Chapter 151: Amassing Wealth on a Grand Scale, Diligently Strengthening the Military

After the banquet broke up, Cao Hong let his guards escort him back to the residence the local gentry had built for him. It was his first time returning home, and the mansion was every bit as impressive as his commandant’s residence in Dingtao. Clearly, the local gentry had heard that Wu Meng had built him a grand residence there and, unwilling to be outdone, had raised one just as magnificent.

Cao Hong couldn’t help reflecting that being an official was a very pleasant business, no matter the age.

When he entered the mansion, Sheng Meizhen—her figure restored—and the Qiao sisters came out to welcome him. After spending a little time with them, Cao Hong immediately asked after the matter on his mind.

“Meizhen, has Zixiu sent any word?”

“He has!” Sheng Meizhen replied with a smile. “Zixiu says the gambling house is doing wonderfully. Traders and laborers, wealthy young men—everyone is flocking there. People come not only from Dingtao, but from other counties in Jiyin as well, riding in carriages for a few rounds. Even scholars from Yingchuan in Yu Province have come to join in the fun. A whole cluster of wine shops, pharmacies, teahouses, and inns has sprung up beside the gambling house, and nine out of ten belong to you, my lord. At this rate, it won’t be long before Jiyin becomes another Wu Commandery.”

Cao Hong was delighted. It seemed he had underestimated the allure of gambling. In that case, he ought to open a few more houses.

“Meizhen, write back to Zixiu tomorrow. Have him send several gambling-house managers and workers to the Kingdom of Chengshi. I want to open one here, too.”

Sheng Meizhen smiled and agreed. Cao Hong played with Cao Jiao for a moment, then went to his study and told a servant to summon the chancellor of the Kingdom of Chengshi, who had just delivered the accounts.

The chancellor was an old man surnamed Chen, respected for his virtue in these parts. The Chen family was the most prominent clan in the kingdom, and the estates under its control occupied the region’s most fertile land. Cao Hong had appointed him chancellor because the Chen family commanded local respect and could get things done. After all, the government of this age was nowhere near as efficient as that of later times; an official parachuted in from elsewhere could hardly be expected to keep everything running smoothly.

Old Chen returned to his residence thoroughly drunk and was on the couch, biting at his concubine, when he heard that General Cao had summoned him. He hurriedly put on his robes and made for the Cao residence to pay his respects in the study.

Seeing him, Cao Hong smiled. “Lord Chen, were you wondering why I didn’t look at the tax accounts you submitted?”

The old man cupped his hands. “The general must have had his reasons. This humble official would not presume to guess them.”

Cao Hong nodded. “Indeed, I did. After this season, I intend to reform the tax system in Jiyin.”

Old Chen was taken aback, but said nothing. It was not his place to ask.

Cao Hong continued, “The Ji River runs through Jiyin, and its tributaries spread across the whole region. Rivers often block the routes between counties. A journey that ought to take two or three days can take ten when travelers have to go around them. This greatly hinders our merchants and delays the collection of taxes. So I’ve decided to improve transportation throughout the commandery.”

Transportation? Old Chen thought. A network of roads linking places together? The general speaks with such learning—concise and to the point! Aloud, he said, “The general is wise.”

Cao Hong went on, “They say gold bridges and silver roads are worth more than a fine house. So if a village, township, or county builds a bridge within a season that can carry a four-horse carriage across a river, it will be exempt from taxes for that season. If it builds fifty li of official road, it will receive a thirty-percent tax reduction.”

Old Chen frowned. “General, that would greatly reduce the commandery’s tax revenue. The report sent to the provincial authorities wouldn’t look very good.”

Cao Hong smiled faintly. “It wouldn’t. So I’ll make up the shortfall myself.”

Old Chen’s heart gave a hard thump. Could the gambling houses really be that profitable? He remembered the sea of people he had seen in Dingtao and couldn’t help feeling envious. He admired this general, who had such a gift for making money.

His thoughts wandered, but he said, “The general’s generosity and efforts on behalf of the commandery are truly admirable.”

Cao Hong continued, “My army is growing, but I can’t equip every man with armor and weapons. During the period when Jiyin had no one to govern it, I know your families all maintained private arsenals. Rather than put you to the trouble of shutting them down, why not have you make weapons and armor for my troops?”

Maintaining a private arsenal was illegal under the Han. Now that an administrator had arrived, of course the furnaces were supposed to stop. Cao Hong had been too busy touring the counties, suppressing bandits, and expanding his forces to address the matter. When he returned this time, the local gentry had all expected him to bring it up—and had already prepared to bribe him. A private arsenal could arm a household’s retainers, and its weapons could also be sold to other provinces. With turmoil everywhere, great clans and bandits alike wanted arms. The Kingdom of Chengshi even had iron mines. It was a major source of profit.

But Cao Hong was not only letting them keep their furnaces going; he was asking them to produce weapons for him. Old Chen immediately relaxed and readily agreed.

“We have the finest craftsmen in Jiyin. Give the word, General, and they can start at once.”

“Excellent!” Cao Hong said with satisfaction. “I want ten thousand suits of lamellar armor, twenty thousand long halberds, twenty thousand two-wheeled carts, and...” After listing all the military supplies he needed in one breath, he smiled again. “Surely these will be small matters for you, Lord Chen.”

The old man smiled ingratiatingly. “Of course, of course! Give us three months, and we’ll have everything done.”

Cao Hong smiled, offered Chen a few words of encouragement, and sent him on his way. Then he read through the letters Cao Cao had sent over the past few months to learn how things stood.

These were not official dispatches, but more like family letters. After driving the Yellow Turbans of Qing and Xu to Mount Tai Commandery, Cao Cao had Zang Ba send troops to intercept them, as agreed. Cao Cao then wrote to persuade them to surrender. Zhang Rao ultimately led his followers over after offering a considerable sum of money and sixteen fortified settlements in Shouzhang, the seat of Dongping State. But Gongsun Ju, Guan Cheng, and Xu He fled with several hundred men, slipping out of Mount Tai Commandery.

Though a few bandit leaders escaped, Cao Cao successfully incorporated a million refugees and organized them into an army of thirty thousand, known as the Qingzhou Army. He settled the million refugees in five places in Dong Commandery: Juan City, Dong’e, Fan County, Dongwuyang, and Puyang, the commandery seat. There they could live in peace, raise families, and multiply. Their taxes and labor service were waived; in return, their descendants were to join the army.

Reading this, Cao Hong couldn’t help feeling happy for Cao Cao. Since 189, Cao Cao had ridden out to campaign against Dong Zhuo, gone from living under another’s roof to his defeat at Bianshui, then lain low at Xiangyi. After that came the bloody battles against the Black Mountain bandits and the Yellow Turbans of Qing and Xu. Now, at last, Cao’s forces had their own territory and troops. They had become a power capable of contending with the great lords across the land.

And he, Cao Hong, had played a considerable part in it. Clearly, he was one of the people who had made history.

He put the letter down, thinking with satisfaction.