Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Yuan family, masters of the nobility for four generations!

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…

Chen Xi was dragged out of bed by Guan Yu and Zhang Fei that morning. There was no helping it—the allied army’s main camp had begun beating the drums and summoning the commanders before dawn.

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei hauled the sleepy-eyed Chen Xi to the main camp.

Yuan Shao stared grimly at everyone. “Gonglu, how exactly did Lu Bu manage to raid your camp last night?”

Yuan Shao’s expression was cold and severe. If Yuan Shu failed to provide an explanation today, he did not mind making an example of him. Night patrols were of the utmost importance, yet they had been so easily caught off guard by an enemy raid! Worse still, two of his most important generals had only managed to preserve his life by fighting to the death.

This was no longer the time to concern themselves with brotherly affection or schemes and intrigues. Only impartial enforcement of military law could unite the army.

“At the hour of the Boar last night, Lu Bu raided the camp. My chief general Ji Ling was leading the patrols, but they were caught off guard and the entire patrol unit was annihilated. If the盟主 wishes, he may inspect the records of the shift handover.” Yuan Shu rose and spoke solemnly.

A murmur spread through the gathering. Soon, the records were brought forward and made public. To Chen Xi’s surprise, Yuan Shu had not cut any corners at all. Instead, he had carried out the camp patrols meticulously, even arranging a considerable number of hidden sentries.

“Zichuan,” Guan Yu whispered, “do you think that fat fellow prepared all this in advance because he was afraid the盟主 would settle accounts with him?”

“I don’t think so. There’s a ninety percent chance Yuan Gonglu really didn’t cut corners. He may be unreliable, but his generals haven’t relaxed in the slightest. This Ji Ling fellow is quite impressive.” Chen Xi narrowed his eyes. He recalled accounts from certain books he had read in the past. For some reason, Ji Ling had been exceptionally loyal to Yuan Shu, and the man was highly capable as well.

“Since that is the case, I will not punish you. I have witnessed Lu Bu’s valor myself. Ji Ling could never have held him back alone.” Yuan Shao flipped through the records, then looked up at the equally gloomy Yuan Shu and nodded.

“Thank you!” Yuan Shu had already been prepared to shoulder the blame for what had happened yesterday on Ji Ling’s behalf. He had never expected Yuan Shao to let the matter pass so easily. After years of clashing with Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu found himself quite unaccustomed to it.

“Enough with the nonsense. Dong Zhuo has already reached Hulao Pass. If any of you still harbor thoughts of shirking battle after today, do not blame me for showing no mercy.” Yuan Shao rose with an imposing air and swept his gaze over several feudal lords who had persistently avoided advancing into battle.

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[The change in Yuan Shao is simply unbelievable. He has actually subdued all the feudal lords through sheer authority!]

Chen Xi stared at Yuan Shao in astonishment. [Is this what it means to possess the bearing of a model for the empire? You’ve got to be kidding me. After suffering such a devastating blow yesterday, he’s displaying an even more formidable presence today.]

“Wentai, regarding what happened to your subordinate Rong, I apologize to you on Gonglu’s behalf. Since you have come here to oppose Dong Zhuo, would you be willing to set aside your personal grudge? Rong surely would not wish to abandon the common people of the empire for the sake of a private grievance.” Yuan Shao rose and walked before Sun Jian, then bowed deeply.

This time, even Chen Xi was stunned. He stared blankly at Yuan Shao. If Yuan Shao could maintain such grace and spirit, possessing the foundation of four generations of the Three Excellencies, then the empire would surely belong to the Yuan family.

Sun Jian gazed blankly at Yuan Shao as well, while Yuan Shu was also momentarily stunned. But he immediately recovered. The education he had received from his clan years ago surfaced once more in his mind. Yuan Shu rose and walked before Sun Jian.

“In the past, I placed my own selfish interests above your safety and left you in danger. I ask your forgiveness here and now. As for the matter concerning Rong, the two of us can settle it after Dong Zhuo has been defeated. The disorder spreading across the empire has already become plain to see. If Dong Zhuo gains the upper hand, the realm will collapse and the people will be scattered. I ask you to consider this carefully.”

Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu had given Sun Jian every possible measure of respect. He had no choice but to agree.

Sun Jian rose and looked at Yuan Shao. “Since this concerns the welfare of the people throughout the empire, I, Sun Jian, dare not show the slightest negligence. Let the matter of Rong be set aside for now. Once Dong Zhuo has been defeated, I will settle accounts with Yuan Gonglu myself.”

“Wentai, your righteousness is admirable!” Yuan Shao said with a smile. He had given Sun Jian enough face, and the matter had been made clear. Sun Jian had set aside his grudge and would fight against Dong Zhuo with all his strength. If anyone still dared to be negligent afterward, Yuan Shao would have ample justification to deal with them.

“For what you have done today, if you should one day fall at my hands, I will treat your family well. If you fall to someone else, I will certainly look after them in your place.” Yuan Shu glanced at Sun Jian. The heroic spirit buried deep within him had not yet vanished, and these words escaped almost before he could think.

Sun Jian looked at Yuan Shu but did not reply. He had never imagined that such a day would come. Sun Jian firmly believed that he himself was invincible.

What Sun Jian did not know was that he would soon rely on the promise Yuan Shu made that day. Yuan Shu truly did take care of Sun Jian’s family. Even after learning that the Imperial Jade Seal was in Sun Ce’s hands, though he coveted it intensely, he never forcibly seized it.

[I never expected Yuan Shu to have such a lovable side. All these men possessed their own heroic qualities when they were young. Perhaps that was why they were able to reach such heights.] Chen Xi looked at the righteous and resolute Yuan Shu. He seemed like an entirely different person from the shameless man who had argued sophistically before.

“Hmph!” Sun Jian snorted coldly and returned to his seat, while Yuan Shao once again stood in the commander’s place.

“All generals, heed my orders!” Yuan Shao’s expression was stern. “Every division will lead its soldiers in strengthening the camp’s defenses. Deepen the trenches, set up chevaux-de-frise, expand the camp, and reinforce the patrols. We must not allow a repeat of last night’s incident!”

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“Yes!” All the feudal lords nodded.

“As for everyone else, issue orders for the generals to assemble at Hulao Pass. We attack the pass today!” Yuan Shao held the command tally in his hand, his bearing majestic.

“Yes!”

“Zichuan, what do you think of the盟主’s actions today?” Liu Bei rode at the head of the cavalry, leading them all out and arranging them on the left wing. There was little sense of danger along the road, and he asked Chen Xi with a smile.

“If he can maintain this bearing, then we really will have trouble.” Chen Xi yawned. Yuan Shao’s performance had shocked him, but precisely because it was so unexpected rather than familiar, it was not truly frightening.

Before long, the various feudal lords had arranged their troops: cavalry on both wings and infantry in the center. Under Yuan Shao’s intimidating presence, no one tried to insist on personally taking command this time. Yuan Shao also made it perfectly clear that if anyone dared use this opportunity to swallow another lord’s troops, the others would unite against him.

Because of this, the allied army acted under unified orders, and command of each unit was entrusted to the most suitable person.

It had to be said that when the eighteen feudal lords were forged into a single rope by Yuan Shao, the fighting strength they unleashed was no joke. Yuan Shao directly handed his sword to Sun Jian.

“If anyone refuses to obey your commands, use this sword to cut him down. It does not matter whose son he is. If trouble arises, come to me!”

When Yuan Shao gave Sun Jian his sword, ordered him to command the infantry, and spoke those words, Sun Jian was moved to tears. He was practically ready to bare his heart and swear his loyalty to Yuan Shao.

“Defeat Dong Zhuo. Wash away the shame of this fierce tiger with the blood of the Xiliang cavalry.”

Yuan Shao did not accept Sun Jian’s pledge of loyalty. Perhaps he understood that his reach could not extend to Yangzhou. Yet those indifferent words sent Sun Jian’s blood surging.

Even Chen Xi, listening nearby, felt that Yuan Shao truly deserved to be called a wise lord of the age. When he turned and saw Ju Shou standing behind Han Fu, his eyes shining with admiration, Chen Xi knew that Ju Shou had taken this Yuan Shao—overflowing with the aura of a conquering king—as a truly enlightened ruler.

What a pity. This Yuan Shao, radiating such overwhelming authority, could hold himself together for only a very short time.

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