Chapter 9

Actually, Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, and Cao Cao were very close friends when they were young.

They played together, went wild together.

They fought crickets together, visited brothels together.

They teased virtuous ladies together, spied on widows bathing together.

They climbed high to look far, recounting their life aspirations, and chased and hunted in the mulberry groves to practice martial arts.

At that time, they were all very young, the books in the Imperial Academy were numerous, and the city of Luoyang was vast.

At that time, they all thought the world was so large, with enough space for them to display their talents.

At that time, they all believed they would become high officials in the court, establish great achievements, expand territories, and become heroes remembered in history.

But at some point, the little pest Yuan Shu, who always followed behind, began to act on his own, clearly starting to put on the airs of the Yuan family's aristocracy.

Then Yuan Shao no longer lingered in the brothels, and began to fraternize with a group of heroes. Soon after, he was appointed as the magistrate of Puyang and left Luoyang.

It was around the same time that Cao Cao, under the deliberate arrangement of the Cao family, met many people, such as Zhou Xin, Zhou Ang, Liu Xun, Xu You, and Zhang Miao.

It was also at that time that Cao Cao received the most important evaluation of his life: "A capable minister in times of peace, a hero in times of chaos."

At that time, Yuan Shao was nineteen years old, Cao Cao was eighteen, and Yuan Shu was seventeen.

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The moment Cao Cao saw Yuan Shao's expression, he realized that Yuan Shu's initiative to volunteer was not prearranged with Yuan Shao, and Yuan Shao was completely unaware of the matter.

Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu were not on good terms, often undermining each other. Cao Cao was well aware of this, as he came from a prominent family and had seen such conflicts between legitimate and illegitimate heirs countless times. However, seeing it happen between the Yuan brothers, who had grown up together, sometimes made him feel a bit sentimental.

But it was just sentimentality. After all, it was an internal matter of the Yuan family, and as an outsider, he could not influence it. Compared to Yuan Shu, who always put on a high and mighty attitude, making people dislike him, Yuan Shao was still somewhat approachable.

So most of the time, Cao Cao would side with Yuan Shao, occasionally causing some trouble for Yuan Shu.

However, Yuan Shu's behavior this time was somewhat unusual.

Usually, Yuan Shu would just be present but not speak much. Generally, it was Yuan Shao who would make suggestions, and Yuan Shu would merely follow. Today was the first time he had jumped out to take on a task.

What was Yuan Shu up to?

In ancient times, to consolidate the emperor's control over the military and prevent military coups, the tiger talisman was used to mobilize troops. The tiger talisman was divided into two halves, one held by the emperor and the other by the general. Only with the tiger talisman could troops be mobilized.

However, in the Han dynasty, any general with a title, such as the Four Pacifiers and Four Defenders, could have their own private troops and mobilize them with just their half of the tiger talisman. As a Grand General, mobilizing a thousand troops was no problem, but Cao Cao and Yuan Shao, being only Commanders, did not have the authority to mobilize troops.

Therefore, Yuan Shu's argument was not wrong and was reasonable.

He Jin, after hearing Yuan Shu's words, nodded, finding them reasonable. He did not want to give the reformers a handle to criticize him. Dealing with those reformers was troublesome and unproductive. Moreover, he believed that the Ten Attendants could not do anything to him, as his sister was the Empress Dowager and his nephew was the emperor. How many eunuchs would dare to challenge him?

Seeing He Jin wavering, Cao Cao quickly said before He Jin could speak: "If the General has a task, how can I and Yuan Shao sit idly by? Yuan Shu's words are very reasonable. Why don't Yuan Shu lead the troops, while I and Yuan Shao serve as the General's bodyguards to ensure his safety?" He then winked at Yuan Shao.

Yuan Shao understood and immediately responded with enthusiasm: "Cao Cao's words are very reasonable! I and Cao Cao will definitely ensure the General's safety!" No matter what, he would not do what Yuan Shu wanted him to do!

He Jin was delighted: "Good! Then Yuan Shao and Cao Cao will accompany me into the palace, and Yuan Shu will mobilize the troops to follow!" The General's charm was still effective. Yuan Shao was always considerate, and Cao Cao was clever and could correct his mistakes, so he would give him a chance.

Yuan Shu sneered inwardly. His uncle was indeed insightful. Cao Cao, as expected, came to disrupt the plan. However, it did not matter; their fate was already sealed, whether they went or not.

Yuan Shao, don't think that just because you are the eldest son, you can have your way. No matter how hard you try, you cannot change your birth. The Yuan family will ultimately be mine...

Cao Cao, when you were young, you bullied me with your intelligence, humiliated me, and tricked me. Ha, ha, see what you have left after the eunuchs are all overthrown...

Yuan Shu lowered his head, not letting Yuan Shao or Cao Cao see the expression in his eyes, and stood up, responding in unison with Yuan Shao and Cao Cao.

In the entire Grand General's council hall, the only one who had some premonition or more knowledge about what was to happen was Yuan Shu.

Before coming to the Grand General's residence, his uncle Yuan Wei had secretly instructed him to accomplish three tasks: The first task was to encourage Grand General He Jin to enter the palace, which He Jin did without any need for encouragement.

The second task was that if He Jin entered the palace, he would likely bring troops, and Yuan Shu must obtain the authority to mobilize troops. Originally, this was thought to be difficult, as besides Yuan Shao and Cao Cao, who were official Commanders of the Western Garden, there were also other generals like Wu Kuang and Zhang Zhang who could mobilize troops. However, very fortunately, when Grand General He Jin summoned the council, he did not call Wu Kuang and others, allowing Yuan Shu to easily obtain the authority to mobilize troops by claiming he could not do so without an imperial order.

The third task was to delay the departure of the troops He Jin had summoned by one hour...

Although Yuan Shu could not fully understand his uncle Yuan Wei's entire plan, as the legitimate son of the Yuan family, he had more information than Yuan Shao. He knew that his uncle Yuan Wei was plotting against He Jin, and that He Jin would definitely suffer, but he never imagined that He Jin would be beheaded in the palace!

Yuan Shu did not expect it, and neither did the Ten Attendants. Zhang Rang never intended to behead He Jin. What good would it do to behead He Jin?

What benefit would he gain from beheading He Jin?

Killing a Grand General without an imperial order? Was Zhang Rang's brain addled?

Indeed, Zhang Rang had planned to deal with He Jin, as He Jin was unreasonable. When Jian Shuo opposed He Jin, He Jin dealt with Jian Shuo, and they had no objections, as there was a clear cause. However, He Jin was now targeting them, which was too much.

He Jin, you ungrateful wretch, when Jian Shuo wanted to deal with you, we informed you. Your sister became Empress Dowager with our help. Now that you are in power, you want to cross the river and dismantle the bridge. Can you be a bit more reasonable?

Moreover, they had come to the General's residence to apologize, showing a low and humble attitude. Yet, He Jin still refused to let it go.

They had visited the General's residence several times, but He Jin put on airs and refused to meet them, not even communicating. Could this solve the problem?

Zhang Rang finally obtained an edict from Empress Dowager He, summoning He Jin to the palace. It was because He Jin refused to meet them that he decided to confront He Jin on his own turf, to reason with him.

Of course, in his perfect plan, he only wanted to show his military might and intimidate He Jin. How much courage could a butcher who sold wine and meat have? Just by putting a knife to He Jin's neck, he would not dare to resist. First, he would take the Grand General's tiger talisman, then detain him for a few days, and send some trusted men to take control of He Jin's troops.

Once he had control of He Jin's troops, he would be like Jian Shuo, commanding the Western Garden and the entire imperial guard. Once the plan was successful, the He family would have to accept it, and whether He Jin was detained or killed would be irrelevant.

Once he had control of He Jin's tiger talisman and troops, he could shape He Jin as he pleased. Without his claws, what could a tiger do? Wouldn't it be better?

But who was the bastard who acted so quickly?

Zhang Rang felt like crying.

He only indicated that the palace guards should detain He Jin, not to kill him immediately!

Now everything was ruined. With He Jin's head cut off, how could they communicate?

Zhang Rang was about to find the first person who beheaded He Jin when a small eunuch ran in, reporting that outside the palace, Yuan Shao and Cao Cao were leading a dozen of the Grand General's guards, causing a commotion and disturbing the palace. He asked Zhang Rang how to handle it.

"They cannot be allowed to enter!" was Zhang Rang's first reaction.

His second reaction was to quickly find the emperor. The only one who could save him now was the emperor. Over the years, he had been in dire straits several times, like when Attendant Zhang Jun wanted to kill him. As long as the emperor did not order it, he still had a chance!

I did not order the killing of He Jin. I must completely distance myself from it!

If that doesn't work, I'll blame Gao Wang. I've heard he's been close to Zhao Zhong recently and is in charge of the Northern Palace Guard. He's the best choice to take the blame!

Zhang Rang hurried to the inner palace, determined to reach the emperor first!

The small eunuch was in a panic. If you run away, what will happen to this mess?

The small eunuch called out, but Zhang Rang ignored him and ran away.

"This... this... we'll wait for Lord Zhang to come back!" The small eunuch gave up and ran away too.

The guards looked at each other, realizing the situation was serious. Without a leader, they scattered.

The square was soon empty, leaving only He Jin's body lying on the ground.

After some time, a person in the armor of a palace guard appeared from the corner, cautiously confirming that no one was around, and then secretly ran up, wrapped He Jin's head in a cloth, and took it away.