Yuan Shao sat behind his desk, meticulously examining a map of the Han Dynasty's territory. As one of the top officials in the capital, obtaining such a military map was not particularly difficult for him.
His gaze lingered on the upper part of the map, his mind constantly calculating. If given the freedom to choose, he would undoubtedly prefer Runan, with Nanyang as his second choice. Runan was the birthplace of the Yuan family, deeply rooted and influential. From the governor down to the lower officials, all were members of the Yuan family. The Yuan family had also carried out numerous charitable acts in Runan, earning a good reputation. This land had always been reserved for the family head, and no one else could lay claim to it. Even Yuan Shu, whom Yuan Wei favored, could not enjoy it before officially becoming the family head.
Besides Runan, there was Nanyang. If Runan was the Yuan family's first stronghold, then Nanyang was their second. Nanyang was a crucial hub for both northbound and southbound travel, with thriving commerce, a dense population, and immense prosperity. Yuan Shao had long coveted this land, but he knew it had already been earmarked for Yuan Shu. Every year, the wealth tributed from Nanyang was shared between Yuan Wei and a small portion given to Yuan Shu for his expenses.
Thus, Yuan Shao could only look longingly at these two lucrative regions without any means to claim them, forcing him to seek other directions.
Where would be the best choice? Yuan Shao's eyes roamed over the map of the Han Dynasty's territory. Suddenly, he recalled a conversation he had with Cao Cao during their youth, where they discussed various future aspirations. They had said, "Secure the south by holding the Yellow River, block the north by defending Yan and Dai, incorporate the Rong and Di tribes, and then march south to contend for the empire." This strategy referred to securing the south by holding the Yellow River and blocking the north by defending Yan Mountain and Dai Commandery, defeating and incorporating the Rong and Di tribes, and then marching south to compete for the empire.
The region referred to by this strategy was Ji Province.
To be honest, this grand strategy was not Yuan Shao's original idea. As early as the beginning of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu had done just that—unifying the empire by relying on the power of the local magnates in Hebei. Therefore, when Yuan Shao and Cao Cao discussed this, they were actually influenced by Liu Xiu.
However, looking at it today, the seemingly casual words of their youth now held considerable feasibility.
The current governor of Ji Province was Han Fu, a former subordinate of the Yuan family who had been recommended by them for the position. Therefore, if Yuan Shao were to go to Ji Province, at least in consideration of his status as the eldest son of the Yuan family, some level of support would be expected. Moreover, Ji Province currently faced a problem that needed resolution.
That was the remnants of the Yellow Turban Rebellion.
Although the Yellow Turban Rebellion was quickly suppressed, some of the rebels had turned into bandits and retreated into the mountains. The imperial court, limited by its military strength, could not conduct large-scale mountain searches and killings. Additionally, constrained by provisions, it could not sustain prolonged military operations. Thus, these newly transformed bandits temporarily escaped the court's pursuit and established themselves as kings in some mountainous areas.
Currently, the largest remnant of the Yellow Turbans was in Qing Province, but Qing Province had been largely devastated, and its production had not yet recovered. These bandits, unable to sustain themselves solely by hunting in the mountains, inevitably descended to plunder. The relatively stable and prosperous neighboring Ji Province became their prime target. Therefore, if Yuan Shao went to Ji Province, by brandishing the banner of the Yuan family's eldest son and raising the flag of protecting the scholars of Ji Province and pacifying the bandits, he would undoubtedly gain the support of everyone from the officials and gentry to the common people.
From this perspective, if he were to leave Luoyang, Ji Province would be the best choice.
However, leaving Luoyang like a stray dog was not what Yuan Shao desired. But what should he do?
Just then, a servant hurried in with a name card, reporting that Dong Zhuo urgently summoned him, and the messenger was waiting outside. Yuan Shao frowned. He had no dealings with Dong Zhuo, so why was Dong Zhuo summoning him? Although puzzled, since Dong Zhuo's rank was higher than his, he had no choice but to go.
Upon arriving at Dong Zhuo's residence and exchanging some trivial pleasantries, Dong Zhuo said, "The emperor is young and ignorant, unfit for the throne. I think the Prince of Chenliu is better suited, so I wish to install him as emperor. Age is not the issue; what matters is how he rules later. Look at Emperor Ling—he started well but later failed. Having another like him would only cause resentment."
Dong Zhuo's main reason for summoning Yuan Shao was to use him as a messenger to convey his determination to depose the emperor to Yuan Wei and to gauge the Yuan family's stance on the matter.
In the current court, Dong Zhuo held the most military power, while the Yuan family was the most prominent among the scholar-officials. Therefore, if Yuan Wei nodded in agreement, the deposition of the emperor would be a done deal, and no amount of opposition from others would matter. For Dong Zhuo to visit Yuan Wei's residence would be beneath his dignity, and summoning Yuan Wei was not feasible either, so he approached Yuan Shao, the eldest son of the Yuan family.
Upon hearing this, Yuan Shao did not immediately respond. Clearly, Dong Zhuo's tone was not seeking his opinion but hoping he would relay the message. According to convention, Yuan Shao should have said something like, "This matter is significant; allow me to return and consider it," and both parties would understand the implications, achieving the purpose of the meeting.
But Yuan Shao had no intention of doing so, because he knew that Yuan Wei—
Yuan Shao stood up and said, "The Han Dynasty has ruled the empire for over four hundred years, with deep benevolence and long-standing support from the people. Although the current emperor is young, there has been no bad news spread throughout the empire. If you, sir, wish to depose the legitimate heir and install a lesser one, I fear the public will not follow your decision." Not only did Yuan Shao not agree to relay the message, but he also firmly expressed his opposition.
Dong Zhuo was taken aback and then angrily scolded, "You brat! Do you think I can't decide the empire's affairs? If I order it, who dares to disobey? Do you think my blade is not sharp enough?"
Yuan Shao, unwilling to back down, retorted, "Are you the only strong man in the empire, Lord Dong?" Then he clasped his hands in a salute and left.
This infuriated Dong Zhuo, who cursed the Yuan family's son for being unreasonable. Seeing Li Ru emerge from the back hall, he angrily said to him, "That brat insulted me; he must be severely punished!"
"My lord, please calm your anger. The Yuan family's son's behavior is quite peculiar," Li Ru said calmly. It was still too early to settle accounts with the Yuan family, as they still had their uses, and punishing Yuan Shao could wait.
Dong Zhuo, not understanding, asked, "What's so peculiar about it?"—I think he's just a fool who doesn't even know how to relay a message.
Not long after, a city gate guard reported that Colonel Yuan Shao had hung his staff of office on the east gate and left the city!
Upon hearing this, Li Ru's mind raced, and he suddenly asked the guard, "Did you see only the staff, or was there also the official seal?"
"There was no seal," the guard replied.
Li Ru chuckled and said, "So that's how it is!" He then waved his hand, dismissing the guard.
*****
A/N: In the novel, Dong Zhuo had already been publicly humiliated by Ding Yuan once, and then foolishly held another banquet to be humiliated by Yuan Shao a second time, only then realizing he should ask Yuan Wei's opinion? Moreover, deposing an emperor requires swift and decisive action; otherwise, if the He family regained their strength and found allies to resist, they would seek revenge later. Therefore, how could there be any delay or a second banquet? Some references were made to the "Yuan Shao Biography"; those interested can look it up.