The Conquest of Lujiang
I woke up after spending the night with Yuan Jing. As I stirred and sat up, she immediately opened her eyes and reached for the clothes she had prepared. I had instructed her to always have fresh clothes ready for the morning after we shared a bed, and she picked them up to help me dress. Seeing my second wife completely naked yet silently helping me into my garments was so endearing that I pulled her into a tight embrace. She nestled against my chest, squirming gently as she whispered,
“Of course.”
When I stepped out fully dressed, the household was already bustling with preparations for breakfast. Just then, Cai Yan, who had claimed she wasn’t feeling well, came hurrying over.
“Husband.”
“Ah, my lady.”
“You must wash up immediately and head straight to the main house’s central chamber.”
“Hmm?”
“The Chancellor has sent word that you are to have breakfast with him in the central chamber this morning without fail.”
Leaving the wives behind and summoning only me to eat breakfast in Cao Cao’s chamber? The ingredients came from the main house’s rear garden, so there was no issue with the food itself, but the fact that he had specifically called for me could only mean one thing. He probably wanted a private meeting before I entered the palace. I wasn’t to think of skipping out today.
“Then I’ll go eat and return shortly.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to wear your official robes?”
“Should I?”
Cai Yan advised that it would be best to don my official attire here, have breakfast at the main house, and proceed directly to court. Following her suggestion, I changed into my formal robes and headed to the main residence.
“Uncle, I’ve arrived.”
“Ah, you’re here? Come, take a seat.”
As soon as I sat down, Cao Cao’s servants laid out a lavish spread before me. The person sitting beside me and greeting me before eating was Cao Pi. While Cao Ang was away in Henei, Cao Pi—who would turn fourteen next year—had naturally taken the seat beside his father in place of his elder brother.
“Zihuan, I read the essay you wrote last time. Your skill has improved greatly of late.”
“Thank you, Father. However, my abilities are still lacking.”
“Not at all. Literary talent like yours is rare at your age. Keep working hard.”
“Yes, Father.”
Cao Pi had changed tremendously compared to before. He used to be self-centered, shortsighted, and immature, but ever since he began studying under Cai Yan, his temperament had grown calm and composed. He now possessed enough poetic and literary ability that even his wife acknowledged it. If this fellow truly reformed, there would be no need to antagonize him… but he was still Cao Pi, after all.
“Zidan, you seem to be putting on more weight these days.”
“The food at Uncle’s house is simply too delicious.”
“You can’t just grow fat. What have you been studying lately?”
“I’ve been learning the spear from Uncle Xiahou. I want to show my skills on the battlefield as soon as possible.”
“Indeed. With that build, you’ll grow up to be like Xu Chu or Dian Wei.”
Even while eating, Cao Cao never spoke of official business. Instead, he went around the table, addressing each of his sons one by one. What stood out was how he treated not only Cao Pi, Cao Zhang, Cao Zhi, and Cao Chong, but also his adopted son Cao Zhen, Xiahou’s children, and even Chen Lang with the same fatherly affection. It almost made me, who still called him “Uncle,” feel awkward.
“The meal was excellent today.”
“Are you finished, my lord?”
“Prepare two cups of tea.”
“Yes, my lord.”
The moment Cao Cao finished eating, he leaned over and spoke softly behind me.
“Zayul, is your meal still lacking?”
Hearing that, I quickly scraped the remaining rice from my bowl and set it down.
“I have eaten well.”
“Then you shall have a cup of tea with me.”
Just as I thought.
Before entering the palace, I had a brief private meeting with Cao Cao. He dipped a willow twig toothbrush into salted water, brushed his teeth, rinsed his mouth, and then drank his tea. Naturally, I did the same.
“Zayul.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
“Xiahou Dun told me an interesting story yesterday.”
As expected, he had heard everything and summoned me separately.
“The capital has suddenly grown restless, and now you’re preparing for war to eliminate the remaining rebels. That scheme must be yours, correct?”
“It is.”
Cao Cao gave a soft chuckle, sipped his tea, and continued.
“Xun Yu said the same thing. In the current situation, we should first detain those involved and focus on quickly laundering that dirty money.”
As expected of Xun Yu. It seemed I wasn’t the only one who had thought of that. Several of Cao Cao’s close advisors shared the same idea.
“However, I hadn’t yet decided how to use it. Then I received something rather amusing.”
Cao Cao handed me a bamboo slip. The message inside read:
Regarding the corruption investigation that currently troubles the Chancellor, I wish to offer my humble wisdom. Immediately double the budget for the reconstruction of Luoyang, the capital of the Han. Pour all suspicious funds into this project to bury the evidence. The end result will be a far more magnificent Luoyang, and no one will suspect a thing.
“This is…”
A completely different approach from mine. The core idea—using a massive undertaking to bury the dirty money—was the same, but this person suggested pouring everything into “reconstructing the capital” rather than “war.” Whoever wrote this clearly understood the flow of funds and had offered a swift solution to Cao Cao’s worries about the corruption investigation involving his relatives.
“This proposal isn’t bad, but if I’m going to do the same thing, I prefer to favor my own kin. Therefore, I have decided to go with your suggestion of war rather than construction.”
“Thank you, Uncle.”
Fortunately, I had not offended him. In fact, my proposal to conquer Lujiang seemed to have been regarded as merely one of many suggestions from his advisors.
“By the way, there is one thing I’m curious about.”
“What is it?”
“I heard you became extremely anxious when I began to move. You even went to my father to report it?”
“!”
“I’m simply curious. Why would you go that far? It’s not as if I would ever investigate you.”
Cao Cao once again expressed his doubts. There were many ways I could deflect, but here I needed to deliberately show a moment of weakness. So I put on a little act.
“The truth is, I hold you in the highest respect, Uncle, and I am deeply grateful for the favor you show me. However, I feared that my careless words might bring disaster upon the family.”
“Careless words?”
“During the drinking party the other day, didn’t I say that the reason you don’t suffer from your wife’s nagging is because you have no in-laws? It was a reckless remark.”
“Oh?”
“After I said those words, I was truly tormented by the thought that an investigation might be launched into Lady Ding and Lady Bian’s families. That is why I rushed to resolve the matter however I could.”
“Haha… Hahahahaha!”
Cao Cao suddenly burst into loud laughter and pulled me close, slapping my shoulder heartily.
“So that was the reason? You thought your words would cause a great rift in the family?”
“Honestly… my heart nearly stopped.”
“How could that be? Now I see. Our Zayul is outstanding in martial arts and excellent at devising strategies, yet he is rather soft when it comes to handling human relationships. I finally understand.”
Although I had applied a bit of oil to the situation, by deliberately showing weakness, Cao Cao found it amusing and nodded in approval. I decided to push a little further.
“Uncle, since you evaluate me so highly, I fear I will become even worse at handling such matters.”
“What?”
“Once we conquer the Lujiang region, the remnants of Yuan Shu’s family who sought refuge there will be present. In truth, I wished to make a request regarding them as well.”
Cao Cao stroked his beard and gestured for me to continue.
“The traitor Yuan Shu, who falsely claimed the imperial title, deserves to die a hundred times over. However, could you spare his wives, concubines, and the remaining family members from extermination of the three clans?”
“Hahahahaha!”
Cao Cao laughed loudly once more, wiping tears from his eyes as he spoke.
“If we recover Yuan Shu’s head and the Imperial Jade Seal he possesses… then yes, that much can be arranged. Of course, you won’t be able to keep them openly.”
“Then, Uncle…”
“Pursue them moderately and drive them far away. If you report that their fate is unknown, I will accept it as such.”
“Thank you, Uncle.”
With this, I had clearly heard Cao Cao say that it was acceptable to let Yuan Shu’s family members other than himself live.
“So the reason you’re poor at handling worldly affairs is because you’ve grown soft-hearted about the laws of collective punishment. It must have been your concubine who asked, yes? Begging you to spare her family. You’re not the kind of child who could ever watch another family’s extermination in a political struggle, are you?”
“I am a little tender-hearted.”
“Indeed. The same man who fights like a demon on the battlefield cannot bring himself to execute prisoners afterward. That’s how it appears.”
With those words, Cao Cao rose to prepare for court. He took my hand firmly, saying we should go together.
“Therefore, your humble servant, Chancellor Cao Cao, supports the petition of the Minister of Ceremonies and requests permission to strike down the remaining rebel remnants!”
Xiahou Dun submitted the memorial, and Cao Cao gave it powerful backing, pressuring the imperial court. Rumors had already spread that the Cao and Xiahou clans were implicated in the massive corruption investigation. Now, right before the investigation could gain momentum, they were pulling Cao Ren, Cao Hong, Xiahou Dun, and myself out to lead armies. Everyone looked visibly uncomfortable.
The Emperor urgently summoned Grand Tutor Cao Song, but unfortunately, Cao Song was ill and could not attend court that day. In the end, the Emperor had no choice but to once again grant military authority to the Cao faction and issue orders for a punitive campaign.
“Very well. Do the rest of you ministers agree?”
It was then that it happened.
“Your Majesty, your humble servant also wishes to participate in the suppression of the rebels.”
“!?”
“!!!!”
Everyone turned their heads. The person who had raised his hand to join Cao Cao in the campaign against Yuan Shu’s remnants was someone no one had expected.
It was Liu Bei.
The moment Liu Bei raised his hand with a relaxed expression, the Cao faction was stunned. Even Cao Cao raised an eyebrow in clear interest.
“Your Majesty, although I have been granted the honorable position of one of the Four Generals, I have not yet properly led troops to suppress the empire’s enemies. Therefore, I too wish to lend my strength to this campaign against the rebels.”
“Imperial Uncle… I see!”
Liu Bei truly had an uncanny sense of timing. However, if he was stepping forward just like in the original history, it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Let’s go on the campaign together. And after it’s over, if we all return together, your loyalty will be recognized. But if you try to slip away and avoid coming back to the capital… you know what happens, right?