Han Ji

Life flows quietly like water.

The sixth day of the sixth month in the third year of Guanghe.

Before dawn, the rustling sound of brooms scraping against the bluestone slabs could already be heard in the small courtyard south of the city. Zhang Wu, shirtless, swept the rainwater that had accumulated the night before into the ditch, his muscular back bulging with each movement.

Inside the room, Liu Bei scooped up water from a copper basin and splashed it on his face.

The water was chillingly cold. He opened his eyes and looked at his swaying reflection in the basin. There were some stubbles on his chin, his brow bones were more defined than four years ago, and his eyes were deep and unfathomable, like a still pool of water.

Today I turn twenty.

Logically, he should be undergoing his coming-of-age ceremony. However, he is in Luoyang, and his parents are not by his side. Lu Zhi mentioned a few days ago that if he wanted to hold the ceremony, he could ask a few colleagues to be witnesses. Liu Bei thought about it and politely declined.

What kind of nonsense is it for a low-ranking official with a salary of 300 shi to hold his coming-of-age ceremony in Luoyang? He'd only make a fool of himself.

He dried his face, changed into his light scarlet official robes, and fastened the copper tally. Zhang Wu came in after sweeping the courtyard and served breakfast: millet porridge, two meat patties, and a dish of pickled vegetables.

"Doctor, today..."

"As usual." Liu Bei sat down, picked up a steamed bun and broke it open. "Those who need to stand guard should stand guard, and those who need to deliver documents should deliver documents."

Zhang Wu scratched his head and didn't say anything more.

At the beginning of Chen Shi (7-9 AM), in the office of the Nangong official.

Colleagues gradually arrived, nodding to each other with little conversation. After the clerk called out the roll call, everyone dispersed to pick up their halberds.

Liu Bei was assigned to the West Gate.

In June, the sun was scorching. The halberd shaft was burning hot, and after holding it for a while, his palms were covered in sweat. He stood straight, his gaze fixed on the palace wall in front of him, but his mind was filled with fragments of "Old Rituals of Han Officials" that he had found in the East Pavilion the night before.

The sounds of carriages and horses could be heard in the distance.

It wasn't the usual route on the official road; it came from the north. The sound of wheels rolling over the stone slabs was rapid and heavy, and it sounded like there was more than one vehicle.

Liu Bei didn't lift his eyelids, but out of the corner of his eye he caught a troop of carriages turning the corner. Leading the way was a blue-canopied carriage with a small flag on the shaft, embroidered with the character "Cao". Behind it followed seven or eight riders, all strong and sturdy men, with swords hanging from their saddles.

The car stopped outside the palace gate.

The carriage door opened, and a man stepped out. He was around thirty years old, not very tall, with slightly dark skin, wearing a dark blue official robe and a leather belt. The man looked up at the palace gate, then reached out to adjust his hat with a crisp motion.

The guard stepped forward to check the documents. The man handed them over, stood aside, and waited, his eyes casually sweeping over the surroundings.

When the camera panned to Liu Bei, it paused for a moment.

Liu Bei remained standing, without moving.

The man glanced at him twice, then suddenly grinned, revealing a row of white teeth. He nodded to Liu Bei, turned, and followed the soldiers inside.

The carriages remained outside the palace gates. The attendants dismounted, gathered in the shade, and spoke in hushed tones, glancing into the palace gates every now and then.

Liu Bei gripped the halberd, his palms sweating and then drying.

Shift changes at noon.

He went to the Imperial Secretariat to deliver a document. As he walked through the long corridor, he heard two clerks whispering around a corner.

"...Is Cao Yilang back?"

"He arrived this morning and just went to the palace to report. There's been a lot of trouble in Dunqiu, it's not easy for him to be able to get away and come back."

"I heard they beheaded quite a few powerful figures in Dunqiu?"

"Shhh - keep your voice down..."

The sound has faded into the distance.

Liu Bei held the bamboo slips, his steps unwavering.

In the afternoon, it was his turn to organize the documents. He sat in the corner of the storeroom, sorting the official reports from various counties by date. He flipped to the report from Dunqiu County and glanced at it a few more times.

The inscription reads: "Local tyrants within the county seized farmland and beat tenants to death. County Magistrate Cao Cao arrested them according to the law, beheaded seven, and confiscated the land to be distributed to the poor." The characters are neatly written, and the wording is concise.

He closed the bamboo slips and put them back in their original place.

End of Shen Shi (3-5 PM), next shift.

By the time I stepped out of the palace gates, the sun was already setting. The streets were bustling with carriages and horses, all carrying officials hurrying home.

Liu Bei walked along the base of the wall. Just as he turned into his usual alley, he heard someone call out behind him:

"You, sir, wait!"

He stopped and turned around.

A person stood at the alley entrance; it was the same person he had seen outside the palace gate that morning. He was still wearing his dark blue official robes, the cuffs rolled up, and he was holding a small wine jar in his hand.

"Is that Liu Bei?" The man walked over with a smile, his steps bold and swift.

"Indeed." Liu Bei cupped his hands in greeting. "And you are...?"

"Cao Cao, Cao Mengde." Cao Cao switched the wine jar to his left hand, freeing his right. "It's been several years since we last met. I'm afraid Xuande doesn't remember me."

Liu Bei recalled that a few years ago, Cao Cao was still a dissolute young man, but now he looked quite different, with more signs of hardship and authority in his eyes.

"Cao Yilang." Liu Bei bowed again.

"No, wait." Cao Cao waved his hand. "What 'Imperial Consultant' nonsense. You just crawled out of that mud pit in Dunqiu, you're full of bad luck. Come on, let's find a place to have a couple of drinks—and give you a belated coming-of-age ceremony."

Liu Bei was taken aback.

Cao Cao had already turned and was walking out of the alley when he turned back and urged him, "What are you standing there for? I heard you're turning twenty today. A man is considered to have reached adulthood at twenty; you should have a drink."

The tavern was located in a corner of the East Market. It had a small storefront, but the interior was clean. Cao Cao was clearly a regular customer, and the innkeeper, seeing him enter, led him to a private room without him having to ask.

"Two catties of mutton, roasted until slightly charred. The wine must be the Du Kang wine buried last year." Cao Cao sat down and placed the wine jar on the table. "This jar is the one I brought back from Dunqiu. It's not the best, but it's strong enough."

Liu Bei sat down opposite him.

The wine and dishes were served quickly. Cao Cao broke the clay seal and poured a bowl for each of them. The wine was cloudy and had a pungent smell.

"Here," Cao Cao said, picking up the bowl. "To celebrate your coming-of-age ceremony."

The two clinked glasses. Liu Bei tilted his head back and drank it all; the burning sensation of the liquor sent a fiery heat through his stomach.

Cao Cao downed his drink too, wiped his mouth, and said, "Good! He can really drink!"

He put down his bowl, grabbed a piece of mutton, tore it apart, and looked at Liu Bei: "You've been in Luoyang for almost a year now, haven't you? How are you feeling?"

"It's alright." Liu Bei put down his wine bowl. "Days are spent on duty and reading; the time flies by."

"Fast?" Cao Cao laughed, his voice a little hoarse. "That's because you haven't been to Dunqiu. In a place like that, a day feels like a year."

He tore off a piece of meat, stuffed it into his mouth, and chewed: "I heard you did a good job in Lujiang. You killed the barbarian chieftain and quelled Zhou Chong's rebellion—why are you so hesitant and timid now that you're in Luoyang?"

Liu Bei didn't reply, but picked up the wine pot and poured him more wine.

Cao Cao didn't press the matter. He picked up his bowl, took another sip, and changed the subject: "How is your teacher doing lately?"

"The teacher is in good health and reads history every day."

"Lord Lu is a wise man," Cao Cao nodded. "Writing history now is better than getting involved in those messy affairs of the court."

He paused, then suddenly lowered his voice: "Xuande, when you're submitting documents to the Imperial Secretariat, have you seen any reports from Ji Province and Yu Province lately?"

Liu Bei paused his movements.

"I've seen some."

"How so?"

"The number of refugees is increasing daily, and small groups of bandits continue to cause trouble. Most of the reports from local authorities indicate that troops have already been dispatched to suppress them."

Cao Cao scoffed, "Suppress them? What are we going to use to suppress them? Half the county troops are missing, and their weapons are so rusted they can't even be drawn. What can those prefects and magistrates do besides write the words 'suppress them'?"

He picked up the wine bowl, then put it down, tapping his fingers on the table: "Why did I behead those seven powerful figures in Dunqiu? It wasn't because they occupied land—which powerful figure in the world doesn't occupy land? It was because they privately amassed armor and soldiers, colluded with bandits, and whenever the county tried to survey the land, they dared to send bandits to raid the county government office at night!"