Chapter 109: The Nurturing Plan, Round Two

Deng Ai, a renowned general in the late Three Kingdoms period and the foremost contributor to the fall of Shu.

Cao Peng was a bit unclear about where he had read this information: Deng Ai was not originally named Deng Ai; he seemed to have changed his name for some reason later on.

So, looking at the infant boy sleeping beside Cao Nan, Cao Peng found it hard to believe that his nephew could actually be Deng Ai.

However, no one paid attention to Cao Peng’s odd expression at that moment. Everyone was busy praising the given name “Ai” that Deng Ji had chosen for the baby. Deng Ji and Cao Nan were also very pleased, repeatedly thanking everyone. Having just given birth, Cao Nan soon felt exhausted. Lady Zhang had already arranged for everything inside the main house, so she called a few people to carry Cao Nan to the back residence.

After all, this was the gatehouse; she couldn’t stay here indefinitely.

But a new problem arose!

The bed was wider than the gatehouse door. How could they possibly carry her out?

A woman after childbirth needed to rest leisurely in bed. Unless the gatehouse door was dismantled, it would be very difficult.

Cao Peng’s eyes twinkled as he quickly came up with an idea.

“Sis, wait for me a moment, I’ll find a way.”

Cao Nan smiled and nodded, leaning against the bedding. She gently played with the baby with one hand while speaking softly with Lady Zhang. Cao Ji stood nearby, occasionally asking questions in a low voice, his words full of joy, his eyebrows twisted into a smile.

Cao Peng pulled Lady Hong out of the room.

At this moment, Deng Ji finally exhaled in relief and walked over to Guo Jia.

The room was filled with a mixture of mugwort and amniotic fluid, an unpleasant scent.

So Deng Ji and Guo Jia stepped out of the gatehouse, first respectfully thanking Wang Meng, then handing a large red envelope to the midwife.

One thousand coins!

Was so much money really needed for delivering a child?

The plump midwife thanked them repeatedly, then gave some careful advice before taking her leave.

“Please forgive my brother’s awkwardness!” Deng Ji felt somewhat embarrassed, scratching his head as he apologized to Guo Jia.

Guo Jia waved his hand. “Ah, as a new father, it’s natural to be like this. He is a man of feeling, so no need to apologize.”

After speaking, he took Deng Ji’s hand and led him to a quiet spot in the courtyard. “Shusun, do you remember what I said to you earlier?”

“What did you say?”

“I told you that staying in Xuchang to bide your time wasn’t a good thing. Now, the opportunity has come!”

“Oh?”

“You’ve probably heard that our lord has appointed Chen Deng as the magistrate of Guangling.”

Deng Ji nodded. “Yes, I know that.”

“Currently, in Guangling Commandery, there’s a county called Haixi. They still lack a county magistrate… Originally, Liu Ziyang recommended Liang Xi of the Cheng family, but Wen Ruo and I rejected it. The two of us recommended you to the lord, and Gong Da agreed. The lord seems interested and has already sent someone to Pingyu to inquire about Man Bo Ning’s opinion… I estimate the decision is basically made; by September at the latest, the lord will officially summon you.”

Deng Ji was stunned once again.

Guo Jia had mentioned this before, so Deng Ji was somewhat prepared for the news.

But he had always thought that if he left, at most he would be a deputy. After all, he was disabled and had no great reputation. Xuchang was full of talented men, many outstanding individuals. Even by seniority, he wouldn’t be appointed chief magistrate.

A county magistrate was equivalent to governing a region independently—in later times, this rank corresponded to a true official of the prefectural level.

Deng Ji had been only a clerk in Jiyang County, so this promotion of three grades at once left him bewildered, even a little panicked.

“Nervous?” Guo Jia smiled and asked.

Deng Ji awkwardly nodded. “To be honest, I am a bit nervous... Where exactly is Haixi?”

Deng Ji knew nothing about Haixi County, not even having heard of it before. To say he wasn’t nervous would be a lie. But he soon regained his composure. After all, he was a man who had faced life and death and undergone many trials; this was not enough to shake his resolve. Guo Jia watched him silently and smiled with satisfaction.

“Haixi lies north of Guangling, bordering the sea to the east, and to the north it connects with Donghai Commandery. It also neighbors Huaipu County of Xiapi Commandery, situated at the junction of three commanderies…”

Deng Ji frowned.

“Xiapi Commandery?”

Guo Jia nodded firmly, his gaze burning as he stared at Deng Ji.

Suddenly, Deng Ji understood.

He seemed to grasp the real intention behind sending him to Haixi County.

“The situation there is quite complicated. Wen Ruo will have someone send you the official documents from the past decade so you can study them thoroughly. Also, don’t worry too much. Though Haixi’s condition isn’t ideal, it’s manageable. Moreover, Wei Mi, the East Sea Colonel, is stationed in Houqiu with three thousand troops ready to dispatch at any time. Wei Mi and I are close; I will inform him in advance.”

Three thousand troops? Complicated situation?

Although Guo Jia didn’t elaborate, Deng Ji already had some idea.

“Does the lord have other intentions?”

Guo Jia smiled, his delicate eyes curving gently.

“The lord wants you to establish a foothold in Haixi. Besides that, there’s another matter to watch. The Eastern General Liu Xuande—do you know him? He’s currently stationed at Xiaopei. The lord values him greatly. But Liu Xuande is no ordinary man, not to be underestimated. He has a strong base in Xuzhou, partly because Tao Qian entrusted Xuzhou to him, and partly because he’s cunning and good at winning hearts. The local gentry in Xuzhou have close ties with Liu Bei, more so than with Lü Bu.

You must find a way to restrain Liu Xuande, cultivate ties with the Xuzhou gentry, sever his support, and try to isolate him in Xuzhou.”

That sounded like a daunting task!

Deng Ji’s brow furrowed deeply.

Guo Jia laughed, “Shusun, don’t be too anxious. What I just said is between us. The lord only wants you to settle in Haixi. As for the other matters, do what you can; if you can’t, don’t force it. Safety is the priority.”

Clearly, the idea to restrain Liu Bei came from Guo Jia.

Deng Ji pondered and whispered, “Brother, rest assured, I will try my best.”

He hesitated briefly, then lowered his voice again. “But when will I set out?”

Guo Jia said, “No need to rush. For now, take good care of your siblings at home and learn about Haixi’s situation carefully. I expect you will depart in September.”

September… so about a month away.

Deng Ji nodded without further words.

At that moment, Cao Peng’s voice rang from the courtyard, “Make way, make way… Sis, we’re moving!”

Cao Peng led the way, with Wang Mai and Deng Fan laughing and following behind.

Wang Mai carried two wooden poles about the thickness of a cup, wrapped with a dozen leather straps. Deng Fan held a bedding roll. The three of them hurried outside the gatehouse.

“Afou, what are you doing?” Deng Ji worried Cao Peng was causing mischief and asked loudly.

Cao Peng smiled broadly. “Helping sister move!”

With that, the three entered the gatehouse.

Guo Jia and Deng Ji exchanged a glance.

“Let’s go see.”

Frankly, Guo Jia quite liked Cao Peng.

The two quickened their pace and entered. Inside, they saw Cao Peng and the others arranging the two poles parallel, linking them with leather straps. Lady Hong helped by laying a thick mattress on top, praising, “Anan, Afou really is clever. Just now, he came up with this great idea… simple and practical.”

Guo Jia was surprised to see how quickly the two poles transformed into a comfortable soft bed.

Then Cao Peng called for Cao Ji and Wang Meng, who carefully lifted Cao Nan onto the mattress and covered her with a quilt.

“What is this?” Guo Jia couldn’t help but ask.

Cao Peng replied while busy, “A stretcher!”

He had Wang Meng and Cao Ji carry one end, and Deng Fan and Wang Mai the other.

At a shout, the four carried the stretcher slowly off the ground. Cao Nan, lying on it, felt no jolts but rather comfort.

“Let’s go!” Cao Peng laughed. “Sis, we’re moving!”

Lady Zhang picked up the baby, while Lady Hong found someone to carry a bundle of mugwort outside.

“Lady Hong, why carry the mugwort?” Cao Nan asked curiously as she lay on the stretcher.

Lady Hong smiled. “Afou said this is very useful, for washing the body, very effective. I’m having someone try it.”

A sweet smile appeared on Cao Nan’s face.

She shot a glance at Deng Ji and whispered, “Afou, you really are smart!”

Her words implied a gentle rebuke: learn from my brother. Though he hasn’t read as much as you, he’s much better.

Deng Ji could only respond with a foolish smile to his wife’s small teasing.

Guo Jia admired this but was not surprised.

He had heard Cao Cao mention that Cao Ji had a son who often came up with ingenious ideas. The Yin Mo tradition was somewhat mysterious; Cao Peng, as the son of the Yin Mo family, naturally had some strange thoughts. Ancient texts recorded that Mozi once crafted flying birds that soared for three days without rest. The Mohist School later became known for universal love and chivalry, but their mechanical arts dwindled into obscurity. Guo Jia looked at Cao Peng with growing approval, his smile deepening.

“Brother, today is a double celebration for me. We’ll hold a feast later. You must drink a few more cups.”

Moving to a new home and the birth of a fine son—indeed a double joy.

And if one counts Deng Ji’s impending official appointment, that made it a triple blessing.

Yet both Deng Ji and Guo Jia were prudent men; they wouldn’t reveal this news before it was certain.

Guo Jia nodded repeatedly, “Sorry to trouble you.”

As they walked toward the main hall, Guo Jia said, “Shusun, Afou is already fourteen this year, right?”

“Yes, almost fifteen.”

“That’s the age to seek education.”

Deng Ji sighed with some regret. “Afou had opportunities… but because of Huang Shi from Jiangxia, we fled Jiyang and missed the chance for him to apprentice and learn. Previously, Master Pang from Lumen Mountain valued him greatly, intending to take him as a disciple and even gave him books. Some time ago, Anan told me about this and asked me to find a teacher for Afou… but this busy time has delayed things considerably.”

Guo Jia fell silent.

He understood what Deng Ji implied: Deng Ji hoped he would help find a reputable teacher for Cao Peng.

But that was no simple matter.

Yingchuan was a renowned center of learning, home to the famous Yingchuan Academy. Guo Jia, Xun Yu, and others had all graduated from there. If Cao Peng could enter Yingchuan Academy, it would greatly benefit his future.

The problem was whether Yingchuan Academy would accept Cao Peng.

They claimed to teach all comers, but in reality, they ranked students. Without fame, family background, or influence, even wealth might not guarantee entry.

Look at the academy’s students—none were ordinary people.

Though Guo Jia came from a humble family, his ancestors had served as imperial judges for three generations, giving him some connections. His father was an official, albeit a minor one, with some family protection. Xun Yu and Chen Qun were from prominent aristocratic families. Cao Peng had neither reputation nor background, so entering the academy would be extremely difficult.

Guo Jia could try to recommend Cao Peng as a filial and incorrupt candidate to gain eligibility, but would he do so? Even if willing, could he find someone to endorse Cao Peng?

Even Xun Yu might refuse.

Each county had only a few such nominations annually.

How could the Xun family give up their place to Cao Peng?

It was very difficult.

Guo Jia dared not take on this task but felt Cao Peng’s current situation was problematic.

After hesitating, he said softly, “Shusun, it’s not that I don’t want to help, but… you know, good teachers are hard to find!”

Deng Ji could tell what Guo Jia meant and felt a bit disappointed.

He probably had no chance to enter Yingchuan Academy this lifetime.

It had been a good thing that Cao Peng could apprentice under Lumen Mountain’s master, but Huang She had ruined that opportunity.

Thinking of this made Deng Ji sad. He earnestly hoped Cao Peng would have a bright future.

Guo Jia felt a bit sorry and said, “I have an idea.”

“Oh?”

“Though Yingchuan Academy is hard to enter, Afou is clever. It would be a pity if he had no good mentor. I know some people, but they are all a bit irritable. I think with Afou’s wit, he will succeed eventually. Whether a ‘famous’ teacher matters less than whether the person has virtue and true talent.”

“So you mean…”

“I mean, not all teachers must be ‘famous.’ There are many talented but unknown people. Remember when you asked me to find an assistant for your uncle?”

Deng Ji nodded emphatically. “Of course.”

“Actually, I found a suitable candidate. But unexpectedly, Afou’s network is even wider than mine; he found Guo Yong. Hehe, I’ve looked into Guo Yong, but the person I found for you is even more suitable. He hasn’t served as a local official and is unfamiliar with petty matters. But since you’re going to Haixi County, you’ll need an assistant.”

Deng Ji looked at Guo Jia in confusion.

“Brother, just say it.”

“This person lives in Chenliu, named Puyang Kai. He’s very talented, skilled in the Han poems, rites, and Spring and Autumn Annals. Unfortunately, he also has no background and now teaches students outside Huang. I intended to have him assist you, but since you mentioned Afou’s situation, I think Puyang Kai would be a good tutor for him.

Also, Wen Ruo said Kong Wenju doesn’t favor him but respects his talent.”

“If so, why hasn’t the lord summoned him?”

Deng Ji’s question hit the crux.

Guo Jia’s face twitched awkwardly, “His reputation is not good.”

“Eh?”

“He once was punished for stealing chickens for half a year; during the Taiping rebellion, he joined the bandits… Though he didn’t commit serious crimes, his reputation is indeed tarnished.”

Stealing chickens? Joining bandits?

Those were serious offenses!

Stealing chickens was a moral blemish; joining bandits was a breach of integrity.

Either was a grave charge.

No wonder Cao Cao dared not employ him—not for lack of willingness but due to concerns about his advisors’ opinions.

At this stage, Cao Cao was still building his power, needing to consider all factors, including his strategists’ attitudes.

Surely, those famous scholars wouldn’t want to work with a chicken thief and bandit.

Even Deng Ji was displeased hearing this.

Why recommend a thief as Afou’s teacher?

No matter how talented, he couldn’t agree.

He opened his mouth to refuse.

Guo Jia said, “Shusun, I know he’s not quite suitable. But listen… He stole chickens because his wife was pregnant. They were poor with nothing in the house, and seeing his wife grow thin, he resorted to theft. As for joining the bandits, it was out of desperation.

Remember how formidable the Taiping rebels were?

The official forces suffered repeated defeats and nearly fled. If Puyang Kai hadn’t joined the bandits, his wife and children would have died. He had no choice!”

Deng Ji frowned deeply, still silent.

No matter the reasoning, stealing and banditry were facts!

He could ignore other concerns but had to consider Cao Peng’s future.

If people later said Cao Peng’s teacher was a chicken thief and bandit, it would harm his reputation and prospects.

“Shusun, this man is capable. You might consider it. If you won’t let him tutor Afou, you can take him with you to Haixi County… I think he can at least help you solve many problems.”

It was clear Guo Jia held Puyang Kai in high regard.

Deng Ji thought for a while, then smiled wryly. “Brother, let me think it over and get back to you.”

“Good… I’ll have someone keep him steady.”

“Keep him steady?”

“I heard that because of his reputation, Puyang Kai’s life isn’t easy. He has a son named Puyang Yi, about Afou’s age. Puyang Kai worries that staying in his hometown will hinder his son’s future and plans to move to Jiangdong.”

Ah, the heartache of parents everywhere!

Deng Ji had not deeply understood this before.

But now, just moments ago, he had become a father. At the moment the newborn cried out, he felt the weight on his shoulders.

Suddenly, Deng Ji seemed to understand Puyang Kai’s hardship.

Without being a parent, one cannot truly grasp such bitterness.

His heart softened in an instant.

A man willing to leave his homeland for his son’s sake wasn’t without merit.

Thinking this, Deng Ji nodded.