Lu Yu was still in a daze when Xiahou Dun's face was almost pressed against his.
Only then did he show a rare smile…
“Kid, while it wasn't righteous to refuse aid and kick someone while they're down this time, you did the right thing!”
Uh…
Lu Yu subconsciously took the spear. It was a bit heavy, but that wasn't the point. The point was how had Xiahou Dun's intelligence suddenly gone online? Had he just had an epiphany? He actually understood that all these actions were to save him?
Lu Yu's eyes showed surprise.
At the same time, all the Qingzhou soldiers were stunned. General Xiahou had actually smiled? Having followed this general for several months, it seemed… he had never smiled at anyone.
“Alright…”
After handing the Flying Dragon Spear to Lu Yu, Xiahou Dun immediately ordered, “That brat Lu Bu actually dared to send people to abduct me. If this revenge isn't taken, I will not rest easy. Hmph, immediately muster the troops, this general will launch a counter-attack on Puyang City under the cover of night!”
In Xiahou Dun's view, killing over thirty Bingzhou soldiers was nothing. The key was that he had to vent his anger.
However, Lu Yu and Cao Chun's purpose in coming here was the exact opposite. They wanted to prevent Xiahou Dun from counter-attacking Puyang and causing even greater losses!
“Brothers, gather at the training ground, follow me…”
Before Xiahou Dun could finish his command.
With a crisp "thud," Xiahou Dun felt a dull blow to the back of his head. His powerful willpower allowed him to turn his head, but as he saw clearly who had knocked him out, Xiahou Dun's pupils widened, and he was utterly incredulous!
However, he soon closed his eyes and fainted.
The reason for Xiahou Dun's surprise was that the person who knocked him out was none other than Cao Chun, the commander of the Tiger Cavalry.
Of course, this was all planned by Lu Yu and Cao Chun on the way. Xiahou Dun was stubborn. He had suffered a great loss in Puyang City and was bound to seek revenge. This was something that even Cao Cao couldn't stop, let alone Lu Yu.
Instead of doing the meaningless act of "persuasion," it was better to use a more direct method: knock him out. It was good for him and good for me!
Simple and efficient.
Of course, such a blow sent the armored soldiers of the Qingzhou army into a panic…
“He… how did he knock out General Xiahou?”
“Should we… arrest him?”
“With us trying to arrest him? Haven't you seen that burly man beside him? Do you think… we can get past him?”
The Qingzhou soldiers began to whisper…
Lu Yu gave Cao Chun a look. Cao Chun understood immediately. “I, along with Duke Lu Yu, have been ordered by Duke Cao to escort General Xiahou back to Juancheng. You all pack your belongings and prepare to withdraw…”
At this point, Cao Chun was a bit worried that the Qingzhou soldiers wouldn't obey him.
Just then, Lu Yu picked up the heavy "Flying Dragon Spear" and shouted, “Your General said that to see this spear is to see him in person. The entire army is to retreat to Juancheng. Those who disobey will be beheaded!”
This time… no one dared to question Cao Chun or Lu Yu.
After all, the spear was personally given to him by General Xiahou just now, and all the armored soldiers had witnessed it. It was just that… no one had expected that this would be its first use, and in such a situation.
The moon was setting…
The entire Cao army camp, with thousands of soldiers, withdrew in an orderly manner. Cao Chun, Lu Yu, and the Dragon Cavalry knights walked at the end. Of course, they were not the last ones…
The soldiers of the Tiger Cavalry… were now ambushing in the dark. This was a feint!
…
Five miles away from the Cao army camp, Zhang Liao, with several thousand cavalry, had long been poised and ready.
They were waiting for the signal flare to charge immediately and flatten the Cao army in one fell swoop.
But… for a full half an hour, why hadn’t the signal flare appeared?
According to scout reports, those Bingzhou soldiers who feigned surrender had already succeeded, and Xiahou Dun had been abducted. However, the gates of the Cao army camp opened and closed, and the retreated barricades were put back in place. What was the reason for this?
“General, aren't we attacking yet? If we wait any longer… the sky will dawn!” a deputy general reminded Zhang Liao…
“Let’s wait a little longer! The Cao army’s gates are tightly shut, and the barricades haven't been removed. A frontal assault now would result in too many casualties!”
Zhang Liao was also anxious, but the situation was unclear, and he couldn't advance rashly.
Moreover… the plan was devised by the strategist Chen Gong. The strategist had repeatedly instructed that they must see the signal flare before attacking. This was to ensure the plan was foolproof.
The Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry could not afford any more losses at this time.
“Report… General!” Just then, a scout arrived at full gallop. “Did the situation change?”
Hmm… a change?
Zhang Liao was startled and hurriedly asked, “Wasn't General Xiahou successfully abducted? How did the situation change?”
“Yes… yes, Xiahou Dun was abducted, but…” the scout choked.
The intelligence he had gathered was too unbelievable. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn't have believed it himself.
“Cao Camp… The soldiers of Cao Camp swarmed forward. They… they completely disregarded the lives of their general. Our… our over thirty brothers were all killed, and General Xiahou Dun of Cao Camp… he… he is also safe and sound!”
What?
Zhang Liao's brow furrowed tightly.
How could this be? What kind of soldiers would do this, completely disregarding the safety of their commander?
The saying goes, "Capture the king first to capture the bandits," which is the most incisive battle tactic passed down through the ages. It was already incredibly strange that the Cao army didn't fall into chaos when Xiahou Dun was abducted, but how could they… swarm forward and be oblivious to the abduction? This… this completely violated common sense!
“Are you telling the truth?” Zhang Liao asked again.
“This subordinate saw it with his own eyes… all, all true,” the scout swore fervently…
*Phew…* Zhang Liao exhaled a long breath.
It seemed that the strategist’s plan had completely failed! However… Zhang Liao suddenly remembered that strategist Chen Gong had also mentioned another point: if the plan failed, Zhang Liao was to ambush nearby!
Given Xiahou Dun’s impetuous nature, he would surely counter-attack Puyang in his rage. And Puyang City at this moment had already been heavily ambushed. Zhang Liao only needed to cut off his retreat, and thus he could also greatly defeat the Cao army.
Speaking of which, Chen Gong was an extremely meticulous planner. When devising any strategy, he would often repeatedly simulate and deduce various scenarios in his mind. There were corresponding strategies for successful abductions and for opening the camp gates, and there were also countermeasures for failed abductions.
In Zhang Liao's opinion, the current situation was still under the strategist's control.
“The strategist had already foreseen the current situation… we just need to ambush nearby! When Xiahou Dun falls into the trap attacking Puyang City, we will then emerge and cut off his retreat!” Zhang Liao immediately ordered.
But as soon as the words fell…
“Report, report… urgent report!”
Another scout rushed over. Because Zhang Liao and the Cao camp were only five miles apart, and the scouts sent out were numerous, every move of the Cao camp escaped his eyes, and the scouts' reports were very frequent.
“Is it Xiahou Dun leading his army to attack Puyang City?” Zhang Liao asked immediately, his tone filled with excitement.
Unexpectedly, the scout shook his head like a rattle drum.
“No… the Cao army has retreated. They abandoned their camp and took a shortcut towards Juancheng. It looks like they have… abandoned Puyang City!”
What?
Zhang Liao felt his ears were playing tricks on him.
… Impossible, absolutely impossible!
Given Xiahou Dun’s temperament, how could he retreat?
When did he become so calm? Or rather… was this the same Xiahou Dun who was previously tricked by the strategist’s “luring the tiger out of its lair” ploy?
“That's not right…” Zhang Liao shook his head abruptly. “How, how did they retreat?”
“Could it be… a master strategist?”
*Hiss…* Zhang Liao suddenly had this thought. Perhaps there was a master guiding Xiahou Dun’s army!
Here, Zhang Liao fell into contemplation, while the scout continued to remind him: “General Zhang, the Cao army is taking advantage of the situation and retreating. Should our army pursue?”
“No rush to pursue!” Zhang Liao waved his hand, then ordered, “First, investigate the surroundings of the Cao camp and where the Cao army retreated, to see if they have any ambushes!”
According to Zhang Liao's judgment, if Xiahou Dun had a master strategist assisting him, why would he not lay ambushes along the way?
At this time, one could not venture deep alone, like Feng Xian who fell into the enemy’s ten-sided ambush plan.
“Yes…”
Several scouts agreed, quickly mounted their horses, and hurried to investigate.
In less than the time it takes for a pot of tea to brew, the scouts returned.
“As the General predicted, the enemy has laid ambushes along the way… It is evening, but the jungle is filled with dust and flying sand and stones, suggesting it is cavalry. Judging by the sound, it is impossible to determine the number of enemy soldiers.”
*Phew…*
Zhang Liao breathed another sigh of relief. He had guessed correctly. Fortunately, he hadn’t pursued!
“Pass down the order, retreat to Puyang City immediately. Anyone who dares to pursue the Cao army privately will be beheaded!”
“Yes…” The generals took their orders and turned their horses to prepare to withdraw.
Before leaving, Zhang Liao cast a reluctant glance at the distant Cao camp and muttered to himself, “How… the strategist has miscalculated again this time!”
“Wait, does the ambush set at the southern gate of Chenliu Commandery have anything to do with the Cao army’s retreat here?”
For a moment, a bold idea surfaced in Zhang Liao's mind. The master strategist in Chenliu Commandery who had set up a counter-trap and a ten-sided ambush… and the master who had now seen through the strategist’s plan and advised Xiahou Dun to retreat… perhaps they were the same person.
*Phew…*
Thinking of this, Zhang Liao let out a sigh. Who could it be?
It couldn’t possibly be Cao Cao himself… had he returned?
…
…
Cao Cao had, of course, not returned.
At this moment, Cao Cao was standing in the Cao camp outside Pengcheng, gazing at the city before him…
Beside him, Xi Zhicai and Xun You wore solemn expressions… They were discussing strategies to capture the city.
Now, more and more civilians and clans were siding with Cao Cao. Every day, countless Xuzhou soldiers defected to the Cao camp. Some clans even promised to provide assistance when the Cao army attacked the city.
The hearts of the people, the confidence of the clans, and the morale of the army had all been largely won.
Pengcheng had been besieged for so long, and it was time to capture it with one decisive blow.
Cao Cao and Xi Zhicai and Xun You were discussing the details of the siege.
Just then.
A fast horse from Yanzhou entered the Cao army camp like a whirlwind.
In an instant, it churned up countless mud pits in the camp. The knight on the horse, facing the white snow, let the cold wind like a knife scrape his face, yet he dared not stop and dismounted…
He exhaled white mist, melting the falling snow. The melting snow turned into icy water that fell on the corners of his eyebrows, and onto his travel-worn, tired face.
The messenger on horseback was exhausted, but he still used his last bit of strength to shout, “Urgent report, urgent report… Yanzhou urgent report!”
Upon hearing the words "Yanzhou urgent report," Cao Ren's face changed drastically. He quickly grabbed the horse's reins himself, while the messenger stopped abruptly and fell off the horse at an angle.
Cao Ren helped him up, and the messenger quickly handed the bamboo slip in his arms to Cao Ren… while shouting repeatedly.
“Yanzhou is under attack. Lu Bu’s main forces have colluded with Zhang Miao to launch a night attack on Chenliu Commandery. The Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry are scattered to capture various prefectures and counties in the heartland of Yanzhou… What is the situation in each prefecture and county? It is not yet clear!”
As these words escaped, Cao Ren's face turned ashen. The hand that took the bamboo slip trembled involuntarily. He gasped for air before looking up in confusion.
He exclaimed repeatedly… “Something big has happened!”
He stood up abruptly and hurried to find Cao Cao.
…
In less than the time it takes for a pot of tea to brew, the letter reached Cao Cao through Cao Ren.
Quickly unfolding it, it was better not to have read it. Upon seeing it, Cao Cao's entire face turned ashen. His pupils suddenly widened, and his fists clenched involuntarily.
“Bad! Lu Bu actually launched a surprise attack on Yanzhou!”
Indeed, Cao Cao had worried about Yanzhou before. But the feudal lords he worried about were Liu Biao, Yuan Shao, Gongsun Zan, and Yuan Shu… He never expected that the real wolf would be Lu Bu!
Speaking of which… in these years, Lu Bu had successively served Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, and Zhang Yang… he didn’t have his own territory and seemed to have a low presence!
How… how could he unite the Yanzhou clans, and moreover, colluding with him was… was Cao Cao's most trusted old classmate – Zhang Miao!
Cao Cao's expression became stern. He quickly scanned every line of the bamboo slip.
It turned out that the famous scholar Bian Rang had died…
This led to the Yanzhou clans' suspicion of Cao Cao, and consequently… Lu Bu naturally colluded with them. What a malicious scheme!
Cao Cao was very intelligent and quickly discovered all the schemes in the lines. However, could Lu Bu devise such a meticulous strategy?
Impossible, absolutely impossible!
Cao Cao keenly sensed that Lu Bu might have a master strategist assisting him.
As for who this master was, he had no time to ponder, because… more importantly, what was the current situation in Yanzhou?
The letter was from Xun Yu. He didn't directly explain the situation in Yanzhou, but made the worst-case analysis… asking Cao Cao to prepare for a possible return to aid at any time.
Of course, with Xun Yu's personality, he would surely send a second and a third letter!
At that time… the situation would become clearer.
But… the key problem was, if Lu Bu and Zhang Miao had colluded from within and without, and had already captured Chenliu, and then concerted their efforts to capture Yanzhou, and then advanced eastward, Cao Cao would face the predicament of being attacked from both front and back!
This… was extremely unfavorable!
Besides this, there was an even more important decision. Pengcheng had been besieged for so long and was about to be captured… If Yanzhou were lost, would Cao Cao have to abandon Pengcheng?
If he abandoned it, then all the efforts of the past few days, the support of the people and clans, would all be in vain.
“My Lord? What makes you so flustered?” Xi Zhicai noticed Cao Cao's unease and hurriedly asked…
“Yanzhou has been attacked!” Cao Cao tried to make his tone a little calmer, but his ashen face had already betrayed him. He held the table with his hand. “Zhang Miao has failed me, Zhang Miao has failed me!”
He wanted to scold Zhang Miao severely, at least to vent his dissatisfaction, but after all, it was already of no use.
At this moment, Cao Cao's mindset was somewhat unbalanced, even anxious.
“I, Cao Cao, do not doubt those I employ, but I never expected such a big flaw in my judgment of people. Zhang Miao has failed me, Zhang Miao has betrayed me!”
In his opinion, with the alliance of Lu Bu and Zhang Miao, capturing Chenliu was almost a sure thing… If Chenliu was lost, then the prefectures and counties in the heartland of Yanzhou might respond!
Helplessness, Cao Cao was now radiating helplessness.
In fact, losing a city or a prefecture was not terrifying. What was terrifying was Cao Cao's self-denial, and… his loss of confidence in Chenliu and Yanzhou.
“Elder brother, let’s return to aid immediately…” Cao Ren quickly reminded him. “Yanzhou is our rear base. The families and children of our brothers are all in Yanzhou. It cannot be lost!”
“Impossible!” Just then, a cold reprimand erupted into the sky. The speaker was Xi Zhicai, the chief strategist of this eastern expedition. “My Lord, do you still remember the three strategies for capturing Pengcheng that Lu Yu proposed…”
How could Cao Cao not remember?
“Kill only the leader, not the followers”; “Treat the people of Xuzhou well”; “Attacking the enemy is the lowest tactic; attacking the heart is the highest.”
These words were each a pearl of wisdom, and Cao Cao would never forget them.
“Zhicai, what do you want to say?”
“My Lord!” Xi Zhicai’s tone became meticulous. “It is precisely because of your trust in those you employ that we have adopted Lu Yu's three strategies, and it is precisely because of these three strategies that Pengcheng is about to fall, and we have the current favorable situation!”
“My Lord, you must not belittle yourself because of Zhang Miao alone. The situation is not yet clear. What about Chenliu Commandery? What about Yanzhou? No one knows… Perhaps, the virtuous talents and fierce generals left by the Lord in Chenliu and Yanzhou have already resolved the crisis here!”
Every word was spoken with force…
Xi Zhicai’s words were like a strong dose of reassurance to Cao Cao.
The passive situation was not terrifying. Once the heart was in chaos, everything would be in chaos. Was it just the betrayal of an old classmate? It shouldn't affect Cao Cao's judgment!
Besides, Xi Zhicai had a feeling that Lu Yu, who proposed the three strategies to capture Pengcheng, was also in Chenliu Commandery.
Although Xi Zhicai hadn't had much contact with him, and even had a heated exchange with him during previous court discussions…
However… the impact of Cao Cao’s overriding of objections and adoption of Lu Yu's proposals had shocked Xi Zhicai time and time again.
Even now, it was precisely because of Lu Yu's strategies that the hearts of the people, clans, and army in Pengcheng had already mutinied, a precursor to its imminent fall without a fight.
With so many merits, such meticulous thinking? Could Lu Yu be a simple person?
By heavily relying on Lu Yu, was Cao Cao's judgment of people in any way flawed?
Now, Cao Cao doubted himself in employing and judging people. The heart disease needed heart medicine. The first thing Xi Zhicai had to do was to restore Cao Cao's confidence!
And this strong medicine, wasn't it Lu Yu?
Of course, the more Xi Zhicai thought about it, the stronger his feeling became. With Lu Yu present, perhaps… Chenliu Commandery would be safe!
*Phew,* Cao Cao also let out a long sigh.
Just now, because of Zhang Miao, he had been too agitated and had indeed belittled himself.
He figured it out. What was his fellow student Zhang Miao compared to anything?
Boldly promoting the young Yu, wasn't it precisely because of his keen insight, his good judgment of people, and his unwavering trust in those he employed that had led to the current successful situation?
Having figured this out, Cao Cao's dejected appearance, caused by self-doubt, vanished instantly. His eyes were no longer filled with fear, and he regained his former spirit.
At this moment, he had transformed back into the heroic figure who wielded his whip and commanded his troops with prowess!
“Zhicai is right. The situation is not yet clear. It is also unwise to return immediately and abandon the easily attainable Xuzhou. Let's wait a little longer and await Commander Xun’s next letter!”
And then.
Another letter arrived. However, this time it was not from a fast horse from Yanzhou, but a fast horse from Yuzhou.
This was an urgent dispatch from Cao Cao's spies sent to Yuzhou…
“…Cao Gong, it's bad, it's bad! The Governor of Yuzhou, Guo Gong, is taking advantage of the chaos and has mobilized an army of one hundred thousand to invade Yanzhou, with their forces directly targeting Juancheng!”
Whoa, an army of one hundred thousand? Targeting Juancheng…
Targeting Juancheng, where Xun Yu was stationed?
Cao Cao, whose expression had previously relaxed, immediately frowned again.
Could he still wait for Xun Yu's next letter now?
…
…