When Cao Cao returned from the Western Expedition, he rewarded his confidants with great rewards. Almost no one in the court dared to raise objections.

Because he wanted to plot against Liu Bei, Cao Cao deliberately drove away the envoy of Xichuan, Zhang Song, and controlled the government in Xudu. He was increasingly threatening Emperor Xian of Han and had a faint tendency to usurp the throne.

Wei Kang, the governor of Liangzhou, was killed by Ma Chao. Yang Fu, Liangzhou, joined forces with Jiang Xu and others to attack Ma Chao, uprooted Ma Chao's power in Xiliang and could only go to Hanzhong to join Zhang Lu.

Since then, Cao Cao has pacified Xiliang and is very happy. He submitted that Emperor Xian of Han, Yang Fu and more than eleven people were named marquis for seeking Ma Chao's contribution, including Cao Cao's confidants who took the ride.

Dong Zhao, a confidant counselor of Cao Cao, was very talented. Because he was good at guessing others' wishes, he was very pleased by Cao Cao and was entrusted with the important task of the Prime Minister's Office.

Dong Zhao (156-236), whose courtesy name was Gongren, was from Dingtao, Jiyin. He became famous at a young age. He was once called a filial and honest man. Later, he served as the army under Yuan Shao's tent and joined the army, and most of them had military achievements.

However, Yuan Shao believed in slander, and Dong Zhao was excluded by other advisers from Yuan Shao's hall, so he had to leave Yuan Shao and join Zhang Yang.

When Zhang Yang led his army to welcome Emperor Xian of Han, Dong Zhao accompanied him and was appointed as a counselor. He fell in love with Cao Cao in Luoyang and expressed his surrender, and suggested that Cao Cao welcome Emperor Xian of Han to Xuchang.

Since then, Dong Zhao has become Cao Cao's core strategist. Although he rarely goes to war with Cao Cao, he once held important positions in many places, achieved great achievements and played an important role in the court.

Dong Zhao was determined to become a founding father and was always paving the way for Cao Cao to usurp the Han Dynasty. As soon as the time was ripe, he spoke at the Prime Minister's Office:

"Since ancient times, no minister has achieved the same merit as the prime minister. Even Duke Zhou and Duke Lu Wang are beyond the reach. After working through wind and rain for more than 30 years, he has wiped out all the evil spirits, eliminated harm with the people, and allowed the Han Dynasty to survive again. How can he be listed with the ministers and ministers? He has received the position of Duke Wei and added nine tins to show his merits."

Xun Yu, the minister of the Ministry of Justice, had a heart in the Han Dynasty. Seeing Dong Zhao's intention, he stood up and opposed:

"No, the Prime Minister was the first to promote righteous troops and support the Han Dynasty. He should uphold the loyalty and keep the integrity of humbleness and retreat. A gentleman loves his friends with virtue, so he should not do this." Xun Yu knew that Cao Cao's general situation had been achieved, so he could only use righteousness to prevent Cao Cao from usurping the Han Dynasty and reincarnating.

Xun Yu can be said to have good intentions. When the Xun family was in chaos in the world, they also placed bets on many occasions for the survival of the family. Even Xun Yu and Xun You, who served in the same force, had very different opinions.

In fact, this is also a win-win method for the big family to place two bets, so as not to cause the family to suffer a catastrophe because of making a wrong bet.

Xun Yu and Xun You were both in Cao Cao's camp and their status was equally important, but Xun Yu advocated supporting the Han Dynasty and restoring the orthodox Han Dynasty. Xun You believed that the Han Dynasty had been exhausted and supported Cao Cao's independence.

No matter who succeeds, the loser is only himself and will not harm the family.

Because Xun Yu was the first important strategist to follow Cao Cao, his status and prestige in the court were unparalleled. He was very unhappy when he heard that he did not support him and was named Duke Wei, and his face changed color. However, Xun Yu had outstanding achievements after all, and he didn't say anything at that time.

Because Xun Yu spoke out against it, the civil and military officials did not want to be the first to be the first because they didn't know Cao Cao's intentions, so they did not say a word in a tacit understanding. Dong Zhao had to stand up again and said angrily:

"How can one person stop everyone from looking for?" Then he submitted a letter to Emperor Xian of Han, asking Cao to be Duke Wei and add nine tins.

Seeing that Dong Zhao insisted on this, Cao Cao did not give in, and everyone did not raise any objections. Knowing that this was not Cao Cao's original intention, he had received his tacit approval. He was very disappointed and couldn't help but sigh:

"I didn't expect that something like this would happen today!" The implication was that I misjudged Cao Cao's character!

After Cao Cao knew about it, he naturally held a grudge in his heart!

He believed that Xun Yu's status and connections in the court were the biggest obstacle to his usurpation of the Han Dynasty, so he had the intention to remove him.

Although Dong Zhao had already submitted a statement and Emperor Xian of Han had no choice but to agree, Cao Cao did not accept it immediately, but refused very resolutely.

As the saying goes, if you don’t receive any reward without merit, Cao Cao is ready to lead his troops to war first. After he obtains military merits, he will accept the reward from Duke Wei, which is even more legitimate.

Just as it happened, news that Liu Bei led his troops into Xichuan to defend Zhang Lu came, and Cao Cao summoned his subordinates to discuss countermeasures and decided to go to the expedition.

Regarding this, Cao Cao's advisers did not agree. Some advocated conquering Zhang Lu, Hanzhong, and not only could they receive Hanzhong, but also prepared for Xichuan.

Some people advocated conquering Jingzhou, regaining Xiangyang County, which had not been lost for a long time, and forcing Liu Bei to withdraw his troops from Xichuan, but Cao Cao did not express his own views and obviously did not adopt these suggestions.

Dong Zhao and other confidants figured out Cao Cao's intentions and believed that Cao Cao did not need to make achievements this time, but just found an excuse to be named "Duke of Wei". Dong Zhao suggested that he conquer Sun Quan from Hefei nearby.

Letting Liu Bei enter Xichuan to fight with Liu Zhang was originally a plan made by Cao Cao, so he naturally would not attack Xiangyang and let Liu Bei return to the army. Guanyu in Xiangyang was guarded, and Cao Cao was not sure that he could break through it.

The army was launched to attack Hanzhong, not only the journey was long and difficult, but Cao Cao also believed that it was not the time to conquer Hanzhong.

The two great strategists, Jia Xu and Xun You, had long offered advice to Cao Cao. When Liu Bei and Liu Zhang fought in Xichuan, it was the best time for him to conquer Hanzhong.

Therefore, Sun Quan from Jiangdong became the best target for Cao Cao to make meritorious service.

After Dong Zhao made this suggestion, he immediately received the approval of heavyweight advisers such as Jia Xu, Xun You and Cheng Yu. Cao Cao was very kind and decided to conquer Sun Quan again to avenge the Red Cliff.

In October of the winter of the 17th year of Jian'an, Cao Cao raised his troops to the south of the Yangtze River.

According to convention, Xun Yu should be staying in Xudu and doing a good job in the logistics support of the army.

But because he opposed Cao Cao's title of Duke of Wei, Cao Cao was also afraid that he would cause trouble in the court, so he ordered Xun Yu to accompany the army.

Xun Yu knew that Cao Cao had the intention to kill him, and when the army arrived in Shouchun, he simply turned aside.

When Cao Cao learned the truth, he was furious and asked someone to send a food box, which was sealed by Cao Cao.

Xun Yu opened the food box and saw that there was no food inside. Xun Yu knew what Cao Cao meant, so he committed suicide by taking poison. He was fifty years old at the time.

After Xun Yu's death, his son Xun Yun wrote a letter to Cao Cao. Cao Cao was quite regretful when he learned that Xun Yu had died, so he ordered him to be buried with a generous title and posthumously named Jinghou.

Cao Cao personally led a large army, claiming to be 400,000, and fought against Sun Quan in the south.

In the first month of the 18th year of Jian'an, Cao's army marched to Ruxukou, captured Sun Quan's Jiangxi camp, and captured his governor Gongsun Yang.

So, Sun Quan personally led a 70,000 army to Ruxu, confronted Cao Cao, attacking each other, and each had a victory or defeat.

Because Sun Quan heard Lu Meng's plan and had already built a dock in Ruxu in advance, the army was able to advance and retreat freely, with few enemies more, and did not fall into a disadvantage.

Seeing that Sun Quan's army was strict and well-managed, Cao Cao couldn't help but sigh and pointed at Sun Quan with a whip and said:

"If you have a son, you should be like Sun Zhongmou! If you are Liu Jingsheng's son, you will be a pig and a dog's ear!"

Cao Cao was unable to win for a long time, so he wanted to retreat. Suddenly, an envoy from the Eastern Wu brought a letter.

Cao Cao received the letter and said:

"The Lord and the Prime Minister are both ministers and ministers of the Han Dynasty. The Prime Minister did not want to serve the country and the people, so he made rash moves and cruel creatures. Is it a benevolent person who does it? The spring water will be born today, and the Lord should leave. If it is not the case, there will be a disaster for the Red Cliff. The Lord should think about it yourself." Two lines were criticized behind the book: "If you don't die, the Lord will not be at peace."

After reading the letter, Cao Cao laughed and said to everyone:

"Sun Zhongmou will not deceive me." He rewarded the envoy and ordered the army to go to the army and ordered the prefect of Lujiang Zhu Guang to guard Wancheng and lead the army back to Xuchang.

Sun Quan also took the army back to Moling. Sun Quan discussed with the generals, and Lu Meng said:

"Although Cao Cao retreated his troops north, Liu Bei was still in Jiameng Pass and had not returned. Guan Yu was in stalemate with Cao Ren in Xiangyang. I don't know what the negotiation between the governor of Lu and Zhuge Liang was. If Liu Bei could not give a satisfactory explanation, why don't the lord lead Cao Cao's troops and take Jingzhou directly!"
Chapter completed!