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

Chapter 94, Construction of Lingyan Pavilion
Upon hearing of this, Cao Cao came over to comfort Cao Hong and said that once the thieves were caught, they would be severely punished!
But Runan was still waiting for the goods to be transferred, so Cao Hong had no choice but to reload the trucks and retransport them.

But wouldn't something go wrong if we re-transfer the goods?

Cao Hong never dreamed that he had been targeted by Cao Cao.

Once Cao Cao set his sights on Liu Xie, Liu Xie had to be as careful and cautious as Lin Daiyu when she first entered the Jia family mansion, but Cao Hong was completely unaware of it!
Cao Cao had been tolerating Cao Hong for a long time. If it weren't for their past relationship, Cao Cao would have confiscated all of Cao Hong's businesses long ago.

After all, he was a member of the Cao family. The words he uttered on the banks of the Bian River back then, "The world can do without Hong, but it cannot do without you," were always etched in Cao Cao's mind.

But Cao Cao was a man destined for great things, and he couldn't just let Cao Hong go unchecked indefinitely.

Let alone his own brothers, even his own flesh and blood, when it came to the pursuit of hegemony, Cao Cao was willing to sacrifice them!
…………

After Lu Kang's clansmen arrived in Xudu, Liu Xie put aside all his affairs and personally received and settled them in.

Upon meeting, Liu Xie took Lu Jun's hand and praised Lu Kang's achievements with great emotion.

"Lu Kang is a loyal minister of our Han Dynasty, and I only regret that I never had the chance to meet him. Rest assured, I am now ordering the construction of the Lingyan Pavilion. I will personally write a biography for a loyal minister and general like Lu Kang, so that his name of loyalty and righteousness can be spread throughout the world."

Lu Jun was extremely grateful and immediately knelt down to express his gratitude.

Liu Xie greeted each member of the Lu family one by one, while Lu Jun introduced them from the side.

After a while, Lu Jun brought a boy of about thirteen or fourteen years old to Liu Xie.

"Your Majesty, this is the eldest son of the family, Lu Yi!"

Lu Yi? Upon hearing this name, Liu Xie's eyes lit up.

It's him!

Many people may be unfamiliar with this name, and are more familiar with Lu Xun, who burned Yiling. However, Lu Xun's real name is Lu Yi!
Lu Yi was tall and slender with handsome features. His face was well-defined, and his bright eyes radiated a confidence and determination far beyond his years.

At such a young age, he experienced the devastating tragedy of his family's near annihilation, which greatly influenced his personality.

Lu Jun truthfully told Liu Xie that since the fall of Lujiang, the Lu family members had suffered from bullying and many had died of starvation and disease. The disasters brought to them by the war had left an indelible shadow in the hearts of every member of the Lu family.

Liu Xie stepped forward, patted Lu Yi on the shoulder, and said, "As a member of the Lu family, you must never forget the national hatred and the family feud. The national hatred is the disintegration of the world, with the feudal lords harboring their own ambitions and refusing to submit. The family feud is the blood feud that has stained the entire Lu family. I hope that one day, you can personally avenge the family feud and eliminate the national traitors for the sake of the Lu family!"

Perhaps it is cruel to plant the seeds of hatred in the heart of a somewhat naive young man! But Liu Xie did not regret it.

Because politics itself is full of bloodshed and killing!

Just like Deng Zhan, who is innocent, and Cheng Yu, who is also innocent, once politics is involved, let alone them, even if many more people are killed, it doesn't matter.

Xun Yu followed Cao Cao his whole life and made countless contributions, but he prevented Cao Cao from becoming the Duke of Wei. Therefore, Cao Cao eliminated him without hesitation. This is the ruthless nature of politics!
To reverse the unfavorable situation, Liu Xie needed to cultivate Lu Xun into a sharp sword loyal only to him!
Lu Xun nodded vigorously and replied, "Your Majesty, I have remembered."

Liu Xie looked him over and said, "The name Lu Yi is not good. From now on, you will be called Lu Xun. The more you have the ambition to avenge your family and eliminate the traitors, the more you should know how to be humble and low-key. Only those who know how to conceal their sharpness can achieve great things!"

Lu Jun reached out and pushed his son, "Your Majesty has bestowed a name upon you, why don't you kneel down and thank him?"

From the moment Lu Yi—or rather, Lu Xun—knelt down, his life trajectory was destined to be different from before.

At first glance, Lu Xun was only fourteen years old and still very young, so he couldn't be of much help for the time being.

However, the strength of the Liu family is destined to continue to change and increase with Liu Xie's unremitting efforts!
After Cheng Yu, Cao Hong from the Cao family also ended up on Cao Cao's blacklist!
…………

"My lord, Yang Biao has been summoned to the palace by His Majesty." Man Chong reported this early in the morning.

"Hmm?" Cao Cao immediately became alert.

The Yang family had held high office for four generations, enjoying great prestige. Yang Biao was also quite loyal to the Han Dynasty, and had been framed by Cao Cao. His sudden summons inevitably led Cao Cao to make some connections.

Is His Majesty planning to do something detrimental to himself? After all, their relationship is practically out in the open.

Cao Cao hurriedly changed into his court robes and rushed into the palace.

Liu Xie was receiving Yang Biao in his palace when Cao Cao suddenly arrived. Liu Xie was not surprised and greeted him with a smile, "Lord Cao, you've come at the right time. Please have a seat."

Zhang Yu presented Cao Cao with a brocade stool. After Cao Cao thanked him and sat down, he casually made up an excuse, "I heard that Your Majesty is going to build the Lingyan Pavilion. I came here specifically to see if Your Majesty has any instructions." Liu Xie nodded, "Lord Cao is very thoughtful. I have already entrusted this matter to Lord Xun."

Liu Xie then said to Yang Biao, "Lord Yang, Xudu is becoming more and more prosperous. I walk on the streets every day and see the changes happening here. I am quite gratified. However, I still see a lot of refugees. I would like to entrust this matter to you. You will be in charge of recruiting and settling refugees."

There was nothing to hide in these words; Cao Cao would naturally not object to having Yang Biao help settle the refugees.

In fact, Liu Xie and Cao Cao had the same goal: to make their territories better and better, and to make their strength stronger and stronger.

Just like a married couple living together, their only disagreement was about the household. Cao Cao wanted to be in charge, and Liu Xie also wanted to be in charge.

Yang Biao had been recuperating for several months and was worried about having nothing to do. Cheng Yu's death gave him great confidence. He believed that the emperor had his own plans and that all he had to do was cooperate well.

Cao Cao also expressed his opinion appropriately: "Resettling the refugees is a good thing that benefits the country and the people. Lord Yang is highly respected and compassionate. I have no objection to Your Majesty entrusting this matter to you."

Having wronged Yang Biao last time, sending him to prison and subjecting him to torture, Cao Cao also wanted to ease the tension between himself and Yang Biao.

Afterwards, they chatted about some trivial family matters, and Liu Xie even asked Zhang Yu to give Yang Biao a gift to his wife and children at home.

Sending gifts to his ministers was something Liu Xie was already quite adept at and used to!

Just like a leader occasionally giving employees a red envelope, some motivational speeches, or a boost of enthusiasm, it doesn't cost much, but the effect is amazing!
He rarely went to Cao Cao's house empty-handed.

After Yang Biao left, Liu Xie chatted with Cao Cao for a few more minutes and praised Cao Pi, saying, "Young Master Pi is very talented and has great perseverance in sword practice. Like father, like son, he will surely achieve great things in the future."

Cao Cao smiled and nodded. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Cao Cao took his leave.

As usual, Liu Xie practiced his sword for a while, and then went to Lingyan Pavilion. Construction on Lingyan Pavilion had already begun, and Xun Yu was in charge of it.

Xun Yu was a very conscientious person. After exchanging greetings, he said, "I have already given instructions to them to hurry up and finish the work. It should be completed after the New Year."

Liu Xie nodded with satisfaction, "Very good. No matter what it is, I am at ease as long as it is entrusted to Lord Xun. Once the Lingyan Pavilion is completed, Lord Xun will definitely have a place there."

"Your Majesty, why are you so determined to build the Lingyan Pavilion?" Xun Yu asked.

Moreover, the location where it was built was within the imperial city.

The Lingyan Pavilion is located right next to the Chengguang Hall, making it very conspicuous. Ministers would pass by it as they came and went.

Looking at Xun Yu, Liu Xie said with deep emotion, "The Han Dynasty has collapsed and the country is in dire straits. To put it bluntly, it's because there are too few people like Lord Xun. If everyone could be concerned about the country and loyal to the court, how wonderful that would be! The world wouldn't be in this state now."

Xun Yu blinked a few times, instinctively looking away, not daring to continue looking at Liu Xie.

Liu Xie continued, "I believe there are many people in the world who cherish the Han Dynasty, such as Cao Cao, Xun Yu, and Lu Kang, who risked his life to defend Lujiang last year, and many more. I will personally write down the deeds of these worthy individuals, create biographies for them, and have their portraits enshrined forever in the Lingyan Pavilion. In this way, I will inspire loyal and righteous men throughout the land to help me stabilize the realm and restore the Han Dynasty!"

Finally, Liu Xie patted Xun Yu firmly on the shoulder and said with a firm gaze, "I believe that the Han Dynasty will not perish!"

Xun Yu felt his blood boil, but he quickly forced himself to calm down.

He was not a three-year-old child after all; he could not simply pledge his loyalty and follow the emperor in a grand and ambitious campaign based on a few words from the emperor.

Liu Xie wanted to commend loyal and righteous people in order to attract more loyal and righteous people. Xun Yu naturally had no reason to object, but he could also see that this seemed to be somewhat disadvantageous to Cao Cao.

But what reason did Xun Yu have to stop him?
Surely we can't advise His Majesty that what he's doing is wrong? Should we tell the emperor that we should reward those who seize power and usurp the throne, and that the more chaotic the Han Dynasty is, the better, and that they should die sooner rather than later?

Why don't we have Liu Xie personally deliver a brocade banner to Yuan Shu? Tell him that rightly, he must usurp the throne, and whoever usurps the throne is the greatest good person.

Xun Yu's expression was complicated, and he felt quite conflicted.

It seems that every time he faces Liu Xie, his soul is put to a test!

The emperor wanted to revitalize the Han dynasty and recruit loyal and righteous men, but Xun Yu was helping Cao Cao to sideline the emperor. Ever since Liu Xie moved the capital to Xuchang, Xun Yu had felt uneasy from time to time.

He insisted on attending the morning court every day, partly because he was loyal to the Han Dynasty and did not want it to perish; and partly because Xun Yu hoped to do as much as he could to alleviate his guilt and unease.

(End of this chapter)