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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Silverriver
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“Brother Mengde, are you saying you’re going to halt the invasion of Xu Province because of this boy’s words?”
Cao Hong stood up and directly challenged Cao Cao.
Cao Cao calmly replied,
“Who said I’m halting the invasion? I’ve instructed Xun Yu to assess the validity of his proposal. Once Xun Yu formulates a plan, we will attack.”
“That’s still delaying the invasion, isn’t it? The longer we wait, the more time those Xu Province bandits have to convert our family’s wealth into military funds and turn their weapons against us!”
“It’s only a few days’ delay. It won’t affect the overall situation. Use that time to further train the troops and sharpen your blades.”
“…Understood.”
Cao Hong had no choice but to accept Cao Cao’s decision. Before Cao Cao even announced the end of the meeting, Xiahou Dun stood up. He had heard enough.
“Brother Dun, your temper…”
“That’s enough. The meeting is adjourned. You are all dismissed.”
At Cao Cao’s words, Xiahou Yuan quietly stood up and followed Xiahou Dun, trying to calm him down.
“We should attack Xu Province immediately and finish this quickly. A relocation plan… as if those people will willingly come to Yan Province…”
Cheng Yu grumbled as he left.
“My lord, then we shall continue training the troops.”
Cao Ren, seeing the invasion was postponed, decided to use the time for further training.
As everyone filed out, Xun Yu was the last to rise. He caught my eye and nodded with a faint smile.
I wondered if it was because I had prevented the massacre. I wanted to follow him and discuss the matter further.
“Wenlie, where are you going?”
“Ah, Master Wenruo is leaving, so…”
“Didn’t I tell you? You’re here as my guard. Where do you think you’re going while I’m still here?”
“My apologies, Uncle.”
I had thoughtlessly tried to follow Xun Yu, but Cao Cao’s words brought me back to my senses. Cao Cao remained seated, muttering to himself, before finally standing up.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
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I followed Cao Cao. As we were leaving the Yan Province government office, a group was waiting for us.
“Father~”
“Hmm?”
A child of about seven or eight years old ran and hugged Cao Cao.
“Well, if it isn’t Bi?”
“I was waiting for you here, Father.”
This young boy was Cao Pi. With Cao Ang as the eldest son, Cao Pi was the young second son. A chill ran down my spine as I realized that this innocent-looking child would become Cao Pi, the first emperor of Cao Wei and a man known for his ruthlessness.
A beautiful woman gently took Cao Pi by the hand.
“My lord, I came as well.”
“My lady, why did you wait without telling me?”
Judging by her being with Cao Pi, this woman was Cao Cao’s second wife, Lady Bian, after Lady Ding.
Unlike the elegant and dignified Lady Ding, who adorned herself with elaborate jewelry, Lady Bian’s attire was simpler. As Cao Cao’s wife, she was undeniably beautiful, but her dress was unassuming, and her only jewelry was a hairpin and earrings.
Perhaps she was naturally frugal, or perhaps she dressed modestly out of respect for Lady Ding, but her simple attire only served to draw attention to her beauty.
“Father, it’s today.”
“Hmm?”
“Didn’t you promise me? If I behaved and listened to Mother, you would teach me about the Hundred Schools of Thought.”
Cao Pi’s eyes sparkled as he reminded Cao Cao of his promise. He seemed quite young to be learning about the Hundred Schools of Thought. Cao Cao must have had strict standards for his children’s education.
“Ah, that’s right. But I’m afraid I have urgent business. We’ll have to do it another time.”
“What? Not today either?”
Disappointment filled Cao Pi’s face, and his eyes began to water.
“This is the third time.”
“My lord, didn’t you specifically promise Bi today?”
“Something more important has come up. We’ll do it later.”
“Father… hiks…”
“Don’t cry. I’ll teach you next time.”
Cao Cao heartlessly turned away from his son and called for his horse.
“Wenlie!”
“Yes, Uncle.”
“Fetch a horse from the stables. There’s somewhere I want to go.”
Cao Cao broke his promise to his son and instructed me to follow him. I bowed politely to Cao Pi and Lady Bian before fetching a horse and following Cao Cao. To break a promise to his young son after postponing it three times… as a father, Cao Cao seemed lacking.
“Wenlie!”
“Yes, Uncle.”
“Your words earlier gave me much to think about. I want to leave Chenliu and inspect the surrounding areas of Yan Province.”
Because of me?
The postponement of the Xu Province invasion, breaking his promise to his son, and now leaving the city… I had a feeling about this.
Cao Cao was a very emotional man. He acted on instinct, changing his plans on a whim whenever a new idea struck him. He was a self-centered man, easily swayed by his current obsession. He would be a difficult man to serve, but once I adapted to his personality, I was sure he would reveal many different facets.
We rode for a long time, finally arriving at a remote, deserted village. Or rather, the remnants of a village.
“Whoa, whoa!”
Cao Cao stopped, and I reined in my horse. Numerous houses stood as remnants of a once-inhabited village, but now, left untended for so long, they looked as if they would collapse at the slightest gust of wind or rain.
“Uncle, what is this place?”
“It was once a refuge for people fleeing the war.”
“They built a village outside the city walls? Judging by the size, it could have housed about fifty families.”
Estimating three people per household—a couple and a child—it could have accommodated around 150 people.
“This isn’t the only one.”
“What? There are more villages like this?”
“Yes, follow me.”
Cao Cao spurred his horse onward, and I followed. Soon, we arrived at another deserted village, this one larger than the last, capable of housing around 200 people.
We continued riding, and I saw numerous such villages around Chenliu in Yan Province.
They were all empty, but there were people who could fill them.
“The last place is in the mountains.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
Cao Cao changed direction, and his intelligent horse effortlessly climbed the mountain path.
My horse, on the other hand, stumbled repeatedly on the loose rocks. It was a bit embarrassing for someone who was supposed to be a bodyguard.
“Here it is.”
“Uncle, what is this place?”
We arrived at a mountain hideout halfway up the mountain. It was also deserted, but unlike the villages we had seen, there were skeletal remains partially buried in the ground.
Arrows were embedded in the walls, and there were scorch marks and blackened bloodstains everywhere.
“What do you think this place was?”
“A bandit hideout?”
“Correct. They preyed on the villagers below. So, I wiped them out. Not a single one was spared. I had them all buried here.”
He spoke casually, but the thought of him slaughtering the bandits and burying them here was chilling.
“If we bring the people to the places we saw earlier, they’ll find a way to survive, wouldn’t they?”
“Ah, the places you showed me…”
“I told them not to kill, so I’m giving them a chance to find a place to live.”
It seemed Cao Cao had truly intended to slaughter everyone in Xu Province. But he seemed genuinely interested in my idea. He had shown me the deserted villages and the bandit hideout, and he seemed to be seriously considering using them to resettle the people of Xu Province in Yan Province.
“Of course, this depends on Xun Yu confirming that we can accommodate the people of Xu Province. Hahaha-”
Cao Cao laughed loudly as he looked at the hideout, then turned back towards Chenliu. Showing me all this meant he wanted me, the one who proposed the idea, to handle the resettlement of the people of Xu Province after the invasion.
Once we returned to Chenliu and I escorted Cao Cao back to his residence, my duties for the day would be over.
But Cao Cao had other plans.
“Now that we’re here, shall we visit that place?”
“What?”
“You’ve been there before. I’d like to unwind a bit.”
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He then led the way to Wei Hong’s residence. The merchants and courtesans inside were startled by the sudden arrival of Cao Cao, the ruler of Yan Province, and bustled about in a flurry of activity.
“My lord, what brings you here unannounced?”
“Hahaha, I come whenever I feel like it. Are you going to turn me away?”
“Of course not. Please, come in.”
Cao Cao dismounted and followed Wei Hong inside.
“Wenlie.”
“Uncle, I’m on duty as your guard, so I’ll wait here.”
“Oh? A commendable attitude. Then wait here.”
Cao Cao followed Wei Hong to a room where a party was being prepared.
“They say heroes are fond of beautiful women, and Cao Mengde is no exception…”
Lady Ding and Lady Bian, both great beauties, were waiting for him at home, and he had many other concubines, yet he still sought out new women at Wei Hong’s residence. Well, that was Cao Cao. I decided to wait patiently.
“Ah, Master Cao.”
Huayan, who was inside the residence, spotted me and approached, bowing quietly. Seeing her again after that passionate night made my face flush.
“How have you been?”
“Uh, well…”
Huayan had become my personal attendant and was no longer to serve anyone else.
“What are you doing here?”
“I no longer dance or entertain guests. I assist the Manager with the merchant guild’s business.”
“Ah, a change of roles.”
Just then,
-Creak
“What? That woman acted so aloof, but is that her lover?”
A portly man, seemingly drunk, stumbled out and pointed at Huayan and me, chuckling.
“Well, they do look good together.”
He was of average height and overweight, but his beard was sparse, and he didn’t look very old.
“Sir, didn’t I tell you? That girl now serves only one man. I can recommend another courtesan.”
“Ah, no need. I enjoy drinking, but I’m not particularly interested in women. I was just joking.”
He staggered towards me, a wine bottle in hand. He looked me up and down, then chuckled. What did this drunkard want?
“Well, well, if it isn’t the young master our lord has taken in.”
“Yes, and I’m currently here as his guard. Who might you be?”
“Me? Just someone called ‘Master Xi’ in Yan Province.”
Master Xi? Master Xi of Yan Province… could it be… Xi Zhicai?
“Are you Master Xi Zhicai?”
“You guessed correctly.”
While waiting for Cao Cao in the courtyard, I had met Xi Zhicai.
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War plans? Delayed. Fatherly duties? Ignored. 🤯
