But did he not know that this would destroy the reputation the Yuan Clan had built over a hundred years in a single stroke?
At the same time, he wondered why this rebellious son could mobilize the Imperial Guards Army.
The Imperial Guards Army was commanded by Zhang He and Gao Lan. Even the puppet Son of Heaven could not mobilize it. Could those two surrendered generals have betrayed him?
No, neither of them was here.
Yuan Shao looked toward the Imperial Guards but found neither Zhang He nor Gao Lan. He thundered:
"Rebellious son, stop spouting nonsense! Fratricide and imprisoning your father to seize the Heir's Position—you have defied all human morality! How did our Yuan Clan produce a disgrace like you?"
"Even now, you still try to twist the truth and sully our Yuan Clan's name! You are unworthy of being one of us!"
"After all this, why have you not knelt to repent and confess your crimes?"
Faced with Yuan Shao's rebuke, Yuan Xi looked grief-stricken and indignant. He cried out in anguish, "Father! It is not that I do not wish to honor you, but duty to family and country comes first! Our Yuan Clan has received the nation's favor for generations. How could your son stand by and watch you commit Holding the Son of Heaven Hostage and follow in Dong Zhuo's footsteps?"
"I would rather have borne the infamy of an unfilial son and confined you to your residence to preserve your life. But even now, Father, you still harbor a wolf's savage ambition! It pains me to the depths of my heart!"
"Now that the Son of Heaven's Imperial Guards Army has arrived, please surrender at once, Father! Whatever happens, I will plead with the Son of Heaven to spare your life!"
Yuan