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

Chapter 134, The only heroes in the world are His Majesty and Cao Cao.

Liu Xie nodded. "Fengxiao is right. Yuan Shu is unpopular and lacks both talent and ambition. He has left Huainan in ruins, and there is widespread resentment. He is now nothing but a skeleton in a tomb, and he will surely die next year. The court will soon be able to take back Huainan!"

Many people now firmly believe in the predictions about Liu Xie, and besides, Yuan Shu's situation is indeed getting worse and worse.

"Sun Ce, the Little Conqueror, could he be considered a hero?"

Cao Cao seemed particularly interested in the topic of who was a hero. In response to Liu Bei's question, he once again let out a disdainful sneer, "Sun Ce relies on his father's name; he is not a hero!"

Cao Cao didn't even take Yuan Shao seriously, so how could he possibly take Sun Ce seriously?

Liu Bei then asked, "May I ask, Lord Cao, Liu Jing of Jingzhou is renowned for his virtue and has the title of 'Eight Steeds,' his prestige shaking the nine provinces. Can he be considered a hero?"

Cao Cao shook his head, "Liu Biao has a reputation but no substance; he is no hero!"

Having defeated Zhang Xiu and Lü Bu in succession, and having seized Guanzhong and Hedong, Cao Cao had become somewhat arrogant.

"Lord Cao, are Liu Zhang of Yizhou, Zhang Lu of Hanzhong, and Ma Teng of Xiliang considered heroes?"

At first, Liu Bei didn't want to show off, but seeing Cao Cao refute him one by one and display such confidence and boldness, Liu Bei became interested and began to ask questions actively.

Cao Cao stood with his hands behind his back, shaking his head repeatedly, "Such mediocre people are not worth mentioning. I can capture them in the blink of an eye!"

"In that case, Cao Cao, who do you think deserves to be called a hero?"

Cao Cao was about to blurt it out when his gaze fell on Liu Xie. Facing so many court officials, even if he was very confident, he dared not say his name.

Liu Xie then took over the conversation, saying, "In my opinion, when it comes to heroes of our time, only Cao Cao stands out!"

Cao Cao was stunned for a moment. Although he couldn't help but feel a little proud, he was also a little flustered to be praised by Liu Xie in front of so many people.

He hurriedly and modestly replied with a smile, "Your Majesty, I am unworthy of such praise. I am too kind."

Liu Xie shook his head. "Cao Cao is a genius with both literary and military talents, a rare talent that comes along only once in a century. He has the world in his heart, saved the Han Dynasty from peril, and supported the nation from the brink of collapse."

"The world is in turmoil, with warlords vying for power. Faced with such chaos, Cao Cao has remained fearless and single-handedly held up the Han Dynasty. Now, Nanyang, Xuzhou, Hedong, Henan, Guanzhong, Yuzhou, and Yanzhou are all under the control of the court. I have only been in Xuchang for three or four short years. If this continues, the world will surely be at peace soon. If Cao Cao is not a hero, then no one else deserves the title!"

Liu Xie's consistent approach to Cao Cao was to flatter him in any way he could to please him.

Behind "praise" is actually another word: "kill"!

Praise!

Praising Cao Cao so highly naturally attracted the jealousy of others. Liu Bei remained outwardly calm, but he was clearly resentful inside.

Lu Bu snorted, picked up the wine cup in front of him, drank it all in one gulp, looked at Cao Cao with icy eyes, and felt a surge of murderous intent rising within him.

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, standing behind Liu Bei, also looked at Cao Cao with unfriendly expressions and sharp eyes.

The smugness on the faces of Cao Ren, Cao Chun, Xiahou Yuan, and Xiahou Dun, all of Cao Cao's generals, was completely undisguised.

Cao Cao squinted and glanced at Liu Xie. He took a step forward and said loudly, "Your Majesty, in fact, among those who can be called heroes in the world today, if I were to reluctantly count myself as one, there is actually another one."

"Oh? I wonder which one Cao Gong is referring to?"

Cao Cao smiled and said, "This person is both far away and right before my eyes. It is none other than Your Majesty! Your Majesty is a master strategist and a proficient strategist. Even from a thousand miles away, you can make Gongsun Zan serve you with his life. You can also make bellows, horse stools, stretchers and other items with ease, as if you can turn stone into gold."

"Your Majesty's abilities are truly unfathomable. Heroes are like dragons in the sky. Dragons can be large or small, can rise or hide. When they are large, they can swallow clouds and spit out mist; when they are small, they can conceal their forms. Your Majesty is the true Son of Heaven, and you are the real hero. In my opinion, the only heroes in the world are Your Majesty and Cao Cao!"

Cao Cao's initial disdain for Liu Xie gradually turned into increasing attention to him.

If Liu Xie directly resists, Cao Cao will not take him seriously; if Liu Xie keeps backing down, Cao Cao will not pay much attention to him either.

However, Liu Xie was able to advance and retreat as needed, sometimes enduring and sometimes retaliating, displaying both gentleness and firmness, and concealing his true intentions.

Although he didn't do much and didn't challenge Cao Cao's authority, he had already quietly changed many things.

When Liu Xie first arrived in Xuchang, he had nothing by his side. Cao Cao took action and dismissed the Three Dukes, making all the Han officials useless decorations.

But what about now? Chen Wang, Lü Bu, Liu Bei, Zhao Yun, Yang Biao, Gan Ning—more and more people are siding with Liu Xie.

Even Gongsun Zan, who had never seen the emperor before, was willing to be driven by him. Now, Tian Yu has brought several hundred people to Xudu to seek refuge.

Liu Xie's circle of capable people grew larger and larger, and his power increased.

Cao Cao felt a deep unease, but the more uneasy he felt, the more he admired Liu Xie from the bottom of his heart.

A true tyrant knows how to appreciate and respect his opponents!
Cao Cao turned and glanced at Liu Bei. In fact, Liu Bei was worthy of Cao Cao's recognition to some extent, but compared to Liu Bei, Liu Xie clearly held a higher place in his heart!

Guo Jia, seizing the opportunity, laughed and said, "Your Majesty is the ruler of the world, so naturally you can be considered a hero."

Next, everyone began to drink. Lu Bu hesitated for a long time, drank a cup of wine to bolster his courage, and then came to Liu Bei's side.

Lu Bu blushed and said, "Brother Xuande, I was wrong to send troops against you before."

These words had been stuck in Lü Bu's heart for a long time. He was never good at hiding his feelings, and at this moment his expression was somewhat awkward.

Liu Bei looked at him in surprise, finding it hard to believe.

Lu Bu turned to look at Liu Xie and said, "Xuande, don't worry about it. His Majesty asked me to apologize to you."

Liu Bei nodded. "I see. Oh well, it's all in the past."

Lü Bu was straightforward by nature, and Liu Bei was genuinely surprised that he would take the initiative to apologize to him.

But this also made Liu Bei admire Liu Xie even more, because few people could make Lü Bu obey so willingly.

Chen Gong, who was standing next to Yang Biao and Ji Ping, was also incredulous at the sight. He had already heard that Lü Bu had been busy growing vegetables at home recently.

At first, Chen Gong found it ridiculous, but now he gradually understands Liu Xie's intentions.

What you do is not important; what matters is that this is Liu Xie's order.

Liu Xie wanted to train Lü Bu and make him obey his orders.

Liu Xie asked Lü Bu to grow vegetables, and Lü Bu did so without complaint. This shows that Lü Bu is qualified and can be used in the future, and can be of great use! Conversely, if Lü Bu only thinks about glory and only cares about immediate benefits, and is too lazy to do what Liu Xie asks, then Liu Xie has no need to care about him or give him important responsibilities.

For an emperor, the ability of those around him is not the most important thing; loyalty is paramount!

Since Lü Bu took the initiative to apologize, and it was Liu Xie's idea, Liu Bei was quite magnanimous. The two exchanged a few polite words, and the matter was thus dropped.

Kong Rong and Mi Heng sat together, in high spirits, drinking and chatting merrily.

They witnessed many miraculous things, and the power around Liu Xie was quietly growing stronger. Isn't this something to celebrate?
…………

On New Year's Eve in Wu County, Taishi Ci was celebrating the festival with his mother. The New Year's Eve dinner had just been prepared when there was a knock on the door.

"Who will it be at this time?"

Taishi Ci was quite puzzled that someone would come knocking on his door to visit him during the Chinese New Year.

Although Taishi Ci was a military man, he was quite learned and very polite. He quickly put down his bowl and chopsticks and went to open the door.

When the door opened, a wandering swordsman with a sword at his waist stood outside, and Taishi Ci felt that he looked somewhat familiar.

The man cupped his hands and smiled, "General of the Vanguard, it seems you have a bad memory. I am Liu Biao, and I come from Xuchang."

"So it was you. But how did you know I had become a General of the Vanguard?"

Taishi Ci recognized Liu Biao; the letters he had received earlier were all delivered by Liu Biao.

Liu Biao smiled and said, "His Majesty told me. I just arrived in Wu County. It's the New Year, so I came to deliver a letter and wish the General and the Old Madam a happy holiday."

One cannot hit a smiling face. Taishi Ci was somewhat moved that Liu Biao had come all the way from Xudu, so he quickly invited Liu Biao into the house.

Upon seeing the old lady, Liu Biao bowed and exchanged brief greetings before waving his hand. "General, you are now assisting Sun Ce. I have come from Xuchang and cannot stay any longer to avoid causing you any trouble. Farewell!"

"Why are you leaving so soon? You haven't even had a sip of water yet!"

The old lady hurriedly tried to persuade him to stay, and Taishi Ci also felt embarrassed.

Liu Biao shook his head. "I am but a humble wandering knight. I am already deeply honored to be able to do my bit for Your Majesty. It is no trouble at all. There is no need for you to stay."

Liu Biao declined the offer to stay and left quickly.

Taishi Ci was also a man of his word in his early years. He truly admired chivalrous people like Liu Biao, who would risk their lives to fulfill what they promised.

After seeing Liu Biao off, the old lady returned to the room and sighed, "Just by looking at this man's behavior, one can see His Majesty's character."

Taishi Ci also sighed. After opening the letter, he found it to be very brief. The first few words were greetings, and at the end, Liu Xie said, "I had already expected that Ziyi would follow Sun Ce. I only hope that after Sun Ce dies in half a year, Ziyi can come to Xuchang and follow me."

"what?"

Taishi Ci held the letter, completely stunned and speechless.

"What did His Majesty say? Why is my son so surprised?" the old lady asked anxiously.

Taishi Ci handed over the letter, “Mother, I have only been serving the lord for a year, but His Majesty says that the lord will die a violent death in six months.”

"Could His Majesty truly possess the ability to predict the future and be proficient in divination?"

He said he would join Sun Ce, and now it has come true. Taishi Ci and Sun Ce became friends after a fight, which can be considered a case of heroes appreciating heroes.

Sun Ce was young and forthright, with extraordinary martial prowess and great ambition. He successively defeated Liu Yao, Yan Baihu and others, sweeping across Jiangdong. His reputation was at its zenith, and he was known as the Little Conqueror of Jiangdong, with a formidable name.

Taishi Ci also saw in Sun Ce the hope of conquering the world.

However, this letter poured cold water on him. If what His Majesty said was true, then what hope was there?
Sun Ce only has six months left to live. No matter how powerful he is, what can he do?

The old lady looked at him and asked, "This is already the sixth letter His Majesty has sent. What are you thinking? If Sun Ce really dies young, will you still refuse His Majesty?"

Taishi Ci hesitated, repeatedly refusing the emperor's request, yet he received letters again and again. Taishi Ci had long since sensed the emperor's sincerity.

"His Majesty did not force you. The letter made it very clear that His Majesty would only let you make a new choice if Sun Ce were to die. This shows that His Majesty would not recruit you as long as Sun Ce is alive. He does not want you to do anything that would betray your lord."

Taishi Ci was also a man of great ambition. He didn't even think much of Kong Rong and Liu Yao. He only served Kong Rong out of gratitude for the fact that Kong Rong had taken care of his mother.

When Taishi Ci arrived at Liu Yao's place, he was only staying there temporarily because the two were from the same hometown.

Taishi Ci wanted to achieve great things and follow heroes who had the world in their hearts. It wasn't until he met Sun Ce that Taishi Ci felt he had finally met the wise ruler he had been waiting for.

Taishi Ci shook his head repeatedly and said, "Mother, the idea of ​​shortening someone's lifespan is truly inconceivable and unheard of. It's not that I want to question His Majesty, but it's simply hard to believe. My lord is young and handsome, with strong bones and muscles; he is definitely not someone who will die young!"

"What if it comes true? What should my son do then?"

Faced with his mother's question, Taishi Ci shook his head. "It's too early now. I've only been following my lord for a year. Let's talk about it later. My lord has treated me well. I really don't want to believe that he will die young."

…………

Time can feel slow or fast; the year-end has passed in the blink of an eye. Spring is here, and everything is brimming with vitality, both inside and outside Xuchang.

The vegetable gardens of Lü Bu and Liu Bei also sprouted buds and began to grow vigorously, much to everyone's delight.

The news of Liu Xie's discussion of heroes across the land on New Year's Eve, fueled by those with ulterior motives, quickly spread throughout Xuchang and the rest of the Han Dynasty.

Yuan Shao lay in bed for two whole months before he was finally able to get out of bed.

When Guo Tu told Yuan Shao what had happened in Xuchang, Yuan Shao was furious and said through gritted teeth, "Cao Cao, Cao Mengde, how dare he look down on me like this! He is despicable, utterly despicable!"

The thought that Cao Cao, who used to follow him around and obey his every command, now looked down on him and even dared to say that he was not a hero of the time, infuriated Yuan Shao!
Seeing that Yuan Shao was angry, Guo Tu not only did not try to persuade him, but also added fuel to the fire, saying, "My lord, Cao Cao doesn't respect you at all. He is too arrogant. He thinks that he can command the world just because he has the emperor in his hands."

"Now that our lord controls four provinces, with well-trained troops and ample supplies, his strength far surpasses that of Cao Cao. Cao Cao can only rely on words. If the two armies were to truly clash, our lord would surely kill him and send him fleeing in disarray. Cao Cao could be wiped out with a flick of his finger."

Yuan Shao gritted his teeth and said, "That's right, I'll definitely teach him a lesson!"

(End of this chapter)