The Thousand-Li Horse
In the year 194 AD.
It was the year when the emperor residing in Chang'an would soon change the era name from Chuping 5 to the first year of Xingping.
Even in the biting cold of the new year, training did not cease.
“Hiyah!”
I seized the reins and shattered the flag planted ahead with my spear. The banner soared away in a clean arc as other cavalrymen thundered toward it from the distance.
I thrust my spear high into the air and shouted.
“Cao Xiu claims the commander’s flag first!”
Another victory for me. The cavalry who arrived late reined in their horses, breathing hard, and shook their heads at the fallen banner.
“Magnificent, Young Master. You’ve taken the lead again?”
“Your horsemanship has improved beyond measure. Within the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, no one can match you on horseback.”
“Haha—your praise is too generous.”
“Too generous? Nonsense, Munyeol. You’re being far too modest.”
From among the late-arriving Tiger and Leopard officers came Cao Ang. He was the one who had brought me to Qiao County and subjected me to Cao Chun’s hellish training with the elite cavalry.
Yet thanks to him, I had grown steadily despite the weight of being Cao Cao’s adopted son, and the two of us had become close.
“Zisu, your skill is more than enough to command a cavalry unit.”
“You keep beating me every time, though?”
“Come on, you’ve won once or twice when I went all out.”
In truth, even those victories had come when I deliberately held back. Still, the new year had begun with a cavalry drill, and I had taken first place once again.
Cao Ang and the Tiger and Leopard officers returned to camp in high spirits, carrying the captured banner.
When we entered the military compound, countless soldiers were already training inside. They practiced mounted archery, leaping obstacles at full gallop, smashing shields into training dummies, and more.
The Tiger and Leopard Cavalry—Yan Province’s finest—underwent an astonishing variety of drills that forged them into an overwhelmingly powerful force.
These elite troops were being sent to Chenliu, while the existing cavalry under Cao Cao’s command rotated in to complete their own training. Gradually, every elite horseman in Cao Cao’s army was being reforged as part of the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry.
I, too, had grown tremendously by training alongside Cao Ang and the Hobiao soldiers. At first I could barely keep up, but after grueling effort my horsemanship had reached a level where no officer in the unit could surpass me. I could win flag contests like the one earlier or perform tricks such as shooting arrows while racing down steep slopes.
No status window. No stat points. I had mastered it all with my own body.
In simple terms, it felt as if I had learned everything myself and gained an enormous amount of experience.
“Lord Magistrate, we have returned.”
“Good, you’re back.”
Cao Chun, the magistrate of Qiao County and my uncle, had a lean build that made him look more like a scholar than a warrior despite his role as cavalry commander. Yet appearances were deceiving—this was a man of iron who never halted training even in winter and possessed unmatched talent for raising troops.
The soldiers he trained were then sent to fight in Chenliu of Yan Province. Cao Chun specialized in two of the army’s most vital tasks: conscription and troop training.
Cao Chun recruited them, and Cao Ren led them into battle. It was easy to see why the two brothers formed the core of Cao Cao’s power.
“Zisu, Munyeol.”
“Yes, Lord Magistrate.”
“Return home at once, change into fresh clothes, and prepare yourselves.”
“Right now?”
“It is the new year, after all. The great elder of our house is on his way here.”
“If Great-Uncle Cao Song is coming, we must prepare quickly.”
“Indeed. Off with you, then.”
Cao Chun relayed the order to his officers as well.
“Training today will end at sunset. You have all worked hard in this cold—hot stew and all the meat you can eat will be provided.”
“Yes, Lord Magistrate!”
“A day like this should be celebrated. Prepare to conclude the drills.”
At last, the new year’s festive mood had arrived.
“Mother, over here.”
“Yes, we must greet the great elder of the family.”
I escorted my mother from home to the county office in Qiao County. She had welcomed me warmly from the moment I first arrived, feeding me enormous home-cooked meals every day until my stomach felt ready to burst.
She had cared for me my entire life since I was born into this body, so I served her with genuine devotion.
“Ah, Young Master Munyeol. You’ve arrived. Please come inside. The great elder is already here.”
“What? He’s already arrived?”
When I entered with my mother, an astonishing scene greeted us.
“Whoa, what is all this?”
The drill ground beside the county office had been turned into an impromptu slaughterhouse.
Squeee— Squeeeeeaaal—
Thwack!
“Ugh—”
Right before my eyes, a burly man swung an axe and severed the neck of a pig whose legs were bound. Butchers with carving knives immediately rushed in, draining the blood and dismembering the still-twitching carcass.
“They’ve turned the training ground into a butcher’s yard.”
“Munyeol!”
At that moment Cao Ang came running, dressed in fine silk robes.
“Ah, Aunt is here as well?”
“Young Master Zisu, those clothes suit you perfectly today. You look quite dignified.”
While staying in Qiao County, my mother had always prepared hearty meals whenever I brought Cao Ang home and gladly mended our torn training clothes. In return, Cao Ang addressed her respectfully as “Aunt” and treated her with impeccable courtesy.
“Zisu, have you seen this? What on earth is going on?”
“I only just arrived myself. Grandfather brought a hundred pigs all the way from Chenliu and ordered them all slaughtered.”
“A hundred pigs…? Good heavens.”
“He also brought three thousand bushels of grain. He instructed that not only the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry stationed here but every resident of Qiao County should receive generous portions. If it’s not enough, we are to buy and slaughter every pig in the area.”
In this era, pigs were rather small; one might feed two hundred people at most. Even so, a hundred of them represented an enormous amount of meat.
“Hoo, this is no time to stand around. The great elder has arrived—we should greet him at once.”
“Ah, yes. Let’s go.”
I went inside the county office and paid my respects to Lord Cao Song for the first time in a while.
“Great-Uncle, I have come.”
“Ohhh, Munyeol! You’ve grown even more manly since I last saw you.”
“I’m glad to see you looking healthy.”
Cao Song smiled warmly and gave instructions to Cao Chun.
“Chun, make sure the soldiers eat their fill of meat today.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
Thus the new year’s banquet was held with great splendor.
My mother sat with the women of the Cao clan while I joined Cao Ang at the feast.
“Zide, are you managing well in your hometown?”
“Yes, Father. I am doing very well.”
“You rascal. Leaving your father and Aman behind to live comfortably on your own?”
“How could that be? How is Elder Brother Mengde faring?”
“Aman is always busy. Ah, your son is currently serving as his bodyguard.”
“I wonder if that young fellow can handle it.”
If it was Cao De’s son, then it must be Cao Anmin… So after sending me away, Cao Cao had chosen Cao Anmin as his guard. I now understood that Cao Cao was deliberately taking his young nephews along to give them experience.
Well, once I returned, I would once again hold an important position at Cao Cao’s side.
“Chun, how are my grandsons doing?”
“Both Zisu and Munyeol possess remarkable martial talent. Zisu is prudent, while Munyeol is courageous.”
“Oh ho ho, aren’t you praising them too highly simply because they are family?”
“Not at all. Both boys have exceptional qualities. They will become valiant generals who will shake the Central Plains.”
“Ho, to hear such words from Zihua, who is usually so sparing with praise?”
Cao Ang spoke up first.
“Grandfather, I am still learning, but Munyeol’s horsemanship is truly outstanding.”
“Is that so?”
Why are you only talking about me? It’s embarrassing.
“All the soldiers here are elite cavalry of Yan Province, yet none can match Munyeol’s riding skill. Today during training, in the contest where the first to seize the flag wins, Munyeol took victory alone.”
“Oh ho ho ho! A thousand-li horse! A thousand-li horse is growing in our family!”
Huh? Cao Song said it before Cao Cao did…?
Cao Xiu, Munyeol.
The评价 that would later be recorded in history as Cao Cao calling me “our family’s thousand-li horse” had been spoken first by Cao Cao’s own father. Of course, once Cao Cao heard the story he would probably confirm it himself. Still, I would need to accomplish even greater feats to earn it fully.
“Yes, today is the auspicious first day of the new year. I must have my grandsons pour me a cup of wine.”
Both Cao Ang and I rose to our feet.
The banquet continued in a lively atmosphere filled with endless laughter. It was a night steeped in the spirit of the new year. I stepped outside for a moment to feel the night breeze.
“Munyeol, have you had too much to drink?”
“No. I just wanted some fresh air.”
That was when it happened.
“Are these the two heroes who will become the pillars of the Cao clan in Qiao County?”
“Hm?”
“Ah.”
A refined woman’s voice drifted from the darkness. When I turned, an unexpected figure stood there.
“Ah, Madam, you are…?”
“Chief Wei. What brings you all the way here?”
The woman who had called out to us was none other than Wei Hong. The very person who ran the merchant coalition and pleasure houses across Yan Province had come all this way?
She bowed gracefully, then offered a gentle smile.
“The Inspector of Yan Province ordered our caravan to escort the meat and grain being sent to Qiao County. We were also tasked with safely escorting the Grand Assistant here alongside the soldiers of Yan Province.”
For Cao Cao himself to entrust the protection of his father to the warriors of Wei Hong’s merchant group showed just how capable she was—and how deeply he trusted her.
“Young Master Zisu, your mother has sent a letter along with gifts.”
“From Mother?”
“Here it is.”
Rather than bamboo slips, Lady Ding had sent her letter to her son on fine colored paper, neatly placed inside an envelope. Cao Ang accepted it with a moved expression and excused himself to read it in private.
Wei Hong then turned to me with a smile.
“The lady has also sent gifts for Young Master Munyeol. I will have them delivered safely to your residence.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you.”
“Of course, I have many gifts prepared especially for you as well.”
“Gifts for me specifically…”
“Information flowing out of Yan Province, the current political situation regarding the other factions, and… are you not curious about that child you left behind in Yan Province?”
“!”
Surely she hadn’t brought one of the courtesans from the pleasure house all the way here?
I asked, half in doubt.
“It seems Yeon has come as well.”
Wei Hong’s smile deepened.