—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Silverriver
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
I woke up quietly after a passionate night.
Huayan, naked, helped me wash and dress, then bowed respectfully.
“Young Master, I wish you goodluck.”
“Thank you.”
I left, feeling the chill morning air against my skin, and headed straight for the government office. Cao Cao’s army was already assembled and ready to march.
Cao Cao, also up early and dressed in his armor, led the army out at noon.
“Uncle, who will be the chief strategist?”
“Cheng Yu will be going.”
Xun Yu was staying behind with Xiahou Dun, and Chen Gong was in Puyang. I wondered if Xi Zhicai would be participating in this battle, and Cao Cao explained,
“If you’re looking for Xi Zhicai, he’s gone to Puyang with the friend you brought.”
“Is that so?”
“We’re ready here, so let’s go. Stay close by my side.”
I rode alongside Cao Cao, ready for whatever lay ahead.
“Xiaopei is two days away. We’ll attack any Xu Province forts and camps we encounter along the way.”
His words meant he intended to sweep aside any resistance.
After half a day’s ride, we spotted a small fort. It had wooden walls, and smoke rose from within, suggesting a village inside.
“My lord, there’s a fort ahead.”
“Enemy strength?”
“About one thousand soldiers, and there’s a village inside.”
“Then we attack. Send Miaocai.”
“Yes, my lord!”
Xiahou Yuan’s army led the vanguard.
-Dong, dong, dong, dong
“Ah, the drums of war.”
The drums sounded, followed by war cries as Xiahou Yuan’s army charged towards the small fort. The Xu Province defenders, spotting Cao Cao’s army, hurriedly fired arrows and hid behind the walls, thrusting their spears outward.
However, the fort was small, and the wooden walls were low, easily scaled with ropes. Its defenses were weak.
Xiahou Yuan’s army surrounded the fort, and the defenders, initially resisting, were quickly overwhelmed.
The sight of soldiers wielding spears and swords, mercilessly stabbing and slashing at the enemy, was difficult to stomach.
“Ugh…”
“Do you pity the enemy?”
Cao Cao, however, seemed to relish the carnage.
“Miaocai is fighting well. He’s the right man for the vanguard.”
He cheered on Xiahou Yuan’s ferocity, and when the defenders finally broke ranks and fled, he laughed loudly and shouted,
“They’re running with their tails between their legs! Miaocai, shoot arrows at their backsides!”
A messenger soon arrived.
“My lord, the enemy requests surrender.”
“I don’t usually accept surrenders during battle…”
Cao Cao paused, then looked at me and chuckled.
“Wenlie, go and handle it.”
Handle it?
“Yes, Uncle.”
I rode into the fort. The wooden structure was stained with blood, and bodies lay scattered everywhere. The gruesome scene made me nauseous, but I covered my nose and made my way inside.
“Uncle Miaocai!”
“Oh, Wenlie’s here?”
Xiahou Yuan, his armor covered in blood, grinned at me.
Xiahou Yuan was one of Cao Cao’s kinsmen generals, always at the forefront of the battle.
“So, what are the Governor’s orders?”
“He told me to handle it.”
“Then do as you see fit.”
Xiahou Yuan handed me his command baton. The captured soldiers and the villagers, surrounded by Cao Cao’s troops, looked at me with fear in their eyes.
“P, please spare us! We were only defending the fort.”
“Please, have mercy! Don’t kill us!”
The prisoners pleaded before me, children wept, and women and elderly men prostrated themselves.
I scratched my head with the command baton, then addressed them.
“I have a proposition. Lay down your arms, gather your belongings, and come to Yan Province.”
“?!”
“From now on, all those who live in Xu Province will go to Yan Province and cultivate the uncultivated lands there. Choose. Labor, or death?”
The prisoners looked at each other, and a few, with grim expressions, removed their helmets and armor.
“We choose labor!”
“Y, Yan Province? We’ll go! We’ll cultivate any land you give us.”
“We’ll go anywhere, as long as you spare our lives.”
“Granted! Prepare to leave immediately.”
At my command, the prisoners and villagers from our first conquest chose to leave their homes and become laborers in Yan Province.
“We’ve dealt with the first village. We’ll do the same with the rest.”
“Do you think they’ll willingly work as laborers in Yan Province?”
“They’ll comply if they don’t want to die.”
Xiahou Yuan nodded and instructed his soldiers,
“These are valuable human resources for Yan Province. Take care of them, and burn down the empty houses.”
“Yes, Commander!”
Thus, we dealt with the first village.
We continued attacking the surrounding villages. Those who surrendered were taken as laborers, and those who resisted were eliminated.
Fortunately, word of our approach spread, and some villages surrendered without a fight.
“My lord, Hagu has been secured.”
Quli, Shuling, and Hagu had all been conquered, with Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan efficiently capturing over ten cities.
As expected of Cao Cao’s army, they were a powerful force, exceeding even my expectations.
“My lord, at this rate, all of Xu Province will fall.”
“Yes, everyone is performing admirably.”
Cao Cao, enjoying a series of victories, looked pleased. Although I hadn’t been given an official position, I was treated as a member of the family and participated in the war councils.
“My lord, according to the scouts, Tao Qian himself has marched to Xiaopei with his army.”
“Enemy strength?”
“Around thirty thousand.”
“Ha, that sly old fox Tao Qian used the wealth he stole from my family to raise an army.”
Cao Cao had brought twenty thousand troops, but Tao Qian had brought thirty thousand.
“Thirty thousand is a considerable force, but we won’t know the outcome until we fight.”
“Brother Mengde, I’ll lead the vanguard. I’ll take Tao Qian’s head myself.”
“Allow me to go. I will capture Tao Qian and bring him back.”
Xiahou Yuan and Cao Ren declared confidently, and Cao Cao nodded approvingly.
“With you two, I have nothing to fear.”
Cao Cao prepared for battle. And this time, I thought I would be participating as well.
“Wenlie.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
“Pack your bags and return to Chenliu.”
“Right now?”
“We have over fifty thousand prisoners. You need to escort them to Yan Province. You proposed this plan, so you’re responsible for it.”
“Ah, I’ll prepare immediately.”
I was being excluded from the battle against Tao Qian.
“After settling the prisoners, procure grain from Puyang and Chenliu.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
I received my orders and left for Yan Province with the captured people of Xu Province.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“Come on, quickly! Move it!”
Fifty thousand people marched towards Yan Province at my command, leaving their homes in Xu Province behind.
‘Oh dear, all the way to Yan Province?’
‘Don’t complain! We’re lucky to be alive.’
‘They say we’ll be cultivating wasteland. But we barely have enough seeds. What are we supposed to do?’
‘There’ll be something when we get there. They won’t let us starve, will they?’
The captured soldiers and farmers grumbled, but they were grateful to be alive.
“Fifty thousand people, the equivalent of one hundred carts of treasures. We’ll need to bring more.”
While they seemed like a burden now, this workforce would be invaluable for the future development of Yan Province.
After three days of travel, we arrived at Chenliu. I settled the people in the abandoned villages and the former bandit hideout around Chenliu.
“This is it. From now on, you will use the farming tools and lumber provided by Chenliu to survive. Cultivate this land and ensure a bountiful harvest next year.”
The land was barren and undeveloped, but they had to obey.
They unpacked their belongings and, instead of spears and swords, they picked up hoes and plows and began working.
The Xu Province massacre would be erased from history, replaced by the “Great Migration of the Xu Province People to Yan Province.”
After assigning one hundred soldiers to guard each village, I returned to Chenliu, where Xiahou Dun greeted me warmly.
“Wenlie, welcome back.”
“Uncle Yuanrang.”
I reported the situation to Xiahou Dun, informing him about the large number of Xu Province refugees outside the city and the need for security and maintaining order.
Xiahou Dun, a capable administrator as well as a skilled general, promised to handle the matter immediately.
“We already have an abundance of chickens, pigs, and silkworms in Yan Province.”
“What? How…?”
“Wei Hong bought a large quantity from somewhere. Well, it’s good timing. Those people outside the city need to eat, so we’ll have them raise livestock.”
It seemed that just as we brought the refugees from Xu Province, Wei Hong had procured livestock, silkworms for silk production, and seeds for them.
If Cao Cao had discussed this with Wei Hong, it meant he had already made up his mind.
“As expected of Uncle.”
“Hmm? What do you mean?”
“He took my casual suggestion seriously, preventing a senseless massacre and providing the Xu Province refugees with a place to live, ensuring the prosperity of Yan Province.”
“Aman’s always been clever.”
This would work out well.
Xiahou Dun received the reports on the Xu Province refugees and ordered the allocation of grain supplies. He then mentioned something else.
“Ah, and tell Aman when you see him.”
“What is it?”
“A prominent figure in Puyang has passed away. Bian Rang, the elder of the Yan Province powerful families, has died.”
I froze.
“Master Bian?”
“You knew him?”
“No, I’ve never met him, but I’ve heard he was a respected elder among the powerful families of Yan Province.”
“Yes, Xi Zhicai just returned with the news. He died suddenly. Old age, I suppose.”
“…”
“Aman’s father, the Grand Commandant, has gone to pay his respects, along with Cao De.”
Cao Song, who had been quietly staying at the residence, had gone to Puyang to offer condolences on behalf of Cao Cao.
So, it was just old age? Or could it be… that he died after Xi Zhicai and Xu Shu visited Puyang?
Chen Gong had used Bian Rang’s name to request better treatment for the powerful families of Yan Province. Cao Cao had agreed, then left for the expedition. And now, Bian Rang was suddenly dead?
A chill ran down my spine.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Where Survival Meets Sweat! 💀➡️🌾
