Can I get to the other side?

Imperial Palace, Xuanshi.

Liu Xie has been waiting here with Xu You, Guo Jia, Zhang He, and Gao Lan for news from Yuan Mansion.

Seeing that no news has been sent back, Guo Jia can't help but worry: "Why hasn't there been any movement for so long? Could something have happened? It's really too radical to send the Imperial Guards."

This time Xu You mobilized the Imperial Guards to Yuan Xi without reporting to the emperor. He was not very happy about this, because the Imperial Guards were the only force in Yecheng that could protect the emperor and were also a hidden trump card.

Although Xu You made sufficient preparations to cover up the traces, he still felt that the exposure was too hasty. Once Yuan Shao was not dead, he would definitely suspect Zhang He and Gao Lan, and even further suspect the emperor. At that time, the situation would not be very good.

"I mobilized the Imperial Guards without your Majesty's permission. Please punish me!"

Upon hearing this, Xu You knelt down and apologized.

Seeing this, Zhang He and Gao Lan also knelt down quickly.

Although the situation was urgent, their conspiracy was not approved by the emperor.

Lending the imperial guards to Yuan Xi without authorization, even if it was to suppress Yuan Shao, still committed a taboo for a minister.

If he met a ruthless emperor, not to mention the extermination of three clans, it would not be too much to execute the whole family.

Liu Xie sat on the soft couch, looking at the three people kneeling on the ground with his eyes flickering.

From the perspective of a normal person, there is obviously nothing wrong with their actions.

After all, the opportunity is fleeting, and if they come to ask for instructions, the situation will change.

But from the perspective of the emperor, their behavior is obviously unforgivable and must be severely punished.

Otherwise, who knows what chaos will happen in the future.

Today, they can dispatch the imperial guards to kill Yuan Shao without authorization, and tomorrow they can rush into the harem to launch a palace coup.

Punishment is necessary, but it cannot be too severe, otherwise it will chill their hearts.

Liu Xie thought for a moment, but he had no idea. He was still far from being able to balance the power of an emperor and to be able to show his power.

"When things are slow, follow the will of the emperor; when things are urgent, follow the will of the emperor."

"Although you are thinking about the big plan, you have to be punished."

"Now I am still in a period of using people, so I allow you to make meritorious contributions while serving your sentence."

Xu You looked at Zhang He and Gao Lan and kowtowed to express his gratitude.

At this time, an eunuch came in and reported: "Your Majesty, Yuan Xi has returned with the imperial guards and is now seeking an audience outside the palace."

Hearing this, Liu Xie, Xu You, and Guo Jia's eyes lit up!

Yuan Xi returned with the imperial guards, so doesn't that mean... Yuan Shao is dead?

The three looked at each other, and Xu You took the initiative to say: "Your Majesty, I will go to find out the situation and finish this play by the way."

"Okay."

Liu Xie suppressed his excitement and nodded.

After getting permission, Xu You left with Zhang He and Gao Lan.

Outside the palace gate, Yuan Xi was waiting for the emperor to summon him.

When Zhang He and Gao Lan saw him, they went up and pressed him to the ground without saying a word.

"How dare you steal my tiger talisman and falsely pass on the emperor's edict to mobilize the guards! You know this is a serious crime punishable by the death of nine clans. If you want to die, don't hurt us brothers!" Zhang He put a knife to Yuan Xi's neck and said sternly.

Gao Lan also had a murderous look on his face and said coldly: "No need to talk nonsense with him, he is so bold, just take him to see the general!"

Yuan Xi was frightened by the words of the two people and sweated coldly.

Feeling the coldness of the blade on his neck, he did not dare to hesitate and hurriedly said: "Two generals, calm down, I have no choice but to do this!"

"Yuan Shao is a traitor who held the emperor hostage. Now I have severed the father-son relationship with him and expelled him from Yecheng! Now the emperor is worry-free! The two generals can also be worry-free!"

Zhang He and Gao Lan were shocked.

Yuan Shao... ran away?

Zhang He grabbed Yuan Xi by the collar and asked coldly, "What do you mean? Did the general leave Yecheng?"

"That's right!"

Yuan Xi nodded hurriedly, fearing that if he answered a moment later, Zhang He would chop off his head with a knife, "The traitor Yuan Shao was defeated by the offensive of the imperial guards, so he fled Yecheng!"

"Don't worry, generals. I stole the tiger talisman and I also mobilized the imperial guards. I will take full responsibility for this matter and will never involve you, generals!"

"Here is the tiger talisman, and I will return it intact to Zhao!"

Yuan Xi took out the tiger talisman from his arms and presented it with both hands.

Zhang He frowned and thought for a moment, and finally snorted coldly, snatched the tiger talisman, and then said coldly, "I will spare your life! If you dare to do this again next time, I will kill you!"

After that, Zhang He led the imperial guards away.

And Gao Lan turned around and returned to the palace.

Yuan Xi looked at the many guards leaving him, and a trace of reluctance flashed in his eyes. It would be great if such an elite army was his.

Just now, the thousand guards fought those city defense troops, which was just like cutting melons and vegetables. While causing a large number of casualties, their own casualties were very few, which was much more powerful than his Tiger Camp!

It’s a pity that it’s not his after all.

Yuan Xi sighed in his heart, patted the dust off his body, and got up from the ground. Then he saw Xu You coming out of the palace.

"Uncle!"

Seeing Xu You, Yuan Xi was overjoyed. Xu You lied to help him lead Zhang He and Gao Lan away, and he would definitely not be let off.

He hurriedly stepped forward and asked with concern: "Is Uncle okay? Has he been embarrassed by Zhang and Gao?"

Xu You shook his head and said: "I am a counselor trusted by Yuan Shao. The two of them dared not to attack me, but just scolded me a few words... Second Master, how is the situation now?"

Yuan Xi sighed when he heard this and said unwillingly: "It's better to let the old thief run away. The chess piece is only one step away. The chess piece is just one step away!"

It was clear that he was almost able to kill Yuan Shao, but it was a pity that there were not enough people.

In addition, after his cousin destroyed the city gate and shut it down, he blocked the pursuers, which finally led to Yuan Shao's escape.

A trace of disappointment flashed in Xu You's eyes, and he forced a smile and said: "It's okay. It's okay to escape. At least Ye City belongs to the Second Young Master now."

"What's the use of giving Yecheng to me?" Yuan Xi shook his head, with a bitter expression on his face, "As long as my father escapes from Yecheng, it won't take long for him to lead an army back. I don't have soldiers and horses in my hands, how can I resist?"

After today's battle, his 500 private troops from the Tiger Battalion were basically wiped out, with only a hundred or so left; the Ximen garrison also suffered heavy casualties, with only less than 400 people.

These remnants together could barely make up a battalion.

What does a battalion of people mean in front of Yuan Shao's tens of thousands of troops?

Not to mention defending Ye City, it would be difficult to defend even one city wall!

Xu You asked: "Could it be that the second young master came to the palace to see His Majesty because of..."

Yuan Xi nodded and said: "That's right, I'm here to ask for an official position from your Majesty. As long as your Majesty gives me the official position of Taiwei... No, I don't even need to be a Taiwei. It can be any official position that allows me to recruit troops. I can pull one by myself." army!"

Recruiting an army requires holding an official position.

Why are you recruiting troops if you don't have an official position? Who else will follow you?

This is the reason why Yuan Xi persists in asking for an official position.

Xu You said: "But His Majesty has rejected you twice in succession."

Yuan Xi said confidently: "This time I helped your majesty drive away Yuan Shao and saved your majesty from being held hostage by Yuan Shao. This time he will definitely agree to grant me an official position!"

The emperor was just a puppet in Yuan Shao's hands before, but he was willing to be the emperor's hawk and dog lackey and stood on the opposite side of Yuan Shao. Would the emperor still not support him?

This is where his confidence lies!

But after hearing this, Xu You shook his head and said, "Second Young Master, you'd better go back. His Majesty won't see you."

"Why?"

Yuan Xi was stunned. He had severed the father-son relationship with Yuan Shao and was willing to become the emperor's lackey. Why hasn't the emperor met him yet?

Helping the emperor escape from the clutches of thieves, isn't this a big enough contribution?

Xu You smiled and said nothing, just waiting there with Yuan Xi.

Not long after, Gao Lan came out of the palace again. He said coldly to Yuan Xi: "Your Majesty doesn't see you, so he asked you to go back."

Yuan Xi's expression changed drastically and he asked in disbelief: "How is it possible? General Gao, are you mistaken? Or did you not report it to His Majesty at all?"

He doesn't believe it!

He didn't believe that the emperor would not see him!

"roll!"

Gao Lan didn't want to talk nonsense to Yuan Xi at all, so he uttered this word coldly, turned around and left, leaving Yuan Xi standing there in despair.

"Impossible, this is impossible. He must be avenging his personal revenge. I want to enter the palace to see His Majesty! I want to see Your Majesty!"

Yuan Xi looked ferocious and wanted to force his way into the palace.

Seeing this, Xu You quickly stopped him: "Second Young Master, calm down! It's not that Gao Lan didn't report it to the emperor, but that the emperor didn't dare to see you!"

These words finally made Yuan Xi sober up a little. He stared at Xu You and asked, "What do you mean by Uncle Shi's words?"

Just before Gao Lan came to inform him, Xu You said that the emperor would not see him, which meant that Xu You must know something!

Xu You didn't give in and said directly: "Although the second young master drove away Yuan Shao, he only drove him away and did not kill him. Yuan Shao may come back at any time."

"If the emperor shows his kindness to you, what do you think will happen to the emperor when Yuan Shao recaptures Yecheng and learns about it?"

"The emperor is not unwilling, but he dare not."

"To put it simply, Second Young Master, the value you have shown now is not enough for the Emperor to trust you. Do you understand? You must first have enough soldiers and horses to protect Ye City."

After Xu You explained this, Yuan Xi finally understood, but he still couldn't help but said: "But I don't have soldiers and horses, how can I protect Yecheng?"

Xu You said: "It's very simple, just recruit troops and buy horses."

Yuan Xi said: "The emperor has to give me an official position first. If he doesn't give me an official position, how can I recruit troops in the name?"

Xu You said: "You must have enough soldiers and horses first. If you don't have enough soldiers and horses, how can the emperor dare to grant you an official position?"

Yuan Xi: "I..."

Yuan Xi felt that he was trapped in an endless loop.

He had no soldiers and horses, so the emperor dared not trust him, let alone give him an official position; but if the emperor did not give him an official position, he would not be able to recruit soldiers and horses.

This is completely incomprehensible!

Finally, Xu You said: "Actually, Second Young Master, you have overlooked one thing, that is, you can recruit troops without an official position, but...it will cost more."

Yuan Xi immediately understood the implication of Xu You's words. During the Ling Emperor's time, the imperial court was unable to conquer the Yellow Turbans, so it issued an edict.

People with lofty ideals can recruit local warriors to fight for the Yellow Turban.

However, these local warriors have no official establishment and recognition, and they cannot be called an army. They can only be called "Yi Cong", which is exactly what Gongsun Zan's white horse Yi Cong is.

There is no limit on the number of Yi Cong, and anyone can recruit them. However, there is no food and salary from the court, so everything has to be paid for by oneself.

Yuan Xi had always thought of relying on the official positions conferred by the emperor to recruit troops, but he had forgotten this. Xu You now reminded him.

"But... I'm afraid not many people will come to recruit soldiers in my personal name."

Yuan Xi hesitated, his reputation is not good.

Especially now that the murder of his brother and imprisonment of his father has been exposed, although he has put on the name of slaying relatives for the greater good, with Yuan Shao's reputation, there are probably not many people who believe his words.

Xu You smiled and said, "It doesn't matter. The Yuan family's foundation is basically in Yecheng. How much money is there in the treasury? There must be brave men under a heavy reward. As long as the second son is willing to spend money, why worry about not having soldiers?"

"Once enough soldiers are recruited, His Majesty will definitely grant an official position. At that time, the emperor will issue an edict, and everyone will know that the second son is a loyal and righteous man who slays relatives for the greater good. The reputation of the three dukes of the Yuan family for four generations will be gathered in the second son alone."

"In this way, let alone the Taiwei, even the general can be promoted."

Yuan Xi became more and more excited and excited as he listened.

General!

Ranked above the three dukes!

If he replaced Yuan Shao as the general, he would naturally become the core figure of the Yuan family, and talented people from all over the world would flock to help him achieve great things.

At that time, there would be no need to rely on the reputation of his ancestors who were three officials for four generations.

He would surpass his ancestors!

"What my uncle said was a wake-up call for me. I will go back and spend all my family wealth to recruit troops. I will definitely defend Yecheng for the emperor!"

After Yuan Xi said this, he hurriedly left the palace.

Xu You looked at his back and sneered in his heart.

It was thanks to such a fool that the Yuan family's wealth could be spent to recruit troops for His Majesty.

It was not until Yuan Xi disappeared from his sight that Xu You retracted his gaze and returned to the Xuanshi.

...

After listening to Xu You's report, Liu Xie was overjoyed.

The tide signal came on the Qiantang River.

Today I know who I am!

If Guo Jia and others were not in the palace, he would have wanted to roar to the sky to vent his excitement.

From today on, he is no longer a puppet held hostage by Yuan Shao!

He will officially step onto the stage of this chaotic world as the emperor.

Guo Jia waved his sleeves and said excitedly: "Your Majesty has been trapped in the shallows for nearly two years, and today he finally soars into the sky! Congratulations to Your Majesty!"

Zhang He and Gao Lan were also excited. They pledged their loyalty to the emperor earlier than Guo Jia, and were the first batch of ministers who helped him in times of need!

Once the emperor unified the nine states and regained control of the throne, his future would be limitless.

After accepting everyone's congratulations, Liu Xie also calmed down.

Although he has escaped from the shackles for now.

But once Yuan Shao returned with his army, unless he gave up Jizhou and went to Xuzhou, Yecheng would certainly not be able to be defended.

But giving up Yecheng is equivalent to giving up Jizhou, the richest province in the world.

Before Liu Xie saw no hope at all, he still wanted to fight for it.

Now I just hope Gongsun Zan can put enough pressure on Yuan Shao so that he won't immediately withdraw his army to attack Yecheng.

As long as it takes until Lu Bu's army is stationed in, even if Yuan Shao repel Gongsun Zan, it will be useless.

"Your Majesty, Yuan Shao's strategist Xun Chen is asking for an audience outside the palace and wants to present a great gift to Your Majesty."