Chapter Nine: Setting Out on the Journey

After discussing official matters, Cao Hong beckoned the servants to bring in dishes, warm wine, and hot tea, setting a banquet to welcome and honor Cao Ding. Sheng Meizhen accompanied them at the feast, and the three no longer spoke of affairs of state but instead engaged in idle conversation about family. Inevitably, the topic turned to Sheng Meizhen’s father, Sheng Xian, styled Xiao Zhang, Cao Hong’s father-in-law.

Cao Ding laughed and said, “Xiao Zhang is not only erudite and talented, but he also possesses a most noble and elegant demeanor. Yet what impresses people most is his independence of spirit. Ever since Wang Mang, it has become fashionable for people throughout the realm to use single names, as if anyone with a two-character name must be a base commoner. Only Xiao Zhang disdained Wang Mang’s view, often declaring, ‘Those who rebel for rebellion’s sake—what nobility is there in that?’ He even gave all his children two-character names. If any scholar questioned him, Xiao Zhang would quote the classics and argue until they were left speechless. Truly admirable!”

Cao Hong, hearing this, understood: the Han custom of valuing single names had intensified after Wang Mang’s usurpation. It made sense—if such were the custom from the start, why did Empress Wei Zifu or Marquis Huo Qubing not change their names? Clearly, the historical records contained many errors.

He then laughed and said, “Meizhen is a fine name indeed—one can tell at a glance it belongs to a lady of noble birth, not something a fool would devise.”

Sheng Meizhen giggled, “Uncle, husband, since you mock me so, shouldn’t you each take a drink as punishment?”

Cao Ding and Cao Hong burst out laughing and drank together. After some further lighthearted conversation, the banquet concluded, and Cao Hong and Cao Ding withdrew to the study to discuss details in private.

In the study, surrounded by military treatises, rhapsodies, folk songs, Chu melodies, and ballads printed by rubbing—rare treasures at a time when both printing and paper were uncommon and most places still used bamboo slips—one could see at a glance the wealth of Cao Hong’s household.

Amidst these volumes, the two discussed the particulars of their enterprise. Cao Ding said, “Zilian, after I return, I’ll have all the retainers you left in Wu Commandery sent to Qichun. Once you’re ready, proceed north to Pei to join Zixiao, and from there, head to Chenliu. The manifesto has yet to be issued, so you must disguise yourselves as a merchant caravan. Luckily, Qichun sits at the junction of Jing, Yang, and Yu provinces, making travel easy in any direction.”

Cao Hong nodded and asked, “Has Zixiao also received word?”

Cao Ding replied, “Mengde has already written to him. By now, Mengde’s father, Ju Gao, should have left Luoyang as well. There’s little of our Cao family left in the capital. Once you join up with Zixiao, you can set out at once. It is already the thirteenth day of the eighth month; by the time the retainers arrive, it will be nearly the ninth month. There is no time to lose.”

Cao Hong hesitated. “Uncle, the retainers I have in Wu Commandery are idle men about town, hardly a disciplined force. They can’t even be properly equipped with spears and halberds, let alone armor and swords. How could such a rabble be of any real use in Chenliu?”

Cao Ding replied, “Mengde will handle military matters. If our plan succeeds, all the better. If not, our Cao family still has roots in Wu Commandery and can rise again from there. This is not a desperate gamble.”

Cao Hong understood. The gist was that Cao Cao would carry the main risk, while he and Cao Ding only took a smaller share. If they failed, they would be responsible for helping Cao Cao recover—hardly a reckless venture.

He said, “Then I’ll trouble uncle to arrange for the retainers to gather at Qichun.”

Cao Ding nodded and sighed, “I had intended to resign my post, recommend your father-in-law Xiao Zhang as governor, and retire. But then Mengde’s letter arrived. Very well—I shall help him this one more time. This matter has great potential. Once the manifesto is issued, even if others hesitate, Sun Jian of Changsha—the fierce tiger—will surely rise in support. He is Dong Zhuo’s mortal enemy.”

Sun Jian? Founder of Wu, father of Sun Ce and Sun Quan, who died campaigning against Jiangxia. How did he become entangled with Dong Zhuo? Cao Hong found it puzzling and realized that his knowledge of history was lacking. The original Cao Hong had little interest in such matters, focusing solely on business, so he had no memory of these events. He asked for clarification.

Cao Ding smiled, “A few years ago, the Liang Province bandits Han Sui and Bian Zhang stirred up rebellion. The court appointed the Minister of Works, Zhang Wen, as General of Chariots and Cavalry to suppress them. Zhang Wen recommended Sun Wentai as a staff officer. At the time, Dong Zhuo was stationed in Xiliang. Zhang Wen summoned him by imperial edict, but Dong Zhuo delayed and arrived late. Sun Wentai listed three charges against Dong Zhuo and urged Zhang Wen to execute him, but Zhang Wen did not take his advice. Now Dong Zhuo has deposed the emperor and enthroned another. Sun Wentai surely regrets that Zhang Wen did not heed his loyal counsel. In his two years as governor of Changsha, Sun Wentai has eliminated the rebel chief Qu Xing and, crossing borders, has crushed Zhou Chao, Guo Shi, and others, pacifying the neighboring Lingling and Guiyang commanderies. Though only governor of one commandery, he controls the fate of three. With such a hero rallying to our cause, our odds of success increase greatly.”

Cao Hong was genuinely impressed. “Uncle, your judgment is truly sharp. Given Sun Wentai’s temperament and strength, once our manifesto is issued, he will surely respond. With a leader to take the first step, others will follow.”

Cao Ding smiled, “That is Mengde’s view as well as mine. Once your retainers arrive, you may set out for Pei.”

Having agreed, the uncle and nephew ended their conversation. After lingering in Qichun for a few more days, Cao Ding departed.

After Cao Ding’s departure, Cao Hong had his wife Sheng Meizhen begin preparations for the journey. Qichun, though not far from Wu Commandery, was under the jurisdiction of Jiangxia in Jing Province. The current governor of Jing was not the familiar Liu Biao, but a certain Wang Rui, while the governor of Jiangxia was a local notable—not Huang Zu, the man who would later kill Sun Jian. The great strife of the Three Kingdoms had not yet begun.

It was through Cao Ding’s recommendation that Cao Hong had come to this remote, unremarkable place. Though he had started some businesses, none were particularly lucrative, so he had little compunction about abandoning them. As for his household, apart from the old steward Cao Fu, brought from Wu Commandery, the rest were local retainers sent by local gentry and could be returned easily.

Cao Ding and Cao Hong’s intentions were clear: whether they succeeded or failed, they would not return to Qichun. If they triumphed, they would remain in the Central Plains and join Cao Cao’s struggle for supremacy; if they failed, they would return to Wu Commandery to regroup and try again. Cao Hong explained this to Sheng Meizhen, who, upon receiving her husband’s instructions, began preparations in earnest. Meanwhile, Cao Hong trained even more diligently in his “Lion and Tiger Technique,” knowing that in troubled times, one’s wits and fists were the only true assets.

Day by day, time passed. Ten days later, Cao Hong’s three hundred retainers from Wu Commandery arrived in Qichun. Cao Hong immediately had them gather at his residence to pack up the weapons from the martial hall and all valuables from the estate. He also summoned the assistant magistrate, Lin, to his house.

Qichun was a small place, so news of three hundred retainers entering the city spread quickly. The assistant magistrate knew they had gone to the county head’s mansion, and now being summoned by the county head himself, he could sense something unusual was afoot.

Entering the main hall, the assistant magistrate saw Cao Hong dressed in a silk robe of deep purple, its fine embroidery shining brilliantly—clearly expensive attire. Having served over a year with this county head, the assistant magistrate had never before seen him so richly dressed.

After the formalities, Cao Hong bade him sit and said, “Assistant Lin, let’s speak frankly. I am about to depart on a long journey, so I entrust all county affairs to you and Magistrate Chen. You will oversee civil matters; he will oversee military ones. Join forces with the local gentry, and there should be no trouble. Though the Yellow Turban Rebellion has passed, some bandits remain. The land is not in chaos, but nor is it entirely at peace. As for this post of county head—let it go. If anyone asks about my whereabouts, simply say you do not know.”

The assistant magistrate agreed at once. He understood that in these times, young gentlemen from noble families often disdained such minor posts, all the more so for this scion of a loyal minister. For a scholar like Lin, the Cao family was a colossal force that could crush him like an ant.

With his agreement, Cao Hong dismissed him and waited for his retainers to finish packing. By midday, preparations were complete. Though Cao Hong did not own much, the packing still filled ten flatbed wagons, along with a four-horse carriage for Sheng Meizhen and her favorite maid. In truth, Cao Hong knew less about his own household’s wealth than Sheng Meizhen did. Only now, seeing ten wagons loaded with valuables, did he realize he truly was the privileged son of both an official and a wealthy family.

A mercenary turned landlord! Cao Hong laughed at himself, gave the order, and led his three hundred retainers out of Qichun in a grand procession, bound for Pei.