Cao Cao returned to Xuchang from Huainan and recuperated for several days. When news came that Xiahou Dun was flooded in Shouchun, his condition improved slightly.
Wang Lang, Dong Zhao, Hua Xin, etc. all came to visit and asked the prime minister to take care of himself. Liu Qi and Sun Quan were watching with eager eyes. There was no chance of any mistakes at this time.
Cao Cao held a banquet in honor of everyone and said with emotion: "I am a humble person. Since the uprising, I have vowed to clear the world. Seeing that the world is about to be settled, Liu Qi, a clinker, rose to Jingzhou and became more and more famous. Now he is colluding with Sun Quan. He is really a trouble to his confidants. I feel depressed and don’t know when I will be able to regain Jiangnan and share the wealth with the public."
Wang Lang said: "The prime minister eliminated evil for the country and attacked Dong Zhuo, Yuan Shu, Lu Bu, Yuan Shao, etc. Although there were minor setbacks, they were all defeated in the end. Liu Qi only won a few battles by luck, and Sun Quan could only defend Jiangdong. Sooner or later, he will be defeated." The Prime Minister’s men were defeated.”
Cao Cao stroked his beard and said: "Now we have become a tripartite force. I am not worried about the instability in the south of the Yangtze River. I am even more worried about my physical discomfort and the collapse of the middle road. I hate that the great cause has not been accomplished. I am afraid that there will be chaos in the Central Plains and the Han Dynasty will be delayed again."
Hua Xin cupped his fists and said, "The Prime Minister has retired now, so he can relax and recuperate. With the vastness of the Central Plains, he can gather more grain and grass, train his troops and horses, and wait for the battle between Sun and Liu, so that he can flatten the south of the Yangtze River in one go."
Cao Cao sighed: "You don't know, but now not only Sun and Liu are dissatisfied, but even Xianbei dares to violate the situation. As a prime minister alone, although he is a very popular minister, he is not able to convince everyone. What can I do?"
Dong Zhao stood up and said: "Since ancient times, no official has achieved as much merit as the prime minister, even if Zhou Gong and Lu Wang can't match it. In the wind and rain, for more than twenty years, he wiped out the evil forces, eliminated harm to the people, and restored the Han Dynasty. . With all the ministers and ministers in the same rank, how can the prestige convince the public? I foolishly thought that if I accept the position of Wei Gong and add nine tins, I can carry forward my achievements and conquer the world!"
Cao Cao tugged at his beard, glanced around with squinted eyes, and asked, "What do you think?"
Wang Lang stood up and said: "With the Prime Minister's authority and support for the Han Dynasty, it is difficult for us to hope for it. Nine tins are not enough to subdue Liu Qi, Sun Quan and the like. This is the blessing of the world and the luck of the Han Dynasty!"
Hua Xin also bowed and said: "We all rely on the blessing of the Prime Minister to stand in the temple and serve the country. I recently heard that the unicorn appeared in Ru River. The Prime Minister's stepping into the throne is not only what everyone expected, but also God's will!"
Cao Cao was overjoyed when he heard this. He ordered everyone to have a drink and go to Yecheng on a certain day. Dong Zhao submitted a letter and Hua Xin drafted an edict to ascend the throne of Wei Gong at Tongque Terrace.
When the horses and horses arrived at Yecheng, the news had already spread. Xun Yu, the servant, was shocked when he heard the news. He greeted Cao Cao outside the city and advised:
"The Prime Minister is a righteous soldier and wants to help the Han Dynasty. He should be loyal and loyal, and he should be modest and humble. A gentleman loves others with virtue. If he ascends the throne rashly, he may lose the hope of the world and hope to get his life back."
Cao Cao's face changed greatly when he heard this. He did not expect that Xun Yu would actually dissuade him, and said coldly: "If there is no one in the country, I don't know how many people will be emperor and how many will be king. How can Wen Ruo be inferior to the Duke of Zhou if he is alone?"
Xun Yu admonished: "The Duke of Zhou is a member of the emperor's clan, a member of the royal family, and the prime minister is a minister of the Han Dynasty. Since Emperor Gaozu, no one without the surname Liu can be crowned king. I hope the prime minister will think twice."
Cao Cao suddenly changed his expression and said sternly: "Xun Wenruo, how dare you slander a minister of the imperial court?"
Dong Zhao said from the side: "Prime Minister, please calm down. Your Majesty is aware of this matter. The dragon is very happy and hundreds of officials are playing together. How can one person block everyone's expectations?"
Cao Cao snorted coldly and got into the carriage. Dong Zhao, Hua Xin and others accompanied him to the palace. He asked Cao Cao to be the Duke of Wei, add nine tins, and discuss moving the capital to Luoyang next year.
On the bronze bird stage, hundreds of officials celebrated and generals competed and cheered, but Xun Yu was not present.
Cao Cao looked at the empty seat on his right, feeling quite disappointed, and asked, "Why didn't Wen Ruo come?"
Jiang Ji said: "Xun Lingjun advised the Prime Minister that day. He sighed on the roadside and said: 'I don't want to see this today!' From then on, he said he was ill at home and never went to court."
Cao Cao put the wine glass on the table and said in a deep voice: "If Xun Wen only helps the emperor, even though the talents of the king's assistant can't be used by me, why is he so valuable?"
Jiang Ji said: "The Prime Minister's recent deployment of troops has been quite unsatisfactory. There have been many criticisms in the court. Why not take the opportunity to go north, defeat Xianbei, sweep the desert, and achieve the success of Wei Qing and Huo Qubing. When he returns in victory, he will return to Luoyang. People will be happy, and the world will be happy. Dare you disobey!"
Cao Cao twisted his beard and pondered for a long time, then nodded and said: "I want to take the south of the Yangtze River, but Sun and Liu are helping each other. It is about to enter summer, and the grass is growing in the desert. We can use Ke Bi Neng to establish his authority, but we still need military advisors to accompany us here, so Order Xun Yu to accompany us."
"Yes!" Jiang Ji understood and immediately went to prepare.
In the summer and June of the 14th year of Jian'an, when Emperor Xian was in the early dynasty, Wei Gong and Prime Minister Cao Cao went out of their duties and wrote the "Shi Shi Biao" together, hoping to promote the martial arts of the Han Dynasty, crusade against Xianbei, and pacify Mobei.
How dare Emperor Xian disobey, so he worshiped Cao Cao as Grand Sima and Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Campaign. He listened to the call of the civil and military officials of the court and mobilized the strength of the Han Dynasty to attack the rebel Hu.
An imperial edict and an order were sent to Xun Yu's house. Xun Yu took it and sighed in his study.
The person responsible for delivering the decree was none other than Xun Yue, the younger brother of the clan, who was now the secretary-supervisor. When he saw this, he said with confusion: "The Prime Minister's cousin is a military advisor of the Central Military Commission and went to Mobei. This is an unparalleled achievement. It shows that the Prime Minister values their work and they have done great deeds together. Why do you think that my brother is so important?" Sigh?"
Xun Yu's eyes were full of loneliness and disappointment. He looked out the window at the few broken flowers hanging on the branches, and murmured: "The tree has grown, and the broken flowers have fallen."
Xun Yue said in astonishment: "Brother, what do you mean by this?"
"If I go north, I'm afraid my life will be short-lived!" Xun Yu smiled bitterly and said: "I want to resign due to illness and return to Yingchuan to return to the fields to take care of my old age. Zhong Yu will serve the emperor sooner or later, so be careful."
Xun Yue was shocked, but he also knew that Cao Cao was moody and suspicious, and the one who knew him best was Xun Yu, so he said no more.
Cao Cao was reviewing the three armies at Tongquetai and sworn to go out for battle. This time, the younger generation of generals were mainly training. Cao Zhang, Cao Zhen, Wen Qin, Guo Huai, etc. were all high-spirited and high-spirited.
The former army had already left the palace, and the personal guard sent a letter. Seeing that it was Xun Yu's handwriting, Cao Cao suddenly felt something was wrong.
After taking it apart and looking at it, I felt a lot more relaxed for some reason, and sighed: "Since Wen Ruo is seriously ill and cannot join the army, we will allow him to go home to recuperate. There is no need to resign from the official position. When his health improves, he can serve the country again."
The men and horses set off and arrived at Yanjing. Suddenly Emperor Xian sent people to send relief supplies to strengthen the reputation of the Northern Army.
Cao Cao opened the food box and took only two bites when he suddenly frowned and said, "Han Lu, Wei Lu?"
Then he put it aside and asked, "Whose idea was it for Your Majesty to reward the three armies?"
The messenger replied: "Lieutenant Yang."
Cao Cao's eyes gleamed slightly, he thought for a moment, and said: "Since it is a reward from His Majesty, and Xun Wenruo is also on the expedition list, how can he be missing out?"
Then he ordered Cao Chun to fetch a food box, but poured the food inside on the ground, sealed it again, and wrote in his own handwriting: The emperor's reward will be shared with Xun Gong!
Cao Chun was stunned and took the empty food box: "Prime Minister, what does this mean?"
Cao Cao said calmly: "I ordered people to send it quickly and quickly. I must hand it over to Xun Yu personally."
"No!" Although Cao Chun didn't understand what he meant, he never hesitated to follow Cao Cao's orders.
