Cao Cao Decides Everything
“If everything’s ready, then let’s go.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
Cao Cao was still battling a fierce hangover. He stepped out of the house with one hand clamped to his throbbing skull.
Even the hero of the age seemed helpless before a proper headache. He kept grimacing, and I finally took pity on him.
“Uncle, why not drink some honey water?”
“I’ve already downed three cups, but this damned headache refuses to leave me alone.”
Still suffering from the aftereffects, Cao Cao entered the government office and tried to begin his duties. Before long, however, he was retching again.
“Wenlie, go brew some honey tea.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
Eventually the nauseated Cao Cao asked me directly for the remedy. As his bodyguard, I headed for the office kitchen, but a sudden commotion erupted outside.
“What’s all that noise?”
Beyond the gates, dozens of ox-drawn carts rumbled in, accompanied by the lowing of the beasts. I buckled on my sword and hurried out to meet the procession.
“Hold a moment. Who are you people and where have you come from?”
“We are transporting supplies from Puyang.”
Lower clerks quickly explained the situation. With war against Xu Province on the horizon, they had brought a massive quantity of military provisions from Puyang.
“Clear the way.”
A man shoved through the clerks. He was tall, with a neatly trimmed beard and the dignified bearing of a high official. Our eyes met, and he strode straight toward me.
“Are you not the man who escorted the Inspector of Yan Province’s kinsman from Xu Province?”
“I am Cao Wenlie.”
I did not recognize him, yet he clearly knew me.
“May I ask your honorable name, sir?”
“I am Chen Gong, courtesy name Gongdai, from Puyang.”
“Ah, so you are Lord Gongdai.”
Chen Gong was a renowned noble from Yingchuan whose exceptional wisdom had earned him a place as one of Cao Cao’s strategists in Yan Province.
“Is the Inspector inside?”
“He is, but please wait a little longer. He is unwell and has taken medicine. I will inform him shortly.”
“It wouldn’t be a hangover, would it?”
“...”
“I see that it is. In that case, I’ll go in myself.”
Chen Gong barged straight inside without waiting. I rushed ahead to Cao Cao’s office to announce him.
Voices were already drifting from within.
“My lord, the moment we invade Xu Province and seize its cities, we will take every resident captive and relocate them all here.”
“Good. If we endure this year, next year we will reap both harvests and conscripts.”
“Xu Province is home to many renowned scholars and warriors. We will discover a great number of talented individuals.”
The speaker was Xun Yu. Before the campaign, Cao Cao had ordered him to devise a plan to make use of Xu Province’s population rather than slaughter them. This was his report.
“In any case, Chenliu already houses people from many regions. The talents from Xu Province should assimilate quickly.”
At that exact moment, Chen Gong overheard everything.
“What is this talk? Talents from Xu Province? What does that mean?”
I called out urgently.
“Inspector of Yan Province! Chen Gongdai from Puyang has arrived!”
“Show him in.”
The words had barely left Cao Cao’s mouth before Chen Gong flung the door open and strode inside.
“My lord, I have just delivered war materials from Puyang. What is the meaning of this conversation?”
“Which part?”
“You intend to relocate the people of Xu Province here?”
“If there are useful talents among them, I plan to recruit them as subordinates.”
“My lord!”
When Chen Gong raised his voice, Cao Cao merely laughed and gestured for him to sit. Feeling awkward in the tense atmosphere, I spoke up.
“I’ll go fetch the honey water now.”
I hurried off and returned with a fine pot and cups worthy of the Inspector. By the time I arrived, the argument inside had grown heated.
“My lord, do you remember the day Lord Bian Wenli and I first presented you with the seal of Yan Province?”
Wenli was the courtesy name of Bian Yang, a powerful noble of Yan Province.
“You and that old man Bian Yang personally offering me the seal? I remember it as if it were yesterday. You told me that after Luoyang’s ruin, Yan Province could become the true center of the realm, a land fit for great ambitions. Was that not your exact statement?”
“I believed you would resolve this chaotic age and restore the Han upon solid foundations. That is why I acted.”
“And am I not steadily resolving it? First we deal with Tao Qian, the thief who stole our clan’s wealth, bought weapons with it, and now dares to eye us.”
“Yet in the midst of all this, have you spared any thought for the land and people of Yan Province? You consume only our resources while claiming to embrace our people?”
“Ahem, Lord Gongdai, how can you speak such words?”
Xun Yu tried to intervene, but Chen Gong remained unyielding.
“You who came from Yingchuan, remain silent!”
Aigoo, he really shouldn’t speak so recklessly.
“My lord, I ask you with sincerity. Are you truly thinking of the people of Yan Province?”
“I intend to embrace the people of Yan Province, Yu Province, and Xu Province alike. Do you truly believe I would discriminate?”
I chose that moment to enter with the tray of honey tea.
“Uncle, I have brought it.”
Cao Cao’s face was even more sour now. Between the lingering hangover and Chen Gong’s rebuke, he clutched his head tightly. He poured the steaming tea at once and drank it down in one go.
“Hot—ugh—”
Of course it was hot; it had just been boiled.
Cao Cao wiped his lips, blew on the cup a few times, then drained the rest and fixed Chen Gong with a glare. The tea seemed to have sobered him somewhat, yet his expression remained fierce.
“Chen Gong, right now all I see is you throwing a childish tantrum.”
“You call this a tantrum?”
“Since I established my base in Yan Province, why would I possibly neglect its generals and its people? If I truly had, I would never have entrusted the defense of Puyang to Zhang Miao.”
“That is precisely why every resource produced in Puyang is being offered to you here.”
“Good. Continue doing exactly that. I will continue to value the nobles and generals of Yan Province highly.”
Honestly, Chen Gong’s complaint held some truth, yet something about it still felt off.
We nobles united to raise you as Inspector of Yan Province for your sake. Yet you take only our resources while treating the people of Yan Province as leftovers, favoring those from Yu Province, Yingchuan, or Xu Province instead?
That was the essence of Chen Gong’s grievance. Of course he would feel slighted. Still, the Chen Gong I remembered from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms was not the sort of man to quibble over such matters.
“Chen Gong, I make you one promise. Once the Xu Province campaign ends in victory, I intend to undertake a truly great project here in Yan Province, and at that time I will employ you in an important capacity.”
“A great project, you say?”
“I plan to haul the population of Xu Province here, build multiple new cities, increase production, and vastly expand our power. Your strength will be essential to that endeavor.”
Though Chen Gong still looked dissatisfied, he lowered his head at Cao Cao’s solemn promise.
“Even without me, Yan Province possesses many renowned scholars. I humbly beseech you, my lord, to value them highly and pursue the great enterprise of unifying the realm.”
“I swear it in the name of Cao Cao. After the war, the talents of Yan Province will be valued most highly.”
Only after hearing those words did Chen Gong offer a formal bow and withdraw.
“Then I shall take my leave.”
“The conquest of Xu Province is imminent. Why not rest here a few days?”
“There is much work awaiting me in Puyang. I will handle the remaining affairs there for your sake, my lord.”
Chen Gong spoke only of duty and departed at once.
“Wenlie, escort him out.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
I accompanied Chen Gong beyond the office gates. Before mounting his horse, he turned and saluted me with both hands.
“You are the lord’s blood relative. I look forward to working with you in the future.”
“Not at all. On the contrary, I hope to receive much guidance from you, Lord Gongdai.”
“I have heard your swordsmanship is exceptional. Thanks to the lord, Yan Province has been cleared of bandits and is gradually returning to peace. Therefore, consider also walking the path of literature from now on.”
“I am truly grateful for your advice.”
Chen Gong offered several more pieces of counsel and generous praise. Before leaving, he presented me with a fine inkstone.
“Next time we meet, I shall also gift you some excellent books.”
“Thank you. Please travel safely.”
Since I had received an inkstone from Chen Gong, I would have to treasure it. He could be a bit sharp-tongued, but at heart he seemed a good man.
Meanwhile, back in the office after Cao Xiu had left, Cao Cao sipped the honey tea and asked Xun Yu a question.
“Wenruo, who currently serves as the rallying point for the Yan Province faction besides myself?”
“That would be Lord Bian, the great elder whom the nobles and scholars of Yan Province all respect. Did Lord Gongdai not mention him as well?”
“So it really is Bian Yang.”
Cao Cao finished his tea and gave Xun Yu an order.
“Then that old man must die.”
“My lord?”
Xun Yu’s eyebrows shot up at the sudden declaration.
“Chen Gong is not the sort to complain to my face that I am neglecting his countrymen. Someone behind the scenes must have stirred up trouble, and he simply relayed the message.”
“My lord, we are about to face the enemy from Xu Province. Killing the respected head of a major noble house in our own base of Yan Province would be a grave mistake.”
“Which is why I will have it done while I am away from Yan Province.”
Cao Cao had already made up his mind.
“I should send Xi Zhicai to Puyang with a jar of fine wine. Ah, and that guest staying at your house, the one called Xu Shu. The swordsman Wenlie brought along.”
“Yes, my lord. He has declared that he will abandon the path of the blade and devote himself to literature instead.”
“How can we let such talent go to waste? Send him as Xi Zhicai’s escort.”
By sending Xi Zhicai and Xu Shu together to Puyang, Cao Cao was ordering the silent assassination of Bian Yang, the leader of Yan Province’s noble houses.
“The old fool has grown senile. He dares say I neglect the people and talents of Yan Province and should treat them without discrimination? Insolent bastard! Who does he think he is speaking to?”
“...”
Cao Cao was a man who made impulsive decisions. In that moment, using Chen Gong’s words as pretext, he resolved to eliminate Bian Yang, the central figure among Yan Province’s nobles who had complained of discrimination. By removing him, Cao Cao would bring every noble under that man’s influence firmly beneath his own heel.
Cao Xiu returned from seeing Chen Gong off without having heard any of this. Cao Cao greeted his nephew with a bright smile, as though nothing at all had happened, and raised the teacup.
“Wenlie, this honey tea is truly excellent. Would you like to try a cup?”