Learning the State of Affairs from Xun You
Xun You began his explanation in earnest.
“Let’s start with this.”
Unlike Xi Zhicai, he didn’t bring any women along or behave in a frivolous manner. With his broad shoulders and dignified expression, he radiated reliability.
“In truth, when we received word that your father—Lord Cao Song—had been attacked in Xu Province, our lord flew into a terrible rage.”
“Mmm… You mean my grandfather?”
“Exactly. Our lord declared that if his own father were harmed, he would never forgive the dogs of Xu Province. Then he sent me to Jing Province.”
Both Cao Ang and I listened with rapt attention.
“Liu Biao, the Inspector of Jing Province, is a righteous man who despises the likes of Yuan Shu and Tao Qian. I was sent to gauge whether, should we attack Xu Province, Liu Biao might also strike at Huainan—Yuan Shu’s stronghold. However…”
“Yuan Shu sent reinforcements to Xu Province, but Liu Biao never made a move on Huainan.”
“Precisely.”
Suddenly, the conversation I had overheard between Cao Cao and Xun You earlier that afternoon came to mind.
[So that’s how it is?]
[Yes, my lord. It appears Jing Province remains exactly as we expected.]
[Tsk. Of course that petty bastard would act that way.]
So they really had been talking about Liu Biao.
“While I was in Jing Province, our lord gave me another task…”
Xun You paused for a moment, then looked at Cao Ang and me before nodding.
“Since our lord already has a plan in motion, I suppose there’s no harm in telling you.”
“What is it?”
“While I was in Jing Province, our lord sent an additional letter. He ordered me to investigate the merchant guilds operating throughout Jing Province and Huainan.”
“Merchant guilds?”
“Lady Wei Hong—the owner of this very courtesan house and one of the greatest merchants in the Central Plains—provided considerable assistance. Merchants maintain an incredibly swift information network that stretches across the entire realm.”
Now I understood why Xun You had taken a woman here as a concubine and why he was dining at one of Wei Hong’s establishments.
“And the reason for investigating the merchant guilds was…?”
“Well now, what do you think, Young Master Zixiao?”
When Xun You posed the question first, Cao Ang answered carefully, drawing from what he already knew.
“If large sums of money are moving through the merchant guilds, it usually means they’re preparing for either massive construction projects or war, doesn’t it?”
“You’re almost exactly right.”
This seemed like the moment I should speak up.
I already knew the answer. But saying it out loud would put quite a few people in an awkward position.
“Young Master Wenlie, it looks like you have something on your mind. Feel free to speak without reservation.”
“If I say this… it might cause problems. It could just be me grasping at clouds…”
“Haha, that’s exactly when a story becomes interesting. Go on, speak.”
“Could it be that my uncle… after rescuing his family, also sought to track down the whereabouts of the wealth that was stolen from them in Xu Province?”
“What…? You mean to say that Tao Qian’s collusion with the bandits wasn’t the whole story?”
Cao Ang’s eyes widened in shock. At the same time, Xun You’s gaze grew even sharper.
Could it really be true?
That the ones who had targeted the Cao Song clan’s fortune were Yuan Shu and Tao Qian working together behind the scenes?
If that were the case, then Yuan Shu had seized that wealth to fund his military. The man who called himself the head of the prestigious Yuan clan—descended from the Three Excellencies—would instead be revealed as nothing more than a petty scoundrel who grew his power through theft and plunder.
His reputation across the land would collapse completely.
“Don’t tell me Yuan Shu…”
“Nothing has been confirmed in detail yet. Moreover, since the timing of major merchants’ activities differs by region, we lack sufficient evidence to make hasty judgments about sudden capital flows. If we’re not careful, the entire realm’s political situation could devolve into nothing but a noisy brawl over stolen treasure.”
Even as Xun You spoke those words, the corners of his mouth were slightly upturned. It seemed he was telling us to keep this in mind for now, but nothing more.
“This is… truly an astonishing story.”
“If it has broadened Young Master Zixiao’s perspective, then that is enough.”
“Professor Gongda, I have another question. Earlier you said I only understood ‘half’ of the situation regarding Yuan Shu, Tao Qian, and the alliance between Gongsun Zan and Zhang Yan in the north. Does that mean they haven’t actually formed a solid alliance?”
“Correct. Allow me to explain that as well.”
I was truly glad I had chosen to meet Xun You today.
When Xun You lifted his empty cup, I immediately picked up the bottle and filled it to the brim. He drank it down in one go and continued his explanation.
“Now then, an ‘alliance’ is not like becoming sworn brothers by mixing blood in wine cups. Depending on the situation, it can be loose or tight. Have you ever heard the saying ‘sharing a boat in the fifth month’?”
“Even mortal enemies can ride in the same boat… If their interests align, they can become temporary allies?”
“Exactly. Gongsun Zan, Zhang Yan, Tao Qian, and Yuan Shu are precisely in that kind of situation.”
Suddenly, Xun You pushed an empty bowl toward us and began picking up side dishes one by one with his chopsticks.
“This chicken leg represents Zhang Yan in the north. He originally came from the White Wave Bandits but received a pardon and became a proper government official. However, he was thoroughly defeated by Yuan Shao and Lu Bu. Naturally, he harbors a deep grudge against Yuan Shao, yes?”
“Mmm.”
“This chicken wing represents Gongsun Zan. He also stands in opposition to Yuan Shao of Hebei, but he constantly tries to expand southward into the regions below Hebei through You and Qing Provinces. His ambition is to spread his influence across the entire realm.”
Indeed, both of them were currently bottled up in the north by Yuan Shao.
“So while Zhang Yan, who is far away in Bing Province, may not be directly involved, Gongsun Zan saw the rescue of Xu Province as an opportunity to strengthen his own power. Of course, they aren’t true blood brothers, so he only fought just enough to gain both justification and gratitude.”
Hearing it explained this way, Gongsun Zan’s personal descent into the region finally made sense. If it had truly been a matter of ‘great filial duty,’ then Gongsun Zan and everyone else would have come rushing down without hesitation.
“The same goes for Tao Qian of Xu Province. Not only did he dare to attack our lord’s family within his own territory, he was already someone who opposed both our lord and Yuan Shao’s faction. He gladly accepted help from Yuan Shu and Gongsun Zan under the logic of ‘sharing a boat in the fifth month.’”
“Then what about Yuan Shu…?”
“That man outwardly claims to be the head of the prestigious Yuan family, yet he stands against his half-brother Yuan Shao. He views our lord of Yan Province, Yuan Shao of Ji Province, and Liu Biao of Jing Province all as thorns in his side.”
In the end, the three of them had moved together against their common enemies—Yuan Shao and Cao Cao.
“They are people who act solely according to their own interests. If any one of those three factions were to collapse, the remaining two would use their previous cooperation in Xu Province as an excuse to swallow up that fallen power.”
“So if Tao Qian dies, Yuan Shu and Gongsun Zan will move in. If Gongsun Zan dies, Yuan Shu and Tao Qian will move in. And if Yuan Shu dies, Tao Qian and Gongsun Zan will quietly step forward to seize his territory and wealth?”
“Correct.”
Listening to this, it was similar to Xi Zhicai’s assessment, yet also quite different.
After hearing all this, I made a firm resolution to meet more people and broaden my knowledge as much as possible. Beside me, Cao Ang’s eyes were sparkling; he clearly wanted to hear even more.
“This concludes our discussion of the current state of affairs. From here on, both of you young masters will have a great deal to do in this situation.”
“It certainly… seems that way.”
Cao Ang had originally only wanted to follow his father Cao Cao into battle out of youthful zeal. But after listening to Xun You paint this enormous picture, he now felt ashamed of how little he actually understood and how recklessly he had tried to step forward.
“Young Master Zixiao. What do you plan to do going forward?”
“I wish to continue meeting people like you, Professor, and broaden my perspective.”
“That is also an excellent choice. And what about you, Young Master Wenlie?”
“I want to focus more on studying military command and martial arts.”
“Hmm?”
“After hearing about the current situation, one thing is clear—my uncle is preparing to conquer Xu Province next year. To prepare for that, I too must train diligently and become a proper general by then.”
“Hoho, so in the middle of all this grand strategy, you wish to become a single spear on the battlefield?”
At that moment, Cao Ang suddenly turned to look at me.
The evening continued in a very fulfilling manner. Of course, mindful of Lady Ding’s request, we kept everything wholesome. Although I felt a bit regretful about Huayan, we agreed to meet again later. Naturally, Xun You went off to spend the night with the concubine he kept here.
When we returned home before it grew too late, Lady Ding greeted us with a bright smile.
That night, I was feeling the effects of the wine and about to go to sleep when Cao Ang called for me.
“Wenlie, I’m sorry for calling you so late.”
“It’s fine, don’t worry about it. What’s the matter?”
He hadn’t called me to his room, but to the archery range inside the residence. He surely wasn’t suggesting we shoot arrows in pitch darkness. So what important matter did he want to discuss?
“The truth is… I received a tremendous shock today. It was the day I realized I was nothing but an ignorant, spoiled young master who knew absolutely nothing.”
“That’s not true. It’s precisely because my uncle cherishes you that he wants you to study more.”
“But didn’t I just realize how lacking my perspective truly is? Even the hint you gave me earlier turned out to be exactly right.”
“That was something I heard from Professor Xi as well…”
I needed to comfort Cao Ang here. As Cao Cao’s eldest son and clear successor, he was someone my uncle had specifically ordered me to treat as a close friend.
“For now, I also want to learn martial arts and military strategy just like you. Will you help me?”
“Huh…? Me?”
Was he seriously asking me to teach him martial arts?
“Tomorrow I will make a formal request to my father. Will you help me?”
“Ah, you mean you’ll ask my uncle? Of course I’ll help with that.”
At that moment, Cao Ang grabbed my hand tightly.
“Thank you. Truly, thank you. Wenlie, you are the friend I can rely on the most.”
“Haha, well, I’ll just be supporting you from the side…”
“It seems you heard quite a lot from Xun You yesterday. You look much more motivated.”
“Yes, Father.”
Once again, after the meal, Cao Cao drank tea while questioning Cao Ang.
“So, what do you intend to do? If you wish, I can give you a military officer position right here in Yan Province.”
“Father. After discussing it with Wenlie, I want to start from the very beginning. Whether it’s spear technique, archery, horsemanship, or even the command skills expected of a general—I want to learn everything properly.”
“Hmm. So you wish to begin as a military official. And Wenlie will be joining you?”
Since Cao Cao had put it that way, I had to keep my promise and back him up.
“Uncle, after participating in the Xu Province campaign last time, I realized I still have much to learn. I wish to train hard alongside Zixiao so that we may contribute properly to the Xu Province offensive next year.”
“What admirable words. And how exactly do you plan to train?”
At that moment, Cao Ang stepped forward.
“Father, we wish to go to Qiao County and learn from Uncle Zihua.”
“Zihua? You mean Cao Chun?”
Cao Chun was Cao Ren’s younger brother. Come to think of it, he was the only one among the Cao and Xiahou relatives I hadn’t seen yet. According to Cao Ren, he was serving as both the training commander for the cavalry in Qiao County and the county magistrate.
“You once told me, Father, that Uncle Zihua is training a cavalry force in our ancestral home of Qiao County that possesses ‘the might of tigers and leopards.’ You said their name would one day shake the world.”
“The Tiger and Leopard Cavalry… Did I really tell you that, Zixiao? Ah, I must have let the name of that special unit I’m raising slip while drunk again…”
The Tiger and Leopard Cavalry?
In the future, they would become one of the most distinguished cavalry forces that helped Cao Cao conquer the land—one of the elite elite units of the Cao army.
But they were currently being trained in Qiao County by Cao Ren’s younger brother, Cao Chun. Could this mean…?
“Please allow us to begin there! Wenlie and I wish to train under Uncle Zihua!”
W-what?!
Hey, Cao Ang! When you asked for my help, did you mean you were going to drag me along too?
“Mmm. Wenlie. Is this what you want as well?”
“Ah, yes?”
Wait a minute, this is getting complicated…
I had naturally assumed that any training would take place right here in Cao Cao’s residence!
I thought I would learn from Cao Ren, Cao Hong, Xiahou Yuan, or Xiahou Dun—or perhaps even receive personal instruction in martial arts from Cao Cao himself.
Moreover, I had been planning to build relationships with the many generals serving as Cao Cao’s guards. Yet now I was suddenly being sent off to Qiao County for training!
“Wenlie.”
“Y-yes, Uncle!”
“Qiao County is also where your mother resides, is it not?”
“Ah, yes, it is.”
My mother lived there. If I went to Qiao County, I would be able to stay with her and look after her.
“Hmm. To be honest, aside from your grandfather, Cao De and your other uncles have also requested to live in our ancestral Qiao lands rather than in Chenliu. This works out perfectly.”
“Pardon?”
“Zixiao, Wenlie. Take good care of the family and go to Qiao County. I will write a letter to Cao Chun instructing him to train the two of you properly.”
“Thank you, Father!”
Aigoo… So I’m really following Cao Ang off to Qiao County?
But on the other hand, if I think about it differently—the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry that is only just being formed… In the future, I might even have the chance to lead them?
Well, since things had come to this, I decided to go train alongside Cao Ang. This would be what they call training for awakening.
And then, exactly ‘one year later’… I would return having grown tremendously!