Chapter 1: Teaching in Prison, Cao Cao Eavesdrops
In the first year of Xingping, 194 AD.
T/n: Xingping refers to the first year of the Xingping era, which began in 194 AD during the reign of Emperor Xian of the Eastern Han Dynasty in ancient China.
Cao Cao avenged his father by attacking Xuzhou. As the Cao army advanced, they slaughtered indiscriminately, sparing neither man nor beast. The Si River even stopped flowing due to the devastation.
Chen Gong, the governor of Dongjun, became dissatisfied with Cao Cao and conspired with Zhang Miao, the governor of Chenliu, and Xushun, an officer in the court, to rebel. They invited Lü Bu to Yanzhou, forcing Cao Cao to retreat and defend Yanzhou, fighting Lü Bu.
In the second year of Xingping, Cao Cao battled Lü Bu again and recaptured Yanzhou.
After the war, Chen Gong fled with Lü Bu.
Zhang Miao and others were executed by Cao Cao.
Some of Zhang Miao’s relatives, friends, colleagues, and subordinates who couldn’t escape Yanzhou were all captured by Cao Cao and imprisoned in the Puyang prison of Dongjun.
The number of captives was so large that the prison was nearly full.
After the Yanzhou conflict subsided, Cao Cao began executing the prisoners, starting with interrogation, followed by beheading.
Every now and then, a group of people was taken out for execution.
Half a month ago, Chen Zhou, who had been transported to the late Eastern Han Dynasty by a truck driver, unfortunately became one of Zhang Miao’s subordinates and was implicated, now locked in the dark and foul-smelling prison.
T/n: Truck Kun xD!!
“This beginning…”
“I must be the unluckiest time traveler ever!”
Trapped in prison, Chen Zhou had thought about escaping, but it was virtually impossible. Death seemed inevitable.
Having already died once, and with no way out of the prison, he gradually resigned himself to fate, waiting for his execution. Though unsure when death would come, he couldn’t help feeling anxious as he watched other prisoners being taken away one by one.
With nothing to do while waiting for death, Chen Zhou started telling stories and boasting to the prisoners and guards around him, using his knowledge and insights that were over a thousand years ahead of the Three Kingdoms period. He impressed everyone in the prison.
One of them was a young noble from the Cao clan, who, after visiting the prison one day and hearing Chen Zhou’s explanation, became very interested.
As a result, the young noble provided Chen Zhou with a private and clean cell, along with fresh clothes. Every day, he would bring food and drink, visiting Chen Zhou to ask questions about various topics.
“Sir!”
At this moment, the young noble appeared outside the prison cell.
He was none other than Cao Ang, Cao Cao’s eldest son. Three days ago, a distant relative of the Cao family committed a crime in Puyang and was imprisoned here.
Cao Ang had to come and rescue his relative, and by chance, he overheard Chen Zhou explaining the relationship between the Yellow Turban Rebellion and the economy of the Han Dynasty, immediately captivated by the unique insights.
[T/n: The Yellow Turban Rebellion (184-205 AD) was a major peasant uprising in China that took place during the late Eastern Han dynasty. It was led by a religious sect known as the Way of Supreme Peace (太平道, Tàipíng Dào), whose followers believed that their leader, Zhang Jue, could bring about a new era of peace and equality.]
Over the past three days, Cao Ang visited Chen Zhou daily, asking for advice on various matters, impressed by Chen Zhou’s extensive knowledge and profound understanding of the Han Dynasty.
He even expressed his desire to become Chen Zhou’s disciple.
Chen Zhou could tell that Cao Ang was not an ordinary person and held some status within the Cao clan.
He thought, “Maybe I can work something out and find a way to avoid death through Cao Ang.”
With this thought, Chen Zhou snapped out of his passive state and began looking forward to living again. He cooperated fully, answering any question Cao Ang asked.
“The young master has arrived.”
Upon seeing Cao Ang, Chen Zhou stood up and cupped his hands in greeting.
Cao Ang quickly returned the gesture, saying, “No need for formalities, sir. Let’s continue our conversation in the private room. Please, this way!”
The so-called private room was just an empty space outside the prison, set up specifically to host Chen Zhou.
“Alright!”
Chen Zhou followed Cao Ang out of the cell, watched enviously by the other prisoners as they walked toward the prison gates.
——
Dongjun Governor’s Mansion.
“Zixiu (Cao Ang) has been going to the prison every day recently?”
Cao Cao sat in the hall, asking incredulously.
Standing before him, Cao Ren nodded and said, “A few days ago, one of my relatives committed a crime and was imprisoned there. I asked Zixiu to help release them. Since that day, I’ve heard that Zixiu has been going to the prison daily and staying there for most of the day. It even seems he wants to take one of Zhang Miao’s subordinates as his teacher.”
“Taking a condemned prisoner as his teacher? Absurd!”
Cao Cao slammed his hand on the desk.
If word of this got out, how would it reflect on his reputation?
Especially since that condemned prisoner was connected to Zhang Miao!
Cao Cao asked, “Why haven’t those connected to Zhang Miao been executed yet?”
Cao Ren replied, “This is the last batch. They are scheduled for execution early next month.”
Cao Cao said in displeasure, “No need to wait until next month. Kill them all today!”
But as soon as he said this…
“Lord!”
An official who was keeping an eye on Cao Ang hurried into the room and bowed, saying, “The young master has gone to the prison again. He even brought out that subordinate of Zhang Miao’s to give a lecture.”
Cao Ren added, “For the past few days, Zixiu has been asking that condemned prisoner for lessons.”
“What qualifies a condemned prisoner to give lessons?”
Cao Cao snorted.
He had placed great hopes on Cao Ang, usually having scholars like Xun Yu teach him.
But Cao Ang ignored Xun Yu and instead went to a condemned prisoner for lectures. Could that prisoner’s teachings be more captivating than those of Xun Yu?
Even though Cao Cao was dissatisfied, after hearing what Cao Ren and the others had said, he became somewhat curious about Chen Zhou.
“Don’t kill him yet.”
“I want to see what kind of skills a condemned prisoner possesses.”
Cao Cao stood up and walked outside.
Cao Ren quickly followed.
Not long after, they arrived outside the prison, near the private room.
The private room was just a relatively clean and decorated space compared to the prison, though still quite simple inside.
As Cao Cao approached, he heard a voice from within.
“Sir, the question you asked me to think about yesterday, I’m still confused.”
“What could be the connection between brothels and people’s livelihoods?”
It was Cao Ang’s voice.
A brothel is a filthy place, one he wouldn’t even go near.
Soon, another voice replied.
“The young master must know that every time Cao Cao enters a city, he always asks, ‘Are there any prostitutes here?'”
“Actually, what Cao Cao is asking about is not prostitutes, but the livelihood of the people.”
“But in the young master’s eyes, Cao Cao is asking because he wants to indulge, right?”
This was Chen Zhou speaking.
Cao Ang: “…”
Wasn’t that the case?
Cao Ang was confused.
Lady Bian, who recently entered the household, was brought back by Cao Cao after visiting a brothel. Cao Ang had always thought that Cao Cao just wanted some fun.
“Please enlighten me, sir!”
Cao Ang asked sincerely.
Outside the private room.
Cao Cao and Cao Ren, upon hearing this conversation, were momentarily stunned, their faces flushing slightly.
Cao Cao hadn’t expected to walk in on such an embarrassing topic, and his son was even discussing his visits to brothels.
Cao Ren felt that this condemned prisoner had the audacity to slander their lord, even daring to address him by name with no respect.
A subordinate of Zhang Miao’s really had no limits!
“I’ll go drag him out right now!”
Cao Ren, unable to tolerate this, rolled up his sleeves, ready to go in and seize the man.
“Wait a moment!”
Cao Cao stopped him. He wanted to hear how the man would explain this issue.
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