Chapter 1376

"My lord..."

"There is an invitation for you."

The attendant stood outside Yuan Shao's study door and said softly.

In the study, Yuan Shao was packing up some important letters and his own items.

The grain had already been sent to Luoyang by Yan Liang and Wen Chou.

As long as the two arrived in Luoyang, they would return immediately, and of course, they would also carry the resignation letter he sent to Luoyang.

After the two returned from Luoyang, he could go through Bingzhou and then go to Chang'an to join Duan Yu.

Invitation?

Yuan Shao took it and looked at it.

Is it Yuan Ji?

Yuan Shao looked at the messy study behind him, then nodded and said to the attendant outside the study: "Let people prepare the carriage."

The attendant bowed and answered, then walked toward the outside.

Not long after, Yuan Shao, who had changed into ordinary brocade clothes, headed toward the tavern he had agreed to meet Yuan Ji at.

The tavern was located in the west of Ye City.

After arriving at the door and stopping the carriage, Yuan Shao walked into the tavern.

The guards who followed Yuan Shao wanted to enter the tavern together, but were stopped by Yuan Shao.

"You just wait outside, I'll call you if anything happens."

"As you command."

After the guards agreed, Yuan Shao walked into the tavern alone.

Yuan Shao, who looked around on the first floor and didn't see Yuan Ji, went straight to the second floor of the tavern.

It was dusk, and there were not many diners in the tavern.

And Yuan Ji was sitting by the window on the second floor, also alone.

"Ben Chu."

After seeing Yuan Shao coming, Yuan Ji stood up and beckoned to Yuan Shao with a smile.

Yuan Shao stepped forward two steps quickly, then stood at a position about one meter away from Yuan Ji and cupped his hands: "Big brother..."

"Ben Chu..." Yuan Ji smiled and stepped forward to pull Yuan Shao: "Ben Chu, isn't this being an outsider? You and I are brothers, why do we need such vulgar etiquette? Don't tell me you still treat me, this big brother, as an outsider?"

"I dare not." Yuan Shao hurriedly explained: "There is a difference between seniority and inferiority, big brother, I should naturally treat you with etiquette."

"You, you."

Yuan Ji laughed while pulling Yuan Shao to sit directly opposite, the two sharing a desk.

"Ben Chu, since I came to Jizhou, I haven't had a good chat with you. I wanted to take advantage of that night's banquet to have a few words with you, but I didn't expect..." Yuan Ji shook his head while speaking.

"I should have visited big brother, but I was busy with official business and didn't have time, I hope big brother will forgive me."

Yuan Ji waved his hand and said: "Alright, alright, let's not say so much between brothers, no one should pick on anyone's etiquette. Today is just a normal gathering between brothers, and by the way, communicate feelings."

Yuan Ji looked at Yuan Shao and examined him seriously before saying: "So many years have passed in a flash. I still remember when we were young, we looked forward to growing up every day, looking forward to becoming famous in the world early..."

"But now... you, me, and Gong Lu..."

"I didn't expect Gong Lu..."

When mentioning Yuan Shu, the expression on Yuan Shao's face changed slightly.

Yuan Shao didn't have much feeling about Yuan Shu's death in his heart.

The relationship between the two had not been good since they were young.

Although they grew up together, Yuan Shu often hung the difference between legitimate and illegitimate on his lips, as if he was afraid that others wouldn't know that he, Yuan Shu, was the legitimate son of the Yuan clan.

Even after growing up, Yuan Shu still often hung this on his lips.

Especially after Yuan Shu served as the Tiger Ben Zhonglang General, he didn't put his illegitimate brother in his eyes and scolded him at will.

Duan Yu killed Yuan Shu, and Yuan Shao didn't feel anything wrong at all.

That was Yuan Shu's own fault.

But hearing this from Yuan Ji's mouth, Yuan Shao guessed that there must be something waiting for him later.

"Ben Chu, brother knows that you have a very good relationship with Duan Yu. I heard about it when I was in Luoyang. But Gong Lu is a member of our Yuan clan after all. For this reason, uncle... uncle is also a little worried."

Yuan Ji looked at Yuan Shao and said slowly: "I came to Jizhou this time to ask you one thing on behalf of uncle."

Yuan Shao nodded and said: "Big brother, please speak."

"Uncle wants to know, now that Duan Yu is supporting the new Emperor in Chang'an and has been enfeoffed as a Prince, he is already at odds with the Luoyang court. Uncle wants to know... if one day, you need to lead troops to attack Duan Yu, what will you do?"

"Are you going to be enemies with Duan Yu, or... avoid the battle?"

Sure enough.

Yuan Shao said "sure enough" in his heart.

He knew Yuan Ji would ask this.

"Big brother... this question..."

If it were the past two days, Yuan Shao might have hesitated about how to answer this question.

But now Yuan Shao had already thought about it.

Because he was going to leave, there was no possibility of standing on the opposite side of Duan Yu.

Yuan Shao was about to speak when a waiter walked up the stairs on the second floor of the tavern.

The waiter was holding a tray, and there were wine pots and dishes on the tray.

After seeing the person coming, Yuan Shao closed his mouth.

The waiter held the tray with his head lowered, walked slowly to the front of the two, and placed the dishes and wine pots on the desk one by one.

Yuan Ji picked up the wine pot, glanced at the waiter on the side, and then poured a cup into Yuan Shao's wine vessel.

Then he poured himself a cup.

"Come Ben Chu, drink a cup first." Yuan Ji picked up the wine glass.

"Two guests, please take your time."

The waiter said with his head lowered and turned to leave.

Yuan Shao also picked up the wine glass and drank it in one gulp.

Watching Yuan Shao look up and his Adam's apple roll, Yuan Ji narrowed his eyes slightly, then raised his black long sleeve to cover it, then raised his glass and looked up.

The fine wine seemed to open Yuan Shao's words.

Looking at the waiter who had retreated, Yuan Shao took a deep breath and said: "Big brother, to tell you the truth... actually... I have resigned."

Huh?

Yuan Ji's eyes widened suddenly, his face full of shock: "Ben Chu, you..."

Yuan Shao nodded, as if he wanted to spit out the bitter water in his chest, picked up the wine pot, poured himself another cup, looked up and drank it dry, and said:

"Big brother, after this incident, I forcibly collected grain from the Jizhou aristocratic families, and I have offended the Jizhou aristocratic families almost enough. Tian Yuanhao, Ju Shou, and others have been behind closed doors these few days, saying they are sick... but in fact, what are they thinking, can I not know?"

"I think big brother should also be clear, even if I don't submit my resignation, this Inspector of Jizhou won't be able to do it for many days, so I simply resigned."

Yuan Ji stared at the wine pot in Yuan Shao's hand with wide eyes.

Watching Yuan Shao pick up the wine pot, pour himself another cup, and then raise his arm suddenly.

Yuan Ji reached out to block it.

But was pressed down by Yuan Shao: "Big brother, some words, if you don't say them today, there may not be many opportunities to say them in the future."

"I have submitted my resignation, and recommended you to the court and uncle to be the Inspector of Jizhou, and I... am preparing to go to Chang'an."