Wait, please don't call me Emperor Zhaolie

Chapter 231 Lu Bu: Everyone Speaks Nicely
On July 21st, the front hall of the Pingyuan Mansion in Qingzhou was bustling with people. Since Liu Bei left for the expedition to Luoyang, there had not been so many officials gathered in the Huangtang of the mansion for a long time.

The seats in the hall were filled with officials from various states and counties, including Xun Yu, Xun You, Xun Yan, Cui Yan, Lu Su and dozens of others, as well as Guo Jia, who had written several letters to ask to rush back to Pingyuan.

Besides, there were two people wearing military hats that looked a bit out of place, and one of them even felt very uncomfortable.

One was Zhang Liao, who had joined Liu Bei's army and had always been at the forefront of the charge since the Yellow Turban Rebellion in Runan. Sitting opposite him was Lü Fengxian, who had just brought his wife and daughter to pay a visit to Lord Xuande two days ago.

Lu Bu looked at everyone. Actually, he really wanted to talk to the people around him, but he didn't know how to start. Although Xuande's subordinates did not speak to him in a roundabout way like Yuan Shao's aides, he could vaguely sense their coldness towards him.

In comparison, Zhang Wenyuan was much more mature than him. He was always chatting and laughing with others, which made Lu Bu very envious.

Liu Bei, who was discussing matters with Xun You, happened to see Lü Bu's dejected look, so he clapped his hands and smiled, "Knowing yourself and your enemy will ensure victory in a hundred battles. Fengxian went to Yecheng in his early years to help Yuan Shao defeat Zhang Yan. I believe he has met many generals and captains of Yuan's army. Can you tell me more about them?"

Hearing Lord Xuande's question, Lu Bu's brows were suddenly filled with surprise, and he quickly placed the wine cup in his hand on the table in front of him.

He cupped his hands excitedly and said, "Your Excellency has asked, how dare I not answer. Under Yuan Shao's command, only Qu Yi of Liangzhou is the best at cavalry and infantry combat. Unfortunately, because he is from Liangzhou, he is often looked down upon by scholars. I once had a friendship with him, so I am a little familiar with him. If Lord Xuande wants to recruit this man, I am willing to write a letter to him to fight against the Yuan family and support the Han family."

Lu Bu started to talk nonstop, and then he added: "Although Wen Chou of Hebei is a cavalry general, he cannot control the cavalry as he pleases. He has courage and strategy but is just a mediocre man. In the battle of Henei, if I had hundreds more cavalry, I would have been able to capture and kill Wen Chou, separate his body and head, and present his head to Xuande's case."

Seeing the somewhat complacent Lü Bu, Liu Bei could not help but smile. He said to his subordinates with a chuckle, "Fengxian is full of heroic spirit, Guanyi is armed with a halberd and is the bravest of the three armies. How could the famous generals of Hebei be Fengxian's rival? People at that time said: Among men, there is Lü Bu, and among horses, there is Red Hare. It can be said that their reputation is well-deserved."

Xun Yu, Xun You, Guo Jia, and even Liu Ye who was transferred from Xia Pi in Xuzhou all nodded in agreement.

"General Lu and the prince restored order and hoped to revive the country. Although they failed, their feat is still worthy of praise."

Guo Jia stood up and bowed.

"You was planning to assassinate Dong Zhuo in Chang'an at that time, but unfortunately he was imprisoned by Dong Zhuo because he leaked the news. If it weren't for Wen Hou killing Dong Zhuo in time, Xun You would have died long ago."

Xun You sat upright facing Lu Bu, bowed and thanked him.

Lu Bu was grinning from ear to ear. It was still good here with Xuande. Unlike the scholars with Yuan Shao, all of them ignored him. These people always talked about the things that made him most proud.

That is, following the prince to kill Dong Zhuo who disturbed the Han Dynasty, and unexpectedly saving the Xun family. Lu Bu quickly bowed in return and said, "Gongda, why do you need to say this? I just killed the bandits, and I was able to save the talented Xun family. This is a blessing from heaven. How dare I take credit for it."

"Marquis Wen killed Dong Zhuo in Chang'an and saved the Han Dynasty from danger. Now he is following Lord Xuande to help the world. It is not too late to stop before it is too late. If he can pacify Hebei and make great contributions, his achievements will surely be recorded in history. A real man is inspired and has great ambitions."

Xun Yu also stroked his beard and praised with a smile.

When Lu Bu heard this, he waved his hands repeatedly and said he didn't deserve it, but he smiled so hard that the corners of his mouth were almost splitting to his ears.

It has been a long time since I heard scholars praise him like this. The last time he was praised like this was a few days after Dong Zhuo was beheaded in Chang'an. Although he was from a border county and was not despised by the Guandong gentry as much as Liangzhou, he was not much better off.

The warriors of the border counties dreamed of being looked up to by the nobles and nobles of the Central Plains. If they had a choice, many would rather move their household registration to Sili and become people from Guandong. Unfortunately, the court did not allow migration. After pacifying Lu Bu, Liu Bei continued to ask Xun You about the reconstruction of the Luoyang ancestral temple.

Xun You bowed and said, "The foundation has been re-rammed, and the craftsmen are processing the huge wood shipped from Jingzhou and firing the tiles."

Liu Bei smiled, remembering that Xun Gongda had specially written to him about the burning of roof tiles, asking whether to make them according to the four gods, Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermillion Bird, and Black Tortoise, or to make cloud-patterned Ruyi roof tiles, or to imitate the early Han Dynasty and write the inscriptions on the roof tiles as "In the third year of the Han Dynasty, the world was unified" or "The Chanyu descended from heaven."

Xun You implicitly reminded that after the persecutions of Emperors Huan and Ling, many aristocratic families had lost hope in Emperor Guangwu's lineage, especially Emperor Xiaoling, who sold official positions for goods, filled his house with money, sold official positions and put the money into his private treasury, retreated from the country to his family, and abandoned the Nine Cauldrons.

He also put Jinxian crowns and ribbons on dogs, completely destroying the prestige of the Han family, which had been the leader of Confucianism and the model for the world since the reigns of Emperors Ming and Zhang. The dignified Han family was transformed into the powerful Liu family.

It makes relatives sad and enemies happy, makes those with evil intentions secretly happy, and makes those who worry about the Han Dynasty lose their will and have no intention of reviving the Yan and Han dynasties.

Xun You advised Liu Bei to separate himself from Guangwu's lineage as soon as possible and simply use the style of the early Han Dynasty on the roof tiles to show the clear distinction between the two families.

Emperor Ling of Han, Liu Hong, could not bear the disaster of offending the people and scholars of the world. He dragged the dignity of the Han Dynasty to the ground and only cared about his own enjoyment. He even allowed officials to serve on credit and then make up the money after taking office.

He also mocked Emperor Huan for being inferior to him, unable to keep a householder, and having no private money. He was unfitted by the emperor, and his dignity was completely lost, so that he brought disaster upon his descendants. Yet, Dong Zhuo dared to depose the emperor and kill the empress.

Xun You was disheartened. The emperor was rich, but he still tried to find a way to turn the money in the national treasury into his own money. Emperor Xiaohuan could stick to the bottom line of being the emperor, but Emperor Xiaoling...

Liu Bei comforted him, but he understood in his heart why Liu Hong had such a different idea. That was because in his mind, family was more important than the world, not to mention that the throne was something he had picked up.

When he was a child, he and his mother, Empress Dowager Dong, had a difficult time because their family was short of money. When he grew up, he would definitely find ways to make up for the previous trauma.

Who made the powerful relatives and the gentry like to establish a young emperor so that they can control the court?

If he follows Huo Guang's example and establishes an adult emperor, we can see his character and he will not turn against the world.

All the powerful people involved should be held accountable for this; the truly innocent ones are the common people.

Liu Bei pondered in his heart.

Xun Yu was listening silently, thinking for a moment, and then he bowed and said, "Sir, half a year ago, the court sent the imperial steward Zhao Qi to deliver the imperial edict, conferring the title of Marquis of Ye and taking charge of Jizhou. In my humble opinion, you can accept the order."

"As long as you accept this order, you will be able to attack the Yuan family of Runan more fairly and justly, and make the bandits tremble in fear."

"Sir, this is inappropriate."

Unexpectedly, Xun You expressed his opposition on the spot, bowed to Xun Yu, then bowed to Liu Bei, and said.

(End of this chapter)