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

After watching Bo Cai leave, Liu Hong sat on a square chair and pondered quietly.

"It's almost been another year since the Yellow Turban Rebellion."

Although Bo Cai is good, there are still too few people who can command troops.

Although if the incident were to occur, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and even Xu Shu could each lead an army of the mere Yellow Turban rebels, their numbers would certainly be limited.

They were newcomers with little experience, and since they weren't experts in commanding troops, Liu Hong was still somewhat uneasy about them.

These are all part of the Liu family's wealth; the fewer the casualties, the greater the snowballing advantage they will accumulate in the future.

Based on his military achievements during the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Liu Hong was confident that he could rise to become one of the top aristocratic families in the Han Dynasty, after all, he was a member of the Han imperial family.

If he could shoulder the responsibility of governing the country, the Yellow Turban Rebellion and the lifting of the Party Prohibitions would be easily resolved.

Emperor Liu Hong of Luoyang will surely support him. As long as the Liu family of Zhuojun can withstand the attack from most of the gentry in the country, the Liu family will surely become an important part of the court.

It is likely that the imperial power will support a member of the imperial clan to ascend to the throne, thereby counterbalancing the powerful clans and consolidating the Liu family's imperial power once again.

These are all things that Liu Hong can foresee in the future.

"Brother Cui, you've come to see your disciple again?"

Suddenly, a figure that Liu Hong had been eagerly anticipating appeared on the training ground.

Seeing his enthusiasm, Cui Yan turned and prepared to leave.

I remember the last time Liu Hong was this enthusiastic.

He was tricked into temporarily becoming a teacher at the Liu family's private school, where he stayed for a full eight years.

Currently, even a portion of the resources of the Cui family of Qinghe are tightly bound to the Liu family.

It is fortunate that Liu Hong is indeed capable, and in eight years he has developed the Liu family to its current state. In particular, the underlying strength of the family seems to be comparable to that of the entire Cui family of Qinghe, which speaks volumes.

"Brother Cui, where are you going? I'm free anyway, would you like to come along?"

Liu Hong chased after him, asking questions repeatedly.

Helpless, Cui Yan could only stop and quietly watch Liu Hong.

"Lord Liu".

Cui Yan took a deep breath and decided to be frank with him, "If you have something to say, just say it. I'll do my best to help if I can."

"Brother Cui is indeed a man of few words; I was right about you. Our friendship is truly a blessing."

Amidst Liu Hong's hearty laughter, the topic abruptly changed under Cui Yan's helpless gaze, and he immediately revealed his thoughts: "Bo Cai alone is not enough to command troops."

"The Liu family currently has three thousand private soldiers on the surface, but in reality, the number is probably close to five thousand. If we also include the manpower in Zhuo County and the servants in their residences, they could probably gather eight thousand men."

"With Bo Cai's abilities, it will be no difficult task for him to command eight thousand men in the future."

Cui Yan pressed for details of the deduction.

Liu Hong avoided answering, only smiling slightly.

Cui Yan could only continue, spreading his hands: "I don't have any suitable candidates here."

"Brother Cui, don't try to fool me. How could the prestigious Cui family of Qinghe not even have one or two talented individuals?"

Liu Hong immediately retorted.

"hehe."

Cui Yan gave a dry laugh, "After all, Lord Liu still doesn't understand the ways of the aristocratic class."

"The aristocratic families were closely connected and cooperated with each other. If any family had a talented person, even if they came from a humble background, they would be reserved for them early on. Talented people were always in demand, and each family would send money and people to curry favor with them as soon as they showed any talent."

"Didn't Lord Liu do the same thing?"

"Well……"

Liu Hong admitted it.

He was persuaded by Cui Yan in front of him; the behavior of the aristocratic class was truly despicable.

"I believe Brother Cui will surely have a solution."

Liu Hong immediately resorted to shameless tactics.

Cui Yan rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache coming on.

What should one do if they encounter such a ruler?

Left with no other option, Cui Yan could only reply, "If it were three days ago, there certainly wouldn't be one, but now there might actually be one."

"Who is it?"

Liu Hong pressed for more information.

"Far away, yet right before my eyes."

Cui Yan slowly said, "Just yesterday, the great Confucian scholar Cai Yong, who had been in exile for many years, arrived in Youzhou. Such a great Confucian scholar has countless students. Even if one is down on one's luck, if one asks him for a recommendation, one will surely find a talented person."

"Just like Xuande in the past, wasn't he also a student of Lord Lu? Even Gongsun Zan, the son-in-law of the Prefect of Zhuojun, was one of his students."

At this moment, Cui Yan's recommendation reminded Liu Hong of the historical scene where Mr. Shui Jing recommended Zhuge Liang. How similar they were! It seems that this kind of behavior among the gentry has long been a customary practice.

……

Five days later, the great Confucian scholar Cai Yong arrived in Zhuojun.

Liu Hong initially thought it was a stroke of good fortune, but after learning more, he discovered that Liu Zongran had led his followers to rescue Cai Yong, who was in trouble, on his way back to the city.

In this way, subsequent contacts will naturally be much more effective.

However, when visiting a great Confucian scholar, one must ultimately follow worldly customs and first present a visiting card.

A region in Zhuojun.

The newly hung "Cai Mansion" plaque looks sincere, but the mansion behind it is a bit small.

Cai Yong was in exile in various places. Although he had some money, he didn't have much left, and he didn't live a very comfortable life.

Fortunately, he was renowned and had a vast collection of priceless treasures, such as his books. He could easily exchange just a few of them for countless riches, so he was not exactly short of money.

For example, when Cai Wenji got married in the future, the reason why the Wei family of Hedong was willing to marry her was mainly due to the dowry of a cart full of books given by Cai Yong.

After all, Cai Yong at that time was no longer as destitute as he is today, but had already become a renowned figure.

However, Cai Wenji was over twenty years old and still unmarried. She was already a young woman with the demeanor of Cao Cao. It was rumored that although her dowry was generous, few people dared to propose to her.

Especially in the secular world, it is as difficult as ascending to heaven.

As for marrying down, that would be an insult to the family's reputation, and the Cai family would never accept such a disgrace.

"A visiting card from Lord Liu?"

Inside the Cai residence, Cai Yong picked up the newly delivered invitation, slightly opened it, and couldn't help but look astonished upon seeing its contents.

He truly never expected that the Han imperial relative he had met a few times a few years ago would have grown to such an extent today. Not only does he have the support of many powerful forces and become a powerful figure in Zhuojun, but his reputation is known throughout the entire Zhuojun, and his name of benevolence and righteousness is widely spread throughout the counties of Youzhou.

Cai Yong, who was constantly in exile in the south, had no way of knowing about these things.

After a moment's thought, Cai Yong's face showed a hint of regret, and he murmured, "How wonderful it would be if this man hadn't married? Although he is a member of the declining Han imperial family, he would still be a good match for the Cai family's reputation."

"father."

Cai Yan was immediately embarrassed and annoyed, and scolded him.

Cai Yong sighed softly, "Alas, Wenji, when will you be able to get married? Today we wait for tomorrow, and tomorrow and tomorrow, how many tomorrows there are!"

At this moment, he undoubtedly embodies the image of a loving father eager for his daughter to get married.

One word.

I'm really... worried~