Putting aside Xu Huang's lingering fear for the moment, let's talk about Yuan Shu's mood.
How to describe it?
Complicated!
After the initial shock and anger, only endless trepidation remained.
He was afraid!
He was truly afraid!
He had thought the allied forces were his saviors, but now it seemed that was just wishful thinking!
Indeed!
With his 'good elder brother' around, how could they possibly save him?
There could only be one heir to the Yuan family!
As long as he died,
Then,
Wouldn't Yuan Shao, that bastard born of a slut, be able to inherit the Yuan family openly?
No!
Absolutely not!
Thinking of the Yuan family, which originally belonged to him, being snatched away by a slut's bastard, Yuan Shu's small universe erupted.
Fight his way out?
No!
Although Yuan Shu was a bit overconfident in his daily life, he had a clear understanding of himself.
Relying on his mediocre martial arts skills to break out?
Dream on!
He would probably be hacked to death before he could even kill a few people.
What then?
Simple!
No matter when, money can move gods is a universally acknowledged fact.
Coupled with his identity as the Yuan family's second legitimate son...
"Young Master Yuan~!"
A minor leader of the allied forces, whom Yuan Shu approached, rubbed his hands together excitedly.
"Are you telling the truth?"
"Of course!"
Yuan Shu, who had finally caught his breath, said with a hint of arrogance in his tone,
"As long as you escort me to see Lord Lu, each of you will receive a hundred taels of silver!"
"And you, individually, will receive two hundred taels more!"
"How about it?"
"This..."
Glancing at his brothers who looked tempted, the petty commander nodded decisively,
"No problem!"
Saying that, the petty commander turned and waved to a burly man beside him.
"Brother, you are the most skilled among us. Young Master Yuan's safety is entrusted to you!"
"No problem!"
The burly man, having received his orders, patted his chest and confidently assured,
"Commander, don't worry, no one can harm Young Master Yuan in my hands!"
"We can certainly rest assured!"
The commander clearly trusted the burly man. Hearing this, he turned to Yuan Shu and guaranteed,
"Young Master Yuan, rest assured, Brother Ji is the strongest among us. With him protecting you, there will be no problem!"
"That's good then!"
Although Yuan Shu didn't comment on the commander and the burly man's boasting, he had no other options at the moment.
He couldn't charge into the enemy lines alone, could he?
However,
After a brief understanding with the commander and the others, Yuan Shu also discovered a problem.
Lu Zhi had not ordered the execution of Yuan Shu!
It made sense,
Although Yuan Shu had been captured, he had not defected. Lu Zhi had no reason to target him.
So, the problem arose!
Lu Zhi had not given the order, but Xu Huang had no reason to lie to him. Then, who exactly wanted to kill him?
He had to figure this out!
If it was really that bastard Yuan Shao, then this matter would absolutely not end here!
Thinking of this,
Yuan Shu looked at the dozen or so soldiers beside him and suddenly felt it wasn't enough.
"Go!"
"Tell them that this young master needs a personal guard, and ask if they are willing!"
Saying that, Yuan Shu waved to the commander, his voice full of temptation,
"Tell them!"
"Each person will receive a hundred taels of silver as severance pay, and it will not be delayed once the danger is past!"
"Even if they sacrifice themselves during this period, this young master will have someone send the money to their families!"
"Hiss..."
As Yuan Shu's words fell, let alone the commander, even the eyes of the others began to gleam.
Personal guards to the Yuan family's second young master?
They wanted that too!
Not to mention the sense of security brought by the behemoth that was the Yuan family, but there was also a hundred taels of silver as severance pay!
"Then, that..."
The commander did not rush to recruit people, but voiced the feelings of all his brothers.
"Young Master Yuan, you see, can we brothers have this honor?"
"Oh?"
Hearing the commander's somewhat apprehensive voice, a smile flickered across Yuan Shu's lips.
"Of course!"
"As long as you brothers don't mind, you will be my Yuan Shu's personal guards from now on!"
"Rest assured!"
"Not only will the silver we promised before be paid, but the severance pay will also not be shorted!"
"Ah?"
"This..."
As Yuan Shu's words fell, the dozen or so youths gathered around him flushed with excitement.
There was such a good thing?!
Escorting him to see Lord Lu, and everyone along the way was one of their own, right?
Where was the danger?
And this?
Not only could they get a hundred taels of silver for free, but they could also become the personal guards of the Yuan family's second young master?
It was a good thing they couldn't find with a lantern, right?
What was there to hesitate about?
Let's do it!
Not only did the commander and the other soldiers eagerly agree,
Even the burly man named Ji, after a brief hesitation, nodded his agreement.
Soon!
Under the promotion of the commander and the other soldiers, over a thousand people gathered around Yuan Shu.
Even the soldiers who were preparing to charge were drawn in with tempted expressions.
Personal guards of the Yuan family's second young master!
Who wouldn't want that?
However,
Although the battlefield was in chaos, such a large commotion still attracted attention.
Yan Liang was attracted precisely by this!
Although he didn't know what had happened, it was definitely not wrong to go and see.
What if he found that guy?
Yes!
After being delayed for so long by that guy Xu Huang, Yan Liang couldn't find Yuan Shu at all.
No way!
The battlefield was a sea of people. Even riding a warhorse, it wasn't easy to find someone.
But he hadn't expected this.
Just as he was about to leave in disappointment, he found an unexpected surprise.
"Sir~!"
A cavalryman beside him rode closer and pointed to the proud figure in the crowd.
"We found that guy!"
"Over there!"
"Hm?"
Yan Liang followed the direction the man pointed and indeed saw Yuan Shu's familiar face.
However,
Even though he had found that rascal Yuan Shu, Yan Liang found himself unable to act.
Because Yuan Shu was in their own camp!
Killing him among the Yellow Turban rebels' cannon fodder could be attributed to not seeing clearly in the heat of battle.
But what if you barged into the main camp of the allied forces and killed the Yuan family's second young master on the spot?
What were you trying to do?
Even if the Yuan family's eldest son stood behind you, so what?
Did you really think the Yuan family fully supported him?
Joke!
In this era of the late Han Dynasty, where the elder was not necessarily the wise, and the legitimate son was preferred over the concubine,
The legitimate son was always the apple of the parent's eye.
It was just that Yuan Shu was somewhat disappointing, and coupled with Yuan Shao's genuine excellence, that caused many people in the Yuan family to waver.
But the fundamental principle had never moved!
If, in history, the entire Yuan family hadn't perished, Yuan Shao might not have succeeded.
Even so,
The number of families and factions that attached themselves to Yuan Shu was no less than those that followed Yuan Shao.
It was a pity,
The Yuan Shu of history was too much of a troublemaker, and he single-handedly ruined a vast family fortune.
Of course!
Historical achievements could not be directly applied to the present. The current Yuan Shu was still the legitimate son of the Yuan family.
As long as the Yuan family had not had an incident and Yuan Shao had not succeeded, he, Yuan Shu, was the top second-generation heir in the late Han Dynasty.
Could a mere 'commoner' like him kill someone like this?
Yan Liang was not stupid!
If he killed Yuan Shu here today, Yuan Shao would offer his head to the heavens the next day.
But if he didn't act...
Glancing at the dozen or so personal guards of Yuan Shao beside him, a sharp glint flashed in Yan Liang's eyes.
"All of you, come here!"
After beckoning a few of Yuan Shao's personal guards to his side, Yan Liang put on a show of having something to discuss.
And these guards had no suspicion towards Yan Liang, and directly surrounded him.
"Sir, please comm...command... *Pfft*~!"
"Kill!"
Before the guards could finish speaking, Yan Liang's long saber had already swung.
Indeed,
Although these fellows could be Yuan Shao's personal guards, their combat effectiveness was really not that great.
A dozen or so people were dealt with by Yan Liang in a matter of seconds.
Finally!
Yan Liang looked at himself, who was luxurious and unharmed, and gritted his teeth, slashing himself on the thigh.
"Hiss~!"
Enduring the pain from his thigh, Yan Liang turned his horse and charged back.
He had to bring back the news that Yuan Shu was not dead!
This way,
Even if Yuan Shao was furious, he wouldn't have time to deal with him immediately.
And the facts were indeed as he expected!
When Yuan Shao saw Yan Liang return in a disheveled state, his heart couldn't help but sink.
"Gong... Gongji, what is this?"
"Your subordinate is guilty!"
Yan Liang knelt down without any hesitation, his face full of shame, and said,
"The Yellow Turban rebels don't seem to want to kill the Yuan family's second young master. One of their generals is on par with me, and your subordinate could only fight his way back with all his might!"
"What did you say?"
"The Yellow Turban rebels don't want Gonglu to die?"
Listening to Yan Liang's report, a shadow flickered in Yuan Shao's eyes.
The Yellow Turban rebels don't want Yuan Shu to die?
What did that mean?
Could it be...
Had Yuan Shu already betrayed them and joined those Yellow Turban rebels?
"Not necessarily~!"
Lu Zhi heard this and shook his head, indirectly refuting Yuan Shao's guess.
He didn't want to get involved in this trivial matter!
If Yuan Shu was definitely going to die, he might have kicked him while he was down.
But a choice between two?
Sorry!
He, Lu Zhi, as the commander-in-chief of the allied forces and a renowned great scholar both at home and abroad, had always stayed far away from such matters.
Family feuds were much crueler than warfare!
In warfare,
If the generals on both sides knew each other, even if they failed, their lives would not be in danger.
Internal strife?
Even if their brothers were as close as one person, the losing party would have no chance of survival.
Not to mention they were not on good terms to begin with?
Didn't you see it before?
Once given the opportunity, Yuan Shao would not hesitate to kill Yuan Shu.
Too dangerous!
Therefore,
You Yuan family members play your own games, don't try to drag this old man down with you.
Thinking of this,
Lu Zhi gave a look to Huangfu Song beside him and said with concern,
"Yizhen, since the Yuan family's second young master is unharmed, why don't you take your men to meet him!"
"Yes!"
Huangfu Song heard this, bowed in acknowledgment, and led his soldiers towards the battlefield.
He understood Lu Zhi's intention!
Since Yuan Shu had not met with any misfortune on the front lines, he absolutely could not have an accident within their camp.
Even Lu Zhi couldn't bear the wrath of the Yuan family!
Of course!
This was also because Lu Zhi did not yet know that the Yuan family was in peril.
If he had known?
Yuan Shao?
Yuan Shu?
Bah!
Two useless things, get lost and play in the mud!
Unfortunately!
Precisely because Lu Zhi knew nothing at the moment, he was still very concerned about this battle.
He still wanted to go back and save Emperor Ling!