Chapter 11: Cao Jie Has a Daughter

  Money spent, people are happy and at ease, the manuscript is almost finished.

  Having persuaded Liu Bei to stay in Xuzhou, as soon as the banquet was over, Tao Qian and Liu Bei began discussing the details of the Liu army's garrison in Xiaopei. Both were warm and sincere, one being magnanimous and unwilling to bear the name of injustice, and both voluntarily made concessions during the negotiations, not letting the other side have any difficulties. Therefore, the details of the garrison were quickly finalized.

  Here is the translation:

  The details of Liu Bei's garrison in Xiaopei are as follows: Liu Bei's army entered and stationed in the city of Xiaopei, with Lu County as the boundary. All the cities under Xu State that were closely affiliated with Xiaopei were handed over to Liu's army for tilling and management. Local officials were also appointed by Liu Bei. Tao Qian would pay a batch of money and grain to Liu Bei at regular intervals, allowing him to recruit soldiers and horses within his controlled territory, expand his troops, but Liu Bei's army was not allowed to move south beyond Lu County without Tao Qian's permission. At the same time, during wartime, Liu Bei's army had to follow Tao Qian's command and fight in coordination with Xu State's troops. The two parties did not sign a written agreement, instead asking Kong Rong and Tian Kai, two big shots, to serve as witnesses and attest to the alliance.

  After settling these details, Liu Bei and Kong Rong, Tian Kai each bid farewell to return to their respective military camps to rest. The elderly and sick Tao Qian also returned to the back house with the support of his entourage. Tao Shang, Tao Ying and Tao Ji brothers were sent by Tao Qian as representatives, leading the officials of Xuzhou to see off Liu Bei and Kong Rong. Tao Shang brothers and the officials of Xuzhou followed orders and escorted Kong Rong and others all the way to the city gate, where they bid farewell with a bow.

  Kong Rong and Tian Kai walked away, and the Tao brothers and the officials of Xuzhou all breathed a sigh of relief. The civil and military officials took their leave and returned home one after another. Tao Shang also asked Tao Ying and Tao Ji to return home with him. At this time, Tao Ji, who had been resentful about Tao Qian's decision to let Liu Bei take over Xuzhou, finally seized the opportunity to vent his grievances to Tao Ying: "Second brother, are you crazy or what? Xuzhou is our family's foundation and will be the base for us brothers in the future. Why do you always want to give it away? If we give away Xuzhou, what will become of us brothers?"

  "Filial piety forbids disobedience to one's father; disobedience is unfilial." Tao Ying answered with a straight face, but his eyes darted secretly towards the Mei brothers. Seeing that the Mei brothers were also expressionless, they refused to leave. On the other hand, Chen Ke and his son glanced over here, then took big strides and walked away, seemingly not wanting to get involved in this matter.

  "My second brother is right." Tao Shang, an honest child, echoed: "Letting Xuzhou to Xuande Gong was Father's decision. As sons, we can only follow orders and cannot disobey."

  "Uncle......" Tao Ji's face showed a hesitant expression, and he stomped his foot in frustration, saying: "I really don't know what Uncle is thinking. He doesn't want to be the governor of Xuzhou himself, and it would be fine to pass it on to either of you two brothers, so why does he have to give it to an outsider?"

  "The three gentlemen, there's no need to complain. The lord also has his own difficulties." A voice came from the side, it was Cao Bao, the chief general of Xuzhou. Cao Bao walked in front of the three Tao brothers and smiled at Tao Ji: "The three gentlemen can think about it, Lord Guan is neither under our lord's command nor an old acquaintance. He brought his troops to rescue Xuzhou, and now his army is stationed in the city. Outside, there are also Cao's powerful troops watching us closely. The lives of all the soldiers and civilians in Xuzhou are in Lord Guan's hands. If our lord doesn't give Lord Guan some benefits or hope, who knows what might happen... Heh heh, Xuzhou would be in trouble."

  "Is that so?" Taoyi was shocked and exclaimed: "The benevolent name of Lord Xian has spread throughout the world, how can he do such a thing?"

  "It's hard to know a person's heart, who knows whether Lord Guan's reputation for benevolence is true or false?" Cao Jie sneered and said: "That's why I guessed that the lord couldn't quite get a read on Liu Bei's character, so he proactively offered to give Xuzhou to Liu Bei, thereby seizing the moral high ground while also appeasing him."

  Tao Qian and Tao Shang looked at each other in dismay, skeptical of Cao Jie's explanation. Tao Shang also showed surprise on his face, repeatedly saying: "Uncle Cao, how can you say such a thing? My father is an upright person, and Lord Guan's kindness and righteousness are known throughout the world. How could he have such a heart to scheme and plot? In my humble opinion, Lord Guan is a modest gentleman, not a ruthless or unrighteous person at all. Uncle Cao has misunderstood him."

  Although he said nice things, Tao Ying muttered to himself, "This Cao Jiao is still somewhat clever and basically guessed half of it. Unfortunately, he's still a bit short-sighted - how could he say such things out loud, and in public? Moreover, his martial arts skills are also somewhat lacking, making him unreliable for important tasks."

  As expected, Cao Bao's words caused Mi Zhu and Mi Fang to change their expressions, and they walked away with their heads held high, leading several officials from Xuzhou. Cao Bao, however, did not notice anything unusual and turned to Tao Ying, saying: "Second Master, Governor Kong and the others have already left the city, and my military duties are also complete. I, Cao Bao, dare to invite Second Master to my humble abode for a small gathering, where we can share a few cups of wine together?"

  "Uncle is summoned, how dare the younger generation not follow?" Tao Ying answered in one breath — Cao Jiao was the chief general of Xuzhou, and all the soldiers and horses of Xuzhou were under his control. Now he took the initiative to get close to Tao Ying, who was naturally overjoyed. But as the second son, Tao Ying couldn't ignore the existence of his elder brother too much, so he turned to Tao Shang and Tao Ji and said: "Big brother, third brother, how about we go to General Cao's mansion together for a banquet?"

  "I won't go, my father's condition is just getting better, I still need to go back and serve him medicine." Tao Shang shook his head, without considering any other direction - for example, Cao Jiao and his younger brother approaching, threatening the position of his eldest son.

  "I won't be able to go." Tao Ji also shook his head, "It's almost dark, today it's my turn to guard the city defense, Cao Zei hasn't gone far yet, can't be careless."

  "In that case, I'll just go to Uncle Cao's house alone then." Tao Rong, who was eager to take control of the military power, didn't force the issue and instructed Tao Shang to take good care of their father and told Tao Ying to guard the city well. He mounted his horse and set off with Cao Jiao to attend a banquet at Cao Jiao's house.

  All the way to Cao Jiao's mansion, the servants in Cao Jiao's house received the news and lined up at the door to play music and welcome him. Tao Ying was surprised by the honor and repeatedly said that he didn't dare to accept it. Cao Jiao laughed loudly and said that Tao Ying had risked his life to save the people of Xuzhou, so he should receive this great honor. He personally helped Tao Ying down from his horse and invited him into the main hall to take a seat. He treated him with fine wine and food, showing great respect. However, Cao Jiao didn't drink alcohol due to his heavenly nature, so they could only have tea together. Tao Ying wasn't Zhang Fei, of course, and he didn't mind, chatting happily with Cao Jiao over tea and quickly becoming closer friends.

  After three rounds of wine, Cao Jie, who had a hidden agenda, turned the conversation to the main topic. While personally pouring wine for Tao Ying, he smiled and asked: "Second Master, the siege of Xuzhou has been lifted, and Cao's army has retreated to Xiaopei, and will soon completely withdraw from Xuzhou. The five counties of Xuzhou have turned from danger to safety. What are your plans for the next step?"

  "Everything is arranged by Father, Tao Ying dare not take charge again." Tao Ying heard the probing meaning in Cao Jiao's words and deliberately pretended to be confused.

  "What about the young master?" Cao Jiao asked, not giving up: "This time in Xuzhou, the young master's achievement is undeniable. The people of Xuzhou, both civilians and soldiers, are all grateful to the young master, and Lord Cao naturally has a different view of him. I believe it won't be long before Lord Cao lets the young master take office and gain experience through trials. Cao Jiao dares to ask, what are the young master's personal plans? If there is anything the young master needs, Cao Jiao will certainly do his best to assist."

  Cao Jiao's words had reached this point, and if Tao Ying continued to pretend to be stupid and look around while speaking, it would mean rejecting the proactive approach of Xu Zhou's chief general, so after some consideration, Tao Ying decided to give Cao Jiao an explanation. He bowed his hands and said: "Thank you, Uncle, for your concern and care. I will thank you first, and I dare not deceive you, Uncle. Although I still don't know whether my father will let me take office next, I personally hope to stand out and do something for Xu Zhou and for my father, to repay my father's nurturing grace and return the kindness of the people of Xu Zhou."

  "It's truly a blessing for our lord and Xuzhou that you can think this way." Cao Jiao's expression was still joyful, and he hastily asked again: "If so, then I, Cao Jiao, will dare to ask another question. Does the young master plan to start from a civil or military position?"

  "What's the point of asking so clearly? Are you afraid I'll snatch the position of Xu Zhou's chief general from you?" Tao Ying was quite surprised by Cao Jiao's shallow words, and to avoid causing unnecessary trouble, he thought for a moment before responding ambiguously: "Uncle, your humble nephew is stupid and incompetent, neither good at literature nor martial arts. Whether it's a literary or military position, I'm afraid I won't be able to handle either one well. So for now, I haven't made up my mind yet, everything will have to wait for Father's arrangement. If Father wants me to take a literary position, then I'll take a literary position."

  "Sir, whatever you do, don't take a desk job." Cao Jiao's response was somewhat unexpected to Tao Ying. Cao Jiao said sincerely: "Sir, in today's chaotic world where heroes rise and fall, and battles between them never cease, if you were to take a literary path, it would be difficult for you to make a name for yourself and achieve great things. Therefore, I humbly think that it would be best for you to join the military in Xuzhou, familiarize yourself with military affairs, and in the future, not only can you help your lord with his worries, but also protect the people of Xuzhou, and even allow you to make a great name for yourself, renowned throughout the land."

  "This guy actually wants to advise me to join the army, is he not afraid that I will seize his military power?" Tao Ying was somewhat surprised and deliberately asked back: "Uncle thinks that his nephew should join the military? But his nephew's martial arts are mediocre, and he doesn't understand military strategy, can he do it?"

  "For a future commander, the level of martial arts is not important. Can Han Xin's martial arts compare to Xiang Yu? Yet who lost at the Battle of Gaixia? Cao Jiao waved his hand and spoke out a truth, even more sincerely saying: "As for military strategy, this is even less important. No one is born knowing how to fight, young master can learn slowly in the army."

  At this point, Cao Jiao suddenly changed his expression and said warmly: "Moreover, when the young master takes office in Xuzhou Jun, I will also do my best to help the young master build merit and make the lord look at the young master with new eyes. In the future... Hehe."

  "Hmph, after all this fuss, it turns out that this guy wanted to curry favor with me." Tao Ying smiled to himself, finally understanding Cao Jiao's true intentions - now that he had rendered great service to Xuzhou and won the hearts of its people, his own father, Tao Qian, was old and frail, likely to pass away at any moment. His older brother, Tao Shang, was weak and incompetent, so when Tao Qian died, there was a high possibility that he would be appointed as the successor of Xuzhou. By befriending him before the succession, Cao Jiao could solidify his own position in the Xuzhou army and increase his influence in the future, to the point where he could dominate Xuzhou with an iron fist and become its de facto ruler.

  Understood Cao Jiao's intentions, Tao Ying immediately felt much more at ease. He quickly got up from his seat and bowed to Cao Jiao, saying: "In that case, I'll thank my uncle first. If I really can take a position in the Xuzhou army, please give me more guidance and care."

  "It should be, it should be." Cao Jiao was overjoyed and hastily helped Tao Ying up, then smiled and said: "Young master, please sit for a moment. In my house, there is still a jar of fine old wine that has been treasured for many years. I will personally go get the good wine and ask you to drink until you are drunk."

  "No need, Uncle's gift is already overwhelming, I'm grateful and dare not use Uncle's treasured collection for many years." Tao Yingqian humbly declined. Cao Jiao, however, refused to agree to anything and repeatedly invited Tao Ying to sit down and wait while he went to fetch good wine to treat him. Tao Ying had no choice but to agree, and Cao Jiao left with a happy and joyful expression.

  "It's a pity that his abilities are somewhat lacking, otherwise, with his cleverness and understanding, he would definitely be my good helper." Watching Cao Jiao leave with a happy back, Tao Ying sighed in her heart and couldn't help but smile slightly, thinking to herself: "Fortunately, his skills are mediocre, otherwise, it wouldn't be easy to snatch the military power of Xuzhou from him."

  As they chatted, Tao Ying suddenly felt a flash before his eyes, and outside the hall, a woman with a slender figure and elegant demeanor walked in, her body adorned with silk and jade, clearly not a servant of the Cao household. When Tao Ying took another look at the woman's face, he immediately regretted his lecherous gaze, feeling that he had seen something he shouldn't have, and this meal was now completely unappetizing.

  Originally, the woman who came in from outside was extremely ugly, with a toad-like mouth and green bean eyes, skin like lacquer, a flat nose and pigeon chest, hair that was both yellow and sparse, eyebrows that were thick and black, she was simply a female version of Quasimodo, walking on the street would scare three or five people to death, it's absolutely no problem for her to be a female version of the monster!

  What made Tao Ying even more unbearable was that this strange and ugly woman, after entering the door, neither spoke nor paid respects, but only blinked her small green eyes to size up Tao Ying from head to toe. This made Tao Ying's heart feel hairy, so she quickly pretended to pour wine and lowered her head, avoiding the strange gaze of the ugly woman. Fortunately, the ugly woman did not stay in the hall for long, and after sizing up Tao Ying for a moment, she quietly exited the great hall and disappeared without a trace. Tao Ying couldn't help but wonder in her heart, "Who are these ugly women?"

  "Gentlemen, I've kept you waiting." After a brief moment, Cao Jue returned to the hall with a large wine jug, laughing loudly as he opened it and said: "Gentlemen, although I never drink, this jug of wine was bought at a high price ten years ago in Chu, it's a fine vintage, gentlemen must definitely have some more."

  "Thank you, Uncle, your gift is too generous, I don't dare to accept it." Tao Ying hastily showed humility.

  "General." Suddenly, another servant from the Cao mansion came in and bowed to Cao Jie, saying: "General, your daughter has been searching for you everywhere just now. Now Madam is looking for her, I wonder if General's daughter is here?"

  "Cao Ling is looking for me, what's the matter?" Cao Jiao asked with feigned surprise.

  "The little man doesn't know." The servant shook his head and replied.

  "Sir, did the little girl just enter the hall?" Cao Jiao turned to Tao Ying and asked.

  Just then a young lady came into the hall, but quickly went out again without saying a word. I don't know if she was Uncle's daughter-in-law or not." Tao Ying answered truthfully, while secretly muttering to himself, "Cao Jiao's daughter? Could it be that she later married Lü Bu? Lü Wenhou really has good taste, but how dare someone like her come up here? Admirable, admirable!"

  "It's actually Little Miss Cao Ling!" Cao Jiao slapped her thigh, pretending to be angry and said: "This child, why didn't you speak up and pay respects when you saw the young master? You really deserve a beating."

  After that, Cao Jiao turned to the servant and shouted: "Go tell Madam to scold Ling'er a few more times after she finds her. If not for Young Master's sacrifice to persuade Cao Ze's army to retreat, would any of us in the Cao family be alive?"

  The people below all nodded and agreed, made a courtesy call to bid farewell and leave, while Tao Ying's heart was filled with doubts, secretly thinking: "This doesn't add up, in this era, where would you find a young lady worth thousands of gold throwing her head back and revealing her face so casually? And what happened earlier, the more I think about it, the more it seems like it was pre-arranged. What is Cao Jiao planning by arranging things like this?"

  Calculating up to this point, Tao Ying involuntarily shivered and thought: "Could it be that Old Sly Cao...?"

  "Ah, young master." As expected, Cao Jiu changed the subject, pouring wine for Tao Ying while smiling and saying: "Young master, if I'm not mistaken, you're already twenty years old this year? And yet, you still haven't gotten married?"

  "The Huns have not been exterminated, how can I think of family?" Tao Ying shivered again and hastily declined: "Nowadays the world is in great chaos, Xuzhou's vitality has been greatly injured, my father is old and ill, Tao Ying dare not consider marriage."

  "Alas, a man without a wife is like a house without a beam. Can we neglect human relationships because of national affairs?" Cao Jiao waved his hand to negate Tao Ying's twisted logic and smiled: "My daughter's appearance, you've seen it just now, she's still somewhat pleasing to the eye, slender and pretty. If you're not disgusted with her, I intend to marry my daughter to you. What do you think?"

  "That's what you call a good-looking woman? Thin and pretty? Old Cao, not only are your martial arts skills no good, but your eyesight is even worse!" Tao Ying almost cried out loud, thinking to himself that Old Cao had really given him a difficult problem. Even if his daughter was just average-looking, he could have reluctantly accepted her for the sake of the Xu Zhou army's power, but she looked like a ghost - if he brought her back home, wouldn't they have to perform "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" every night?

  In a state of shock, Tao Ying hastily made an excuse: "Thank you for your kind intentions, uncle. I appreciate it, but my elder brother Tao Shang has not yet married, and as the second son, I really shouldn't rush to get engaged and married before him."

  "It doesn't matter, young master. If you agree, we can first get engaged and then get married after the eldest son gets married." Cao Jiao indeed had a mind to marry off his daughter to Tao Ying, making concessions on his own initiative. At the same time, Cao Jiao sneered in his heart, "You're lucky, with my daughter's looks, it's not like one or two wealthy families' young masters are fighting for her."

  "Since ancient times, marriage has always been a matter of parental orders and matchmakers' words. As a filial son, I dare not take matters into my own hands." Tao Ying steeled himself and again declined, also mentally preparing to offend Cao Jue.

  It's okay, Cao Jiao was a clever and oily person. Seeing Tao Ying repeatedly pushing away, he suddenly understood that Tao Ying didn't look down on his daughter, so Cao Jiao didn't force it either. He raised the teacup again, smiled and said: "Young master is indeed a filial son, since you say so, then let's consider this matter as if I never mentioned it. Please, young master, let's drink tea."

  "Thank you, Uncle." Tao Ying let out a sigh of relief and hastily raised his wine cup to clink with Cao Jiao's, but just then, he suddenly heard a very angry woman's cold snort coming from outside the window, followed by a burst of angry footsteps. In an instant, Tao Ying understood - this matter today was absolutely not accidental, Cao Jiao had long since made up his mind to marry his daughter off to him, and the one hiding outside the window eavesdropping was definitely Cao Jiao's ugly-as-fright daughter Cao Ling!

  "What's with this kid, what kind of eyes does he have?" Cao Jiao also wondered in his heart, "My daughter may not be able to become a beauty like a heavenly fairy, but she is at least a stunning beauty, charming and moving. I've already been so nice to this kid, how can he still resolutely refuse? Is this kid really a thorough idiot who doesn't understand the benefits of allying with me, Cao Jiao?"