Three Kingdoms: Ten Times Speed, Diao Chan Says I'm Too Fast

"Primordial...you..."

"You are confused!"

Xu You, who hurriedly entered Yuan Shao's governor's mansion in the early morning, had a face full of worry.

Xu You only learned of Yuan Shao's banquet for Tian Feng and others this morning.

After learning the details of the banquet the previous night, Xu You hurriedly went to Yuan Shao's residence.

Sitting in his study, Yuan Shao seemed to be in a much better mood than he had been yesterday, when he was worried about the millions of grain supplies.

He did not feel any regret or sadness for offending the local gentry of Jizhou at last night's banquet.

"Ziyuan..."

Yuan Shao smiled, looked up at Xu You, and said, "It's not as serious as you make it out to be."

Xu You, standing in front of Yuan Shao, paced anxiously in circles: "Nothing?"

"Benchu, do you know what the consequences will be after you do this...?"

“I know.” Yuan Shao nodded and said in a calm tone, just like his expression at the moment: “It’s nothing more than that from now on, all the gentry in Ji Province will regard me, Yuan Benchu, as a thorn in their side.”

"My orders, Yuan Benchu's, will hardly leave this governor's mansion. Officials in all the counties and prefectures of Ji Province will just give me the runaround..."

Standing before Yuan Shao, Xu You stared wide-eyed and exclaimed, "You...you...you knew all along, yet you still did it?"

"Do you know that by doing this, the situation you have painstakingly built up over a year will no longer exist?"

Xu You clapped his hands anxiously and said, "Tian Feng and the others can maintain appearances for now, but it won't be long before they all resign and leave you. How will you manage Ji Province then?"

"Even if the imperial court promotes you to Governor of Ji Province and General of the Vanguard, it won't change this situation."

“Ziyuan…”

Yuan Shao beckoned to Xu You and then handed him a letter placed in front of him: "Take a look at this first."

Xu You was taken aback, then looked blankly at the letter in Yuan Shao's hand before unfolding it.

Upon seeing just the two words "front row," Xu You's eyes widened instantly, and he looked up at Yuan Shao with a shocked expression.

After scanning the letter with three lines of text, Xu You was completely dumbfounded.

"Benchu, you...you want to resign as governor of Jizhou?" Xu You's hands trembled slightly.

Yuan Shao nodded calmly, then stood up from his seat.

Having removed his official robes, Yuan Shao was only wearing a dark-colored casual outfit today.

Xu You stared blankly at Yuan Shao as he brushed past him, as if he were in a different world.

Yuan Shao was born in Luoyang when he was young, and the two had known each other since they were very young.

They were just young people back then.

Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, and he often fought in their carriages in Luoyang.

Of the three, Yuan Shao was the most handsome.

He was well-mannered and of good birth. Moreover, Yuan Shao was humble and did not consider himself superior to others like Yuan Shu did, despite being short in stature and looking down on everyone.

Yuan Shao was dignified and kind, and he could befriend anyone, which is why he had many followers.

At that time, he and Cao Cao were both followers of Yuan Shao.

Although Luoyang was not as glorious as it is today, it is still a place I miss dearly.

"Ziyuan..."

With his hands behind his back, Yuan Shao stood in front of the open door of his study, gazing at the blue sky and white clouds in the distance.

“There is a saying: ‘One can follow one’s heart’s desires without transgressing the rules.’ But what about those who ride the right course of heaven and earth, and control the changes of the six qi, to roam the boundless realm? What do they need to rely on?” Yuan Shao said softly.

Xu You was taken aback.

He knew that phrase.

This saying comes from the Analects, Book 2, Chapter 2.

And Zhuangzi's "Free and Easy Wandering".

This means that true happiness comes from finding freedom within the framework of rules.

Break free from attachment to external things; true freedom lies in letting your mind roam freely across the world.

"When the King of Chu sent an envoy to recruit Zhuangzi as his prime minister, Zhuangzi, fishing on the Pu River, asked in return: 'Would I rather be born dragging my tail in the mud?'"

"Now that I hold power, just as Zhuangzi said, this power is like a quagmire, which has allowed me to see the filth of the world. Only by transcending this quagmire can I attain true nobility and freedom."

"To break free from the shackles of family and the coercion of the court over various matters."

Yuan Shao shook his head slightly and said, "I am not as decisive and brave as Ziyi, nor as tenacious as Mengde. I cannot bear to see the people under my rule suffer, nor can I resolve disputes among my subordinates. Perhaps I am not the talent to be a regional warlord."

"Compared to the position of Governor of Ji Province, or Governor of Ji Province, or former General, I miss the exhilaration of fighting alongside Ziyi on the battlefield!"

"There are no such calculations on the battlefield. An enemy is an enemy, and all you need to do is fight."

Xu You was startled as he stared at Yuan Shao's retreating figure: "Benchu... are you going to Chang'an to find Duan Yu?"

Yuan Shao turned around, looked at Xu You, and nodded with a smile: "Ziyuan, if you are willing, we will leave together and go to Chang'an to find Ziyi."

Xu You's expression was completely stunned.

It seems that Yuan Shao had already planned his escape route before hosting the banquet for Tian Feng, Ju Shou, and others last night.

If I weren't the governor of Ji Province, I wouldn't need to feign friendship with the gentry of Ji Province.

This move...

It's more like cutting off the fuel supply at the root.

Requisitioning grain and fodder for the imperial court in Luoyang was an explanation to the Yuan family.

Forcibly requisitioning grain from the gentry was an explanation to the people of Ji Province.

Going to Chang'an to seek refuge with Duan Yu was a way of giving an explanation for this friendship.

This way, the Yuan family in the imperial court wouldn't be put in a difficult position.

This would also avoid causing trouble for the people of Jizhou.

At the same time, the requisition of provisions for Luoyang's attack on Duan Yu will not affect this past friendship.

At this moment, Xu You looked at Yuan Shao with a strange look in his eyes.

Xu You admitted that he was wrong yesterday.

He said there was no solution, but in fact, Yuan Shao has now found one.

Of course, one more point needs to be added here.

Two-way betting.

Regardless of whether Chang'an or Luoyang wins in the future, one branch of the Yuan family will always be able to continue to exist.

This is true wisdom...

“Never mind…” Xu You shook his head and sighed, “Perhaps this is the best way. Benchu… is still Benchu.”

"Then... if Yuan Shao leaves, what will become of Ji Province...?"

“It should be my elder brother who does it,” Yuan Shao continued. “I have already prepared my resignation, and I will also give this credit to my elder brother to help him take up the post of Governor of Ji Province.”

Yuan Ji?

"It seems that Benchu ​​has made thorough preparations. In that case... I will go with Benchu, and I will stay in Jizhou..."

Xu You gave a wry smile and shook his head.

Xu You was neither a native of Ji Province like Tian Feng and Ju Shou, nor a member of the Yingchuan aristocracy like Guo Tu and Xun Chen who banded together for mutual support.

He is now being given an important position in Ji Province because of Yuan Shao's friendship with him.

But if Yuan Shao leaves, he will definitely not be able to stay between the local gentry of Ji Province and the gentry of Yingchuan, so he might as well leave as well.

At least if he went to Chang'an with Yuan Shao, he would still have Yuan Shao as a support.

Yuan Shao happily patted Xu You on the shoulder and said with a smile, "We will go together to join Ziyi. I believe Ziyi will be very happy."

............

This was the first time Yuan Shao had used such a tough attitude towards Tian Feng and his men.

Tian Feng and Ju Shou, along with other local gentry from Ji Province, reacted swiftly.

Although the treasuries of the major clans have been opened, the gates of their mansions have been kept tightly shut.

Tian Feng, Ju Shou, and others all said that they caught a cold after the autumn chill and stayed at home to recuperate.

Being sick is just an excuse.

Everyone knows that this is just a form of retaliation against Yuan Shao's forced requisition of grain.

But to everyone's surprise, Yuan Shao did not react much to this, and continued to do what he was doing as usual.

And it seems like they're even busier now.

............

Inside Yuan Ji's residence.

Yuan Ji, holding a cup of hot tea, gently blew away the steam rising from it.

The furrows between her brows hinted at some unspoken thoughts.

Yuan Wu stood opposite Yuan Ji and recounted all the events that had occurred in the past few days.

"He... didn't react at all?"

Yuan Ji muttered to himself.

After a moment, Yuan Ji put down his teacup.

"Never mind all that. The time is ripe. Tian Feng and the others have already parted ways with him. What about his two generals?" Yuan Ji looked up at Yuan Wu standing in front of him and asked.

Yuan Wu bowed and replied, "Reporting to my master, Yan Liang and Wen Chou have both escorted the grain to Luoyang."

"Ah."

Yuan Ji nodded, then took a deep breath and said, "Let's get ready."