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In Fei Qian's estimation, while it was quite evident that the Hongnong Yang clan was involved in this affair—those so-called Yellow Turban rebels who had appeared so suddenly west of Hangu Pass were most likely private soldiers of the Hongnong Yang clan in disguise—there was no doubt that the Yuan clan had been the one pulling the strings behind the scenes and coordinating all the arrangements.
Otherwise, without promises from these two major power players at court, what would have given the Xingyang Zheng clan the audacity to dare such a thing?
But now, regardless of the circumstances, Fei Qian had coincidentally disrupted such a scheme...
Fei Qian looked somewhat helplessly at his uncle, Fei Min. To call him foolish would be untrue—he was certainly not stupid. Yet to say he was clever would also be inaccurate, for he had clearly misapplied his intelligence in the wrong direction...
Did this uncle of his still believe that offering Fei Qian up when the time came would suffice to appease the resentment of the Yuan and Yang families?
This was a question Fei Qian had pondered throughout his journey back to Luoyang. Although it had not been intentional, the fact remained that his actions had led to this outcome.
So, naturally, would the Yuan and Yang families magnanimously let him off the hook?
If he were in their position, would he be willing to let it slide?
Obviously not. Otherwise, the next time a similar situation arose, what would stop someone from using the excuse, "I just happened to be passing by; it wasn't deliberate"?
What followed was clear enough. Even if Fei Qian were handed over to the Yuan and Yang families for disposal, would they really reward the Fei family for their cooperation and promote Fei Min to a higher official position?
Heh...
After some thought, Fei Qian decided to recount the entire sequence of events at Hangu Pass to Fei Min in detail.
Fei Qian thought to himself that if Fei Min still couldn't grasp the stakes involved in this matter, he would have to consider cutting ties with the Fei family...
As Fei Min listened to Fei Qian's account, his frown deepened. He hadn't been fully aware of these details previously. He had always assumed that although Fei Qian was involved, he was merely an bystander at most, and that Zhang Liao, as the commanding officer, was the primary factor. It had never occurred to him that Fei Qian had also played a role in the events.
Fei Min stood up, clasped his hands behind his back, and began pacing around the hall, lost in thought.
The matter of relocating the capital had become a focal point of the struggle between Dong Zhuo and Yuan Wei. Fei Min was well aware of the significance of this issue.
As for the events at Hangu Pass, although he had heard some rumors over the past couple of days, he wasn't privy to the specific details. So, when the Grand Tutor's subordinate had arrived, Fei Min had assumed it was merely a warning for Fei Qian to be cautious with his words and avoid inadvertently causing trouble.
After all, Zhang Liao was aligned with Dong Zhuo's faction, while Fei Qian was a third party. If witness testimony were needed, Fei Qian's words would naturally carry more credibility. However, all previous assumptions and inferences had been based on the premise that Fei Qian was merely a passive observer who hadn't played any significant role at Hangu Pass...
Now, learning that Fei Qian had been actively involved throughout the entire incident and had played a considerable part in it, the situation was entirely different.
Fei Min's face darkened. After ordering all the servants to withdraw to a distance, he let out a long sigh. "Nephew, you have placed the Fei family on a pile of firewood!"
Fei Qian cupped his hands in a gesture of apology but said nothing.
At that time, death had been staring him in the face. No one could have been expected to consider every possible consequence under such circumstances. Moreover, Fei Qian wasn't worried that Fei Min would hand him over to the Yuan and Yang families now to avoid punishment. Even if such a thing were done, could it really compensate for the losses the Yuan and Yang families had suffered at Hangu Pass?
The Yuan family had sent the Grand Tutor's subordinate to convey their stance, making it clear they did not wish to publicize the matter. Unless Fei Min was an absolute idiot, he wouldn't stir up trouble openly...
Fei Min also looked at Fei Qian with a sense of helplessness and said, "Do you intend to attach yourself to the west?"—Was Fei Qian really so optimistic about Dong Zhuo, that brute from Xiliang?
"No," Fei Qian shook his head. The fact that Fei Min hadn't flown into a rage but instead asked such a question indicated that, at least for now, his intelligence was still there.
This, however, left Fei Min somewhat confused. Although it was common for scholar-official families to place bets on various factions, Fei Qian's actions—neither aligning with the west nor siding with the east—were beyond Fei Min's comprehension.
Fei Qian didn't seem like an irrational person. Playing both sides was a dangerous game that not everyone could manage successfully in every situation. There was a risk of offending both sides and ending up dead without a burial place!
Meeting Fei Min's puzzled gaze, Fei Qian said, "Times have changed. While classical texts are indeed the foundation of family heritage, great chaos is approaching. I happened to be involved in these events and cannot extricate myself..."
Fei Qian did not want to reveal everything he was thinking, but he couldn't remain completely silent either. So, he could only say, "...Rather than making a hasty move in times of uncertainty, it is better to hold back and wait for the right price..."
Clearly, these words, which aligned well with the values of scholar-official families, resonated with Fei Min. He nodded slowly, then shook his head and said, "Nephew, your words make sense. But when caught in the midst of a situation, circumstances often force one's hand. How can we afford to take our time and plan slowly?"
"Uncle, have you not heard that Chong'er found safety abroad, while Shensheng perished at home?"
Fei Min let out an thoughtful "Oh" and asked in a low voice, "Nephew, do you already have a place like Qi or Chu in mind?"
Fei Qian slowly used his finger to trace a character on the table and said, "Luoyang is a place of right and wrong, unsuitable for prolonged stay. I have said all I can, Uncle. I hope you will make a decision soon."
Fei Min's eyes flickered, clearly weighing the feasibility of the plan. After a long moment, he said, "This matter is of great importance. Allow me to consider it carefully."
Having reached this point in the conversation, almost everything that needed to be said had been expressed. Fei Qian took his leave from Fei Min.
Fei Min resumed his gentle demeanor and accompanied Fei Qian all the way to the entrance. Just as they reached the main gate, he suddenly said with a touch of emotion, "Nephew, I hope you won't laugh at me, but if my two worthless sons had even half your intelligence, I would be utterly satisfied."
Fei Qian respectfully cupped his hands and said, "Uncle, you are too modest. In my observation, both young masters are wise and intelligent. Their future prospects are undoubtedly boundless, and they are capable of great responsibilities."
Upon hearing this, Fei Min nodded with a smile and escorted Fei Qian all the way outside the gate. He watched as Fei Qian boarded the carriage before turning back to go inside.
The carriage rocked and swayed over the bluestone pavement, and Fei Qian's thoughts rose and fell along with the motion. He had spoken to Fei Min about placing bets, but for himself, this visit to the Fei residence was also a form of betting.
His own strength was negligible compared to those currently in positions of immense power. So, for now, he had no choice but to follow the principle articulated by a great figure of later generations: unite all forces that can be united. No matter what, the Fei family was his own clan. This connection, rooted in family name and lineage, inherently made it easier to establish a certain level of trust and coordination compared to ordinary outsiders.
Now, the bet had been placed with Fei Min. All that remained was to wait for the day the results would be revealed.
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