Chapter Eight: The Storm is About to Break

After mounting the carriage, Cao Hong sat beside Cao Ding. Most of Cao Ding’s hair had already turned white, and his beard was nearly eighty percent gray as well, revealing the signs of age and frailty. With Cao Hong’s discerning gaze, it was clear that Cao Ding had never studied the martial arts; he was unmistakably a civil official, a scholar.

Cao Ding stroked his beard and said, “Zilian, the driver and the guards are all close associates of mine. There’s no risk of eavesdroppers.”

Cao Hong acknowledged this, growing more certain that Cao Ding had come to discuss something significant. Indeed, Cao Ding wasted no time and got straight to the point: “Zilian, something momentous has happened in the capital!”

Cao Hong humbly inquired, “May I ask what matter you refer to, uncle?”

Cao Ding replied, “A few days ago, I received a letter from Mengde. He said that Grand General He Jin and He Zhu Gao were contending for power with the eunuch Zhang Rang and others. They secretly summoned the former General Dong Zhuo, who was stationed in Hedong with troops, and the Inspector of Bingzhou, Ding Yuan, to enter the capital. But before their armies arrived, the Grand General was assassinated by the eunuchs. Upon hearing the news, Mengde and Yuan Benchu (Yuan Shao) led their troops into the palace and slaughtered the eunuchs. Chaos broke out in the court, the Emperor fled to Mount Bei Mang, and was then captured by Dong Zhuo, who had come to command the troops. The result… alas!” At this point, Cao Ding let out a long sigh.

Cao Hong continued, “So Dong Zhuo claimed credit for protecting the Emperor and refused to leave the capital?” This was a historical inevitability, and Cao Hong answered fluently.

Cao Ding went on, “It’s even worse than that! Dong Zhuo is cunning and ruthless. He gathered He Jin’s former followers, and even managed to turn Ding Yuan’s favored general, Lu Bu, to his side, killing Ding Yuan and taking command of his troops. With power firmly in his hands, he dominates the court. Worst of all, he actually deposed the Emperor and crowned the Chenliu Prince as Emperor Xian.”

Cao Hong thought to himself that he already knew all this, but put on a look of utmost shock and exclaimed, “Isn’t that tyranny?”

Cao Ding replied, “It is indeed tyranny! Yet this scoundrel is no fool. Grand General He Jin was an imperial relative, always at odds with the eunuchs. Now that He Jin is dead, the power of the imperial relatives has vanished, and the eunuchs were slaughtered by Mengde and Yuan Benchu, causing the collapse of the court’s factions. Dong Zhuo has allied himself with Grand Minister Yang Biao and Minister Wang Yun, and has gone so far as to employ the scholars and officials who were purged in the ‘Disaster of the Partisans,’ drawing support from them. Although he is arrogant and overbearing, these scholars, who had long been sidelined, now find themselves summoned for duty again. Driven by self-interest, they swallow their pride and serve the traitor, enabling Dong Zhuo to take control of the court’s affairs.”

The ‘Disaster of the Partisans’ refers to the period during Emperor Ling’s reign when the ruling eunuchs, threatened by the opposition of the court scholars, launched a campaign to imprison them. Many renowned scholars were imprisoned, and though most were released during the Yellow Turban uprising, they remained ostracized and never returned to office. Now, Dong Zhuo has deposed the Emperor and established another, seeking alliance with the scholars and promoting those affected by the purge. This stabilizes the court on one side, and on the other, draws in those still serving, forming a fragile alliance with the scholar-officials and minimizing the impact of the deposed Emperor. It even gives the illusion of a fresh start—a masterstroke of both appeasement and control, executed with remarkable finesse.

Though Cao Hong lacked a broad perspective, he knew history well enough. Now, immersed in these events, he understood the key points from Cao Ding’s brief explanation and grasped the purpose of Cao Ding’s visit. He was about to speak when the carriage stopped; the driver announced, “Master, we have arrived at the county office.”

Cao Ding waved his hand, and Cao Hong immediately helped him down from the carriage. Sheng Meizhen had been waiting at the entrance for some time. As soon as Cao Ding alighted, she came forward to pay her respects, delighting the old man. Then Sheng Meizhen and Cao Hong, one on each side, supported Cao Ding as they entered the county office, passed through the main hall, and sat in the central hall where tea had already been prepared.

Once Cao Ding was seated, Sheng Meizhen quickly dismissed all the servants and found an excuse to leave herself, so only Cao Hong and Cao Ding remained in the hall. Cao Hong poured a bowl of tea for Cao Ding and asked, “Uncle, is your visit today at the request of our elder brother?”

Cao Ding replied, “Precisely so. Mengde wrote in his letter that Yuan Benchu has offended Dong Zhuo and left Luoyang, though he has still been appointed as Governor of Bohai. Yuan Benchu’s brother, Yuan Gonglu, has also been made Rear General, which proves Dong Zhuo is determined to win over the scholar-officials and seize control of the court. The Yuan brothers come from a lineage of great scholars, do they not?” His words were tinged with worry.

Cao Hong was momentarily stunned. He had always viewed history from a distance, knowing that it was Cao Cao who issued the edict to rally the heroes of the realm against Dong Zhuo, assuming it was simply due to Dong Zhuo’s tyranny. He had never considered the perspective of the Cao family. Now, Cao Ding’s words made him realize that the Cao family, having risen again after the eunuch Cao Teng, was technically of the eunuch faction. Dong Zhuo’s favoritism toward the scholar-officials meant the Cao family would be sidelined. Could it be that Cao Cao’s letter was warning that Dong Zhuo’s tyranny was detrimental to the Cao family, descendants of eunuchs?

It was clear that in these times, the family comes before the state. Cao Ding’s concern for Dong Zhuo’s employment of scholar-officials was evidently for the future of the Cao clan. At this point, the Cao family truly had little advantage. Cao Cao’s father, Grand Minister Cao Song, had resigned during the power struggle between imperial relatives and eunuchs. The Cao family’s foundation was weak, with no protégés or former colleagues. Now Dong Zhuo was openly allying himself with the scholars, and it seemed the Cao family had no prospects.

Was it for this reason that Cao Cao risked everything to call the realm to arms against Dong Zhuo? If so, he truly possessed remarkable courage—seeking glory at the risk of his life! This thought led Cao Hong to admire Cao Cao a little more.

Cao Hong said, “Uncle, you mean that Dong Zhuo’s tyranny and his appointment of scholar-officials is greatly unfavorable to our Cao family?”

Cao Ding replied, “That is also Mengde’s view. Our Cao family is considered part of the eunuch lineage. Since your grandfather passed away, we have distanced ourselves from them, but the scholars do not regard us as their own. Now that Dong Zhuo has entered the capital and employs the scholars, it is a great disadvantage to us. Mengde’s letter noted that Dong Zhuo’s actions in the capital are disgraceful, and those with integrity cannot tolerate his oppression. Although some scholars are grateful for being reinstated and remain in the capital, many refuse appointments and return home. Yuan Benchu is among them, and Yuan Gonglu seems inclined to do the same. Thus, this is the perfect opportunity to act. If we wait too long for Dong Zhuo to stabilize the capital, he will send troops to break any opposition, and it will be too late. The Yuan family, with its four generations of high officials, will be protected by the scholar-officials, while our Cao family, descended from eunuchs, will be used as a warning to others.”

What foresight Cao Cao possessed! Judging from this family letter to Cao Ding, he had not yet dreamed of rising to the highest office, but only sought to preserve the Cao family. Cao Hong felt even more admiration for his elder brother’s sense of responsibility and vision.

He said, “Uncle, since our elder brother has spoken thus, I will do all I can to assist him, even if it means exhausting the family’s wealth.”

This statement left Cao Ding stunned for a moment. Exhaust the family’s wealth? This nephew of his was notoriously stingy—how did he suddenly show such commitment? Though pleased, he shook his head and said, “Mengde wrote that this is a dangerous undertaking; we must not risk everything. He only asks you and Zixiao to gather your retainers in Chenliu County before the Laba Festival. If the venture fails, there will still be a chance to rise again.”

Zixiao was another cousin, Cao Ren, one of the great generals of the Cao clan, twenty-one years old, currently residing in Pei County, Yuzhou. Cao Hong nodded and said, “Elder brother has thought it through well, and it is as it should be.”

Cao Ding looked up at the beams and sighed, “Mengde was clever and alert from a young age, and after entering service, he showed great talent. When fighting the Yellow Turban rebels, he demonstrated his ability to command troops. He is the outstanding figure of our new generation, and the future prosperity of the Cao family rests with him. Zilian, you must assist him well.”

Cao Hong knew his own abilities—a master of martial skills, he had made a name as a mercenary, not as a general or politician. Many nations had invited him to such posts, but he knew he lacked the necessary acumen. Naturally, he had never tried to compete with Cao Cao for leadership of the Cao clan. He simply nodded and said, “I will do all I can to assist our elder brother!”

Yet in his heart he thought, “If things become extremely dangerous, I’ll retreat first!” After all, the most important thing for a mercenary is survival. Loyalty is bought, not born of honor or mission! Fortunately, history proved that Cao Cao died peacefully and not amidst chaos. Had he belonged to a doomed family, Cao Hong would have left a letter and withdrawn, dedicating himself to martial arts like Xu Deng, becoming a master of the martial world.

Cao Hong did not deny that his continued presence was due to his appreciation of the Cao family’s potential. In the coming years, the Cao clan would rise with astonishing speed—of course, so far, only he knew this.