Liu Bian nodded, changed into his dragon robe, and sat on the dilapidated dragon throne in the Luoyang palace, waiting for Cao Cao to come and pay his respects.
At this moment, Cao Cao had arrived at the palace gate. He asked Xun Yu, "Wenruo, according to the etiquette of the Han Dynasty, as an official from outside the capital, I should present gifts to His Majesty when I see him. However, we left in a hurry and I did not prepare anything."
Xun Yu stroked his beard and smiled, “My lord, His Majesty and his ministers have been traveling day and night for a month to reach Luoyang. What they need most now is not gold or silver, but just a bowl of meat soup and a flatbread.”
Cao Cao laughed and said, "Yes, you're right. Cao Chun, did you hear me? Go and make some meat broth!"
"Yes, sir!" Cao Chun accepted the order and left.
"Furthermore, my lord, when foreign officials pay homage to the emperor, they must bow three times and kowtow nine times. My lord must not forget this, and you must make sure that His Majesty and the ministers put their guard down!" Xun Yu instructed again.
"Don't worry, I know what to do!" Cao Cao nodded slightly.
Then, Cao Cao strode into the palace, bowed three times and kowtowed nine times, and loudly proclaimed: "Your subject Cao Cao, Governor of Yanzhou, pays his respects to Your Majesty!"
Liu Bian was startled and trembled, but seeing Cao Cao's respectful attitude towards him, tears welled up in his eyes.
"No need for formalities!"
"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty!"
Then, Cao Cao waved his hand, and Cao Chun followed, carrying in meat soup.
"Your Majesty, you have suffered! This is chicken soup that I specially prepared for Your Majesty!"
Liu Bian looked at the meat soup that Cao Chun brought over, swallowed hard, his eyes gleaming, and choked out, "I...I haven't tasted meat for a month!"
"A loyal minister! Cao Mengde is a loyal minister!"
As soon as Liu Bian said this, the ministers below responded one after another.
Even Dong Zhuo back then wasn't as respectful as Cao Cao, after all, Liu Bian was just a puppet.
But Cao Cao was truly respectful, even obsequious, which made all the ministers feel that Cao Cao was a truly loyal minister!
"Bring up the remaining broth and distribute it to the gentlemen."
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