Chapter 4 4. Cao Cao abolished the three princes and monopolized the prime minister

In May of the thirteenth year of Jian'an (AD 208), Liu Xie, Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty, personally issued an edict to the world: immediately abolish the officials of the "three princes" Taiwei, Situ, and Sikong, and set up a new post of prime minister to take charge of the government, and Sikong Cao Cao was transferred to the prime minister From now on, civil and military ministers and bureaucrats will first submit their letters to the prime minister's office to set their priorities, and then discuss and make decisions with Shang Shutai. This edict was like throwing a boulder on the calm lake of the imperial court, which immediately caused ripples.Taiwei, Situ, and Sikong's "Three Lords" official positions were originally established by Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiuzhong to consolidate the power of the emperor since he rejuvenated the Han Dynasty. The fate of the country divided the power of the prime minister into three: Taiwei was in charge of military power, Situ was in charge of rituals and laws, and Sikong was in charge of general affairs.And this government system that has lasted for two hundred years with the separation of powers among the three princes is now broken by Sikong Cao Cao in one fell swoop. The three powers are unified, and the prime minister is reset.

Although the proclamations issued by the imperial court to the princes of all parties all declared that "Cao Sikong cut off the rebels such as Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, and Lu Bu. He has worked hard and made great achievements, and his reputation is illustrious; it is not enough to be a prime minister. ", but the princes of all parties are clear-eyed: Cao Cao has established a very high authority in the court by virtue of his achievements in leveling Yuan Shao, pacifying Shuofang, and clearing the Central Plains. Let him monopolize the price of the prime minister to appease him and continue to be loyal to the Han Dynasty.At present, Cao Cao holds a lot of power, is honored by the emperor, and looks down on the world. His impressive prestige makes Ma Teng who is entrenched in Liangzhou, Liu Zhang who is guarding Yizhou, Liu Biao who is dormant in Jingzhou, and Sun Quan who occupies Wuyue. Feeling dreadful, all of them were apprehensive—for fear that he would catch some weakness in himself and sweep over.

Although people outside Xudu looked at Cao Cao's move of "abolishing the three lords and seizing the power of prime minister" as an outrageous move, in fact, people in Xudu knew very well that when Cao Cao abolished the "three lords" official system, he actually did not Do too many tricks.First of all, Taiwei Yang Biao was recuperating at home due to foot disease, and his position as Taiwei was temporarily suspended, and was led by Yushi Zhongcheng Xilu on his behalf; secondly, Situ Zhao Wen recommended Cao Cao's eldest son Cao Pi at the beginning of this year, and Cao Cao Participated in a book on the charge of "flattery, selfishness and false election", and he was removed from the position of Stuart.For a while, the position of Taiwei was vacant, and the official Situ was expelled, and Cao Cao, the Sikong, became the only one.Therefore, he took advantage of the situation to abolish the official system of the three princes and take over the power of the three princes in one person, and it will happen naturally.Although Cao Cao was a bit blatant, judging from his step-by-step methods of seizing power, the famous scholars and officials in Xudu's court couldn't grasp him for a while to make trouble, and could only watch helplessly. monopolized.

However, on the surface, Cao Cao did not leave any pretext for the famous scholars and bureaucrats in the Xudu court to attack him as arbitrarily authoritarian, but rumors criticizing him secretly sprang up one after another, saying everything.Some people say that Dong Zhuo was so violent and domineering back then that he didn't dare to abolish the "Three Dukes" and monopolize the court, but today Cao Cao has taken a step far ahead of Dong Zhuo, which is really ambitious and unruly; When the edict was issued, Hua Xin, the special envoy sent by Cao Cao, had urged him no less than five times in advance, and he was so impatient and ugly; some people said that Kong Rong, a senior official of the Taizhong, saw this edict in the court hall. At that moment, he snorted coldly from his nostrils on the spot, embarrassing Cao Cao in public...

No matter how vivid and complicated the discussions outside were, Cao Cao, who always went his own way and was free and easy, still happily held a grand celebration banquet in his mansion. The celebration banquet is held at the beginning of the night at the hour of Xu.In the hall of the Prime Minister's Mansion, there were lights and candles around, and the fire trees and silver flowers, the flames were bright, as bright as day. On the square couch made of purple wood in the middle of the hall, Cao Cao in purple robes sat upright.Although he is not tall and tall, but his majestic appearance with bushy eyebrows and tiger eyes, eagle jaws on one side and the all-powerful and overwhelming arrogance make it almost impossible to look straight at him when looking down.

On the long seats on both sides of the wooden couch where he was sitting, on the right sat the high-ranking officials from the imperial court in turn: Xi Ji, the imperial historian, Xun Yu, the minister, Zhong Yao, the school captain of Sili, Hua Xin, the minister of official affairs, and the counselor. Wang Lang, Sanqi's regular servant Jia Xu, Huangmen's servant Yang Jun, etc.; on the long seat on the left sat the staff members of the prime minister's mansion in turn: Xun You, the military advisor, Sima Lang, the chief secretary, Mao Jie from Dong Cao, Cui Yan from Cao Cao from the west, and military priests. Wine Dong Zhao.But Dong Zhao's lower head sat two young scribes of similar age.One of them was dressed in a bright and clean brocade shirt, with a handsome face, and his spirit was flying when he lingered; the other was wearing a simple old black robe, with a square face and round forehead, stern eyebrows and deep eyes, with a serious air, as if he bowed his head slightly reservedly While sitting, his eyes are only quietly staring at the table in front of him, and he rarely raises his eyes to look around.

Xi Xi, Jia Xu and others who came from the court felt a little strange to these two young scribes, so they couldn't help but look at them a little more.Yang Jun, who was sitting by the side, seemed to see the doubts in their hearts, smiled and cast a deep glance at Xun Yu, and was about to introduce him, but saw Xun Yu wave his hand at him, then turned to look at Cao Cao—— Yang Jun immediately understood, so he closed his mouth and stopped. Xun Yu turned his gaze, glanced at the empty seat below him, and sighed secretly again in his heart. Cao Cao's eyes also slowly glanced over, staring at the empty seat under Xun Yu for a moment, the muscles on his face twitched a few times.

Everyone in the hall knew that this empty seat was specially reserved by the Prime Minister for Kong Rong, a doctor of the Taizhong.Beforehand, the Prime Minister ordered Sima Lang, the chief secretary, to send a post to invite him to the banquet.But for some reason, Kong Rong never showed up. The guests are almost all here.Cao Cao glanced at the hourglass clock in the corner of the hall. It was already the hour of Xu, but Kong Rong's seat was still empty. At this moment, a figure flashed into the hall door. It turned out to be Shi Xinpi, the deputy head of the prime minister's mansion. He was sent by Cao Cao to pick up Kong Rong half an hour ago.However, when everyone in the hall looked behind him, where was Kong Rong?

Seeing this, Cao Cao straightened his face, and his complexion was rather ugly.Everyone in the hall fell silent immediately, and no one dared to speak out to talk about anything. Seeing Simpi running out of breath, Cao Cao kept his face sullen and didn't say anything. He just pointed to the seat next to Dong Zhao on the long bench on the left, asking him to sit down and rest for a while. Xin Pi picked up the pottery cup on the wooden table in front of the table, took a sip of tea, wiped the sweat from his forehead with the corner of his robe, and then panted slightly and said to Cao Cao: "My lord, Doctor Kong... he I can't come tonight..."

All the people in the hall couldn't help being surprised when they heard this: What's more important about Kong Rong than attending Prime Minister Cao's celebration banquet?What kind of things can make Kong Rong refuse to come here? "What's the matter with him?" Cao Cao lost his voice in surprise, "—Could it be that Dr. Kong suddenly got some kind of emergency? If so, the truth should be to visit him at his house!" Then he pressed his right palm on the chest in front of him At the table, he wanted to stand up from the purple wood square couch. "Prime Minister..." Simpi's complexion changed slightly, he hesitated, and he said hesitantly, "Dr. Kong did not have any emergency. I went to his residence just now, and saw that Dr. Kong seemed to be receiving His Majesty sent to ask him for advice." What about Zhao Yan, the Yilang who studies righteousness, etiquette and law..."

"Oh? It turns out that His Majesty sent Zhao Yilang to ask Dr. Kong about principles, principles, etiquette and law?" Cao Cao was startled when he heard this, and then he stopped and slowly sat back on the couch, his face thoughtful, "Or Your Majesty's business is more urgent! Since Dr. Kong is answering His Majesty's request for advice, then we don't have to bother him any more—let's start the banquet!" As he spoke indifferently, he secretly winked at Yangwu Zhonglang General Cao Hong who was standing in the corner of the hall.Cao Hong understood, and immediately retreated quietly, and sent someone to monitor Kong Rong and Zhao Yan. Hearing Cao Cao's words, the almost frozen air in the hall suddenly relaxed.The tense expressions of many officials immediately became vivid, and they all praised the prime minister for taking His Majesty as the most important thing, and his magnanimity, which is beyond human reach.Only Shang Shu ordered Xun Yu to turn his head to look at the seat that Kong Rong was empty, and a faint worry flashed in his eyes.