Just a Vacation in the Capital
After surviving the greatest war of my life, I returned home triumphant. I had brushed against death more times than in any battle before, and only when it finally ended could I breathe a sigh of relief. What awaited me at home was family. After everything I’d been through, I had gradually gathered wives until I now had five—five beautiful women filling my harem. At last, I could fully enjoy the ideal life of a polygamous household.
But even the most perfect harem had its weaknesses…
“W-wait! Before nursing, bring the trotter soup—!”
“My lady, I’ve brought it fresh from the pot.”
“I’ll drink it quickly and come right back… Ah, it’s hot!”
“Oh dear, my lady!”
Yuan Jing was doing physical comedy because her husband was too exhausted to move. Of course freshly boiled jokbal soup was scalding.
“Husband, Sister Cai and little Qiao will be out after changing their clothes.”
“Mm, I see.”
In both arms I held the twin daughters born to Qiao Xuelan. I still didn’t know who they took after, but their faces sparkled with such adorable brilliance. Strapped to my back in a baby carrier was Yuan Jing’s daughter, wriggling energetically. She had been born so tiny that we feared she was premature; we called in multiple midwives and physicians, but it turned out she was simply small by nature. She nursed vigorously from her mother and was surprisingly active.
“Aigoo, she’s pinching again.”
Her grip strength was truly remarkable. When I offered a finger, she seized it with surprising power. Though she was my daughter, I could already tell she would grow up exceptionally sturdy.
And finally, the heavy, hyperactive little fellow on my lap. Among the four children Cai Yan had borne after a difficult labor, he was the only son. Perhaps because he was a boy, he was already twice the size of Yuan Jing’s daughter on my back. Even now he kept crying, and I barely managed to soothe him with both arms.
A baby’s cry wasn’t simply “Wah—wah—”. It came in countless varied tones that rattled the inside of my skull. If they hadn’t been my own children, I probably would have lost my mind.
“H-husband! Forgive me. Please hand me the eldest.”
“And Qiu’e as well.”
In this era, proper names weren’t given immediately. Instead, we used simple childhood names. The eldest son was called Dazi, “the big boy.” Yuan Jing’s daughter, born in autumn, was Chua—Autumn Child. Qiao Xuelan’s twins were named using ok (jade): Baekok and Cheongok—White Jade and Blue Jade.
Anyway, Cai Yan, whose breasts had grown twice as large as when she was a maiden, quickly took Dazi away to nurse. Yuan Jing also carried Chua, still strapped to her back, into the room.
“My lord, the little ones can be left to us servants.”
“Lady Shuchun and Lady Hefei are still recovering from childbirth. Please pay extra attention to the prenatal care of the other wives.”
“Yes, my lord.”
In the midst of all this, Lu Ming’s belly was also swelling from what happened at Baima during Guandu. And Daqiao had become pregnant from that single night we spent together when she briefly visited the capital. In the end, all five wives had reached the classic harem conclusion: six children in total.
We had servants and experienced wet nurses, but it was still exhausting. Since returning to the capital, I had barely stepped outside, completely absorbed in childcare. Until the babies could hold up their own heads, roll over, and start crawling, this was simply how it had to be.
“My lord, please rest now. We will take over. No matter how adorable the children are, you mustn’t wear yourself out like this.”
“Well… then just for a little while.”
I finally understood why parental leave existed. After entrusting even Qiao Xuelan’s twins to the servants, I stepped out into the garden.
“Zayul, perfect timing.”
“General Cao!”
“!?”
When I turned my head, I saw Lady Xiahou, Lady Huan, and even Lady Chu entering our residence accompanied by a large group of maids.
“Ah, aunts!”
“We heard you’ve been suffering because of the children lately, so we came to help.”
“Didn’t I tell you? Since we’ve received so much help from your household, we’ll take care of the childcare.”
Lady Xiahou—wife of Xiahou Dun and mother of the Xiahou Chong and Xiahou Mu brothers—clapped her hands, revealing dozens of maids.
“These are professional wet nurses and nannies specializing in infant care. Your wives will be able to recover from childbirth much more comfortably.”
“We came at once by order of the Grand Lady, so leave everything to us without worry.”
Since Lady Ding had personally ordered Lady Chu and Lady Huan to come help, I could finally breathe easier. Strictly speaking, they weren’t that much older than me, but in terms of clan hierarchy they were like great-aunts looking after their great-nephew’s children. Still, because it was by Lady Ding’s command, everyone pitched in with one heart.
The noisy daily routine of childcare finally eased a little. What came next was settling affairs after the war.
Today’s banquet was a gathering of the Cao and Xiahou clans, and Cao Hong had generously opened his private storehouse for the occasion. The rear garden—once the site of Cao Hong’s infamous banquets of meat and debauchery—had been completely transformed into a grand feast hall, and he was sparing no expense.
“The great battle at Guandu was truly magnificent. In all my life, I doubt I’ll ever see another victory like it. Hahaha!”
These days, Cao Cao had been inviting countless relatives, subordinates, and renowned scholars to the upper palace to celebrate the enormous war at Guandu. He didn’t miss any chance to hold drinking banquets like this one at a family member’s home either. Honestly, it was well deserved.
The Battle of Guandu had been an incredibly difficult campaign. From the very first day, my own life had been in danger. Now I could laugh about it, but back then I had charged recklessly, suffered injuries, lost thirty percent of the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, and in the middle of the melee had risked everything to capture none other than Yuan Tan. I thought things couldn’t possibly go more wrong—yet even in that chaos, I kept striking at Yuan Shao’s vital points, hammering him from every direction until that massive vessel slowly sank and the battle finally ended.
“Even thinking about it now makes my legs shake. How could anyone gather fifty thousand, then a hundred thousand, then one hundred and fifty thousand troops and march south?”
“Ugh, at least the other generals fought near Brother Mengde. I was rolling around in Henei like I’d lost my mind.”
Cao Hong and Cao Ren shook their heads as if the memory still horrified them. The other generals also toasted endlessly to the Cao army’s victory.
“In the heat of that fierce war, I kept thinking of my sons. Zisu had to leave his wife in Fuyang, and Zayul left his wives in the capital at full term. It made me realize—while the adults buy time in war, we must give time to our children!”
Cao Cao tapped his chopsticks against his wine cup as he spoke cheerfully. Even he seemed proud of that decision.
“Father, once the hundred days are complete, I plan to bring the child to the capital.”
“Mm, of course! Naturally! One must hold one’s grandchildren, after all.”
“Haven’t you been visiting Zayul’s son almost every single day already?”
“Hey!”
When Xiahou Dun spoke, Cao Cao flinched, and the whole table burst into even louder laughter. If one ignored the wars and political purges, this family seemed the most cheerful and happy in the world.
“Zayul, I’ve prepared ten bolts of fine silk. When the babies reach their hundredth day, have some clothes made for them.”
“Thank you, Uncle Zilian.”
“So, when’s the next one?”
“Pardon?”
“The sixth, I mean.”
“Ah…”
At that moment, Cao Cao burst into wild laughter and raised his cup.
“Uhaha, uhahahaha! Zilian, you still haven’t forgotten that bet? Hahaha!”
“Brother, a bet is a bet, isn’t it? Looking at what this kid does, he’ll have ten wives in no time.”
“Come now~ He’s only just become a father.”
“That’s exactly when a man gets bored, isn’t it?”
Even Xiahou Dun joined the conversation. Why did everything in and out of the house always turn into talk about women…?
“Zilian, you already have over fifty concubines and you’re still talking like that? Enough. Right now Zayul is personally washing and soothing his own children at home.”
“Eh? Why not have the wives or wet nurses do that… Never mind. Just make sure my wife doesn’t hear you say that!”
“S-stop! If Zisu and I keep listening to this, our faces will burn off.”
I quickly summoned the quietly sitting Cao Ang beside me to end this turn of conversation!
Even while quite drunk, Cao Cao narrowed his eyes as he tilted his cup.
“Yes, after enjoying ourselves like this, we must begin the next phase.”
“The next phase, sir?”
“Exterminating the rats.”
At Cao Cao’s single sentence, the previously boisterous atmosphere froze over in an instant.
“There are quite a few shameless bastards still scurrying around the Central Plains, aren’t there? Yuan Shao was beaten like a dog by me and fled north of the Yellow River, yet some still rise up in the rear claiming to support him?”
Once the homeowner emptied the storehouse, the rats had begun creeping out one by one to nibble away. From Cao Cao’s perspective, even dragging them out and executing them immediately wouldn’t be enough. For this purpose, two people who had joined late now arrived.
“Brother, Zihua has arrived.”
“Miaocai is a little late.”
“Come, sit. We saved seats for you.”
At Cao Cao’s gesture, Cao Hong immediately had the courtesans prepare places for the late arrivals—Xu Shu and Xiahou Yuan.
The reason they had come was soon revealed.
“Alright, speak.”
“I’ll go first. After returning to Chuping, I investigated the region. The remnants of the Xuzhou rebel forces who still follow Yuan Shao—led by Chang Xi—are still active. Zhang Ba’s forces in northern Xuzhou are blocking them, but it seems insufficient.”
“Insufficient is unacceptable. Tomorrow we must immediately organize an army to suppress the rebels in Xuzhou.”
Not a single person present even considered refusing. If ordered, they were ready to march on Xuzhou at once.
“As for Zhang Ba himself, although he has built an independent force, he has sworn loyalty to me, so I’ll overlook it for now. Still, I need to remind him it’s time to stop. Does he think he can create his own little kingdom under me?”
It was understandable. Though Zhang Ba had pledged loyalty as an independent warlord, he had preserved his entire family and power base intact in Xuzhou.
“Brother, the situation in the south is similar.”
“Didn’t Lord Guan clean up quite a bit down there? Whoever asked him, he did a truly remarkable job. He swept away the minor warlords north of the Yangtze and established a defensive line.”
“However, there is still Runan. Although Administrator Li Tong is holding the line, the forces of Liu Bi, Gong Du, and others continue to stir up trouble and disrupt the region.”
“Ah~ That was originally Yuan Shao’s homeland and the root of the Yuan clan, so it makes sense. Still, we cannot allow the rats to keep scurrying about.”
Cao Cao chuckled and beckoned to me and Cao Ang. When we approached, he filled our cups to the brim and spoke with a smile.
“You two need not concern yourselves.”
“Father, if we alone are excluded while the wars continue…”
“Enough talk. Just rest. Both Zisu and Zayul should focus on family matters for now.”
“…Understood.”
“And since both of you have rendered truly great service this time, begin preparing.”
“Preparing for what, Father?”
“It’s time you both formally receive the rank of feudal lord, isn’t it?”
“!?”
Oh… After the Battle of Guandu, the news that four generals had been slain had spread like wildfire. I had wondered what reward would come this time. A marquisate? If we officially became feudal lords, the restrictions on the number of troops and concubines we could maintain would be lifted. That wasn’t bad at all.
That evening, after everyone had eaten and drunk heavily, Cao Cao staggered about drunk. Cao Ang carefully helped him into the carriage, took the reins himself, and drove toward home.
“Zayul, are you truly alright?”
“The night air will sober me up as I walk.”
I was a bit tipsy, but walking like this usually cleared my head. Once home, I’d drink a few cups of honey water, wash up, and sleep.
“Hm? What procession is that?”
Cao Ang, driving the carriage, spotted something in the dark night and asked. When I looked closer, I saw a group moving along the road. Just in case, I gripped the sword at my waist. The other party also noticed us, hesitated in surprise, and then someone came running over.
“Halt! Who goes there?”
When I stepped forward, a slender man wearing a long robe shorter than me greeted first.
“Might the procession ahead belong to the Chancellor’s carriage?”
“It is. Why?”
“Ah, then I pay my respects to the Chancellor. I am Fu De, son of the Duke of Fu.”
“Umm… who did you say?”
Cao Cao, hearing the noise from inside the carriage, opened the door and cautiously poked his head out.
“Chancellor, I pay my respects.”
“So it was the Chancellor’s party? My apologies… Fu Wan, Duke of Fu, offers late-night greetings.”
“Ah~ So it is Duke Fu. And the one beside you is your eldest son.”
At Fu Wan’s gesture, the group that approached turned out to be elderly civil officials. Within the court, they were the type who voted in favor of the Cao faction’s dominance but were not completely Cao Cao’s men—they simply performed the duties assigned to them.
“Discussing state affairs even at this late hour? You’ve worked hard.”
“Not at all. Thanks to the Chancellor purging all the traitors who opposed the court both inside and outside, we can walk the night roads in safety.”
“Hehehe, those words aren’t entirely unpleasant to hear.”
Still drunk, Cao Cao laughed and urged Cao Ang to hurry on. I too passed the group of the Duke and officials—who showed no killing intent—without incident.
After encountering Cao Cao’s party late that night, Duke Fu and his group broke into cold sweats and swallowed dryly.
“Son, it seems I must make up my mind.”
“Father, then you truly intend to…”
“At the very least… our family must not end up like Dong Cheng’s… We absolutely cannot allow Her Ladyship the Noble Consort to be deposed.”
Fu Wan had once been a man of great spirit who voluntarily relinquished the power of his maternal relatives. He had been the proud head of a prestigious noble house. But now, old and frail, having witnessed the annihilation of another ducal family before his eyes, his mind was focused solely on the survival and well-being of his clan.
The brutal beheading of Dong Cheng’s faction in the marketplace that day, the pregnant Noble Consort who had nearly died, and the suspicious death during childbirth that followed—after which Cao Cao had immediately installed his own daughter, Consort Cao, in the palace. Having seen all of it with his own eyes, Fu Wan closed them tightly.
“Tomorrow I will visit the Grand Tutor and begin preparations soon.”
“Yes, Father.”
In the end, if this was the tide of the times, he had no choice but to bow to the Cao clan in order to preserve his family.