Chapter 38: Schemes

The servant received his orders and departed, and in a short while, Yuan Shu arrived.

Yuan Wei gestured for Yuan Shu to sit. He did not speak immediately, but instead watched Yuan Shu while lost in thought.

It could be said that Yuan Shu was far more handsome than Yuan Shao, which was one of the reasons why, beyond simple bloodline, Yuan Wei favored him. Yuan Shao was the product of a drunken encounter between Yuan Feng and a domestic songstress—a byproduct of a night of debauchery. Having been neglected since childhood, he naturally grew up rugged and exposed to the elements. In contrast, Yuan Shu, raised in luxury and refinement, became increasingly distinct from his half-brother as they aged.

Furthermore, because Yuan Shao’s mother was merely a songstress, he had to learn etiquette and conversation on his own. Yuan Shu was different; from the age of three, he had been guided by specialized ritual officials, ensuring that every movement adhered to strict norms. Over time, Yuan Shu’s demeanor grew to embody the elegance of the noble elite, while Yuan Shao’s behavior was frequently criticized for its lack of propriety. This was why Yuan Shao typically associated with street heroes and gallants, while Yuan Shu spent his time with the sons of noble families, discussing history and current affairs.

Yuan Wei gazed at Yuan Shu, who bore a striking resemblance to his brother Yuan Feng. Looking at his young, slightly arrogant face, he felt a pang of reluctance, yet he ultimately steeled his resolve. Life at home was perfectly comfortable, but how could one grow into a towering tree without weathering the storms?

Yuan Wei asked, "Are you aware of your brother’s current situation?"

Yuan Shu nodded and replied, "I am aware." In truth, upon learning that Yuan Shao had fled, Yuan Shu felt not concern, but a flicker of secret delight. Since childhood, he had loathed being compared to his brother. One was legitimate, the other illegitimate—what was there to compare?

Yuan Wei continued, "The Imperial Court has now appointed your brother as the Administrator of Bohai."

Though Bohai was not a massive commandery, it was a significant territory. An administrator of such a region was a high-ranking official with a salary of one thousand piculs. More importantly, an administrator held total authority over both civil and military affairs within his jurisdiction and could freely appoint his own subordinates, such as chief clerks and officers; the Imperial Court usually granted these requests without interference. Thus, with this appointment, Yuan Shao formally possessed his own power base. As for how he would develop it, that was a matter for the future.

Yuan Shu, clearly well-versed in the implications of such an office, was stunned. "How can this be?" he wondered. What kind of arrangement was this? Not only was there no retribution for resigning his post, but he was rewarded with an even higher one! Had he known such a windfall was possible, he would have resigned himself!

"This is the scheme of the Dong family’s scion," Yuan Wei explained, watching Yuan Shu. He sighed inwardly; this was the burden the Yuan clan, standing at the pinnacle of the nobility, had to bear. With the Yuan family’s deep roots and flourishing influence, they were inevitably a target. Over the years, countless people had sought to ride their coattails, use them to establish authority, or pressure them. Yuan Wei had navigated such situations so often that he remained calm, yet he felt Yuan Shu was still rather green.

"How many soldiers and weapons do you currently have at your disposal?" Yuan Wei asked.

Although Yuan Shu was not a military officer, it was common practice for noble families to privately maintain a small force, and as long as it did not exceed reasonable limits, no one interfered.

"About one *tun*," Yuan Shu answered honestly, though he was unsure of his uncle's intent. Under the military system of the Han, two *tun* made a *qu*, and each *tun* consisted of two squads. Thus, Yuan Shu had a private force of nearly one hundred men.

Yuan Wei nodded; this matched his intelligence. He took a jade pendant from his side, handed it to Yuan Shu, and said, "Take this token to the West Garden’s Right Army and find the *qu* commander, Zhang Xiao. He will obey your orders."

Yuan Wei then lowered his voice. "The Dong family’s scion intends to depose the Emperor. He will likely keep the deposed monarch in the Southern Palace. You must find an opportunity to stir up a commotion and abduct him!"

"What! Abduct... abduct the Emperor?!" Yuan Shu’s face turned pale with shock.

"Steady your mind!" Yuan Wei cautioned. It was only an abduction of an emperor—a deposed one, at that. Was it really worth such a loss of composure?

Yuan Shu took several deep breaths to calm his racing heart. *Uncle, you speak so lightly, as if abducting an emperor were as simple as chatting over tea! He is the Emperor! Even if he is deposed, he is the only treasure of the entire Han dynasty, is he not?*

*But why must our Yuan family risk this? Or rather, why must I, Yuan Shu, take this risk?*

Yuan Wei looked directly at Yuan Shu. "The Dong family’s scion intends to seize control of the government and will inevitably target our family. This place seems safe, but it is not. Furthermore, if your brother arrives one day with an army, what will you do? Have you not heard the story of Chong'er?"

Yuan Wei then posed a seemingly unrelated question: "If the Emperor is deposed, what does your brother stand to gain?"

Yuan Shu pondered for a long moment before tentatively suggesting, "Prestige?"

Yuan Wei stroked his beard and nodded. "Precisely. Therefore, whether you succeed or fail in the abduction, the outcome matters little—it is the act itself that counts."

Yuan Shu looked thoughtful.

Yuan Wei gestured across the table. "Here are the Northern and Southern Palaces..."

Seeing Yuan Shu nod, Yuan Wei continued, "If the Emperor is deposed, he will likely be held in the palace halls along the Yong Alley..." After all, as a deposed monarch, he could not be allowed to roam freely; the cold palace was the only logical choice.

Yuan Wei drew a larger frame on the table to represent the city walls. "You may hide your private soldiers at the South Gate. Prepare many carriages and horses, and seize him during the chaos. Take Zhang Xiao’s men, pass through the palace, and head straight out the South Gate..." He drew a line connecting the Southern Palace to the Southern Gate. The Southern Palace was closest to the gate, making the route the shortest and the risk relatively lower.

Watching Yuan Shu deep in thought, Yuan Wei added, "You may invite Cao Aman to join you in this endeavor."

*Cao Aman—Cao Cao. Why seek him out? Isn't it better if fewer people know of such matters?*

"Cao Aman has old contacts within the palace," Yuan Wei said, then added, "You may let him lead the operation."

Seeing that Yuan Shu began to grasp his meaning, Yuan Wei concluded, "Shu'er, you must remember: in all things, always keep a path of retreat. Cao Aman is that path. Now, go and think carefully. We shall discuss this again tomorrow."

Yuan Shu took his leave, but before departing, he asked, "Where should I go after this?"

"You may go to Nanyang."