In fact, Yecheng had never announced Yuan Shao's condition to the public at this time, but his close subordinates all knew that their lord's body had reached the point where there was no way to save him. Years of excessive drinking and sex had already emptied Yuan Shao's body.
Coupled with the blow to him caused by the Guandu defeat, it was even worse.
Within the Yuan Group, a conspiracy is unfolding for the successor, hidden in a harmonious atmosphere.
As for Cao Zhi, whose attack was blocked and his plan changed, he didn't care about Yuan Shao's health. He only knew that after Yuan Shao was able to quickly put down the Youzhou rebellion, his army was quickly gathering together, and it would be impossible for him to take control of Yecheng in the short term.
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So, he once again cast his sights on his rear. He slightly modified the plan again, and in the name of returning to Xudu to recuperate, he handed over the frontline command to Cao Ren and Xun You, and led more than 10,000 troops and horses with Jia Xu and Xu You.
, Zhao Yun, Xu Chu and other teachers returned to the court.
Cao Zhi left Guandu and drove back to the capital. This time he left Xudu, left his family, and fought in various places. It lasted for more than a few years. When he left the capital, Xudu was just blowing the new wind. When he returned, the city was full of flowers and green willows.
Late summer.
At first, Cao Zhi, who returned in triumph, did not stop much. The army traveled very quickly, and Tanma Post kept going back and forth between Xudu and Cao Zhi's post, conveying various news.
After Cao Zhi defeated Yuan Shao in Guandu, Emperor Xian issued many commendations. Finally, he issued an edict to confer Cao Zhi as Duke of Wu, and the territory was sealed in Danyang. As the place where Cao Zhi started his career, there were naturally people who liked him.
He proposed to Emperor Xian that the territory of Cao Zhi, the highest-ranking person with a different surname in the Han Empire, should be enfeoffed in this way.
Cao Zhi didn't make too many false courtesies about the title awarded by the emperor this time, and just accepted it all. For Cao Zhi, who now has three princes in one body, and whose title is ranked as Duke of Wu, his power is already unbelievable.
The extent. The military and political power in the current court is concentrated in the hands of Cao Zhi's direct descendants. In the eyes of outsiders, Cao Zhi has completely controlled the current court. Or in the current court, in addition to sitting on the dragon throne, there is also a man named Liu.
Except for the young people, the dynasty has actually changed and the Cao family has become the world.
But before that, and on the way back to Xudu, Cao Zhi didn't think so and was not satisfied with everything at present. He did not return to Beijing this time to accept other people's praises and praises for his great victory from the Battle of Chibi to the Battle of Guandu.
Of great achievement.
He wants to reform and consolidate his power, while also eliminating some duplicitous people who have been hiding around him.
The army was in Zhongmou, but it suddenly slowed down its march. When the city of Xuchang was ready to welcome Cao Zhi back home after a great victory, he settled in Zhongmou on the grounds of physical discomfort.
It is impossible to guess how he is currently. Even if they know that he is really ill, no one can predict how long it will take for him and the troops returning to the capital to reach the capital.
On July 26th, Cao Zhi arrived at Zhongmou, and then issued an order to the general to station his army in Zhongmou and not move forward further.
Cao Zhi did not just lie down in Zhongmou to recuperate, or spend time with Zhen Mi, Yingying Yueyue and Fenghua Xueyue, who had not yet officially married. Instead, he sent dozens of orders to various places with a solemn look on his face, asking to summon the main officials from various places.
Come to Zhongmou to discuss matters, or return to Xudu for appointment and accept new positions.
The magistrate of Zhongmu County was also shocked to discover overnight that so many scouts, spies, agents and others suddenly appeared out of nowhere in small Zhongmu. They came in and out of Cao Zhi's camp like ants weaving their way.
Soon they all heard that the leader of these spies, another direct descendant of Cao Zhi, Le Jin, had secretly come to Zhongmou from the capital. When he came to Cao Zhi, after giving a report all morning, this person
He came and went without a trace and disappeared from everyone's sight.
Then, in a palace in Luoyang that had just been renovated and built, Zhong Yao, who was following the orders and keeping an eye on the heroes in Guanzhong, suddenly received an urgent order from Cao Zhi, asking him to return to Beijing immediately to prepare for the appointment of the Grand Tutor.
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Zhong Yao was stunned. Cao Zhi asked him to assign him to one of the three princes, Tai Tu. Why? Although he was definitely qualified for this position in terms of qualifications and merit. But now that the imperial court is under the actual control of Cao Zhi,
No one has mentioned that any official below Cao Zhi should serve as these three officials. Even if someone takes the position, it will be a false position. Who dares to ask for this power? Isn't this a fight with Cao Zhi?
But Zhong Yao soon thought that this might be a sign that Cao Zhi would launch another massacre. He, as a tutor, was just a passing thing, and he would let it go as soon as he touched it.
Zhong Yao took Cao Zhi's order, shook his head with a wry smile, and immediately set off for Xudu to accept the appointment.
Also puzzled were Guo Jia, who had just led his troops to pursue Liu Bei, and Guo Jia, who had arrived in Chang'an with Zhuge Liang. He had been ignoring the battle reports from Guandu and was focusing on the whereabouts of Liu Bei's three thousand troops.
Liu Bei was so cunning that after defecting from Guandu to Yuan Shao, he disappeared from people's sight.
Although Guo Jia and Zhuge Liang were sure that Liu Bei would defect to Liu Zhang in Yizhou, with the cooperation of Cao Zhen, Cao Xiu, Xiahou Zhang and other Cao Zhi clan generals, they quickly integrated a force of troops and guarded the pass leading to Yizhou.
Waiting for Liu Bei to surrender. At the same time, through their close relationship with Liu Zhang, they have actively launched diplomatic means to ask Liu Zhang not to accept Liu Bei.
But Liu Bei is not an ordinary person. This guy seemed to know that Cao Zhi would divide his troops to intercept him. He actually pretended to leave the Guandu camp and headed south before disappearing. In front of Guo Jialian's dragnet, he still remained for a long time.
, and did not let Guo Jia and Zhuge Liang discover his trace.
Finally, Zhuge Liang suddenly thought of another possibility and reminded them. They adjusted their sights and discovered Liu Bei who had quietly broken through many obstacles.
It turned out that this guy took Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and others to hide in Xuanyuan Mountain at the junction of Yanzhou, Yuzhou, and Jingzhou. And Guo Jia learned from the intelligence sent by Zhang Song in Yizhou that Liu Bei was not as active and peaceful as they expected.
Liu Zhang, who was also a member of the Liu clan, contacted Liu Zhang to seek asylum. Instead, he hooked up with Zhang Lu of Hanzhong, who was close to Liu Zhang, and had already intended to form an alliance between the two families to conspire to capture Liu Zhang's Yizhou.
At present, Liu Zhang, a fat man, is still a little in the dark. He always thinks that Zhang Lu is a magic stick attached to him. At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Zhang Lu spread the Five Pecks of Rice in Hanzhong and started his business, attracting many believers, even in northern Sichuan.
Many Banzhen people believed in it and moved to Hanzhong in large numbers and joined the Five Pecks of Rice Road. Zhang Lu's reputation suddenly rose and he gradually became a powerful force.
When such a large-scale cult broke out in his own territory, Liu Zhang first failed to stop it in time, and secondly, he was clever enough to exploit it. Liu Zhang not only gave Zhang Lu and his Five Pecks of Rice a legal status, but also sent him to guard Hanzhong.
Liu Zhang also valued the large number of Five Pecks of Rice believers he had in his hands. In the past, he used these people to block the pace of the powerful forces who continued to advance westward, so that he could have a certain amount of time to prepare for the invaders and assemble his troops. But now
It seems that there is no need anymore, Liu Zhang is now taking steps to truly and convincingly submit himself to Cao Zhi's rule.
Ever since he learned that Cao Zhi defeated Yuan Shao in Guandu and might unify the Central Plains, Liu Zhang ended his wait-and-see attitude. Under Zhang Song's persuasion, he had firmly determined to submit to Cao Zhi.
At this time, there was no chance that Liu Bei would have any chance to use his vague family affection to exploit every opportunity and go to Shu to seek Liu Zhang's protection.
But Liu Bei is not a guy who so many people falsely claim to be a dragon or a phoenix among men. He knew at a glance that Liu Zhang in Yizhou was desperate to defect to him. Then he quickly set his sights on Liu Bei, who also had lost his value, but was unwilling to do so.
Zhang Lu.
Zhang Lu was stationed in Hanzhong by Liu Zhang as a subordinate, but he actually controlled the entire territory of Liangzhou and part of Qinzhou in the former dynasty. These territories are still nominally Liu Zhang's, so Liu Zhang can indeed still be called the tycoon of the southwest, but
The vast territory was handed over to a believer who was a magician. He was based in Chengdu, a country known as the land of abundance, but he was a bit indolent.
Fatty Liu didn't know that a conspiracy against him was approaching quietly, but in the end, he almost had to bury his gentle hometown.
Liu Zhang's arrogance does not mean that his subordinates just resign themselves to fate. Zhang Song, who is now highly regarded by Liu Zhang, had known that Zhang Lu had different intentions, so he had repeatedly suggested that Liu Zhang recall this person and kill this Zhang Lu.
But Liu Zhang, a fat man, had a good heart. He missed Zhang Lu who had served him loyally for so many years and guarded the door for many years, preventing many people from peering into the rich and powerful country of Tianfu from setting foot in Yizhou. So.
He always told Zhang Song and others that although this person had many shortcomings, he could still be retained.
After returning from Chibi, Zhang Song became more and more successful with Cao Zhi with Liu Zhang, and his status became higher and higher. The weight of his words around Liu Zhang also became more and more important, but he could never defeat Zhang Lu.
This made Zhang Song very angry.
But soon, thanks to a letter from Jian Yong, one of Liu Bei's advisers and one of his old friends, he heard the secret, and the keen Zhang Song immediately sensed an opportunity.
While he was figuring out Liu Bei's intentions, he happened to receive the news that Guo Jia was pursuing Liu Bei's traces. As soon as the two parties came together, Zhang Song immediately took the initiative to write to Guo Jia, informing Liu Bei of his whereabouts, and reported it to Liu Bei as soon as possible.
It is possible that he colluded with Zhang Lu and entered Yizhou.
Although Guo Jia understood Zhang Song's selfishness in this matter, he was a man who absolutely grasped the opportunity. After receiving Zhang Song's letter, he immediately gathered his troops and sent troops to cross Xuanyuan Mountain.
But just when Guo Jiagang set out, he unexpectedly received a letter from Cao Zhi like Zhong Yao. The letter actually asked him to go to Beijing immediately to take over the post of Taiwei.
Guo Jia didn't react when he read the letter. Ever since Yang Biao and Cao Zhi removed the post of Taiwei and left him idle at home, the highest military position in the Han Dynasty has been vacant. But why should it be reset now?