The Somewhat Noisy Night

After somehow surviving that crisis, the feeling that washed over me right after relief ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was pure rage.

I had just managed to smooth everything over nicely, yet because of one single idiot we had nearly recreated the exact disaster from the original history.

“Where the hell is Cao Anmin?”

The bastard needed a beating.

I had sent him on his first campaign to earn military merit, and instead of bringing back an enemy commander’s head he had tried to curry favor by offering up a woman?

I wasn’t the type to hit people, but this fool was going to be an exception.

While I was searching, I spotted him outside the government office with Cao Ang, who was taking in some night air.

“Hey, Anmin!”

“!?”

I sprinted over and slammed my foot into his shin.

Thwack—

“Agh!”

“Ziyeol, what are you doing?”

Cao Ang grabbed my arm in alarm, trying to pull me back, but I drove another kick into the same spot.

Thwack—

“Urk!”

“Ziyeol!”

“Zisu, let go for a second. I need to teach this bastard a lesson tonight.”

“Why… why are you acting like this, brother?”

“Why? You really don’t understand what was wrong with all that nonsense you were spouting at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the drinking party earlier?”

“Wasn’t I simply talking about a beautiful woman at the victory banquet? Even our great-uncle seemed satisfied.”

“Ah, I see. You genuinely don’t get it. Take a few more hits first—then we’ll talk.”

I shook off Cao Ang’s grip and raised my hand again. That was when a thunderous voice rang out from behind us.

“What the hell do you boys think you’re doing!”

It was Xiahou Yuan, my uncle, striding toward us with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a furious shout.

“Uncle Xiahou!”

“Since when do men of the same clan grab each other by the collar and trade blows? I don’t care if you were drunk—there are limits!”

“Uncle, this isn’t a drunken brawl. It’s because of what Cao Anmin pulled earlier.”

“Enough, Ziyeol. Lower that hand first and speak like a civilized person.”

Xiahou Yuan calmly rebuked the three of us—Cao Ang, Cao Anmin, and me—then led us away. He brought us to a quiet pavilion in Wancheng and had us sit comfortably before continuing the conversation.

“All right, Ziyeol. You speak first.”

“Anmin here tried to tempt our great-uncle into claiming the family of a surrendered enemy commander. Even though we repelled four-tenths of their army, those who had already submitted were right there at the banquet.”

“N-no, I was only…”

“Silence.”

Xiahou Yuan raised a hand, cutting Cao Anmin off, then turned to him with a stern gaze.

“I heard you’ve been bragging all evening about a peerless beauty in Wancheng. So she was the family of an enemy general?”

“She is the widow of the late Zhang Ji… and the aunt of Governor Zhang Xiu of Wancheng.”

“Good heavens! Then you were absolutely in the wrong. If Ziyeol hadn’t stopped you, I would have beaten you myself. The charge would have been ‘disruption of military discipline’ in occupied territory.”

Xiahou Yuan laid out the faults one by one, his voice never rising.

“It is not forbidden to take women from a conquered enemy camp. Accepting a woman offered in submission can also be tolerated. However, you openly urged Mengde to do so.”

“Uncle…”

“If the entire Zhang family had died in battle, or if Zhang Xiu had willingly offered his aunt, or if the woman herself had come forward seeking to serve—then perhaps! But none of those things happened!”

Xiahou Yuan’s tone remained even as he drove the point home.

“If the only reason was that you, drunk on victory, wanted to look good in front of Mengde by handing him another man’s woman, that is precisely what we call disrupting military discipline. Think about it—how can any surrendered soldier remain loyal if we humiliate their families right in front of them?”

Without ever raising his voice, Xiahou Yuan dissected every mistake Cao Anmin had made. The younger man hung his head, unable to offer a single word in his own defense, and finally dropped to his knees.

“Uncle, I was wrong.”

“You will apologize not only to me but to Ziyeol and Zisu here, and tomorrow you will apologize publicly in front of the entire army.”

“Yes. I will apologize to Brother Ziyeol and to Brother Zisu, who tried to stop him.”

“Good. This matter must not grow any larger or it will only leave behind a sordid rumor. Let it end here. Also, starting tomorrow I will personally lead troops to inspect the occupied territories, so do not worry too much.”

Xiahou Yuan accepted Cao Anmin’s apology cleanly. He then declared that, in place of Cao Cao—who was busy indulging in women—he would take overall command of the army and oversee the reorganization.

In the original history, Cao Ang and Dian Wei had handled these duties. Having Xiahou Yuan take charge instead carried far greater weight, both in military operations and in stabilizing the newly conquered city.

Cao Anmin withdrew first, face burning with shame. Cao Ang stayed a moment longer, quietly patting my shoulder before he too left.

“Ziyeol.”

“Yes, Uncle.”

“I understand the situation, but you must not let the enemy camp see such a scene. They might conclude that the next generation of our clan are nothing but reckless fools.”

On the battlefield Xiahou Yuan was a fierce warrior, but in moments like this he was the most generous and fair-minded of uncles. When I had returned from my very first battle and Cao Hong and Cao Ren pointed out my mistakes, he had gently defended me, saying, “Don’t be too hard on a boy who completed his first campaign so well.”

“You performed brilliantly in this battle, so rest now. I will handle everything concerning Mengde and the rest of the army.”

“Thank you, Uncle Xiahou.”

After he sent me off with kind words, I picked up a jar of wine and headed toward one of the government buildings.

Sure enough, a secretive conversation was taking place inside.

“Is that true? The lord entered the rear garden and took one of the maids for himself?”

“My aunt is safe, but… still, he dared to ransack my late uncle’s memorial hall.”

“My lord, it would be best to let go of your resentment here. In the end, all he did was send one maid, wasn’t it?”

“That may be so, but…”

The voices carried clearly outside. It seemed Zhang Xiu and Jia Xu had been plotting something, but the situation had taken such a strange turn that their plans were now floating in the air.

“In the end, we have become a breakwater for Cao Cao rather than for Liu Biao, and must follow the greater current. Still, Cao Cao will likely treat us better than Liu Biao ever did.”

“Mmm… will he?”

I deliberately made my presence known.

“Is anyone there? I have come to see the governor.”

Jia Xu hurried out. I lifted the wine jar in greeting and stepped inside. The situation seemed mostly settled, but I still had one last thing to do.

“I have brought wine to apologize for the disturbance in the rear garden earlier. I also hoped to have a pleasant conversation with you, Master Jia Wenhua.”

From now on, for as long as we remained in Wancheng, I would stay glued to the sides of both Zhang Xiu and Jia Xu. This would be the final “one” among the “one-in-ten-thousand” chances.

If I couldn’t win over Zhang Xiu, simply staying close to Jia Xu would still end the game.

“I regret what happened in the rear garden earlier. I tried to dissuade my uncle as well—because I had heard Governor Zhang’s story.”

“Y-yes. Thanks to you, Lord Ziyeol, my aunt was spared humiliation while still in mourning.”

Zhang Xiu accepted my wine with a still-anxious voice. Yet there was no anger in his eyes—only lingering discomfort.

“Your aunt is safe, my uncle has gained a beautiful maid as a concubine, and everything seems to have ended rather decently.”

“Mmm.”

“If you wish, I can speak to my uncle separately about that maid…”

“No, no! There is no need. In any case, the girls my aunt raised are all of marriageable age. Once the mourning period ends, I planned to find them suitable husbands.”

“And after the mourning period, you will formally greet Lord Mengde?”

At that moment Zhang Xiu’s eyes widened.

“Those were the exact words Governor Zhang said to me himself.”

“Ah… yes, that’s right. Once the mourning ends, my aunt is still young, so remarriage… yes, exactly.”

“Well then, I need to relieve myself for a moment. Where is the privy?”

“You there—escort Lord Ziyeol.”

Zhang Xiu ordered one of the soldiers outside to guide me. When I returned and listened carefully, I could hear Jia Xu and Zhang Xiu talking again.

“So the Minister of Works has had his eye on my aunt all along…”

“My lord, that young master Ziyeol has given you a tremendous opportunity.”

“Jia Xu, what do you mean?”

“Did he not mention your aunt’s remarriage after the mourning period? If she maintains her beauty and catches the Minister’s eye, you will instantly become his in-law and be summoned to the central court.”

“R-really?!”

Hoo. As expected of Jia Xu. Even in this situation he had perfectly pinpointed what would truly benefit them and was persuading Zhang Xiu with masterful skill.

Jia Xu had always been known as a strategist without peer in the art of surviving and thriving in turbulent times. He had a gift for speaking to his lord in ways that made every outcome sound favorable. With him guiding Zhang Xiu like this, the matter seemed likely to resolve itself peacefully.

I stepped back inside.

“Ah, forgive me for taking so long.”

“Lord Ziyeol, this time allow me to pour for you.”

Jia Xu personally filled my cup.

“And allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Jia Xu, courtesy name Wenhua, a humble scholar from Wuwei Commandery in Xiliang.”

“I have long heard of your reputation, Master Wenhua. Since you have lived more than twice as many years as I have, please speak comfortably.”

“I cannot. I long ago abandoned my central court post. At present I am merely a low-ranking advisor following my lord. Respect is not given according to age, but according to rank and authority.”

Damn. They called him a master of worldly affairs, and his tongue really was slick as oil.

I accepted Jia Xu’s wine and made them an offer.

“When we return to the court, there will be an official post for Governor Zhang. Master Wenhua, how ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠would you feel about coming to the capital with my uncle and working there?”

“Haha, I am already past fifty.”

“Did you not see Advisor Zhongde when you were with our army? That gentleman is nearly sixty yet still holds a military staff position and roams the battlefields.”

When Jia Xu tried to decline by citing his age, I deliberately brought up Cheng Yu—who was older and still vigorously active. I also knew that, although he hid it well, Jia Xu secretly desired a position in the central court.

Thus, after the raucous victory banquet, I spent the rest of the night drinking with Zhang Xiu and Jia Xu, keeping them firmly in my grasp. In that way I managed to get through the day.

In the following days, Cao Cao spent his time enjoying the company of Lady Qiu’s maid. Meanwhile, Xiahou Yuan, together with Xu Chu, Dian Wei, Cao Ang, and the others, swiftly stabilized the hearts of Wancheng’s people.

Once everything was settled, the Cao army was able to return to the capital at Xuchang without incident.

The time came for the Emperor to bestow rewards and promotions at court.

“We hereby commend Minister of Works Cao Cao for restoring Wancheng to Our territory and bestow upon him three hundred taels of gold.”

“Your subject is overwhelmed with gratitude, Your Majesty.”

Though called an imperial reward, it was simply the taxes collected by local officials being funneled straight to the Cao clan while Cao Song served as Grand Tutor and Cao Cao as Minister of Works.

“We shall also commend each general for their merits and raise their ranks and offices. First, Governor of Chenliu Xiahou Yuan shall concurrently serve as Governor of Yingchuan in Yanzhou.”

Xiahou Yuan had become a provincial governor overseeing two commanderies—Chenliu and Yingchuan.

“Furthermore, Cao Ang—son of the Minister of Works and grandson of the Grand Tutor, currently serving as Assistant to the Grand Tutor—shall be granted the concurrent title of Lieutenant General.”

“Your subject is overwhelmed with gratitude, Your Majesty.”

A Lieutenant General served as deputy to a commander who held authority over troops inside the capital—in other words, he could act as the commander’s representative. And who was the current supreme commander in Xuchang? None other than Cao Cao, who also held the post of Minister of Works.

Rewards were then given to Yu Jin, Dian Wei, Cao Anmin, Xu Chu, and the rest. Finally, it was my turn.

“Cao Xiu, receive Our command.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“You were appointed Commandant of Cavalry after rescuing Us in Chang’an. Having since earned the respect and recommendation of both the army and the court, We now appoint you Military Commandant.”

“Your subject receives this boundless imperial grace.”

The hierarchy ran from Commandant to Colonel to General. The addition of “Military” to any of those titles signified a direct staff advisor position and carried special weight.

The ranks were divided as follows:

I had now become a full Commandant. The next step would likely be Colonel. By then, all five of my uncles serving under Cao Cao would have reached the rank of General.

Having completed the difficult work in Wancheng, I received the post of Military Commandant at the age of twenty-three.