Chapter 025: My Brewing Benefits the Nation and the People

Cao Peng had already discerned Cao Cao’s intentions: he wanted to make an example of him, to use him as a warning to intimidate Cao Ang and the others, as well as the assembled civil and military officials. Unfortunately for Cao Cao, he was about to be disappointed once again.

Glancing around, Cao Peng saw that all eyes were fixed on him—he stood at the very center of the stage. If Cao Cao intended to demonstrate his own impartiality by making Cao Peng look foolish in public, then Cao Peng would repay him in kind, turning the tables on those eager to see him humiliated. In doing so, he would also win himself a measure of renown.

“I know that in your hearts, you believe I acted out of selfish motives. Now that my actions have been exposed, surely I should tremble before the majesty of the law and confess my crime in front of everyone.”

Cao Cao frowned, thinking, “And what else should you do?”

After a brief pause, Cao Peng continued, “But what if I told you that this wine I brewed was not for myself, but rather for the benefit of the country and its people? In particular, it could play a vital role in our military campaigns. What would you think then?”

His words immediately sparked murmurs among the crowd.

At the table, Cao Zhang and Cao Pi whispered to one another.

“Elder brother, do you think this fellow has lost his mind? Claiming that brewing wine with military grain is for the army’s sake—does he take Father for a fool?”

“Hush, say no more. He spouts nonsense, and Father, clear-sighted as he is, will surely punish him.”

Cautious by nature, Cao Pi never revealed his true thoughts, even to his own brother. This was his guiding principle: caution brings no great mistakes.

“Oh? I didn’t expect you would defend yourself so cleverly. Then tell us, in what way is this wine of yours so useful to the army?” asked Cao Cao.

Cao Cao was, at heart, a reasonable man. He wanted Cao Peng to be convinced by reason, so he would let him present whatever arguments he had.

“Gentlemen, please follow me to the courtyard!”

With that, Cao Peng led the way outside. The crowd exchanged puzzled glances but followed him nonetheless.

Once everyone had gathered in the courtyard, Cao Peng turned to Cao Zhi. “Zijian, I’ll need to borrow your exquisite pond for my demonstration. I hope you won’t mind if I ruin it.”

Cao Zhi was a little puzzled as to what could be done with a mere pond, but he replied courteously, “Don’t mention it, Anmin. It’s just a pond—feel free to use it as you wish.”

Cao Peng then had someone fetch some torches, and from his sleeve he produced several earthenware wine flasks.

“Let us imagine for a moment: the little mountain at the center of the pond is an enemy fortress, surrounded by water on all sides. Now, if we were to attack it with fire, what would happen?”

The crowd began to consider his scenario.

It seemed impossible—if the fortress was encircled by water, what use would a fire attack be?

“Haha! Clearly, Anmin has never experienced battle, to say such a thing! Many cities in the world are surrounded by water. Water is our natural bane, yet you insist on a fire attack? That’s sheer folly—completely against the principles of warfare!” said Cao Zhang.

Laughter erupted.

“Is that so?”

Cao Peng’s enigmatic smile made Cao Zhang uneasy. He muttered, “Isn’t it?”

“Gentlemen, watch closely!”

With that, Cao Peng hurled his four wine flasks toward the faux mountain in the pond, then tossed a torch after them. Thanks to his robust physique—comparable to a second-rate general—all four flasks landed precisely on the rocky mound.

With a crash, the flasks shattered, spilling their contents over the rocks. At the same instant, the torch landed atop them.

A thunderous roar followed as fierce flames leapt up from the ‘mountain’ in the center of the pond. Rather than being dampened by the moisture, the fire grew ever more intense, punctuated by sharp bursts and snaps.

Soon, the flames dwindled and died, leaving the little mountain blackened and unrecognizable.

“Well? If that water-encircled ‘mountain’ were a real fortress, would a fire attack not be possible?”

Cao Peng’s words brought the shocked crowd back to their senses.

“Even so... even so, what does this have to do with you brewing wine with military grain?” Cao Pi couldn’t help but ask.

Cao Peng smiled faintly. It seemed being proven wrong was a bitter pill for this self-righteous man to swallow—at last, he had been compelled to speak.

“The wine I just threw onto the ‘mountain’ was brewed from military grain,” he said. “Now imagine—if that were a real fortress, would my fire attack have succeeded?”