Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Yuan Tan and Yan Liang, their faces dejected and heads bowed, slowly advanced under the escort of soldiers toward Yecheng, Jizhou. Each step felt like a thousand-pound weight, suffocating them. The shame of being defeated generals, and especially Yuan Tan, Yuan Shao's son, imprisoned, clung to them like a leech. Yan Liang was consumed by self-blame, feeling that as a great general, he had not only failed to protect his master but had also been captured along with him. He could not face Yuan Shao with shame.

Finally, they arrived at Yecheng, Jizhou. The familiar streets and buildings now seemed glaring to them. They headed straight for Yuan Shao, ready to apologize.

Upon entering the mansion, Yuan Shao sat high in the main seat, his expression as gloomy as the dark clouds before a storm, poised to unleash a torrential downpour. Yuan Tan and Yan Liang exchanged a glance, then knelt together. Yuan Tan's voice trembled, his voice choked with sobs, as he spoke: "Father, I am incompetent. Not only was I captured by the enemy, but I also caused the Zhen family to fall into their hands, resulting in heavy losses for our army. I deserve death. Please punish me!" Yan Liang, with a determined expression, declared: "My lord, I failed in my duty and failed to protect the young master. I accept the blame!"

Yuan Shao looked at the two people kneeling on the ground, feeling mixed emotions. The Zhen family, the money bag of Jizhou, was handed over to others just like that. This was a big blow to him. But Yan Liang was a rare and brave general under his command. He should not blame him lightly at this time when he needed him. So, Yuan Shao took a deep breath, slowly stood up, walked down from the main seat, walked in front of Yan Liang, stretched out his hand and gently helped Yan Liang up, and said gently: "General Yan, victory and defeat are common in the military. This defeat is not your fault alone. You don't have to blame yourself too much. I, Yuan Shao, have always been good at selecting and appointing people, and I still trust you. In the future, I hope you can boost morale and kill enemies for me."

Yan Liang was deeply moved by Yuan Shao's words. His eyes welled up slightly. He knelt on one knee, clasped his fists, and said firmly, "My lord, you have shown me such great kindness. I will repay you with my life and my soul! In the future, I will live up to your expectations and fight on the battlefield to reclaim all that has been lost!"

However, when Yuan Shao turned to look at Yuan Tan, his gaze suddenly hardened. Yuan Tan remained kneeling on the ground, fully expecting his father to offer him some words of comfort, as he had with Yan Liang. But Yuan Shao's face darkened, and he angrily rebuked him, "Look at you, such a worthless person! As my son, Yuan Shao, you were captured so easily by the enemy, and even implicated the Zhen family, a vital supporter, in their hands. How can you even dare to return to see me? Your foolish actions have put our army in a very passive position!"

At this time, Feng Ji, who had been standing nearby in the tent, saw this scene and, due to his close relationship with Yuan Xi, raised the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a mocking smile. He said in a sarcastic tone, "Master Yuan Tan, you always act so conceited, how could you be captured so easily this time? If this gets out, I'm afraid the whole world will laugh at my Yuan family for being so helpless."

Xu You echoed this sentiment. He had always been close to Yuan Shang, and now he spared no effort in mocking him. "Yes, Master Yuan Tan, your departure has not only disgraced you, but also shaken the foundation of the Yuan family. Without the support of the Zhen family, life in Jizhou will be difficult."

Yuan Tan was furious and annoyed, but he couldn't vent his anger. Although Xin Ping was close to Yuan Tan, because of this relationship, he knew that pleading for Yuan Tan would only backfire. He could only stand by anxiously, his face full of helplessness and worry.

Just as Yuan Tan was filled with anger and grievance, Tian Feng stepped forward. Tian Feng, a man of integrity and undeterred by the powerful, looked at Yuan Shao and said, "My lord, the capture of Master Yuan Tan was truly unexpected. The battlefield situation is ever-changing and unpredictable. Moreover, Master Yuan Tan has always been loyal and dedicated to your cause. Now that he has fully realized his mistakes, I hope you will show mercy and give him a chance to redeem himself."

Yuan Shao's expression softened slightly after hearing Tian Feng's words, but he still snorted coldly, saying, "Hmph, I hope he truly mends his ways as you say. Otherwise, I will not let him off lightly!" Yuan Tan, filled with gratitude to Tian Feng, secretly vowed to redeem himself and avenge his previous humiliation. While Yuan Shao superficially appeased Yan Liang, the loss of the Zhen family, Jizhou's purse strings, remained a thorn in his heart, deepening his anxiety and uneasiness about the future. He knew that without the Zhen family's support, Jizhou's strength had been greatly reduced, and in these turbulent times, the road ahead would be even more difficult.

Yuan Shao took a deep breath, suppressed the annoyance and worry in his heart, and reluctantly ordered his attendants to serve a banquet to welcome Yuan Tan and Yan Liang.

Soon, the banquet was set, and everyone took their seats. However, the atmosphere was particularly subdued. Yuan Shao looked at the table full of delicious food, but he had little appetite. He pondered for a moment, but couldn't help but talk about the future development of the Yuan family.

"Now that our army has defeated Gongsun Zan, our reputation has soared, and we have stationed troops in Tongguan. We originally wanted to form an alliance with Cao Cao to jointly attack Chang'an, but Cao Cao was ignorant of the overall situation and actually rejected me. And Gongsun Zan actually fled to Bingzhou. All these matters really give me a headache." After Yuan Shao finished speaking, he frowned and swept his eyes over his sons one by one.

Yuan Shao already favored his youngest son, Yuan Shang, and Yuan Tan's capture, which led to the change of ownership of the Zhen family, further fueled his dissatisfaction with Yuan Tan. Therefore, Yuan Shao decided to test his sons to see what they thought of the current situation.

Seeing his father asking, and knowing full well that he was the most favored, Yuan Shang spoke first, speaking eloquently: "Father, the Cao family's power is growing ever greater. In the past, Cao Cao treated you like a retainer, treating you with the utmost respect. But now, he dares to disobey your orders. If Cao Cao insists on not joining the army, General Wen Chou, with his 100,000 troops stationed, can attack him directly. Cao Cao is now arrogant and growing rapidly, becoming a grave threat to our Yuan family. If we don't curb him, he will become a serious threat in the future."

Yuan Shao listened to Yuan Shang's analysis with great satisfaction. The Yuan family, with three officials for four generations, was naturally proud. He had known Cao Cao for a long time, and in his heart, he was the protagonist, and Cao Cao was just a supporting role. After all, Cao Cao was the descendant of a eunuch. But now Cao Cao's power was growing rapidly and could no longer be underestimated. Yuan Shao had always doted on his third son, Yuan Shang. Although he pretended to be displeased, he said, "You kid, Cao Cao and I are very close friends. How can you keep calling him that? This is really unworthy of the upbringing of my family, which has three officials for four generations." Although his words were harsh, his tone was full of praise, and his face unconsciously revealed a look of doting.

Yuan Xi noticed his father's change of expression and knew that he was in a good mood. He secretly exchanged a glance with Xu You, a hint of pride in his eyes, and then glanced at his eldest brother Yuan Tan with a hint of provocation before joining the group.

Yuan Xi remembered Feng Ji's secret instructions, knowing full well that the Zhen family affair was a done deal and Ma Chao's power was too great to be shaken. If he allowed his romantic interests to derail state affairs, Yuan Shao would surely displease him. Furthermore, Ma Chao was away from Chang'an, and even his elder brother, who was a more capable commander than he, had been defeated and captured. Yuan Xi was also quite wary of Ma Chao and didn't dare to have too much contact with him. So, he feigned a gesture, cupped his hands, and said, "Father, in my opinion, Gongsun Zan has fled to Bingzhou, and there have been rumors that Bingzhou is being ravaged by the Xiongnu. We could raise a large army and seize Bingzhou; this would kill three birds with one stone."

Yuan Shao stroked his beard and asked with interest, "Oh? Tell me, what does it mean to kill three birds with one stone?"

Yuan Xi cleared his throat and spoke methodically, "First, although Gongsun Zan was defeated, his remnants still exist. As the saying goes, 'If you don't kill the snake, you'll suffer from it.' If we don't seize this opportunity to completely eliminate it, it will surely rise again and become a serious threat to our Yuan family. This time, by advancing into Bingzhou, we can take advantage of the situation to deal with Gongsun Zan's remaining followers and prevent future troubles."

Yuan Shao nodded slightly, signaling him to continue. Seeing this, Yuan Xi's confidence surged, and he continued, "Secondly, Bingzhou is currently being ravaged by the Xiongnu, and the people are suffering terribly. If our army can go there, drive out the Xiongnu, and resist this alien race, we will surely establish an image of a benevolent and righteous army in the hearts of the people, gaining a good reputation and winning their hearts. The people, grateful for our assistance, will naturally support our Yuan family in the future, which will greatly benefit our rule in the north."

Yuan Shao's expression shifted, a thoughtful look in his eyes. Yuan Xi, striking while the iron was hot, continued, "Third, Bingzhou boasts strategic terrain and fertile soil. If our army seizes Bingzhou, we can expand our territory and strengthen our strength. This way, not only will our Yuan family eliminate the threat of Gongsun Zan, but we'll also win the hearts of the people and expand our territory. Our strength will undoubtedly increase significantly. This is a crucial step toward achieving our great cause, Father."

Yuan Shao stroked his beard, his gaze fixed on the chattering Yuan Xi. "Oh, Xi'er, don't you think we should attack Tongguan first? After all, Ma Chao stole your wife, your wife-to-be. That's a vengeance! And he also caused us to lose the Zhen family's vital purse."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Xi was momentarily startled, then assumed a thoughtful expression. His brows furrowed, as if he were engaged in a fierce inner struggle. A moment later, a look of righteousness emerged from his face, and he spoke aloud, "Father, a true man never lacks a wife! How can you neglect the affairs of state over a matter of love? Right now, our Yuan family's cause is at a critical juncture. Expanding our strength and consolidating our foundation is imperative. Ma Chao is undoubtedly detestable, but now is not the time to confront him head-on. For now, we should prioritize our cause. When the time is right, I will seize my spear and make Ma Chao pay a heavy price for his actions, blood debt paid with blood!"

Yuan Shao's eyes flickered with a complex expression as he heard Yuan Xi's words. He was pleased that Yuan Xi prioritized the greater good, yet also harbored a lingering hatred for Ma Chao. He nodded slightly and spoke slowly, "Xi'er, I'm very pleased that you have such insight. However, I need to carefully weigh the pros and cons of this matter." He then turned his gaze to Yuan Tan.

Yuan Tan had just returned and was completely clueless about the current situation. He hadn't had time to discuss matters with Xin Ping and other wise counselors. Seeing his father's gaze fixed on him, his heart tightened and he coughed lightly, trying to calm himself.

Seeing Yuan Tan just looking down in thought, Yuan Shao felt a little unhappy and said, "Tan'er, now that you're back, tell me what you think."