The Concept of Fifty to Cao Cao
The next morning, my eyes snapped open at the crack of dawn.
“Mmm~ My lord.”
“I do enjoy your morning clinginess, but I must be on my way.”
The first rooster had just crowed. I needed to rise, return home, don my official robes, and assemble in the main courtyard of Cao Cao’s residence.
I washed hastily with the basin of water prepared in advance, changed into my clothes, and stepped out. Both Huayan and Dayuan bowed deeply in respect.
“My lord, please visit us again next time.”
“You two should come visit the house often as well.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Once properly dressed, I left the courtesan house. A certain young man was waiting right in front of me.
“Hmm?”
“Ah, I told you several times already—you cannot remain here like this.”
Merchants from the Wei Merchant Group were fussing over him. Upon closer inspection, one of them was Jeong Yun.
“Jeong Yun!”
“Ah! Commandant of Cavalry, sir!”
Jeong Yun hurried over, greeted me, and explained about the young man kneeling before the courtesan house.
“He has been like this since earlier. It seems he is desperately waiting for someone, yet he refuses to budge.”
“Is that so? Was there any powerful clan leader or high official staying here besides me?”
“Actually… there wasn’t.”
“Then is he here for me?”
When I glanced over, the young man stared back with a face full of determination.
“Are you of the Cao clan?”
“Mm, that I am.”
The young man, who had apparently been kneeling for a long time, approached and bowed deeply.
“This humble one belongs to the Hongnong Yang clan, which has produced three Excellencies. My given name is Su, courtesy name Deokjo.”
“Yang Su? Deokjo? Yang Deokjo?”
Hearing the name Yang Su brought a mix of fondness and reluctance. After all, it was that Yang Su.
“You are the son of Minister of Works Yang Wen-seon, are you not? But why are you seeking me?”
“May I walk with you?”
“I don’t mind you following, but I must return home, change into my court attire, and attend the morning assembly.”
“Even a short while would suffice.”
Yang Biao’s son, Yang Su, followed me with the look of someone who had seized an opportunity. Yang Su was known as an exceptionally brilliant man. Many Confucian scholars praised the eldest son of Yang Biao for his outstanding eloquence and wisdom.
“If this is about pleading for your father’s life, you’ve come to the wrong person. You saw me come out of the courtesan house, didn’t you? I know nothing.”
“That is precisely why I am making this request.”
“What?”
“In this recent political struggle, you and Assistant to the Grand Tutor Cao Zisu avoided any involvement in the Court of Judicial Review’s interrogations after repelling Yuan Shu’s army and earning merit as Commandant of Cavalry. Are you not the very Cao Ziye who stayed completely apart from the matter?”
Indeed, Yang Su had a sharp mind. He knew that Cao Ang and I had stayed out of this affair and had deliberately sought me out.
“It is only natural that one never allows their most cherished kin to stain their hands with the blood of the court. In that sense, Commandant of Cavalry, you are the closest aide to the Minister of Works.”
“Even so, I cannot save your father. He didn’t even discuss it with me. He simply told me to go out and drink, which is why I spent the night at the courtesan house.”
“Understood. Then please grant me just one favor.”
“A favor?”
“The path you are taking now leads to the Four Gates Courtyard where the Minister of Works resides. Everyone gathers there before proceeding to court together, correct? I will wait at the entrance. Please mention me just once.”
“What?”
“I beg you. Please do only that much. This is but a small token…”
An inkstone carved from the finest jade.
A family treasure, yet offered without hesitation to save a father.
Yang Su presented me with an inkstone exquisitely carved from jade. Just like when Chen Gong had done the same, it was clearly the custom among noble clans of this era to present writing tools as gifts.
“It is one of our family’s treasures, but if it can save my father, I would bring even greater things.”
“You really… Very well. I’ll give it a try.”
“Thank you.”
Before long we arrived at the residence. While the servants bustled about, I headed to the detached quarters as if nothing had happened. My wife, Cai Yan, whose health was still poor, clutched her lower abdomen as she barely managed to greet me.
“Husband, what is that?”
“Ah, this inkstone?”
“It appears to be an exceptionally rare piece. There cannot be many artisans in the entire realm capable of carving an inkstone so beautifully…”
“It is a gift for my wife.”
“Truly?”
“Hahaha, treasure it well.”
True to her love of writing, Cai Yan’s face brightened into a radiant smile as she accepted the inkstone and promised to cherish it dearly.
With that settled, I entered the main hall. Everyone had gathered for a meal, after which we changed into our official robes and prepared to enter the palace.
When the main gate opened, Yang Su was quietly kneeling there.
“Who is this fellow, daring to block the Minister of Works’ path?”
“Minister of Works! Please spare my father! I beg you, spare him!”
Yang Su prostrated himself fully, weeping bitterly as he pleaded. Cao Cao frowned and gestured for the servants to remove him.
“Help us! Minister of Works! Please save my father!”
“And who might this fellow be?”
Cao Cao sighed and tapped me lightly with his fan.
“Ziye, who is that boy?”
“!?”
“From what the servant said earlier, the lad followed you all the way here when you returned at dawn.”
So he already knew… Then I had no choice but to explain everything.
“Uncle, that is Yang Deokjo, son of Minister of Works Yang Wen-seon.”
“Deokjo? Deokjo, you say… How do you know him?”
At that moment, Xun Yu stepped forward.
“My lord, the Hongnong Yang clan of the Minister of Works is a prestigious family whose patriarch, Yang Si-gong, once held the position of Grand Commandant. Yang Deokjo is also renowned in the capital for his exceptional wisdom. A scholar of such fame would not have escaped the notice of the Commandant of Cavalry after his recent military achievements.”
“Is that so?”
Cao Cao accepted Xun Yu’s explanation without further question.
“That fellow… I cannot speak to his wisdom, but he certainly possesses filial piety.”
Wasn’t kneeling in advance, knowing the entire Cao household would emerge together, already quite clever?
At court, the morning assembly was unusually empty. Many civil and military officials had been detained at the Court of Judicial Review due to Cao Cao’s interrogations. In that heavy atmosphere, Cao Cao calmly performed his duties as Minister of Works. He reported on public works in the capital, the budget for Luoyang’s reconstruction, and the construction of fortifications and fortresses in the surrounding regions.
Even the young emperor dared not ask, “Why are so many seats vacant?” The court proceeded entirely under Cao Cao’s dominance, and the mood was oppressively solemn.
After the imperial audience ended, Xun Yu once again addressed Cao Cao.
“My lord, while other positions may be overlooked, the Minister of Works is essential for managing internal affairs across the various ministries. Would it not be wise to temporarily release at least Minister Yang?”
“He is the ringleader. Why should I?”
“My lord, nearly fifty officials have already been detained at the Court of Judicial Review.”
Xun Yu spoke softly, implying that it was time to stop. Cao Cao, however, stroked his beard while looking elsewhere.
“Fifty, you say… Hmm, that’s right. Wei Hong was supposed to bring fifty bolts of Shu brocade from Ba Shu this time. I had something important in mind, so I asked for only the very best.”
“My lord…”
“Hahaha, do not worry. Do you really think I would execute all fifty of them? Once Man Chong’s investigation yields results and nothing comes of it, I will begin releasing them gradually.”
Cao Cao dismissed the matter as if it were of no concern. In truth, he intended to completely annihilate the faction that had opposed him this time.
Having accomplished nothing more, I returned home.
“Ziye! No, Xiu!”
“!?”
Lady Ding suddenly rushed over and grabbed my hand. I wondered what had come over her, but her face was completely relaxed, barely containing her laughter.
“Aunt, what is the matter?”
“This is all thanks to you. Finally, Zisu… No, let us speak inside.”
She was so excited that she called me by my given name instead of my courtesy name, grabbing my hand and urging me to come in at once.
“Xiu, it seems you have finally resolved the matter?”
“Ah, does this mean Zisu has finally… with my sister-in-law…”
“Yes. I do not know how much I had to persuade him. But it appears you and your wife have finally made it possible. He says they will hold the wedding as soon as he returns from handling the Luoyang affairs.”
“That is wonderful. Truly wonderful.”
“It is all thanks to you. Now then, let me think. What gift should I give… You there!”
The door opened quietly, and Lady Bian entered and bowed politely.
“Tell me, what is the most precious item currently in the storehouse?”
“The Minister of Works’ storehouse? This morning, the Wei Merchant Group delivered fifty bolts of Shu brocade.”
“Oh~ Brocade from Shu is perfect for ceremonial robes. Bring out all of it at once. Give twenty bolts to this child, and I shall use the remaining thirty for my daughter-in-law and son.”
“Understood.”
She truly had a generous hand. Fifty bolts of brocade… No, that was exactly it!
“Aunt! The brocade…”
“Why? Do you dislike brocade? Shall I give you gold instead?”
“No, it is not that. I heard from Uncle this morning that the Wei Merchant Group’s brocade was specially prepared as top-grade material because he had important plans for it.”
Yet Lady Ding remained resolute.
“Is that so? Then we must use it even more. What kind of father would begrudge top-grade material when his eldest son is getting married?”
“Still… the ones you are giving me…”
“You are no different from my own son. You are the second son.”
My actual age was one year older than Cao Ang, yet here was Lady Bian, mother of the true second son, saying such things.
In the end, I received twenty bolts of the precious Shu brocade that Cao Cao had specially prepared. Lady Ding took the remaining thirty bolts and summoned the most renowned tailors in the capital to create garments. Thirty bolts would yield an enormous number of clothes.
That night.
Cao Cao had a servant open the storehouse. When he saw that the brocade was gone, he asked,
“Steward, did fifty bolts of Shu brocade from Wei Hong’s caravan not arrive today?”
“They did arrive, my lord.”
“Then why can I not see them?”
“Well… the mistress has used them all.”
“What? Where could she possibly use so much? Is she hosting some grand banquet?”
“She said the eldest young master in Luoyang is soon to be married. She used thirty bolts to make ceremonial robes for the young master and his bride, and gave twenty bolts as a gift to young master Ziye and his wife, who arranged the match.”
At that moment, having lost all fifty bolts of brocade before his eyes, Cao Cao stared at the empty storehouse with a hollow expression and cried out.
“Aigoo!”
Just then, a messenger came running from elsewhere.
“My lord, a letter from the Court of Judicial Review.”
“Bring it here.”
Man Chong of the Court of Judicial Review reports:
After intense interrogation, Minister of Works Yang Biao appears to be truly innocent of any connection to Yuan Shu’s faction.
“…Aigoo!”
Cao Cao muttered the same hollow cry for the second time.
“You, the messenger from the Court of Judicial Review?”
“Yes, Minister of Works.”
“Go and tell Man Chong to release all fifty men.”
Since Man Chong had reported as much, Cao Cao ordered the release of all fifty high officials, including Yang Biao. Once the messenger left, he looked at the empty storehouse and muttered regretfully.
“What a waste. I had specially prepared that as a gift for Lady Bian’s birthday next month…”
“I-I am sorry, my lord. Had I known, I would have reported it in advance.”
“Enough. Close the storehouse and be gone.”
The steward hurriedly locked the storehouse, returned the key, and withdrew.
“Tsk!”
And so, Cao Cao’s effort to restore discipline among the officials in the capital ended with a single display of power.