In the summer of the seventh year of Jian'an, Yuan Shao, who suffered from illness and psychological torture, finally ushered in the last part of his life.

At this time, Yuan Shao seemed much older, his hair and beard seemed to be stained with white frost. Since the Hebei rebellion stabilized, his suspicion became increasingly serious, and he no longer trusted the counselors and generals around him. Even Xin Ping, Xin Pi, Shen Pei, Guo Tu and other old ministers who had always been highly valued by him were gradually alienated by Yuan Shao.

Sitting cross-legged on the couch in the main hall, he suddenly felt cold all over his body. His trembling right hand held the wine bottle and caused most of the wine to spill out. Yuan Shao, whose expression became more and more ferocious, only felt that the dancer dancing in front of him seemed to have two or three times more. Not only that, but soon everything around him began to become blurred and shaking...

Finally, the wine bottle in Yuan Shao's hand slid down to the ground and he fell forward.

When Yuan Shao opened his eyes again, the bed where he was lying was full of people. The closest to him were Mrs. Liu and Yuan Shang, as well as Shen Pei, Feng Ji and others who supported Yuan Shang, and Yuan Shao, who struggled to move his pale and cracked lips, noticed Cui Yan, who was standing among the ministers, and closed his eyes again.

After the ministers dispersed, Mrs. Liu and Yuan Shang specially left the medical officer who was specializing in diagnosing Yuan Shao's illness alone and carefully inquired about Yuan Shao's condition. The medical officer told them that Yuan Shao's illness was caused by depression and now it was too late to make a comeback.

In addition to a brief grief, Yuan Shang and Mrs. Liu secretly prepared how Yuan Shao would deal with Yuan Tan after he died.

Cui Yan, who was walking on the road, still couldn't wave away the look of Yuan Shao staring at him. He was thinking about what it meant.

At night, a knock on the door of Cui Yan's house came from a hurry and deliberate knock. After the attendant opened the door, he found that it was a close servant who had been following Yuan Shao for many years. The waiter who did not dare to neglect him quickly led him into the house.

As soon as he saw the waiter Cui Yan, he said in a panic: "Mr. Cui, lord, please go quickly."

Now Cui Yan was finally convinced that Yuan Shao had a very good look at the eyes he had shown in secret. He did not dare to hesitate and immediately followed the waiter around the post set up by Yuan Shang outside Yuan Shao's residence and walked into Yuan Shao's dormitory.

Seeing that Yuan Shao's face was as lifeless as white wax, Cui Yan knew that he had not had enough time, so he bowed and bowed:

"Cui Yan meets the lord."

Yuan Shao, who had already closed his eyes, heard Cui Yan's voice, slowly opened his eyes, turned his head and looked at Cui Yan. He had no strength to raise his arms, so he could only hook his fingers weakly. Cui Yan knew that Yuan Shao was calling him closer, so he stood up and walked quickly to Yuan Shao's bedside and asked in a low voice: "I don't know what the lord summoned late at night, why did it happen?"

Yuan Shao raised his right arm with difficulty. Cui Yan couldn't bear to see him so much effort, so he held Yuan Shao's right hand with both hands. But Yuan Shao had no idea where the strength he got tightly grasped Cui Yan's right hand and murmured:

"I don't have much time left, and the only person I can trust among the ministers is Mr. I have entrusted my current affairs..."

Yuan Shao couldn't continue saying a complete sentence before he finished speaking. He gasped loudly and looked very difficult.

Cui Yan lowered his head and took Yuan Shao's words: "What lord has to do, but please speak out for it. I will be in a desperate situation."

Yuan Shao, who had finally adjusted his breathing evenly, continued, "I have prepared a secret letter long ago, and I'm sorry Mr. Lao to hand it over to Xier for me."

After saying that, Yuan Shao looked at the attendant standing beside the bed. The attendant knew what Yuan Shao meant, turned around and walked to Cui Yan with the military talisman and the document of passing the throne that had been prepared long ago. Cui Yan saw these things and guessed Yuan Shao's thoughts:

"The lord means..."

"Although Tan'er is the eldest son, he is mediocre and difficult to be the heir. Although Shang'er has always been loved by me on weekdays, his talent is not much higher than Tan'er. Only Xier has far-reaching strategies and vision, and he is the only one who can stabilize the four prefectures of Hebei. I would like to ask the gentleman to get up immediately and hand over the seal of the Jizhou Governor and the general's military talisman to Yuan Xi, so that he can take charge of the overall situation."

When Cui Yan saw Yuan Shao in front of him, he seemed particularly sincere. His eyes showed anxiety and concern about the situation after his death. His tone further reflected his hard-working desire for Cui Yan, which made Cui Yan difficult to refuse.

At this time, Yuan Shao was even very sober. Perhaps he was just right when he was about to die. Yuan Shao made the decision to establish a heir before his death. For the future of Hebei, Cui Yan had no reason to refuse.

Just as Cui Yan was about to agree, the door was pushed open with rudely hands.

Looking back at the door, Lin Lili, torches outside the door, Yuan Shang, wearing armor, stood at the door holding a sharp sword.

Seeing this, Cui Yan knew that the matter seemed to have been exposed. Yuan Shao saw Yuan Shang and his troops surrounding his mansion and knew that the situation was hopeless and he could no longer restrain him. He was furious and vomited blood and died of death.

Yuan Shang walked into the hall with a sword, and his heavy steps produced a suffocating echo in the quiet room...

"My father summoned Mr. to come late at night. Is there anything important to entrust him?"

Every word in the plain sentence was full of murderous aura. Cui Yan felt that Yuan Shao had a murderous intention towards him, so he stood up from the edge of Yuan Shao's bed and replied calmly: "It's just gossip, and there is no big deal to ask for anything."

"oh?"

Obviously Yuan Shang didn't believe such words. He turned his face and narrowed his eyes to Cui Yan, who was lowering his head. The murderous aura in his words gradually faded a little, and then became more relaxed:

"Well, since that's the case, please go back. After I inherit my father's title, I still need to rely on my husband..."

With the help of Shen Pei and others, Yuan Shang basically controlled Yecheng, strictly prevented Yuan Tan stationed in Liyang and prevented him from entering Yecheng. Even Yuan Tan, who was so close to Yuan Shao, could not compete with Yuan Shang, let alone Yuan Xi, who was far away in Youzhou.

Cui Yan understood that the current trend had completely turned to Yuan Shang's side. In order to eliminate dissidents, Yuan Shang would never be polite, so he did not reveal what Yuan Shao had asked to die and quietly bowed away.

After Cui Yan left Yuan Shao's dormitory, the side general beside him said to Yuan Shang: "Did you just let Cui Yan go like that?"

Yuan Shang smiled and said, "Cui Yan's talent is indeed worthy of my life. When I ascend to the throne, he will naturally surrender to me."

Three days later, Shen Pei and others tampered with Yuan Shao's will before their death, and with the help of Mrs. Liu's perjury, Yuan Shang was appointed as the governor of Jizhou.

Yuan Tan was unwilling to learn about this. At Guo Tu's suggestion, he proclaimed himself as a general of chariots and cavalry based on Li Yang City. Although he did not openly break up with Yuan Shang, he also had a superficial position and did not obey his orders.

On the other hand, Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang of Youzhou were never sure what to do. However, just when he was anxious, Yuan Xi sent an emergency letter from Youzhou, indicating that he was willing to support him as the legal successor. This made Yuan Shang's doubts disappear, and he still made him the governor of Youzhou and properly took care of his wife Zhen Mi who remained in Yecheng.

In order to appease Yuan Tan to guard the Yellow River defense line, Yuan Shang pretended to agree to pay the food, grass and soldiers to maintain Yuan Tan's army expenses, and sent Feng Ji to be a lobbyist. However, the soldiers and horses given by Yuan Shang were really pitifully few. Yuan Tan sent a letter to Yuan Shao to ask for more soldiers and food, but Yuan Shang was delayed endlessly.

When Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang learned that the smell of smoke between Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang was getting stronger and stronger, Yuan Xi was very worried that the two brothers would kill each other, so he specially wrote a letter to Yuan Tan to advise him not to act irritably and to put the stability of the Yuan family first in everything.

Unfortunately, Yuan Tan did not listen to Yuan Xi's advice and executed Feng Ji in an impulse and completely broke up with Yuan Shang.

At the same time, Zhang Ning, who was more than nine months pregnant, was about to give birth. Guo Jia rarely took care of her due to the dispute between the two Yuans. Most of the time he spent discussing with Cao Cao, Xun Yu and other advisers about the opportunity to send troops.

Xun Yu, who was well-intentioned, specially asked his daughter Xun Li to visit Guo Jia's residence to accompany Zhang Ning.

Zhang Ning and Xun Li hit it off at first sight and quickly formed a friendship between Jinlan. Zhang Ning, who had been together for a long time, was alone at home on weekdays, so she often walked around Guo Jia's residence. Every time she went there, she would bring her carefully prepared sachets and flower tea.

As his relationship with Xun Li became more familiar, Zhang Ning gradually realized that whenever Xun Li talked about people related to Guo Jia and Xun Yu, he would always mention Chen Qun's name tirelessly, and he would also appreciate and admire him in his words.

"Chen Qun and your father are one of the "Eight Scholars of Yingchuan". They are famous wise men and you have a good vision."

The two people sitting on the wooden steps of the courtyard holding teacups while basking in the sun while chatting. Zhang Ning, who saw Xun Li's worries, directly said her thoughts: "If you can be together, I think it will definitely be a good story."

Although Xun Lihe was very happy when she thought of reality, her smile quickly dissipated like a ripples that popped into the water: "But I can't see through what he was thinking at all. Sometimes I feel like there is something hidden in Chen Qun's heart that cannot be explained to others. Since I saw him this time, I basically didn't see his smile."

"Everyone has his own past, especially talented people, and he must have unforgettable past events..."

Before he finished speaking, Zhang Ning suddenly felt a severe pain in her abdomen, which made it difficult for her to speak normally. Xun Li was shocked by her never seen such a situation: "Sister, what's wrong with you? Are you going to give birth?"

However, Zhang Ning was so painful that he could only grit his teeth and endure it. Xun Li quickly supported her when she saw something was wrong:

"I'll hurry up and call Mr. Guo Jia back! You can hold on first!"

At this time, Guo Jia was discussing with Cao Cao and others when to send troops to attack Li Yang in Cao Cao's mansion. Zhang Ning broke into the conference hall panting and said to Guo Jia unhurriedly: "Hurry... hurry up... sister is going to give birth..."

When Guo Jia heard this, he suddenly lost his mood to discuss military and national affairs again. Cao Cao laughed:

"Go back quickly, just discuss with Wenruo here."

"Thank you, Mr. Cao..." Guo Jia bowed and hurriedly followed Xun Li to go home.

When they first arrived at the door of the house, Guo Jia and Xun Li heard the crying of a baby in the house. He was so anxious that he didn't care about so many hands and pushed open the door and rushed directly from the courtyard toward the direction of the baby's crying.

When Guo Jia and Xun Li came to the door panting and blocking the baby's crying, he didn't know why he didn't have the courage to reach out and push the door open. He stood there blankly for the first time in his life, so at a loss.

Xun Li, who was standing beside him, thought Guo Jia was so excited that she could not help herself, so she pushed the door open instead of Guo Jia.

As the door opened, Guo Jia saw Wenpo twisting white wet wipes beside the bed, wiping Zhang Ning's face on the bed. Seeing Guo Jia standing at the door, Wenpo quickly bowed to Guo Jia for good news and said:

"Congratulations! Congratulations! Madam, she gave birth to a pair of baby boys for you."

At this time, Zhang Ning's face was pale and looked very weak. Guo Jia stood there for a long time before he dared to walk into the house. Looking at the two babies crying in the cradles on both sides of Zhang Ning's face, he slowly walked to Zhang Ning's side, stretched out his hands to hold Zhang Ning's right hand tightly, and said with gratitude: "Thank you for your hard work..."

Zhang Ning shook her head gently: "The children all look like you..."

Originally, it was a commendable thing for Guo Jia to have two sons, but Guo Jia asked Wen Po and Xun Li not to tell the matter quietly. Xun Li was puzzled: "Why can't such a big thing be publicized to the public?"

Zhang Ning turned his face to Xun Li and said, "Sister, just listen to Brother Fengxiao. It's natural that he has his own reason for doing this."

Although this matter is extremely confidential to the outside world, Guo Jia, the child's full moon banquet, almost reduced the specifications to the lowest level, and only invited Zhong Yao, Chen Qun, Xun Yu's uncle and nephew, Sima Yi and others to make friends to the banquet.

Guo Jia's original intention was not to alarm Cao Cao, so he did not invite Cao Cao.

The guests arrived one after another, and Zhong Yao gave Guo Jia a copybook he wrote. Xun Yu, who knew that Guo Jia liked to drink, brought two jars of fine wine he had collected for many years, and the rest of the people also gave their own gifts.

Seeing that Sima Yi was actually here with Chen Qun, Guo Jia felt something strange in his heart, so he asked Chen Qun tentatively:

"I have known you for many years, but I didn't expect you and Chen Wenchang to be so close..."

Sima Yi explained: "My brother Wen and I hit it off at first sight. We had already formed brothers of the opposite sex as early as in Xuzhou."

"Oh..." Guo Jia nodded after hearing this: "So that's what it is..."

After Sima Yi entered the house alone, Guo Jia stretched out his arm to block Chen Qun's way:

"Why don't you tell Liu Bei about Zhang Ning's pregnancy?"

When Chen Qun heard Guo Jia's explicit words, he felt trembling in his heart. He didn't expect that Guo Jia could actually see his true identity. Chen Qun, whose hands were clenched tightly in his sleeve, didn't know how to deal with it, looked at Guo Jia with a surprised face:

"Are you already..."

Guo Jia nodded: "Yes, Yu Jin, who is a spy for Liu Bei with you, is the one I instigated."

Chen Qun gritted his teeth and lowered his head and asked in a low voice: "What do you want to deal with me? Do you want to arrest me and ask Cao Cao for me?"

Looking at Chen Qun in front of him, Guo Jia's eyes showed a hint of unbearableness. He put his hand on Chen Qun's shoulder: "I won't do this, it's like you didn't betray me. Just as an old acquaintance, I want to remind you that Liu Bei is not as simple as you thought. If you didn't tell him my information, he probably won't believe you anymore..."

"I naturally know this." Chen Qun sighed slightly: "But I really can't bear to betray him."

Guo Jia said helplessly: "I'm afraid that this title of 'Ru Dichengshi' will harm you..."

Chen Qun smiled bitterly and said, "Everyone has his own way to go. Since I have walked to this point, I can't look back easily..."

Just as the atmosphere of conversation between Guo Jia and Chen Qun became heavy, a voice that was very familiar to him came from a distance. It was this voice that scared Guo Jia and Chen Qun in a short time:

"Bongxiao, your house is so lively that you don't even invite me. Do you treat me too much as an outsider?"

Both of them subconsciously realized who the owner of the voice was, and quickly turned around and saluted to the visitor:

"I've met Mr. Cao..."
To be continued...