Cao Cao Receives the Emperor 曹操迎天子

When Chang'an fell into disorder in the 2nd year of Xingping (195), the Son of Heaven moved east, was defeated at Caoyang, crossed the Yellow River and went to Anyi. The biography of Xu Huang records that Xu Huang, Yang Feng's Chief Commandant of Cavalry, persuaded Yang Feng to return to Luoyang with the Son of Heaven. Records, Wei 1 §35Records, Wei 17 §57

When Cao Cao wanted to receive the Son of Heaven, some of his commanders had doubts, but Xun Yu and Cheng Yu urged him on. Xun Yu said that when Duke Wen of Jin received King Xiang of Zhou the feudal lords followed him, and when Emperor Gaozu of Han put on mourning for Emperor Yi the realm turned to him, and that to support the sovereign now in accordance with the people's wishes was the great course of compliance. Cao Cao sent Cao Hong west to receive the emperor, but the General of the Guards Dong Cheng and Yuan Shu's commander Chang Nu blocked the passes and he could not advance. Records, Wei 1 §37Records, Wei 10 §13–15

The Annals of Emperor Wu records that after Cao Cao defeated the Yellow Turbans of Runan and Yingchuan in the 2nd month of the 1st year of Jian'an (196) he became General Who Establishes Virtue, in the 6th month he was transferred to General Who Guards the East and enfeoffed as Marquis of Feiting, and in the 7th month, in autumn, Yang Feng and Han Xian brought the Son of Heaven back to Luoyang, with Yang Feng stationed separately at Liang County. The biography of Dong Zhao records that when Han Xian, Yang Feng, Dong Cheng and Zhang Yang, back in Luoyang, were at odds and could not agree, Dong Zhao wrote in Cao Cao's name to Yang Feng, whose troops and horses were the strongest but who had few allies, saying that the general should be the master within while he himself would be the support from without, and that the delighted Yang Feng, together with the other generals, memorialized to make Cao Cao General Who Guards the East and to let him inherit his father's title of Marquis of Feiting. Records, Wei 1 §38Records, Wei 14 §50–52

Cao Cao reached Luoyang and guarded the capital, and Han Xian fled. The Son of Heaven lent Cao Cao the tally and axe and put him in charge of the affairs of the Imperial Secretariat. When Cao Cao asked what plan he should follow from now on, Dong Zhao said that since the various commanders were of different minds it would be hard to stay there, and that the only course was to move the imperial carriage to Xu; to put Yang Feng at ease, he said, Yang Feng should be told that because there was no grain in the capital the emperor would go for a while to Luyang, which was close to Xu. In the 9th month the imperial carriage left by Huanyuan and went east, and Cao Cao became General-in-Chief and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Wuping. Records, Wei 1 §39Records, Wei 14 §53–55

Yang Feng, his hopes dashed, went with Han Xian and others to Dingling and plundered there. In the 10th month, in winter, when Cao Cao attacked Yang Feng, Yang Feng fled south to Yuan Shu, and Cao Cao took his camp at Liang County. Xu Huang had earlier urged Yang Feng to submit to Cao Cao, and when Yang Feng changed his mind and did not follow this advice, Xu Huang went over to Cao Cao when Cao Cao attacked Liang. Records, Wei 14 §55–56Records, Wei 1 §40Records, Wei 17 §57

At this time Yuan Shao was made Grand Commandant, but he was ashamed to rank below Cao Cao and would not accept it. Cao Cao yielded the post of General-in-Chief to Yuan Shao and became Minister of Works, acting as General of Chariots and Cavalry. That year, adopting the proposals of Zao Zhi, Han Hao and others, he first established agricultural colonies, and Xun Yu, as Palace Attendant of the Han acting as Director of the Imperial Secretariat, planned military and state affairs with Cao Cao while Cao Cao fought in the field. Records, Wei 1 §40Records, Wei 10 §15