Chapter 517: The Uncles Accompanying Liu Xie in the Fourth Row (Four Thousand)
"Uncle Master, come and drink some water. Does it still hurt?"

Cao Ang, holding a cup of water, looked at Liu Xie, who was lying on the chair with his red buttocks exposed, and a look of pity flashed in his eyes.

Liu Xie was severely beaten by Lu Zhi for these two faults: sneaking out of the palace and getting involved in the melee.

Even though Liu Xie had thick skin and flesh, he still screamed continuously. In terms of the redness and swelling of his buttocks, it was even more so than that of Ma Chao and Ma Dai who took direct action.

Voila.

Now they are all grinning.

"Hiss" Liu Xie opened his mouth, and his face suddenly twisted, his nose and eyebrows were almost squeezed together, and he took breaths of cold air.

But as a husband, how can I complain and cry out in pain?
So Liu Xie said stubbornly: "No, it doesn't hurt."

As if he was afraid that Cao Ang would not believe him, he forced a smile and asked, "Nephew, are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Cao Ang subconsciously touched his butt and only felt a slight pain.

Although he was a victim in the battle between Cao and Liu, one thing is another.

Lu Zhi did not absolve Cao Ang of the blame for sneaking out of the palace just because Cao Ang was beaten by the two Ma brothers.

However, Cao Ang could clearly feel that the force used by Lu Zhi in swinging his shoes was much lighter than before, so he was still able to walk on the ground.

"Junior brother, it's okay. It's okay as long as there's nothing wrong." Liu Xie took the water cup from Cao Ang and drank it in big gulps as if he was drinking wine.

During this time, Zhuge Liang, carrying a bucket of water, walked to Liu Xie's side, wrung out the cloth soaked in water, and gently placed it on Liu Xie's buttocks.

This touched Liu Xie so much that he kept shouting, "Thank you, Uncle Zhuge, thank you, Uncle Zhuge."

Zhuge Liang wanted to say something, but when he opened his mouth, the words that came out were, "Cultivate yourself well."

After saying that, he picked up the bucket and walked towards Ma Chao and Ma Daifa, who were also lying on their butts in the air.

Judging from his actions, he doesn't look like he's been beaten.

"." Cao Ang's face showed helplessness. He specially brought water to Liu Xie, but he didn't even get a thank you from Liu Xie. How could Zhuge Liang...
Cao Ang shook his head, thinking that he was being too fussy. Liu Xie was not very old after all.

But there was one thing that puzzled Cao Ang.

Earlier, when Lu Zhi pointed his shoes at Zhuge Liang, Liu Bei hurriedly opened the door.

With just a few words, Lu Zhi put down his shoes. He was so biased that he did not even try to hide it.

The strange thing was that Fa Zheng, Ma Chao, Ma Dai, and even Liu Xie and others said nothing, as if they had fallen into collective silence.

If Pang Hui hadn't been there shouting, "General Wei, why don't you attack Zhuge Liang?!"

Perhaps Liu Bei's shoes would not even touch Zhuge Liang.

It's really weird.

Who is this Zhuge Liang?
Previously, Cao Ang thought that Zhuge Liang should be a well-educated student. After being introduced by Lu Zhi, he became a classmate of Liu Xie during his time in Xiangyang.

Now it seems that he is General Wei's biological son? !

Liu Xie always felt that Cao Ang was having wild thoughts, but the burning pain on his buttocks prevented him from thinking any deeper. He gritted his teeth and waved at Cao Ang.

Cao Ang understood the meaning of Liu Xie's action, which was asking him to lean closer.

Could it be that Prince Chenliu has another bad idea?
Helplessly, Cao Ang put his ear closer, and heard a hint of excitement in Liu Xie's painful voice, "My nephew, I will explain it to you in detail, please don't let others hear it."

"Uncle master, don't worry, I always keep my mouth shut." With the idea of ​​playing with Liu Xie, Cao Ang patted his chest.

Liu Xie suddenly became mysterious and pointed to the left.

What they saw was Zhuge Liang carrying a bucket of water, Pang Tong, Huang Xu, Liao Hua chatting with Fa Zheng, Ma Chao and Ma Dai who were lying on chairs, and Liu Ba who looked at them from time to time.

"Nephew, let me tell you something. When I was in Xiangyang, I heard Uncle Fa say that Zhuge Kongming's talent was ten times greater than his. Uncle San also said that Zhuge Kongming could call the wind and rain. Think about it, isn't this a natural strategist?!

"This..." Cao Ang couldn't help laughing. How could the Prince of Chenliu take the novelist's story seriously? Calling the wind and rain? Only gods or demons could do this.

But. Is Zhuge Liang a demon?
Cao Ang looked at Zhuge Liang, who was applying cold compress to Ma Chao and Ma Daifa. He was clearly a modest gentleman. How could there be any mysterious gods or demons like him?

However, Liu Xie's subsequent words shocked Cao Ang.

"Nephew, when we go to war in the future, we will have Uncle Zhuge, Uncle Fa, and Uncle Pang for civil affairs, and Uncle Ma for military affairs. With the Emperor's uncle in charge at the rear, even if Xiang Yu is resurrected or Han Xin is reborn, they will never be our rivals! Hissing."

As Cao Ang was facing the fists of Ma Chao and Ma Dai directly, the worry in his heart disappeared immediately when he heard Liu Xie's words.

When he thought about it carefully, he realized that what he said was absolutely right!
The brothers Ma Chao and Ma Dai were both very skilled in martial arts. If it weren't for Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong, Huang Xu and Liu Ba's interference, he would have been beaten black and blue.

Zhuge Liang. How could Zhuge Liang, who could set rules for a young man like Liu Xie, be ordinary?
As for Fa Zheng, he was also very amazing. With just one sentence, he could make Ma Chao and Ma Dai rush forward, while he hid aside and directed Ma Chao and Ma Dai on how to attack. Is he still an ordinary person? !
The remaining Pang Tong
Thinking back to Pang Tong, what impressed Cao Ang the most was Pang Tong’s words of encouragement. I guess they were able to boost morale?
If we match these young men with the functions in a tribe.
Is Zhuge Liang good at commanding the army? Is Fa Zheng good at making decisions? Is Pang Tong good at calming the army?
Ma Chao and Ma Dai, the generals who led the charge into battle?
The more Cao Ang thought about it, the more surprised he became. Although he had never led a large army, he had seen the elders in his clan train militia, and he had even followed them to deal with bandits.

Don’t these people just constitute the prototype of a military commander? !

Of course, these were not the things that surprised Cao Ang the most. What shocked him was that Liu Xie could actually see through this. Could it be that he had always underestimated Liu Xie? !
"Hehe, Li'er, what are you talking about?" Fa Zheng, who was also lying on the chair, noticed Liu Xie's strange behavior.

Liu Xie laughed and said, "I'm praising Uncle Fa!"

"Oh?" Fa Zheng looked at Liu Xie suspiciously, his words seemed unconvincing.

Seeing Liu Xie's smile that couldn't be any stiffer, Fa Zheng didn't delve into it too much. After all, Liu Xie wouldn't stab him in the back.

Fa Zheng quickly changed the subject and asked, "Li'er, it's been a long time since we last met in Xiangyang. How are you doing academically?"

"Studies." Liu Xie's smile froze instantly, his heart skipped a beat, and he thought to himself: Not good!
Talking about studies
Isn't this going to cost him his life? !

Even if Fa Zheng taught him the scriptures, he would be a thousand times unwilling to do so!
Even though he was already confused, Liu Xie still patted his chest and said confidently: "Haha, Uncle Fa, I... I have learned it very well. Whether it is poetry or prose, I can pick it up easily!"

"Oh?" Fa Zheng became interested. "Is it really so?"

“Trueer than gold!”

"Good! Come on, Li'er, how about we write a poem about the march?" "This, this." Liu Xie was immediately anxious. Why did they really ask him to write a poem? He really didn't know how to do these things!

He began to regret lying to Fa Zheng.

I should have confessed it openly earlier!
Now if I say, “Uncle, I was just joking with you,” wouldn’t it be embarrassing?
Liu Xie endured the pain and his brain worked rapidly. Fortunately, at this moment he had a flash of inspiration and quickly looked at Cao Ang.

“?” Cao Ang always felt that something bad was going to happen.

Sure enough, the next moment Liu Xie winked at Cao Ang wildly while speaking.

"It would not be difficult to write poems and essays on normal days, but today I am injured and I am afraid that I can't perform at my usual level, which would pollute Uncle Fa's ears. After careful consideration, it would be better for my nephew to do it. Uncles, think about it, if my level of writing poems and essays is not good enough, how can I be the uncle of the son of the Grand Herald?"

This sounds reasonable. At present, both Liu Xie and Cao Ang are taught by Lu Zhi. It is impossible that one is Lu Zhi's disciple and the other is a disciple of Lu Zhi's disciple, right?
Besides, if it was not his own will or if it was not due to external forces, why did Cao Ang call Liu Xie his uncle?

The former is naturally unlikely. Let alone Cao Ang, even if you just pick up a random young man, no one would be willing to call a young man younger than himself "uncle master".

I guess it's the latter possibility?
If it was due to external forces, maybe Liu Xie really made some progress after coming to Chang'an, which is why Cao Mengde's teacher took a fancy to him and accepted him as a disciple? !
Ma Chao and Ma Dai looked at each other, and they thought it was very likely that Cao Mengde's teacher would accept Liu Xie as his disciple!

"Brother, you are indeed a powerful person. You have made great progress!"

"Hahaha, Brother Dai, how bad can the Youzi I'm waiting for be?! I don't trust your and my judgment, but don't you think I don't trust the judgment of my lord and the Minister of the Chancellery?!"

Even Liu Xie felt his cheeks getting hot after hearing the praise from Ma Chao and Ma Dai.

"."Fa Zheng fell silent, and glanced at Ma Chao and Ma Dai, not knowing what to say to them. His original intention was to test Liu Xie's quick wit, as he knew that writing poems and fu would cost Liu Xie his life. Given Liu Xie's boastful character, he would certainly not confess the truth, but if he did, it would be enough to show Liu Xie's improvement.

All in all, Liu Xie was quick-witted.

However, Ma Chao and Ma Dai's performance was beyond Fa Zheng's expectations. Cao Mengde also accepted Liu Xie as his disciple.
If that is the case, why not say that it was Cao Mengde who accepted the disciple on behalf of the master?
However, Cao Ang did surprise Fa Zheng a little. When he heard in Xiangyang that Cao Cao almost starved to death while saving the people, he was so angry that he patted his chest and cursed Cao Cao for his hypocrisy.

Even after receiving Liu Bei's letter, his first reaction was, Oh no, my lord has been bewitched by Cao Mengde! Cao Mengde is really vicious!

The moment he arrived in Chang'an and identified Cao Ang, Fa Zheng's long-accumulated resentment completely erupted at that moment, and he directly called on Ma Chao and Ma Dai to attack with their fists.

As a result, Xiti was severely beaten by Lu Zhi.

Later, Liu Bei went to the Taifu Mansion specially and had a long talk with Fa Zheng. Only then did Fa Zheng realize that he had indeed misunderstood Cao Mengde.

Since it is a mistake, it should be acknowledged and compensated!
Fa Zheng clenched his fists and pondered what to say.

Unlike Ma Chao and Ma Dai who were delighted and helpless, Cao Ang was confused. Was his father so famous? In terms of literary talent, he should be far inferior to General Zhang, right?
Could it be that Fa Zheng learned this in his dream again?

Cao Ang’s brows were twisted into a knot. If what Fa Zheng said was true, then what would his father look like in Fa Zheng’s dream?

He robbed his subordinate Sima's aunt and was also good at writing poems and essays.
Cao Ang instantly thought of those scholars who could not control their lower bodies and spent their days in debauchery.

Huhu
Fortunately, it was just a young man's dream
"Nephew, nephew!"

Liu Xie's calling brought Cao Ang's thoughts back to the present. Seeing Liu Xie's pleading face, Cao Ang's heart softened immediately.

He sighed, thought for a long time, and wrote a poem and an fu according to Fa Zheng's request.

"Great!" Liu Ba was the first to cheer and applaud.

Ma Chao lowered his voice and asked Ma Dai, "Brother Dai, what do you think?"

"I, I don't know!" Ma Dai showed a confused look. Wouldn't it be difficult for him to be asked about writing poems and essays?
However, Ma Dai also had his own ideas. "Brother, the Minister of the Chancellery didn't say anything bad. I think Cao Ang's poems can't be that bad. Why don't we applaud like Liu Zichu? Brother, think about it, Cao Ang is Li'er's nephew. When we praise Cao Ang, aren't we actually praising Li'er?"

"Makes sense!"

Ma Chao accepted Ma Dai's suggestion without thinking too much, and the two of them shouted in unison: "Cheers!"

"As expected of him, he is the son of Cao Mengde. He is truly extraordinary. In my opinion, he will become a wise and capable general in the future! A loyal and righteous man!" It was Pang Tong who said this.

Huang Xu quickly agreed: "Brother is right!"

Liao Hua followed up by saying, "Very good, very good."

Only Pang Hui was not affected. He looked painful. "It hurts, it hurts so much. Why doesn't Zhuge Liang come over to give me cold compress?"
Snapped

Feeling the coolness on his butt, Pang Hui's ferocious facial features due to pain relaxed a lot. He was just about to express his gratitude to Zhuge Liang behind him.

I never expected that the voice that came into my ears was Guan Ping's.

"No need to thank you."

"Guan Guan Ping! Are you taking advantage of someone's misfortune?!" Pang Hui shouted in shock.

Guan Ping said disdainfully: "How could I take advantage of someone's misfortune?! What I hate most is to attack others by surprise!"

".Then. You. Me." Pang Hui's voice weakened, as if he had lost his confidence in an instant.

Guan Ping naturally understood what Pang Hui meant, and he was obviously asking Guan Ping why he still needed to give him cold compresses.

Guan Ping said coldly, "I am doing this for your father's sake, not to forgive the past. A real man should behave in an upright manner. How can you take advantage of the chaos? I know you have always hated me. If you are not satisfied with my behavior, you can just fight me openly. Why do you have to resort to such despicable means? You are simply insulting the reputation of Captain Pang! You, think about it carefully! Don't let me look down on you!"

"I" Pang Hui wanted to argue, but with my mouth open, I didn't know what to say.

He could only keep comforting himself, it was all Fa Zheng, if it wasn't for Fa Zheng, how could he have seized the opportunity to attack Guan Ping? If he didn't take action this time, he might never be able to defeat Guan Ping again in the future!

but.
Guan Ping's words just now kept echoing in his ears, but he was unable to refute Guan Ping's words.
However, something unexpected happened. Pang Hui's eyes widened. Fa Zheng, who had provoked the chaos, actually supported his body with his arms and took difficult steps to apologize to Cao Ang?!

"Brother Zheng, what do you think of the people in the house?" Lu Zhi, who was standing outside the house and secretly looking at the situation inside, looked at Zheng Xuan.

Zheng Xuan saw that the culprit Fa Zheng apologized sincerely, and saw that Cao Ang forgave him readily. Even in the most unbearable Pang Hui, Zheng Xuan could see a trace of regret in him.

Zheng Xuan nodded with satisfaction, "They are all unpolished gems."

Lu Zhi was surprised. "Oh? Brother Zheng's evaluation is so high? However, the sage said that if jade is not polished, it will not become a useful tool; if people do not learn, they will not know. In the end, it still requires our efforts. How do you think we should teach it, Brother Zheng?"

"Teach students in accordance with their aptitude." Zheng Xuan said.

(End of this chapter)