Chapter 638

“Xudou?” Liu Mang and Xu Shu wondered why Cao Cao would dispatch a messenger over.

“Milord. This person does not have good intentions!” Xu Shu warned. Yangzhou and Xudou did not have friendly relations even if there was no war between them.

“Regardless, the person is already here. We cannot push him away.” Liu Mang smiled and replied. He still respected Cao Cao as the man was formidable. If it was not because there were so many talented people or that the chaos arrived too late, Cao Cao would not have reached the end of his lifespan that early. The world could have fallen into Cao Cao’s hands. If Cao Cao lived as long as Sun Quan, history would have been different. It would be to the extent where there is another great dynasty like the Qin and Han dynasties.

Liu Mang did not have much hatred for Cao Cao as he did not have much contact with Cao Cao. Their only meeting was when Yangcheng was being sieged. Liu Mang had also accidentally offended Cao Cao as he joked too much.

After that, Yangzhou and Xudou helped each other achieve victory. Liu Mang sent a letter to Cao Cao informing him about Yuan Shao’s provisions. This allowed Cao Cao to obtain victory at Guandu. Liu Mang did this because he was afraid history would change. If Cao Cao were to lose, no one would be able to stop Yuan Shao. In return, Cao Cao provided Liu Mang with provisions at a critical moment when Liu Bei and Zhang Xiu attacked.

As a result, they were in a situation where both sides owed each other. The only real conflict Yangzhou had with Xudou was when they Yangzhou attacked Yuzhou. Though they failed to wipe out Liu Bei, the man was pretty much on death’s door.

“Let the Heaven’s Messenger in!” Liu Mang ordered and allowed Cao Cao’s envoy to enter.

“Understood.” The guard next to him nodded and went out. Soon, three new faces were brought in.

Leading them was a man wearing clothes for officials of the Han. He had an arrogant expression and walked in with large strides, as though he owned the place.

“Which one here is Liu Mang Liu Hanyang! Quickly kneel and greet Heaven’s Messenger!” The man yelled loudly.

“Impudent!” Guan Hai immediately glared. Liu Mang was the King of Shu and the Lord of Yangzhou. Asking him to kneel was pretty much courting death. “Do you know who our Lord is?”

“So what? Meeting with the Heaven’s Messenger is like meeting His Majesty the Emperor! Do you all dare to stand when His Majesty has a decree?” The arrogant man replied. “Could it be that the host here wants to rebel?” The arrogant man provoked threateningly. Kneel or be treated like rebels.  

It was true that people needed to kneel when receiving a decree. In fact, they were also supposed to bath before receiving the decree. However, that was when the Han Dynasty was flourishing. During these troubled times, the Emperor had no power at all. He was simply Cao Cao’s puppet. Cao Cao himself was also a feudal vassal like Liu Mang. Yet, the subordinate of Cao Cao’s puppet was asking Liu Mang to kneel. That was simply asking to die.

Guan Hai was about to act angrily but he was stopped by Liu Mang. If Guan Hai were to attack Cao Cao’s messenger, it would reflect on Liu Mang and Yangzhou. Liu Mang would be considered intolerant and Yangzhou would gain the reputation of being unreasonable.

“Hm? Since when was Cao Cao’s messenger no longer an eunuch?” Liu Mang looked skeptical as he asked Xu Shu.

Xu Shu initially wanted to advise Liu Mang not to punish Cao Cao’s messenger. Even if the Han’s prestige was declining, people still abided to it. On top of that, Liu Mang’s surname was also Liu so anything Liu Mang did would simply backfire. It was better to endure now and then arrange for an accident to happen on the way back to the Emperor.

Yet, when Xu Shu saw Liu Mang’s indifference, he could not help but smile. His Lord has become so mature.

Liu Mang’s words also had class. This Heaven’s Messenger came from Xudou which mean his master was Cao Cao. However, only the Emperor could use court eunuchs. In other words, if the Heaven’s Messenger claim to be here as Cao Cao’s subordinate, Liu Mang did not need to pay respect. After all, Liu Mang had higher position. On the other hand, if the Heaven’s Messenger claimed to be dispatched by the Emperor, then this man was a castrate. Besides that, this would also sow discord between Cao Cao and the Emperor. How could this man say he was the Emperor’s person if he did things under Cao Cao’s orders?

“Milord. The person Cao Cao uses is naturally a man. Only His Majesty can use eunuchs!” Xu Shu added in accordance to Liu Mang’s play. “Are you sent by Cao Cao or His Majesty?” Xu Shu then cupped his fist at the Heaven’s Messenger.

In fact Xudou did not have many court eunuchs left due to the corruption. They lost their authority but they still had strength. So the eunuchs were all made into servants that wait upon their master. They no longer had any important jobs and would not even be made to send messages.

“You!” The Heaven’s Messenger was not an idiot so he understood the implications since he was Cao Cao’s subordinate. His job was to deliver Cao Cao’s letter and undermine Liu Mang’s prestige.

“This subordinate is dispatched by Cao Sikong to deliver a decree!” The Heaven’s Messenger replied calmly.

“Oh. So you were Cao Mengde’s subordinate, not His Majesty’s subordinate.” Liu Mang nodded. Of course the Heaven’s Messenger was Cao Cao’s subordinate. The Emperor had no power left. He would even lose his position soon. Once Cao Cao obtains the North, he could easily make himself Emperor.

Originally, there was still the Dong Family and the Wan Family that helps the Han Emperor handle matters. Unfortunately, the troublemaking Liu Bei wiped them out so that Cao Cao would help him deal with Liu Mang. Others learn from this by not becoming the Emperor’s subordinate.

“It does not matter if I am His Majesty’s subordinate or Cao Sikong’s subordinate, it is a fact that Cao Sikong holds power on behalf of His Majesty to guard the land. Now, His Majesty has a decree. Liu Mang Liu Hanyang! Are you still not going to kneel?”

“Oh. His Majesty’s decree. In that case, I, Liu Mang Liu Hanyang kneels…” Liu Mang moved as though he was going to kneel. The man was immediately pleased. Liu Mang was the King of Shu but even he had to kneel to an Imperial edict. Once he returns, Cao Sikong would definitely appreciate this. Yet, before the Heaven’s Messenger could smile, he was kicked instead.

“Kneel your grandmother! An insignificant dog of Cao Cao’s dares to ask me to kneel? You must be tired of living! Even Cao Cao has to be respectful to me and address me as Your Highness yet you dare act like a dog in this hall? How about you take a look at where you are!” Liu Mang was still sour that he could not attack Jingzhou. His resentment did not even clear and now this stupid messenger showed himself.

“Milord! That was a good kick!” Guan Hai shouted while Zhou Cang simply laughed.

“Liu Mang Liu Hanyang! How dare you treat the Heaven’s Messenger this way! I will definitely go back and report this to His Majesty! You showed no respect to me and refused to kneel when receiving an Imperial edict!”

“Haha. This King will say it plainly for you to understand!” Liu Mang said as he watched the man struggle under his feet. “The first is that you are Cao Cao’s subordinate, not His Majesty’s subordinate. Cao Cao has to show courtesy even when he meets me. A dog like you should just learn from your master! The second is… Haha. You say you have an Imperial edict?”

“Of course! Even if you don’t receive it, you even dare to beat me up! You are definitely plotting a rebellion!”

“Let us not talk about whether the Imperial edict is real. Even if it is real, hmph! Did no one tell you my title? I am not only the King of Shu! I am also a Sage King! I don’t need to kneel when I meet His Majesty. I don’t even need to greet you when receiving an Imperial edict! Now you know why I hit you?” Liu Mang asked as he kicked the man another time.