The land of Hanoi.
Following the orders of Zhang Yang, the Governor of Hanoi, the army was set to march at noon. Countless armored soldiers had risen early, and Zhang Yang himself had slept in the military camp the previous night to oversee the mustering of troops for the dawn departure!
As the first rays of sunlight pierced the morning sky, the chill of the night breeze seemed to abate slightly, and the dawning light brought a refreshing mood.
Some of Zhang Yang's personal guards stretched as they emerged from their tents, preparing to muster the troops.
It was at this very moment that...
"Ah... ah..."
Screams of agony echoed through the military camp.
Enemy attack...
This was Zhang Yang's instinctive reaction. Escorted by his personal guards, he burst out of his tent, only to see countless familiar soldiers, each wielding a saber like a wolf, cutting down anyone they encountered!
At the crack of dawn...
The armored soldiers who had been under his command moments ago were now charging into the camp like hungry tigers pouncing on their prey!
They slashed and hacked with frenzied abandon, their advance unstoppable!
Zhang Yang's personal guard unit could never have imagined that the soldiers from various legions, their comrades just yesterday, were now roaring their way towards them.
Before they could snap out of their pleasant dreams from the night before and even grab their weapons, these jackals with glinting green eyes were upon them, disemboweling them!
Countless faces contorted to the extreme, devoid of any mercy...
It was as if Zhang Yang's and his guards' deaths were the very steps needed to build their ladder of promotion!
A choice!
It seemed there was no choice to be made!
On one side stood the righteous cause of the Son of Heaven, and the ever-growing might of Chancellor Cao!
On the other side was the meager territory of Hanoi, and Zhang Yang, who dared to defy the Son of Heaven and become a rebel.
Of the fifty thousand armored soldiers, at least thirty thousand had made the most correct choice.
In this era, betraying one's lord would undoubtedly earn infamy, and perhaps lead to one being shunned by all. However... by raising the banner of the Son of Heaven and acting on imperial decree to eliminate a traitor, it was seen as a righteous act of punishing one's own kin!
Not only would they avoid infamy, but they might even carve their names into history!
"Clang, clang, clang..."
The clash of weapons and bones was incessant. The entire dawn was more akin to a bloody battlefield of Asuras than the darkness of night!
In the time it took for a single stick of incense to burn, the battle was over.
The principle of "capturing the leader first" was enacted. Under Cheng Yu's deployment, Yang Chou concentrated his superior forces to directly assault Zhang Yang's camp.
"Stomp, stomp..."
Into a military tent, Yang Chou and a cadre of generals strode, blood splattered across their bodies, their footsteps firm and powerful.
Within the tent, a disheveled, powerfully built man, his armor shattered, sat on the ground. Countless armored soldiers pointed their spears at him, seemingly awaiting their general's command to end the man's life!
At this moment...
Yang Chou stopped, his eyes narrowed, staring intently at the man before him...
Indeed, this ragged man was Zhang Yang, the benevolent Zhang Yang!
One of the spearmen reported, "General, as ordered, Zhang Yang's five thousand personal guards have all been executed. Only Zhang Yang remains. We dared not act without your leave, so we waited for your arrival!"
*Hoo...*
Yang Chou let out a breath, feeling a surge of excitement within him.
It could be said that capturing Zhang Yang was half of the 'letter of submission' he was offering. The corners of his mouth curled upwards in a faint smile.
"General Zhang? I never thought we would meet again like this after just one night. Truly, how unpredictable are the ways of the world!" Yang Chou said with a smile. "Heh heh, now, you are no longer my lord, but a traitor, and I am no longer your subordinate officer, but a General appointed by the court to suppress barbarians! Haha... Hahaha!"
"Yang Chou... you, why? Why did you betray me? I treated you well!"
"And who... who helped you plan this surprise attack?"
Zhang Yang's face was ashen.
If Yang Chou's betrayal was something he could somewhat understand, then... the surprise attack, a sudden assault during the rotation of the garrison troops, where his five thousand personal guards were completely unable to resist, was bewildering.
Zhang Yang absolutely did not believe that this was a stratagem Yang Chou could have conceived.
"Hahahaha..." Yang Chou laughed heartily. "General Zhang, General Zhang, if I told you, you likely wouldn't believe it. Your doom today was sealed more than ten days ago!"
"Hahaha, Commander Lu of the Dragon Valor Battalion... even from a thousand miles away, he predicted that you would come to the aid of Lu Bu! He also predicted that this calamity was fated for you! What a pity, what a pity!"
As he spoke, Yang Chou shook his head at Zhang Yang. "General Zhang, I admit that in terms of military strategy and martial skill, Yang Chou is no match for you, but I cannot be faulted for having good judgment and understanding the prevailing situation! With the all-knowing Commander Lu of the Dragon Valor Battalion here? You still harbored thoughts of allying with Lu Bu to raid Cao Gong's rear? Humph, how could these things escape Commander Lu's eyes?"
"Haha... to contend with him is merely to court self-destruction! It is better to be like me, to surrender to Commander Lu, and follow him in the future, and you will surely live in luxury. As for you, you will simply be the 'letter of submission' I present!"
Having said this...
Yang Chou's saber was already at Zhang Yang's throat.
The blade was cold and sharp, biting into the bone...
"You... you cannot kill me! General Sui Gu, he... he will never join Cao Ying, and he... he will not let you go... he won't..."
Sui Gu was originally a Yellow Turban rebel. After the failure of the Yellow Turban Uprising, he joined the Black Mountain Army, renowned alongside Yu Du and Bai Rao...
In the second year of Chuping, he had allied with Yuan Shu to plot against Cao Cao's Eastern Commandery, but unfortunately... he was defeated by Cao Cao!
It could be said that Sui Gu harbored immense hatred for Cao Cao, and would absolutely not defect to Cao Cao.
However...
"Hahahaha..." Yang Chou's laughter grew more arrogant. "General Zhang, General Zhang, you still don't understand. Do you think it is I, Yang Chou, who wants you dead?"
"No... it is Commander Lu who wants your life. Commander Lu is all-knowing, how could he not have foreseen the matter of Sui Gu? It is likely that within half an hour, you two will be meeting in the underworld!"
With those words...
*Swish* - a slash across the throat!
This was the most satisfying way to die, with no time to even feel the pain. And for Yang Chou to kill Zhang Yang this way could be considered a gesture of his past affection.
It was only a pity that Zhang Yang was too naive; he had offended someone he could not afford to offend!
"Alright..." Yang Chou calmly severed Zhang Yang's head, lamenting, "Now I can report to Commander Cheng!"
With those words, he picked up the bloody head and quickly exited the tent!
On the other side...
In the land of Hanoi, a military camp, this was Sui Gu's camp. He had over ten thousand soldiers under his command, who were originally from the Black Mountain Army, and had followed him to pledge allegiance to Zhang Yang.
Unfortunately...
"Enemy attack, enemy attack..."
The shouts of scouts rang out, and at the same time, countless armored soldiers stormed the camp, and an endless melee ensued.
Cheng Yu was among them. Despite his usual scholarly demeanor, on the battlefield, he commanded with unwavering resolve... His waist sword had long been drawn, and he appeared majestic, possessing a heroic aura that even men born to military command lacked.
"We are acting on imperial decree to eliminate rebels! We only seek the ringleaders. Those who surrender will not be killed!"
"Those who resist will be put to the sword without mercy!"
With these words, Cheng Yu swung his saber, and from the moment he drew it, over twenty thousand armored soldiers erupted in a roar. They pounded their shields, drew their sabers and spears, their momentum like a tidal wave!
Every armored soldier was not foolish!
The one overseeing them was Commander Cheng of the Dragon Valor Battalion. If he were to speak favorably of anyone before Commander Lu, that lucky soldier might be directly promoted to the Dragon Valor Cavalry, bringing honor to their ancestors and awe throughout the land!
For this very reason, each armored soldier charged forward with a "hoo-ah," eager to display their valor, in hopes of catching Commander Cheng's eye and being selected for the Dragon Valor Battalion!
"Kill, kill, kill!"
"Charge!"
The shouts of battle pierced the heavens, shaking the earth...
Like a dark cloud pressing down, like a surging tide, the army advanced like a sharp blade, piercing directly into the heart of Sui Gu's forces. And then... the bloodletting, the unbridled slaughter, began!
Moments later, Sui Gu's head was hoisted onto a bamboo pole. Subsequently, under Cheng Yu's orders, the entire land of Hanoi was adorned with banners bearing the character "Cao"!
Countless heads were severed. These were their military achievements, and more importantly, their letters of submission to Cao Ying!
More armored soldiers were captured. Upon hearing the words "Dragon Valor Battalion," they begged for surrender. In this battle, Cheng Yu secured no less than "thirty thousand" soldiers for Cao Cao!
*Hoo...*
Several hours later, as the armored soldiers began clearing the battlefield, Cheng Yu's gaze remained fixed.
He calmly penned a letter and then tied the thin silk cloth to the leg of a carrier pigeon.
Swift pigeon post was the fastest method of communication, and the message was not for Cao Cao, nor for Lu Yu, but for Xiapi City...
He intended to use this letter to cast a shadow of fear over the entire city of Xiapi!
"Young Master Lu!" Having completed his task, Cheng Yu felt a moment of relief. He faced the void and murmured, "Did I, Cheng, once again fulfill my mission?"
...
...
A swift dispatch arrived at the Cao army's camp outside Xiapi City.
Cao Cao read the urgent report with a cold face and a deep gaze, offering no comment...
Xun You and Xi Zhicai, upon hearing the news, also arrived, their faces grim, no one uttering a sound.
Cao Ren, seeing that most people had gathered, spoke with difficulty.
"Chancellor Cao, esteemed strategists, this is an urgent dispatch from Lord Xun of Xuchang. Our spies in Hanoi have discovered that Zhang Yang has agreed to Lu Bu's request and intends to march on Xuchang. Counting the days, the mobilization should be today! As expected, he is now at the gates of 'Dongshi County'."
Those present were all intelligent individuals...
They all understood the implication of Cao Ren's words.
Hanoi was only three hundred miles from Xuchang. A swift march could cover the distance from dawn to dusk!
And Dongshi County was the sole barrier between them.
This was not the main point... the main point was that Cao Cao had only deployed five thousand men in Dongshi County, and Zhang Yang had an army of fifty thousand – a fact known to all!
The enemy was numerous, and our forces were few; the situation was not optimistic.
As he spoke, Cao Ren sighed...
He continued hesitantly, "Zhang Yang commands an army of fifty thousand, and we do have seventy to eighty thousand men remaining in our rear, but they are spread thinly across various cities and prefectures! If Zhang Yang is allowed to proceed unchecked, perhaps..."
Hearing this, Cao Cao's eyes widened fiercely. His sharp gaze swept across everyone's faces. The next moment, he slammed his hand down on the table and sternly asked, "Speak your minds, how should we respond?"
This...
Xun You and Xi Zhicai exchanged glances. Xi Zhicai did not look at Cao Cao, but his brows furrowed tightly, and his lips twitched slightly. "Chancellor Cao, this battle reminds me of the campaign three years ago when Chancellor Cao campaigned against Tao Qian. At that time, it was Lu Bu who launched a surprise attack on our rear, leaving our forces unable to attend to both front and rear... however..."
Xi Zhicai did not finish his sentence...
Cao Cao, however, immediately understood and directly took over Xi Zhicai's words, proclaiming loudly, "However, on that occasion, our rear was protected by the Dragon Valor Battalion and Administrator Lu. It was they who secured the entire rear, leaving the front undisturbed. But this time... Administrator Lu and the Dragon Valor Cavalry are all with the army. Besides them, who else can withstand the might of Zhang Yang's forces?"
In fact, it was obvious to anyone with half a brain that Zhang Yang did not genuinely intend to attack Xuchang; he lacked the audacity. His objective was merely to force Cao Cao to retreat and reinforce.
"Besiege Wei to rescue Zhao" – Zhang Yang's intention was almost universally understood.
But the crucial problem was that, given the current situation, even knowing it was "Besiege Wei to rescue Zhao," they could not afford not to reinforce.
"Chancellor Cao..." Xi Zhicai's eyes darted, and he suggested, "Last time, Administrator Lu resolved a similar situation. Why not request Administrator Lu to resolve this situation again this time?"
*Heh...*
Cao Cao was slightly taken aback. He could actually understand Xi Zhicai's intentions.
After all, Yu'er had saved Xi Zhicai's life. In such a situation, his recommendation of Yu'er carried two meanings.
One was that Xi Zhicai was certain Yu'er could break this predicament;
The other was to subtly attribute this merit to Yu'er once more. Xi Zhicai was truly thoughtful.
"Where is Administrator Lu?" Cao Cao asked Cao Ren. "Why is he not present at this council..."
"Oh..." Cao Ren replied truthfully. "Administrator Lu led the Dragon Valor Battalion to a high vantage point, ostensibly to survey the defenses of Xiapi City and the swiftness of the Si River. They departed half an hour ago, so they likely won't be back for some time!"
Xiapi city defenses? Swift Si River?
When did Yu'er become interested in such matters? He usually did not concern himself with siege operations; that was his weakness...
However... this was not important.
What was important was Zhang Yang's raid on their rear. Cao Cao actually wanted to inquire about his eldest son's opinion on this matter.
Cao Cao simply waved his hand. "Zixiao, lead the way. We shall go find Administrator Lu!"
Since Xi Zhicai had made the suggestion, and to grant him the merit, Cao Cao would oblige him!
Of course, in truth, both Cao Cao and Xi Zhicai had methods to resolve this matter, but... the issue was the extent of the losses.
However, Yu'er was most adept at attacking the enemy's minds. Perhaps his method would better align with the core tenet of "subduing the enemy without fighting" from Sun Tzu's Art of War!
Indeed, thinking about it this way, Cao Cao felt a sense of urgency.
...
...
Xiapi City.
Within the city, Lu Bu, clad in armor and wielding his halberd, was furiously heading towards Chen Gong's mansion.
But before he could reach it, he heard many surrounding citizens discussing something.
"Have you heard?"
"How could we not? It seems... Cao Cao outside the city somehow managed to transport a cartload of rice and deliver it to Advisor Chen's residence!"
"It is said... it is because Advisor Chen once saved Cao Cao's life, and thus... Cao Cao specially sent this as thanks! Ah, such a life-saving kindness is never forgotten! However... I feel that our advisor might have some connection with that Cao Cao?"
"Hush... someone is coming... we cannot speak carelessly, cannot speak carelessly!"
As if one person had initiated the topic, countless others began to discuss it.
This...
Lu Bu's face grew even more ashen!
These whispers were eroding the last vestiges of his hope in Chen Gong.
He felt a sharp pain in his heart. He was accustomed to betraying others, but he could not tolerate being betrayed himself!
"Call them over!" Lu Bu coldly ordered his surrounding guards. The guards brought the citizens over, and he asked with a dark expression, "What were you all babbling about just now?"
This...
These citizens dared not delay. "Reporting to Marquis Wen, we personally saw merchants delivering hundreds of piculs of rice to Advisor Chen's residence, many carts full. However... judging by the wheel tracks, it did not seem like the weight of rice, but rather like the rice contained something heavier! We... we were merely speculating, what exactly, what exactly it was... we did not wish to disturb Marquis Wen!"
"Besides you, who else witnessed this?" Lu Bu continued to ask.
"Aunt Zhang from the wine shop, the gardener from East Street, the maidservant in the Advisor's mansion, many people saw it and were discussing it... as for who else specifically, I... I cannot say!"
Upon hearing this...
Lu Bu's brow furrowed. He immediately ordered, "Guards, surround the Advisor's mansion with three hundred elite soldiers! Not even an ant should be allowed to leave!"
"Yes!" The guards immediately went to make arrangements.
*Stomp, stomp...*
The sound of furious footsteps echoed. After Lu Bu left, these gossiping citizens finally let out a sigh of relief.
They began to whisper amongst themselves.
"Doctor Yang cured our typhoid fever without taking any payment. The least we can do is help him..."
"Yes, if Lu Bu continues to occupy Xiapi City, how can Cao Cao's physicians enter? How can the typhoid fever in Xiapi City be cured?"
"Perhaps this is heaven's will favoring Cao!"
As the saying goes, skillful tactics win hearts...
This was all a premeditated strategy by Yang Xiu!
To this end, he had done a great deal of work, and finally... success was within reach.
At this moment, witnessing all this, Yang Xiu, who had been tailing Lu Bu, smiled faintly, his lips curving contentedly. He inquired of a minor official beside him, "Is everything arranged properly within Chen Gong's residence?"
"Everything is arranged properly. Old Chen's wife's typhoid fever was cured by Young Master Yang, and Old Chen will definitely do as Young Master Yang instructed. Young Master Yang, please rest assured!"
"Very good..."
Yang Xiu nodded meaningfully, finally looking up at the furiously departing Lu Bu, Lu Fengxian!
Everything was proceeding unexpectedly smoothly!
At this moment, Yang Xiu realized that studying medicine could not only save lives, but also harm them!
Haha, hahahaha!
...
...