The news of Yuan Xi slaughtering hundreds of Xiongnu bandits had already reached Ye City.
It is said that the factions in Ye City supporting the eldest son Yuan Tan and the third son Yuan Shang have mixed opinions about Yuan Xi's actions, but most people still oppose it, saying that this will affect relations with the Southern Xiongnu and even the plan to attack Gongsun Zan.
Gao Gan, representing the Gao family of Chenliu, also had some criticisms about this.
The Gao family of Chenliu is the wife's family of Yuan Shao, and Bing Province was originally Yuan Shao's promised territory to the Gao family. Now that Yuan Xi has offended the Southern Xiongnu, who occupy most of Bing Province, how will the Gao family be able to stably control Bing Province in the future?
That's not all, Yuan Shao sent an urgent letter, saying that he would send someone to Beixin City to investigate the matter soon, and asked Yuan Xi to return to Ye City.
As for Yuan Xi rescuing hundreds of Han women, recruiting Zhao Yun, and defeating hundreds of White Horse Knights, the letter did not mention it at all.
After Yuan Xi saw the letter, his face was gloomy, and he threw the silk book out fiercely.
He even suspected that he was not his own son. Leaving aside other things, this was clearly taking the fruits of his labor in Beixin City. Once the city, which he had managed for three years, was given up, it would be difficult to get it back!
Wu Zhao silently picked up the silk book, glanced at it, and understood the situation. She whispered, "Young Master, you have suffered for saving us women."
Yuan Xi waved his hand and said, "It's not entirely for you."
"The Southern Xiongnu will cause chaos sooner or later. It is impossible to coexist peacefully with them."
Wu Zhao asked doubtfully, "What do you mean by this?"
Yuan Xi said in a deep voice, "The Han Dynasty is weakening, and the barbarians will inevitably cause chaos."
"To retreat to the barbarians is tantamount to seeking skin from a tiger. These barbarians will inevitably cause chaos and harm the world as their numbers increase in Bing Province and even beyond the Great Wall."
"At that time, the entire north will be devastated, and the situation of the Han children will be unspeakably miserable."
The reason why Yuan Xi wanted to occupy You Province firmly was not only because You Province had great potential and extremely rich resources that had not yet been developed.
But You Province was not stable, surrounded by barbarians. In terms of farming alone, Jing Province was much more comfortable than You Province.
But in the future, You Province will be the source of chaos in the world, the beginning of the Five Barbarians Uprising, and the root of turmoil in all dynasties.
Later, the rise of Liao, Jin, Jurchen, and Later Jin were all inseparable from this area of Liaodong.
Strictly speaking, this situation was jointly caused by the Cao and Sima families.
Cao Cao slaughtered Xuzhou twice, killing hundreds of thousands of people, and the Central Plains experienced a great war, with thousands of miles of uninhabited land.
If you want to quickly restore production and quickly fill the population gap, you can only use the method of population migration.
Later, the Wei Kingdom also did this, migrating people from the border areas, such as You Province, Bing Province, and Ba-Shu, to the interior.
But it also produced side effects at the same time.
During the Wei Kingdom, the Gongsun family, who ruled Liaodong for three generations and suppressed the northern ethnic groups such as Goguryeo, Fuyu, and the Three Hans, was destroyed by Sima Yi. The Han people under their rule were moved to the south, and Liaodong was slowly occupied by foreign tribes taking advantage of the opportunity.
The number of Han people in the north decreased sharply, and foreign tribes such as the Xianbei and Xiongnu gradually took the lead and controlled the north. By the time of the Western Jin Dynasty, the Eastern Yi, Western Rong, Southern Man, and Northern Di in You and Bing Provinces had reached millions.
You need to know that during the Three Kingdoms period, the total population of the Three Kingdoms was only over ten million.
With so many foreigners, how could there not be chaos once they encounter a suitable opportunity?
Later, the Jin Dynasty had no time to take care of the north and condoned the foreigners, which led to the subsequent Five Barbarians Uprising.
Yuan Xi didn't know how far he could go in this chaotic world. Heroes of the Three Kingdoms were everywhere, and the one who laughed last might not be himself.
But he also had his own ideas.
At least, the chances of the Five Barbarians Uprising happening should be minimized.
Moreover, as a person from later generations, Yuan Xi knew that Zhu Di could rise from You Province and occupy the world, and the emperor guarding the country's gate was enough to prove that You Province had the potential to be a barrier to the world!
Therefore, that day in the valley, when Yuan Xi learned that the person he had captured was Liu Bao, the son of the Xiongnu Chanyu, the future Left Xian King of the Xiongnu, and the father of Liu Yuan, who established one of the Sixteen Kingdoms, he did not hesitate to kill him directly.
The feeling of changing history seems to be really fulfilling!
Wu Zhao heard an unquestionable confidence in Yuan Xi's words and asked curiously, "Could it be that Young Master can foresee the future?"
Yuan Xi nodded and said, "I know a little bit."
Wu Zhao only thought Yuan Xi was joking. She pointed to the silk book and said, "The lines in this letter imply that the trip to Ye City will not be easy. Young Master needs to make plans early."
These days, Yuan Xi asked Wu Zhao to teach the women to read and was surprised to find that Wu Zhao was not only knowledgeable but also proficient in music. Her insights were even more extraordinary, and she could grasp the key points of things in just a few words.
He said, "What countermeasures do you have?"
Wu Zhao thought for a while, "Young Master's power is still too weak."
"May I ask, how many people under Yuan Zhou Mu support Young Master?"
Yuan Xi smiled bitterly and said, "They have all been divided by my eldest brother and third brother."
Wu Zhao said, "Is there any hope of attracting a group of people?"
Yuan Xi pondered for a long time, "There is little hope."
If he could snatch people from Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang, he would have stayed in Ye City three years ago, and he wouldn't have had to come to Beixin City to earn a living.
Wu Zhao nodded slightly. After understanding the situation, she realized that this second son of Yuan Shao was really not favored, and even this nominal Beixin City guard with a salary of three hundred stones was a temporary position.
She pondered for a moment and said, "I have a word, I don't know if it's right or wrong. Young Master, please listen to it tentatively, and don't blame me if I'm wrong."
Seeing Wu Zhao speaking solemnly, Yuan Xi immediately sat upright with a solemn expression, bowed slightly, and said, "Please speak, Madam."
Wu Zhao said, "In this world, those who achieve great things need two things."
"One is soldiers and horses, and the other is reputation."
"Soldiers and horses are the foundation of occupying a place, and reputation is what the gentry rely on for allegiance."
"Although Young Master's soldiers and horses are strong, the number is far from enough."
"If Young Master cannot get the allegiance of the gentry, he will not have money, food, or soldiers and horses."
"The two complement each other and are indispensable."
Yuan Xi deeply agreed, "Then how should I break the situation?"
Wu Zhao smiled, "Since Young Master is suppressed within the family, why not find another way?"
Yuan Xi thought for a moment, "Are you saying to find help from outside the family?"
He had considered this question.
He even thought about secretly defecting to Cao Cao.
There is nothing shameful in joining if you can't beat them. Yuan Tan in later generations also did this, once defecting to Cao Cao after being defeated by Yuan Shang.
But Yuan Tan's rebellion and subsequent killing showed that there were many variables in this, and moreover, relying on others, who can guarantee that you will not be liquidated later?
Even if Cao Cao wouldn't, what about others?
Especially Cao Pi, he is a grudge-holder!
Therefore, after thinking about it, Yuan Xi believed that if he wanted to truly control his own destiny, he must never rely on others.
He said, "Actually, there are not many choices: Liu Bei of Xu Province, Lu Bu of Yan Province, Zhang Yang of Henei, Liu Biao of Jing Province, and the Han Emperor?"
"But Liu Bei and Lu Bu are now struggling to protect themselves, Zhang Yang and Liu Biao are too far away, and the Han Emperor is even more out of the question, still controlled by Li Jue and Guo Si. Distant water cannot quench immediate thirst."
Wu Zhao had heard Dong Zhao tell the story of the Three Loyal Ministers and asked curiously, "Why doesn't Young Master mention Cao Cao alone?"
Yuan Xi shook his head when he heard this, "He alone will not do."
"He has great ambitions and will surely become a great enemy of the Yuan family."
Wu Zhao had long heard Dong Zhao say that Yuan Xi seemed to have a strange resentment towards Cao Cao.
She thought it was a pity. According to her father's friendship with Cao Cao, if Yuan Xi could get in touch with Cao Cao, she thought she could still put in a good word.
However, seeing Yuan Xi's insistence, she had to say, "No matter who Ye City sends, Young Master must protect the private soldiers and must not let them be taken away."
Yuan Xi nodded in agreement. These private soldiers were the foundation of his wealth. Without soldiers, he could only be at the mercy of others.
The key is, who will Ye City send this time?
Yuan Xi chewed on Wu Zhao's words. If it doesn't work inside, then look for it outside.
Suddenly, his body trembled slightly, as if he had thought of something.