Upon hearing Lu Yu mention Cao Cao's defeat, Xiahou Yuan immediately became displeased.
"Boy, the Yellow Turban rebels were merely a mob. Eight years ago, my elder brother, following General Huangpu Song, eradicated their leaders Zhang Jiao, Zhang Bao, and Zhang Liang."
"Now, those causing trouble are just remnants and riff-raff. How could my brother be defeated? If you don't explain yourself clearly, I won't let you off!"
Xiahou Yuan had been Cao Cao's follower since childhood, and they also shared a familial bond through marriage. He had always regarded his elder brother, Cao Cao, as a role model and couldn't tolerate anyone openly slandering him.
"General Xiahou, as the saying goes, 'An army has no constant formation, and water has no constant shape.' Why not let Young Master Lu explain in detail?" Xun Yu repeatedly advised.
Xiahou Yuan snorted, stood with his hands behind his back, and his attitude towards Lu Yu changed dramatically!
However...
In Lu Yu's view, this General Xiahou was too blindly confident.
His subconscious mind simply believed that since Zhang Jiao's thirty-six Yellow Turban uprisings were difficult to escape destruction, let alone the current rebellions of the Yellow Turban remnants in various places.
This was not surprising. Let alone Xiahou Yuan, even Cao Cao severely underestimated the fighting power of these Yellow Turban rebels.
It should be known that after the Yellow Turban Rebellion was suppressed, small-scale rebellions in various places never stopped, including "Heishan," "Baibo," "Huanglong," "Zuoxiao," "Qingniujiao," "Wulu"... countless large and small factions, and their fighting power was astonishing!
The ones causing trouble within Yanzhou were remnants of the Yellow Turbans from "Qingzhou," known as the "Huanglong" faction, second only to the million-strong "Heishan Army" and "Baibo Army" in terms of influence. They numbered a staggering over three hundred thousand!
Cao Cao's side was also careless and complacent. He mostly selected new recruits from Yanzhou for his campaigns against the rebels and employed a strategy of direct confrontation...
In this way, facing the formidable and astonishingly powerful Yellow Turban army, it was no wonder the government troops were defeated, routed, and utterly crushed!
"Cough cough..."
Thinking of this, Lu Yu coughed lightly and elegantly explained, "I've heard that the Yanzhou soldiers led by Duke Cao had been trained for less than half a year, numbering less than one-tenth of the rebels. Even if Duke Cao was proficient in warfare, as the saying goes, 'A clever housewife cannot cook without ingredients.' Facing the vast and astonishingly powerful rebels, the government troops were bound to collapse at the first touch, suffering heavy losses."
"The reason for this is that Duke Cao was too eager for success and overlooked the strategy of 'complete victory' mentioned in Sun Tzu's Art of War..."
Lu Yu was about to use this case to explain the strategy of "complete victory" in Sun Tzu's Art of War.
However, he saw Xiahou Yuan turn abruptly and stride towards him.
"You're talking nonsense! My elder brother would never lose! The government troops would never suffer a crushing defeat! This is baseless talk..."
Slandering Cao Cao had touched Xiahou Yuan's sore spot. If it weren't for the faces of Wei Hong, Xun Yu, and Xun You, he might have directly attacked!
In comparison, Cao Ren was calmer.
But his brow was also tightly furrowed, and he was even less inclined to believe Lu Yu's assertion that Cao Cao would be defeated.
"General Xiahou, please calm down..."
Wei Hong immediately stepped between Lu Yu and Xiahou Yuan. Regardless of anything, he had to protect "Yinlin," his benefactor!
"We are merely discussing. Since it's a discussion, there will be disagreements. There's no need to get angry... Moreover, Young Master Lu hasn't finished speaking yet..."
Finished speaking?
In Xiahou Yuan's eyes, by the time Lu Yu finished speaking, he would explode with anger.
Just then.
"Report... report..."
The sound of horses' hooves echoed outside the large tent. The knight on the warhorse stumbled off, appearing disheveled. Even so, before reaching the tent, he shouted loudly.
"Urgent report, urgent report..."
"What's going on?" Xiahou Yuan turned. This knight was coming so urgently.
Immediately, an ominous premonition arose in his heart.
At the same time, the knight's somewhat hoarse voice came out.
"Duke Cao, Duke Cao engaged the rebels and suffered a great defeat. The Yanzhou troops were almost annihilated... Commander Bao Xin of Jibei, in order to save Duke Cao, gave him his warhorse. Commander Bao Xin, however... tragically died in the chaos!"
Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall fell silent.
...
Great defeat! Annihilation!
Especially the tragic death of Commander Bao Xin of Jibei!
This...
Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan's expressions froze.
Who was Commander Bao Xin of Jibei? He was a benefactor and noble to their elder brother, Cao Cao. Ever since the campaign against Dong Zhuo, his elder brother had forged a deep friendship with the Commander of Jibei.
Later, to establish dominance in Yanzhou, although it was due to "Yinlin's" schemes, the assistance of Commander Bao Xin of Jibei was indispensable.
It could be said that in Yanzhou, Bao Xin's status was second only to Cao Cao. Even Cao Cao, upon meeting him, would respectfully call him elder brother.
Moreover, like Cao Cao, Bao Xin was also excellent at commanding troops. But this time, they were annihilated, and he tragically died in the chaos!
"My elder brother... how is my elder brother now?"
Xiahou Yuan anxiously asked...
The knight reported truthfully, "Duke Cao, having received Commander Bao Xin's warhorse, has escaped back to Chenliu Commandery. The Yellow Turban rebels did not pursue, so... Duke Cao is safe!"
Hoo...
Long sighs of relief!
Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan breathed a sigh of relief...
Xun Yu and Xun You exchanged glances and also sighed deeply.
Wait...
Suddenly, a hint of astonishment flashed in their eyes, and then they looked at Lu Yu in unison... their eyes filled with a hint of dread.
Because, even more shocking than the news of Cao Cao's government troops suffering a great defeat and Commander Bao Xin of Jibei being killed was Lu Yu!
Xiahou Yuan and Cao Ren gradually emerged from their shock, but then they were replaced by an even greater shock...
They, along with the Xun Yu uncle and nephew, all looked at Lu Yu simultaneously because... at this very moment, they realized that the current situation... was exactly as Lu Yu had predicted moments ago!
Just now, Lu Yu had proposed to analyze the battle of Cao Cao's campaign against the Yellow Turbans using the concept of "complete victory" from Sun Tzu's Art of War, and the conclusion was only one—the government troops suffered a great defeat. And now, everything had come true!
Xiahou Yuan's gaze towards Lu Yu changed again, becoming incredibly complex.
A thin young man of fifteen, simply relying on so-called "theory," could analyze the victory or defeat of a battle...
If someone else had conveyed such words to him, Xiahou Yuan would never have believed it!
But now, having heard it with his own ears and seen it with his own eyes... to what extent had this young man's understanding of military strategy reached?
How terrible was his judgment and insight into the situation?
At this moment, everyone stared intently at Lu Yu. Only Wei Hong, stroking his beard... thought to himself, "You all turned a deaf ear to what Yinlin said... Alas... alas..."
"Cough cough..."
Being looked at by so many people, Lu Yu suddenly felt a little embarrassed.
"Generals, sirs... do you still need me to continue explaining the strategy of 'complete victory' from Sun Tzu's Art of War?"
Explain, explain what the heck?
Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan wished they could immediately send Lu Yu to their elder brother Cao Cao.
Now? Was there still a need to verify? Was there still a need to test his talent with "Sun Tzu's Art of War"?
Facts spoke louder than words. This kid was shrewd, intelligent, and his understanding of military strategy and insight far surpassed ordinary people.
In fact, he was almost monstrous!
"Miao Cai, Big Brother just suffered a major defeat, and the Yellow Turbans are powerful. If we return to Chenliu Commandery tonight, it might be risky!"
"Why don't we set off tomorrow morning, with the Qiaopei legion escorting Young Master Lu and the two gentlemen to see Duke Cao?"
Cao Ren made his suggestion...
Xiahou Yuan glanced at Lu Yu deeply again. "It couldn't be better..."
At this point, Xiahou Yuan displayed his decisive side and immediately ordered loudly.
"Guards, prepare a spacious and clean tent. Tonight... Young Master Lu will have to trouble you to sleep here!"
"Tomorrow, five hundred vanguard soldiers will open the way, and three thousand Qiaopei soldiers will escort Young Master Lu along the way to safely reach Chenliu Commandery!"
In just a moment, in Xiahou Yuan's heart, the name Lu Yu suddenly became exceptionally important!
...
...