Chapter 026: Disinfection and Heating, Endless Ingenious Uses

“What?!”

Everyone was astounded; none of them had expected that Cao Peng possessed such a skill.

At this moment, what occupied Cao Cao’s mind was no longer the issue of using military grain to brew wine, but rather the shock brought by the object Cao Peng had just produced.

In this era of warfare, there were indeed ways to conduct fire attacks that were resistant to water—fierce fire oil, for example.

Fierce fire oil was petroleum. In the Three Kingdoms period, lacking advanced extraction technology, such a substance was a rare treasure that one could only hope to encounter.

Yet the thing Cao Peng had created now matched the effect of fierce fire oil. If it could be produced in large quantities, sweeping the land and unifying the realm would soon be within reach.

“Bring me the thing you just threw out. Let me have a look,” said Cao Cao.

Cao Peng had been prepared for this; he had deliberately kept one aside for Cao Cao to see.

As soon as the lid of the wine flask was opened, the fragrance of wine immediately filled the air.

However, this time the aroma struck everyone as peculiar—it was not the same as the Erguotou they had enjoyed at the banquet.

“The wine I put on the market was merely an experimental product. My true aim was to brew this kind—something that could prove itself in the storming of fortresses.”

“Even as a preliminary product, this wine outstrips ordinary spirits by several times; once released to the market, demand will far outstrip supply.”

“After these days of research, I am certain I can develop this into the pillar industry of our Cao family.”

“Moreover, used in the army, this wine can warm soldiers in winter, and when soldiers are wounded, it can be used to disinfect their injuries...”

As Cao Peng explained, he handed the wine flask from the banquet to Cao Cao.

“This...”

All these myriad uses clashed against Cao Cao’s understanding.

Taking the flask, Cao Cao had already caught the scent of the wine. He tasted it—and was instantly amazed, draining the flask in one go.

“Excellent wine! This is truly the finest of the fine.”

At this, Cao Peng suddenly knelt and pleaded for forgiveness, speaking sincerely: “Since Uncle last admonished me not to idle about, and I have witnessed you laboring day and night for the state, I was deeply moved. I resolved to ease your burdens. By chance, I acquired this brewing formula, and when I connected it to matters of besieging cities, I was struck by inspiration. I wished to prove its worth before reporting to you. My actions were wrong; please, Uncle, punish me!”

Punish him?

He had produced such a treasure—what was there to punish?

But Cao Cao, who never admitted fault even when he changed his ways, would never stoop to an apology.

“Let us leave it at that! Tomorrow, come with me to the army and explain in detail how this treasure of yours is to be brewed.”

“I obey, Uncle!”

As for brewing wine with military grain, the matter was swept aside—no one would be so tactless as to bring it up again.

Cao Peng finally breathed a sigh of relief; this ordeal was over.

He congratulated himself in secret—luckily he had refined the Erguotou formula further, achieving a higher purity of alcohol content.

“All right, the matter is settled. Let us continue to eat and drink!”

With the problem resolved, Cao Cao had no reason to dwell on it. He urged everyone to continue the banquet, and he and Guo Jia took their seats among them.

All the Cao family sons were present; among the strategists were Guo Jia and Xu You, and among the generals, Dian Wei and Xu Chu.

Thus, the conversation drifted away from poetry and composition, turning instead to the state of the realm.

“That Yuan Shu proclaiming himself emperor is the joke of the century. When I heard of it, I laughed for half the morning,” Cao Cao remarked, still finding the notion amusing even now.

That Yuan Shu, simply because he had obtained the Imperial Seal, fancied himself imbued with the dragon’s mandate.

To declare himself emperor so rashly—he had truly committed a crime against all under heaven.

Remember, even in the later days of the Zhou dynasty, when the realm was in chaos for centuries, the Son of Heaven was still regarded as legitimate; none dared to depose him.

Now, though the Han dynasty is reduced to a battered banner, there are still many who, in their hearts, consider themselves Han subjects.

Not to mention others—in Cao Cao’s own camp, there were plenty who still naively hoped that Cao Cao would restore the Han, and not usurp the throne for himself.

“Yuan Shu is laughable, true, but he has presented us with a dilemma. If we only denounce him with words, without taking action, the court at Xuchang will be stripped of all authority!” Guo Jia struck directly to the heart of the matter, and all present agreed.

Such was indeed the situation: if Cao Cao did not deal with Yuan Shu, the authority of the Xuchang court would only further erode.