Revenge!
How many things in this world could matter more than a son avenging his father?
In these times, even if the ruler a man served killed his father, the son still had to assassinate that ruler to avenge him.
That was filial piety!
The moment Yuan Shao declared before everyone that he would uphold justice for Liu Shen and take revenge on Gongsun Zan, Liu Shen had no other choice.
He could only agree.
He had to agree!
Otherwise, he would have no place left in the world, and the annals would brand him an unfilial son.
Besides.
Liu Shen looked up at the imposing Yuan Benchu. Why should he refuse?
Yuan Benchu met Liu Shen's gaze. He descended from his seat of honor with a dagger in hand, cut through Liu Shen's bonds, and clapped him firmly on the shoulder.
Liu Shen knelt on one knee, his head deeply bowed, and said with boundless regret and anguish, "Lord Yuan, your righteousness is beyond anything I can repay. Beyond anything I can repay!
"Please send your troops to avenge my father and wash away this hatred. I am willing to offer Youzhou to you."
Yuan Shao placed the dagger in Liu Shen's hand, then closed his fingers around its hilt one by one.
Its icy touch passed instantly from his palm to his heart.
With a sharp weapon in hand, the urge to kill arose of its own accord!
Yuan Shao said softly, "I do not know how Lord Bo'an came to be buried with Great Han, but you, young lord, will use this dagger to cut off Gongsun Zan's head and offer it to Lord Bo'an's spirit in heaven."
Then he turned to the men of Hebei. "Gentlemen, why did we travel a thousand li from Ye City