Mythical Three Kingdoms

Sun Ce’s lips twitched slightly, but no sound emerged; after a long while, Yuan Shu sighed, "Bofu, think it over more, I know you have great ambition, but your foundation is too weak, and you don’t have the power to suppress the aristocratic clans under your rule, from fighting in the South to the North, the aristocratic clans will not submit to you."

This wasn’t to say Yuan Shu possessed Guo Jia’s wisdom, aware that if Sun Ce were to contend to the death with the aristocratic clans, he would surely be done in by them. Rather, Yuan Shu, being from an aristocratic clan, understood all too well the power of aristocratic clans.

That was also why Yuan Yao would say that his father’s luck wasn’t by chance but rather inevitable. Besides Yuan Shu’s own intimidating power, there was also the suppression from the aristocratic clans behind him, which was also the reason why there were many rebellions in Yangzhou, but few actually flew the banner in opposition to Yuan Shu.

Zhou Yu signaled with his eyes, but saw Sun Ce silently turn his head to look at Yuan Yao, "The Yuan family has been good to me, as long as I, Sun Ce, live, the Yuan family will not fall. The path I, Son Ce, must take is one I’ll pave myself!" Experience more content on NovelBin.Côm

In fact, what Sun Ce said was already taboo, but at this moment no one cared. Yuan Shu might act foolishly at times, but he wasn’t blind; Sun Ce had already begun to take shape, and Yuan Shu even had the feeling that if Sun Ce took his place, he would do better than him.

"Bofu Brother, it seems I’m not fated to become your sworn brother in righteousness. If my father ever acts unreliable, remember to stop him for me." Yuan Yao’s expression grew brighter, the signs of returning light became more evident, and his grip on Sun Ce’s hand tightened.

"I’ll definitely stop him for you," Sun Ce nodded and said.

"Father, I have something to tell you." Yuan Yao slowly withdrew his hand from Sun Ce’s, the implication of this act obvious, as Sun Ce’s face showed deep sorrow and, together with Zhou Yu, he left.

"Father…" After Sun Ce had left, Yuan Yao’s essence, qi, and spirit suddenly declined, his expression also grew much grayer.

"My son…" Yuan Shu said with a hoarse voice.

"Father, I’m afraid I won’t last the day," Yuan Yao said bitterly, "I’ve let your expectations down. Since my childhood, you found me the best tutors, but alas, your son is like rotting wood, unfit for carving; I neither possess Brother Fu’s martial force nor Brother Gongjin’s wisdom, I can’t uphold the Yuan family..."

"If you can’t bear it then don’t. The family property I’ve accumulated was prepared for you. Spending it all and living freely is also fine. I’ve always wanted to adopt Bofu and Gongjin as my own sons for your future preparations, what a pity, this is fate." In that moment, Yuan Shu aged greatly, and tears freely flowed down his face.

"Father, I truly wanted to acknowledge Brother Fu as my elder brother. After I die, if you can adopt him as a sworn son, then do it; if not, treat him with the respect due to a legitimate son. He, like you, treats others with far more generosity than he receives. You’ve always treated him well; the Yuan family will flourish because of it." Yuan Yao’s eyes slowly closed.

That sentence had exhausted nearly all of Yuan Yao’s remaining strength. As a member of an aristocratic family, the continuation of his family lineage was of utmost importance to him, which was why, on the brink of death, he made this final request to his doting father.

"I will, I will, I’ll treat him with all the honor due to a legitimate son, I will…" Yuan Shu wept bitterly; the sight of an elder crying over the younger always cuts deep.

"Thank you, father…" A faint smile appeared on Yuan Yao’s ashen face, "Upon my death, please no elaborate mourning. Father, if you want my memory to live on, then distribute the surplus grain to the common people on this day each year. This will make a deeper impression than any lavish funeral…"

"I will, I will," Yuan Shu’s tears streamed down unabated.

At this moment, Yuan Shu agreed to everything Yuan Yao said without noticing his expression. After the last matter was entrusted, Yuan Yao no longer had any attachment, and he slowly closed his eyes, never to awaken again.

"Yao’er!" Yuan Shu cried out and suddenly raised his head with a mournful shriek, collapsing to the ground and becoming unconscious. Sun Ce, Zhou Yu, Jii Ling, and Yuan Shu’s wife, Lady Feng, immediately burst through the door and after a flurry of activity, managed to revive Yuan Shu.

"Yao’er..." Upon regaining consciousness, Yuan Shu immediately got up and wailed in sorrow, with no trace of the lordly presence he once had, indistinguishable from any normal father who had lost his son.

"My lord, you must pull yourself together now. Hold a funeral for the young master and announce to the head of the Yuan family in the north to adopt a son to continue your lineage!" Jii Ling, a man of some understanding, knew what needed to be done and immediately spoke out.

"Proceed with the funeral rites, bury him with the honors due to a Nine Minister, open the granaries, and issue an order to Yuzhou, Yangzhou, and Jingzhou. Let it be known that all regions under my command should open their granaries; anyone who dares to embezzle will be exterminated by me, Yuan Shu—anyone who falsifies records will have their clan annihilated!" Yuan Shu said with swollen eyes, his voice hoarse and filled with desolation.

"At your command!" Jii Ling, a die-hard loyalist of Yuan Shu, although baffled as to why the funeral rites were not that of a Feudal Lord’s, nonetheless did not ask for a reason and left at once.

"Henceforth, every year on this day, besides keeping the necessary reserves, give all extra food supplies to the people!" Yuan Shu looked back at Yuan Yao, his eyes brimming with tears.

"Uncle, please restrain your grief. I am sure younger brother Yao would not want you to be so heartbroken over him," said Sun Ce, trying to remain calm. Having experienced the pain of losing his father, and now bearing the weight of his entire family on his shoulders, he had grown much more mature.

"Cao Cao! I am irreconcilably at odds with you!" Yuan Shu roared to the heavens.

Yuan Shu’s face bore an expression of deep sorrow and, after a long while, he clutched Sun Ce’s shoulder and wept uncontrollably, a kind of pain he had never felt before. In the past, even when Cao Cao had beaten him to a pulp in Luoyang, Yuan Shu had only ever been angry.

Because Yuan Shu knew that being unable to defeat Cao Cao was one thing—he could always have his servants beat up Cao Cao in his stead. But not this time. Even if he were to kill Cao Cao, his son would never come back, never!

"Bofu, Bofu, the future of the Yuan family depends on you, all on you…" Yuan Shu wept uncontrollably, no longer holding any ambitions for supremacy. His son was gone, everything was over.

"I will, I will…" Sun Ce silently nodded, his courage redoubling. Besides the burden of the Sun family, he was now also shouldering that of the Yuan family, so heavy he could barely breathe, but he was willing to bear it all.

[As long as I, Sun Ce, live, the Yuan family will not perish. Yuan Gong did not fail me; I will not fail him.] Sun Ce silently made a resolve.

In the spring of 194 A.D., Yuan Shu’s only son passed away. To ensure his son was remembered, Yuan Shu began the tradition of opening the granaries annually on this day—a tradition that continued throughout the era of Sun Ce and even further beyond his time.

Some Aristocratic Clans might mock Yuan Shu for indulging his offspring, yet they did not realize that his actions gave the common people under his rule a glimmer of hope for survival. And that slight sense of gratitude might provide a thin slice of a chance for revival when the Yuan family faced ruin.

After Yuan Yao’s death, Yuan Shu did not officially adopt Sun Ce as his son but fully transferred his authority to Sun Ce with the honors due to a legitimate son. Zhou Yu was personally recommended by Yuan Shu to the Central Government, bestowed with the title of Might Colonel. The sidelined individuals like Gu Yong and Liaoo Li also received numerous promotions. Sun Ce, feeling indebted, was all the more determined not to fail the Yuan family. (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian ) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)