“Yes, yes!” Liu Mang almost stuttered his speech. This is Boss Cao! This is Cao Cao! This is the Emperor Wu of Wei! He was someone who had conquered China! And this someone actually held his fist toward him respectfully with a low posture!
“Hanyang!” Thanks to Lu Bu grabbing Liu Mang did he not shame himself on the scene.
Liu Mang composed himself and responded politely. “This humble person is Liu Mang, Liu Hanyang. Paying respects to Prime Minister Cao!”
“Hanyang?!” Cao Cao’s gaze grew more profound as he muttered Liu Mang’s courtesy name. “Rumor has it that Hanyang is a Han imperial clansman!”
Well shit, who knows where Old Cao got the information of his self declared Han imperial clansman status. And now he’s asking.
“Han imperial clansman?!” Within the Cao army there’s a middle aged man with long hair and big ears. He was also watching the Liu Mang who stood atop the city walls with a flickering gaze.
To be pointed out by Old Cao, Liu Mang could only put a bold face and lie blantly. “Mang is indeed a Han imperial clansman. His majesty is my elder brother!”
“Oh?!” Old Cao was just asking to see. He had already checked the Han imperial clan's family tree. There was indeed a Liu Mang. However, it was a child that had long since disappeared before the chaos started. Who would’ve expect for that child to reappear here.
“In that case, Hanyang is of royal kin to our great Han!” Old Cao’s posture dropped even lower.
How would Liu Mang possibly be an opponent of this old fox Cao Cao. Thus he could only nod.
Chen Gong frowned. This Cao Cao certainly had something planned. He knew of this Cao Cao better than he knew himself.
Surely enough, Cao Cao’s following speech was like a strike directly aimed at Liu Mang’s balls. “Hanyang is both an imperial clansman and also His Majesty’s brother, you ought to return to the Xudu with this lowly Cao Cao and assist His Majesty in promptly pacifying the world, returning it to the Han people!”
Old Cao’s words were devout, righteous and inspires reverence. Had Liu Mang not knew of Cao Cao character from history books, he really would’ve been moved by Old Cao. But Liu Mang knew of Cao Cao’s character and what’s on his mind - hold the emperor and you shall control his vassals! Had it been peaceful times, Cao Cao would’ve been a great statesman for certain. However, it is currently a period of chaos and the prestige of the Han Dynasty had already dropped to its lowest point!
Starting from the Yellow Turban Rebellion to Dong Zhou deposing Emperor Shao and finally Yuan Shu declaring himself emperor, how many Han imperial clansman are left?! Was Cao Cao really a loyal subject of the Han Dynasty? Even if he was to be loyal, his trusted aides and subordinates would never allow him to be loyal. Did you really think that Cao Cao would return the nation to Emperor Xian of Han?!