The first year of Guanghe, which was 178 AD.
This year, many things happened in the Han Dynasty. For example, the Wuhu barbarians in Jiaozhi and Hepu prefectures rose up in rebellion against the Han!
For example, Emperor Ling of Han, Liu Hong, established students at Hongdu Gate; Cai Yong compiled and supplemented the "Han Ji · Continued Chapters";
Furthermore, the imperial court opened the Western Residence to sell official positions. Besides these major events, the twenty-three-year-old Cao Cao went to Dunqiu County, Puyang, to serve as the Magistrate of Dunqiu. Uninterrupted updates @
Dunqiu is located along the banks of two rivers. Everyone here practices martial arts and is brave, with a preference for fighting.
For over thirty years…
A total of forty-two chief officials were transferred or dismissed here. Among them, four died violently, twenty-two requested transfers, ten were dismissed, and six fled in the middle of the night!
In the end…
The biggest problem here is extremely similar to some places in later generations.
Only two things—ineffective and unfair law enforcement! There is a huge conflict between the rich and the poor.
For example, the measurement and dispute of land…
The rich oppress the common people with their power, while the poor watch as they lose their few acres of
Infertile land, losing all their possessions… and eventually, to survive, they can only sell themselves into slavery for the rich.
If a poor person falls ill and is forced to borrow money from the rich, the interest rate can triple thirty times a year. If they cannot repay, they can only sell themselves into servitude…
The debts incurred require future generations to repay, and the descendants of the poor can only become cheap labor for the descendants of the rich!
The current situation in Dunqiu County is extremely real. Here… there seem to be only two types of people:
—The rich and the poor who already belong to, or are about to become, slaves of the rich.
…
Twenty-three-year-old Cao Cao sat in the county office of Dunqiu.
He looked up at the sky and murmured, "Qiao Zi (Qiao Xuan) said that turbulent times require strict laws, but implementing strict laws requires a strong armed force. In the end, it all comes down to money… However, the funds for the Magistrate of Dunqiu, after deducting expenses for settling in, office, and repairs, are very little. How can it be easy to form an armed force?"
With his brows furrowed… Cao Cao fell into deep thought. "Master…"
Just then, a soft, slow voice came from outside the door.
This voice was familiar to Cao Cao. It belonged to a maidservant in the Dunqiu county office. She was said to have come here from the south to escape hardship. Her surname was "Lu," and her given name was "Wenran"!
The first time Cao Cao saw her, he praised her name—gentle as water, ceaselessly graceful!
What left an even deeper impression on Cao Cao… were the eyes of this young lady Lu Wenran.
Like… the eyes of Ding Xiang, the wife of Cao Cao’s good brother Xiahou Yuan…
Exactly the same!
The same rippling autumn waters, captivating the soul! "Master, tea…"
Lu Wenran placed the tea beside Cao Cao. Seeing that the master was still writing, she dared not disturb him… and was about to leave.
Of course…
She had overheard Cao Cao’s earlier words about lacking money and armed forces.
"You may go!"
Cao Cao waved his hand, still with a furrowed brow!
"Yes…" Lu Wenran bowed and slowly retreated…
However, as she walked lightly towards the door… her steps paused, as if she had made some kind of decision.
She turned around and said softly, "What is the background of the Master's family? How can it lack money?"
With just this faint remark… Lu Wenran quickly ran out. Coincidentally, this sentence reminded Cao Cao.
His eyes suddenly widened, and a sharp glint flashed within them… His family—the Cao family!
His father, Cao Song, was the Grand Minister of Agriculture, in charge of the Han Dynasty's finances… and he had frequent dealings with the powerful eunuch Cao Jie of the same clan. Who knew… how much of the Han Dynasty's treasury his father had pocketed? Yes… the Cao family was not short of money.
Immediately…
Cao Cao picked up his brush and wrote a bamboo slip. As for the content.
—"Father, I am borrowing ten jin of gold and thirty thousand cash today!"
Cao Cao was afraid that his stingy father would not lend so much, so he added four words at the end: "Borrowing money for life!" The signature was—"Your unfilial son Mengde kowtows!"
Haha. (This chapter is not finished!)
"Extra Chapter: Hidden Dragon · The Origin"
Haha…
After writing this letter, Cao Cao seemed relieved. He laughed heartily, with a bold and unrestrained air.
He never imagined that such a big problem of lacking money and armed forces could be resolved so easily.
At this moment, Cao Cao recalled the name he had just murmured.
"Lu! Wenran!"
"Gentle as water, ceaselessly graceful! And also refined and spirited, with a pure heart and intelligent mind… A good name, and a smart person!"
For a moment, a ripple stirred in Cao Cao's heart… To the point where he subconsciously bit his lip.
If before, Lu Wenran had only left a deep impression on Cao Cao because of her eyes… then now… this full and spirited heart had somewhat touched Cao Cao!
In Luoyang City, Cao Song felt that he was truly a cheap fellow.
When Cao Cao was at home, he forged a five-colored great club and beat up the powerful, making him busy with connections and unable to rest day and night…
He had worried himself sick… but when Cao Cao left, he felt incredibly lonely and worried!
Cheap…
Simply too cheap!
Unexpectedly… While Cao Song was still worrying about Cao Cao, Cao Cao’s letter arrived. _o_
"Investigate…" Cao Cao suddenly stood up. "I am here in the county office. All relevant personnel, investigate them thoroughly! Investigate to the end!" For the next three days…
Cao Cao conducted investigations both openly and secretly, even deploying over a hundred guards! He interrogated more than fifty people!
Of course, the case was not difficult to investigate, but it was because of the other party's background…
But how could Cao Cao care so much? To some extent, he was grateful to Lu Wenran. If she had not stepped forward first, perhaps Dunqiu County would never have seen justice!
Finally, on the third day…
With witnesses and evidence complete, Cao Cao personally led two hundred local militiamen to surround the Du family residence on the north street of Dunqiu.
The main culprit, Du De, had to confess the details of the case. It was because…
He had a past conflict with Lu Wenran's father, so he conspired to frame their family…
And also occupied Lu family's thirty mu of fertile land! Cao Cao was furious!
One of the "Ten Punishments" stipulated that obstructing official duties was also a capital offense!
The main culprit, Du De, confessed everything. He thought Cao Cao would handle it leniently, especially since his family was a leading clan in the area. Who would have thought… after signing and sealing, he and the twelve accomplices were all tied up in the east market of Dunqiu County!
Cao Cao ordered the twelve main culprits to be beheaded and displayed… and then sequentially interrogated the Du family's steward, servants, wives, concubines, children…
Finally…
From the accountant in charge of gifts and receptions in the Du family, they received a "Gifts and Favors Ledger"…
It clearly recorded all the accounts of transactions in the area. Now…
There was much to be caught!
Cao Cao personally led the troops. For every family arrested, a notice was posted—"Now xx family has committed a crime and been apprehended. We are soliciting complaints from victims. As long as the evidence is conclusive, confiscated land and people will be returned, personal freedom can be redeemed, and fertile land occupied can be recovered. If it is a false accusation or a mistaken accusation… offenders will be executed!"
Because of one Lu Wenran, Cao Cao almost ignited a volcano that had been dormant for a hundred years, and the entire Dunqiu region erupted!
The oppressed, exploited, and suffering masses rejoiced and flocked to the county office to report grievances and plead their cases… recounting years of injustice.
—The common people of Dunqiu had finally seen the light of day!
The powerful clans were not to be trifled with. They wanted to resist, but Cao Cao had two hundred well-trained local militiamen, so they could not touch him!
For a time…
The entire Dunqiu County was boiling, thoroughly boiling!
The Buddha said, "If I do not save all the ghosts in hell, I will not attain Buddhahood!"
Cao Cao resolved not to return to the capital until he had punished all the wicked people in Dunqiu and saved the last suffering citizen. @Essence/Book Pavilion·Uninterrupted First Release~~
Rectifying malpractices, dredging choked rivers, reinforcing the Yellow River dikes, developing agriculture, handicrafts, and commerce… establishing education. After a year of dedicated governance, the customs of Dunqiu were solemn!
Cao Cao's actions led to the "great governance" of Dunqiu!
And the relationship between Cao Cao and Lu Wenran also became more familiar. They were no longer purely master and servant; there was even a kind of "unspeakable" affection.
Lu Wenran was grateful to Cao Cao…
Had Cao Cao not been grateful to her as well?…
In August of the following year, fifty boats of grain were sent from Dunqiu County to Luoyang in a grand procession.
This was Dunqiu's contribution to the Emperor, including five thousand hu of wheat, five hundred hu of black beans, five hundred hu of broad beans, five hundred hu of buckwheat, five hundred hu of millet, as well as curiosities, local specialties, and so on!
.(This chapter is not finished!)
"Extra Chapter: Hidden Dragon · The Origin"
Because it was impossible to requisition more ships… this was only the first batch. And it was precisely this batch of offerings that caused a sensation in the court and the public. In this period of everyone protecting themselves and crying poverty, who would voluntarily submit grain? Moreover, Dunqiu was such a bad place; it was already fortunate if it didn't need imperial aid each year!
Who could have imagined that there were still taxes, money, and grain here?
This matter naturally reached the ears of Emperor Liu Hong. Liu Hong was very pleased and publicly praised Cao Song for "raising his son well"!
Cao Song stood at the foot of the steps… Although he bowed his head to express his gratitude, he could feel the approving glances from all the civil and military officials.
Of course… he knew in his heart that he had already spent ten jin of gold, and this… the grain was not enough to cover his losses!
But… in the end, his son's efforts in Dunqiu had earned him respect and recognition in court.
This relieved him, and he could finally let go of the heavy burden he had carried for more than twenty years, enjoying the sense of accomplishment as a father for the first time.
Cao Song knelt to thank the Emperor for his grace, and as he rose, his eyes were filled with tears!
In September, the Emperor issued an imperial decree commending Cao Cao, making Cao Cao a model for local officials to learn from!
On the day the commendation order was issued, Cao Jie had his capable eunuch Zhao Zhong personally lead a team, with over sixty members of the royal orchestra, sixty imperial gifts, and thirty Imperial Guards from the palace, proceeding grandly, bustling, and with music towards the Cao mansion!
The gong beaters leading the way also beat gongs and shouted:
—"Magistrate of Dunqiu County, loyal and respectful in his official duties! The Grand Minister of Agriculture's methods for raising his son are effective. The Emperor's grace is vast, hence this commendation."
"Clang, clang, clang…"
A richly deserved imperial plaque was hung high on the lintel of the Cao mansion.
It bore four large characters—Raising a Good Son!
The Cao family was indeed celebrating a joyous occasion, and everyone was beaming with smiles. Cao Cao's wife and concubine, Ding Hui, managed a smile. This "accursed fellow" had finally done something decent. The concubine Liu Chun wept with joy…
Even the Ding family, which had intricate ties with the Cao family, traveled hundreds of miles upon hearing the good news to offer congratulations!
—The daughter of the Ding family…
had invested in Cao Song in the past…
Now investing in Cao Cao seemed like a surefire profitable business.
Only Cao Song…
His gaze deepened, because, along with the Dunqiu tribute grain to the Emperor, a letter from his son Cao Cao also arrived.
In his memory…
The last time he had sent a letter, his son had been asking for money!
Even after a long time, Cao Song still felt a lingering fear!
Upon opening the letter…
Cao Song's pupils suddenly widened.
"What?"
He exclaimed…
The nearby Mr. Ding, his relative by marriage, quickly asked, "Is something wrong with Aman?"
"No… nothing!"
Cao Song quickly waved his hand…
He tried to appear calm and composed, but his heart was filled with mixed emotions. First release update @
—Aman, Aman, he… he wants to marry… marry a woman?
Wife?
He already has a wife? How can… how can this be?
He had finally waited for his son to make a name for himself, but his son… but then…
Cao Song helplessly looked at the head of the Ding family. He knew that his first wife was from the Ding family, and his son's current wife was also from the Ding family!
The relationship between the Cao family and the Ding family was deeply intertwined, like bones connected by flesh!
At this moment… his feelings, Cao Song's feelings—
—were all mixed up!
…
…
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"Extra Chapter: Hidden Dragon · The Origin"