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

After barely holding out for more than ten rounds, Guan Cheng was stabbed in the chest by a spear. Fortunately, Zhao Yun did not intend to kill him, and the spearhead avoided Guan Cheng's vital points.

Guan Cheng cried out in pain and fell off his horse. He tried to struggle again, but suddenly a flash of cold light appeared before his eyes, and a bright silver spear was already pressed against his neck. The icy cold air penetrated his heart, making Guan Cheng dare not resist anymore.

"Take it!"

At Zhao Yun's command, several soldiers came over and bound Guan Cheng tightly with ropes and cords.

As for Guan Cheng's men, apart from those who escaped, they all obediently gave up resistance and chose to surrender.

Zhao Yun and Zhang He escorted Guan Cheng back to the camp, and Guan Tong naturally followed along.

They encountered He Kui again on the way, and He Kui, also bewildered, came to the camp together.

When they arrived at the camp, it was already dawn. Liu Xie, who had a habit of getting up early, was practicing with Wu Anguo when he heard the sound of horses' hooves and stopped what he was doing.

Zhao Yun brought Guan Cheng directly to Liu Xie. Guan Cheng mustered his courage and glanced at the emperor, and was genuinely taken aback. He hadn't expected the emperor to be so young and to seem like such a gentle person.

Guan Cheng, sensing the danger, knelt on the ground. Guan Tong also jogged over and knelt on the ground. "This humble official has failed Your Majesty's trust and begs Your Majesty to punish me."

Liu Xie noticed the injuries on his body, but showed no mercy. "Commander Guan, you are indeed guilty. A strongman like Guan Cheng appeared under your rule, yet you were completely unaware of it beforehand. Come here, give him thirty strokes of the cane."

Guan Tong accepted the punishment without complaint. The thirty strokes of the military rod were delivered in front of the emperor, each one drawing blood. Guan Tong lay on the ground, gritting his teeth, showing remarkable courage and not uttering a single sound.

Guan Cheng was terrified. He had thought the emperor had a gentle appearance, but he hadn't expected him to be so ruthless. Even though the stick was hitting Guan Tong, Guan Cheng was terrified and filled with anxiety.

He Kui stood behind, his body trembling, his legs shaking uncontrollably.

After the beating of Guan Tong, Liu Xie asked him, "Are you satisfied with the thirty strokes of the military rod?"

Guan Tong shook his head vigorously, "Your Majesty is right. I am guilty and deserve to be punished!"

Liu Xie nodded with satisfaction, "Alright, go back and recover from your injuries. You will remain the Prefect of Donglai, and there will be many things for you to take care of in the future."

After being beaten, he was not stripped of his official position. Guan Tong immediately knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your grace."

Liu Xie waved his hand, "Help him down. I just prepared some wound medicine, Zilong, send someone to get him some."

Zhao Yun nodded and ordered his men to take Guan Tong away temporarily.

Liu Xie then had Zhang Niu and his son brought over. Although Zhang Niu had never met Guan Cheng before, he quickly recognized several of Guan Cheng's men. Even though these men had been captured, Zhang Niu was still somewhat afraid.

Liu Xie beckoned Zhang Niu over and said to him, "Old man, don't worry, no one will bully you anymore."

Liu Xie looked at Guan Cheng again and asked him directly, "Guan Cheng, tell me, how should I deal with you?"

"this?"

Guan Cheng looked up at the emperor and said cautiously, "Your Majesty, I have not committed murder or arson, nor have I done anything immoral. At most, I have only privately collected some money from the fishermen in the vicinity."

"That's not what I'm asking. What do you think I should do with you?"

Guan Cheng thought for a moment and then replied, "How about His Majesty gives me twenty lashes?"

As Guan Cheng spoke, he observed Liu Xie's expression. Liu Xie nodded and said, "Alright, as you wish. Dian Man, you carry out the execution."

Dian Man agreed, strode over, took the stick from the executioner, and arrived in front of Guan Cheng in a few steps.

Guan Cheng didn't notice the change in Liu Xie's expression at all. Liu Xie was just testing Guan Cheng, but he didn't expect him to be so cunning.

Dianman spat into his palm to grip the stick better. As soon as Guan Cheng lay down on the ground, Dianman raised the stick.

Snapped!
The blow landed squarely, catching Guan Cheng completely off guard, and he immediately cried out.

Ah!
The more he shouted, the harder Dian Man hit, and the more excited he became.

These twenty lashes were far more severe than the thirty lashes that had been used to beat Guan Cheng earlier. Each lash drew blood, leaving Guan Cheng with torn skin and dripping blood. Even though he was thick-skinned, he couldn't withstand the blows.

After Guan Cheng had finished the twenty strokes of the military rod, he was about to catch his breath when he heard the emperor's cold and ruthless voice again, "You are so glib and cunning, trying to outsmart me. Give him another fifty strokes of the military rod."

"Ah?" Guan Cheng was nearly scared to death. He hurriedly begged for mercy, "Your Majesty, spare my life!"

However, Liu Xie remained unmoved, waved his hand at Dian Man, and Dian Man spat again, picked up the stick, and continued to beat him.

This beating terrified He Kui. He was a scholar who rarely encountered anything like fighting, killing, or even bloodshed, let alone fighting. But this time, he witnessed it firsthand and thoroughly enjoyed the spectacle.

Guan Cheng screamed in pain, while He Kui was terrified. He Kui then gave Guan Cheng thirty more lashes, after which Guan Cheng fainted.

Wang Kui splashed water on him to wake him up, and then Dian Man continued to beat him. In the end, Guan Cheng was like a lump of rotten flesh, and he fainted again. This time he was not woken up by the water splashing. Whether he could survive or not, no one knew.

Liu Xie didn't want to see him again and ordered, "Take him away." This time, Liu Xie showed no mercy and didn't intend to have anyone bandage or treat Guan Cheng. Two soldiers came over and dragged Guan Cheng away like a dead dog.

Guan Cheng's men were all terrified. When Liu Xie called them closer, before he could even ask them a question, they all knelt on the ground and begged for mercy.

"Your Majesty, spare my life!"

"It was all Guan Cheng who made us do it; it wasn't our intention."

"I hope Your Majesty will investigate thoroughly. All of these matters were instructed to us by Guan Cheng."

Liu Xie glanced at them and waved his hand. "Although you are not the masterminds, you have all aided and abetted the evildoers to some extent. I will deal with this matter later. Take them away for now."

Because there were many of these people, and they were all accomplices, Liu Xie had not yet decided how to deal with them.

Soon, everyone was taken away. Zhang Niu had his eyes opened, while Da Zhuang was both scared and excited. He hadn't expected the leader to be beaten so badly. It was unclear whether he was dead or alive. He had been given seventy lashes, which was a relief for them.

Next, it was He Kui's turn.

Liu Xie glanced at him and waved to him. He Kui staggered and almost fell to the ground.

He had been standing for so long that his legs were shaking, and he felt like he had no strength left.

He Kui staggered and trembled as he walked to Liu Xie, then knelt down on the ground with a thud.

"He Kui, I have heard that Guan Cheng had already caused havoc in the region in his early years and gathered a large number of people, but you have been advocating that he be reformed. Am I right?"

He Kui nodded. "Your Majesty, Guan Cheng had been behaving very well before, and I was also deceived by him, mistakenly believing that he had reformed and turned over a new leaf."

"Hmph! Perhaps you mean well, but your kindness has provided Guan Cheng with protection. He may behave well under your nose, but behind your back, he bullies men and women, and instructs his subordinates to extort money from poor fishermen. The people suffer humiliation at his hands. Shouldn't you also be held accountable for all the grievances they have endured?"

He Kui was speechless, feeling that he was in the wrong, and even if he wanted to argue, he didn't know what to say.

"Here's what I'll do. I'm giving you a task: investigate this matter thoroughly, go door-to-door to apologize to each and every household, and compensate the people double for the losses they suffered."

He Kui was not only surprised but also very unwilling, and couldn't help but say, "Ah? Your Majesty, you want me to go and apologize to those commoners?"

In ancient times, the social hierarchy was very strict. Although He Kui was a man of integrity and a diligent official, he still found it difficult to accept the idea of ​​going door-to-door to apologize to the poor.

"What? You don't want to?"

Liu Xie was extremely disappointed. He glared at him, and his expression, which had just improved, darkened again.

He Kui may have been a good official, but he believed that he was of noble status and did not need to stoop so low as to apologize to the poor people.

Seeing that the emperor was angry, He Kui realized that he had said the wrong thing and hurriedly shook his head, "I didn't mean anything by it. It's just that if there are many people who have been wronged, it would take a lot of time to visit them all."

“He Kui, the people have suffered because of you. Since they were bullied and suffered losses because of you, shouldn’t you apologize?”

Liu Xie suddenly laughed, a somewhat eerie laugh. "Originally, I only wanted you to come and apologize in person. Now, I've changed my mind. Whether it's a hundred families or a thousand families, you must go and kowtow to apologize to each and every one of them. If any family doesn't forgive you, you cannot leave."

"Ah?" He Kui was filled with regret, blaming himself for being so talkative. Now, he had lost all face and dignity.

Not only was he demoted from prefect to county magistrate, but now he's forced to kowtow and apologize to people, which is worse than being killed.

He Kui remained motionless, his mind nearly collapsing. He was a very proud scholar, and he couldn't bear the thought of kowtowing and apologizing.

Liu Xie glanced at Zhao Yun and instructed, "Zilong, give him your sword."

Zhao Yun untied his sword, walked over, and handed it to He Kui.

He Kui was taken aback. Liu Xie said expressionlessly, "If you feel that coming to apologize is an insult and you refuse to do as I say, I will give you a chance now. You may end your own life."

He Kui was completely dumbfounded. He never expected that the emperor would leave him no room for maneuver.

"Sima Yi".

"The minister is here."

Sima Yi agreed and took a few steps forward. He was now the least noticeable person around Liu Xie.

If Liu Xie didn't call him or look for him, Sima Yi could stand quietly by the emperor's side all day.

Liu Xie asked, "Tell me, if He Kui were to die today, how should the historians record this event?"

Sima Yi replied, "The historians will certainly write that He Kui, by excessively showing kindness, allowed Guan Cheng to wreak havoc in the region, committing a grave crime and harming the people. Yet, he remained obstinate, refusing to admit his mistakes and apologize to the victims even at the cost of his life." (End of Chapter)