A thousand-year-old family begins with one fighting against ten thousand.

Liu Bei was also impressed by Zhang Jiao's magnanimity, but Zhang Jiao did not extend an invitation.

Liu Bei and Cao Cao were different. Even though Cao Cao was from an official family, he was still surnamed Cao, while Liu Bei was surnamed Liu. This was the biggest difference between the two.

The two are destined to become enemies.

How could the Liu family produce such outstanding descendants? Could it be that Heaven has not decreed their demise?

If that's really the case, then I, Zhang Jiao, will also defy the heavens.

My fate is in my own hands, not in the heavens. The heavens are dead; the yellow heavens shall rise!

After his conversation with Zhang Jiao, Liu Bei realized his lack of knowledge and decided to end his travels and return to Zhuojun. He heard from his friend Jian Yong that Lu Zhi, a great Confucian scholar, was going to lecture there.

Perhaps he should study under Master Lu for a while to enrich himself.

……

After returning to Chang'an, Cao Cao studied the books left to him by Zhang Jiao day and night, and the more he read, the more he felt the darkness of the Han Dynasty.

On this day, his mansion, which had never been visited since his break with the Yuan brothers, Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, was knocked on the door.

Cao Cao was moved by this, so he went to open the gate himself, a genuine smile on his face.

"Bo Jing, what brings you to Chang'an?"

Wei Xue and Cao Cao gave each other a bear hug, and Cao Cao grabbed Wei Xue's hand and led him into the main hall.

"Sit down, please sit down."

He couldn't wait to vent to his friend.

"Every year at this time, His Majesty invites Father to Chang'an to examine His Majesty's health. I heard that you, Mengde, were summoned by the court, so I came with Father."

"How's it going? Are you enjoying being a councilor?"

Cao Cao gave a wry smile. "What use is this Consultant?!"

"Bo Jing, you are unaware of something."

Cao Cao poured Wei Xue a cup of tea, and then poured himself a cup of wine.

"Not long ago, I merely spoke a few good words for the former General Dou Wu and praised the political clarity of the time, and His Majesty disliked me and did not summon me for several days."

"Afterwards, I submitted another memorial requesting tax reductions for the people in those disaster-stricken areas, but this was also rejected."

"The Imperial Advisors belong to the Gentlemen of the Palace and are mainly responsible for advising His Majesty and assisting in governance."

"I once reported all the malpractices in the court to Your Majesty, but all I received in return was a rebuke from Your Majesty."

"You say I'm just a lowly courtier with a salary of 600 koku, how could I possibly know anything about state affairs, let alone be qualified to give advice on politics?"

"Although I, Cao Cao, am also a descendant of eunuchs, I am indeed dissatisfied with eunuchs."

"But nowadays, the eunuchs are a big deal. Even the Grand Commandant and the Minister of Works have to act according to the eunuchs' wishes."

"The sons of eunuchs were corrupt and took bribes. Even the Grand Commandant and the Minister of Works, who were the Three Dukes, dared not investigate. They only arrested a few innocent and honest officials to take the blame for those lackeys."

"I have already secretly gathered evidence a few days ago and presented it to His Majesty."

"His Majesty reprimanded the Grand Commandant and the Minister of Works, but did not reprimand the eunuchs at all, nor did the corrupt officials receive any punishment."

"Having offended the eunuchs, the Grand Commandant, and the Minister of Works at the same time, even with the protection of my grandfather's legacy, I estimate that I won't be able to hold this position of Yilang for long."

After saying that, Cao Cao picked up the wine jar and gulped it down his throat, his eyes slightly red.

"The government has become so corrupt! So utterly corrupt!"

"Bo Jing, I wonder if your Wei family has any intention of returning to service? I, Cao Mengde, am willing to serve as your loyal servant."

Cao Cao's eyes were gleaming. He believed that if the Wei family could fully emerge from seclusion, they would surely be able to sweep away the corrupt officials and restore order to the world.

"Mengde, that's impossible."

Wei Xue shook his head; he knew about the family's plans.

"The Wei family must maintain its neutral position; only in this way can the Wei family protect the people for generations to come."

"If the Wei family were to rise to power again, the current government might be more efficient and clean. However, in the foreseeable future, the Wei family's power would be attacked from all sides and its forces would be divided and disintegrated."

"When the Wei family falls, the people will have no protection and will live in purgatory."

Cao Cao slumped into his chair, knowing that without the Wei family, the people of the world would be suffering ten times, a hundred times, or even more than they were now.

Those officials still have a chance to survive now, but once the Wei family is gone, they will have no scruples.

And those former officials and protégés of the Wei family, the people in the areas they governed were relatively well-off.

Even with constant disasters and an overpopulation, they were still able to survive.

You can't drink poison to quench your thirst!

"Mengde, there's actually another reason why the family made this decision."

"Because every generation of the Wei family believes that no matter how dark the world is, there will always be a bright candle willing to light the way forward for people."

Wei Xue looked at Cao Cao and said, "I think you are the one."

"I?"

Cao Cao pointed at himself and said, "Bo Jing, stop joking."

"My Cao family has only risen to prominence in the last few generations. Even the Xiahou family, descendants of founding heroes, has long since declined and hasn't even managed to become a fiefdom."

"Although I, Cao Cao, consider myself to have some talent, heroes of the world are as numerous as carp crossing a river; who am I, Cao Cao, to even begin to compare?!"

"Putting everything else aside, a large number of people in the court look down on me, Cao Mengde, and sometimes I even start to look down on myself."

"It was Wei Bojing, the Wei scholar, who made me, Cao Cao, no longer feel inferior and allowed me, Cao Cao, to respect myself."

"But I, Cao Mengde, cannot illuminate this world!"

Wei Xue looked at Cao Cao gently and teased, "Tsk tsk, when you were peeping at the widow bathing, you didn't seem to have the slightest bit of dejection."

"Your eyes light up and you become incredibly energetic whenever you mention married women."

"When it comes to matters of great importance, can't you have the same tenacity you have for married women?!"

Wei Xue's words made Cao Cao blush, but Cao Cao was already dark-skinned and had drunk quite a bit of wine, so Wei Xue couldn't tell the difference.

"Ahem, I was just appreciating it, liking beauty."

"I understand, I understand."

Wei Xue raised his eyebrows and chuckled strangely.

"Shun rose from the fields, Fu Yue was raised from among the builders, Jiao Ge was raised from among the fish and salt merchants, Guan Zhong was raised from among the scholars, Sun Shu'ao was raised from the sea, and Baili Xi was raised from the marketplace."

"Compared to them, Mengde, your starting point is far superior."

"Mengde, you say that heroes of the world are as numerous as carp crossing a river. Today, let's discuss heroes over plum wine, shall we?"

"I am ignorant and do not know the heroes of the world. Please enlighten me, Brother Bojing."

Cao Cao perked up and started talking about married women and heroes, which banished his sleepiness.

"Mengde, you have traveled far and wide, held high positions in the imperial court, and lived in the remote countryside. You have met countless people."

"Tell me, who is the true hero of our time?"

Wei Xue countered with a question.