Chapter 82 5. An opportunity is still a big pit

At the end of the second year of Xingping (195), Cao Cao launched the final offensive outside Yongqiu City, captured Yongqiu in one fell swoop, killed Zhang Miao's younger brother Zhang Chao, and consolidated the situation in Yanzhou.At this time, it was the time when Emperor Xian and his party were trapped in Hedong County, and it was also the beginning of Sun Ce crossing the river to open up Jiangdong. Cao Cao also keenly noticed the incident of the return of the emperor to the east. Before that, Mao had put forward the suggestion of "serving the emperor so that he would not be a minister". Cao Cao felt that now was the opportunity.

However, Cao Ying had different opinions on whether to welcome the emperor. Their reasons were probably similar to those of Guo Tu and Chun Yuqiong. Logistical support is a big burden.At the same time, everyone thinks that the surrounding area of ​​Yanzhou is still facing enemies such as Lu Bu and Yuan Shu (Shandong Weiping), while Han Xian, Yang Feng, Dong Cheng, Zhang Yang and others in Luoyang and the surrounding area are not easy to save money, and they interfere in Luoyang's affairs. Not particularly sure (not sudden). Xun firmly agreed to meet the emperor.Xun thought: "Duke Wen of the Jin Dynasty won the hearts of the princes because he accepted King Xiang of Zhou, and Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty won the hearts of the people because he mourned Emperor Yi who was killed by Xiang Yu when he was in the East. This shows the appeal of the Son of Heaven. Although you did your best Not enough, but you still send envoys to pay tribute to Chang'an, which shows that your heart is in the royal family, and you have the ambition to help the world. Now that the emperor is in trouble, and the people are sad (the people are sad because of the old), if you serve the Lord and follow the people's expectations, this is Da Shun "It's a general plan to uphold the righteousness and subdue the world's heroes; it's a great virtue to support the righteousness to attract the world's heroes. Although there will be people who are dissatisfied in the world, they can't make a big climate. What can Han Xian and Yang Feng do? We If we don’t make a decision early, once others take the lead, it will be too late for us to regret it!”

Xun's opinion was supported by Mao, Cheng Yu and others, which was also in line with Cao Cao's wishes.At this time, Cao Cao also received a letter sent by Ding Chong, an old friend and fellow servant who had been with Emperor Xian, telling Cao Cao about the situation around Emperor Xian, and suggested that Cao Cao come to greet him immediately.Ding Chong said in the letter: "You often express your ambition to help the world and assist the emperor. Now is the time to realize your ambition." Ding Chong's letter further strengthened Cao Cao's idea of ​​welcoming Emperor Xian. He adjusted his strategic deployment, took a temporary defensive position against Liu Bei and Lu Bu in Xuzhou, and shifted the focus of attack to Yuzhou in the west.

In the spring of the first year of Jian'an (196), when Emperor Xian and his party were still trapped in Hedong County, the main force of Cao's army began to move westward and entered Wuping County (now Zhecheng, Henan) in the territory of Chen Guo, the governor of Yuzhou. He surrendered.After taking Chen Guo, Cao Cao continued to march westward, entering Runan County and Yingchuan County.These two counties are well-known large counties in the world, but at this time the Yellow Turban Army led by He Yi, Liu Pi, Huang Shao, He Man, etc. is very powerful here. They have attached themselves to Sun Jian and Yuan Shu successively. allies.

Cao Cao ordered Yu Jin and others to fight against the Yellow Turbans.Huang Shao attacked Cao Cao's camp at night, and Yu Jin led his troops to defeat it, beheading Liu Pi and Huang Shao. At this time, the emperor had arrived in Luoyang, and Cao Cao sent Cao Hong as the vanguard to march to Luoyang to meet Emperor Xian.However, Cao Hong was resisted by Dong Cheng, Yang Feng and others with force and could not advance.Yang Feng has a certain fighting power, because he has a fierce man named Xu Huang who can fight. Xu Huang, courtesy name Gongming, was born in Yang County, Hedong County (now Hongdong, Shanxi). When he was young, he worked as a small official in Hedong County. ), became a senior general under Yang Feng.

Cao Cao felt a little depressed when his westward journey was blocked.According to textual research, the third poem of the famous series of poems "Shan Zai Xing" was written at this time.In the poem, there are "Although I have an ambition, it is time to be able to share it with me", and "I am willing to be poor in the sky, and Langxie leans to the left. Although I want to exhaust my loyalty, I welcome the public to Chu. People who are happy can sigh, but they can't express their feelings .Xian Xingtian teaches people, who knows nothing. When do I want to follow? This sigh is also difficult" and other sentences express the feeling of loss that cannot be fulfilled despite wanting to be loyal.When he was at a loss, Cao Cao once again got the secret help of a nobleman, and this person was the same Dong Zhao who had helped him.

After Dong Zhao arrived in Chang'an, he was appointed as Yilang, and he also escaped thousands of miles, and returned to Luoyang alive by luck.Hearing that Cao Cao's troops were blocked in the area east of Luoyang, Dong Zhao decided to use his wisdom to help Cao Cao again. He saw that Dong Cheng, Yang Feng, Han Xian, and Zhang Yang had conflicts with each other, so he started with Yang Feng and forged a letter from Cao Cao, which said: "I have heard about the general's name for a long time, and I have long wanted to pay my respects." Now the general is leading the army, not afraid of all difficulties, and let the emperor return to the old capital, such a feat is unparalleled in the world (Yizuo's contribution, unparalleled in the world)!" After slapping Yang Feng, he expressed his willingness to cooperate with Yang Feng in the letter. Feng formed an alliance, Yang Feng was in charge, Cao Cao was willing to be foreign aid, and said that he had enough food and grass to guarantee the supply.

Dong Zhao appears to be good at one craft: forging documents.When he was ordered by Yuan Shao to go to Julu County alone to quell the rebellion, he forged the order issued by Yuan Shao because he did not have time to ask Yuan Shao for instructions.Wang Bi was ordered by Cao Cao to go to Chang'an and was detained by Zhang Yang. Dong Zhao not only persuaded Zhang Yang to let him go, but also imitated Cao Cao's tone and wrote letters to Li and Guo Si to clear things up.Now, he imitated Cao Cao's tone and wrote to Yang Feng again. Dong Zhao seemed to be a master in this area. When Yang Feng received the letter, he really thought it was written by Cao Cao. He was very happy, and said to his generals: "General Cao's men and horses are nearby. He has soldiers and food, which is what the country depends on now (the country should rely on it.") )!" So he wrote a letter to Emperor Xian, naming Cao Cao General Zhendong, inheriting his father Cao Song's title of Marquis of Fei Ting.

In the "Cao Cao Collection", there are still three articles: "Sending a letter to grant the seal", "Sending a letter to grant the seal to the marquis of Ting" and "Xie Xie Fei Tinghou Biao", all of which were memorials written by Cao Cao at this time according to the usual practice. On the other hand, Dong Cheng and Han Siam had fought each other because of their disagreement. In order to restrain Han Xian, Dong Cheng secretly sent a letter to Cao Cao asking him to bring troops to Luoyang.Cao Cao was very happy, and he couldn't miss the opportunity, so he immediately led his troops to Luoyang.

In July of the first year of Jian'an (196), Cao Cao arrived in Luoyang and met Emperor Xian Liu Xie in the newly built Yang'an Hall on the former site of Nangong.At that time, Emperor Xian and his ministers were suffering from a food shortage. Cao Cao not only had sufficient troops, but also brought a lot of food.Emperor Xian was very happy, and announced that Cao Cao would be in charge of the daily work of the court (recording the affairs of the minister), and bestowed the Jieyue that could represent the emperor, that is, he had the right to make temporary decisions. "Lu" means the general manager, and "Lu Shang Shu Shi" is in charge of various affairs of Shang Shutai.Shangshutai is the daily office of the imperial court, similar to the secretariat of the imperial court. The supervisor of Shangshutai is Shangshu Ling, and the deputy supervisor is Shangshu Pushe. On top of Shangshuling, there is a "Recording Shangshushi", which means that this person can make decisions All the big and small affairs of Shangshutai are actually presiding over the daily work of the court.This can be regarded as the beginning of Cao Cao's taking over the power of the court.

Cao Cao also met his old friends Ding Chong and Zhong Yao. After long journeys and many trials of life and death, they are all still alive, and they will all be one of his important assistants in his career in the future. Cao Cao met Dong Zhao at the same time. Cao Cao was very grateful for this long-time but never met friend.Cao Cao asked Dong Zhao to sit side by side with him (Yin Zhao sat side by side), and asked him what to do next. In addition to Cao Cao's subordinates in Luoyang and its surrounding areas, there are currently four powerful factions including Dong Cheng, Yang Feng, Han Xian, and Zhang Yang. Dong Zhao suggested that Cao Cao use the contradictions between them to divide and disintegrate, and defeat each of them. Cao Cao adopted Dong Zhao's suggestion, and first united Dong Cheng and Yang Feng to attack Zhang Yang and Han Xian.Cao Cao wrote a letter to impeach Zhang Yang and Han Xian. Han Xian was disturbed and ran to Zhang Yang's camp to hide.For the sake of the meritorious service of the two of Xian Di Nian, Cao Cao should not pursue it any further. In August, Emperor Xian issued an edict, appointing Cao Cao as the captain of Sili. Under Cao Cao's leadership, three people, including Shangshu Feng Shuo, Yilang Houqi, and Shizhong Huchong, were executed.The circumstances of these three people are unknown, and the reason why Cao Cao started killing people at the beginning of taking power is not very clear.Perhaps these three people have long been notorious, and killing them not only strengthens their own prestige, but also conforms to public opinion. At the same time, Emperor Xian ordered thirteen people to be marquises to reward them for their contribution to protecting the emperor along the way.The thirteen people are: General Wei Dong Cheng, Fu Wan, General Fu Guo, Ding Chong and Zhong Ji, Minister Pu She Zhong Yao, Guo Pu, Minister Zhong Cheng, Dong Fen, Minister of Pengcheng, Liu Ai, Minister of Pengcheng, and Han Bin, Governor of Fengyi County. , Dongjun Taishou Yang Zhong, Yilang Luo Shao, Yilang Fude, Yilang Zhao Rui. Through one punishment and one reward, Cao Cao further established his authority.Coupled with the strongest military force and sufficient backup guarantee, Cao Cao's control over the court is gradually increasing. However, the surrounding area of ​​Luoyang is very dilapidated, and the logistics support after the imperial court settled down is a heavy burden after all.What's more, Dong Cheng, Yang Feng, Zhang Yang and others still possess certain strength, and they may launch an attack on themselves at any time.How to get rid of this passive situation, Cao Cao continued to ask Yu Dong Zhao.Dong Zhao suggested simply moving the capital to Xu County, and said, "If you want to do extraordinary things, you must have extraordinary merits." The only way to do it now is to move the capital.Cao Cao also had this intention, but he felt that the emperor had just returned to Luoyang and his mind was stable. Would everyone accept the idea of ​​moving the capital at this time?