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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Silverriver
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We arrived back in Yan Province.
“Look at all that smoke and those houses in the distance. Are those the Xu Province refugees?”
“Yes, Uncle.”
“As expected, people will find a way to survive if you give them land.”
The refugees from Xu Province were settling into their new lives. What had initially been forty or fifty houses had now grown into hundreds, even thousands.
Besides houses, they had built pigpens, chicken coops, and various other structures for raising livestock. They were also preparing the fields for next year’s harvest.
“Look! The refugees who arrived earlier are already settled. You’ll have no trouble making a living here!”
At Cao Cao’s words, the new arrivals rushed towards the settlement.
“Cheng Yu, we brought lumber and canvas for tents, didn’t we?”
“Yes, my lord. We have everything.”
“Distribute them to the refugees. They need shelter.”
“All of it?”
“Yes. And distribute the remaining grain as well. Organize two thousand able-bodied men to manage the settlement.”
Although these were military supplies, since the campaign was over, he was generously distributing them to the refugees.
Cao Cao, having provided the refugees with supplies and soldiers to maintain order, entered Chenliu triumphantly. He boasted to the people of Chenliu about his six consecutive victories.
The young woman surnamed Huan, whom he had brought with him, blinked her large eyes and asked,
“Are you truly the lord of this city?”
“Yes, didn’t I tell you? I am Cao Cao, Governor of Yan Province.”
“Such a great man… and I’m just…”
“Hahaha, you caught my eye.”
Cao Cao had acquired another concubine. I later learned about this young woman from the Huan family.
Cao Cao, during the historical invasion of Xu Province, had taken a beautiful woman from Pengcheng as a concubine.
After Lady Ding, Cao Ang’s mother, and Lady Bian, mother of Cao Pi, Cao Zhang, and Cao Zhi, this was Lady Huan, mother of Cao Chong.
Now I understood. This young woman would become Lady Huan, Cao Chong’s mother.
Witnessing history unfold in real-time was quite fascinating.
If Cao Cao hadn’t met this woman here, would Cao Chong have never been born? Or would he have been born to a different woman?
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Cao Cao, after his triumphant return, dismounted and entered his residence. His family was waiting to greet him.
“Husband, welcome…”
“Oh, you’re all here?”
Cao Cao’s brother, Cao De, his sisters-in-law, nephews, and his sons, Cao Ang, Cao Pi, and Cao Zhang, along with Lady Ding, Lady Bian, and his other wives and concubines, were all gathered to welcome him. And he had brought a new concubine.
“You’re all here. Where’s Father?”
“He’s in Puyang. Anmin went with him as an escort.”
“Ah, he’s still paying his respects to Bian Rang. I see.”
Cao Cao then presented Huanyin to Lady Ding.
“You brought a woman back from the battlefield?”
“This young lady is from the Huan family. I found her among the refugees. She looked so pitiful, I couldn’t just leave her.” He turned to an attendant. “Find a suitable room for her in the rear quarters.”
“Understood.”
Lady Ding’s expression was a sight to behold. She bit her lip and glared at Cao Cao, but he simply laughed heartily, embraced his sons, and went inside.
“My sons, let me tell you about my heroic exploits on the battlefield.”
Cao Cao went inside to regale his sons with tales of his bravery. Huanyin bowed respectfully to Lady Ding.
“I am eternally grateful for your kindness in taking in a refugee like myself.”
“…”
“My lady?”
Lady Ding glared coldly at Huanyin, and Lady Bian stepped forward to try and mediate. But Lady Ding sighed and shook her head.
“Well, it’s not like this is the first time. What can we do now that it’s happened?”
“I apologize for the trouble, my lady.”
“You said your name was Huan?”
“I’ll have a room prepared for you in the rear quarters.”
“Thank you, my lady.”
Lady Ding then turned to me and said quietly,
“Wenlie, you must be tired after your time on the battlefield. I’ll have a hot bath and fresh clothes prepared for you.”
“Thank you, Aunt.”
Lady Ding, having exercised considerable restraint, turned to Lady Bian and said,
“You.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“My husband always enjoys chicken after returning from battle. Have a few plump ones prepared.”
“Yes, my lady.”
It seemed the situation had been resolved, for now. I followed Lady Ding’s instructions and soaked in a hot herbal bath. Feeling refreshed, I dressed in clean clothes and went out to the garden.
“Ahh, it feels good to be back…”
I spotted a young boy standing alone in the garden. It was Cao Pi.
Cao Pi, the future tyrant, was just one of Cao Cao’s sons at this point in time.
As I quietly approached him, I heard a commotion.
-Squawk, cluck
-Thud
What was that?
“My, this one is quite lively.”
“My lady, we can do this. You shouldn’t have to…”
“The Lady of the House specifically instructed me to do this. I can’t ask you to do it.”
“But this kind of work…”
Lady Bian was slaughtering chickens in the residence’s poultry pen, wringing their necks. Dressed in silk robes, she was covered in scratches from the chickens’ talons, but she calmly handed the dead chicken to the maidservants.
“Pluck these. I’ll catch a few more.”
“My lady.”
“I’m fine.”
That seemed… wrong. Even if Lady Ding had instructed her to do it, Lady Bian was the mother of Cao Pi and Cao Zhang. Why was she doing the work of a servant?
Cao Pi watched intently, muttering to himself,
“My aunt… really hates my mother…”
It would be unwise to approach Cao Pi playfully in this situation. I quietly retreated.
That evening, as Lady Ding had instructed, a special meal was prepared for Cao Cao.
“Nothing beats chicken after a long day!”
“It was prepared to celebrate your safe return.”
The chicken dish for Cao Cao was quite elaborate. Medicinal herbs and mushrooms were stuffed inside the chicken, coated with honey, lightly roasted, and then simmered.
A whole chicken was placed before Cao Cao, and another before me. It was delicious. So, this was Cao Cao Chicken.
“Aunt, thank you for the meal.”
“You’re welcome. Eat your fill.”
As I thanked Lady Ding and Lady Bian, Lady Bian subtly pulled down her sleeves, covering the scratches on her arms. Something felt off, but I ate my meal.
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After returning from the campaign, I resumed my duties as Cao Cao’s bodyguard.
A census of the Xu Province refugees was conducted, and troops were deployed to help them build their settlements.
“Once the villages are established, we’ll begin construction on the fortress. Prepare the lumber and stone.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Dealing with the aftermath of a war is often more troublesome than the war itself. Once the new fortress is built, we’ll be better able to defend against attacks from Yu Province and Xu Province.”
Xun Yu diligently organized and carried out Cao Cao’s instructions.
“My lord, have you decided on a name for the new fortress?”
“Dongyan.”
“A fortress in the east (dong) of Yan Province. Understood.”
As Cao Cao’s bodyguard, I simply observed and listened. As Xun Yu relayed Cao Cao’s orders to the lower-ranking officials,
“Wenlie.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
“I need you to run an errand.”
“What is it?”
Cao Cao nodded and gave me my instructions.
“I’ve assigned officers to each of the refugee settlements to submit security reports every ten days. Go to the villages outside Chenliu and collect those reports.”
“Understood, Uncle.”
Although I didn’t have an official position, I was making a name for myself in Yan Province by carrying out Cao Cao’s errands. The military officers in Chenliu now recognized me as “Young Master Cao,” Cao Cao’s direct aide, and cooperated readily.
“I’ll be back as soon as possible.”
“Good. Take a horse from the stables.”
I set off on my errand.
I rode out of Chenliu, heading towards the settlement where Cao Cao planned to build the Dongyan fortress. The place was bustling with activity, with numerous military tents and ongoing construction of wooden houses.
And at some point, merchants had appeared, selling goods from their carts, and food stalls had been set up.
I just needed to find the officer in charge of security and collect the report. But just then, I heard a loud voice.
“What is going on here? Where did all these people come from?”
“Sir, these are refugees from Xu Province. The lord has ordered us to build a settlement and a fortress to accommodate them.”
“I heard he was planning to attack Xu Province while I was in Jing Province, but this is…”
Who was that?
He was tall and well-built. He wore a magnificent beard and carried a sword. He was clearly not an ordinary man.
I dismounted and approached the officer and the scholar.
“Officer Zheng.”
“Young Master Cao! What brings you here?”
“Uncle asked me to collect the security reports.”
“Ah, here they are.”
The officer handed me the bamboo slips containing the reports. The tall scholar approached and looked me up and down, his eyes scanning me intently. He had a handsome face, but his gaze was unsettling.
“Uncle? You called the Governor ‘Uncle’?”
“Well, yes. And who might you be?”
“Me? I’m in charge of administration in Yan Province. I am Xun You, courtesy name Gongda.”
“!?”
Xun You, courtesy name Gongda.
Xun You, who had been sent to Jing Province on Cao Cao’s orders, had just returned to Yan Province.
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