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

"I need an opportunity to contact them without arousing suspicion."

"The Empress Dowager's birthday banquet is in a few days."

Zhou Buyi reminded him.

"When the Empress Dowager celebrates her birthday, she always orders the wives of the officials to come to the palace. There has never been a precedent of inviting court officials to attend."

"Won't this alert the enemy?"

Emperor Qianwen tapped his fingers lightly on the dragon table.

As for the reason, it's Cao Cao's ambition and Cao Cao's legacy; those who know, know.

"There is no need to invite the court officials; simply invite the ladies to the palace."

"The Empress Dowager is no ordinary person, and the ladies are also from prominent families. Your Majesty may order the Imperial Textile Bureau to weave several sets of imperial robes to bestow upon the ladies."

"Secretly slip the details inside the sash of their clothes, explaining that these men are all loyal and patriotic, and will naturally respond to Your Majesty."

Zhou Buyi gently tapped his sash. It was a very secret place, and everyone had one, except that the clothes of the wives of the ministers who needed to be won over had been tampered with.

Cao Zhen and Cao Xiu couldn't just tear the clothes bestowed by the Empress Dowager on the spot, and coincidentally, they would also tear the clothes of these ladies.

This is a complete breakdown in relations, and Cao Zhen and Cao Xiu cannot afford such consequences.

"This plan is brilliant!"

Cao Ling asked excitedly, "But what if they don't find out?"

"That means this person is not meticulous enough and not careful enough, so they cannot be included in the plan."

Zhou Buyi explained.

"So I did as my master said."

Sima Yi stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, you can first have the Grand Tutor inform the Minister of Agriculture about this matter. If the plan goes wrong, with the Minister of Agriculture there, things will definitely not get to the worst."

"Consider defeat before victory."

"What you say makes sense, sir. I'll trouble you to make the trip."

As Cao Ling spoke, he bowed to Sima Yi and Zhou Buyi.

The two quickly stepped aside, saying, "Your Majesty, you mustn't."

"Your Majesty, I will serve you with utmost devotion, even unto death!"

Sima Yi was so moved that tears streamed down his face, and he prostrated himself before Cao Ling.

"There's no time to lose, I'll go find the Empress Dowager right now."

After saying this, Cao Ling left the Imperial Study and went to Chang Le Palace to find his mother, Empress Dowager Guo.

"Your subject greets Your Majesty."

Cao Ling bowed to Empress Dowager Guo.

"No need for such formalities."

Empress Dowager Guo smiled at her son, "What brings Your Majesty here?"

"Is it convenient for Mother to speak here?"

Taking advantage of the hug, Cao Ling whispered something in Empress Dowager Guo's ear.

Empress Dowager Guo was taken aback. "Speak," she said. "The Empress Dowager still has the authority to make decisions in the inner palace."

"Your Majesty, I would like to ask you for a favor."

Cao Ling explained their plan in detail to Empress Dowager Guo. After listening, Empress Dowager Guo's eyebrows relaxed. "I thought it was something serious?"

"You should leave this matter to your mother."

"Your mother will make sure it's all taken care of perfectly for you."

Cao Ling breathed a sigh of relief; he still trusted his mother's abilities.

"Then I'll leave it to you, Mother."

……

On the day of Empress Dowager Guo's birthday banquet, the plan proceeded as scheduled.

Upon returning home, Cao Zhen and Cao Xiu immediately took the clothes from their wives' hands, examined them thoroughly, and confirmed that there were no problems.

They then inquired in detail about every aspect of what had happened that day from their wives.

After comparing their statements and confirming that there were no problems, they finally breathed a sigh of relief.

After the ladies returned home, they naturally had to inform their husbands about the clothes bestowed by the Empress Dowager.

Astute individuals like Jiang Wei and Zhong Hui, along with many other nobles who had long been accustomed to the ways of the court, naturally realized that the Empress Dowager's sudden issuance of this item must have a deeper meaning.

Upon closer inspection, the unusual nature of the belt was naturally discovered.

After cutting it open, they discovered the imperial edict left behind by the emperor.

After reading it, Jiang Wei, Zhong Hui, and the others burst into laughter.

Their chance to be appointed generals and nobles has arrived!

They all conspired together, secretly mobilizing troops to enter the capital, awaiting the emperor's orders.

Thanks to the deliberate cover-up by Cao Ling and others, the capital remained as peaceful as ever.

These peaceful days continued until the anniversary of Cao Cao's death.

According to common sense, the emperor should personally go to Cao Cao's tomb to pay homage.

For several years prior, Cao Zhen and Cao Xiu had been using the excuse that the emperor was too young to go and offer sacrifices to their ancestors on his behalf.

This year was no different; as usual, they stripped Cao Ling of his right as emperor to offer sacrifices to the founding emperor.

Cao Ling watched the two leave Luoyang City. His steps were slightly unsteady as he returned to the palace. He suppressed his excitement and summoned Zhou Buyi and Sima Yi into the palace.

"Cao Zhen and Cao Xiu have already left Luoyang. It's time for our plan to begin."

Cao Ling stood up excitedly and looked at the birds flying outside the window.

He too would finally be free, like that bird, to look down upon everything and gain the power of an emperor.

"Master, sir, let's begin!"

"Yes, sir!"

With the coordination of Zhou Buyi and Sima Yi, Xiahou Shang, Xiahou Ba, Jiang Wei, Zhong Hui, Deng Ai, Zhang Hu, Xu Gai, Huang Xu and others gathered their troops.

Xiahou Shang and Xiahou Ba respectively besieged the residences of Cao Zhen and Cao Xiu, Zhong Hui and Huang Xu led troops to guard the palace, while Jiang Wei, Deng Ai, Zhang Hu, and Xu Gai occupied the four city gates of Luoyang.

Zhou Buyi arrived at the military camp outside the city with Cao Ling's imperial edict and the Empress Dowager's decree, and recaptured the army outside Luoyang.

With a strong sense of righteousness and the support of many military generals, Cao Ling easily gained control of the military power around Luoyang.

When Cao Zhen and Cao Xiu returned to Luoyang in the evening, they found the city gates tightly closed.

Xiahou Shang, Xiahou Ba, and Zhou Buyi stood on the city gate. "Cao Zhen and Cao Xiu, before the late emperor passed away, he considered that you two were members of the imperial clan and appointed you as regents."

"Yet you two failed to uphold your integrity to the death, instead deceiving His Majesty as an orphan and widow, and wielding power arbitrarily. How will you face the late Emperor after your passing?!"

Xiahou Ba stood on the city gate and shouted to Cao Zhen and Cao Xiu.

Cao Zhen and Cao Xiu exchanged a panicked glance. "Xiahou Ba, stop talking nonsense!"

"We two are utterly loyal to Your Majesty, and all our actions are for the sake of the court and the nation. The late Emperor was kind enough to promote us, so how could we dare to insult Your Majesty!"

"It must be a treacherous minister in court spreading falsehoods; we demand to see His Majesty!"

"We are innocent!"

"You want to see me?"

Cao Ling appeared before Cao Zhen and Cao Xiu. "What do you want to say?"

"Today is the anniversary of the passing of our great-grandfather, and it is only right that the emperor should offer sacrifices. Even though I am young, I should still fulfill this filial duty. Why have you two been the ones to go all these years?"

"Since the passing of the other regents, you two have continuously eliminated dissidents and formed cliques. All promotions in the court, high and low, have fallen into your hands, regardless of merit or ability, based solely on loyalty. Is this the behavior of loyal ministers?"

"There is a distinction between ruler and subject. Even though I am young, I am still the ruler. If these two address me as an elder, whether in public or in private, showing no respect or courtesy whatsoever, is this the behavior of a loyal subject?"

Cao Zhen and Cao Xiu were speechless.