The moon was bright and the stars few, the night deep and quiet.
Inside the pavilion on the second floor of the posthouse, the lights burned brightly. Cao Cao, Xun Yu, and Xun You chatted the entire night, their conversation growing more congenial as it progressed. By the end, Cao Cao, in his delight, forgot his own station. He called for wine, drank a large goblet, and without reservation praised Xun Yu and Xun You, exclaiming, "Wenruo, you are my 'Zifang'! Gongda, you are my 'Flying Bear'!"
"Zifang" was the courtesy name of Zhang Liang, the chief strategist under Liu Bang; "Flying Bear" was the epithet of Jiang Ziya, whom King Wen of Zhou enfeoffed as "Grand Tutor." With these words, Cao Cao elevated both Mr. Xun Yu and Mr. Xun You to a very high position, while simultaneously likening himself to a brilliant lord capable of establishing a great enterprise.
Xun Yu was only twenty-nine years old that year, and Xun You was just thirty-five. Cao Cao yearned for talented men, and they, having not found their ideal patron, were equally eager for a wise lord.
After a night of discussion, without partaking in any meals, they continued talking. They conversed for the entire morning, showing no signs of fatigue. Their discussions spanned from the general state of the realm to Confucian scholarship, from poetry and artistic attainment, and even… Cao Cao and Xun You recalled their shared time as classmates at the Imperial Academy. The three felt as though they had met each other far too late.
Finally, it was Xun Yu who, with a single sentence, steered the conversation towards a point of particular interest to all three of them.
"Duke Cao, how does Master Lu Yu compare to 'Hidden Dragon'?"
This question caused Cao Cao to pause. Despite his remarkable eloquence, he found himself lost in thought. After a moment, Cao Cao finally spoke.
"'Hidden Dragon' can perceive the current situation and grasp the minutiae; his few words are like peals of thunder, capable of influencing a lifetime. Lu Yu, however, is more adept at planning the overall strategy, understands the psychology of 'friend and foe' better, and excels in strategic games. Without question, they are both talents rarely encountered in a century."
Xun Yu had intended to guide Cao Cao into connecting Lu Yu with 'Hidden Dragon'. However, Cao Cao still harbored his preconceived notions, believing that if 'Hidden Dragon' were to pledge allegiance, such a complex approach would be unnecessary. Moreover, in his excitement, Cao Cao was gratified by the "fruit" borne from the "seed" he had planted fifteen years prior. How could he possibly link 'Hidden Dragon' with his eldest son?
"Duke Cao possesses 'eyes like a torch,' 'Hidden Dragon' excels in discerning the situation, and young Master 'Lu Yu' is skilled in psychological strategy. In these aspects, we uncles and nephews are truly ashamed of our inferiority!"
Since Cao Cao did not doubt 'Hidden Dragon's' identity, Xun Yu saw no need to deliberately reveal it. He then shifted the topic. "May I ask Duke Cao if Master Lu Yu's 'guerrilla warfare' strategy has been deployed?"
This, in Xun Yu's opinion, was crucial. The sooner this 'guerrilla warfare' was implemented, the sooner the Yellow Turban Rebellion within the territory could be quelled, and the sooner Yan Province could resume its production. It was worth noting that while Xun Yu was not adept at military affairs, he had considerable ideas regarding the governance of prefectures and counties.
"Hahaha…" Hearing this, Cao Cao laughed. "I shall not hide it from you gentlemen. Yesterday afternoon, I dispatched my clan kin Xiao, Miao Cai, and the Grand General Li Dian, each leading cavalry to reinforce Puyang City…"
At this point, Cao Cao looked at the sky, calculating the time. "They are on forced march. Now, a full day has passed, and they should have reached Puyang City. I wonder if they have clashed with the Moth Rebels? Has the 'guerrilla warfare' begun?"
It was true, as Xun Yu had reminded him, that Cao Cao’s curiosity had been piqued. Lu Yu's 'guerrilla warfare' theory was brilliant and unconventional, but its practical application on the battlefield, what would its effect be? No one dared to judge it lightly. Although Cao Cao had immense confidence in his son, Lu Yu was still young, only fifteen years old, and lacked experience in the unpredictable currents of the battlefield. Perhaps… there might still be flaws in some points or details of the 'guerrilla warfare.'
With this thought, Cao Cao’s brow furrowed slightly, and his gaze involuntarily drifted through the window towards Puyang City in the northeast. He murmured to himself,
"Guerrilla warfare, for Zixiao and Miaocai… what is the situation of the battle?"
Of course, Cao Cao’s eyes could not possibly see Puyang City, nor would he know the events unfolding there. What he could see before him was only the towering north gate of Chenliu Commandery, and the guards, their faces stiffened by the cold wind, huddled in the gatehouse, their hands numb as they inspected the flow of people entering and exiting the city.
At this very moment… on the official road outside the city gate, hurried hoofbeats could be heard. This caused the guards to instantly brace themselves. Dust began to fly, and from within the swirling dust, the figure of a person and a horse emerged like a phantom. The rider on the horse was clearly exhausted, his body seemingly frozen, but his expression was one of fervent excitement and agitation.
As the hoofbeats grew closer, Cao Cao clearly saw the rider on the horse. It was Cao Xiu, his kinsman, Cao Hong’s own nephew, Cao Xiu! When Cao Cao had first raised his troops in Chenliu, calling upon heroes from across the land to attack Dong Zhuo, Cao Xiu, then in the region of Wu, had traveled a thousand miles to join him. Cao Cao had once praised him as a "colt of a thousand miles." Now, twenty-year-old Cao Xiu was already a member of the Qiao Pei army, serving as a centurion, with an immeasurable future. This time, he had received his orders and was to escort General Cao Ren to reinforce Puyang City. However… by calculation, in a day and a night, even on a forced march, they could at best only reach Puyang City. Why had Cao Xiu returned alone? Could it be that they had encountered an ambush?
With these thoughts, Cao Cao’s brow furrowed… He saw Cao Xiu heading directly for the posthouse. Clearly, the personal guards stationed at the entrance of the posthouse had revealed Cao Cao's location.
"Duke Cao, Duke Cao… urgent report from the front line, urgent report from the front line!" Cao Xiu shouted from outside the posthouse gate.
…
The front line? An urgent report! Cao Cao, not even bothering to put on his shoes, hurried down from the posthouse to meet Cao Xiu. Xun Yu and Xun You also hurried to follow, the difference being that they were scholars and, adhering to propriety, deemed it necessary to put on their shoes.
"Wenlie? Has something happened in Puyang? Has something happened to Miaocai or Zixiao?" Cao Cao shouted while still on the stairs. The death of his good brother Bao Xin had occurred not long ago, and Cao Cao was unwilling to experience another such separation from a brother.
At this moment, Cao Xiu hurriedly reported, "Duke Cao… Puyang is safe. Our army encountered over a hundred thousand Moth Rebels on the way north!"
As these words left his mouth, Cao Cao's heart sank. Had they truly been ambushed? Could it be that the Moth Rebels… also employed stratagems? Was this a feint to rescue the besieged? His expression instantly turned grim… But this grim expression lasted for less than ten breaths before Cao Xiu’s next words tumbled out.
"A great victory, a great victory from the front line!"
"General Cao Ren, General Xiahou Yuan, and General Li Dian, divided into three routes, have been ceaselessly 'guerrilla harassing' the Moth Rebel army day and night. The Moth Rebel army is weary from resistance, utterly exhausted, and their morale is in disarray… They have now lost over a thousand soldiers and are fleeing in disarray, leaving behind countless provisions!"
"The three generals have pursued them, continuing to 'harass' and 'guerrilla' them. The Moth Rebel army is suffering greatly and appears to be on the verge of collapse!"
Although Cao Xiu's tone was urgent, his voice was not loud. Yet, every word he uttered was like a thunderclap! Cao Cao's eyes widened suddenly. "Good, good!" He uttered two "good"s in succession, and in his excitement, Cao Cao punched the doorframe. The force that erupted from his exhilaration caused the doorframe to tremble.
They had won, they had won… This was Cao Cao's first major victory against the Yellow Turban Army within Yan Province. Finally… they had won! Cao Cao's heart was stirred deeply… However, Cao Cao soon realized… that more important than this first great victory was the 'guerrilla warfare'… Lu Yu's proposed 'guerrilla warfare' strategy was effective, and its results were remarkable…
"Good, very well done!" Cao Cao praised incessantly. To Cao Xiu, this seemed to be praise for the generals and the Qiao Pei cavalry. But in reality… they were thinking too much. Cao Cao was praising his son, who constantly brought him surprises.
…
…