114 Xu You Intends to Defect to Cao

With a sharp metallic ring, Ju Yi drew his treasured sword.

The swift motion of Ju Yi drawing his blade startled Yuan Shao sharply.

Yuan Shao thought, “Why is Ju Yi drawing his sword? Could he be intending to kill me?”

When he saw Ju Yi hold the sword suspended at his own throat, Yuan Shao finally relaxed.

Explain?

Ju Yi had no desire to explain.

He was a man of integrity and honor; why should he explain himself?

Holding the sword at his throat, Ju Yi bit down on his silver tooth and said to Yuan Shao, “My lord, if you doubt me, then order me, Ju Yi, to take my own life here and now to prove my innocence.”

Truly, Ju Yi was a man of great resolve.

He would rather die than bear a baseless grievance.

Tian Feng, witnessing this scene, was utterly bewildered.

He had just saved Xu You’s life, and now Ju Yi was about to commit suicide.

“My lord, you know General Ju Yi’s character well. There’s no way he would side with Cao Cao,” Tian Feng urged earnestly.

“I stake my own life on it: General Ju Yi is beyond reproach,” he swore solemnly.

Under such persuasion, Yuan Shao was left confused.

Looking at Tian Feng, Yuan Shao thought, “You just helped Xu You, and now you’re defending Ju Yi. Whose side are you really on?”

Whose side was Tian Feng on?

He was on neither side in particular; his sole concern was for Yuan Shao’s imperial ambitions.

For the sake of Yuan Shao’s ascendancy, neither Xu You nor Ju Yi could be lost.

“General Ju Yi, how did you receive the information that someone was sending messages to Xu You?” Tian Feng quickly inquired.

Ju Yi, originally willing to die rather than over-explain, was somewhat moved by Tian Feng’s pledge on his own life.

“One of my soldiers told me. He saw someone delivering a message outside Xu You’s camp,” Ju Yi replied.

Upon hearing this, Tian Feng slapped his thigh and said, “That soldier is suspicious. Quickly, bring him here.”

But at this moment, it was too late to catch the soldier.

After informing Ju Yi, the soldier had already quietly slipped away from Yuan Shao’s camp.

Soon, the soldiers sent to capture him returned to report that the soldier who warned Ju Yi had escaped.

“My lord, the matter is clear now,” Tian Feng said slowly.

“General Ju Yi is completely trustworthy. He only believed the soldier’s words out of loyalty to your cause.”

Thanks to Tian Feng’s persuasion, and the soldier’s flight confirming his guilt, Yuan Shao dispelled his doubts about Ju Yi.

Though Yuan Shao no longer suspected Ju Yi, his suspicion of Xu You remained.

There was reason for this.

Ju Yi was unconnected to Cao Cao; there was no history between them.

But Xu You was different.

Xu You and Cao Cao were childhood friends; in their youth, their bond matched that of Yuan Shao’s.

Yuan Shao approached Ju Yi, took the sword from his neck, and comforted him: “Ju Yi, I do not doubt you. I asked you to explain only because I feared others might suspect you. I wanted you to prove your innocence before all.”

“You are my favored general; how could I ever doubt you?”

Yuan Shao’s words were flattering; he claimed to trust Ju Yi but feared the suspicions of others.

After speaking, Yuan Shao helped Ju Yi sheathe his sword.

Once Ju Yi was appeased, Yuan Shao waved to the assembled officials and warriors: “Let this matter rest here. You may all return.”

After everyone dispersed, Xu You was confined to his tent.

Once suspicion is planted, it inevitably takes root and grows.

Yuan Shao even assigned a personal guard to watch over Xu You.

The forged secret letter by Guo Jia nearly cost Xu You his life.

At the critical moment, Tian Feng noticed that the ink, brush, and paper in Xu You’s tent remained untouched, deducing the smudges on the letter were not his doing.

Tian Feng used this to persuade Yuan Shao, temporarily sparing Xu You.

Though alive, Xu You was no longer trusted and was placed under strict watch.

On the surface, Tian Feng’s insight seemed to outwit Guo Jia.

But in truth, everything unfolded according to Guo Jia’s plan.

Guo Jia intended for someone to see through the letter, saving Xu You at the crucial moment.

From the start, Guo Jia’s goal was not Xu You’s death but to sow discord between him and Yuan Shao, so that Xu You would defect to Cao Cao bearing the defense plans of Wuchao.

Guo Jia’s reputation as a brilliant strategist was well deserved.

All that transpired in Yuan Shao’s camp was foreseen.

After Yuan Shao left, Xu You sat alone in his tent.

Xu You’s heart burned with frustration.

Previously, for smuggling grain, Yuan Shao had wanted to kill him, and Xu You had endured it.

Because Xu You had indeed done it, he had no complaint if Yuan Shao wanted to punish him.

But today’s accusation was baseless.

Xu You understood that Yuan Shao’s greatest fear was Cao Cao.

Though Yuan Shao’s suspicion over the grain smuggling could be resolved, suspicion of collusion with Cao Cao was irreparable.

Once suspicion takes root, it inevitably grows.

After today, Xu You would never again gain Yuan Shao’s trust.

Grabbing the unfinished jug of wine from the table, he downed it in one gulp.

Moments later, he ground his teeth and said, “If you, Yuan Benchu, believe I have betrayed you to Cao Mengde, then don’t blame me!”

At that moment, Xu You’s resolve to join Cao Cao had already taken root.

But such a defection could not be made rashly.

First, Xu You’s family was still in Ye City; before defecting, he had to quietly arrange their departure.

Second, Cao Cao’s ranks were filled with talented civil officials and fierce generals; Xu You needed to prove his worth.

With this in mind, Xu You set his sights on the Wuchao granary.

Anyone with military knowledge knew this battle’s turning point lay at Wuchao.

After careful thought, a plan formed in Xu You’s mind.

There was no time to waste; the key now was to inform his family to leave Ye City discreetly.

Otherwise, if Xu You betrayed Cao Cao and Yuan Shao’s fury was unleashed, his entire family would be exterminated.

Money can move mountains.

Although Xu You was guarded by Yuan Shao’s personal men, he had wealth.

With gold flowing freely, Xu You successfully sent out the message.

Once his family left Ye City, Xu You would rise from Yuan Shao’s camp and join Cao Cao.

(The End of this Chapter)