Chapter 208: Yellow flag waving, the emperor sheds tears
Xudu, in the imperial city.
Cao Zhen, the general of Zhenxi, led thousands of tiger and leopard cavalry and were riding horses around the imperial city.
In the first year of Jian'an in the Han Dynasty, Cao Cao urged Emperor Liu Xie to move the capital to Xu County on the grounds that "Luoyang was ruined". From then on, Xu County was renamed Xu Capital.
Xudu is divided into two cities: inner and outer. The inner city is dedicated to the residence of Emperor Liu Xie and his concubines. Therefore, the inner city of Xudu is also called the imperial city.
In addition to the inner city, Cao Cao built an outer city as a residence for civil and military officials.
As Cao Cao's power continued to expand, Xudu was also constantly expanding.
Before Cao Cao established the capital of the Wei Kingdom in Ye City, Xu's capital expanded and the outer city was five times the size of the inner city.
Many palaces were also built in the inner city, such as Jingfu Hall, Chengguang Hall, Yongshi Terrace, Yuxiu Terrace, etc.
After years of expansion by Cao Cao, the appearance of Xudu has changed drastically, and it now fully possesses the style of an imperial capital.
But when Cao Zhen looked at the Xudu Palace that had been expanded by Cao Cao, he always unconsciously recalled in his mind the Luoyang Palace he had seen last year.
Compared with the palaces in Luoyang City, even after many expansions of the Xudu Palace, it is far from comparable to the palaces in Luoyang City.
Even the entire city of Xudu is far inferior to Luoyang.
Too small.
China has had two capitals since ancient times, and the only one that can compare with Luoyang is Chang'an.
Only with its capital in these two cities can it be called the orthodoxy of the Chinese dynasty.
No wonder the king wanted to move the capital to Luoyang after he became emperor.
After Cao Pi succeeded to the throne of Wei King, he immediately appointed Cao Zhen as General Zhenxi.
Originally, Cao Pi planned to let Cao Zhen take charge of the military affairs of Yong and Liang, but considering that he was about to become emperor and someone was needed to take charge of the Chinese military, he did not let Cao Zhen take up the post for the time being.
Under this situation, Cao Pi appointed Xiahou Mao as General Anxi as a temporary measure.
Cao Pi knew that Xiahou Mao had no talent in military strategy, but Xiahou Mao had talent in managing life.
In Cao Pi's vision, the future structure of the northwest military will be with Cao Zhen as the commander-in-chief, leading the army to face Liu Bei's army in Yizhou.
Xia Houmao was responsible for sitting in Chang'an, raising grain, grass and weapons to ensure sufficient military supplies for the front line.
Cao Zhen and Xia Houmao were both his confidants, and this arrangement could complement each other, making it Cao Pi's most ideal northwest layout.
Under the protection of thousands of tigers and leopards, Cao Zhen looked around the imperial city unscrupulously.
In the past, when Cao Cao was still alive, because Cao Cao was still a Han official in name, when Cao Zhen went to Xudu to meet the emperor Liu Xie, Cao Zhen could only maintain his face, showing "awe" of the Han emperor Liu Xie and "respect for the imperial city".
Respectfully".
But now, Cao Pi's move to change the situation has entered the process, and Cao Zhen no longer needs to hide his true attitude towards the big man.
Looking at the magenta red flags of the Han Dynasty planted everywhere in the imperial city, Cao Zhen's eyes showed a disdainful attitude.
He was tired of seeing red in the world and it was time for a change.
Among the thousands of tiger and leopard cavalry, because they are all Wei ministers, they all fly the flag of "Wei", and the flag of "Wei" is yellow.
After Cao Pi gradually revealed his intention to proclaim himself emperor, especially after the "Nine-Rank Officials Law" began to be openly discussed, many famous Confucian ministers gave Cao Pi private advice.
They suggested that Cao Pi could imitate the old practice of Tang and Yu and implement abdication, and suggested that Cao Pi should follow the theory of the beginning and end of the Five Virtues and that the Wei Dynasty should choose Tu De.
Cao Pi had been familiar with classics since he was a child, and he naturally knew the theory of the five virtues that represent the change of dynasties.
So after receiving the memorials from those famous ministers and scholars, Cao Pi was deeply convinced.
Although there has not yet been a change of dynasty, since Cao Pi has the intention of proclaiming himself emperor, all corresponding preparations have been put on the agenda.
For example, this yellow "Wei" flag.
The soil is still yellow.
Perhaps none of this is recorded in the history books, but when history reaches this point, all development and preparations are actually taking place in secret and as a matter of course.
In the imperial city, there were not only Cao Zhen and thousands of tiger and leopard cavalry, but also many soldiers guarding the imperial city, as well as the busy palace ladies and small yellow gatekeepers.
But when they saw a flash of yellow that was incompatible with the red in the imperial city, they all lowered their heads in fear, not daring to look directly, let alone make any associations.
In Xudu, those who would stop this treasonous scene had their blood shed many years ago, and are currently on the palace road under Cao Zhen's horse hooves.
Three massacres in the fifth year of Jian'an, the fourteenth year of Jian'an, and the twenty-third year of Jian'an were carried out outside Liu Xie's dormitory, Jingfu Hall.
In those three massacres, countless ministers loyal to the Han Dynasty died on the palace road of Jingfu Palace.
Among the guards and concubines outside Jingfu Hall, there were many witnesses of the massacre.
Even in their minds, the roar of countless ministers before their death sometimes still echoes:
"Cao Cao, what you are doing is different from that of Thief Dong!"
Countless loyal ministers died in front of the emperor Liu Xie, and countless blood was shed at the feet of the emperor Liu Xie.
These tragic scenes had already shattered all the resistance of Emperor Liu Xie, and provided more confidence for Cao Zhen's actions today.
Cao Zhen looked at the Jingfu Palace in front of him, with a sneer on his lips.
Hope you can understand!
...
In the deep and quiet Jingfu Hall, some ministers were kneeling in front of the Emperor Liu Xie, explaining their interests to Liu Xie.
The current nominal master of the world, the Emperor of the Han Dynasty, Liu Xie, looked at the minister in front of him, whom he did not recognize in the past, with an expression of indifference.
Liu Xie was born in the fourth year of Guanghe and is forty years old this year.
Liu Xie welcomed Cao Cao to Xudu in the first year of Jian'an, and he spent twenty-five years in Xudu since then.
Although Liu Xie was involved in chaos when he was young and almost died, his living conditions have improved since he was welcomed to Xudu by Cao Cao.
In the past twenty-five years, Liu Xie has had no shortage of fine wines and delicacies, as well as plenty of fine clothes.
But after years of living a pampered life, Liu Xie, who is just forty years old, has already turned into a man with silver hair, like an old man.
This is because Liu Xie has lived in a highly stressful environment for a long time.
In the past years, Liu Xie didn't even know when he would be killed by Cao Cao.
Under such mental pressure, Liu Xie's mental energy was exhausted.
The ministers kneeling in front of Liu Xie were still chattering and analyzing the current situation for Liu Xie.
But after analyzing for a period of time, they realized that Liu Xie on the throne did not respond at all, and their faces showed anger.
They stopped covering up and stood up directly. One of the ministers walked directly to Liu Xie, pointed at his nose and asked:
"What do you mean, Your Majesty? Are you unwilling to give in?"
A look of anger appeared on the minister's face, as if Liu Xie was not the emperor but his nephew who had made a mistake.
Liu Xie was sitting on the throne, looking at the minister in front of him, whose name he didn't even know, who dared to point his finger at him and question him, his face was still indifferent.
Normally, a minister with such a low status and shallow reputation would not even have the qualifications to see him, but unfortunately this is no longer the case.
Liu Xie knew that Cao Pi sent these unknown ministers to give himself a way out.
Once something unexpected happens in his attempt to force him to surrender, he can put all the blame on these ministers, blame them for making arbitrary decisions, and completely remove himself from the matter.
The minister's anger did not make Liu Xie angry or afraid.
In the past years, he had seen a lot of Cao Cao's anger and cruelty. How could he be afraid of the threat of this little minister now?
Although he was not afraid, Liu Xie did not think of resisting.
He had tried to resist before.
In the fifth year of Jian'an, he secretly issued an imperial edict and ordered Dong Guiren's father, Chariot and Cavalry General Dong Cheng, to try to kill Cao Cao.
Dong Cheng conspired with Zuo General Liu Bei, Changshui Colonel Zhongji, General Wu Zilan, Wang Zifu and others.
As a result, the matter was exposed, and Dong Cheng and others were executed by Cao Cao. The pregnant Dong Guiren was also strangled, and countless people were implicated.
Later, Zhao Yan, the councilor, explained the current situation to him. When Cao Cao heard about it, he killed Zhao Yan.
Those incidents made him question Cao Cao:
"If you can help each other, you will be kind; if you don't, I'm lucky to be gracious to you!"
In the 19th year of Jian'an, Queen Fu's plot to ask her father Fu Wan to kill Cao Cao was exposed.
Cao Cao threatened him to depose Queen Fu and wrote an edict on his behalf to depose Queen Fu.
Then Cao Cao sent the imperial censor Xi Lu to take the edict and together with Shangshu Ling Hua Xin led troops to surround the palace and search for the queen.
Queen Fu hid in a wall in the palace, but was dragged out by Hua Xin.
Empress Fu walked out barefoot with her hair disheveled and cried to him for help: "Can't you reincarnate and live evil?"
At that time, he saw through everything and said, "I don't know when my fate will be!"
Later, Empress Fu was imprisoned and died. The two princes born to him and Empress Fu were also poisoned with poisoned wine, and more than a hundred members of the Fu clan were executed.
Maybe from that day on, he began to wait for death.
As for the throne, is it his decision?
Faced with the aggressiveness of the ministers, Liu Xie recalled that there was a minister who knelt respectfully in the palace and comforted him:
"Your Majesty, as long as your ministers are with you, the Han Dynasty will never fall."
But now, Duke Xun is gone.
Recalling that man's loyalty and humility, Liu Xie's face moved for the first time. He looked at the empty hall with no one else around, and finally spoke his first words.
"King Wei can take care of himself."
After Liu Xie said this, the ministers in the hall were overjoyed.
They hurriedly ran outside the palace and reported the good news to Cao Zhen who was waiting outside the palace.
As the ministers left, Liu Xie wanted to stand up, but due to the turmoil in his mind, he slipped and fell heavily under the throne.
Liu Xie knew that when he said those words, Guo Zuo, who had represented the Han Dynasty for four hundred years, would be cut off in his hands.
But what can he do!
The attendants, ministers, and visitors around him are all loyal to Cao Pi. Even if he disagrees, these people can use his tone to write a gorgeous Zen edict and spread it to the world!
Cao Pi sent someone to ask for his opinion, but it was just a formality.
Even if he died, Cao Pi could still find a way to make his death known after he successfully attained the Zen throne.
As his body hit Ping Ji on the throne, Liu Xie couldn't help but moan.
Liu Xie's heart was not as peaceful as his appearance.
In order to prevent people outside the hall from hearing anything unusual, Liu Xie quickly covered his mouth with his hands.
He was afraid that if he cried, the people watching him outside the palace would notice him.
Even in his own bedroom, Liu Xie could not vent his emotions at will.
Because he is just the plaything of Cao Cao and his son, and playthings are not allowed to have their own ideas.
But as Liu Xie covered it up with his hands, Liu Xie's whine still sounded uncontrollably in the hall.
Because the grief, anger and crying in Liu Xie's heart were uncontrollable.
Although he had anticipated this day and made all preparations, when the day actually arrived, the heart-wrenching feeling still invaded Liu Xie's heart in an instant.
While Liu Xie was sitting on the throne crying, a beautiful woman in palace clothes walked in outside the palace. She was Liu Xie's queen Cao Jie.
Cao Jie was Cao Cao's daughter. After Queen Fu was executed by Cao Cao, Cao Jie became Liu Xie's queen under Cao Cao's arrangement.
Although Cao Jie is Cao Cao's daughter, she has been loyal to Liu Xie since she became Liu Xie's queen and has fully fulfilled her responsibilities as a wife.
After Cao Jie entered the palace, she saw Liu Xie sitting on the throne covering his face and crying. She hurried forward and asked Liu Xie with concern what happened.
Under Cao Jie's inquiry, Liu Xie told Cao Jie what had just happened.
"I, I am going to become Liu's sinner!"
After Cao Jie knew what had just happened, anger instantly appeared on her beautiful face.
No wonder Cao Zhen wanted to send her away just now. It turned out to be for this treasonous thing.
Cao Jie was angry and wanted to go out to argue with Cao Zhen, but her body was blocked tightly by Liu Xie. Liu Xie's eyes were red. He looked at Cao Jie and shook his head and said, "I don't want anyone to die for a loser like me."
"Enough people have died."
Liu Xie's eyes seemed to be pleading. Seeing this scene, Cao Jie felt sympathy for Da Sheng, and she temporarily gave up the idea of leaving.
Cao Jie held Liu Xie's hand tightly. She wanted to say some words of comfort, but after thinking for a long time, she couldn't say anything for a while.
It was her brother who cut off her husband's family, how could she be relieved?
Seeing Liu Xie's tears streaming down his face, Cao Jie could only say softly: "The King of Hanzhong is still here, your Majesty, there is no need to worry too much."
After hearing Cao Jie mention Liu Bei, Liu Xie, who was crying and depressed, seemed to regain his energy. He asked Cao Jie to fetch a piece of clothing.
Seeing Liu Xie asking for a piece of clothing, Cao Jie understood and took one of her inner clothes.
After Cao Jie got her inner clothes, Liu Xie quickly took them. There were things on this inner clothes that he regarded as life in the past.
After Liu Xie got Cao Jie's internal clothes, he unfolded them and placed them on the throne.
Then he looked at the above article, which was Liu Bei's "The King of Hanzhong Persuades the Advancement of the Biao".
In the autumn of the twenty-fourth year of Jian'an, all Liu Bei's ministers advised Liu Bei to ascend the throne of Hanzhong and went to the emperor for approval.
After Cao Cao learned the news, he did not stop Liu Bei from writing a letter of apology because he felt that this letter of apology could help Liu Xie understand Liu Bei's true face.
But unlike Cao Cao's imagination, Liu Xie did not become angry after receiving this letter.
He didn't mind Liu Bei becoming king, but he was very happy after seeing Liu Bei's growing power.
Because this means that the Han Dynasty still has hope.
It was just that after reading this letter, Liu Xie was worried about arousing Cao Cao's jealousy, so he copied "The King of Hanzhong Encourages Jin Biao" to Cao Jie's internal clothes, and then returned the letter that Liu Bei personally submitted to Cao Jie.
Cao Cao's envoy.
The reason why it was copied on Cao Jie's internal clothes was because Cao Cao's people did not dare to search Cao Jie.
Liu Xie knelt on the throne and kept sliding his fingers on the letter in front of him.
Looking at every word in "The King of Hanzhong Encourages Entry", a glimmer of hope ignited in Liu Xie's heart.
When Liu Xie's finger touched the twelve words "Dong and Qi's six armies, rectify the alliance and wipe out the evil rebellion", Liu Xie's eyes once again shed tears.
Liu Xie's tears fell drop by drop on those words, soaking them instantly.
Uncle Emperor, I am incompetent.
The world of the great man depends on you.
You must, you must protect the red color of the big man!