All the commanders came forward one after another to congratulate Zhang Yan.

Zhang Yan had a fake smile on her face and kept thanking everyone, but in fact her heart was bleeding.

Liu Qi's move was a pure conspiracy, a naked kidnapping, which made Zhang Yan unable to avoid and prevent him.

All the bitter fruits can only be broken into pieces and swallowed in the stomach.

…

After the matter was settled, Liu Qi returned to the court with his troops. At this time, Liu Bei, who was recovering from his injuries at the border of Sili, had improved, so Liu Qi took him with him and returned to Luoyang together.

On the way, Liu Qi unabashedly told Liu Bei all the recent events.

Liu Bei was greatly moved when he saw that Liu Qi had slaughtered seven Xiongnu tribes for him.

"Your Majesty, for the sake of me, personally led the troops north and took extraordinary risks. I am both terrified and grateful."

"Oh, it's a pity that I just killed people randomly, and in the end I didn't find the real murderer for the emperor."

Liu Bei hurriedly waved his hands and said: "That's enough. Your Majesty can do this for me. I am extremely grateful."

Liu Qi waved his hand and said: "Uncle, you don't need to thank me. You are my relative, and more importantly, a clan member of the Han Dynasty. If I don't deal with anyone who attacks you strictly, I won't be able to sit on the throne of the emperor."

"

"It's just that your Majesty's actions today will definitely push the Xiongnu... and even the Wuhuan towards Yuan Shao. I'm afraid the gain will outweigh the loss. It's really not worth it for me..."

"I have never regarded the Xiongnu or Wuhuan as one of my own. Some people can be united, but some people have no value in joining together. Your uncle does not need to worry about this."

Liu Bei pondered for a while and said: "Although your Majesty's move today is not aimed at Yuan Shao, Yuan Shao will definitely be prepared. I feel that the decisive battle between us and Hebei will be getting closer."

"When that day comes, if I divide my forces to fight against Yuan Cao... I ask your uncle to divide his troops to assist me in the fight. Will your uncle dare to confront Yuan and Cao directly?"

After hearing this, Liu Bei hurriedly said: "Your Majesty has so many powerful generals, why does Liu Bei need to lead the army?"

"You are a member of the Han clan, so you are different from others. What if I insist on letting you lead the army? Do you dare?"

Liu Bei took a deep breath and said: "Your Majesty is willing to use me, but I will be so angry that I will die without mercy."

…

After the Chinese New Year, it was almost spring, and AD 199 arrived.

In Luoyang City, rumors about Yuan Shao's actions were everywhere.

First, a large number of Ruyingzhong people were recruited, and then Yuan Shang was designated as the successor by Yuan Shao. The Xiongnu and Wuhuan three kings were quickly moving closer to the court in Yecheng.

For a time, the entire Han Dynasty was filled with a suffocating smell of gunpowder smoke.

Among all the news, the person who was hit the hardest was undoubtedly Yuan Tan.

When the news that Yuan Shang was designated as the heir by Yuan Shao reached Luoyang, Yuan Tan was immediately stunned.

He sat there blankly, his eyes straight, and he really couldn't believe this was true.

Shi Hui slammed the table and said angrily: "Brother Yuan is in Luoyang, and he is willing to be a hostage for the sake of the family, but your father is deposing the elders and raising the young in the rear! It is really ridiculous that such a thing can happen in the world!"

Shisong said angrily: "Brother Yuan, I am really worthless for you!"

Sun Ce raised his head and took a sip of wine without saying anything.

After a long while, he turned to look at Yuan Tan and said: "If you continue to stop, you will be disturbed...Brother Yuan, you have to return to Hebei as soon as possible."

Yuan Tan's hand tightly grasped the wine cup in his hand, and the veins on the back of his hand were exposed.

After a while, I heard him gritting his teeth and saying: "I also want to leave here as soon as possible and return to Luoyang, but right now... I can't help myself in this situation."

Shiqian, who had been silent all this time, suddenly said: "I have a plan that may give Brother Yuan a chance to return to Yecheng, but I don't know if Brother Yuan is willing."

Yuan Tan stood up in a hurry, cupped his hands and said, "Brother, if there is a way for me to return to Yecheng, Yuan Tan will thank you deeply in the future and will never be in vain."

"Brother Yuan, don't worry about thanking me. I'm afraid you may not be able to pull off this plan of mine."

"oh?"

Shi Qian sighed and said, "I will tell you the plan. Brother Yuan can do it if he wants to do it. If you don't want to do it, don't blame me."

"What's the plan? It doesn't matter, brother, Yuan Tan is not a narrow-minded person."

"Brother Yuan, does he know that Gou Jian lay down on his salary and tasted his courage, and destroyed King Wu's Fu Chai?"

Yuan Tan nodded: "Of course I know."

"Gou Jian pretended to surrender to Fu Chai and willingly became his slave. He suffered hardships while sleeping on his salary. He was determined to take revenge and finally destroyed the Wu Kingdom. He was a blood shame...Brother Yuan is not around today. If Brother Yuan wants to succeed, he must imitate Gou Jian."

Yuan Tan was stunned when he heard this.

Sun Ce frowned and said, "Brother Shi, what you want is for Brother Yuan to pretend to surrender to Liu Qi, become his slave, and then look for an opportunity to return to Hebei...just like what Gou Jian did to Fu Chai?"

The official sighed: "With the current situation, this is the only way... However, there is no need for Brother Yuan to be a slave. After all, Brother Yuan is the eldest son. Now that his inheritance has been taken away, he has resentment towards his father and brother. Taking this as an opportunity,

If you show your sincerity to Emperor Luoyang, the Emperor will not disbelieve you, and given the emperor's intentions, I am afraid that he also wants to use Brother Yuan to divide the Yuan family... It depends on who can really take advantage of whom."

Sun Ce thought about it for a while, then turned to look at Yuan Tan: "Brother Yuan, this is indeed a clever strategy...but I'm afraid that I will wrong you, Brother Yuan."

Yuan Tan said coldly: "Now that things have happened, what am I afraid of being wronged? Not to mention that I was just asked to pretend to submit to Liu Qi, but that I was asked to follow Gou Jian's example and take advantage of my husband... I also accepted it!"

…

In the side room of Deyang Palace, Liu Qi was holding a candle and handling official duties. At this moment, someone from the Huangmen came in to report to Liu Qi.

"Your Majesty, Yuan Tan, the captain of Nangong Tunqi Camp, asked to see your Majesty late at night."

Liu Qi raised his eyebrows slightly and said casually.

"What's he doing here? He's missing!"

Huangmen heard this and hurried out to deliver the order.

Not long after, I saw the yellow gate turning back again.

"Your Majesty, Yuan Tan knelt at the entrance of the corridor and claimed that if Your Majesty did not see him tonight, he would rather kneel and die in front of the main hall."

"Ouch?" Liu Qi raised his head in surprise and looked at the yellow door with a half-smile: "How awesome, he actually threatened me... Okay, let him kneel down."

"promise."

"Remember to bring him some cakes and water on time. Don't make him kneel to death."

"According to the decree."

In this way, Liu Qi continued to handle official business in the side room. This process lasted for an hour.

It was getting darker and darker, so the eunuch also changed the oil lamp for Liu Qi twice and served him a supper.

After Liu Qi finished his supper and reviewed the last memorial, he stretched his waist and asked Huang Mendao: "Where is Yuan Tan?"

"Still kneeling outside?"

"Still kneeling?"

Huangmen seemed to hesitate for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, it has already started to rain outside."

"rain?"

Liu Qi stood up, walked to the entrance of the palace, looked at the sky, and saw that it was indeed raining at night.

Such an emperor will definitely catch cold if he is exposed to the rain for a long time.

"Bring me the robe and come with me to see Mr. Yuan."
Chapter completed!