The Three Great Han Dynasties: Awaken Liu Bei with a scolding; you weave mats and sell sandals.

Cao Ren clicked his tongue in admiration, his tone full of envy: "Sure enough, following the General, all of us young men can make a fortune. No wonder the Cheng and Zhao families of Youbeiping County have developed so rapidly over the years, each becoming a prominent clan in Yizhou."

"The tens of millions of taels of silver each year, or even more, are probably enough to make them all incredibly wealthy."

"It's truly enviable. But in the future, we'll also have a share. It's truly wonderful."

Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan looked at each other and laughed heartily, their laughter filled with anticipation for the future.

Cao Cao chuckled twice, but for some reason, his heart was filled with complex emotions, as if he had missed something.

He frowned and pondered for a long time, but he still couldn't grasp that elusive idea.

Gradually, he could only leave it behind and, together with Xiahou Yuan and Cao Ren beside him, talked about the strange and wonderful stories in Luoyang.

On the other hand, inside Cai Yong's residence, the atmosphere was completely different—cold and desolate.

"Lord Cai, Lu Zhi has come to pay a visit."

As the gatekeeper's voice faded, Cai Yong, holding a scroll of scriptures, slowly walked out of the study.

He looked up at the person standing in the courtyard, but did not look at him directly, his expression showing a hint of aloofness.

Although Lu Zhi's previous actions had won him the favor of the common people, he had not achieved any merit. Instead, he was demoted for speaking out against the emperor. In a world where the military held more power than the aristocracy, such "integrity" did not bring Lu Zhi much practical help.

This has resulted in Lu Zhi, a renowned Confucian scholar from Youzhou, being extremely ostracized within the entire Youzhou faction.

A once renowned scholar from Youzhou has now fallen into a state of being unloved by his parents, as if he were an adopted child.

If it weren't for his somewhat superficial connection with the Liu family of Youzhou in his early years, it's uncertain whether he could continue to stay in the imperial city of Luoyang.

The saying "when a wall falls, everyone pushes it down" perfectly describes this situation.

"How dare you, a esteemed scholar, grace my humble abode with your presence today?"

Cai Yong put down the scriptures in his hand, a faint, cold smile on his face, and said in a flat tone, "Otherwise, what else could you possibly need that would require the help of a mere Grand Councilor like myself?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhi bowed deeply without saying a word.

This bow truly terrified Cai Yong.

He quickly took two steps back, glaring at Lu Zhi with a look that seemed to want to devour him whole.

He was well aware that although he was currently close to Liu Hong, he was still ultimately a member of the gentry.

If word gets out about Lu Zhi's bow, it might be misinterpreted in many ways.

Moreover, although Lu Zhi is currently experiencing some setbacks in his official career, his reputation as a great Confucian scholar and his prestige within the military are undeniable.

If Lu Zhi had the audacity to declare, "I am the teacher of the Liu family of Youzhou," at least within the gentry, and even in the hearts of the people, they would have had to accept it.

Even if someone were to call out "Liu Xuande's student" in public, Liu Xuande would still have to acknowledge it.

after all.

He did indeed study under Lu Zhi for a period of time in his early years; this is a fact that cannot be altered in the slightest.

"Lu Zigan".

Cai Yong lowered his voice, his tone tinged with urgency, "You, a dignified General of the Central Army, must not slander and frame others for no reason."

As if traumatized, he jumped up and hurriedly dodged, waving his hands repeatedly to indicate that he did not accept Lu Zhi's deep bow.

Cai Yong was in such a panicked state.

Seeing this, Lu Zhi felt even more helpless.

He gave a bitter laugh, straightened up, and said in a voice tinged with bitterness, "Could it be that even Lord Cai doesn't believe me?"

"It's not a matter of belief or not; it's that you actually did it."

Cai Yong sighed, his tone softening slightly, "If you succeed, you will be famous and have the whole world at your side."

But who told you to lose?

He looked at Lu Zhi and spoke slowly, each word tinged with a touch of reality: "Those worldly people have always been like this. If you win, everything will be wonderful, but if you lose and end up like this, who are you going to blame?"

Cai Yong continued, but compared to just now...

He was able to understand Lu Zhi's feelings at the moment, so he offered some kind words of advice.

after all.

The suffering he endured during those years of wandering in foreign lands is something that can easily be remembered for a lifetime.

Lu Zhi was aware of these things, but he was still unwilling to accept it.

"Instead of begging me, you might as well beg Liu Hong."

Cai Yong looked at him and said bluntly, "Liu Ziguang's abilities far surpass mine as a mere Imperial Advisor. Otherwise, there would be Zheng Xuan or Cui Yan to put in a good word for you, at least you would still have a place in Luoyang."

He paused, then added, "After all, you have a good reputation among the aristocratic families; it's just that His Majesty dislikes you."

Cai Yong slowly opened his mouth. It must be said that he spoke of other people's affairs with great ease. He simply touched his upper lip to his lower lip and said it.

After an unknown amount of time, Lu Zhi sighed deeply and then left Cai Yong's residence. Instead, he wandered aimlessly through the streets and alleys of Luoyang for a long time.

As the sun set, the afterglow cast a long shadow over him.

He then left on his own.

They learned both literary and martial arts, and then sold themselves to the emperor.

But the emperor despised him. All of Lu Zhi's learning and reputation as a great Confucian scholar were of little use except within the aristocratic class; otherwise, they were truly useless.

After all, no matter how good or wonderful the world may be, there is absolutely no way it could recruit him to serve as an official in the imperial court.

In the past, it would have been fine if the aristocratic families had suppressed military power, but now the military power has suppressed the court.

Regardless of whether it's due to the power of Liu Hong's clan in Youzhou, at least if they want to keep the Liu clan in Youzhou, the clan is definitely standing behind Liu Hong right now.

This point, however, is unlikely to change.

Liu Hong was unwilling to bear the reputation of a traitor for no reason.

He has an inherent sense of righteousness and would never give up his inherent advantages.

It was on the very day Lu Zhi left.

At the city gates of Luoyang, however, there was a constant flow of carriages and people.

Countless ambitious people have come to Luoyang again.

The original site of the West Garden where official positions were sold has now been completely abolished by the Zhaoxian Pavilion.

Similarly, it was also done in the name of the emperor, but almost all of the virtuous officials recruited chose to become disciples of General Liu Hong, then study in the imperial private school, and then enter the court as officials through the recommendation of filial piety and incorruptibility.

After all, only such a path could be considered orthodox in the current Han Dynasty, and only such a path could be accepted by the aristocratic families who had reformed their old ways, and only such a path could have a real future.

As for Liu Hong's private school in Youzhou, although it is still being run in the present-day imperial city of Luoyang, it is clearly no longer the private school of the Liu family in Youzhou, but the private school of the imperial family.

It had already acquired the characteristics of an official court, further deepening the integration of the Liu family of Youzhou with this court, to the point that they were practically inseparable.