Chapter 1131: Liu Ba's Grand Scheme

As Liu Ba entered Cao Cao's courtyard, he instinctively adjusted his headpiece. Although his current attire could not compare to the fine Shu silk he had worn back in Sichuan, the confidence he exuded was more than enough for Cao Cao to instantly recognize Liu Ba's uniqueness.

The difference between commoners and noble families lies in their demeanor. The habits, manners, and refinement of an aristocratic family take three generations to fully cultivate. As the saying goes, “Dragons give birth to dragons, phoenixes give birth to phoenixes, and the sons of rats will dig holes." These traits are passed down from one generation to the next through personal example.

This is the best form of education—one that comes from daily influence. When Cao Cao saw Liu Ba entering, he immediately sensed this refined quality in him, a trait that marked him as distinct from a mere minor official.

"What is the meaning of falsely presenting yourself as an envoy of Guan Yunchang?" Cao Cao did not bother with subtlety. Even though Liu Ba had come from the post station, it was impossible for him to be Guan Yu's envoy.

Cao Cao was certain of this because someone with Liu Ba's sophisticated confidence, someone who showed no fear in front of a man who could decide his fate, was far too high-ranking to be a mere envoy of Guan Yu. If Guan Yu’s envoy was this refined, Cao Cao might as well admit defeat right now.

"I beg for the Prime Minister’s pardon. I had no other means to gain entry, so I had to resort to this lowly method," Liu Ba said as he caught sight of Cao Cao seated in the main hall. Internally, Liu Ba felt slightly disappointed—Cao Cao was shorter than expected, too bearded, and not particularly handsome. However, he carried a powerful aura, indicating his formidable presence.

"When have I, Cao Mengde, ever closed my doors to advice?" Cao Cao replied sternly.

"Perhaps, but the threshold is too narrow to allow entry for a 'tall man,'" Liu Ba replied with a smile.

Cao Cao raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Liu Ba's witty response. "Very well, I will listen to what this 'tall man' has to say. If your ideas are as narrow as my doors, hmm..." he trailed off with a chuckle.

Liu Ba smiled back and glanced at his surroundings with a calm composure, silently indicating that he required a seat.

"Bring a chair for this gentleman and serve him tea," Cao Cao instructed a servant. He was curious to see what Liu Ba had to say, though he mostly regarded him as an arrogant fool.

Liu Ba did not hesitate to sit once the table was set. He took a deep breath, collecting his thoughts. He knew that what he said next could have far-reaching consequences. The issue with Cao Cao's situation was not about soldiers or commoners.

"May I ask, Prime Minister, do you truly wish to pacify the realm and restore order to the Central Plains?" Liu Ba asked after sipping his tea, and without waiting for a response, he continued, "If so, then what is your ultimate goal? To pacify the realm, restore the Central Plains, and rebuild the Han dynasty? Then may I ask, what is Liu Xuande currently doing?"

Cao Cao was about to answer Liu Ba's rather simplistic questions, but before he could, Liu Ba had already cut him off with a series of inquiries, leaving Cao Cao momentarily stunned.

Pacify the realm, restore the Central Plains, rebuild the Han dynasty—these had been his slogans all along. But, as Liu Ba pointed out, Liu Bei was also pursuing the same goals, and in some ways, doing a better job. If he simply joined forces with Liu Bei, wouldn’t that mean the realm would be unified, and these goals would be achieved?

Realizing this, Cao Cao felt momentarily embarrassed, but he quickly regained his composure. Liu Bei was Liu Bei, and Cao Cao was Cao Cao. They could not be considered the same, even if their slogans were similar. Both were striving toward the same end, but their means were different.

"It seems Prime Minister understands. What you seek is not simply these outcomes; these are just the process. Even though you and Liu Xuande share the same slogans, your true goals are not the same," Liu Ba laughed. "However, Prime Minister, right now, you are far weaker than Liu Xuande."

"Anyone with clear eyes can see that the reason the conflict between Yuan and Liu has paused is because Liu Xuande is consolidating his internal power. He possesses the strength to unify the realm. This is a fact that neither you, Prime Minister, nor anyone else can deny," Liu Ba said with a light chuckle.

"Liu Xuande’s people are three times wealthier than those under your rule, and his population is three times larger than yours. Yet, despite this, Liu Xuande remains patient and does not rush to sweep across the land. Such restraint is worthy of respect," Liu Ba continued, unabashedly praising Liu Bei. After all, at this point, Liu Bei’s accomplishments were dazzling, leaving others in awe.

Cao Cao remained silent. Liu Ba’s words were not wrong, but they did not prove anything. As long as Cao Cao still stood, Liu Bei could not easily conquer the Central Plains.

"Prime Minister, your advisors surely understand why Liu Xuande is doing this," Liu Ba said calmly. "The gap between you and Liu Bei is vast. Liu Bei is already poised to seize the throne—no, he is practically on the throne already."

"What he desires is not a broken Central Plains, but a prosperous, unified empire. He is waiting until his strength is overwhelming, so that he can crush you, Prime Minister, with ease," Liu Ba said matter-of-factly. His words made Cao Cao’s expression darken—this was the truth.

"Does the gentleman have advice for me?" Cao Cao asked with a cold smile. He knew all this already. Was Liu Bei really so confident he could defeat him? Cao Cao was a warlord in his own right, and he had advisers like Xun Yu. Even if Liu Bei was strong, Cao Cao would not go down without a fight.

"Prime Minister, are you aware of how many aristocratic families in the realm have sided with Liu Xuande?" Liu Ba asked, ignoring Cao Cao’s icy demeanor. He knew he had piqued Cao Cao’s interest.

"Most of the realm’s noble families have already pledged allegiance to Liu Xuande," Cao Cao replied coldly.

"That may not be entirely true. Only about 30% of the noble families have truly aligned with Liu Xuande, while another 30% oppose him. The remaining families are opportunistic, swayed by the winds of fortune," Liu Ba said with a smile. "If Liu Xuande can win over the noble families, then it should be even easier for you, Prime Minister, to do the same."

Cao Cao remained skeptical but was intrigued as Liu Ba continued, seemingly speaking to himself, "The realm is still in your hands, Prime Minister. The moral high ground is also yours. The emperor gave the seal of authority to Liu Xuande, but in the end, who truly holds the power? Liu Xuande’s greatest asset is his loyalty to the Han dynasty."

Cao Cao immediately grasped Liu Ba's implication. Liu Bei’s banner and Liu Xie’s banner were essentially the same. Some people supported Liu Bei because of their loyalty to the emperor, but if Liu Bei lost that connection, his domain would inevitably be thrown into turmoil.

"Secondly, the noble families submit to Liu Xuande out of fear of his current strength. They don’t truly support him. Chen Zichuan’s policies have forced many noble families into submission, but they endure it only because they have no choice," Liu Ba stated plainly.

Cao Cao began to see that Liu Ba indeed had some talent, though he was far from the level of Xun Yu. In fact, Xun Yu had already pointed all this out to him, except for one critical point—Xun Yu would never abandon the emperor.

Cao Cao now understood that Liu Ba was not like Xun Yu. Liu Ba had no scruples about such matters. While Xun Yu’s loyalty was firmly tied to the emperor, Liu Ba harbored no such constraints.

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