The Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Tan, intercepted Guo Jia's...

Chapter 2 The eldest son of the prestigious Yuan family is truly aggrieved.

The sound of footsteps grew louder as they approached.

The door was pushed open, and Yuan Shao, the ruler of Ji Province and his "father," stood at the door, surrounded by a group of civil and military officials.

The light was cut off by his tall figure, casting a shadow that enveloped Yuan Tan.

Yuan Shao's gaze swept across the room, lingering briefly on his favorite concubine, Qi Qi, a hint of displeasure flashing across his face.

The Shen Pei, Feng Ji, and others behind him had contempt and coldness in their eyes, showing no respect whatsoever for their lord's eldest son.

Yuan Tan knelt on the ground and bowed.

Yuan Shao waved his hand, indicating that he would not stand on ceremony, and his gaze lingered on Yuan Tan's armor for a moment:

"Why wear armor when your injuries haven't healed?"

"Father, I have heard that Gongsun Zan is besieged in Youzhou, threatening our safety. We must make preparations as soon as possible."

Yuan Tan said calmly.

Yuan Shang chuckled:

"Brother, you are overthinking it. Gongsun Zan is at his wit's end and is no longer a threat."

"It is precisely when people are at their wits' end that they need to be wary of desperate measures."

Yuan Tan turned to Yuan Shao.

"Father, Qingzhou has been newly pacified. Although Tian Kai has been defeated, his remnants have not been eliminated. I wish to return to Qingzhou immediately to reorganize the army and strengthen our military capabilities. This will not only prepare for the potential rebellion in Youzhou, but also prepare you for your next step in conquering Xuzhou."

Yuan Shang hurriedly interjected:

"Brother, your injuries have not yet healed; how can you exert yourself? It would be better for you to rest and recuperate in Ye City for a while longer."

Yuan Tan sneered inwardly, but outwardly appeared sincere:

"Thank you for your concern, Third Brother. However, in these turbulent times, how can a son seek comfort? If Father grants permission, I may set off tomorrow."

A hint of approval flashed in Yuan Shao's eyes, and he was about to offer a word of praise when Yuan Shang's eyes lit up, and he smiled:

"Big brother's been having a great time these past few days!"

His eyes darted to Qiqi beside him, a lewd smile spreading across his face.

"Xiansi (Yuan Tan's courtesy name)."

Yuan Shao's face instantly turned somewhat gloomy.

Do you know you're wrong?

Yuan Tan's heart tightened. Did you come to visit the patient or to interrogate him?

As he was considering how to reply, Yuan Shao spoke again:

"I've heard that you returned to Ye City to recuperate for half a month, but instead of resting, you indulged in wine and women, frolicking with your concubines day and night. Is this true?"

Yuan Tan's mind went blank for a moment, and he instantly understood.

This is a frame-up! A blatant frame-up!

The original owner may have been somewhat of a playboy, but having just recovered from serious injuries, how could he have the energy to "indulge in wine and women"?

He opened his mouth, wanting to explain, wanting to say that someone was spreading rumors.

But when he saw the undeniable authority in Yuan Shao's eyes, and the seemingly respectful but actually smug look in Shen Pei's eyes, the words stuck in his throat.

He suddenly realized that any explanation at this moment would only be seen as sophistry, or even unrepentant, in Yuan Shao's preconceived notions.

Liu's pillow talk and Shen Pei's "evidence" had already defined his character.

"Father, you are wise, your son..."

Yuan Tan lowered his head, his fingernails almost digging into his palms.

No wonder Yuan Shao, who was at the height of his power in history, was defeated by Cao Cao, who was not as strong as him.

He was so easily swayed by a woman's whispered words that he rushed over to confront her.

Are you Yuan Benchu, a man from a family that has held high office for four generations, or a puppet of the Liu family?

"snort!"

Yuan Shao turned away, seemingly even more dissatisfied with his silence.

"It seems you have no remorse. How could I, Yuan Benchu, a hero of my generation, have such an unworthy son as you! From today onwards, your household expenses will be confiscated for one month! Think carefully about what the responsibilities of an eldest son truly mean!"

Having said that, he didn't look at her again and turned to leave.

Yuan Shang, Shen Pei, and others followed closely behind, casting a final, mocking glance at Yuan Tan.

The door was slammed shut.

At this moment, the bond between father and son was as thin as paper, easily pierced.

"Young master..." Qiqi stepped forward timidly, tears welling in her eyes.

Yuan Tan waved his hand, his chest heaving violently.

He needs to calm down, he absolutely must calm down.

His modern experience taught him that anger cannot solve problems; only reason and planning can break the deadlock.

The following day, Yuan Tan insisted on going out for a walk, claiming that "it's stuffy in the room and I need some fresh air."

The guards, mindful of his status as the eldest son, dared not forcibly stop him, but sent men to follow him from a distance.

Yuan Tan only brought his general Peng An with him.

This man was tall and burly, taciturn, but extremely meticulous.

He changed into ordinary scholar's clothes and walked on the bustling streets of Ye City.

The market was bustling, with vendors calling out their wares incessantly, and the aroma of flatbread mingled with the smell of livestock.

Archways hang along the street, and shops line the streets.

But Yuan Tan had no interest in appreciating it.

Perhaps it was his keen intuition as a time traveler that made him quickly notice something amiss.

There always seemed to be a few gazes, seemingly fixed on my back.

"Peng An,"

Yuan Tan called out in a low voice, pretending to stop in front of a lacquerware vendor.

"Do you notice anything unusual?"

Peng An's gaze remained fixed, but as he adjusted the sword at his waist, he quickly glanced around out of the corner of his eye and replied in a deep voice:

"Young master, there are tails. The man selling firewood to the left rear and the gray-clad man drinking tea in the tea stall to the right are both familiar faces. They must be spies under Judge Shen's command."

Yuan Tan felt a chill run down his spine.

It wasn't just one or two people being tracked, but an entire group!

The division of labor was clear, and the disguise was ingenious.

This means that his every move in Ye City was almost completely exposed to the eyes of the Liu family and Yuan Shang's forces.

This isn't recuperation; it's clearly house arrest!

How could the eldest son of the Governor of Ji Province have fallen to such a state?

Is there any reason?

"Return to the residence."

Yuan Tan had no more desire to stroll around, and his tone was icy.

Upon returning to his residence, Yuan Tan dismissed his attendants, leaving only Peng An in the inner room.

He unfolded a simple map of Ji Province, studied it for a long time, and then said in a deep voice:

"Peng An, we both understand the current situation. If we stay in Ye City, we'll be at their mercy."

Peng An knelt on one knee, clasped his hands in a fist and said:

"This humble general swears to follow you to the death, sir! I will obey your orders!"

"good!"

Yuan Tan nodded slightly.

"To break this deadlock, simply thinking about being transferred to Qingzhou is not enough. You need your own team; otherwise, even if you get to Qingzhou, you'll be all alone and at the mercy of others."

His finger pointed to the location of Ye City on the map:

"The first step is to recruit truly brave and capable generals. Who among Father's current subordinates do you think is worthy of my service?"

Peng An hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice:

"Zhang He, also known as Zhang Junyi, was a cavalry commander. He was brave and skilled in battle and well-versed in military strategy. However, he was upright and disliked flattery, so he was not well-liked by Shen Pei, Guo Tu, and others. Moreover, he was not from a gentry family in Yingchuan, so he was often ostracized in the army."

Zhang He!

Yuan Tan's eyes lit up.

This is one of the future "Five Elite Generals" of Cao Wei!

He's definitely a top-tier potential champion!

Now is the perfect time to offer timely assistance.

"That's him!"

Yuan Tan made a decisive decision.

"Go find Cen Bi immediately, take one hundred taels of gold from my private treasury, and secretly deliver it to Zhang He's residence tonight. Tell him that someone admires his talent and is willing to help him realize his ambitions, promising him the important responsibility of a general!"

Although this promise may seem like empty words, it was still an opportunity for Zhang He, who was not being given important responsibilities.

"Also, I've enclosed a handwritten letter of mine, containing only eight characters: 'How can a fine horse be content to remain confined in a box?'"

This is both a test and a provocation.

Admiration flashed in Peng An's eyes. The young master's plan was both bold and meticulous.

"This subordinate obeys!"

He quietly withdrew from the arrangements.

After sending Peng An, Yuan Tan was still troubled.

To break free from the current predicament and successfully change one's destiny, Zhang He alone is certainly not enough.

Although Zhang He was a good general, he was ultimately just a brave general.

To achieve great things, one needs top-notch strategists who can plan and strategize effectively!

His mind raced, combining historical knowledge with the original owner's memories, as he pondered the advisors in the Hebei region who had not yet entered officialdom.

Got it!

Guo Jia, Guo Fengxiao!

This man was known for his extraordinary strategies and had once served under Yuan Shao, but eventually resigned from his post.

At this time, he seemed to be living in seclusion in Jizhou, and had not yet taken up an official post!

If we can get Guo Jia's help, it will be like adding wings to a tiger, and the whole game will be saved!

Its value far exceeds that of ten fierce generals like Zhang He!

Yuan Tan was so excited that he almost immediately sent someone to search for him.

But the next second, he forced himself to calm down.

He himself is now in a precarious situation, and what can a "punished" eldest son with no troops and no power offer to recruit a talent like Guo Jia, who is a prime minister?

Is it just empty talk about ideals?

I'm afraid we won't even be able to get through the door.

Even if they were found, how could they guarantee that he wouldn't switch allegiance to Cao Cao, who was currently at the height of his power?

"The timing isn't right, and we lack the capital..."

Yuan Tan took a deep breath to suppress the agitation in his heart.

You have to eat one bite at a time, and you have to go step by step.

The most crucial thing right now is to obtain the position of Governor of Qingzhou, to secure a stable livelihood, and at the same time, to keep Zhang He in check.

As for Guo Jia... Yuan Tan looked out the window at the deep night, his heart filled with heroic sentiments.

"Let us each grow a little more. In this chaotic world, I, Yuan Xiansi, will certainly have a game with you all!"