Three Kingdoms: I am not Liu Bian

Chapter 9 I only wish to write on the tomb path "The Tomb of Cao Hou, the Former General Who Conquers the West of the Han Dynasty"!
Liu Bian's words were already very explicit. Although he didn't talk much with Cao Cao today and seemed to be making things difficult for Cao Cao, many details had already made it clear that this prince was not satisfied with the scholars, and even showed such disgust towards famous scholars like He Yong.

But no matter what, he could not break with the scholars at the moment.

So, Cao Mengde, you know too much!
Sweat was pouring down Cao Cao's forehead as he struggled with his decision.

He knew clearly that the silk letter from the prince was not simply asking him to summarize the matter, but was a letter of denunciation!

If this letter were to leak to the outside world, Cao Mengde would definitely not be able to find a place among the gentry.

No… Even if the prince lets him leave the palace safely, he will be disliked by others just because he was summoned by the prince.

All requests for an audience from the three dukes and nine ministers were rejected. Who are you, Cao Cao, that you were summoned by the prince and became the only one to enter the palace in the past few days?
But the reward given by the prince was also very generous, he was made the General of the Tiger Guards!
The Lieutenant General of the Tiger Guards has a rank equivalent to two thousand stones!
He was promoted from a counselor with a salary of 600 dan to one with a salary of 2,000 dan in one go!
Moreover, this is not something that can be judged simply by the official rank. To put it bluntly, the counselor is just a sinecure, "in charge of providing advice and responding to matters of no particular routine." If the emperor does not summon you for advice, you are nothing.

Where is the Huben Zhonglang Jiang?

Main guard!
Just three simple words can tell the difference!

At this time, the prince appointed him as the General of the Tiger Guards, and it goes without saying that he valued and trusted him.

After all, if the prince didn't really value him, why would he, a prince of his wealth, personally plot against an unknown person like him?
Thinking about it, I wonder if it was because Cao Cao had been caught between the eunuchs and scholars for a long time and was not a good person in both sides, so he had such deep trust in Liu Bian that he was actually justifying Liu Bian's difficulties and calculations today in his heart.

The prince's behavior was somewhat similar to that of Emperor Taizu Gao. Although he would occasionally humiliate his subjects, he would never be vague about the rewards they deserved.

When a long drought is finally met with a downpour, one will naturally be extremely grateful to the person who gave the rain for saving one's life, even if he slapped you in the face beforehand.

Imagine that you were fired from your old employer and were bound by a non-compete agreement, but you were noticed by the vice chairman of a giant company. He called you a beggar, slapped you in the face, and said that you blinded him with your dusty appearance. Then he took out a black card and threw it in your face, and gave you the position of security director of the head office, equipped with a luxury car and a villa. Would you hate him for not respecting you?

This is Cao Cao’s mentality at the moment.

Moreover, even if he still cared about the nobles in his heart, he still knew which was more important, the lives of his entire clan or the goodwill of the nobles.

After weighing the pros and cons, Cao Cao no longer hesitated.

And since he had made the decision, he might as well do it quickly to avoid being in a difficult position again.

Cao Cao wrote furiously, following the narrative of the letter of accusation, detailing every detail. He even asked Gao Wang for a copy when a piece of silk was not enough to fit the letter. He also clearly wrote down the time of writing, signed his name, and even bit his finger to seal the letter.

"Good! Good!" Liu Bian laughed and clapped his hands. His attitude towards Cao Cao was completely different. He walked to Cao Cao's side, shook his hand tightly, and wrapped the bitten finger with a handkerchief. "I have received Meng De, just like Emperor Gaozu received Pingyang Yihou!"

Upon hearing this, the joy on Cao Cao's face became even more intense.

Pingyang Yihou refers to Cao Shen, a famous founding minister of the Han Dynasty and the ancestor of Cao Cao!
The prince was promising him that Liu Bian would clear his identity in the future, and people would not say that he was the grandson of the eunuch Cao Teng, but the descendant of Cao Shen, the Marquis of Pingyang Yi!

"I will be as loyal to the Han Dynasty as my ancestors were and will not let down Your Highness's kindness!"

Cao Cao’s words can be summarized in two words - loyalty!
And this is what Liu Bian wanted!
The two of them enjoyed the long-delayed lunch with gusto, especially Liu Bian.

This was the first historical celebrity he had conquered, so he was naturally extremely excited. Even Liu Bian, who rarely drank, drank a few cups of golden juice (wine brewed from sugarcane, yellow in color, hence the name golden juice), and a blush appeared on his tender cheeks.

"I am not happy because of the enthronement of the Crown Prince, nor am I happy because of the appointment of the Regent. I am only happy because of Meng De!"

"I improvised a poem today to give to Meng De!" The alcohol content of the golden juice is not high. Although the Han Dynasty had the "boiling and distillation" technology long ago, which could purify the alcohol content of the wine to more than 25 degrees, this cup of golden juice is only about 20 degrees.

However, his body didn't seem to be very resistant to alcohol. After drinking seven or eight glasses of wine, he was already a little drunk.

"I will set up wine in the high palace, and Meng De will follow me."

"The Chinese kitchen prepared a sumptuous meal, cooking sheep and fattening cattle."

"The Qin Zheng is so generous, and the Qi Se is so harmonious and gentle."

"Yang'e performed a unique dance, and Jingluo performed a famous song."

"I drank three cups of wine with joy, and then I loosened my belt and drank the wine."

"The host wishes a long life of a thousand gold coins, and the guest a reward of ten thousand years."

"The long-term must not be forgotten, the short-term righteousness is the most regrettable."

"A gentleman of modest virtue has nothing to ask for."

"The startled wind blows away the sun, and the light flows westward."

"The best time will never come again, a hundred years later I am suddenly old."

"To live in a luxurious house, to return to the hills in ruins."

"All our ancestors are mortal, so if you know your destiny, you have nothing to worry about."

Perhaps because of the alcohol, Liu Bian vented all the negative emotions in his heart some time ago. He sang the poem loudly according to the melody and even danced. Although his dance moves were a bit indecent, it was full of the "style of Emperor Gaozu."

The slightly tipsy Cao Cao gradually let go of some rules and etiquette. He held an ivory chopstick in each hand and tapped the bowls and plates in tune with Liu Bian's singing, singing along and even singing along with Liu Bian.

He was a person who loved poetry and songs, and Liu Bian encouraged him to achieve great things in the future in the last line of the poem.

Cao Cao burped, and then, under the influence of alcohol, looked at Liu Bian with a solemn expression but surging emotions.

"I therefore wish to render meritorious service to the state by suppressing the enemy, and to be granted the title of General of the Western Expedition, and to inscribe on the tomb the words, 'Tomb of Marquis Cao, the Former General of the Western Expedition of the Han Dynasty.'"

"Hahaha, how could the General of the Western Expedition accommodate someone of Meng De's talent? I wish it were engraved with 'Tomb of Han Prime Minister, Marquis of Pingyang, Cao Mengde'!"

Liu Bian clapped his hands on the food table and smiled, but before the stunned Cao Cao could reply, Liu Bian, who was drunk, felt his head getting more and more dizzy and heavy. He fell limply on the food table and fell into a deep sleep.

Looking at Liu Bian who was drunk on the food table, Cao Cao did not say a word for a long time. It was not until Gao Wang stepped forward to help Liu Bian up and carried the twelve-year-old crown prince of the Han Dynasty on his back towards the bedroom that Cao Cao reacted.

Looking at the young man who was about the same age as the eldest son in his family but had to shoulder such a huge empire, Cao Cao slowly stood up, bowed to the figure that was gradually moving away, and did not stand up for a long time.

There is such a wise prince!
God bless the Man!

(End of this chapter)