Mythical Three Kingdoms

[Jia Wenhe must be thinking this way, that guy had anticipated this situation all along. Whether it’s us or others, our own dispositions have already determined the outcome, haven’t they?] Xuu You looked slightly grim as he gazed at Jii Ling who appeared before him.

It wasn’t dissatisfaction toward Jii Ling, but when Jii Ling appeared in front of him and Xun Shen, many things had already been laid bare. Although he didn’t know any of Jia Xu’s plans before, seeing Jii Ling made everything click.

”General Jii, what is the purpose of General Yuan sending you here?” Xun Shen asked knowingly.

”My lord asked me to meet with his nephew, Xiansi.” Jii Ling said respectfully.

Xuu You nodded slightly, having fully understood Yuan Shu’s intentions and Jia Xu’s reason for keeping the two of them here.

”Did General Yuan have you bring anything, General Jii?” Xun Shen asked helplessly, though he already knew what Yuan Shu had Jii Ling bring north.

Currently, only two families have complete maps of the Northeastern Plain, the initiating Chen Family and the Yuan Family as executors. Yuan Shu must have sent Jii Ling north with the Yuan Family’s map, and Jia Xu must have guessed this, which is why he left Xun Shen and Xuu You behind.

”Please allow me to meet with the Head of the Yuan Family in Hebei.” Jii Ling shook his head. Xuu You and Xun Shen sighed, gesturing for Jii Ling to go inside. After exchanging glances, they understood that Yuan Shu hoped Yuan Tan would make his own choice.

”My lord is inside, General Jii, please enter.” After making a gesture of invitation, Xuu You and Xun Shen stood at the door. Jii Ling said no more, immediately stepping inside.

When Jii Ling entered Yuan Tan’s study, Yuan Tan was reading. He felt the light was blocked by someone and slowly looked up. Upon seeing Jii Ling, he thought for a moment before recalling the other’s identity.

”General Jii, why are you here?” Yuan Tan asked curiously, then ordered someone to bring a seat for Jii Ling.

”My lord asked me to bring this to you.” Jii Ling took out a finely detailed leather map from his bosom and had it presented to Yuan Tan.

Yuan Tan accepted the map puzzled, and after a glance, he stood up in astonishment, asking anxiously, ”Where did this come from?”

However, after asking, Yuan Tan felt slightly embarrassed, as he recalled how this map came about. Back then, Yuan Shu led so many people north to determine the situation of the Northeastern Plain, didn’t he? Not drawing such a map would indeed be a problem.

Upon seeing this map, many chaotic thoughts emerged in Yuan Tan’s mind, but ultimately, he remembered his current predicament and suppressed countless ideas out of helplessness. It seemed there was nothing he could do at the moment.

”My lord asked me to inquire about your thoughts after seeing this map.” Jii Ling asked calmly. Yuan Shu had sent him north to ascertain whether Yuan Tan was still the same as before.

”To launch a northern attack on the Northern Huns’ rear!” Yuan Tan said solemnly, but then showed a trace of helplessness, ”It’s just a pity that given my current situation, I can’t take any other actions. Even if Liu Xuande is benevolent, he can’t tolerate this situation. The Yuan Family can’t do without me now!”

”My lord said that if you are as you were before, then for any thoughts you may have, you can consult Xuu Ziyuan, and he will provide you with an answer.” Jii Ling, confirming Yuan Tan’s inclination, nodded to Yuan Tan.

Yuan Shu indeed lacks manpower, but even a skinny camel is bigger than a horse. Moreover, Yuan Shu isn’t dead yet, so having someone analyze the situation could still yield results.

Yuan Tan nodded; though Xuu You and Xun Shen had already surrendered, it was clear they still leaned towards Yuan Tan. Yet if Yuan Tan had a choice, he’d surely choose Sheni Pei. The problem is, Sheni Pei was now as helpless as a vegetable.

”I will take my leave to rest, and I’ll return once there’s a resolution.” Jii Ling stood and saluted. Yuan Shu knew that Yuan Tan and he were similar kinds of people. So despite Yuan Tan saying so much, Yuan Shu was aware that Yuan Tan’s choice would certainly reflect his own.

Even those who won’t waver in will even by death won’t yield due to trivial matters; they might hesitate, but Yuan Shu believed an obstinate person’s hesitation would at most be overcome by their obsession in no more than a quarter hour. It’s really not an issue.

Not long after Jii Ling left, Xuu You came in. In fact, Xuu You knew that Yuan Shu must have sent him to clarify everything. Compared to Xun Shen, Xuu You had another layer of identity; he was a childhood playmate of Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, and Yuan Shu.

Although Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao had a falling out, Yuan Shao now disappeared like smoke, leaving no meaningful hostility between Xuu You and Yuan Shu; he could be considered an old friend.

”You can call me Xiansi,” Yuan Tan said, gesturing with his hand as Xuu You entered. ”My uncle said I would understand everything if I asked you.”

”Youruo and I were left in Jicheng,” Xuu You said, looking at Yuan Tan. ”There are still many loyal former ministers of the Yuan Family and aristocratic family private soldiers, and outside the city, there are many elite troops.”

Yuan Tan raised an eyebrow, seeming to understand something, yet he remained silent.

”Just as you suspect,” Xuu You sighed, saying, ”Jia Wenhe tacitly approved this matter or intentionally provided the means for its execution. As for the choice...”

Xuu You ceased speaking as he gazed at Yuan Tan. The decision was naturally Yuan Tan’s to make, and another critical point was that Jii Ling had arrived with the map, indicating that Yuan Shu supported this matter.

”Send my mother and siblings to Yangzhou, and I will lead the troops north,” Yuan Tan decided after a long contemplation, suddenly lifting his head with a fierce glare.

”This...” Xuu You looked at Yuan Tan with some trouble. This was indeed the most perplexing aspect; were Jia Xu and others truly hinting at this? It’s really uncertain.

”Just send them away.” Yuan Tan said coldly to Xuu You, ”Whether hinted or otherwise, we only need to do what we must.”

”Order Gao Yuanbo and others to see me,” Yuan Tan issued a second command after speaking to Xuu You. With such an opportunity, how could Yuan Tan not attempt it? Despite his previous defeat at the hands of the Northern Huns, Yuan Tan never became discouraged.

Upon Yuan Tan’s order, the ministers of the Yuan Family quickly gathered, and Jia Xu’s subordinates left in Jicheng to control the situation seemed to turn a blind eye. Instantly, Jicheng became shrouded in intrigue and machinations, with the aristocratic families gathered there appearing somewhat bewildered.

As Yuan Tan quickly integrated his old ministers and even rallied the elite Yuan Army that Xuu You and Xun Shen brought back, Yuan Tan’s forces had amassed over twenty thousand elite Yuan soldiers. When this situation unfolded, the aristocratic families gathered in Jicheng were all astonished.