020. The Swordsman Yang Aro

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(The author is considering changing the book’s title to “The Ferocious Bandit of the Three Kingdoms: Cao’s Might.” Please don’t delete it, thank you!)

The next day.

The weather was fine.

Cao Xin took the two women of his household for an outing beyond the city walls, wandering amidst the scenic mountains and waters of Xudu.

Xudu was formerly Xuxian, a county under the administration of Yingchuan Commandery, similar in scale to Wancheng. Last year, at the advice of his strategists, Cao Cao brought Emperor Liu Xie to Xuxian and built a small imperial palace there, making Xuxian the capital of the Han Dynasty and Cao Cao’s main base of operations, collectively called Xudu. Only after Cao Pi ascended the throne—when it was said, “Han perished at Xu, Wei’s foundation began at Xu”—did the name change to Xuchang.

Choosing Xudu as the base camp was a shrewd move by Cao Cao.

The previous year, Han Xian, Yang Feng, Dong Cheng, and others attempted to escort Liu Xie east to Luoyang, intending to reestablish the capital there. However, when Dong Zhuo retreated from Luoyang, he ordered the Xiliang army to set the city ablaze, leaving a wasteland of two hundred li in every direction. The imperial palace, civilian homes, and tombs were all destroyed, the land left barren and the population sparse, making reconstruction a daunting task.

Xuxian fared better by comparison. It lay within the wealthiest region of Yuzhou, Yingchuan Commandery. Both Yuzhou and neighboring Yanzhou were firmly under Cao Cao’s control after years of careful management. This area was now completely within his grasp.

Yingchuan boasted Song Mountain, the Ying River, a temperate climate, and fertile farmland between the Yellow and Huai Rivers. Thanks to the implementation of the tun tian system, grain production increased year by year.

Though it too had suffered during the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the population still exceeded one hundred thousand households, making it a populous commandery.

In the turbulent twilight of the Han, grain and people meant soldiers and supplies—the foundation of hegemony.

Moreover, in the Eastern Han, Yingchuan was home to many powerful clans: the Xuns, Chens, Zhongs, Dus, Xins, Zhaos, and Guos, all of whom valued culture and education, with renowned scholars emerging in great numbers.

Half of Cao Cao’s strategists hailed from Yingchuan: Xun Yu, Xun You, Guo Jia, Zhong Yao, Du Xi, Zhao Yan, Zao Zhi, and others.

With food, soldiers, and advisors at his disposal, and possessing considerable ability himself—not to mention a band of formidable generals—Cao Cao could hardly fail once he established his capital in Xu.

“Sister, what’s that lively place over there?”

On the southwest edge of the outer city, Zou Liniang pointed out the window.

Gan Yunian leaned over for a look. “That’s the Altar of Heaven. The emperor held a New Year sacrifice to Heaven and Earth there. At the start of the year, the great families built a Temple of the Mother of Heaven, a Heavenly Lord’s Temple, a Hall of Kings, and a Pavilion for Livestock. The incense burns strong. Would you like to visit?”

“General, shall we go have a look?” Zou Liniang turned to ask the dignified Cao Xin, who was engrossed in a game of five-in-a-row.

“Very well, let’s get down and stretch our legs.”

Cao Xin set aside his game, ordered the carriage to halt, and led the two veiled beauties out by the hand.

No sooner had his grand carriage stopped than the people in the street turned to stare, whispering about the gilded coach.

“Whose carriage is that? So dazzling.”

Those in the know replied, “That’s General Cao Xin’s carriage.” Soon, everyone knew it belonged to the mighty general, and rumors circulated: he had a bandit’s origins, once saved Lord Cao, was a fierce warrior, wealthy beyond measure, lived luxuriously, was a notorious womanizer, and liked to abduct respectable women.

When he disembarked, his imposing figure silenced the crowd. They watched in awe, their faces tinged with reverence.

But when the two veiled beauties followed him, everyone’s jaws dropped. Some women, just by their silhouette, could cause hearts to race—Gan Yunian and Zou Liniang were such women.

Seeing the burly general with two delicate beauties on his arms, the men thought, “He must have seized them—this general truly is lustful.” The women, meanwhile, wondered why he hadn’t come for them; if only the general were even more licentious.

“Yunian, Liniang, which temple do you wish to offer incense at?” Cao Xin asked, holding each by the hand.

“Liniang, why don’t we pay our respects at all of them?” Yunian smiled gently.

“All right, I’ll do as you say, sister.”

They bought bundles of pine incense and began their devotions at the Temple of the Mother of Heaven, praying for peace, health, many children, and the prosperity of their household...

Cao Xin followed as a guardian, watching the two women kneel in silent prayer before the idols, finding no small amusement in the scene.

While they were worshipping, the coachman came running in, panting and shouting,

“General, bad news! The carriage has been stolen!”

“General, a fearsome thief came and took our carriage!”

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The old coachman, limping, ran in shouting.

“Oh?” Cao Xin paused, then burst out laughing. “So there’s someone in Xudu brave enough to steal my carriage?”

“What’s wrong, General?” Yunian and Liniang hurried over, worried.

“Nothing, nothing. Just a petty thief—carry on with your prayers.” Cao Xin chuckled.

“General!”

A military guard rushed over, saluting. “General, we’ve cornered the thief, but he’s fierce—three of our men are injured. We’re only able to contain him for now.”

“He injured three of you alone? Quite a character. I’ll go see for myself.”

Cao Xin left two guards to protect the ladies at the temple, but Yunian and Liniang insisted on coming, so he took them along to watch the commotion.

On the street beside the Divine Kitchen Temple, three guards had cornered a lean young man.

He looked around twenty-six or twenty-seven, with a long face, prominent brows, and two scars on the left cheek—a fierce visage. Sword in hand, he eyed the three guards warily.

The three, though slightly wounded, held him in a half-surrounded stance, blocking his escape. They were veterans of the Langya army—qualified to be Cao Xin’s guards, their strength was close to that of a third-rate general. Four of them together could easily defeat a second-rate general, but today they’d run into a tough opponent.

When Cao Xin arrived, the trio stepped in front of him. One said, “General, I know this man—he’s Yang Aruo, a roaming swordsman from Chang’an, notorious for his brawls. There’s a saying, ‘At the East Market, Yang Aruo fights; at the West Market, Yang Aruo fights.’ Who knows what he’s doing in Xuxian.”

“Yang Aruo?” Cao Xin took a few steps closer, sizing him up with a smile. “Master Yang, why aren’t you slicing people up in Chang’an? What brings you to steal my carriage in Xuxian?”

Caught red-handed, Yang Aruo looked embarrassed but snorted, “Ill-gotten wealth is fair game for all.”

“Ha! Ill-gotten? Who told you my carriage was ill-gotten?”

Cao Xin laughed heartily. He remembered his own Langya army days, when he’d used similar rhetoric—standing on moral high ground to rob many a rich fool.

Now he was the one being robbed—a fitting turn of fate.

“Hmph! Chancellor Cao is famed for his frugality, shunning silk and brocade. The Cao family follows his example. Yet you, Sixth General Cao Xin, are the opposite: arrogant, extravagant, riding in gold carriages, clad in silk, living in excess. Rumor has it your wealth all comes from plunder—is that not ill-gotten?”

Yang Aruo brandished his sword, questioning sternly.

“Insolence!” Gan Yunian’s pretty face hardened as she rebuked him. “How dare you slander the general! He is a shrewd manager, producing soap and spirits, amassing millions—all from legitimate business.

With his earnings, he’s spent over eight hundred thousand to build dozens of farms in Xuzhou and Yanzhou, saving more than a hundred thousand disaster victims. You see only his golden carriage, not his generosity and compassion. You know nothing, yet accuse him of ill-gotten gains—how laughable.”

“That’s right! The general cares nothing for fame, nor does he wish to be burdened by it. That’s why he travels in a golden carriage—do you understand?” Zou Liniang sneered.

Cao Xin smiled, gently pulling the two women aside. He turned to Yang Aruo. “Your swordsmanship is impressive. Have you ever considered joining the army and achieving glory?”

“I’ll never sell my life for another,” Yang Aruo replied, sword at the ready.

Cao Xin shook his head, accepting a heavy iron sword from one of the guards. “You stole my carriage and injured my men. Originally, I would have killed you, but seeing your character, I’ll give you a chance. If you can withstand ten of my moves, you may go free. If you fail, you’ll serve under me for three years. Refuse, and you die!”

“Ten moves? You give your word?” Yang Aruo frowned.

“I, General of the Defenders, would never lie!” Cao Xin advan