My father Liu Xuande

Chapter 387 All Sides' Contingency Plans
At this time, the emperor was young, emotional, and easily moved.

After hearing Liu Feng recount so many hardships, Liu Feng began to remember the good deeds of Liu Bei and his son. Moreover, Liu Biao's handling of Liu Xun's matter was indeed dishonest, and it also revealed his own hidden ambitions.

When Liu Biao was fighting Yuan Shu, he sat on the sidelines and watched the two tigers fight.

After Yuan Shu was captured, he colluded with Liu Xun.

Comparing the two sides in this way, Liu Bei and his sons clearly gained an advantage.

Young people are prone to impulsiveness, and the emperor, moved by his actions, actually asked, "Minister Liu, your journey south this time has been instrumental in recovering Huaibei for the court, capturing the traitor alive, and retrieving the national treasure. I am truly gratified. Minister Liu, how would you like me to reward you?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Feng's heart stirred.

Time was short, and Liu Feng quickly made up his mind, replying, "Both thunder and rain are the Emperor's grace, and the reward for meritorious service is the authority of Your Majesty and the court. How dare I object? I will leave the decision to Your Majesty."

Upon hearing this, Liu Xie couldn't help but silently recite "Thunder and rain, all are the emperor's grace" several times.

After a moment, he let out a long sigh, lamenting that such loyal ministers were nowhere to be found these days.

Then, Liu Xie's gaze lingered on Liu Feng, his heart filled with some conflict.

Admittedly, Liu Xie himself had a very good impression of Liu Feng. After all, Liu Feng had traveled thousands of miles to Hedong to serve the king, and when he was at his lowest point, he sent him invaluable tribute.

Then Liu Feng stepped in again, mediating between the various factions, and ultimately the emperor was able to successfully return the old capital.

Liu Xie remembered this merit and kindness.

But what Yang Biao said was indeed true. Now Liu Feng and his father Liu Bei already controlled most of Xuzhou and Yuzhou, and now they had taken Yangzhou. Their power was growing too rapidly.

The emperor did need Liu Bei and his son to counterbalance Yuan Shao in Hebei and Cao Cao in Luozhong, but that did not mean he should allow Liu Bei to expand without limit.

Appropriate restrictions on Liu Bei and his sons are clearly necessary, and the earlier these restrictions are imposed, the better the effect will be.

Yang Biao was Liu Xie's trusted minister and a renowned veteran official. He was second to none in terms of both prestige and ability.

Whether during the reign of Dong Zhuo or the reign of Li Jue and Guo Si, Yang Biao risked his life for Liu Xie, and his merits were in no way inferior to those of Liu Bei and his son, while the bond between the ruler and his subject was even stronger.

Liu Xie was still able to listen to what Yang Biao said.

For a moment, Liu Xie fell into deep thought.

Liu Xie was to reward those who had contributed to the cause and to commend Liu Feng without disheartening his loyal ministers. At the same time, he also had to consider the advice of his veteran ministers. This situation was indeed a great dilemma for Liu Xie.

Originally, some of Yang Biao's key officials suggested that Liu Feng be appointed to a post in Luozhong.

Yang Biao suggested that Zhong Yao be transferred to the Nine Ministers, and then Liu Feng be appointed as the Commandant of the Capital Region, with the additional titles of Attendant-in-Ordinary and Director of the Imperial Secretariat.

In this way, Liu Bei and his son could be separated, with Liu Bei residing outside and Liu Feng inside, allowing the emperor to rely on Liu Bei and his son to counterbalance Cao Cao and gain greater real power.

At the same time, after Liu Feng was recruited to Luoyang, it would be natural to appoint loyal officials from the court to serve as governors of Yangzhou and prefects of various counties and kingdoms in Yangzhou, so as to bring the power of Yangzhou back to the court.

It has to be said that Yang Biao's idea was very clever.

This was quite cruel for Liu Bei and his son, almost tantamount to abandoning them after they had served their purpose.

Anyone with eyes can see that this is not a reward or a favor, but a promotion in name only, a demotion in reality.

Guo Gong, Han Rong, Zhong Yao, Dong Zhao, and others vehemently opposed it.

This wasn't entirely for Liu Feng's sake; it also stemmed from loyalty to the emperor.

In the eyes of these people, Yang Biao's plan was tantamount to drinking poison to quench thirst.

Even if Liu Bei and his son obeyed the order, in the eyes of the vassal states, not only would they not be rewarded for serving the court, but they would also suffer the fate of being discarded like a hunting dog after the rabbit is killed. The emperor's prestige would inevitably collapse, and who among the vassal states would believe in the emperor and serve him in the future?
Moreover, would Liu Bei and his son really be so obedient as to relinquish their power and hand over the vast city of Yangzhou to the court?

It should be noted that Yangzhou had already been pacified by Liu Feng at this time. Even if Liu Feng did not receive the title of Governor of Yangzhou from the imperial court, he was still the de facto ruler of Yangzhou.

Therefore, Guo Gong and others felt that Yang Biao was simply incompetent. His plan could only be achieved on the basis of the absolute loyalty of Liu Bei and his son. But if Liu Bei and his son were absolutely loyal, why would the emperor have to pay such a high price in his prestige to take away the power of loyalty?

The two sides argued fiercely, and even the emperor found it difficult to make a decision.

At least when Dong Zhao and Zhong Yao went out of the city to welcome Liu Feng, the matter of the halberd-crossing ceremony had not yet been decided.

After much hesitation, Liu Xie was unable to make a decision. He simply comforted Liu Feng and told him to go back and rest while the court discussed the matter.

Liu Feng had regained his composure and respectfully took his leave.

This time, nothing seemed to happen during the Hajj.

In reality, Liu Feng managed to turn the tide.

It turns out that Yang Biao had already persuaded Liu Xie to summon Liu Feng to the capital and appoint him as the governor of Yangzhou, thus taking back Yangzhou.

But Liu Xie did not act in that way, which shows that he was also moved by Liu Feng.

Liu Feng left the palace, his expression darkening once more.

He never imagined that Yang Biao would target him, especially when Cao Cao was vying for power.

It seems that he put too much pressure on Cao Cao, so much so that the old man Yang Biao had nothing better to do.

"General."

Upon seeing Liu Feng leave the city, Xu Chu and the others immediately came to greet him.

Lu Meng obediently led the horse to Liu Feng.

Liu Feng immediately mounted his horse and called out, "Let's go back to the manor first."

"Here!"

Xu Chu and the others responded in unison.

The group rushed to the outside of the General of the Cavalry's mansion.

After dismounting, Liu Feng did not rush into the mansion, but instead called over Lü Meng and Ling Tong.

"A-Tong, take my name card and go to the General's mansion to request an audience. Tell him that you wish to visit the mansion tomorrow."

Ling Tong immediately responded, "Yes, General!"

He then took his name card, remounted, and rode away.

Then, Liu Feng said to Lü Meng, "Ziming, arrange the manpower and proceed according to Plan A3."

Lu Meng's expression changed slightly, and he respectfully accepted the order.

After making the arrangements, Liu Feng took Xu Chu into the mansion, and then sent someone to invite Zhuge Jin, Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong, Zhang Liao and others to come for a meeting.

Liu Feng's audience with the emperor this time was actually not very long.

Zhuge Liang and the others had only been in the mansion for a short time, and had just settled down and rested for a while when Liu Feng suddenly sent someone to summon them.

Soon, everyone was invited into the study in the backyard.

After Zhuge Liang and the others were seated, Liu Feng began to recount the events.

The expressions of everyone in the hall changed.

No wonder Liu Feng didn't invite Zhuge Xuan over; it's not appropriate for Zhuge Xuan to know about this kind of thing. "I have a plan, but I don't know if it's feasible."

Before speaking, Pang Tong glanced at both sides, especially at Zhuge Liang.

Along the way, the Zhuge brothers and Pang Tong were of similar age and were all from prominent families.

Pang Tong came from a better background, but he wasn't a direct descendant of the Zhuge brothers. The Zhuge brothers were direct descendants, but their backgrounds were inferior to Pang Tong's.

Overall, the two sides are considered to be of similar status.

In terms of knowledge, although Zhuge Jin lacked quick wit, he excelled in talent.

Both Zhuge brothers were learned and knowledgeable about the past and present. Their conversations along the way, which contained subtle comparisons, led them to become friends.

Pang Tong knew Zhuge Liang's shrewdness and intelligence, which is why he looked at the other party before speaking.

Seeing that Zhuge Liang did not intend to speak, he took the initiative to speak.

Liu Feng also respected Pang Tong very much, and immediately said, "If Shi Yuan has any insightful opinions, please do not hesitate to enlighten me."

Pang Tong humbly replied, "My lord has risked his life for the Emperor and the court, fighting bandits on horseback and pacifying the people on foot. Fifty thousand soldiers fought valiantly on the battlefield, suffering heavy casualties and sacrificing a million bushels of grain to finally stabilize Yangzhou. Yet now the Emperor and the court want to reap the benefits, which truly infuriates those with discernment."

Pang Tong's plan was actually quite malicious, so he had to first establish himself on the moral high ground.

Zhuge Liang glanced at Pang Tong discreetly. Zhuge Jin and Zhang Liao couldn't understand the implications or the subtle nuances of the situation; they simply shared a common sense that Pang Tong's words were quite true. But he was well aware of this.

Sure enough, Pang Tong then changed the subject, saying, "In that case, my lord's most urgent task is to let the court know the importance of taking the initiative in Yangzhou, and more importantly, to make the court and the emperor understand that Yangzhou cannot do without you."

Liu Feng's eyes lit up, and he bowed to Pang Tong, saying, "Please speak frankly, sir."

Liu Feng's reaction delighted Pang Tong. After a moment of humility, he immediately said, "I have heard from you, my lord, that Zhu Hao, the Prefect of Yuzhang, is plotting rebellion, colluding with the Yue tribes to oppose the royal army. In my opinion, the Yue tribes are utterly untrustworthy. Prefect Zhu's actions are tantamount to seeking a tiger's skin, and he will likely be harmed by the tiger."

Upon hearing this, Liu Feng pondered for a moment, then revealed a look of deep agreement and said, "Shi Yuan's words make perfect sense! I should write a letter to Gong Jin, instructing him to be careful and to ensure the safety of Prefect Zhu."

A smile crept across Zhuge Liang's lips. He knew perfectly well what Liu Feng meant. More importantly, before they came, Liu Feng and he had devised several backup plans, and this was one of them.

It can only be said that Pang Shiyuan and they truly share the same view.

Pang Tong's first suggestion was praised and adopted by Liu Feng, which added a touch of brilliance to his otherwise unremarkable face.

Then, Pang Tong offered another suggestion: "Previously, the powerful figures of Kuaiji colluded with the Yue tribes in the mountains to launch a rebellion. Although it was quelled by our lord, I have heard that the remaining members are disloyal and restless. Now that our lord has gone to Luoyang, their forces will surely rebel. We must be on guard."

Liu Feng's smile grew wider as he nodded and praised, "Mr. Shiyuan is mature and prudent, with flawless strategies; he is truly a talent fit to assist a king."

********
While Liu Feng's discussion was in full swing, a large number of people also gathered at the Grand Commandant's residence.

After Yang Liang finished his shift, the guards from the Southern Palace came to the Grand Commandant's residence and told Grand Commandant Yang Biao everything that had happened.

Contrary to Liu Feng's guess, Yang Biao was actually sick at this time.

It's perfectly normal to have minor headaches or fevers when you get older.

Given Yang Biao's strong character, he would never have stayed home to rest unless he was truly ill.

At this moment, Yang Biao was lying on the couch, with his son Yang Xiu attending to him.

Among the guests were members of Yang's faction.

Besides Yang Liang, there were also Zhang Xi, Liu Ai, Dong Cheng, and others.

Liu Feng's sudden rise to power, coupled with his alliance with Cao Cao, led to Dong Cheng's complete marginalization.

In the original timeline, Dong Cheng was able to form his own faction and marry his daughter to Emperor Liu Xie as a concubine.

In this timeline, Dong Cheng was severely marginalized. Forget about being the emperor's father-in-law, he had gone from being the eldest son to a junior member, relying on the faction of Grand Commandant Yang Biao.

The alliance between Dong Cheng and Yang Biao greatly enhanced Yang Biao's strength.

No matter how weak Dong Cheng was as a warlord, he still held military power. His defection to Yang Biao, coupled with Yang Liang's appointment as the commander of the Nangong Guard, enabled the Yang faction to successfully seize military power and greatly boosted their confidence.

During those years in Chang'an, Guanzhong, the aristocratic families in the court underwent significant changes.

While being thoroughly bullied by the warriors of Xiliang, the scholars in the court have also realized the importance of military strength and are now starting to win over these warriors.

In fact, Liu Feng was the most suitable person to win over. After all, Cao Cao and Liu Bei were both regional warlords, but Liu Feng was young, knowledgeable in military affairs, and had elite and courageous troops under his command.

The problem is, Liu Feng is not someone who can be won over.

During his first two trips to Luoyang, he also attended many banquets hosted by high-ranking officials.

Liu Feng had no such intention. Why would a proper second-generation feudal lord serve as a lackey for the gentry?

He's not crazy, why would he do that?

This is the late Eastern Han Dynasty, not the magical Jin Dynasty that ruled the world solely through laughter (filial piety).

These days, the relationship between benefactor and patron is quite strong; if someone repays kindness with enmity, the damage to one's reputation can be enormous.

For example, Dong Zhuo made a very important mistake by killing Yuan Wei's entire family. This completely tore apart the foundation of his cooperation with the gentry, which was a complete overturning of the table.

The reason for this was that Dong Zhuo was a former subordinate of Yuan Wei, and it was also Yuan Wei who recommended him for his reinstatement as governor of Bing Province.

Liu Feng has other options; why would he choose this path with such a host of negative consequences?

But to these scholars, Liu Feng was simply out of touch with reality.

These people will only think that Liu Feng is out of touch with reality. You should know that ten years ago, even military men wanted to serve him but couldn't find an opportunity.

This time, Yang Biao's actions were more or less intended to teach Liu Feng a lesson and make him realize the mistake he had made.

After Yang Liang finished speaking, the hall fell silent.

After a moment, Liu Ai asked hesitantly, "What does the Emperor mean by this? Has he changed his mind again?"

The emperor had been persuaded by them, and they had even decided on the governor of Yangzhou.

But to everyone's surprise, the emperor hesitated again.

After much discussion, the group still couldn't come up with a solution.

When they wanted Yang Biao to make a decision, they found that Yang Biao had actually fallen asleep.

Seeing that Yang Biao had fallen asleep, Zhang Xi and the others had no choice but to take their leave for the time being.

Yang Xiu and Yang Liang escorted Zhang Xi, Liu Ai, and others out of the Yang residence.

Afterwards, Yang Xiu went back to Yang Biao's bedroom alone.

Upon entering the room, I saw Yang Biao staring at the ceiling with his eyes wide open.

Yang Xiu was not surprised, and simply walked quietly to Yang Biao's bedside and sat down.

After a long while, Yang Biao suddenly spoke up: "The emperor is indecisive, and I fear that there will be trouble in the future."

Yang Xiu, however, looked disapproving and replied, "Whether the Emperor will cause trouble or not, I do not know, but I fear that trouble for my Yang family is imminent."

(End of this chapter)