With Cao Cao by my side, what do I have to fear from the world?

Chapter 123, Going to see Gongsun Zan
Lu Xun was required to read and write every day, so Liu Xie taught him the regular script he knew.

Actually, Zhong Yao was the originator of regular script, but Liu Xie was a time traveler.

Therefore, they gained the upper hand.

Liu Xie's calligraphy has now won praise from many people, and even Cao Ang often imitates Liu Xie's calligraphy.

“Your Majesty, we clearly did not have that, so why won’t you let me tell my parents? They are my family, and they genuinely care about me.”

The carriage slowly started moving, and Lü Lingqi finally couldn't help but ask the question that had been on her mind.

Liu Xie turned to look at her, his expression stern. "You must remember, you are now my woman. I am not like your father!"

Seeing Liu Xie's sudden seriousness, Lü Lingqi was still somewhat puzzled, "What does this have to do with my father?"

"What things should be known by the women around you, and what things shouldn't be known by the women around you—this is a principle that Lu Bu may not know, but I do! A casual remark could potentially kill someone, do you understand? If you tell your parents, and it gets out, your whole family might be wiped out immediately."

If Cao Cao knew that Liu Xie was playing him and that nothing had happened between him and Lü Bu's daughter, who knows what Cao Cao might do.

"Huh? It's that serious?"

Lu Lingqi let out a cry that carried far.

Cao Ren was nearby and heard it clearly. He spurred his horse forward and asked through the carriage with a puzzled look, "Your Majesty, are you alright?"

Liu Xie glared at Lü Lingqi and said to the outside, "It's nothing. This woman was a bit disobedient, so I gave her a slap."

As he spoke, Liu Xie clapped his hands together forcefully, and a loud "smack" rang out.

Cao Ren shook his head. When he thought of Lü Bu's daughter, who was forcibly obtained by the emperor, it was inevitable that he would be a little uncomfortable at first and would throw a little tantrum.

Lü Lingqi then realized that things were not as simple as she had thought.

Liu Xie looked at her and sternly warned, "If you don't want to kill yourself or your parents, then you'd better behave. We're going to Xuchang, not for sightseeing. Don't forget, Cao Cao almost killed your father!"

"I should have used force that day."

After a while, Liu Xie uttered a sentence that startled Lü Lingqi again.

She knew in her heart that Liu Xie was doing it for her own good, and couldn't bear to force her or hurt her.

“Your Majesty, I will listen to you from now on. I know you are a good person. You saved my father and our whole family.”

Lu Lingqi's eyes were filled with tears, her head was lowered, and her voice was low but firm.

Liu Xie shook his head and sighed, "Good people can't beat wolves!"

Just as the group was about to leave the city, Cao Cao suddenly noticed that the city gate was crowded with people, including merchants, gentry, and ordinary people with the elderly and children.

Cao Cao was puzzled and quickly asked, "What happened? Why are you blocking our way?"

An elderly man, who was leading the group, stepped forward and said, "On behalf of the people of Xuzhou, we earnestly request that Minister Cao keep Governor Liu in Xuzhou and allow him to continue serving as the governor of Xuzhou."

"Ok?"

Cao Cao frowned immediately, looking at Liu Bei who was following behind him with displeasure.

These people, unaware that their proposal had already displeased Cao Cao, continued to talk incessantly, praising Liu Bei one after another.

"Lord Liu cherishes the people and never takes anything from them."

"He is a rare and wonderful person. He even took the initiative to open the granary to provide relief to the disaster victims."

"Even those who are passing through and fleeing are treated kindly by Prefect Liu. Minister Cao, you must ensure that Prefect Liu continues to stay in Xuzhou."

With so many people vying to plead for Liu Bei and speaking well of him, Cao Cao appeared kind on the surface, but inwardly he was furious.

What a remarkable Liu Bei! He has won the hearts of the people so deeply.

The more this is the case, the less we can keep him in Xuzhou. Cao Cao waved to everyone and comforted them, saying, "Lord Liu is benevolent and loves the people. The court will reward him according to his merits and make good use of him. The reason for letting him leave Xuzhou is that the court has more important arrangements. I thank you all on behalf of Lord Liu for the kindness of the people of Xuzhou."

Turning around, Cao Cao glanced at Liu Bei again.

Liu Bei smiled apologetically at him, as if to say, "These were all spontaneous actions by everyone, not something I instigated, and have nothing to do with me."

Cao Cao said nothing, nodded to Cao Ren, and urged the troops to leave quickly.

After the troops left Xuzhou, Cao Cao felt a headache whenever he thought of Liu Xie, Liu Bei, and Lü Bu, as none of them gave him any peace of mind.

Although Cao Cao had clearly defeated Lü Bu, he now felt that Lü Bu was not truly defeated.

Troublesome things keep happening one after another, and the number of people we need to be wary of is also increasing.

Cao Cao sighed. It seemed he would have to come up with a good plan once he returned to Xuchang.

…………

With Yuan Shao stationed in Hebei, his military might was unstoppable. After a fierce battle, his army successfully entered Youzhou, seized the initiative, and besieged Yijing.

Seeing that Gongsun Zan was about to collapse, Yuan Shao became increasingly smug.

On this day, when Guo Tu was on patrol, he captured a man and took him directly to Yuan Shao's camp.

The person who was arrested, with his head tilted to the side and neck stiffened, had an arrogant look on his face; it was Mi Heng.

"Hurry up, don't dawdle!"

Seeing that he was walking too slowly, the soldier gave Mi Heng a hard push.

Mi Heng turned around and glared at him fiercely. "I have often heard that the General is public-spirited and respectful to scholars. I am afraid he will disappoint me today. Humph, I am an envoy from Xudu. How dare you treat me so disrespectfully."

Guo Tu curled his lip and said disdainfully, "Don't spout nonsense. You were trying to sneak through my army's defense zone to get to Yijing, but unfortunately I captured you. You still dare to argue that you are an envoy sent by the emperor. How ridiculous."

Mi Heng snorted and ignored him.

Soon they arrived at Yuan Shao's central command tent. Upon seeing it, Mi Heng immediately frowned, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.

It is said that Yuan Shao was ambitious and loved to show off and save face. No matter what he did, he always emphasized pomp and circumstance.

As expected, Yuan Shao's central command tent was magnificent and uniquely designed.

The spacious tent was suspended on four sturdy poles. The red brocade fabric consisted of two layers, with exquisite floral and bird patterns outlined in gold and silver threads, making it extremely magnificent.

The tiger and eagle patterns are particularly eye-catching, with the tiger soaring into the sky and the eagle spreading its wings, lifelike and exuding a unique aura.

Inside the tent was a long, dark rosewood table, surrounded by fine brocade carpets. Yuan Shao's civil and military officials sat on either side, creating a solemn and respectful atmosphere. Yuan Shao, dressed in a striking red robe, sat arrogantly in the center. The central tent was also adorned with luxurious silks and inlaid with precious jewels.

The golden screen is painted with galloping horses, and you can almost hear the neighing of the warhorses.

Such a camp, inside and out, seemed to pursue the ultimate in luxury and grandeur in every corner. This was truly the first time in Mi Heng's life that he had encountered such a camp.

Upon seeing Yuan Shao, Mi Heng laughed disdainfully in front of everyone. Yuan Shao was taken aback and hurriedly asked, "Who goes there?"

Guo Tu said, "My lord, he must be a spy. When I captured him, he was about to sneak across our defense zone to Yijing."

"spy?"

Yuan Shao was somewhat angry and waved his hand impatiently, "Since he is a spy, why bother with all the nonsense? Just take him away and kill him."

Just as Guo Tu was about to take Mi Heng away, Mi Heng shouted, "General, it's too hasty to believe his one-sided story before even understanding the reason. I am unworthy, but I come from Xudu and am ordered by His Majesty to go to Yijing to see Gongsun Zan."

"Since you're going to see Gongsun Zan, and you still say you're not a spy, don't you know we're currently attacking Gongsun Zan?" Guo Tu said imposingly, staring directly at Mi Heng with an unfriendly expression.

Mi Heng sneered, "What a joke. Does going to see Gongsun Zan mean you're plotting something with him? Now that I've met the General, does that mean others can start spreading rumors that I'm having some kind of conspiracy with him?"

Guo Tu's face turned red and then pale as he was choked by him.

Yuan Shao, who was indecisive to begin with, asked out of curiosity, "Since you came from Xuchang, did Cao Cao send you?"

Mi Heng shook his head and said proudly, "I am acting on His Majesty's orders. In a sense, this trip is also to lend a helping hand to the General."

"Oh? His Majesty sent you to see Gongsun Zan to help me?" Yuan Shao leaned forward, his eyes widening considerably.

Mi Heng said, "General, Gongsun Zan forced Liu Yu, the governor of Youzhou, to his death. Liu Yu was a member of the Han imperial family, and His Majesty was furious. He specially ordered me to meet with Gongsun Zan so that he could receive His Majesty's reprimand before his death. Of course, His Majesty did not expect Gongsun Zan to willingly accept his punishment. However, from a moral standpoint, isn't His Majesty helping you, General? Gongsun Zan has caused havoc in the region and forced a member of the imperial family to his death. His crimes are grave. Your Majesty's expedition to punish him is naturally in accordance with the will of Heaven and the hearts of the people."

Yuan Shao was overjoyed upon hearing this, "If that can be done, Your Majesty will have given me a helping hand."

A sprightly middle-aged scholar stood up, looked directly at Mi Heng, and said, “Mi Heng, words are not enough. Since His Majesty has sent you to see Gongsun Zan, you must be carrying His Majesty’s personal letter. Why not take out the letter and let the General take a look?”

"Who are you?" Mi Heng asked curiously.

The middle-aged scholar nodded lightly, "I am Tian Feng from Ji Province!"

Tian Feng was eight feet tall, with thick eyebrows and big eyes. He wore a wide robe with long sleeves and had a sharp gaze and an extraordinary aura.

Whenever he appears in a crowd, whether they are enemies or friends, they will feel an invisible pressure.

Mi Heng smiled, then took the letter out of his pocket and waved it in front of everyone. "That's right, the letter is in my hand, but I wonder if anyone dares to open it and take a look?"

Who dares to open the emperor's letter?

But Yuan Shao sneered disdainfully, gave Guo Tu a wink, and Guo Tu snatched the letter away and walked straight toward Yuan Shao.

Mi Heng sighed, thinking to himself: Everything is exactly as His Majesty predicted. The world is truly going to the dogs.

Yuan Shao took the letter and was about to open it when he suddenly paused, coughed softly, and stuffed the letter back into Guo Tu's hand.

Guo Tu understood; this meant he was to open the letter first. It seemed Yuan Shao was still somewhat wary of the charge of treason.

Guo Tu opened the letter and handed it over again.

Yuan Shao read it carefully from top to bottom. After reading it, he clapped his hands and praised, "Your Majesty has excellent writing skills, and your scolding is well done."

Everyone was very curious, but Yuan Shao waved his hand and told Guo Tu to pass the letter around so that everyone could have the opportunity to appreciate the emperor's calligraphy.

First, there's the font—a unique regular script, with strong, powerful strokes, exuding a grand and imposing presence that is sure to catch the eye of anyone who sees it.

Right from the start, Liu Xie immediately began to berate:

Gongsun Zan, you have mistreated the people and brought disaster to Youzhou, yet you have done nothing to benefit the people within your borders.

He deserves to die, and his death is no pity!

Liu Yu was a member of the Han imperial family. He was always diligent in his duties, loved the people, and was benevolent and righteous. Everyone praised him, both within the country and beyond the borders. Yet you forced him to his death for no reason.

You invaded their territory, seized their troops, and took their lives. Even if you were torn to pieces, it would not be enough to quell the hatred in my heart.

After reading the letter, everyone's eyes widened. Tian Feng exclaimed, "His Majesty's words are truly sharp and merciless. Well written, well said."

Mi Heng angrily took back the letter. "I didn't lie to you, did I? Now, can I go see Gongsun Zan?"

Yuan Shao nodded. "I apologize for any neglect. I hope you will forgive me. I will send someone to take you there immediately."

Yuan Shao's attitude immediately underwent a complete 180-degree change, becoming much more polite.

Mi Heng sneered inwardly; his actions, initially deferential but later obsequious, were laughable.

After arriving in Yijing, Mi Heng was once again shocked when he saw the towering buildings that resembled a fortress, layer upon layer, surrounding the city.

Your Majesty is truly amazing; you actually foresaw that Gongsun Zan would hide in Yijing, and even specially built this high-rise building here.

Is this the Yijing Tower that His Majesty spoke of?
The entire building faces south and occupies a very large area, consisting of three parts: the outer city, the inner city, and the core area.

The outer city was surrounded by towering, thick, and sturdy walls.

The inner city contained Gongsun Zan's residence and military garrisons.

The core area is the main building of Yijing Tower, which is magnificent and stands in the center of the fortress, with the tallest building reaching over ten zhang (approximately 33 meters) in height.

Each tall building has several floors, and each floor has an arrow tower and a special beacon tower for early warning, so that the defending troops can observe the enemy situation and be ready to fight at any time.

Mi Heng revealed his identity and his journey had truly broadened his horizons.

Gongsun Zan originally did not intend to receive outsiders, but upon hearing that they came from Xudu, he reluctantly opened the passageway to the main building.

Upon entering the main building, a man initially led the way, but on the later floors, women took the lead. Near the top floor, a strong scent of perfume filled the air.

Mi Heng shook his head repeatedly, greatly disappointed, and walked up the steps to the top.

Gongsun Zan's family members were all present, along with many beautiful maids who served him in his daily life.

Gongsun Zan waved his hand, signaling the others to leave for the time being.

Looking at Mi Heng, he asked in confusion, "At this point, Xu Du has actually sent someone. Could it be that Cao Cao sent you to see me make a fool of myself?"

(End of this chapter)