Chapter 6: Nighttime Conversations at the Cao Estate

Liu Feng’s soul, inherited from a later era, possessed a decent tolerance for alcohol. While not exactly a heavy drinker, he could handle four or five bottles of beer like the strong varieties from the north. If it were rice wine, he might even be capable of downing a gallon in a day. As for the ancient measure of a *shi*, that was out of the question; even calculating by the Han dynasty standard of 220 to 250 grams per *jin*, that would be equivalent to a gallon and a half of water, and drinking that much would surely be fatal.

This capacity for drink seemed to have carried over to his current body, which was, in fact, significantly stronger than the one he possessed in his previous life. Thus, Liu Feng’s tolerance was only higher, not lower. Yet, he dared not get drunk. As a transmigrator, he held too many secrets; a slip of the tongue while intoxicated could have consequences he could not afford—it might even cost him his life. However, given Cao Bao’s immense hospitality and the verbal agreement they had just reached regarding a marriage alliance, Liu Feng had to consider the man’s feelings. Feigning drunkenness was, therefore, the perfect way to excuse himself.

Lying in the ox cart, Liu Feng began to contemplate his next moves. Cao Bao was now his prospective father-in-law. If Liu Feng could persuade Liu Bei to accept this union, the Danyang faction would have no choice but to either surrender or fall into total disintegration. As for that bunch of dregs in the Danyang faction, aside from Cao Bao, there was no one else worth courting. If Xu Dan were sensible and handed over his troops, he could be allowed to live out his days as a wealthy man. As for Cao Hong and his cronies, they were merely lambs waiting to be slaughtered. He had held off until now for fear that generals with military power, like Cao Bao and Xu Dan, might feel a sense of shared peril and incite a rebellion. Once he secured Cao Bao’s trust, however, those concerns would vanish, and the time for action would arrive.

To say nothing of anything else, the assets Cao Hong had amassed in Tancheng alone were worth hundreds of thousands of coins—and that was just his property, not counting his hidden cash. They had lorded over Xuzhou and fleeced the common people for years, each accumulating a massive fortune. These riches would be perfect for improving the lives of the populace and helping his father, Liu Bei, win the hearts of the Xuzhou people. Once Cao Bao fully sided with Liu Bei, Uncle Zhang Fei would have no reason to target him anymore. As long as Zhang Fei and Cao Bao avoided a confrontation like the one in history, even if Lü Bu were to receive grain and fodder support from Yuan Shu, he would find no opportunity to strike at their rear.

The most important task ahead was to persuade Liu Bei to accept his plan and welcome Cao Bao into their camp. While Liu Feng pondered how to get Liu Bei to greenlight these clandestine arrangements, Cao Bao was not idle in his own residence. As it happened, Cao Bao was not drunk either.

The drunken display he had put on before Liu Feng was merely an act. After seeing Liu Feng off in the ox cart, Cao Bao did not head to his quarters to rest. Instead, he went straight to a quiet courtyard at the back of his estate, where his only daughter, Cao Qing, resided. Cao Bao had made a difficult decision to place a heavy bet on Liu Feng, largely because he had no sons, only his daughter. This meant that his legacy, if not passed to a son-in-law, would inevitably fall into the hands of other clan members. But this was far from the end; on the contrary, the real trouble was just beginning. He needed someone to consult with on how to proceed. Although he had made up his mind, he worried about how to pacify his Danyang comrades once the news of the marriage alliance with Liu Feng became public. If they were to react with intense opposition, how should he choose?

"Father, if Uncle Xu and the others react with hostility and offer strong opposition, that might actually be the best possible outcome," said none other than Cao Qing. She was as her name suggested—delicate, elegant, and fair-skinned, with a hint of starlight hidden deep within her gentle eyes.

Cao Bao was stunned, completely unable to grasp his daughter’s meaning. "Qing’er, what do you mean by this?"

Cao Qing sighed helplessly and explained more bluntly: "Father, since Lord Tao passed away, you have become the de facto leader of the Danyang faction. During the process of Lord Liu succeeding in Xuzhou, you and the Danyang faction not only failed to contribute, but some of your subordinates even took the opportunity to spread rumors to block him. In such a situation, even if Lord Liu is willing to win you over and show you favor, he would hardly want you to bring the entire Danyang faction with you into his service, would he?"

Cao Bao remained confused, growing more perplexed. "What is wrong with that? If I can persuade Xu Zhengshi and the others, wouldn't we have a greater say under Lord Liu?"

Cao Qing sighed inwardly. She wondered if her father was lucky or unlucky. A man of merely average talent, he had stumbled into becoming the leader of the Danyang faction and the commander of the state's military, thanks to Tao Qian’s full support. But the higher one climbs, the harder the fall. Fortunately, her father lacked ambition and possessed a modicum of self-awareness. Now that Lord Liu had extended an olive branch, if she could explain the situation clearly, the family should be able to survive.

"Father, it is precisely because you think that way that I say it would be a good thing if Uncle Xu and the others have objections." Cao Qing felt a sense of weariness. "Father, the Danyang faction is too large and wields too much military power. If you all huddle together to join Lord Liu, the situation of 'strong subjects and a weak ruler' will persist. Even if Lord Liu marries into our family, how could he truly rest easy?"

"Only when you have a disagreement with Uncle Xu and the others, and the Danyang faction splits into several smaller cliques, will it truly align with Lord Liu’s wishes."

Cao Bao began to see the light, sensing the logic in his daughter’s words. Yet, he still countered with a lingering doubt: "But Lord Liu is very close with Chen Yuanlong, and Chen and I have never gotten along. If I distance myself from Xu Zhengshi and the others, and those Xuzhou men of Chen’s faction want to deal with me, won’t I be left without anyone to speak for me?"

Cao Qing was almost speechless. "Father, although Chief Clerk Chen does not get along with you, he is a man of broad spirit and open mind, not a petty, backstabbing villain. He would never resort to slandering or framing you. Moreover, you will be Lord Liu’s in-law and the father-in-law of the Young Master. 'Distance cannot act as a wedge between kin'; with Chen Yuanlong’s intelligence, why would he do something so thankless?"

Cao Bao suddenly realized the truth, but immediately pressed further: "Then how should I deal with my fellow clansmen?"

Cao Qing pondered for a moment. "Father, you should divide and conquer."

Cao Bao was delighted. "How do I do that?"

"If Uncle Xu and the others come to ask, you can strongly urge them to hand over their troops. If necessary, you can use the profits from the snow salt that the Young Master has offered our family to compensate them."

Cao Bao’s face showed reluctance upon hearing this. "Wouldn't our family lose too much?"

Cao Qing was nearly amused to the point of laughter at her father. "Father, if you can truly pull this off, Lord Liu will be overjoyed and deeply grateful to you. The benefits you gain from that will far outweigh the profits of the snow salt."

"That is true, that is true." Cao Bao nodded repeatedly, though his face still wore a pained expression, leaving Cao Qing torn between laughter and tears.

"Father, please set your mind at ease. The share of the snow salt profits promised to Uncle Xu and the others can come from my dowry. I believe that once the Young Master learns of this, he will only praise your wisdom, not blame you."

"This... how could I do that?" Although Cao Bao hated to part with the profits of the snow salt, he cared even more for his precious daughter. "I understand now. Once Lord Liu’s envoy arrives to propose the marriage, I will invite Xu Dan and the others to the mansion and follow your plan."

Only then was Cao Qing satisfied, a gentle, elegant smile appearing on her face. Looking at his quiet and refined daughter, Cao Bao couldn't help but think of Liu Feng, who had spoken so eloquently before him. He suddenly felt that if this marriage were to succeed, it might just be a good home for his daughter. As Cao Bao pondered this, other powerful and wealthy families in Tancheng County were also receiving news of Liu Feng’s visit to the Cao residence one after another.