My father Liu Xuande

Chapter 391 Choosing One of Two Strategies
"clean?"

Liu Feng's face darkened, and he sneered, "Dezu, you are a man of great talent, why utter such foolish words?"

Yang Xiu's heart sank. He knew what Liu Feng was implying, and that things were indeed developing in the most troublesome direction. But that was, after all, his own father. He did oppose his father's actions, but that didn't mean he could just watch his father play with fire and get burned.

Thinking of this, Yang Xiu gritted his teeth, kowtowed to Liu Feng and said, "I am willing to serve the Southern Expedition with all my might, only asking that the Southern Expedition clear my father's name."

"I am now also stuck in the mud. I went south to quell the rebellion for the court, but instead of receiving the recognition I deserve, I was criticized by important officials in the court and suspected that I had ulterior motives."

Liu Feng sighed and said to Yang Xiu, "The letter has already been given to Dezu. Why doesn't Dezu go back and pass it on to the Grand Commandant?"

Yang Xiu suddenly raised his head to look at Liu Feng, a bitter feeling welling up inside him, causing him to frown deeply. Liu Feng's words were very clear: wasn't his current predicament entirely caused by his father?

This was clearly a ploy to get him to go back and persuade Yang Biao to change his ways.

As for destroying the letters, Yang Xiu never considered that option from the beginning.

As intelligent as Yang Xiu was, he knew perfectly well that this seemingly plausible path led to a dead end.

Yang Xiu was willing to stake his life on it; Liu Feng could have as many letters and scrolls as he wanted, just like the ones he treasured in his possession. Otherwise, why would the other party have simply given them to him?
At the same time, Yang Xiu knew even more clearly that what could truly kill his father was not this fake letter, but the powerful force of Liu Feng and Cao Cao.

The saying goes, "If you want to condemn someone, you can always find a pretext."

This is a fabricated charge.

So the problem wasn't with communicating with Yuan Shu through letters, but with the father himself.

"Go!"

Ignoring Yang Xiu's hesitation, Liu Feng directly ordered him to leave: "Since Dezu already knows everything, there is no point in him staying any longer. He should leave quickly. He can come to the headquarters to take up his post in three days."

Yang Xiu sighed and reluctantly got up to take his leave.

Upon returning to the Grand Commandant's residence, Yang Xiu immediately inquired with his servants whether Yang Biao had returned. Before heading to the General of the Cavalry's residence, he had already sent men to the palace to search for Yang Biao and urge him to return immediately.

Unfortunately, the servants reported that Yang Biao still hadn't returned.

Helpless, Yang Xiu could only wait anxiously for his father to finish court in the Grand Commandant's mansion.

At this moment, Cao Ang, who was in the General's mansion, must have found out what was happening in the Grand Commandant's mansion and came to report to Cao Cao and Xi Zhong.

"A letter?"

Cao Cao looked puzzled: "Do you know what kind of letter it is?"

"I don't know."

Cao Ang shook his head: "This letter was written by Zhuge Jin and personally delivered to Yang Xiu. After that, Yang Xiu never parted with it."

"Oh, right, there's one more thing."

Cao Ang suddenly seemed to remember something and added, "When Yang Xiu was appointed, he secretly sent a servant from the Grand Commandant's mansion to leave through a side gate and go to the palace to find the Grand Commandant."

"Could there be some secret in this letter?"

Cao Cao looked puzzled, stroking his short beard, and speculated, "Liu Zisheng is often good at winning people over. Could it be that he used his emotions in his letters and successfully persuaded Yang Xiu?"

Xi Zhong stroked his short beard, pondered for a moment, and then shook his head: "Yang Dezhu is no ordinary man. Even if he was moved by Liu Zisheng's letter, he wouldn't act so hastily. In my opinion, that letter is more of a threat than a persuasive statement."

“Threatening words…”

Cao Cao muttered it to himself a few times, then slowly nodded: "Zhi Cai's words make sense."

Immediately, Cao Cao turned to look at Cao Ang: "Has the visiting card been sent to the General of Chariots and Cavalry's residence?"

Cao Ang hurriedly replied, "Reporting to Father, the visiting card has been sent, but Liu Zhengnan declined for two days, saying that he would definitely come to apologize in three days."

Cao Cao's expression immediately turned serious: "It seems that I only have three days left to wait."

Xi Zhong nodded in agreement.

********
The Cao family was on high alert, while the Grand Commandant's residence remained calm and undisturbed.

Although Yang Biao received a message from his son, he did not leave his post early. Instead, he waited until the sun was setting before leaving the palace.

Upon returning to the mansion, he immediately saw Yang Xiu standing outside the gate, waiting for him.

Yang Biao looked displeased. In his view, Yang Xiu had fully inherited the true teachings of the Hongnong Yang family and was calm and composed in handling affairs.

But why he was so out of control today was truly disappointing to him.

However, since he was Yang Biao's eldest son, on whom he had placed great hopes, Yang Biao did not directly cause trouble. Instead, he composed himself, got out of the carriage, and entered the mansion.

After glancing at his son who was following closely behind, Yang Biao instructed, "Send dinner to the study tonight. Dezhu will dine with me."

Hearing Yang Biao's instructions, Yang Xiu felt somewhat relieved.

After a cup of tea, Yang Biao and Yang Xiu sat in the study, while everyone else was dismissed.

Yang Xiu then spoke, "Father, I have something important to report."

Yang Biao said calmly, "What's the matter that you're so flustered? Why send someone to the palace to disturb me? What if the Emperor finds out?"

Yang Xiu quickly apologized, but then said, "This matter is too urgent and of great importance. I have no choice but to trouble Father."

Yang Biao raised his head, revealing a dignified and simple face. After a pause, he slowly spoke: "If that's the case, then speak."

Yang Xiu dared not delay and quickly recounted everything that had happened, Liu Feng's words, and the letter, finally handing the letter to Yang Biao.

After hearing Yang Xiu's words, Yang Biao's originally dignified face broke down, and his eyes were full of surprise and uncertainty.

He then opened the letter and gasped in shock.

This person's skill in imitating his own calligraphy is astonishing; the similarity is at least 80-90%.

After listening, Yang Biao immediately understood Liu Feng's purpose.

Liu Feng clearly wanted the reward he deserved, and the "evidence" in his hands was the most powerful warning and reprimand to him.

After Yang Xiu finished speaking, he kept his head down and remained silent.

Yang Biao sat in the main seat without saying a word, holding the forged letter in his hand, seemingly lost in thought.

Yang Xiu knew very well that his father's personality was far less strong and resolute than others thought.

After a long silence, Yang Biao asked in a low voice, "What is Liu Zhengnan's intention?"

Yang Xiu sighed inwardly and immediately replied, "The governorship of Yangzhou is a sure thing, and there's no need to say more about Lord Wu. To be fair, based on his merits, he should be promoted to Left General."

With Yuan Shu now a prisoner, the title of General of the Left was naturally vacant. Liu Feng's previous title of Conqueror of the South was clearly insufficient to reward his achievements, making a promotion inevitable.

Although the Four Generals of the Eastern Han Dynasty were not high-ranking generals, they were among the top-ranking generals of the miscellaneous titles, ranking alongside the Four Garrisons, Four Pacifications, and Four Peace-Holders as high-ranking generals.

If one wants to advance further, the only possible advancement is to become a high-ranking general.

"Governor of Yangzhou, Marquis of Wu, General of the Left, and Grand Master of the Three Departments."

Yang Biao silently recited it once, his face as black as the bottom of a pot. At that moment, Yang Xiu didn't forget to remind him, "Father, the Southern Expedition has only given us three days."

Yang Biao's face was ashen, and his hand holding the letter trembled slightly.

"Insolence! Truly arrogant!"

Yang Biao muttered angrily, "What does Liu Zisheng, a mere child, think of the titles and official positions of the court? He actually dared to exchange them privately. He is a traitor to the country!"

Yang Xiu remained silent, letting Yang Biao vent his anger.

He believed he saw things much more clearly than his father; this big man was beyond saving.

Liu Bei might have been a second Emperor Guangwu, but Emperor Liu Xie was certainly not.

His own father had become obsessed with controlling Liu Bei and his son. This was the first time Yang Xiu had ever known that his father had such great ambitions, to the point that he was blinded by greed.

After Yang Biao finished cursing, Yang Xiu spoke up again: "Father, don't forget the General. As the saying goes, the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. You don't really think the General can't see your actions, do you? I'm afraid what we did today has already been reported to the General's mansion."

Yang Xiu sighed, his face filled with sorrow: "The axe that was to be placed on my and my son's necks tomorrow has probably already been sharpened in the General's mansion."

Yang Biao was taken aback by his son's words and had to admit that Yang Xiu was right.

After a moment of silence, Yang Biao sighed and said, "Now that the emperor has been swayed by me, if we rashly change the law, I fear the emperor will become suspicious. What should we do?"

The emperor's suppression of Liu Feng this time was not of his own volition; he was entirely persuaded by Yang Biao's faction.

Now that the emperor has intervened, and you, Yang Biao, have suddenly defected to the enemy, how will the emperor view Yang Biao, the Yang family, and the Yang faction in the future?

After hearing Yang Biao's words, Yang Xiu felt relieved.

What he feared most was that his father would remain stubborn to the end. Now that Yang Biao's attitude had clearly softened, there was still a way.

After thinking for a moment, Yang Xiu said, "I have a plan that may solve this predicament."

"My son, what is your plan? Tell me quickly!"

Yang Biao immediately perked up and urged, "What do you want to know?"

Yang Xiu, however, was not very confident in his plan and frowned as he said, "I have two plans."

Yang Biao was overjoyed. He knew his eldest son was resourceful and good at planning, but he never expected his son to be so outstanding, able to come up with two strategies right now.

Yang Biao immediately said, "My son, you may first suggest the best strategy."

Yang Xiu didn't keep them in suspense any longer and said directly, "The best course of action is for me to visit the General of the Cavalry's residence under cover of night later."

"and then?"

Seeing that Yang Xiu stopped after saying only one sentence, Yang Biao asked him in confusion.

Yang Xiu slowly shook his head: "That's all. We can only leave the rest to fate."

Yang Biao looked puzzled, completely failing to understand his son's meaning.

Yang Xiu sighed and explained, "I will go to the General of the Cavalry's residence under the cover of night tonight. If this matter falls into the General's hands, what will the General think?"

"The General must think that we have already submitted to Liu Zhengnan."

Yang Biao suddenly realized, but then asked, "But this won't help either."

The problem now is that Liu Feng wants to become the governor of Yangzhou, and if he changes his attitude and speaks up for Liu Feng, the emperor will inevitably become suspicious.

Yang Xiu then explained, "So this strategy is based on the fact that the General is suspicious by nature. If he really thinks that we have surrendered to Liu Zhengnan, he will definitely choose one of the two strategies."

Yang Biao asked doubtfully, "Should we choose one of the two strategies?"

"Either stand up and be the villain to prevent Liu Zhengnan from becoming the governor of Yangzhou, or step forward first and strongly recommend Liu Zhengnan for the governorship of Yangzhou."

Yang Xiu explained, "I believe the former possibility is extremely slim, while the latter would perfectly avoid Father's predicament, but..."

Yang Biao's eyes lit up as he suddenly realized that the reason he had been able to ambush Liu Feng until now was because of the Emperor's support and the General's continued silence.

If Cao Cao were to push forward with all his might, even the emperor would be powerless to stop it.

After all, Liu Feng's achievements speak for themselves.

The emperor and Yang Biao had always only wanted to switch the beams and pillars, and could not ignore Liu Feng's merits.

Seeing his father breathe a sigh of relief, Yang Xiu couldn't help but pour cold water on him, saying, "Even so, the governor of Jiaozhi and even the governor of Jiaozhou will probably have to compensate the general."

"This is for..."

Yang Biao cried out in anguish halfway through when he came to his senses.

Cao Cao wasn't one to do good deeds. If he spoke first, he would certainly have escaped his own dilemma, but he would have to do Liu Bei and his son a favor.

If Liu Feng recommends someone from Cao Cao to serve as the governor or prefect of Jiaozhou, the emperor and Yang Biao will have little recourse but to relinquish the position.

Seeing his father's agitated state, Yang Xiu felt a pang of sympathy and comforted him, saying, "Father, the emperor is not someone to rely on. What happens today may be a blessing in disguise."

Yang Biao glared at his son, but his heart softened.

Unlike Yang Xiu, Yang Biao was born and grew up in an era when, although the aristocratic families were suppressed by eunuchs, what were military men?
At that time, military men were either lackeys of eunuchs or lackeys of aristocratic families. Even those with great merit and ability, like the Three Ming of Liangzhou, were no exception; they still had to rely on aristocratic families or eunuchs to enter the central government.

For Yang Biao, the power of the eunuchs had now completely vanished. This should have been the golden moment that the gentry had been looking forward to the most, but how could it have been overturned by the military?

Yang Biao distrusted military figures like Cao Cao and Liu Bei from the bottom of his heart, but now he found that he was completely powerless against them.

Unlike the Guanzhong period, when Yang Biao and others lived in fear and trembling, at least they still had hope.

Firstly, there was the precedent of Wang Yun's successful elimination of Dong Zhuo. Secondly, after Dong Zhuo's death, the military men of Liangzhou were not united, and were brutal, savage, and politically inept, often being taken advantage of by the scholars without realizing it. If any intelligent person among the Liangzhou military men were in power, there would be no way they would allow the emperor to return east.

But now, Yang Biao felt a deep sense of despair.

The cooperation between Cao Cao, Liu Feng, and other warlords left him with no opportunity, and even attempts to sow discord were futile.

Suddenly, Yang Biao remembered something and asked Yang Xiu, "Dezu, do you have another plan? What is it?"

Yang Xiu didn't expect his father to still be so persistent at this point, so he simply spread his hands and said, "The worst option is for Father to go directly to the palace, request an audience with the Emperor, and hand the letter over to him."

"This……"

Yang Biao was startled at first, then fell into deep thought, and after a moment he suddenly realized what was happening.

Yang Xiu's plan was clearly to have him go to the emperor to confess, gain sympathy, and win the emperor's forgiveness.

If the emperor has no way to extricate Yang Biao from his predicament, he will inevitably have to back down and try his best to protect Yang Biao.

It wasn't that the emperor was particularly sentimental or righteous; rather, losing Yang Biao was like losing an arm for the emperor, and any normal person would have made the same choice.

Yang Biao clicked his tongue and said, "Dezu, why do I feel that your inferior strategy is more like the superior one, while the superior strategy seems like the inferior one?"

(End of this chapter)