Chapter 49: Unification of the World
Yang Piao was momentarily speechless, and Cao Cao's words did indeed move his heart. Even if he were to consider Cao Cao as a lifelong friend, it wouldn't be excessive. However, Yang Piao knew the truth in his heart - both of them were just acting out a play. Cao Cao spoke of various lords rising up, with a tendency towards division and fragmentation, but wasn't he himself one of them?
Cao Cao saw Yang Feng hesitating and secretly rejoiced in his heart. With this eloquence, he didn't know how many heroes had been swayed, or else why would there be so many brave generals under his command? At this moment, seeing that Yang Feng was already wavering, he added: "Yang Gong has been loyal and virtuous for generations, spanning four dynasties, with three noble titles. Looking around the world, only Yuan Shao of Hebei can compare to you. If you abandon your post now, how will you face the ancestors of the Yang family? The honor of the Yang family's name?"
These words were like a sharp blade, piercing Yang Biao's heart in an instant. Yang Biao sighed deeply: "Meng De's one remark is like pouring enlightenment into my head; I was so foolish!" He finished speaking and pounded his chest and stamped his feet, repenting endlessly.
Cao Cao saw Yang Biao call out his own style name, and he was secretly delighted in his heart. Now that the gap between Yang Biao and himself had disappeared, this first step could be considered accomplished. The next step was to pull him into his own camp. So he smiled and said: "Meng De is just a martial artist, if it's about marching and fighting, I'm still capable, but if it's about governing the country, farming, compared to the Grand Commander, I am inferior. Now that the Grand Commander has come around, you and I, one civil and one military, should join hands and stand together, and protect our great Han dynasty!"
Yang Biao saw Cao Cao and said with a pleased air: "Meng De doesn't know this! Yesterday I had already thoroughly offended the Emperor, and I'm afraid it's hard to stand in court or in the countryside, so I've been thinking of retiring!"
Cao Cao thought to himself: "Is the Grand Commander's tolerance too small? The Emperor is young and it's inevitable that he makes mistakes. As his subjects, we should be understanding. Now that His Majesty is unwell, Meng De has been entrusted with the affairs of state. The Grand Commander is a senior official of our court and should enjoy the benefits of serving the ruler and share his worries. He can go ahead and do what needs to be done without hesitation. Whatever it is, Meng De will fully support him. Besides, when the Emperor grows older, he will naturally understand the Grand Commander's good intentions. At that time, the monarch and his officials will be of one mind, and how can our great Han Dynasty not flourish again?"
Yang Biao smiled secretly, Cao Cao's words were naturally meant to win him over. He had originally been entrusted with Liu Xie's intentions and had infiltrated Cao Cao's inner circle. Now that the big event was accomplished, he felt a sense of unease in his heart. Cao Cao's implicit meaning was not lost on Yang Biao - what could be done with abandon, Meng De would fully support; it was nothing but saying that he now held great power and didn't put even the emperor in his eyes, so whatever he said went. It seemed that the Emperor had long since seen through the situation and thought of Liu Xie, which made Yang Biao feel slightly comforted. If there was still someone who could revive the Han Dynasty, it would be none other than Liu Xie. Thinking of this, he felt a surge of heroic spirit and bowed his hands, saying: "Then everything still depends on Meng De!"
With a flick of his large sleeve, he strode away with a swagger.
