Chapter 95: A Needle Hidden in Silk

Cao Hong, General of the Flying Cavalry of Wei, was a kinsman of Cao Cao. His father, Cao Ding, had served as the Secretariat Director and appointed Cao Hong as the Magistrate of Xinchun. When Cao Cao raised an army to crusade against Dong Zhuo, he was defeated by Xu Rong at Xingyang. Cao Cao lost his horse and was pursued closely, his life hanging by a thread. Cao Hong dismounted, helped Cao Cao onto his horse, and declared, "The world can do without Hong, but it cannot do without you."

Traveling on foot, they fought their way to the Bian River.

The river was deep and difficult to cross, but Cao Hong searched the banks, found a boat, and ensured Cao Cao escaped the danger.

Later, when Cao Cao campaigned in Xuzhou, a great famine broke out. Cao Hong led the vanguard, seized Fan County in Dongping, gathered local grain, and supplied Cao Cao's forces.

After the Emperor relocated the capital to Xu County, Cao Hong was appointed as an Imperial Consultant.

At the start of the year, during the campaign against Liu Biao, he broke Wuyin, Ye County, Duyang, and Bowang, earning him the title of General of the Sharp Edge and Marquis of Guomingting.

Among all the people Cao Peng wished to win over, none was more ideal than Cao Hong. The reason was simple: Cao Hong was extremely attached to wealth.

History records that his family was wealthy yet stingy.

In other words, this gentleman belonged to the same breed as Grandet.

His obsessive jealousy regarding money made Cao Cao feel very secure with him. Although many did not view Cao Hong as a grand figure, in Cao Cao's heart, he was undoubtedly the most trusted.

One does not fear a person having flaws; one fears them being too perfect. A person without flaws often harbors extraordinary ambition. The most obvious example was Wang Mang, the emperor of the Xin Dynasty who usurped the Han throne.

Therefore, the greedier Cao Hong was, the more at ease Cao Cao felt.

Historical records note that Cao Hong never shed this habit in his later years.

When Cao Pi ascended the throne, his wife, Empress Guo, was deeply dissatisfied with Cao Hong, even harboring thoughts of killing him. The entire court was helpless. Cao Pi’s mother, Empress Dowager Bian, told Empress Guo directly: "If you dare to kill Cao Hong, I shall go to the ancestral temple tomorrow to pray and command the Emperor to depose you."

In the end, Cao Hong was spared, though he was stripped of his titles.

However, after Cao Pi died and the Ming Emperor of Wei ascended, he immediately appointed Cao Hong as General of the Rear and Marquis of Lecheng. Later, he was named General of the Flying Cavalry, and upon his death, was posthumously honored as Marquis Gong.

It can be said that Cao Hong served through three reigns without falling, which speaks volumes of his importance to the Cao Wei state.

As things stood, having Cao Hong resolve the issues was the best possible option. Furthermore, Cao Peng had no intention of building a career in Xu; his sights were set on Luoyang. Given the relationship between the Cao clan and the Xiahou clan, Cao Peng believed there were no problems that could not be solved.

The key question remained: who would go to lobby Cao Hong?

Cao Zhen volunteered, so the task naturally fell to him.

Cao Peng was not greedy. He said to Cao Zhen, "Let the gambling house be run in Uncle Zilian's name. Of the profits, Uncle Zilian will take fifty percent. You and I will take twenty-five percent each. How does that sound?"

Cao Zhen shook his head. "How can that be? You provided the idea, and Uncle Zilian is the one providing the influence; it would be unfair to split it evenly between us. You take thirty percent, and twenty percent for me is enough. Do not touch Uncle Zilian's fifty percent. Without that stake, he would never agree to lend his support."

"What thirty percent? What twenty percent?" Xu Yi asked, confused.

"None of your business, go play your cards!" Cao Zhen slapped Xu Yi on the head.

Such matters could not involve too many people, or it would invite unnecessary trouble.

Cao Peng understood Cao Zhen's concerns. In truth, he would have liked to recruit more people. If he could bring in Xu Yi and Dian Man, and add them to the Cao clansmen, they could form a massive interest group. But the problem was, would Cao Cao tolerate that? Even if Cao Cao could tolerate Cao Hong, he might not tolerate Cao Peng, the mastermind behind it all.

Therefore, Cao Peng said no more.

A large interest group has its benefits, but a small one has its conveniences.

Too many people can make things difficult. Human connections can be cultivated slowly; if he were to touch upon Cao Cao's taboos for the sake of speed, the loss would outweigh the gain.

"Also, building a gambling house requires people from all walks of life." Cao Zhen pondered. "Do you have any ideas?"

"We need someone familiar with the situation in Luoyang, and this person should preferably not hold a government position. They must be resourceful, capable... and have some understanding of the gambling business. Best of all, someone who can speak to people on all levels to minimize our troubles."

Running a gambling house was not easy.

Cao Peng could use gambling methods from the future, but he needed someone who could hold the line.

Cao Zhen mused for a moment and said softly, "I do know such a person, but if you want him to join, Afu, you might have to sacrifice ten percent of the profits."

"Who?"

"The swordplay instructor for the Prince, Cao Pi."

"Who is that?"

"Shi A!"

Zhu Zan, who had been listening, generally understood what they were discussing. In his heart, he did not find it repulsive. To be honest, his own family background was not great, and he was not well-off. He was talented, not stubborn, and was the best candidate...

"If it is Shi A, he is indeed suitable," Zhu Zan said. "He studied under the 'Sword Saint' Wang Yue and is a grandmaster of contemporary swordsmanship with extensive connections. From high-ranking nobles to common street peddlers, he can speak to them all. Moreover, he once ran the Heroic Pavilion in Luoyang and is very familiar with the city... Afu, Zidan is right. If we want to invite Shi A, we will likely have to give up ten percent."

"Why does that sound like a gang leader?"

Cao Peng pondered for a moment and nodded. "In our line of business, not having someone like Shi A to stand at the front would indeed be troublesome."

"Fine... ten percent it is. It's no big deal. Once this Weishi Gambling House opens, it will surely bring in mountains of gold. Giving up ten percent in exchange for long-term stability is a good bargain. Brother, this is very appropriate; we must bring him in. With him managing things in Luoyang for us, we won't need to worry about the details, and we can focus on our own prospects."

Although he didn't know how much profit would come in a day, Cao Zhen could already see the vast wealth in the blueprint Cao Peng had outlined.

He was very satisfied with Cao Peng's generosity.

If one lacked such magnanimity, one could never achieve great things...

"In that case, once we get out, we will contact Shi A."

Cao Peng could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Since arriving in Xu, he had been racking his brain to consider the future... building momentum for his father, Cao Ji, and planning for his brother-in-law! But everything felt like a castle built on sand, liable to collapse at any moment.

Now, with Cao Zhen, and adding Cao Hong...

Although he didn't know the full extent of Shi A's influence, the connection of being Cao Pi's swordplay instructor was already enough.

A small interest group had now taken shape among the big players in Xu.

Unknowingly, summer was drawing to a close.

In the sixth month of the second year of Jian'an, Cao Cao returned to Xu with his army.

As the scorching heat began to fade and the crisp, cool autumn air approached, the "Autumn Tiger" still lingered in the city of Xu, keeping temperatures high. Sitting in the room was stifling.

Inside the chamber, five massive bronze tripods were placed in a row.

They were engraved with the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, and Qilin, representing the five divine beasts. Each tripod was large enough that four or five men could barely encircle it, and inside were massive blocks of ice. Wisps of cold air drifted from the hollowed lids, dissipating throughout the room.

Sitting inside, one felt not the heat, but a refreshing coolness.

Cao Cao, wearing a bright yellow silk robe with a diagonal collar, sat on the couch, holding a scroll in one hand and twining his long beard with the other.

"Fengxiao, what do you think of this situation?"

Guo Jia, dressed in a long white gown, sat calmly in the lower seat.

Hearing Cao Cao's question, he smiled. "Now that you, my lord, have moved the capital to Xu County, holding the Emperor to command the vassals and crusade against the disobedient, you appear infinitely glorious on the surface, but hidden dangers lurk within."

"Oh?"

"Your reputation is loud, my lord, but it does not compare to the four generations of high officials in the Yuan family. Although you support the Emperor, you cannot win over everyone. Especially those who came from Chang'an—they are even more suspicious... The world is in chaos. Although you hold the three provinces of Qing, Yan, and Yu, you are surrounded by enemies. As a result, many in the court harbor double hearts, and even the Emperor himself may not fully trust you. In the past, Duke Huan of Qi honored the King to expel the barbarians, holding the alliance at Kuiqiu to achieve hegemony. Chao Cuo suggested 'securing the interior before dealing with the exterior,' centralizing power, which led to the glorious achievements of Emperor Wu... If you wish to support the Han, my lord, there can only be one voice in Xu: your own. If the voices are too discordant, the people will not know whom to follow. People say Huo Guang was tyrannical, but without him, how could the Han have been restored? The situation you face today is even more daunting than that of Huo Guang. Therefore, only by suppressing all dissent with strong measures can the restoration of the Han be hoped for."

Although Guo Jia did not offer a specific suggestion, he had made his stance clear.

Cao Cao put down the scroll and smiled as he stroked his beard. "Fengxiao's words resonate with my heart."

Guo Jia then said no more.

"However, the fact remains that Fu Jun's leg was broken; there must be some accountability."

"My lord need only act according to the law; why would you need to answer to anyone?" Guo Jia laughed. "A life for a life, a debt for a debt—this is only natural. Moreover, it is a fact that Fu Jun's leg was broken. Whoever broke it, let them deal with the consequences. If anyone is dissatisfied, tell them to go back and study the Law of Du. By the way, I heard that when you were the Northern Commandant in Luoyang, you strictly forbade galloping on horseback in the bustling streets?"

Cao Cao paused, then nodded.

"That law did indeed exist."

"West Alley is the busiest place in Xu. Fu Jun and his group were galloping through, and they even hit a passerby. According to the law, there must be an accounting for this."

"This..." Cao Cao scratched his head and said softly, "That is a capital offense!"

"As I said, act according to the law."

Cao Cao stared at Guo Jia, then suddenly burst into laughter.

"Fengxiao, are you trying to 'beat the grass to startle the snake'?"

Guo Jia smiled, picked up his wine cup, and took a slow sip.

And Cao Cao had made his decision...

The day after returning to Xu, Cao Cao convened a court assembly.

After all other matters were discussed, Xun Yu stood up. "My lord, the case involving the injury of the son of Fu Wan, Marquis of Buqi and General Who Assists the State, has been pending for a long time. The Emperor and the lords in court are very concerned. I wonder how you intend to resolve it?"

"Oh?" Cao Cao smiled. "Wenruo, please recount the details of the case."

In truth, Cao Cao knew the origins of the matter perfectly well. He asked this to observe Xun Yu's attitude. From how Xun Yu handled this, he seemed caught in a dilemma. Whether he was loyal to Cao Cao or the Han Emperor depended on how he presented the facts.

Xun Yu cleared his throat and said clearly, "The cause is simple. On the day of the incident, Fu Jun, the son of Fu Wan, along with Dong Yue, the son of General Dong Cheng, were drinking at a tavern and then galloped through the West Alley. Near the Huichun Pharmacy, they accidentally struck a woman surnamed Zhang who was seeking medical treatment. With the woman were her nephews and Dian Man, the son of the Tiger Guard Commandant Dian Wei. The nephews saw Fu Jun's group hit their aunt and stepped forward to block them. They disagreed, and a fight broke out. Fu Jun ordered his guards and servants, over fifty in number, to attack the nephews. Unexpectedly, Xu Yi, the son of Tiger Guard Commandant Xu Chu, and four others—Cao Zhen, Zhu Zan, and Cao Zun from the Cavalry Commandant's camp—happened to pass by and stepped in to help, leading to a brawl in the street.

"Deng Fan, one of the Zhang nephews, was slashed by Fu Jun's guards.

"On the other side, Fu Jun's group had over thirty men injured by the nephews, Dian Man, and Xu Yi. Sixteen were severely injured, and seven died. In the chaos, Fu Jun accidentally fell from his horse and had his leg broken by the mount. I was a guest at the Dian family estate at the time; upon hearing the news, I ordered Dian Wei to mobilize the Tiger Guards, seal off the West Alley, and arrest everyone involved.

"This matter has wide implications. Feeling the case was complex, I detained all parties, and it has been over a month now... The case cannot be delayed further, so I ask you, my lord, to make a decision soon to prevent panic in the city of Xu."

People often said that Xun Yu dealt with matters impartially, leaning neither to one side nor the other.

In this case, he neither favored Fu Jun’s side nor intentionally spoke for Cao Zhen’s group.

He spoke with the tone of a public official, bowed, and stepped back to wait for Cao Cao’s judgment.

Xu Chu, having just returned to Xu, had only just heard about Xu Yi’s involvement. But due to his sensitive position, he hadn't visited. He looked at Dian Wei, but Dian Wei was staring at his own nose, silent.

"Did the two parties cause trouble in prison?"

"Reporting to my lord, since Fu Jun and his group were imprisoned, they have been dissatisfied and have made wild threats, claiming that once they are out, they will take the lives of the Zhang family and others." Xun You stood up and answered respectfully.

Xun Yu glanced at Xun You and sighed internally. He knew that he and Xun You had long had political disagreements. Xun You believed that only Cao Cao could stabilize the world and that the Han was beyond saving, while Xun Yu believed in being a Han official for life. Xun Yu was younger but of an older generation. They often argued, even becoming enemies. Xun You’s statement had made his stance clear.

"And Zidan's group?"

"Zidan was quite calm; there was no trouble."

Guo Jia suddenly stood up and said with a smile, "Though Zidan didn't cause trouble, they made quite a scene. After being imprisoned, the eight of them—including the Zhang nephews—shared a cell. For some reason, they brought out an image of Confucius, performed blood oaths, and swore to be brothers. The people of Xu call them the 'Eight Little Brothers of Justice'."

"Sworn brothers?" Cao Cao burst into hearty laughter. "I have heard that a thousand pieces of gold are easy to get, but a soulmate is hard to find. How fortunate Zidan is to have found seven soulmates in a single day. How very fortunate."

After saying this, Cao Cao sighed, his expression seemingly desolate.

In truth, he was speaking of himself.

Back in the day, Cao Cao had wandered with sword in hand, filled with ambition. He had known Yuan Shao, Liu Biao, and Yuan Shu; they could be considered friends. But who could have imagined that they would end up as enemies?

A soulmate is rare in life; to have one is my fortune, not to have one is my fate...

To this day, for Cao Cao to find a soulmate seemed to have become difficult.

Whenever he thought of this, Cao Cao felt deep emotion. He was a ruthless warlord, but also a brilliant poet and man of letters. And such men are always prone to sentimentality.

However, Cao Cao's strength lay in his ability to control his emotions.

After a moment of reflection, he calmed himself and said to Xun Yu, "Wenruo, resolve this according to the Han law; there is no need to be troubled."

He then looked at Xun You.

Resolve it according to the Han law?

It sounded like Cao Cao had provided a standard. But Xun You was not so foolish; Cao Cao’s words were ambiguous, and there was much to ponder.

He cast a glance at Guo Jia, who smiled, nodded, and then let his eyelids droop, looking away.

That smile and nod gave Xun You the answer.

"According to the Law of Du, for street fighting, the parties should be detained for a month and receive twenty lashes each."

Xun You looked at Guo Jia again, saw him nod slightly, and took a deep breath. "Cao Zhen and the others have served their full month, so they should be released immediately after receiving their lashes. The Zhang nephews, though participants, were the victims, so their lashes are waived, and they are released immediately. Fu Jun, for galloping in a bustling street and then ordering his men to attack the victims, is guilty of a major crime..."

Suddenly, Xun You saw Guo Jia shake his head slightly, his body rocking gently as if riding a horse.

He was stunned, then realized.

"The person who caused the injuries was Fu Jun's mount, so it has nothing to do with Fu Jun. According to the law, for a merchant in the market—" (He corrected himself) "—for a person in the bustling street, eighty lashes. Fu Jun, for poor horsemanship, is fined thirty gold pieces and ordered to reflect at home. The guards and servants involved are sentenced to one year of hard labor. Since Fu Jun's leg was broken, it has nothing to do with Cao Zhen; however, his mount is guilty of causing injury and receives eighty lashes."

You could say that no one was at fault, only the horse.

One hundred and sixty lashes... that horse could probably be turned into a barbecue! Xun You had technically not punished Fu Jun, but the slap in the face was delivered directly to Fu Wan. I have taken your guards for hard labor, your son's leg was broken for nothing, and you, Fu Wan, must pay for a horse and thirty gold pieces.

But at the same time, I have saved your son's dignity by not truly punishing him.

Such a verdict would naturally be cheered by the common people, and the scholars would have nothing to say.

The Emperor's dignity was also preserved... You say you want me not to punish Fu Jun? Look, I haven't punished him; I've let him go!

What is called "a needle hidden in silk"?

This was it.

Regardless of what others thought, Xun Yu was satisfied!

At least on the surface, his lord still respected the Emperor's dignity. In other words, at least for now, he had no treasonous heart.

Xun Yu nodded slightly.

"Since there are no objections, it is decided!"

Cao Cao waved his hand to dismiss everyone and stood up to return to his inner chambers.

Just then, Dian Wei stepped forward, bowed, and said loudly, "Please wait, my lord. Dian Wei has something to say..."