Chapter 42 Shortsighted Han Fu (2/2)

Han Fu didn't like war, but he hates Yuan Shao and his family more.

Though Han Fu had an official rank higher than Yuan Shao, he still felt inferior comparing to his talents and his family background. Thus he became jealous of Yuan Shao.

Yuan Shao himself didn't pay attention to Han Fu. He was busy climbing the ladder in the imperial court while continued clashing with the eunuch faction along with Cao Cao.

Han Fu saw an opportunity to sabotage Yuan family's reputation and their allies, but he didn't know how to execute it. So he asked his advisors.

”What should I do in this situation? I want to damage the Yuan family but I don't know how.”

Then a minister under him, Xin Ping gave him an advice.

”How about we deploy a small task force to raid the Zhang family. The Zhang and the Yuan family are allies. So if we damage the Zhang, then we will slap the face of Yuan Shao indirectly.”

Han Fu's eyes lit up. But before he was about to agree, another voice was raised out.

”No! We cannot attack Zhang Jiao and his family! That family is a physician family with great reputation. Instead of attacking them, we should extend our hands to help them in this crisis! They will be attacked and be outnumbered, so we should send troops to ensure their safety and protect the civilians in that county! This way they will be indebted to us and our reputation will rise and surpassing the Yuan family!”

The minister that objected Xin Ping's opinion was Ju Shou, who would become one of the top advisor of Yuan Shao later in the history.

Xin Ping glared at Ju Shou and clicked his tongue. Then he argued back.

”Zhang Jiao's family is not a simple family. His son has already proclaimed himself as an immortal. That is blasphemy! And Zhang Tong's wife is rumor to be an evil cultist! There were proofs that she extorted the villagers for children blood. Eradicating this family is justified!”

Ju Shou was calm. He glanced back at Xin Ping and debated back.

”We should not prejudice people by looking at a few mistakes they have committed in their lives. Instead, we should look into their true value and their talents! No man is perfected from birth! If a pair of children can achieve this much, then what will they achieve once they become a full-fledged adult! The reports from the spies already indicated that Zhang Tong is the true mastermind behind the Zhang family business and the mysterious soldier training program in his camp. And Hua Shi is known to have miraculous medicine skills. Those children with great potentials have more value than those tiny mistakes they have made and should be properly nurtured! Their behavior can still be curbed and corrected if we protect them and give them a proper education. Once they grew up, they will be the future help to our lord!”

Xin Ping took a step back in shock by Ju Shou's logic. But he still insisted and argued back.

”Because they are already this sinister when they are this young, what will happen if they grew up!? It will get worse! How can we trust them? Won't they betray our faith once we feed them? How do you know that they won't bite us back, hah? I say we get rid of the trouble makers and be done with it. There is no need to waste our precious time babysitting a couple brats that wasn't even part of a noble family!”

Ju Shou gritted his teeth. He had enough of Xin Ping's stubbornness and pessimistic viewpoint. But before he continued the debate, Han Fu stopped them.

”That's enough. I've made my decision. Pan Feng, step forward.”

”Present!”

A general in full iron armor stepped out of the crowd to the middle of the hall.

”Conscript 5,000 militias in this harvest season and prepare 8,000 men. We will eradicate the Zhang family and slap the face of the Yuan!”

”As you commanded!”

Ju Shou sighed in his heart and shook his head, while Xin Ping glanced at him with mocking eyes.

'These people are too narrow-minded. They have no vision for the future.' Ju Shou thought.

That day after the meeting with Han Fu was over. Ju Shou wrote a letter and had his men sent it to Zhang Jiao in secret. In the letter, he described that a new threat was coming from the south, so it would be best to step back and hid under the wings of the Yuan family to save their lives.

After sending away his messenger, Ju Shou gazed at the stars in the night sky. He lamented.

”Will there be one day that the lord will understand my intention?”

”Or there will be one day …”

Ju Shou closed his eyes. He didn't like the idea of betraying his lord. He was a man with integrity and his motto was loyalty. But his fantasizing dream of his couldn't be stopped.

'If there is a lord worthy of my service …'