After the news of Yuan Shao's defeat reached Ruyang, Runan, everyone fell silent for a while.

Even in the Ruyang court, everyone kept the matter secret. Yuan Wei reported illness but had been absent from court meetings for several days, and the court did not explore the matter.

Although there were a lot of guests in the Yuan Mansion, almost all of them were rejected.

In the Yuan family's mansion, Yuan Wei was not lying on the bed, but was discussing matters in the hall. In addition to Yuan Shu, who was from Nanyang, and Yuan Shao, who was under house arrest in Puyang, almost all the important descendants of the Yuan family were present.

The gloomy and depressed expression on Yuan Wei's face made him look even older than his gray hair.

"I'm calling you here today just for one thing. Benchu ​​defeated Puyang and captured all the soldiers and horses. Benchu's letter stated that one million stones of grain and grass need to be raised in exchange."

As soon as Yuan Wei finished speaking, many of the Yuan family's children were furious, and many of the older generation shook their heads.

Prodigal son, prodigal son!

Even for the largest noble clan in the world, one million stones is not a small amount.

Yuan Wei remained silent and let the tribesmen finish their complaints. During this period, Yuan Shao's performance was indeed a mess. He defeated the Hui Alliance, Hanoi, and Dongjun, and he was defeated again and again.

"Mr. Yuan, if you behave like this at first, how can you lead my Yuan family's inheritance in the future?"

"Yes, repeated defeats have ruined the reputation of my Yuan family, but they actually asked for one million stones of grain to redeem him. Mr. Yuan, this number will shake the foundation of my Yuan family in Runan!"

No matter what they said, Yuan Wei remained indifferent.

Although Yuan Shao was as miserable as they said, if he were to put himself in another person's shoes, would the result be different if any of them were replaced?

I'm afraid it will only get worse.

After everyone had finished complaining, Yuan Wei slowly said: "I have decided on the original matter. I will exchange food and grass for people. Each of your families will share 500,000 dan, and then the money will be spent from the Yuan family treasury."

Yuan Wei made the final decision, which immediately caused a chorus of sighs, but no one dared to speak out to object, but they all had reluctance in their hearts, and naturally thought of another person.

Yuan Shu.

Is there a possibility that if Yuan Shu replaced Yuan Shao, then the five hundred thousand stones would not need to be spent?

…

A few days later, something strange happened. The news that Yuan Shao was defeated and wanted one million stones of grain as redemption spread like wildfire.

If someone dares to think, someone will dare to do it.

In Liu Bian's palace, Queen Mother He also heard the news and settled down in Ruyang for a while. However, whenever news of Yuan Shao's defeat came, she became frightened.

If you fail again and again, let alone return to Luoyang, I'm afraid even the position here will be lost!

So He Hou summoned Li Ru to discuss countermeasures.

After hearing what the Queen Mother said, Li Ru also felt very strange.

"Your Majesty, Mrs. Yuan should keep this kind of news secret. How could it cause a storm in the city?"

He Hou said: You ask me, I will ask you again!

Seeing that the Empress Dowager He was silent, Li Ru continued: "If this matter is true, it means that the Yuan family has different opinions on this matter and wants to use external pressure to let it go. If this matter is false, then the Yuan family will release the news

, but to test the attitudes of all parties.”

"Testing? Whose attitude does the old guy want to test?"

"Ahem, Queen Mother, be careful." Li Ru reminded, after all, we are still on the territory of the old man Yuan Wei. "What the Yuan family wants to test is naturally the Yuan family's internal attitude towards Yuan Shao. At the same time, it can also test the court.

Storm."

"One million stones, the King of Bohai is really willing to give it. Can the Yuan family really afford so much food? Is the Yuan family richer than the national treasury?"

Maybe, Li Ru has no idea about this.

"Sir, if this is true, and Yuan Shao is really captured, and the Yuan family really takes out one million stones of food and grass, and the Yuan family has accumulated a mountain of food and has ulterior motives, what should the Ai family do?"

"Don't worry, Queen Mother. The Yuan family has a dragon and two tigers, and Yuan Wei is the dragon. Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu can still coexist with the two tigers. Yuan Wei is already old. He should not be able to do anything arrogant. After his death,

The two Yuans will definitely stand side by side, and they will definitely compete for Your Majesty, so there is no need to worry too much!"

Hearing this, Queen Mother He breathed a sigh of relief, with a pair of phoenix eyes, and suddenly asked Li Ru: "Sir, if the world changes, can we make this day come earlier?"

Queen Mother He's courage really surprised Li Ru. He thought he was being cruel, but he didn't expect Queen Mother He to be even more cruel.

"Your Majesty, be careful what you say!" Li Ru lowered his body and advised again.

Seeing that Li Ru was avoiding taboos like this, it seems that the Empress Dowager He knew that and was not sure about it.

But she doesn't intend to let it go.

…

After the war, Liu Qing also lived a comfortable life, and his daily life was very regular.

Usually, Liu Qing would get up early for morning exercises with the garrison outside the city, and then return to Yecheng and go to the central construction area very regularly to check the progress of the project.

Liu Qing felt an inexplicable joy as he watched the pillars take their places.

In the afternoon, Liu Qing woke up after taking a lunch break. It was now the period of autumn fatigue, and Liu Qing also slept for a long time during his lunch break.

"Husband, wake up!"

As soon as he opened his eyes, Liu Qing heard a sweet call, and then Cai Yan's graceful appearance came into view and smiled at him.

Liu Qing nodded, thinking that this feeling was really good. As soon as he opened his eyes, there was a beautiful lady waiting beside him.

"How can Zhao Ji be happy?"

Cai Yan smiled and replied: "Husband, there is a letter from Puyang, saying that the first batch of 200,000 stones of grain and grass from the Yuan family is already on its way."

Oh? The Yuan family has already discussed it, and is it ready to pull Yuan Shao ashore?

"Why is it only 200,000 shi?" Liu Qing complained fussily.

Cai Yan saw that Liu Qing was speaking out of anger, and he was obviously very happy.

"Mr. Yuan did not bargain because of her face, and paid two hundred thousand dan in advance. She is really a mute who eats Coptis chinensis and can't tell the story of her suffering!"

Again, Yuan Wei cherished Yuan's feathers very much.

However, just when Liu Qing was taking it for granted, Cai Yan continued: "News came from Runan that Yuan Shao was defeated and captured, and the Yuan family wanted to pay a million stones of grain as a ransom. Now, everyone knows this news!"

Unexpectedly!

I didn't spread this!

etc……

Liu Qing seemed to have thought of an incredible possibility as to why Yuan Wei was willing to pay 200,000 shi in advance.

"Yuan Wei repaid the ransom in a high-profile manner. Could it be that due to internal and external pressure, Yuan Wei made the ransom payment reality? Moreover, it was two hundred thousand dan, not one million dan."

Thinking of this, Liu Qing suddenly felt that the two hundred thousand stones no longer tasted good.

Liu Qing changed the topic and said: "Zhao Ji, I said, you write it!"

Cai Yan quickly took out the silk book and started writing.

"Call Xu Huang, after receiving the grain and grass, return the troops to Xiangyin, and then ask Yuan Shao to write a letter to urge him, telling old Yuan Wei that one million stones of grain and grass are short of one dendrobium, so just wait for the white-haired man to send the black-haired man!"

Cai Yan was memorizing and writing, but she never expected that just a few words would change her husband's mood so much.

"Husband, if the Yuan family really cannot afford one million stones of food, will you really kill Yuan Shao?" Cai Yan suddenly asked.

Liu Qing thought for a few breaths and replied: "Maybe!"

Liu Qing had no clear answer in his mind as to whether to kill him or not.

But Liu Qing has a bottom line, that is, he will not kill if he can.

We can have compassion for ordinary people, but why can't we treat famous people like this?

Cai Yan did not delve into it, but followed his usual practice and took out another letter and read it to Liu Qing.

"Zhu Ling's army reported that Tao Qian had captured five southeastern counties in Taishan County. Zhu Ling, Cao Cao, and Liu Bei each occupied one county in the north. The remaining county towns were occupied by the Yellow Turbans. After Yuan Shao's defeat, Yuan Yi returned to Juye.

, and also has the intention of marching eastward to Taishan County."

"Oh, the little Taishan County is really lively. Zhu Ling's army, Cao Cao's army, Liu Bei's army, Tao Qian's army, the Yellow Turbans, the battle of the five armies! And there is also Yuan Yi, who is eager to kill and is eager to kill." Liu Qing interrupted to comment.

One sentence.

"Zhu Ling would like to ask your husband for instructions on what strategy to deal with Taishan County. Is it to quell the chaos or occupy land?"

Liu Qing thought for a while, Zhu Ling's activities were actually beyond the scope, and he didn't need to interfere at all, but since this foot collapsed, he had to be steady.

"Reply to Zhu Ling, I don't want the land unless it is Fenggao County!"

…

Yanzhou, Taishan County, outside Bo County.

Zhu Ling looked at the urgent message on the fast horse in his hand and looked towards the upper reaches of Wenshui River.

Upstream of Wenshui River is Fenggao County, the seat of Taishan County, now occupied by Guan Hai, the commander of Huangjin Canal.

Fenggao City has a dangerous terrain and high walls, making it a very difficult place.

Zhu Ling, Cao Cao and Liu Bei's coalition forces have just captured Bo County. According to the order, Bo County should be controlled by Liu Bei, and the next city should be Cao Cao.
To be continued...