Martial Progenitor

"A ruler's ambition is built on the loyalty of his followers. And that is achieved by making sure the people are content." Dynasty Warriors/Historical RP blog for Cao Cao, styled Mengde. Independent and OC friendly Affiliated with KoeiMasterlist

[poeticinebriation]

-

"Would it not be easier just to lend more irrigation supplies to the province for the coming year? They are going to have to learn to help themselves eventually. Also, why is big brother not doing his share of paperwork? Surely he should be learning to deal with the people sooner or later." Zhi noted, head bowing only slightly while he listened. 

If Pi were such a perfect son, he would be helping their father with his work. Especially noting how many of their siblings, like Yu, had moved to to preside over other provinces such as Xiapi. 

[primeministercao]

"Yes, that was exactly my line of thought for the coming year. However, that doesn't keep them from starving to death now, and so food and building materials must be moved. These are reports that have only just come in, they should have submitted a shortage report just as the harvest was ending so that we could have time to prepare..." Mengde mused, returning to his desk and sitting.

He set one bottle on the far edge, closest to Zhi, "As I'm quite sure you'll enjoy it, you can take that bottle back with you for your own work. As for Pi'er," he continued, pulling two cups from a cabinet behind him, "Well, he has a new wife, so I'm giving him a little slack to establish her properly. I expect to have him back to his full workload by midsummer."

[poeticinebriation]

-

Well… that had certainly sparked his interest. Southern wine would be made from the best rice… not the bitter, horrid grape wine his brother loved so. “…I would be interested, yes.” He was particularly sober today, wandering toward his father’s desk in curiosity. He’d never really tasted anything ‘fine’ before. Especially with how frugal his mother was. “What are you working on?”

[primeministercao]

"Nothing special, my next devious plot to murder civilians and abduct their women and children, of course." Mengde responded, his voice flat and serious as anything he ever said, although his expression certainly betrayed otherwise. Moving to his liquor cabinet, he retrieved two bottles, "Honestly, it's just busy work and calculation. This province had a surplus, and this one had a drought, and so how to balance and transport supplies between the two. Mostly, it's just tedium."

[poeticinebriation]

-

"If you’re sure…" Perhaps it would be too soon a visit between the two of them? He never really had seen eye-to-eye with his father, nor with his siblings, either… to be certain, he wasn’t even really sure why he was here. "I can come back later." 

[primeministercao]

"No, truly, I've just finished the worst of it." he reassured. The rare visit from his troubled son sparked too much of a curiosity within him for him to continue, so he may as well stop here for a short break. "You still can't stand tea, is that right? I've come across some good wine from the southern provinces, if you're interested."

[poeticinebriation]

-

"I thought that… perhaps you would have time for me?" 

[primeministercao]

Setting his work into neatly organized piles, the Cao lord stood from his desk, "if you have need of me, erzi, you can always ask. As it happens, I had just reached a convenient stopping point."

[poeticinebriation]

"Father…"

[primeministercao]

"It isn't like you to call for me, is something the matter?"

[blindedbyenvy]

-

"…" How long was this man going to impede his walk back to his chambers? The ludicrous thought of him apologizing had been tossed out the window the moment he’d spoken the offense. After-all, he’s simply done what any normal person would have done; told them to move. 

Zhangyu had been given his style name at a young age when expected to die, though he understood that most had never even thought of their own until nearly twenty years old. The young prince shifted his weight to one side in silence. If he wanted to play this game, he’d play. 

He would wait. 

[primeministercao]

Cao Cao must have read the scroll at least twenty times before he bothered with another look at his grandson, "...you're tenacious, I'll give you that," the lord acquiesced, folding the slats and tying them off. "It seems the only thing you're good at is clinging stubbornly to anything you manage to grasp, even briefly."

He folded his arms across his chest, leaning comfortably into the wooden wall. He was going to have to have a talk with his son about the conduct he taught his offspring, or at least inform him that his punishments were too lenient. "You're dead weight, do us all a favor and drop yourself off the the wagon to make the load lighter."

[blindedbyenvy]

-

Li’s breathing was indeed haggard, and his stance was one that proved that he was, in fact, having trouble this evening.  Anger was ever-evident in his expression, though the irritation was what laced his voice when speaking before. 

He pushed all of his weight onto the staff that his fingers curled around, lips parting only slightly. He didn’t have time for this. It was rare- few and far between- that he’d ever been able to even sneak a glance at his ‘Grandfather’.

Still, Li found himself staying silent, eyes ever-narrowed in distaste.

[primeministercao]

He waited for a brief moment before going back to his reading, if the boy wanted to play this game, he could play all day. Li was struggling, all he had to do was wear the boy down enough for him to either give up and turn around, give up and apologize, collapse on the floor and humiliate himself, or try something stupid to justify retaliation.

It was true that he never bothered to keep up with many of his grandchildren, as there were so many, and most were not worth his time. This one especially he hadn't expected to live very long, being as sickly has he was, and so Mengde had never bothered to meet with nor get to know the invalid.

Cao Li could glare all he liked, but Mengde wasn't about to let him off easily.

[blindedbyenvy]

-

"…Alright then…" The cripple leaned back a little, attempting to steady himself by placing one hand against the wall. Dark strands fell over the bandage that covered his eye, lips pursed into a frown. "I need to get around… now.”

[primeministercao]

Irritation was easily visible in Cao Cao's features, blocks of ice built up in the cerulean of his irises as he looked up to address the child. He noted the cane and eyepatch, the skin tone and build... This must be one of Pi's children... shouldn't he have died by now? Zihuan was too soft, as evidenced by the boy's breathing and heartbeat, coupled with the rudeness that radiated from him.

"I will afford you a single opportunity to retract that, Li."

[primeministercao]

"Good evening."

[princess-of-azure-deactivated20]

"Good evening,father"

[primeministercao]

"Ah, Jie! How has my dear daughter been faring?"

[blindedbyenvy]

-

"…" There was a soft coughing, the tapping of a cane on the tiled floor, "…I need to get around."

[primeministercao]

Mengde declined to look up from his reading, recognizing the voice only as one of his children's children, "Not with a remark like that, you don't." The official remarked matter-of-factly, "Find your manners, child, then try again."

[primeministercao]

"Good evening."

[priceofvirtue]

primeministercao started following you

"L-Lord Mengde!" It had been ages since the benevolent Lord had been permitted to see the Phoenix. Perhaps he would be remembered from his help at Hu Lao Gate? 

[primeministercao]

The official ceased his reading at the call of his name, certain he was misremembering the owner of that voice. Blue eyes lifted easily to be met with a pleasant surprise, "Liu Xuande," Cao laughed lightly, standing to greet him, "it has been quite some time! Have you been well?"

[jixieshouxiaozhi]

-

"Ah?" his Cheshire grin ever apparent as he would meander closer and closer to this great man of Wei. Yet, for all that it was worth, he had not saved his own men. Such troubles ended up killing something of great power in Wei.

And yet, here was this man… The man that could have easily undo the damage, and he did nothing.

"It would have been less breathtaking if you had only done something, which I must ask: you had the power and the necessary bodies to make this never exist. What stopped you. Was it overconfidence? Or was it sheer stupidity? Do tell, I want to know."

[primeministercao]

The King of Wei remained silent, allowing the breeze to wash the comments away. Since the turn of the year, he had been met with near constant internal opposition. First the revolts in Xuchang itself, then the barbarian tribes, and then Nanyang took time to recover as well.

He had gone himself to Chang'an, to better direct the campaign he had begun in Hanzhong a year before, but the effort was too little too late. He had been preparing a force to act as relief, or perhaps that final push through Yanping when he had received the news of Xiahou Yuan's death. Zhang Junyi had temporarily taken the open position, and Cao Cao had found himself here.

He could have sent reinforcements much sooner, but the simple truth of the matter was that he had once again lacked the knowledge to properly assess the threat of Liu Bei's officers. "It was a miscalculation on my part, lord Strategist," Mengde finally responded, frozen optics gleaming in the dying light as he turned his attention to Fa Zheng, "but you can rest assured that the mistake will not be repeated."

[sister-equalist]

I'm curious. Reblog this if you know how to cook

I don’t even care if it’s macaroni, ramen or those little bowls you stick in the microwave. Please, I need reassurance that most of the population on tumblr WOULDN’T STARVE TO DEATH if their parents couldn’t fix them food or they couldn’t go out to eat. 

[primeministercao]

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[flameofretribution]

Out of the Riverlands

[flameofretribution]

-

"Hanzhong, of course. But do you thing them so incapable as to amass an army? If Lu Bu were to join them, there would be a true problem on your hands. I do not think it beyond either of them to stoop to each other’s standards, so do be careful." Zhu Ran meant no disrespect, though the conversation on his part had just become much more interesting. He enjoyed hearing such things- especially that last tidbit about Guan Yu. 

“Aaahahaha,” Yifeng’s lips twitched upward, head cocking slowly to one side, “Guan Yu is a trapped man. If he thinks he can simply take the lands that were borrowed, he’s got another thing coming. Our Master Strategist has everything laid out for that… however…”

The archer of Wu turned to look over the Prime Minister, eyebrows raised, “I’m afraid I have to ask… is there anything beneficial that would come to you from the slaying of the so-called God of War?”

[primeministercao]

Mengde couldn't help but scoff, "The last time Liu Bei trusted Lu Bu, he lost Xuzhou and was made to wander about homeless. I do not think Xuande incapable of amassing an army with his nonsense, but I am quite certain that he and Lu Bu are quit for good."

His lips twitched slightly at the General's words; Sun Quan insisted they were lending Jing to Liu Bei, but what gave them the right to claim it as their own in the first place? "Ah, is this the same Master Strategist who dealt me so hefty a defeat at Chi Bi? Zhou Gongjin is truly farsighted, your lord is quite lucky to have him."

Cao Cao knew the question must be rhetorical, and ultramarine drifted to meet sienna, his pupils flashing in calculation. "There are many benefits to the elimination of Guan Yunchang; if nothing else, the loss of Guan Yu is likely to cripple Liu Bei for some time. Having him in Jing is a problem for both the North and the South. However, I lack the resources to oust him at this time." He turned an unassuming smile toward Zhu Ran, "why must you ask, General? I assume Sun Zhongmou is eager to have his land returned."

[poeticinebriation]

-

"…Yes. I’m just one big disappointment, aren’t I?" Zhi asked as he filled his glass once more, head shaking from side to side. The young man tipped back his head, allowing the red liquid to slide down into his stomach. He quite liked the taste of the grape wine his brother favored. It got you drunk quicker. "I’ll never be as extraordinary as Pi, nor as yourself. Why not rub that in harder? It’ll make for interesting drinking conversation with my imaginary friends."

[primeministercao]

"Zhi'er, it would be a lie to say I am not disappointed in the way you waste your talents," Mengde began quietly, taking a seat before languidly reaching to fill a glass of his own, "but it is also a lie to call you a disappointment. Pi has set himself to rigorous standards, this is why he excels. He has lofty goals in mind and strives to attain what he desires."

Cerulean lifted from the glass to rest on Zijian's own, noting a tense stillness in the way his son's fingers held the cup. "Tell me about the future you envision for yourself, Zhi."