Super Cultivation System of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 650: Night Party at Yang Mansion
Yu Jin stepped forward and said, "In this case, I wonder what plans the lord and the other military advisors have. But if you need my services, I will go through fire and water without hesitation."

Cao Cao clapped his hands and laughed: "Well, Wen Ze is very brave and wise, he is really a good general for me."

After several generals spoke, Cao Cao's mood obviously improved a lot.

His brows relaxed and he no longer sat upright as before. Instead, he leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table.

"There is only a little over a month left until the autumn harvest. When Liu He's edict arrives, how should we respond? I really have no idea. Please share your opinions."

Everyone fell silent for a long time. Cheng Yu finally came out, which cheered Cao Cao up.

"My lord, I think it is meaningless to discuss the edict that Liu He will send soon. Liu He said that day that he would come to take over Yuzhou in a year. Even if we have a good plan to prevent you from going to Luoyang, or to get out of here safely after going, it is useless. When the one-year period is up, Liu He will come to ask for Yuzhou. Should we give it to him?"

After he said this, Cao Cao also fell into deep thought.

"Hmm... What Zhongde said was indeed something I had not expected. It seems that I cannot escape this disaster no matter what."

"That's not entirely true."

Cheng Yu's words made Cao Cao's eyes light up instantly.

"how do I say this?"

Cheng Yu took a step forward involuntarily. "Liu He's power is huge. The Taiping Dao rebels, the Taihang Mountain bandits, Dong Zhuo, Yuan Shao and the like are all powerful heroes of the time, and they terrify the world. But when they meet Liu He, they are all helpless. In the past, when his power was not at its peak, he was still like this. Now he dominates the area from Sili to Hebei, and has already obtained one fourth of the Han Dynasty. If we openly become his enemy, I am afraid that no one will be spared."

"Alas, aren't your words just boosting others' morale and destroying your own prestige? Do you want us to surrender?"

Xiahou Dun started yelling in great displeasure.

Cao Cao shouted, "Yuan Rang, shut up and listen to what the master has to say."

Cheng Yu continued, "That's why our army must not engage them head-on until we are confident enough. However, the strategy of peace that day made Liu He busy dealing with Yuan Shao. Although it was a step behind, it at least allowed the lord to seize Yuzhou. Why not use the same trick again now?"

"The last time we used this trick, we were unable to completely deceive Liu He. Now that we are using the same trick again, I'm afraid it may not work."

Xizhong said doubtfully.

Cheng Yu, however, seemed confident: "I don't need to worry about whether he can see through this plan. Even if he does, I'm afraid he won't be able to do anything to me."

"Oh? Such a great idea, Zhongde, tell us quickly." Cao Cao urged.

"There is only one Luoyang court in the world. Legally speaking, we should obey orders, otherwise we would be rebellious ministers. Liu He also has enough strength to attack us princes. But what if there is more than one court in the world..."

In Luoyang City, at the Grand Marshal's Mansion, although it was late at night, the lights in Yang Biao's study were still brightly lit.

About half of the ministers in the court gathered here. Yang Biao sat in the main seat, half-closed his eyes, and did not speak.

Many ministers looked at each other, and seeing that Yang Biao did not express his opinion, they did not know what to say for a moment.

There was silence for a long time, and Du Ji was the first to lose his patience.

"General, you and the Yuan family were both leaders of the gentry in the world. You parted ways with the Yuan family and supported Liu He wholeheartedly, while the Yuan family set up their own faction and coveted the artifact. Now it has been proven that your vision is very accurate. The Yuan family is gone, and the Yang family has risen to lead the gentry in the country and work together for the new dynasty. This is a situation that everyone is happy to see. We have also been ready to assist the new monarch wholeheartedly. But now that His Majesty has done this, we really don't understand."

"Yes, we, the nobles, all rely on you to take charge of the overall situation. You must come out and say something."

"Mr. Yang, you have to step in to handle this matter. You can't play dumb."

Everyone's voices were more urgent than the other. Yang Biao didn't know whether he really heard them or was just too annoyed by their noise, so he opened his eyes.

"To take charge of the overall situation? What overall situation? Your Majesty is a man of great talent and strategy. The new dynasty is a new one. The heroes will surrender and the world will be united. It is just around the corner. We will all be the ministers of the Han Dynasty's revival, and our names will go down in history and shine for thousands of years. How can we express our opinions on such a rare opportunity?"

"Hey, this..."

After hearing this, many ministers were stunned. Zhong Yao thought about it and seemed to understand: "Mr. Yang, we also know this. Since you chose to fully support your majesty, we are very happy to create such a situation now. However, what we hope is that your majesty will rely on the nobles to assist in the administration, and under your leadership, we will assist the world, govern the world, and hold power together."

"But now that Your Majesty has suddenly re-appointed the Shangshu Ling and Yushi Zhongcheng, it is clear that he intends to take charge of the government alone. I am afraid this is not a good sign."

Yang Biao glanced at him coldly, "What do you mean by a good omen? Is it that your majesty is incompetent, or that the two Xuns are not virtuous? Your majesty has appointed virtuous people, what's wrong with that? Besides, the Xun and Cui families are also my fellow nobles, so how can it be a bad omen? Be careful with your words. You are a court judge who is in charge of the law, how can you not even have this kind of moral cultivation?"

Zhong Yao was choked by what he said.

"Mr. Yang, don't blame Yuan Chang. His concerns may not be unreasonable."

Wang Qian said: "The Xun family has been keeping a low profile for many years since the Factions and Factions Banishment. Now they have accumulated a lot of experience and are ready to make a breakthrough. The three sons of the Xun family are all important officials, especially the uncle and nephew Xun Yu and Xun You. They are going to take charge of the government. Wouldn't this make the Xun family the only one in power? It's not that we want to fight for power, but such an arrangement is really a disaster rather than a blessing for the country. Even if Your Majesty appoints those two people to the positions of Nine Ministers, I will have no objection. However, the Shangshu Ling and the Yushi Zhongcheng are equivalent to the left and right prime ministers. If such important positions are held by uncles and nephews from the same clan, there will inevitably be a danger that the Xun family will dictate the government."

Du Ji continued, "If the Grand Commandant is worried about the attitudes of Wang Situ and Cui Sikong, we are willing to go and talk to them. Although Wang Situ's adopted daughter was made a Zhaoyi, Cui Sikong is even more so. His son Cui Jun is even more favored than the two Xuns. However, they are still our colleagues in the noble families after all. As long as we can explain the righteousness, they will surely join us in advising Your Majesty and correcting the gains and losses."

Yang Biao frowned, "Correcting the gains and losses? Let alone Lords Wang and Cui, even Lords Huangfu, Zhu, Lu, Cai, etc., must be on the same page with Your Majesty now. Do you think you can persuade Your Majesty with just a few of you? Moreover, Your Majesty has not made any mistakes, so why do you need to correct them? It's superfluous and unnecessary. I advise you to focus on the affairs of the court and not to create complications, otherwise you will bring disaster upon yourself. Don't say I didn't remind you."

"Mr. Yang, how could you..."

"How is this old man?" Yang Biao looked at them coldly.

"You just want to say that your majesty is actually dividing the power of the three ministers among his cronies. Why aren't the three of us anxious? But this is the reason why the old man, the Minister of the Interior, and the Minister of Works are not anxious. Why are you anxious? We, the nobles, chose to cooperate with your majesty, not for the sake of temporary power. You are short-sighted and cannot be talked to."

Yang Biao's words made everyone suddenly realize.

Wang Qian asked, "What the commander meant is that as long as His Majesty still values ​​you and me and promotes our family members, even if the Xun family is temporarily respected, the general trend of the world is like the shape of water. Today it is the Xun family, but who knows which family will be the next?"

"Yes, yes. Xun Yu and Xun You are indeed the best talents of the time. The young are formidable. Even though we are elders, we are not as good as them. Your Majesty has great ambitions, so it is natural for you to use them. As long as Your Majesty can rely more on the power of the nobles, we will go back and educate our children well, so that they will not be without a chance to ascend to the top of the government in the future."

Everyone seemed to understand it instantly.

"Since you have figured it out, go back and rest early. Now that the new dynasty has just been established, government affairs are very busy. Instead of wasting time here, it is better to help the court and make contributions. Only after you have made meritorious deeds will you have the capital to speak in the court. Otherwise, everything will be over."

Although Yang Biao's words were obviously meant to drive the guests away, all the ministers were smiling.

"What the commander said makes sense. We are sorry to bother you so much at this late hour. I will take my leave now."

All the ministers stood up and left one by one. Soon, only Yang Biao and a young man about eighteen or nineteen years old were left in the study.

The young man looked at the ministers outside, walked over and closed the door of the study, then turned around and looked at Yang Biao.

"Father, the emperor's actions clearly show that he wants to get rid of the donkey after it has served its purpose. Are you really not in a hurry at all?"

"What nonsense!" Yang Biao shouted.

"How can you say such a thing? Xiu'er, if you don't correct your character, you will bring disaster to my Yang family sooner or later."

Yang Xiu curled his lips and said disapprovingly, "I think that father thinks that your Majesty is in a powerful position now and it is inconvenient to confront him, so he is forbearing for a while. My Yang family has students and former officials all over the world. As long as we have the support of scholars all over the world, we can rest assured. Even your Majesty will have to rely on my Yang family to regain power. It is only a matter of time. Why confront your Majesty head-on? Wouldn't that be more trouble than gain? Am I right?"

Yang Biao stood up directly, his face looking a little dark.

"Don't talk nonsense, little boy."

After saying that, he flicked his sleeves and walked out of the study.

Yang Xiu looked at his father's back and grinned, "If father really thought I was fooling around, why did he specially call me to listen when he knew the ministers were coming to visit? And why didn't father directly refute Du Bohou's memorial when he made it this morning during the court meeting, but waited until all the ministers came out and His Majesty expressed his position before father stood up? Hehe, this little trick can be hidden from the ministers, but not from me."

He walked out of the study with a smug look on his face.

(End of this chapter)