Wait, please don't call me Emperor Zhaolie

Chapter 201: The Former General of the Western Expedition of the Han Dynasty
"Greetings, Lord Xuande."

The Cao clan leader walked in front, and everyone bowed in unison.

Liu Bei handled all matters in an orderly manner, inspected all the camps, and appeased the hearts of the surrendered Yellow Turbans. After that, he took Lu Su out of the gate to welcome the nobles of Qiao County.

"I have seen you all."

Liu Bei also smiled, nodded and bowed.

Then, as everyone came forward to introduce themselves, Liu Bei looked at the many faces of the powerful people from Qiao County present.

He was amazed in his heart and thought: "Mengde, I really let you steal my home this time. It is rude not to return the favor. In the last life, you occupied my Zhuo County, and this life I will occupy your Qiao County. I want you, Cao Mengde, to have a taste of how difficult it is to rise up without the help of your own family."

Liu Bei greeted everyone with a smile, feeling an indescribable sense of pride in his heart, it was so cool.

Seeing Lord Xuande’s smiling face, Cao and Xiahou finally put their minds at ease.

The head of the Cao clan stepped forward, greeted him and said, "Thanks to Lord Xuande for lifting the siege of Qiao County, we are able to see the majesty of the Han army again. The clans of Qiao County are willing to bring cattle, sheep, cloth, fine silk, and fine wine to reward the army. Please do not refuse, Lord Xuande."

"Thank you very much for your kindness." After Liu Bei finished speaking, he glanced at the head of the Cao clan in front of him and said with a smile: "The world is in turmoil, and the people are yearning for peace. Everyone wants to pacify the storms in all directions as soon as possible. I heard that the Cao clan has talented people who are good at fighting. Why not recruit them to assist the Han Dynasty and follow me to lead the army to the north to drive out Yuan Shikai and restore the Han Dynasty, so as to repay the Cao clan for eating Han's salary for four hundred years."

The palms of the Cao clan leader were sweating, and he bowed anxiously and said, "I wonder who the Cao clan member Lord Xuande is talking about? If you value me, I will definitely write to you and serve you as a general to support the Han Dynasty even if I am thousands of miles away."

The head of the Xiahou clan also nodded in agreement.

Liu Bei couldn't help laughing. You said that. I didn't force you.

He then said, "I have heard Cao Zilian often sigh that Cao Zixiao is extremely brave, Cao Zihe is also brave and good at fighting, Xiahou Miaocai is invincible, Xiahou Yuanrang is honest and frugal, and Cao Zixiu is also known for his talent. Now that I have come to Qiao County, I will recruit them."

Cao and Xiahou were stunned after hearing this. They stuttered for a long time before gritting their teeth and said, "The five people Lord Xuande recruited are not in Qiao County. They are now in Yangzhou Jiangzuo, serving under Cao Mengde, the governor of Yangzhou. Zixiu is Mengde's eldest son and is now leading troops in the army. I'm afraid they can't leave for a moment."

"As for Cao Zixiao, Cao Zihe, and Xiahou Miaocai, the clan will write to them, asking them to return home as soon as possible and follow Lord Xuande."

The Cao clan leader wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and bowed in return.

The Dings, Xus, and Zhus as well as the officials and elders of Qiao County were all silent, and the gate suddenly became completely silent.

They saw that Lord Xuande was looking for trouble with the Cao and Xiahou families.

Even the Ding family, who were related by marriage to the two families, did not want to stand out and stood side by side with the two clan leaders like minions. Everyone took a half step back without leaving a trace, making the two people in front more conspicuous.

Liu Bei smiled and said, "Yangzhou Governor? I remember that only Governor Liu Yao was appointed by the emperor. I wonder where the Yangzhou Governor came from. Is there another imperial court in the world besides Guanzhong and Chang'an?"

"Mr. Cao is old and virtuous. Please give me some advice for the test."

"This this……"

The Cao clan leader's face turned pale instantly and he began to stammer.

After all, how should this be addressed?
How could it be possible that in Yangzhou there were both a governor and a provincial governor at the same time, and they were fighting each other? There must be some true and some false.

Even if there are two dynasties in the world, one of them will be rebellious.

Meng De's title of Yangzhou Mu was given to him by Yuan Shao of Jizhou who sent people to Huainan. Yuan Benchu ​​carved a seal in the north, and was known to everyone by Lord Xuande, and was labeled a traitor to the Han Dynasty. If he admitted that Cao followed Yuan's example, it would be a rebellious act. The Yuan family was far away in Runan County, while their clan was in Qiao County. The county town was also taken over by Liu Shijun's soldiers, and the Qingzhou cavalry was eyeing them. If he answered wrongly, I'm afraid that no child of Cao would be able to escape.

The Cao family was facing the first disaster of genocide in hundreds of years, and they did not expect it to be right before their eyes.

"Lord Xuande, this matter is beyond dispute, but Mengde's heart to support the Han Dynasty should be known to the world. Yuan Shao wanted to depose the emperor and establish his relative Liu Yu, but it was Cao Mengde who openly opposed it and did not go along with him."

"Cao's heart is devoted to serving the country, and the gods of heaven and earth can bear witness to this."

Zongzhang Cao's heart was beating wildly as he explained.

I was afraid that if I spoke slower, Cao would be gone.

Unexpectedly, Liu Bei suddenly laughed, held the head of the Cao clan steady, and comforted him, "I was just joking just now, don't be offended, Lord Cao. I certainly know Meng De's intentions. He wants to fight for the world and make meritorious deeds. He hopes to be granted the title of General of the Western Expedition, and then write on the tomb, 'Tomb of the Former General of the Western Expedition Cao Hou of the Han Dynasty'. The head of the clan can write a letter to Meng De, asking him to cultivate good farmland in Jiangdong. If he is appointed as the governor of Jinan, he can eliminate the tyrants and clean up the county officials, and make the rivers and seas peaceful. One day, he will have the opportunity to join the expedition thousands of miles away and seek a title of nobility. If he keeps his original intention and never changes, he will be more than a thousand households."

"To this day, I can still hear the people of Jinan praising Cao Mengde for his achievements in governing powerful county officials. I hope Mengde will always keep his promise and not let his heart change."

Liu Bei reminded with a chuckle.

It only takes a thought to decide whether to become a loyal Han minister or continue to be a Han traitor.

By the time he deploys his troops on the river bank, it will be too late to regret.

The soldiers wanted to destroy Jiangdong and gain merit, so they had no choice but to send Meng De to death.

"Cao and Xiahou Shi have received the kindness of the Han Dynasty. We should be loyal to them and swear to die rather than become their disciples. We are willing to follow Lord Xuande to punish the traitors, to avenge the pain of heaven and earth, and to avenge the chaos in the Han Dynasty."

Xiahou and Cao both bowed down and said in a sad voice.

Yuan Shao's power is far away, while Liu Bei is right at hand. Everyone knows what to choose.

"Gentlemen, please come into the tent and take your seats. We are in the military and hope you will forgive us for our poor hospitality."

Liu Bei knocked on the Cao and Xiahou clans, then looked up at the remaining clans and smiled warmly.

When the others heard this, they bowed and said, "Lord Xuande is busy with military strategy, but he still holds a banquet to entertain us. We are flattered. How dare we mind the inconvenience?"

Liu Bei then saw the burly man behind the crowd. Seeing that his face and neck were red with excitement, he asked, "Could it be Xu Zhongkang, the famous man in Yuzhou?"

"Xu Chu in white pays homage to Lord Xuande!"

Xu Chu was about to kneel down and pay respect to Liu Bei from a distance, but was interrupted: "Please stand up quickly, brave man. I have heard of your name a long time ago. Today, I am not happy to defeat the Yellow Turbans, but I am happy to have Zhongkang."

Liu Bei walked over quickly and helped him up.

Then he looked at Dian Wei, then at Xu Chu, and could not help but clapped his hands and laughed, "With Lord Dian and Lord Xu following him, Liu Xuande has nothing to fear even if he is surrounded by a million soldiers."

Liu Bei held Dian Wei with his left arm and held Xu Chu with his right hand, and was extremely happy.

When I find Chen Shuzhi from Runan to protect me, as long as I don't seek death, I won't be afraid of the powerful sending people to assassinate me.

(End of this chapter)