Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

When Yan Xiang and Ji Ling learned of Yuan Shu's death, they immediately dispatched secret reports back to Wujun and Shouchun. News of the incident spread like wildfire. Rumors swirled that Ma Chao and Sun Ce had murdered members of the imperial clan without authorization, and now, had also killed Yuan Shu, a leading figure in the aristocratic families. This news shocked the entire nation, and the aristocratic families were particularly terrified.

To the aristocratic families, Ma Chao and Sun Ce's actions were audacious and reckless, completely defying established rules. As a regional vassal, Yuan Shu, even if defeated and captured, should be treated with some respect according to custom. Even forcing him to cede territory and pay compensation, or even to live and become a wealthy man, would be far preferable to such drastic measures. Ma Chao and Sun Ce's actions directly touched a nerve with the aristocratic families and the emperor, causing them to harbor a collective fear of the two men and even ostracizing them from the entire vassal community.

After all, Ma Chao and Sun Ce's actions had made these people deeply aware of an unprecedented threat to their interests, even their very lives. In the past, disputes among the princes were usually resolved within a limited scope, emphasizing balance and compromise. However, these two brothers broke this long-held tacit understanding, using harsh measures to deal with Yuan Shu. This forced the aristocratic families to reconsider this emerging power, and in turn, made them more wary and hostile toward Ma Chao and Sun Ce in their future actions.

Inside Yuan Shao's tent, candlelight flickered, and the atmosphere was so solemn it felt as if water could be squeezed out of it. Ever since the news of Yuan Shu's death, Yan Xiang had been lost in deep thought, his heart filled with an indescribable anxiety. Though not yet completely defeated, the ever-changing situation on the battlefield had convinced him that continuing to hold on was pointless and he had no choice but to seek another path. With Yuan Shu's death, his men were like rootless duckweed, adrift and helpless. After much reflection, Yan Xiang concluded that Yuan Shao was a formidable force, commanding a vast corps of advisors and generals. Perhaps joining Yuan Shao might offer a glimmer of hope in these turbulent times, and so he considered taking Yuan Shu's family with him.

Now, Ma Chao, Sun Ce, and Zhou Yu, like the rising sun, shone brightly, their brilliance unstoppable. The imperial court engaged in fierce battles with both Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao, but Yuan Shu's side was the first to fall, resulting in his own defeat and death, further escalating the already complex situation. Yan Xiang, fully aware of the stakes, paced for a long time in his dim tent before sending the secret letter, carefully considering his words. He understood that this letter not only hinged on his own future but also potentially shaped the entire situation. Ultimately, in his letter, he earnestly expressed his sincere desire to join Yuan Shao, his words filled with admiration and yearning for his prowess. At the same time, he offered advice in a cautious tone. He analyzed that the imperial court's current momentum was so overwhelming that a head-on confrontation with all its might would be like hitting a rock with an egg, a foolish move. It would be better to avoid the conflict for the time being and negotiate peace with the imperial court. Relying on the complex power of the aristocratic families in the court and the operational capabilities accumulated over many years, coupled with the court's consistent fear of the strong and its inability to tolerate others becoming powerful, Ma Chao and others are now too powerful and too dazzling, and sooner or later they will find it difficult to gain a foothold in the court because of jealousy and fear.

After receiving the secret letter, Yuan Shao did not dare to delay even a little. He knew that this matter was of great importance and that a wrong decision could put him in an irretrievable situation. So he quickly sent out orders, summoning Tian Feng, Guo Tu, Feng Ji, Xu You and other wise men to discuss the matter. In the spacious tent, everyone sat down in turn, with a serious look on everyone's face. Yuan Shao frowned, his expression stern, and slowly handed the secret letter to everyone to circulate. Then he said in a low and powerful voice: "Everyone, please take a close look at this letter from Yan Xiang. The current situation is changing rapidly. If you are not careful, you will lose everything. How should we deal with it? War or peace, and each of you should tell me your ideas, don't hide them."

Tian Feng folded his arms across his chest, his eyes penetrating with thought. He pondered quietly for a moment, then spoke first, his voice steady and resolute: "My lord, I believe Yan Xiang's words are indeed true. The imperial court is currently high in morale and its military is formidable. If our army were to forcibly confront them at this moment, the outcome would be uncertain, and we would likely suffer heavy losses. Negotiating peace is a temporary solution. We can use this opportunity to recuperate, consolidate our military, and wait for the right time to pursue our grand ambitions."

Guo Tu shook his head slightly, a flicker of eagerness and reluctance in his eyes. He leaned forward and said excitedly, "No! My lord, our army is strong and our soldiers are brave and fearless. How can we easily show weakness and ask for peace? If we negotiate peace now, wouldn't the world look down on us and think we are cowardly? In my opinion, we should take advantage of the fact that the imperial army is scattered and struggling to take care of both ends. We should take the initiative and attack, attacking with all our might and taking the city in one fell swoop. Only then can we demonstrate the might of our army!"

Feng Ji stroked his beard and stood up slowly, his expression calm. He bowed slightly and saluted Yuan Shao, then said, "What Mr. Tian and Mr. Guo say is true. However, in my opinion, negotiating peace will not only paralyze the court and make it relax its vigilance against us, but also buy us time to secretly prepare our troops and accumulate strength. In this way, when we find the right opportunity in the future, wouldn't it be more confident to launch an attack?"

Xu You's eyes rolled around, a sly smile appeared on his face. He chuckled and said, "I think we might as well pretend to negotiate peace first, send envoys to test the court's strengths and find out their cards. Then, we can make the next move based on the information we get. If there are any flaws within the court, we can seize the opportunity and strike them by surprise. If there are no opportunities for the time being, we can also use this opportunity to recuperate and wait for the day ahead."

Everyone held their own opinion, arguing furiously, no one convincing the other. Yuan Shao sat at the head of the table, his gaze darting back and forth among the crowd, trying to discern a sound solution amidst their heated debate. He, too, was torn internally. War and peace—each option had its pros and cons, each implicating his own ambitions and the lives of countless soldiers. The decision was truly difficult.

After intense ideological struggle and repeated weighing of the pros and cons, Yuan Shao ultimately accepted Yan Xiang's suggestion: to negotiate peace with the imperial court first, temporarily avoiding the court's ascendant power. Yuan Shao was well aware that he was already mired in a multi-front war, engaged in fierce battles with Gongsun Zan, Lü Bu, and Liu Bei. Each of these three factions was formidable, each possessing unique strengths and formidable challenges.

If it weren't for the powerful families behind him, secretly pulling strings and offering advice, relying on their strong support in terms of connections, supplies, and intelligence, he would have collapsed long ago and been defeated in this protracted war. Furthermore, Gongsun Zan was a valiant warrior, his White Horse Volunteers commanding awe-inspiring troops in the northern border; Lü Bu was a skilled warrior, his Bingzhou cavalry roamed the battlefield; and while Liu Bei's forces were slightly inferior, he had the assistance of powerful generals like Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, and under the banner of being a relative of the Han Dynasty, he also won the hearts of the people. These three factions were at odds, each harboring their own agenda. Had they worked together, he would have been defeated long ago. Even so, managing them was exhausting.

Yuan Shu's sudden death was like a hammer, hammering Yuan Shao's heart and sending waves of fear through him. Yuan Shu, possessing the rich lands of Huainan and commanding a vast army, was a formidable force, yet even he met a tragic end with a public beheading. This made Yuan Shao realize that if the powerful and unstoppable Ma Chao and his three brothers were added to the mix, his situation would be even more difficult, even reaching a point of near collapse.

Thinking of this, Yuan Shao no longer hesitated and made up his mind to make peace with the imperial court. He knew that only by stabilizing the situation first could he find new opportunities in this chaotic world and plan a comeback.

The imperial court had long heard rumors of Yuan Shu's defeat. However, with Ma Chao's victory still delayed, they hesitated to act rashly, fearing that issuing orders preemptively would put them on the defensive. But who could have imagined that while they were eagerly awaiting news from Ma Chao, Yuan Shao's envoys seeking peace arrived first? This infuriated the emperor.

The emperor considered Ma Chao's actions to be audacious and presumptuous, a complete disregard for him as his majesty. Yuan Shu was, after all, a local vassal; any disposition of him should be decided by the emperor. The proper and proper course of action would be to first force Yuan Shu to surrender, thereby demonstrating the emperor's majesty and benevolence. Then, he could secretly find an appropriate pretext to gradually eliminate him. This would not only yield practical benefits, but also demonstrate to the world the emperor's magnanimity and benevolence, preserving his image as a wise ruler.

Ma Chao and his men, however, simply beheaded Yuan Shu in public. This crude and crude action not only put them at the center of public opinion but also brought the already complex tensions between the emperor and the aristocratic families to the surface. The emperor was well aware that the aristocratic families had been secretly vying for control behind the scenes, and Ma Chao's move undoubtedly gave them an excuse to attack. Now, undercurrents surged within the court, and various factions waited and watched. The emperor was forced to re-evaluate his relationship with Ma Chao and his men, considering how to salvage the situation, balance the interests of all parties, and consolidate his rule.

The emperor was furious in the palace and roared uncontrollably: "This kid Ma Chao is really ambitious and doesn't take the court seriously at all! He killed Yuan Shu without authorization and simply didn't take my authority seriously! Yuan Shu deserved it, and Yuan Shao, if Yuan Shu hadn't died, they would still be resisting stubbornly and opposing the court! Now that the situation is not good, they come to surrender, how can it be so easy!" After that, he kicked over the tables and chairs beside him, and the sound of porcelain breaking echoed in the empty palace.

But while he might have felt venting, the emperor knew he had no choice but to accept Yuan Shao's truce. Rejecting Yuan Shao's request for peace would undoubtedly send a dangerous and extreme signal to the aristocratic families, making them believe the emperor would not let them off easily. After all, Yuan Shao was backed by a complex network of powerful aristocratic families. The Yuan family had three high-ranking officials for four generations, and their students and officials were spread across the country. Rejecting Yuan Shao's offer would mean continuing a full-scale confrontation with these families, creating a sense of insecurity and a strong sense of crisis among the aristocratic families. They would likely band together for support and unite to resist the court, which would undoubtedly stir up further unrest in the court and put his own rule in jeopardy. The emperor weighed the pros and cons of this complex situation and realized he had no choice but to swallow his anger for now, accepting Yuan Shao's request for peace while taking a long-term approach.