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

Liu Xie was not very satisfied with meeting Shi Xie's envoy. He told the envoy, "Go back and tell Shi Xie to go to Luoyang in person."

Just a few days ago, Zhong Yao, the Commandant of the Capital Region, sent word that the palace renovations in Luoyang were nearing completion.

Therefore, Liu Xie decided to move the capital to Luoyang as soon as possible.

Shi Xie's envoy was sweating with fright. He could see that his mission alone was clearly insufficient.

He had no choice but to agree and hurried back to report to Shi Xie, who had to personally intervene.

After pacifying Jiangdong, Liu Xie led his army directly to Luoyang. At the same time, Xun Yu and Jia Xu received orders and hurriedly made arrangements to move the capital.

A month later, Liu Xie arrived in Luoyang, and Zhong Yao hurriedly led people out to welcome him.

After exchanging pleasantries, Zhong Yao led the way, taking Liu Xie, Cao Cao, and others to view the newly renovated Luoyang Palace.

Once, Dong Zhuo's wicked fire reduced the prosperous city of Luoyang to ruins, and endless cries of agony and despair filled every inch of the land. However, what now unfolds before Liu Xie is a completely different scene.

The first thing that catches the eye is the towering vermilion city wall. The wall, once riddled with holes by fire, has now been carefully repaired, with its bricks and stones tightly arranged, solid and stable, as if telling a story of new life.

On the city wall, Han flags fluttered and rustled, adding to the majesty and solemnity of the palace.

After entering the city, the wide avenues stretched straight into the distance, and the former ruins had been replaced by smooth bluestone paving stones. The gaps between the paving stones were almost imperceptible, indicating that the paving was extremely meticulous.

Every step you take provides a solid and stable support. Along both sides of the avenue, neat flower beds were built according to Liu Xie's requirements. Although it was the dead of winter, they were lush and green, planted with many plants suitable for winter, injecting a touch of life and vitality into this solemn palace.

As you walk along the avenue, a magnificent palace comes into view. The palace roof is no longer the charred remains of the past; instead, it gleams with gold. Under the sunlight, the roof tiles reflect dazzling light, like a galaxy of stars.

Many places are carved with exquisite mythical beast patterns, lifelike. The palace pillars are thick and straight. The traces of fire blackening have been completely erased and repainted with bright red lacquer. The bright color shows the nobility and majesty of the royal family.

Stepping into the palace, the interior decorations are even more breathtaking. The former mottled marks and scorch marks on the walls are no longer there.

Further inside was the emperor's bedroom. The windows of the bedroom were no longer the dilapidated ones they once were, but had been replaced with brand-new carved window frames.

Emerging from the inner palace, we arrived at the palace garden. What was once a desolate place had now transformed into a paradise on earth. Artificial hills were arranged in a pleasing, rhythmic flow, and fish swam merrily in the water. The garden was shaded by lush trees, carpeted with verdant grass, and birds sang joyfully in the branches.

As Liu Xie strolled through the newly renovated Luoyang palace, his heart was filled with mixed emotions. He recalled the Luoyang of the past, which had been reduced to ruins under Dong Zhuo's tyranny, leaving the people displaced and living in misery.

Now, thanks to everyone's efforts, the palace has regained its former glory. He knew that all these changes were hard-won, which strengthened his resolve to revive the Han Dynasty.

Zhong Yao followed behind the emperor, watching the look of satisfaction on the emperor's face, and his heart was filled with pride. He understood that the reconstruction of this palace was not merely a restoration of the buildings, but a re-establishment of the dignity of the Han Dynasty, and a hope and expectation for the future.

Liu Xie finally arrived at Yang'an Palace. He stopped, and although the place had changed drastically, his memories quickly traveled back to the past.

From 196 AD to now, 206 years have passed, a full ten years have gone by.

Liu Xie was filled with emotion, and Cao Cao, standing beside him, was also moved by the scene and could not calm his mind.

After a while, Liu Xie spoke up: "Back then, when I fled from Chang'an all the way to Luoyang, I stayed in this palace for a whole month. At that time, I was neither a ruler nor a subject. Every day I had to worry about what to eat. Let alone taking a bath, even getting a full meal was a huge luxury!"

Many officials shed tears. Although so many years have passed, Yang Biao, Dong Cheng, Xu Huang, Fu Wan, Dong Zhao, Zhong Yao, and others were all people who had personally experienced those years.

Liu Xie suddenly turned his gaze to Cao Cao and grabbed his hand. "My ministers and I went hungry for a month. It was the Prime Minister who made sure we had meat to eat. You not only gave me enough to eat, but you also helped me stabilize the Central Plains."

"I told you back then, with Cao Cao by my side, what do I have to fear from the world! Now it seems that this statement has truly come true."

Cao Cao made Liu Xie successful, and Liu Xie also made Cao Cao successful. The current situation is not bad for anyone.

Cao Cao was also filled with emotion. As people get older, they become nostalgic, and he didn't want to go through the same troubles of the past.

Liu Xie gripped Cao Cao's hand tightly. "Prime Minister, an old horse in its stall may still aspire to gallop a thousand miles, but you are not old at all. In the future, I will continue to expand our territory, and I will inevitably have to rely on you a lot."

Since Guo Jia's death, Cao Cao's mood has been very low, and Liu Xie has noticed all of this.

It's important to know that Cao Cao was still active on the battlefield until his death.

The famous saying, "An old steed in its stall still aspires to gallop a thousand miles," also came from Cao Cao.

Faced with Liu Xie's hopeful gaze, Cao Cao nodded, his spirits lifting considerably.

Half a month later, Xun Yu and others arrived in Luoyang one after another. As the end of the year approached, the governors and prefects of various regions also received imperial edicts and rushed to Luoyang.

This year's annual meeting was exceptionally lively, with Liu Bei, Cao Cao, and Sun Quan finally all gathered together.

Liu Xie's gaze swept across the faces of the people: Liu Zhang, Governor of Yizhou; Zhang He, Inspector of Qingzhou; Chen Deng, Governor of Xuzhou; Lu Xun, Governor of Yangzhou; Cao Ang, Governor of Jizhou; Xiahou Dun, Inspector of Yanzhou; Cao Cao, Governor of Jingzhou; Xun Yu, Governor of Yuzhou; Zhong Yao, Commandant of the Capital Region… Liu Xie's gaze swept across their faces, filled with both satisfaction and excitement.

"Is everyone here?" Liu Xie asked, as the banquet was about to begin.

The Imperial Clan Minister, Prince Chen, replied in a loud voice, "Your Majesty, we are still missing one person."

"who is it?"

There were so many people that Liu Xie was getting dizzy.

"Zhang Liao, the governor of Youzhou!"

No sooner had Prince Chen finished speaking than a loud voice rang out from outside the hall, "This humble general Zhang Liao reports to Your Majesty."

Before the words were finished, a strong and powerful figure appeared in everyone's sight.

This man was clad in iron armor, with thick eyebrows and fierce eyes, exuding an imposing aura. He was also holding someone captive; the newcomer was none other than Zhang Liao.

Zhang Liao strode to the center of the hall and, with a thud, shoved the escorting man to the ground. "Your Majesty, the traitor Gongsun Kang has been brought before us. I captured Xiangping not long ago!"

Liu Xie stood up with a smile, "Great joy! Wen Yuan has performed another great service for me." Gongsun Kang was filled with shame and humiliation. Originally, he had the advantage in troop strength, but he repeatedly divided his forces and fell into Zhang Liao's trap. Not only were his troops being gradually eroded, but Zhang Liao also sent men to impersonate Gongsun Kang's soldiers and sneak into Xiangping, thus capturing Xiangping in one fell swoop.

Gongsun Kang was very resentful. He had only been in charge of Liaodong for a year, and before he could even settle in, Zhang Liao had wiped him out.

Looking at Gongsun Kang, Sun Quan couldn't help but feel a sense of empathy. Fortunately, Gongsun Kang had surrendered and was still able to attend the annual meeting. He wondered what fate awaited Gongsun Kang.

Liu Xie didn't even glance at Gongsun Kang before waving his hand, "Take him out and behead him!"

Before Gongsun Kang could even beg for mercy, Dian Man excitedly agreed, strode over, dragged Gongsun Kang off the ground, and pulled him straight out of the main hall.

The ministers exchanged bewildered glances. Xun Yu glanced at Cao Cao and sighed inwardly, thinking, "His Majesty is becoming more and more decisive."

Perhaps no one in the world can compare to Cao Cao in terms of the tolerance His Majesty has shown.

Soon, Dianman returned, his hands still stained with blood.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this year's annual meeting has the most attendees of any year, and it is the one I am most pleased with."

Liu Xie stood up with a smile, raised a cup of wine, and said, "Gentlemen, let us drink together for the peace and stability of the world."

Everyone raised their glasses and drank with Liu Xie.

Next came the part about rewarding meritorious service. Liu Xie was naturally generous and publicly praised Zhang Liao, Gan Ning, and others who had performed outstandingly this year, granting them all the titles of marquis.

Finally, Liu Xie looked at everyone again, his expression becoming much more serious. "There is one more person whose contributions are also great. I will have his name engraved in the Lingyan Pavilion. He is Guo Jia!"

When Cao Cao heard Guo Jia's name, his eyes immediately welled up with tears. He looked up at Liu Xie, who, in front of everyone, reminisced about his time with Guo Jia.

Without Guo Jia, there would have been no harmonious relationship between Cao Cao and Liu Xie. Guo Jia had always advocated treating the emperor well and maintaining a harmonious situation, while Cheng Yu, Man Chong, Xun You, and others were more radical.

Take Xun You for example. Although he is now loyal to Liu Xie, he personally planned the operation to seize Xudu, but unfortunately, it failed.

Cheng Yu advised Cao Cao from the very beginning to keep the emperor firmly under his control. If Cao Cao had actually done so, Liu Xie would have had no chance of turning the tide, let alone even being able to leave the palace for a stroll.

Man Chong, as the previous magistrate of Xudu, had a very clear stance.

Jia Xu looked at the seat next to Cao Cao, where there was an empty seat, no one was sitting there.

Jia Xu knew that this was specially arranged by the emperor for Guo Jia.

Many of the things Guo Jia did before not only benefited Cao Cao, but also Liu Xie.

From the beginning, Jia Xu suggested getting rid of Guo Jia. Over the years, Liu Xie had considered this idea more than once, but in the end, he gave up!
Liu Xie posthumously granted Guo Jia the title of Marquis of Wulin, ensuring that everyone remembered him, including Liu Xie himself!
After the meeting, Liu Xie personally went to Lingyan Pavilion in Luoyang. Everything there was exactly the same as what he had seen in Xuchang.

Cao Cao also arrived; he knew that the emperor was going to write an inscription for Guo Jia.

The person who ground ink for the emperor changed from Lu Xun to Xun Yun, who was Xun Yu's son.

So many years have passed in the blink of an eye. Lu Xun has become a high-ranking official in charge of a region, and Xun Yun has gradually grown up.

Liu Xie said to Cao Cao, "Prime Minister, do you still remember the letter that Fengxiao wrote to me before he died?"

"Fengxiao asked me if he was qualified to appear in the Lingyan Pavilion? I will give him the answer now."

Cao Cao nodded. "Of course I remember. I remember every word written in that letter, and I will never forget it."

Liu Xie took the brush from Xun Yun, pondered for a moment, and then wrote in one stroke:
Born Guo Fengxiao, a hero surpassing all others.

His belly held the classics and histories, and his heart concealed the weapons of war.

His strategic planning was like that of Fan Li, and his decision-making like that of Chen Ping.

He was Cao Cao's right-hand man and a pillar of the Han Dynasty!
This last sentence acknowledges Guo Jia's importance to Cao Cao and affirms his contributions to the Han Dynasty.

"Your Majesty, I never expected you to give him such high praise." Cao Cao's heart pounded with excitement, and even his voice trembled slightly.

"Prime Minister, although Fengxiao did not pledge allegiance to me, everything he did was meritorious to you and the Han Dynasty, and a great one at that! The fact that we can get along well and stand side by side today is largely due to Fengxiao's contributions."

"Your Majesty is so loyal and righteous, so forgiving of past grievances, what more can I say?"

Cao Cao then turned to look at his own portrait. After a while, he suddenly knelt before Liu Xie and said, "Your Majesty, you have forgiven me for ten years. I am willing to spend another ten years to atone for my sins and to serve Your Majesty!"

Liu Xie quickly helped him up, saying, "Prime Minister, let's not bring up the past anymore."

Imagine if their roles were reversed, with Liu Xie as Cao Cao and Cao Cao as the emperor. Liu Xie, if he were to ask himself honestly, perhaps he wouldn't be too polite to the emperor either.

With soldiers and generals at their disposal, and so many capable people to assist them, who would willingly hand over everything to the emperor?
The two talked for a long time, truly speaking freely. They had been through so much together, from enemies to allies. This complex and ever-changing experience meant that Liu Xie and Cao Cao always had plenty to talk about.

…………

After the year ended, it was now the twelfth year of Jian'an, 207 AD!
A horde of frenzied Xianbei people, like a raging pack of wolves, suddenly crossed the northern border and poured into the land of China with ill intent.

The wind howled, the sound of horses' hooves was deafening, and the Xianbei knights brandished their scimitars, their eyes gleaming with madness. Like a pack of hungry wolves, they pounced on the innocent civilians.

The village was instantly engulfed in flames, thick smoke billowing into the sky. Houses collapsed in the fire, groaning in agony.

The screams of women pierced the sky, while the cries of children were drowned out by the chaos.

The Xianbei people's maniacal laughter echoed in the wind; they showed no mercy, mercilessly wielding their weapons against the unarmed civilians. Blood stained the earth, pooling into horrifying streams.

They looted frantically, taking food, treasure, livestock—everything they could carry became their spoils. (End of Chapter)