The Night Before the Expedition
Cao Cao offered me a cup of honey tea with a kindly smile.
Since it came from my uncle, I accepted it gratefully and drank. Beside him, Xun Yu wore a gentle, tranquil smile.
“My lord, how many of Xu Province’s civilians do you plan to relocate?”
“As many as we can see.”
“We should be able to accommodate up to thirty thousand households. Even if we conscript more than half of them, they will become a great source of strength.”
“I was thinking more than a hundred thousand households?”
“My lord, a hundred thousand households would mean a population nearing four hundred thousand.”
“In a land that dreams of conquering the world, isn’t that much only natural to accept?”
In the original history, Cao Cao had truly massacred civilians on that scale.
It was truly fortunate. Because he had accepted my offhand suggestion of relocation and assimilation, the people would not be slaughtered. Instead, they would be moved to Yan Province, where they would build fortifications and till the fields. Yan Province would grow prosperous, and Xu Province would become empty land.
“Supplies have arrived from Puyang, so it is time to set out. Wenyeol, I will be taking you as well.”
“Ah, is that so?”
Finally, it was war.
In the era of the Three Kingdoms, war was something that could not be avoided. From now on, my goal would be to survive on the front lines.
“Uncle, when exactly will we depart?”
“Tomorrow.”
“…?”
Had I misheard him?
What did he mean, depart tomorrow? Weren’t there supposed to be mountains of preparations before a war? Establishing supply lines, informing the soldiers—weren’t those things necessary?
“I clearly said that the moment Xun Yu prepared a plan to make use of Xu Province’s civilians, we would depart immediately. So of course we leave tomorrow.”
…Ah, Uncle Cao Cao really was an unbearably impulsive man!
At that moment, Xun Yu approached me and spoke softly.
“Young Master Cao, it seems you do not yet understand our lord’s way of war?”
“Our lord’s way of war?”
“The army of Yan Province is in a state where, the instant our lord gives the order, it can march out under any circumstances. If you go to the military camp now, you will see that every unit is fully prepared.”
Hearing even Xun Yu say that, it seemed the Cao army truly was an elite force that moved with perfect coordination at a single word from Cao Cao.
War wasn’t some strategy simulation game, yet they could mobilize and fight the moment their lord spoke.
“Wenyeol, I have an order for you. Go now and inform the generals of each camp that we will depart for Xu Province at noon tomorrow.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
Since Cao Cao had given the command, I had no choice but to obey.
I left the government office immediately and headed for the barracks. Tens of thousands of soldiers were roaring with vigorous shouts as they trained with spears and swords in hand.
The first place I visited was the heavy infantry unit commanded by Cao Ren. It was a force that formed an iron wall, with massive shields the size of a man’s body at the front and long-spear soldiers positioned behind them.
“Zixiao, Uncle.”
“Hm?”
When I approached, Cao Ren greeted me warmly.
“Ah, it’s Wenyeol. What brings you here?”
“Uncle, this is an order from the Inspector of Yan Province to the entire army. We will march on Xu Province at noon tomorrow.”
“What? Hmm, understood.”
Just as Xun Yu had said, the Cao army moved the instant an order was given. Cao Ren summoned his subordinate officers, relayed the command, and ordered them to begin preparing their gear from that very evening.
After informing Cao Ren’s unit, I went to Xiahou Yuan’s forces.
Xiahou Yuan specialized in mobile warfare and commanded mounted archers. The moment he heard my message, he immediately halted training.
“Everyone listen up! It’s been decided for tomorrow, so give the horses plenty of feed and let them rest well!”
“Yes, Colonel!”
Xiahou Yuan nodded, then grabbed my hand.
“Wenyeol, our lord definitely said tomorrow, right?”
“Yes, Miaocai, Uncle.”
“Understood. Go inform the other brothers as well.”
Next, I went to Cao Hong’s infantry unit.
“What? Tomorrow? Then we’ll have to cancel tonight’s friendly spar and start packing. Understood. Go tell Mengde that Zilian’s unit is preparing.”
“Yes, Zilian, Uncle.”
After speaking with Cao Ren, Xiahou Yuan, and Cao Hong, the last person I visited was Xiahou Dun.
Among the four in-laws known as the Four Heavenly Kings under Cao Cao, Xiahou Dun was the eldest.
Unlike the other camps, Xiahou Dun’s military encampment was quite quiet. They were training, but it felt noticeably lax, and some soldiers were even lying inside their tents, apparently resting due to injuries.
Moreover, Xiahou Dun himself had been sleeping in his tent. I had to wake him before he finally rose and received Cao Cao’s order.
“What? Aman said we’re leaving tomorrow?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“I see. Understood.”
“Um… Uncle, shouldn’t you prepare for the expedition?”
“Why should I?”
“Pardon? Since we are marching out…”
Xiahou Dun scratched his body as he stood and explained.
“The ones heading out on campaign are Yuan, Hong, and Ren. My duty is to guard this place.”
“Ah, is that so?”
“Originally, unless specifically told otherwise, Aman leaves me in charge of rear logistics and material support. It will be the same this time, so I don’t need to prepare to depart.”
When the lord personally led the army forward, a loyal second-in-command would remain to guard the main base and handle supplies. The second-in-command of the Cao army was Xiahou Dun, and since he was staying behind, he would prepare on his own.
Once I had delivered the messages, the generals under the Four Heavenly Kings would inform their own subordinates, and by noon tomorrow, everyone would gather and set out.
When I returned after finishing my rounds, Cao Cao was also preparing his armor.
“Uncle, I have informed all four uncles.”
“Ah, have you? Then you should also order your attendants to prepare the armor you will wear.”
At Cao Cao’s words, two attendants approached me and immediately took my measurements.
“We will prepare a helmet and armor suitable for the young master.”
After measuring me, they brought out scale armor and helped me put it on.
“How does it feel?”
“I thought it would be incredibly heavy, but it’s surprisingly comfortable. My arms move without any problem.”
The scale armor of this era, made by linking pieces like fish scales, was quite practical. When I put on the helmet that fit my head perfectly, I was now ready to head to the battlefield in full gear.
Of course, someone without an official post like me wouldn’t be sent to the very front lines to fight. Cao Cao probably wanted to show me what a battlefield was like. He always valued his relatives and made sure to bring several of them on every campaign.
When I stood before Cao Cao fully armored, he clapped his hands in great satisfaction.
“You look quite manly in armor. I look forward to your exploits.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
I took the armor off again and stored it carefully for tomorrow’s departure.
“So, since we depart at noon tomorrow, what will you do now?”
“I should also maintain my weapons properly and make sure my horse is well fed for tomorrow.”
“That won’t take long, will it? How dull.”
“Pardon?”
“You don’t have to come home tonight. I’ll tell them you’re busy preparing for the campaign.”
“Uncle, then…?”
“It’s your first war. Tonight, go relieve some tension.”
Uh… um…
“You may leave the office early today. Leave the escort to Zishu.”
Cao Cao was essentially telling me to go home early.
“I have nothing to do, so I ended up coming out anyway?”
He had said I didn’t need to return home tonight, but it felt wrong to go back and just sit quietly.
Besides, “relieve some tension”… It seemed Cao Cao had already heard the story through his patron, Wei Hong.
“Hmmm.”
I wandered around for a while before unconsciously heading toward Wei Hong’s residence.
The servants who had been haggling with merchants from out of town at the gate spotted me and hurried over.
“Oh my, isn’t this Young Master Wenyeol?”
“Ah, may I go inside?”
“Of course. I will inform the head immediately.”
After that, things moved like a rushing stream.
I arrived at Wei Hong’s mansion in the early evening and sat in a spacious room. The door opened, and a feast so lavish it looked like it might break the table was brought in. Wei Hong herself entered as well.
“Young Master, you came alone today?”
“Ah, yes. It just turned out that way…”
She nodded with a gentle smile.
“Shall I call Yan right away? Or would you prefer another courtesan?”
“It would be better if Yan came.”
“Understood.”
Wei Hong withdrew at once. A short while later, Huayan appeared carrying a geom, a traditional stringed instrument.
“Young Master, you have come to see me again.”
I nodded silently. She filled my cup with wine, then quietly began playing the geom beside me.
I had never taken much interest in traditional instruments before, but hearing it like this created a cozy, wonderful atmosphere. Drinking wine while listening to beautiful music, I finally understood why people of old called this enjoying the pleasures of the wind and stream.
Then something caught my eye.
Upon closer inspection, Huayan’s attire today was different.
She wore a thin, translucent garment with nothing underneath. When she moved her hands away from the instrument, I could clearly see her moderately full breasts and the pink tips of her nipples.
She was wearing such a thin robe and hadn’t even put on undergarments?
This was clearly an invitation.
I pulled Huayan firmly into my arms the moment she finished a piece.
“Ah?”
Though startled, she did not seem to dislike my touch and obediently leaned into me. When I tugged at the sash tied at her waist, her robe slipped open smoothly, and her breasts spilled out.
“You don’t have to undo this right now…”
As expected, she had been waiting for today.
I picked up a wine cup from the table and brought it to her pure white body.
“Young Master, what are you…?”
Huayan, her collar thrown open to reveal her snowy-white breasts, blushed with embarrassment.
I pressed her breasts together over the cup, then slowly poured wine from the bottle into the valley between them.
“Eut—!”
I had always wanted to try the breast-cup technique at least once.
As the wine flowed onto her chest, Huayan’s body trembled. The liquid slowly trickled down the valley and gradually filled the cup.
When I drank it all in one gulp, the fragrance of flowers spread through my mouth. A faint scent of perfume rose gently from her shy, quivering body.