Ts’ao Ts’ao’s eyes swept proudly over the plains of Guan Du. The smell of dying flames licking timber and stone that once housed the mightiest army of the North. The forces of Hebei had outnumbered Wei tenfolds. Yet today, they were entirely vanquished. True to Xu You’s words, his archenemy Yuan Shao had fled, leaving behind not a shred of dignity.

The North now belonged to him. The Emperor was his ward. To him, Lu Bu, Marquis of Wen, had posed little threat compared to Yuan Shao. The Imperial Uncle Liu Pei had been subservient but disloyal. He had feared the man would become his rival one day. Foolish thoughts…Liu Pei was but a cowardly shoemaker who had the fortune to be born into the right family, but it was a pity that Kuan Yu, a warrior whom Ts’ao Ts’ao admired wholeheartedly, had decided to cast his lot with the worm. Ts’ao Ts’ao always had a soft spot for greatness. Kuan Yu’s virtues and brilliance in combat was something worthy of his intellect and leadership.

“Lord! Are you too shocked to move? The field is ours, Ts’ao Ts’ao! It Is time to celebrate.” Hsiahou Tun’s boisterous voice shook Ts’ao Ts’ao out of his daydream. His cousin who stood a head taller than him, but his once shining armor was now covered with dirt and blood, but hardly much of his own. Tun was smiling like a madman. The giant had always been fond of combat. The only thing he loved more was victory.

“Aye, cousin”, Ts’ao Ts’ao replied. “Who would have thought we’d come this far? A brigand and an unruly student standing high as Defenders of the Empire…honored Lord of the North.”

Tun laughed, “If anyone else should call me a brigand today, I shall snap his legs like a thin twig. As for the unruly child, he can call me anything, for any man who defies Ts’ao Ts’ao will answer to my halbeard.”

Ts’ao Ts’ao had been close to the giant since their childhood. His smile had always been infectious. The troops had always found their crazy general charming in his own way.

But the events of the day was like a dream, and the victory at Guan Du seemed surreal to the most powerful man in China. How long would this last? Ts’ao Ts’ao was lost in his thoughts thinking back to his childhood…

Nothing seemed to matter to Little Meng-te more than his pranks. The urchin knew he could get away with anything. Master Fu, the grumpy old tutor, would have wanted to smack his buttock for mixing ink into his tea, but he could hardly afford to lose his plum job. Everyone knew that Meng-te’s father, the wealthy Lord Ts’ao Kao, doted over his son. Even at 12, Meng-te was already a leader of his tiny gang of cousins and friends. Yuan, Mao, and Tun would follow him in whatever pranks he cooked up.

With great difficulty, Master Fu put down his cane and let out a sigh, “In my younger days, I taught men who would grow up to be generals and nobles of Loyang. Do you think your father likes it that you take these lessons so lightly? What do you hope to be when you grow up? Your father is a great man, but you…well…you are nothing more than a spoiled brat and an unruly student.”

Meng-te was slightly ruffled by the comparison to his father, but he would be damned if he allowed Master Fu the pleasure of that knowledge. So he giggled and replied, “Somehow, I find it hard to believe that reciting poems and spending a few minutes writing one letter would get me very far when I grow up either.”

“It is called calligraphy, little Meng-te, and knowledge of poetry is the mark of a civilized man worthy of nobility, which you may never attain if you continue to behave in this manner…”

Suddenly, Master Fu stopped midair in his diatribe. The shadow of a short but well-attired man crossed the room. It could only be Lord Ts’ao Kao.

Lord Kao pretended that he did not overhear the conversation. It was difficult to find a well-learned tutor like Master Fu, so changing his smirk into a half-hearted smile, he consoled the aged pedant. “Come now, Master Fu. The boy is young, and he will grow up. Let us not be too hard on him. I am sure I was no different in my younger days. It is well past noon, and you must be famished. Please join us for the meal. I know that you have great fondness of Shanghai crab, and I have ordered it prepared especially for you.”

Master Fu humbly bowed. “As you say, my Lord, your lowly servant will do as you command.” He quickly walked along his lord. Shanghai crab…only the rich could afford that. The delicacy would take his mind off the horrible day. Dealing with the little brat was worth it after all.

Meng-te and his cousins did not eat much. They spent their time joking about their mischief today and what pranks they could play later. When the meal was finished, his father walked to the lower table where the young boys ate and patted Meng-te on his head.

“Son, run along and play with your friends, but next time, try to be nice to Master Fu. The man’s lessons cost me quite a few gold ingots and then some.” Though Lord Kao chided his son, his voice remained affectionate. It was unlikely that Meng-te would take the reprimand to heart. But the day’s lessons were over. That afternoon, he had other victims to play with.

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The three Hsiahou boys had always been close to Meng-te. After all, they were all cousins. Though Meng-te had the honor of being born into the prestigious Ts’ao family, his father, Lord Kao, was originally born Hsiahou. In those days, people with two-syllable last names in China were minorties, much like the Ssuma, Chuko, or Ouyang families. Some historians believed that they may have mixed blood of ancient barbarian tribes who were not truly Han Chinese, but tracing the legends behind these family origins was virtually impossible. No one had lived to be so old, and those who knew the truth were all but long dead.

The Ts’ao family was one of the most prestigious families in Eastern Han. They had served the imperial palace for eight generations. When the heir of the Ts’ao family, Ts’ao Teng, had accepted the Emperor’s order to become an eunuch, he needed to make sure that his prestigious line would continue, and that was when he adopted the child Hsiahou Kao as his son, because the Hsiahou had long been faithful retainers of the Ts’ao. Though Meng-te always considered it his birthright to be a member of the superior Ts’ao family, he never forgot that the three Hsiahou boys were of the same blood as him. Though Tun towered over all over them, all the Hsiahou boys deferred to Meng-te by virtue of his seniority and birth.

Meng-te could not explain his own feelings either, but he had a rare and illogical urge to pester the little girl next door when he could find time. Little Ding Mei was two years younger than him. Her father, Lord Ding Yuan, was a magistrate in Loyang, and their mansion was only slightly smaller than his own. Like all girls, Mei was slightly taller than him, for Meng-te was shorter than most children of his age. Her eyes were large and deep, and she fashioned a short pigtail. She had pink dimples which made her stand out amongst the other girls. As they spotted her alone in front of the mansion gate, Meng-te hatched a plot.

“Yuan, go and talk to her. Divert her attention as long as you can”, Meng-te ordered.

Out of habit more than anything, Hsiahou Yuan promised to comply, but he couldn’t help himself to add some comments. “I can’t see why you give her so much importance. She’s just a girl.”

Little boys always hated little girls. This was the nature of things. Why they grew up so fond of each other was something kids never understood. Meng-te could not explain himself either, but even as a child, he did not like to be questioned.

“Just follow orders like a good soldier, Yuan” replied Meng-te. Yuan smiled and saluted Meng-te stiffly. The boys had always loved to role-play as loyal soldiers of the great heir to the Ts’ao family. Perhaps, one day, they would all share in his greatness. Even as a child, Meng-te believed it was his destiny to command. His father, Lord Kao, had always told him how important their family was. One of their ancestors had even served Eastern Han as Minister. They were one of the most loyal and prestigious families in the imperial court.

Yuan strode up and used his charms on little Ding Mei. They chatted for about ten minutes. Meng-te crept up behind the giggling girl and tied her pigtail to the door rails. He was best at this covert mission, and it made him proud. Hsiahou Tun and Hsiahou Mao watched him from a distance, amusement clear in their eyes. Teasing was for ordinary children. With their Meng-te, it was always something more creative, one level above the rest.

“Well, I best be on my way now. Have a great day, Mei.” Yuan concluded his dialog, preparing to walk away in good humor.

Mei prepared to walk her friend off, but as she moved forward, her pigtail jerked her back, and she fell. Unable to untie her hair from Meng-te’s complicated knot, Little Mei sat helpless in front of her mansion crying. Even as a child, Meng-te was crafty. He knew she would rather be caught there for all eternity rather than cut her beautiful hair loose, as he would have done in her shoes. She would be there until the servants of the Ding household came to her rescue, thought Meng-te joyfully.

His betrayal successful, Hsiahou Yuan ran up to the corner where his two cousins and Meng-te waited. They were all laughing with great joy at Meng-te’s ingenuity. This was way more fun than Master Fu’s senseless lectures on ancient Chou poetry and the five virtues of the first king. The four boys made their way back home. They knew there would be hell to pay for when the Magistrate Ding complained to Lord Kao and their fathers. Hsiahou Tun’s father would be sure to spank him, but Tun was hardened by now. It would all be worth it.

Spring had gone by, and not much changed at the Ts’ao residence or the Hsiahou households. The four boys continued to play pranks on Little Ding Mei and Master Fu. This was what they lived for. Childhood was a bliss for the friends, but it was also routine had it not been for their little adventures to spice things up. One afternoon, Meng-te decided to ratchet things up a notch. He managed to steal some wine from his father’s storeroom and was sharing it with his three friends. Though the bottle was small, all of the boys except Tun felt a bit tipsy. Even as a boy, Tun towered over the rest of them. At a distance where people could not see his boyish features, most strangers would have mistaken Tun for an adult.

Lord Kao could see that his son was again playing truant with his friends. It was not difficult to see that Meng-te, Yuan, and Mao were drunk, but Lord Kao had never been a strong disciplinarian. He was a rather doting father to his only son, and even had he been a stern man, this was not the day to enforce discipline.

Lord Kao sat on a fine turquoise chair next to a stranger on an identical chair in the green room. He pretended not to notice that his son or the boy’s friends were drunk.

“This is my son, Ts’ao Ts’ao.” Lord Kao introduced him to the thin stranger. “It would be great honor if Master Wen would help fortell his fortune.”

U Tzu, an old and trusted servant of the Ts’ao household, walked up to Meng-te and whispered, “Master Meng-te, this elderly stranger is Wen Chong. They say he can speak to the gods and see the future many decades hence. He was summoned to the Imperial Court only a few days ago, but your father was lucky enough to invite him for tea today. I wish you weren’t drunk on such a lucky day.”

To which Meng-te smiled and replied, “Surely, if he could confer with the gods, he would have known I’d appear to him in this condition.”

U-Tzu sighed. He was lost for words. His master was simply spoiled by Lord Kao for years. Surely, that would be revealed today for all to see. He did not bother to reply but presented a seat for Meng-te to sit next to Wen Chong.

Wen Chong tried to hide his distaste. He was an important man. His time was often demanded by the princes and high nobles of the Loyang court. To be presented with three drunk men who assumed they were entitled to his service was irritating. Ungrateful boys! He thought. Then again, Lord Kao had been such a gracious host treating him to some of the finest tea in the Loyang and entertaining him with polite chit-chat and ingratiating flattery of his skills.

Narrowing his eyes, the master soothsayer spoke only to his host, “Lord Kao, you must understand the secrets of the heavens are not to be given freely and without purpose. Because of your hospitality, I am happy to look into your son’s fortunes, but not those of his friends.” What future could there be for a young spoilt brat who spent his time on pranks and getting drunk, Wen Chong thought as he tried to stifle a smirk.

“Of course, of course,” Lord Kao nodded and smiled ingratiatingly. “I would not demand more of your generosity, Master Wen. Your agreeing to look into my son’s fortune is already more honor than I have rights to dream for.”

For a moment, Master Wen looked at Meng-te’s facial features and asked for the time and date of his birth, and he was in deep thought. Just then, his left eyebrows arched upwards in amazement as he asked Meng-te, “Boy, did you say your name was Ts’ao…Ts’ao Ts’ao?!”

Struggling to stand straight but still smiling like a fool from his first drink, Meng-te replied, “Yes, Master Wen, that is my name.”

Wen Chong turned to Lord Kao, “My Lord, this is not something I expected! I have never seen this in my long career.”

Puzzled, Lord Kao inquired, “What is it, Master Wen? Please tell us.” Ts’ao Kao was expecting the worst.

“The boy is born under three important stars in the year of the Golden Dragon. He has the important ‘Five Shorts’ feature and his name is one that shadows that of the imperial Liu line. Even in the imperial court or amongst the other high noble families, there is no one with this likeness. He is destined to rule the land and his shadow will dominate over the Emperor and the Liu line as surely as night replaces day. In a hundred years, only one such man would be born…the last of which was Wang Mang”

The mention of Wang Mang sent shivers through Lord Kao’s spine. Several centuries earlier, the Imperial Uncle Wang Mang had usurped the throne of Western Han. This was before the hero Liu Hsun restored the royal line and renamed it Eastern Han. Shocked at the equally unexpected prediction, Lord Kao blurted out of fear, “Master Wen, surely there is a mistake. Little Meng-te is but a child, and our family has always been loyal to the Imperial line of Eastern Han.”

Indignant, Master Wen frowned and said, “My predictions are never wrong! Even the Emperor or General Ho would never question them! I am honored by your invitation today but deeply offended by what you have implied, Lord Kao. I must take my leave.”

As Master Wen stood from his chair and was about to leave, Ts’ao Kao regretted inviting the famed soothsayer to his home, but now, he had to quickly control the damage. If word went out to the imperial court of this, his son would never grow up to manhood. Everyone in the Empire knew that Master Wen Chong’s words were as good as fact. The man was virtually incorruptible and never made a mistake.

“Nevertheless, we can keep this to ourselves. I am deeply sorry for my words and will try to discipline my son to avoid such a fate.” Lord Kao apologized. He also prepared five talents of gold for Master Wen. “Please accept this as your travel expenses, Master Wen.”

Master Wen’s anger gradually cooled down. After a moment of thought, he decided to take the father’s money. He did not want to unfortunate man to feel worry for his son’s safety after having treated him so well. After all, no one in court had asked him about Ts’ao Ts’ao. It was not his business to disclose the information.

“Don’t worry, Lord Kao. I am an honorable man, and it is not in my habit to betray a friend.” With that, he left the Ts’ao residence. Meng-te watched as the soothsayer left, smiling even as his father worried. The Heavens hath opened his destiny unto him. Now, all he had to do was grab it.