After the War
I arrived in Yan Province.
“Hmm, is that smoke rising in the distance and those houses the displaced people from Xu Province?”
“That’s correct, Uncle.”
“As expected, give the common people land and they’ll find a way to survive on their own.”
The massive wave of refugees relocated from Xu Province were settling down on the land they had been given.
When I had first seen it, there were only forty or fifty households. Now there were hundreds, even thousands of houses.
Not only homes, but pigsties, chicken coops, and various livestock pens had been built. They were even clearing farmland in preparation for next year’s harvest.
“Look! The Xu Province refugees who arrived earlier are already living like this. You will have more than enough to survive here as well!”
At Cao Cao’s words, countless refugees rushed toward the settlement.
“Cheng Yu, we brought the military tents and cloth, didn’t we?”
“Yes, my lord. We brought everything.”
“Distribute them to those refugees. They need somewhere to shelter from the wind at once.”
“All of it, my lord?”
“Yes. Open up the remaining military rations as well, and gather two thousand able-bodied men to help manage that village.”
Although these were military supplies, since the army had already withdrawn, he was willing to hand them out without hesitation.
Thus, after leaving behind the remaining military rations and soldiers to maintain public order, Cao Cao marched triumphantly into Yan Province.
Standing before the citizens of Chenliu in Yan Province, Cao Cao proudly boasted that he had fought six battles and won all six.
Beside him on horseback, Lady Huan blinked her large eyes repeatedly and asked,
“Indeed. Did I not tell you? I am Cao Cao, Inspector of Yan Province.”
“Someone as great as you… with someone as lowly as me…”
“Hahaha, you caught my eye perfectly.”
Even in this situation, Cao Cao managed to bring yet another beauty into his household.
It was only later that I learned the true identity of the young lady surnamed Huan.
In the original history, during Cao Cao’s invasion of Xu Province, he had discovered a beautiful woman from Pengcheng in Xu Province and taken her as a concubine.
She was none other than Lady Huan, who would later give birth to Cao Chong, following Lady Ding (Cao Ang’s mother), Lady Bian (mother of Cao Pi, Cao Zhang, and Cao Zhi).
Now I understood.
This woman was the future Lady Huan—Cao Chong’s mother.
Watching history unfold in real time like this was truly fascinating.
If Cao Cao had not discovered her here, would Cao Chong never have been born? Or perhaps he would have been born through another woman and still named Cao Chong.
Anyway, after completing his triumphant return ceremony with great pomp, Cao Cao dismounted and entered the residence.
The entire Cao family, who had been waiting in advance, came out to greet him.
“Husband, you have returned…”
“Oh, everyone’s come out?”
Including Cao Cao’s younger brother Cao De, his sisters-in-law, nephews, and his own sons—Cao Ang, Cao Pi, and Cao Zhang.
With Lady Ding and Lady Bian, along with all the wives and concubines gathered, Cao Cao stood there boldly having brought back a new concubine from the battlefield.
“Everyone’s out here. Where is Father?”
“He went to Puyang. My cousin Anmin accompanied him as escort.”
“Ah, he must still be paying respects at Bian Rang’s grave. I see.”
With that, Cao Cao immediately handed Lady Huan over to Lady Ding.
“You returned from war, yet you bring a woman?”
“This is a young lady of the Huan clan. I found her among the refugees and simply couldn’t pass her by. Prepare a suitable room for her in the rear garden.”
“Understood… my lord.”
For a moment, Lady Ding’s expression was truly spectacular.
She bit her lower lip while glaring at Cao Cao, but he simply laughed heartily, embraced his sons, and headed inside.
“Come, my children. Your father will tell you all about how valiantly he fought on the battlefield.”
Cao Cao went inside to regale his children with tales of martial exploits from the front lines.
In the meantime, Lady Huan first bowed deeply to Lady Ding.
“I am truly grateful for the kindness you have shown in taking in this humble refugee.”
“…”
“My lady?”
Lady Ding stared at Lady Huan with an icy gaze. Unable to watch any longer, Lady Bian stepped forward to mediate, but in the end she simply let out a long sigh and shook her head.
“Well, it’s not as if this is the first or second time this has happened. What can be done about it now?”
“I am ashamed, my lady.”
“You said your surname is Huan?”
“I will prepare a room for you in the rear garden.”
“Thank you, my lady.”
Only then did Lady Ding notice me as well and speak softly.
“Munyeol, you must have suffered greatly going to war as well. I will heat water and prepare fresh clothes, so rest and recover from your fatigue.”
“Thank you, Aunt.”
Lady Ding, who seemed to have carved the character for “patience” into her forehead several times over, finally spoke to Lady Bian.
“You.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“The master always eats chicken dishes when he returns from the battlefield. Catch a few plump ones and prepare them.”
“Understood, my lady.”
It seemed everything had been settled somehow.
Following Lady Ding’s instructions, I washed myself in a hot medicinal bath, changed into fresh clothes, and stepped out into the garden feeling refreshed.
“Whew—now that I’m finally back, I can really feel—”
At that moment, I noticed a young boy standing alone in one corner of the garden.
It was Cao Pi.
The future Emperor Wen of Wei, that tyrannical Cao Pi, was currently nothing more than one of Cao Cao’s sons.
As I quietly approached Cao Pi, a sudden commotion erupted.
“Screeech— Squawk—!”
“Flap flap flap—”
What the—?
“Sigh, this one is really fast.”
“My lady, we could have done it. Why do you trouble yourself?”
“The senior madam personally ordered me to do this. How could I command you all instead?”
“But this kind of work…”
In the household’s livestock pen, Lady Bian herself was catching chickens and wringing their necks.
Dressed in her fine silk robes, she entered the coop. Her snow-white arms were scratched all over by the chickens’ claws, yet she calmly handed the birds over to the maids.
“Pluck these, and I’ll catch a few more.”
“My lady…”
“I’m fine.”
This was rather unpleasant to watch.
No matter that Lady Ding had ordered it, Lady Bian was still the mother of Cao Pi and Cao Zhang. To make her do the same work as the maids?
And Cao Pi was staring at the scene intently, quietly muttering to himself.
“Eldest Mother… really seems to hate my mother…”
It would be best not to approach Cao Pi right now with any playful antics.
I quietly withdrew.
That evening, as Lady Ding had commanded, a special feast was prepared for Cao Cao.
“There’s nothing better than eating chicken after finishing a job!”
“It was prepared to celebrate your safe return.”
The chicken dish for Cao Cao was an elaborate one—stuffing the bird’s cavity with various medicinal herbs and mushrooms, coating it with honey, lightly frying it, then simmering it slowly. It required a great deal of effort.
One whole bird was placed before both Cao Cao and me. When I tasted it, it was incredibly delicious.
So this was Cao Cao’s chicken.
“Aunt, thank you. I will enjoy it gratefully.”
“It’s nothing. Eat as much as you like.”
When I bowed to both Lady Ding and Lady Bian, Lady Bian pulled her sleeves down further to hide the wounds on her arms.
Something felt off, but I still had to eat.
After returning from the war, I resumed my duties guarding Cao Cao and handling official business.
Following our return, a large-scale census of the Xu Province refugees was conducted, and even the army was mobilized to build their villages.
“Once the villages are completed, we will soon build a fortress. Prepare the necessary timber and stone.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“Dealing with the aftermath of war is more troublesome than the war itself. If we build a new fortress, we’ll be able to easily defend against invasions from Yu Province and Xu Province.”
Xun Yu was organizing and handling everything Cao Cao had ordered.
“My lord, have you decided on a name for the new fortress?”
“Dongyan.”
“A fortress in the eastern part of Yan Province. Understood.”
Since I was assigned to guard Cao Cao, I simply stood quietly and listened.
Xun Yu, having received Cao Cao’s orders, was in the middle of relaying them to the officials below when—
“Munyeol.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
“I need to step out for a moment.”
“Ah, is there something you would like me to do?”
Cao Cao nodded and gave me an order.
“I assigned military officers to the Xu Province refugee settlements and ordered them to prepare security reports every ten days. Go around the villages outside Yan Province and collect those reports from each officer.”
“Understood, Uncle.”
Although I held no official post, running these errands for Cao Cao had made my name known throughout Yan Province.
Now, even the military officers around Yan Province would address me as “Young Master Cao” and, knowing I served as Cao Cao’s direct aide, cooperated with me even more readily.
“I will return at once.”
“Good. Take a suitable horse from the stables.”
I set out to carry out the errand.
Riding out of Yan Province, I headed toward the village where Cao Cao planned to build the fortress tentatively named “Dongyan.”
The area was already filled with numerous military tents. Timber was being transported nonstop as wooden houses were rapidly constructed.
And at some point, merchants had appeared, selling goods from carts, along with people operating food stalls from makeshift stands.
All I needed to do was find the officer in charge of security here and collect the report.
But at that moment, a loud voice rang out.
“Just what is going on here? Where did all these people come from?”
“My lord, these are refugees brought from Xu Province. Our lord has ordered that villages and a fortress be built to accommodate them all.”
“I heard he was going to Xu Province while I was away in Jing Province, but this is…”
Who is that?
Even from a distance, I could see he was quite tall with a robust build.
Moreover, he had a splendid beard and wore a sword at his waist. He was clearly no ordinary man.
I dismounted and immediately approached the officer and the scholar.
“Officer Zheng.”
“Young Master Cao has arrived?”
“My uncle asked me to collect the security records.”
“Ah, here they are.”
As he handed me the neatly written bamboo slips containing the security records, the tall scholar approached and looked at me.
Up close, he had quite a handsome face, but the way his eyes darted around as they scanned me felt somewhat unsettling.
“Uncle? You just called the Inspector of Yan Province your uncle?”
“Y-yes, that is correct. May I ask who you are, sir? This is our first meeting.”
“Me? I am the one originally in charge of Yan Province’s administration. My surname is Xun, given name You, courtesy name Gongda.”
“!?”
Xun You, Gongda.
Having received separate orders from Cao Cao to visit Jing Province, he had just now returned to Yan Province.