In the twentieth year of Jian'an, in 216 AD, the plague raging in the Central Plains was finally cured, but the population of the Central Plains decreased sharply, and there were more than 600,000 households and more than 3 million people registered in Yanzhou. The original population of Yuzhou was not much, about one million people, after the plague, the registered only more than 600,000, plus Xuzhou, Jingbei, Huaibei, Luoyang, the huge Central Plains actually only five or six million people, almost only the population of Jizhou, the plague is much more terrible than the damage caused by the war.

In order to restore the vitality of the Central Plains and gather the exiled people, Yuan Xi ordered the Central Plains to be tax-free for five years in the seventeenth year of Jian'an, cut military expenditures, and release the old, weak, sick and disabled soldiers back to the township, give land, and ensure their future life. Yuan Xi also took advantage of Hebei's wealth, and actively guided the Hebei scholars to invest in the Central Plains, led by Yuan Xi and the Zhen family, many shrewd businessmen were in order to curry favor with Yuan Xi, and second, the Central Plains' tax-free policy was still two years old, which was profitable, and a large number of Hebei scholars transferred their business to the Central Plains, and the Central Plains began to gradually regain their vitality.

Cao Cao knew that he was old, and it was impossible to pacify Hebei, so in order to weaken Yuan Xi's strength, he could only defeat Yuan Xi by natural disasters, so he decided to attack Yizhou and abandon the Central Plains. With the beginning of the Central Plains War, the corpses of the soldiers were not properly disposed of in time, which accelerated the outbreak of the plague, but Cao Jun took the opportunity to retreat into Guanzhong and throw the mess of the Central Plains to Yuan Xi.

When Yuan Xi's strength stopped, Guanzhong, Xiliang, and Yizhou actively developed, and there were more than 100,000 Central Plains scholars in Guanzhong alone, and the population also reached its peak, with a population of more than 3 million, although Xiliang was located in a remote area, there were more than 500,000 people, plus more than 3 million people in Yizhou, Cao Cao's strength did not weaken much, there were 300,000 garrisons in Guanzhong, 100,000 in Xiliang, and more than 200,000 in Yizhou, which was still the second largest prince after Yuan Xi.

Compared with Cao Cao, although Jiangdong is richer, its military strength is still weaker, with nearly four million people and an army of only more than 300,000, but there is a natural danger of the Yangtze River, and it has a good relationship with Hebei, Jiangdong is the safest place, and no one wants to fight his idea.

The weakest is Liu Bei, although he occupies the six counties of Jingzhou, and also benefits the Ba County of Zhouzhou, and takes Jiaozhou in the south, but the population is only about three million, and the army is only about 300,000, which is about the same as Jiangdong, but Jingzhou is a horse and a flat river, except for the Han River, there is no danger to defend. Fortunately, the Central Plains was in turmoil, and Yuan Xi did not go south, so he has been safe and sound and has developed silently.

However, a thunderbolt shattered this tranquility, and Emperor Xian of Han died. Emperor Han Xian's health was not very good, although the epidemic in Luoyang was not serious, and there were not many infected people, but Emperor Han Xian fell ill, originally thought it was just an ordinary wind chill, for a few days, the high fever did not go away, and finally even Hua Tuo came, only to find that he was terminally ill and died soon.

Emperor Han Xian was really ill-fated, since he was eight years old, he ascended the throne as the emperor, but he was just a puppet in the hands of Dong Zhuo. Wang Yun designed to get rid of Dong Zhuo, but as a result, the Xiliang army captured Chang'an again, and this time he almost died, but fortunately, Jia Xu interceded and saved his life. Later, it fell into the hands of Cao Cao, who originally thought that Cao Cao was a loyal minister of the Han Dynasty and that he could one day revive the Han Dynasty, but unfortunately he was just a chess piece in Cao Cao's hands, coercing the Son of Heaven to order the princes, and even his own queen and prince did not let go. Only Yuan Xi rescued himself from Cao Cao, although he only gave himself a place in Luoyang, but in the past eight years, Yuan Xi has allowed himself to live happily and safely.

On the occasion of his death, Yuan Xi finally rushed to the Luoyang Palace. At this time, Luoyang's civil and military officials were all present, and Yuan Xi personally inspected the Central Plains in order to encourage the people to overcome the plague and risk his life, and he was also recognized by the hundred officials, that is, Kong Rong, who regarded Yuan Xi as a powerful minister, also recognized Yuan Xi.

When Emperor Xian of Han saw Yuan Xi coming, he named Yuan Xi as the king of Wei, assisted the crown prince Liu Kang, and said in front of everyone: "The Han Dynasty can continue to this day all depends on the support of the king of Wei, and you must obey the orders of the king of Wei in the future, and you must not disobey it." Although Xun Yu opposed Yuan Xi's succession to the throne before, but now that Emperor Han Xian is about to die, he naturally dare not oppose his deathbed entrustment.

The crown prince Liu Kang was only three years old, he was born to Cao Guifei, and was the only heir of Emperor Han Xian, Emperor Han Xian said with his last breath: "The ability of the King of Wei is unparalleled in the world, if Kang'er can help him, he will be helped, and if he can't be helped, the King of Wei will replace him, and please King Wei can keep him safe in his life." ”

As soon as these words came out, the ministers were shocked, Emperor Han Xian gave Yuan Xi the right to usurp the throne, and he was about to admonish, Emperor Han Xian had already choked his breath. Yuan Xi's joy and anger should not be visible, the entire country is his own, whether to be the emperor or not is completely based on his own thoughts, and the words of Emperor Han Xian protect Liu Kang, afraid that he will not be good for him. As the saying goes, a person is about to die, and his words are also good, Yuan Xi saluted respectfully to Emperor Han Xian and said: "Please rest assured that the emperor will live up to the emperor's trust." "Yuan Xi is already the king of Wei, a very popular minister, but he doesn't want to usurp the throne, but he doesn't say anything to death, and no one can say for sure what will happen in the future.

Yuan Xi took care of the aftermath of Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty, and in order to protect the new emperor, he moved the capital to Yecheng. Liu Kang, with the assistance of Yuan Xi, ascended the throne as the emperor in Yecheng, was the emperor of the Han Dynasty, and his biological mother Cao Guifei was the queen mother, and the year name was changed to Tianbao, and 216 AD was the first year of Tianbao, Yuan Xi was the king of Wei, and concurrently served as the Han Dynasty Sima, the general, and the auxiliary emperor of the Han Dynasty.

After the death of Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty, Yuan Xi was the king of Wei, and the first to attack was not Cao Cao, nor Liu Bei, but Sun Quan. Sun Quan thought that he had a good relationship with Yuan Xi, and actually wanted the throne of King Wu. Yuan Xi was furious and said to the ministers: "This king is an auxiliary minister appointed by the first emperor, and he has the position of King of Wei, and Sun Quan inherits the foundation of his father and brother, and he has no merit for the Han Dynasty, but he is ambitious and wants the throne of King Wu, I don't know what you think?" ”

Xun Yu was loyal to the Han family, Yuan Xi was the emperor of Han Xian, and he was helpless, but Sun Quan asked the king to absolutely disagree, and suggested to Yuan Xi: "The king of Wei can't agree, if Sun Quan succeeds, Cao Cao and Liu Bei will definitely follow suit, everyone will be the king, and the Han will not be a country." ”

Xu Shu, Yuan Xi's subordinate strategist, said worriedly: "What Lord Xun said is reasonable, but Sun Quan will definitely attack the Central Plains if he can't get the throne." The Central Plains is in ruins, it is being rebuilt, and the war is together, and I am afraid that everything will come to naught. ”

Xun Yu argued: "The King of Wei once said that the majesty of the Han family cannot be violated, although it is far away, it will be punished, why be afraid of Sun Quan? Xun Yu is not talented, entrusted by the first emperor, if the king of Wei is sent, he will never give up! ”

Yuan Xi was overjoyed, and eighteen years later, Xun Yu once again took refuge in the Yuan family in Hebei, so he refused Sun Quan's request, and ordered Zhang Yan and Gan Ning to strengthen the surveillance of Jiangdong. Yuan Xi appointed Xun Yu as the commander of Yanzhou to restore the strength of the Central Plains, and made Zhong Xuan the commander of Yangzhou to assist Zhang Yan in the fight against Jiangdong, and made Zhang Xiu the Taishou of Luoyang to guard against Cao Cao.

After Sun Quan learned that Yuan Xi had rejected his request, he was furious and wanted to tear up the agreement and raise troops to attack the Central Plains. Sun Quan's advisor Lu Su said: "Wu Hou, Hebei is strong, although the Central Plains is in turmoil and its strength has been greatly damaged, it is not something that I Jiangdong can deal with, and Wu Hou's sister Miss Sun Shangxiang is still in Jizhou, Wu Hou rashly sent troops, I am afraid that I will worry about my life." ”

Lu Xun joined Jiangdong at the invitation of Sun Quan. Lu Xun has outstanding ability, and gradually gained Sun Quan's appreciation, seeing Sun Quan's hesitation, he offered a plan: "Wu Hou, what Mr. Zijing said is reasonable, but we can win over Cao Cao and Liu Bei to send troops together and divide the Central Plains equally." Lu Xun's words are in line with Sun Quan's intentions, but Sun Quan has many discords with Cao Cao and Liu Bei, and he doesn't know how to unite the two to fight against Yuan Xi.

Zhuge Liang's elder brother Zhuge Jin stepped forward and said: "Don't worry, Marquis Wu, my brother Zhuge Liang is Liu Bei's most trusted person, and I am willing to go to Xiangyang to persuade Liu Bei to fight against Yuan Xi with our army." Sun Quan was overjoyed and ordered Zhuge Jin to go to Jingzhou and unite with Liu Bei.

There is already a candidate for Liu Bei, and Sun Quan asks who can go to Chengdu and persuade Cao Cao? Lu Xun thought for a while and said: "Wu Hou doesn't have to be anxious, we can hand over this task to Liu Bei, after all, Liu Bei is more anxious about Cao Cao than us." Sun Quan was a smart man, and he quickly figured out the truth, so he ordered Zhuge Jin to send an envoy to Jingzhou.