novel-bin Chapter 294 Human Heart
Chapter 294 Human Heart
Chapter 294
Yuan Shu kept a close eye on the coronation ceremony and urgently urged the construction period.
All kinds of equipment, reign titles, and ceremonies related to the emperor were being prepared. Although he had not yet officially ascended the throne, he was already calling himself "I" and walking around Shouchun.
There are endless ways to win people's hearts and minds, and there is no shortage of people in Shouchun City who flatter and dream of "following the dragon's merit."
There is another group of people in secret who are trying every means to escape from Shouchun.
Yuan Shu's declaration of himself as emperor really shattered the "fantasy" of countless people. This was not the result they wanted and they could not accept it in their hearts.
In addition, the imperial army was attacking them, and they fled in panic.
I don’t know how many people are selling their property and sending their wives and children away for various reasons.
As Yuan Shu's favorite minister, Guo Tu, who suggested Yuan Shu to ascend the throne, arrested "rebels" in Shouchun City on a large scale and even openly killed political enemies. Hundreds of people died in just a few days.
Instead of stopping this, Yuan Shu denounced it severely, accusing some people of having ulterior motives and being indecisive.
This caused panic among the people in Shouchun City. Everyone felt insecure and wanted to escape.
After a while, a military officer came over and asked in confusion: "Military Advisor, Xu You ran away!"
"Your Majesty is wise!"
Guo Tu heard this without thinking, and said: "As long as the south is firmly defended, wait for Your Majesty to kill Yuan Shao's servant, Liu Biao, Shi Xie and others, and then we can destroy them with a wave of our hands!"
Guo Tu still couldn't believe it and said, "They, they, sent out troops without Zhang Wen's order?"
The soldier knelt on one knee and said in a hurry: "My lord, Sun Jian led 20,000 soldiers and left Wu County and headed straight for Danyang County. Gongsun Zan led 10,000 soldiers and attacked Jiangxia. Yuan Shao stationed 15,000 soldiers in Jiujiang County. Liu Biao personally led an army of 50,000 and left Changsha County. The 30,000 troops of the Shi family have already attacked Nanhai County..."
As he spoke, his face was full of confidence and his tone was high, he said: "Don't worry, everyone. Starting tomorrow, I will lead the army in person. I will first destroy Yuan Shao and fight Gongsun Zan, defeat them, and then deal with Liu Biao and Shi Xie!"
In the evening, Guo Tu pretended to be busy and hurried into Yuan Shu's "temporary palace".
This contrast is eye-opening.
They were against Yuan Shu's enthronement, and it was extremely difficult to utter the word "Your Majesty" in such a short period of time.
Yuan Shu was not a fool. Although he was obsessed with becoming emperor, he was also aware of the situation he was facing.
Yuan Shu was fully aware of what was happening. His expression was gloomy, but he suddenly laughed out loud and said, "They are just a bunch of rabble! Since it is not Zhang Wen's order, they are fighting on their own! If I can defeat them twice, I can defeat them three times!"
Guo Tu smiled even more and said, "If he doesn't run away, I won't be able to explain to the master."
Guo Tu stood in front of Yuan Shu, raised his hand, and said with a sullen face: "Your Majesty, according to our investigation, Xu You started selling off his property ten days ago and tried to send his wife and children out of Shouchun. Today, we have made very careful arrangements, but Xu You still got the news in advance and escaped. I have failed to do my job well, please punish me, Your Majesty!"
All these add up to nearly 150,000 troops!
"My lord! My lord!"
Yuan Huan and others stood aside and watched Guo Tu coldly.
Guo Tu's eagerness to seize power and crack down on dissidents made them dissatisfied and fearful.
Guo Tu made a circle and had already recruited Xu You's troops under his command.
Not long after Xu You left, Guo Tu arrived with a large group of people and started arresting people at the altar.
The military marquis suddenly realized and raised his hand and said, "Military advisor, you are very wise. I am willing to serve you from now on. I hope you will not despise me!"
Xu You grabbed a horse and rode away at full speed, not daring to delay for even a moment.
Yuan Shu looked back at Guo Tu, feeling greatly relieved, nodded slightly, and was about to go out the side door.
The servant was panting and could only follow.
"I agree." Guo Tu said without hesitation. This was originally proposed by him.
Suddenly, a soldier ran in quickly, his voice full of anxiety.
The military marquis was stunned. What was the logic behind this? Xu You had even escaped. Wasn't this a sin?
Yuan Shu frowned and asked, "Is the news accurate?"
Guo Tu laughed loudly and said, "This time, I will promote you to captain. Do your job well!"
He lay on the ground, his eyes staring at the ground, his eyes flashing with ambition.
"impossible!"
Two days later, Xu You was supervising the construction of an altar for offering sacrifices to the heavens outside the city when a servant came in a hurry to report, his face filled with panic, "Master, something bad has happened. Guo Tu brought people to raid our mansion and arrested everyone..."
Yuan Shu didn't say anything, but Guo Tu said first: "Then Zhang Wen just arrived in Runan and didn't have time to mobilize his troops. How could they all come and kill him?"
The servant followed closely and shouted, "Master, where are we going..."
Guo Tu stood on a step, looking at the north, smiling proudly, without the slightest regret that Xu You had run away.
Yuan Huan and others kept silent when encountering problems and pushed everything to him. Is this what a minister does?
The military marquis was puzzled and asked, "Military Advisor, if you didn't tell me to make arrangements in advance, as long as we hurry up, Xu You won't be able to escape. Now that he has escaped, how are we going to explain to the Lord?"
Yuan Huan and others were shocked and looked at each other.
"Thank you, military advisor!" The military marquis was overjoyed and became even more flattering.
Yuan Shu's face was gloomy, and he was furious. He sneered, "It's just Xu You. It's no big deal if he runs away! Mr. Guo, I have made up my mind. I will appoint Ju Yi as the left general to lead the army to attack Yuan Shao. What do you think?"
Guo Tu liquidated almost all dissidents, especially driving away Xu You, and he became the number one strategist under Yuan Shu!
For convenience, he used Yuan Shu to drive away many people.
Guo Tu, who was very proud of himself, laughed a few times, put his hands behind his back, inspected the half-built altar, and said with his nose up to the sky: "Your Majesty plans to ascend the throne in half a month. This is the place for offering sacrifices to heaven. It must be repaired as soon as possible and cannot be delayed by anyone or anything."
Guo Tu folded his hands in front of him and said leisurely, "Now that Xu You has escaped, it is certain that he is collaborating with the enemy. The lord will only be angry and trust me more. What good will it do to capture Xu You alive?"
"Your Majesty, I respectfully bid you farewell." Guo Tu's clear voice echoed in the small hall.
Seeing that Yuan Huan and the others still refused to speak, Yuan Shu became more and more annoyed. He waved his hand and stood up, saying, "Dismiss the court."
Xu You looked at the old servant who had followed him for many years, his eyes widened, and he turned and ran without hesitation.
Yuan Shu turned around suddenly, walked down quickly, and asked, "What happened?"
But in Yuan Shu's view, Guo Tu was a loyal and courageous person.
Faced with this situation, Guo Tu mobilized troops into the city and kept a close watch on some people. Anyone who made the slightest movement would be arrested immediately and sent to jail.
The soldier raised his head, looked at Yuan Shu and said, "Accurate, spies in various places have verified it again and again. Also, Lü Bu in Xuzhou was defeated by Liu Bei, the governor of Langya. Liu Bei led 20,000 troops and seemed to be joining forces with Gongsun Zan!"
After driving Xu You away, Yuan Huan and others are no longer a concern. He is already Yuan Shu's most trusted confidant, and it is only a matter of time before he is granted a title of nobility and appointed as prime minister!
"Go to Yuan Shao, I want to kill Yuan Shu!" Xu You's eyes were bloodshot and he roared with gritted teeth.
Guo Tu spoke calmly and forcefully, then he fell to the ground and pleaded guilty.
Yuan Huan and others raised their hands but did not say anything.
"I understand." At some point, a group of officials of all ranks came from behind him, raised their hands and bowed repeatedly, with flattery written all over their eyes and brows.
Yuan Shu glanced at Yuan Huan and the others and asked, "What do you think?"
Yuan Huan and the others wanted to speak, but they were met with Guo Tu's cold and indifferent gaze. They could only hold back their words and said, "We have no objection."
Seeing that they had finally spoken, Yuan Shu's anger subsided a little, and he laughed even louder, "Mr. Guo, go and get ready. Tomorrow I will send troops to Jiujiang County to destroy Yuan Shao's servant first!"