Tian Jing entered the palace, saw Emperor Xian, and reported the situation in Huainan to Emperor Xian in detail. The pen "Fun" Pavilion www.biquge.info said that he got the jade seal, but he lost it in Nanyang, so he had to ask the emperor for guilt.

When Emperor Xian heard that the jade seal was lost, he was also very unhappy. Whether this jade seal can be in his hands is of extraordinary significance. But the only thing that can only be relieved is that at least this jade seal is no longer in Cao Cao's hands. Emperor Xian asked Tian Jing to send someone to visit, and once there was news, he would report it immediately. Emperor Xian said to Tian Jing, "I will hand over this task to you, when to find the jade seal, and when to come back to pay the order." You have also worked very hard in Huainan this time, at least you didn't let Cao Cao alone lead the battle to destroy Yuan Shu. What reward do you want, say, I can't let you work hard in vain. ”

Tian Jing smiled and said, "Holy Lord, I'm already very jealous of the general of Zhengbei now, so I should not be rewarded." Otherwise, if he was named a bigger official, but let Cao Cao take the opportunity to recall the court, it would be more than worth the loss. It's better for the minister to ask His Majesty outside. ”

When Emperor Xian heard this, he was shocked, thinking that Cao Cao might not be able to do this in the future, but he still had to be more careful, otherwise the power he could control would be less happy. But after thinking about it, are the soldiers and horses under Tian Jing's command really something I can control? Thinking of this, he said, "I won't be an official for you, and the reward will still be required." If your generals have made meritorious contributions, you can hand them a list, and I will reward them. ”

Tian Jing was happy when he heard it, but he didn't think there was anything wrong. reported the exploits of Wang Ping, Wu Fang, Ju Yan, and Chen Shuang, and said that Liu Pi and Gong all descended to Han, and this time they also made great contributions.

Emperor Xian thought about it and named Wang Ping as the general of Pingnan Zhonglang, Wu Fangxiao as the general of Zhonglang, Liu Pi as the general of Hengshui Zhonglang, Ju Yan as the captain of the accumulation shooting, Chen Shuang as the captain of the captivity, and Gong Du as the captain of the broken captivity. Except for Wang Ping's Pingnan Zhonglang General, who is listed in the four expeditions and four towns and four ans and four pings, the rest of the names are all newly established. It is naturally a good thing for his subordinates to be rewarded, but Tian Jing faintly felt a trace of worry, it seems that Emperor Xian can't completely trust anyone.

Early the next morning, it was the Great Pilgrimage. Tian Jing usually didn't have to go to the palace, but this time he just came back from the expedition against Yuan Shu, so he naturally wanted to see the king to restore his life.

Above the court, Cao Cao ranked first among the military generals, and behind him was Dong Cheng, a chariot general. Tian Jing was ranked in the rank order in the military general class. looked at the opposite lieutenant Yang Biao again, and felt that there seemed to be a sad look on his face today. Because Tian Jing came back in a hurry, he didn't go to Yang Biao's mansion to visit, and he didn't know what happened.

At this time, the emperor came to the court, and the ministers saluted and then reported the important events of the recent days in turn. Emperor Xian asked Tian Jing to come forward and explain the situation of the crusade against Yuan Shu to the ministers. Tian Jing finished reporting and returned to the queue. Cao Cao said, "It just so happened that the general of Zhengbei reported on Yuan Shu, and the minister's subordinates Xiahoudun and Cao Ren were still in Shouchun to sweep away Yuan's rebellion and the rest of the party." Liu Bei, the general of the left, led his troops to pursue Yuan Shu, and now he has reached Xuzhou. Yuan Shu only has a few thousand remnants around him, and there is no place to stand, so it is estimated that he will die in ten days, so there is no need to worry. However, Yuan Shu's territory now needs to be guarded by good generals in order to achieve long-term stability. The ministers asked Cao Ren to be the general of Annan, control the two counties of Jiujiang and Lujiang, and garrison Jiujiang; To prohibit the Lujiang River. Chen Deng was the Taishou of Guangling. Sun Ce was a rebellious general, named the Marquis of Wu, and led the three counties of Wu County, Huiji, and Danyang. ”

Cao Cao's reward for Sun Ce was actually equivalent to acknowledging the sphere of influence of the three counties of Wu, Huiji, and Danyang that Sun Ce actually occupied, and at the same time bringing Guangling and Jiujiang under his rule. Then the southern part of Guangling occupied by Zhou Yu and the southern part of Jiujiang occupied by Sun Ce will be retreated sooner or later. In Cao Cao's view, Sun Ce would definitely not dare to be his enemy.

Cao Cao's proposal was naturally approved by Emperor Xian. Just when everyone thought that today's matter was over, Cao Cao said, "When the minister's soldiers and horses attacked Yuan Shu's palace, they found many letters", and paused at this point, "Many of them are correspondence between the wife of Taiwei Yang Biao and Yuan Shu. Speaking of this, but not saying anything, Cao Cao only stared at Yang Biao.

Yang Biao saw that Emperor Xian also came to see it, "So he stepped forward and said, the minister's wife is Yuan Shu's sister, and it is normal for the two to have some correspondence." After Yuan Shu's usurpation, I instructed her not to associate with Yuan Shu again. ”

Although Yang Biao was telling Emperor Xian, he also told the hundred officials that he had no private dealings with Yuan Shu.

How do you know that Cao Cao said to Emperor Xian: "Having said that, it is just that Mrs. Yang's letter mentioned many important events in the imperial court, and these have played a very important role in Yuan Shu's military deployment and strategic decision-making. So in Cao's view, this move is no different from collaborating with the enemy. ”

At this point, Yang Biao already understood in his heart that this was Cao Cao going to attack him. And the matter of Madame's letter is only an excuse. Yang Biao was about to distinguish, but he heard Emperor Xian say, "Yang Taiwei's personality is trustworthy, and he will never harm the public for personal reasons, let alone collude with Yuan Shun." The general is not ......"

Cao Cao didn't seem to hear Emperor Xian's words at all, but said, "Whether it is a collaboration with the enemy, it doesn't matter if the minister says it, and it doesn't count if the saint says it, so it's better to take Yang Biao and his wife into custody and hand them over to the court lieutenant for interrogation." ”

This time Emperor Xian was speechless, and it was difficult for the ministers to say if they wanted to speak for Yang Biao. Yang Biao didn't move, looking at what Cao Cao was going to do to himself.

Tian Jing didn't want to go out of class, "The minister thinks that it is normal for Mrs. Yang to exchange letters with her brother, after all, Mrs. Yang can't imagine that Yuan Shu will rebel." Before Yuan Shu's rebellion, even if it was inappropriate to occasionally talk about major events in the DPRK and China, it was not a major crime of collaborating with the enemy and plotting rebellion. The general is dedicated to working for the country, and the saints and hundreds of officials know it. It's just that judging from the evidence of a few letters this time, it is not enough to get drunk with the captain. Moreover, there is a cloud in the "Book of Rites" that "the punishment is not a doctor", and Lord Taiwei is an old minister of the three dynasties, and he has worked hard and made great achievements, how can he be imprisoned because of a few letters? ”

When Cao Cao saw Tian Jing, he said in his heart, this hairy boy is always against me, and he will definitely make him look good in the future. Cao Cao didn't look at Tian Jing either, and said to Emperor Xian, "What General Zhengbei said also has some truth, and the minister doesn't want the old captain to come to this prison, but Yang Biao is really not suitable to serve as a captain anymore." ”

When Yang Biao heard this, he already knew Cao Cao's bottom line, and he also knew that it was impossible for him to fight Cao Cao now. Then he went out of the class and said, "The minister is old and can no longer serve in the saint above the court, and the minister is willing to resign and return to the township, and I hope that the saint will allow it." ”

Emperor Xian still needs to be retained, and when I look at today's situation, I am afraid that it will not work. He nodded and said, "In that case, it is inconvenient for me to keep it." I also hope that the old lady will be able to take care of his body after returning to his hometown. ”

The ministers were also taken aback when they saw Yang Biao, the chief lieutenant who had been standing on the opposite side of Cao Cao, and was defeated in this way. Those who stood on Cao Cao's side were naturally happy, and those who originally had the heart to be loyal to the emperor were now also playing some drums, and they didn't dare to offend Cao Cao.

The reason why Cao Cao was in trouble at this time was mainly because now that Yuan Shu had basically been eliminated, there was no one to fight him except Yuan Shao. Since the battle of Yuan Cao was inevitable, Cao Cao had to minimize the influence of the opposition forces in the court on this war. Taking Yang Biao is just the beginning, and Cao Cao can only really let go of the battle with Yuan Shao only by integrating the various forces in the rear.

Yang Biao told the old man to return to his hometown, his hometown is Huayin, Shaanxi, and now that Guanzhong is in turmoil, he naturally can't go back. Tian Jing was about to set off to return to Pingyang, so he invited Yang Biao to go with him, Yang Xiu is now under his command, and it makes sense for Yang Biao to vote for his son.

Cao Cao overthrew Yang Biao in the court and began to brew his next plan. Now Xun Yu, Cheng Yu, Zhong Xuan and others are all in Cao Cao's mansion, and Guo Jia and Xun Yu are following Xiahoudun's brigade, so they were not present.

Cao Cao said, "Now that I have moved to Yang Biao, the people who oppose me are only afraid that they will be silent for a while." I want to take this opportunity to let the saint return to the post of prime minister in the early Han Dynasty and no longer set up the three dukes. I wonder what you think? ”

Xun Yu said: "I thought that at this time, please set up a prime minister, there will be no opposition in the court, and the emperor should also be allowed." Ming Gong is really well-deserved. ”

Cheng Yu said: "Exactly, the Ming Duke issued a decree as the prime minister, which can make the hundred officials perform their duties and correct their positions. ”

After everyone discussed, they decided to create public opinion among the government and the opposition first, and then wait for the next time they went to the court, and then put forward it by others, and the ministers agreed, but to see how Emperor Xian responded.

Ten days later, Liu Zhen, a small speaker who had never been noticed, suddenly asked Emperor Xian to restore the system of the early Han Dynasty, cancel the three dukes, and set up a prime minister to take charge of the government.

As soon as this remark came out, it can be said that it stirred up a thousand waves for a while. Cao Cao's intention to be prime minister has been rumored among officials for a while, but today someone proposed it in the court, which still surprised everyone. I don't know if this small official who can't be smaller is speculating about Cao Cao's bold thinking and thinking that he is promoted to the rank, or whether Cao Cao deliberately instigated it. Before the hundred officials understood the thoughts of Emperor Xian and Cao Cao, they didn't dare to express their position casually.

Emperor Xian was also taken aback when he heard this, he knew that Cao Cao was arrogant and had forbearance everywhere, but he didn't want Cao Cao to be aggressive. just squeezed out Yang Biao, but he wanted to remove the three princes and the prime minister, this is to monopolize power. Emperor Xian knew that since Cao Cao had done it, he would not give up until he achieved his goal. This time he couldn't avoid it, what he had to do now was to face it head-on, he wanted to see how many people were on Cao Cao's side.

Thinking of this, Emperor Xian looked at Cao Cao, "Since someone asked the third prince to be dismissed and let the general be the prime minister, I don't know what you think of the general?" ”

Emperor Xian wanted Cao Cao to say what he thought, so as to expose his hypocrisy.

Cao Cao saw Emperor Xian ask like this, but he said politely: "Since this is a performance of the subordinates, it is natural for the saint to deal with it at his discretion." The minister asked himself to work hard for the sake of the Han Dynasty, and he did not dare to slack off. If it weren't for the ministers, the saint would still be in the hands of Li Dao and Guo Yan, two traitors who calamitized the country, how could he have today's scenery; If it weren't for the ministers, I don't know if Yuan Shu and Lu Bu, these wolf ambitions, would each establish themselves as emperors, and how could the Han Dynasty be stable today. Whether a minister is a prime minister or not is not the minister's decision, but the saint's decision. Whether the Han family can hold on to it, it doesn't matter what the minister says, and it is also the saint who says it. Cao Cao said, and looked at Emperor Xian's reaction with his eyes.

Emperor Xian gritted his teeth, hating in his heart, but he didn't know how to stop it. Then he said: "Do you have different views on this matter? After asking, the bird was silent. Emperor Xian sighed and said, "Since this is the case, let Xun Yu and the others go down to draft the charter, and discuss it next time." “