Liu Xie had not yet returned from changing clothes, and Cao Cao was sitting in the front hall, watching the five palace ladies dance.

The entire Xu capital is owned by the Cao family, and the beauty of Cao Cao's back house is no worse than the palace lady in the palace.

People always have a very strange mentality, their own home seems to be less attractive and tempting than the outside.

Cao Cao's mentality at this time was like this.

Obviously, there are countless beauties in his own back house, but he wants to come to the palace to seek excitement.

Watching Mei Ji sing and dance, Cao Cao's eyes narrowed slightly, and his face was confused.

Standing behind him, Xu Chu looked at Cao Cao.

Finding that the expression on his face was very strange, Xu Chu felt a sense of chagrin in his heart.

wanted to open his mouth to persuade a few words, but Xu Chu knew that he was in the palace at this time, and it was superfluous and inappropriate to say anything.

I can only hope that Cao Cao will not really come to the palace.

Mei Ji was still singing and dancing, and Liu Xie, who had changed his clothes after washing, came to the front hall.

He bowed to Cao Cao: "Is Gong Cao still satisfied with Gong'e's singing and dancing?" ”

"The palace lady in the palace is really different from the beauty queen in my family." Cao Cao had an evil smile on his face, and he admired the singing and dancing and replied to Liu Xie as if he was very casual: "Your Majesty is accompanied by so many palace ladies every day, but he is very happy. ”

"Mei Ji in Cao Gong's Mansion should be a little more beautiful than Gong E here." Liu Xie replied: "If Gong Cao likes it, what about these palace ladies to give to Gong Cao?" ”

Looking at Liu Xie, the smile on Cao Cao's face became even brighter: "What Your Majesty said is not a joke?" ”

"How could I joke with Cao Gong." Liu Xie replied: "I am also given by Gong Cao today, what is it to take away a few palace ladies from the palace?" ”

"Then I thank Your Majesty for the reward." Cao Cao laughed and arched his hand to Liu Xie: "If you want to say that you are still Your Majesty, you are transparent in doing things, you know what the ministers like, and you have sent five palace ladies at a time." Your Majesty's kindness, the minister remembers it in his heart! ”

"Cao Gong looks down on them, that's their creation." Liu Xie replied: "I have ordered me to recognize the fine wine and drink a few glasses with Cao Gong." ”

"It's not early, and Your Majesty is very sleepy." Cao Cao stood up and waved his hand at Liu Xie: "I won't drink with Your Majesty tonight, and I will also take Gong'e back to enjoy it." Your Majesty should rest earlier. ”

Cao Cao didn't plan to stay in the palace longer, and Xu Chu breathed a sigh of relief.

Bringing a few palace ladies back from the palace, it was Liu Xie's reward, even if it was spread, no one could say anything.

But if he stayed in the palace, even if it was just a palace attendant and spread to the outside world, Cao Cao would fall into the following grave crimes.

Cao Cao proposed to leave, and Liu Xie hurriedly replied: "I will send Cao Gong." ”

Without saying anything to him, Cao Cao left the room accompanied by Liu Xie.

The five palace ladies were sandwiched in the middle by a group of guards and followed behind Cao Cao, while Xu Chu walked behind Cao Cao's side with his sword.

On the way to the main gate of the palace, Cao Cao said to Liu Xie: "Your Majesty, Lu Bu tried to crusade against me, but I got the news that Pengcheng actually had a mess at this time. ”

Cao Cao mentioned that there was a mess in Pengcheng, Liu Xie's heart trembled, but he said: "Cao Gong is the minister of the Han Dynasty, and he has done his best for the Han Dynasty for so many years. Just Lu Bu's attempt to crusade against Cao Gong is not a mantis arm as a car? According to me, most of the chaos in Pengcheng will be Lu Bu's rebellion. Cao Gong sent troops to destroy him sooner or later. ”

"Your Majesty is too simple." Cao Cao laughed and said to Liu Xie: "But these words sound very pleasant. ”

"Everything I say is from the bottom of my heart." Liu Xie said: "Cao Gong has done his best for the Han Dynasty, everyone in the world knows it, even if I don't say it, the world understands it in their hearts." Just Lu Bu tried to provoke Cao Gong, didn't he kill himself? ”

Turning his head to look at Liu Xie, Cao Cao had a smile on the corner of his mouth, but his eyes narrowed slightly: "Your Majesty really thinks so?" ”

"Cao Gong Mingjian, I have no lies." Liu Xie immediately replied.

"Haha!" Cao Cao laughed again and patted Liu Xie's arm lightly: "Your Majesty, rest assured, as long as I am here, no one will be able to do anything to Your Majesty." ”

Liu Xie respectfully agreed, and Cao Cao greeted Xu Chu: "Zhongkang, let's go back!" ”

Sending Cao Cao to the main gate of the palace, Liu Xie watched him leave.

When Cao Cao walked away, he breathed a sigh of relief and instructed the attendants who followed him: "Return to the dormitory with me." ”

When he returned to the dormitory, he had been waiting for Liu Xie's Fu Hou to greet him and asked with concern: "Your Majesty, when Cao Cao came to the palace so late, is he going to make a rude move to His Majesty?" ”

"What do you mean by courtesy?" Liu Xie said helplessly: "It is a courtesy to be strong and strong." Now that the entire Xu capital is Cao Cao's, even if he is rude, what can I do to him? If I dare to say that he is not, I am afraid that the Han Dynasty will fall into the hands of others from now on. ”

"Your Majesty is the Ninety-Five, how can you be bullied by Cao Cao like this?" Fu Hou said: "Although the concubine is a woman, she can't see Cao Cao acting so perversely, let alone the heroes of the world." ”

"Heroes of the world?" Liu Xie smiled bitterly and said, "Earlier, I heard that Lu Bu and Yuan Shao had joined forces and planned to crusade against Cao Cao. But just now Cao Cao told me that there was chaos in Pengcheng, and Lu Bu had no time to look west. There is only one thing I can do with the queen, and that is to live in peace, and stop thinking about things that I shouldn't think about. ”

"Is Your Majesty really afraid of Cao Cao?" Fu Hou said: "No matter how strong Cao Cao is, he is just a courtier of the Han Dynasty, is it possible that he really dares to do the following great rebellion against the king?" ”

"Although he is a Han Chen, he has more real power than me, who is the emperor." Liu Xie said helplessly: "The soldiers of the three armies obey Cao Cao's orders, and whoever he wants to crusade against, the soldiers will kill him." So far, I'm just a doll played by Cao Cao. ”

"Your Majesty......" Liu Xie's words were desolate, and Queen Fu's eyes turned red and she turned her face to the side.

The queen should be extremely honorable, but it also depends on which dynasty and which emperor's empress.

The queen of the prosperous Ming Jun is the mother of the world, and everyone in the world must look up to it.

And an emperor like Liu Xie, who is famous but does not have any imperial power in his hands, is destined to suffer all the humiliation of powerful ministers with him as his queen.

Liu Xie, who was sleepless, and Queen Fu sighed in the room.

Cao Cao returned to Cao's house under the escort of Xu Chu and a team of guards.

In Xudu late at night, there was not even half a person on the street.

The horse's hooves stepped on the bluestone pavement, making a soft sound of "boom".

Cao Cao asked Xu Chu, "Is Zhong Kang very worried that I will do something that I shouldn't do in the palace?" ”

"I'm not worried about my lord doing something he shouldn't do." Xu Chu replied: "I just think that the lord should not be silent for now, and it is good for the world to be talented." ”

"Emperor of Mere Districts, if I want to replace him, who can stop me?" Cao Cao snorted coldly: "In recent years, he has caused me a lot of trouble. ”

"If the lord really replaces him, no matter who comes to crusade, I am willing to share the burden for the lord." Xu Chu replied: "It's just that at the moment, the lord is a minister, and the emperor is a king, so you still have to pay attention to it on the bright side." ”

Cao Cao nodded, and looked back at the five palace ladies behind him: "What does Zhong Kang think of the five palace ladies rewarded by His Majesty?" ”

"All of them are as beautiful as fairies, and they should indeed be enjoyed by the lord." Xu Chu replied.

"I don't know if Zhongkang likes it or not?" Cao Cao suddenly grinned and asked Xu Chu.

Xu Chu was shocked when he heard this, and hurriedly replied: "Your Majesty rewarded the palace of the lord, how dare I take a second look?" ”

"If you like, I'll send you two home with you." Cao Cao said: "I only need the one who leads the dance." ”

"Absolutely never!" Xu Chu said: "The woman next to the lord, how dare she accept it as a general? ”

"I said I'll give it to you, you just have to take it back." With a smile on the corner of his mouth, Cao Cao said to Xu Chu: "I came to the palace to tell the emperor that I don't expect Lu Bu to come to save him." Zhong Kang should have seen it just now, mentioning that there was chaos in Pengcheng, and the emperor's face was not very good-looking. ”

"What does the lord mean......" Hearing the meaning of Cao Cao's words, Xu Chu still asked with a stunned face.

"The emperor has long thought of counting on Lu Bu to come to save him." Cao Cao sneered: "But he doesn't know that Lu Bu is not a loyal courtier at all." Therefore, under the banner of loyalty, it is just that his current strength is insufficient, and he still needs to continue to grow the emperor's name. If he wants to grow stronger, I will be on the opposite side. I got some palace ladies from the emperor, and then dispelled his illusions about Lu Bu, and when I set out on the expedition, the emperor of the Han Dynasty would not make some fame behind his back. ”

"Your Majesty has no real power in his hands." Xu Chu said in surprise: "Even if he wants to do something secretly, can there be anyone else in Xu Du who dares to cooperate?" ”

"Did Zhong Kang forget Dong Cheng and the others?" Cao Cao said a word, and he didn't know how to respond to Xu Chu's question.

"Powerful power has a great temptation to the world." Cao Cao continued: "Xu Du seems to be stable on the surface, but secretly there is an undercurrent, and I don't know how many people want to bring me down and replace me. When those people did not succeed, they were loyal to the monarch and patriotic, and swore to die with the ministers. Once they have taken control of the power, it will not be so easy for the emperor to take back the imperial power. ”

"The lord means ......" Xu Chu seemed to understand what Cao Cao meant.

"Calm down Your Majesty first, and let him know that there is no benefit in going against me." Cao Cao replied: "It is natural for the emperor to hate me, after all, the power is in my hands, and he has no real power. All I want is that he hates me and can't do anything to me. Zhong Kang has not seen His Majesty once or twice, with such a weak temperament as him, even if the army is handed over to him, can he lead the soldiers to stabilize the world? ”

Xu Chu really didn't think that Liu Xie had the ability to lead the army.

Let's not talk about whether his ability is enough, just talk about prestige, the soldiers of the three armies are all rushing to Cao Cao, except for Xun Yu and a few other old ministers who are loyal to the Han family, there are really few people who are willing to follow Liu Xie.

"Zhongkang." Cao Cao asked Xu Chu, "Who do you think is more appropriate to destroy Lu Bu's coal mines?" ”

Xu Chu thought for a moment and said to Cao Cao: "It is not suitable to send generals under the command of the lord to destroy the coal mine, it is best to recruit some rangers." ”

"Ranger?" Cao Cao asked, "Do you have any rangers you recognize?" ”

"I do know a few of them." Xu Chu said: "It's just that these people have always been uncertain, and it is not easy to find them." ”

"I can't find them, so I recruit outlaws near Xudu." Cao Cao said: "Anyone who has some ability and dares to go will be given a generous reward." If they are killed on the way to destroy the coal mine, I will take care of their families. ”

"The conditions given by the lord are not ungenerous." Xu Chu replied: "I'll recruit early tomorrow morning, I don't know how many people are needed?" ”

"How many people do you need, tomorrow you go and ask Fengxiao and Wenhe." Cao Cao said: "The strategy was formulated by the two of them, and of course they are most familiar with every link. ”

"I see." Xu Chu agreed.

Cao Cao planned to send people to Pengcheng to sabotage in secret, and Lu Bu did not relax in the slightest.

Pengcheng is more closely inspected than before, and anyone who enters and leaves the city must be checked.

Earlier, Lu Bu had ordered Pang Tong and others to go to Qingzhou to invite Liu Hong.

Pang Tong first sent people to Shanyang, but the news he got was that Liu Hong had returned to his hometown and no longer held the post of Taishou.

However, for Pang Tong, Liu Hong's resignation from the post of Shanyang Taishou is not only not a bad thing, but it is also a good thing.

Liu Hong was originally a native of Mengyin, Taishan, and after returning to his hometown, he happened to return to the territory of Taishan.

After receiving this news, Pang Tong instructed Zang Ba to pay close attention to the movements of the Yuan family in Qingzhou, so as not to cause Yuan Tan to suddenly become troubled, and he took Sun Guan to Mengyin to ask to see Liu Hong.

Speaking of Liu Hong, he was obsessed with arithmetic when he was young and was very famous in the countryside.

Later, when he became an official in the court, Liu Hong became an unattainable nobleman in the eyes of the villagers.

He told the old man to return to his hometown, and everyone in Mengyin knew about it.

Pang Tong and Sun Guan came to Mengyin, and they thought that Liu Hong would hide in the mountains as a hermit, but after asking the villagers, they found out that after Liu Hong returned to his hometown, he did not find a secluded place to live in seclusion like many people who studied academics.

The place where he lives is on the most prosperous street in Mengyin County.

Liu Hong is too famous, and it doesn't take much effort to find his place to live.

Seeing that he was about to arrive at his door, Sun Guan said to Pang Tong: "I thought Liu Hong would live in seclusion, but I didn't expect him to find a piece of mountains and forests to isolate himself from the world as I thought, but he just lived in the hustle and bustle of the city." ”

Pang Tong said with a smile: "Such a move proves that he is really capable." ”

"Don't all those who have the ability like to be quiet?" Sun Guan asked in surprise: "Living in a place where people come and go, isn't it noisy?" ”

"The small is hidden in the wilderness, and the big is hidden in the city." Pang Tong said: "I didn't choose the countryside, but lived in the bustling market, which shows that this person has a broad mind and is indeed extraordinary." ”

"I found that no matter what you say, as long as it comes to General Pang's mouth, you can always say something." Sun Guan smiled: "That's it, the general said that he is a capable person, and I have the right to believe it." ”

The two of them talked and came to the door of Liu Hong's house.

Sun Guan glanced at a guard behind him, and the guard immediately stepped forward and pulled up the knocker and knocked a few times.