After Hua Tuo committed suicide in prison, no one could cure Cao Cao's condition, and his condition worsened. He was often worried about the movements of Shu and Wu. When he was worried, a close official suddenly reported that it was a letter sent from Soochow.
I opened the letter and read it. The content is: Sun Quan, my minister, has long known that destiny is certain.
It will be the King of Wei. I hope that the King of Wei can inherit the rule as soon as possible and send soldiers to destroy Liu Bei and wipe out the two rivers. I will definitely lead my men to surrender directly. After reading it, Cao Cao burst out laughing and showed the letter to the officials.
He looked and said: "This is Sun Quan's son preparing to put me on the stove to roast me!"
Attendant Chen Qun and others came forward and said: "The Han Dynasty has been in decline for a long time. Your Highness has made outstanding contributions and everyone looks up to him. Now Sun Quan of the Eastern Wu Dynasty has also bowed his head and proclaimed himself a minister. This is in compliance with the wishes of heaven and man. Your Highness should obey this."
According to the situation, I can directly ascend the throne and become the emperor!"
In the past, Cao Cao might have agreed directly, but at the age when he should return to his destiny, he didn't seem to have too many requirements for things like status. He just smiled and said: "I have fought for the Han Dynasty for many years. Although some of the credit has been given to the people, but
Now that I have reached the stage of being a prince, I can be regarded as an extremely human minister. I am satisfied, so how can I dare to expect more? Now the destiny is on me, I am King Wen of Zhou!"
In this aspect, Sima Yi agreed, because he had other concerns, and quickly agreed: "Now that Sun Quan has returned, the king can reward him with an official title, and then send him to resist Liu Bei."
Cao Cao agreed, and rewarded Sun Quan with the title of General of Hussars, Marquis of Nanchang, and the leadership of Jingzhou Shepherd. He then sent an envoy back with orders, asking Soochow to attack Liu Bei.
After Jia Xu's incident, Sima Yi returned his attention to seizing power. He believed that the power of the void was weakening, and if he wanted to resist Yu Yi for a long time, he must wait for an opportunity to seize the power of Wei and then destroy Shu.
The political power was destroyed in one fell swoop by Yu Yi, fulfilling the instructions of Master Nan Hua.
The condition was not treated, and Cao Cao suffered from a headache so much that he could not get up and could only lie in bed all day. Suddenly one night, he dreamed of three horses eating together. He felt very frightened. When it was dawn, he immediately called Jia Xu over and asked.
Said: "I dreamed about three horses eating in a trough yesterday. I thought about it for a long time and thought it was the disaster of Ma Teng and his son. But now Ma Teng has been eliminated by me. Last night I dreamed about three horses sharing a trough. What does this mean?
Woolen cloth?"
Jia Xu said: "The lucky horse is a good omen. Why should the king have any doubts?" Therefore, Cao Cao had no doubts.
This incident was very deliberate, but it was the beginning of Sima Yi's decision to plan, so that Cao Cao fulfilled it in his dream. Unfortunately, he was so wise in his lifetime, but he never thought about the rise of the Sima family in the court. Of course, this is a story later.
At night, Cao Cao returned to his dormitory. At ten o'clock in the morning, he felt a splitting headache. He woke up many times and tossed and turned. Suddenly he heard a sound coming from the palace. Cao Cao woke up quickly and saw Empress Fu, Dong Guiren, and Dong Cheng.
Waiting for more than twenty people, covered in blood, standing
There was a sound in the air, which seemed to be calling for life. Cao Cao quickly found his sword and slashed it into the air. Suddenly, there was a sound, as if the southwest corner of the palace was cut off. Cao Cao looked very surprised. The attendant
Rescue him and move him to another palace to recuperate.
On the second night, I heard men and women crying outside the palace again. During the day, Cao Cao summoned his officials and said, "I have been fighting everywhere for more than thirty or thirty years, and I have never believed anything strange.
Why do strange things happen so frequently nowadays?"
The ministers reported: "Your Majesty should order the Taoist priests to build a Temple of Heaven."
Cao Cao sighed: "Sage, God has punished you. No matter how you build the Temple of Heaven, there is no way to avoid it. My destiny is about to end, and there is nothing to save!" So the Temple of Heaven was not built.
When he arrived at the back, he felt that his breath was rising and he could no longer see anything. He quickly summoned Xiahou Dun to discuss it. When Xiahou Dun arrived in front of the palace gate, he suddenly saw Empress Fu, Dong Guiren, Dong Cheng and others coming again. This time it seemed that
Even more horrifying, Xiahou Dun was so surprised that he fainted and helped him out, and then he couldn't get sick anymore.
Cao Cao summoned Cao Hong, Chen Qun, Jia Xu, Sima Yi and others to the bedside to make arrangements for his funeral.
Cao Hong and others knelt on the ground and kept kowtowing: "Your Majesty, you must take care of yourself. You will recover soon."
Cao Cao said: "I have ruled the world for more than thirty years, and all the heroes have been wiped out by me. Only Sun Quan from the east of the Yangtze River and Liu Bei from the west Shu have not been wiped out. I am now critically ill and can no longer gather with my loved ones, so I have specially arranged my family affairs.
Entrusted to you, my eldest son Cao Ang was born to the Liu family. Unfortunately, he died in Wancheng. Now the Bian family has given birth to four sons, Cao Pi,
Cao Zhang, Cao Zhi, and Cao Xiong. My favorite son in my life is Cao Zhi, the third son. He is brilliant in literature and very honest. He likes drinking and is very indulgent, so I cannot support him. The second son, Cao Zhang, is brave but not wise. The fourth son, Cao Xiong, is frail and sick.
The eldest son, Cao Pi, is honest and respectful, and is the best candidate to inherit my great cause. You must help him well."
Cao Hong and others cried bitterly and retreated gently.
Cao Cao sent his servants to collect the famous incense that he usually kept, and gave it to the princes and concubines. He also told them: "After I die, you must practice your craftsmanship diligently and make more silk shoes. After selling them, you can support yourself with the money."
Self-sufficient." He also ordered his concubines to live in the Bronze Bird Terrace and offer sacrifices every day. The maids must play music and offer food. He also left
He made a will to set up seventy-two tombs for his tomb outside Wucheng in Zhangde Prefecture, and told: "Don't let future generations know where I am buried, for fear that someone will dig it up." After everything was explained, he sighed.
With a cry, tears fell like rain, and not long after, he died. He was sixty-six years old, in the first month of spring in the twenty-fifth year of Jian'an.
After Cao Cao's death, all the civil and military officials mourned. On the one hand, they sent their deceased son Cao Pi, the Marquis of Yanling Cao Zhang, the Marquis of Linzi Cao Zhi, and the Marquis of Xiaohuai Cao Xiong to report the funeral. They buried Cao Cao with a gold coffin and silver coffin, and rushed to Ye County overnight.
When Cao Pi learned that his father was dead, he burst into tears. He led his officials ten miles out of the city, brought Cao Cao's coffin into the city, and placed it in a side hall. The officials all wore filial piety, and then cried bitterly in the hall. Suddenly a man stepped forward and said: "
Please don’t be sad for the time being, Your Majesty, and let’s discuss important matters first.”
Everyone saw that it was the concubine Sima Fu. Sima Fu said: "The king of Wei passed away and the world was shocked. The new king should be consecrated as soon as possible to appease everyone's hearts. Why do you keep crying?"
The ministers said: "The prince came to announce the new king, but he didn't get the emperor's order. How could he do it wrongly?"
Chen Jiao, Minister of the Ministry of War, said: "Your Majesty died outside. If you have a private son, something might happen, and the country will be in danger." So he drew his sword, cut off his robe, and said sternly: "Then I will ask the prince to inherit the throne today, everyone.
Those who have different opinions from the official, this robe will be their fate!"