Chapter 39

Chapter 673: Jin Yilu, Confronting a Difficult Problem! (2)

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Yuan Xi let out a long sigh.

"Phew~! Master, what do you think about informing Lady Liu about this matter?"

Yuan Xi asked if it would be a good idea to inform Lady Liu, the mother of the eldest son Yuan Tan, about the plot. However, Jin Yilu shook his head.

"Would the Prince of Handan listen to your words when this is a golden opportunity to launch an attack? Think about it. The Prince of Handan's success is also the success of the Third Son. No matter how well Lady Liu treats this son, she cannot forget that she is the birth mother of the Third Son."

"The youngest brother wouldn't do anything good for the eldest brother."

"That's the problem. We don't know exactly what the First Son is after. Right now, both the First Son and the Third Son are your enemies."

At this, Yuan Xi grabbed Jin Yilu's hand and pleaded.

"Master, I don't know what to do. My mind is in a whirl, and my head is as blank as a sheet of paper. Please lend me your wisdom. I beg you, Master."

Jin Yilu remained silent, his mouth tightly shut. The more he did so, the more anxious Yuan Xi became. But Jin Yilu was also boiling inside.

'There must be a plan that can achieve three goals at once...'

As something seemed to come to mind, Jin Yilu shook his head vigorously and let out a sigh. Yuan Xi, thinking that even Jin Yilu had no solution, pressed his forehead.

"If even you, Master, are at a loss, then there really is no solution..."

"Phew~! My Lord, do you think I cannot provide an answer?"

Yuan Xi's expression brightened instantly. He suddenly sprang up, delighted.

"Do you have a plan?"

"I do have a plan, but I'm not sure if I should tell you."

At this, Yuan Xi bowed deeply to Jin Yilu.

"Master, please lend me your wisdom. If we continue like this, the eldest brother will surely take over. If that happens, my life will be as good as over. I know his character better than anyone else."

"You can call me despicable after hearing my plan, but whatever I say must be kept. Can you promise that?"

"Ah! Of course. Don't worry, just speak. I will listen attentively."

"First, when the First Son pushes for this matter, you must oppose it unconditionally."

Yuan Xi furrowed his brow.

"Master!"

He sensed the anger in Yuan Xi's voice, but Jin Yilu cut him off.

"Please hear me out. It's not too late to get angry later."

"Alright."

"Lord Yuan will surely consult you about this matter."

"What if he doesn't? Don't you know that there are many wise men around Father?"

When pleading for wisdom, Yuan Xi had been calm, but now he spoke in a nervous tone.

But Jin Yilu was unfazed. After all, Yuan Xi was already in his grasp. Handling him was no big deal for Jin Yilu.

"If Lord Yuan doesn't consult you about such matters, you should not think of yourself as a successor."

Yuan Xi bowed his head deeply. He lacked confidence. Jin Yilu's help had sustained him until now, but he couldn't be sure of Yuan Shao's intentions.

Jin Yilu drove the point home.

"If the trust you've built is worth only this much, you must find another way to survive. Don't you think so?"

"What other way is there to survive?"

"You must leave Lord Yuan's side and become independent. You should find a new base and secure funds by relying on General Cunwu."

Jin Yilu said this and then changed the topic. He patted Yuan Xi's back and continued.

"My Lord, let's think about that when the time comes. For now, focus on the present."

"Right, right."

Yuan Xi nodded repeatedly, trying to maintain a bright expression. But this only pleased Jin Yilu.

'Gradually break his spirit, and when he's in a corner, bring up the main topic. Until then, just enjoy his dejected appearance.'

Jin Yilu, though inwardly pleased, maintained a serious expression.

"My Lord, you should also use the 'using someone else's knife' strategy."

"Whose knife are you talking about?"

"Lu Bu."

* * *

Yuan Xi's expression stiffened when Jin Yilu mentioned Lu Bu's name.

"Are you really saying that? You want me to become a traitor? Master, how could you do this to me?"

"Calm down. Do you think I would tarnish your honor?"

"Revealing where the Prince of Handan will attack is clearly treason. There's no excuse. Even if I am Father's son, if this is discovered, my head will be on the line."

"I didn't say to inform Lu Bu."

Jin Yilu looked at Yuan Xi, who was still in shock, and continued.

"What did I do before coming here? What am I still doing?"

"This doesn't seem like the time for riddles."

"It's important. If you don't want to answer, I will. I am a merchant. When war breaks out, merchants like us thrive. If you were the First Son or the Third Son, what would you do?"

"Everyone who knows you knows that you were one of Lu Bu's military suppliers. Since you mentioned it, everyone who heard you will know."

Jin Yilu stared at Yuan Xi, urging him to continue. Yuan Xi, unable to resist, spoke.

"If I were in your position, I would send spies to secure your ledger first. That way, I could find out where the defenses are weakest."

Yuan Xi was no longer concerned about Qingzhou. Lu Bu was far away in Guanxi, and Dou Qian had no intention of leaving Qingzhou.

As long as Dou Qian held Qingzhou, the Prince of Handan's forces could do nothing.

Thus, Qingzhou was not an option. The only places the Prince of Handan's forces could target were the Ji region or the lands of Youzhou.

If so, it was natural to target a weak point in the Ji region, which was Lu Bu's territory. Sending spies to investigate was one option, but it wouldn't be enough.

However, if he knew what the military suppliers were sending, the situation would be different. He could gauge the number of troops and the quality of their weapons.

"Exactly. My ledger. People from both the Third Son's and the First Son's sides will target it."

"Please explain in more detail."

"The key is now in your hands. The ledger is mine, so I can alter it as I see fit."

A faint smile appeared on Jin Yilu's lips.

'There is no ledger, but I might as well create one now.'

Jin Yilu was not a real merchant. His identity was a fabrication to get close to Yuan Xi. But who would know? Jin Yilu was at the peak of his game.

"Do you mean to have Lu Bu attack and destroy both the Lu Bu army and the Prince of Handan's forces?"

"You can do that if you want."

"It's not that I want to... In fact, who else could check the eldest brother's power except the youngest brother? You know better than anyone that I don't have the strength to do it alone."

One corner of Jin Yilu's mouth curved into a smile.

"My Lord, do you want to attack the First Son or the Third Son? The choice is yours."

* * *

Jin Yilu handed the decision over to Yuan Xi. After all, it was necessary for Lu Bu to strike one of Yuan Tan or Yuan Shang. This way, the guilt would also be Yuan Xi's.

"I want to attack the eldest brother. But I can't leak information to Lu Bu. I'm not that despicable."

"You don't need to actually give information to Lu Bu. Just pretend to."

Jin Yilu spread out a map on the desk and traced the area of Youzhou with his finger.

"Attacking this place is like carrying a torch and jumping into a fire. Does anyone not know who is in Youzhou?"

"I don't understand why you are so confident."

"Gongsun Zan was not even part of the Gongsun clan's main family. Even if there are not many Lu Bu troops in Youzhou now, do you think Gongsun Du will sit idly by when the Prince of Handan's forces step onto Youzhou soil?"

Only after mentioning Gongsun Du could Yuan Xi nod. Gongsun Du's forces were a formidable army, incomparable to the Prince of Handan's.

The plan was to attack a place where Lu Bu was not paying attention to expand the Guandong forces. But attacking Youzhou would be like pulling the whiskers of a sleeping lion.

Yuan Xi's gaze lingered on the Ji region on the map. Jin Yilu followed his gaze and traced the area with his finger.

"Starting from Zhongshan in the north, Shangshan, Jilu, and Zhao, none of these places are easy targets. But if you had to choose one, which would it be?"

"Zhongshan or Shangshan..."

"The First Son's side already knows this. It will ultimately come down to Zhongshan or Shangshan."

This was something the Lu Bu army had already guessed. That's why they had placed Zhao Yun and Zheng Yu in Shangshan, and Cheng Lian and Zhan Feng in Zhongshan.

"But Master, how do you know all this? Do you have a great spy working for you without my knowledge?"

Yuan Xi's suspicion was understandable.

But Jin Yilu had no such resources. The only person who could be considered his ally here was his attendant, Wu Yan.

"There are righteous men who help me, but not here."

"Then how do you know everything? Let me hear your secret."

"Are you asking me to reveal my secret? Hahaha! My Lord, it's simple. Have you never heard that no one remains good forever?"

Yuan Xi understood what Jin Yilu was getting at.

"Are you saying that Lady Liu has formed an alliance with the eldest brother? Just to get rid of me?"

"Not an alliance, but she has not withdrawn her suspicious gaze. Why were the Prince of Handan's people coming and going here when Lord Yuan was not around?"

Yuan Xi's eyes darted back and forth.

"Right. Ah! Why didn't I think of that?"

"The horse ranch has not supplied warhorses for nearly a month. Doesn't this mean that the warhorses raised there are being sent elsewhere?"

"You're right. Hearing your words, it's like I've been enlightened."

Jin Yilu spoke sternly.

"You must be more alert. By the time the news reaches the outside, the plan will already be well underway inside."

"Then what should I do now?"

"Didn't I say to choose between Shangshan and Zhongshan? Once you choose, I will take care of the rest."

Jin Yilu made Yuan Xi feel like he couldn't do anything without confidence.

The more they progressed, the more dependent Yuan Xi would become, and eventually, his life would be in Jin Yilu's hands.

"Alright! I will trust you, Master."

"Shangshan or Zhongshan. Which one?"

"Shangshan."

"Why did you make that decision?"

"By taking Shangshan, we can cut the waist of the defensive line from Zhongshan to Zhao. After securing Shangshan, we can attack Zhongshan or Jilu. But if we attack Zhongshan first, we will make the same mistake as Taichao."

Jin Yilu clasped his hands together.

"My Lord, you are wise!"

A short while later.

Jin Yilu returned to his room and saw Wu Yan quietly cleaning.

"Wu Yan."

Wu Yan quickly ran over and bowed deeply to Jin Yilu, then glanced up at him.

Jin Yilu put his arm around Wu Yan's shoulder, pretending to be close. He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a money pouch.

"Why don't you go out and have some fun for a change?"