Inside the spacious carriage, Cao Cao sat with Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan.
Cao Cao had deliberately chosen a slightly slower carriage, intending to discuss Lu Yu at length with his two clansmen. This way, before visiting him, Cao Cao could gain a better understanding of this exceptionally talented individual. Given the high praise from Cao Ren, Xiahou Yuan, Xun Yu, Xun You, and the generous treatment from Wei Hong, Cao Cao would not simply dismiss him as a fifteen-year-old youth. In his opinion, Lu Yu deserved at least to be treated as an honored guest, perhaps even offered high office and generous emoluments, or even appointed as his chief strategist – and that would not be excessive.
“Brother, please take a look at this military treatise.”
Xiahou Yuan produced a thick bamboo scroll, upon which the small characters “Thirty-Six Stratagems” were inscribed, along with a sequence number. Clearly, this was just one scroll from the complete collection of the Thirty-Six Stratagems.
“Brother, this ‘Thirty-Six Stratagems’ was also orally translated by Lu Yu and written down by Lady Cai Yan. Last night, Zi Xiao and I read it by candlelight and both benefited greatly! Lady Cai Yan said that Lu Yu compiled the essence of famous strategists and presented it orally!”
As he spoke, Xiahou Yuan unrolled the bamboo scroll and handed it to Cao Cao.
Thirty-Six Stratagems? A military treatise? Compiled from the essence of famous strategists?
Cao Cao narrowed his eyes. Today, the fifteen-year-old Lu Yu had caused him too much shock. Now, thinking about it, such things as reading a thousand books and having military strategies deeply ingrained in one's mind seemed almost child's play in comparison. What did it mean to be astounding, to propose a feasible strategy to defeat over 300,000 Yellow Turban rebels, and moreover, to have mastered and created a military treatise that compiled the essence of famous strategists? This was astounding!
Thinking back, what was Cao Cao doing at fifteen? It seemed he spent his days skipping classes with Yuan Shao and his group of hangers-on, fooling around, and kidnapping brides…
Indeed, the fifteen-year-old Cao Cao was also a troublemaker. He had accidentally killed someone, and his good brother Xiahou Yuan had taken the blame for him. It was because of this incident that he, originally named "Cao Man" with the childhood name "Jili," was forced to change his name to Cao Cao, courtesy name Mengde, partly to quell the matter and avoid scrutiny!
In short, compared to the fifteen-year-old Lu Yu, Cao Cao felt an urge to burrow into the ground out of shame… this was the gap!
With this thought, and filled with anticipation, Cao Cao opened the Thirty-Six Stratagems!
This was a chapter from the sixth part of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, “Stratagems for Defeat,” and the first thing that caught Cao Cao’s eye was the "Stratagem of Inflicting Pain on Oneself."
The original protagonist of this stratagem was Zhou Yu beating Huang Gai, one willing to be beaten and the other willing to inflict the beating, ultimately deceiving Cao Cao and leading to a great victory for Sun Quan at Chibi…
Now, this story had been altered by Lu Yu: Wang Wu led an army of 800,000 south, Zhang San beat Li Si, one willing to be beaten and the other willing to inflict the beating, deceiving Wang Wu and causing Wang Wu’s army of 800,000 to be utterly destroyed.
“Isn’t this Wang Wu a fool? He couldn’t see through this?”
This was Cao Cao’s subconscious reaction. But as he thought deeper, he realized that the process of Zhang San beating Li Si was full of details! The accumulation of these details, even if he, Cao Cao, were Wang Wu, a highly suspicious Wang Wu, would not have doubted Li Si’s surrender in the slightest, and defeat would have been inevitable. In the final analysis, the Stratagem of Inflicting Pain on Oneself played on Wang Wu’s psychology, making it impossible to guard against!
Thinking of this, Cao Cao felt an inexplicable chill on his back. He frowned and muttered to himself, “A good Stratagem of Inflicting Pain on Oneself. Zhang San and Li Si’s scheme, Wang Wu’s defeat is vividly before my eyes. If I encounter such a situation in the future, I must guard against it!”
After reading the “Stratagem of Inflicting Pain on Oneself,” Cao Cao went on to read the “Stratagem of Ensnaring with a Scheme” and the “Stratagem of Seducing with Beauty,” which reminded him of the events in Chang'an half a year ago. He had heard that Lü Bu assassinated Dong Zhuo for the sake of a woman… and this woman happened to be the adopted daughter of Situ Wang Yun. Cao Cao had met her… her name was Diao Chan… In Cao Cao’s memory, she was a beauty who could shame the moon…
Initially, Cao Cao hadn't thought much of it, but after reading the “Stratagem of Ensnaring with a Scheme” and the “Stratagem of Seducing with Beauty,” the connections between them made him ponder deeply. From the slightest clues, Wang Situ’s grand conspiracy suddenly became clear.
“Stratagem of Seducing with Beauty, Stratagem of Ensnaring with a Scheme, so that’s how it was…” Cao Cao exclaimed subconsciously.
“Brother? What’s wrong?” Seeing Cao Cao like this, Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan asked in unison…
“It’s nothing.” Cao Cao quickly waved his hand, seemingly realizing his momentary lapse. He unceremoniously put the bamboo scroll of the Thirty-Six Stratagems into his embrace, as if it were his most treasured possession… He then changed the subject, as if afraid his two virtuous brothers might ask for it.
Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan paid no attention to such subtle maneuvering…
“Zi Xiao mentioned this fifteen-year-old Lu Yu to me this morning, and I didn’t think much of it. But now… with so many brilliant strategies introduced by him and related to him, I am extremely eager to meet him!”
As he spoke, Cao Cao narrowed his eyes. “Zi Xiao, Miao Cai, is this Lu Yu truly the younger brother of my virtuous sister Cai Zhaoji? But… Old Cai has no sons, and Lu Yu’s surname is Lu, not Cai!”
“Oh… Miao Cai and I have both asked about this,” Cao Ren explained. “Lu Yu’s mother died fifteen years ago. When Lu Yu was still in swaddling clothes, he was rescued by Cai Zhaoji and brought back to the Cai residence to be raised. They have shared hardships and joys like natural siblings over the years.”
“And Lu Yu loved to read since childhood. The Cai residence had thousands of scrolls… all of which he read. Lady Cai Yan said that by the age of ten, even she could no longer teach Lu Yu anything. Old Cai referred to Lu Yu as a military prodigy rarely seen in a century!”
The Old Cai mentioned by Cao Ren was Cai Yong, the leader of the literary world of the Han Dynasty. Cai Yong was Cao Cao’s mentor, and Cao Cao knew him quite well. His standards were very high, and to receive such a評價 as “rarely seen in a century” from him further demonstrated Lu Yu’s extraordinary talent.
Now, Cao Cao was even more eager to have a detailed conversation with Lu Yu!
Just then.
The sound of hooves rang out from outside the carriage.
“Brother, something has happened…” Xiahou Dun hurried over on horseback.
“What makes you so flustered?” Cao Cao stopped the carriage and immediately asked…
“Three hundred thousand Yellow Turban rebels are heading north and are about to reach Poyang. It seems they intend to plunder Poyang… The Poyang garrison has only a few thousand men, and I fear they cannot hold them off!”
“How about letting me lead three thousand Qiaopei elite soldiers to reinforce them!”
Xiahou Dun’s tone was somewhat urgent. Clearly, the hot-tempered Xiahou Dun had had enough of being plundered by the Yellow Turbans and wished to lead his troops to meet them head-on immediately!
But… would Cao Cao let him meet them head-on? He would have in the past, but certainly not now. The death of his good brother Bao Xin was still vivid in his mind! His strategy of “guerrilla warfare” was already decided, so all subsequent strategic deployments must be based on this.
“Yuan Rang, do not panic!” Cao Cao directly ordered. “Zi Xiao, you will lead one thousand Qiaopei cavalry, Miao Cai, you will also lead one thousand Qiaopei cavalry, and furthermore… instruct General Li Dian to lead one thousand Qiaopei cavalry. You three will split into three routes to reinforce Poyang!”
Uh…
Upon hearing this, Xiahou Dun was a bit stunned. …Then what about me? Am I supposed to leave? He considered himself the foremost general in Cao’s camp. How could his brother not send him, a formidable general, to fight the Yellow Turbans, but instead send three ‘scholarly generals’?
Before Xiahou Dun could speak, Cao Cao continued.
“Zi Xiao, Miao Cai, and please convey this to General Li Dian: your three cavalry units must absolutely not engage the enemy head-on. Be sure to remember these sixteen characters: ‘When the enemy advances, we retreat; when the enemy retreats, we pursue; when the enemy camps, we harass; when the enemy is tired, we attack!’”
“Do not engage in direct confrontation, do not seek great victories, only aim for sneak attacks and harassment. Each engagement should be brief, and the three cavalry units should take turns resting, operating day and night, harassing them around the clock!”
“Your cavalry units are fast, and the Yellow Turbans will surely be exhausted from the pursuit!”
With this explanation, Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan suddenly understood something… This wasn't precisely the tactics and strategy from the “Treatise on Guerrilla Warfare” that Xun Yu had presented and Lu Yu had proposed? This wasn't fighting a war at all! This was clearly playing mind games. The saying goes, attack the land and attack the heart. Once the mindset collapses, even the strongest unit is nothing more than a paper tiger that can be pierced with a poke!
Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan exchanged glances and immediately cupped their hands in acceptance of the order.
“Brother, rest assured, we will not fail our mission. Poyang will be safe, and the Yellow Turbans will be defeated!”
…
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