Inside the main hall of the Situ Manor.
Cao Cao sat at the head seat, smiling as he looked at the generals and strategists of the Cao camp below.
Lu Yu stood in the very center, his eyes still filled with curiosity.
"Lord Situ Lu, were you asking me just now? Why I feel indebted to you, is that it?" Cao Cao asked with a smile...
Uh...
Before Lu Yu could speak, Cao Cao raised his hand and said loudly, "Hahaha, I was thinking, from Yan Province, you have followed my side... it has been five years now. During this time, you have achieved countless merits, and you just cured my headaches. All these years, to say you are the foremost meritorious person in my Cao camp, it wouldn't be an exaggeration, would it? But this year is your coming-of-age year, and I haven't been able to make arrangements for you to marry a proper wife. In this regard... am I not indebted to you?"
Ah... ah...
Cao Cao's words left Lu Yu completely bewildered. This... this could also be a reason?
Before he could reply.
"Hahaha!" The onlookers all burst into laughter, even Xun Yu smiled quite brilliantly.
Cao Sikong is using the Spring and Autumn Annals technique, glossing over this topic of "indebtedness" without leaving a trace... How brilliant!
Xun Yu even gave Cao Cao a thumbs-up...
"Cao Sikong, this..." Lu Yu's eyes rolled, and he cupped his hands in salute, "The Marquis of Champion once said, 'If the Xiongnu are not eliminated, how can one settle down?' Now, I, Lu Yu, am much better than the Marquis of Champion... In the Situ Manor, there is Sister Zhaoji, and two concubines. This... I have already received Cao Sikong's great favor, so why talk about settling down? It's not too late to discuss this after we have annihilated Yuan Shao."
Lu Yu spoke with righteous indignation.
Mainly, he was afraid that Old Cao might impulsively match Cao Mu with him. Although Cao Mu was not bad... she was too much of a "tomboy." Lu Yu preferred someone more gentle and soft!
"Hahaha..."
Lu Yu's words made Cao Cao laugh out loud again. This was a small interlude, and it also served to ease the grim atmosphere.
After all... Cao Cao's head had healed, but the situation was still precarious.
Next...
Naturally... it was time to discuss Yuan Shao's southward advance and the decisive battle between Cao and Yuan.
"Zixiao, explain the defenses along the Yellow River to everyone," Cao Cao's tone immediately turned serious.
"Yes..."
Cao Ren agreed and began to describe the current situation.
"Yuan Shao has mobilized his troops southward, with the main army attacking Liyang on the north bank of the Yellow River. Yan Liang is leading a vanguard to attempt to cross the Yellow River and attack 'Baima' on the south bank. If Baima is lost, then the western front's Yanjin will also fall into enemy hands. If that happens, our army's last line of defense will only be Guandu!"
As Cao Ren explained...
In the face of Yuan Shao's attack, Cao Cao had actually set up three lines of defense in advance.
The first line was Liyang on the north bank of the Yellow River; the second line was on the south bank of the Yellow River, with Baima on the east and Yanjin on the west; the third line was Guandu!
However... while this was how the defenses were set up, attacking might not necessarily proceed in this manner.
One had to know that crossing the Yellow River to the south was not limited to these four strongholds. What if Yuan Shao did not play by the rules and did not pass through these places?
Even a step back, what if Yuan Shao detached a force to cross the Yellow River from upstream and sneakily attacked Xuchang through Luoyang?
If any of these scenarios occurred, Cao Cao's defenses would be rendered futile. This seemingly solid depth of defense would instantly become an ancient version of the "Maginot Line," a joke in military history.
Indeed...
Xun You was the first to see the problem. "Cao Sikong, these three lines of defense have been established, but... these three lines of defense have a huge flaw. What if... the Yuan army does not pass through these three places!"
Xun You's meaning was that if Yuan Shao... or his strategists, saw through this defense line and understood it, they would certainly not be foolish enough to fight Cao Cao at these four locations.
By taking a detour... wouldn't this defense line be broken?
This...
Indeed, Xun You's words plunged everyone present into deep thought.
Even Cao Cao frowned...
He had established the three lines of defense, how could he not know their weaknesses? But... even so, what could he do?
With Yuan Shao's 500,000 troops marching south, and his Cao Cao having only a little over 100,000 men, if he completely dispersed his forces, it would be obvious that he could not be Yuan Shao's opponent.
It was precisely for this reason that he had to concentrate his forces to form a numerical advantage in certain areas. Only then would he have a chance to deliver a fatal blow to Yuan Shao.
However...
These thoughts could not stop the fact that Cao Cao was gambling.
And, he could not reveal the detailed reasons for this, as it would lower the morale of the soldiers.
Suddenly, the entire main hall fell silent.
Lu Yu scratched his head... he was also thinking.
Of course...
His thoughts were completely different from those of the others. The others were thinking whether Yuan Shao would not go through these three lines of defense, but take a different path, rendering Cao Cao's three lines of defense useless!
But... Lu Yu was thinking... why did Yuan Shao in history stubbornly charge through these three lines of defense?
Was it excessive arrogance?
Or, who gave him the courage?
"Ahem..."
Lu Yu coughed lightly. He mused that the strategists in the Yuan camp couldn't possibly not see the method to break through this defense...
Therefore... there could only be one truth.
Given Yuan Shao's indecisiveness and the rampant factionalism and infighting within the Yuan camp, Yuan Shao lacked such decisive resolve. He would rather stubbornly confront Cao Cao head-on than choose to cross the Yellow River by other routes to sneak attack Xuchang!
This was his character, determined by the complex strategists around him!
"Alas..."
With this thought, Lu Yu sighed.
He mused that as long as Yuan Shao performed normally, Old Cao would have a great chance!
"Lord Situ Lu is coughing and sighing? What are your thoughts on these three lines of defense? Why don't you tell us..."
Cao Cao shifted the topic to Lu Yu...
At this, everyone looked at Lu Yu...
Uh...
This was awkward. Lu Yu scratched his head. How should he explain? He couldn't possibly say... it was written in the books, and Yuan Shao would definitely attack through these three lines of defense!
His eyes blinked twice.
Lu Yu gritted his teeth and said loudly, "Cao Sikong, generals, strategists, there is no need to worry. Yuan Shao will definitely attack through these three lines of defense, because... because..."
He stumbled slightly...
Lu Yu steeled himself and declared loudly, "Because I have planted a spy next to Yuan Shao! He holds a high position and has a significant status in front of Yuan Shao. He will constantly guide Yuan Shao to make wrong decisions, and the first wrong decision will be to attack from Liyang, Yanjin, Baima, and Guandu!"
Ah... ah...
Lu Yu's words stunned everyone.
The Yuan camp? A spy? And one holding a high position next to Yuan Shao? Who could it be...
Everyone looked at each other... they became curious.
Yes...
Lu Yu's statement was originally very absurd. The strategists next to Yuan Shao, and those holding high positions, were either from the loyal Ru Ying gentry who had followed him for many years, or talented individuals from Ji Province whose loyalty was as bright as the sun. How could they be spies?
If anyone else had made this statement, they might have been dragged out by Cao Cao and given fifty strokes of the rod.
But precisely because Lu Yu made it... it held profound meaning.
Could it be...
Cao Cao narrowed his eyes and muttered to himself, could it be that Yu'er was planning to repeat the tactic used against Jiangdong?
Could it be that he had already deployed in Ji Province beforehand...
Was the Lu family in Jiangdong?
Did Yu'er also have people in the Yuan camp?
It was indeed a familiar recipe, a familiar taste, but... why hadn't Yu'er mentioned it?
... Who exactly was this person? Cao Cao was very curious... but he wouldn't ask, nor did he need to ask. It was enough to let Yu'er communicate with him directly, which would also prevent the wind from leaking.
Of course...
The reason Lu Yu said this was not without basis... In fact, he had also thought of someone, a chief flatterer next to Yuan Shao – Guo Tu.
Speaking of this student Guo.
According to ancient texts and records, since he entered the Yuan Group as a senior executive and received his annual salary.
Apart from his outstanding ability in internal strife, he also achieved an incredible feat.
That was contributing a large number of destructive and ruinous suggestions... and throughout his life, he never offered a single truly useful plan to Yuan Shao!
Of course...
If these were merely due to his skill level, a lack of intelligence, that led to these mistakes, then at least the starting point was good, and it could be forgiven.
But precisely... after making various mistakes, our student Guo never thought about reflecting properly, quickly reporting the real situation to his superiors, or finding ways to salvage the defeat!
On the contrary...
After causing trouble, his first priority was to rack his brains to shirk responsibility and find someone with a bigger mistake than himself to dilute his responsibility!
It was precisely for this reason...
That Yuan Shao was tricked into becoming a horse, and Cao Cao was overjoyed.
It could be said that...
Without student Guo Tu, it would have been almost impossible for Cao Cao to defeat Yuan Shao!
Therefore... Lu Yu deigned to consider this student Guo Tu as the spy he had planted in the Yuan camp.
It was like "men's football." Perhaps they weren't throwing the game, but... it didn't stop them from conceding three goals in a single match. It was purely a matter of skill, and they had lost all shame!
With this thought...
"Ahem..." Lu Yu coughed lightly. "Everyone, rest assured, the spy I am in contact with is very professional. He will definitely ensure that Yuan Shao enters the planned decisive battleground!"
Heh...
When Lu Yu said this, Xun You's eyes focused.
The speaker was unintentional, but the listener was intentional... Since there was a spy, then... Xun You had a deeper thought.
He immediately declared loudly, "Since Lord Situ Lu has planted a spy next to Yuan Shao, the situation will be different... The three lines of defense are still the same three lines of defense, but the methods to resist the Yuan camp can be..."
He paused here.
He was a man who dared to take risks. Historically, his twelve ingenious strategies presented to Cao Cao were all vicious and life-threatening!
Now... based on the premise of "spy" put forward by Lu Yu, Xun You's thinking was completely opened up.
"The first line of defense is Liyang. Liyang is north of the Yellow River. Separated by the Yellow River... it is too difficult for our army to defend, so it is better to abandon it!"
Xun You spoke.
But... abandon? Abandon without fighting a battle?
Everyone showed suspicion...
Xun You's voice continued.
"Abandoning Liyang has three benefits. First, it is not easy to expose the spy that Lord Situ Lu has planted in the Yuan camp, which is beneficial to our subsequent actions;"
"Second... our army will all retreat to the south of the Yellow River, preserving our strength while cooperating with the mobile troops of the south bank defense line... to create a local numerical advantage;"
"Third, Yuan Shao will occupy Liyang City without shedding blood, and will surely boast and celebrate... His troops will become arrogant soldiers, and Yuan Shao's vanguard general Yan Liang has always been proud and arrogant. Hearing that Yuan Shao has captured Liyang, he will surely be impulsive and forcefully attack Baima on the south bank to seize merit... In this way, our army's local numerical superiority on the south bank can be highlighted, and thus, it will not be difficult to achieve the first battle's great victory!"
It was rare for Xun You to speak so much.
Based on the premise of "spy" put forward by Lu Yu, every word was like a knife, making the entire plan incredibly meticulous!
Lu Yu found it quite reliable to listen.
Cao Cao squinted and pondered for a moment, then nodded.
"This strategy of 'luring the enemy deep' is excellent. Let us proceed as Gongda suggests!"
This was decided!
The grand strategy was settled... the rest were minor details.
Xun Yu cupped his hands in salute at the opportune moment, "In terms of strategy, with Lord Situ Lu and Gongda, there is no worry. But what I am worried about is that proclamation... it is about the whole world's opinion of Cao Sikong..."
Xun Yu did not finish his words... but his meaning was perfectly clear.
The impact of Chen Lin's "Proclamation Against the Rebels" emanating from the Yuan camp was too great, and the Cao camp needed a response...
Upon hearing this.
Lu Yu stepped forward. "Lord Ling Xun, leave this matter to me... Yuan Shao has Zhang Liang's plan, and we have a ladder to climb over the wall. If he dares to issue such a proclamation, our Monthly Review is also timely. It's time to properly evaluate General Yuan Shao in front of the world!"
Speaking of this...
Lu Yu blinked his eyes, looking full of confidence...
Chen Lin was, at most, a talented scholar, but Lu Yu held Zheng Xuan, the old master Zheng... who was a great deity. If they were to compare, Chen Lin was not fit to carry Zheng Xuan's shoes!
Hoo...
Seeing Lu Yu volunteer, Cao Cao felt inexplicably relieved.
He immediately stood up straight and announced loudly, "Issue an order to the generals of all camps, depart for Guandu the day after tomorrow at noon..."
Speaking of this, Cao Cao's gaze turned to Xun Yu again.
"Please trouble Lord Ling to inform the Son of Heaven that at the morning court the day after tomorrow, please have the Son of Heaven issue an edict before all officials... Cao Cao, leading the royal army, will eliminate the rebels!"
"Yes!" Xun Yu agreed...
Cao Cao stroked his beard. But it was precisely during this stroking of his beard that he saw Lu Yu... At this moment, Lu Yu was winking at him.
Heh heh...
Cao Cao chuckled inwardly. It seemed Yu'er had something to discuss with him privately!
Immediately... Cao Cao ordered:
"Everyone is dismissed. Prepare well, Lord Situ Lu, stay behind..."
"Your subordinate takes his leave!"
Voices came one after another, and the group quickly departed. There were many things to prepare for the departure the day after tomorrow.
...
Xun Yu and Xun You were still walking at the back.
After walking out of the gates of the Sikong Manor...
Xun You quietly asked, "Uncle? Did you ask?"
Indeed...
He was not asking about matters related to strategy, but about that "Yu'er"!
Xun Yu nodded. "I asked! Genuine..."
Whoa...
Upon hearing this, Xun You's footsteps paused. He even staggered, and if Xun Yu hadn't held him, he would have almost fallen to the ground.
It was strange to say...
Just now... when Xun You heard that Yuan Shao had 500,000 troops marching south, he was still calm and composed.
But now... hearing about Lu Yu's identity, even though he had prepared himself beforehand, he still... felt his heart pounding.
"Gulp..."
Xun You gasped for air. He sighed and said, "A son helps his father build a kingdom, and a father also helps his son build a kingdom. Who would have thought that Yin Lin would have such another identity? Who would have thought that the future world would belong to Yin Lin?"
A sigh of emotion.
Not only Xun You, but Xun Yu also sighed repeatedly...
Inconceivable.
At this moment, his feelings, apart from "shock," could only be described by the word "inconceivable"!
...
After the meeting, it was already dusk.
Under a lone lamp, Cao Cao and Lu Yu were still sitting in the main hall.
"Lord Situ Lu, is there anything else? Do you have to speak privately?"
After the footsteps outside faded, Cao Cao finally asked.
"Cough..."
Lu Yu coughed lightly, then raised his head and said with certainty, "Regarding the decisive battle between Cao and Yuan along the Yellow River... In fact, Cao Sikong does not need to go there immediately."
"Why is that?" Cao Cao continued to ask.
"Two reasons..." Lu Yu's tone was still quite serious. "First, Cao Sikong not going... will make Yuan Shao complacent, and also make Yan Liang complacent. Just as military advisor Xun You said, once they are complacent, they will reveal their flaws. As the saying goes, arrogant soldiers are bound to be defeated!" Da Feng Novel Network
Hmm...
Cao Cao narrowed his eyes.
Although Lu Yu seemed to have said nothing,... no one knew their son better than a father. Cao Cao understood. Yu'er wanted the Dragon Cavalry to be dispatched to achieve a surprise attack and defeat Yuan Shao's vanguard army!
This...
Before Cao Cao could ponder carefully.
Lu Yu's words continued to be heard. "Second, during this time... Guan Yu and Madam Gan and Mi have arrived in Xuchang City. But... Guan Yu guards the two madams day and night. Cao Sikong probably hasn't succeeded yet, right?"
Uh...
Hearing this, Cao Cao let out a sigh. He hadn't managed to get the two women, and being asked about it by Yu'er made him somewhat ashamed!
"Cao Sikong... Although Yuan Shao is strong, he is indecisive and will definitely not be Cao Sikong's opponent. On the contrary... that Liu Bei, Liu Xuande, is a flood dragon!"
"Has Cao Sikong forgotten how to deal with that Liu Bei, Liu Xuande?"
Hoo...
Cao Cao's mouth twitched slightly.
Did he need to answer this question? What he and Yu'er had discussed... the strategy to deal with Liu Bei, Liu Xuande, Liu the Runner, Liu the Cryer, was to sleep with his two wives and let them leave with his children!
But...
What Yu'er said was also a fact.
Although during this period, Cao Cao had deliberately bestowed great rewards upon Guan Yu, treating him with the utmost courtesy...
Anyone could see his fondness for Guan Yu and his intention to recruit him.
But... precisely because of Guan Yu...
Let alone sleeping with Madam Gan and Mi, even approaching the two madams had become very difficult for him, Cao Cao.
He couldn't be having a romantic time in front of Guan Yu...
Wasn't this a bit like... "doing something in front of a friend"?
Wait...
Cao Cao suddenly thought of something. Yu'er mentioned this, plus... he had intended to let the Dragon Cavalry take the lead, so...
Suddenly, a bold idea flashed through Cao Cao's mind.
Just at this moment...
Lu Yu's words continued to be heard.
"During this time, Cao Sikong has hosted small banquets for Guan Yu every three days and large banquets every five days, giving him gold when he mounts his horse and silver when he dismounts. His hospitality has been extreme. Didn't Guan Yu also say that he wanted to achieve merit to repay Cao Sikong's kindness before leaving?"
Speaking of this...
Lu Yu paused.
"Now, isn't this a 'good opportunity' for him, Guan Yu, to repay his kindness?"
"Please allow Cao Sikong to permit Guan Yu to follow the Dragon Cavalry to the battlefield to earn merit... And Cao Sikong, having just recovered from his headaches, should stay in Xuchang to rest for a few days, go to the peony blossoms, go to the pomegranate skirts... pluck them, watch the fire from the other side, and live a leisurely life?"
Hearing this...
Ha, ha, ha, ha... Cao Cao couldn't help but burst into hearty laughter.
His expression, which had been gloomy just moments ago, instantly turned demonic, and his laughter shook the tiles...
What is a good son!
What is a good son of the Cao family!
... Yu'er is the benchmark!
Look at this eldest son. He's almost washed Madam Gan and Mi clean... and brought them to his Cao Cao.
He's almost... spoon-feeding him.
What a good son...
...An unparalleled good son.
...
...