With Cao Cao by my side, what do I have to fear from the world?

Chapter 13, The Three Dukes are Dismissed, and Cao Sikong Takes Office.

Cao Cao was very polite. "Your Majesty, how have you been lately? I have been very busy with many things lately, so I haven't had time to visit you. I hope Your Majesty will understand."

Moving the capital was no small matter. Liu Xie could wander around and eat and drink, but Cao Cao could not.

Cao Cao has been very busy lately.

"Lord Cao, you have worked hard. Such a huge undertaking as relocating the capital has placed an immense burden on your shoulders. If anyone should feel bad, it should be me."

Liu Xie offered some polite encouragement, since he had already decided to make Cao Cao the number one employee in the Three Kingdoms.

Cao Cao shook his head slightly. "This is my duty. However, in order to appease Yuan Shao, I have no choice but to temporarily relinquish the title of Grand General to him. I hope Your Majesty can understand."

It was assumed that Liu Xie would be angry, since General Liu Xie had just been appointed to Cao Cao, who immediately gave the title to Yuan Shao.

It is quite irregular to casually give away the emperor's bestowal of titles and honors to others.

Liu Xie, however, did not care and laughed, "Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Cao Gong, you don't need to explain to me. Yuan Shao now has more territory and stronger power, so we should appease him first. You did a good job."

"Your Majesty is wise and understands my good intentions!"

I never expected Liu Xie to be so understanding.

Cao Cao felt relieved and took the initiative to show some sincerity, saying, "Your Majesty, I know that staying in the barracks has caused Your Majesty and the ministers to suffer. In the future, Your Majesty may go out whenever you wish."

This was the biggest concession Cao Cao could make; he only allowed Liu Xie free access to and from the military camp, and forbade anyone else to do so.

"I have ordered people to speed up the construction of the palace so that Your Majesty can move in as soon as possible."

Liu Xie smiled and said, "No rush. Xuchang has just been established as the capital, and everything is in need of rebuilding. Cao Cao is busy with countless affairs of state. I am doing very well now and cannot be considered to be suffering any injustice."

After chatting for a while, Cao Cao immediately got to the point, "Your Majesty, I have already relinquished the position of Grand General to Yuan Shao. Do you have any suggestions regarding my position?"

Liu Xie smiled and said, "Lord Cao, I trust you very much. You can make the decision about this yourself."

Since the Three Dukes are still in office, Liu Xie doesn't want to be the bad guy and can't just dismiss them.

Let Cao Cao handle the things that offend people himself.

Cao Cao saw that Liu Xie was completely indifferent and did not care about anything, which suited his wishes.

The next day, Cao Cao returned to the military camp and began preparations for the first court assembly.

Holding court in the barracks was an unprecedented event.

Once everyone had arrived, Liu Xie sat in the center and had to put on the heavy crown.

After the court officials finished their ceremonies, Cao Cao walked to the front of the ministers and immediately announced that the Three Dukes had failed to protect him properly and would all be dismissed.

Situ Zhao Wen, Taiwei Yang Biao, and Sikong Zhang Xi were the first to be targeted and collectively eliminated by Cao Cao.

Cao Cao didn't give anyone a chance to refute him. He directly shifted all the blame for the emperor's return to the east onto the Three Dukes.

Yang Biao had already been reminded by Liu Xie, so he remained calm.

Next, Cao Cao turned to Liu Xie and said, "Your Majesty, I suggest that from this day forward, we officially announce that the capital will be established in Xuchang, and that Xuchang will be renamed Xudu! The era name will be changed to Jian'an!"

Liu Xie nodded, "Granted!"

Cao Cao then reminded him, "Xudu has just been pacified, and the palace is not yet completed. For the safety of Your Majesty and your ministers, you should stay in the barracks for the time being. I am willing to share Your Majesty's burdens. As the saying goes, a country cannot be without a ruler for a day, and officials cannot be without a leader for a day."

Cao Cao's meaning was already quite clear.

I've dismissed the three officials, and now that position is vacant, please arrange one for me quickly.

Cao Cao could bestow titles and rewards upon others, but he could not bestow them upon himself; this matter had to be handled by Liu Xie.

If Cao Cao were to appoint himself as Minister of Works, it would surely incur the dissatisfaction of the court officials and bring him infamy. So Liu Xie went along with Cao Cao's wishes and waved his hand, saying, "Cao Cao has made great contributions, and he has to take care of all the affairs of Xuchang, both inside and outside the capital, and he also has to shoulder the responsibilities of the world. He is truly my loyal and trusted minister. I have decided to appoint Cao Cao as Minister of Works."

The ministers were all dissatisfied. Anyone with eyes could see that Cao Cao had already shown signs of arrogance and domineering behavior. He had only just arrived in Xuchang when he dismissed the Three Dukes.

However, they were helpless; without soldiers or power, they were powerless against Cao Cao.

Cao Cao immediately bowed and said, “I thank Your Majesty for your grace. I will do my utmost to serve Your Majesty.”

Then, Cao Cao proposed that Yuan Shu, Sun Ce, and others be rewarded one by one.

"Promote Yuan Shao to the rank of Grand General."

"Yuan Shu was promoted to General of the Cavalry and granted the title of Marquis of Loyalty and Righteousness."

"Liu Biao was promoted to General of the Vanguard and granted the title of Marquis of Dong'an."

"Gongsun Zan was promoted to General of the Rear and granted the title of Marquis of Jing'an."

...The other feudal lords were not left out either; they were all rewarded.

This was a brilliant move by Cao Cao. Once the various warlords accepted the rewards, it was tantamount to acknowledging the legitimacy of Xuchang as the capital of the Han Dynasty!
From then on, no one dared to underestimate Cao Cao!
Ostensibly, it was an imperial conferment of titles by the emperor, but in reality, the feudal lords all knew that it was Cao Cao who bestowed these titles.

Anyone who dares to attack Xuchang or Cao Cao is committing a rebellion.

If anyone refused the reward, it would be tantamount to opposing the emperor and becoming an enemy of the Han dynasty, and they would naturally be labeled a traitor.

Even Yuan Shao accepted the additional title, and the other warlords had no choice but to accept the rewards as well.

Some even sent people to express their loyalty to the court, but in reality, everyone knew the truth.

The war must still be fought. Loyalty is a load of rubbish. In chaotic times, it is ultimately the fists that decide the outcome.

Dong Cheng was also promoted from General of the Guards to General of Chariots and Cavalry.

After Cao Cao left, the ministers sighed and lamented. Zhao Yan, the Imperial Advisor, Zhong Ji, the Attendant-in-Ordinary, and others came to complain to Liu Xie, saying many bad things about Cao Cao.

Liu Xie shook his head, offered a few words of advice, and then walked outside.

Dong Cheng, Zhao Yan, Zhong Ji, and others caught up and tried to persuade him earnestly.

Liu Xie fled as if he were escaping.

He knew these people meant well; Dong Cheng and Zhong Ji had even participated in the incident involving the imperial edict in the belt.

However, Liu Xie could not be soft-hearted and could not listen to them.

Liu Xie could not convince everyone that Cao Cao was a loyal minister, because Cao Cao's actions had already shown signs of this.

So Liu Xie didn't bother to waste words. He returned to his residence, quickly changed into civilian clothes, and left with Dian Wei.

Dong Cheng watched Liu Xie's departing figure and stamped his feet anxiously. "Alas, His Majesty trusts Cao Cao so much that he can't distinguish right from wrong. The Han Dynasty's hundreds of years of rule are in danger!"

Yang Biao walked over from the side. He had already packed up. Now that he had been dismissed from his post, he naturally had to leave the barracks and go home.

"Master Yang, are you just leaving like this?"

Seeing that Yang Biao's expression was very calm, Dong Cheng couldn't help but say, "This matter cannot be left like this. We must not allow Cao Cao to act arbitrarily and allow His Majesty to be deceived by him."

Yang Biao glanced at Dong Cheng, shook his head helplessly, and was too lazy to explain to him.

Upon arriving at the gate, Liu Xie saw Cao Hong and walked over with a smile, saying, "General Cao Hong, it's been quite a while since I've seen you."

Cao Hong was also very polite, because thanks to Liu Xie, he had become rich!
(End of this chapter)