"But they carried out all these moves very secretly. Those in Xu Province only recently noticed what they were doing."
Lü Bu reported truthfully; he himself had only received the news yesterday.
Hearing this further confirmed Liu Xie's suspicions, for early winter last year had been precisely when he had stormed Hejian Commandery and defeated Yuan Shao.
Cao Cao had chosen to withdraw afterward, presumably because he had guessed that Liu Xie's next move would be to march south, and had therefore stopped his war with Sun Quan.
The two sides were planning an alliance to resist the Imperial Court together!
Even Liu Xie could see it, let alone the assembled ministers. After hearing Lü Bu's report, everyone erupted.
"Cao Cao! Sun Quan! Those two scoundrels actually dare join forces to resist the Imperial Court! Such outrageous treason, such boundless audacity!"
"Cao Cao enthroned a Pretender Emperor, while the Sun family secretly hoarded the Imperial Seal. They are all rebels who deserve Heaven's punishment!"
"Cao Thief! Treacherous scoundrel! Wicked Thief! Rebellious scoundrel!"
"I beseech Your Majesty to muster the army and march south to destroy these two treasonous villains, exterminating their entire clans! They must not be shown any leniency!"
"Yes, their clans must be exterminated!"
The ministers all heaped abuse on Cao Cao and Sun Quan.
They all knew Liu Xie's attitude toward such rebellious subjects, and neither the Cao family nor the Sun family had any dealings that involved their interests, so naturally they hurried to take a side and declare their stance.
Every one of them even feared that his tongue might not be quick enough and he might speak too late.
Now that the north had largely been pacified, if Cao Cao and Sun Quan had continued fighting, the march south could have been delayed a