Here, Cao Cao decisively completed all preparations for the expedition to Xuzhou.
During this time, Lu Yu did not interject again. In terms of troop deployment and strategy, not to mention Cao Cao, even Cao Ren and Cao Hong were far inferior. Therefore, Lu Yu remained silent for the latter half of the military meeting, his thoughts consumed by the three words: "Zhuge clan"!
The office dispersed.
As the generals retreated, Lu Yu deliberately walked alongside Cao Ren.
Cao Ren, understanding his intention, led Lu Yu to a quiet corner of the office before speaking, "What advice does Young Master Lu have?"
"Advice is too strong a word; I merely have a request for General Cao," Lu Yu said with a smile...
"Don't try to scare me..." Cao Ren waved his hand. "My elder brother specifically instructed that this expedition to Xuzhou is extremely perilous, and you cannot go... absolutely cannot go!"
Uh... Lu Yu was immediately a little embarrassed. Life in the military camp was not good, the accommodations were not warm, and one's head was always on the line. Only a fool would want to go!
"General Cao, I'm not talking about that... I want General Cao to help me find a family when the campaign reaches Langya Commandery."
"A family?" Cao Ren raised an eyebrow...
"That's right!" Lu Yu nodded, his tone quite certain. "Besides Old Master Cao's family, there is another prominent family in Langya Commandery, the Zhuge family..."
"If possible, when you reach Langya Commandery, General Cao, you must 'invite' the Zhuge family back to Yanzhou!"
When he mentioned "invite," Lu Yu deliberately emphasized the tone, his meaning clear: if they cannot be invited, they must be brought back by force!
The Zhuge family? Cao Ren's eyes darted around... He hadn't heard of them. Was this family very powerful?
Although this family was not well-known, it was still what Lu Yu said. Cao Ren, though he didn't know what Lu Yu was planning, figured it was well-founded, given Lu Yu's foresight!
Cao Ren silently noted Lu Yu's request and immediately nodded. "Young Master Lu, rest assured, if the Zhuge clan is indeed a prominent family, they should not be difficult to find! I will definitely 'invite' their entire family back to Yanzhou."
In Lu Yu's eyes, Cao Ren was a very reliable person... Since he had said so, Lu Yu felt half his burden lifted.
"Then I thank General Cao Ren!" With a cupped-hand bow, Lu Yu prepared to take his leave.
Unexpectedly, Cao Ren grabbed him. "Young Master Lu, earlier in the meeting, you mentioned that Miaocai is skilled in attacking fortifications. Does this imply he is not adept at defense, and cannot hold Puyang City and be entrusted with important duties?"
Uh... this question was very difficult to answer.
If he answered truthfully, it would inevitably cause animosity with Xiahou Dun. Considering that fellow's temper and status, Lu Yu felt it was best to avoid offending him if possible!
He immediately gave a wry smile, did not answer, and waved his hand, leaving in a hurry.
This...
Cao Ren was a little bewildered. Was Lu Yu implying that everything was understood without words?
Immediately, Cao Ren scratched his head. For a moment, he too felt that the matter of Miaocai defending Puyang City seemed a bit unreliable!
...
...
Three days later, Cao Cao marched out. More than a hundred thousand troops marched majestically, under the pretext of revenge, heading for Xuzhou, vowing to kill Tao Qian and avenge his father.
The sound of footsteps...
The sound of hooves, like thunder, echoed on the official road.
This was the first time Cao Cao had led so many troops into battle; before this, his largest command had been no more than four thousand men.
Looking at the imposing military might, listening to the resounding neighing of the warhorses... he couldn't help but feel a little excited. "My Cao Cao has reached this day too."
If not for Lu Yu's reminder that he had to appear a bit sadder, at this moment, Cao Cao might have let out his devilish laughter to resound throughout the entire army.
As for the rear of Yanzhou.
Cao Cao entrusted the economically vital Chenliu Commandery to his "good classmate" Zhang Miao to guard;
The capital of Yanzhou, Juancheng, was entrusted to the most trusted talent from Yingchuan, Xun Yu, to guard;
As for the most important grain storage, Puyang City, it was entrusted to his clansman, Xiahou Dun, to guard.
As for Lu Yu... he enjoyed a rare period of leisure.
With Cao Cao gone, his staff officer became idle. Every day, he would chat with Sister Zhaoji and have a pleasant time... At night, however, it was somewhat difficult to endure, as there was always a maid to teach Lu Yu new "knowledge," and he couldn't refuse to learn!
This was the first time Lu Yu felt the power of ancient people. This thing... it actually taught him to last longer... or perhaps, he had become immune!
Of course, Lu Yu still paid close attention to the battles on the front lines...
As expected, Tao Qian was a master at governing a province, but completely an amateur at leading troops into battle.
Speaking of which, he had successively served General of Chariots Huangfu Song and the domestically adept Great General Zhang Wen. He had also successively campaigned against the Liang Province warlord "Bei Gong Boyu" and annihilated the border rebels Han Sui and Bian Zhang.
Logically speaking... Tao Qian's military career was quite rich... but he hadn't learned much about leading troops in battle from these masters.
Let alone the combination of Cao Cao and Xi Zhicai, even Cao Cao alone commanding the army was enough to crush him.
Speaking of which, Cao Cao's fighting style was very similar to Huangfu Song, one of the three heroes of the late Han Dynasty, who was hailed as the "God of War."
This was something Cao Cao had silently recorded and learned during the Yellow Turban Rebellion.
Although he had no formal title, and even though the relationship between Cao Cao and Huangfu Song in the army at that time was often tense, Cao Cao was, in fact, Huangfu Song's direct disciple. Dealing with Tao Qian was as easy as a tiger catching a donkey – effortless!
Huangfu Song was most adept at forced marches, precise calculation of war attrition, confidence, and calm command.
Now...
All of these had been inherited by Cao Cao. Under Xi Zhicai's strategy, Cao Cao's main force marched slowly, while the vanguard bypassed the front of Dongguan, Langya, and Donghai commanderies, launching a surprise attack from the rear. In one fell swoop, they captured the laxly defended Langya and Donghai in the northern part of Xuzhou. With the two routes converging, Dongguan was also captured!
In less than half a month, the entire northern region of Xuzhou fell into Cao Cao's hands.
Logically, Cao Cao should have been happy, but now he couldn't be happy at all.
Because in Pengcheng, Cao Cao's army encountered the most stubborn resistance...
Speaking of Pengcheng, it was the military stronghold of Xuzhou. It could be said that more than half of Xuzhou's military supplies were stored in Pengcheng. For this reason, Tao Qian dispatched his elite troops, the "Danyang soldiers," to fight Cao Cao to the death.
Using the sturdiness of Pengcheng, the Danyang soldiers, under the command of Cao Bao, miraculously fought Cao Cao's army to a draw, with both sides suffering extremely heavy losses.
Looking at the scene of corpses strewn across the battlefield, Cao Cao frowned and sighed deeply...
This was the first time he had suffered a setback during his campaign to conquer Xuzhou...
The Danyang soldiers were much more formidable than Cao Cao had imagined!
Furthermore, Cao Cao's Qingzhou soldiers were originally Yellow Turbans. Although they had been trained for a considerable time, they still retained the inherent characteristics of the Yellow Turbans: like fierce tigers when the wind was favorable, and like sick cats when in adversity.
As a result... Pengcheng could not be taken, and a sense of fear and low morale had already arisen in the camp. If this trend continued, even if Cao Cao could capture Pengcheng, it would be delayed for a long time, and with delays, changes could occur!
How to quickly capture Pengcheng was an urgent matter for Cao Cao and the key to whether Xuzhou could be successfully conquered.
Now, the atmosphere in the entire Cao camp had become strange and solemn...
The situation was not optimistic!
...
...