Chapter 27: The Yuan Family, Four Generations of Three Dukes!

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Chen Xi was dragged out of bed by Guan Yu and Zhang Fei in the early morning. There was no helping it; at the fifth watch, the Allied forces' main camp began the drumming to summon the assembly.

Guan and Zhang dragged a sleep-deprived Chen Xi to the main camp.

Yuan Shao looked at everyone with a dark expression. "Gonglu, how exactly was the camp raided by Lu Bu last night!"

Yuan Shao’s face was stern and cold. If Yuan Shu did not provide an explanation today, he would not hesitate to make an example of him. How important was the night patrol of the main camp, yet it was raided so easily! Furthermore, his two most important generals had to fight desperately just to save his life!

At this moment, it was no longer a time for discussing brotherhood or schemes; only enforcing the law impartially could unite the army's morale!

"At the hour of Hai last night, Lu Bu raided the camp. My general Ji Ling was leading the patrol, but they were ambushed and the entire patrol was wiped out. If the Alliance Leader requires it, the handover records can be inspected," Yuan Shu stood up and spoke solemnly.

A wave of whispers broke out across the assembly. Subsequently, the handover records from last night were brought forward and made public. To Chen Xi's surprise, Yuan Shu had not engaged in any trickery or slipperiness; instead, he had executed the patrols with meticulous care, even going so far as to arrange numerous hidden sentries!

"Zichuan, do you think this fat man prepared this in advance because he was afraid the Alliance Leader would hold him accountable?" Guan Yu whispered.

"I'm afraid not. There is a ninety percent chance that Yuan Gonglu truly wasn't slacking! Although he is unreliable, his subordinates were not lax at all. Ji Ling is a decent man," Chen Xi said with narrowed eyes. He recalled certain records from books; for certain reasons, Ji Ling was extremely loyal to Yuan Shu, and the man was quite capable.

"Since that is the case, you shall not be punished. I have witnessed Lu Bu's prowess; he is not someone Ji Ling can withstand!" Yuan Shao flipped through the records, looked up at the equally somber Yuan Shu, and nodded.

"Thank you!" Yuan Shu had been prepared to take the blame for yesterday's events on Ji Ling's behalf, but he hadn't expected Yuan Shao to move past it so easily. This actually made Yuan Shu, who had always been at odds with Yuan Shao, feel somewhat unsettled.

"Enough nonsense. Dong Zhuo has already arrived at Hulao Pass. If any of you harbor intentions of shirking your duties after today, do not blame me for being ruthless!" Yuan Shao stood up and spoke with great majesty, his gaze sweeping over the several lords who had been hesitant to fight.

[The change in Yuan Shao is simply incredible; he is actually suppressing all the lords through sheer majesty!] Chen Xi stared at Yuan Shao in amazement. [Is this the true nature of a model leader of the world? You've got to be kidding—after suffering such a massive blow yesterday, he is emitting an even stronger aura today.]

"Wantai, regarding the matter of Da Rong under your command, I apologize to you on behalf of Gonglu. Since we have come to campaign against Dong Zhuo, is Wantai willing to set aside personal grievances? Da Rong likely does not wish to abandon the common people of the world for the sake of a personal grudge!" Yuan Shao rose and bowed deeply to Sun Jian.

This time, even Chen Xi was stunned, staring blankly at Yuan Shao. If Yuan Shao could maintain this level of grace and spirit, backed by the prestige of four generations of high ministers, the world would surely belong to the Yuan clan!

Sun Jian also stared blankly at Yuan Shao, and Yuan Shu was momentarily stunned as well. However, he reacted instantly as his family's education surfaced in his mind once more. Yuan Shu stood up and walked toward Sun Jian. "Previously, I acted out of personal selfishness and left Wantai in peril. I ask for Wantai's forgiveness. Regarding the matter of Da Rong, the two of us can settle it after the campaign against Dong Zhuo. The chaos of the world is already evident; if Dong Zhuo gains power, the world will collapse and the people will be displaced. I ask Wantai to consider this deeply!"

Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu gave Sun Jian immense face, leaving him with no choice but to agree.

Sun Jian rose and looked at Yuan Shao. "For the sake of the common people, I, Sun Jian, dare not be negligent. The matter of Da Rong shall be set aside for now. Once Dong Zhuo is defeated, I shall settle accounts with you, Yuan Gonglu!"

"Wantai is righteous!" Yuan Shao said with a smile. He had given Sun Jian sufficient face and cleared the air. Now that Sun Jian had set aside his grudge to fight Dong Zhuo, if anyone dared to slack off later, Yuan Shao would have plenty of reasons to deal with them.

"For the sake of your actions today, if you are defeated by me, I will treat your family well. If you are defeated by another, I will take care of your family myself," Yuan Shu glanced at Sun Jian. His inner sense of chivalry, which had not yet vanished, caused these words to almost slip out.

Sun Jian glanced at Yuan Shu without replying. He had never imagined such a day would come; Sun Jian firmly believed that he himself was invincible.

What Sun Jian did not expect was that he would soon rely on Yuan Shu's promise from today. Yuan Shu did indeed take care of Sun Jian's family; even though he knew the Imperial Seal was in Sun Ce's hands and coveted it immensely, he did not attempt to seize it by force.

[I didn't expect this guy Yuan Shu to have a likable side. These people all had their heroic moments when they were young; perhaps that is why they were able to reach this position,] Chen Xi thought, looking at the righteous Yuan Shu, who seemed like a completely different person from the thick-skinned, argumentative man from before.

"Hmph!" Sun Jian snorted coldly and sat back in his seat, while Yuan Shao once again stood in the position of the commander-in-chief.

"Generals, heed my command!" Yuan Shao's face was stern. "Each unit shall lead their soldiers to strengthen the camp defenses. Dig deep trenches, set up chevaux-de-frise, expand the camp, and increase patrols. Do not let an incident like last night occur again!"

"Understood!" All the lords nodded.

"As for the rest, issue orders to all generals to converge at Hulao Pass. We attack the city today!" Yuan Shao held the command token with an air of majesty.

"Understood!"

"Zichuan, what do you think of the Alliance Leader today?" Liu Bei rode his horse out with the cavalry to deploy them on the left flank. There wasn't much wartime crisis on the road, so he smiled and asked Chen Xi.

"If he can maintain this demeanor, things will truly become troublesome," Chen Xi said with a yawn. Although Yuan Shao's performance shocked him, it was precisely because it was a shock—rather than something he was used to—that it wasn't terrifying.

Soon, the various lords had deployed their troops: cavalry on the flanks and infantry in the center. This time, under Yuan Shao's pressing aura, no one made a fuss about wanting to command personally. Yuan Shao had also made it clear: if anyone dared to use this opportunity to embezzle others' troops, they would be attacked by the entire group!

Because of this, the Allied forces' orders were unified this time, and command was handed to the most suitable individuals.

It must be said that once the eighteen lords were twisted into a single rope by Yuan Shao, the combat power they unleashed was no joke. Yuan Shao directly handed his sword to Sun Jian. "If anyone refuses to follow orders, use this sword to execute them. Regardless of which family they belong to, if anything happens, come find me!"

When Yuan Shao handed the sword to Sun Jian and ordered him to command the infantry, while uttering those words, Sun Jian was moved to tears, nearly ready to pour out his heart to prove his loyalty to Yuan Shao.

"Defeat Dong Zhuo, and use the blood of the Xiliang elite cavalry to wash away the shame of being bested by this tiger." Without accepting Sun Jian's loyalty, Yuan Shao likely understood that his reach did not extend to Yangzhou, but those indifferent words made Sun Jian's blood boil.

Hearing this, even Chen Xi felt that Yuan Shao truly deserved to be called a wise ruler of the age. Looking back at Ju Shou behind Han Fu, whose eyes were shining, Chen Xi knew that this version of Yuan Shao, radiating the aura of a hegemon, was being viewed as a brilliant monarch. Unfortunately, this version of Yuan Shao, overflowing with such kingly aura, could only hold out for a very short time.

(End of Chapter)