Chapter 1 The Crown Prince

  Liu Bei's heart was also considering what to do. Sun Qian's quick reaction just solved Liu Bei's dilemma. Therefore, Liu Bei's expression once again recovered as if nothing had happened.

  "What's wrong with giving it away since Wen Yuan likes it?"

  Liu Bei said with a smile.

  "Thanks a lot, Lord Guan." Zhang Liao heard this and let out a big sigh of relief, smiling.

  Liu Bei immediately ordered Jian Yong and Zhang Liao to conduct the transaction, with one hand exchanging money and the other hand exchanging goods, selling five fine armors for 500 gold.

  Both parties understand each other's intentions in this deal.

  Zhang Liao wanted to return and report back to Cao Cao, while Liu Bei wanted to send an envoy into the palace to bribe the Crown Prince. Therefore, neither of them had any intention of chatting, and after the transaction was over, Zhang Liao took his leave.

  In the hall, the exhausted Zou returned to his seat after finishing the transaction.

  "How much gold is left in hand now?"

  Liu Bei asked Zhu Ge Dan.

  "Brocade and satin, ten thousand taels of gold; war horses, three hundred taels of gold; armor, five hundred taels of gold. If we squeeze a bit in the mansion, we might have another two hundred taels or so, which can make up for one thousand taels." Zou Ji calculated and said with delight.

  "A thousand pieces of gold? Good." Liu Bei also joyfully exclaimed.

  In his opinion, even if the crown prince is greedy for wealth, this thousand gold will make him dizzy. It shouldn't be difficult to keep Mo Zhu safe.

  "My lord, it's great to have a thousand pieces of gold, but what about Cao Cao?" Jian Yong sighed.

  "Xian He doesn't need to rush. Cao Cao has indeed shown us kindness, and we have accepted it. Both sides have a tacit understanding, not something on the surface. Being ambiguous is fine, no need to show too much." Sun Qian said with a smile.

  "Elusive?"

  Liu Bei's eyes lit up, and he nodded. Thoroughly surrendering to Cao Cao would be too great a loss for Liu Bei. Now, by accepting Cao Cao's kindness while keeping his distance, he could also preserve the army in front of him.

  Moreover, it can also be relied upon in Xudu. It is indeed a triple gain with one move.

  Jian Yun heard the words and nodded slightly, feeling relieved.

  "Xianhe, this time please take the prince to the palace to meet him. I'll exchange Qianjin for Zizhong." After being delighted, Liu Bei thought of the current situation again, and solemnly ordered Jian Yong:

  "Alright." Jian Yong responded with a single word and immediately stood up and walked out.

  "Success or failure depends on Xun Yu and Guan Yu." Liu Bei said after Jian Yong left.

  Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Sun Qian, and Mi Zhu all nodded in unison. At this moment, everyone's heart felt a bit more at ease. With the thousand pieces of gold, they could finally deal with that eight-year-old, greedy-to-death, stupid crown prince.

  It should be a matter of minutes.

  Jian Yong himself thought so too, with a thousand gold coins in his pocket. To deal with an eight-year-old child who had a fatal weakness, wasn't it easy to capture him?

  Liu Bei and his subordinates thought of him as a mere child, an easy-to-deal-with crown prince.

  At this moment, it was through Emperor Xian of Han and his loyal ministers who formed a united intelligence network to observe Liu Bei's every move.

  Liu Bei received the imperial edict and sent Mi Zhu out to sell armor and war horses. Cao Cao got the news and immediately had Zhang Liao send over 500 taels of gold, along with Jian Yong carrying a large amount of gold, heading towards the palace.

  Nothing escaped Liu Xie's ears and eyes, and it was passed into Liu Feng's ears.

  In a side hall of the Crown Prince's palace, Liu Feng continuously received reports from his scouts.

  "General Zhang has actually gone over to Cao Cao's side." As Zhao Yun, who had always followed Liu Feng, naturally also heard the detailed intelligence, his face tightened and he said.

  From disappointment to despair. Now Zhao Yun doesn't want to see Liu Bei anymore, but if Cao Cao uses Liu Bei's reputation, it would be a big trouble for them.

  "Don't worry, it's just Xiang Wang having a dream and the goddess being heartless." Liu Feng said with a smile.

  Cao Cao wanted to win over Liu Bei with small favors, but he really misjudged Liu Bei. The historical Cao Cao failed to see through Liu Bei, which allowed Liu Bei to grow strong enough to threaten his rule.

  At the time of the Battle of Red Cliffs, Cao Cao's intestines were regretful. Even now, Liu Feng exposed Liu Bei's ambition, but Cao Cao still chose to believe that Liu Bei was being won over.

  This is Cao Cao's limitation. Liu Feng actually hoped that Cao Cao would immediately send troops to defeat Liu Bei, and then he would take advantage of the situation to receive Zhang Fei, Guan Yu, etc. But unfortunately, Liu Feng had no way with Cao Cao.

  As for the alliance between the two sides, Liu and Feng have nothing to worry about. They are all heroes who cannot coexist with each other. The integration is only temporary and superficial.

  Zhao Yun didn't know why Liu Feng was so certain that Xiang Wang had a dream and the goddess was heartless. But seeing the nonchalant look on Liu Feng's face, he also put down the worries in his heart.

  For Zhao Yun, this crown prince was someone to be both revered and feared. Not because of his status, but because of his ability, intelligence, decisiveness, and strong character that were all combined in his temperament.

  Inspiring awe.

  He believed that Liu Feng would never shoot without a reason.

  "It seems that Zhen is about to enter the palace." Liu Feng said.

  "If Your Highness does not want to see him, you can also order him to be blocked outside the door." Zhao Yun said. He knew Liu Feng's plan and had dug up Mi Zhuo to help Liu Feng accumulate wealth for the purpose of recruiting soldiers and buying horses.

  In Zhao Yun's view, it was naturally not wanting to see Jian Yong.

  "Why block the door? Moreover, those Jiaoren are all Cao Cao's eyes and ears. Even if I give an order, it may not be effective." Liu Feng said with a smile.

  "Not blocking the door? Is Your Highness after that gold?" Zhao Yun also knew that Jian Yong was currently carrying more than 800 taels of gold into the palace, so he thought Liu Feng was after that gold.

  However, it seems that this is not a long-term plan. The business talent of the Mo family is unmatched, and giving up on the Mo family for a little bit of gold seems to be a loss.

  "Why can't I want it? I want gold and jade, but also want the chaos. The relationship between people is most important for sincerity. But I will not talk about credit with traitors." Liu Feng said coldly.

  "Hiss."

  Zhao Yun took a deep breath of cold air, this is what they call taking money but not doing anything.

  If you were in Liu Bei's position, you would definitely hate Liu Feng to death, a greedy official who takes money but doesn't do things. But standing in Liu Feng's position is different.

  What's wrong with taking money and doing nothing?

  Furthermore, Liu Feng is not a corrupt official, he is the Crown Prince. If he doesn't resort to cunning and even unscrupulous means, how can he restore the Han dynasty? In a chaotic world, people's hearts are no longer pure.

  To use with caution.

  This is what they call an extraordinary period, and it requires extraordinary measures.

  Want money and want people. Not letting go of even a little bit of profit.

  "Wait until Jian Yong arrives, then you, Zi Long, will be in charge of receiving the gold and sending Jian Yong away. I don't want to waste my breath. Also, after Jian Yong leaves, immediately dispatch a team of armored soldiers to the Left General's mansion and bring back Mi Zhu and his family." Liu Feng said coldly.

  "Agreed."

  Zhoa Yun promised.