Chapter 49: Unification of the World
Liu Xie smiled and did not comment, turning to ask Ni Heng: "Has your elder brother thought this matter through clearly? Forgive me for speaking bluntly, but with your elder brother's temperament, I'm afraid good things will be ruined!"
Although Liu Xie spoke tactfully, Kong Rong heard the implication. If one didn't know Liu Xie's identity, it could be taken as a sentence of concern, but to Kong Rong, it sounded like Liu Xie was telling Yang Yi not to go and surrender to Cao Cao. Since that's the case, there's some flavor to savor: Firstly, Liu Xie is currently dissatisfied with Cao Cao. Secondly, Liu Xie intends to reduce Cao Cao's power or develop his own power to counterbalance Cao Cao. Being able to discern this much is already sufficient. Kong Rong is also a man of loyalty and righteousness; if not, he wouldn't have been executed by Cao Cao for obstructing the attack on Liu Bei. Although he has surrendered to Cao Cao now, it's because Cao Cao hasn't committed any great evil deeds yet, and Kong Rong has the ability to help his friends with all his might. Now that Liu Xie has intervened in this matter, Kong Rong naturally knows what to do.
He hesitated, after listening to Liu Xie's words he was hesitant, fleeing to Cao Cao was only a temporary expedient, if not for this, on the first day of entering the city, he could have sought out Kong Rong and asked him to recommend himself. How would it be possible that when reporting without a door, he would ask Kong Rong for help? In fact, in Xi Zheng's heart, he was disgusted with Cao Cao, disgusted with Cao Cao's birth, disgusted with Cao Cao's ambition. Perhaps Kong Rong couldn't see through Cao Cao's move to the capital, but Xi Zheng clearly knew what it meant to control the emperor and order the vassals. That's why after fleeing to Cao Cao, he would deliberately oppose him everywhere, not only insulting Cao Cao, but also scolding the civil and military officials under Cao Cao's command, saying that in the end it was still because of his disgust at these people's disloyal hearts. And now, the reason for agreeing to flee to Cao Cao is just to borrow Cao Cao as a stepping stone to complete his own great ambitions!
Liu Xie saw that Ni Heng was hesitant, and his goal had been achieved. He looked at Kong Rong's attitude and knew that he would change Ni Heng's life. So he smiled and said: "Let's not talk about this anymore! I've heard that the two of you are good at poetry, why don't each of you compose a poem to leave as a wonderful story?"
Kong Rong saw Liu Xie had spoken, and thought to himself what kind of poem would be good to compose. Unexpectedly, Yuan Zhen said: "What's the point for us two to drink wine and make poetry all day? Why not let Xiao brothers compose a poem, and have us two appreciate it?"
Kong Rong's heart came up with a gasp, although Emperor Xian had been practicing literature and martial arts since childhood, but he had never heard of being good at writing. If it was done well, it would be fine, but if not, wouldn't it make the current emperor lose face greatly? He thought to himself: "This Niu Zhengping is always looking for trouble!"
