Chapter 2 Prohibition Warms the Body and the Heart, as smooth and warm as jade, hence the name 'warm'...
After several days of continuous rain, the streets and alleys of Xuxian County were no longer filled with the fragrance of locust blossoms.
The Guo family's small courtyard gradually got on track. Although Deng Jie's cooking skills were not top-notch, he could at least rotate several different dishes. In addition, with the occasional delicacies brought from the Cao family's residence, the couple's life was quite comfortable.
Cao Cao would also suggest to Guo Jia that he send a cook to help, but Guo Jia refused because he didn't want a woman without a family to disturb the couple.
It was June 15th. Guo Jia figured that her free clinic should be over by now, so he went to the market to pick her up after leaving the Cao residence.
From afar, I could see her packing her medicine bag, surrounded by several poor people who were expressing their gratitude.
Guo Jia slowed his pace and leaned against the earthen wall at the alley entrance, quietly watching his wife gently instruct the patients. The golden light of the setting sun outlined her focused and gentle profile, just as earnest as when he first saw her four years ago, sitting at the free clinic stall in coarse linen clothes.
Years have passed, but her appearance has not aged, and her pure heart remains unchanged. This purity is the treasure he cherishes most.
After everyone had left, Guo Jia approached, took the medicine bag, put his arm around her shoulder, and they went home together.
As the two passed by a relatively secluded spot at the foot of the city wall, Deng Jie spotted two figures huddled in a corner, seemingly injured.
"There are people over there!" Deng Jie said without hesitation, quickly walking over.
After years of being together, Guo Jia understood his wife's personality and was no longer as helpless as before, but rather kept up with her with a calm and tacit understanding.
This was a young man and woman, dressed in rags, their faces covered in dust, with obvious abrasions and bruises on their bodies.
The woman appeared to have difficulty walking, and the man was anxiously protecting her.
Upon seeing Guo Jiadeng approach, the man's eyes immediately showed fear, and he instinctively stood in front of the woman, full of vigilance.
"Don't be afraid." Deng Jie softened her voice and squatted down. "I am a healer. Let me take a look at your injuries." She opened the small medicine pouch she carried with her, revealing the medicine and strips of cloth inside.
The man glanced warily at Deng Jie, then at the imposing Guo Jia behind her. After a moment's hesitation, he said in a hoarse voice, "Thank you... thank you, madam. We are fleeing from Xinye and encountered bandits on the way..."
Guo Jia carefully examined the accent and confirmed it was correct.
He scanned the couple, noticing that although the man was disheveled, his eyes were still relatively clear, and his hands were calloused, a sign of years of hard labor. The woman, on the other hand, kept her head down, tightly gripping the man's sleeve, her body trembling slightly—a genuine fear.
"Xinye? I'm from Xinye too!" Upon hearing this, Deng Jie became even gentler, carefully treating a deep cut on the woman's calf. "Which direction did you come from in Xinye? Do you have somewhere to go?"
Deng Jie's clear eyes sparkled as she asked the probing question as if it were a reassurance. Guo Jia was always particularly pleasantly surprised by his wife's talent in such situations.
The man replied without any suspicion, "We came from Diannong City. That area was a granary, but it's all been disrupted. Where to go... there's no place to go. We'll just go wherever we can..." He glanced at the tearful woman in his arms.
Deng Jie nodded in agreement. At the beginning of the year, when they passed through Diannong City, there was indeed a somber atmosphere.
She continued treating the woman while glancing at Guo Jia.
The two of them had no food with them at the moment, but another thought flashed through Guo Jia's mind.
"You... are husband and wife?" Guo Jia was even more interested in this.
“Yes, yes, we are a proper couple who have gone through the proper marriage ceremony!” The woman, worried that she would be seen as an improper person, struggled to take out the marriage certificate from her bosom and show it to Guo Jia.
Guo Jia glanced at the official seal, the last trace of doubt in his eyes vanished, and his lazy smile returned to his face.
"It's good to be a couple, it's good to be a couple." Guo Jia smiled slightly, as if talking to himself, or as if speaking to Deng Jie, "They can support each other and... have less trouble."
The couple were unaware of what was going on. Guo Jia turned to Deng Jie, who was bandaging the woman, and said in a tone that only the two of them could hear, with a hint of teasing and negotiation, "Hey, do you think... this little courtyard of ours is a bit too quiet? How about... um... we could... relieve the lady's burden of preparing meals?"
Deng Jie instantly understood his implication, blushed and glared at him reproachfully, then turned to the couple and asked softly, "If you have nowhere to go, would you be willing to stay at my house for the time being? Although the house is small, there are still side rooms available."
Upon hearing this, the two men's eyes lit up. Seeing this, Guo Jia added, "My name is Guo Jia, Guo Fengxiao, and this is my wife, Deng Shi. My wife usually does free medical consultations and needs an assistant, and the family also needs someone... to make the house more lively."
He phrased it tactfully, but his meaning was clear: men can help with chores, and women... preferably can cook!
The couple could hardly believe their ears. The man was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes, and he pulled the woman to kneel down and kowtow: "Thank you, my benefactor! Thank you, my wife! We...we are willing! We can do anything! My name is Ayu, Yu as in elm tree! This is my wife, Huai Niang!"
"Huai Niang?" Guo Jia and Deng Jie were both taken aback, then exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise and... a suppressed chuckle in each other's eyes.
Guo Jia chuckled, "It seems our family really has an inexplicable connection with the character '槐' (huai, meaning locust tree)! Huai Niang... what a wonderful name!"
The arrival of Ayu and Huai Niang brought new vitality to the courtyard.
Ayu was young and strong, and a good worker. The side rooms and front yard were quickly cleaned up. When Guo Jia was at home, he would also go to the back yard to help take care of the precious medicinal herbs.
Huai Niang's cooking skills far surpass Deng Jie's, and Guo Jia has finally stopped having to shamelessly exchange his face for food with Cao Cao.
However, Deng Jie always kept in mind her husband's tired figure from working at his desk and always wanted to share his burdens.
Deng Jie remembered that Guo Jia loved to drink when he was still living in the Deng family.
Since being poisoned and suffering damage to his throat and lungs, he has been under her strict control and has rarely been touched again.
Before leaving Qiao County, Deng Jie privately asked his master Hua Tuo if he was healthy enough to drink a little mild medicinal wine to relax his muscles and improve blood circulation.
That day, Deng Jie saw that his granary was full of newly harvested millet, which was his newly received salary, and he couldn't help but feel a little tempted.
The two got married last year in their hometown of Xinye, and Guo Jia praised the local rice wine for its mellow and smooth taste.
With a tentative question in mind, she asked Huai Niang, "Has Huai Niang ever drunk the wine from her hometown?"
Huai Niang stopped her work and replied happily, "Of course! I worked in the winery when I was in Diannong City, so I learned a little bit!"
Deng Jie was overjoyed and pulled her along to learn. The two went into the warehouse and began to plan with great interest, looking at the idle jars and pots.
The two men called Ayu over and built a small earthen house next to the side room. They also dug several cubic meters of soil deep into the ground to create a shady spot specifically for storing wine.
The yeast cakes fermented slowly in the cool shade, filling a corner of the courtyard with a faint sweet aroma. Deng Jie was not content with just making ordinary cloudy wine, so he took out several warming and nourishing medicinal herbs that he had prepared and carefully processed them to soak in the wine.
Guo Jia occasionally caught a whiff of that peculiar smell and came looking for it, only to be mysteriously chased away by the three men.
Although he could guess to some extent, he was patient and happy to wait.
The day finally arrived for the opening of the wine jar. The three of them solemnly awaited Guo Jia's return home, invited him to sit down for a meal in the front yard, and finally welcomed the opening of the wine jar.
Guo Jia took a deep breath of the intoxicating intoxication he hadn't enjoyed in a long time, his eyes full of smiles.
He picked up the earthenware bowl, took a small sip, and savored the sweetness of the millet with a hint of spiciness, which, along with the aroma of herbs, entered his throat, refreshing and delightful.
He then took a large gulp, letting the warmth flow straight into his lungs.
"Good wine!" He opened his eyes with delight, his eyes full of joy. He immediately pulled Deng Jie over and kissed him on the cheek. A Yu and Huai Niang laughed and tried to leave, but Guo Jia stopped them and asked them to share half a jar with him.
Deng Jie shyly pushed his shoulder lightly, but naturally fell into his arms.
"Speaking of which, this wine is mellow yet robust, with a medicinal aroma and a sweet aftertaste. Does it have a name?"
"It's homemade and doesn't even have a name."
"Warm to the body and heart, as smooth and warm as jade..." Guo Jia closed his eyes and savored the memory. "How about calling it 'Warm Jade Wine'?"
"What a wonderful name!" Deng Jie was filled with sweetness. Seeing her husband's joy and knowing that she was unharmed, she was happy to hear anything he said.
With such praise, Deng Jie became even more enthusiastic about brewing wine. Several more wine jars were quietly added to the cellar.
Guo Jia cherished this "Warm Jade Wine" and happily put it into his newly acquired wine gourd to carry with him.
Inside the council hall of the Cao residence, everyone was discussing the main routes the emperor would take around the map. When they had a brief moment of free time, Guo Jia pulled out the stopper of the gourd.
Instantly, a mellow aroma of wine filled the air.
"Hiss..." Cao Hong, sitting next to Guo Jia, couldn't help but take a deep breath, "Strategist, what good stuff are you hiding? It smells so tempting."
Guo Jia glanced at the gourd in his hand, then at the generals who had instantly focused their attention on him, and Cao Cao and Xun Yu who were looking at him sideways. A helpless smile appeared on his face, but he couldn't hide his smugness.
"General Zilian has a keen nose." Guo Jia chuckled, shaking the gourd. "This is some turbid wine that my wife has concocted, called 'Warm Jade Wine.' It's just some rustic stuff, nothing to mention..." As he said this, he generously handed over the gourd, enticing Cao Hong to "have a sip."
Cao Hong eagerly took a sip, his eyes instantly lighting up: "This is homemade? Good wine! It even has a..." He smacked his lips, searching for the right words, "...an indescribable medicinal aroma!"
"Of course, my wife is a disciple of Hua Tuo, and this wine was specially mixed for you, Jia." Guo Jia raised his eyebrows and proudly shook his head.
The generals laughed, but their mouths were also whetted.
"Fengxiao, give me some too!"
"Come on, strategist, let's divide up the points!"
Xiahou Dun and his group pushed their way forward, while Cao Cao coughed loudly. The crowd quickly made way for Guo Jia to deliver the item to Cao Cao first.
Xun Yu watched helplessly from the side and had no choice but to send someone to bring him wine cups.
Cao Cao took the unassuming wine gourd, but instead of drinking it immediately, he first brought it closer to his nose and smelled it. The rich, sweet aroma of herbs mixed with the mellow flavor of grains was indeed unique.
He raised his eyelids, glanced at Guo Jia with a half-smile, took the wine cup, poured a cup, took a sip, then gulped it down, and praised loudly: "Clear and sweet, warm but not dry, truly excellent."
Seeing the little fox's smug look, he patted him on the shoulder and praised him, "Your wife has such a clever idea, no wonder Fengxiao likes it so much."
Guo Jia narrowed his eyes and chuckled as he took the gourd back: "You flatter me, my lord. My wife was merely worried about Jia's weak health and made this rustic thing on a whim. It is truly her good fortune that it has caught your attention!"
When the generals heard Cao Cao's praise, they naturally chimed in with their own compliments, each trying to get a larger share of the wine.
The politeness maintained within this small circle of the council chamber, when it reached the outside world, became a different kind of rumor.
The rumor that "the strategist's wife secretly brewed celestial wine" instantly swept through Xuchang. The wives of officials and wealthy families began to get excited; who wouldn't want to get some of "Cao Cao's wine" for their husbands?
Huai Niang quickly became a hot commodity, with people enthusiastically pulling her aside to inquire about the recipe for "Warm Jade Wine" wherever she went.
Huai Niang kept Deng Jie's instructions in mind. The medicinal herbs were specially prepared by the madam based on the strategist's physical condition and could not be disclosed to outsiders. However, she did not keep the basic method of making the yeast starter to herself.
For a time, the recipe for "Huai Niang Wine Starter" secretly spread among housewives in Xudu.
But after all, making koji and brewing wine both require a lot of grain.
Before the emperor arrived in Xu County, the grain market was thrown into turmoil.
"My lord!" Xun Yu strode into the council hall, carrying bamboo slips in his hand. "Recently, grain prices have spiraled out of control, causing widespread discontent and instability among the people. I fear this could hinder the preparations for welcoming the emperor!"
Cao Cao took the bamboo slips and examined them closely, then frowned. "The root cause lies in the practice of private brewing..."
He slammed the bamboo slips on the table in annoyance. "Guo Fengxiao! Tell me yourself, what are you going to do when your 'Warm Jade Wine' is emptying the granaries of Xu County?"
Guo Jia snapped back to reality, his composure vanishing instantly, replaced by utter "fear" and "heartbreak." He stepped into the ranks and bowed deeply: "My lord, please calm your anger! I deserve to die! This matter... this matter was indeed my negligence! My wife, out of consideration for my frail health, brewed this meager wine purely out of a private desire, never imagining it would cause such a catastrophic disaster! I failed in my duty of discipline and restraint, causing grain prices to spiral out of control and alarming you, my lord. I deserve to die! I am willing to accept all punishment!"
When Cao Cao saw how confidently his deputy defended his own, and how sincerely he himself took responsibility and confessed, and considering that the warm jade wine was indeed exceptionally delicious, Cao Cao's anger was somewhat dampened by a feeling of being both amused and exasperated.
He snorted coldly and turned to Xun Yu, saying, "Private brewing wastes grain and undermines the foundation of the state! Wenruo, immediately draft an order:
From this day forward, private brewing is strictly prohibited within the territory of Xudu, regardless of whether one is an official or a commoner! Anyone found in possession of brewing yeast or brewing equipment will be severely punished!
The market supervisor is ordered to strictly investigate grain merchants hoarding grain, do everything possible to stabilize grain prices, and appease the people! Those who disobey will be severely punished!
"Yes, sir!" Xun Yu solemnly accepted the order, but secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Banning alcohol was necessary, but the lord's order did not specifically mention Guo Jia and his wife, which was already a gesture of leniency.
The atmosphere in the hall was solemn. Guo Jia stood with his head bowed, his posture extremely submissive, but he couldn't help but think that he should bury those precious jars at home even deeper.
After the meeting concluded, everyone filed out.
Guo Jia followed leisurely at the back, but unexpectedly, as soon as he turned a corner, his shoulder was grabbed:
"Fengxiao!"
Guo Jia turned around and saw Cao Cao.
It was clear that there was no anger on his face; instead, he looked around suspiciously, as if he were a thief. Guo Jia felt a little more at ease.
But then he leaned closer to Guo Jia and lowered his voice, "The alcohol ban is the alcohol ban..."
He pulled Guo Jia's neck closer and whispered in his ear, "Is your cellar deep enough? That 'Warm Jade Wine'... quietly spare me some more. Don't let Wenruo and the others know! I'll trade you Nine-Brewed Spring Wine."
He patted Guo Jia on the shoulder and said, "Did you hear me?"
Guo Jia smiled and agreed, watching him walk away with his hands behind his back.
He raised his hand to touch his nose, and a sly, satisfied smile silently curved his lips upward.
Well, it seems my wife's "troublesome" darling isn't going to be out of control anytime soon.
As for this alcohol prohibition... on the surface, it must naturally be strictly observed.
A note from the author:
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As summer approached, the construction of the temporary palace in Xu County proceeded smoothly, and Cao Cao dispatched Cao Hong to clear the key roads ahead.
Cao Cao planned to reclaim the large mansion next to Guo Jia's small residence to deal with the subsequent placement of officials, but Guo Jia stopped him and reminded him.
He deliberately avoided Xun Yu and discussed with Cao Cao: "When the emperor arrives in Xu, you will inevitably be hampered by other officials. Why don't we set up an inspection agency as soon as possible? Then even if they arrive, they will have no reason to dismiss it?"
His words served as a wake-up call for Cao Cao: "But where should we find this person?"
Guo Jia's brows relaxed. "The gentry are naturally out of the question; their entrenched connections are actually detrimental. If Your Excellency trusts me, I will return to my hometown and find some people without roots."
Upon hearing this, Cao Cao realized that Cao Cao was simply using the pretext of taking his new bride back to his hometown to ask for leave, and he did so in such a high-sounding way.
Guo Jia blinked and smiled pleadingly at Cao Cao, who snorted and waved his hand, saying, "Go! Go! Go!"
And so, Guo Jia happily took Deng Jie back to his hometown of Yangdi by carriage.
Even though he was afraid that his dilapidated house would frighten Deng Jie, he held Deng Jie's hand beforehand and said softly, "To be honest, my old house is not even worthy of being called a humble abode. It is truly a place with bare walls. Please don't be disgusted. We will only need one night to invite my parents' memorial tablets and then return home."
Deng Jie leaned on his shoulder and comforted him, "Husband, you're joking. I've lived in dilapidated houses when I was young. Why do you look down on me like this? No matter how simple it is, it's still a home. We'll tidy it up together."
Guo Jia knew that she had spent three difficult years with her mother in a thatched hut in Xinye, but afterwards they were a well-off merchant family, so he still felt a little guilty.
"That's right, though it's dilapidated, it's still the root."
The two whispered tenderly as the carriage slowly came to a stop. Guo Jia helped his wife down from the carriage, and before him lay the scene of his hometown, which he had not returned to for five years, and a sense of melancholy inevitably filled his heart.
He led Deng Jie toward the old house he remembered, reminiscing about his childhood as they walked.
“Look, it’s over there…” Guo Jia pointed to the familiar mud-brick thatched hut not far away, but stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence.
He stood a few steps away from the gate of the courtyard, his brows slightly furrowed, his sharp gaze sweeping across the area.
"What's wrong?" Deng Jie noticed his unusual behavior and asked softly, "Are you thinking about unhappy things from the past?"
Guo Jia did not respond; his gaze fell on the worn-out water vat at the entrance of the courtyard.
That water vat... isn't in the place I'm used to.
Moreover, although the water tank was old, it did not look like it had been unused for five years and was covered in dust.
"Something's not right." Guo Jia muttered, his lazy smile instantly turning serious. He strode forward and abruptly pushed open the dilapidated wooden door.
"Clang!"
The moment the door opened, both inside and outside fell silent.
Inside the cramped, dimly lit room, six ragged, emaciated young men sat or lay huddled together on straw mats.
The six people were suddenly exposed to light and were clearly startled by the unexpected intruders. They all looked up and stared at the two men.
After a brief silence, a burly man sitting at the back stood up and shouted in a booming voice, "Who are you? How dare you trespass on a private property!"
This shout stunned Deng Jie. Trespassing? Wasn't this Fengxiao's house?
She was about to step forward to argue when Guo Jia grabbed her tightly.
The six men before them were all young and strong. Although they were down on their luck, they did not exude any ferocity; they seemed more like refugees displaced by war. Many of them bore unhealed scars, indicating they had suffered greatly.
This made Guo Jia's eyes light up, and a warm smile instantly appeared on his face. He stepped forward and cupped his hands to the burly man at the head of the group, saying, "Brother, please calm down. The clan chief said that the village has taken in many migrants from other places recently, and there is a concern that they may be injured or sick. Therefore, he specially ordered my wife and me to come here to provide free medical treatment."
Deng Jie immediately understood, suppressed his surprise, put on a gentle smile, deftly untied the medicine pouch from his waist, knelt down by the wall, laid out his medicine jar and needle pouch, and gestured "please" to the crowd.
This sudden change left the refugees inside bewildered. Just as a short man tried to step forward, the burly man grabbed him, saying, "Wait, why should we trust you?"
Guo Jia secretly praised this person for his high level of vigilance.
He calmly took out a dark-colored old wooden plaque from his pocket and handed it to the big man.
"I am a member of the clan in this village, but I went away to study and practice medicine many years ago and have not returned for many years, so you may not recognize me. But if you are a proper resident here, you should recognize this clan nameplate, right?"
The burly man carefully examined the item from front to back, and after confirming that it was correct, he slowly nodded, "It is exactly the same as the one the clan chief showed me."
Upon seeing this, the short man immediately ran over to Deng Jie and sat down, overjoyed. "Thank you, sir! Thank you, madam!"
Seeing that the other four people also went to queue up, the big man simply squatted back down on the straw mat and sat down.
Guo Jia sat down next to him and took the gourd from his waist and handed it to him: "My name is Guo Jia, Guo Fengxiao. May I ask how you are addressed, brother?"
The burly man glanced at the gourd, waved his hand, and said, “Thank you for your kindness, Brother Fengxiao, but I do not drink. My name is Lu Hong, and we are all refugees from Nanyang. The clan chief is kind-hearted and, seeing that we had nowhere to go, gave us this deserted, dilapidated house to live in.”
Guo Jia thought to himself: This dilapidated house is my old residence!
But his smile became even more sincere. “Nanyang? What a coincidence, we just returned from Wancheng not long ago. Brother Lu and the others must have been affected by the conflict between Yuan Shu and Zhang Xiu and ended up here, right? The clan chief has always been kind and benevolent. As soon as my wife and I returned, we were sent here to show everyone.”
Lu Hong nodded, "That's right. We were originally merchants in Jiyang City, but who would have thought that when the gods fight, we innocent bystanders get caught in the crossfire..."
"Ji Yang?" Deng Jie, who was taking the pulse of the short man, couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
“Oh, my wife is from Jiyang. We got married there last year,” Guo Jia explained.
Upon hearing this, the short man's eyes lit up, and in his excitement, he grabbed Deng Jie's hand, who was taking his pulse: "Oh my! Madam, you're from the same hometown? I used to be from the west of Jiyang City..."
Before he could finish speaking, he was startled by Guo Jia's sudden, sharp gaze. He quickly let go of her hand, his face flushed, and apologized, "I'm so sorry! I've offended you!" Lu Hong couldn't help but glare at him fiercely as well.
Deng Jie shook his head helplessly, but didn't pay much attention and continued to take the pulse, though his brows furrowed slightly.
“Aside from the superficial wounds that need some time to heal, there’s nothing seriously wrong, but…” She looked at the short man and the four people queuing behind him, all of whom looked pale and then looked up at Guo Jia.
Guo Jia understood and nodded.
Seeing the couple speaking in cryptic terms, Lu Hong's suspicions resurfaced, and he asked in a deep voice, "Sir, who... exactly are you people?"
The short man kept pressing, "Madam, but what? Please tell me quickly, do I have some serious illness?"
Taking the opportunity, Deng Jie inquired about Guo Jia's health: "He is not seriously ill, but right now... does he have a means of making a living? He needs to recover, and he must fill his stomach."
This question struck a nerve with everyone, and the atmosphere in the room instantly became heavy and awkward.
Seeing that the time was ripe, Guo Jia put away his smile, stood up and raised his hand, "I will not hide it from you all. I am Guo Fengxiao, and I am the owner of this house."
Upon hearing this, Lu Hong and the others' expressions changed drastically, and the short man jumped up and cried out, "You, what makes you think this is your home?!" He was clearly afraid of being kicked out.
Guo Jia had anticipated this, and pointed to the corner in the room where the books used to be, "There used to be a bookshelf there..."
"We chopped it up and burned it for firewood a long time ago!"
"Store water in the backyard..."
Lu Hong quickly grabbed him: "Yes, it's been stored away properly, it's in the cabinet in the inner room... It really is the master's house." As he spoke, he gestured to the man with the mustache in the back row to fetch it.
The man with the mustache quickly brought out two spirit tablets wrapped in cloth from the inner room.
Guo Jia accepted it and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“Sir…you wouldn’t be thinking of kicking us out, would you…” Lu Hong looked apologetic, while the other five people stared at Guo Jia with helpless expressions.
Guo Jia, having regained his composure, looked at the group before him and made his decision. His smile returned: "Rest assured, I currently serve under General Cao, the Governor of Yan Province, as his military advisor. I brought my new bride back to my hometown to pay respects to my ancestors, and I did not wish to disturb your peace. There is no need to mention the matter of the residence. I see that you brothers are all strong and healthy, and my wife cannot bear to see you go hungry. Therefore, I would like to find you a way to make a living. Would you be willing?"
When everyone heard there was work to be done, they all gathered around, but Lu Hong stopped them: "There's no such thing as a free lunch. We've already struggled to survive here for two months. How could we possibly get any cheap work?"
Guo Jia was not annoyed at all; on the contrary, he appreciated Guo Jia's caution even more.
He said solemnly, "Brother Lu is indeed vigilant."
He took out a bronze plaque engraved with dragon patterns from his pocket and showed it to everyone. "This is the strategist's waist plaque bestowed upon me by General Cao. As you may not know, General Cao has just arrived in Xu County and his foothold is not yet secure. His foundation is still weak. In Xu County, powerful clans are entrenched, and there are many newly arrived people. The various forces have different intentions, and undercurrents are surging. We urgently need some reliable confidants who can settle down in the city, either to find a job based on their skills or to run a small business. The key is to pay attention to the movements in the city, the people coming and going, and the rumors circulating in the streets."
Lu Hongguan's dragon pattern was definitely not a folk imitation. His brows furrowed. "Does the master mean that we should act as spies in Xu County?"
Upon hearing this, the other five people turned pale and retreated.
"We...we don't know how to do that!"
"If I get caught, will I be beheaded?"
Guo Jia raised his hand to reassure everyone: "Don't panic, everyone. Don't make it sound so alarming. To put it simply, I'm providing the funds to help you settle down and make a living in Xu County. Do whatever you can do. Those who are good at business should do business, and those who are good at labor should do labor. Just be more attentive than others and pay more attention to the changes in people and public opinion around you."
He looked around at everyone and continued, "Xu County is where General Cao's power base is located. It will surely be a prosperous place with many opportunities in the future. You only need to remember who your stable life depends on and where your future lies." He gently shook the bronze plaque in his hand.
Just as Guo Jia was inside the house dispelling everyone's doubts, Deng Jie, who had somehow come out of the house, came back in with difficulty carrying six heavy burlap sacks.
Guo Jia caught a glimpse of it out of the corner of his eye, quickly took the bag, and threw it at everyone's feet. "This is the millet harvested this year. Consider it a small gift from me, as a token of my sincerity."
Deng Jie untied the bags one by one, revealing them filled with golden millet, which was quite eye-catching.
"If you are interested, please come with us into Xu. I will teach you how to do it. During the training period, you will receive three measures of grain per day. After you have completed your training, we will assign you tasks according to your situation. Those who do not wish to do so can take this bag of grain and leave it here."
The six men were speechless, stunned by the fresh millet before them. The other five men looked at Lu Hong with burning desire in their eyes.
Seeing this, Guo Jia did not urge them. He gave Deng Jie a wink and said, "Madam, the memorial tablets for our parents have been brought. Let's go back now."
He put his arm around Deng Jie's shoulder and made as if to leave.
Just as the two of them stepped out, the short man suddenly picked up his bag of fresh millet and shouted, "Wait, sir! I'll go with you!"
He turned to the others and said, "Anyway, staying here and eating this ration is just waiting to die. We might as well follow the adults and learn some skills, at least we'll have a way to survive!" With that, he rushed off to follow the two men.
These words ignited the passion in the other four, who couldn't contain themselves any longer and grabbed their grain bags to follow.
"That's right, that makes sense!"
"Sir, please wait for me!"
Lu Hong looked at the room that had suddenly become empty, then looked down at the new millet on the ground.
"Hey! Let's go!" He suddenly grabbed the grain sack and followed.
After returning to Xu, Guo Jia arranged for everyone to stay in the mansion next to his own, and asked Ayu and Huai Niang to help take care of their food and drink. He then went to ask Cao Cao for permission before the curfew was about to begin.
"Didn't you go back to your hometown?" Cao Cao was having a rare meal with his family in the side hall when he was suddenly interrupted by Guo Jia, who had come to find him. He was filled with doubt.
"As soon as I have something important to report, I will naturally report back to you immediately, my lord!" Guo Jia said with a cupped hand and a smile.
Cao Cao knew that even if he was absurd, he had never overstepped the bounds like this before, so he must have gained something from this trip. He beckoned him to come closer and talk in detail.
When Guo Jia stepped forward, he quickly passed by the ladies and gentlemen on both sides, gave a slight bow, and then sat down directly next to Cao Cao.
Just as the two were about to gossip, Lady Bian, leading the four young masters, took her leave from Cao Cao: "We have finished our meal and will take our leave now."
Seeing this, Madam Ding sighed softly, waved to a young man, and the two of them respectfully left.
Guo Jia apologized to Cao Cao, feeling embarrassed, and began to tell him about the day's events and plan the use of the six men.
"Therefore, Jia Guanzhi took these six rootless people as a base, and while the emperor was not yet here and the various government offices were short of manpower, he placed these people in, either as clerks, or as servants, or under the guise of merchants, to occupy these inconspicuous but important positions of eyes and ears."
“When the officials accompany the emperor to Xuchang, they can record the officials’ interactions, factional relationships, and even secret conversations in the residences, and then pass them on to the emperor. This will allow you to gain favor with the emperor.”
Cao Cao's eyes gleamed upon hearing this; such a scheme was an arrangement that a prominent aristocratic family like Xun Yu could not openly reveal.
Seeing Cao Cao move closer to him, Guo Jia understood the attraction this held for Cao Cao. He smiled and continued, "These six are merely 'seeds.' Once they have established themselves in Xu, let them recruit more astute, reliable, and unattached individuals. These individuals will then secretly connect with each other, forming a network of subordinates. This network will spread throughout the nine provinces, and all that Your Excellency foresees will be transmitted through this network. This is what is meant by 'weaving the net.'"
"The school's affairs... excellent!" Cao Cao clapped his hands in praise, his face full of excitement. "Fengxiao's plan is brilliant! Without roots or ties, there are no worries. With one's life and fortune in one's own hands, one will naturally do one's best. Such a talent is the perfect way to keep the sons of the aristocratic families in check!"
He knew that Guo Jia was always frugal, and that the mansion was not enough for him. "If you need anything, just tell me. This matter must be handled by Fengxiao himself!"
"I will certainly live up to your trust, my lord!" Guo Jia bowed and accepted the order.
Cao Cao looked at him, clapped his hands and laughed, "Good! This time, Fengxiao has finally brought back some decent people, instead of some annoying trend!"
Upon hearing this, Guo Jia's previous seriousness vanished instantly, and he chuckled softly, cupping his hands in greeting, "You jest, my lord. Tea cakes and wine brewing were never my intentions. The matter of cultivating talent is my duty!"
The two foxes looked at each other and smiled, their eyes revealing a tacit understanding.
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