“Release the arrows, release the arrows!”
“Swish, swish, swish…”
A volley of arrows, like meteors, filled with frost, rained down ceaselessly, a continuous stream of projectiles like locusts, striking the straw figures on the grain carts.
Much like the historical “borrowing arrows with a straw boat,” Yuan Shao did not unleash fire arrows. This was due to the swift arrival of Cao’s forces, leaving insufficient time for preparation. Furthermore… fire arrows require four elements.
First, a clear target, as fire arrows possess poor accuracy.
Second, dry weather.
Third, sufficient combustible material to fuel the flames.
Fourth, a favorable wind to assist combustion.
The most crucial of these is the combustible material. Fire arrows require flammable items like greased hemp cloth to be attached behind the arrowhead. In layman’s terms, these are costly.
Even Yuan Shao could not afford to be so extravagant as to allow his archers to fire fire arrows at will!
Therefore…
How could these ordinary arrows possibly threaten the Long Xiao Camp army, which had already departed from the grain carts and straw figures?
“Crackling…”
“Thump, thump, thump…”
The sounds of arrows piercing the straw figures and grain carts echoed incessantly.
“Thump, thump, thump…”
The earth-shattering drum beats and battle cries of Cao’s and Yuan’s armies resounded continuously.
Cao Xiu couldn't help but remark, “Mr. Xu, the Yuan camp truly has arrows flying like rain!”
Xu Shu chuckled heartily, “Indeed. It’s possible that an hour of eclipse could consume a hundred thousand of Yuan Shao’s arrows!”
Just then…
“Report…” a soldier of the Long Xiao Camp reported, “The arrows on the grain cart’s straw coverings are as dense as a beehive; they can barely be accommodated anymore!”
“No matter,” Xu Shu waved his hand. “Continue the drumming, continue the horns, let the arrows come even more fiercely, haha…”
“Yes!” The soldier of the Long Xiao Camp acknowledged and went to relay the message.
Listening to the deafening drumming, Cao Xiu finally understood. It was as Commander Lu always said, the ulterior motive was not the wine, but the drumming itself!
“Hahaha…”
He couldn't help but laugh heartily. “Continue drumming, continue the horns…” The voices of the Long Xiao Camp soldiers echoed amidst the drum formations, lingering for a long time.
And this earth-shattering drumming, even from ten miles away, resounded with a rumbling sound!
…
…
A dark, windy night for murder!
Everyone was drawn to the drumming sound before the Yuan camp.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield…
Five thousand Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, clad in Yuan army armor and carrying Yuan army banners, moved through the forest like phantoms.
Each of them carried a bundle of firewood, a small wooden stick in their mouths, their horses' mouths tightly bound with rope, and even their hooves… all wrapped in thick coarse cloth!
Originally, they dared not increase their speed too much, as the sound of hooves would reveal their location.
But this earth-shattering drumming was a “divine assist”!
Cao Cao, Xiahou Yuan, and the five thousand Tiger and Leopard Cavalry had silently passed the most dangerous areas. They had specifically detoured, and their current route made it appear as if they were coming from the Yuan camp.
On the pitch-black ground, illuminated by faint torches, Yuan soldiers on the watchtowers spotted this group of cavalry. Due to the darkness, they could not discern their faces, but… they could still distinguish the armor and banners of this cavalry.
Furthermore, the direction from which they appeared was the road from the Yuan camp to Wu Chao.
Therefore…
Subconsciously, the Yuan soldiers on the watchtowers categorized this force as “reinforcements.” Of course… the proper procedures still had to be followed.
“Who is down there? We did not receive any orders to mobilize troops. Are you Cao Cao’s men?”
Upon hearing this…
The five thousand Tiger and Leopard Cavalry became a little flustered, but Cao Cao remained calm.
He composed himself and said placidly,
“The Cao bandit is launching a surprise attack on the main camp from the front. The Lord fears Cao Cao is using a feint, so he has dispatched us to Wu Chao to reinforce defenses!”
In this situation…
The words “Cao bandit” emanating from Cao Cao’s mouth were entirely natural!
“The password!”
The soldier on the watchtower lazily asked.
Cao Cao then loudly shouted the password – “Tonight, we hunt the tiger!”
That’s right, this was the password to pass… obtained from Xu You.
– Precisely accurate!
“It’s our own people, let them pass!”
Beneath the pitch-black sky, the Yuan guards could not see the uneasy expressions of those approaching, nor could they see the wooden sticks held in the mouths of these five thousand riders, nor the firewood on their backs! Da Feng novel network
Immediately, they sent a signal, indicating to the watchtowers behind them not to shoot arrows, as they were their own people!
Indeed…
Cao Cao was cunning and resourceful, and it was normal for the Lord to mobilize cavalry to strengthen defenses.
“Dada…”
The faint sound of hooves rang out. Cao Cao led the five thousand Tiger and Leopard Cavalry through the watchtowers outside the Wu Chao valley and arrived at Yuan Shao’s crucial grain storage.
However…
Upon entering the valley, what greeted them was not Yuan’s encampment, but… a stone formation.
“This is…”
Xiahou Yuan instinctively asked…
Cao Cao sighed, “I never expected that this Wu Chao valley would hold such a hidden wonder…”
What greeted them was a complex stone formation. There were eight entrances in total, each marked with a name, in order: Heaven Covering Formation, Earth Bearing Formation, Wind Raising Formation, Cloud Dropping Formation, Dragon Flying Formation, Tiger Wing Formation, Bird Soaring Formation, Snake Coiling Formation!
During his time at the Imperial Academy, Cao Cao’s instructor in formations was Duan Jiong, one of the Three Brightnesses of Liang Province!
When suppressing the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Cao Cao learned many new tactics from the god of war, Huangfu Song…
Upon seeing the names of these eight formations…
Cao Cao immediately realized that this was the "Eight Formations of Feng Hou."
If it were just an ordinary stone formation, it would be one thing, but… legend has it that the "Eight Formations of Feng Hou" was created by the Yellow Emperor and his great general "Feng Hou" to counter Chi You!
The key point is… even in ancient texts, this so-called "Eight Formations of Feng Hou" only appeared in legends. How to enter and exit each formation? Not to mention Cao Cao, even Duan Jiong and Huangfu Song did not know.
Hoo…
Cao Cao exhaled deeply.
He looked up at the sky, time was running out.
“Break through the formation!”
Cao Cao immediately commanded…
As the words fell, over a hundred Tiger and Leopard Cavalry were the first to charge in. They entered through the Dragon Flying Formation, but after only a short while, they fled in disarray.
The original hundred men suffered a fifty percent loss.
“Commander Cao, this stone formation contains a large number of mechanisms, much like… much like the legendary Mohist mechanical arts. My brothers… after only a few hundred paces, they were repeatedly obstructed and unable to proceed, so they had to retreat.”
What was the connection between “Mohist mechanical arts” and the Feng Hou Eight Formations of the Yan Huang period? Cao Cao was very curious, but… the immediate priority was crucial, and he didn’t have time to dwell on it.
“Continue to break the formation, enter all eight formations at once!” Cao Cao shouted coldly, his brow furrowed tightly, looking extremely anxious.
Time was pressing.
Every moment was extremely precious to him.
He had to find a way through these eight formations, even if… even if many people died, even if… blood flowed like a river, he had to carve out a path!
This attempt was do or die; time was running out for Cao Cao!
“Why are you still dawdling? Follow me…” Xiahou Yuan saw everyone hesitating and took the lead.
At such a moment, he had to be the first to charge forward!
“Dada…”
Because of Xiahou Yuan’s fearlessness, the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, who had been hesitant, now… charged forward resolutely.
Cao Cao’s mood also tightened… his heart was in his throat!
– “Are those the Dragon Xiao Cavalry?”
Just then, a voice rang out… followed closely by a handsome man in a black robe emerging from the Heaven Covering Formation.
This…
Seeing this man, Cao Cao immediately became vigilant.
Xiahou Yuan, however, recognized him at a glance, “Brother, his name is Guo Jia, courtesy name Feng Xiao. He is under Minister Lu and is an instructor at the Imperial Academy…”
Because Xiahou Yuan’s sons, Xiahou Heng and Xiahou Ba, were both studying at the Imperial Academy.
Therefore…
Xiahou Yuan was quite familiar with many of the instructors at the Imperial Academy.
Guo Jia was one of them…
Xiahou Yuan had specifically inquired, and this Guo Feng Xiao was the instructor most valued by Lu Yu at the Imperial Academy. He had even been granted unlimited privileges, especially concerning women.
“Brother… he…”
Xiahou Yuan still wanted to introduce him, but Cao Cao waved his hand and said to Guo Jia, “There are no Dragon Xiao Cavalry here, only Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, only I, Cao Cao!”
As these words left his mouth…
Guo Jia cupped his hands and said, “I originally thought the Dragon Xiao Camp would be carrying out this mission. I did not expect Commander Cao to come in person. I, Guo Feng Xiao, an instructor at the Imperial Academy, await here by order of Young Master Lu!”
This was a self-introduction.
Cao Cao eagerly asked, “The ‘Ten Victories and Ten Defeats Theory’ in the newspaper was written by you, wasn’t it?”
That’s right…
Cao Cao recalled the name “Guo Feng Xiao.” The “Ten Victories and Ten Defeats Theory” in the newspaper had left a deep impression on him. It was precisely because of this that Cao Cao shed all his defenses and immediately trusted Guo Feng Xiao.
“Indeed!” Guo Jia cupped his hands again. “Commander Cao, now is not the time to discuss the ‘Ten Victories and Ten Defeats Theory.’ Those were merely pre-war rallying cries. To truly decide the outcome of this battle, it still depends on Wu Chao, and it depends on Yuan’s two million bushels of grain!”
Hmm…
Cao Cao nodded.
Guo Jia’s words continued, “There is no one in the world who can set up this ‘Eight Formations of Feng Hou’ except my senior brother. And there is only one person in the world who can break this Eight Formations of Feng Hou?”
“Who?” Cao Cao asked urgently.
“Myself!” Guo Jia narrowed his eyes and turned around. “Commander Cao, please have your soldiers follow me closely. We will enter through the Tiger Wing Formation…”
This…
Cao Cao hesitated for a moment, then said cheerfully, “Good!”
He immediately ordered, “All soldiers, follow Mr. Guo’s footsteps closely!”
Instantly, figures moved within the stone formation!
…
…
Before the Yuan army lines.
“Swish, swish, swish…”
The arrows fired from the Yuan camp were still like a plague of locusts.
However… from Cao Xiu’s perspective, or rather, from Cao Xiu’s senses, the entire scene was quite healing. The thought that Yuan Shao’s tens of thousands of arrows had been shot in vain made him want to laugh inexplicably!
Xu Shu raised his eyes and looked at the sky.
“Alright, General Cao, it’s time for us to return.”
“Ah…”
Cao Xiu had clearly not had enough.
Xu Shu reminded him, “Young Master Lu still needs to set up an ambush before Guandu! If we delay further, it will be problematic…”
Oh…
Cao Xiu reluctantly glanced back at the sky filled with arrows.
He felt…
A sense of regret and pity in his departure!
“Mr. Xu, these… these tens of thousands of arrows, and these grain carts, are you really… not taking them?”
Cao Xiu felt a pang of heartache…
After all, crafting hundreds of thousands of arrows in the Cao camp would not be completed in ten days or half a month; it would take at least two months.
Now… so many arrows had turned the grain carts into hedgehogs. It was truly regrettable not to take them away!
“Hahaha…” Xu Shu smiled and patted Cao Xiu on the shoulder. “Let’s go. After today, all of this will be yours…”
With that said, the soldiers of the Long Xiao Cavalry withdrew.
The drumming sound from this side also gradually faded…
However, the booming cowhide drums of the Yuan camp still thundered mightily!
– “Release the arrows, release the arrows…”
This time, Yuan Shao himself arrived at the gate of the camp. He raised his banner and shouted repeatedly… “Release the arrows, release the arrows!”
Clearly, the corners of his mouth were turned up.
It seemed that “seeing through” Yin Lin’s strategy had excited him greatly.
…
…
“Dada…”
Charging through the Tiger Wing Formation, passing through the Snake Coiling Formation, and the Bird Soaring Formation, and the Dragon Flying Formation… they finally emerged from another exit.
The entire process took less than half a stick of incense.
Yuan An’s “Eight Formations of Feng Hou” was set up with extreme meticulousness, but… Guo Jia broke through it with effortless ease.
Clearly, in this exchange, the junior brother had the slight advantage!
Cao Cao and the five thousand Tiger and Leopard Cavalry exited the stone formation…
Now, the entire Wu Chao valley, with its countless granaries… Yuan’s encampment appeared before their eyes.
And unusually… Yuan’s encampment seemed to be undefended!
All the soldiers were dead drunk!
Seeing this scene, Cao Cao smiled, but… he did not rush to order an attack. Instead, he let the soldiers rest for a moment, relieve themselves. From now on, there would be no more respite. The battle between Cao and Yuan, which would decide the fate of the world, rested entirely on this!
Beside the bushes…
Several thousand soldiers urinated, a gentle pattering sound…
Cao Cao was among them. After relieving himself, he shook himself. It was evident that even while… peeing, he and the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry soldiers appeared very tense.
“Feng Xiao!”
Cao Cao did not forget to call Guo Jia to his side. “Your ‘Ten Victories and Ten Defeats Theory’ was written brilliantly, and you broke through the Feng Hou Eight Formations brilliantly as well. It is truly a waste for Minister Lu to assign you as a mere instructor at the Imperial Academy and a manager of the wine shop!”
“Hahaha…” Guo Jia laughed. “Minister Lu and I are sworn brothers. In the past, he told me… his grand dream was to build a Bronze Sparrow Platform and keep all the beauties of the world within it to indulge himself at will! This happens to be my ambition as well! Haha… To achieve this ambition, I will do whatever he asks me to do!”
“Who says that an instructor at the Imperial Academy, or a manager of a wine shop, cannot accomplish great deeds?”
Speaking of this, Guo Jia paused and continued, “Furthermore, there is a poem that Minister Lu mentioned that left a deep impression on me: ‘I wish to die between flowers and wine, rather than bow before carriages and horses. The dust of carriages and the feet of horses are the pleasure of the rich, while wine cups and flower branches are for the poor!’ I, Guo Jia, am an uninhibited and unrestrained person, and I fear that apart from Minister Lu’s subordinates, others would not tolerate me!”
“Hahaha… Feng Xiao, what you say is both right and wrong!” Hearing this, Cao Cao also laughed. “It is right that the uninhibited and unrestrained are indeed rarely tolerated by ‘lords.’ But it is wrong that, apart from Minister Lu, there is another person in this heavenly scorpion era… who can tolerate you!”
This… Guo Jia paused.
“Commander Cao must be referring to himself, right?”
Cao Cao nodded and patted Guo Jia on the shoulder. “Haha, indeed, talent always emerges from Minister Lu’s Imperial Academy!”
Speaking of this, Cao Cao turned his head.
He immediately called over all the soldiers.
“Brothers, gather around!” Cao Cao whispered his instructions.
The Tiger and Leopard Cavalry quickly closed in.
Cao Cao then jumped onto a large rock. Seeing that the soldiers were still somewhat tense, he let out a sigh and began the final mobilization.
“Brothers of the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, you have followed me ever since I, Cao Cao, took charge of Yan Province and became the Governor of Yan Province, and since I took Yin Lin as my strategist. For the past seven years, we have fought side by side, advancing and retreating, without a single night of peaceful sleep! Without a single day of peace in our hearts! But… it is not that we do not wish to sleep, it is not that we do not wish for peace. It is Dong Zhuo who does not allow us to sleep! It is Yuan Shu who does not allow us to sleep! It is Yuan Shao who does not allow us to sleep!”
“The Han Empire has thirteen provinces, so vast! And yet, we cannot find a place for the soldiers of the Cao camp to sleep peacefully? Cannot find a place of peace! Today, my dream, the dream I have always harbored, is to pacify the northern frontier and sweep across the land. I dream that my soldiers can all have a place to sleep peacefully, and that the families of my soldiers will no longer suffer the ravages of war! Now… such an opportunity is before us. How vast is the northern frontier? How rich is the northern frontier? How tranquil is the northern frontier? Such a territory? It should be the rear base for our brothers. How can we allow that young Yuan Shao to roam freely?”
The atmosphere had been sufficiently heated!
Cao Cao’s hand suddenly pointed towards Wu Chao.
His voice became even more resonant.
– “Brothers, Wu Chao ahead is Yuan Shao’s lifeline, it is the allegiance of the four northern provinces. Burning it… will bring immense merit!”
– Brothers! March towards our place of peaceful sleep, towards the peace and tranquility of our families, towards the merits recorded in history! This battle is bound to be won… bound to be won!”
– “Glory and wealth are at this moment, at this battle!”
Suddenly…
It was hard to imagine that at one moment Cao Cao was chatting casually with Guo Jia, and the next, he could utter such heroic words.
And these words were clearly very effective.
The tension in the five thousand soldiers vanished instantly. The trembling in their hearts transformed into a yearning of the soul.
In the eyes of everyone, without exception, shot out a green, covetous light!
They seemed to have, from the bottom of their hearts, generated some instinct for victory that surpassed limits!
“Brothers, mount your horses… charge!”
Xiahou Yuan was the first to respond…
The five thousand Tiger and Leopard Cavalry instantly whipped their mounts. Gleaming halberds shone brilliantly and dazzlingly under the moonlight!
“Dada…”
The sound of hooves rang out.
Almost instantly, there was no one left beside Guo Jia.
Hoo…
Guo Jia let out a breath, and he gave an awkward smile. He felt… Commander Cao might have overthought it. This battle… did not require any mobilization at all. The general stationed at Wu Chao, Chunyu Qiong, was already dead drunk, and the soldiers were toasting and feasting, with no semblance of defense.
Such a force, even if superior in number to the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry…
But this battle was lost before it was even fought. The Yuan army had already lost!
Without exaggeration, there was no need for Commander Cao’s mobilization. Even if a dog was appointed to command, this battle would be won “steadily as a dog!”
“Next…” Guo Jia murmured, “Next is the most crucial link in the plan of my sworn brother Lu Yu… How will Yuan Shao choose when faced with the raid on Wu Chao?”
“Heh heh, this is a ‘life-and-death’ multiple-choice question. I hope Yuan Shao can perform at his normal level and not overthink too much!”
As he spoke, Guo Jia’s eyes blinked repeatedly.
It seemed he could already sense the bloodshed that would occur tonight!
At this moment…
The Battle of Guandu was gradually entering its climax!
…
…