Chapter 3 Section 11: Taifu Yang Bi (3)

  Inside the imperial study, Liu Xie was sitting upright with a serious expression. Below him, an old man in his fifties with white hair and beard knelt down. This person was someone Liu Xie had seen before - one of the two officials who were dissatisfied with Liu Xie's orders on the imperial court. Liu Xie felt a sense of relief in his heart and calmly said: "General Yang, please rise!"

  The old man slowly stood up straight, but heard Liu Xie ask: "The banquet has dispersed, and Yang Gongzi doesn't think of returning to the mansion, yet comes to my place, I don't know what's going on?"

  Yang Biao saw an imperial attendant standing beside the Emperor and hastily made a sign to him, meaning that Liu Xie should withdraw his attendants before speaking. This obvious hint was not lost on Liu Xie, who merely pretended not to understand it, and asked in surprise: "What is this, General? If you have anything to say, say it; the Empress is still waiting for me!"

  Yang Biao was taken aback. He had been with Emperor Xian for a long time and understood his temperament well. Although he was somewhat weak, he still had some sense of reason in his heart. But today, he seemed to have changed into a different person. First, he handed over the power to Cao Cao, and now he ignored Yang Biao's subtle hints as if he didn't see them at all.

  Liu Xie saw Yang Bi and didn't speak. He couldn't help but say, "If there's nothing else, Lord Yang, you might as well go back first!" After finishing speaking, he also stood up, preparing to return to the bedroom palace.

  "Your Majesty!" Yang Bi saw Liu Xie wanting to leave and reluctantly said: "I just want to ask, why did Your Majesty hand over all military and administrative power to Cao Cao on the court?"

  Liu Xie let out a sigh in his heart. Yang Bi was after all just a loyal minister, but not a good one. Compared to his son Yang Shu who could determine Cao Cao's intention to retreat with just the phrase "chicken ribs", he was far inferior. And his own thoughts were probably already seen through by Guo Jia and Xun Yu beside Cao Cao. Thinking of Yang Shu, Liu Xie suddenly had the intention to recruit him. Upon careful consideration, Yang Shu was only around 20 years old now and should be with his father in Xuchang.

  "Your Majesty, I beg you to dispel the doubts of your old minister!" Yang Bing saw that Emperor Xian did not respond and spoke up again to remind him.

  Liu Xie let out a long sigh and walked up to Yang Bi: "I have already made it clear in the imperial court that the Grand General is loyal to the Great Han and has saved me from danger. It is only right that he should be entrusted with great affairs, so that he can appreciate the virtues of the Great Han and swear to die for them."

  "Swear to be loyal unto death?" Yang Biao sneered: "Your Majesty isn't afraid of raising a tiger and inviting calamity?"

  Liu Xie thought to himself, "How could I not understand this principle? The tiger has already grown up, and if it is not fed, it will cause trouble. Yang Pei, can't you see even the most basic fact?" Liu Xie moved the silk cloth in his sleeve, thinking that whether or not to hand over the imperial edict to this person was now a matter of debate. But he immediately thought that after Cao Pi ascended to the throne, he wanted to make Yang Pei the Grand Marshal, and wondered if it was just because Yang Pei had the prestige of four generations of high officials. No, it wouldn't be that simple. If Yang Pei didn't have any extraordinary abilities, Cao Pi wouldn't have used him. Thinking this, Liu Xie steeled himself and took a gamble, taking two steps closer to Yang Pei and saying sternly, "Grand Marshal, be careful what you say!"

  Yang Biao was rebuked by Liu Xie, took two steps back, his face turned red and white alternately, finally turned pale, suddenly looked up at the sky and laughed loudly: "Faithful words are hard to speak, national calamity is approaching, Liu Xie, you can prepare to be the king of my Great Han's downfall!"

  Liu Xie flew into a rage: "How dare you shout at me! Guards, come and slap him in the mouth!"

  Just as the eunuch was about to step forward, Yang Bi said: "Don't let others do it, I'll do it myself!" After finishing, he slapped his face with both hands, slapping himself until his eyes were dizzy and his mouth was bleeding. Before Liu Xie could react, he turned around and left.

  The eunuchs looked at each other in shock, Liu Xie was shocked, looking at Yang Bi's back, furious and unable to calm down, turned around and smashed the teacup on the table into pieces: "Such a rebellious minister and treacherous son should have been killed long ago!" After finishing speaking, he revealed a hint of an imperceptible sly smile.