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

Chapter 224, Taking the Position of Prime Minister

The system of prime ministers was established by the Qin Dynasty. The prime minister was the head of all officials, truly second only to the emperor.

The initial intention behind its establishment was good; it was originally intended to have the prime minister help the emperor share some of the pressure. However, gradually the emperor's power was eroded and restricted, and it was eventually temporarily abolished.

Guo Jia's proposal to restore the position of Chancellor is aimed at maximizing Cao Cao's power.

The Grand General is merely the head of the military officers, and is far less powerful than the Prime Minister.

Furthermore, the position of Grand General is not fixed. Once there is no war, he will be idle, and his power may be taken back by the emperor at any time.

Guo Jia continued, "Now everyone is watching you, my lord. Only if you become the prime minister can we stabilize people's hearts. As for being appointed governor of Ji Province, although Yuan Shao is dead, Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang are still alive. Yuan Shao's remnant forces are still there. You can take advantage of leading troops to quell the rebellion and control Hebei and other places in your own hands. Only in this way can we have the confidence to fight against His Majesty."

To become prime minister is to challenge the emperor through official position.

The position of Governor of Ji Province represents a power struggle against the emperor.

He could rightfully take over Hebei and turn Yuan Shao's territory into Cao Cao's own.

Soon, Xun Yu arrived at the Guandu camp.

When Cao Cao heard that Xun Yu had arrived, he was immediately taken aback.

He then went out to greet her personally. Upon meeting, both were quite awkward. "Wenruo, what brings you here?"

Xun You was also stunned, while Guo Jia, standing to the side, gave a wry smile, suddenly feeling an urge to swear and curse.

Guo Jia gritted his teeth, thinking to himself, "Your Majesty, you are too cunning."

Xun Yu smiled awkwardly, his smile tinged with bitterness.

Cao Cao took Xun Yu's hand and said, "Let's go inside and talk slowly."

The two walked side by side ahead, but they could clearly feel a sense of unfamiliarity between them.

After entering the tent and taking his seat, Xun Yu did not hide anything and told him the truth.

"His Majesty previously sent someone to invite you back to Xuchang to discuss the handling of Man Chong and Xiahou Dun, but you have not returned yet. His Majesty then sent me to invite you in person. If you have any requests, I can convey them to His Majesty on your behalf."

Cao Cao laughed and said, "I really didn't expect that His Majesty would send you as an envoy."

Then, Cao Cao let out a long sigh.

Xun You asked worriedly, "How is things in Xuchang? Is everything alright?"

Xun Yu was taken aback for a moment, then asked, "What? Haven't Dong Zhao and the others sent any messages these past few days?"

Given the magnitude of this event, Xun Yu believed that many people would secretly write letters to Cao Cao.

Although Xun Yu himself did not send anyone to deliver the message, Dong Zhao and others would certainly have done so.

Xun You shook his head. "No, we haven't received a single letter from here. I'm also puzzled."

Xun Yu gasped in shock. After a moment of contemplation, he exclaimed in alarm, "It must have been Jia Xu who did it. He is now the magistrate of Xudu and has taken full control of the order in Xudu. He must have sent people to monitor the outskirts of Xudu. Those who went out of the city to deliver messages must have all fallen into Jia Xu's hands."

"Jia Xu?" Cao Cao and his men were all taken aback.

Xun Yu then told everyone about the important events that had happened in Xudu in the past few days.

Cao Cao laughed heartily upon hearing this, "I have no reason to lose. It turns out that Jia Xu was advising Your Majesty behind the scenes. No wonder Your Majesty's methods are so brilliant and your plans so meticulous."

Cao Cao greatly admired Jia Xu's abilities and even disregarded past grievances, wanting to recruit Jia Xu to his service.

Unexpectedly, Jia Xu was secretly poached by the emperor.

"His Majesty now controls the money exchange and has so many letters secretly written to Yuan Shao. Now, he has sent someone to contact Ma Teng, wanting to bestow upon Ma Teng the title of Grand Herald..."

Guo Jia spoke slowly and deliberately, praising repeatedly, "Your Majesty's every move is brilliant. In the past, what Your Majesty lacked was only the opportunity to display your talents, but now he can finally unleash them."

Guo Jia was completely convinced and wanted to praise, "Your Majesty truly has the qualities of a wise ruler."

However, Guo Jia ultimately did not say these words in front of Cao Cao, so as not to dampen Cao Cao's spirits.

"Wenruo, now that you're here, why don't you convey Lord Cao's message?"

Guo Jia then told Xun Yu about the things they had discussed earlier.

"As long as His Majesty agrees to make Cao Cao the Chancellor and Governor of Ji Province, everything will return to normal. Che Zhou and the others will immediately withdraw their troops, and Cao Cao will return to Xuchang to see His Majesty as soon as possible."

"This……"

Xun Yu looked at Cao Cao in surprise, thinking he had misheard.

Cao Cao nodded. "Wenruo, Fengxiao is right. Since His Majesty has sent you to mediate, I am relieved. We have known each other for many years, and you will surely do your best to make this happen."

Xun Yu frowned deeply, secretly lamenting his predicament. He really wanted to help Cao Cao, but Cao Cao's request was indeed excessive.

Xun Yu hesitated for a moment and said, "My lord, I'm afraid His Majesty will not agree. The reason why the prime minister was deposed was because he restricted the emperor's power. His Majesty has come this far and finally regained power. How could he possibly relinquish it again? Although His Majesty is benevolent and magnanimous, I still feel that your request is too harsh."

“Wenruo, I know this is a difficult situation, but you should understand that if I back down now, not to mention my own future, what will become of all those who support me? Take you for example, do you really expect me to hand everything over to His Majesty?”

"..." Xun Yu was stumped by the question and didn't know how to answer.

Guo Jia spoke again, “You and I both have unwavering faith in His Majesty’s determination to reorganize the court. At this juncture, Cao Cao is either advancing or retreating. Do we really want him to return to manage water conservancy and civil engineering? Once power is handed over, it will be harder than climbing to heaven to take it back.”

As Guo Jia spoke, he stepped forward to Xun Yu. “Wenruo, do you remember why we supported Cao Cao back then? It was because Cao Cao was a man of great talent and ambition, with the world in his heart. Only he could quell the chaos. But if Cao Cao were to relinquish power now, have you considered the consequences? Even if His Majesty is merciful and will not make things difficult for Cao Cao, can you bear to watch Liu Bei, Lü Bu, and others ride roughshod over Cao Cao?”

Seeing Xun Yu's predicament, Cao Cao sighed and said, "How about this, you go back and ask His Majesty how he will respond?"

Xun Yu nodded. "Alright, please forgive me, sir, but I really cannot make this decision."

When Xun Yu was about to leave, Cao Cao personally saw him off.

The two walked side by side, and Cao Cao inquired with concern about Xun Yu's recent situation, as well as his family.

Throughout the entire process, Cao Cao never inquired about his own family.

Cao Cao had so many children and wives in Xuchang; he must have been very worried. The more worried he was, the more moved Xun Yu became.

As they were about to part, Cao Cao suddenly said, "Wenruo, it's clear that His Majesty values ​​you highly. You don't need to feel awkward. From now on, stay by His Majesty's side and assist him well."

Cao Cao could serve as prime minister and lead troops into battle, but Xun Yu could not leave Xuchang, a fact that Cao Cao was well aware of.

Xun Yu felt as if he had been stabbed in the heart. Could he change his stance without any regrets?
Cao Cao was quite magnanimous, as if he hoped Xun Yu would find a good home.

Xun Yu spurred his horse and returned to Xuchang in less than a day.

He immediately found Liu Xie, who was chatting with several mid-level military officers, including Hou Lei, Xiahou Lan, Li Erniu, and Lin Tong.

Seeing Xun Yu approaching from afar, Liu Xie waved his hand and said, "Alright, you all go ahead and get busy. Lin Tong and Li Erniu, make sure to prepare more anesthetic powder as soon as possible, lest we run out later."

Hua Tuo has selflessly offered up the formula for Mafeisan (麻沸散), which is a valuable resource that Liu Xie values ​​highly.

Lin Tong and Li Erniu nodded in agreement.

After they left, Liu Xie watched as Xun Yu's steps grew slower and slower, as if stones were tied to his legs.

Liu Xie didn't urge him, knowing it was a tough job.

Seeing the emperor looking at him, Xun Yu gritted his teeth and quickened his pace, walking up to Liu Xie. He first sighed helplessly, "Your Majesty."

Liu Xie laughed instead, "I could probably guess that Lord Cao would ask for an exorbitant amount."

With so many people supporting Cao Cao, it's easy to imagine that his demands must have been enormous.

Xun Yu sighed again. He had sighed so many times in the past few days that he had almost as many times as he had sighed in the past few years.

"Your Majesty, it's probably even more demanding than you think. Cao Cao wants to abolish the Three Dukes and make himself the Chancellor, and then asks Your Majesty to allow him to become the Governor of Ji Province!"

Liu Xie stared at Xun Yu silently, without moving or changing his expression.

Xun Yu was taken aback, fearing the emperor's anger, and quickly said, "Your Majesty, I know that Cao Cao's request is a bit excessive. He should have been dutiful to his subjects. How could he bargain with Your Majesty and ask for an official position?"

Liu Xie shook his head. The reason he wasn't surprised was because he was a time traveler.

In official history, Cao Cao only became the Governor of Ji Province after defeating Yuan Shao and occupying Hebei. He did not become the Chancellor until 207 AD.

That's because the emperor had no real power and was controlled at will by Cao Cao, which is why Cao Cao acted so blatantly.

But now, Liu Xie has clearly taken control of Xuchang, and Cao Cao has not yet seized Hebei. So why does he still want to abolish the Three Dukes and take the position of Chancellor himself?
In the Battle of Guandu, Liu Xie's performance far surpassed that of Cao Cao, who still had the audacity to serve as Chancellor and Governor of Ji Province.

"Wenruo, you should go back first. I'm a little tired. We'll discuss this matter later." Liu Xie shook his head, at a loss for what to do.

Xun Yu did not leave immediately, seemingly wanting to stay with the emperor. Liu Xie waved to him, and only then did Xun Yu leave.

Xun Yu was not surprised by the emperor's reaction.

Anyone who encounters this situation will find it difficult to handle.

Bargaining with the emperor and making exorbitant demands—who could stand that? Only Cao Cao dared to do that.

Liu Xie was feeling rather depressed, and only after walking quite a distance did he let out a sigh.

Liu Xie thought to himself: Why is it so difficult to get Cao Cao to listen to me?
Zhao Yun followed behind him silently. Zhao Yun didn't have any good ideas about this. He couldn't very well charge over alone with his silver spear, could he?
Liu Xie arrived at the lake and saw Ju Shou fishing with Kong Rong and Mi Heng.

Kong Rong served as the Minister of the Imperial Household, a relatively leisurely position. Mi Heng, on the other hand, only held a nominal position as a Chamberlain, and was also relatively idle on weekdays.

As for Ju Shou, because his family was still in Ye City, Liu Xie did not publicly appoint him to an official position.

The three of them chatted while fishing.
When Liu Xie arrived, Mi Heng was reciting Han Yu's "Exhortation to Learning".

Mi Heng commented, "There is a path to the mountain of books, and diligence is the way; the sea of ​​learning is boundless, and hard work is the boat. Although Your Majesty's words are eloquent, I don't feel that studying is that hard."

Kong Rong rolled his eyes and said, "You are exceptionally talented, able to read ten lines at a glance and have a photographic memory. Who can compare to you?"

Hearing footsteps, Ju Shou was the first to turn around. Upon seeing the emperor, he quickly put down his fishing rod and greeted him, "Your Majesty, would you like to go fishing together?"

Liu Xie shook his head. "You three have quite the refined taste."

"Your Majesty, you seem rather downcast. Could it be that Lord Xun has already returned?" Mi Heng guessed immediately.

In terms of intelligence, few can compare to Mi Heng, but in terms of strategy, he is somewhat lacking.

Ju Shou is more capable, good at thinking, and always able to grasp the key to the problem.

Liu Xie sighed, "Yes, Lord Xun just returned."

"What did Cao Cao say?" Kong Rong hurriedly asked.

Liu Xie stood behind the three men, looking at the calm and wide lake, calming his emotions slightly before repeating Xun Yu's words.

Upon hearing this, Kong Rong flew into a rage, his eyes widening in fury. "I think Cao Cao doesn't just want to be prime minister; he's plotting a rebellion! He's utterly shameless! If Your Majesty agrees to his demands, he'll likely push his luck even further next time, and might even aspire to be emperor!"

Mi Heng was also very angry, his beard bristling. "Rebellion! Rebellion! Cao Cao has such audacity! When Your Majesty first came to Xuchang, he dismissed the Three Dukes. This time he's even more arrogant, actually trying to abolish the Three Dukes altogether, not wanting anyone to threaten his position. It's clear that from now on, only Your Majesty can stand against him."

The two chattered away, one after the other, their words flowing like a machine gun, completely ignoring their fishing rods.

Ju Shou remained silent, stroking his beard as he fell into a deep silence.

Liu Xie knew the matter was somewhat tricky, so he simply didn't urge him and quietly pondered the situation.

After a long while, Ju Shou finally spoke: "Your Majesty, this is Cao Cao's only choice. He can only advance, not retreat."

Kong Rong was furious and mistakenly thought that Ju Shou was speaking up for Cao Cao, so he turned his anger towards him as well. "What do you mean by the only choice? Explain yourself clearly."

Liu Xie waved his hand, "Calm down, everyone, and let Gongyu explain slowly."

Ju Shou explained, "If Cao Cao backs down this time, returns directly to Xuchang, deals with Man Chong, and then pleads with His Majesty to spare Xiahou Dun, he will either continue to serve as Minister of Works, or His Majesty will appoint him as Grand Commandant or Minister of Education. But in any case, Cao Cao's power and reputation will be greatly diminished, and I believe Cao Cao can tolerate all of this."

“Even if His Majesty wants to punish him, Cao Cao can endure it given his magnanimity and composure. However, Cao Cao is not alone; he has hundreds or thousands of people behind him. Cao Cao himself can back down, but when it comes to so many people, he absolutely cannot back down. Once he backs down, it would be tantamount to handing over those who support him to His Majesty.”

(End of this chapter)