In the study of the Yuan residence, Yuan Feng frowned as he looked at his son who had suddenly returned.
"Didn't I tell you to go to the Ministry of Works? Why are you back again?"
"Father, I have come to bid you farewell!"
As he spoke, Yuan Shu knelt on the ground, his gaze fixed firmly on the ground.
"Farewell?"
Yuan Feng frowned even more deeply: "What are you going to do?"
Yuan Shu said, "I want to go to sea and see the outside world!"
"Going to sea?"
Yuan Feng was slightly taken aback, then looked at Yuan Shu with a livid face, "You are the eldest son of the Yuan family, your job is to inherit the Yuan family, how can you be like those wandering knights and brutes, risking your life at sea?"
“Father, you are right. I am the eldest son of the Yuan family. I can have everything that others dream of without doing anything. But... but I feel that this is not what I want!”
Yuan Shu raised his head, looking at his mother with a bitter expression, and spoke his true feelings for the first time.
Yuan Feng stared at his son with a stern face: "What do you want? Do you think you have the right to talk to your father about these things?"
Yuan Shu shook his head: "Father is right. I am indeed not qualified, but I still hope that Father can understand me."
Just as you abandoned the Yuan family's tradition of poetry and scholarship in favor of studying engineering, I also want to become a person who will be remembered in history through my own efforts!
"I don't want to be seen as a good-for-nothing who only relies on the Yuan family. I want people to know that I, Yuan Shu, am worthy of being the eldest son of the Yuan family!"
By the end, Yuan Shu's tone had become increasingly firm.
Yuan Feng fell silent, gazing at Yuan Shu quietly. He knew that his son was a proud and unyielding man who had always looked up to Yuan Shao since childhood.
However, Yuan Shao has now grown into a leading figure among the younger generation, while Yuan Shu can only rely on the Yuan family to obtain a job, which is unacceptable to him.
After a long silence, Yuan Feng sighed softly, "Alright, get up!"
"Father, you've agreed?"
Yuan Shu looked at his father with a joyful expression.
"Hmph~, you're not my only son. Even if you die, the Yuan family line will not end!"
Yuan Feng gave a soft snort and waved his hand impatiently, but a hint of relief flashed deep in his eyes.
"Your son is unfilial!! It's just that my mother..."
Thinking of his mother, Yuan Shu's face showed a hint of shame.
"I will speak to your mother. Remember, wherever you go, do not tarnish the reputation of the Yuan family!"
With that, Yuan Feng closed his eyes and stopped looking at Yuan Shu.
"My child, remember your father's teachings! Take care, you and your mother!"
With that, Yuan Shu kowtowed several times to Yuan Feng, then turned and walked away.
"Sigh... their wings have grown strong enough, I can't keep them anymore..."
Only after Yuan Shu walked out of the house did Yuan Feng open his eyes, watching his son's departing figure, and couldn't help but sigh softly.
Soon, Yuan Shu, who had left the Yuan residence, found Ji Ling and then gathered a dozen or so wandering knights who were familiar with Ji Ling, and together they headed towards Donglai.
Three days later, Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, Liu Bei, and Sun Jian, along with two thousand Imperial Guard trainees and eight thousand Northern Army soldiers, gathered at the North Gate of Luoyang.
The expeditionary force stood in neat rows on the official road, with crowds of people coming to watch the ceremony on both sides.
Sending off soldiers to war seems to have become a tradition among the common people...
Before long, under the expectant gazes of the crowd, Liu Hong, dressed in armor, rode a pure black steed and, escorted by a squad of Imperial Guards, passed through the city gate and arrived before the group of soldiers.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!!"
Led by Cao Cao and others, ten thousand soldiers saluted the emperor in unison, and the people on both sides of the road also paid their respects.
On horseback, Liu Hong gestured with his hands to support Liu Hong, saying, "No need for formalities!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!!"
After the greetings, the soldiers and civilians all gazed intently at their emperor.
Liu Hong slowly glanced at the crowd, then slowly drew the Emperor's Sword from his waist and said loudly:
"Go forth, soldiers! With the weapons in your hands, create a new world for the Han Dynasty! I am with you, the Han Dynasty is with you!!"
"I will obey Your Majesty's decree!!"
The soldiers raised their weapons and shouted in unison.
Subsequently, led by Cao Cao and others, the two thousand Imperial Guard trainees and eight thousand Northern Army soldiers turned around and began to march towards Donglai.
Liu Hong remained seated on horseback, watching the departing soldiers until the entire force disappeared from sight before returning to the palace.
During the march, Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, Liu Bei, and Sun Jian rode side by side on horseback.
Cao Cao turned to look at Yuan Shao beside him: "Benchu, I heard that your younger brother gathered a group of people and went to Donglai ahead of us?"
Yuan Shao nodded: "Not bad!!"
"Heh~, what a strange fellow. Instead of inheriting the perfectly good Yuan family, he chose to follow the path of those illegitimate sons and wandering knights..."
Cao Cao chuckled softly, seemingly puzzled by Yuan Shu's actions.
Sun Jian, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but ask, "And what about you, Mengde? Why didn't you go and inherit the Cao family instead of hanging out with us?"
"I....."
Cao Cao was taken aback, then said with an arrogant expression, "I, Cao Mengde, am confident that I can lead the Cao family to a higher position with my own abilities!"
Liu Bei laughed and said, "Since you think you can do it, then others can too. Everyone has their own path. If you choose the right one, then it's a smooth road!"
Cao Cao's lips twitched: "Hey~, Xuande, Wentai, why are you two suddenly speaking up for that Yuan Shu guy?"
Liu Bei smiled and said, "Because he was able to put aside his status as the eldest son of the Yuan family and venture out and fight on his own, that alone is enough to make people think highly of him!"
Although Sun Jian did not speak, he nodded, clearly agreeing with Liu Bei's statement.
"Hmm, that's true. It wasn't easy for him to make that decision!"
Cao Cao raised an eyebrow and then looked at Yuan Shao beside him: "Benchu, it seems you've really provoked him quite a bit!"
"No one can provoke him; he just didn't understand himself in the past!"
Yuan Shao shook his head slightly, his gaze fixed on the end of the road in the distance.
"My brother, the path you've chosen isn't easy. I hope you can persevere..."
While feeling sentimental, the usually composed Yuan Shao suddenly spurred his horse and galloped forward on the official road.
Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Jian were taken aback for a moment, then shook their heads and chuckled.
"This guy still hasn't let go..."
Watching Yuan Shao's figure gradually disappear, Cao Cao muttered something helplessly.
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