yuan Huan, whose expressions were not much better, and asked calmly, "What's the matter, gentlemen?"

The imperial army surrounded Yuan Shang, but Yuan Shang confronted him and refused to cease fighting. Yuan Xi's situation had become extremely critical. With no way to ease the situation, no one could be happy.

Yuan Huan glanced at Zhang He and pretended to think: "Second Master, I just counted the food and grass, and it is enough for the army to use for five days at most."

Yuan Xi had just sat down when he almost jumped up in anxiety, shouting, "Five days? How can there be only five days? Didn't you say there were still ten days yesterday?"

Yuan Huan said with a gloomy face, "Second Young Master, there have been more and more deserters recently, many of whom have been taken away, and some have set fires. In order to boost morale, Second Young Master allowed the soldiers to eat and drink as much as they wanted, so the consumption was a little faster."

Yuan Xi's expression suddenly changed, and he looked at Yuan Huan and asked, "What should we do then?"

Food and grass are the lifeline of the army. Without food and grass, they will collapse without a fight!

Zhang He and Gao Gan remained silent, their expressions were extremely solemn.

They were all military commanders and knew how terrible it was to be without food and fodder.

It is also clear that the reason for the lack of food and fodder is that Yuan Shao had exhausted Yangzhou's resources after years of war.

Five to ten days of food and fodder for an army of 40,000 was already the limit of what could be "raised", and there was no more to be plundered.

Seeing that no one spoke, Yuan Xi sat back down, his face full of anxiety.

The biggest threat now is no longer Yuan Shang or the imperial court, but their shortage of food and fodder.

Feng Ji saw everything and said calmly, "I just learned that Guo Tu made a deal with the court in order to bring Yuan Shang back from Luoyang. As for what he sold out, I don't know yet."

Yuan Xi's eyes widened in anger, and he gritted his teeth and said, "That villain Guo Tu, I really should cut him into pieces as soon as possible!"

Yuan Huan replied: "If this is true, Yuan Shang is in danger."

Yuan Xi looked at him and instantly understood what he meant. His face turned pale and he said, "Sir, sir, what you mean is that Guo Tu has defected to the court and will he betray the third brother?"

Yuan Huan shook his head and said, "It may not be a surrender, but under such circumstances, will Guo Tu still stick with Yuan Shang to the end?"

Yuan Xi stood there in a daze, his lips moving, but he couldn't utter a word for a long time.

Gao Gan and Zhang He remained silent. They heard it clearly and understood it in their hearts, but they had no good ideas to break the impasse.

Yuan Xi's expression changed again and again. Seeing that the others were silent again, he asked with a trembling voice: "Then, what should we do?"

If Yuan Shang surrendered to the court, it would be huge bad news for them!
No one answered Yuan Xi's question.

For Yuan Xi, with Yuan Shang as his enemy inside and the imperial army surrounding him outside, he was already in a desperate situation.

No matter how you look at it, there is no way out.

Yuan Xi glanced at each person and felt a chill in his heart.

He was not stupid, and he was very clear about the current situation. But in his opinion, he and Yuan Shang had a combined army of 80,000, and there was no reason why they could not survive the winter if they held out in the cold winter.

The most hateful person is his good brother Yuan Shang!
After waiting for a long time, no one spoke. Yuan Xi gritted his teeth and said, "Everyone, do you have any good ideas?"

Yuan Huan glanced at Feng Ji and said, "Second Master, I received news that the imperial court will send troops in the next few days. Wujun has already been reorganized. I also heard that the navy on the sea of ​​Kuaiji is led by Cai Mao."

Yuan Xi was trembling all over, his face was slightly pale, his eyes were filled with hope and pleading, he said: "Then, what should we do?"

Zhang He and Gao Gan also looked at Yuan Huan and Feng Ji.

If the imperial court sends troops, they must resist, but how can they resist under the current circumstances? Feng Ji also felt heavy-hearted and said, "Second Master, can we negotiate peace with the imperial court, even if it is just to delay time..."

"No!"

Yuan Xi rejected it outright, his expression angry and determined, and said: "Yangzhou is my father's legacy. Even if I die, I will not give it to others!"

Feng Ji was a little surprised. How could Yuan Xi, who had always been a bookish person, be so determined to die?
Yuan Huan had not expected this, and said hesitantly: "Second Master, this is just a delaying tactic..."

"Absolutely impossible!"

Yuan Xi's face was gloomy, his eyes were cold, and he said, "Zhang He, Gao Gan, mobilize the troops immediately! Regardless of whether Yuan Shang surrenders to the court or not, I will do my best to meet the enemy and protect my father's foundation!"

"I obey your command!" Zhang He and Gao Gan responded.

As they stood up, the two men subconsciously looked at each other with stern faces, obviously having something to say.

But they didn't say it.

What happens after the troops are reorganized?
Should we welcome the enemy, Yuan Shang or the imperial court? And how should we welcome them?
Yuan Xi knew nothing about military affairs, he just gave the order.

He was very nervous, and his greatest hope was that Yuan Shang would consider the overall situation for the sake of their father's foundation and join him in dealing with the imperial army.

Feng Ji didn't expect Yuan Xi to have such a character, and he couldn't help but feel troubled.

They have said enough and hinted enough. If they continue to persuade Yuan Xi, he will become suspicious.

Yuan Huan also bowed quietly. If Yuan Xi became suspicious, the two of them and their entire family would be killed by Yuan Xi.

On the other side, in Wanling, Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi were in the same situation, but their thoughts were different.

Yuan Shang’s personality was quite similar to Yuan Shao’s. Early the next morning, he rode a horse and inspected the military camp in a heroic manner.

Guo Tu followed him calmly, smiling and said, "Third Young Master, the people sent by the Second Young Master are already the fourth wave. Are you really not going to reply?"

Yuan Shang sneered disdainfully and said, "The second brother is good in everything except being too timid. However, with him blocking the way, I can hold Wanling for two months. By then, it will be the cold winter and the imperial court will have no choice but to withdraw its troops. After that, the whole of Yangzhou will be mine!"

Guo Tu was riding on his horse, not making any comment on Yuan Shang's words, but thinking of a countermeasure in his mind.

The imperial court mobilized hundreds of thousands of troops to surround the enemy on all sides, and it was obvious that they would not give up easily.

How to get through it?

"Report!"

Suddenly, a fast horse came galloping over, and the cavalryman landed in front of Yuan Shang's horse and shouted, "My lord, the court has sent troops!"

Yuan Shang's expression suddenly darkened, and he asked in a low voice, "Where did the troops come from?"

The cavalryman knelt on one knee and said, "It is Jiujiang. Jiujiang Governor Zhou Ang surrendered. Jingzhou General Guan Yu led his troops and entered Danyang directly."

Yuan Shang softened his tone slightly and even smiled as he said, "This is within expectations."

The cavalryman continued, "There are also unusual movements in Yuzhang. Zhou Yu and Huang Zu are trying to advance."

Yuan Shang frowned and looked at Guo Tu.

Guo Tu looked calm and asked, "What's going on in Wu County?"

The cavalryman said, "No news for now."

(End of this chapter)