Chapter 154: Meeting over wine and the promise of Hanshui
Cao Cao regards Liu Bei as his lifelong enemy, and he has very complicated feelings about Liu Bei.
Because Liu Bei was his enemy everywhere, he hated Liu Bei deeply.
And because Liu Bei was his valued opponent, he also admired Liu Bei.
But no matter what his feelings were, when they met again, Cao Cao's hatred for Liu Bei was definitely far greater than his admiration for Liu Bei.
Therefore, as soon as they met, he directly insulted Liu Bei as a "traitor" and called himself Liu Bei's elder.
Facing Cao Cao's insults, Mi Yang and Guan Ping's faces showed anger.
But Liu Bei was very calm.
Having been an enemy of Cao Cao his whole life, he was scolded a lot, wasn't he?
But Liu Bei is not someone who will suffer losses, at least he doesn't want to suffer losses in front of Cao Cao.
Liu Bei sat on the bow of the ship, patted the deck and laughed and cursed at Cao Cao: "I am an eunuch and an ugly man, but I am here!"
Liu Bei's words reached Cao Cao's ears, causing Cao Cao's eyes to narrow instantly.
Since he defeated Yuan Shao, there is no one in the world who dares to accuse him of being eunuch and ugly. Liu Bei is the only one in the world.
Since Cao Cao used Liu Bei's background to insult him, Liu Bei would retaliate in his own way.
When it comes to family background, although Liu Bei came from a humble background, in real terms, Cao Cao's family background is simply disgusting.
At that time, Chen Lin said in "An Essay on Discussing Cao Cao":
Among my grandfathers, Teng was always in attendance, and together with Zuo Ying and Xu Huang, he was a monster, gluttonous and arrogant, hurting and abusing the people;
Fusong, a beggar, assumed the throne due to stolen goods, bought a gold chariot and bi, transported goods to a wealthy family, stole cauldrons, and overturned important weapons.
The most important thing is that Liu Bei scolded Cao Cao as "an eunuch who is ugly", which undoubtedly included his two nephews.
Cao Cao brought two nephews today, namely Cao Zhen and Xia Houshang.
Cao Zhen, also known as Zidan, is the adopted son of Cao Cao.
When Cao Cao launched an army to attack Dong Zhuo, Cao Zhen's father, Qin Shao, recruited soldiers for Cao Cao. He was later killed by Yuzhou Shepherd Huang Wan. Cao Cao mourned that Cao Zhen was orphaned, so he adopted the deceased Cao Zhen.
Cao Zhen has been strong and brave since he was a child. Once when he was hunting, he was chased by a tiger. Cao Zhen turned around and shot the tiger, but the tiger fell down.
Cao Cao strengthened his bravery and asked him to lead the tiger and leopard cavalry.
During the Battle of Hanzhong in the 23rd year of Jian'an, Cao Zhen led his troops as a partial general and defeated Liu Bei's general Wu Lan Yu Xia Bian, and was worshiped as a backbone general.
Last year, Cao Cao appointed Cao Zhen as the guard of the army for the expedition to Shu. Later, he supervised Xu Huang and defeated Liu Bei's general Gao Xiang at Yangping Pass.
Xia Houshang, whose courtesy name was Boren, was the nephew of the late Xia Houyuan, the general who conquered the West.
When Xiahou Shang was young, he had a very close relationship with Cao Pi, the current crown prince of Wei, and Xiahou Shang's intelligence was also appreciated by Cao Pi.
When Cao Cao pacified Jizhou, he appointed Xiahou Shang as Army Sima, leading the cavalry to follow the expedition, and later he served as Wu Guanzhonglang general Wen Wen.
In the 18th year of Jian'an, Cao Cao was proclaimed Duke of Wei, established the Wei State's political power for the first time, and promoted Xia Houshang to the rank of Minister of Huangmen.
In the 23rd year of Jian'an, Wuhuan rebelled in Daijun. Cao Zhang was ordered to conquer, and Xiahou Shang followed him, participated in the military, pacified Daijun, and returned victorious.
When Cao Zhen and Xiahou Shang heard Liu Bei's insults, their faces instantly turned red with anger.
They are now even angrier than Mi Yang and Guan Ping just now.
But it was difficult for the two of them to get angry because Cao Cao in front of them had not yet spoken.
After Liu Bei retorted, Cao Cao knew that he could no longer take advantage of his words.
After all, compared to Liu Bei, who is famous all over the world for his integrity, he can be criticized for too many things.
So Cao Cao followed Liu Bei and sat down on the bow of the boat.
Since you can't take any advantage, forget about it.
On the bows of Liu Bei and Cao Cao's ships, there was a stove each boiling wine.
After Cao Cao sat down, he tapped his fingers on the deck of the ship's bow, looked at Liu Bei opposite and said, "Xuande, I haven't seen you for many years, but your words have become sharper."
"When old friends reunite, why don't you introduce the two people behind you to me?"
After Liu Bei heard this, he pointed at Mi Yang and Guan Ping and introduced them to Cao Cao respectively.
When Liu Bei introduced Mi Yang, Cao Cao looked at him deeply with meaningful eyes.
When he saw Mi Yang's tall and straight figure, his sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, he took the initiative and said to Mi Yang: "In the first battle with the public security, Mi Lang's reputation spread far and wide throughout the world."
"Looking at it today, it is quite similar to Zhou Lang's heroic appearance back then."
"I wonder how you two elders are doing well?"
Although Cao Cao was just sitting cross-legged on the deck, his figure was not upright, but the aura of a man who had been in power for a long time did not disappear.
And on the river bank not far behind him, tens of thousands of troops had gathered to march for Cao Cao.
Especially when Cao Cao was talking to Mi Yang, his pair of eagle eyes that seemed to be able to see through everything were always looking up and down Mi Yang's body, as if he was trying to find some flaw in Mi Yang.
These all put pressure on Mi Yang invisibly.
But Mi Yang is no longer what he used to be. Others may be intimidated by Cao Cao's power, but Mi Yang will not.
When Mi Yang saw Cao Cao asking questions, he bowed to Cao Cao in a neither humble nor overbearing manner and said: "The two gentlemen in the family are healthy and everything is fine."
Cao Cao nodded after hearing this, and then he spoke to Mi Yang: "Back then, I went to the emperor to express my gratitude to your uncle, and made your uncle the prefect of Ying County and your father the prime minister of Pengcheng.
If they had answered the call and returned, you should be standing alone behind them today.
And you shouldn’t just be a partial general today.”
After finishing speaking, Cao Cao, who loves talents, felt quite sad.
Facing Cao Cao's sighing and alienating tone, Mi Yang still responded calmly: "Milks should live in pursuit of virtue, not high-ranking officials and generous salaries."
Hearing Mi Yang's answer, Liu Bei couldn't help clasping his hands and laughing, but Cao Cao just smiled indifferently.
Everyone will change.
After laughing, Cao Cao also introduced the two nephews behind him to Liu Bei.
But even though Cao Zhen and Xia Houshang had some reputations, compared to Mi Yang, who was the youngest but most famous, they seemed a bit ordinary.
Liu Bei had no interest in Cao Zhen and Xia Houshang, who were behind Cao Cao.
Liu Bei took the initiative to ask Cao Cao: "Is this why you called me out today?"
When Liu Bei asked this question, the wine in front of him and Cao Cao had already been boiled.
The aroma of fine wine began to linger between the two sides.
Seeing this scene, Cao Cao took the initiative to lift the wine pot on the stove, then poured a glass of wine into his own cup, and drank it in front of Liu Bei.
After finishing the drink, Cao Cao said with emotion: "It is one of the great joys in life to have good wine in your mouth and old people sitting across from each other."
"I think it has been more than thirty years since the world was in chaos."
"Over the past thirty years, my old friends have gradually withered away. To this day, Xuande is the only person who fought with me to fight for the Yellow Turban and is valued by me."
"In old age, people often think about the past."
"I have been unclear about something, and I would like to ask Xuande to clarify it."
At this time, Cao Cao temporarily put aside his identity as King of Wei and regarded Liu Bei as an old man whom he had not seen for many years.
Cao Cao's move also made Liu Bei recall the past.
Liu Bei also poured himself a glass of wine, and then said to Cao Cao: "Excuse me, Meng De."
This is the first time today that Liu Bei calls Cao Cao by name.
Cao Cao asked Liu Bei: "In the first year of Jian'an, Xuande was defeated by Lu Bu, so he came to Xu to join me."
"On the day Xuande arrived in Xudu, I provided money and food for the soldiers and horses, and I also asked the emperor to appoint Xuande as the general of the left and the pastor of Yuzhou. It can be said that I treated Xuande well."
"When I was in Xudu, I treated Xuande as an old friend and a good friend."
"Every time there is a banquet, Xuande must be summoned; every time there is fine wine, Xuande must be distributed.
At the beginning, my confidant Zhongde advised me to kill you, and my filial arm advised me to put you under house arrest, but I did not agree."
"But why did Xuande betray me in the end?"
"Is this the benevolence and righteousness that Xuande has always claimed?"
At the end of the sentence, Cao Cao knocked the wine glass in his hand so hard on the deck, which shows how deeply he hated this matter in his heart.
Facing Cao Cao's questioning, Liu Bei showed some disdain on his face. He asked Cao Cao: "After so many years, Meng De still can't figure this out. Then Meng De must have no regrets."
"Then today I will explain Meng De's doubts."
"In the first year of Jian'an, I was defeated by Lu Bu and rushed west to Mengde. Mengde treated me well."
"I also knew at that time that Meng De was not unkind to me. He valued me and my reputation in Xuzhou, and wanted to use this to compete with Lu Bu."
"But I don't care about this. As long as Meng De can help the Han Dynasty and rebuild China, what's the problem if I serve Meng De?"
"But Mengde still remembers what you promised me that day outside Xudu?"
"Tangtang of Mishui River, by the Mishui River, you promised me that you would help protect the Han Dynasty, and you promised me that you would never massacre the city again."
"But what about the end?"
"In the third year of Jian'an, you marched eastward to Lu Bu, and I went with the army. Pengcheng fell because of my reputation."
"But in order to show off your military power and scare Lu Bu, you ordered the massacre of the city."
"What do the people of Pengcheng deserve?"
"From that day on, I knew that it is hard to change one's nature."
"From that day on, I made up my mind to avenge those innocent people."
"Although I speak lightly, even though I fight to the death of every soldier, I must avenge those people who died tragically."
Liu Bei's answer made Cao Cao stunned, and then he laughed.
Cao Cao's smile was full of ridicule, full of incomprehension, and full of unworthiness for himself.
The answer he had been waiting for for so many years was finally this.
"Xuande, today is a time of great strife!"
"In a time of great strife, the strong are respected."
"There is the Yellow River in the north and the Yangtze River in the south. The long and rolling rivers are filled with the blood of heroes."
"What about the common people?"
"To achieve a great cause and achieve a goal, the means are not important, only the results are important."
"Do you know why you keep losing to me?"
"Because in troubled times, domineering comes first, and the royal way you believe in will not work."
Facing Cao Cao's ridicule and doubts, Liu Bei's face remained firm.
He looked at Cao Cao and said in a determined tone:
"In troubled times, it is the people's hearts that are in trouble. Therefore, if you want to bring peace to the world, you must first calm the people's hearts."
"And the foundation of a human heart is to follow the royal way, practice filial piety, and uphold loyalty and wisdom."
"From his humble beginnings, Bei had no great talents. But Bei also knew that the world was in chaos and the fault was not with the people."
"Bei is not ignorant of tactics and hegemony, but Bei raised his troops that day not to seize the world but to secure it."
"Whoever harms the common people or disrupts the Han Dynasty will be regarded as a mortal enemy."
"Bei Ben Youbei is a commoner. I have nothing to offer and no worries. I have little talent and virtue, so I have been betrayed and failed several times."
"But no matter how many times I experience betrayal, my original intention will never change."
"No matter how many times I fail, as long as I can survive, I will never give up my ambition."
"No matter whether the king's way is suitable for this world, since I have chosen this path, I will go on it unswervingly and never regret it until my death."
Liu Bei's words fell into the ears of Mi Yang who was behind him, and Mi Yang felt a huge emotion in his heart.
Today, he is not like his previous life, inferring Liu Bei's character in cold history books or in some sensational marketing accounts.
He was standing behind Liu Bei today, and then heard Liu Bei explain his aspirations with his own ears.
Undoubtedly, the shock brought by this personal experience was something Mi Yang had never experienced before.
Is this Emperor Zhaolie of the Han Dynasty?
Only Mi Yang, who came from later generations, knew that what Liu Bei said today was not a moment of anger, nor was it to win people's hearts.
He really spent his whole life practicing the benevolence and righteousness he upheld.
Historically, the cause of his death was also because he launched a benevolent and righteous war.
Liu Bei finally died on the road of kingship he pursued.
But Liu Bei's words fell into Cao Cao's ears and only caused him to chuckle.
After many years, Liu Bei is still so naive.
Cao Cao and Liu Bei are both heroes of the day, so naturally neither of them will be affected by the other's words.
But when Cao Cao faced Liu Bei's perseverance, he couldn't help but admire Liu Bei in his heart.
Cao Cao saw his own shadow in Liu Bei.
Liu Bei fought endlessly for his ideals throughout his life.
And wasn't he, Cao Cao, fighting endlessly for his ambition to unify the world?
Since ancient times, there has never been anything that lasts forever. The only thing that remains unchanged and can be passed down forever is the ambition in the heart.
At this time, the originally sunny sky suddenly turned cloudy, as if a shower was coming.
Cao Cao looked at the cloudy sky, and he found that there was a place where the dark clouds looked like two dragons hanging and fighting.
Feeling something in his heart, he pointed to that place and said to Liu Bei:
"A dragon can be big or small, it can rise or hide; if it is big, it can stir up clouds and spit out mist; if it is small, it can hide and hide its form;
When it rises, it soars in the universe; when it disappears, it lurks within the waves.”
"It's early spring now, the dragon rides on time and changes, and people are determined to travel across the world."
"The dragon is a thing, comparable to the heroes of the world."
"The only heroes in the world today are Xuande and Cao'er."
"It's a pity that when two dragons fight, both sides will lose."
"The two armies have been fighting for a long time now, and the soldiers and civilians on both sides are exhausted. It is better to stop fighting for the time being and fight again another day."
"Today you and I meet over a cup of wine to discuss our aspirations. It may become a good story for a while."
"Now I use the fine wine as a guide, the dragon as a metaphor, and the Han River as the boundary. I would like to make an agreement with Xuande to stop fighting, so that the two families can stop fighting together to rest and recuperate."
After finishing speaking, Cao Cao raised the fine wine in front of him and saluted Liu Bei, "I wonder what Xuande wants?"
Faced with Cao Cao's suggestion that the two families strike out together, Liu Bei was not too surprised.
Because since Sun Quan's defeat, it was normal for Cao Cao, who was alone and unable to support himself, to want to retreat.
It's just that Liu Bei didn't agree to Cao Cao immediately. He was thinking about the pros and cons.
Liu Bei thought that the two states of Jing and Yi were exhausted due to years of war and needed to rest and recuperate.
However, defeating Cao Cao is not a one-time achievement. Without the support of strong national power, the migration will take a long time and the variables will be unpredictable.
Moreover, there are still many hidden dangers within Jingzhou that need to be dealt with.
Therefore, Liu Bei finally raised his wine glass in tribute to Cao Cao:
"Then let's use the Han River as the boundary, and you and I will stop fighting for the time being."
There should be none tonight.
There are some final tasks left, finish them quickly, and then resume normal updates.
(End of chapter)
This chapter has been completed!