Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang were looking at the retreating Cao Jun and talking, and a captain ran over quickly.

After saluting the two of them, the captain said, "Two sons, Duke Yuan invites you to come over." ”

The brothers glanced at each other, and Yuan Shang said to the captain, "We know." ”

On the pontoon bridge, the Cao army led by Zhao Yun had retreated beyond the range of Yuan's bow and arrows.

Seeing Zhao Yun return to the south bank, Yuan Shang said to Yuan Xi: "The second brother will see my father later, don't make any excuses, just say that this time I underestimated the enemy army, so that I failed to break through the enemy's defense line. ”

"But in fact, it is true that the enemy's defense line is too strong." Yuan Xi said: "If it is not ......"

"There aren't that many ifs on the battlefield at all." Yuan Shang said: "The second brother bears the responsibility, but the father will not blame." If you blindly shirk it, he will be angry, and I'm afraid that the second brother will end up not very well. ”

Looking at Yuan Shang suspiciously, Yuan Xi did not say anything.

"If the second brother doesn't believe it, just shirk it." Yuan Shang said: "If you shirk it, I can't help say anything." You've shirked the blame yourself, what else can I say? ”

"What do you mean by Xianfu......" Yuan Xi asked as if he had realized something.

"There are some things that you say yourself that are far less effective than what is being said." Yuan Shang said: "The second brother bears all the blame, of course I will speak for you." The eldest brother and the second brother do not have any conflict, let alone fall into the ground. What's more, in front of his father, he still has to act like a brother, how can he not help you say a few good words? ”

Yuan Xi suddenly had an epiphany and said to Yuan Shang: "If it weren't for Xianfu's reminder, I would have almost made a mistake!" ”

After a brief discussion, Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang walked towards the Chinese army.

There was still some way to go before the Chinese army, and the two of them saw Yuan Tan also walking towards Yuan Shao's handsome tent.

"The eldest brother is indeed here." Yuan Xi whispered to Yuan Shang: "Later, Xianfu should not be busy talking, and see what the eldest brother says......"

"If I don't speak, the eldest brother will definitely not say more." Yuan Shang smiled slightly: "If the second brother doesn't believe it, just wait and see." ”

"I am the same brother as him, so I won't be ......" Yuan Xi didn't believe it.

Yuan Shang didn't say much, just grinned.

When they arrived outside the tent, the two brothers clasped their fists and said, "Father, the child asks to see you." ”

Yuan Shao's voice came from the tent: "You both come in and talk." ”

The two brothers entered the account and saw Yuan Tan already standing here.

Bowing to Yuan Shao again, Yuan Shang asked, "My father asked me and my second brother to come over, is there something important to order?" ”

"Xianfu." Yuan Shao asked Yuan Shang with a cold face: "Storming the other side is a matter of Xianyi, why did you transfer the soldiers and horses to the shore?" ”

"Back to my father." Yuan Shang said: "I saw that the war was tight, and if we didn't transfer troops and horses over, let alone storm the other side, I am afraid that our side would not be able to hold it, so I transferred the soldiers under my command to block the Cao army crossing the river." ”

"So, if you hadn't transferred troops over, the enemy would have broken through the north shore?" Yuan Shao asked knowingly.

Without waiting for Yuan Shang to reply, Yuan Xi had already stepped forward and replied: "Returning to my father, if it weren't for Xianfu sending troops to help, the riverbank would really not be able to hold it!" ”

"Can't hold it?" His eyes fell on Yuan Xi's face, and Yuan Shao asked, "You have a lot of soldiers and horses, why can't you even hold a riverbank?" ”

"There are a lot of soldiers and horses, but they have been disrupted." Yuan Xi replied: "The fault of this battle is all on me, before the soldiers went out to fight, I did not notice the deployment of the enemy, so that the soldiers under my command rushed across the Yellow River, but they could not deploy the array, they could only be pressed and beaten by the enemy." Realizing that the situation was wrong, I immediately ordered the soldiers to retreat, giving Zhao Yun the opportunity to follow and pursue. ”

Yuan Xi took all the responsibility on his shoulders, but it was what Yuan Shao expected.

Looking at Yuan Xi in some surprise, Yuan Shao didn't say anything more.

Seeing that the expression on Yuan Shao's face had changed slightly, Yuan Xi continued: "If I had foreseen in advance that the enemy army would be so tightly deployed on the bank of the river, I would definitely have taken it step by step and ordered the soldiers to choose other ways to cross the river. In addition, I will leave some soldiers and horses to defend the north side of the river bank to prevent the enemy from crossing the river. If it weren't for Xianfu's timely deployment of troops this time, I would have been defeated on all fronts. In this battle, my sins are unforgivable, and I ask my father to surrender my sin! ”

"You also know that sin is unforgivable." Yuan Xi completely admitted his mistakes, and Yuan Shao's face looked a lot better, but he still said: "If I don't punish you, how can I explain to the family of the dead soldiers......"

"Father, you really can't blame the second brother for this matter." Yuan Shang, who was standing with Yuan Xi, said: "The Cao army is all veterans who have gone through the battlefield, and the officers and soldiers of our army have only just been recruited into the army. The soldiers were already nervous when they went into battle, and when they encountered this gentleman with tight defenses, they couldn't break through at all. The battle situation was unfavorable, the second brother ordered the withdrawal of the army in time, and did not let all the soldiers under his command be wiped out on the other side. Just looking at these, the second brother is not only without fault, but has merit. ”

Yuan Xi took the initiative to bear the responsibility, and Yuan Shao was already a little soft-hearted.

When Yuan Shang said this, he looked at Yuan Tan, who was standing on the side, and asked, "What do you think about this matter?" ”

"I will see what my father thinks." Yuan Tan bowed his head and responded.

"In my opinion, the sin shall fall on you." Yuan Shang glared: "It's not necessarily how to march and fight, I think you are becoming more and more capable of prevarication." ”

After being reprimanded by Yuan Shao, Yuan Tan lowered his head and said, "Actually, I also feel that Xianyi is not at fault in this matter. ”

"His fault is not big, is mine great?" Yuan Shao waved his hand and said angrily: "I don't think you can make a sense, so it's better not to ask you." ”

Yuan Shao's tone was just a little better, because Yuan Tan's response was not very good again.

Yuan Shang hurriedly said: "Father, in fact, in today's battle, the second brother is not wrong, and we are not wrong. The mistake is that the timing is not right. ”

"Timing?" Yuan Shao asked, "What timing?" Could it be that you also think that I shouldn't crusade against Cao Cao this time? ”

Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi had discussed it before, saying that the Yuan family's sending troops to attack Cao Shuo this time was no different from seeking their own death.

But in front of Yuan Shao, Yuan Shang would never say that.

He said to Yuan Shao: "My father sent troops to fight against Cao Zirong, it was for the world to make a big plan, and it was for the Han family to support the society, who dares to say that my father is wrong?" I said that the timing was wrong, but the timing of this attack was a little off, not that my father should not have sent troops to fight. ”

"If the timing is wrong, you can tell me." Yuan Shao's face was a little better, and he said to Yuan Shang: "If I hear that you are excusing Xianyi, I will punish you together." ”

End of chapter