Chapter 071: Let Them Come Forward and Choose Sides

With that, the morning court was dismissed. Cao Cao cast a meaningful glance at the young emperor, then strode out of the grand hall.

“Respectfully seeing the Minister of Works out!”

None present were fools. Liu Xie’s public slight against Cao Peng was an obvious display of his disdain and dissatisfaction with Cao Cao.

The atmosphere was strange, and many in the court watched Cao Peng with a sense of schadenfreude.

He, who should have been rewarded, was instead so coldly neglected—surely, it must sting.

Yet Cao Peng felt no embarrassment; rather, he found the situation amusing.

So the young emperor was truly still a youth, unable to restrain his temper over such a trifle.

Did he think this could humiliate Cao Peng?

He feared that, in the end, Liu Xie would only bring humiliation upon himself. To provoke Cao Cao was to invite disaster, and the young emperor would be left battered and shamed.

As Cao Peng left the hall, he deliberately glanced back at Liu Xie, and was surprised to find the emperor secretly watching him as well.

The emperor’s gaze was downcast, his expression shadowed.

There had been no need for Liu Xie to antagonize Cao Peng just now; perhaps, after enduring so much suppression, he could no longer contain himself.

Besides Liu Xie’s glances, Cao Peng also noticed the mocking looks from several courtiers.

It was Dong Cheng and his ilk. Liu Xie’s deliberate slight against Cao Peng delighted them inwardly.

To neglect Cao Peng was to slap Cao Cao in the face.

Most concealed their amusement, but Dong Cheng openly fixed Cao Peng with a look of ridicule.

It was a silent provocation.

Even a clay figure has a spark of temper. Since their positions were irreconcilable, Cao Peng silently resolved to remember this slight—Dong Cheng was as good as dead in his eyes.

Outside the hall, Cao Peng found Cao Cao waiting for him and approached.

“Uncle, were you waiting for me?”

Cao Cao clapped him on the shoulder and sneered, “Anmin, do not worry. The young emperor will pay dearly for today’s arrogance!”

Cao Peng shrugged indifferently. “Uncle, it’s nothing to me.”

Though Cao Peng claimed not to mind, Cao Cao insisted on taking him for a drink.

“Enough talk—come with me to the residence today. Let us drink deeply! After all, you have returned in triumph, and I have yet to host a feast in your honor!”

Cao Cao, having said this, brought Cao Peng back to his own residence.

Cao Peng hadn’t intended to go, but, unable to refuse the old man’s enthusiasm without offending him, he relented.

No sooner had they sat down in Cao Cao’s hall than a servant announced that Guo Jia and the other strategists had arrived.

Cao Cao asked, “Anmin, can you guess why this lot has come to see me at this hour?”

Cao Peng smiled faintly. “What else but today’s court incident? I suspect they’ve come to offer you counsel.”

Indeed, events unfolded just as Cao Peng anticipated. Once Guo Jia and the others were seated, they immediately brought up the emperor’s outrageous behavior.

Cheng Yu spoke first. “My lord, for the young emperor to acknowledge Liu Bei as Imperial Uncle—surely he harbors treacherous intent!”

Cao Cao replied with a smile, “And why not? Now that he’s made Liu Bei his uncle, he’ll have even less reason to refuse when I command Liu Bei to campaign for me.”

The group erupted into spirited discussion.

“But what of the public humiliation you suffered today? Are we to let that pass unchallenged?”

“The young emperor has forgotten the days when he could neither eat his fill nor clothe himself. He forgets it was you, my lord, who restored him here!”

“Indeed—it’s time he was taught a lesson!”

Hearing these words, Cao Cao merely smiled. “Let them have their moment of mirth. Soon enough, they will weep—and wail at that!”

“I’ve already ordered Man Chong to keep Liu Bei under surveillance. Let’s see what trouble that man can stir.”

Though some remained uneasy, since Cao Cao himself was unfazed, there was nothing more to say.

“Now that you are all here, there is another matter I wish to discuss.”

“Grand Commandant Yang Biao—I suspect he is in league with the young emperor, and he is also a kinsman of Yuan Shu. Should something unforeseen occur, he could cause us trouble.”

Before the others could respond, Cao Peng interjected, “Such double-dealers deserve only one fate—kill him, uncle, and be done with it.”

Guo Jia explained, “Young general, you may not know—Yang Biao’s family commands great respect. If we execute him without solid evidence, many will censure us.”

Cao Peng sneered, “Since when does the court need justification to kill? Assign him a crime at will and be done with it. Say it is the will of the court.”

The advisors were taken aback—this young general was truly ruthless!

Cao Cao, however, looked at Cao Peng with admiration—he had once possessed such decisiveness himself.

If suspicion arises, strike first—why hesitate?

“Better to wrong all under heaven than let all under heaven wrong me.”

This Cao Peng was indeed to his taste—pleased, yet tinged with regret.

If only such a man were his own son!

After several rounds of wine, Cheng Yu, emboldened by drink, offered counsel once more.

“My lord, if I may—perhaps the time has come to contemplate the path of kingship and hegemony!”

His words drew everyone’s attention. Cao Cao, intrigued, immediately asked, “What do you mean by this?”

Cheng Yu replied, “Your fame and authority grow daily, my lord. To seize this chance and pursue the way of kingship is to act in accordance with Heaven’s will!”

Cao Cao laughed dryly and drained his cup.

These words echoed his own deepest desires—he did long to seize the throne.

But the old guard at court, even among his own followers—how many hearts still remained loyal to the Han?

“The last rays of Han still linger. I fear there are many whose hearts remain with the dynasty.”

Cao Cao’s concern was this: if he proclaimed himself king, would he not follow in Yuan Shu’s doomed footsteps?

His worry was shared by others. Guo Jia, ever quick-witted, remarked, “Now is not the time for kingship. Who can say how many at court still cling to the Han?”

Cheng Yu, drunk and flushed, retorted, “If you do not act, how will you know where their loyalties lie? Perhaps they’ve long wished for you to take the throne!”

Cao Cao furrowed his brow. Now that the matter was openly discussed, it truly merited careful thought.

“Anmin, what is your opinion?”

So, at the crucial moment, all eyes turned to his favored nephew—the Kirin of the Cao family.

The strategists started in surprise, as if they had forgotten that Cao Peng sat among them.

In Cao Cao’s esteem, Cao Peng’s position was certainly no less than Guo Jia’s. Coupled with his unique lineage, it was not impossible that this man could become second only to Cao Cao himself within their ranks.