Chapter One Hundred Forty: The Former Grand Commander

Seeing Ying Shao eating ravenously, Cao Hong tactfully refrained from asking any further questions to prevent him from choking. In fact, Cao Hong had many questions he wanted to ask the Administrator of Taishan Commandery.

After a moment, when Ying Shao's eating pace slowed down slightly, Cao Hong asked, "Administrator Ying, why did the Inspector, Administrator Zhang, and Administrator Bao leave Taishan without taking you along?"

Ying Shao replied, "Taishan Commandery is my jurisdiction. At the time when the administrative seat was breached, the situation was extremely critical, and someone had to stay behind to cover the rear. As the Administrator of Taishan, it was naturally my unshirkable duty, so I led my own troops to hold the ground. However, we were no match for Zhang Rao's massive army and were defeated. My elder brother met his righteousness with composure, urging me to preserve this useful body of mine to avenge our losses and wipe out the disgrace."

Cao Hong sighed and said, "My condolences, Administrator! Now the main forces of the Qing and Xu Yellow Turbans have been routed, and their farming tools, livestock, and grain stores have been captured. It is impossible for them to take root in Yan Province the way they did in Qing Province. This time, I have been ordered by the regional governor to head to Taishan Commandery to find Zang Ba, the banner commander of Taishan, and persuade him to coordinate with the governor's army in incorporating the millions of refugees wandering across Yan Province, thereby thoroughly eradicating the bandit scourge in the region."

Hearing this, Ying Shao nodded and said, "So that is how it is. The Qing and Xu Yellow Turbans originally intended to join forces with the Heishan bandits, and then take a large number of refugees to put down roots in Yan Province, disguise themselves as ordinary commoners, blend into the local population, and continue their rebellion once their descendants grew up. This is their habitual tactic. Although they suffered defeat in Qing Province this commandery, most of their people have already mingled with the commoners of Qing Province to recuperate and multiply. Within ten years, the bandit scourge in Qing Province will inevitably rise again. Now, since Lord Cao seized their grain and farming livestock while they were still unsteady on their feet, they have no choice but to retreat to Qing Province. If Lord Cao can manage to settle this crowd of chaotic people, there will be fewer rebels causing disaster in Qing Province in the future."

Hearing this, Cao Hong could not tell whether to admire the man's concern for the state and the people or to find him utterly naive. Cao Cao did not have such a benevolent heart to care about Qing Province; he merely wanted to absorb these refugees to control the population and, consequently, control Yan Province. However, this was a common malady among the scholars of the Han Dynasty: overflowing with universal compassion, yet bound by blind loyalty and filial piety.

Naturally, these thoughts could not be spoken aloud, so Cao Hong said, "Since we have run into the Administrator, please accompany me to Hua County to pay respects to Lord Cao's venerable father. Having lived here for a long time, the old gentleman will surely point out a clear path for us to find that Taishan banner commander."

Ying Shao said, "That is only natural. It is indeed a wise move for the general to seek out Elder Cao. Although this Zang Ba is called a bandit, he is not entirely isolated from the world. He frequently enters Xu Province to plunder, and the goods he loops are offloaded and sold right here in Hua County. At the same time, he purchases goods from Hua County merchants to supply to the sea pirates who ravage the coast of Xu Province. Lord Cao enjoys quite a reputation in Hua County, and presumably he is well acquainted with those who trade with Zang Ba. Once you find him, you will naturally be able to communicate with Zang Ba. Although I am currently in distress, I am still the Administrator of Taishan after all. Accompanying the General is a matter of course, and it can also be considered fulfilling the duties of a host."

Cao Hong smiled and said, "Many thanks, Administrator!" He immediately offered his horse to Ying Shao, saying, "You have been traveling and toiling for a long time, please mount the horse."

Ying Shao hurriedly waved his hands and said, "I wouldn't dare! How could I possibly take the General's mount..."

Cao Hong smiled and said, "As fellow comrades-in-arms, we should naturally look out for one another. Furthermore, you are still an Administrator. Reckoning by official rank, I am your subordinate, and we must not disrupt the proper protocol."

Seeing Cao Hong's persistence, Ying Shao cupped his hands and bowed: "Thank you! Should Ying Zhongyuan ever have a chance to assist the General in the future, I will certainly not shrink from it."

Cao Hong smiled and invited him to mount. Ever since he saved Wei Zi's life, followed by Cao Ren and himself complaining about the increasing number of generals under Cao Cao, he had realized that, whether he liked it or not, he had already stepped into the official circles of the Han Dynasty. Once inside the circle, one had to play by the rules. Just as he adhered to the rules of mercenaries, the rule of officialdom was that the more friends you had among your peers, the better. That was why Cao Hong was so courteous to Ying Shao. For a man like Ying Shao—who harbored groundless fears, possessed a touch of naivety, lacked formidable martial arts skills, and did not lead troops with ruthlessness—to attain the position of an Administrator, there could be only one reason: an exceptionally prestigious family background. In the Han Dynasty, individuals of this sort often managed to retain their influence no matter how many defeats they suffered.

This was an era that prized noble lineage, and the curtain had only just been drawn back; by the Northern and Southern Dynasties, this phenomenon would intensify further. Cao Hong did not admire such values, but familiarizing himself with them allowed him to define his friends and enemies.

After Ying Shao mounted the horse, the two headed toward Hua County. Along the way, Cao Hong asked about the situation in Hua County, such as whether the county seat was prosperous and who the county magistrate was.

Ying Shao replied, "Ever since I took office in the first year of Xingping, I have not collected a single coin of tax from Hua County. This is because several major clans monopolize the place. The officials within the county, from the magistrate down to the minor clerks, are all nominated through mutual recommendations among these families. Precisely because of this, they can trade unhindered with the mountain bandit Zang Ba, and when the Qing and Xu Yellow Turban bandits came to attack, they did not send a single soldier to help."

A textbook example of officials and bandits colluding... This Administrator of Taishan had certainly had a wretched time of it. Cao Hong felt a twinge of sympathy for Ying Shao.

Having grasped the basic situation, Cao Hong began to probe into Ying Shao's family background. True to his expectations, this fellow was an unadulterated second-generation official. His father, Ying Feng, had served as the Colonel of the Cheng-men in the Lingdi era—though that position carried a most imposing old title: "Crouching Tiger." Its authority was immense, functioning as a secret supervisory official tasked with overseeing the capital and the regions surrounding it, much like the Eastern Depot and the Brocade Guard of the Ming Dynasty. He could arrest officials of any rank and execute them on the spot, surpassing even the Eastern Depot and the Brocade Guard in unchecked power.

Chatting and discussing along the way, the two arrived outside Hua County by dusk. The vicinity of Hua County bordered the foothills of the Taishan range, with undulating mountains, sprawling forests, and winding official roads, making it a place easy to defend and hard to attack. Within a radius of ten li of entering the county, not a single refugee or bandit could be seen. Instead, numerous men bearing sabers and riding horses were seen escorting merchant caravans outward, flying the flags of various commercial houses. Along the way, Cao Hong spotted five caravans of varying scales.

"Amidst these turbulent times, Hua County appears quite prosperous indeed," Cao Hong remarked.

"People making fortunes on the back of swords and spears are everywhere; Hua County is hardly unique," Ying Shao replied.

Cao Hong expressed his agreement. Upon arriving at the gates of Hua County, he discovered that the drawbridge over the moat had not been raised, and the city gates remained wide open, guarded by only two soldiers in lamellar armor. In a Yan Province ravaged by banditry, this truly counted as a miracle. Cao Hong immediately stepped forward to state his identity and purpose. When those two guards heard the title "Colonel Yingyang," they were initially apathetic, but upon hearing that Cao Hong had come to pay respects to his uncle, Elder Cao, both instantly showed deep respect.

One of the soldiers said, "So the young master is the nephew of the former Grand Commandant! Forgive our disrespect. Please enter, please enter." With that, they immediately cleared the way.

It seemed Cao Song was doing quite well for himself here... Cao Hong thought to himself as he walked into Hua County.