Military rank

“Just now, Father, due to a shortage of manpower, you abandoned the reorganization and assisted the Right Colonel of the Auxiliary Army, Feng Fang’s unit. I humbly request to lead a hundred elite soldiers to take over and relieve Your Lordship’s worries,” Yuan Xi said firmly, half-kneeling with his fists clasped.

“Haha, this is no child’s play. Xianyi, you shall remain here to guard the garrison. I will handle the other matters myself. There is no need for you to take risks,” Yuan Shao smiled, shaking his head as he looked at his eager son.

“Father, in ancient times, Gan Luo bowed to become Prime Minister and was sent as an envoy to the State of Zhao. You, too, served as a confidential aide at a young age and nurtured great ambitions. Naturally, I must follow your example and uphold the honor of the Yuan family. I earnestly ask for your permission,” Yuan Xi persisted, bringing up Yuan Shao’s past.

Yuan Shao, a man known for his good reputation, felt both proud and pleased to hear his son’s praise but was reluctant to let Yuan Xi take such risks. He stroked his beard, hesitating.

“Xianyi, your ambition is commendable, but the situation remains uncertain and perilous. How could I, as your father, allow you to place yourself in danger?” Although not an ideal sovereign, Yuan Shao was indeed a caring father, which gave Yuan Xi confidence in certain matters.

Had his father been someone like Cao Cao or Li Shimin, Yuan Xi would not have dared to make such plans. But because Yuan Shao was protective, he felt fearless.

“I assure you, Father, over the years I have not slackened in bow and horse training; I can certainly protect myself. Moreover, I have the brave warrior Xu Chu under my command. Please rest assured,” Yuan Xi continued to plead.

“Benchu, your eldest son, has great aspirations, and your second son is renowned for talent, truly a standout of this generation. Cao Mengde has already entrusted Cao Ang with the command of troops, but I believe Xianyi’s talent surpasses Cao Ang’s by far,” Xu You, who was nearby, cast a deep glance at Yuan Xi and seemed to understand something.

“Very well! Very well! I grant your request!” Yuan Shao, pleased by these words, allowed Yuan Xi’s plan in a burst of youthful zeal.

He ordered Yuan Xi to lead Xu Chu’s troops to recruit Feng Fang’s soldiers and, unwilling to take chances, allocated an additional two hundred cavalry to him.

Then, feigning an imperial decree, Yuan Shao and Yuan Wei rushed to the palace.

In this campaign, they slew the eunuchs and their associates, Xu Xiang and Fan Ling. At the Zhuque Gate, they captured and executed eunuchs like Zhao Zhong who failed to escape.

Yuan Shao then ordered the palace gates to be sealed, forbidding entry or exit, and commanded soldiers to scour the palace, exterminating every eunuch, young and old.

That night, over two thousand died. Even some without beards were mistaken for eunuchs and killed. The Yuan family and eunuchs had never been on good terms.

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Although the eight colonels of the Western Garden were all stationed in the western part of the city, their camps were not contiguous, which gave Yuan Xi the opportunity to eliminate Feng Fang.

At this moment, Yuan Xi’s heart was filled with excitement and pride.

He led two hundred cavalry and one hundred elite bodyguards under Xu Chu.

They arrived at the camp of the Right Colonel of the Auxiliary Army. Yuan Xi wore a finely crafted fish-scale armor, carried a bow and arrows, and had a gleaming steel sword at his waist.

Xu Chu was similarly armored, clad in fish-scale armor, and mounted on horseback.

Yuan Xi was not afraid but exhilarated—this was his first step to the pinnacle of power. With Xu Chu, a top-notch fierce general as his bodyguard, he had no concerns for his safety.

At this moment, Xu Chu, clad in gleaming armor with a shining cape flowing behind him and his rugged, fierce face, was truly a formidable tiger general of the age.

“Follow my orders! Charge!” Yuan Xi shouted from afar before the garrison could react, sending the cavalry crashing into the Right Colonel’s camp.

Several cavalrymen threw hooks to latch onto the camp gate.

With infantry support nearby, the gate was soon completely breached.

“Who goes there?” “Halt!” The soldiers of the Right Colonel’s unit were stunned as allied troops suddenly stormed their camp. They hesitated, unsure whether to immediately counterattack.

“What’s going on?” Feng Fang, the Right Colonel, heard the commotion outside and quickly went out with a few guards to investigate.

Seeing the troops bearing the central army's insignia charging into his camp, he was furious.

They were confronting his men—was this a rebellion?

Feng Fang spotted Yuan Xi surrounded by soldiers and demanded, “Boy, who are you to cause trouble here without cause?”

Yuan Xi shouted, “By order of the Grand General and the Supervisor of the Capital Garrison, I take over the position of Right Colonel of the Auxiliary Army from Feng Fang, who is promoted to Zhonglang General and must report to the Central Army Headquarters immediately without error. General Feng, please comply.”

He then handed a token of authority from the Supervisor of the Capital Garrison to Feng Fang through a soldier. Feng Fang, not an ally of Yuan Shao but a confidant of He Jin, sneered upon seeing the token.

“This must be Yuan Benchu’s doing. I see flames rising in Luoyang; something major must be happening. Yuan Benchu intends to seize my command, does he?”

Yuan Xi retorted coldly, “General Feng, do you acknowledge this order?”

“Not until I confirm with the Grand General,” Feng Fang replied coldly, ignoring the young man before him.

“Disobeying orders is punishable by death!” Yuan Xi’s eyes gleamed with killing intent as he declared coldly.

“You brat, I know you’re Yuan Shao’s second son, Yuan Xi. Hurry back—this is no place for a boy like you,” a Cavalry Captain beside Feng Fang laughed, spurring his horse forward.

Yuan Xi knew that without demonstrating force, he could not subdue these troops.

He looked at the man coldly and asked, “Where is Xu Chu?”

“Xu Chu is here!” Xu Chu understood, gripped his great blade, and charged at the Cavalry Captain.

The captain raised his spear, attempting to unseat Xu Chu, but the steel blade came down with overwhelming speed and crushing force.

“Bang!” The spear and blade clashed.

The captain’s grip on the spear shattered at his hand, and he struggled to maintain his balance on the horse.

As he tried to dodge, the blade’s slicing wind cut his neck. With a single stroke, Xu Chu severed it.

Blood sprayed as the severed head flew aside.

“Mission accomplished!” Xu Chu, amidst the horrified gazes of the soldiers, lifted the head by the hair with his sword tip and slowly returned to Yuan Xi’s side.

“Well done, Zhongkang!” Yuan Xi then addressed Feng Fang, “General Feng, if you do not obey the order within the count of three, bear the consequences.”

“One!” Yuan Xi began counting.

Feng Fang, fearful, had his guards shield him.

Still uneasy, he said, “Yuan Xi, your family has slain imperial officials; do you intend rebellion? I will report to His Majesty.”

“Two!” Yuan Xi ignored him and continued counting.

“Three!” As he finished, a cold gleam shot forward beside him.

“Ah!” Feng Fang was struck unexpectedly by a gust of cold wind, then an arrow pierced his throat. He was thrown from his horse.

“Disobedience is punishable by death!” Yuan Xi seized the moment to shout again at Feng Fang’s troops.

Xu Chu bellowed, “Disobedience is punishable by death!”

His roar was far more effective than Yuan Xi’s voice.

The soldiers of the Right Colonel’s unit exchanged glances, saw the tide turning, and immediately knelt on one knee, crying out, “We pledge to obey the General’s orders.”

“Good, very good,” Yuan Xi nodded. He then ordered the hundred officers to enter the camp’s pavilion for discussion while the remaining soldiers stood guard.