Chapter Sixteen: Xu You's Shackles

  Xu You thought more and more suspiciously, seeing that the crowd in the hall had already dispersed, but he still lingered and did not leave.

  Yan Liang saw Xu You's appearance and thought that this wise strategist had already suspected his various actions, now it was time to slowly reveal the truth to him.

  Yan Liang then asked: "Mr. Ziyuan, is there anything else you'd like to say?"

  "It's nothing, really..." Xu You coughed a few times, "Now that the general has won a great victory, why not take advantage of the momentum to advance north and press on to Xuchang."

  "Although we won this battle, Cao Cao is still not to be underestimated. Our soldiers are precious, and I don't want to risk them in a head-on confrontation with Cao Cao." Yan Liang said calmly.

  Xu You's face changed as soon as he heard this.

  You are Yan Liang, a general under Yuan Shao's command. The soldiers under your leadership are also troops of the Yuan family, not your personal private army. What right do you have to preserve your strength and not sacrifice yourself for the Yuan family?

  Yan Liang's words, if spoken in front of Yuan Shao, would be "treasonous and unfilial".

  "Yuan Gong ordered the general to come to Ru Nan, which was to let the general copy the south of Xu Du, sparing no expense to cooperate with the main camp of Guan Du. However, the general stopped advancing due to fear of losing soldiers. If this were to be passed on to Yuan Gong, it would seem somewhat inappropriate."

  Xu You did not dare to directly question Yan Liang, and instead tactfully reminded him.

  "Yuan Gong is Yuan Gong, I am myself, why should I sacrifice my own soldiers for him?" Yan Liang coldly retorted.

  Xu You's expression changed suddenly, and his eyebrows were filled with shock.

  Yan Liang, however, seemed completely unfazed by his shock, and calmly sipped his warm wine.

  "General Ziyu, are you thinking...thinking...of betraying Lord Yuan?" Xu You stuttered for a long time before finally squeezing out the word "betrayal" from between his teeth.

  Yan Liang's expression turned solemn, and his sharp eyes gleamed with a cold, unyielding intent.

  Bang!

  Yan Liang put down his wine cup on the table, and Xu You followed with a slight tremble.

  "At the Battle of White Horse, I almost lost my life under Guan Yu's blade. It was a desperate situation, but I managed to turn it around and won the battle for the Yuan family. But as a result, Yuan Shao believed the slanderous words of Guo Tu and wanted to punish me instead! With such an unjust lord, I ask you, sir, is he worth my continued loyalty and sacrifice?"

  Yan Liang's words were like iron, falling to the ground with a loud noise, expressing the indignation in his heart.

  Yan Liang became increasingly disrespectful to Yuan Shao, and even openly rebuked him as "unable to distinguish between loyalty and treachery", which made Xu You hear with a heart that was both startled and frightened.

  After being shocked, Xu You showed a look of shame, after all, as a man from Yuzhou, he was in the same party as Guo Tu who framed Yan Liang.

  "That one thing about the white horse, Lord Guo did a bit too much..."

  "I won't mention the grievances I've suffered, sir. You've followed Yuan Shao for many years and have made great contributions. But Yuan Shao believed Pang Ji's slander and blamed you for the failure to capture Cao Cao, saying it was due to your intelligence mistake. Doesn't this make you feel disheartened?"

  Yan Liang was "instigating" Xu You and Yuan Shao's relationship, in a tone that seemed to be speaking on behalf of Xu You.

  As he spoke, he kept an eye on Xu You's expression, and from Xu You's shocked eyes, he sensed a few points of resonance.

  Yan Liang knew that his words had struck a sore spot in Xu You's heart.

  Xu You's expression turned gloomy and he fell silent, seemingly unable to refute.

  For over a decade, from the extermination of eunuchs to the Battle of Guandu, and then to the annexation of Ji Province and sweeping across Hebei, Xu You asked himself that he had been running east and west for Yuan Shao, his contributions could not be ignored.

  But over the years, Yuan Shao's suspiciousness grew heavier and his temper bigger, while his trust in him also faded.

  All sorts of changes in treatment, until that "calamity" in the great tent at Liyang, how could they not make Xu You feel chilled to the heart.

  "Yuan Benchu is outwardly generous but inwardly suspicious, his subordinates are constantly fighting with each other, yet he dotes on his youngest son. Sooner or later, internal conflicts will arise. As for Yan Mou's foolishness, no one wants to be a sacrifice in the internal struggle of the Yuan family. Is it possible that Mr. Zhongyuan is willing to die for the Yuan family with his far-sightedness?"

  Yan Liang flattered Xu You for a while and took the opportunity to expose the hidden danger of the Yuan family again.

  Xu You's expression changed suddenly, as if he had been struck by a bolt of lightning on a clear day. His mind was blank for an instant.

  "Yes, the Yuan family is fraught with hidden dangers. Even if we defeat Cao Cao, we will eventually fall into internal strife. Must I really die for the Yuan family?"

  In Xu You's mind, a voice kept questioning him.

  In fact, with Xu You's insight, he should have seen all that Yan Liang said, but being in the midst of this maelstrom, he often couldn't objectively view the crisis he was in.

  It's not just Xu You, how many of the Yuan family group's civil and military officials are not the same.

  The crisis of the Yuan family was clearly seen by Yan Liang, an outsider. Today's words were meant to wake up Xu You.

  A faint, sly smile flitted across his lips as Yan Liang moved his seat closer and said in a low voice: "Mr. Zi Yuan, you are an intelligent man; rather than die for the Yuan family, why not follow me and leave the Yuan family? You and I can join hands, and we will surely be able to make a name for ourselves in this chaotic world."

  After so much ado, Yan Liang finally broke through this layer of window and opened the skylight to speak plainly.

  Xu You's body shook again. Although he had already suspected it in his heart, when Yan Liang said it with his own mouth, he was still shocked.

  He raised his head and looked at Yan Liang's sly smile, vaguely feeling that he had fallen into Yan Liang's trap, and muddledly boarded the pirate ship.

  "General Zi Yi is a god of war, with clever strategies in his mind. If he were to establish himself as a leader, he wouldn't have to worry about not being able to open up a new territory. However, since his family is still in Hebei, if he were to betray General Yuan like this, I'm afraid... ah-choo!"

  Xu You smiled bitterly, with a hint of helplessness on his face.

  His answer was also within Yan Liang's expectation.

  Even if Xu You had more dissatisfaction with Yuan Shao and worried about the future of the Yuan family, he didn't have Xun Yu's courage and couldn't bear to give up his current wealth and status.

  Yan Liang smiled and said lightly, "It seems that the gentleman is also a family man. However, according to Yan's plan, the family members who are left behind in Ye City may be in trouble soon."

  Xu You was shocked and hastily asked: "General, why did you say this?"

  "As far as I know, Shen Pei, who is garrisoned in Ye City, has a personal grudge against you, sir. Now that you are far away in Runan, I reckon Shen Pei will surely use the pretext of your family's wrongdoing to harm and frame you."

  Yan Liang made a confident guess, firstly to show Xu You his foresight, and secondly to make Xu You completely disillusioned with Yuan Shao.

  In the novel and historical records, Xun Yu and his fellow northern scholars who were guarding Ye City, used the excuse of illegal extortion to put Xu You's nephews in prison, which enraged Xu You so much that he defected to Cao Cao and presented the plan to burn down the Wu camp.

  The overall trend of history has not changed yet, and Yan Liang is certain that what he just said will still happen.

  Xu You's astonished expression warmed up a lot, stroking his beard and smiling: "General Zi Yi, your insight is indeed making Xu look at you in a new light. However, you can even guess the situation of my family back in Ye City thousands of miles away, which is somewhat too divine."

  I knew you wouldn't believe me.

  If Yan Liang didn't rely on the "clairvoyant" cheat, he probably wouldn't have made that prediction himself.

  Yan Liang smiled and said, "Since Mr. Zi Yuan doesn't believe me, dare he make a bet with me?"

  "What kind of bet is this?" Xu You's eyes showed a hint of suspicion.

  "If I win this bet based on my previous prediction, then you, sir, will have to stay and help me achieve great things." Yan Liang said.

  When he heard the two words "Ba Ye", Xu You's spirit shook slightly.

  He paused for a moment and asked: "What if General Jun's prediction is wrong?"

  "Whether you stay or leave is entirely up to you." Yan Liang replied curtly with a wave of his hand.

  Xu You fell silent.

  When Yan Liang pulled him into the partnership, he was indeed worried that if he didn't agree, whether Yan Liang would forcibly hold him back, and if so, he really didn't know how to escape.

  At this time, Yan Liang's setup gave Xu You an opportunity.

  But what if Yan Liang really hit it?

  "What's wrong, Mr. Xu? Are you hesitant because you don't dare to make this bet?" Yan Liang feared he wouldn't agree, so he deliberately provoked him with his words.

  Xu You's expression immediately became agitated, thinking to himself: This Yanzi is rough but has some subtlety, indeed having some strategic ideas. However, he is after all just a martial general, how can he really be prescient? I don't believe his predictive abilities can surpass mine!

  After some deliberation, Xu You's spirits lifted and he said boldly: "What is there to be afraid of? I, Xu, will make this wager with the general."

  Yan Liang smiled and said: "Mr. Xu indeed has courage, then let's make a pact by slapping our palms together."

  "An oath is an oath." Xu You also didn't mince words and struck out with his palm.

  Bang!

  Iron palm and white tender palms struck heavily.

  "Xu Ziyuan, you can't escape my 'Five Finger Mountain' after all..." A faint, almost imperceptible sly smile flashed across Yan Liang's mouth.