Chapter 8: Planning for the Future (1/2)

This is the first time since the release of "The Cao Rogue" that the novel is making a charge up the rankings. I hope for a good beginning.

The old newcomer is lying in wait, already prepared. In this new week, there will be one update at midnight, and one at noon every day, maintaining stability.

Some things lose their charm once spoken aloud.

In any case, I will strive to write this book well and not disappoint everyone.

I believe this is an excellent work. But even an excellent work needs your support. Recommendations, favorites, clicks… These are the things every new book requires at its start. I humbly beg for your support!

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The hearts of the ancients, in truth, were far simpler than those of later generations.

Of course, simplicity does not mean foolishness—this involves a question of dialectics. In fact, even in his previous life, to his dying day, Cao Peng never quite understood what dialectics truly was. Sometimes, he felt that dialectics was just a way to muddle through, blurring right and wrong quite effectively.

Wang Meng and Cao Ji were both simple-minded men.

Even though Wang Meng had once been a bandit chief, by nature his thoughts were not complex.

Cao Ji even more so; he had lived for over thirty years, hardly ever leaving Zhongyang Mountain. In his eyes, Cao Peng was innately filial; in Wang Meng’s, he was bold and meticulous. A thirteen-year-old child, able to slip undetected into another’s mansion, take a life, and leave without a trace… Such composure, such precision of mind, was by no means ordinary.

And such a person is one destined for great deeds!

After daybreak, the two families had left the bounds of Zhongyang Mountain.

Originally, it would take less than five days to travel west from Zhongyang Town to Jiyang. But Cao Peng thought that heading west would make them too easy to catch. There were five of them, traveling on foot, and if the county officials from Wuyin pursued them, they would surely be on horseback. Two legs could never outrun four.

Therefore, careful planning was needed.

So, Cao Peng suggested heading south first, so that after about a day’s journey, they would enter Biyang County.

Biyang was already under Liu Biao’s jurisdiction.

Even if the Wuyin officials discovered their trail, they would have to act with caution.

Then, heading west from Biyang, it would take five or six days to reach Jiyang County. In terms of time, it would cost two or three days more, but in terms of safety, it was far more secure than heading directly to Jiyang.

“Father, Mother, Uncle…”

While they rested on the road, Cao Peng explained, “Actually, taking the Biyang route to Jiyang County may not cost us more time.”

Wang Meng, intrigued, asked, “Afu, how do you mean? If we go via Biyang, the journey is at least a third longer. How could it not take more time?”

“Biyang is under Governor Liu’s rule and has been peaceful these past years. After we enter Biyang, we can try to buy an ox cart… Traveling by cart will surely be easier than going on foot.”

“Buy an ox cart?” Cao Ji exclaimed at once.

“You’re daydreaming, boy… Do you know how much an ox cart costs? We don’t have much money, and we’ll need to settle in once we reach your sister’s place. If we buy an ox cart, are you expecting your sister to pay for it when we get to Jiyang?”

After the Yellow Turban Rebellion, draught animals were in short supply. An ox cart was expensive, and naturally, Cao Ji was reluctant to waste money.

Cao Peng sighed, “Father, buying an ox cart isn’t just for convenience; it’s also about appearances.”

Wang Meng waved for Cao Ji to hold his tongue, curious. “Afu, tell uncle properly—what other good is there in buying an ox cart?”

“Father, Uncle… We’re going to join my sister, not fleeing disaster. My brother-in-law in Jiyang is also a man of some standing. If we arrive looking too shabby, even if he doesn’t care, his clan might. But if we arrive in an ox cart, at least on the surface, it’s respectable. Even if the Deng clan are dissatisfied, they won’t make things difficult. Father, it’s like visiting relatives—no matter how close you are, going empty-handed is different from arriving in a fine carriage. And even if we don’t want the cart afterward, we can sell it in Jiyang. With my brother-in-law there, do you think we’d lose out?”

It’s often said: “A poor man in a bustling market is ignored; a rich man in the deep mountains has distant kin.” In ancient times, a cart was like a car in later generations. Even an old Santana could command respect.

Wang Meng nodded in approval. “Brother, Afu is more thoughtful than us. In my opinion, we should buy an ox cart.”

Madam Zhang, too, was pained to see her son exhausted. After a night’s travel, little Cao Peng’s face was pale and drawn with fatigue.

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With the five strings of cash they’d received from Cheng Ji, they felt somewhat reassured. So, after Wang Meng spoke up, Madam Zhang quickly agreed.

“You blockhead, just listen to Peng’er’s idea. He’s educated—he’s bound to consider things more thoroughly than you. He’s right; we may be going to Ah Nan, but we’re not refugees. Whatever else, for Ah Nan’s sake, we must keep up appearances and not let her be looked down upon by her clan.”

Cao Ji was not a decisive man. If it were only Cao Peng, he might have agreed or not. But since even Wang Meng sided with the idea, Cao Ji had to give it serious thought. He’d always respected Wang Meng, who was broad-minded and capable. This time, especially, Wang Meng had been implicated because of their family, so his opinion carried even more weight… Yes, they couldn’t let Ah Nan be belittled.

“All right, it’s decided.”

Having offered his advice, Cao Peng went to rest on his own. At his age, all he could offer was counsel. Whether it was taken or not, he trusted Wang Meng would see the wisdom in it.

Wang Mai sat with him, each holding a piece of flatbread, eating heartily.

“Afu, what do you plan to do in the future?”

“The future?”

Wang Mai swallowed, wiped his hand on his clothes, glanced at the adults deep in discussion, and whispered, “I mean, after we settle in with Sister Nan, what do you want to do?”

“And you?”

Wang Mai bit his lip, hesitated, then said, “I want to join the army.”

“Join the army?”

“Yes. A true man should wield the sword and achieve immortal feats. Now that Lord Cao supports the Son of Heaven and has made Xudu his capital, it’s the time for us to serve our country.”

Cao Peng put down his bread and gazed long at Wang Mai, then sighed lightly, “Tiger-head, will you listen to my advice?”

“Speak!”

“I know you’re capable and know your mind. But now is not the time for us to join the army… I think we should first learn real skills, make ourselves stronger. ‘Learn the arts of war and letters—sell your wares to the emperor.’ But if your wares aren’t good, you won’t fetch a good price. Look at the heroes of today—who among them isn’t skilled? Let’s not speak of the distant, just look at Wuyin County… Even a minor magistrate forced us from our home. Do you know why? Because we’re not capable enough, not famous enough. Otherwise, would a small man like Cheng Ji dare to run rampant? Even if we joined up now, without someone to recommend us, we’d start as common soldiers. Rushing into battle at the front, we’d earn little credit. Before you could make a name, you’d be a nameless ghost. Brother, listen to me: let’s study and practice for a few more years. When we’re truly skilled and our names are known, maybe Lord Cao will invite us personally. Think about it: is it better to go unknown, or be sought after?”

Wang Mai’s eyes brightened with excitement.

“Afu, do you really think Lord Cao will come for us?”

“If we have real talent, he surely will.”

Wang Mai couldn’t help but laugh, nodding vigorously.

As for Cao Peng, he closed his eyes to rest, appearing calm.

But inwardly, his thoughts rose and fell like waves.

If anyone had the most promise for the future, it was certainly Cao Cao. But gaining a foothold in Cao’s camp would be no easy task… Even when he later issued the Talent Recruitment Order, without real ability, how could one stand firm?

Now was not the right time to join Cao Cao.

Historically, during this period, Cao Cao himself was not having an easy time. Cao Peng knew that soon, Cao Cao would suffer a crushing defeat…

A sudden idea flashed through his mind, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared. Now was not the time for such considerations; first, they needed to settle in Jiyang before making further plans. At the same time, he felt a strong curiosity toward the sister and brother-in-law he’d never met.

Jiyang, the Deng clan?

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After a brief rest, the two families set out again.

More than ten years had passed since the Yellow Turban Rebellion in the first year of the Zhongping era, yet the scars of that war were still faintly visible.

Traveling the main road, they could sometimes walk an hour without seeing a soul. In the desolate fields, bleached bones were exposed to the elements…

The weather grew colder and colder. It was said that in the north, such as Guanzhong, there had already been several heavy snowfalls, and even Luoyang had seen its first snow.

The cold, the bleak wilderness, and the shocking sights of devastation…

Cao Peng lay on his father’s back, feeling an endless desolation in his heart.

In his previous life, he had lived in an “age of prosperity” and had never experienced the ravages of war. Though he’d seen such things on television and in films, it never felt real. Now, however, he saw with his own eyes the wounds left by war, and could not help but sigh softly.

Perhaps it was tragic.

But Cao Peng knew that the future would be even more harrowing…

The era of the Three Kingdoms, for all its passion and heroism, was also a time of unending disaster.

He remembered reading, in a book from his past life, some figures from the Three Kingdoms. Before the rise of the Three Kingdoms, the north had a population of about four million, with some 800,000 households. After the fall of Wei, only 580,000 households and just over two million people remained. Bashu, too, had three or four million people at the time, but when Shu fell, only 280,000 households and 960,000 people were left. The situation in Jiangdong was somewhat better—with about two million before the Three Kingdoms, and after Wu’s fall, 520,000 households remained.

It seemed, on the surface, that Wu fared best.

In reality, if not for Wu’s constant campaigns against the mountain tribes and its mass abductions of people, its population base might not have surpassed Shu.

And after the Three Kingdoms, came the chaos of the Five Barbarians…

That, too, was the darkest period in Han history. In the north, fewer than one in ten Han Chinese survived; some were even kept as livestock and called “two-legged sheep” by the nomads.

Suddenly, Cao Peng shivered, instinctively clutching his father’s collar.

“Peng’er, what’s wrong? Are you unwell?”

Despite his frequent scolding, Cao Ji’s concern for his son was, in private, deeper than even Madam Zhang’s.

“Father, I’m fine!” Cao Peng snapped out of his thoughts, forcing a smile and answering quietly.

“If you’re unwell, you must tell me… Don’t bear it alone.”

Those awkward words of concern warmed Cao Peng’s heart. Instinctively, he rested his face on his father’s back, closed his eyes, and murmured, “Father, I’m really fine! Truly, don’t worry.”

“As long as you’re fine, as long as you’re fine!” Cao Ji grinned sheepishly, adjusting his hold on Cao Peng.

“Afu, you must be tired!” Wang Meng spoke up, then said to Cao Ji, “Brother, I’ve walked this road before. I remember after the stream ahead, there’s a relay station. I don’t know if it’s still open… Even if it’s abandoned, it can be a place to rest. Shall we stop there?”

They had walked nearly a full day, and night was falling. Even strong men like Cao Ji and Wang Meng felt weary, let alone Madam Zhang.

“All right, let’s rest a bit. I doubt the officials from Wuyin can catch up now, so we needn’t be so fearful… Wife, just a little further and we can rest.”

So, Wang Meng led the way, Cao Ji carried Cao Peng, Wang Mai supported Madam Zhang, and they trudged onward, footsore and weary.

As the sun set and the evening clouds reddened the sky, a relay station appeared beside a grove of withered maples.

At the station gate stood a five-meter pole. A tattered lantern swayed in the wind, glaringly bright against the sunset…

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The second update will be posted at noon.