A thousand-year-old family begins with one fighting against ten thousand.

On the carriage, Cao Cao lifted the curtain and looked around. The people were all busy. Although their clothes were washed until they were faded, it was clear that their whole families had clothes to wear.

Their faces were beaming with happiness. Some were playing with their children and grandchildren, some were working hard in the fields, and some were cooking in the kitchen, with smoke rising slowly.

It was a peaceful scene, completely different from the devastation outside Yanzhou caused by the war.

"Yanzhou is truly a peaceful place, like a paradise on earth, something to be envied."

"Your Majesty is joking. Now that the world is at peace, with Your Majesty's talent, the world will surely recover quickly. Such a scene will soon appear in all parts of the Han Dynasty."

Wei Xue looked at the surrounding people, who cast curious glances at the approaching magnificent carriage. Wei Xue waved to them in greeting before retreating back into the sedan chair.

"I hope so. This is a long and arduous task, and we will need the strong support of Bo Jing and the Wei family."

Cao Cao had personally governed the region, so he naturally knew how difficult it was to achieve the scene we see today.

This is why he has always been committed to suppressing powerful families, because their greed for land is insatiable, and there will always be one side that suffers losses, either the powerful families or the common people.

Only in Yanzhou, where the Wei family was willing to share a large amount of profits with these ordinary people, could their lives far exceed the average standard of living in the Han Dynasty.

Cao Cao and Wei Xue arrived at the residence of the Prince of Zhongwu and met Wei Cheng, the current successor of the Prince of Zhongwu's lineage.

Cao Cao explained his purpose to Wei Cheng, thinking he had it all figured out, but to his surprise, Wei Cheng refused Cao Cao's request.

Cao Cao wanted to say something more, but Wei Xue tugged at his sleeve. The unspoken understanding between the two told Cao Cao that he should leave now.

After Cao Cao and Wei Xue left the Prince of Zhongwu's residence, Cao Cao couldn't wait to ask Wei Xue, "Bojing, what does the Duke of Yan mean by this?"

Wei Xue smiled. "Your Majesty need not worry. After all, the title of Prince Zhongwu was bestowed by the previous dynasty. Naturally, he will not submit to the new dynasty so easily. What will future generations say if this is recorded in the history books?!"

Cao Cao put himself in Wei's shoes and could understand their actions.

But being able to understand doesn't mean being able to accept it.

He is now the ruler of the world, and the fact that he was refused despite personally coming to invite him is a significant blow to his prestige.

Cao Cao started his army in Qingzhou, swept across the land, defeated one powerful enemy after another, and unified the country. Now is the time when he is full of ambition and has the will to be invincible.

As a result, the Wei family put up a huge challenge. Even if you are so powerful, in Yanzhou, if you are a dragon, you have to coil up; if you are a tiger, you have to lie low.

"Next, we just need to have representatives of the three elders from all over the country invite him to come out of retirement in the name of the people."

"Then His Majesty will personally bring the three elders' representatives to come together, and after three invitations, they will naturally accept the position."

Cao Cao nodded silently. If this had been done before he had unified the country, he would not have felt offended.

After he unified the country, he wanted to invite someone to serve him, but he had to be so humble, which was hard for Cao Cao to accept.

Wei Xue silently watched Cao Cao. Wei Cheng had already discussed today's events with him.

This was yet another clash between the Wei family and the imperial power. If Cao Cao was willing to yield, it would completely signify that the Wei family had officially risen above the imperial power.

Would Cao Cao agree?!

He definitely will.

Because he cannot afford the consequences of disagreeing.

"Then let's do as you say."

At Wei Xue's behest, representatives of the Three Elders from all over the land gathered in Yanzhou and came together to the Zhongwu Prince's Palace.

They used moral blackmail to persuade the Wei family to return to their posts and continue serving as Grand Minister of Agriculture.

Wei Cheng was caught in a dilemma, torn between the great favors of the previous dynasty and the plight of millions of people, leaving him at a loss.

"Let me think about it, let me think about it."

Wei Cheng fled in disarray before the three elders, who represented the people of the land.

Once again, on an auspicious day, Cao Cao personally led the three elders to the Prince of Zhongwu's residence.

"We urge Lord Yan to consider the well-being of the people and enter the court to assume the position of Grand Minister of Agriculture!"

Cao Cao shouted.

Wei Cheng looked conflicted. Just then, the steward of the Prince Zhongwu's mansion came over with a wheat ear.

"Master, I'm so happy!"

"The eldest son's latest wheat crop has matured, and its yield per mu has increased by more than 30% compared to the previous generation!"

"Great news!"

Cao Cao and the three elders beside him were startled upon hearing this.

This is a full 30%, enough to feed 30% more people in the world.

It can feed hundreds of millions more people.

Cao Cao knew this was all arranged; otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence?

Moreover, the butler is so tactless, jumping out at such an important occasion. If he had such a lack of emotional intelligence, he wouldn't have been able to get to this position.

Then there's only one possibility: it was intentional.

This superior breed was the best excuse for the Wei family to enter the new dynasty as officials, and also their reward for his cooperative performance.

Having just ascended the throne, he not only gained the approval of the Wei family, but also encountered the emergence of superior offspring, which greatly reinforced the impression that he was destined for greatness.

"We implore you, sir, to consider the well-being of the people, to enter the court as an official, and to promote this superior seed throughout the land!"

The three elders behind Cao Cao knelt down, saying that if they could bring this superior breed back, they would each be given a separate page in the family genealogy.

They were just there to fawn over Cao Cao, but they never expected to receive such an unexpected benefit.

"So be it, so be it, this must be the will of Heaven."

"However, I am getting old, so I will let Lu'er go to the capital."

"Thank you, Lord Yan."

……

On the second day of the second lunar month, the dragon raises its head.

Luoyang.

The entire court, including civil and military officials, scholars from various schools of thought, representatives from overseas countries, major families, soldiers, elders, and the most outstanding individuals and specially selected people in the land, gathered in Luoyang to witness the establishment of the new dynasty.

The weather was still quite cold at the beginning of spring, and dew had already condensed on the armor of the guards. As soldiers who had followed Cao Cao in his campaigns, they stood in formation with halberds in hand, their banners fluttering like a forest.

The civil and military officials, representatives of various schools of thought, representatives of vassal states, and representatives of aristocratic families who had arrived long ago all took their places, waiting for that historic moment to unfold.

At dawn, Cao Cao appeared here, dressed in black robes and crimson skirts, clean yet dignified.

Before him stood the altar for worshipping Heaven, which had been built over the past few months. Twenty-four red banners fluttered in the north wind beneath the altar, but he remained motionless. The twelve gold-embroidered symbols on his black robe flickered in the light of the torch he held.

Before Cao Cao were eighty-one steps, and a young eunuch attended him, holding the Imperial Seal, the most precious treasure of the Nine Provinces.