With Cao Cao by my side, what do I have to fear from the world?

Chapter 236, Cao Ang's Frankness
Zhang Yu could tell that the emperor was very angry, and the consequences would be severe.

Having served the emperor for so long, Zhang Yu had rarely seen the emperor so angry.

Next, Liu Xie went to the training ground as usual, a habit he had always maintained.

Zhao Yun could also clearly sense that the emperor's swordsmanship was extremely sharp today, as if a ferocious beast had been hidden in his chest and suddenly released.

Liu Xie gripped his longsword, his movements swift and agile, charging towards Zhao Yun like a cheetah. He slashed out with all his might, the sword flashing with a blinding cold light.

Zhao Yun held his sword horizontally. The two swords clashed, and a tremendous force struck, causing Zhao Yun's arm to tremble.

Because the Qinggang Sword was too sharp, Liu Xie usually used ordinary swords when practicing swordsmanship, so as not to cut other people's weapons.

Even an ordinary sword is still very powerful. With each slash of the sword across the sky, Liu Xie's attacks became more and more fierce. Zhao Yun said nothing, remained focused, and calmly dealt with each move.

Zhao Yun knew that the emperor's current state must be due to Liu Bei.

Zhao Yun was at a loss as to what to do about this.

The emperor was most dissatisfied with Cao Cao, and after so many years, the emperor was finally no longer in a passive position.

Logically, Liu Bei should have firmly obeyed the emperor's orders.

As long as everyone works together, under the emperor's leadership, Zhao Yun believes that one day, Cao Cao will be completely subdued.

What a wonderful thing this is, what something to look forward to!

But Liu Bei wanted to go it alone, which would go against the emperor's wishes.

Zhao Yun was momentarily distracted when a figure flashed before his eyes. Liu Xie leaped into the air and closed in, his long sword slashing down fiercely.

Zhao Yun managed to block it, but was forced back a few steps by the impact.

With each strike, Liu Xie exerted all his strength, as if he wanted to cleave through everything in his path.

Half an hour later, Liu Xie was covered in sweat, and his emotions gradually calmed down.

Zhao Yun pointed to the open space next to him and changed the subject, saying, "Your Majesty, Cao Pi hasn't come to practice his sword for several days. I'm afraid he's about to give up."

Liu Xie shook his head: "Giving up is not the case. I'm afraid Cao Cao will find him a separate swordsmanship teacher at home."

Zhao Yun then asked, "Today in court, so many people tried to stop Mao Jie and the others from leaving Xudu, so why did His Majesty agree?"

Liu Xie wiped the sweat from his forehead and strode forward, with Zhao Yun hurrying to follow.

After walking for a while, Liu Xie said, "If Zilong, Mao Jie and the others stay in Xuchang, Cao Cao will worry, I will worry, and they themselves will worry. In that case, even if these people are all very talented, they probably won't be able to use even half of their usual abilities."

Zhao Yun nodded silently, "Your Majesty is right."

These were Cao Cao's men, and they were certainly unwilling to stay by Liu Xie's side or obey his orders.

"Cao Cao is right. These people are all very capable. If we let them leave Xuchang, they will definitely be able to use their talents and govern the region well. This would be a good thing for Cao Cao and for the court."

"But Your Majesty, aren't you worried that if they leave Xuchang and devote themselves to assisting Cao Cao, Cao Cao's power will become stronger and may threaten Your Majesty in the future?"

"Zilong, from the very beginning, I have been wary of Cao Cao, and to this day, I have never let my guard down. But as long as I can completely suppress Cao Cao, the others are not a threat. The forces around Cao Cao seem very strong, but the true core forces have been greatly weakened. Cheng Yu, Man Chong, Cao Chun, Xiahou Yuan and others are no longer here."

Liu Xie said calmly and confidently, "I know that Cao Cao is not reconciled yet, but one day he will willingly submit to me."

"Your Majesty, perhaps I should take some time to visit my uncle and try to persuade him again."

Liu Bei's performance also worried Zhao Yun, who wanted to give it a try.

Liu Xie waved his hand gently, "No need. Everyone has their own ambitions, and we cannot force them. If Xuande is willing to lead the troops, then let him have his wish."

Zhao Yun hesitated for a moment, then said, "Actually, the Imperial Uncle has no ulterior motives. He probably feels that he cannot use his talents if he stays in Xuchang, so he prefers to lead troops outside and help His Majesty fight on the battlefield."

Liu Xie smiled, not wanting to discuss the matter any further.

It wasn't that he lacked magnanimity. Cao Cao had done quite a few outrageous things from the beginning until now, yet Liu Xie never settled accounts with him.

Liu Bei wanted to control the military and own a territory, which is nothing unusual.

Even without Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei by his side, Liu Xie was confident in pacifying the world, because people like Lü Bu would not disappoint him.

Before long, the two arrived at Lingyan Pavilion. Liu Xie would come here every now and then whenever he had time.

Because he was the "blogger" of Lingyan Pavilion, Liu Xie was responsible for updating the information on whoever made meritorious contributions to the court.

Unexpectedly, there were people inside.

Hearing footsteps, the man quickly turned around. It was Cao Ang!
Upon seeing Liu Xie, Cao Ang's face immediately lit up with a look of surprise and delight.

He took a step to run over, but soon his expression turned to pain, and the leg he lifted became unusually heavy.

"His Majesty…"

Cao Ang opened his mouth with difficulty, unsure of what to say.

These days, he has been wanting to speak with the emperor.

However, Liu Xie was too busy, and he didn't have the courage to go directly to Liu Xie.

When Cao Cao suddenly withdrew his troops from Ye City, Cao Ang had already sensed something unusual.

When Cao Cao withdrew his troops, his face was grim, but his actions were extremely decisive, even outmaneuvering Lü Bu and Gan Ning.

Liu Xie walked over to him, stood in front of Cao Ang, smiled at him, and asked kindly, "Zixiu, what are you thinking about?" Above Cao Ang's head was a portrait of Cao Cao, and Cao Ang had been standing there for a long time.

The emperor was still the same emperor, as kind as ever, which made Cao Ang feel a little more relaxed.

"Your Majesty, I... I have been wanting to see Your Majesty for the past few days."

Liu Xie smiled and said, "Zixiu, I have been waiting for you these past few days. I knew you would come to me sooner or later."

"Your Majesty, you actually guessed that I wanted to see you." Cao Ang was taken aback.

Liu Xie patted him on the shoulder. "Of course, because you and I are not only ruler and subject, but also friends."

As Liu Xie spoke, he picked up a writing brush from the table next to him, and Zhao Yun hurriedly brought over a ladder from the side.

Because the information in Lingyan Pavilion is frequently updated, ladders and writing implements are available here so that Liu Xie can pick up his brush at any time.

The ladder isn't very tall, and it's very sturdy; it's fine even without someone holding it.

But Cao Ang instinctively rushed forward to help him up.

Below Cao Cao's portrait, Liu Xie wrote: "When the mutiny broke out in Xuchang and Man Chong rebelled, Cao Cao did not show favoritism and decisively executed Man Chong..."

Seeing the emperor praising his father's achievements again, Cao Ang felt as if his heart was being torn apart. He suddenly spoke up: "Your Majesty, the truth is not like that."

Liu Xie glanced at him, paused slightly with his pen, and said, "Not all the truths should be known to the world. Cao Cao is a loyal minister of the Han Dynasty, and this is what I hope the world will see."

Cao Ang asked, "Your Majesty...why did you do this?"

After Liu Xie finished writing, he climbed down the ladder, looked at Cao Ang, and said seriously, "Because making Cao Gong a loyal minister is not only beneficial to me, but also most beneficial to your father."

"Zixiu, you have grown up. I believe you understand many things very well."

Cao Ang nodded. "Yes, my father has indeed gone too far in many ways. I have tried to advise him, but I only learned in the last two years that all the power in the court is in my father's hands. Over the years, my father has caused His Majesty a lot of injustice."

As Cao Ang spoke, he became more and more agitated, and his voice gradually choked up. Then, with a thud, he knelt on the ground, filled with remorse.

“Your Majesty, after returning from Guandu, I wanted to see you immediately, but I didn’t have the courage. My father clearly did wrong; it is our Cao family that has failed Your Majesty’s grace and is ashamed before you…”

Liu Xie reached out and pulled Cao Ang up from the ground, nodding vigorously. "Zixiu, I am truly gratified that you can say these things, but I hope that you will not repeat them to your father when you return."

Cao Ang asked in confusion, "Why? My father clearly did wrong. He monopolized the government and repeatedly pressured His Majesty, but His Majesty repaid evil with kindness. Not only did he not blame him, but he also made him prime minister."

Liu Xie raised his voice and said seriously, "Some things cannot be explained in a few words. Your words today have not been in vain for our relationship as ruler and subject. However, I do not wish for you and your father to turn against each other. So, listen to me, go back and do what you are supposed to do. As for your father, over the years he has fought in the east and west, conquered Nanyang, seized Xuzhou, attacked Yuan Shu, defeated Yuan Shao, vigorously promoted the military farm system, and selected talents without being bound by convention... I remember everything he has done for the court. As long as the world can be stable as soon as possible and the people can live and work in peace, the conflict between me and Cao Cao is nothing at all."

"Your Majesty, your magnanimity and composure truly put us, father and son, to shame." Cao Ang became increasingly agitated, tears welling up in his eyes.

Liu Xie patted him on the shoulder and advised, "Remember what I told you, just do what you should do. Your father is just a little stubborn. I believe that you, like me, hope that your father can be a pillar of the Han Dynasty, forever loyal to the court and to me!"

Cao Ang nodded almost as if making a vow, "Yes!"

Liu Xie smiled and said, "Wipe away your tears. You're an adult now, and you've become the General Who Conquers the West. It's disgraceful to cry like this if people see you."

Cao Ang quickly wiped away his tears with his sleeve.

Liu Xie then pointed to Cao Cao's portrait and said, "I owe my current position to your father, and I will continue to rely on him to pacify the world. I believe that your father would also feel very proud of everything he did for the Han Dynasty."

"As for the truth, there is no need to delve too deeply. You must always firmly believe that your father was a loyal minister of the Han Dynasty. In terms of merit in restoring the Han Dynasty, no one can compare to your father. I will also have the historians record your father's achievements for the Han Dynasty for future generations."

From the emperor's words, Cao Ang not only saw the emperor's earnest hope that his father would be a loyal subject of the Han Dynasty, but also felt the emperor's strong confidence that he was absolutely capable of controlling everything.

Finally, Liu Xie pointed to the blank space on the wall and said, "Zixiu, I believe there will be a place for you here too."

Cao Ang was immediately filled with enthusiasm and nodded vigorously, "Your Majesty, I will certainly not let you down."

Liu Xie added, "Your father, like me, also hopes that you will become a great man and a true hero!"

Parents all over the world are the same; they all hope their children will become successful. Even if Cao Cao had treacherous intentions, he would never want his son to become a bad person.

Liu Xie then led Cao Ang on a tour. As they walked, Liu Xie remarked with emotion, "Zixiu, when I first arrived here, it wasn't called Xudu, but Xuxian. It was a very dilapidated little county town. The people lived in poverty, and there wasn't even a decent building. You could say it was utterly destitute. But in just a few short years, Xudu has expanded two times in size, becoming bustling and prosperous. It's now comparable to major cities like Luoyang and Chang'an. All of this is thanks to your father."

Cao Ang also personally experienced the various changes here, and felt extremely proud.

Cao Ang couldn't help but think: If only his father could be a loyal subject without worry.

Cao Cao returned to his home, with Guo Jia by his side the whole time. After a while, someone came to report.

"Reporting to the Prime Minister, His Majesty was just with the eldest son. They stayed in Lingyan Pavilion for a full hour, and now they've gone out to the street..."

Cao Cao waved his hand, "From now on, without my order, no one is allowed to follow or monitor His Majesty."

The messenger paused for a moment, then agreed and left.

Guo Jia nodded and said, "My lord, in the past few days, more than a dozen people who were following His Majesty have disappeared without a trace. You have done the right thing. There is no point in continuing to monitor His Majesty."

Cao Cao sighed deeply, "The situation is hopeless. It's better to let go and completely hand over Xuchang to His Majesty. What do you think should be done with those people you've placed in the palace?"

Guo Jia replied, "His Majesty has been very calm these days. Rather than rashly transferring people away from the palace, it would be better to maintain the status quo. His Majesty is a smart man. He already knows what he should and shouldn't know. If he wanted to deal with it, he would have done so long ago. It seems that His Majesty does not want to implicate too many people. This time, he has only chosen to eliminate Man Chong."

Cao Cao gritted his teeth, and the muscles on his face twitched suddenly. "Yes, whoever he chooses will not be spared."

Cao Cao thought of Cheng Yu and Xun You; once the emperor had his eye on them, none of them would escape.

Suddenly, Cao Cao looked up at Guo Jia and said, "Fengxiao, you know better than anyone what has happened since we welcomed the emperor. Why have you never advised me to stop?"

(End of this chapter)