Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Shu, Loyal Officials of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 21 Madam Wu

"You two have made a great contribution by capturing Zuo Rong and Zhang Ying and bringing their troops under your control!"
I intend to appoint Jiang Qin as the Commandant of the Expeditionary Army to train my navy, and Zhou Tai as the Commandant of the Vanquishing Army to be my Deputy Commander of the Personal Guard, protecting me on both sides.

"Thank you, my lord!"

Jiang Qin and Zhou Tai were delighted and about to express their gratitude when Yuan Shu stopped them with a smile.

"No need to thank me yet. I have recorded your military achievements this time. Soon, I will officially implement the Qin Dynasty's twenty-level military merit system in the army. At that time, based on your merits, you can be granted the second-level noble title: Shangzao!"
"Given time, once you accumulate enough merit to reach the nineteenth rank: Marquis within the Passes, and the twentieth rank: Marquis of the Pure Land, I will personally submit a memorial to the Emperor to request that you be granted the title of Marquis."

what!
"Lord Yuan, is this truly the case?"

A 20-level military merit system!

Jiang Qin and Zhou Tai were greatly alarmed. They were originally river pirates who came to join Yuan Shu after hearing about his proclamation to punish the rebels. They only wanted to change their official positions and make a name for themselves.

They knew they wanted to achieve great things, but they didn't really understand what it meant. Now, Yuan Shu had presented them with a gleaming staircase leading to the heavens.

The starting point is already at the second level of the upper class. As long as you continue to rise and accumulate merit to the nineteenth or twentieth level, you will be granted the title of Marquis!
Unfortunately, these two pirates had no other skills; their only specialty was killing enemies.

Seeing the two men staring intently at him, their eyes reflecting the almost burning red clouds on the side of the sky, Yuan Shu stood beneath the red clouds and nodded slightly to them.

"You have no joke!"

"I am willing to die in the service of my lord!"

Spurred by their military merits, neither of the two pirates cared about Yuan Shu's overstepping of authority.
Jiang Qin's agreement was somewhat reserved, but Zhou Tai couldn't wait for a major battle so he could kill the enemy.

"My lord, I have heard that Wang Lang of Kuaiji and Hua Xin of Yuzhang have not yet surrendered. I request to be the vanguard and be the first to breach the city."

"Good, then we can rely on Gongyi and Youping to pacify Jiangdong."

After assigning Jiang Qin and Zhou Tai to the task, Yuan Shu glanced at Sun Ce, who appeared to be submissive, and gave his orders with a smile.

“Bo Fu, my son, come with me. Your mother has not seen you for a long time.”

"And you have rendered a great service by conquering Danyang for me, so I should reward you handsomely."

Upon hearing Yuan Shu mention Lady Wu, Sun Ce raised an eyebrow. He hadn't seen his mother for a long time, and now that the entire Sun family was in Yuan Shu's hands, he was eager to see how his mother and family were doing.

As for the rewards for meritorious service? It was all part of his and Zhou Yu's plan. As long as they continued to earn merit and receive rewards, they could increase their power and status with Yuan Shu. Only by gaining true trust and military power could they have a chance to escape.

Thinking this, he said "Yes," bid farewell to Jiang Qin and Zhou Tai, and followed them out of the camp.

"Mother!"

Upon arriving at the Sun family's temporary residence in Danyang City, seeing that Yuan Shu did not stop him, Sun Ce rushed into the house. Seeing that Lady Wu had not suffered any grievances, he then bowed and paid his respects, saying, "I am incompetent and have caused my mother to suffer."

Lady Wu was quite moved to see Sun Ce, whom she hadn't seen for a long time.

“You didn’t suffer much. I heard that you are highly regarded by Lord Yuan now, and he takes good care of us because of you.”

"Elder brother, we heard that you have become the godfather of Lord Yuan? Is that true?"

Sun Ce looked up when he heard the voice and saw his younger brothers Sun Yi, Sun Kuang, and Sun Lang looking at him with admiration. His heart sank, but since Yuan Shu was outside, he forced a smile and nodded slightly.

"That's right, Lord Yuan loves me very much."

“Elder brother, when we grow up, we will also serve Lord Yuan and become his adopted sons.” “I heard that you have become Lord Yuan’s adopted son, and those other noble families will no longer dare to look down on our Sun family.”

“I remember when you visited the Lu family, Lu Kang refused to see you. Now, those high and mighty families in Jiangdong have to take the initiative to visit Mother.”

Hearing their words, Sun Ce felt increasingly bitter, yet he still had to smile and agree. When he saw that his maternal uncle Wu Jing and cousin Sun Ben seemed to be pleased to have confirmed the matter, he was filled with mixed emotions and had no words to express them.

Four generations of high-ranking officials!
The foremost aristocratic family in the world!

The title of Yuan's adopted son was too heavy a burden, making it hard for him to breathe.

Instead of being the adopted son of the most prestigious family in the Han Dynasty, he insists on breaking away and starting from scratch to build a future for the currently impoverished Sun family. If he were to say such a thing, even his family would probably not understand and would blame him.
"Brother, don't make yourself suffer when you're out there."

Sun Ce looked up at the sound and was met with a pair of emerald eyes that seemed to see through people's hearts. There was no joy in those eyes as the other clansmen confirmed his identity as Yuan Shu's adopted son. Instead, there was a deep worry hidden in his calm gaze.

"Quan, don't worry, I've been doing very well all these years."

Sun Ce patted him on the shoulder, his face maintaining the same joyful smile as the other members of the tribe.

"I am Yuan Gong's adopted son. Who would dare to wrong me? You all must take good care of your mother. One day, I will lead you to make the Sun family better and better. The future will definitely be better!"

Sun Quan didn't say much, only gave him a deep look and said, "Be careful in everything."

Sun Ce was reunited with his family after a long separation. His brothers gathered around him, urging him to tell them about his experiences abroad. Lady Wu sat quietly to the side, watching them with kindness. Wu Jing and Sun Ben stood a little further away, their expressions a mixture of relief and complexity.

However, the warmth of the family reunion was shattered in an instant with the arrival of one person.

A black cloak, embroidered with a golden python!

Yuan Shu slowly pushed open the door and entered.

"Madam Wu, I've brought Ce'er to see you."

"Lord Yuan has come too?"

Madam Wu gave Sun Ce a disapproving look. "Why didn't you say that Lord Yuan was here? We should have gone out to greet him."

As she spoke, she hurriedly led the Sun family out to greet them.

It seems that during the time they were brought here, Yuan Shu visited them quite often. People like Yi, Kuang, and Lang not only showed no fear, but also greeted him very familiarly. Yuan Shu also smiled and instructed the soldiers to distribute pastries and gifts to them.

It was probably because Sun Ce had been adopted as a son, and Yuan Shu was now quite approachable, that the Sun family treated him like family, chatting and laughing intimately with him.

Even military commanders like his maternal uncle Wu Jing and cousin Sun Ben warmly came to flatter him, hoping to gain promotion through their connection with Sun Ce's adopted son.

This scene caused Sun Ce, who was watching from the sidelines, to clench his fists and feel a chill in his heart.

The most deadly weapon is the invisible one!

Yuan Shu's actions did not kill people, but they did destroy their spirit.

Thanks to his adopted son status with Yuan Shu, the Sun family will enjoy a stable present and a bright future.

If the Sun family were to align themselves with the Yuan family and become one of the beneficiaries of Yuan Shu's group, wealth and prosperity would be within their grasp without oppression and exploitation.

How could Sun Ce possibly persuade these "family members" who had such bright futures to abandon their stable lives, risk their lives and clan extermination to rebel against Yuan Shu and gamble on an uncertain future for the Sun family?
(End of this chapter)