From the palace gate to the inside and outside of the main hall, there are three steps and a post, and five steps and a sentry.

The ministers came to the hall and whispered, and after a while, a eunuch sang: "Your Majesty has arrived, and a hundred officials will see you!" ”

Hearing this voice, the ministers of civil and military affairs stopped speaking and bowed, shouting: "Welcome Your Majesty—"

The young emperor walked up to the side of the Dan Majesty in a crown suit, came to the imperial case and knelt down in front of the ministers, and said calmly: "All the ministers are flat!" ”

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The emperor asked, "Is the prime minister here?" ”

An official came out of the class and replied: "Back to Your Majesty, the prime minister has left the palace, and he is on his way to the palace at this time!" ”

The Emperor said, "Then wait! ”

If you don't wait, you can't wait, if Cao Cao, the prime minister, doesn't come, the court meeting can't be held, and even if the emperor speaks for the resolution made, the ministers don't dare to receive the decree.

After waiting for two moments, the emperor and his ministers were almost asleep, and a eunuch outside the hall shouted: "The prime minister has arrived—"

The emperor and his ministers suddenly fell asleep and cheered up.

The sound of neat footsteps came from outside the hall, and the sound of metal rubbing against armor and ordnance, and the emperor and his ministers knew that Cao Cao was under the protection of the armor guards.

As a five-short man, dark-skinned, bearded minister walked in, the atmosphere in the hall became different, and the slightest breathing sound could hardly be heard, and the footsteps of this person echoed in the hall.

"Minister Cao Cao greets Your Majesty!"

The emperor gave Cao Cao a very high treatment, that is, "praise and worship without a name, do not enter the court, and go to the palace with a sword", that is to say, when the minister meets the court, the praise official only calls his official position, but does not directly call his name; When entering the court, he can not hurry, and the other ministers have to take off their swords and shoes when they go to the palace, but he doesn't have to!

When Dong Zhuo was in power before, he also had this kind of honor, but all the powerful ministers who went to the palace with a sword have a lot of disobedience, even if you don't, the people of the world also think that you have a disobedient heart, otherwise why would you go to the palace with a sword? The emperor allowed you to do this, and you really did it? The emperor can't help it.

Therefore, Cao Cao's disobedience is known to the world.

Of course, Cao Cao knew that saying this would attract criticism from all over the world, but he still did so, and it was also beneficial to do so, that is, to declare that he had the final say in this court team, and the ministers had to act according to his face.

If he is really modest and resigns the emperor's edict, the ministers will think that he has no arrogance, and the right to speak in the court will not be at least in his hands, and what he really needs is unity of opinion within the court, and he must be the center, otherwise how to level the world and return to one?

The emperor raised his hand: "The prime minister is exempt!" ”

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The eunuch stepped forward, "The ministers have something to do, and they have nothing to retreat!" ”

Cao Cao stood in place and said: "Your Majesty, Wancheng Zhang Xiu surrendered and rebelled, rebelled and surrendered, and so on several times, I have no reverence for the court in my heart, and the heart of the disobedience is obvious, and the minister asks for the order to send troops to crusade against Zhang Xiu and solve it in one fell swoop!" ”

The emperor said: "The prime minister only crusaded against Lü Bu last year, defeated Yuan Shu, and subdued Xuzhou, many soldiers were injured, and the current court is not very stable. ”

"Your Majesty!" As soon as the emperor finished speaking, Cao Cao shouted loudly, "In several major battles, the imperial court has won great victories, and now the soldiers and horses are strong, the grain and grass are sufficient, and the morale is strong, it is the best opportunity to send troops to fight against those who are not subordinate!" Your Majesty should know that if there are many people who are not subordinate today, if they are repeatedly tolerated, I am afraid that the surname Liu will not be in the world! ”

Cao Cao's voice kept echoing in the hall, the emperor's hand kept trembling, for a long time, he said: "Wancheng Zhang Xiu does not respect the imperial court, does not follow the emperor's orders, and today orders Prime Minister Cao Cao to lead the army to crusade and choose an auspicious day to go on the expedition!" ”

Cao Cao immediately replied: "Thank you, Your Majesty!" ”

After the dispersal of the dynasty, Cao Cao had just returned to the Prime Minister's Mansion and was convening the strategists and generals to discuss the matter, when the strategist Cheng Yu came to ask for a meeting.

"Cheng Yu has seen the prime minister!"

Cao Cao looked up and beckoned: "Haha, Zhongde, come on, come on, I guess you have any news to report to me?" ”

Cheng Yu said: "Yes, there are two important news: first, after Xuzhou was recovered by our side, Liu Bei was picked up by Yuan Tan and went to Qingzhou, and then went to Jizhou, I heard that Yuan Shao went out 200 miles to greet him, Liu Bei had an edict in his hand, Yuan Shao decided to crusade against the prime minister on this ground, and ordered Chen Lin to write a crusade against the prime minister! ”

Cao Cao felt a headache when he heard this, he himself had a headache, but at this time, he had a seizure, more and more severe, and kept hanging his head.

When the strategists and generals saw it, they were all shocked: "Prime Minister, Prime Minister······ Prime Minister"

Cao Cao endured the pain and waved his hand, pointed at Cheng Yu and said, "How is Chen Lin's essay written?" ”

Cheng Yu turned his head to look at Xun Yu, Guo Jia and others, took out a roll of silk cloth from his arms, opened it and read: "······ Sikong Cao Cao: His grandfather often served Teng, and he was a demon with Zuo Yi and Xu Huang, gluttonous and unrestrained, hurting and abusing the people; Father Song, beggar and raising, because of the stolen position, the money, the right to lose, the theft of Dingsi, and the overturning of heavy weapons. the eunuch and leave the ugly, there is no virtue, the ticket is cunning, and it is so chaotic. The shogunate Dong Tong Yingyang swept away the rebellion; continued to meet Dong Zhuo, invaded the official and tyrannized the country. So he raised his sword and waved his drum, sent his life to Dongxia, collected heroes, and discarded flaws to use; Therefore, he conspired with Cao Tong and conferred on him, saying that he was an eagle and a dog, and his minions could be ······

And the commanders and generals came to excavate, broke the coffin and naked corpse, and plundered the gold treasure. To make the holy pilgrimage weeping, the people sad! Cao and specially set up the general of the middle of the hill and touched the captain of the gold, and the suddenness was not exposed······

Cao and overbearing, send troops. I am afraid of remote states and counties, and if I listen to the rebellion of the people, I will lose my name and laugh for the world, and I will not take it. On the same day, the four states of Qingdao and Hebei are advancing simultaneously. When the book arrived in Jingzhou, he mobilized his troops and coordinated with General Jianzhong. The state and county all reorganized the volunteers, fell into the realm, raised their might, and Kuang Sheji: it was very successful. Those who have to be the head of the house, seal 5,000 households, reward 50 million, and those who favor the generals and officials of the school, don't ask. Guangyi is entrusted, Bunyan is rewarded, proclaimed to the world, and Xian makes it difficult to know that the Holy Dynasty is persecuted. Like a law!"

When Cheng Yu finished reading the text, there was silence in the hall, and the needles could be heard, this text could be described as a knife to the blood, and the strategists and generals were worried that Cao Cao would not be able to stand it.

Unexpectedly, Cao Cao suddenly laughed after hearing this, causing the strategists and generals to look at each other one by one.

"Good scolding, good scolding, I also want to thank Chen Lin, he scolded my headache!"

Yuan Shao has now solved the Gongsun Zan in the north, and he no longer has any worries, he has long had the heart to go south to fight with Cao Cao, but he can't find an excuse and opportunity, and now Liu Bei has brought him an edict, how can he miss such an opportunity?

So Chen Lin's article was issued, and the two sides officially tore their faces, and a war was about to break out.

Cao Cao looked at the strategists and said, "Originally, I planned to solve Zhang Xiu first and then deal with Yuan Benchu, but now it seems that Zhang Xiu has to make another plan!" ”

Xun Yu stood up and saluted: "Prime Minister, you don't have to make a big deal to deal with Zhang Xiu, it's enough to send a lobbyist!" ”

Cao Cao thought about it for a while, thought that Xun Yu was reasonable, and then discussed with these strategists, officials, and generals how to deal with Yuan Shao's crusade.

Many officials believe that Yuan Shao's soldiers are strong and strong, he owns the land of four states, has enough soldiers and food, and uses millions of male divisions, if he fights with him, he has almost no chance of winning.

Later, the strategist Guo Jia stood up and said the famous "Ten Victories and Ten Defeats", which greatly boosted the morale of Cao Cao and his strategists and generals.

Next, Cao Cao immediately discussed with everyone about countermeasures and made military deployments.

After discussing this matter, Cao Cao asked Cheng Yu again: "What about the second news?" ”

Cheng Yu said: "There is news from Jingzhou, Sun Ce led the army to attack Jiangxia, entered Shaxian and Jiangxia Taishou Huangzu battle, Huangzu was defeated, fled back alone, Jiangdong Army besieged Jiangxia County Zhixi Lingcheng, but could not break the city, held for a month can only retreat, and then Sun Ce sent the middle guard Zhou Yu to guard Shaxian, and he led the army back to Jiangdong, it is said that he is now fighting the idea of Yuzhang County"

Cao Cao couldn't help but say after hearing this: "This little overlord is becoming more and more capable of fighting, but I'm afraid that all parts of Jiangdong will be occupied by him sooner or later!" ”

Cheng Yu said again: "There is a grapevine, but I don't know if the prime minister is interested? ”

"Oh? Gossip? Is it reliable? ”

"Reliable is reliable!"

"Let's talk about it!"

Cheng Yu immediately said: "Does the prime minister still remember Zhang Min?" ”

When Cao Cao heard this, he clenched his fist and hammered the desk, and said angrily: "How can I forget the revenge of killing my father? ”

Cheng Yu said: "At the end of last year, Zhang Min fled to the territory of Lujiang with hundreds of remnants of his subordinates, coinciding with Sun Ce and Zhou Yu leading the army to attack Lujiang, Liu Xun was defeated and fled to return to the prime minister, when Zhang Min led people to raid the empty Anhui City, and took away the second daughter of Qiao Gong, it is reported that Xiao Qiao had been married to Zhou Yu at that time, and Ling Cao, the general of the Jiangdong Army, led the army to pursue, but was attacked by Zhang Min's army and returned defeated, and it is puzzling that Ling Cao actually captured Zhang Min! ”

Cao Cao frowned and said, "So, Zhang Min is in Sun Ce's hands at this time?" ”

"Yes! This morning, an official came to report that Jiangdong's envoy Zhang Hong had arrived in Xudu, and he might soon come to see the emperor and the prime minister! ”

Cao Cao thought for a while and said to Cheng Yu: "I want to see Zhang Hong first, you go and arrange this matter!" ”

"No!"

Cao Cao remembered something, "Zhang Min was captured, so ······ What about Little Joe? ”

Cheng Yu said: "Xiao Qiao was taken away by Qin Feng by Zhang Min's troops, it is reported that Zhou Yu deployed heavy troops to chase and intercept the remnants led by Qin Feng in order to rescue Xiao Qiao, but he was still fled into the Dabie Mountains by this person, the Jiangdong Army suffered a lot of losses, and the general Jiang Qin was killed!" ”

"Qin Feng, this person, I'm afraid that he has fled to Runan at this moment!"

Cao Cao immediately said: "Immediately send spies to find out the news and whereabouts of this person!" ”

"No!"

Early the next morning, Zhang Hong came to see Cao Cao.

Cao Cao and the strategists and generals received him in the lobby of the Prime Minister's Mansion.

"Jiangdong envoy Zhang Hong has seen the prime minister!"

Cao Cao looked at Zhang Hong and asked, "Zhang Hong, what is the matter with Xu Du?" ”