The Bold Nephew Who Gathered His Uncles
The Red Hare was far too fine a stallion to waste as mere breeding stock. Even as the years passed, it remained one of the finest warhorses under heaven.
I had taken it for a short ride through the city streets, and the beast proved astonishingly intelligent. When I urged it forward in haste, it obeyed without complaint. It instinctively avoided pedestrians, adjusting its pace on its own whenever we neared crowds. A horse like this could easily serve on the battlefield for several more years. If it ever sired foals, I was determined to claim one for myself.
Riding that magnificent Red Hare, I arrived at the residence of Cao Song, Cao Cao’s father and the Grand Tutor. Upon hearing of my visit, the old man welcomed me with genuine delight.
“Oh ho ho, Zayul! So you’ve become one of the realm’s renowned generals now, have you?”
“I am honored by your words, Grand-Uncle.”
“Haha, have you come to keep this old man company for a while?”
“The household has been rather unsettled lately, so I came to speak with you.”
“I’ve heard all about it.”
I nearly jumped at his words. At that moment the door opened and a young noblewoman entered. She bowed respectfully to Cao Song, then offered him tea and congee. A tray was also placed before me.
“Eat. It’s quite sweet and delicious.”
It was a snack made by boiling millet in milk and mixing it generously with honey. The young noblewoman personally scooped each spoonful and fed it to Cao Song one by one. At his age, was he really showing off a favored concubine? The old man certainly still had plenty of vigor.
“Aiyu, why don’t you speak for yourself?”
“Yes, Grand Tutor.”
She added an affectionate “ah” to his nickname, so was her name Yu? But since she was Cao Song’s concubine, what should I call her? Grand-Aunt? That felt wrong given her age, and the proper address for a concubine was…
“This humble one is from the Tang clan of Hongnong. My name is Yu. You may simply call me Lady Tang. Ho ho ho~”
“Or just call her Madam, oh ho ho ho~”
Her speech matched Cao Song’s perfectly. She had the bearing of a seductive beauty, and her laughter left a strong impression. Well, she was my great-uncle’s wife after all. I decided to simply call her Madam.
“You wish me to ask Madam?”
“Aman has been using the intelligence network of the Wei clan, hasn’t he? This child also comes from that background.”
As expected…
“She was already there during the late Lord Wei Zi’s time, so she actually outranks even Wei Hong. Oh ho ho.”
Leaving Cao Song’s explanation aside, Lady Tang began detailing the recent situation one by one.
“Not long ago, a series of anonymous letters arrived at the Grand Tutor’s residence. They contained accounts of both major and minor misconduct committed by members of the Cao and Xiahou clans.”
“Someone gathered all of that at once and sent it…”
“What else could we do? If such information spread through the court it would cause an uproar. So the Grand Tutor delivered them to his son, the Chancellor. Ho ho ho~”
Was this really something to laugh about? Because of this, everyone from Lady Ding’s younger sister—Xiahou Yuan’s wife—to Cao Cao’s younger sister, his brother-in-law, and even Cao Hong had all been implicated.
“How can you speak of this while smiling?”
“Because it’s amusing to see that there are still fools in the world bold enough to try scratching at us.”
“Grand-Uncle, this is no laughing matter. The Court of Judicial Bills has begun a full investigation.”
“Oh ho ho, Zayul. Have you never been to the Court of Judicial Bills?”
I froze.
“Do you think they simply arrest people, whip them, torture them, and then burn the confessions? That is not how it works.”
What was he saying? Only a few years ago, countless high officials including Minister of Works Yang Biao had been dragged there and left in ruins. Even Xun Yu had personally protested to Cao Cao that it was wrong.
“I know because I visited the Court of Judicial Bills during the time of the previous emperor. Once you arrive, they prepare seats according to your status. Then they serve tea and conduct the interrogation in a very cordial atmosphere.”
“But the previous incident with Minister Yang…”
“That was Aman deliberately making an example of someone. He treated the capital’s great officials like street thugs and beat them down.”
Ah… So that was why Xun Yu had risen up—not against the Court of Judicial Bills itself, but specifically against the torture of high officials within it.
“This time there will be no such thing. Most likely, even your cousin’s wife, though she may complain about the lack of sunlight, will simply drink tea, do some needlework, and pass the time wondering when she’ll be released. The same goes for my son Cao De.”
Cao Song assured me that this was merely a routine formality and there was no need to worry. Then Lady Tang, who had been sitting beside him, spoke again.
“However, a few will be made examples of and executed. Even then, they won’t touch the blood relatives. They’ll simply round up some of the retainers and guests those men employed and behead them.”
“Now that you mention it, some of Uncle Zilian’s retainers were recently seized by Man Chong’s troops in the marketplace and taken to the Court of Judicial Bills.”
“Huangfu Jing will surely die.”
“!?”
At the mention of Huangfu Jing’s name, Cao Song clicked his tongue while eating his milk congee.
“Tsk! That worthless scoundrel cannot be saved. He was a distant relative of the late Huangfu Song, so I took him in. But he spent his days in the marketplace starting brawls, raping women, and relying on Cao Hong’s authority to run completely wild.”
“You… knew about all that?”
“When Cao Hong opened those gambling dens that resembled cricket fights and began raking in the money, I was the one who provided the initial capital.”
Though the man had once saved my wife from humiliation and earned my gratitude, his crimes were far too numerous. He would be executed both as an example and to cut off a loose end. If Man Chong had deliberately arrested him in place of Cao Hong, then whoever was behind this scheme was truly formidable.
“Oh ho ho, all of this comes from the network of people I became acquainted with when I presented the previous emperor with a gift of one hundred million coins.”
Using Cao Cao’s influence to amass bribes, keeping a concubine young enough to be his granddaughter, and clinging to the emperor like a shameless old fool—yet in moments like this, he was every bit as terrifying as Cao Cao himself. After living seventy years and observing both the imperial family and the court for decades, how could he not know these things?
With this, the overall picture finally became clear.
The scandal that had begun with anonymous letters was something Cao Cao had learned about before the imperial court. He was using it to discipline his own family and make an example for everyone to see. Of course, there would be no torture or impeachment. They would simply drag things out until the matter cooled down, then release everyone with “no charges.”
Through those anonymous letters, Cao Cao would also learn one crucial fact: among the powerful clans and scholar-officials of the Central Plains he had been trying to win over, there was someone openly rebelling against his family and orchestrating schemes against him.
Most likely, Cao Cao would keep this shadowy political faction in mind. After dealing with his relatives, he would purge the key ministers and powerful families within the court, making it clear that anyone who tried to play tricks would die.
And the emperor, forced to watch a purge unfold right before his eyes without being able to do anything, would continue to suffer in eternal agony…
“I have learned a great deal from you today, Grand-Uncle. Thank you for your invaluable guidance.”
“Oh ho ho, gratitude should not be expressed with words alone.”
…Pardon? Was this information going to cost me?
What should I offer my great-uncle then?
“They say the spirit mushrooms from Lujiang south of Shuchun are excellent. At my age, one begins to crave such things for health. Oh ho ho~”
“Grand-Uncle, I will soon bring you a very large harvest of them.”
“Oh ho ho~ Yes, yes~”
There was no such thing as a free meal, but the information from Elder Cao Song was always reliable.
On my way home, a sudden realization struck me.
“Wait… south of Shuchun? Lujiang?”
It was the border between northern and southern Yangzhou. With only the Yangtze River separating it from Jingzhou and the eastern banks, it was one of the most critical strategic points imaginable. To claim territory there, one would need to enter the city and…
“That’s it!”
I had just discovered a way for everyone to weather this storm.
I returned the Red Hare to Cao Cao’s residence, then urgently summoned my uncles that very evening.
“Thank you, uncles, for answering this young nephew’s sudden request.”
“Zayul, the fact that you called us here without Aman means you must have heard something important, yes?”
We were gathered in a side building of Cao Ren’s residence. Xiahou Dun and Cao Hong had both arrived. I recounted everything I had learned from my meeting with Cao Song.
“And so that is the situation.”
“Hmmm. If the Grand Tutor said so, then it must be true,” Cao Ren said with a nod.
Xiahou Dun spoke up. “I received word from Yuan not long ago. The one interrogating his wife is apparently Xu Shu, the Commandant of Yan Province.”
Kyah~ Xu Shu really does handle the big jobs when it counts. Ever since we first met as wandering swordsmen, he had been stationed in Yan Province, yet he continued to fulfill the duties of a proper administrator. Moreover, Xiahou Yuan had taken him in with the intention of raising him as his own strategist. Yet here he was openly interrogating his superior’s wife? It could hardly be called an interrogation. Just as Cao Song had said, he was probably serving her tea and politely saying, “Please bear with the inconvenience for now. Stay here until the investigation concludes.”
If even Lady Ding’s younger sister—Xiahou Yuan’s wife and my aunt by marriage—received such treatment, the others would fare even better.
“But not me. Not only have all my retainers been arrested, but Mengde himself told me directly: since I created a gambling ring inside my own home and pocketed a fortune, I should prepare myself for the investigation.”
In Cao Hong’s case, the scale of his misdeeds was so large that he was at risk of being made the primary example. Thanks to this, I also learned the true nature of “Cao Hong’s enormous wealth,” something I would ponder for a long time afterward.
“Still, if I just stay quiet like a dead rat, all the guests and retainers I’ve gathered over the years will lose faith in me and leave…”
“You should send a letter.”
“A letter?”
“You personally sent a petition to your elder brother. However, the Court of Judicial Bills acted arbitrarily and handled the matter first. That is how we should frame it.”
“Oh? Oho?”
“Of course, you must create a proper ‘time gap,’ so take your time and send it at a leisurely pace.”
This way, it would appear that although Cao Hong had submitted a formal petition, the Court of Judicial Bills had taken it upon itself to execute the guilty parties. Cao Hong would then have something to say to his remaining retainers, and he himself would have a plausible way to save face.
“Zayul, even so, the investigation will continue. Shouldn’t we call Zisu back from Henei to mediate?”
“Uncle Zixiao, that would be disastrous. Zisu must not come to the capital under any circumstances.”
“O-oh? Is that so?”
I explained to Cao Ren why Cao Ang could not return.
“Zisu is officially the Chancellor’s eldest son. If he were to intervene in a matter involving his mother’s family and relatives, it would create a massive political scandal. It would be far better to say that he has been completely preoccupied with constructing defensive walls on the front lines for the sake of the nation’s security.”
“I see. That makes sense.”
“My uncle once told me: ‘You must never stain the hands of those you truly cherish with blood.’”
That was why, every time Cao Cao began his bloody purges, I made sure to send Cao Ang far away on important missions or forcibly grant him leave so he would not appear at court.
“However, as Zilian said, if we remain here doing nothing, the flames will eventually reach us as well. So what should we do?”
“Uncle Xiahou, there is a very simple solution. However, it is something I cannot do alone, so I must ask for your help.”
“What is it? Speak quickly.”
“There are remnants of Yuan Shu in Lujiang, and I have heard that the governor there, Liu Xun, has long been on friendly terms with my uncle.”
“Hmm?”
“We will strike Liu Xun’s forces in Lujiang and Huancheng. At the same time, we will completely eliminate the Yuan clan and seize Lujiang, thereby securing our border against both Jingzhou and the eastern lands.”
“You’re suggesting we go to war? Use the suppression of Yuan Shu’s remnants as a pretext to lead troops out of the capital for a while?”
“Exactly. That is why I need Uncle Xiahou to draft the memorial.”
“Why me in particular?”
“Is your current position not Inspector of the Capital Region? An Inspector has the authority to investigate and punish local officials in any province at any time by imperial decree.”
“Oh! Oho!”
Xiahou Dun slapped his knee in understanding. But at that moment Cao Ren raised his hand.
“Zayul, there is one problem.”
“Yes, Uncle Zixiao.”
“War is not free. After the conquest of Xu Province we have already spent a considerable amount of funds. The court will not provide such a large budget unless we empty someone’s pockets.”
“That is actually very simple.”
“How so?”
I explained to Cao Ren exactly how we would use the military funds.
“Including Aunt in Yan Province, the noblewomen of Yan Province had formed an enormous private mutual-aid society. That entire fund has now been seized.”
“Ah?”
“Second Uncle, Anmin’s father, has had the properties he extorted from powerful clans confiscated on charges of exploitation. Uncle Do-hyang, Aunt Byun’s brother, has had his assets seized on bribery charges.”
“Ah, aah!”
“All of it is dirty money. If we declare that it will all be converted into military funds at this time, the evidence will disappear and the detained family members will be released much faster.”
“Incredible! Burning black money as military funds and erasing all traces of it after the conquest!”
Cao Ren and Cao Hong both nodded vigorously, now fully prepared to act.
“Yes, when the court is in chaos, the best thing is to find an excuse and leave!”
“Liu Xun of Lujiang City… I met him once before. He’s well known for his greed, but if you fill his palms sufficiently, he’ll rub them together quite eagerly.”
“We should tell Xiahou Yuan in Yan Province about this as well. Once he hears it, he’ll insist on joining and bring his own troops south.”
My uncles immediately began preparing to move after hearing my plan. With this, I felt I had repaid Cao Hong for the silk he had given me last time. Tonight, I would have to visit her.
Yuan Jing.
To avoid the storm sweeping over the Cao and Xiahou families, we had chosen war. But to achieve that, the Yuan clan would inevitably be completely destroyed this time. The thought did not sit well with me, so I knew I had to see Yuan Jing tonight.