Chapter 374

Seeing that Cao Cao had sent heavy troops to guard Puyang City, and that this Military Sima Yi was young but old and cunning, Liu Bei did not force an attack on Dong Commandery. He left Zhang Zhang Liao to guard Jiyin Commandery.

He himself led troops to meet the generals at Xuxian, Cao Cao's old lair!

In Xuxian,

Liu Bei met with Guan Yu and Zhuge Zhang Liang, whom he hadn't seen for a long time.

Guan Yu was filled with tears.

"Big brother, I was careless and didn't take Ye City. Please punish me!"

Liu Bei laughed loudly.

"Yunchang, you went east from Hulao, broke more than ten cities in succession, and shook the Central Plains. I don't even know how to reward you yet."

Liu Bei looked at Zhuge Zhang Liang again.

"Kongming is a great talent. Not only did you govern Jing Province well, but you also helped me take Xuxian. You have great merit."

He patted Zhuge Zhang Liang's thin shoulder.

"But don't work your body too hard. I'll prescribe some medicine for you to recuperate. Throw those miscellaneous matters to your subordinates; don't do everything yourself."

Zhuge Zhang Liang felt grateful in his heart.

"My lord's thick love—I have nothing to repay you with."

Liu Bei smiled.

"You gave up your comfortable life as a hermit to help me restore the Great Han; that is already the greatest reward."

He took Zhuge Zhang Liang and Guan Yu's hands and entered Xuxian together.

The people of Xuxian were emotionally stable. Liu Bei's army did not commit any crimes, and the city had now returned to normal life order.

Liu Bei arrived at the former residence of Cao Cao's General of Chariots and Cavalry, where a woman in white stood.

Liu Bei looked and saw that the girl was sweet and cute, with fair skin and national beauty, but her face had a haggard look, which instead increased her tragic beauty.

Liu Bei felt a bit strange. Who was this beautiful little beauty?

The woman also looked at Liu Bei carefully when she saw him.

She couldn't believe that the Lord Liu Xuande, who had become famous almost at the same time as her father, or even more famous, and who had shaken the world—the one she grew up hearing stories about—was actually so young and handsome!

"No wonder every time Father mentioned Liu Bei's appearance, he was full of jealousy..."

She immediately reacted, realizing she had been mesmerized by looking at a man.

"How shameful!"

Cao Jie bowed gracefully.

"Lord Liu Xuande, this young woman is Cao Jie, daughter of Cao Cao."

Liu Bei suddenly realized. So it was the second Empress of Emperor Han Xian of Han, the Cao Jie who threw the jade seal in anger. He thought to himself,

"I didn't expect the Cao family's daughter to have just grown up!"

He smiled, making Cao Jie feel like she was bathed in a spring breeze.

"Cao, you are both beautiful and intelligent. I didn't expect Brother Mengde to be so blessed."

Cao Jie bowed gracefully.

"Thank you for the compliment, Lord Liu Xuande. This young woman has a request..."

Cao Jie told him the matter.

Liu Bei nodded.

"Saving lives and healing the wounded is the duty of us physicians. I will go see him immediately."

Cao Jie felt moved in her heart. Liu Bei didn't even enter the hall and went to save someone. She thought to herself,

"Lord Liu Xuande is benevolent and righteous; his reputation is truly well-deserved."

The group arrived at the inner room of the side courtyard, which was filled with the smell of herbs.

The delicate-looking Cao Chong lay on the bed, his face pathologically flushed.

Liu Bei tested the temperature of his forehead and took his pulse, frowning.

Cao Jie trembled in her heart.

"Lord Liu Xuande, the famous physicians in the city all say that my brother Chong is probably..."

Liu Bei suddenly laughed.

"You don't need to worry too much. His condition is serious, but since I have arrived, I will definitely not let anything happen to him."

Cao Jie was instantly warmed by Liu Bei's smile.

Liu Bei prescribed two prescriptions.

"Cao Chong has a lung infection caused by a fever. Take these two prescriptions first, and I will give him acupuncture tomorrow. He should be better in half a month."

"Thank you, Lord Liu Xuande."

Liu Bei looked at Cao Jie's haggard face and grabbed her hand.

Cao Jie was shocked. This Lord Liu Xuande...

The live stream barrage exploded.

"Brother Bei, Cao Cao treats you as a buddy, you can't do this!"

"Boss Cao's backyard is about to be hollowed out by Liu Bei!"

"I pity her. Miss Cao Jie is not bad; if it were me, I'd make a move too!"

"Brother Bei, stop! Leave Miss Cao Jie to me!"

Cao Jie was blushing. Her heart was in chaos. The rumor that Lord Liu Xuande loves beauties—could it be true? Then what should I do?

Although she had a good impression of Liu Bei, Liu Bei was her father's mortal enemy.

"His strength is so great, his palms are so powerful!"

Cao Jie's snow-white swan neck was instantly covered in a blush.

Liu Bei grabbed Cao Jie's tender white hand and frowned.

"You have also been infected by the fever. Have you been coughing for the past few days?"

Cao Jie?!

So Lord Liu Xuande was taking her pulse.

Cao Jie hurriedly started coughing to cover up her embarrassment.

"Woo woo, fortunately Lord Liu Xuande doesn't know my thoughts, otherwise, I..."

Cao Jie almost coughed herself to death, but felt a bit unhappy in her heart. Did she not count as a beauty? Did Lord Liu Xuande have no thoughts?

Liu Bei also prescribed a prescription for Cao Jie and let the servants go to boil the medicine.

Cao Jie looked at Liu Bei's back, feeling that Lord Liu Xuande was really warm, and her heart was warmed. Which young girl wouldn't have a good impression of such a handsome hero of the world?

Liu Bei then returned to the main hall, where the generals had already gathered.

Liu Bei laughed.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

Zhuge Zhang Liang cupped his fists.

"My lord, I admire your saving lives and healing the wounded very much."

Liu Bei nodded.

"Kongming, tell everyone what the situation is now."

Zhuge Zhang Liang cupped his fists.

"Everyone, my lord has crushed the Cao Army. Cao Cao has fled to Hebei, only occupying Dong Commandery. Runan and Chen State in Yu Province, seeing that Xuxian was abandoned by the Cao Army, did not resist and surrendered city by city."

"Our army has already occupied all of Yu Province and Xu Province, and in Qing Province, Kong Beihai, Donglai, Qi State, and Jinan Commandery have all been taken by our army!"

Everyone was overjoyed. They didn't expect such excellent results this time—in two months, they had taken three and a half provinces!

Zhang Fei laughed.

"Big brother, Cao Cao only has two and a half provinces left. I am willing to be the vanguard to take Ye City directly!"

Guan Yu was also eager to try; he hadn't taken Ye City last time and was still brooding over it.

Liu Bei shook his head.

"Our army has just taken the Central Plains. The three provinces of the Central Plains have so many people and such a large area, and we haven't implemented effective rule yet. If we rashly attack Hebei and fail, the Central Plains will be in danger."

Guo Jia also said,

"My lord is wise. Cao Cao managed the Central Plains for a long time. This time our army relied on the power of a great victory to quickly occupy the Central Plains, but there are many hidden dangers, and many gentry may not be sincerely convinced."

Pang Tong also interjected.

"When our army attacks Hebei, if these gentry rebel, the rear will be unstable, and the front line will not be able to last."

Liu Bei looked around.

"So our army's next step is to truly integrate the Central Plains."

"Xun You, I appoint you as Inspector of Yu Province. You must win the hearts of the people and the gentry."

"Understood!"

"Guan Yu, I appoint you as Inspector of Yan Province, and Xu Shu as Assistant Governor of Yan Province and Administrator of Chenliu Commandery."

"Understood!"

"Guan Yu will guard Chenliu, Zhang Zhang Liao will guard Jiyin, Lu Xun will lead troops to guard Dongping State, and the naval forces will train and control the shipping lanes in Daye Marsh and the Yellow and Ji Rivers."

"Understood."

Liu Bei also ordered Huang Zhong to guard Le'an and confront Xia Xia Houyuan across the Yellow River.

Taishi Ci will guard Jinan Commandery and wait for an opportunity to act.

At the same time, promote Zhao Yun to Inspector of Bing Province, Tian Yu to Administrator of Yanmen, Fa Zheng to Assistant Governor of Bing Province and Administrator of Taiyuan, and transfer Jia Xu to Xuxian.

Zhuge Zhang Liang cupped his fists.

"My lord, our army has occupied the Central Plains. Jiangdong and Jing Province are too far from the three locations. In the future, the road to move troops to Hebei will be long. I suggest starting to rebuild Luoyang City."

Liu Bei also had this idea.

"Good. Appoint Li Yan as the head and Ma Jun as the assistant, recruit skilled craftsmen from all over the world, and build Luoyang City."

"I will continue to sit in Xuxian and soothe the hearts of the people and gentry of the Central Plains."

He also sent for his wives and concubines to be brought to Xuxian, and Liu Bei intended to stay until Luoyang was rebuilt.

Xun You cupped his fists.

"My lord, Chen Qun, the Administrator of Runan, has great talent. I recommend him."