Chapter 930: Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao

Compared to Cao Cao, who was shocked by the news of Yuan Shao's death but still focused on how to deal with Liu Bei, Yuan Shu was completely dazed when he received the news.

Yuan Shu had always disliked Yuan Shao because Yuan Shao had always been just a little bit better than him. When they were children, Yuan Shu could never beat Yuan Shao in fights. Yuan Shu, being too proud to resort to insults, would always end up beaten and bruised. Although their father always stood behind him, Yuan Shu harbored a deep grudge that he felt he should have been able to avenge on his own.

Unfortunately, Yuan Shu never succeeded in getting revenge. No matter how harshly Yuan Shao was scolded, if Yuan Shu dared to provoke him, Yuan Shao never hesitated to beat him up, even knowing their father would punish him afterward.

As they grew older, Yuan Shu eventually realized that the true honor of noble sons didn’t lie in bullying their own but in helping the weak and standing up to the strong. So, he went off to become a swordsman, gathering a group of friends and showing off his talents.

Before Yuan Shu could boast of his achievements to Yuan Shao, he found out that the person he despised had already entered officialdom and become an advisor to Grand General He Jin.

Fueled by the thought that if Yuan Shao could do it, so could he, Yuan Shu easily became an advisor to He Jin as well. Yuan Shu knew that this was thanks to the prestige of the Yuan family, but he believed Yuan Shao had relied on the same thing—the illustrious Yuan clan, rooted deep in power.

However, as time passed, Yuan Shu began to notice the difference. Even though both were advisors, Yuan Shao, along with Cao Cao and Xun You, was greatly trusted by the Grand General, while Yuan Shu found himself playing a token role, like a prince's companion.

This disparity infuriated Yuan Shu, and in a fit of rage, he left He Jin’s service and sought another post, heading to Yuzhou to become an official. The Yuan family’s power was such that no further explanation was needed.

His frustration eased once he returned to his hometown, and his spirits lifted even more after meeting Ji Ling, a like-minded and capable warrior. Yuan Shu felt on top of the world!

With his newfound joy, Yuan Shu became lenient in governing his territory. He exempted as many taxes as possible, reasoning that the Yuan family didn’t lack for wealth. After all, the lost taxes were merely those of the Han Empire—not his problem.

Seeing the awe in the eyes of the common people made Yuan Shu feel even better. He began imagining even more satisfying outcomes, such as showing Yuan Shao just how successful he had become.

But before he could act on that, Dong Zhuo arrived. Yuan Shu had always thought he and the Yuan family were untouchable, but seeing Dong Zhuo made him realize what it truly meant to disregard everyone else.

Then came the coalition. Yuan Shu had expected to be named leader but lost out to Yuan Shao. Though displeased, he said nothing. Of all the potential candidates, Yuan Shao was the only one Yuan Shu could grudgingly acknowledge as worthy. Everyone else was mediocre at best. Yuan Shao, despite the bitterness Yuan Shu felt, had his respect.

The warlords joined forces and defeated Dong Zhuo. Afterward, the various lords returned to their territories. Yuan Shu invited Yuan Shao to return to Yuzhou with him. Although Yuan Shu was annoyed that Yuan Shao was ranked higher, he wasn’t petty enough to refuse his brother a place in their ancestral home.

But Yuan Shao declined, and the mistrust in his eyes infuriated Yuan Shu. Furious, Yuan Shu stormed off, vowing to raise an army and beat Yuan Shao half to death before dragging him back to Yuzhou.

However, before Yuan Shu could gather his forces, news arrived that Yuan Shao had successfully risen from nothing and taken control of Ji Province, the most powerful region in the land.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shu’s emotions were a tangled mix of envy, jealousy, and admiration. Perhaps there was even a bit of longing. Many noble sons dreamed of breaking free from their family’s shadow to carve out their own place in the world. But how many could actually do it?

Seated at the head of the Yuan family, Yuan Shu could only silently look up to Yuan Shao, who had built his own empire. Despite their countless conflicts, there was still a blood bond between them.

Things worsened when Xu You defected to Yuan Shao, and soon after, even Cao Cao aligned with him. All of Yuan Shu’s childhood friends had gone to Yuan Shao, leaving Yuan Shu fuming with resentment.

Yuan Shu had always prided himself on being the most loyal and brotherly among them. He had always worked toward that ideal, yet none of his old friends had come to his side. Was he really so unreliable?

Amid this bitterness, Yuan Shu met Sun Ce, the first person to ask him for help. Yuan Shu welcomed Sun Ce with open arms. He wanted to prove to his childhood friends that Yuan Shao wasn’t the one they could rely on—he, Yuan Shu, was the true loyal brother.

Then, whether by luck or timing, Yuan Shu’s fortunes rose, while Yuan Shao found himself in trouble, struggling against Gongsun Zan. At that time, Yuan Shu hoped fervently that Yuan Shao would write him a letter, swallow his pride, and ask for help. Yuan Shu would have gladly supported him, for the Yuan family belonged to both of them.

But Yuan Shu never received that letter. Instead, he heard that Yuan Shao had decisively defeated Gongsun Zan at Jieqiao and conquered Bingzhou.

Yuan Shu couldn’t fully understand his own feelings at the time—perhaps it was a mix of displeasure and admiration. His steadfast brother had finally grown so powerful that the whole world took notice. No longer could their family disregard Yuan Shao’s existence.

As Yuan Shao grew stronger, Yuan Shu didn’t weaken either. The world was slowly falling under the control of the Yuan family. Yuan Shu’s frustrations began to give way to other thoughts—he truly hoped Yuan Shao could unify the north. Yuan Shu had even prepared to send his own troops to assist Yuan Shao if necessary.

Yuan Shu longed to battle Yuan Shao. Although the family elders might hesitate, Yuan Shu just wanted to see how he compared to Yuan Shao now. He had lost to him so often as a child but never had the chance to face him as an adult. Even knowing he would lose, Yuan Shu felt certain he would fight.

Yet fate had other plans. Yuan Shu had readied himself for defeat at Yuan Shao’s hands, but instead, he learned that Yuan Shao had died.

Yuan Shao was dead. Yuan Shao had actually died. Enraged, Yuan Shu smashed everything in his hall to pieces. Yuan Shao—the hero who had overshadowed him his whole life—had fallen on the battlefield.

After destroying everything in the room, Yuan Shu sat on the remains of a shattered table, sobbing uncontrollably. He didn’t even know why he was crying, but his heart felt unbearably heavy.

"My brother, you’ve just left like that. I can’t carry the burden of the Yuan family alone. Without you, how can I bear the weight of our clan?" Yuan Shu wailed to the heavens, finally realizing the immense responsibility of the Yuan family. Before, he had been fearless because he knew that, no matter what happened, Yuan Shao was the true pillar of their family. Now, that pillar had collapsed.

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