Chapter 70 6. Belated Appointments

Now, let us review Cao Cao's military operations from the second half of the first year of Xingping (194) to the summer of the second year of Xingping (195).In less than a year, Cao Cao led his army across the land of Yanzhou, invincible, invincible, and invincible. The situation was completely different from the situation when he just returned from Xuzhou. First of all, Cao Cao formulated the correct strategy. Under the extremely disadvantaged situation, he did not panic. Instead, he shrunk his defense line, concentrated his forces, stuck to strategic points, looked for opportunities, and launched a counterattack.

The second is the support of Yuan Shao. Due to Yuan Jun's actions on the north bank of the Yellow River, Lv Bu's determination to stick to Puyang was shaken. With a lack of military supplies and far away from his friendly forces, Lv Bu decided to move south and entered Ji, where rivers and lakes crossed where he was not good at fighting. The area around Yin County and Shanyang County created conditions for Cao Cao to win. Furthermore, it was the opponent's mistakes one after another.During the entire battle, Zhang Miao, as Lv Bu's ally, should have understood the principle of mutual dependence, but he has not taken specific military actions for a long time, and his attitude in cooperating with Lv Bu is negative. Lv Bu was driven away, and he could not stay in Chenliu County any longer. .

There is another internal reason, that is, Cao Jun's gradual maturity.Cao Cao's generals gradually grew up after two battles in Xuzhou and the battle with Yuan Shu. From the earliest battles of Cao Cao's hard work and frequent defeats, now he is able to attack east and west with ease, and has a new level of control over the battlefield situation. jump.During this campaign, Cao Ren, Le Jin, Yu Jin, Li Dian, Cheng Yu and others all had records of leading their troops to fight independently. Cao's army had developed from an independent military force at the beginning to a group army that echoed and cooperated with each other.

Lu Bu and Chen Gong were expelled, Zhang Miao and Zhang Chao were killed, and the Eight Commanderies of Yanzhou returned to Cao Cao's hands.In October of this year, Emperor Xian issued an edict to officially appoint Cao Cao as Yanzhou Mu. Cao Cao finally had a legal status, which he fought one by one. This is a belated appointment. When Cao Cao sent Wang Bi to Chang'an to pay tribute after going through all kinds of hardships, he just wanted to get such confirmation, and exchanged his loyalty to the royal family for affirmation.But the "group of three" in Chang'an didn't like Cao Cao. In their eyes, Cao Cao was far worse than Yuan Shu, Liu Biao, and Tao Qian. That's all.

Now, Cao Cao relied on his own strength to defeat Yuan Shu, eliminate Tao Qian, drive away Lu Bu, and unify the entire Yanzhou. Finally, he won the attention of the Chang'an court and sent him an appointment on his own initiative. "Collection of Cao Cao" includes "Receipt of Yanzhou Shepherd Biao", which is Cao Cao's thank you form for accepting Yanzhou shepherd.In this table above, Cao Cao reviewed his grandfather Cao Teng, father Cao Song, and the situation in which he was deeply favored by the emperor, and expressed that he would be loyal to the imperial family and continue to work hard.In the book "Taiping Yulan", there is also a record that Cao Cao paid tribute to Emperor Xian as a Yanzhou herdsman. The tribute he paid was generally local local products in Yanzhou, such as two boxes of beautiful pears, a specialty of Sanyang County, and a kind of Two boxes of green and black jujubes.

In the eyes of many people, Cao Cao is a treacherous minister of the Han Dynasty, but at least until now, Cao Cao's heart is full of respect for the Han Dynasty.Even in later years, Cao Cao seldom spoke ill of the Han Dynasty. Compared with those who made empty comments at the same time, Cao Cao contributed more to the Han Dynasty. Compared with Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao, who were full of hostility towards today For some people, Cao Cao seems to be more respected. During the rebellion of Zhang Miao and Chen Gong, many officials and people in Yanzhou followed them and betrayed Cao Cao. After Cao Cao regained Yanzhou, many people felt uneasy and wondered whether Cao Cao would pursue it.In response to this mentality, Cao Cao made them dispel their concerns by reusing Bi Chen.

As mentioned earlier, Bi Chen left Cao Cao because his mother and others were detained by the rebels. When he said goodbye to Cao Cao, he shed tears. Bi Chen said that he would never attach himself to Lv Bu, but as soon as he left Cao Cao, he took refuge in Lv Bu.After Lu Bu failed, Bi Chen was arrested, and everyone thought it was over for Bi Chen. Unexpectedly, Cao Cao did not pursue him. Cao Cao said: "If a person can be filial to his relatives, how can he not be loyal to the king? This is exactly what I want. What you want)." Not only that, Cao Cao also made him the Prime Minister of Lu.Cao Cao's arrangement for Bi Chen was very appropriate, instead of holding him accountable, he praised him, reassuring those who had opposed Cao Cao in the past: Even Bi Chen can be forgiven by General Cao, so what are we afraid of?

But Bi Chen had defected to the enemy after all, if he was allowed to continue handling important important matters by his side, Cao Cao would no longer trust him.So he was arranged to go to the country of Lu to serve as the prime minister. This is the hometown of Confucius. Confucius advocated filial piety and more importantly, loyalty. Confucius had a famous thought that "transfer filial piety into loyalty". Continue to think about the relationship between loyalty and filial piety. Similar to Bi Chen was Wei Zhong. Cao Cao admired Wei Zhong very much. After serving as governor of Yanzhou, Cao Cao was qualified to recommend Xiaolian, so he recommended Wei Zhong.When Yanzhou rebelled, Cao Cao said: "If everyone joins the rebellion, Wei Zhong will not." Later, when he heard that Wei Zhong also participated in the rebellion, Cao Cao was furious: "If Wei Zhong did not escape to Nanyue and Beihu, I would Never let him go!"

When the rebellion subsided, Wei Zhong was also arrested, bound and brought before Cao Cao.However, Cao Cao's anger disappeared, and he said: "Wei Zhong is a talented boy!" He untied the rope and continued to use him.Later, Wei Zhong worked under Cao Cao until he became the prefect of Hanoi County. Cao Cao was very rational in dealing with Bi Chen and Wei Zhong's incident. He knew that the dissatisfaction and fear of Yanzhou people must be quelled as soon as possible, so as to make up for the shortcomings in handling Yanzhou affairs before. For the next step, Cao Cao learned the lessons of the second expedition to Xuzhou, considering that military operations should be suspended, and seize the time to consolidate the place.Xun and others also believed that after Lu Bu defected to Liu Bei, the two of them might not be able to sincerely cooperate. If Xuzhou was attacked at this time, they would instead unite. It is better to observe for a while and let them fight among themselves.

This is a correct strategic choice.Now, Cao Cao can finally focus on the governance of Yanzhou. He asked Cheng Yu, Mao and other local people in Yanzhou for advice many times. Mao persuaded Cao Cao to pay attention to agriculture and develop the economy, and Cao Cao accepted his suggestion.This is an important policy suggestion, which played a great role in Cao Cao's future career development.Mao analyzed for Cao Cao that with the further turbulence of the situation, the country's economy will fall into greater difficulties. The key factors that determine the outcome of a war are the supply of materials and equipment, and preparations must be made early for this.The only solution now is to encourage agricultural production, accumulate strength, and achieve hegemony.

Mao's thought was very far-sighted under the situation at that time.After a long period of natural disasters and man-made disasters, the economies of various places have almost collapsed, and it is difficult to guarantee food and other military supplies. To achieve great things, this problem must be solved. Cao Cao immediately ordered to resume agricultural production within the scope of the "Cao Tong District". By the summer harvest of the second year, the agriculture in the "Cao Tong District" had been restored to a certain extent, and Cao Cao had accumulated enough grain in his hands.These grains became Cao Cao's secret weapon, allowing him to take the initiative everywhere.