113 To Repair the City Walls, One Must First Build the Hearts of the People

Having fathomed Cao Cao’s true intent, Cao Hong felt no sense of relief. He knew that if the walls of Juan City were easy to repair, the local gentry would have long since completed the task; there would have been no need to wait for him to arrive. Thus, while Xun Yu’s single word—"defend"—seemed simple, executing it would be a daunting challenge.

Before dusk, Cao Hong’s party reached the foot of Juan City. This ancient site, which had once witnessed the civilization of Yao and Shun, was now truly a ruin. The city walls were riddled with gaps; in many places, even the foundations had vanished. Yet, judging by the remnants, it had once been an impregnable fortress.

In the past, Cao Hong had judged the strength of a city by the height of its walls, the width of its moat, and the ruggedness of its terrain. But Juan City completely overturned his perspective, providing an entirely new definition of a stronghold.

The city walls consisted of three layers. The outer layer was ten feet—about two meters—high. Judging by the broken vestiges, it had once encircled the city. Ten paces behind this stood a second layer, similar in height and thickness to the third: ten zhang, or nearly 25 meters, with a width of 20 meters. It was incredibly sturdy, positioned only two zhang—less than five meters—from the main wall. Cao Hong recognized this as the "Wengcheng," or "Moon City," recorded in historical texts.

The Wengcheng was constructed to protect the three main gates. Its confined space served to slow the momentum of an attacking force, while allowing defenders to strike from above at any enemy trapped between the Wengcheng and the main wall. This was a configuration reserved for grand, major cities; perhaps only Chang'an and Luoyang still possessed such features today.

As for the outer two-meter-high wall, Cao Hong surmised it was intended to provide cover for defending troops sallying forth to attack. He could not, however, recall its specific name.

Beyond this, the ruins revealed that the top of the massive main wall featured continuous, indented battlements known as "zhidie" or "duoqiang," equipped with crenelations for archery and observation, and ventilation holes below to preserve the masonry. The inner parapet, known as the "nüqiang" or "pini," was lower than the battlements, serving as a railing to prevent soldiers from falling during their patrols. Inside, there were perimeter roads and ramps for ascending the walls. Even on the 20-meter-wide ramparts, one could still see traces of stone paving, designed to support the movement of soldiers and heavy equipment like catapults.

On the wall facing Cao Hong stood a ruined watchtower. Built atop the ramparts, it served as a vantage point for observation during peace and a command post for the general during war. Every sixty paces along the wall, there were semi-circular projections that extended outward. These allowed defenders to strike at enemy troops using scaling ladders from the side, effectively eliminating blind spots. Cao Hong had seen similar structures in places like Qiao County and Chenliu; they were called "Mamian" (Horse Faces), typically 12 to 20 meters wide, protruding 8 to 12 meters from the wall.

What made the Mamian of Juan City unique were the crenelations opened at their base, clearly allowing soldiers to hide within and fire arrows. Cao Hong surmised that soldiers could walk directly onto these projections to reinforce the line. Each hollow, semi-cylindrical structure was essentially a tower, serving not only as a defensive platform but also as a barracks for night watches. If such towers were placed every sixty paces, they would ensure a rapid supply of weapons and fresh troops to the ramparts.

Finally, Cao Hong noted corner towers at the wall's junctions, standing as high as the watchtowers. Known as "Jiaolou," these provided archers and crossbowmen with a wider field of vision to strike at enemies attempting to scale the corners of the city.

Looking at the ruins alone, one could imagine how formidable this city had once been—no less than Chang'an or Luoyang. A wall 20 meters wide, broad enough for horses to gallop upon—the scale was magnificent. It was no wonder Xun Yu had tasked him with rebuilding these defenses; once restored, it would be the unparalleled choice for housing troops and storing grain.

A city like this needed no auxiliary forts. Soldiers could be garrisoned within the corner towers and gatehouses, and even between the Wengcheng and the outer wall. It was a total super-fortress.

Yet, to rebuild such walls—how long would it take with only his current force? It would require thousands of people to transport earth, fell timber, build frames, and pack the soil. Cao Hong had only a thousand men under his command. Looking at the sparse smoke rising from the city and the abandoned houses, it was clear the population was less than that of a single hamlet. Where would he find the laborers?

"Xun Yu, oh Xun Yu... you have truly given me a difficult puzzle." Recalling that Xun Yu had called this a "cushy job," Cao Hong could only shake his head and laugh bitterly.

Pan Zhang, standing nearby, observed the scene and remarked, "There isn't a single able-bodied man left in Juan City! Those who haven't left are all the elderly, the weak, women, and children, or those too sick to move. They survive on fish from the Yellow River tributaries and wild greens. Where are we to find laborers?"

Cao Hong remained silent, gazing at the once-glorious city. His mind raced. He knew this was an opportunity. While Cao Cao had officially ordered him to garrison the city, Xun Yu’s private hint to "defend" was clearly Cao Cao's true desire. Any other general would view this as an impossible task unless Cao Cao mobilized all available militia and soldiers, which was impossible given the need to control the rest of Dong Commandery.

Other generals would interpret "defend" as merely building basic fortifications—erecting a few fences, rounding up some peasants, and leaving it at that. But Cao Hong believed Cao Cao wanted the fortress restored. Cao Cao needed a true base—one stronger than Qiao, Wu, or Wen Counties. He needed to establish a firm footing on this land, and without an impregnable city, how could his subordinates trust in his permanence? How could the common people?

In these chaotic times, a strong city was the foundation of the people's reliance. It was the place they sought when displaced, and where they hoped to settle when seeking peace. In the age of cold steel, population was everything, and a strong city was the best way to gather it.

With population came soldiers, trade, and everything else. This was what Cao Cao craved. Even if the only stronghold in Dong Commandery was Juan City, it would serve as a powerful symbol of the Cao army's roots.

With his forward-thinking mindset, Cao Hong understood this perfectly, and he was determined to succeed. He already had a plan.

"Wen Gui," Cao Hong said quietly. "Once we enter the city, find the oldest person here. I have questions."

Pan Zhang replied, "Understood!"

To rebuild the walls, one must first build the hearts of the people. This was the solution Cao Hong had found.