My father Liu Xuande

Chapter 395 Cao Cao Covers His Hand
"Can't this be changed?"

Zhong Yao couldn't help but ask a question.

Although he knew how strong-willed a young hero like Liu Feng was, and how his decision could possibly be changed by his plea if there were no other sufficient reasons, he knew that Liu Feng had no choice but to make it.

But when Zhong Yao thought about the consequences of the Commandant of the Capital Region falling into Cao Cao's hands, he couldn't help but ask.

"can."

To Zhong Yao's surprise, Liu Feng agreed immediately.

Before Zhong Yao could feel joy or doubt, Liu Feng continued, "How about changing it to Prefect of Wu Commandery?"

Zhong Yao's body trembled, and a bitter smile flashed across his eyes.

So that's how it was changed.

This also marks Liu Feng's formal recruitment of Zhong Yao.

The Prefect of Wu Commandery, while not a prefect of a major commandery in the Central Plains, was still the most important commandery in Yangzhou.

It is evident that Liu Feng, the soon-to-be governor of Yangzhou, is quite sincere.

Zhong Yao hesitated for a moment, then fell silent.

********
The next morning, Liu Feng suddenly submitted a memorial requesting the dismissal of Zhong Yao, the Commandant of the Capital Region, and the appointment of him as the Prefect of Wu Commandery. At the same time, Liu Feng also recommended Man Chong to be the Commandant of the Capital Region.

Upon hearing this news, the emperor was naturally alarmed, while Cao Cao was overjoyed, feeling as if he had been granted a great fortune.

Subsequently, Liu Feng led a large group of men out of the city, leaving Luoyang and heading towards Gong County.

Upon receiving the message, Cao Cao beamed and said, "Liu Zisheng is truly a trustworthy man."

Ignoring the bloodshed in Luoyang behind him, Liu Feng walked with the fat, dark-skinned Dong Zhao on the road to Gong County.

"Gongren, come south with me this time."

Since the decision has been made to hand over the court and the emperor to Cao Cao, a great talent like Dong Zhao certainly cannot remain in the court.

Previously, Dong Zhao was needed to balance the situation in the court, help Zhong Yao secretly assist the emperor, and limit Cao Cao.

Now that this need has disappeared, if Dong Zhao continues to stay in Luozhong, he will not only fail to play his previous role, but may even be regarded as a thorn in Cao Cao's side.

Don't be fooled by Cao Cao's current closeness to him; once he usurps the emperor's power, Cao Cao's attitude will naturally change.

If you want to join Luoyang again in the future, you won't be able to do so as freely as you do now.

Without a large force, Liu Feng dared not enter Luoyang again.

"As my lord commands, I will obey."

Dong Zhao chuckled and said, "I just wonder how my lord plans to settle his subjects?"

Liu Feng thought for a moment: "How about becoming the Prefect of Kuaiji or Yuzhang?"

Kuaiji and Yuzhang were both large prefectures with populations in the millions and vast territories. If it weren't for the harsh climate and the large number of mountain tribes and barbarian peoples, they would have become the largest prefectures in the country.

Indeed, a thousand years later, Kuaiji and Yuzhang did become lands of fish and rice, and became one of the major granaries of later generations.

However, Dong Zhao is already a Chamberlain, so this transfer is at most a lateral move, not a promotion. He will have to be compensated for his other merits.

"Then let's go to Governor Ji."

Dong Zhao didn't pick and chose one at random.

"The Emperor is still too impatient."

Dong Zhao shook his head and sighed. He had mentioned the changes in the emperor in his previous letter to Liu Feng.

It was truly unexpected that the emperor would dare to suppress Liu Feng without finding new support; this was completely unexpected by Dong Zhao and Zhong Yao.

Dong Zhao suddenly thought of something and chuckled, "Perhaps this matter should be blamed on our lord."

"what?"

Liu Feng was completely bewildered, not understanding why Dong Zhao would say such a thing.

Dong Zhao explained, "It is precisely because you were too 'loyal' in the past that the Emperor may have truly regarded you as a blindly loyal subject."

"This……"

Liu Feng was also stunned, but after thinking about it carefully, he felt that Dong Zhao's words made a lot of sense.

Perhaps he had made too good an impression on the emperor and was too loyal, so much so that the emperor felt it was okay to wrong himself a little.

After all, honest people are the easiest to bully.

Dong Zhao burst into laughter: "I'm afraid even the Emperor didn't expect that you, my lord, are so hard to bully."

********
Just as Dong Zhao had guessed, Emperor Liu Xie flew into a rage in the palace, smashing several ornaments, but still could not vent his anger.

Liu Xie couldn't understand why his mere desire to reclaim real power in Yangzhou had provoked such dissatisfaction from Liu Feng, who had even directly colluded with Cao Cao.

Was Liu Feng's previous loyalty all a lie?

But it's too late now.

As soon as Liu Feng left the city, the newly appointed official Man Chong led his fierce and powerful Cao army soldiers into the Grand Commandant's residence, arrested Yang Biao, and took him back to Luoyang prison. Meanwhile, Yuan Shu, who was in the imperial prison, was also taken away by Man Chong using the Grand General's token.

The next day, Cao Cao also stepped forward and submitted a memorial to dismiss Grand Commandant Yang Biao, on the grounds that Yang Biao was colluding with Yuan Shu and had treacherous intentions.

Cao Cao's offensive was fully launched, and with Yang Biao's imprisonment, key members of Yang's faction were also captured one after another. These included Attendant-in-Ordinary Tai Chong, Minister Feng Shuo, and Gentleman of the Palace Hou Qi, among others.

The situation in the court changed drastically in an instant. The emperor's ministers trembled with fear, while Cao Cao's ministers were arrogant and domineering.

Cao Cao not only arrested members of the Yang faction on a large scale and tortured them to extract confessions, but also ordered the sealing of all the gates of Luoyang, allowing only entry and no exit.

Immediately, panic gripped Luoyang, and many people thought of Liu Feng.

But when they arrived at his door, they learned that Liu Feng had already left Luoyang a few days earlier.

At this time, Liu Feng was less than half a day away from Gong County and stayed overnight in Yanshi County.

Yanshi County, along with Gong County, was considered the eastern gateway to Luoyang.

To take the main road eastward directly to Luoyang, we must first capture Gongxian and Yanshi. Both cities are fortified and only half a day's journey apart, which can effectively support each other.

It is the most important gateway and pass after Xuanmen Pass to the east of Luoyang.

That evening, Liu Feng hosted a small banquet in Yanshi County to entertain Dong Zhao, the Zhuge brothers, Pang Tong, and Zhang Liao.

During the banquet, under Liu Feng's intentional or unintentional guidance, the group began to discuss Yang Feng and Han Xian.

Even after the two joined forces, they still have a force of six or seven thousand men, making them a force to be reckoned with in Luozhong.

To be honest, more than half of these six or seven thousand men were elite soldiers capable of fighting, and the other half were not bad either; at least they were qualified soldiers.

However, these people all had one thing in common: they had extremely poor military discipline and were all seasoned veterans.

It was precisely because of this flaw, coupled with Yang Feng and Han Xian's somewhat opportunistic nature, that Liu Feng hesitated. For Liu Feng, Yang Feng and Han Xian were currently like a chicken rib—their most valuable asset, Xu Huang's troops, had already been devoured by him, leaving him with a difficult choice.

Therefore, he wanted to hear the advice of those around him.

“My lord, I have heard Sun Tzu say: ‘Therefore, the discipline of an army lies in its principles of righteousness. So command them with civility, and with civility, with military force, and you will surely win.’”

Zhuge Liang advised, "These people are brave in private fights but cowardly in national wars. If we gain them, we will inevitably lose them, but if we lose them, it is not a great loss."

Liu Feng nodded slowly. What Zhuge Liang said was exactly what he was most worried about.

These seasoned soldiers are no good at fighting, but they're experts at infighting.

If these people are allowed into their own military system, they might corrupt other soldiers.

Previously, Liu Feng wanted to select the elite troops from the entire army and organize them into one or two independent battalions. In essence, this was the same concern he had now.

When a warrior is with ten seasoned soldiers, the warrior will either be consumed without question or corrupted by the seasoned soldiers and become a new seasoned soldier himself.

But when a warrior is with ten other warriors, even if you charge with all your might during an attack, if you are not the fastest one, you will be ridiculed by the other warriors.

In this way, the brave become braver and the strong become stronger, which is the true style of elite aces.

Dong Zhao then spoke up, saying, "My lord, Yang Feng and Han Xian have been in Luozhong for a long time. Their relationship with the Grand General has been quite delicate over the past six months, especially Han Xian's, which is extremely close. If we were to take them south now, I'm afraid we might not be able to get their support."

Dong Zhao's words were somewhat cryptic, but Liu Feng still understood the general meaning.

It's simply that Cao Cao has been making efforts to win over Yang Feng and Han Xian for the past year.

Previously, the relationship between the two sides was strained and had no effect, but in the past six months, Yang Feng and Han Xian's attitudes have softened, especially Han Xian, who may have already colluded with Cao Cao.

If Liu Feng wanted to bring them back, he would probably have to pay a heavy price, which Dong Zhao considered extremely unworthy.

Following the advice of Zhuge Liang and Dong Zhao, Pang Tong also spoke up to persuade Liu Feng that quality over quantity in military affairs.

Liu Feng was already quite hesitant, but after hearing their advice, he immediately decided to give up on Yang Feng and Han Xian.

The following afternoon, Liu Feng arrived in Gong County.

Yang Feng and Han Xian went out of the city to meet him five miles away, and the atmosphere between the two sides was very harmonious.

Although Liu Feng had already given up on these two men, he still had to put on a show, and Yang Feng and Han Xian probably thought the same way.

"It's been over a year since we last met, and your demeanor in the south is even more impressive."

Yang Feng's smile was not as warm as Han Xian's, but it was much more sincere.

To this day, Liu Feng still supplies Yang Feng with 30,000 shi of grain, 20 shi of salt, 100 jin of sugar, and other financial and material goods every year.

Firstly, it was a way to pay Xu Huang and his troops for their indenture; secondly, it was to win over Yang Feng and maintain a certain level of influence in Luozhong; and thirdly, it was to get Yang Feng to continue helping him gather the Three Rivers Knights, recruit warriors, and purchase warhorses.

Although Yang Feng was greedy for profit, he had more principles than Han Xian.

Having received benefits from Liu Feng, he has not yet betrayed Liu Feng.

However, thanks to Cao Cao's deliberate flattery, the relationship between him and Cao Cao has greatly improved and is no longer as hostile as before.

"General Yang is still as dashing as ever."

Liu Feng said something polite, and was then welcomed into the city by Yang Feng and Han Xian.

The situation in Gongxian County is now completely different from before. Large tracts of farmland outside the city have been cultivated, and the city walls of Gongxian County have been repaired.

The county government compound in the city was also expanded, showing that Yang Feng and Han Xian hadn't been idle in Gong County for over a year. However, their energy was entirely focused on their luxurious mansions and indulging in pleasure.

That evening, Yang Feng and Han Xian hosted a banquet for Liu Feng in Gongxian County.

Seeing Yang Feng and Han Xian's extravagant lifestyle, Liu Feng couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement. In just one year, Yang Feng and Han Xian had even started a dance troupe.

Surprised as he was, Liu Feng knew that Yang Feng and Han Xian were trying to curry favor with him and were definitely offering him their favorite treats.

"In the south, is there anyone you find suitable?"

Yang Feng, still drunk, asked, "I'll stay here tonight. Whoever I fancy, I'll have them serve me in bed."

Liu Feng laughed heartily: "I understand the general's good intentions, but I am still young, so let's put this matter aside for now."

To be honest, after seeing Feng Fangnu's beauty, these dancers in front of me are simply unbearable to look at.

After politely declining, Liu Feng turned to ask about the important matter at hand.

Yang Feng's spirits lifted immediately: "In the past year, thanks to the generous treatment I received during the Southern Expedition, I have raised more than 700 warhorses and more than 200 knights from the Three Rivers."

The drought situation in Hedong has improved somewhat, but there is still a shortage of food. Overall, the price of horses has rebounded considerably.

After a brief calculation, Liu Feng immediately offered Yang Feng a fair deal: "In that case, I will compensate you with 500 shi of grain for each second-class horse and 1,000 shi of grain for each first-class horse. Would the general accept that?"

Yang Feng and Han Xian were overjoyed.

This is an additional charge, not included in the original price.

Moreover, about half of these horses were acquired during the severe drought in Hedong, and Liu Feng offered the same price to everyone, which made Yang Feng and Han Xian beam with joy.

In this way, they did nothing and still received subsidies of at least 200,000 to 300,000 shi of grain. After deducting the cost of rising horse prices, the net profit was over 30%.

Liu Feng did this intentionally, so that he could part ways amicably with Yang Feng and Han Xian and leave behind a sense of friendship.

This sentiment may not always be of any use, but when it comes in handy, it's truly indispensable.

That evening, everyone enjoyed themselves to the fullest and returned home.

The next day, Liu Feng received the warhorse and knight, thus completing his mission.

However, Liu Feng was not in a hurry to return to Luoyang, and instead stayed in Gong County.

Yang Feng and Han Xian also sensed that something was wrong, and they tried to subtly inquire with Liu Feng about what had happened.

Liu Feng revealed some information, half-truthfully and half-falsely, and as a result, Yang Feng and Han Xian stood on Cao Cao's side without hesitation.

From their complaints and grievances, it's clear that the emperor still underestimated the military.

Liu Feng could understand; the emperor's days in Hedong were anything but comfortable, and on the contrary, they were almost becoming a dark chapter in Liu Xie's memory.

However, Yang Feng and Han Xian were still in his presence, and the emperor's dislike for them was genuine. Even if he tolerated them for the sake of restraining Cao Cao, it was not a long-term solution.

Over time, their interactions would inadvertently reveal their contempt and disdain, which was precisely Yang Feng and Han Xian's sore spot.

Compared to the emperor, Cao Cao appeared to be magnanimous and ambitious, appointing people based solely on their talents and not valuing their moral character, but rather focusing on their abilities and worth.

In addition, considering the overall situation, Cao Cao's status, power, and influence in Luozhong were constantly growing, and Yang Feng and Han Xian were not fools, so they could naturally see it.

As a result, it was quite reasonable for Yang Feng and Han Xian to eventually side with Cao Cao.

While Liu Feng was watching the fire from across the river in Gong County, a rider also secretly left Luoyang and galloped towards Gong County.

(End of this chapter)