"General Wen Chou is truly brave and powerful!"
Cao Cao praised and said with a smile
"I have always liked strong generals. If General Wen Chou doesn't mind, you might as well do something for me, how about that?"
Wen Chou hesitated for a moment, then said in a low voice,
"I have a condition, and I hope the Prime Minister agrees!"
"Don't mention a single condition, I will agree even if it's ten or eight!"
Cao Cao nodded in agreement without thinking.
"As long as the Prime Minister can spare Jizhou Mu's life, I will be loyal to the Prime Minister!"
After hearing Wen Chou's conditions, the smile on Cao Cao's face froze.
He didn't expect that Wen Chou was such a loyal person!
But for Yuan Tan, Cao Cao must kill him!
The fourth and third sons of the Yuan family, plus Yuan Shao has been running Jizhou for so long, he is very prestigious in the north!
And Cao Cao has a grudge against Yuan for killing his father. If Yuan Tan suddenly rebels when he goes south to crusade in the future, it will be troublesome.
"Isn't the Prime Minister unwilling?"
Wen Chou looked at Cao Cao and asked in a deep voice.
Just when Cao Cao didn't know how to answer, he saw Yang Ling on the side and winked at him.
Only then did he come back to his senses and said with a smile,
"This is easy to say, I promise you!"
After hearing this, Wen Chou felt relieved and knelt down on one knee.
"The general has finally met my lord!"
"General Wen Chou, please wake up quickly!"
Cao Cao smiled affectionately and helped Wen Chou up.
After some words of comfort, he asked Wen Chou to go down first.
"Zi Yi, why do you want me to agree to Wen Chou's request?"
Cao Cao said doubtfully.
"Don't you want to conquer Wen Chou, Prime Minister?"
Yang Ling asked with a smile.
Cao Cao nodded,
"Of course I have. But you don't know that I must get rid of the Yuan brothers, including Yuan Tan."
"My lord, there are many ways to get rid of Yuan Tan. Don't rush."
Yang Ling smiled slightly.
As long as he is willing, he has a hundred ways to make Yuan Tan die quietly!
When Cao Cao heard this, his eyes lit up.
Yes, how could I have forgotten this?
At worst, if we find an opportunity in the future, we can arrange for a spy from the school affairs office to give Yuan Tan some medicine.
Not only can it get rid of a heartache, but it can also subdue Wen Chou. It can be said that it kills two birds with one stone!
"Zi Yi is indeed smart!"
Cao Cao sighed sincerely!
…
Following Yang Ling's instructions, Cao Cao did not embarrass Yuan Tan, but instead asked him to join the court as an official and inherit his father's title.
After seeing Cao Cao treating Yuan Tan so well, most of the talents in Jizhou came to seek refuge with him!
At this point, the entire Jizhou has fallen into Cao Cao's hands!
Although Yang Ling repeatedly offered up clever tricks to help Cao Cao easily defeat Yuan Shao, the battle for northern hegemony still lasted for several years, placing a heavy burden on the court and the people.
In addition, Bingzhou, Silizhou, Liangzhou, Qingzhou, Jizhou and other places were all recently recovered.
Cao Cao was temporarily unable to attack Yuan Xi, who was entrenched in Youzhou, but chose to slowly digest his current territory.
…
Xudu Palace.
"...This time, the Yuan clan in the north was pacified. The Prime Minister's hard work has made great achievements, so he canonized Yanzhou Mu as the Duke of Wei, added Jiuxi, established the Wei Kingdom, and established the capital in Yecheng..."
The eunuch's high-pitched voice echoed in the court hall.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness!"
Cao Cao said and bowed respectfully.
Liu Xie, who was sitting in the hall, sat there blankly like a puppet on strings.
It was not until Fu Shou reminded him that he came back to his senses and forced a smile,
"Wei Gong doesn't need to be polite... If the Han Dynasty can be reborn, everything depends on Wei Gong!"
"Your Majesty is overly complimentary."
Although he was indifferent on the surface, Cao Cao was extremely excited in his heart!
Although there was only one word difference from a marquis to a duke, it legally gave him the qualification to stand on his own behalf on behalf of the Han Dynasty!
Last time Yang Ling asked Zhou Cang to take the initiative to ask for credit for Cao Cao, Cao Cao did not agree.
The reason is simple, because the north has not yet been decided, and the time has not yet come.
Now, of the Yuan family, only Yuan Xi is left lingering in the distant Youzhou.
Bing, Qing, Ji, Sili, and Liangzhou also returned one after another. Such a huge contribution is enough to stop those who are dissatisfied!
Seeing Cao Cao accept the ceremony and transform into the King of Wei, Xia Houyuan, Xiahou Dun, Guo Jia and other subordinates who were loyal to Cao Cao could not hide their excitement!
After all, they and Cao Cao both prospered and suffered losses.
The corners of Yang Ling's mouth turned up slightly, revealing a proud smile.
With his own assistance, Boss Cao destroyed the Yuan family three or four years earlier than in history, and became the King of Wei nearly ten years earlier!
In the future, the Cao family will stand on their own behalf on behalf of the Han Dynasty, and they will inevitably rise to prominence.
Just when Yang Ling was in a happy mood, his eyes fell on Xun Yu inadvertently.
Unlike others, Xun Yu did not show any joy. Instead, he had a sullen face and complicated eyes.
When Yang Ling saw this, he couldn't help but sigh slightly.
For Xun Yu, who had always been loyal to the Han Dynasty, it was really uncomfortable to see that Cao Cao, who he had assisted, was about to usurp the Han Dynasty and establish himself!
…
After finishing the government affairs, before Yang Ling could return home, he was called to the side hall.
"I've met Mr. Wei!"
Yang Ling bowed respectfully to Cao Cao.
"Ziyi doesn't need to be polite."
Cao Cao smiled and waved his hand, and said with emotion,
"When you and I first met, I never imagined that we would be here today! And all of this is thanks to your help, Ziyi!"
Since Cao Cao raised troops in Chenliu, Yang Ling came to join him, and they have experienced countless ups and downs together.
Among all Cao Cao's subordinates, although Yang Ling does not have the longest history with him, he is definitely the one who has contributed the most.
Xun Yu, Guo Jia, Xi Zhicai, Jia Xu, Gao Shun, Zhao Yun, Dian Wei, Gan Ning... these counselors and generals were all recommended by Yang Ling to Cao Cao.
Defeating the Black Mountain Army, annihilating Zhang Miao, capturing Wancheng, and pacifying Yuan Shu... these are all great military achievements!
He also offered strategies such as reclaiming wasteland, re-employing poor people, holding imperial examinations, and refining salt to help Cao Cao stabilize the government.
It is no exaggeration to say that Yang Ling alone is as good as Xun Yu, Guo Jia, Xiahou Dun and many others!
"It is truly the duty of a subordinate to serve the lord!"
Yang Ling smiled modestly.
After the two chatted for a while, Cao Cao suddenly sighed lonely,
"Zi Yi, actually I asked you to come here because I have something to tell you to do."
"Wei Gong said it bluntly."
Yang Ling smiled.
"Just now, Xun Lingjun declined my reward for him. You should understand what he thinks, right?"
Cao Cao sighed,
"Why don't you go visit him and have a good chat with him to untie his knot."
Although Xun Yu remained loyal to Cao Cao for as long as Yang Ling.
However, Yang Ling had a lazy personality and was often lazy in the early stages. Therefore, Xun Yu spent much more time with Cao Cao than Yang Ling.
The friendship between him and Cao Cao has gone beyond a lord and a minister, and is more like a pair of confidants.
Cao Cao knew very well that Xun Yu was extremely dissatisfied with his idea of reliance on behalf of the Han Dynasty, so he refused the reward.
