Cao Cao asked Dong Zhao to sit with him, respectfully asked him, "Now that I have arrived in Luoyang, what strategy should I adopt?" ”
Dong Zhao said: "The general raised up volunteer soldiers, crusaded against the riots, entered the capital to meet the Heavenly Son, and assisted the royal family, which was the work of the five hegemons in the Spring and Autumn Period. At present, all the generals in Luoyang have their own plans, and may not obey the general's command. Now there are many unfavorable factors in staying in Luoyang to control the government, and if you ask Tianzi to move to Xu County, it is the best policy. However, when the Son of Heaven had been in exile for a long time, he had just returned to the old capital, and everyone was looking forward to quickly gaining stability, and it was not in line with the people's will to move again. However, in order to establish an unusual deed, it is necessary to do unusual things, and it is hoped that the general will make a choice between more advantages and few disadvantages. ”
Cao Cao said, "That's what my original plan was. It's just that Yang Feng is close to Liang County, and I heard that he is strong and strong, should he hinder me? ”
Dong Zhao thought to himself, you don't have to worry about this, I will take care of it for you, but on the surface he is silent, saying: "Yang Feng lacks foreign aid henchmen, so he is willing to make friends with the general." The appointment of you as the general of Zhendong and the Marquis of Feiting was Yang Feng's idea. You should send a messenger in time to bring a heavy gift, express gratitude, and reassure him. Tell him: 'Luoyang has no grain, and wants emperor Xian to temporarily move to Luyang, which is close to Xu County, and the transportation is more convenient, so as to ensure that the grain is worry-free'. Yang Feng was a brave and resourceful person, and he would certainly not be suspicious, and during the period of time when the emissaries came and went, it was enough to set a big plan, how could Yang Feng obstruct it? ”
Cao Cao was overjoyed and said, "Very good! ”
Immediately sent emissaries to Jin to see Yang Feng, under the pretext of the lack of grain in the capital, temporarily moved Emperor Xian of Han to Luyang County, which was closer to Xu County, in order to ensure the supply of grain for the royal family, and at the same time sent heavy gifts to paralyze Yang Feng.
Yang Feng easily believed this excuse and relaxed his vigilance.
In September, Emperor Xian of Han moved the capital to Xu County, renamed Xu County as Xu Du, and began to build a temple dedicated to the ancestors of the royal family, as well as the sacrifice of the earth as a national symbol, the sheji of the god of the valley, and so on, and also appointed Cao Cao as a general and the Marquis of Wuping.
Yang Feng realized that he had been deceived, and as if he had just woken up from a dream, he sent troops from Liang County to intercept him, but it was too late.
In October, Cao Cao sent troops to recruit Yang Feng and capture Liang County, and Yang Feng surrendered to Yuan Shu to the south.
Emperor Xiandi of Han was very dissatisfied with Yuan Shao's failure to come to the rescue, and issued an edict to him, rebuking him, saying: "You have a large number of soldiers, but you have specially formed a party for personal gain, and you are unwilling to send an army to help the king to save the driver, but you just crusaded against each other without authorization, what is the crime?" ”
Yuan Shao hurriedly wrote a letter, vigorously defending himself, and deeply expressing self-blame.
Emperor Xian of Han then appointed him as a taiwei (太尉) and made him the Marquis of Yi (邺侯).
Although Yuan Shao said that he had been promoted to an official, he was rebuked by Emperor Xian of Han, and suspected that this was a small action made by Cao Cao in front of the emperor, feeling that the little brothers and subordinates of the past were now higher than their own official positions, and they could even point fingers at themselves, and they could not help but be deeply ashamed, and they were furious, saying: "Cao Cao is going to die several times, but I saved him." Now he has taken the Son of Heaven hostage and called out to me. ”
So he resigned and refused to accept it.
Cao Cao saw that Yuan Shao's power was strong, and he did not want to tear his face with Yuan Shao for the time being, so he requested that the position of great general he held be granted to Yuan Shao.
In March of the second year of Jian'an (197), Kong Rong took the festival to Jizhou, worshipped Yuan Shao as a general, and also served as the governor of Ji (治邺县, in modern Linzhang County, Hebei), Qing (治林淄县, in present-day LinziBei, Zibo City, Shandong), You (治蓟县, southwest of present-day Daxing County, Beijing), and (治晋阳, southwest of present-day Taiyuan, Shanxi), recognizing the four prefectures as Yuan Shao's sphere of influence.
The two are at peace for the time being.
Emperor Xian of Han also appointed Cao Cao as Sikong (司空) and took the post of general on behalf of CheQi.