Yuan Shu let out a cold snort, leaning back with visible disdain.
"I thought this was something serious," he scoffed. "Brother Ziqing is nothing more than a loyal servant of the late Emperor. He bears no grudge against us Partisans."
He waved his sleeve dismissively.
"If I help him take Chang'an, I'll earn merit just by transporting grain. Why would he trouble me? If anything—" he smirked, "—he should be grateful."
To Yuan Shu, Zhang Xin was not an enemy.
Quite the opposite.
First, without Zhang Xin's public support, Yuan Shu would never have become the alliance leader of the feudal lords.
Second, if Zhang Xin killed Dong Zhuo, wouldn't that avenge the Yuan clan?
And third…
Zhang Xin had humiliated Yuan Shao at Mengjin.
From Yuan Shu's point of view, anyone who beat Yuan Shao was a good man.
Anyone who crushed Yuan Shao so thoroughly?
That was a truly honest man.
That was why, upon receiving Zhang Xin's letter, Yuan Shu had not hesitated in the slightest—he immediately dispatched 300,000 piculs of grain to Luoyang.
Decisive. Generous. Certain.
Guo Tu, however, sneered.
"Is that so?" he said coldly.
"Then how does the Alliance Leader explain the burning of the Southern Palace?"
The words landed like a hammer.
"Marquis Xuanwei is fiercely loyal to the late Emperor. He was not present during that incident and knows nothing of it."
Guo Tu's eyes narrowed.
"But once he welcomes back the Son of Heaven… what then?"
"If the Emperor speaks of the fire—of your actions—will Zhang Xin not be enraged?"
"And if not him…" he leaned forward slightly, voice dropping, "…what if the Emperor himself issues an edict ordering him to attack you?"
Silence.
Heavy.
Suffocating.
"With your single commandery," Guo Tu continued, "how will you withstand his tiger-wolf army?"
Yuan Shu froze.
That… was a problem.
What if the young Emperor held a grudge?
Burning the palace was no small crime—it was a direct insult to the dignity of the Han.
If an imperial edict came down…
Given Zhang Xin's rigid loyalty…
He would have to obey.
And if he marched south—
Even Dong Zhuo couldn't stop him.
What chance would Yuan Shu have?
Yuan Shu sighed deeply, his confidence wavering.
"Brother Ziqing is admirable in every way…" he muttered, troubled. "…except he's too honest."
Then, lifting his head, he asked:
"You said you came to ease my concerns. Do you have a plan?"
Guo Tu smiled.
"Simple."
"All you need to do… is make sure he never welcomes the Son of Heaven."
He spoke at length, laying out a ruthless scheme.
When he finished—
Yuan Shu's face had turned grim.
"This…" he muttered, "this is vicious."
He shook his head instinctively.
"Doesn't he fear his descendants being born without anuses?"
Then, as if struck by a thought, Yuan Shu paused.
Yuan Shao already had sons.
Perfectly fine ones.
He shook his head harder.
"No. No! Brother Ziqing is an honest man—I cannot do such a thing."
Guo Tu did not relent.
"You call him honest," he said calmly. "But when he stands beside the Son of Heaven, whose orders will he follow—yours, or the Emperor's?"
A single question.
Piercing.
"If that 'honest man' leads an army against you…" Guo Tu continued softly, "…will you surrender your head, or wait for him to take it?"
Yuan Shu fell silent.
For a long time.
Then finally, he waved his hand.
"Leave. I will discuss this with my advisors."
"Alliance Leader—" Guo Tu tried again.
"Drag him out!" Yuan Shu snapped.
Moments later, the strategist was forcibly removed.
Soon after, Yuan Shu gathered his inner circle and laid out the situation in full.
"What do you all think?" he asked.
Yan Xiang was the first to step forward.
"My Lord, you must not agree to Yuan Shao's plan."
His voice was firm.
"Marquis Xuanwei's campaign against the traitor is what the entire realm desires. If you cut his grain and strike his rear, how will the world judge you?"
He paused, then added meaningfully:
"Did you not once lament that the people follow your 'family slave' instead of you?"
The jab struck home.
"Now the opportunity stands before you. Assist Zhang Xin in taking Chang'an—restore the Emperor—and your name will resound across the land."
"With the prestige of the Yuan clan and this great merit, will you still fear being overshadowed?"
Yuan Shu's eyes lit up.
Yes…
Reputation.
That was what Yuan Shao had always stolen from him.
But this—
This was a chance to surpass him.
Help Zhang Xin.
Win glory.
Then expose Yuan Shao's schemes.
Crush his reputation entirely.
The more Yuan Shu thought about it, the more convinced he became.
He slammed his hand down decisively.
"Good!"
"In that case, execute Guo Tu and send his head to Brother Ziqing!"
Yan Xiang's face filled with relief.
At last… his lord had grown.
"Wait."
A new voice cut through the hall.
Yang Hong stepped forward, bowing.
"My Lord, while Chief Clerk Yan speaks truth, Yuan Shao's envoy is not entirely wrong either."
He raised his head.
"The matter of the Southern Palace cannot be ignored."
"If the Emperor holds you accountable—what then?"
Yuan Shu hesitated again.
"That…" he frowned. "What do you suggest?"
Yang Hong spoke calmly.
"Seizing Qi State is unrealistic. It lies too far—separated by Yu and Xu Provinces. Even if taken, it will ultimately fall into Yuan Shao's hands."
Yuan Shu nodded slowly.
That made sense.
"So?"
"But…" Yang Hong continued, "cutting off the grain supply—that part is viable."
Yan Xiang immediately objected.
"No! That would destroy my lord's reputation and offend Zhang Xin and Sun Jian alike!"
Yang Hong did not yield.
"Reputation—or survival? Which matters more?"
Then he explained:
"We do not cut them off abruptly. Instead, we claim Nanyang is exhausted—unable to continue supplying such a massive force."
"Over 130,000 troops rely on that grain. It is only natural that one commandery cannot sustain it."
"This way, Zhang Xin is forced to withdraw—yet we do not directly offend him."
"And…"
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"We can even inform him of Yuan Shao's scheme."
"When that happens—"
"He may very well…"
"…thank us."