When it came to overall strategy, Xun Yu naturally couldn't compare to Xiahou Dun, who had battlefield experience. In terms of defending a city, General Xiahou Dun should have been more adept than the strategist Xun Yu.
But that was precisely where the problem lay.
Based on the memories in Lu Yu's mind.
When Guo Gong's army of a hundred thousand and Lü Bu's Bing Province Wolf Cavalry simultaneously pressed towards Juancheng and Puyang City, Xun Yu and Xiahou Dun handled the situation very differently, leading to vastly different outcomes.
Xun Yu's approach was to defend the city, while Xiahou Dun's method was to take the initiative and attack.
Lu Yu inwardly exclaimed.
"Your sister..."
One didn't need to think hard to realize that once Xiahou Dun took the initiative, with Chen Gong's planning, there would be a hundred ways to breach the city. Tactics like feinting to the east while attacking to the west, or luring the tiger away from its mountain... even Lu Yu, who wasn't skilled in planning, could list a great many.
And the facts bore this out. According to records in "Records of the Three Kingdoms" and "Book of the Later Han" concerning Xiahou Dun's defense of Puyang City.
In this engagement with Lü Bu and Chen Gong, Xiahou Dun paid a heavy price in terms of intellect. First, he was lured away from his stronghold, losing Puyang City...
In a fit of rage, Xiahou Dun counterattacked Puyang City and was hit by an arrow in one eye.
The claims in novels and fictional accounts, that Xiahou Dun was injured by Cao Xing and then swallowed his own eye, entering a berserk mode... these were all fabrications.
The true story was that at the foot of Puyang City, Xiahou Dun became the notorious general with a Grade II disability.
He was even captured by one of Lü Bu's subordinates in the end.
"My heavens... what a burden!"
The more he thought about it, the more Lu Yu felt the urgency. With Xiahou Dun's intelligence, it was likely that by the time he and the Dragon Cavalry arrived, Puyang City would already be lost...
Therefore, what needed to be done now was to at least stop him, to prevent him from counterattacking Puyang City!
"General Cao Chun, Puyang City is likely to be lost... General Xiahou might be captured. If I don't go... he's probably finished."
Lu Yu's use of "finished" here didn't mean death, but blindness – Xiahou Dun would transform into the blind Xiahou Dun.
Uh... Lu Yu's words made Cao Chun pause. Somehow, he also felt a sense of unease.
"Young Master Lu Yu, the matter... the matter concerns Puyang City and General Xiahou. You mustn't speak carelessly..." Cao Chun said urgently, his voice faltering slightly.
*Whoosh...* Lu Yu let out a soft sigh.
"General Cao Chun, think about it. When Lü Bu conspired with Zhang Miao to launch a surprise attack on Yan Province, such a major undertaking didn't leak even a single bit of information."
"But now? With the Governor of Yu Province's army of a hundred thousand attacking Juancheng, and Lü Bu's Bing Province Wolf Cavalry attacking Puyang City, why did the news reach you and me so quickly?"
This... Cao Chun paused, murmuring to himself, could this be intentional? A scheme?
Before he could speak, Lu Yu continued.
"This is the brilliance of Chen Gong. The attack on Chenliu Commandery has already thrown the entire Yan Province into a panic. Now, with a hundred thousand troops marching on Juancheng, and the defender being a strategist with only four thousand soldiers? How could they possibly hold out..."
"General Xiahou is also hot-tempered. In order to quickly free himself to reinforce Juancheng, he will definitely meet Lü Bu's attack head-on, seeking a swift victory. In this way, Chen Gong can exploit this, feigning defeat to tie down Xiahou Dun's main force while simultaneously attacking the city, swiftly taking Puyang City."
At this point, Lu Yu paused. "It's not that I'm slandering General Xiahou, but with his brains, he's only on par with Lü Bu, how could he be Chen Gong's opponent?"
Cao Chun let out a long sigh. Even though Lu Yu had explained it clearly and understandably, he still couldn't believe that Xiahou Dun would be defeated and Puyang City lost.
After all... Xiahou Dun had always been a god of war in the hearts of the people of Qiao and Pei.
Would a god of war... lose?
It was fortunate that Lu Yu didn't know what Cao Chun was thinking, otherwise he would have scoffed...
Xiahou Dun? God of war? It would be more appropriate to add two more words – "often defeated" god of war!
Just then...
"Report, urgent dispatch from Puyang City..." A soldier hurried over. The scout had just arrived, and before he could dismount, a soldier took the letter from his arms and rushed it over.
Cao Chun opened it, and his face suddenly changed. The contents clearly stated that Xiahou Dun ordered Chenliu Commandery to defend the city, while he would lead his troops to engage Lü Bu swiftly, and upon victory, reinforce Juancheng to resolve Xun Yu's crisis!
This was clearly an order to march out to meet the enemy...
If Lu Yu's prediction was correct, General Xiahou was about to fall into a trap!
Had this unfortunate prediction come true?
Cao Chun's brows furrowed, his face pale. At this moment, he fell into a deep, indescribable lament. He realized that perhaps Lu Yu's predictions would all come true.
"General Cao Chun? Has Puyang City fallen..." Lu Yu asked urgently...
"Not yet," Cao Chun's tone was grave. "It's just that... General Xiahou intends to march out to meet the enemy and deal Lü Bu a heavy blow."
*Heh heh*, still dealing a heavy blow... Lu Yu could only scoff. In terms of setting people up, Xiahou Dun truly never disappointed.
"General Cao Chun, this is equivalent to Puyang City being lost. This is not the time to be daydreaming. The best course of action now... is for me to lead the Dragon Cavalry to intercept General Xiahou. We cannot let him, in a fit of anger, attack Puyang City again, minimizing losses and preserving our strength as much as possible!"
If it were about going to war, given Lu Yu's cowardly nature, he would definitely stay as far away as possible.
But intercepting Xiahou Dun was different. At least... he wouldn't have to directly clash with the enemy.
Besides, if they could intercept him, it would preserve more of their fighting strength. Lü Bu's mere commandery was not a major concern, but if Xiahou Dun were to be lost as well, the blow to morale would be irreparable!
"No!"
Just then, Cao Chun's voice rang out again. He blocked Lu Yu's path. "Young Master Lu Yu is someone my elder brother values greatly. I will never allow Young Master Lu Yu to take such risks..."
Uh... this was rather awkward.
With Lu Yu's slender arms and legs, he couldn't push away the soldier-born Cao Chun. The crucial point was that if they delayed even a moment longer, Xiahou Dun would truly become the blind Xiahou Dun!
As he thought this, Cao Chun added, "Unless, I go with Young Master Lu Yu."
Upon hearing this... Lu Yu was stunned. However, upon careful consideration, it was indeed feasible... Cao Chun had just mentioned that along the Fan County to Dong'e line, Cheng Yu had established an ironclad defense. The overall situation in Chenliu Commandery was stable.
Even if Cao Chun, who was stationed here, were replaced by Cao Xiu, there wouldn't be much of a problem...
"General Cao Chun, then let Wenlie guard the city temporarily. We will travel light and quickly rush to Puyang City!"
Speaking of traveling light, Lu Yu wouldn't be riding a horse; he'd be in a carriage... How fast could that be?
...
...
Yan Province, Juancheng.
Xun Yu sat in his yamen. He hadn't closed his eyes since dawn...
Reports after reports of military intelligence kept coming in, his face remained serious, looking as if he was facing a great enemy.
He would occasionally stand up and pace back and forth, or gaze up at the sky through the window.
Feeling the strong wind blowing outside, Xun Yu murmured, "The wind rises from the end of the grass, and stops among the bushes... Chenliu Commandery, Fan County, Dong'e County... what is the sound of the wind like a hundred miles away?"
Since dawn, when a scout brought news of Lü Bu's surprise attack on Chenliu Commandery and the large-scale offensive of the Bing Province Wolf Cavalry on Fan County and Dong'e County, Xun Yu had been tense for half the night... He was waiting, waiting for the next piece of news.
In the meantime, Xun Yu had made the worst-case scenario plan, sending a seven-hundred-li urgent dispatch to report the changes in Yan Province to Cao Cao, ordering Cao Cao's army to abandon Xu Province and immediately return for reinforcement.
Perhaps, Yan Province was now... at a critical juncture.
Speaking of which, who would have thought that the hidden danger in Yan Province would not come from Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, Liu Biao, or Gongsun Zan, but from a mere exiled Lü Bu and Zhang Miao within Chenliu Commandery?
Who would have thought that the renowned scholar Bian Rang would die on the road for no apparent reason, and that it would be rumored to be Cao Cao's plot, which was the last straw that caused the clans of Yan Province to break with Cao Cao, bringing the situation to a critical point of survival!
"Report... the situation in Fan County and Dong'e County has been ascertained..." A scout hurried over...
"Speak quickly!" Xun Yu immediately went to meet him...
The scout caught his breath and announced loudly.
"The Bing Province Wolf Cavalry are pressing hard on the border. The Assistant Magistrate of Dong'e County intended to surrender the city, but was discovered by Cheng Yu, the Commander of the Dragon Cavalry Camp, who was present. He decisively severed the head of the Assistant Magistrate of Dong'e County, and then personally went to Fan County, persuading the Assistant Magistrate of Fan County, Jin Yun, to dispel his hesitation."
"Currently, the troops of the entire Dong'e County and Fan County are under the unified command of Cheng Yu. This has formed an impregnable defense line, and not a single city or county has fallen!"
"Good..." Before the scout could finish speaking, Xun Yu heavily slapped the table.
Finally, there was some good news... If Dong'e County and Fan County were not lost, then the heartland of Yan Province would not fall, and the entire situation would not collapse.
*Whoosh...* Xun Yu let out a long sigh of relief, more than half of the stone that was hanging in his heart had fallen!
"Report..." Just then, another scout returned on horseback. "Urgent dispatch from Chenliu Commandery..."
This was a scout sent by Xun Yu. Before he could reach Chenliu Commandery, he encountered a messenger sent out from Chenliu Commandery. He hurriedly brought the messenger along.
"I am a scout from Chenliu Commandery," the messenger bowed his hands and stated his identity...
Xun Yu pulled him up and asked with extreme urgency... "What is the situation in Chenliu Commandery?"
This was Xun Yu's most pressing concern. As the economic center and strategic transportation hub of Yan Province, and with Cao Cao's family residing there, Chenliu Commandery could not afford to be lost!
"Reporting to Commander Xun..." In stark contrast to Xun Yu's anxiety, the messenger's expression was much calmer. "Chenliu Commandery is safe. Young Master Lu Yu saw through Zhang Miao and Lü Bu's plot, turning their plan against them by setting an ambush at the south city gate and defeating Lü Bu's army!"
"Besides this, General Cao Chun decisively arrested dozens of officials involved in the rebellion and displayed them in the city square as a warning. The situation in Chenliu Commandery has been stabilized!"
*Whoosh...*
Relieved, Xun Yu was truly relieved...
"Good... good, good!" With three consecutive "good"s, his expression was like the clearing of clouds to reveal the sky.
If Cheng Yu's actions had caused more than half of the stone in his heart to fall, then... Lu Yu's deployment and Cao Chun's decisive defeat of Lü Bu had caused that heavy stone to finally settle.
It was good that Chenliu Commandery was safe. Yan Province... everything could still be controlled.
Xun Yu immediately ordered, "Immediately send another document to Xu Province, stating that the situation has been stabilized. There is no need for Cao Gong's entire army to withdraw. Only a contingent of troops needs to be sent back for reinforcement!"
"Yes..." Several civil officials agreed and went to draft the document.
This was the second urgent dispatch within three hours. Both dispatches contained urgent reports, but the content of the reports was vastly different.
Everyone knew that the situation in Xu Province was currently at a critical stage. Capturing Pengcheng... and the subsequent Xuzhou city would be like taking a stone from one's pocket.
If, according to the first urgent report, Cao Cao were to withdraw entirely, then the previously captured Dong'an Commandery, Langya Commandery, and Donghai Commandery would have to be handed over once again.
However, according to this latest urgent dispatch, Lü Bu had fallen into a trap, suffered heavy losses, and his morale was low. Cao Cao did not need to withdraw his entire army; sending tens of thousands of troops would be sufficient to deal with the situation. This would not hinder Xu Province's strategy in the least. At the very least... the remaining troops would be enough to hold the three conquered cities.
"Commander Xun... this letter..." The messenger seemed to have something more to say, but he swallowed his words, unsure whether to speak or not.
"If you have something to say, speak frankly," Xun Yu waved his hand to signal him.
"Commander Xun, just before I rushed to Juancheng, Chenliu Commandery received another piece of intelligence. The Governor of Yu Province, Guo Gong, is leading an army of a hundred thousand to attack Juancheng, while Lü Bu is leading the remnants of his troops towards Puyang."
Hmm...
Xun Yu paused, his eyes narrowed.
Why? Being in Juancheng, he hadn't heard any whispers?
Juancheng was located between Chenliu and Puyang cities, not far from Puyang City. Therefore... this piece of news, no matter how one looked at it, should not have bypassed Juancheng and reached Chenliu first.
There was only one possibility...
Was this deliberately spread by the enemy?
"Not good..."
Upon realizing this, Xun Yu's brows furrowed, and he blurted out instinctively, "Puyang will be lost..."
Certainly, Lu Yu's judgment that Puyang would be lost was based on historical records, while Xun Yu's judgment was based on his understanding of Xiahou Dun's personality...
"Terrible..." Clenching his fists repeatedly, Xun Yu's expression was not good.
Puyang City was the granary of Yan Province. In this era, as long as there was grain, within two months... it would be enough for Lü Bu to assemble an army of ten thousand men!
Alas... alas...
Xun Yu sighed. In his opinion, the fall of Puyang City was a foregone conclusion. The urgent task was to bring Xiahou Dun back and prevent him from doing anything rash in his anger.
"Issue an order... immediately dispatch a thousand troops to Puyang City to support General Xiahou. If Puyang City has already fallen, you must intercept him and absolutely prevent him from attacking Puyang City again!"
Ah...
Upon hearing this, the surrounding messengers were stunned.
This wasn't right?
Lü Bu was a defeated general, and Xiahou Dun was the most valiant general in Cao's army? Puyang City shouldn't have been lost, logically speaking?
Instead, Juancheng, where the Governor of Yu Province Guo Gong was leading an army of a hundred thousand to attack, and where only four thousand people were stationed? How could this be resisted? Shouldn't Commander Xun be more worried about this place?
"Commander Xun, the urgent matter at hand... should be to defend Juancheng first!"
"I am here in Juancheng, and there will be no problems. On the contrary, something major is about to happen in Puyang City!" Xun Yu's tone became increasingly serious...
"Oh..." The messenger slapped his forehead. "I forgot to report to Commander Xun. Young Master Lu Yu and General Cao Chun are leading the Dragon Cavalry knights and have already rushed to Puyang City..." Reminded by Xun Yu, the messenger suddenly recalled this.
Already gone?
Xun Yu's expression paused, and then he nodded. He murmured to himself, "...Hidden Dragon likely also predicted that Puyang City would be lost. He's going to save Xiahou Dun!"
*Whoosh...* Letting out a soft breath, upon hearing Lu Yu's name, his tense mood finally eased a little.
"Commander Xun? Do we still need to send troops to Puyang?" A deputy asked...
"Yes... go immediately. Make sure to cooperate with Young Master Lu!" Xun Yu's tone intensified, feeling that now, they were truly racing against time...
Hidden Dragon, oh Hidden Dragon, you must increase your speed... Hurry, hurry and reach Xiahou Dun's side!
After thinking this, Xun Yu's eyes slowly opened. His own situation was not easy.
With the Governor of Yu Province Guo Gong's army of a hundred thousand pressing down... the strategy to break the deadlock could only be...
Indeed, Xun Yu was taking a gamble, but at this moment, only by taking a risky move!
...
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