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Yuan Shu sent servants to summon Yang Hong and Yan Xiang. Though it was late at night, the two advisors hurried over promptly when their lord called.
Yuan Shu handed them the letter brought by Yi Ji, then ordered servants to prepare hot tea with extra ginger to ward off the night's chill. He didn't want his strategists falling ill at such a critical juncture.
After reading the letter, Yang Hong passed it to Yan Xiang and clasped his hands, tapping the back of his right hand with his left fingers in contemplation.
Yuan Shu observed this but didn't rush him. He knew this was Yang Hong's habit, and since Yan Xiang was still reviewing the letter, it was better to wait and discuss it together.
Soon, Yan Xiang finished reading and returned the letter to Yuan Shu.
Yang Hong glanced at Yan Xiang, who gave a slight nod, yielding the floor. Without further hesitation, Yang Hong spoke, "My lord, this is Liu Biao's attempt at a golden cicada shedding its shell. Xiangyang is a battleground surrounded by enemies—bandit warlords remain unsubdued, Jiangxia is unstable, and the four southern Jing provinces are dominated by powerful local officials unlikely to submit to Liu Biao. Thus, under the pretense of opposing Dong Zhuo, he seeks your goodwill to shift his focus south."
Yan Xiang added, "Wan County is currently defended by Wen Zhongye (Wen Pin), well-supplied with troops and provisions, making it difficult to capture. Gaining another territory through this arrangement would be advantageous. However, Liu Biao has the gaze of a hawk and the demeanor of a wolf. Once he consolidates the four southern commanderies and stockpiles resources, he will inevitably become a future threat."
Yuan Shu nodded, agreeing with Yan Xiang's long-term perspective.
Liu Biao's abandonment of Wan County would grant Yuan Shu additional territory, but it would also free Liu Biao to conquer Changsha, Lingling, Guiyang, and Wuling in southern Jing. Though losing Nanyang's northern lands, Liu Biao would gain far greater benefits in the south—a calculation he had made precisely.
Moreover, Nanyang Commandery was a region Liu Biao had long coveted but failed to control. His previous attempt to support Zhang Zi ended in a crushing defeat by Sun Jian, who lured Zhang Zi out of the city and executed him. Though Liu Biao later sent Wen Pin to garrison Wan, his influence extended no further north, leaving most of Nanyang under Yuan Shu's domain.
As the three men pondered, servants brought the prepared tea.
Yuan Shu took a sip and frowned at the overpowering ginger. He ordered honey to balance the flavor.
The night was deep, the cold wind biting, amplifying the gloom.
The three drank the hot tea in small sips, gradually warming their stiffened limbs.
Once finished, Yang Hong set down his cup and waited for the others before speaking, "Wan County is essential, but we cannot allow Liu Biao to seize southern Jing unopposed. I have a plan to let you, my lord, reap the rewards without exertion."
Yuan Shu leaned in. "What is this plan?"
"Sun Poju (Sun Jian) was formerly Governor of Changsha—his official seal likely remains. Have him recommend a fellow townsman as the new Governor of Changsha. First, this will placate Sun Jian as we prepare to campaign against Dong Zhuo. Second, it will slow Liu Biao's southern advance, exhausting his forces. Once matters in Henei and Luoyang are settled, you can march south and crush him between two fronts, forcing his surrender!"
Yuan Shu was delighted. "Excellent! I will write to Poju at once!"
Yan Xiang added, "...And have General Ji Ling lead troops south to occupy Wan County. Under the pretext of the anti-Dong Zhuo campaign, demand supplies of cloth and grain..."
Yang Hong immediately grasped the implication. "Ziwu is absolutely right! If Liu Biao complies, his military reserves will diminish. If he refuses, we can pressure Xiangyang without full engagement, ensuring he's stretched too thin to defend both north and south. Chaos will follow."
The two strategists exchanged smiles, savoring their cunning.
Yuan Shu clapped his hands, laughing heartily. "Marvelous! Truly marvelous!" The thought of Liu Biao—long a thorn in his southern flank—cornered at last filled him with glee.
Mention of Ji Ling reminded Yan Xiang of another matter. Days earlier, he had sent Ji Ling to Kunyang to "investigate" the minor landowner Luo Sen's family for "evidence of crimes." The operation had succeeded: Luo Sen and his entire household were now imprisoned outside Luyang's military camp.
Additionally, they had confiscated the wealth and grain stored in the Luo family's stronghold...
Yan Xiang had planned to report this the next morning, but Yuan Shu's summons prompted him to bring the documents now. He presented them for Yuan Shu's decision.
Yuan Shu skimmed the report and dismissed it indifferently. "Luo Sen conspired with rebels. By law, execute him publicly. Kill the male relatives, exiled the women, and confiscate the wealth... Let Fuyi (Ji Ling) take half for military funds, the rest to the treasury." With a few words, he condemned an entire family.
To Yuan Shu, Luo Sen was an insect—crushing him warranted no second thought.
"As you command." Though Yan Xiang felt a twinge of pity, there was nothing to be done. He retrieved the documents.
Compared to some minor landowner, Yuan Shu was far more interested in Fei Qian of Henei's Fei clan. Tapping the table, he asked: "...What are your thoughts on Liu Biao's chief envoy, Fei Qian Fei Ziyuan?"
Fei Qian Fei Ziyuan?
Yang Hong and Yan Xiang exchanged glances.
Currently, Yuan Shu's primary advisors were Yang Hong (Chief Clerk) and Yan Xiang (Master of Records). Yet both harbored reservations about Yuan Shu's interest in recruiting Fei Qian.
For Yang Hong, Fei Qian's arrival might not be welcome.
As a scion of the Hongnong Yang clan's cadet branch, Yang Hong had followed Yuan Shu from Luoyang to Nanyang, securing the top strategist position. Though the Fei clan's status paled next to the Yangs, Fei Qian's recent marriage alliance with the Huang family of Jing Province changed matters. If Yuan Shu recruited Fei Qian, he would effectively gain the Huang family's support—and possibly that of other Jing Province gentry clans linked to them.
Welcoming Fei Qian meant opening doors to Jing Province's elites. For Yang Hong, far from his home turf, this could dilute his influence. How long would he remain Chief Clerk then?
*
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