Chapter 1367

Then he nodded slightly.

What is the court collecting this one million shi of grain for? It's obvious.

Of course, it is grain used to defend against Duan Yu.

Sending this one million shi of grain is equivalent to aiding the enemy.

Although Yuan Shao considers himself a Han official, but... Duan Yu is also his close friend.

Difficult.

It's difficult on the left.

It's difficult on the right.

"Sigh... is there no win-win solution?" Yuan Shao raised his head and looked at Xu You.

"It seems there really isn't..." Xu You shook his head and expressed helplessness.

In the east of Ye City, a black carriage was slowly driving out of the East Market of Ye County.

Beside the carriage were four guards dressed in black robes with swords at their waists.

The war horses were also pitch black, and one could tell at a glance that they were thousand-mile horses.

The carriage was moving very slowly, as if wandering aimlessly. After turning out of the East Market, it headed toward the residential area leading to the east of the city.

Just as the carriage was moving, a luxurious carriage also came from the opposite direction.

As the two carriages crossed, Guo Tu, who was sitting in the carriage coming from the opposite direction of the black carriage, lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and took a look, then let out a light "eh" and stopped the carriage.

"Young Master Yuan."

Guo Tu lifted the carriage curtain completely and called out.

Hearing Guo Tu's voice, Yuan Ji's voice calling to stop the carriage came from inside, and then the black carriage stopped.

Yuan Ji, dressed in a white robe and wearing a jade crown, also lifted the carriage curtain and saw Guo Tu.

"It's Mr. Guo." Yuan Ji smiled modestly and greeted.

Guo Tu shook his head hurriedly and said: "I dare not, I dare not, how can I be worthy of Young Master Yuan calling me Mr., Young Master Yuan is..."

"Oh." Yuan Ji smiled and said: "Nothing to do, just wandering around the city, is Mr. Guo returning to the mansion?"

As he spoke, Yuan Ji also glanced at a huge mansion not far away.

That was Yuan Shao's Inspector's Office.

"Did Mr. Guo just come from Ben Chu's place?"

Guo Tu, listening to Yuan Ji's question, nodded.

"Exactly." Guo Tu cupped his hands and said: "Since Young Master Yuan has nothing to do, why not come to my mansion for a small sit."

"I have long heard that Young Master Yuan came to Jizhou, but we have never met. Today, since I have nothing to do, why don't I call three or five friends to gather?"

Yuan Ji in the carriage hesitated slightly, then smiled and nodded in agreement.

"Good." Yuan Ji smiled and replied: "Since Mr. Guo has invited me, I will respectfully obey."

Not long after, Yuan Ji went to Guo Tu's mansion.

Yuan Ji had been in Wei Commandery from Luoyang for some time.

Guo Tu and others naturally learned of this news.

However, after Yuan Ji arrived in Ye County, he almost stayed behind closed doors every day. Even though Guo Tu sent people to deliver name cards to visit several times, they were all turned away.

No one knew what this future head of the Yuan clan came to Ye County for, and why he didn't show his face for so long.

"Young Master Yuan, please take the seat of honor."

Guo Tu bowed to Yuan Ji politely.

Although Yuan Ji had no official position at this time, as the future head of the Runan Yuan clan and the heir to the next generation of the Yuan clan, Yuan Ji's weight was always there.

Yuan Ji declined slightly, but under Guo Tu's insistence, Yuan Ji still sat in the seat of honor.

Guo Tu, Xun Chen, and the brothers Xin Pi and Xin Ping sat on both sides of the lower seats.

Before the banquet started, there was naturally some small talk, but the theme was all about the health of Grand Tutor Yuan Kui and other things, with no main topic.

But as they chatted, Guo Tu intentionally led the topic to the imperial edict that arrived today.

"Gentlemen, tell me, am I right? Tian Feng is nothing more than worried that the Governor will impose tax collection on them, so he refused in every way. This is clearly putting the Governor in an unrighteous position."

Guo Tu said indignantly: "If the Governor collects taxes from the people of Jizhou, he will inevitably lose faith with the people. But if he doesn't collect, he is defying the imperial edict. The best way is for the Jizhou aristocratic families to bear this one million shi of grain, so that the Governor can be worry-free."

Xun Chen, Xin Pi, and Xin Ping all nodded hurriedly.

And Yuan Ji, sitting in the main seat, said nothing. Although he lowered his head, he secretly remembered everything.

"Young Master Yuan." Guo Tu turned his head to look at Yuan Ji sitting in the main seat and said: "You are the Governor's clan brother. At this time, you should persuade the Governor. If he is so indecisive, then... if the court punishes him in the future, the one who suffers will be the Governor. We are also doing this for the Governor's own good."

"If the court really punishes him, or sends someone else to replace the Governor..."

Yuan Ji smiled modestly and waved his hand.

"Mr. Guo, I am currently a commoner, and I don't know much about court affairs. I believe Ben Chu has his own decision."

"Let's just talk about the wind and the moon today, not government affairs. Mr. Guo, please forgive me, please forgive me."

"Sigh..." Guo Tu shook his head and sighed, then picked up his wine glass: "Forget it, I won't say anymore, Young Master Yuan, please drink."

After three rounds of wine and five flavors of dishes.

Yuan Ji left Guo Tu's mansion because he was feeling unwell.

Guo Tu also drank quite a bit, but after Yuan Ji left, Guo Tu, who seemed drunk, looked at Yuan Ji's departing back with bright eyes and was thoughtful.

"Grand Tutor sent Yuan Ji to Ye County, but I don't know what he wants to do. Yuan Ji has been here for so long, but he has always stayed behind closed doors. What does he want to do?"

"What is the Grand Tutor's intention?"

Guo Tu frowned and thought.

A moment later, Guo Tu narrowed his eyes and looked at Xun Chen sitting not far away: "You Ruo, you say the Grand Tutor sent Young Master Yuan here, did he expect today long ago?"

"The Governor is a close friend of Duan Yu. The court's collection of grain is to deal with Duan Yu in Chang'an. The Governor must have scruples, which is why he cannot make a decision. If the Grand Tutor expected this scene, could it be that he let Young Master Yuan come to replace the Governor?"

At this moment, only Guo Tu and Xun Chen were left in the hall.

And the brothers Xin Pi and Xin Ping had left earlier because they couldn't handle the wine.

Guo Tu was from the Yingchuan Yingyin Guo clan, and Xun Chen was from the Yingchuan Yingyin Xun clan. Both were fellow villagers and fellow party members.

Although they followed Yuan Shao because they met in Luoyang, the vast majority of the reason was for the consideration of the Guo clan and the Xun clan.

At this moment, Guo Jia, also of the Guo clan, was serving under Duan Yu in Chang'an, and Xun You, also of the Yingchuan Xun clan, was also serving under Duan Yu.

The Xun clan also had the current head Xun Shuang, and the Guo clan's head Guo Hong was in the Luoyang court.

Following the Runan Yuan clan was just an investment.

After hearing Guo Tu's words, Xun Chen stroked his chin's short beard and thought seriously: "It's not impossible, but didn't Gong Ze just test him? Yuan Ji didn't make any statement."

Outside Guo Tu's mansion.

After getting into the carriage drunk, Yuan Ji's eyes immediately returned to clarity.

Through the carriage window, he looked at Guo Tu's mansion that was gradually falling behind.

"Yuan Wu, how is the matter I asked you to investigate before?" Yuan Ji asked in a very flat voice.

Yuan Wu, who was driving the carriage in front of Yuan Ji and had a hideous scar on his face, stopped the action of waving the whip and turned to the side and whispered: "There is already some clue. According to some soldiers, the Zhen clan's main branch was wiped out by the Second Young Master because the Second Young Master met someone after leaving the city, but it is not clear who it was."

"At that time, only the two great generals Yan Liang and Wen Chou accompanied the Second Young Master."

"However, the subordinate has already tracked down the youngest son of the Zhen clan's main branch who escaped from the city, and is currently on the way to Ye County."

Yuan Ji, leaning on the carriage, nodded slightly, closed his eyes, and said: "Be sure to be careful and keep a low profile, and must not be noticed by anyone."

"Also, send someone to keep an eye on Guo Tu and the others."

"As you command." Yuan Wu, who was driving the carriage, agreed.

Guo Tu...

He knew exactly what Guo Tu wanted to do with those words at the banquet just now.

It's just that at this time, it's not the time for him to make a statement.

He came to Jizhou, not with any mysterious mission.

His uncle's order was for him to assist Yuan Shao.

He stayed behind closed doors and didn't meet anyone, which was to hide his light and wait for an opportunity.

The Yuan clan needs to survive and develop.

But he, Yuan Ji, also needs to survive. He is not willing to be an abandoned son, becoming anyone's foil or a sacrifice for the family.