Chapter 12 Mission to Ye City (Part 1) It seems only I am truly "..."
As Xuchang enters winter, the north wind howls and the cold is biting.
On Cao Cao's desk lay a intercepted secret letter:
Yuan Shao was vying for power with Gongsun Zan in Hebei and resented Cao Cao for using the emperor to command him. He secretly sent an envoy to contact Zhang Xiu, intending to form an alliance with him to restrain and threaten Cao Cao.
"This Yuan Benchu certainly knows how to pick his timing."
Cao Cao said angrily, "Wenruo is right. We must first stabilize Yuan Shao, and at the same time, I will launch another campaign against Zhang Xiu to eliminate this immediate threat."
"So, regarding the matter of being sent as an envoy to Ye City..." Xun Yu interjected at the opportune moment, while Cao Cao's gaze swept across the room, finally settling on Guo Jia, who remained composed.
Diplomatic matters are usually handled by Wang Bi, but this time, the negotiations with Yuan Shao were neither a surrender nor a show of force; the intention was simply to send a clear signal to Yuan Shao:
Cao Cao was aware of their plot and had already prepared a response.
If Yuan Shao wanted to focus on dealing with Gongsun Zan without any worries about the rear, he should not cause trouble in the south. Therefore, it can be almost concluded that this matter will succeed.
More than that, Cao Cao wanted to know the specific situation in Ye City.
Guo Jia had briefly served under Yuan Shao and was quite familiar with the people, atmosphere, and even the subtle conflicts among his advisors in Ye City.
Furthermore, thinking of how Yuan Shao's envoy had been forced into a sorry state and injured by Guo Jia and his wife's unintentional actions, Cao Cao couldn't help but feel a secret pleasure. If this "wonderful couple" could come to Ye City and cause trouble for Yuan Shao and his confidants in their own unique "way"... wouldn't that be wonderful?
Guo Jia seemed to sense something, raised his head to meet Cao Cao's gaze, and a gleam of eager anticipation instantly ignited in his eyes.
Go to Ye City? That suits him perfectly! It'll be a good opportunity to visit those "old friends," who are just as interesting as they were back then.
He stepped forward and bowed deeply, saying, "My lord, how about entrusting this matter to Jia Lai?"
The two understood each other without saying a word, and Cao Cao didn't need to explain anything further; a single glance was enough for them to know each other.
Although there was a slight commotion among the civil and military officials below, they ultimately watched Guo Jia accept his orders and leave, given the atmosphere of Guo Jia's initiative in volunteering and Cao Cao's tacit approval.
Therefore, Deng Jie also followed Guo Jia to Ye City.
The prosperity of Ye City far surpasses that of Xu Du when it was first established.
The towering city gate tower, the banners fluttering in the wind, the bustling thoroughfares, and the pedestrians dressed in brocade and walking leisurely... all demonstrate the grandeur of this Weijun capital and the most magnificent city in Hebei.
Even Deng Jie, who had seen wealth and status, couldn't help but feel excited upon first arriving in this place.
However, this lavish "hospitality" did not extend to these "Cao Cao's special envoys".
The official in charge of receiving them had a cold, businesslike demeanor and led the two to a simple inn near the bustling market in the east of the city.
The building was low and the walls were thin, so the cold wind could seep through the gaps and make a faint whistling sound.
The furnishings inside were much simpler than in their own home. The rough bed and table were haphazardly placed against the wall, and there wasn't even a decent bookshelf, which contrasted sharply with the high-rise Yuan Mansion seen from the window.
The official leading the way gave a forced smile: "Special Envoy, Madam, Ye City is a humble place, unlike the grandeur of Xudu. Please forgive us. Our lord is very busy with state affairs, so please have someone come to escort you to an audience."
After saying that, he left in a hurry, not forgetting to give a disdainful look before he left.
Deng Jie watched him leave angrily, but then she saw her husband looking at the bustling street scene outside the window with great interest.
Voices, laughter, and hawking cries, along with the aromas of various foods, wafted through the air.
"Fengxiao?" Seeing that he was happy, Deng Jie's dissatisfaction lessened, and he stroked his arm to look outside.
"Look, this place is full of life, and you can hear the sounds of the market. It's more interesting than the official post station."
Upon hearing his words, Deng Jie's slight displeasure immediately vanished. After all, having spent many years mingling in the streets, this scene was indeed more comfortable for her.
The two changed into casual clothes and rested inside the building while waiting.
However, the food delivered by the inn was rather bland and coarse. Even though the two had experienced the austere life in the thatched hut, they found it difficult to swallow this deliberately difficult meal.
Guo Jia took only one bite, sneered, and put down his chopsticks. "It seems that Lord Yuan wants us to go and taste the flavors of Ye City ourselves."
After saying that, he pulled Deng Jie out like a fish into water and disappeared into the bustling market of Ye City.
Guo Jia told her that this area was mostly filled with restaurants and taverns, and it was much more prosperous than it had been six years ago.
He took her to try yogurt, eat flatbread, and drink plum juice, making her very happy.
Although Deng Jie was curious about following him, he was also somewhat uneasy. "Fengxiao, is what we're doing... considered neglecting our duties?"
Guo Jia laughed at her for being more concerned than he was, put down his wine cup, and clapped his hands lightly. "Alright, since you're worried, let's go and get down to business!"
As they left the restaurant, Guo Jia introduced her, saying, "Don't be fooled by the prosperity of Ye City's commerce; behind it all is Xu Ziyuan from Nanyang."
Relying on his control over the Zhen family's business in Zhongshan, he mobilized the Jizhou merchant caravan to plant spies everywhere, and he also profited handsomely from it.
Deng Jie asked in confusion, "You know about this, so why didn't Lord Yuan do anything about it?"
Guo Jia snorted coldly, "He is Yuan Shao's confidant. The gold and silver in Yuan's mansion all flow in through his accounting. What's wrong with turning a blind eye and letting him take some for himself..."
However, so many years have passed, and Yuan Shao is no longer the same person he once was. Who knows if their friendship is still as strong as it once was?
As he spoke, a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.
As they talked, the two arrived at the granary in the west of the city.
From afar, one could see the mountain of grain stacks, but the guards were not particularly strict. The laborers carrying the grain looked indifferent, and a few minor officials chatted idly in the shade.
Guo Jia pointed to the granary and said in a low voice, "Judging from this situation, the grain and fodder are plentiful."
The grain and fodder supplies for Ye City have always been managed by Feng Yuantu, a native of Nanyang. He is meticulous in his work, but his mind... Hmph, judging from the laziness of these officials, it seems Feng Yuantu's mind hasn't been entirely focused on the grain lately.
Next, Guo Jia led her "passing by" the armory in the north of the city.
The guards here are noticeably more stringent, and the air is filled with the smell of rust and tung oil. You can also faintly hear the clanging of forging inside.
Guo Jia glanced at the vehicles and armored guards coming and going, and said softly, "This is a military stronghold, and Tian Yuanhao should still be in charge of it."
This man is upright and strict, intolerant of any wrongdoing. Judging from the commotion, he has made thorough preparations.
He then pointed to the armored soldiers behind him, "That Ju Shou is a great talent. He was originally Han Wenjie's advisor, who advised him to reject Yuan. Unfortunately, Han Wenjie himself did not seize the opportunity and handed over Ji Province to others."
After Yuan Shao took control of Ye City, he feared Ju Shou's prestige in the army and appointed him as the military supervisor. Judging from the specially made armor worn by the soldiers, they were all Ju Shou's trusted confidants.
Finally, they turned south of the city, passing a high-walled courtyard far away, where the eerie atmosphere could be felt across the street.
Guo Jia did not stop walking, but said calmly, "That is Ye Prison."
This is the domain of cruel officials like Shen Zhengnan. This man is ruthless and vindictive. The atmosphere in this prison is even more sinister than before; it seems this 'pen-wielding official' remains as powerful as ever.
Deng Jie listened carefully and couldn't help but ask, "The people you're talking about... are they either from Nanyang or local officials from Jizhou? What about the scholars from Yingchuan?"
She had already noticed the factional divisions.
Guo Jia was both surprised and delighted, and gave her an approving look: "You're very perceptive."
The Xin brothers were originally in charge of planning the selection of military officers; as for Guo Gong... well, he was skilled in the inner workings of the inner court and often accompanied several young masters.
As for Youruo, he was originally skilled in diplomacy and strategy, but after helping Yuan Shao seize Ji Province, he was sidelined and sidelined...
He paused, his tone slightly playful, "Now that times have changed, I wonder what will happen to Wenruo and me after we left. This trip is a good opportunity to see for myself."
A day passed, and seeing that Yuan Shao still hadn't made a move, Guo Jia took Deng Jie to stroll around the market on the other side.
This place seems more vibrant than the markets in Xudu.
Compared to the restaurants and taverns near the post station, this area had a wider variety of shops and stalls, and it was bustling with people, with shops and stalls lining the streets.
The air was filled with the aroma of baked flatbread, the sweetness of cosmetics, and even the bitterness of various medicinal herbs.
Passing by a rather grand incense shop, Deng Jie was attracted by the rich fragrance emanating from inside.
“Fengxiao, this fragrance…” She stopped in her tracks, tugged at Guo Jia’s sleeve, and looked into the incense shop.
Guo Jia smiled knowingly, "Since you're curious, go in and take a look. Anyway, we don't have any official business right now."
The two entered the incense shop, which was elegantly furnished. Various spices were neatly categorized and placed in small, exquisite porcelain bottles or brocade boxes, creating a dazzling display.
Deng Jie happily followed the maid's guidance, distinguishing the various ingredients in the face powder.
Guo Jia wasn't particularly interested in the perfume powder, but his gaze was drawn to an elegant area partitioned off inside the perfume shop.
Several exquisitely made-up women were sitting there, having their powder and rouge applied, eyebrows and lips drawn by skilled makeup artists.
The table was covered with various rouges, face powders, eyebrow pencils, and floral decorations, creating a beautiful and enchanting scene.
He had a slight thought and looked at his wife, who was identifying the new spices.
He had not seen her dressed up since that simple wedding at the Deng clan two years ago.
Knowing that it's inconvenient for her to conduct free clinics regularly, and also...
Her hands were steady as she held the needle, but her brushstrokes were rather sloppy. Back in the Deng family, she had a maid who would serve her when she did her makeup. If it were her, her eyebrows would probably be off-center.
Looking at the radiant women under the skillful hands of those makeup artists, and then thinking of his wife's beautiful but often plain face, a thought popped into his head.
“Speaking of which,” Guo Jia leaned closer to Deng Jie, who was smelling the fragrance, and whispered, “Look over there, it seems they are also skilled at makeup here.”
"Since we've come all this way, and to this bustling area, why don't you... draw one for me too?"
Deng Jie followed his gaze, her cheeks slightly flushed: "Nonsense! What are we doing out here? This... this is inappropriate!"
Though she scolded him playfully, a hint of longing unconsciously flickered in her eyes. What woman doesn't love beauty? Especially in this bustling, foreign land.
"Why not?" Guo Jia continued to urge, "Anyway, we've been left out in the cold today."
Besides, if you're going to enter the Yuan residence, you'd better dress up nicely so as not to be inappropriate, right?
Besides... it's been a long time since I've seen you dressed up like that.
For Deng Jie, it was this last sentence that truly touched his heart: "Then... alright."
Finally, blushing, she quietly agreed.
The makeup artist's skills were superb; she applied powder evenly, outlined the eyebrows, blended rouge, and tinted the lips...
Guo Jia sat to the side, his eyes following the makeup artist's movements with utmost concentration.
He once sat opposite her in the same way, watching the Deng family's maids apply makeup to her.
The maid then jokingly said, "Why don't you take this opportunity to learn more so you can paint for the young lady yourself in the future?" At the time, he thought it was just teasing, but now he really wanted to learn.
The makeup was finished in about half an hour.
The woman in the mirror had eyebrows like distant mountains shrouded in mist, eyes like autumn water brimming with tears, lips like a touch of cinnabar, and skin like solidified cream.
Although she wasn't heavily made up, her makeup perfectly highlighted Deng Jie's elegant and gentle nature, adding a touch of radiance.
"Madam is truly naturally beautiful," the makeup artist couldn't help but compliment, making Guo Jia overjoyed. He stepped forward to thank her.
Stepping out of the incense shop with a refreshed feeling, Guo Jia's enthusiasm seemed to have been unleashed, and his spirits soared even higher.
He led Deng Jie through the bustling market, his eyes lingering on the various stalls selling women's accessories.
"Say hello, look at this silver hairpin inlaid with jade. It's elegant and complements your makeup today..."
"These kingfisher feather butterfly earrings are exquisite and lovely, and they suit you perfectly..."
"This agate bead necklace has a warm and lustrous color..."
He bought things as he went, spending quite lavishly. Before long, Deng Jie had a small brocade bag in his hand, which was heavy with the hairpins and jewelry he had selected.
Deng Jie was both amused and exasperated by his sudden enthusiasm. She tugged at his sleeve and whispered reproachfully, "Fengxiao! What are we here for? Do you really think we're here for sightseeing and shopping?"
Although she was pleased, she also felt it was a bit too extravagant.
"The sightseeing and shopping were just a passing fancy; Jia didn't miss a single important matter."
Seeing her unease, Guo Jia leaned close to her ear and whispered, "The fact that Xiongnu furs and Wuhuan scimitars are being sold so openly here, attracting merchants from all over the world, shows that Yuan Shao is on good terms with these foreign tribes."
Looking at the horse market, they openly advertised Hun horses, but those being led out from the back alleys were actually Youzhou warhorses... This was also Xu Ziyuan's doing; he managed to smuggle them right under Gongsun Zan's nose, which shows he has some skill.
And the blacksmith shops on the streets and alleys, even when they are closed and not doing business, are still clanging and banging inside. If they were not preparing weapons for a major battle, why would they be doing this?
"I think we'll be waging a major war next spring, and you still have time to think about Xuchang... Humph."
Deng Jie's eyes brightened slightly, then he felt relieved. "Indeed... I can't see these things. Fengxiao has never been idle; I was just overthinking it."
She admired him, but also felt a little disappointed. "It seems that only I was really 'playing around'."
Guo Jia squeezed her hand and straightened up. "You don't need to bother with these things. Let's go, it seems more lively up ahead."
He pulled Deng Jie forward, as if they were really just continuing their sightseeing.
After walking a few steps, a stall surrounded by a crowd caught their attention.
The stall owner, a middle-aged man who was talking animatedly, was holding up a bag of medicinal herbs and shouting loudly:
"Take a look! Here comes a health-preserving recipe from the Yuan family mansion! It can prolong life, strengthen the body, and nourish the vital energy! Just follow the prescription, get the medicine, and decoct it daily. I guarantee you will be strong and healthy, and immune to all diseases! Don't miss it!"
As a doctor, Deng Jie was naturally sensitive to things like "secret formulas," and upon hearing this, he pulled Guo Jia along to squeeze through and take a look.
In front of the stall owner were several packets of prepared medicinal herbs, and next to them were copied "prescriptions".
While the stall owner was busy with business, she picked up a piece of bamboo slip and examined it closely, her brows gradually furrowing.
Several precious medicinal herbs were listed on it, but the combination was extremely chaotic, with no clear rules for the principal, assistant, and adjuvant herbs, and some of the herbs even had conflicting properties.
Looking at the unpacked medicinal samples on display at the stall, their colors were dull and their texture was light. I picked up a few at random and examined them; they were quite different from the names written on the prescription.
"Madam, would you like to try this remedy? With your beautiful face, drinking this remedy regularly can preserve your youth!"
The stall owner noticed Deng Jie's actions and, seeing her interest in the prescription, greeted her with a beaming smile.
Deng Jie looked up and stiffened, blurting out without thinking, "What 'preserving youth'? This is clearly a harmful fake prescription and inferior medicine!"
Your prescription is a mess of ingredients with conflicting properties, so it's completely ineffective.
These medicinal herbs are of inferior quality, greatly reducing their efficacy, and they've even been adulterated with counterfeit drugs. Randomly mixing them can be harmful to your health. How can you sell them like this?
The stall owner was furious after hearing this. Ignoring the uproar from the crowd, he roared, "Where did this shrew come from, daring to slander the secret recipe of Lord Yuan's mansion?"
"Stop talking nonsense! My nephews and nieces work in the household; how could that be false?"
This remark drew nods from several onlookers, who exchanged murmurs, "That's true."
Seeing that no one questioned him anymore, the stall owner went a step further: "This prescription was copied by them themselves, it can't be faked! My family has been selling medicine here for three generations, and we would never harm anyone!"
He then tried to shove her out of the crowd, saying, "You don't understand pharmacology, you're not buying, get out of here!"
Deng Jie was filled with anger and was about to argue his point when Guo Jia put his arm around his shoulder to protect him.
Guo Jia stepped forward to shield Deng Jie behind him, his face beaming with smiles. "Brother, please calm down. My wife doesn't understand medicine. She just read some medical books and started showing off. She's disturbed your business. Please don't take offense!"
He bowed respectfully, saying, "I am a merchant from Jingzhou, my surname is Kuai..."
He deliberately dragged out his words, and as he spoke, he picked up the prescriptions and samples from the stall, examining and weighing them with great seriousness.
"Oh? A distinguished guest from Jingzhou?" The stall owner, seeing the woman's fine clothes and extraordinary bearing, and knowing she bore the surname "Kuai," thought to himself, "No wonder this beautiful lady speaks so frankly; such is the temperament of noble people." He couldn't help but temper his temper slightly and looked her up and down. "What can I do for you?"
Guo Jia feigned a moment of hesitation, patting the medicine packet. "Brother, this prescription does seem to have some merit, but the quality of this medicine..."
He moved closer, lowering his voice, and said, "All the things from my Kuai family are meant to be presented to Liu Jingzhou. If we're buying things like this..."
He smiled and shook his head, "I also do medicinal herb business in Jingzhou. This might be fine for ordinary people, but I'm afraid it won't work for me to offer as tribute."
Upon hearing that it was "a tribute to Liu Jingzhou," the stall owner's eyes lit up. "Mr. Kuai has good taste! This prescription is indeed genuine. As for the medicinal herbs... as you said, they are indeed of lower quality if given to Liu Jingzhou."
"If you're interested, sir, I'll take you home and pick out the most valuable ones!"
Guo Jia waved his hand and laughed, "No rush. Here's what we'll do: make me a copy of Liu Jingzhou's copy as well. I need a copy of this kind of civilian copy too, since I still have business to do when I get back."
Could you please make a copy of this prescription as well, and provide a detailed record specifying the quality and grade of the medicinal materials, the transaction price, and... the source of this prescription?
I'll go back and discuss it with my cousin, and we can order the quantities tomorrow, okay?
The stall owner was overjoyed and readily agreed. He carefully wrote down the receipt as Guo Jia requested, and even emphasized that it was "prepared with a secret health-preserving formula from the Yuan family." He then watched the two leave with great delight.
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