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

Chapter 260, Testing Liu Xun

"Your father knows he was wrong, so what do you think?" Liu Xie asked Liu Xun.

Liu Zhang was already old, and Liu Xun was about the same age as Liu Xie, so Liu Xie cared a lot about his opinion.

Without much thought, Liu Xun immediately replied, "I am a member of the Han imperial family and a descendant of King Gong of Lu. The affairs of the court are the affairs of Yizhou. In the future, whatever Your Majesty commands, I am willing to obey and be at Your Majesty's beck and call."

Liu Xie nodded with satisfaction and said sincerely, "The Han Dynasty is in decline, and those ambitious warlords all hope to seize the land of my great Han. But I see hope in you. If all the members of the imperial family were as loyal and reasonable as you, how could the Han Dynasty not prosper?"

Liu Xun was honest and kind-hearted, and when the emperor praised him to his face, he blushed slightly.

"Go back and tell your father that I can forgive and forget what happened in the past, but he must always remember that he must never harbor any disloyal thoughts."

Liu Zhang may want to be the ruler of Yi Province, but he must never treat Yi Province as his own!
Liu Xun hurriedly clasped his hands in a fist salute, "Your subject has remembered this, and will certainly pass it on to my father when I return."

On his way there, Liu Xun had already prepared himself, thinking that the emperor would be furious and that he would accept being beaten, scolded, or punished.

But I didn't expect it to go so smoothly.

Liu Xie continued, "Since you've come all this way to Xudu, why don't you stay a few more days? We are brothers of the same clan, so it would be good for us to get to know each other better. I would also like to know about the situation in Yizhou."

Liu Xie warmly invited him to stay, and Liu Xun readily agreed. Having finally come all the way to Xudu, he wanted to see the sights and broaden his horizons.

Liu Xie then summoned a guard and took Liu Xun away, arranging for him to stay at the inn.

Then, he summoned Ju Shou and Chen Gong.

Liu Xie briefly explained the situation, and then asked, "What do you two think about Liu Zhang sending his eldest son, Liu Xun, to Xudu to apologize?"

Chen Gong, being straightforward, spoke first, "Your Majesty, since Liu Zhang wants to plead guilty, why not take this opportunity to transfer him to Xuchang, and then send a capable person to Yizhou to take charge? In this way, Your Majesty can immediately take over Yizhou."

Chen Gong's style is to act decisively whenever an opportunity arises and never miss a chance.

Liu Xie was somewhat worried and said, "If we do this, we will inevitably encounter great resistance. Liu Zhang is already uneasy and lives in constant fear. If we send him to Xudu now, what will he think?"

Ju Shou also disagreed with this approach, saying, "Gongtai, Jingzhou is still in the transitional phase. If we rashly send Liu Zhang to Xudu, not only will Liu Zhang have concerns, but it will also cause panic in the Yizhou officialdom. His Majesty has always been benevolent and magnanimous. I think Yizhou can handle this in a more peaceful way."

Liu Xie thought for a moment and nodded. He had been so tolerant of Cao Cao, and all he did was not obey orders to provide troops. To be honest, it was really not a big deal.

When Liu Xie wrote to Liu Biao and Liu Zhang requesting troops, even he himself didn't have much hope.

Because this is a chaotic era, few people truly care about the emperor's orders.

Using this as an excuse to hold onto it makes one appear petty and narrow-minded.

Chen Gong was somewhat disappointed. It would be a real pity to miss such a good opportunity. He couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty, even if Liu Zhang is panicked and uneasy, the court has ordered him to come to Xuchang. Does he dare to disobey the order? As for the officials in Yizhou, we can slowly reorganize them. We can win over some first and then punish others. In a few years, the situation will be stabilized."

Liu Xie looked at Ju Shou, "Gongyu, what do you think?"

Ju Shou replied, "This time, Liu Zhang sent his eldest son, Liu Xun, to Xudu. From my observation, Liu Xun is honest and upright, and he quite agrees with the court. Your Majesty can be both firm and accommodating. Your Majesty's abilities and the court's determination to crack down on disloyal people should be made clear to Liu Xun so that he understands that going against the court is an unwise choice. In addition, Your Majesty can grant him another marriage to appease him and win his heart."

"As for Liu Zhang, let him continue to serve as the governor of Yizhou. His Majesty not only did not punish him, but also bestowed a marriage upon Liu Xun. Liu Zhang and his son will surely be grateful for His Majesty's kindness. When the time is right, His Majesty can hand over Yizhou to Liu Xun to manage. Liu Zhang will definitely not object. As long as Liu Xun is loyal to the court, there is no need to worry about Yizhou."

Liu Xie expressed his agreement, and Chen Gong nodded admiringly, "If it can be done this way, it is indeed a good method. Without losing a single soldier, the court can smoothly and easily take back Yizhou."

Liu Xie suddenly laughed, “This seems unfair to Liu Biao. I have intimidated Liu Biao, demanded troops and provisions, and sent Gan Ning to be the governor. But I have not made things difficult for Liu Zhang in Yizhou.”

Ju Shou said, “Your Majesty, it is precisely because of this that Yizhou was able to return to the hands of the court smoothly. The court’s attitude toward Liu Biao will surely deter Liu Zhang and make him anxious. Compared with Liu Biao, Liu Zhang has not been punished at all, so he will naturally be happy and grateful for Your Majesty’s kindness.”

If Liu Biao had known it would turn out this way, he would have died again.

The emperor used him as a warning to others, to intimidate Liu Zhang, who was so frightened that he hurriedly sent his son to the court to confess his crimes.

In Liu Zhang's eyes, Liu Biao became a good benchmark, letting Liu Zhang know that disobedience would lead to punishment, and he might even lose his life in a muddle.

Chen Gong's suggestion was not adopted. Liu Xie, not wanting to offend him, offered an explanation: "Gongtai, although I have elite troops and generals at my disposal, I can use the simplest and most convenient method to forcibly order Liu Zhang to come directly to Xuchang. As long as he dares to say no, we will take a hard line and use force if necessary."

Liu Xie stood up, put his hands behind his back, and sighed softly, "Once the relationship becomes strained and conflicts arise, leading to infighting, it will not only be a waste of resources and manpower, but if I were to declare war on my own relatives, the people of the world would not only laugh at Liu Zhang, but it would also damage the dignity of the court."

Chen Gong agreed wholeheartedly, saying, "Your Majesty's concern for the nation and your consideration for the overall situation are truly admirable, and I can fully understand your painstaking efforts."

"In the next few days, I will observe Liu Xun carefully. Today was our first meeting, and he made a good impression on me. He has an honest appearance and is loyal to his duties. He feels very guilty about what Liu Zhang did. If Liu Xun is trustworthy, entrusting Yizhou to him in the future would indeed be a good choice."

That very night, Liu Xie summoned Liu Ai.

Liu Ai was also a member of the Han imperial family. He served as Dong Zhuo's chief secretary during Dong Zhuo's reign and later as the head of the imperial clan after Dong Zhuo's death.

Aside from having followed Dong Zhuo, he had no other flaws in character. In his spare time, he had only one hobby: visiting brothels.

According to the intelligence sent by Ma Kui, Liu Ai would go to Tianxiang Pavilion almost every two days.

Liu Ai, dressed in a long robe, was around forty years old. His clothes were spotless and his attire was exquisite. His beard was short and neatly trimmed.

"Your Majesty, what brings you here?" Liu Ai asked the emperor with great respect.

Liu Xie smiled faintly at him, "If you are free tonight, invite Liu Xun to Tianxiang Pavilion for a visit and treat him well on my behalf."

Liu Ai nodded hastily, but some doubt remained in his heart. He couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, do you mean I should just invite him for drinks, or do you mean I should let him find a woman to spend the night with at Tianxiang Pavilion?"

"My dear minister, you are a regular at Tianxiang Pavilion. I don't need to teach you the specifics of how to do it. Just make sure Liu Xun has a great time." "Yes, sir."

Liu Ai agreed and left. After leaving, he was still somewhat uneasy. How did His Majesty know everything?
It seems best to go less often in the future, lest His Majesty suspect that I am not chaste and only know how to find women.

After he left, Zhao Yun asked, somewhat puzzled, "Your Majesty, didn't you think highly of Liu Xun? Why did you have Liu Ai invite him to Tianxiang Pavilion as soon as he arrived?"

Zhao Yun was well aware of the allure of Tianxiang Pavilion; he had visited it frequently when he served Liu Xie in the past.

In short, it's a paradise for men; once you go in, very few can resist.

The women inside are not only beautiful, but also dressed in a sexy and alluring way. No matter what type you like, you can always find what you're looking for.

Liu Xie smiled and said, "Let's just consider it a test for him."

Although it is said that food and sex are human nature, and no man dislikes beautiful women, Liu Xie still wanted to see what kind of person Liu Xun was.
Liu Ai personally extended the invitation, and Liu Xun, not thinking much of it and wanting to see more of Xudu, accepted the invitation.

Upon arriving at the entrance of Tianxiang Pavilion, Liu Xun saw two alluring women dressed in bright red standing there, their gazes seemingly piercing into one's very soul. A sudden tension gripped Liu Xun's heart, and his throat went dry.

These two women were clearly carefully selected; they had hot, curvaceous figures, and both were wearing dresses with high slits. These slit cheongsams were, in fact, designed by Liu Xie.

Liu Ai was very familiar with the route, while Liu Xun felt parched and uncomfortable all over.

Liu Ai smiled and said, "Young master, please."

Liu Xun braced himself and went inside. As soon as he entered, a warm-hearted maid greeted him with a smile and politely asked, "Welcome to Tianxiang Pavilion, esteemed guests. Are you here for wine tasting or a beauty pageant?"

Seeing that he was as nervous as a novice, Liu Ai couldn't help but laugh. She waved her hand to the maid and said, "No need, let's just take a look around."

The maid obediently left. Liu Xun glanced inside and was startled. There were many people gathered around a T-shaped platform, where women of all colors were dressed in colorful clothes and twisting their bodies to their hearts' content. The atmosphere was full of seduction, which drew cheers and applause from the guests.

The women on the platform were of all shapes and sizes, their movements graceful and elegant, each possessing their own unique charm. Some wore delicate beaded chains and jade pendants, while others were adorned with exquisite metal lace trim.

They wore gorgeous clothes, shining like stars, frequently attracting the admiration and praise of men, as if goddesses were on a parade, displaying their charm and elegance.

Liu Ai, observing Liu Xun's increasingly nervous demeanor, pulled him aside, wanting him to choose a woman. "Once you've taken a liking to one, you don't need to worry about anything else. This is the most upscale brothel in Xudu. I guarantee you'll experience unparalleled pleasure, like a god."

Liu Xun shook his head, blushing, and said, "Thank you for your hospitality, but I'm sorry, this kind of occasion is not suitable for me. Goodbye."

Liu Xun was very determined. He cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Liu Ai, then turned and squeezed his way out.

"Huh? Why did you leave?"

Liu Ai was taken aback. This was the first time he had encountered something like this. In the past, when he brought other people here, those men would go completely crazy as soon as they entered, and they couldn't be driven away no matter what. They seemed to want to die on women.

The next day, Liu Ai came to report, and Liu Xie burst into laughter upon hearing it. Such a man was a rare sight indeed.

Next, Liu Xie invited Liu Xun to tour the city, taking him to almost every corner of the city, which broadened Liu Xun's horizons.

There were a few places that Liu Xun was particularly interested in, with the barracks being the most important.

The moment Liu Xun entered the Han army camp, he was deeply shocked by the scene before him.

Lu Bu, Gao Shun, Zhang Xiu and others were all training their troops here. Squads of cavalry and columns of infantry were practicing enthusiastically in their respective areas.

The galloping warhorses, the gleaming swords and spears, the clanging of armor, and the sounds of clashing weapons all stirred Liu Xun's blood and filled him with excitement.

The Han soldiers were as fierce as tigers and as powerful as dragons. Liu Xun, who usually liked to stay in the barracks, could tell at a glance that these soldiers were all elites, carefully selected, each with a burly build and exuding a terrifying aura of killing.

The horses were fine horses, the soldiers were fine soldiers, and the generals were excellent generals. Columns of warhorses galloped past, their neighs like thunder. The warhorses ran like the wind, and countless swords and spears gleamed in the sunlight.

The soldiers were all focused on their training, sweating profusely and shouting loudly. Lu Bu, Zhang Xiu, Gao Shun, and others were all meticulous and practicing diligently.

While Liu Xun was filled with excitement, he was also secretly alarmed. He wondered how terrifying such an elite force would be once it entered the battlefield.

No wonder the emperor conquered Qingzhou in less than a month; it was thanks to these elite troops who were capable and daring in battle.

Liu Xie was completely unprepared, wanting Liu Xun to see and experience the power of a king's army.

In this way, Liu Xun would understand that going against the court would not only bring him infamy, but would also be like throwing an egg against a rock, which was extremely unwise!

"Zishan, are you interested in sparring with them?" Liu Xie asked, pointing to the military officers.

Liu Xun hesitated for a moment, then looked at Zhao Yun. His eyes suddenly changed, his gaze becoming firm and full of fighting spirit. "Your Majesty, I dare to ask General Zilong to compete with me."

Liu Xie laughed, "Good, you have guts."

Liu Xie turned to Zhao Yun and instructed him, "Zilong, since Zishan insists on challenging you, you should spar with him. Remember, stop when you've made your move, and don't hurt him."

Zhao Yun nodded and ordered someone to bring over a mount. Liu Xun also personally selected a fine horse for Liu Xun.

Liu Xun also liked using a gun. The two got into position, with Liu Xun holding his gun horizontally. He clasped his hands in a fist salute to Zhao Yun, his eyes immediately filled with surging fighting spirit.

Liu Xun challenged Zhao Yun because Zhao Yun was also a master of the spear, having once defeated Wen Chou at Yan Jin. For Liu Xun, who was also skilled with the spear, it was naturally a worthy opponent.

(End of this chapter)