“What is Tao Qian trying to do?”
Li Jue exclaimed angrily.
“Is he trying to rebel?”
“He sends grain to the Yellow Turbans, yet not a single shipment to the Imperial Court. This is absolutely outrageous!”
“No!”
“I’ll go to the palace immediately and ask for an imperial decree. Tao Qian must be arrested and punished. Then I’ll have my nephew appointed Governor of Xu Province!”
Although Li Jue spoke with great conviction, he didn’t move an inch from his seat.
Tao Qian’s actions certainly displeased him, but he also knew his own limitations.
Among the warlords of the realm, very few actually took the Imperial Court seriously.
The biggest thorn in its side was Yuan Shu of Yu Province.
Most warlords merely paid lip service to the court while secretly doing as they pleased.
Yuan Shu, however, was different.
He had openly seized the imperial tally and credentials by force, and even had the court’s envoy thrown out.
“Please calm yourself, General.”
Seeing the conversation veering off course, Cao Cao hurriedly steered it back.
“Tao Qian’s conduct is indeed unworthy of a Han official.”
“However, I believe he had no choice and was coerced by the Yellow Turbans.”
“As for men like Yuan Shu and Kong Rong…”
“They too have sent grain to the Yellow Turbans.”
“Now that the Yellow Turbans have established the Taiping Prefecture, and their leader Zhang Yuheng is a man of exceptional ability, if the Imperial Court continues to do nothing, Taiping Prefecture will eventually become its greatest threat.”
Cao Cao hadn’t come here to bring down Tao Qian.
His true objective was to curb the growth of Taiping Prefecture and prevent Zhang Jing from expanding so easily.
“Do something? What exactly?”
Li Jue replied irritably.
“Brother Mengde, you know perfectly well that the Imperial Court’s orders mean next to nothing to the regional lords.”
“Someone as obedient as Yuan Benchu is rarer than… well, a scorpion laying eggs.”
*(In other words, incredibly rare.)
“As for the rest—men like Yuan Shu don’t even bother listening to imperial edicts anymore.”
“So tell me, what exactly is the court supposed to do?”
After learning that Tao Qian had sent half a million shi of grain, Li Jue finally gained a clear understanding of Taiping Prefecture’s strength.
Namely, that none of the warlords in the Central Plains could eliminate it.
And if they couldn’t, then the Imperial Court stood even less of a chance.
Although Li Jue believed the Emperor still had some value, that value was limited.
At the very least, he certainly couldn’t do anything to Taiping Prefecture.
“Please don’t be impatient, General.”
Inwardly, Cao Cao looked down on Li Jue with utter contempt.
Outwardly, however, he remained perfectly sincere.
“Though the Central Plains are in turmoil and His Majesty is still young, the Han Dynasty has cultivated loyal officials for four hundred years.”
“The prestige of the Han has long since taken root in the hearts of the people.”
“There are loyal men throughout the realm as numerous as fish crossing a river.”
“By supporting the Son of Heaven, we naturally occupy the high ground of law, legitimacy, and righteousness.”
“Law, legitimacy, and righteousness?”
Li Jue looked at Cao Cao.
After a moment, he nodded thoughtfully.
He didn’t really understand what Cao Cao meant, but neither did he want Cao Cao to realize that.
“Exactly.”
Cao Cao nodded.
“Zhang Yuheng established Taiping Prefecture and confiscated the landed estates of the great clans, redistributing them among the common people.”
“His rebellious intentions could not be more obvious.”
“If this continues much longer, countless commoners will begin yearning for Taiping Prefecture.”
“Entire families may even migrate to Yan Province.”
“If that happens, Taiping Prefecture will only continue growing stronger.”
“While we cannot destroy it today, we can cut off the path by which it grows.”
“We can make it lose the support of the people throughout the other provinces.”
Having said this, Cao Cao wore an expression of complete confidence.
“Really?”
Li Jue asked, as though listening to some profound heavenly scripture.
“We’re actually capable of doing something like that?”
“Of course.”
Cao Cao answered seriously.
“By supporting the Son of Heaven, we possess legitimacy and righteousness.”
“All we need do is petition His Majesty, to appoint Zhang Yuheng as Governor of Yan Province.”
“Not only would this weaken his appeal among those outside his territory, it would also enhance the prestige of the Imperial Court.”
“Appoint Zhang Jing as Governor of Yan Province?”
Li Jue looked surprised.
“Does this Zhang Yuheng actually intend to submit to the court?”
“…”
Looking into Li Jue’s eyes— so clear, yet carrying a distinct hint of foolishness— Cao Cao suddenly felt exhausted.
Patiently, he explained, “It doesn’t matter whether Zhang Jing truly intends to submit.”
“What matters is issuing a proclamation to the entire realm, so that everyone believes Zhang Yuheng has submitted to the Imperial Court.”
“I see!”
Li Jue nodded vigorously, looking every bit as though he completely understood.
“Then who do you think should be sent to Yan Province to deliver the imperial edict?”
“May I ask…” Cao Cao replied, “…does the General have any personal enemies?”
Silently cursing Li Jue as an idiot, he continued, “If you do, appoint him as the imperial envoy.”
“Have him deliver the edict to Taiping Prefecture.”
“Hahaha! Mengde, that’s a splendid plan!”
This time, Li Jue truly seemed to understand.
“I’ll go to the palace immediately and obtain an imperial decree from His Majesty.”
“Then I’ll have that old fellow Yang Biao, the Minister of Works, serve as the imperial envoy to Yan Province.”
“What do you think, Mengde?”
“……”
Cao Cao nearly lost his composure upon hearing that.
After choosing his words carefully, he said, “General… what grievance do you have against old Yang Biao?”
“The Yang clan is one of the most distinguished families in the empire.”
“And Yang Biao himself is a man of immense prestige and virtue.”
“Sending him as an envoy to Yan Province… I’m afraid that would be rather inappropriate.”
The status of the Yang clan in this era could be summed up in one sentence:
It stood on equal footing with the Yuan clan of the famed ‘Four Generations of Three Excellencies.’
The only difference was that the Yang family’s ancestral home lay in Hongnong Commandery in Sili Province.
That region happened to be one of the areas hardest hit by the ravages of the Xiliang Army.
Moreover, Yang Biao’s branch of the family had few descendants, and his son, Yang Xiu, was still very young.
As a result, the Yang clan had missed its chance to dominate this era.
Yet for precisely that reason, Yang Biao had become the foremost leader among those loyal to the Son of Heaven.
Naturally, Cao Cao had no desire to see the Yang family sent to their deaths.
Nor did he dare allow it.
Because he knew that once this scheme was exposed, he, Cao Cao, would be branded as the mastermind responsible for Yang Biao’s death.
At that point, even jumping into the Yellow River wouldn’t be enough to wash away his guilt.
“What could possibly be inappropriate about it?”
Li Jue replied dismissively.
“I’ve been putting up with that old man for a long time.”
“Besides, it won’t be me killing him.”
“So what if his family is illustrious?”
“Right now, the person I want dead most is him!”
To Li Jue, any official who refused to align himself with the Xiliang Army might as well be an enemy.
Yang Biao happened to be one of the leading figures standing against them.
“…”
Cao Cao was completely dumbfounded.
For a moment, he had no idea how he could possibly stop him.
“Say no more, worthy brother.”
Li Jue waved his hand decisively.
“My mind is made up.”
“If this plan succeeds, you will deserve the greatest credit.”
“…”
Cao Cao wanted no part of that “greatest credit.”
Forcing a smile onto his face, he replied, “To serve the General is my duty.”
“How could I dare claim any credit?”
“As expected of the man I’ve always thought highly of!”
Li Jue stepped forward and patted Cao Cao on the shoulder, his face full of admiration.
“Stay here for dinner later.”
“Don’t stand on ceremony—treat this place as your own home.”
“I’ll go share this good news with General Guo and General Fan.”
“Then the three of us will enter the palace together to request the imperial decree.”
“His Majesty will surely agree to send Yang Biao as the envoy.”
“Please attend to your business first, General.”
Although Cao Cao’s heart had gone completely cold, he still bowed respectfully.
“My purpose in coming here has already been fulfilled.”
“I shouldn’t remain in the city any longer.”
“I still need to supervise the military farming outside the city.”
“I’ll take my leave now.”
“Very well.”
Li Jue nodded, his eyes still filled with admiration.
“I won’t keep you any longer.”
He watched Cao Cao leave the residence.
“This has gone completely to hell…”
After leaving the residence of the General of Chariots and Cavalry, Cao Cao’s heart was filled with anxiety.
A fine layer of sweat appeared across his face.
Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that what had begun as a half-joking remark would send events spiraling in a direction completely beyond his control.
Arriving at the residence of the Grand Coachman, Cao Cao met Zhao Qi.
His expression was grave as he said, “Lord Binqing…”
“A major disaster is about to happen.”
— The end of the Chapter–
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