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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Silverriver
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It happened before Cao Xiu, still exhausted from the previous night’s passionate encounter, had woken up.
Huayan, opening her eyes first, carefully slipped out from under the covers. She checked the bloodstains on the sheets and on her lower abdomen, wiping away the darkened blood with her hand.
“…”
Naked, she bowed to the sleeping Cao Xiu, then dressed and quietly left the room.
The residence was already being tidied up after the previous night’s wild party.
“Manager, it’s Huayan.”
“Come in.”
Huayan, still feeling a dull ache in her lower abdomen, entered Wei Hong’s office and reported.
“So, you spent your first night together?”
“Yes.”
“And was Young Master Cao Xiu satisfied?”
“He… he took me several times.”
“Hohoho, it seems the Young Master took a liking to you.”
Wei Hong listened to Huayan’s report and picked up a gold ingot from her scales, offering it to the courtesan.
“Merchants from the Ba and Shu regions will be arriving in a few days. Use this to buy whatever you need.”
“Thank you, Manager.”
“And Yan, from now on, you will attend only to Young Master Cao Xiu. You are not to serve anyone else when he is not present.”
“Understood.”
Wei Hong ordered Huayan to be exclusively Cao Xiu’s woman from now on.
“You must be tired and sore. Go and rest.”
“Yes, Manager.”
Huayan bowed respectfully to Wei Hong. Wei Hong looked at her scales, picked up another gold ingot, and placed it on the scale.
“Cao Xiu.”
She then placed a metal token engraved with Cao Xiu’s name on the other side of the scale to balance it.
“Men will be men… I can learn more about this young master through Yan, then.”
Wei Hong smiled, deciding to keep a close eye on the new warrior of the Cao clan in Yan Province.
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“Mmm…”
I woke up after a strenuous night.
Looking around, the woman from last night was gone, and I was alone in bed.
“Well…”
I got out of bed, naked, and found my clothes neatly folded beside a lamp. There was a small bloodstain on the white sheets.
“We really went at it like animals.”
I dressed and went outside. Wei Hong’s residence had transformed from the brothel of last night into a bustling trading post with merchants and artisans hard at work.
“Sir, you’re awake?”
“What time is it?”
“The second cock’s crow.”
I wouldn’t be late if I left now.
“Sir, shall I bring you breakfast here?”
“No, I must return home immediately.”
“Understood. I’ll prepare the carriage.”
As instructed by Wei Hong, they prepared a carriage and escorted me safely back to Cao Cao’s residence.
“Young Master, you’re back.”
Yi Jia and the other servants, already awake, greeted me and led me inside.
I was still a bit dazed from the intense party and passionate night, but at least I made it back before breakfast.
I quietly entered my room, intending to freshen up, but the women of the Cao family were already awake.
“Who is that coming in?”
A refined voice. It was Lady Ding.
“Ah, Aunt, it’s Xiu.”
“Cao Xiu? Ah, yes…”
I approached and bowed, but Lady Ding frowned with a stern expression. She seemed uncomfortable after hearing about last night’s party.
“Go wash up before breakfast. The scent of courtesans clings to you.”
“Ah, I apologize.”
“It’s fine. I’ll have new clothes ready for you when you’re done.”
Despite her cold demeanor, she still took care of me.
I went to the bathhouse and washed myself thoroughly. Soap was apparently a precious commodity in these times, as I was given only a tiny amount of liquid soap, barely enough for one wash.
After bathing, I joined the bustling breakfast gathering. Cao Hong, Xiahou Dun, Cao Ren, and Xiahou Yuan, all of whom had enjoyed the party last night, were also present at Cao Cao’s residence, creating a lively atmosphere.
Unlike last night, they all appeared dignified and composed.
“Ahh, nothing like mallow soup at Brother’s house.”
Cao Ren, seemingly nursing a hangover, emptied three bowls of soup, and the servants kept refilling his bowl. Cao Cao smiled and ate, then pointed his chopsticks at me.
“Wenlie.”
“Yes, Uncle?”
“From today onwards, follow me after breakfast.”
“What?”
“Why? Do you want to continue idling around the house?”
“N, no sir. I’ll be ready immediately.”
Finally, I had a task. Cao Cao was going to put me to work!
I hurriedly finished my meal, cleared my bowl, cleaned my teeth, and waited.
When Cao Cao called, I immediately followed him.
Cao Cao took me on a tour of Yan Province.
The first place we visited was the military camp. Thousands of soldiers trained there, their shouts echoing through the air. Cao Hong and Cao Ren were overseeing their training.
They were completely different from the men who had been enthralled by the courtesans’ barefooted dance last night. They were now strict military officers.
“I started with five thousand men, raised with my family’s wealth and Wei Zi’s support. Now, look how much we’ve grown.”
“Their morale is impressive. And the soldiers seem highly disciplined.”
“If that’s how they appear, then Zilian (Cao Hong) and Zixiao (Cao Ren) must have trained them well.”
Cao Cao was more relaxed than I had expected. He took me, his nephew, around Yan Province, explaining everything as we visited the military camps, the garrisons responsible for security, the workshops where weapons were manufactured. Everyone we encountered stopped what they were doing and bowed their heads as Cao Cao approached.
Cao Cao’s influence in Yan Province seemed absolute.
“Until you receive an official position, you will be my personal guard.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
I was to be Cao Cao’s bodyguard. Cao Cao was a skilled warrior himself, but this was a start.
I toured all the important facilities in Yan Province, and when Cao Cao was attending to official business, I waited quietly outside.
Soon, I was allowed to stand beside him during official meetings.
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“My lord, Tao Qian’s actions are a blatant provocation. We must attack Xu Province immediately.”
“Indeed. If anything had happened to the Grand Commandant, we should wipe out everything in Xu Province.”
The strategy meeting was intense.
Both hardliners and moderates agreed: Xu Province must be attacked.
Cao Cao, his expression grim, addressed his subordinates.
“Those bandits in Xu Province stole our family’s wealth and threatened my father’s life. Do we need any further justification?”
“No, my lord!”
“We will march on Xu Province, besiege Xiapi, and leave no one alive, not even a single dog or chicken, in Xu Province. We will burn it all to the ground!”
Cao Hong, Xiahou Dun, and the other members of the Cao clan were especially furious. Although their wealth had been stolen, Cao Song and his family had survived and were now safe in Yan Province. But the atmosphere in the room was such that the “Xu Province Massacre” could very well happen.
I had to stop this. I wasn’t here to witness a massacre.
“Punishing Tao Qian’s family is a given, but a meaningless massacre is unacceptable…”
“What was that?”
“Ah, nothing, Governor.”
I had muttered to myself without thinking, and Cao Cao, standing right beside me, had overheard.
Instantly, all of Cao Cao’s subordinates and relatives turned to glare at me. Their gazes were intense.
“Young Master Cao, this is a military council. There’s no room for personal opinions.”
A stern, serious, and imposing civil official spoke, his voice directed at me. Even while seated, he was a head taller than the other officials, his posture ramrod straight, his beard long and flowing.
His name was Cheng Yu, courtesy name Zhongde, one of Cao Cao’s military advisors.
“Therefore, hold your tongue.”
“My apologies. I spoke out of turn.”
Cheng Yu was an incredibly rigid man, and I felt I would be in trouble if I said anything else out of line. But then, another advisor spoke up.
“I’m not so sure that should be dismissed as a personal opinion. Isn’t he the one who witnessed the events in Xu Province and, albeit partially, resolved the situation?”
“Wenruo, what are you implying?”
The handsome young advisor who spoke in my defense was Xun Yu. He was Cao Cao’s chief administrative advisor, and it was he who had recommended Cheng Yu to Cao Cao.
“Hearing the account of someone who witnessed the situation firsthand is more valuable than a hundred secondhand accounts. Isn’t that why you brought Young Master Cao here, my lord?”
“Hmm.”
Xun Yu defended me and subtly flattered Cao Cao at the same time. Cao Cao snapped his fingers twice, and the door opened.
“Governor, you called for me?”
“Bring another cushion.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Cao Cao instructed a servant to bring a cushion, then took the one he was sitting on and offered it to me.
“Sit.”
“Uncle, this is a military council.”
“That’s why I’m telling you to sit and speak.”
Cao Cao sided with Xun Yu over Cheng Yu, giving me the right to speak. I took the cushion and sat down, and all the generals and advisors in the room turned to look at me.
Under their intense scrutiny, I took a deep breath and spoke my mind.
“As someone who barely escaped Xu Province, I also agree with invading Xu Province. However, our actions should be directed solely at Tao Qian and his family.”
“What do you mean?”
“Over one hundred carts of treasures were stolen from us in Xu Province. We should reclaim that wealth. I propose we do so by acquiring manpower.”
“Manpower?”
“Even if we invade Xu Province, do you think Tao Qian will return the one hundred carts of gold, silver, and treasures? Instead, I suggest we capture the people of Xu Province and bring them to Yan Province as laborers. Until the value of the stolen treasures is repaid in grain and silk.”
“That’s preposterous…”
Cheng Yu scoffed, and murmurs of disapproval rippled through the room. But Cao Cao raised his hand with a serious expression, and the room fell silent instantly.
This was Cao Cao’s true aura…
“Go on.”
“Forcibly relocating the people of Xu Province to Yan Province might sound absurd. But it’s necessary if you wish to achieve great things.”
“Why is that?”
Drawing upon my knowledge of the Three Kingdoms and the current political climate, I explained.
“Because the Central Plains are empty.”
“Empty?”
“Yes. The Yellow Turban Rebellion displaced countless people in Si Province, the heart of the Han Dynasty. And the tyrant Dong Zhuo plundered Luoyang, seizing the people’s wealth, slaughtering them, and moving the capital to Chang’an.”
“Oh? You’re well-versed in the affairs of the Central Plains. Tell me more.”
“Therefore, if our forces in Yan Province are to gain an advantage over the other warlords, we need to achieve a level of agricultural output comparable to Ji Province or You Province.”
“And you propose to increase Yan Province’s output through the labor of the people of Xu Province?”
“Precisely.”
“Ha…HAHAHAHA!”
“!?”
Cao Cao burst into laughter and pointed at Xun Yu.
“Xun Yu, just now, I was planning to invade Xu Province, behead Tao Qian and his family, and send everyone in Xu Province to the afterlife with him.”
That sounded exactly like something Cao Cao would do.
“But forced labor instead of a meaningless massacre… I like the sound of that. If done correctly, we could double the arable land in Yan Province.”
“My lord, if that is your decision, we will follow your command.”
Xun Yu seemed agreeable, but Cheng Yu was not.
“My lord, that’s impossible! Do you think hundreds of thousands of people will just accept if we forcibly relocate them? And even if we use them for labor, do we have the resources to provide them with food, clothing, and shelter?”
Cheng Yu desperately tried to dissuade Cao Cao from accepting my proposal.
“And what is your suggestion, Cheng Yu?”
“Invade Xu Province, capture the cities, and simply conscript laborers from within Xu Province.”
“And what if those impoverished people resort to desperate measures?”
Cao Cao seemed to have already made up his mind.
“Xun Yu, I want you to research the feasibility of this plan. Something about this idea… it sparks my interest.”
My words had prompted Cao Cao to change his strategy for the invasion of Xu Province.
And one thing was certain.
There would be no “Xu Province Massacre” in this history. However, the “forced migration of the people of Xu Province” would be recorded… But at least there wouldn’t be a senseless slaughter of innocent people.
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“The second cock’s crow.”
It’s a way of telling time in pre-modern societies, referring to the second time a rooster crows in the early morning hours, generally a couple of hours before sunrise. It’s a more evocative way of saying “it’s still very early.”
