Yuan Shu and Yuan Tan began to act separately in this way.

Yuan Shu took Yuan Shao's appointment, as well as some of the soldiers and horses assigned to him by Yuan Shao, and began to advance towards Jiangling.

At the same time, Yuan Shu also instructed Yuan Tan to let Yuan Tan separate a part of his descendants and secretly follow him to Jiangling.

If the time comes, Yuan Shu will be ready to seize power in Jiangling.

At the same time, Yuan Tan also began to have close contact with Zhou Tai in Xiangyang.

The two of them, the uncle and nephew, discussed going their separate ways, and then the two sides communicated at any time.

Jiangling was not very far from the boundary of Xiangyang, and soon, Yuan Shu and others arrived in Jiangling.

He showed Cai Mao Yuan Shao's appointment.

Cai Mao saw that Yuan Shao asked Yuan Shu to come as the consul of Jiangling City, and at the same time took the responsibility of supervising the army for himself, and he really felt a little uncomfortable in his heart.

Yuan Tan saw that Zhou Tai was also a cheerful person.

Don't blame Yuan Shao for not believing him Cai Mao.

According to Yuan Shu's instructions, he first went to make friends with Zhou Tai.

So, Yuan Tan randomly told Zhou Tai and said: "Youping, I have visited you many times, not for anything else, but for something important to discuss!" Today, my father is seriously ill, the situation in Jingzhou is in crisis, and in this Xiangyang City, there are not many people who know how to soldier. ”

And Yuan Tan treated him with great courtesy, and he could even be said to be a corporal.

Zhou Tai was very puzzled by Yuan Tan's actions, and he asked Yuan Tan: "The eldest prince is so kind to Tai and gives generous gifts, Zhou has no merit to accept it, and he is really frightened, I don't know what the eldest prince means?" If the eldest prince doesn't say it, I'm afraid that Zhou Tai won't be able to continue to intersect with the eldest prince. ”

Compared to Yuan Shu's side, Yuan Tan's side was much faster.

After all, when he was in Jianghuai, he was also angry and resentful.

Alas, distrust is also normal!

But now, Yuan Tan, who is Yuan Shao's eldest son, took the initiative to befriend Zhou Tai, which naturally flattered him.

And he also had a reputation as a ghost in Luoyang City back then, such a character, Cai Mao felt that he really couldn't afford to provoke him.

In this case, then serve Yuan Shu well.

After all, no one is a fool, Yuan Shao asked Yuan Shu to come over, there is no doubt that he has some distrust of him.

Zhou Tai is also quite good, or because of his background, he has not been treated by Yuan Shao's high-born people, Yuan Shao's subordinates had a good relationship with Jiang Qin, but now this only friend is also dead, Zhou Tai lives very lonely.

……

"Zhao Yuntun's soldiers are really in trouble for us."

Zhou Tai said: "This is fifty miles south from here, it is General Huang Zu's army, if Xiangyang is changed, General Huang's army will come, and the eldest prince does not have to worry too much." ”

It's strange not to doubt it.

Seeing that Cai Mao was actually so good, Yuan Shu felt very satisfied in his heart.

And after interacting with him for many days, I found that this person was also upright, and he was the same as Sun Ce, so I wouldn't bother with him.

Cai Mao had been captured alive by Liu Jiansheng before, but he was released unscathed.

"You are the general of my father's reuse, and my father handed over the city defense of Xiangyang City to you, which can be described as a unique vision."

Zhou Tai and Yuan Tan had a very happy relationship, and they came to visit Zhou Tai in person for several days in a row and gave him heavy gifts.

This Cai Mao is really a person who sees the wind and steers the rudder.

"In case Zhao Yun's army suddenly comes, I'm afraid it will be difficult for you to support it alone."

Although Yuan Shu has always been quite honest under Yuan Shao's command, Cai Mao knows more or less what kind of virtue he was.

From this point of view, it is not difficult for him to quickly control power in Gangneung.

Don't look at him being reused by Yuan Shao, but in fact, he is not very happy in his heart.

After meeting Yuan Shu for the first time, he ordered someone to quickly submit Jiangling and the land books and household registration of the townships under Jiangling's jurisdiction, including the taxes of the past year, to Yuan Shu, showing his sincerity in transferring all power to Yuan Shu.

Zhou Tai never thought that he would be so valued by the eldest prince.

It's lonely.

In this way, it depends on how the matter is handled by Yuan Tan.

So, Cai Mao expressed his respect for Yuan Shu very seriously.

Don't say it's Yuan Shao, whoever changes it has a bit of a bad taste in their hearts.

"It's not a good thing after all."

In addition, Yuan Tan was originally a person with outstanding merits, and among Yuan Shao's sons, he was the most proficient in military affairs, which was still very much to Zhou Tai's appetite.

"At present, the people in Xiangyang City are concerned about my father's illness, but no one has the heart to defend against a strong enemy in the north."

Cai Mao also knew in his heart that his situation was special, and his sister was now a concubine for Liu Jian......

"However, relying only on these soldiers and horses under your command, it is not easy to defend against the northern army."

Since Yuan Shao wants him to be the boss for himself, then he recognizes this boss.

But what can he do now?

Yuan Tan smiled when he heard this, and said, "Although Huang Zu has a lot of soldiers and horses, I really can't believe his own ability to use troops. ”

"When Youping and General Huang used troops together in Nanyang County, they must know this person's methods."

"Put Xiangyang's safety on him, to be honest, I don't have a bottom in my heart."

Zhou Tai listened to Yuan Tan's words, and then smiled.

In fact, he really thought so in his heart, Huang Zu was indeed untrustworthy.

It's not that he is not loyal enough to the Yuan family, but that his level as a person is indeed average.

In fact, Huang Zu's level of using soldiers is not bad, but in Zhou Tai's eyes, he just can't do it, at least in terms of aggressiveness.

Zhou Tai then arched his hand towards Yuan Tan and asked, "Then dare to ask Gongzi, what is your opinion on the current situation in Xiangyang?" ”

Yuan Tan said: "I intend to let my elite soldiers come to Xiangyang City, and Youping's soldiers and horses in the four gates of the city in turn to guard, so that Xiangyang City is more stable, my elite soldiers are recruited in Yuzhou that year, it can be said that it has been a long battle, if you can work together with Youping's elite soldiers to guard Xiangyang, it is Zhao Yun who suddenly raised troops to kill, and we are also confident to block him outside the city." ”

"At that time, General Huang will be a little slower, and it will not hurt."

Zhou Tai seemed to be a little hesitant when he heard this, and he immediately arched his hand at Yuan Tan and said: "The major matter of city defense is entrusted to me by the lord, if you let the eldest prince's soldiers and horses come to station, I am afraid it will be a little unruly." ”

Yuan Tan said: "I also know that this matter is a bit unruly. ”

"But now is an extraordinary time, and extraordinary things must be done."

"Now that my father is seriously ill, and there are tigers and wolves in the north, and Liu Jian has swallowed Yizhou, in this case, if we still act according to the usual methods, I am afraid that this Xiangyang will not be able to hold it."

"Now is the time of life and death, if you are too rigid, I am afraid that you will be killed."

After listening to Yuan Tan's words, Zhou Tai immediately thought seriously for a while.

Subsequently, I saw Zhou Taidao: "Son, I am a rough person, I don't understand these things, I only know that the Yuan family is kind to me, and I want to help the Yuan family fight, as for how to fight this battle, I originally listened to the lord, but now the lord is seriously ill, from now on, I am willing to listen to the eldest prince!" ”

The meaning of this is something that anyone can understand.

Actually, think about it.

It is impossible for Yuan Shang to reuse someone from a background like Zhou Tai.

If Yuan Shao dies, Zhou Tai's future is pressed on Yuan Tan, which is the best choice.

Yuan Tan was very happy when he saw Zhou Tai so good.

"In that case, then I will arrange for my subordinates to come and assist the general in the defense of the wheel on a certain day."

In the end, Yuan Tan finalized this matter with Zhou Tai.

At first, he didn't dare to arrange too many people to come to Xiangyang City to change his defense, for fear that Zhou Tai and he were not of the same mind.

But after a long time, he found that Zhou Tai really didn't have much defense against him.

No matter how many generals he sent, Zhou Tai made proper arrangements, of course, the management of these generals still had to be in Zhou Tai's hands.

At the same time, there was also good news from Yuan Shu's side, which made Yuan Tan feel very excited!

The time has come to start.

Seeing that it is almost autumn, at this time, the soldiers and horses from the north will not come easily.

And all parts of the south are also catching up with the autumn harvest and are actively stockpiling grain.

At this time, the official duties of officials at all levels are very chaotic.

For Yuan Tan, this is a good time to start.

So, after communicating with Yuan Shu, Yuan Tan decided to start a coup d'état in mid-October.

first imprisoned Yuan Shao, and with the help of Yuan Shao's name, he began to pacify the counties of Jingzhou and take power as quickly as possible, and in addition, he also made up his mind that this time he would kill Yuan Shang no matter what.

Yuan Tan learned that Huang Zu's headquarters would assist the officials of Xiangyang City in harvesting grain in the local area during the autumn harvest, which was also to speed up the transportation and storage of grain and grass, so as to prevent Zhao Yun from sending troops to snatch grain and grass and destroy the autumn harvest on the Xinye side in the north.

And Zhou Tai didn't know what was going on during this time, and suddenly got sick.

He temporarily handed over the city defense of Xiangyang to his lieutenant generals, and Yuan Tan's generals now assisted Zhou Tai in changing the defense, although they were nominally following his orders, but in fact they were all independent.

This also gave Yuan Tan a good opportunity to control the four gates.

The opportunity cannot be missed, so Yuan Tan no longer hesitated, but seized the time to act.

He led his cronies' soldiers and horses, and on the night of October 15, under the name of changing guards, came to the south gate of Xiangyang, and at this time it was Yuan Tan's henchmen who commanded the south gate of Xiangyang, and he opened the gate of Xiangyang City for Yuan Tan.

After Yuan Tan's soldiers and horses entered the city, he did not hesitate to divide half of the number to seize the Xiangyang arsenal, and he himself led the soldiers and horses to rush towards Yuan Shao's official residence.

At the same time, he ordered his soldiers to block the four gates and not allow anyone to enter or leave!

According to Yuan Tan's plan, he wants to set the overall situation within an hour!

But what Yuan Tan didn't know was that in the official residence of Xiangyang City, Yuan Shao was sitting on the main seat of the main hall, and he didn't have the sick look he had in the past!

And Zhou Tai, who should have been sick at home, was standing by Yuan Shao's side at the moment, also with a serious face.

Yuan Shao was sitting on the main seat with half-squinted eyes, thinking about something carefully.

The expression on his face seemed to be quite calm, but if you look closely, you will find that there is a faint pain in his expression.

Gan Ning hurriedly ran into the main hall.

"Lord, the eldest son, he did it!"

When he heard this, he saw Yuan Shao open his eyes.

His eyes were filled with grief.

"This unfilial son, after all, he still did it."

"Xiansi, Xiansi, you are really worthy of me!"

"And the highway, do you really think I'm a fool?"

"Well, in that case...... Since you insist on going to a dead end, then Yuan will use you...... to calm the hearts of the people in Jingzhou. ”

Speaking of this, Yuan Shao slowly stood up and said to Gan Ning and Zhou Tai: "You two, act according to the instructions in advance, and welcome the unfilial son for me!" ”

"Yui!"

(End of chapter)