The Cao army's grand encampment at Guandu, inside the central command tent.
"What?"
Xiahou Dun's booming voice could be heard from afar.
At this moment, his pupils were wide, filled with disbelief.
"Big Brother? What did you say? You want… want to let forty thousand Yuan soldiers return north to Jizhou?"
Xiahou Dun looked at Cao Cao with an expression of utter disbelief.
Indeed, just as the hearts of these forty thousand surrendered Yuan soldiers began to waver, Cao Cao made a decision that Xiahou Dun couldn't comprehend…
—To let forty thousand surrendered Yuan soldiers return north to Jizhou!
This caused a ripple effect, leaving Xiahou Dun utterly stunned. How could they let them go? If these forty thousand men returned to the northern territories and rejoined Yuan's camp, wouldn't that be the end of it all?
Damn it, the Battle of Guandu would have been fought in vain!
In Xiahou Dun's view…
Damn it, even if they were all buried, they shouldn't be allowed to return!
"Yuan Rang, you've been a general for so long, why are you still so rash?"
Cao Cao spoke, his words carrying a hint of reprimand.
"But even so, we cannot let these forty thousand surrendered soldiers return to Yuan Shao's side!" Xiahou Dun's stance was firm… "Big Brother, I know your pressures, that… whether it's food supplies or morale, both are hidden dangers…"
Speaking thus, Xiahou Dun paused. "Big Brother, I don't understand those grand principles. I only know that if Big Brother doesn't want to be the villain, then let me be!"
Xiahou Dun didn't explicitly state his meaning, but the implication was clear. He could play the role of Xiahou Dun, or he could become the god of slaughter Bai Qi from the Qin dynasty, bearing the world's infamy!
"Yuan Rang, did I say I would let them return to Yuan's camp?" Cao Cao retorted…
This.
Xiahou Dun scratched his head. Letting them return north was the same as letting them return to Yuan's camp, wasn't it? Was there any difference between the two?
The more he thought about it, the more confused he became…
Xiahou Dun forcefully smacked his forehead.
Cao Cao, however, raised his hand, smiled slightly, and said in a low voice, "Haha, Yuan Rang, the good show is yet to come!"
With that, Cao Cao strode out of the grand tent.
Leaving Xiahou Dun utterly bewildered.
He still didn't understand. With his intelligence of just over thirty, he couldn't grasp the intricacies of it all.
"General Xiahou…"
It was Jia Xu, unable to bear seeing Xiahou Dun's distress, who finally offered a reminder. "Back then, when Cao Anmin was imprisoned, I heard Grand Chancellor Lu give him a sentence: 'The darkness before your eyes is not darkness, what is the white you speak of!' Heh heh, is everything in this world as simple as black and white? General, perhaps you should be patient and await good news…"
Uh…
Cao Cao's words had already made Xiahou Dun dizzy.
Now, Jia Xu's cryptic explanation made him even more lost.
"Tap tap…"
Watching Jia Xu's receding back, Xiahou Dun tapped his head again.
"What black and white? What is not black and white… reading
"So what if you've read a lot? Why be so pretentious?"
Uttering such a remark, Xiahou Dun spread his hands, utterly baffled.
However…
Then he remembered something his sworn brother Lu Yu had once said, which now seemed quite fitting: "Tacticians have dirty hearts!"
Dirty? Dirty?
How exactly was it dirty?
Damn it, this is so annoying!
…
…
"Brothers, brothers…"
Just as the forty thousand Yuan soldiers, forty thousand burning hearts, longed for their return north, suddenly… a voice echoed through the camp.
"Let me tell you some good news, Minister Lu… Minister Lu, before he left, proposed to Chancellor Cao, saying… saying…"
A soldier from Yuan's camp shouted at the top of his lungs.
As if… due to excitement, he couldn't catch his breath, and his throat seemed to constrict.
"What? What news?"
The surrendered Yuan soldiers looked at each other, utterly confused.
At this moment, the soldier's voice rang out again.
"Minister Lu proposed to Chancellor Cao, allowing us… allowing us to return to the northern territories! Chancellor Cao has also agreed…"
"Among us, anyone… anyone who wishes to return to the northern territories can go back. Chancellor Cao has even specially prepared travel expenses, food… and ships to help us cross the Yellow River! Chancellor Cao is letting us go home!"
Uh…
This caused a great stir. As soon as these words were spoken, the entire formation of forty thousand surrendered Yuan soldiers erupted in an uproar.
What? What's going on?
Letting them go home? Return to the four northern prefectures?
If this was already unbelievable enough, they were even… even distributing food, travel expenses, and preparing ships? What… what is this situation?
Unbelievable…
Instinctively, no one believed these words. They were too fake, simply unbelievably fake!
"You… you'd better not be lying to us!"
"Chancellor Cao really… really let us return to the northern territories?"
One by one, the surrendered Yuan soldiers crowded around, eagerly asking.
"Why would I lie to you?" The messenger soldier turned around, revealing the travel expenses and food he had already packed. "I've already gone to collect my travel expenses. How could it be fake?"
"I heard that the reason Minister Lu proposed this to Chancellor Cao was because he considered our brothers' longing for home and couldn't bear for us to be separated from our families!"
At this point…
"Dong dong dong…" The gong sounded.
On the training ground within the camp, Cao Cao slowly ascended the high platform. Beside him stood a group of elite guards, who together pushed a simple wooden megaphone onto the stage.
This contraption… came from the workshop…
Lu Yu had used it before, and Cao Cao found it very practical, so he requested some from the workshop.
As expected, this thing… saved countless messengers and was extremely convenient!
Everyone noticed Cao Cao.
And Cao Cao surveyed all the soldiers in the camp.
At this moment.
"Guang guang guang…"
Another round of gong sounds echoed.
Immediately after, Cao Cao's voice roared out.
"Yesterday, Minister Lu proposed to me, saying that many of our brothers have their families in the northern territories, their wives and children are also in the northern territories, and suggested that I, Cao Cao, should let our brothers return north! I was initially thinking it was inappropriate. If our brothers return home and are then conscripted by that traitor Yuan Shao into Yuan's camp, what then? Wouldn't that be causing trouble for me, Cao Cao?"
—"But then I thought again… aren't our brothers fighting on the battlefield for the sake of their families living good lives? If I don't allow our brothers to go home? How could I bear it?"
Cao Cao's voice was loud, deafening, enough for all the soldiers in the entire camp to hear clearly.
—"I won't say much more. Today, here, I, Cao Cao, will announce one thing. I have decided to adopt Minister Lu's proposal. Among you brothers, those who wish to remain in Cao's camp are warmly welcomed. Those who are concerned about their families and miss home, I also welcome, and will not force you to stay… If, in the future, you meet me, Cao Cao, on the battlefield, it is also acceptable. We each serve our masters, there is no need for repayment of kindness. Whatever happens, happens!"
Speaking thus…
Some of the surrendered Yuan soldiers below shed tears.
More of them frantically blinked their eyes and wiped away the tears at the corners of their eyes with their sleeves.
Returning north… this held great importance in their hearts.
Moved!
So moved!
Chancellor Cao's magnanimity in letting them return north, what kind of sentiment was this, and what kind of感动 (gǎndòng - moved) was this? Of course, there was also Minister Lu… even though he had left Guandu and was on official business in Xuzhou, he still remembered them, these "humble" surrendered soldiers, and considered them everywhere. Magnanimous… truly magnanimous!
"Alright, I, Cao Cao, have prepared food and travel expenses for all of you. Everyone will receive some. Those who wish to leave, pack your belongings and come to collect these travel expenses… If you have difficulty walking or are injured, I, Cao Cao, have also prepared carts for you!"
Speaking thus, Cao Cao paused, as if… deliberately letting the atmosphere of gratitude become even thicker and more profound!
Feeling that the atmosphere had reached its peak.
Cao Cao continued:
"Brothers, don't stand there dumbfounded. We part ways amicably. I will never forget that today, Cao Cao has so many good brothers!"
Hoo…
Countless people heard Cao Cao's words and let out sighs of relief. From the bottom of their hearts, they were moved by Cao Cao.
This was a lord worth serving!
This was a lord who… considered his soldiers everywhere and loved them like his own children!
Gu La</span> Moved, all that remained in their hearts was infinite gratitude!
Of course…
This did not stop these soldiers from wanting to return home. They had reasons to return north.
Striving, fighting, killing…
What was the purpose of all this if not for a home?
"Thank you, Chancellor Cao… Thank you, Minister Lu!"
With a "pat," a surrendered Yuan soldier knelt on the ground… It seemed that only in this way could he express the gratitude in his heart towards Lu Yu and Cao Cao.
But…
As he knelt,
"Pat," "pat," "pat…" More and more surrendered Yuan soldiers knelt on the ground, their heads knocking on the ground like pounding garlic.
Gratitude… gratitude!
With gratitude, their hearts' desires were finally fulfilled. They could return north, could go home.
However…
At this moment, amidst the emotion, no one noticed the subtle, hidden smile that curved Cao Cao's lips, as if… everything was within his…
No!
To be precise, everything was within Yu'er's calculations.
…
…
At the gate of the military camp, countless food supplies were arranged.
In addition to food supplies, there were also carts.
Cao Cao personally oversaw the distribution of food and travel expenses to the departing surrendered Yuan soldiers, seeing them off!
"Brother? How old are you?"
Seeing an old man with difficulty walking, Cao Cao helped him up and patiently asked.
"This old man… this old man is fifty-six years old this year."
"Then you are eleven years older than me!" Cao Cao tightly grasped the old soldier's hand.
"How many people do you have at home!"
"Thank you for your concern, Chancellor Cao. I have an eighty-year-old mother above, and two unaccomplished children in their teens below… If not for them, I would never have gone north of the Yellow River to fight… fight for dominance with Chancellor Cao!" Da Feng Novel Network
The old soldier's voice was a little hesitant.
Cao Cao specially took out an extra portion of travel expenses.
"Is this enough?"
"It's enough, it's enough…" The old soldier was moved to tears. He took the travel expenses with one hand and was about to kneel.
Cao Cao held him up. "We are brothers, no need to be so polite!"
The old soldier kept wiping the tears from the corners of his eyes, "Chancellor Cao, if there is a next life, I… I will certainly be a cow or a horse, and I will also… also repay Chancellor Cao's great kindness!"
This old soldier started it…
Suddenly, the surrounding surrendered soldiers all knelt before Cao Cao.
The scene was incredibly magnificent…
"Get up, everyone, get up…" Cao Cao helped up the few people in front of him. There were simply too many people, he couldn't help them all. "Going home is a happy occasion. Why are you all shedding tears? What… don't you want to leave?"
Cao Cao comforted them with the most heroic and benevolent words.
"Hurry up and get up, collect your travel expenses, and head north! Now is not the time to kowtow. First, return home and let your families know that you are safe! Only then will they be at ease. Isn't that right?"
Cao Cao's series of remarks made the Yuan army soldiers present feel moved once again.
Previously…
They had always heard Yuan Shao talk about how insidious and ruthless Cao Cao was, but… experiencing it firsthand in Cao's camp, they finally felt that this powerful figure, Cao Cao, who was now second only to the emperor, was actually so approachable.
Compared to Yuan Shao…
This kind of master was countless times better than Yuan Shao!
This was a true hero!
On the side…
Zhang He, Gao Lan, and Ju Shou also saw this scene.
Ju Shou wore a bamboo hat, seemingly deliberately concealing his identity, as… for the sake of protecting his family, Cao Cao had announced to the outside world that he had been beheaded at the camp gate.
Zhang He and Gao Lan were well aware of these matters. Previously, they had both been subordinates of the Governor of Ji Province, Han Fu, and the three of them had a good relationship.
However, at this moment… the feelings of the three were entirely different.
"The world all speaks of Liu Xuande's benevolence and righteousness, but this action by Chancellor Cao is enough to prove that his benevolence and righteousness are no less than Liu Xuande's!" Zhang He exclaimed repeatedly…
Gao Lan nodded. "Indeed, Chancellor Cao's actions can be said to be benevolent and kind. However, the proposal to let forty thousand surrendered soldiers return north, Minister Lu truly dared to propose it, and Chancellor Cao truly dared to agree!"
One dared to speak, one dared to act.
Gao Lan didn't state his meaning too explicitly, but the implication was perfectly clear.
This was akin to… letting a tiger return to the mountains!
This was exchanging forty thousand soldiers for a name of benevolence and righteousness, which seemed… a bit unfavorable!
"Yes…" Zhang He nodded. "To be able to make such a proposal and finally make such a decision shows the benevolence and kindness of Chancellor Cao and Minister Lu. I, Zhang He, am still full of admiration! Regardless of what others think, I will follow them for the rest of my life!"
As he spoke, Gao Lan nodded in deep agreement.
Unlike ordinary surrendered Yuan soldiers, they had no room to return to the northern territories.
It was no exaggeration to say that the moment Yuan Shao collapsed in the Battle of Guandu, it was due to Zhang He and Gao Lan's defection on the battlefield. Yuan Shao hated Zhang He and Gao Lan to the bone!
Other surrendered soldiers might be able to return to the northern territories, but Zhang He and Gao Lan were like an arrow released from the bow; there was no turning back, and they had to see things through to the end!
"Heh heh…"
At this moment, Ju Shou chuckled. Compared to Zhang He and Gao Lan, it was evident that… he saw things more profoundly and was better able to see the essence through the phenomena.
When something out of the ordinary happens, there must be a reason…
Moreover, this proposal came from Yin Lin.
"Heh heh." Ju Shou smiled bitterly again. "Benevolence and kindness, in a time of chaos… benevolence and kindness? Is it really important?"
Uh… this…
Zhang He and Gao Lan were startled, exchanged glances, and then looked towards Ju Shou.
Ju Shou shook his head, then let out a hearty laugh.
"Hahaha…"
As if mid-laugh, he smiled bitterly and said, "Well done, Yin Lin. Well done, Yin Lin's proposal to return north… This move truly saw through Yuan Benchu. Heh heh… this move is truly brilliant!"
In just a few words, the meaning was profound.
Zhang He and Gao Lan quickly asked, "Brother Ju? What do you mean by this?"
Ju Shou shook his head and murmured, "Heh heh… Yin Lin is not a strategist of benevolence and kindness, and Cao Cao is not a benevolent lord like Liu Xuande! Letting a tiger return to the mountain? Nonsense, letting a tiger return to the mountain… this is clearly the simplest stratagem of yielding in order to advance. As the saying goes, to take something, one must first give it. Cao Cao dares to let these forty thousand surrendered soldiers return north, but with Yuan Shao's suspicious and paranoid nature? Would he dare to accept them?"
Speaking thus, Ju Shou paused.
"Alas…" he sighed again and continued, "In a few days, these forty thousand surrendered soldiers will return again, crying and begging to serve Cao Cao and Lu Yu. However, at that time… the restless three armies will be calmed, and the desire to return north will turn into infinite rage to backlash against Yuan Shao… to backlash against these four northern prefectures. Yin Lin's stratagem is enough to secure the northern territories!"
As Ju Shou said.
Cao Cao's act of letting forty thousand surrendered soldiers return north was an important part of Lu Yu's plan.
The better Cao Cao treated these surrendered soldiers, the more food and travel expenses he distributed, the more he called them brothers… the more Yuan Shao would suspect and be jealous!
Forty thousand surrendered soldiers? With such a massive number, could it be a cunning plot by Cao Cao and Lu Yu?
Could it be a feigned surrender, an inside job?
Forty thousand men coordinating from the inside and outside could instantly annihilate Liyang… could create a huge hole in Yuan Shao's four northern prefectures!
Yin Lin intended to undermine Yuan Shao's foundation!
Yuan Shao would think this way!
Given Yuan Shao's temperament, he would definitely think this way!
It was for this very reason…
Facing these forty thousand returning soldiers, what awaited them was bound to be flashing swords, glinting sabers!
Unwelcoming arrows…
And in the future, these flashing swords, glinting sabers, and unwelcoming arrows would transform into the resentment of forty thousand surrendered soldiers, into the resentment of the families of these forty thousand surrendered soldiers in the four northern prefectures. This resentment… was the most fatal to the Yuan clan!
"Heh heh…"
Speaking thus, Ju Shou finally shook his head.
"It's a pity that those who can see through this stratagem are no longer in Yuan's camp! Heh heh, even if someone were there, what would it matter? Could Yuan Benchu listen to correct advice?"
"Indeed, I, Ju Shou, am inferior to Yin Lin, but… Yuan Benchu, oh Yuan Benchu, you are even further behind Cao Cao! You lose without regret! Even if there were a hundred more chances, the outcome would still be predetermined! You truly lose without regret!"
…
…