How Cao Cao Used Emperor Xian at Xuchang

In the previous episode, Emperor Xian left Chang'an, endured pursuit by Li Jue and Guo Si, and reached the area around Shan County.

He had escaped Chang'an. He was not yet safe.

Flight Beside the Yellow River

Li Jue and Guo Si's troops surrounded the imperial camp and shouted insults from outside.

The escort feared that delay would lead to capture. Some proposed taking boats down the Yellow River and landing at Mengjin. Yang Biao thought the river was too dangerous for the Son of Heaven. They decided to cross first to the north bank.

At night, troops secretly prepared boats and used fire as a signal.

Emperor Xian and the officials walked out of camp. Fu Wan, brother of Empress Fu, supported the empress with one hand and carried ten bolts of silk with the other. The emperor had almost nothing left to reward guards.

The crowd was chaotic. Dong Cheng's men used blades to force a path, killing those who would not move. Even attendants near Empress Fu were cut down, and blood splashed onto her.

The riverbank was more than ten zhang high. Soldiers had to tie the emperor to themselves with silk and carry him down. Others climbed or jumped as they could.

At the boats, soldiers rushed aboard. Dong Cheng's men feared the imperial boat would overturn and used halberds to block them. Hands already gripping the boat were cut off. Severed fingers were later scooped up and thrown into the river.

This was how the emperor crossed the Yellow River.

Those left on the south bank were stripped, robbed, shaved, and many froze to death. When Li Jue saw fires on the north bank, he sent cavalry to investigate. Dong Cheng feared arrows and had bedding raised as curtains to shield the emperor.

At last, Emperor Xian reached the north bank.

A Court in a Ruined Hut

Local officials offered silk, and Emperor Xian gave it away to accompanying ministers.

The court's dignity was nearly gone. Escort generals surrounded the emperor asking for offices and titles. So many appointments were demanded that seals could not be properly carved; characters were scratched into them with iron points.

The emperor lived in a poor hut fenced with thorns. During court audiences, soldiers leaned over the fence to watch.

This was not a functioning imperial court. It was a refugee column with imperial names.

Emperor Xian sent Han Rong to negotiate with Li Jue and Guo Si at Hongnong, asking them to return captured officials, palace women, and imperial goods. Some were returned.

But soon the court had no food again. Palace women gathered wild plants and fruit.

Zhang Yang, Administrator of Henei, came to court and wanted to escort the emperor back to Luoyang. The emperor wished to go, but the generals guarding him refused to let Zhang Yang take him. They had fought and suffered to bring out the emperor, and now treated him as their own political support.

Zhang Yang had to leave.

Yuan Shao Missed the Chance

Yuan Shao also saw the emperor's value.

By then he was secure in Ji Province, with Ye as his base. When he heard the emperor was wandering, he summoned advisers. Some urged him to welcome the emperor west, move him to Ye, and use the imperial name to command the lords.

The strategic point was obvious. Whoever held the emperor could issue commands in the court's name.

Yuan Shao first thought it reasonable.

Others objected. Han power had declined too far, they said. Warlords already held armies. If Yuan Shao welcomed the emperor, every action would require memorials and approvals. If he disobeyed, he would carry the stain of resisting imperial orders.

Better to keep building Hebei power than invite a restraint into the house.

Supporters warned that welcoming the emperor was both righteous and strategically urgent. If Yuan Shao did not do it, someone else might.

Yuan Shao did nothing.

The opportunity slipped away.

The Return to Luoyang

In 196 CE, Dong Cheng, Zhang Yang, and others finally escorted Emperor Xian back to Luoyang.

But Luoyang had been burned by Dong Zhuo. The emperor first lived in the former residence of the eunuch Zhao Zhong while Dong Cheng repaired palace buildings. Liu Biao contributed supplies from Jingzhou.

In the eighth month, Emperor Xian entered the Southern Palace.

Zhang Yang and Yang Feng guarded outside. Han Xian and Dong Cheng protected the palace. Yet palaces and offices were ruins. Officials slept among thorns and broken walls. Provincial governors held troops and did not send tribute. Junior secretariat officials gathered wild greens, and some starved or were killed by soldiers.

The emperor had returned to the old capital, but the court remained hungry, broken, and poor.

At this moment, Cao Cao was stationed at Xu County.

Cao Cao Went to Welcome the Emperor

Cao Cao wanted to go to Luoyang, but some subordinates objected.

The region east of the mountains was not settled. Han Xian and Yang Feng were arrogant after escorting the emperor and would not be easy to control.

Xun Yu supported the move.

The emperor was displaced, Luoyang was ruined, loyal men wanted to preserve Han foundations, and the people still remembered the old ruler. If Cao Cao welcomed the emperor now, he would answer public feeling, uphold ministerial duty, and attract talent.

Cao Cao agreed and sent Cao Hong west, but Dong Cheng and others held the passes and blocked him.

Dong Zhao then opened the way. He saw that Yang Feng had the strongest force among the escort generals but lacked allies. In Cao Cao's name, Dong Zhao praised Yang Feng for rescuing the emperor and said Cao Cao had grain while Yang Feng had troops; they should rely on each other.

Yang Feng was pleased and told the other generals that the Xu County forces had soldiers and supplies the court could use.

The generals jointly recommended Cao Cao as General Who Guards the East and heir to his father Cao Song's Feiting marquisate.

Soon Dong Cheng also secretly invited Cao Cao because he hated Han Xian's arrogance.

Cao Cao came to Luoyang with an army and memorialized against Han Xian and Zhang Yang. Han Xian fled alone to Yang Feng. Emperor Xian, remembering their escort service, did not punish them.

But Cao Cao was now in Luoyang and began handling Secretariat affairs.

The emperor had effectively entered Cao Cao's control.

Xuchang Became the New Court

Cao Cao asked Dong Zhao what to do next.

Dong Zhao advised moving the emperor to Xu County. Luoyang's generals had their own calculations and would not obey Cao Cao for long.

Cao Cao already wanted this but feared Yang Feng. Dong Zhao suggested reassuring Yang Feng with gifts and telling him that Luoyang had no grain, so the emperor would temporarily move toward Luyang, near Xu, for supplies.

Yang Feng was brave but not subtle. He did not suspect the plan.

In late August of 196 CE, Emperor Xian left Luoyang for Xu County, which became Xudu, the Xu capital. Cao Cao was appointed Grand General and Marquis of Wuping, and ancestral temples and altars were established there.

Yang Feng later tried to block the move, but it was too late. Once the emperor was at Xu, Cao Cao attacked Yang Feng, who fled south to Yuan Shu. Cao Cao took his territory.

Cao Cao had first written letters to calm him, then moved the emperor, then struck.

The New Order at Xu

With the emperor in Xu, the court was in Xu.

Cao Cao used imperial edicts to rebuke Yuan Shao for holding broad lands and many troops but failing to rescue the emperor. Yuan Shao answered defensively. The court made him Grand Commandant and Marquis of Ye.

Yuan Shao disliked this because Cao Cao, as Grand General, ranked above him. Cao Cao understood Yuan Shao was dangerous. He yielded the title of Grand General to Yuan Shao and became Minister over the Works while acting as General of Chariots and Cavalry.

Empty rank could be yielded. The emperor could not.

Around this time, Xun You and Guo Jia entered Cao Cao's staff. Guo Jia had briefly served Yuan Shao, judged that Yuan did not know how to use men, and left. Xun Yu recommended him to Cao Cao. After speaking with Cao Cao about the realm, Guo Jia said he had found his true lord. Cao Cao said Guo Jia would be the man to help him accomplish great affairs.

The emperor, the court name, and sharper advisers now gathered around Cao Cao.

He was not yet the strongest lord in every measure, but he had become the most politically unusual one.

The next episode turns to Jiangdong, where Sun Ce was building another kind of base.