Chapter 753 The King of Wei has nothing to reward or title to!
"I am willing to give up my title and surrender to the King of Wei!"
"I have appointed the former King of Yong as Marquis of Fufeng and given him the title of General Zhendong of Han."
Ma Chao held out his sword high, and Cao Cao took it solemnly. For the sake of the world, he could endure the hatred of his son being killed.
As soon as Ma Chao surrendered, he took control of the entire Sili!
Those groups of Xiliang cavalry made Cao Cao extremely excited. There were nearly 20,000 cavalrymen in total!
With these cavalry, he could even fight another battle with the State of Yan in You and Ji, and even win.
Adding the six counties of Guanzhong that belonged to Liangzhou, Cao Cao laughed out loud and said, "Which lands did the King of Qin occupy when he swept across the world?"
Guo Jia, who looked sick, laughed loudly and said, "Reporting to the king, when the Qin State swept through the Guandong states, it only occupied Guanzhong, Shuzhong, Hedong, Heluo, and Jingzhou."
Cao Cao laughed even more happily, and said with great vigor and vitality: "Now our Wei State has occupied Guanzhong, Sanhe, Ji'nan, Yanzhou, and Yuzhou, and its power is even greater than that of the Qin State in the past.
A peaceful world is just around the corner.
I will wipe out all these self-proclaimed kings, so that no one in the world dares to claim to be an emperor or a king."
The current Wei State is like a flying dragon riding on its face!
Look at the princes of the world. Guanzhong has been pacified, Liu Yan in Shu is dead, Liu Zhang is just a ruler who maintains the status quo, and Zhang Lu is a religious leader who is far inferior to the King of the Western Regions and is of no use.
Lü Bu was guarding Bingzhou with few soldiers and generals, relying solely on his bravery. However, the State of Zhao was destroyed and Yuan Tan surrendered.
Although Lu Qiling did not follow Yuan Tan to Xuchang but fled back to Bingzhou, there was no need for Lu Bu to be an enemy of the Wei State. After returning to Guandong, he was promised high positions and generous titles, the honor of a marquis with gold and silver, the wealth of hereditary succession, and the power of an important general. At that time, how could Lu Bu not surrender?
Now the only ones who can still pose a threat to Wei are Wu, Yan and Liu Bei, but by that time, even if they unite, they will no longer pose a threat to Wei.
This is a real dragon riding on the face, it's hard to lose.
The officials of the Wei Kingdom stopped pretending and laughed loudly, saying, "We wish to follow the king and bring peace to the world!"
I hope all the generals of the Xiliang Army would kneel on the ground and secretly feel lucky that they surrendered early.
After Ma Chao surrendered, the King of the Western Regions cursed him: "You dog Ma Chao, you are nothing more than a whore in a brothel, a eunuch in the palace, and a lowly slave. You are worse than these!"
He was completely numb. He had just formed an alliance with Ma Chao and led a large army to attack Cao Cao, but Ma Chao turned around and sold him out.
The King of the Western Regions could only quickly lead his army back to Hexi and then hold on to prevent Cao Cao from invading. Fortunately, Cao Cao had just taken over Guanzhong and had no further plans.
But Cao Cao still sent a note to the King of the Western Regions, saying: "How dare the ruler of a small country covet the territory of the Han Dynasty? Considering that this is your first offense, I will not pursue you. You should pay tribute to Your Majesty and I will forgive your crime. Otherwise, I will kill you without mercy!"
Cao Cao was determined to capture the four counties in Hexi, as there were excellent horse farms there and it was the easiest area to capture.
With the military horse farms in the four counties of Hexi and after eliminating the threat from the west, Cao Cao could gradually eliminate the wings of other princes.
Cao Cao rested in Guanzhong for a while, and then returned to Guandong with Ma Chao, a group of Guanxi princes and nearly 20,000 Xiliang cavalry.
Guanzhong is newly acquired, and there is still a lot of administrative work to be done, and we must be careful about repeated changes.
He left behind Xiahou Dun and Sima Yi, a new generation of counselors and generals with rich experience in political work, to guard Chang'an.
On the way from Guanzhong to Guandong, Cao Cao deliberately showed off his momentum. With endless flags and troops stretching for dozens of miles, his momentum, military appearance and strength were unprecedented since the end of the Han Dynasty.
After Cao Cao passed through Qiaohan, Nanyang Prefect Zhao Hong led a large army and waited for him on the way back to Luoyang. Nanyang was a large county with well-trained soldiers and sufficient food. The flags were waving and the soldiers were standing in rows, which was very impressive.
When Cao Cao showed up, Zhao Hong sent an envoy to request to meet Cao Cao in person.
Cao Cao and a group of Wei advisers looked at each other and smiled, and guessed that Zhao Hong wanted to surrender. When Zhao Hong followed the messenger step by step, he looked up and saw a man at the top, who looked very heroic. If it weren't for his short stature, he actually had some of the demeanor of the former Tianyi Taoist Master.
Zhao Hong was a little dazed for a moment and couldn't help but miss the infinite glory of their Taiping Army following the Taoist Master Tianyi.
If the Taoist master were alive, there wouldn't be so many things happening in this world.
Cao Cao looked at Zhao Hong, who came from the Taiping Army, and thought of Guan Hai and others who had defected to him. Unconsciously, he had so many generals who were from the Taiping Army.
These were all the brave generals under Zhang Jiao’s command.
Zhang Jiao!
When Cao Cao thought of this person, even though his power was so huge now, he still felt a chill.
Zhao Hong was thinking a thousand things, but he didn't show it. He bowed to Cao Cao respectfully and said, "Zhao Hong, the governor of Nanyang, pays respect to the king.
Your Majesty is a hero in the world, and Zhao Hong admires you deeply. I am willing to give up this position and serve as a small soldier in your tent, holding the spear and leading the horse. "
Cao Cao acted touched, and quickly helped Zhao Hong up, saying with emotion: "I once heard the sage say that those who have the right way have many supporters, while those who have lost the right way have few supporters. Now that the governor has come to me, I must have gained the right way.
I really feel guilty.
I hope I can live up to your expectations.”
The importance of Nanyang to the current Cao Wei forces is self-evident.
It can be said that Nanyang is the last piece of the puzzle of the Eight Passes of Luoyang. After Nanyang surrendered, Cao Cao no longer needed to move the capital of Wei to Yecheng, but could move directly to Luoyang.
Because all the passes around Luoyang were under his control.
Zhao Hong surrendered to Cao Cao not only because Cao Cao's power suddenly grew stronger, but also because he had sworn brothers within Cao Cao's ranks who had been persuading him.
Zhao Hong originally wanted to wait until Cao Cao needed him, such as capturing Jingzhou, and then surrender in exchange for the greatest benefits. However, he did not expect Cao Cao to be so powerful and directly pacified Guanzhong, so he had to surrender in advance.
Fortunately, Cao Cao was quite knowledgeable.
Zhao Hong was still given enough face, so naturally, he had to give up more interests.
Cao Cao and his advisers looked at each other and smiled again. Now that Nanyang had been taken, all he needed to do next was capture Hanzhong, force Shu to surrender, and then defeat Liu Bei. Then the world would be within his grasp.
As for the State of Wu.
First, without Xuzhou, Huaishui, and second, without Jingzhou and Nanyang, they could only be trapped south of the Yangtze River.
When the north is unified, the war potential of the two sides will be completely different, and the Wu Kingdom will definitely be defeated!
Thinking of this, Cao Cao couldn't help but feel a little complacent. Sure enough, the fortune teller was right. The person standing in his way of conquering the world was Yuan Shao. As long as Yuan Shao died, it would be a good time for heaven and earth to join forces, and it would be worth it for him to have given his all to defeat him.
Although Cao Cao has become the ruler of a region in fact, he is still the King of Wei of the Han Dynasty in name, and there is an emperor above him.
Then he naturally could not act recklessly, or at least could not leave any room for criticism. For example, he could not call himself "I", but had to call himself "I" or "the widow".
Otherwise, those historians would not give him face and would definitely accuse him of usurpation.
No matter how incompetent, useless, or even a puppet Liu Xie was, he was still Cao Cao's master. There was a difference in title and position, so Cao Cao had to respect him.
…
Xuchang.
Only those who live here can feel the tremendous changes that have taken place here along with the changes in the political atmosphere.
This was once the political center of Cao Cao and also the political center of Liu Xie's Han Dynasty. However, as Cao Cao gradually developed, the contradictions between the two sides gradually increased.
Finally, in that cold winter, Cao Cao carried out a major purge, and those ministers who were loyal to the Han Dynasty were either killed or exiled.
Cao Cao's group completely broke away from the Han court and even moved the political center to Hebei, which became a prison for the Han emperor.
Yuan Tan and other fallen princes were also relocated here to await future affairs.
The city of Xuchang, which had always been drowsy and without any vitality, suddenly exploded like thunder today. The surrounding city gates were all wide open, and cavalrymen with flags on their backs rushed in from outside the city.
As they ran, all of them shouted, "The King of Wei won a great victory in Guanzhong! The King of Wei won a great victory in Guanzhong!"
"The King of Wei recaptures Nanyang! The King of Wei recaptures Nanyang!"
The sudden sound immediately shocked the Han subjects who were walking around the street.
"The King of Wei has won another great victory?"
This is the thought in almost everyone's mind.
"The King of Wei has won another great victory?"
In the palace, Liu Xie listened with a pale face as the messenger reported Cao Cao's battle achievements.
The more Cao Cao won, the more miserably he lost.
One day, he will give away the imperial crown on his head.
He looked around, but could not see his loyal ministers. A scene of blood appeared before his eyes again. All his loyal ministers had died in that cold winter.
He couldn't help but shudder.
He had suddenly woken up countless times in the night, surrounded by an endless sea of blood.
Those loyal ministers who were unjustly killed, even including his own concubines and eunuchs who served him, were all covered in blood, some had no heads on their necks, and some had holes in their chests. The tragedy was different.
They were all asking themselves, Your Majesty, Your Majesty, when will you avenge us, when will you clear our names?
We died unjustly, we are not traitors.
Liu Xie suddenly screamed and collapsed to the ground, waving his hands and yelling some inaudible words.
Xi Zhicai, who had been following the soldiers all the way back, frowned and stepped forward and asked rudely, "Your Majesty, is everything ok?"
After roaring three times, Liu Xie finally came back to his senses from his hysteria. He gasped for breath and looked at Xi Zhicai and asked, "What did the chief priest say?"
Xi Zhicai bowed his hands and said proudly: "Your Majesty, the King of Wei defeated Ma Chao and recovered Guanzhong and Nanyang. The flag of the Han Dynasty has been raised again on these two lands. The Han Dynasty is about to prosper.
Isn’t this the great achievement of the King of Wei, unprecedented in history, in rebuilding the country?
If no reward is given, wouldn't it discourage all the loyal and righteous people in the world?
I have come to announce the good news, and I also bring the hopes of the people of the world to know how Your Majesty will reward the King of Wei."
To be rewarded!
Liu Xie clenched his hands instantly. How else could he reward him?
Cao Cao is already a prince. There is no more reward or title he can get. Should I give up the throne to him?
He took a strong breath and said tremblingly: "I am dull by nature, and the King of Wei has made great contributions, almost reviving the Han Dynasty. Who can surpass the King of Wei?
I don't know how to reward the King of Wei to show his great contribution. If you are smart, can you give me some advice? "
A trace of disdain flashed in Xi Zhicai's eyes. He knew that Liu Xie would definitely agree without even daring to resist.
There were so many holy kings in the Han Dynasty, why did such a coward appear in the end? How could he be worthy of being the emperor of the world?
Only a hero like the King of Wei who has ambitions for the whole world is worthy of owning the vast territory.
Xi Zhicai took out a document from his sleeve, walked slowly to Liu Xie, bowed and said: "Your Majesty, these are some of my thoughts, please take a look at them."
Liu Xie's hands trembled again. He didn't expect that Cao Cao had already prepared a reward for him.
He took the document reluctantly, unfolded it and looked at it, his face becoming paler and paler.
Since ancient times, rewards have been nothing more than gold, silver, land, and official titles, and these are what Cao Cao wanted.
It is said that Cao Cao deserved no more rewards or titles, but this is actually inaccurate. If he were to be given titles according to the way he was a minister, then he naturally could not be rewarded any more, and the emperor should even have tried to kill Cao Cao.
But can Cao Cao still be considered a subject now?
Whoever has the final say will be rewarded with a minister like Cao Cao.
In the document, what Cao Cao wanted was simple yet difficult, but Liu Xie knew that he had no ability to refuse. If it weren't for Liu Bei and other princes, Cao Cao would have directly asked him to abdicate.
He looked at the document and felt that he had no strength in his body. In the end, he could only wave his hand numbly and said, "Just reward the King of Wei according to your plan. That's it."
Xi Zhicai smiled softly and said, "Your Majesty's generous reward will surely inspire the loyal and upright people in the world. The King of Wei will surely make great contributions again and add bricks and tiles to the Han Dynasty. Your Majesty is so lucky to have the world under your rule."
However, Liu Xie felt that every word and sentence of Xi Zhicai was a mockery of him, but he had nothing to say except anger.
After all, there was nothing wrong with every word Xi Zhicai said, as he was congratulating himself, the emperor.
Xi Zhicai turned and left the hall. Looking at Xi Zhicai's back, which was stretched very long in the light, Liu Xie almost collapsed on the ground.
He recalled every word of the imperial edict and felt his heart aching.
Ancestors.
The Han Dynasty is really going to perish.
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Cao Cao was a man of great talent, but he liked to pretend to be loyal and acted like a traitor. He was not as sincere as Shao, Chao, and Chu. He defeated Yuan Shao with the help of the Han Dynasty, and defeated Ma Chao and subdued Zhao Hong, all of which were his own achievements. He pretended to be loyal, and the emperor was cowardly and suffered humiliation. The Han Dynasty was in ruins at this point. - "Book of the Later Han Dynasty·Biography of Cao Cao"
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The emperor thought that Ma Chao was usurping the throne, so he launched a westward expedition with great determination. After four months, the Xiliang generals and Ma Chao surrendered, and Zhao Hong of Nanyang surrendered. The emperor was very pleased with the news and said, "The King of Wei has great merits and virtues, and has almost restored the Han Dynasty. Among all the ministers, there is no one who can compare to him. How can I reward him?" - "Book of Wei: Chronicle of Emperor Wu"
(End of this chapter)
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