Chapter Three: Everyone Has Their Own Agenda

"Hmm... My bow is of no use... Hiss..." An elderly man with greying hair stroked his beard and pondered.

Cui Hou spoke with utmost respect, "Yes, Father. I saw this book on that young man's desk, so he must read it often. Yet, whenever he guides me, he only shows me the classics, histories, and odes, strictly avoiding this particular volume. There must be something suspicious about it. Fearing I would arouse his suspicion, I returned immediately—only, I cannot recall where this quote originates."

Cui Yi, the father of Cui Hou, tilted his head back, narrowed his eyes, and remained silent for a long time before saying, "It seems it was the right decision to send you to test him; this boy truly harbors hidden secrets. You do not recognize this book, and I do not blame you, for it is not found in the classics or histories. I suspect this line comes from... *Hu Fei Zi*."

Cui Yi opened his eyes wide, lowering his voice to a mere whisper, as if terrified of being overheard: "...Hu... Fei... Zi..."

"Oh! Ah!" Cui Hou exclaimed in shock. "...Hu Fei Zi? Does Father mean *that* Hu Fei Zi? If so, this boy has obtained—"

"Quiet!" Cui Yi glared at him.

Cui Hou realized his lapse and lowered his voice, "In that case, is Father's suspicion likely true?"

Cui Yi nodded. "Legend has it that Hu Fei Zi was skilled in the mastery of objects and left behind the 'Five Courages, Seven Crafts, and Eighteen Methods,' though most have been lost to time. This boy comes from a modest background, yet suddenly produces such exquisite treasures; his claims of family inheritance are likely a fabrication. Glass is fragile and difficult to carve, yet the patterns on this glass bead are seamless, showing no trace of chisel or blade..."

"I suspect, nine times out of ten, that this boy has acquired the secret arts of Hu Fei Zi. In a few days, you should invite him to our estate so I may test him myself. If it is true, we must... heh heh. Furthermore, arrange for some capable men to search his home thoroughly while he is away. Be careful not to let him discover you."

"Does Father mean—what exactly should they look for?" Cui Hou was still not entirely clear.

Cui Yi felt a twinge of frustration at his son's dullness, but holding his patience, he offered a hint: "Making things requires tools! Search the hidden corners for anything unusual—do you understand?"

"Understood!"

In a grand, magnificent mansion within the city, another richly dressed elder was lecturing his child, though this one possessed a far less amiable temperament.

"Fool! Utter fool!"

The elder roared in thunderous fury, slamming his cane against the floor. All the servants inside and outside the hall immediately prostrated themselves, not daring to lift their heads or even move an inch.

The "foolish one," Yuan Shao, hurriedly knelt and crawled forward a few steps, kowtowing. "Uncle, please calm your anger! Uncle, please calm your anger!"

The servants in and around the hall joined in, chanting, "Grand Tutor, please calm your anger! Grand Tutor, please calm your anger!"

For a moment, silence descended upon the halls and courtyards. Everyone trembled, afraid to make a sound. The only noise was the heavy, labored breathing of the Grand Tutor, Lord Yuan Wei.

"...Cao A-man! Those are the words of Cao A-man! Are you surnamed Yuan or Cao? If Cao A-man told you to eat filth, would you do that too?!"

These were stinging words that struck at the heart. Yuan Shao kowtowed repeatedly, terrified. "I would not dare! I am guilty!"

Yuan Wei’s breathing steadied slightly. He waved for the servants to withdraw to a distance before speaking in a low, cold voice: "'A single jailer is enough'—what boundless arrogance! ...And how did that butcher respond to this suggestion?"

"General He... that butcher He—he seemed somewhat moved..."

"Good, good, good!" Yuan Wei sneered, glaring at the kneeling Yuan Shao. "And did you offer any counsel at that time?"

Yuan Shao shuddered. Although he did not look up, he could feel the piercing gaze of his uncle. "I... I... I did not offer... any counsel..."

"Fool! Simpleton! What use are you!" Yuan Wei erupted again, striking Yuan Shao’s back with his cane.

Yuan Shao dared not dodge, enduring the blows through gritted teeth while pleading, "I am foolish, I am guilty! Uncle, please calm your anger..."

Being advanced in age, Yuan Wei grew tired after a few strikes. "You brat, you ruin everything!" he cursed. Though he lacked the strength to continue, his resentment remained; he kicked Yuan Shao aside. "You usually boast of your own cleverness—how could you not see through such a petty scheme?"

Yuan Shao scrambled to his feet, knelt properly once more, and dared not utter a sound.

"Go to the butcher at once. Do not forget the fate of Dou Wu! He who hesitates when a decision is needed will suffer the consequences!"

"Understood!" Yuan Shao scrambled up, head bowed, and backed out of the room like a lowly servant before turning to leave.

In his haste, he nearly collided with a servant at the courtyard gate. Filled with pent-up fury, Yuan Shao did not think twice; he kicked the unlucky servant in the midsection, sending him sprawling, and hurried away.

This scene was witnessed by a young man in fine robes who emerged from behind a screen in the hall. He chuckled softly, "He only knows how to throw his weight around in front of servants..."

The young man approached Yuan Wei and bowed. "Uncle."

Yuan Wei nodded, gesturing for him to sit. "Shu, what do you make of this?"

The young man, Yuan Shu, smoothed his robes and sat gracefully. "This is merely a delaying tactic by Cao A-man. After all, Cao A-man is a Cao!" Cao Cao’s father, Cao Song, was the adopted son of the great eunuch Cao Teng—a man who had served four emperors and was titled Marquis of Fei Ting! A eunuch marquis! This was an insult to the noble families, like the Yuans, who prided themselves on being the "pure stream."

Yuan Shu’s meaning was clear: as someone born into a family of eunuchs, how could Cao Cao truly devise schemes to eliminate them?

Yuan Wei nodded slightly, his expression showing a hint of satisfaction. "Shu’s words match my own thoughts. Capturing them with a jailer is not difficult, but if the order does not come from above, who has the authority to command it?"

For the cause of purging the eunuchs, Cao Cao’s suggestion was flawed. Who were the eunuchs? They were the people closest to the Emperor. Who could issue an order to capture and execute them? Only the Emperor. But the current Emperor, Liu Bian, was a mere child. To ask him to order the execution of the very people who served him was impossible.

He Jin had killed Jian Shuo on the grounds that he had forged an imperial edict, which gave him a degree of moral legitimacy, and he had targeted only one man. But to openly purge all powerful eunuchs without a clear cause? That was beyond the power of a mere jailer.

"Uncle is absolutely right. Cao A-man merely fears that a total purge would destroy his own foundation. It is a pity that my elder brother failed to see this..."

"An incompetent bastard, do not speak of him!"

"Understood." Yuan Shu acknowledged, then smiled. "Uncle, I happened to purchase a treasure at the market a few days ago, and I have brought it to present to you today."

Yuan Wei waved his hand, his mood brightening slightly. "What treasure? Keep it for yourself; I lack for nothing. Your heart is enough."

"Then you must not refuse this token of my sincerity, Uncle!" Yuan Shu said with a laugh, turning to shout toward the door, "Bring in the item I brought!"

Sitting in his carriage, Yuan Shao felt his anger mounting. He slammed a fist against the side of the carriage, startling his guard, who rushed to ask if something was wrong.

Yuan Shao grunted that it was nothing and ordered them to continue, but his heart churned like a boiling pot.

I know whether Cao A-man’s plan is good or bad, but what benefit is there for me to point it out?

Cao A-man is right—a jailer is enough to kill one eunuch, but what about all of them? Who has the authority? Only the Emperor. But will the Emperor issue that order? He listens only to Empress Dowager He, and it is said the eunuchs were instrumental in her rise. How could she possibly order their total destruction?

Furthermore, even if these eunuchs are purged, will there not be new ones tomorrow? They speak of righteousness and the state, but it is all for selfish gain! It is nothing more than the old man being humiliated by Zhang Rang and the others, and now he refuses to let it go when he has the power!

Although Jian Shuo of the West Garden's Eight Colonels has been executed, the eunuchs have operated for years; their followers and subordinates are countless. A total purge will undoubtedly lead to chaos. That is why the old man has summoned Dong Zhuo from the frontier to use as a counterweight against any unexpected turns.

Yuan Shao sighed deeply. Cao A-man, I cannot help you this time. It seems the old man is determined to fight the eunuchs to the death.

For Yuan Shao, the desire to purge the eunuchs was far weaker than the desire to secure his own future. He had not lived through the Proscription of Partisan Prohibitions, so he did not harbor the deep-seated hatred for eunuchs that his uncle Yuan Wei did.

Within the Yuan family, Yuan Shao was far less prestigious than he appeared to outsiders. He held the title of eldest son and grandson, but in reality, he was still just a child of a concubine, while the true favorite was his brother, Yuan Shu, the son of the primary wife.

He was given the dirty work, yet received few of the rewards! The Yuan family looked down on the butcher He Jin, viewing him as a stain on their reputation, yet when they needed to collaborate or leverage He Jin's power, they sent Yuan Shao to act as his errand boy, keeping the favored Yuan Shu close by.

Yuan Shao felt little warmth from his kin; only with Cao A-man did he find some semblance of true friendship. That was one reason he had not exposed Cao A-man.

The death of Jian Shuo, the ascension of Liu Xie, the summoning of Dong Zhuo—all these events bore the marks of the "pure stream" faction represented by the Yuan family. Yuan Shao was merely a puppet pushed to the front.

Yet, since the ideas appeared to come from him, if disaster struck, Yuan Shao would be the one to shoulder the blame.

He knew this, but he had no choice. If he were not used as a puppet, he would not even have the privilege of wearing the glorious mantle of the Yuan family.

Such is the sorrow of a secondary son.

But even so, what could he do?

Yuan Shao clenched his fists, his face contorted. Deep inside, he screamed into the void—

I, Yuan Shao, Yuan Benchu, have only one path: to seize every opportunity, to rise, to rise!

I, Yuan Shao, Yuan Benchu, will break free from this cage and carve out a world of my own!

I, Yuan Shao, Yuan Benchu, will make the whole world know my name, and I will make those who insulted me—and this entire world—kneel at my feet!