Chapter 1 The Crown Prince

  After yesterday's events, Liu Bei and Cao Cao's relationship has become closer. At the same time, in Liu Bei's heart, his urgent desire to overthrow Liu Feng has increased tenfold.

  Because if Liu Feng is deposed, he can successfully recover Zhao Yun and Mi Zhu.

  Like Liu Bei, Cao Cao quickly regained his composure.

  Fu Wan trusted Liu Feng completely, and since the last time he entered the palace to see Liu Feng, Fu Wan had been completely at ease with this nephew, with a heart full of ambition.

  They are extremely unscrupulous, doing whatever it takes to expand their power and get rich, abandoning all dignity. Everything is for the sake of reclaiming the Han dynasty's foundation.

  This is exactly what those hypocritical people can't do. Hypocrites, actually Fu Wan and others are really honest, but in a chaotic world, they cannot support the Han dynasty. Let them feel extremely ashamed, and also self-deprecatingly call themselves hypocrites.

  It can be said that Liu Feng's appearance is a kind of hope for Fu Wan, the hope of the Han dynasty. So no matter what Liu Feng says, Fu Wan will always support him strongly.

  "Fugong, the crown prince has gone too far. Didn't you say anything to His Majesty after entering the palace that day?" Wang Fu was shocked and flustered, forcing himself to lower his voice as he spoke to Fugong.

  "Take it easy." Fu Wan didn't plan on telling Wang Fu about his nephew's matter in such a crowded and noisy place, so he just said lightly.

  "This." Wang Fu saw that Fu Wan's expression didn't change, which was quite unexpected. However, the long-standing trust also calmed Wang Fu down, and he nodded slightly.

  Fell silent.

  Cao Cao's expression was somewhat unpredictable, his eyes were even colder and more ruthless. This was already the third time. This was already Liu Feng's third time to provoke him.

  The first time was when Cao Pi was injured, he endured it. The second time was when he went hunting outside the city, he also endured it. He endured twice because he wanted to be cautious about his rivalry with Yuan Shao.

  The rear really cannot appear with him and Liu Xie making trouble, otherwise how can we be at peace internally in order to secure the outside?

  But this is already the third time. As the saying goes, "things won't happen more than three times." He retreated step by step, but instead got even more aggressive and pressing, which really made Cao Cao unbearable.

  On the other hand, it was also because of the dispute between Yuan and Cao that if he really abandoned his son, he would turn against Liu Xie. This matter still played a role in Cao Cao's mind to deter him from taking drastic action.

  Finally, Cao Cao's strong endurance allowed him to swallow his anger and not bother with that eight-year-old madman. However, what happened next put Cao Cao in a difficult position again.

  Since we don't want to make things difficult for Liu Feng, what should we do?

  They have to pay taxes when they enter the palace, but where should this money come from? Should Wenwu officials pay for it themselves? What a joke, this will cause resentment among the officials.

  Although Cao Cao wanted to strike at Emperor Xian of Han's prestige, it did not mean that he wanted to strike at the prestige of the Han imperial house. Emperor Xian was Emperor Xian, and the Han imperial house was the Han imperial house. These were two different concepts.

  Liu Xie is the master of the Han house, and the master of the world. He is his potential rival. The Han house is his tool, a banner of righteousness that can be used to suppress some vassals.

  So, Cao Cao had to suppress Liu Xie on the one hand and support the Han dynasty on the other, beautifying himself. Now, due to the existence of Yuan Shao, he had to slow down the process of suppressing Liu Xie in anticipation of a brief peace.

  So Cao Cao had no choice but to compromise with Crown Prince Liu Feng. He also had to consider the interests of all officials, and was in a dilemma about whether to advance or retreat.

  "My lord, it would be better to take the money from the national treasury. The crown prince is young and ignorant, so he will be greedy for wealth. But after getting the money, there is nowhere to go. It must be piled up in the palace as a spectacle, until the day when the army is raised to eliminate Yuan Shao, and then return to the south. Then you can take advantage of the situation to abolish the crown prince and establish another heir. In this way, the money will flow back into the national treasury. This coming and going, actually has no loss." At a critical moment, Xun Yu played the role of a spy very well.

  Xun Yu's words were surprisingly similar to Liu and Feng's idea. It was to make Cao Cao mistakenly believe that the money only flowed out of the national treasury, then into the palace today, and back into the national treasury again.

  This simple little loop won't cause any problems.

  But actually, Xun Yu did not know that Liu Feng had such a crazy idea of collecting palace taxes from all officials. Since then, Xun Yu took the initiative to keep his distance from Liu Feng.

  But even so, it doesn't mean Xun Yu didn't have a quick wit, here comes a push wave.

  Moreover, Xun Yu had a stance. After the last time Liu and Feng killed Crown Prince Cao's Lesser Tutor Chen Feng and injured Cao Pi, Cao Cao consulted with Xun Yu to depose the crown prince.

  So Xun Yu's words were in line with his position and would not arouse suspicion.

  As a spy, Xun Yu was really excellent.

  "Hmm." Cao Cao nodded his head after some deliberation. On one hand, what Xun Yu said was quite reasonable - the money would come back, and although it might only be a small amount of gold at first, it would definitely add up to a substantial sum over time.

  To be honest, Cao Cao is also short of money now.

  On the other hand, this was also Xun Yu's opinion. Originally, Xun Yu played a balancing role between the Cao and Liu families, having some hope for the Han dynasty while being loyal to the Cao family.

  It can be said that it has always been excellent as a deputy. As for the deputy, Cao Cao naturally listened to it and adopted it very quickly.

  "Yuan Rang, calculate the amount and go to the national treasury to get the money." Cao Cao said to Xiahou Dun.

  "Yes." In response to Cao Cao's order, Xiahou Dun naturally obeyed without question, no matter how unreasonable it was. So he readily agreed and went down.

  "Hiss."

  Compromised again, compromised once more. The courtiers witnessed another astonishing scene, despite Cao Cao's unparalleled power and the Crown Prince's absurdity and madness.

  But in the end, the crown prince actually won a complete victory. This is really astonishing.

  Actually, it's mainly outsiders watching the excitement, and some officials don't have a clue. They don't know about the complexity of the current situation, the balance of power between Yuan Shao and Cao Cao, etc.

  So, he thought that the Crown Prince had defeated Cao Cao twice, and was very proud and powerful.

  Liu Bei's heart was filled with uncontrollable disappointment, and yet he didn't even put up a fight.

  Fu Wan let out a sigh of relief, the gold was in his hands now.

  Zhao Yun's expression remained unchanged, like a long spear pointing straight to the sky, strong and overbearing. Mi Zhu, on the other hand, let out a slight sigh of relief, as the situation was clearly no longer tense.

  He didn't have to bear Cao Cao's wrath directly and became a scapegoat instead.

  In this atmosphere, Xiahou Dun returned. When he left, he only brought some armored soldiers. After returning, there was an additional carriage. He had calculated it, roughly around one hundred jin.

  Packed a small box.

  "Pass it over." After arriving at the palace gate, Xiahou Dun looked at Cao Cao, who nodded. Only then did Xiahou Dun give the order.

  "Yes." Xia Shi responded with a "yes" and immediately walked in carrying the small box.

  "Huh." Mozhu took over the small box, feeling the weight in his arms, and finally let out a sigh of relief.

  "All officials enter the palace." Zhao Yun said loudly.

  Cao Cao and Fu Wan immediately became serious, leading a group of officials into the palace.

  But this matter is far from over.

  The crown prince has gone mad, he's really been blinded by wealth. He actually wants to collect taxes from the ministers. Not giving them a salary, but collecting taxes! This is a crazy thing that has never happened since ancient times.

  Even a tyrant like King Zhou of Shang or King Jie of Xia would not have done such things. Yet, it has happened now, under the watchful eyes of many people.

  The news spread like wings and quickly spread throughout the city of Xudu.

  There are those who wring their wrists in despair, there are those whose voices choke with sobs, and there are even more who throw off their caps to celebrate.

  Those who wring their wrists and sigh are some neutral people, they are lamenting that the Han dynasty is going to be destroyed.

  Those who wept and wailed were all loyal and righteous men, they also foresaw that the Han dynasty was heading towards its demise.

  The ones who were rejoicing at this news were naturally the forces of Cao, for they had already sensed that the power of Cao was on the rise.

  To have such a crown prince fall into one's lap.

  This is what three people have in mind. Liu Feng is useless.