Han family achievements

Chapter 602: Extra: Cao Cao

Cao Cao, 65 years old, had a head full of white hair and looked haggard due to years of military service and illness from overwork.

Sitting in the yard, basking in the sun quietly.

Cao Ang, Cao Pi, Cao Zhi and a group of his sons, as well as Cao Hong, Cao Ren, Xiahou Dun and others, gathered quietly in front of him, each of them looking silent and sad in their hearts.

Cao Cao was ill, very ill.

The imperial physician in the palace has already made a diagnosis, Grand Marshal, maybe it will be within the next two or three days.

Cao Cao closed his eyes and pretended to sleep, not moving a muscle. No one dared to speak.

It was unknown how long it had been. Just when everyone thought Cao Cao might have left and wanted to go up to smell his breath, Cao Cao opened his dry lips slightly, and said in a vicissitudes and indifferent voice: "Go ahead."

Everyone felt relieved, their expressions softened, and some even smiled.

They are all Cao Cao's close relatives. They have followed Cao Cao in his campaigns for many years and have made great contributions. Now they each have a position in the Han Dynasty court. They are considered to be successful and prominent.

Even though they have all gained a firm foothold, Cao Cao is really going to die, and it is clearly foreseeable that it won't be long before all of them will have to pack their bags and go home.

Cao Ang stepped forward and said softly, "Father, the Crown Prince's memorial to His Majesty, conferring the title of Duke of Wei on father, has been sent to the Secretariat."

"What do you mean?" Cao Cao did not open his eyes, his voice remained calm.

Cao Cao's military achievements were outstanding and unparalleled in the Han Dynasty.

However, because he acted too recklessly, he was impeached repeatedly and his many achievements were overshadowed.

After pacifying the world for many years, the emperor in the palace never forgot and kept on conferring titles on people. In just a few years, more than ten people were conferred the title of marquis!

You know, there has been no war in recent years.

As for Cao Cao, he was a relatively special existence. The civil officials headed by the Secretariat had always been trying to suppress Cao Cao and no longer conferred him any titles, even empty ones.

Now, Cao Cao is about to die, and the Secretariat has finally relented.

If His Royal Highness the Crown Prince comes forward, then things will probably be accomplished.

Cao Ang looked at Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan and others with a hesitant look, and said, "Sima Yi, the doctor of the Ministry of Revenue, Chen Qun, the right chancellor of the Ministry of Justice, and Zhong Yu, the right assistant minister of the Ministry of Works, all spoke out against it, believing that it is inappropriate to open this column, and hoped that they would follow the example of Lord Lu and rest in the imperial mausoleum."

Cao Cao was silent for a long time, then said, "Cao Pi, go see Lu Yu."

"Yes." Cao Pi responded with extreme caution.

He has a close relationship with the Second Prince and is recognized as a member of the "Second Prince's Party".

Lu Yu is the son of Lu Zhi, the confidant of the emperor in the palace, and now he is the right chancellor of Luoyang Prefecture. He is a very clear member of the young and vigorous faction. It is only a matter of time before he enters the Six Ministries and then the Secretariat.

Most importantly, Cao Cao always considered himself as Lu Zhi's "half son" and had a close relationship with Lu Yu.

Cao Ang didn't know why his father made this arrangement, so he said softly, "Lord Xuande intends to appoint Xu Shu as the Junior Secretary of the Grand Marshal's Office and Guan Yu as the General of Du Liao."

Xiahou Yuan, Xiahou Dun, Cao Ren, Cao Hong and others looked at each other quietly without saying a word, only looking at Cao Cao.

Before Cao Cao died, Liu Bei couldn't wait to move into the Grand Marshal's Mansion.

Cao Cao still did not open his eyes and said, "The court is preparing to conquer Goguryeo. I will send Zhang Liao to fight this battle. Zhang Liao will be the General of the Northern Expedition and stationed in Youbeiping."

Cao Ren, Xiahou Dun and others were stunned. Can this be changed?

Cao Cao didn't open his eyes, but he could tell they were full of confusion, so he said calmly, "Your Majesty, I don't like Luoyang."

Everyone was stunned. Your Majesty doesn't like Luoyang? What does this mean?
However, Cao Pi looked up at his father and seemed to understand something.

There have been rumors for many years that His Majesty in the palace wanted to move the capital, but that is old news from many years ago and no one has mentioned it for a long time.

Cao Cao stopped talking and said, "Everyone go, Cao Hong stay."

Cao Ang, Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan and others knew that Cao Hong had done a lot for Cao Cao in secret. Thinking that he had some special instructions, they silently raised their hands and quietly retreated.

They understood in their hearts that Cao Cao had actually made arrangements for his future affairs.

After the footsteps disappeared, Cao Cao slowly opened his eyes. His eyes were cloudy and tired as he stared at Cao Hong.

Cao Hong looked at Cao Cao with sadness in his heart. After staring at each other for a moment, he seemed to understand what Cao Cao was saying and knelt gently in front of him.

Cao Cao remained calm and said, "I knew many years ago that you were his majesty's man. I don't blame you. As a subject, I have no choice. I am about to die. Can you answer a few questions for me?"

Cao Hong's eyes struggled, and he lowered his head and said, "Grand Sima, please speak."

These words instantly stretched the originally close relationship between the two people infinitely far apart.

Cao Cao was silent, then he raised his voice and asked, "When did it start?"

Cao Hong said: "The third year of Yonghan."

Cao Cao looked enlightened and helpless, and said softly, "It's two years earlier than I expected. No wonder Your Majesty was so indulgent to me back then. He must have had enough means to control me..."

Cao Hong shook his head and said softly, "No. I used to be Zuo Li's man. I didn't ask me to do anything to Da Sima, I just kept a little watch on him."

Cao Cao was silent.

Back then, the Han Dynasty was in decline. I wonder how many people became kings and how many dominated the world?

It was he who, relying on his own strength, swept across the Han Dynasty from north to south and exterminated countless rebels. This bought the Han Dynasty a few years of breathing time, allowing the emperor in the palace to work hard to implement his "new policy."

Back then, he had a strong army and great prestige. Countless people advised him to establish his own regime or even replace the Han Dynasty.

Among the countless struggles and choices, he did have opportunities. The closest one was when the emperor faked his death and he took the prince's troops to Luoyang.

In retrospect, if he had fought at all costs, the outcome would still be uncertain.

But he still didn't do it and went to Luoyang alone.

He had been an official in the Han Dynasty for too long, and he had something he couldn't let go of. He couldn't easily become an emperor like Yuan Shu, nor could he dominate a region like Yuan Shao and others. He was Cao Cao, and he had always pursued Wei and Huo since he was young. How could he be a traitor?

He is a Han minister and that will never change in his life!

For a moment, Cao Cao was overwhelmed with thoughts, and all the past events kept flashing through his mind.

He is old and will die.

Although he didn't want to die, he couldn't change his fate.

Cao Hong looked at Cao Cao's expression and felt extremely uncomfortable, and dared not say a word.

After an unknown amount of time, Cao Cao opened his eyes, looked at him, and said, "Liu Xuande, you have great ambitions but little talent. You only have a reputation, but you are not qualified for a great responsibility. To conquer the Qiang and Di tribes, you must entrust him with a great general."

Cao Hong remained silent.

Cao Cao looked up at the sky. He had a lot of things in his heart that he couldn't let go of, but now he could do nothing about it.

After a long while, Cao Cao continued, "Your Highness the Crown Prince may seem mediocre, but he is actually quite capable. He is not good at exploring new things, but he is good at maintaining them. I am not worried about the Second Prince, I am worried about the Fourth Prince."

Cao Hong's heart skipped a beat. He didn't dare to speak and kowtowed to the ground again.

These words are not meant for him, he needs to convey them.

Cao Cao turned his head and looked towards the imperial palace, his expression unchanged and his eyes extremely complicated.

From now on, there will be no chance to go in again.

Will His Majesty come to his funeral hall?

In his life, he defeated almost everyone, whether they were rebels or those in the court who were dissatisfied with him. They either died or endured.

Only the one in the palace was a minister from beginning to end.

There is a difference between monarch and minister...

Chancery desk.

Xun Yu, Zhong Yao, Xun You, Wang Lang, Huangfu Jianshou, Chen Gong, Chen Lin and others were sitting there, all looking somewhat silent.

Cao Cao is going to die.

Cao Cao, who had been invincible for decades and was the most famous general of the time, was finally going to die.

Many people are looking forward to this day, year after year.

Xun You took in everyone's expressions and said calmly, "Given the achievements of the Grand Marshal, it is not excessive to confer the title of Duke of Wei. But, should it be before or after his death?"

Wang Lang glanced at him, his expression thoughtful.

There is a huge difference between before and after death. If a living person is conferred a title of duke, it will set a special precedent!

Huangfu Jianshou, Chen Gong and others also did not respond.

Cao Cao was a special person, and now was his final days. No matter what title he was given, there would always be people who would hound him afterwards.

Seeing that they were silent, Zhong Yao glanced at Xun You and said, "We have to make a decision. This was sent by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Wang Lang stroked his beard and said calmly, "Mr. Yang's eightieth birthday is coming soon. Prime Minister, I would like to take a few days off and go to Hongnong to celebrate Mr. Yang's birthday."

? ?
Cao Cao is about to die, and you are going to celebrate Yang Biao’s birthday?
Why did this sentence suddenly pop up?
However, people like Chen Gong, Chen Lin and others were quick-witted and figured it out quickly.

Yang Biao is eighty years old and may die at any time.

If Cao Cao was conferred the title of Duke, then what about Yang Biao, the first prime minister since the current emperor ascended the throne and a duke for three generations?
In front or behind?
After being disturbed by Wang Lang's actions, Xun You, Zhong Yao and others looked at each other, not knowing what to say for a moment.

Yang Biao's contribution to the Han Dynasty was that during the first few years of the current emperor's accession to the throne, Yang Biao tried his best to stabilize the government, and then he retired after achieving success.

If you say he has made great contributions, that is obvious, but as prime minister, it is his duty to stabilize the government.

Add to that Yang Biao's reputation as a 'paper prime minister' who avoided politics whenever possible, even if he was a three-time duke for four generations, that wouldn't be enough to make him a duke, right?
Xun Yu looked down from above and saw everything clearly. He said, "Sign it and send it to the palace."

Xun You hesitated to speak, and finally did not insist.

He did not want Cao Cao to be granted a title of nobility during his lifetime, but there was no need to fight with Cao Cao for it before his death.

The power of a dying person's counterattack is unimaginable.

What Xun You was thinking more about was how to settle accounts with Cao Cao after his death.

"Your Majesty, I think you will support this, right?"

The Imperial Palace, inside Fanglin Garden.

Liu Shao stood in front of Liu Bian and said respectfully: "Father, the Grand Marshal has worked hard and made great contributions to our Han Dynasty. It is reasonable to confer the title of Duke. Please approve it, Father."

Liu Bian, who was nearly fifty years old, had already grown a beard. He lay in a rocking chair, looking up at the sky.

Cao Cao, it turns out that you are only eighteen years older than me...

Given the average age of this era, it will be hard to tell who will go first until the very end.

He lowered his eyes and looked at Liu Shao.

This son was "stupid" since childhood, but when he grew up, he became gentle and kind. He was an extremely kind and benevolent prince, but also weak and vulnerable.

"If you think it's reasonable, then approve it." Liu Bian said, his eyes wandering towards the south.

Sima Yi, the current governor of Jiaozhi.

(End of this chapter)