"Dada da..."
On the official road from the Guandu front lines to Xuchang city, several swift horses sped by like whirlwinds.
The riders on the horses all had solemn expressions.
They were to quickly deliver urgent dispatches from the front lines to Xuchang city, to Cao Cao!
—Baima City Fortress, Yan Liang defeated!
—Nanban City, Wen Chou defeated.
—Yuan Shao leads a forty-five million strong army across the Yellow River, his forces pointing directly at Yanjin City on the south bank of the Yellow River!
Three urgent dispatches in a row...
The first two were great victories, but it was precisely... the third one that plunged the spirits of all Cao Cao's officers and soldiers on the front line to the lowest ebb.
Forty-five million troops advancing like an earthquake...
No one could feel at ease.
...
...
Huu... Huu!
In Xuchang city, within the Office of the Chancellor,
In a hidden side room, faint sounds of a woman's gasps could be heard.
It seemed...
A woman was trying her best to lower her voice, but... inexplicably, she seemed unable to suppress the "cry" from the depths of her soul!
The moon was high in the sky, and faint moonlight peeked through the cracks in the window, falling onto the ground like scattered frost.
Finally...
After a moment, the side room returned to its former tranquility, all was silent!
—"Mei'er! Sleep... I'll wake you up in the morning, and it won't delay the time!"
A male voice emerged quietly...
Who else but Cao Cao could have this distinctive voice?
"Chancellor... Chancellor!"
The female voice remained solemn, but... this solemnity in Cao Cao's arms seemed so out of place!
Shyness quickly... the woman became exceptionally alluring...
Through the gap in the door, illuminated by the faint moonlight, the woman lying in Cao Cao's arms was none other than Liu Bei's wife—Gan Mei!
From some unknown day, almost every night... after Lady Mi fell asleep, Gan Mei would be led by a group of elite guards to the Chancellor's mansion!
Entering through the back door, she would proceed to this hidden side room, where Cao Cao would be waiting every day, guarding this married woman!
This was a road of no return!
This was also a road that led to intoxication!
Perhaps it was because Lady Gan had suffered too much, too much, over the years...
She eagerly anticipated these nights.
Often at dusk, she would sit by the window, waiting for the moonlight.
Yes...
Cao Cao, as the most famous collector of married women of this era, his level was too high. Whether it was sincere or feigned emotion... in just a few days, he had completely occupied Lady Gan's heart.
What's more, this affection continued to spread and expand...
Liu Bei had failed to capture Lady Gan's heart for five years, but with Cao Cao, it took only five days... five days, and Lady Gan's heart was completely lost.
In the end... Liu Bei didn't understand women!
In the end, Cao Cao understood women too well!
Of course...
The outer perimeter of this side room was heavily guarded, with a tiger-head guard stationed almost every ten steps.
No one knew... that a beauty was hidden in this room.
Nor would anyone know... that while Cao Cao handled front-line military affairs during the day, engaged in a battle of wits with Yuan Shao and Liu Bei, he would be indulging in the beauty of a woman at midnight, compensating himself with Liu Bei's wife!
Often... the next day, before dawn!
Lady Gan would wake up a little earlier, and under the escort of the tiger-head guards, she would return to her own residence, as if... she had been entwined with Chancellor Cao in a dream!
Ironic...
For Liu Bei, this was a great irony!
Quiet...
The Chancellor's mansion was exceptionally quiet, with only the chirping of insects remaining, and the silence could only be described as "all sounds are hushed"!
At midnight, Cao Cao and Lady Gan were both asleep.
It seemed, according to the usual pattern, that Lady Gan could sleep until the hour of Mao, when... there would be few people on the streets, and she could... return to where she belonged silently.
...
At this moment...
Not only the Chancellor's mansion, but all the lights in Xuchang city were extinguished, except for the Ministry of Personnel, which was not far from the Chancellor's mansion, outside the Canglong Gate of the Imperial Palace, where the lights were still blazing!
Today, it was Xun Yu on night duty...
Under normal circumstances, nothing would happen at night.
Even so, officials holding important positions in the Ministry of Personnel, such as Xun Yu, Jia Xu, Xi Zhicai, Xun You, and Cheng Yu, needed to rest here to guard against unforeseen events.
In fact, Xun Yu should have been asleep by now... being on night duty didn't mean... he couldn't rest!
After all, there were still clerks and guards inside and outside the Ministry of Personnel.
At night... there would be no major events in the court or the Chancellor's mansion. Even if there were urgent reports, as long as they were not too significant, they could be dealt with the next morning; a few hours would not make a difference.
However.
Xun Yu was too worried.
Lu Yu and Xiahou Yuan were fighting on the front lines at Guandu and Yanjin, but the logistics, supply of grain and fodder, and troop deployments all had to be handled by him.
Cao Cao had called him "my Zifang," but in reality, Xun Yu was more like Emperor Gaozu's "Xiao He."
—Managing the country, pacifying the people, and ensuring a continuous supply of materials and food!
In the entire Cao camp... who could compare to Xun Yu, Lord Ling?
Worried people couldn't sleep...
So, Xun Yu called for tea to be served and chatted with the on-duty clerk.
Although called a clerk, the on-duty clerk today was actually Cao Ang.
Learning leads to officialdom. Under the arrangements of Lu Yu and Cai Zhaoji, many university students had begun to enter officialdom for training... As Cao Cao's "eldest son," Cao Ang was naturally no exception.
However...
The value of his title "eldest son," Xun Yu knew best.
"Ziyou, most of the recent urgent documents are from Guandu, Yanjin, and Baima... Yuan Shao personally leads a large army and sends Yan Liang to raid Baima, which shows... he is determined to win this battle. It's ridiculous that some officials, led by Kong Rong, are still saying that Chancellor Cao should retreat to Xuchang, cede land, and negotiate peace with Yuan Shao! They are simply short-sighted... Is Yuan Shao's target Xuchang city? Is it Chancellor Cao? Besides Chancellor Cao? What else could make Yuan Shao agree to peace!"
This was the truth...
From the beginning, the outcome of the decisive battle between Cao and Yuan had divided Xuchang city, and even the court, into two factions: the war faction led by the talented scholars of Yingchuan and the martial men of Qiaopei, and the peace faction led by Confucian scholars like Kong Rong!
In the end...
These Confucian scholars did not understand military affairs. They naively thought that Yuan Shao had more troops, a larger territory, and greater influence, but they did not understand that victory in war often requires multiple dimensions. As Sun Tzu's Art of War mentions, "Dao, Tian, Di, Jiang, Fa" (Way, Heaven, Earth, Commander, Method) is a profound study!
"Lord Ling Xun has profound knowledge, and what you say is indeed true..."
Cao Ang echoed, "Chief of Staff Lu always uses the story of Duke Wen of Jin retreating three chariots to teach us..."
"When the state of Jin fought with the state of Chu, Jin kept its promise and retreated three chariots, winning the support of public opinion among the states and gaining sympathy. This is 'Dao'! Translated into Chief of Staff Lu's plan, it is inviting Mr. Zheng Xuan to Xuchang, reopening the monthly review, and also Cai Zhaoji, the talented woman of the world, with her 'Ten Crimes of Yuan Shao,' which spread throughout the land, winning moral support for my father!"
—"Secondly, when Duke Wen of Jin fought with Chu and retreated three chariots, he moved to Chenggu, close to his own country and far from the enemy's, which was convenient for his own supply... unfavorable for the enemy's supply. Moreover... the terrain, environment, and weather were closer, and the Jin army was more familiar with them and could better utilize them! This is 'Tian' and 'Di'! Corresponding to Chief of Staff Lu's strategy, it is abandoning Liyang... retreating to the Yanjin line, thus gaining an advantage in supply and terrain utilization!"
—"Thirdly, in the battle between Jin and Chu, Chu's generals were all brave but foolish... while Jin's generals were all intelligent and brave like Xian Zhen, Hu Yan, and Zhao Shuai. This is the gap in military strategy and generals, which can also be called 'Jiang' and 'Fa'! And Chief of Staff Lu's wisdom and the bravery of the Dragon Mighty Camp are far beyond what Yan Liang and Wen Chou can compare to!"
—"As the saying goes, 'He who is expert in the art of war is never defeated.' Chief of Staff Lu has explained to us in detail at the Imperial Academy that the purpose of 'The Art of War' is not to achieve victory through surprise, but rather... it teaches us 'strategic division,' and to employ unexpected tactics while being able to withstand the frontal assault! Analyzing the current battle from the five dimensions of 'Dao, Tian, Di, Jiang, Fa,' Chief of Staff Lu is superior to Yuan's army in all aspects. Therefore... Lord Ling Xun need not worry, this battle will surely be a great victory!"
Hey...
Indeed, Cao Ang's words surprised Xun Yu!
His brows twitched slightly, and then he looked at Cao Ang meaningfully...
He didn't expect that after only two or three years of study at the Imperial Academy, and after following Lu Yu for a period of time, he had learned some superficial knowledge, yet... when it came to the battle situation, Cao Ang's detailed explanations were well-reasoned and convincing!
What a 'Dao, Tian, Di, Jiang, Fa'!
Xun Yu was more adept at understanding the overall situation and his understanding of specific military strategies like "The Art of War" was far inferior to his nephew Xun You. However... in terms of insight and vision, even ten Xun Yous could not compare to him, Xun Yu.
Therefore...
From Cao Ang's words, Xun Yu keenly sensed something.
—Tian! Di!
That's right, it was Heaven and Earth in the five dimensions of victory mentioned in "The Art of War."
Lu Yu abandoned Liyang and led Yuan's army step by step onto the battlefield he had prepared. Wasn't this precisely... his understanding of "Tian" and "Di"!
If the battlefield were on the north bank of the Yellow River, then... Yuan Shao's army would be more familiar with it and closer to Yuan Shao's supply lines.
Conversely...
On the south bank of the Yellow River, it would be more familiar to Cao's army and closer to Cao's supply lines!
Even though this was a small deployment, the impact it brought was enormous!
"Good... good!"
Xun Yu clicked his tongue in amazement. He didn't expect that a conversation with a young man would give him a new understanding of Lu Yu's plan.
"Excellent... excellent," Xun Yu did not hesitate to praise Cao Ang, "As expected of a student of the Imperial Academy, and also a disciple of Chief of Staff Lu. Ziyou's words have truly amazed me."
Xun Yu took a sip of tea... after a series of praises, he was filled with emotion.
He could suddenly understand Cao Cao's intentions!
You must know that in this era, a "master" was like a father!
Cao Ang, under Cao Cao's arrangement, had been studying at the Imperial Academy for three years. Cao Pi, Cao Zhang, and Cao Zhi had also just entered the Imperial Academy this year.
This was Cao Cao's deliberate intention to let his eldest son Lu Yu teach his younger brothers...
In this way, in the future... when Lu Yu's true identity was revealed, at least he would win the support of these brothers!
After all...
Who would compete for the position of heir apparent with a "master" who was like a "father"? At that time... it would truly be "the elder brother acts as the father"!
"Heh heh!"
With this thought, Xun Yu gave a faint smile. Suddenly... he completely understood Cao Cao's deep intentions. This was what was called—a parent's love for their child is to plan for them far into the future!
With that thought... Xun Yu leaned back on the bamboo chair and dozed off. Suddenly, a hurried voice came from outside, followed by the sound of a guard. "Urgent report... Urgent report from Yanjin City! A hundred-mile express!"
Xun Yu's eyes snapped open... his eyes were filled with confusion and astonishment.
Could it be that something had happened to the front-line battle?
At this late hour... the messenger would not be unaware of the rules. If it were not a major event, he would certainly report it at dawn tomorrow.
As he spoke...
Xun Yu stood up abruptly, and Cao Ang also stood up instantly. He glanced at Xun Yu.
"Lord Ling Xun, I will go and get it!"
A moment later...
Cao Ang returned with an urgent dispatch.
Xun Yu took it, opened it, and instantly... he turned to stone!
This was a letter personally sent back by Lu Yu.
The content of the letter was very simple... Yuan Shao sent Yan Liang with fifty thousand cavalry to attack Baima City Fortress, but fell into the trap of 'luring the tiger away from its mountain' and 'making a feint to the east while attacking in the west,' and their entire army was annihilated, with Yan Liang captured!
Enraged, Yuan Shao sent Wen Chou with fifty thousand heavy cavalry to avenge Baima City Fortress, but... but Lu Yu, with a slight stratagem, forced them into a desperate situation, and less than one in ten escaped back to the northern territories!"
This was...
Xun Yu took a deep breath. He immediately felt invigorated. He trembled all over, and he said to Cao Ang, "Great victory, it is... it is a great victory!"
As soon as these words left his mouth...
Xun Yu's eyes looked at the following content again.
—"Enraged, Yuan Shao dispatched forty-five million troops to attack Yanjin..."
This... dispatched forty-five million troops?
Forty-five million?
Attacking... Yanjin?
Instantly, Xun Yu sensed something was wrong...
Yuan Shao was going to fight a decisive battle... he was going to use his absolute numerical superiority to advance south in a big way... to launch a decisive battle in one go!
Evidently, he had realized that in terms of strategy, he was no match for Lu Yu!
However, in this way... it was extremely disadvantageous to Lu Yu, who was currently at the front line, and to Yanjin City!
"This is bad..."
Just moments ago, he was overjoyed, but now, Xun Yu's expression became grim.
"Ziyou, take me to the Chancellor's mansion... Now, I must see your father! It's extremely urgent!"
Ah... ah...
Xun Yu's urgent words startled Cao Ang. However... he didn't know which young lady's boudoir his father was in!
This...
He couldn't go on a wild goose chase, searching through each young lady's boudoir...
What would that look like?
...
...
At this moment, the Chancellor's mansion was exceptionally quiet.
Cao Cao had never slept soundly at night.
In fact, he worried about more things than Xun Yu.
—How to create a perfect opportunity to acknowledge his father-son relationship with Yu'er?
—Cai Yan's "Ten Crimes of Yuan Shao" scolded Yuan Shao to the extreme, but it also blocked Cao Cao's original plan!
Originally... he planned to have Yu'er adopted by his younger brother Cao De, and then adopted back, to emulate Yuan Shao... to make him the legitimate eldest son!
But...
Now...
"Ahem!"
With a light cough, Cao Cao's mind was still contemplating, besides matters related to Yu'er, there was also the imminent battle situation...
Yuan Shao, this elder brother, truly had a lot of troops!
Besides that, how to persuade... no, how to persuade Lady Gan to implement Yu'er's ultimate plan of "green grass on the prairie, Liu Bei the worker"...
And...
How to boost morale in the court? This decisive battle between Cao and Yuan, how to make the court, Xuchang, and the entire Central Plains have more confidence in him, Cao Cao...
These were too many...
Cao Cao had too many things to ponder!
He simply couldn't sleep soundly.
In fact, Lady Gan was also awake. She kept secretly looking at Cao Cao from time to time.
Women are like this. Once a "Pandora's Box" is opened, it is bound to be like a surging river, and it is difficult to close it.
Her heart fluttered incessantly...
By the bedside of this not handsome, but exceptionally mature and charming man, her heart was like a deer running wildly...
Fortunately...
The outer perimeter of this side room was exceptionally quiet. The tiger-head guards were almost completely silent. Even when changing shifts, their footsteps were exceptionally light... the side room could not hear anything!
When Cao Cao got tired of thinking, he would always enter his dreams.
Of course, Cao Cao would not really kill people in his dreams. He would only grind his teeth in his dreams and murmur incoherently!
For example... shouting:
—"Mei'er... Mei'er..."
Whether it was intentional or not.
Anyway... it made Gan Mei feel a little smug, as if a cat was scratching her, making her itch!
Of course.
This was the so-called level of wooing women. Clearly, Cao Cao's level was that of a veteran player!
But...
Precisely at this moment of deep night, when all sounds were hushed.
"Tta ta..."
Light, subtle footsteps came from outside the door. The footsteps were already very light, but they still reached the inner chamber. Soon, Xu Chu's voice was heard.
"How dare you? At this hour... why is it you? Eldest son? Lord Ling Xun?"
Xu Chu's voice fell...
A rather hurried middle-aged male voice followed.
—"Something has happened, urgent report from the front lines... Yuan Shao is leading a forty-five million strong army towards Yanjin!"
Instantly, Cao Cao, who had been asleep, sat up abruptly.
He was awakened...
He didn't know if he was hallucinating or dreaming, but... the voices outside were still exceptionally clear.
—"Does Lord Ling Xun not remember that Chancellor Cao kills people in his dreams! If... if Lord Ling Xun goes to report... then..."
"General Xu!"
Xun Yu's tone became increasingly serious. "Yanjin, Baima, and Guandu... are the last barriers of Xuchang city. If they are lost, then whether Chancellor Cao 'kills people in his dreams' is no longer important at all..."
Cao Cao had already gotten up. However, being considerate, he seemed afraid of waking Lady Gan, so he turned back and glanced at her again.
Lady Gan... had not slept, but at this moment... feeling Cao Cao's gaze upon her, she could only pretend to be fast asleep, as if... fearing to cause Cao Cao guilt for disturbing her sleep.
Cao Cao then breathed a sigh of relief, pressed the quilt back onto Lady Gan, put on a robe, and hurried out of the chamber.
And outside the door...
Xun Yu and Cao Ang's expressions were very bad... they saw Cao Cao.
Xun Yu cupped his hands in salute...
Cao Ang softly uttered, "Father..."
Cao Cao made a "shhh" gesture with his finger, cast a lingering glance back at the chamber behind him, and then beckoned, "Let's talk in the study..."
Cao Ang, being honest and straightforward, immediately walked towards the study.
However, Xun Yu was more thoughtful...
He murmured to himself, Chancellor Cao's hidden chamber probably held a beauty?
But... whose wife was this "beauty"?
Thinking of this...
He shook his head and quickly followed Cao Cao towards the study.
In just a moment...
The hidden side room returned to peace, all was silent... only Lady Gan's soft murmurs could be heard.
"Chancellor Cao? Does he kill people in his dreams? I... I thought he only did that in his dreams... like... like that!"
...
...