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

Their graves were overgrown with weeds. Cao Cao bent down and personally helped clear them away, and Cao Zhang and Cao Ren also rushed over to help.

Cao Cao's thoughts drifted back to a long time ago.

"The world can do without Hong, but it cannot do without you!"

On the banks of the Bian River, Cao Hong risked his life to save Cao Cao.

In the end, Cao Cao lost trust in Cao Hong and even tried to get rid of him more than once.

Even so, Cao Hong had no complaints. During the campaign against Zhang Xiu, Cao Hong covered Cao Cao's retreat and willingly gave his life.

What is brotherhood? What is loyalty and righteousness?

Cao Hong exemplified this best through his actions.

Despite being seriously injured, Cao Chun was still willing to step forward and take the blame.

That tragic and moving scene made Cao Cao feel quite guilty, and his eyes couldn't help but well up with tears.

Xiahou Yuan was also a valiant general highly valued by Cao Cao.

Cao Cao brought fine wine and asked Cao Ren to sit down with him. He said, "Zixiao, they are all gone, but they were all great men."

Cao Ren nodded. "Whether it's the Xiahou family or the Cao family, they are all commendable."

Cao Cao first toasted Cao Hong and the others, and then poured himself a cup of wine.

Cao Cao downed his drink in one gulp and said, "Yes, Zilian and the others are all excellent. Do you know why I was so angry? It's because Cao Cheng and his ilk have brought shame upon our Cao family and tarnished my reputation."

Cao Ren looked at Cao Cao, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "My lord, Zilian and the others were indeed excellent, but their deaths were also related to His Majesty. Are we really just going to let it go like this?"

Even now, Cao Ren still feels somewhat resentful.

Cao Cao's face immediately darkened, and he said sternly, "Zixiao, what are you saying? Do you think not enough people have died yet?"

Cao Ren's eyes reddened as he explained, "That's not what I meant. If only they were all still alive."

Cao Cao said, "My struggle with His Majesty is over. In any struggle, there will inevitably be casualties. If Zilian and the others are still alive, then His Majesty should still be trapped in Xuchang. The victor is king and the loser is villain. I have already admitted defeat."

Cao Cao said earnestly, "Don't forget how Fengxiao died. Zixiao, if I had won in the end, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been as lenient as Your Majesty. So, we should feel fortunate and thank Your Majesty for not settling scores with us."

Cao Cao pointed to the graves of Cao Hong and the others, "Your Majesty is magnanimous, but your methods are also quite shrewd. A loss is a loss. A man should stand tall and upright. What? Do you think I'm a sore loser?"

Cao Zhang interjected, "Father, don't you always teach me that I can't admit defeat?"

Cao Cao glared at him fiercely, "That depends on who the opponent is. You've both seen the fate of Liu Bei and Sun Quan when they faced an opponent like His Majesty. Liu Bei has to constantly repent by planting vegetables, and Sun Quan can only atone for his sins at sea. Can you refuse to admit defeat? It's precisely because Zilian and the others are no longer here that we should understand even more that we must never oppose His Majesty again."

Cao Cao walked up to Cao Zhang and patted his son's strong chest. "I know you were born with superhuman strength and have been proud and arrogant since childhood, but can you compare to Lü Bu? Can you compare to Zhao Yun? Can you compare to Zhang Liao?"

Cao Zhang remained silent. Cao Cao snorted, "You've seen the result of my ten-year struggle with His Majesty. We can live in peace like this, and the Cao family can still retain a reputation for loyalty and righteousness. What more could we ask for?"

“You should learn more from your elder brother Zixiu in the future. He dreams of being able to follow His Majesty.”

Cao Zhang nodded vigorously and said, "I've got it!"

…………

Shi Xie arrived in Luoyang, only to be left stranded there. One day, he went to the Ministry of Personnel and met Xun Yu, anxiously asking, "Lord Xun, His Majesty has already set out on the expedition. What about me... what should I do?"

Shi Xie was quite old, with white hair and the marks of time etched on his face, which was filled with worry and unease.

Xun Yu put down the documents in his hand and shook his head helplessly. "The Xianbei have invaded the Central Plains, and the people of Bingzhou are suffering terribly. His Majesty is extremely anxious and sent troops in such a hurry that he forgot about your affairs."

"Did His Majesty leave no words before he departed?"

Shi Xie was inwardly groaning. What kind of situation was this? The emperor had gone on a campaign, and he couldn't leave. Was he just supposed to stay in Luoyang and wait around?
Xun Yu comforted him a few more times, telling him to wait patiently, and that if things went smoothly, His Majesty would soon be able to return to the capital.

……

Banners obscured the sun, and dust filled the sky.

Led by Liu Xie, the mighty army marched toward Yanmen Pass. The thunderous sound of hooves shook the earth, and the soldiers marched in perfect unison, their armor gleaming coldly in the sunlight.

Liu Xie rode a white horse, his gaze firm and profound, his heart filled with concern and responsibility for his country.

When this mighty army finally arrived at Yanmen Pass, the scene before him made Liu Xie frown deeply.

Once a vital pass that stood guard over the frontier and defended against foreign invasions, Yanmen Pass now shows signs of decay.

The bricks and stones of the city wall are mottled and crumbling, as if they were scars left by the relentless erosion of time. The wooden parts of the city gate are rotten and the flags on the watchtower are tattered and sway helplessly in the wind.

Liu Xie slowly dismounted, stepping over the scattered stones as he walked towards the broken city wall. He reached out and touched the rough bricks; their cold, calloused texture seemed to tell of past glories and present desolation. His eyes revealed deep sorrow and unwavering resolve.

"How could Yanmen Pass, a strategic pass meant to defend against foreign invasion, be in such a dilapidated state?"

Liu Xie's voice echoed through the silent pass, carrying an undeniable authority.

The generals beside him all lowered their heads. They knew that the current state of Yanmen Pass was a huge threat to the safety of the country. No wonder the Xianbei people had invaded repeatedly in recent years. Not only was Yanmen Pass in ruins, but the original garrison was also pitifully small. The border defense of the entire Bingzhou was a cause for deep concern.

Although the formidable pass still stood strong, its dilapidated state dampened Liu Xie's spirits. Turning to his soldiers, Liu Xie declared loudly, "Yanmen Pass is a vital barrier for our Han Dynasty against foreign enemies. Now, it has fallen into disrepair over the years. How can we protect our people if foreign invaders attack? I have decided to rebuild this pass, strengthen its defenses, and make it an impregnable fortress once more!"

Lü Bu led the shouts, "Your Majesty is wise!" His voice resounded through the sky, as if it would shatter the heavens.

Looking at the resolute faces before him, Liu Xie felt a surge of pride. He knew this was a difficult task, but for the peace of the nation and the happiness of the people, he had to rise to the challenge.

Liu Xie summoned Pang Tong and instructed him, "Immediately begin surveying the terrain of Yanmen Pass and formulate a detailed repair plan. It must be thorough and meticulous, leaving no room for error!"

The problematic group around Liu Xie consisted of capable individuals: Pang Tong, Sima Yi, Fa Zheng, Zhang Song, Meng Da, and others. They were all under Liu Xie's personal command.

Don't they want to do things? Don't they yearn to achieve great things? Liu Xie will satisfy them.

Pang Tong immediately accepted the order and began surveying the terrain and making arrangements.

Liu Xie also set up camp at Yanmen Pass and ordered Lü Bu to send people to investigate the situation of the Xianbei people.

With clear division of labor, everyone quickly got to work. Liu Xie paced back and forth in the pass, pondering how to complete the restoration project as soon as possible while ensuring its high quality. He looked up at the distant mountains and secretly vowed to restore Yanmen Pass to its former glory.

A few days later, Pang Tong presented Liu Xie with the preliminary survey results and repair plan.

Liu Xie listened attentively to every detail, occasionally raising his questions and suggestions. He knew that this restoration project was of great importance and could not tolerate the slightest carelessness.

"I believe the city walls need to be increased in height and thickness. The city gates should be replaced with more robust materials, and the number of watchtowers should be increased to ensure timely detection of enemy movements," Liu Xie said with a determined look in his eyes.

Pang Tong nodded vigorously, taking the emperor's opinion to heart.

"In addition, the defensive facilities within the pass need to be rearranged. More traps and arrow towers should be set up, and sufficient food and weapons should be stockpiled."

Liu Xie continued, "I want to make Yanmen Pass an insurmountable barrier for foreign enemies!"

In the days that followed, the restoration work proceeded at full speed. Many craftsmen were recruited from the surrounding area, and the soldiers and craftsmen worked together to move bricks, stones, and timber to build walls and fortifications. Emperor Liu Xie frequently visited the construction site to inspect the progress and encourage the soldiers.

Under the scorching sun, the soldiers were drenched in sweat, but without a single complaint. They knew that everything they did was to protect their homes and loved ones.

Looking at the bustling scene, Liu Xie felt a surge of satisfaction. He believed that with everyone's joint efforts, Yanmen Pass would surely be reborn.

Days passed, and the restoration project continued. The city walls were gradually raised and thickened, the city gates were renovated, and the watchtowers stood tall. The defensive facilities within the pass were also improved one by one, the traps were cleverly and deadly, and the arrow towers were majestic and imposing.

While building Yanmen Pass, Liu Xie was not idle. He first sent people to return the property and women plundered by the Xianbei people to their homeland, and then repaired the severely damaged villages and provided appropriate compensation.

Many villages were burned down, which Liu Xie deeply resented. While comforting the people, he secretly resolved that he could not be polite to these foreign tribes.

On this day, Sima Yi came to Liu Xie's tent and reported: "Your Majesty, Kebineng of the Xianbei in the central region has sent an envoy to request an audience."

"Kebineng?"

Liu Xie was no stranger to this name. Of all the Xianbei tribal leaders since Tan Shihuai's death, the one most worthy of attention was undoubtedly Kebineng!
He Lian, Kui Tou, Qian Man, and Bu Du Gen were not particularly brilliant strategists, nor did they have the ambition to unify the Xianbei.

However, Kebineng was very capable. He constantly learned from the Han people, learning their culture and technology. He learned anything that was useful to the Xianbei.

He used what he had learned to strengthen the Xianbei people, continuously enhance his own reputation, and finally turn against the Han people.

In short, during the Cao Wei period, Kebineng rebelled several times.

This is not a good sign. What does it mean?
This shows that Kebineng was very good at assessing the situation. He would rebel when he had the opportunity, and submit when he didn't.

"Zhongda, how much do you know about Kebineng?"

"Your Majesty, I have some understanding of it." It seems that Sima Yi had done some research in private.

"Kebineng's tribe was located in Dai County and Shanggu County of Youzhou. He belonged to the central Xianbei. On the surface, he was subservient to Kuitou, after all, Kuitou was the recognized leader of the Xianbei. But in reality, Kebineng was not controlled by anyone. He was active in the central region, constantly accumulating strength and power. He was very famous and well-respected in the area. In recent years, he had been sending people to learn from the Han people and encouraging trade with them."

Liu Xie nodded and praised, "It seems you've put a lot of effort into this, but do you think Kebineng can be of use to me?"

"can!"

Liu Xie gestured for him to continue, and Sima Yi analyzed: "The western Xianbei are hostile to us, while the eastern Xianbei remain in a wait-and-see mode and have not made any statement. At this time, Kebineng took the initiative to send envoys to contact us. Obviously, he wanted to take the initiative to show goodwill to us. On the one hand, he wanted to show our sincerity and support our attack on Kui Tou's tribe. On the other hand, he also wanted to protect himself and hoped that Your Majesty would not use force against his tribe."

"Let the envoy in. I want to hear what he has to say."

As Sima Yi had predicted, the envoy brought many gifts and, upon seeing Liu Xie, immediately kowtowed and uttered many flattering and ingratiating words.

"Your Majesty, Chief Kebineng previously advised Kui Tou to behave themselves and not to cause trouble in the Central Plains. However, Kui Tou refused to listen and insisted on leading his men to plunder the territory. Hearing that Your Majesty is going to personally lead the expedition, our chief is very supportive and is even willing to send troops to assist Your Majesty in conquering Kui Tou's remaining forces."

Liu Xie nodded with satisfaction, "Alright, you may leave now. I will give you an answer tomorrow."

Dian Man saw the envoy out, and soon after, Liu Xie summoned Pang Tong and the others.

They were all members of the problematic legion, and the atmosphere in the main tent was very strange. Fa Zheng, Pang Tong, and Sima Yi were all extremely intelligent.

They exchanged glances, feeling awkward and ashamed. They all understood that they were people who had been on the emperor's blacklist.

Liu Xie had a specific purpose in bringing these people together; each person could serve as a mirror for others.

Seeing others can serve as a reminder and warning to oneself, and this effect is quite good.

Liu Xie looked around at the group, scrutinized them for a moment, and said, "Rest assured, everyone. As long as you can share my burdens and serve the court, I will reward you accordingly. What you did before was not exactly honorable, but I am willing to give you the opportunity to redeem yourselves through merit. I hope you will all seize this opportunity and cherish it." (End of Chapter)