Chapter 1170: Carrying the Coffin! [3]

Time flew by, and several days passed.

Luoyang.

The study in the back residence of the Grand Tutor's mansion.

Yuan Ji sat kneeling on one side of the study, while Yuan Kui, sitting behind the desk, was reviewing a memorial sent from Xuzhou.

The memorial was from the Langya State, from the Chancellor of Langya, Liu Bei.

Several hundred neatly written characters were arranged on the bamboo slips.

Yuan Kui nodded slightly as he read.

"This Liu Bei... is indeed a man capable of great things; I hadn't noticed before."

After finishing, Yuan Kui slowly rolled up the bamboo slips, his gaze filled with contemplation.

"Uncle, Yuan Kui submitted this to the imperial court, rather than informing Tao Qian..."

"Heh." Yuan Kui chuckled and said, "It is precisely because of this that I say Liu Bei is a man capable of great things."

"Liu Bei is in Xuzhou, and whatever he wants to do, he must have Tao Qian's nod of approval. However, this time Liu Bei has gathered the Qingzhou Huang Jin, and his strength has greatly increased. Previously, whether it was soldiers or grain, he needed Tao Qian's support to maintain them."

"Now, he no longer needs it."

"He submitted this memorial to the imperial court in the hope that the court would grant these Qingzhou refugees a legal status and allow him to reasonably take them in."

Yuan Ji nodded as he listened: "Then is Uncle prepared to grant his request?"

"Hmm."

Yuan Kui had agreed.

Because this memorial was not only a report to the imperial court but also a letter of allegiance to the Yuan clan.

Liu Bei was a smart man.

He knew that taking in the Qingzhou refugees would certainly be opposed by Tao Qian and some of the local great clans in Xuzhou, so he had already stated in the memorial that he hoped he could help mediate the situation.

Of course, the premise was those few words.

To follow his lead in the future.

This was what Yuan Kui wanted to see.

"It's just that..." Yuan Ji hesitated and said, "Zhang Rao killed the Inspector of Yanzhou, Cao Cao, and Cao Cao was a close friend of Duan Yu. Duan Yu will certainly not let this rest, will he?"

Yuan Kui had naturally considered this point.

"Duan Yu will not let it rest, but it is just a Zhang Rao; he can be sacrificed at a critical moment."

"Now that Duan Yu is campaigning in the Western Regions, with the Wusun, the Northern Xiongnu, and the various Western Region states keeping him in check, Duan Yu has no time to attend to this matter."

"Regardless of whether Duan Yu can solve the problems in the Western Regions, by the time he turns back, it will be a year later."

"Besides, Liangzhou is thousands of miles away from Xuzhou; even if Duan Yu wants to avenge Cao Cao, it won't be that easy."

"A year later, Liu Bei will have completely absorbed the Qingzhou refugees, and by then, the situation will be set."

"He will likely have no fear of Duan Yu."

"Planting an enemy for Duan Yu in the Central Plains is not a bad thing; on the contrary, it is beneficial to us."

"Why not do it?"

"Furthermore, accepting the surrender of the Qingzhou refugees is a matter that benefits the country and the people; what can Duan Yu do about it?"

Yuan Kui said, placing the bamboo slips on the table.

"Later, submit this memorial to the imperial palace and hand it to the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince," Yuan Kui said.

Yuan Ji nodded upon hearing this.

"Uncle, now that Cao Cao is dead, the position of Inspector of Yanzhou... and the Inspector of Qingzhou..."

Yuan Kui stroked the beard on his chin, which was already half-white.

"Isn't Kong Rong still in the capital? Let him take the position of Inspector of Qingzhou. As for Yanzhou... let's discuss it with Cui Lie later."

The third month.

Liangzhou, Hanyang Commandery, Jixian.

Compared to two years ago, Jixian had already undergone earth-shaking changes. ===== CHAPTER 1172 =====