Chapter 5: Eat My Blade, You Corrupt Official!

Cao Cao felt he was reaching his limit.

He had entered Lu County thinking that a magistrate capable of governing a town to such a scale must possess extraordinary talent, and he was unwilling to let such a person slip through his fingers. Now, however, Cao Cao no longer held any such hope. Looking at the grand gates of Lu Chuan’s residence and the pair of stone lions flanking them, he felt he finally understood where Lu Chuan’s wealth came from. It must have been extorted from the flesh and blood of the people! Such a magistrate deserved to be executed.

Cao Cao felt a sudden, burning urge to leave immediately, march his thousands of soldiers into Lu County, and bring this corrupt official to justice right then and there.

"Hey! Do you want to see Magistrate Lu or not? If not, get going and stop blocking the way!"

Xiahou Dun silently drew his blade, sensing Cao Cao’s intent. Yet, at this critical moment, Cao Cao steadied himself.

"We shall see him! Since we have come this far, why not? It is only ten thousand coins; I can still afford that."

The Cao family was wealthy—Cao Song had even purchased the high office of Grand Commandant—so ten thousand coins were truly nothing to Cao Cao. Besides, with thousands of soldiers stationed outside the city, if he discovered that the magistrate was indeed a villain, he could simply give the order to storm the county. Regardless of what talents the magistrate might have, he would be forced to surrender, and the ten thousand coins he had handed over would be recovered in full. Ultimately, Cao Cao felt that with thousands of troops at his disposal, he was in an invincible position; why worry about Lu Chuan’s games? Since Lu Chuan wanted to play, Cao Cao would play along to the end.

"Yuanrang, go outside the city and have Zilian bring ten thousand coins here."

"Mengde, this is ten thousand coins. Do you really intend to give it to this dog of a magistrate?" Xiahou Dun’s family was not as affluent as the Caos, and ten thousand coins was no small sum; he was concerned.

Cao Cao sneered, "It is fine. As long as our soldiers remain outside, we have nothing to fear. Go."

Xiahou Dun nodded and departed. About an hour later, he returned with a carriage. Ten thousand coins was a significant weight and could not be carried by hand; a carriage was necessary. Cao Cao glanced at the money on the cart and felt a pang of regret. To fund the campaign against Dong Zhuo, he had nearly exhausted his family’s fortune; the once-wealthy Cao household had little left. These ten thousand coins were not family property, but the provisions for his soldiers.

In these chaotic times, ten thousand coins could achieve so much. Yet, to meet this mysterious magistrate, Cao Cao felt it was worth a gamble. He returned to the gates of Lu Chuan’s residence.

"Gentlemen, the ten thousand coins have been gathered. Please, announce us."

The two guards glanced at the carriage behind Cao Cao and displayed a look of disdain. "Is that what you call money on that carriage? Do you think we have the leisure to stand here and count it? Go exchange it for a commercial note and come back!"

"A commercial note? What is that?" Cao Cao was astonished once again. Ten thousand coins in gold and silver were laid out before them, and these guards refused to acknowledge it? Claiming it was too much trouble to count? Was this even an excuse?

The other guard let out a scoff upon seeing Cao Cao’s reaction. "Another bumpkin from out of town, knowing nothing! Magistrate Lu established the Lu Family Bank. If you deposit these ten thousand coins there, they will give you a commercial note for the amount. Bring that note here; don't flaunt a cartload of money like this, as if no one has ever seen cash before!"

"Exactly. Let me tell you, Lu County is not short on money. Magistrate Lu has absolutely no interest in it! If you want to show off your wealth, you've come to the wrong place!"

Cao Cao was speechless. How was he showing off? They were the ones who demanded a ten-thousand-coin entry fee! He had provided it, and yet he was still being lectured. And they claimed to have no interest in money? If they had no interest, what was the point of charging this fee? This man named Lu was truly detestable.

But since the money was already there, he could not give up now. Suppressing his anger, Cao Cao went with Xiahou Dun to the Lu Family Bank to exchange for the note. He held deep skepticism regarding such a thing. Trading ten thousand coins of real gold and silver for a flimsy piece of silk felt like a joke. He assumed this was just another of the magistrate’s tricks to swindle the people. The more he saw, the more Cao Cao felt that this magistrate was a scoundrel—wasting resources to build such a city and using every unscrupulous method to amass wealth. It was hateful.

"Yuanrang, once we see the magistrate, you seize him first, and then we shall interrogate him thoroughly!"

"Understood! Mengde, I have been waiting for those words!"

Xiahou Dun nodded repeatedly. Throughout this journey, his own opinion had soured, and his impression of Lu Chuan had reached its lowest point.

The two presented the commercial note to the guards, whose expressions finally softened. "That’s more like it! Regardless of who you think you are or what status you hold outside, once you arrive in our Lu County, you bow when you need to bow and you crouch when you need to crouch! Don't go around causing a ruckus every day. Follow me."

Cao Cao clenched his fists again. He had done exactly as they asked, so why was he still being treated as if he were in the wrong?

"Right, what are your names? State them first! Don't say I didn't warn you—Magistrate Lu keeps a register, and those on that list, no matter how much money they offer, he will not see!"

*Again?* Cao Cao and Xiahou Dun exchanged a look and wisely provided fake names. How could they possibly stumble in the same place three times?

"Fine, come on in." The guard finally relented and led them through a side door into the residence.

Cao Cao was deeply irritated by being forced through the side door. As a dignified Commandant of Agriculture of the Han Dynasty, he was here to visit a mere county magistrate; the man should have come out to greet him personally! And yet, he dared to make him use the side entrance! *Just you wait,* Cao Cao resolved silently. *Once I uncover your true colors, I will make you pay for this indignity.*

Upon entering, the guards had them wait in a pavilion in the front courtyard while he went inside to announce them. Having endured so much unfair treatment already, Cao Cao decided a little more wouldn't hurt, and he waited with forced patience.

About a quarter of an hour later, Lu Chuan emerged, a smile on his face. Though he hadn't met them yet, since they had paid the ten-thousand-coin fee, he felt he should show some courtesy. The guard followed behind him, chest puffed out.

"You two, come here! This is Magistrate Lu. If you have any business, then—"

Before the guard could finish, Xiahou Dun’s expression turned grim. He drew his sword from his waist and charged toward Lu Chuan.

"You corrupt dog! Take this!"