Chapter 8: Cao Ang: Cao Cao is Unrighteous and Unfilial, a Butcher
“What you said is not wrong, but only partially correct.”
“It was precisely because Cao Cao acted this way that Zhang Miao rebelled.”
“Before the rebellion, Zhang Miao and his allies must have strongly opposed this action and did not want to share their grain and land with the Yellow Turbans.”
“Even though the gentry of Yan Province could provide a large amount of land for Cao Cao to cultivate, the crops sown would not yield immediate returns, leaving a period of grain shortage.”
Chen Zhou directly pointed out the shortcomings of this approach.
At the beginning, Cao Cao had the same idea.
But after a while, he had to abandon it and find another solution, as managing a population of a million was too much.
In fact, Cao Cao did not fully disclose many things to Cao Ang, such as some of the more ruthless methods.
As a father, he naturally wanted to maintain a good image in front of his son.
Cao Ang was completely unaware of the true nature of the massacre in Xuzhou and only thought that Cao Cao initiated the war and slaughter to avenge his grandfather.
Similarly, Xun Yu, who was eavesdropping, brightened at the mention of Zhang Miao’s rebellion.
Indeed, the people in the room were high-level analysts of Zhang Miao for the lord, but why was the lord hiding outside to eavesdrop?
Seeing that Cao Cao had no other reaction, Xun Yu had no choice but to remain silent.
They continued to listen.
“Young master, you might want to consider if there are any other methods to stabilize the surrendered Yellow Turbans.”
Chen Zhou threw this question at Cao Ang once more.
Cao Ang also felt that he shouldn’t rely solely on the teacher for all the answers, as that would make him no different from an invalid, and he seriously contemplated.
Chen Zhou reminded him, “Young master, you don’t have to limit yourself to Cao Cao’s current methods. Think from Cao Cao’s perspective and consider what you could do. Anything is fine.”
With this requirement in mind, Cao Ang’s thinking became more expansive.
“If I were Cao Cao, the first thing I might consider is to kill a large portion of the people, leaving only the number I can support,” Cao Ang said.
“Anything else?”
Chen Zhou asked again.
Cao Ang indeed had more ideas and continued, “I could also ask Yuan Shao for grain. Since Cao Cao was Yuan Shao’s subordinate, he should be able to borrow grain if he asked.”
“Or…”
He had another idea and added, “Kill half of the people, keep the other half, and then borrow grain. This way, the pressure won’t be so great.”
“What you suggested is actually feasible!”
Chen Zhou said, “But Cao Cao didn’t do it that way.”
Cao Cao indeed didn’t follow through with Cao Ang’s suggestions, though he had thought of them.
Upon hearing this, Cao Cao understood that Chen Zhou had indeed seen through his true intentions behind the massacre in Xu Province and was trying to guide Cao Ang to speak about it, but Cao Ang had never thought in such a cruel direction.
Truly sharp-minded.
Only a few people knew his real intentions.
“Can you figure out why Cao Cao didn’t do that?”
Chen Zhou continued, “Anything you can think of, he would definitely also consider.”
Cao Ang continued to think seriously and, after a while, asked, “Does it have something to do with attacking Xu province?”
“Attacking Xu province and the massacre in Xu province are the results of integrating the Yellow Turbans.”
Chen Zhou saw that he couldn’t figure it out, so he stopped pressing him and explained, “Cao Cao didn’t take that approach because he wanted to recruit the entire Yellow Turban army. If he borrowed grain from Yuan Shao, the surrendered Yellow Turbans wouldn’t be entirely Cao Cao’s men. Killing them wouldn’t align with his goal of complete recruitment and strengthening his power.”
After a pause, Chen Zhou continued, “Cao Cao was unwilling to miss this rare opportunity to become a true warlord. He wanted to break free from Yuan Shao’s dependency and no longer rely on anyone. With only seven or eight thousand troops, Cao Cao couldn’t achieve independence from Yuan Shao. Therefore, he needed to recruit the 3,00,000 Yellow Turban surrenderers as a foundation.”
“Well said!”
Cao Cao was internally cheering.
This was precisely his plan: to become independent by recruiting the Yellow Turbans and breaking free from Yuan Shao’s control. This was a strategy they had devised together.
Even a prisoner in a cell could see through their development strategy, and Xun Yu was surprised, asking, “My lord, who exactly is this person?”
This strategy had been discussed among only a few, and even Cao Ang didn’t know about it.
“He is an ordinary subordinate of Zhang Miao,” Cao Cao whispered. “I don’t want him to know I’m eavesdropping or reveal my identity. Wenruo, don’t make a fuss. Let’s continue listening.”
Xun Yu was full of questions but continued to listen, intrigued by the man in Zhang Miao’s camp who could reveal so much.
“But what about the million people who surrendered?”
Cao Ang finally understood his father’s plan, but a new problem arose.
Without borrowing grain and without killing people, the million people could not be supported solely by Yan Province. The local aristocracy in Yan province wouldn’t allow Cao Cao to support so many people.
“Think about when the shortage of grain was alleviated after the million people arrived,” Chen Zhou didn’t directly give the reason but hinted, prompting Cao Ang to think.
Cao Ang scratched his head, reviewing the events of the campaign against Xu Province in his mind, and then exclaimed, “It was when we first attacked Xu Province that the grain shortage was resolved. So, your idea is… to ravage Xu Province?”
He finally understood the true purpose behind Cao Cao’s attack on Xu Province, which wasn’t just for revenge but also for food.
By killing the people of Xu Province and seizing their food and resources, the grain needed for a million people would be obtained.
“There’s no need to kill people or borrow grain. Although the method is cruel, it is very effective and achieves the goal of recruitment.”
“How could Cao Cao…”
“Are the lives of Xu Province’s people not worth anything?”
“He commits large-scale killings just to recruit the Yellow Turbans, ravaging cities for resources. The revenge for his father was just an excuse.”
“Cao Cao is unfilial, brutal, and only knows how to kill. He…”
Cao Ang was very angry and wanted to curse Cao Cao severely, but he didn’t know how to express his anger.
Over the past year or two, he had been learning from scholars like Xun Yu, and he didn’t know how to curse. It was hard for him to criticize his father.
If the reason for the slaughter was to avenge his grandfather, Cao Ang could still accept it, since Tao Qian was extremely detestable, and he wanted to avenge his grandfather.
But the real reason for the slaughter was unacceptable to Cao Ang.
“Unfilial son…”
Cao Cao was enraged to hear Cao Ang speak about him this way.
If it weren’t for Cao Ren holding him back, he almost couldn’t restrain himself from exposing his identity and dragging Cao Ang out.
“My lord, don’t act impulsively,” Xun Yu immediately reassured him.
He was aware of the brutal nature of the attack on Xu Province but couldn’t prevent it. He later even tacitly approved it.
Ravaging cities was the most cost-effective way to obtain food and resources. In Cao Cao’s early development, money, grain, and supplies were severely lacking, and all he could do was seize them.
In times of chaos, ravaging cities was a basic strategy.
Additionally, Xun Yu later did not oppose the looting of tombs, as it provided Cao Cao with financial resources.
“I am not angry.”
Cao Cao took a deep breath, his chest heaving, thinking about how he would deal with that little rascal when he returned home.
They quickly calmed down and continued to eavesdrop.
“If it were anyone else, they might be at a loss with a million people.”
“But Cao Cao is not just anyone. He is bold and takes extreme measures, such as ravaging cities to support his troops, doing things others dare not.”
“Rather than saying Cao Cao recruited the Yellow Turbans, it is more accurate to say he joined them.”
“What the Yellow Turbans did, Cao Cao led his troops to do in Xu Province. He did it without psychological pressure, showing cruelty. This is the trait of a treacherous hero.”
Chen Zhou’s voice echoed again.
Cao Cao’s eyes sparkled as he heard Chen Zhou’s evaluation of him.
He felt that Chen Zhou seemed to appreciate him, not finding the ravaging of cities to be against morality but rather a necessary action in a chaotic era. He suddenly felt a connection with Chen Zhou.
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