A Night of Hidden Schemes
I stepped out feeling refreshed.
After today, a proud rumor would surely spread across Hebei: “Cao Cao’s nephew, Cao Xiu, silenced countless renowned scholars with nothing but his silver tongue.”
And on this fertile soil of Ye, I would finally be able to stretch both legs and sleep soundly.
“Commandant of Cavalry!”
“Hm?”
Not long after my verbal sparring with Yuan Shao’s retainers, a large, imposing man approached me.
He wore official robes, but the way his powerful muscles strained beneath the fabric made it clear he was a military officer.
“You are the honorable Commandant of Cavalry, Cao Ziyeol, correct?”
“That is me. And you are…?”
He raised both hands in a formal salute once he confirmed my identity.
“Allow me to greet you properly. I am Zhou Ling, currently serving as the Commandant of Ji Province. My courtesy name is Wenbo.”
When Zhou Ling bowed, I returned the gesture in kind.
“I have been tasked with attending to the Commandant of Cavalry who carries His Majesty’s imperial decree.”
“Ah, I see.”
Yuan Shao must have been seething inside, but even he could not disrespect an imperial edict. That was why he had ordered Zhou Ling to treat me with the utmost courtesy reserved for an imperial envoy.
“Come, follow me. Tonight, I shall treat you to rare delicacies and fine wine made from Hebei’s local specialties.”
“That, I will not refuse.”
After all that talking, it was only natural that I was starving.
That evening, I ate like a king.
The vast territory of Hebei produced abundant wheat and barley, so grain-based dishes were plentiful. There were barley cakes and all sorts of wheat flour delicacies, and they had slaughtered a large pig, roasting, steaming, and stir-frying every part of it. It was a feast in the truest sense.
“Does the food suit your palate?”
“Good heavens, it’s absolutely delicious.”
While we enjoyed the meal and wine, musicians played beyond a thin door in the next room. It truly felt like paradise.
“I heard about the debate earlier. You are truly a remarkable gentleman, possessing both exceptional eloquence and profound insight.”
“You flatter me.”
“Not at all. That Guo Gongze is known for his smooth tongue, yet you left him utterly speechless. Hahaha.”
Zhou Ling lavished praise on me while subtly mocking Yuan Shao’s advisors.
“However, the talents of Ji Province are not limited to those you met today.”
“What? You mean all those civil and military officials weren’t the full picture?”
“Many did not participate in today’s debate. The Inspector of Ji has assigned them various duties outside the city of Ye.”
Oh ho. So the people who showed up today weren’t Yuan Shao’s true first-string team? Interesting. That meant Yuan Shao could still save face later by claiming as much.
“In particular, the four closest aides to the Inspector of Ji—General of the Right Yan ‘Fengji,’ Inspector Shen Pei, Additional Officer Ju Shou, and Shangshu Chen Lin—are widely regarded as the most insightful and silver-tongued men in all of Hebei.”
Now those names truly sounded like Yuan Shao’s first team. Especially Chen Lin. In history, he was the scholar and orator who had infuriated Cao Cao with a single document. I genuinely wanted to meet him at least once.
“Then the spectacle earlier must have been rather dull. They only brought out numbers and left the real talents on the sidelines…”
Of course, Yuan Shao’s strategist Tian Feng, Xun Yu’s older brother Xun Shen, and direct advisor Guo Tu had been present, so it wasn’t purely about padding numbers. Still, it felt somewhat anticlimactic.
“Well, if I get the chance to have a proper conversation with those four later, that would be enough.”
“Hahaha. I had heard that the Commandant of Cavalry is a warrior with deep connections among the heroes of the realm, but after seeing you today, it seems your reputation as an eloquent speaker will spread just as widely.”
Zhou Ling continued to butter me up while repeatedly filling my cup to the brim. He treated me so well that I finally understood the saying “treating someone like an imperial envoy.” Thanks to him, I felt like I could sleep comfortably tonight. Then, he casually asked,
“Since you enjoy both wine and food, would you perhaps require the company of women as well?”
“No, I am a married man…”
“Hohoho, what does that matter? It is only natural for a hero of the world to keep multiple women!”
Zhou Ling offered to provide me with several courtesans along with the food and drink, but I waved my hand in refusal.
“I attended a funeral just yesterday, so I cannot indulge in such matters.”
“Ah… a funeral? Could it be that you refer to the passing of the second son of the honorable Jian family, the magistrate of Shangcai County…?”
If even Zhou Ling had heard about it, then news of the Jian clan of Hebei must have already spread throughout Ye.
“It is truly a tragic affair. The Jian family is one of the most prominent clans in Ji Province, yet for some reason, their children keep dying from illness.”
“That is why I felt pity for the women in mourning and offered what little wealth I had as a condolence gift.”
At that, Zhou Ling began to explain in greater detail about the Zhongshan Jian clan, a powerful family of Ji Province.
“Originally, Lord Jian Yi had three sons and five daughters. However, after he passed from old age, his eldest son Jian Yu died of a high fever. Two of his daughters, Jian Dao and Jian Ling, also perished from severe dysentery during a famine and plague amid the chaos of war. And now, even his second son Jian Yan—who had been recommended for office as Filial and Incorrupt—collapsed from overwork, lay unconscious for five days, and passed away.”
At that point, it almost sounded like their family was cursed. Fortunately, the third son Jian Wu remained, so the family line would not be severed. Still, it was a heartbreaking family history.
“Among the three remaining daughters, the third one, Lady Jian, is still young, yet her beauty is exceptionally striking.”
When Jian Fu’s name came up, I smiled and said,
“She told me she would never forget my name or courtesy name.”
“Oh? That is quite an interesting story. So the ‘Unbloomed Magnolia of Hebei’ has taken a liking to Ziyeol.”
The fact that Zhou Ling showed such interest proved just how renowned the Jian clan truly was.
“Anyway, while stories of women are pleasant, shall we speak of state affairs for a moment?”
“Suddenly? What would you like to discuss?”
“About your uncle, the Grand General, Lord Cao Mengde.”
“!”
Zhou Ling smiled at me and drew his thumb across his own throat in a meaningful gesture.
“This Zhou Ling currently serves under the Inspector of Ji and General of the Right, but I have a connection with the Grand General. And I have always wished to ride across the battlefields beneath his banner.”
He had openly declared, “Although I serve Yuan Shao now, in truth, I wish to serve Cao Cao.”
Ah, so that was the kind of man Zhou Ling was. Even without knowing the full story, I recalled that in history, he had risen to become one of Yuan Shao’s generals, only to abandon everything and seek out Cao Cao, begging to be used.
This was quite an amusing situation.
It seemed Zhou Ling’s lavish treatment of me had this purpose in mind all along. Otherwise, there would be no reason for a military man—who clearly belonged in armor patrolling outside the city rather than official robes—to treat me with such courtesy and make such a request.
Meanwhile, after Cao Xiu left, Yuan Shao claimed to be unwell and withdrew from the government office. He had been holed up in his private residence ever since, refusing to meet anyone.
Except for one scholar who arrived late at night in Ye and urgently sought out his lord.
Yuan Shao recounted everything that had happened that day without omitting a single detail. As the scholar listened, his eyes repeatedly widened and narrowed. Eventually, he even wore an expression of utter contempt as he thought about the men who had been present.
“The so-called talents I accepted into my service… I never imagined they would be so thoroughly humiliated. The renowned scholars of Yuan Shao’s court had their asses bitten by a Cao family puppy who had only been alive for a single day.”
Normally, Yuan Shao was a refined gentleman who only spoke with the dignified elegance befitting the Yuan clan of the Four Generations and Three Dukes. The fact that he was speaking so crudely now revealed just how furious he was.
“Sigh… I am truly sorry, my lord. If only I had arrived one day earlier, such a thing would never have happened…”
“Yes. Fengji, you should have been there.”
Fengji, courtesy name Yuandao.
Having once served under Grand General He Jin, he was now Yuan Shao’s most senior strategist and one of his most trusted right-hand men.
“The water has already been spilled. I was so dumbfounded that I had to speak with you about it.”
“Mmm…”
Fengji pondered for a moment before quietly kneeling and offering his counsel.
“My lord, though I am lacking, may I present a strategy?”
“Speak.”
“Since things have come to this, you should accept the position of Grand Assistant.”
“Hmm?”
Yuan Shao’s eyebrows twitched at the suggestion that he accept the “hollow, honorary post” of Grand Assistant.
“You want me to listen to that bastard Cao Aman ordering me around after he becomes Grand General?”
“You can operate the armies of the Grand Assistant and the Grand General separately.”
At those words, Yuan Shao’s expression changed. He gestured for Fengji to continue.
“Inspector of Yan Province Cao Cao must have sent this decree expecting you to refuse the position of Grand Assistant. If you accept it, they will be thrown into even greater confusion.”
It was an obvious ploy, but the suggestion to simply charge forward anyway made Yuan Shao nod.
“Of course, after accepting the position of Grand Assistant, you must immediately submit a memorial.”
“What should the content be?”
“A loyal memorial expressing concern over a powerful minister who, while commanding the Huben Army, acts arbitrarily while keeping the Emperor at his side. And another memorial explaining the situation in Hebei—that while you are pacifying internal and external threats, it will take time before you can enter the court as Grand Assistant.”
Yuan Shao nodded as he listened. Fengji smiled faintly and continued speaking of the next move.
“Then, just as that ‘Ziyeol’ boy suggested, you will write a memorial declaring your intention to pacify the White Wave Bandits, the Black Mountain Bandits, the traitor Gongsun Zan who calls himself Inspector of You Province, and the Xiongnu beyond the border.”
“Exactly! That way, even after becoming Grand Assistant, there will be no problem commanding the armies of Hebei.”
“No matter how much of a Grand General Cao Cao may be, he will not be able to recklessly move Hebei’s troops under the Emperor’s name while such rebels remain active.”
“Excellent. As expected, I need you by my side, Fengji.”
“Thank you, my lord.”
“However, there is one thing that still bothers me. Cao Cao… that bastard Aman. How should I respond when he sits in Luoyang with the Emperor and snaps his fingers to give me orders?”
“My lord, the position of Grand Assistant is nominally superior to Grand General in terms of ceremonial precedence.”
Yuan Shao’s face clearly said, ‘Who doesn’t know that?’ But Fengji’s next words were what truly mattered.
“Issue an order in your capacity as Grand Assistant for Grand General Cao Cao’s family to reside in Ye. For the sake of friendly relations between the Grand Assistant and the Grand General, you will personally provide the mansion and land for his family to stay in. Naturally, that ‘Ziyeol’ can be included as well.”
“You want to hold Aman’s family hostage in Ye? No, how could that bastard possibly accept such a thing?”
“We can make him accept it.”
Without hesitation, Fengji laid out the full method before Yuan Shao.
“There is an imperial decree demanding ten thousand taels of gold and two hundred thousand bushels of military rations as taxes for the restoration of the capital, is there not? My lord, send twice that amount.”
“Fengji, you madman! Twenty thousand taels of gold and four hundred thousand bushels of grain…”
“Offer that as tax, then submit the memorial about pacifying Hebei. The entire region of Hebei will become your land, my lord.”
“…!”
Using the authority of Grand Assistant to order the Grand General’s family to come to Ye, announcing the pacification of Hebei, and retaining full military authority over Ji Province.
In exchange, paying double the amount the Emperor had demanded would shake the entire Central Plains. Everyone at court—except those aligned with the Cao faction—would urge acceptance.
“Once Ji, Bing, You, and Qing Provinces all become your land, my lord, their value will far exceed twenty thousand taels of gold. They will be worth two hundred thousand, even two million.”
Yuan Shao slapped his knee the moment he heard those words.
“We must prepare the memorial at once. I will do exactly as you say.”
“It is my honor that you have accepted the humble suggestion of an insignificant scholar, my lord.”
That night, for the first time since the debate at the government office, Yuan Shao was able to laugh heartily.