The most poisonous person in the Three Kingdoms, Boss Cao advised me to calm down!

Chapter 437: Cao Wei Becomes King
Cao Cao knew it very well, even if he no longer liked Cao Pi.

However, we cannot rashly support Cao Zhang and Cao Zhi to take power.

After all, if we do this now, there will be endless troubles.

This will not only put all the descendants in dire straits.

It is more likely to cause the disintegration within Cao Wei.

His decades-long foundation of the Cao family was destroyed in an instant.

After all, the end of Yuan Shao and Liu Biao is still before our eyes.

These two former rivals gave Cao Cao a profound warning.

This made him sigh inwardly:

Virtue cannot conceal the order of seniority; the root of it is nothing but virtue that has not been achieved!

However, Cao Cao was also surprised to find out at this time.

In the balance of power among the civil and military officials under his command.

Cao Zhi, the most talented one, was actually the most disadvantaged party in the fight for the position of crown prince.

In terms of seniority, Cao Zhi is inferior to Cao Pi and Cao Zhang.

In terms of talent and ability, there is only one person who supports him, Yang Xiu.

He had few supporters among the generals in the army, but the surprise soon dissipated.

This is because Cao Cao knew very well the power behind Cao Zhi.

Not in this hall, but among the great scholars and literati in the opposition.

If Cao Zhi could stand on a high place and make a call.

These people must have cheered for Cao Zhi, saying that he was as virtuous as Yao and Shun.

By then, Cao Zhi's influence might not be inferior to that of Cao Pi or Cao Zhang.

Cao Cao had already figured out the thoughts of his generals.

However, these people's thoughts gave Cao Cao a bad signal.

Compared with Cao Pi and Cao Zhi who rarely participated in the battlefield.

The middle and lower-level generals preferred the brave Cao Zhang.

After all, their ideas are more simple and direct.

They will support whoever can lead them to win the war.

The debate among civil officials was still a battle of ideas, concerning righteousness and talent.

But the conflict of positions between the generals could be pushed to the extreme.

In the future, it may evolve into a tragedy of fratricide and internal strife.

Thinking of this, Cao Cao couldn't help but laugh at himself:
All things in the world carry the yin and embrace the yang, and are filled with qi to achieve harmony.

Who could have predicted these guys in my Cao family?

A subtle balance of power was formed in silence!
This is both a blessing bestowed by God on our Cao family and a difficult problem for Cao Cao to solve!
How difficult is it to make a choice when facing your own flesh and blood?

He suddenly looked up and laughed out loud.

The civil and military officials and his sons who were waiting for the verdict said:
"I already know who is the best candidate in your mind."

After saying this, Cao Cao's eyes swept over Cao Pi, Cao Zhi, and Cao Zhang one by one.

This look caused ripples in the hearts of the three people.

Each of them began to guess what their father was thinking.

At this moment, the hall was as quiet as night.

Everyone waited with bated breath.

Cao Cao followed the advice of the ministers in front of him and waved his hand to the crowd:
"It's getting late, everyone should go back home and rest."

"I will make a decision on this matter later."

After saying this, Cao Cao stood up, flicked his sleeves, and walked into the back hall.

The ministers looked at each other in bewilderment upon seeing this, but dared not say anything more, and they all stood up and left.

The three brothers Cao Pi, Cao Zhang and Cao Zhi.

At this time, they were all kneeling in their original places, with different expressions on their faces.

At this moment, Cao Pi's eyes revealed reluctance and disappointment.

Cao Zhi's eyes showed relief mixed with some doubt.

As for Cao Zhang, he had an open-minded and emotional look on his face.

Just because all this coincides with what Sima De said before.

In the end, my father was still reluctant to make a decision.

Thus, this debate concerning the future political situation of Cao Wei ended abruptly.

And the following months, until the end of the year, had passed.

Nothing major happened in the Central Plains anymore.

However, anyone with an eye on things knows that this is just a sign of the coming storm.

Sure enough, in the eighteenth year of Jian'an, a year had passed in the Han Dynasty. It was the time of spring when the Central Plains was still chilly.

Cao Cao, who had been practicing as Duke of Wei for two and a half years.

His ambition to usurp the Han Dynasty began to grow quietly.

On the 27th day of the second month, Cao Cao led his ministers to Yecheng.

He offered sacrifices to the ancestral temple of Cao Wei with the ceremony of Tailao.

The standards of the sacrifice have apparently exceeded the etiquette of the principality.

Anyone with a discerning eye can see that the "Spring Shrine Order" was written by Cao Cao.

The words between the lines reveal that he has already disrespected the Emperor of Han.

He wanted to further enhance his authority.

Once again, the taboos of the Han Dynasty's ministers were extended.

But before those loyal to the Han Dynasty could start to criticize him.

On the morning of March Renyin, Cao Cao once again kicked off the ceremony of borrowing land for spring plowing in Yecheng.

People of insight are well aware of the undercurrents behind this series of rituals.

All this happened without any suspense when Cao Cao led his troops back to Yecheng.

As soon as Cao Cao stepped into the gate of the mansion, he received the imperial edict.

The emperor decided to use the ten counties and one state of Jizhou as his fiefdom.

Cao Cao was conferred the title of Duke of Wei and was given the Nine Gifts.

Although this was Cao Cao's deliberate plan.

But it is inevitable to have to perform a performance of refusing and giving in three times.

Cao Cao immediately expressed his stance and responded by writing a letter to resign the Nine Gifts.

He said at the beginning that the man who received the Nine Gifts and expanded the territory was Duke of Zhou.

The eight kings of the Han Dynasty all started out as commoners, along with Emperor Gaozu.

His contribution to establishing the kingdom was immense. How can I compare with him?
This may seem like a polite remark, but it actually hides a hidden agenda.

Cao Cao compared himself to Zhou Gong, which was quite clever.

All the ministers who want to persuade him to ascend the throne need to praise him just like they praised Duke Zhou!
Moreover, Cao Cao even revealed the principality he was going to establish.

The standards of the princes of different surnames in the early Han Dynasty should be emulated.

Not only does it have territorial autonomy, but it also has the right to appoint and dismiss officials below the prime minister.

It has the same status as the capital Xudu and is on par with the Han Dynasty court!
Since Cao Cao has hinted so, his civil and military officials will naturally understand each other.

So everyone wrote a joint letter, comparing their own Cao Cao to Zhou Gong.

It is said that his merits are unprecedented and unmatched, and that it is justified to divide the land and the country.

If one does not accept the Nine Gifts, he will go against the favor of the Holy Dynasty and lose the hope of being crowned and belted.

Although Cao Cao declined again after reading it, he was slightly moved because he felt "it was hard to refuse such a kind offer".

He decided to symbolically accept only Wei County as his fiefdom.

However, the ministers continued their efforts and wrote a second letter to Cao Cao, insisting that Cao Cao take over all ten counties of Jizhou.

The ministers urged him to ascend the throne earnestly, but Cao Cao rarely adhered to Confucianism and refused to accept it.

At the same time, Xudu was also busy.

Under the joint efforts of Dong Zhao, Hua Xin, Pan Xu and other wise and loyal ministers, he was forced to surrender.

Emperor Liu Xie cooperated silently.

An imperial edict crowning Cao Cao as king came out of nowhere, shocking the court and the public.

Cao Cao continued to play the role of a modest gentleman.

Three times I gave in and three times I refused this supreme honor.

As the situation became stalemate, Emperor Liu Xie finally took up the pen himself.

A piece of imperial letter, the words reveal helplessness and pain.

Now you have seriously disobeyed my order and I refuse to accept it earnestly.

This is not the way to express my will and to teach future generations.

The emperor wrote this letter himself, earnestly persuading his subjects to become kings and divide the land in his own country.

The Han Dynasty fell into this embarrassing situation.

This situation is so sad!
And in the face of such sincere and almost pleading expectations.

Cao Cao was finally moved by this profound emotion.

In April of the same year, he calmly accepted the seal and tiger talisman symbolizing royal power and ascended the throne as king.

There is only one letter difference between the title of prince and the title of duke, but there is a world of difference between them.

It is above the existing five ranks of nobility: duke, marquis, earl, viscount and baron.

How will the emperor deal with the sudden appearance of Cao Cao, a king of a different surname?
Obviously, this is no longer the position of a subject, but the exercise of power on behalf of the emperor.

(End of this chapter)