I, Zhou Cang, am the number one tank in the Three Kingdoms.

A few days later in Xuchang, the emperor asked, "Minister Xun, has Liu Bei's memorial requesting further rewards not yet arrived?"

Everyone in the court immediately perked up their ears.

Everyone knows what this memorial means.

Half a month ago, the imperial court was "forced" to issue the edict that offered a generous reward to Liu Bei, which was actually intended to sow discord. Now, it is time for Liu Bei to "express his gratitude" and state his price.

How he responds—whether he submits or turns against him—will directly determine whether war will break out again in the Central Plains.

Xun Yu stepped forward and respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, the post roads are blocked by wind and snow, and reports from various places are delayed. There is still no news from Liu Huangshu to the Imperial Secretariat."

In fact, Xun Yu himself was also looking forward to seeing how Liu Bei would react. When the news of Cao Cao's defeat reached Xuchang not long ago, people in the palace, some court officials, and even some people secretly rejoiced in front of Xun Yu.

However, Xun Yu drafted the edict in very little time; this was a countermeasure he had prepared before Cao Cao's expedition.

As expected, when the draft edict was delivered to Cao Cao, Cao Cao, who was well aware of Xun Yu's intentions, immediately agreed.

The emperor felt as if he had swallowed a fly when he saw the edict, but he could not refuse it.

"Report—" A palace attendant rushed into the hall.

"What's the matter?" Xun Yu asked.

"Your Majesty! An urgent report from the Imperial Secretariat! Liu Bei, the General of the Vanguard, holding the authority of Imperial Censor, Commander-in-Chief of the Military Affairs of Jing and Yu Provinces, and Marquis of Yicheng, has urgently dispatched an envoy to deliver this report... Delivered..."

The Yellow Gate Attendant's voice trembled with shock and difficulty as he said, "The memorials requesting merit and expressing gratitude submitted totaled... a total of thirty-two!"

"What?! Thirty-two memorials?"

The imperial court was shocked!

"Bring it here," the emperor said calmly.

Soon, a large stack of bamboo slips was carried to the emperor's presence.

"Read it!" the emperor commanded.

The Imperial Attendant deftly took out the top scroll.

"Expression of Gratitude:

Your humble servant, Chen Bei, General of the Left, Marquis of Yicheng, and Governor of Yuzhou, is filled with trepidation and respect, and respectfully submits this memorial to report:

The Emperor's grace is boundless, and the imperial edict has been issued.

Your Majesty bestows upon me unparalleled honors, entrusting me with the important responsibilities of former general, holding the authority of imperial axe, and commanding the military affairs of Jing and Yu provinces.

Upon hearing the order, I was deeply moved and grateful to tears.

Your Majesty, I am but a foolish and dull subject. I am honored by the court's favor and would do my utmost to repay Your Majesty's kindness!

Now, having received the imperial edict, it is like finding a torch in a dark room.

Your subject will respectfully obey the king's command, pacify the region, and work together with Liu Jingsheng, the governor of Jingzhou, to alleviate the difficulties and secure the southern border.

They echoed the efforts of General Ma Teng, who was stationed east and west to defend the emperor and quell the rebellion.

Wherever Your Majesty's banners point, that is where our weapons will be aimed.

The current battles in Guanzhong and the newly established camp in Huainan are all thanks to Your Majesty's divine power and the soldiers' courage and dedication.

I have complied with the regulations and have made a factual record of the minor merits of my subordinates and allies, which I will submit to Your Majesty for a separate review.

Your Majesty, I gaze afar at the imperial palace, filled with boundless urgency and anxiety!

On the twelfth day of the eleventh month of the fifth year of Jian'an (200 AD), your subject Bei respectfully submits this memorial.

Xun Yu felt somewhat relieved after hearing this, since there was nothing unusual about the letter of thanks. As for publicly revealing the alliance with Liu Biao and Ma Teng, that was also expected.

Then, the Palace Attendant began reading aloud the lists of those Liu Bei had requested to be rewarded.

Please appoint Zhang Quan as a physician.

Please appoint Liu Yan as the magistrate of Yancheng County.

Please appoint Jian Yong as Grand Master of the Palace and concurrently Prefect of Runan.

Please appoint Mi Zhu as Grand Chamberlain and Prefect of Lujiang.

Please appoint Sun Qian as Attendant-in-Ordinary.

Please appoint Pang Tong as Grand Counselor and concurrently Prefect of Jiujiang.

Please appoint Xu Shu as Grand Master of the Palace.

Xun Yu was already somewhat displeased after hearing only the part about the civil officials. This Liu Bei was simply ungrateful, daring to ask for such an exorbitant amount!

Next up are the military generals.

Please appoint Lei Xu as Li Feng Zhonglang General.

Please appoint Chen Lan as the Loyal and Righteous General.

Please appoint Pei Yuanshao as Military Commander.

Please appoint Liao Hua as General of the Imperial Guard.

Please appoint Chen Dao as Jianwu Colonel.

Please appoint Zhou Cang as Lieutenant Commandant of the Sharp Vanguard and Military Advisor to the Commander-in-Chief of Jing and Yu.

Please appoint Zhao Yun as Cavalry Commandant.

Please grant Zhang Xiu the title of Grand Master of the Palace while retaining his title of General Yangwu.

Please appoint Mi Fang as General of Zhenwei and Commandant of Runan Commandery.

Please appoint Zhang Fei as a lieutenant general and concurrently as the commandant of Lujiang Commandery.

Please appoint Guan Yu as a Lieutenant General and Commandant of Jiujiang Commandery.

The Imperial Attendant was parched after reading the text, while Xun Yu beside him was furious. Liu Bei was not only greedy, but he was going to plunder the imperial court!

After reading both the civil and military memorials, Xun Yu found there was still a pile of petitions to be submitted. He looked at the emperor.

The Emperor looked at the Palace Attendant with a somewhat mocking gaze and asked, "Why did you stop?"

The Imperial Attendant sighed and picked up the bamboo slips again... his tone became slow.

Please appoint Ma Chao as General Who Pacifies the West.

Please appoint Han Sui as General Who Guards the West.

Upon hearing this, Xun Yu gasped, a bad feeling creeping over him.

Please appoint Zhang Yun as Zhaoxin Colonel.

Please appoint Feng Wenping as the Prefect of Nanyang.

Please appoint Kuai Yue as Minister of the Imperial Secretariat.

Please appoint Kuai Liang as a court attendant.

Please bestow upon Huang Zu the title of General Yangwei.

Next was a report to the Hebei region.

Please appoint Yuan Tan as the Governor of Qingzhou.

Please appoint Yuan Shang as the governor of Youzhou.

Please appoint Yuan Xi as General of the Five Offices.

There are three memorials left, and without a doubt, they must be memorials recommending Liu Biao, Ma Teng, and Yuan Shao.

The Vice Minister of the Imperial Secretariat looked at the last three portions and picked them up one by one with trembling hands.

The memorial recommends Ma Teng for the post of Governor of Xiliang!

The memorial recommends that Liu Biao be appointed General of the Cavalry!

The memorial presented to Yuan Shao...promoting him to the rank of Duke of Ye and bestowing upon him the Nine Bestowments!

The court and the public were once again shaken, and officials discussed the matter extensively.

Unexpectedly, Liu Bei turned the tables on the "court's" open scheme by using the emperor's edict to petition for rewards for all three allies and confidants.

Moreover, the official titles and ranks requested for the three allies were ridiculously high!

Xun Yu knelt down, his lips trembling, and said, "Your Majesty... Liu Bei's actions are a disruption of the established order; his treachery is so extreme that he can be called a traitor to the country!"

Not only Xun Yu, but everyone in Cao Cao's faction was cursing in their hearts: How could there be such a shameless person?!

The Emperor feigned surprise and whispered, "What my Imperial Uncle has said is indeed inappropriate. However, I believe that apart from bestowing the Nine Bestowments upon Yuan Shao, it does not constitute a violation of regulations."

Without a doubt, Chancellor Cao Cao and Minister Xun Yu overplayed their hand and shot themselves in the foot.

Liu Bei not only sent these memorials to the Xudu court with urgency, but also made three copies and sent them directly to Yuan Shao, Liu Biao, and Ma Teng to show his determination to advance and retreat together.

This is the brilliant strategy Xu Shu described: to fight fire with fire!

Obeying the imperial edict? Of course, I obey the imperial edict!

Should we retreat? We must retreat!

Shall we ask for a reward? Why not?

Not only should they request rewards for their own civil and military officials, but they should also request rewards for their allies and their confidants!

The imperial court agreed? How could that be?

If you don't agree, then this open scheme will become known to the world, and all your efforts, Cao Cao, will be in vain.

"Lord Xun, what should be done with the rewards and honors that Liu Bei has requested?" Seeing that Xun Yu was unusually angry, Minister Zhao Wen seized the opportunity to press him for an answer.

"This... Your Majesty, this matter is of great importance. I need to discuss it with the Prime Minister. Please forgive me, Your Majesty," Xun Yu said to the Emperor, bypassing Zhao Wen who had raised the issue.

"What you say makes sense, my dear minister. Since it is the Prime Minister's intention to promote Liu Bei to higher ranks and titles, this matter must also be decided by the Prime Minister." The Emperor calmly mocked Cao Cao and Xun Yu.

"The court session is over—"

At this time in the imperial court, Cao Cao's biggest opponent, former General of Chariots and Cavalry Dong Cheng, had already died a year earlier due to the matter of the imperial edict in the belt, and Grand Commandant Yang Biao was already retired at home.

Apart from the renowned scholar-official Kong Rong, who held the high-ranking position of Shaofu, one of the Nine Ministers, Cao Cao dared not act rashly due to his prestige.

The only person who was truly loyal to the Han dynasty and had any real influence was probably Situ Zhao Wen, although he held only a nominal position and had no military power.

With Zhao Wen on the inside and the capable and valiant Liu Bei on the outside, the emperor had more confidence to contend with Cao Cao.

As soon as Xun Yu left the palace, he rushed to the Prime Minister's residence, where Guo Jia and others had been waiting for a long time.

"Has the Prime Minister's condition improved?" Xun Yu asked anxiously.

The servant shook his head helplessly and said, "Since returning from Nanyang, the Prime Minister's headache has become more and more severe. The palace physicians have been visiting him three times a day, but they have no solution."

Xun Yu's eyes showed worry, then he looked at Guo Jia and asked, "Fengxiao, are you aware of today's events in court?"

Guo Jia stroked his beard and said, "I've already heard that Liu Bei is becoming increasingly extraordinary."

The group moved to the council hall and began discussing Liu Bei's memorial.

"I never imagined that my plan to kill two birds with one stone would be so easily thwarted by Liu Bei. I am ashamed, I am ashamed," Xun Yu said, offering his self-criticism first.

"Wenruo, there's no need to blame yourself. After all, we suffered a crushing defeat in this battle... If it weren't for Wenruo's plan, with our limited abilities, we probably wouldn't know how we would have ended up like this," Guo Jia said with self-deprecation.

Even now, he still hasn't figured out where he went wrong in that decisive battle in Wancheng.

Why didn't I realize that Liu Bei had gone to such great lengths to abandon the three passes, Bowang, and feign a surprise attack on Wuguan Pass, all to create a false impression of weakness?

Jia Xu remained silent. He understood the importance and vulnerability of the Gualijin camp better than anyone else. Even if the Prime Minister had not won the main battle under Wancheng, if Gualijin could be captured, the entire battlefield might still be able to turn the tide and win in the end...

Of course, the reason why Zhang Xiu turned against him was the one thing that left him speechless.

"Is there any news about Wen Yuan's whereabouts?" Xun Yu asked Guo Jia.

Guo Jia shook his head helplessly. In one battle, Cao Hong was killed, Xu Huang was seriously injured, Xiahou Yuan was captured, and Zhang Liao's whereabouts were still unknown.

As far as I can remember, since joining the Prime Minister's ranks, I don't think I've ever suffered such a crushing defeat.

"Alright, let's get down to business first." Xun Yu had recovered from his sense of defeat.

At this moment, the servants brought over all of Liu Bei's memorials.

Xun Yu, Xun You, and Guo Jia sat around the table and began to read, while Jia Xu sat quietly to the side, deep in thought.

"Gentlemen, what do you think we should do with these memorials from Liu Bei?" Xun Yu asked.

"Although Liu Bei's plan is hateful, I believe that what's done is done. Since the imperial edict has already been issued, let him just give the officials he asked for under his command. It won't affect the root of the problem."

"However, matters involving Yuan Shao, Ma Teng, and Liu Biao require careful consideration."

Guo Jia offered his opinion: in his view, since the Han court was still in the hands of the Chancellor, he could grant an official position today and dismiss him tomorrow.

It's fine to do this favor, since it's unlikely that we'll go to war with Liu Bei again anytime soon.

Instead of worrying about the gains and losses in these official positions, it would be better to directly show the outside world that the Prime Minister has reconciled with Liu Bei.

Having Liu Bei take the place of the prime minister and be targeted is more in line with the prime minister's current interests of having a depleted military force.

Xun Yu thought about it for a while and also felt that Guo Jia's words made sense. He realized that he had been a bit too out of line in the court just now.

"What do you two think of the memorials Liu Bei submitted on behalf of Yuan Shao's three sons, the Xiliang army, and Liu Biao's confidants in Jingzhou?" Xun Yu pressed on.

"We should follow their advice." A voice came from behind them. Xun Yu turned around and saw Dong Zhao, another confidant of the Prime Minister.

"Mr. Gongren!" The group all stood up and bowed.

Dong Zhao slowly walked to the table and said, "In my opinion, apart from Yuan Shao, Ma Teng, and Liu Biao, not only should those who submitted memorials to Liu Bei be rewarded, but they should also be given great rewards."

"Gongren means..." Xun You was the first to realize Dong Zhao's meaning.

"Promote enemy generals to control the ruler, reward neighboring states to incite conflict, and suppress internal troubles to sow discord." Dong Zhao revealed his plan word by word.

Even Jia Xu, who had remained silent throughout, sincerely praised, "Instead of letting them unite, let them fight; this is a brilliant strategy."

As expected of the wise man who was the first to advise the prime minister to welcome the emperor to Xuchang, he succinctly pointed out the way to maximize the destructive power of the political advantage of "holding the emperor hostage to command the feudal lords".

Previously, the prime minister may have used the granting of official titles and ranks more to appease people, demonstrate his strength, and attract talent.

Since we are currently at a low point, it would be better to retreat strategically, use the disruption of other states to protect ourselves, and rebuild our strength.

Since Liu Bei wanted to take the opportunity to win people's hearts with "favors", he should have thrown out countless "two peaches kill three warriors" scenarios across the land, letting human nature shatter Liu Bei's delusions.

After Dong Zhao finished speaking, he went to the inner room to visit Cao Cao, while Xun Yu and the others began to work harder.

"Firstly, what do you two think of Ma Teng?"

"Han Sui is an old friend of the Prime Minister, so why not send Han Sui..."

The three discussed until late at night, and the next morning Xun Yu sent the results of their discussion to Cao Cao's inner chamber to report on it.

"This plan is excellent. Sir, could you please draft another memorial for me?" Cao Cao said weakly from his sickbed.

"What is your intention, my lord?"

"I will submit a memorial to apologize to you and demote myself by three ranks." Cao Cao's voice was not loud, but his tone was very firm.

"Your Excellency's insight is brilliant." Xun Yu immediately understood the Prime Minister's intention.

At another morning court session, the Yellow Gate Attendant read aloud Cao Cao's letter of apology.

Your humble servant Cao Cao kowtows and submits this petition, deserving death:

I am but a humble and incompetent subject, yet I have been deeply indebted to the nation, entrusted with the position of Grand Chancellor and the duties of military law.

However, due to my limited wisdom and lack of authority, the world has fallen apart and the royal family is in turmoil. This is all my fault for acting arbitrarily, and I deserve to die ten thousand times.

I am always afraid that my high position will threaten the emperor, and that my great power will endanger my life.

I now request that all prominent positions such as Chancellor, General-in-Chief, and Minister of Works be revoked, and that all official seals and ribbons be confiscated.

I am willing to be demoted to the post of "Guanglu Xun" to guard the palace and serve as a bodyguard for Your Majesty, in order to atone for my transgressions.

Regarding military and state affairs, and matters of the Secretariat, I will temporarily retain the records, for fear that hasty changes may cause further chaos.

We await a wise and virtuous ruler and his advisors, and will immediately return the property and retreat to the family temple.

Your subject is filled with utmost fear and trepidation, awaiting punishment.

On the 18th day of the 11th month of the fifth year of Jian'an (200 AD), your guilty subject Cao respectfully submits this memorial.

"Uh... Minister Cao, what is the reason for this?" The emperor, who had become accustomed to Cao Cao's various overstepping and presumptuous actions over the past year, was clearly somewhat shocked.

"Your Majesty, we believe that Cao Cao's memorial is an act of utmost loyalty and humility, showing his concern for the country and forgetting his own safety. In this critical situation, no one but Cao Cao can pacify the four directions. If his request is not granted, we fear that it will discourage the loyal ministers of the world and make it difficult for Cao Cao to find a place for himself," Xun You said, taking the lead in advising.

"Minister Cao is my right-hand man and a pillar of the Han Dynasty. How can I bear to see Minister Cao belittle himself? This is unacceptable." The emperor was certain that this was Cao Cao's test.

"Your Majesty, please grant Cao Gong's request!" Dong Zhao then led five or six others to speak together.

The emperor began to hesitate, wondering what kind of drama this was all about.

"If this memorial is approved, it will demonstrate Your Majesty's wisdom, highlight Cao Cao's loyalty, and stabilize the situation of the world. This is the best policy that achieves both goals. I beg Your Majesty to issue a decree as soon as possible to reassure the people," Xun Yu finally stepped forward to speak.

"Your Majesty, please grant Cao Gong's request!" All the officials bowed down in unison.

Did he force himself to issue an edict approving Cao Cao's demotion?

What exactly was Cao Cao trying to do?

A nameless panic surged into the emperor's mind.

"I... grant permission."