Liu Bian at the start, so you're called Dong Zhuo, right?

The next day, before dawn, someone came to report from outside the East Palace gate.

"Your Highness, the Grand Minister of Agriculture, Cao Cao, has sent word that his son, Cao Cao, has come to pay his respects."

Liu Bian paused slightly in the bamboo slips in his hand.

coming.

He appeared calm on the surface, occasionally revealing the panic one would expect from an eight-year-old. But inside, a surge of emotion welled up in his chest, almost overwhelming him.

No matter how much is written in history books, it's just words.

Now, that generation of powerful figures is standing before him, bowing, speaking, and raising their eyes—this is a completely different kind of shock.

"Announce." Liu Bian's voice was very steady, so steady that even he was surprised.

The palace gates opened.

One person entered.

He wasn't particularly tall, but he was very upright; his clothes were neat and his steps were neither hurried nor slow, as if every step he took was in accordance with the rules, yet he also carried a sharp edge that refused to be bound by them.

He bowed and said:

"Your subject, Cao Cao, a court advisor, pays his respects to Her Majesty the Empress and His Highness the Crown Prince."

Liu Bian looked at Cao Cao and suddenly understood why historical records often described him as having divine wisdom and brilliant talent.

His appearance was indeed below average, and he was even rather short with a compact frame. However, his aura was striking.

Those eyes were the most peculiar: narrow and small, yet when you looked into them, it was as if a knife was hidden within, capable of piercing the heart and lungs. His entire aura was like a bow drawn to its fullest extent, poised to be released.

When it does not move, it is so; when it does, it is astonishing.

Liu Bian's heart gradually stirred with excitement, but he forcefully suppressed it.

He suddenly remembered what Xun Yu had said to him yesterday:

"Your Highness, Cao Mengde is a man of courage and strategy; he is both useful and formidable."

"He was resolute and disliked being controlled. He was good at observing people's hearts and was most adept at leveraging power. In his early years, he served as the Northern Commandant of Luoyang, where he set up a five-colored staff without fear of powerful relatives. He was not a coward who feared death; on the contrary, he feared being 'nameless and without status'."

"If you want to use him, you must first test him in three ways: First, test who he respects; second, test what he fears; and third, test what he seeks."

"Heroes are rarely willing to be dogs. If you want him to protect you, you must give him the title of 'capable of protecting,' and let him know that the title is bestowed by His Highness, and that his life and death are also decided by His Highness."

Liu Bian slowly exhaled.

Like a child, he deliberately put on an air of authority and began to speak:

"Mengde".

Cao Cao raised his eyes: "Your subject is here."

"When you were the Commandant of the Northern Army, you established a system of five-colored rods, and those who violated the law were punished regardless of rank or status. Whom did you respect back then?"

The hall fell silent.

Xun Yu looked up and glanced at Cao Cao. He had to personally examine the people Liu Bian wanted to use.

Cao Cao remained completely calm, lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then cupped his hands and said:

"Your subject respects the laws and regulations."

"When the law is in place, even nobles and relatives will know to be fearful; when nobles and relatives are fearful, the common people will know that the court still has justice."

He paused after he finished speaking, as if deliberately adding something less pleasant:

"I dare not say that I respect people, but I dare to say that I respect things that can help people stand up."

Liu Bian's heart skipped a beat.

Just as Xun Yu had said—he disliked empty formalities and got straight to the point about "things that could be done."

Xun Yu remained noncommittal; this answer was exactly what he had expected.

"Then what are you afraid of?"

Liu Bian continued with a second probing.

Cao Cao remained silent for an even longer time this time. He knew that Liu Bian was testing him, and he was actually a little worried that he would answer incorrectly, and he was also afraid that he would go against his own conscience.

After thinking for a moment, he spoke:

"I fear I will have nowhere to go."

"When soldiers are disoriented, officials are at a loss, the world is without order and discipline, laws are not enforced, and people's hearts are adrift—that is true chaos."

Xun Yu lowered his eyes slightly, and his lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

It's alright.

Liu Bian understood even more now.

Cao Cao was neither afraid of powerful figures nor afraid of death.

What he feared was "disorder," what he feared was "the world in chaos."

These kinds of people will come if they believe you can set rules, and set good rules; they will leave if they believe you cannot set rules, and may even set their own set of rules.

Then, Liu Bian asked casually:

"You came to the Eastern Palace today, was it at your father's behest, or was it your own wish? What do you seek? What can I offer you?"

Cao Cao raised his eyes and looked at the Crown Prince.

In that instant, the fire in his eyes shone even brighter, as if he were weighing the weight of the eight-year-old child in front of him.

After a moment, he cupped his hands and answered crisply:

"Father's command is the door, one's own will is the road."

"What I seek is not wealth and status."

"Your Majesty, I request a place where laws and regulations can be enforced and discipline established. If Your Majesty can establish such a place, I am willing to serve as your clerk."

Liu Bian felt a slight tremor in his heart.

The word "wielding the baton" immediately brought him back to the five-colored baton of the Northern Commandant of Luoyang.

The line, "Anyone who violates the law, regardless of whether they are powerful or wealthy, will be beaten to death," is deeply etched in my memory.

Liu Bian raised his hand, gesturing for Cao Cao to rise. His tone remained gentle, but carried an unquestionable air of authority regarding the heir apparent.

"it is good."

"I'll give you a place."

Cao Cao's eyes flickered slightly.

Liu Bian stopped beating around the bush and directly granted Cao Cao both official title and real power:

"The Crown Prince has just been established, and many positions are not yet in place. I wish to establish a guard to be in charge of the Crown Prince's gate security, night patrols, night guard duties, and protection of the Emperor. This guard will not be subject to the orders of the outer court, nor will it obey the private orders of eunuchs; it will only obey the orders of me and the Court of Imperial Sacrifices."

He paused, then spoke in a clear voice:

"I wish to appoint you as the chief guard of the Crown Prince's palace."

The hall fell silent instantly.

Xun Yu looked at Liu Bian, his lips slightly parted, but he refrained from speaking.

This is no small task.

This is handing over the gate of the Eastern Palace to an official in the outer court.

Empress He was still worried and was about to speak up to stop her.

Liu Bian glanced at her beforehand, signaling to Empress He with his eyes that she could rest assured.

Empress He turned her gaze to Xun Yu with a questioning look, and Xun Yu nodded slightly.

Liu Bian ignored everyone else, turned his gaze to Cao Cao, and said:

"You can personally select your men to form a team. You recommend the men, and I and the master will verify their names. You will be in charge of training and patrolling."

"First, at the gates of the Eastern Palace, uphold propriety before law. Propriety comes first, law comes second. Law is used to punish the wicked, not to bully the weak."

"Secondly, the people you choose must have clear origins and traceable backgrounds. If any sons of powerful families have infiltrated the ranks, or if any connections with outsiders are unclear, it is better to have none than to have someone of questionable character."

"The third—and most important one."

Cao Cao looked into Liu Bian's eyes and suddenly felt a sense of disorientation.

That's not the look an eight-year-old should have.

"You may wield the baton, but only for the Crown Prince. If you dare extend the baton towards the Crown Prince's master..."

"I don't care who you are, nor do I ask who your father is."

Liu Bian paused, then continued:

"If that day ever comes, don't blame me for turning my back on you."

Cao Cao was not displeased at all after hearing this.

Instead, he slowly bowed, his worship becoming even more solemn:

"Your subject obeys."

"Having received the mandate, I will return to the Eastern Palace."

"If I ever disobey your orders, Your Highness, I beg you to punish me according to the law."

The excitement in Liu Bian's heart finally turned into a sense of relief.

He knew that Cao Cao was a man who could not be completely subdued.

You must put him in a framework that must be followed, so that he has a knife at his disposal and a stick to wield, but who the owner of the stick is—must be written down in the name and nailed to the rules.

Xun Yu nodded slightly beside him, as if in silent approval.

Liu Bian raised his hand, signaling the eunuch to bring the prepared bamboo slips and seal registration book:

"From this day forward, the security of the Eastern Palace will be entirely under the command of Cao Mengde. Within three days, you shall draft a list of candidates. Within five days, complete the formation of the guard unit. Within ten days, have it completed and demonstrate its effectiveness."

"Mengde, I have high hopes for you."

When Liu Bian spoke, it was his true inner thought.

Cao Cao, a powerful and ambitious figure, believed in his own abilities.

Cao Cao bowed again, feeling a surge of emotion in his chest, his voice as steady as iron:

"Your Highness, I will certainly not fail you."

The morning light was rising outside the palace, shining on the newly painted vermilion gate of Changqiu Palace.

The vermilion was so bright it was almost blinding.

Looking at the door, Liu Bian suddenly felt a sense of absurdity mixed with clarity—

He actually dragged Cao Cao into his Eastern Palace.