Taiheiki

Chapter 358 Getting Started
"Lord Lu thinks too highly of me!" Cai Yong said with a wry smile, "How could it be my place to say whether or not to make such a significant decision!"

"Hey!" Lu Zhi laughed, "You can't say that. Putting everything else aside, when it comes to extensive knowledge and strong learning, I really can't think of anyone among the younger generation of the Han Dynasty who can compare to you. If we want to combine the strengths of various schools into one, we really can't do without you, Cai Bojie. Brother Dou, don't you think so?"

"Indeed! Even my nephew-in-law speaks highly of you, Bojie!" Dou Wu laughed. "He once mentioned to me that if we only consider scholarship, you are already a rare talent in this era. He originally wanted to recruit you into his household, but then felt that you could do more to glorify future generations, so he decided to let you stay in another province and be burdened by worldly affairs, giving you 50,000 coins a month as writing fees, but you refused!"

"It's not that I, Cai Yong, am unaware of the General's kindness!" Upon hearing this, Cai Yong quickly bowed and thanked him, saying, "It's just that I've been taught since childhood that I dare not take what is not rightfully mine. I have not rendered any service to the General, and if I were to accept such a generous gift, what would the world think of me?"

“What you said makes sense, so my nephew-in-law let the matter drop and didn’t pursue it any further!” Dou Wu laughed. “However, this writing project is a momentous event of our time. If Bojie were not involved, future generations would surely consider it a regret!”

Upon hearing Dou Wu's words, Cai Yong's heart stirred. Readers familiar with the history of the late Han Dynasty and the Three Kingdoms period should know that in real history, Cai Yong died after Dong Zhuo's execution in the third year of the Chuping era. During Dong Zhuo's reign, he greatly favored the exceptionally talented Cai Yong, appointing him as Minister of Works and then successively holding positions such as Imperial Censor, Imperial Secretary, Minister, Attendant-in-Ordinary, and Left General of the Palace Guard, and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Gaoyang. His rise in rank was meteoric, earning him the title "Cai Zhonglang" (a high-ranking official), surpassing even Dong Zhuo's most trusted confidants. Later, Dong Zhuo was assassinated by Wang Yun's scheme. At a banquet, when everyone discussed Dong Zhuo, only Cai Yong appeared sorrowful and sighed. Wang Yun was enraged, arrested him, and sent him to the Court of Justice for punishment. Cai Yong submitted a memorial pleading guilty, requesting that he be branded and have his feet cut off to save his life so he could continue writing Han history. The literati of Chang'an also wrote petitions pleading for his life, but Wang Yun insisted on executing him.

It's clear from Cai Yong's life that he was aware of his historical mission, and the scholar-officials of the time considered him the best candidate to write the history of the Han Dynasty. Even Wang Yun, who executed Cai Yong, cited Emperor Wu's failure to kill Sima Qian, which allowed defamatory books to circulate, as one of his reasons. Clearly, Wang Yun also believed Cai Yong possessed the talent to write a book and wanted to eliminate him to avoid damaging his own reputation. Faced with the temptation of creating a classic work, Cai Yong found it difficult to resist.

“Since Lord Dou also says so, then I will shamelessly accept!” Cai Yong said.

"Good, good!" Lu Zhi laughed, "Bo Jie, you've given your approval, so this matter is half done. Hmm?" He turned around and found his servant standing below the hall, peeking around. He couldn't help but get angry and said, "What are you doing here, sneaking around like this?"

"Reporting to my master, there are visitors outside!" The servant seized the opportunity and hurriedly said, "He said his surname is Liu and he is an old friend from Zhuojun! He has brought his son and nephew to visit him!"

"An old friend from Zhuojun?" Lu Zhi frowned. He was engrossed in his conversation and hadn't intended to receive a guest. However, in the Han Dynasty, hometown ties were extremely important, and the other party claimed to be an old friend. If he refused, it might look bad in the future. Dou Wu, noticing Lu Zhi's thoughts, smiled and said, "Since you're an old friend and fellow townsman, it's quite a coincidence to meet in Luoyang. Brother Lu, please grant me an audience!"

"Very well!" Lu Zhi followed up with a smile, "They brought their nephews and nieces here, most likely wanting to become my disciples. A few words will suffice, it won't cause any trouble." After saying that, he said to his servant, "Since they are old friends, you may bring the guest here!"

The servant responded and came to the side courtyard where Liu Yuanqi and his two nephews lived. He said to Liu Yuanqi, "The master was just talking with two distinguished guests. I managed to get a chance to pass on the message. Please come with me and don't delay!"

Liu Yuanqi quickly thanked him and led his son and Liu Bei, following the servant, to the back hall. Liu Yuanqi straightened his clothes, stepped into the hall, and bowed to Lu Zhi, saying, "Liu Yuanqi of Zhuojun, I paid my respects to Lord Lu in Luoyang three years ago. Today, I have brought my son and nephew to pay my respects. Please forgive any disturbance!"

Lu Zhi looked Liu Yuanqi up and down, only vaguely recognizing him, but his accent was indeed from Zhuojun. Since they were from the same hometown, his attitude was naturally different: "No need for formalities, please sit down and talk!"

"Thank you, Lord Lu!" Liu Yuanqi bowed again, then led his son and Liu Bei to sit down at the lower end of the table. Lu Zhi smiled and said, "What brings you to Luoyang this time? Is there anything I can do for you? We're all from the same hometown, so please speak frankly without being shy!"

"In reply to Lord Lu, I am a traveling merchant who frequently transports cattle, horses, livestock, leather goods, sinews, and horns from the border regions of Youzhou to Luoyang, and then buys some necessities from Luoyang to transport back to Youzhou. This time, everything has gone smoothly, and I dare not trouble Lord Lu. However, my two nephews are quite clever, but Zhuojun is a remote border region with few learned scholars. Therefore, I wish to send them to Lord Lu's tutelage to improve their skills. I humbly request Lord Lu to accept them!"

"The nephews and nieces you mentioned are the two people behind you, right?" Lu Zhi asked.

"Excellent!" Liu Yuanqi turned around and said, "Deran, Abei, hurry up and pay your respects to Lord Lu!"

"This humble one pays his respects to Lord Lu!" Liu Deran and Liu Bei said in unison.

"Alright, get up!" Lu Zhi looked the two boys up and down and found them to be quite energetic, especially the one named Liu Bei, who had a fearless and bold air about him. He was delighted and pointed at the two boys to Dou Wu, saying, "Lord Dou, these are the boys from Youzhou. Regardless of their learning, they certainly have a strong backbone!"

"Hmm!" Dou Wu laughed, "Indeed, even we old folks are quite envious! Why don't we take them in?"

“Since you’ve spoken, Lord Dou, how could I refuse?” Lu Zhi laughed. He pointed at Dou Wu and said to the two boys, “This is Dou Youping from Fufeng, a famous teacher in Guanzhong. The current Empress Dowager is his daughter. With him speaking up for you, why don’t you thank him?”

“This humble one (young man) pays his respects to Lord Dou!” Liu Yuanqi was greatly surprised and hurriedly led his nephews and nieces to bow to Dou Wu.

"No need for that, no need for that!" Dou Wu waved his hand with a smile. Seeing this, Liu Yuanqi knew that the servant had not lied to him and that Lu Zhi was indeed meeting a distinguished guest. Not daring to say anything more or delay, he got up to take his leave. Lu Zhi encouraged him a few more times and asked him to leave his address in Luoyang before allowing him to leave.

After descending from the hall, Liu Yuanqi quickly took out money to thank the servant, then led his son and Liu Bei out of the residence and down the mountain. Liu Bei asked, "Uncle, you gave that servant money twice today; you must be overjoyed!" "Hehehe! Of course!" Liu Yuanqi laughed, "You and I have truly struck gold today, managing to get that Master Dou to say a few words on your behalf. Just for that, you two have gained a great advantage!"

"Is it because his daughter is the Empress Dowager?" Liu Deran asked.

"Yes, but not entirely!" Liu Yuanqi explained with a grin, "That Lord Dou also has a niece who married the current General Wei. He himself was also a general. He is an extremely important figure!"

"Then how does that compare to Lord Lu?" Liu Deran asked.

“Although Lord Lu is extraordinary, he certainly cannot compare with Dou Youping,” Liu Yuanqi said with a smile. “There is another person in the hall today, who must also be an important figure, otherwise he would not be qualified to sit with these two!”

"So, since Deran and I are sitting with them in the hall, are we also important figures?" Liu Bei asked.

Liu Yuanqi couldn't help but laugh at his nephew's childish words. He patted Liu Bei's head and said, "That's right. The three of us are also important figures. Bei, Deran, you must work hard for such a good opportunity! In the future, the future of our Zhuojun Liu clan depends on you!"

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Qiao County, Pei State.

The morning air was crisp and cold, carrying a hint of loneliness. Although it was late spring, a chill still lingered in the air upon waking. A small group of a dozen men set off at dawn, Cao Cao riding among them, his heart filled with unease and a touch of sorrow. Yesterday at noon, a messenger arrived with terrible news—the armored hounds of the pursuing envoy had brought the head of his nephew Cao Ren to his uncle's house, along with an even more horrifying truth: Cao Ren had harbored Wu Jing, a criminal wanted by the court, who had participated in the Lugu conspiracy and attempted to assassinate the Wei general.

According to the messenger, only twenty armored warriors brought the head, and their leader was relatively polite—mostly out of respect for Cao Cao, since their master was an old acquaintance of his. Cao Cao couldn't help but recall past events, and goosebumps rose all over his body. Truly, he couldn't imagine how he had dared to laugh and joke with such a terrifying figure back then. In just a few short years, that once lone fugitive nobleman had transformed into someone who held the entire world in his hands. Those who dared to oppose him had either turned to dust or fled in all directions. His henchmen and lackeys were spread throughout the provinces and counties. Compared to him, the eunuchs who had instigated the Partisan Rebellion were nothing more than children wielding clubs.

The scent of men and horses mingled in the cold morning air, forming a billowing white mist. Cao Cao's mind conjured up the image of Cao Ren, his cousin, an arrogant and ruthless man who had terrorized the countryside since his teens, killing people and fleeing to a neighboring county where he gathered a group of thieves to rob and plunder.

This wasn't a big deal among local powerful families at the end of the Han Dynasty, unless they encountered a ruthless official who didn't care about their lives. Powerful clans like the Cao family, with connections in the central government, were capable of anything in the local counties. Even if they were convicted, they could simply escape and move to another place. No one would bother to hunt them down for such a trivial matter, and they could return to their hometown and start over in a few years if a general amnesty came.

The only way they could maintain some semblance of authority was through the recommendation system—just because commoners couldn't do anything to powerful clans didn't mean other powerful clan sons couldn't do anything to them. With too many wolves and too little meat, competition was fierce, and if someone had too much of a dark past, they were finished once exposed. Therefore, these powerful clan sons usually started to "reform themselves and study" around the age of seventeen or eighteen, clearing their names and pursuing a political career. Unfortunately, Cao Ren died before reaching that point.

"Aman!" It was Cao Song who spoke. He was a fat middle-aged man with a neatly trimmed beard streaked with white, and his face, stained with wine and women, made him look more than ten years older than his actual age. He said to his son with great worry, "When you go this time, you must find a way to clear your name of this matter, otherwise, our Cao family of Pei State may face annihilation!"

"Father, I know!" Cao Cao nodded, then pulled on the reins, bringing his mount closer to his father. "I will handle this matter carefully!"

"That's good!" Cao Song sighed. "I really can't believe that A-Ren would associate with that wanted criminal. Doesn't he know who General Wei is? So many powerful clans and influential families have been wiped out by him, it's truly—"

"Father, it's pointless to say all this now!" Cao Cao looked at the incessantly nagging Cao Song with a hint of annoyance. Unlike his grandfather Cao Teng, who had spent decades in the palace serving several emperors and empress dowagers, maneuvering skillfully in the central government of the Han Dynasty and laying the foundation for the Cao family of Pei, Cao Song was a mediocre man in both ability and will. His greatest pleasures were accumulating wealth and indulging in various forms of pleasure. This wouldn't have been a problem in itself, but after Cao Teng's death, the Cao family had no one left in the central government of the Han Dynasty. Cao Song's comfortable life of wine and women in the countryside became particularly irritating to Cao Cao, who had little ambition.

"Indeed!" Cao Song sighed, exhaling a puff of white mist. He frowned and asked, "Aman, do you think we should prepare a generous gift? Surely no one in this world dislikes money?"

"Don't rush to send money!" Cao Cao said. "After all, we don't know anything yet. If we send money now, they might think we have something to hide. That would give them a handle against us!"

"That's true!" Cao Song sighed. "Forget it, Aman, just play it by ear! In my opinion, you should have visited General Wei in Luoyang more often these past two years, even if it was just to write a few letters, and this wouldn't have happened!"

“Father, there’s no going back. You don’t need to say anything more!” Cao Cao cracked his whip and spurred his horse forward. He felt a pang of regret, but he knew why he had distanced himself from Wei Cong—if he didn’t want to be excluded from the circle of scholars, he couldn’t associate with Wei Cong. Although Wei Cong’s power was immense, time was the most powerful weapon, and a person’s life was long.

Before they knew it, the group had arrived at Cao Ren's manor. After announcing their arrival, Cao Cao dismounted and followed his father into the manor. Greeting them was Cao Ren's father, Marquis Mu of Chen, Cao Chi. With a bitter smile, he said to Cao Song, "A-Si, you've come too. Alas, what a calamity! Not only has your son died, but you've also been implicated in such a serious case. It's truly a case of bad karma; even our ancestors haven't protected us!"

(End of this chapter)