noffsinger Chapter 605 Zhong Yao's Fatal Counterattack! How many sons did Yuan Shao actually have?
Chapter 605 Zhong Yao's Fatal Counterattack! How many sons did Yuan Shao actually have?
at the same time
A mansion in Nanyang
Sima Yi was drinking and chatting with a young man who looked a few years older than him.
"Yes, yes, please, Zhongda, after you return, be sure to put in a good word for me with the Commandant of the Capital Region!"
The newly appointed Prefect of Nanyang, Pei Qian, said to Sima Yi with a smile.
Pei Qian is the eldest son of the current patriarch of the Pei family, a prominent family in Bingzhou. He was chosen by Zhong Yao as a replacement after Jia Kui was eliminated.
Logically speaking, someone from Bingzhou like him should not be able to become the Prefect of Nanyang.
However, Zhong Yao made a deal with the Nanyang aristocratic families who supported him, offering other benefits as compensation, and successfully placed his confidant Pei Qian in this position.
From this perspective, Zhong Yao actually had great personal charisma and was a good leader.
During the late Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period, a time teeming with talented individuals, Pei Qian might not have been considered particularly famous.
However, his son, Pei Xiu, was a celebrity with outstanding drawing skills and was one of the few cartographers of his time.
"Hahaha, Chief Secretary Pei, you're too kind."
"We are both serving the Commandant of the Capital Region, so we should join hands and work together without distinction!"
"Ah, I thank Zhongda for this."
"Some local specialties have been sent to Zhongda's residence. I hope Zhongda will not find them offensive."
Sima Yi didn't refuse. The Pei family was extremely wealthy, even wealthier than the Sima family. Why not take this benefit?
Besides, I'm an undercover agent!
Acquiring the enemy's wealth is essentially generating revenue for your own faction, which is a huge contribution!
After bidding farewell to Pei Qian, Sima Yi did not linger in Nanyang and hurried back to Chang'an.
As a fugitive from the Ministry of Personnel, Sima Yi knew very well what kind of person Xun Yu was.
The fact that Fa Zheng and Lu Xun were both supervising the construction was enough to prove that Xun Yu was going to take action against Mao Jie!
"Sigh, they're so blind."
"You, Mao Jie, are not capable of doing the undercover job well."
"Moreover, choosing the right camp is also very important."
"If you had been smarter and infiltrated Hua Xin's camp to work for my brother-in-law, the outcome might have been completely different."
The seasoned veteran and top-notch undercover agent Sima Yi expressed serious doubts about the professional capabilities of the new generation undercover agent Mao Jie.
……
next morning
Pei Qian, who was full of hope for the future, received a shocking piece of bad news!
Mao Jie has been replaced.
Instead, Fazheng took his place!
Among the many talented individuals in the Minister's Office, some were unknown but had joined the office long ago and had been contributing to its development.
Some of them were renowned and had even been enemies of Cao Cao's camp.
Fa Zheng clearly belongs to the second column.
Faced with such a powerful superior, Pei Qian had no way to express his grievances.
But he should actually be content.
Zhong Yao's biological son, Zhong Yu, is still serving as a bailiff in Xuzhou, obediently playing the role of a prisoner under Chen Deng!
Compared to Zhong Yu, Pei Qian has at least a shorter time in the game and a shorter "total playtime" as a player.
……
Changan
Sima Yi put on a "filial son's face" and went to Zhong Yao's side to report.
"Zhongda, how did things go?"
While writing, Zhong Yao asked Sima Yi a question.
Sima Yi replied respectfully:
"Your Excellency, Pei Qian has filled the vacancy left by Wang Gang."
"The assassins have also set off from Ye City."
"Ah, very good."
"I knew it; Zhongda has always been the most reliable."
Zhong Yao put down his pen, raised his head, and his eyes revealed his unreserved admiration for Sima Yi.
"It's all thanks to the good upbringing of adults."
"Without you, sir, I would just be an unappreciated scholar."
Sima Yi said modestly.
As she spoke, she stepped forward and began to massage Zhong Yao's shoulders and back.
"Zhongda, do you know why I sent those assassins to Yecheng?"
Zhong Yao relaxed his mind.
Sima Yi's skill in massaging shoulders and backs was truly exceptional, unmatched by ordinary people.
"My lord, I am foolish and do not understand your profound meaning."
Sima Yi had some guesses in his mind, but he knew that Zhong Yao was actually just showing off, even though he seemed to be asking questions.
All he needs to do is be a listener.
"That old bastard Hua Xin thought that everything would be fine once he married Ju Shou's sister."
"But he had no idea that an uncontrolled third-party force had absolutely no reason to exist!"
"Moreover, this old guy suddenly jumped out, there must be someone behind him instigating him."
"Based on my understanding of him, he wouldn't have the guts without someone urging him to."
Sima Yi immediately began to praise:
"Your Excellency is wise and mighty! I, Hua Xin, am not even worthy to carry your shoes!"
"But I have a question. Hua Xin's power is far inferior to yours now. Why do you want to eliminate him instead of incorporating him into your forces?"
Zhong Yao smiled and continued his analysis:
"I do not intend to eradicate Hua Xin's forces, but merely to eliminate Hua Xin and those hiding behind him!"
"With the identity of the Ju family as a spiritual guide, those people from Jizhou and Youzhou will never be willing to serve me."
"On the contrary, to catch the thief, first catch the king. If we kill Hua Xin and the people behind him, the people of Jizhou and Youzhou will obediently listen to us."
Sima Yi silently mourned for Hua Xin for two and a half seconds.
Zhong Yao's methods were certainly not as simple as assassination.
Hua Xin isn't stupid; she must have plenty of guards around her.
Aside from assassination and poisoning, the only normal methods to eliminate Hua Xin and the Ju family members hiding behind him seem to be...
as predicted.
The next instant, Zhong Yao, who loved to teach, spoke in the tone of instructing his disciple:
"Zhongda, do you know how many sons General Yuan has?"
Sima Yi was a little confused.
Everyone in the world should know the answer to this question, right? Aren't there three? (No historical records exist regarding Yuan Mai.)
Suddenly, he paused, as if he understood Zhong Yao's meaning.
It doesn't matter how many sons Yuan Shao actually had.
The important thing is that Zhong Yao wants him to have several!
After losing all its glory, the Yuan family of Runan has no hope of revival.
However, he belonged to the Yuzhou aristocratic families and was an important member of their camp.
Zhong Yao could manually manipulate the Yuan family genealogy, particularly the section concerning Yuan Shao, if necessary.
……
Xuchang
A spacious house
Cao Ang personally came to this place and played chess against a man who was nearly thirty years old.
"Hahaha, Zixiu, I won this time!"
The man laughed heartily; his fat hands were so thick that the veins were almost invisible.
After letting go of everything, the man lived a very carefree life, indulging in rich food every day. He neither practiced martial arts nor fought in wars, and naturally gained a lot of weight.
Cao Ang clasped his hands and said:
"Brother's chess skills are improving, and Zixiu admires them."
Among his peers, there was only one person whom Cao Ang could call his elder brother.
It's not surnamed Cao, nor Xiahou, but Yuan!
Yes, the person before me is Yuan Tan.
After being led a thousand miles by Guo Tu to his death, Yuan Tan surrendered to Cao Cao's camp and lived the life of a wealthy man.
Others might not know which son Yuan Shao loved the most, but how could Cao Cao not know?
Therefore, as long as they don't think about starting their own businesses, Yuan Tan and his descendants, Cao Cao and the Cao family heirs will definitely take good care of them.
Cao Ang had long ago become sworn brothers with Yuan Tan and often came to visit him.
With the past gone and dust settling in, isn't Yuan Tan now enjoying a different kind of carefree life?
……