"Dong... dong..."
As armored soldiers fell to the ground one by one, Yang Xiu's heart pounded in his throat.
These were the elite guards who protected Yang Xiu personally, all from the Dragon Mighty Camp. They had grown stronger under Dian Wei's rigorous training. Their martial skills, while perhaps not the absolute best in the world, were certainly top-tier.
But even so, they had fallen so silently.
Without even a chance to retaliate?
Even more terrifying was the voice, the voice that came from his side saying, "Tong Yuan, killing!" It sent a shiver of dread from the depths of Yang Xiu's soul.
Suffocating... the air around them seemed to choke.
"Senior..."
Yang Xiu spoke, gasping for breath. "Although I don't know how I offended you, but... it's a bit unreasonable for a senior to kill my guards without cause, isn't it?"
Heh...
Hearing this, Tong Yuan let out a cold laugh. Suddenly, he reached out and lifted Yang Xiu up, as if an eagle snatching a chick.
Yang Xiu could feel the strength in his arm. Its power... perhaps only Dian Wei and Xu Chu could compare.
And those eyes, like they were steeped in ice, made Yang Xiu's heart instinctively chill.
He felt... that if the other party wished, with just a slight squeeze of his palm, his bones might be crushed!
"You are Yang Xiu?"
"Yes!" Yang Xiu dared not hide anything, fearing that if he made one wrong move, he too would become like the fallen guards, his soul tragically returning to the heavens on Yanmen Pass.
Tong Yuan nodded. "You must come with me!"
"Where to?"
Yang Xiu asked urgently...
But Tong Yuan remained silent. Holding his spear in one hand and Yang Xiu in the other, he was about to descend the city wall!
Just then...
The sound of footsteps, "tap-tap-tap," echoed.
It turned out that Yanmen, being a border region, had guards stationed every hundred paces on the city walls, and countless patrols on the ramparts.
When Yang Xiu's guards fell, those a hundred paces to either side clearly saw them. After sending a signal, they had immediately come to reinforce.
"Who are you? Release Governor Yang!"
The one shouting was Tian Yu...
In Yanmen, Yang Xiu was unanimously appointed Governor. He, Tian Yu, and Yan Rou were the undisputed strategists.
Though a strategist, Tian Yu was also skilled in martial arts. In the border regions, everyone valued martial prowess. Against a mere second-rate general from the Central Plains, Tian Yu might not necessarily be a match.
"Stop him! Save Governor Yang!"
Tian Yu called out, and instantly... more than a dozen guards beside him drew their sabers and charged.
The few seemed to have worked together frequently.
The actions of drawing and swinging their sabers were extremely coordinated. Over a dozen sabers targeted Tong Yuan, about to strike. However, just as they thought their sabers would cleave Tong Yuan's forehead, he flickered and vanished before everyone's eyes.
Yang Xiu felt as if something had been lifted from his chest...
Just as he was about to take a breath, he instinctively looked with surprise... because Tong Yuan had ghost-like moved behind those guards.
"Be careful..."
Yang Xiu cried out a warning.
But as his hoarse words escaped, Tong Yuan's spear had already swung out. A cold glint streaked across the silent air. On the necks of these more than a dozen guards, a light scratch appeared. It was very faint... but without exception, each man fell to the ground.
"Dong... dong..."
Apart from the sound of bodies hitting the ground, there was no other cry. The same fate, the same tragic end as before.
And at this moment... looking at the ground, blood began to pour from the necks of each person, flowing onto the city wall!
"Ah..."
This time, Yang Xiu gasped. Even more surprised was Tian Yu.
It was hard to imagine such speed, such spear technique...
Killing more than ten people in an instant, this level of martial skill... was it comparable to that of Changshan Zhao Zilong, who was skilled in spear techniques and had recently rushed to Xudu?
"You..."
Tian Yu subconsciously uttered a sound.
"One is missing!" Tong Yuan, still holding Yang Xiu, spoke again. He had noticed Tian Yu...
With a soft murmur, his gaze widened, as if looking at a dead man!
At this moment, Tian Yu's body began to tremble.
"I... I'll kill you!"
Tian Yu could judge that he was no match for this fellow, but he... he had his own trump card – throwing knives!
Yes, fighting against the barbarians in the borderlands required more than just a few skills!
And throwing knives were extremely useful...
Often in battle, long-range attacks were with bows and crossbows, and close-range with spears. But between these two ranges, there was a distance that was not too close, not too far... so Tian Yu invented the throwing knife technique!
Over the years of fighting against the barbarians, his throwing knife skills had saved his life more than once!
The borderlands were never a place that valued martial virtue.
"Die!"
With a "swish," the throwing knife was hurled from Tian Yu's hand. Three knives flew out. At such close range... a normal martial artist wouldn't be able to react!
However... Tong Yuan tilted his head to the side and miraculously dodged them.
He hadn't even let go of Yang Xiu, whom he was holding.
At a distance of five steps, while carrying someone's weight, he could still keenly dodge the throwing knives.
This... this was simply unbelievable!
Indeed, dodging arrows at a distance was not difficult, as one could quickly determine their trajectory and block them.
But throwing knives were different... throwing knives were too close!
With a long-handled weapon at such close range, it was extremely difficult to parry a throwing knife... one could only hard dodge!
But to dodge, it required heaven-defying observational skills, the ability to see the exact moment the opponent threw the knife and its direction, and moreover... it required extraordinary reaction speed and incredibly agile movements.
Not to mention carrying someone.
Experience... was even more crucial. Dodging too early would allow the opponent to change the throwing direction; dodging too late would result in being pierced by consecutive throwing knives. Each dodge had to be precise.
It sounded simple, but those who could truly dodge throwing knives from ten paces away were few and far between in this world!
Tong Yuan happened to be able to do it.
"A mere trifle!"
A soft murmur...
Tian Yu's heart turned cold...
"Swish, swish, swish..." Instinctively, he threw more throwing knives.
However, Tong Yuan dodged them with ease, like a ghostly shadow, drifting unpredictably left and right...
When the fifth throwing knife was thrown, Tong Yuan had already rushed close to Tian Yu. With one hand, he lifted Tian Yu up, then swung his left arm, pressing Tian Yu's back against the sharp point of his raised Flying Dragon Spear.
If Tong Yuan let go now, Tian Yu's entire body would be impaled!
"So weak?"
Tong Yuan shook his head slightly, uttering a dismissive remark. Just as he was about to take Tian Yu's life...
Yang Xiu spoke, "Senior is right, this is just a weakling. What meaning is there even if Senior kills him? If you have the ability... if you have the ability, Senior should fight General 'Shadow'! Senior should fight General Qu Yi, General Gongsun, General Zhang Yan!"
The "Shadow" General Yang Xiu spoke of was none other than Lu Bu. Ever since he had changed his name and presented himself as "Shadow"!
Lu Bu was affectionately called "General Shadow" by the border militiamen!
This word "Shadow" did fit rather well with the mask he usually wore.
Of course...
Having arrived at Yanmen, it was impossible for Tong Yuan to have not heard of "General Shadow"...
And also of Qu Yi, Gongsun Zan, and Zhang Yan!
Coincidentally, Tong Yuan valued martial arts. Yang Xiu's words indeed ignited a spark of interest in him.
Just then...
The sound of footsteps, "tap-tap... tap-tap...," approached again.
This time, it wasn't a dozen people, but hundreds, even thousands...
Hearing this.
"Heh..." Tong Yuan let out a cold laugh. He faced Tian Yu. "Don't say I'm bullying you. I'll spare your life to take to that 'General Shadow.' Three days later, at the foot of Niutou Mountain, have the four of them come together!"
Whoa...
What audacious words!
—Lu Bu, Qu Yi, Zhang Yan, Gongsun Zan...
Any one of them was a renowned figure, and the four of them together were considered the "Four Great Vajras" by the tens of thousands of armored soldiers in Bingzhou and Yanmen today!
To have the four of them come together...
This...
Yang Xiu's pupils widened. He didn't have time to think.
"Dare to move rashly, and you will die!"
His words, still icy cold, revealed that Tong Yuan, at some unknown time, had produced a rope. He wrapped the rope around his wrist, and then... he turned and jumped off the city wall!
Tian Yu, who had been roughly thrown to the ground earlier, quickly clung to the city wall and looked down. He saw Tong Yuan, carrying Yang Xiu, making his way down the "straight drop" of the city wall as if he were walking on flat ground, pulled by the rope.
Soon...
They disappeared into the bushes below the city!
Initially, there were still figures moving in the bushes, but then... there wasn't even a trace of them!
Gone... just like that, they vanished?
This...
At this moment, only four words were etched onto Tian Yu's brow: "Terrifying, truly terrifying."
Who on earth was this person?
Under whose orders was he acting?
Why did he abduct Governor Yang?
Wait... he seemed to have mentioned, three days later... at the foot of Niutou Mountain. Did that mean... he wanted General Shadow, General Gongsun, General Qu Yi, and General Zhang Yan to go together?
Was he... that confident?
This... this...
As he thought of this, the footsteps behind him grew louder.
—"What happened?"
A deep voice sounded. It turned out to be General "Shadow" himself, holding his Fangtian Huaji, arriving on the scene...
However, in the end, he was a step too late.
Governor Yang Xiu had already been abducted from Yanmen Pass... easily abducted like an eagle snatching a chick!
...
...
Xudu City, Chongde Hall.
All the court officials were still bewildered, yet their eyes were filled with curiosity.
After all, the topic Cao Cao had brought up concerned the current situation and was too sensitive.
Why, because of Yinlin, could Cao Cao, six years ago, have predicted this decisive battle for the fate of the world between Cao and Yuan?
What had Cao Cao been thinking all these years?
As everyone was lost in thought...
Finally, Cao Cao's voice resounded.
"What has Yuan Shao done all these years? You all know better than I do. He pacified the four northern prefectures... becoming a formidable warlord! What did he rely on to achieve this? Was it the support of the Ru’ying gentry? No, he relied on the talented individuals of Jizhou, and on the reputation of the four generations and three ministers, he recruited scholars like Ju Shou and Tian Feng, thereby achieving his current status of having hundreds of thousands of troops!"
"And what have I, Cao Cao, relied on to reach this point? I have no support from the four generations and three ministers gentry. My grandfather was a eunuch. My father was far inferior to Yuan Shao's father. But... I have the assistance of Yinlin! This Yinlin, who can bring peace to the world, why did he choose me, Cao Cao? Instead of the more powerful Yuan Shao? Why is that?"
Cao Cao shouted loudly...
The hall was silent. All the court officials looked at each other, question marks appearing on their brows!
Yes...
Yinlin? Why did he take a liking to Cao Cao?
Regardless of background, appearance, or strength, it shouldn't have been Cao Cao's turn!
But... no one in the hall dared to question Yinlin's judgment!
Just as he thought this...
Cao Cao's voice followed. "Because... because the biggest difference between me, Cao Cao, and Yuan Shao is that once I use someone, I trust them without reservation! I give them absolute trust!"
"Everyone, think about it. I, Cao Cao, am in Xudu City, yet I dare to hand over the hundred thousand troops at Guandu to Lu Yu! This is tantamount to handing my life and fortune to Lu Yu! Trust, this is what a ruler should possess in confidence and trust!"
"But will Yuan Shao do that? Tian Feng, who spoke frankly and advised him, was thrown into prison. Qu Yi, with merely thirty thousand troops, was already viewed with suspicion by Yuan Benchu. As for Ju Shou, heh... this foremost strategist in Yuan's camp was dismissed from his military command for offering advice! Yuan Shao... I, your elder brother Yuan Shao, only ever trust myself! Because of this, even if Yinlin were given ten more chances to choose, he would still choose me, Cao Cao, not Yuan Shao Yuan Benchu! It is precisely because Yinlin assisted Cao and not Yuan that six years ago, I predicted that I, Cao Mengde, would be the one to contend for the world with Yuan Benchu in the future!"
Cao Cao paused here, as if... he had a lot to express today!
He wanted to pour out everything he had thought, considered, and worried about over the years, as well as the ambition and aspirations hidden deep within his heart!
"Everyone, Yinlin followed me after I settled in Yanzhou. At that time, I, Cao Cao, had only a few thousand men, but Yinlin strategized and helped me fight the thirty thousand Yellow Turban Army to a bitter defeat... and even took in a million Yellow Turbans! When my provisions were scarce, it was Yinlin who advised me to distribute unclaimed wasteland to farmers and commoners, and to develop military and civilian colonies... solving the logistical supply and worries!"
"At that time, Yuan Shao, with the help of Ju Shou and Tian Feng, had an army of over three hundred thousand and had secured Jizhou! I thought, with Yinlin's assistance, I, Cao Cao, might need two hundred thousand men to defeat him!"
"Afterward, Yinlin suggested that I welcome the Emperor and act on the Emperor's behalf to punish the disloyal. I followed his advice, and only then did I destroy Lu Bu, execute Yuan Shu, and conquer Jiangdong... aiming for the Central Plains! To gather talented individuals from across the land to support the Han Dynasty and punish traitors... At this time, Yuan Shao had five hundred thousand troops, but I thought... if I were to defeat him now, even with Yinlin's help, I would need a hundred thousand men!"
"Currently, Yuan Shao has marched south with five hundred and fifty thousand troops. Coupled with the troops he has stationed in Bingzhou and the forces left in Jizhou, Youzhou, and Qingzhou, he must have at least seven hundred thousand men! He alone occupies four of the empire's prefectures, all of which have the largest populations. Thus, his prestige is immense, isn't it? But now I think, with Yinlin's arrangements, if I were to defeat Yuan Shao, I wouldn't need so many people at all! Just Yinlin alone, the Dragon Mighty Camp alone, and the armored soldiers currently stationed at Guandu would be enough!"
Cao Cao's voice grew louder and louder, his words echoing...
They were deafening!
Xun Yu asked at the opportune moment, "Why? Yuan Shao's soldiers are increasing, while Commander Cao's are decreasing, yet Commander Cao's confidence is growing?"
"Because..." Cao Cao looked at Xun Yu, waiting for him to ask this question. "Because quantity of soldiers does not matter, it's their quality. Great generals are not just brave, they are strategic! If we were to compare the number of soldiers, I could never match Yuan Shao. But if we were to compare in using people, in magnanimity and strategy, even three Yuan Benchus tied together couldn't match one Cao Cao!"
Having said this...
Cao Cao raised his hand.
"Zixiao, report the troops mobilized from various prefectures to Xudu to His Majesty and the ministers!"
"Yes!" Upon hearing this... Cao Ren stepped forward, taking a bamboo slip from his embrace. "Half a month ago, the Lord mobilized a total of two hundred and fifty thousand troops from Yanzhou, Yuzhou, Xuzhou, Lujiang, and Henan into Xudu! Among them were one hundred thousand cavalry, thirty thousand spearmen, twenty thousand heavy armored soldiers, and the rest were archers! They have all reached Xudu and are camped at the foot of Mount Rang, south of Xudu City!"
Two hundred and fifty thousand...
What two hundred and fifty thousand? Cao Cao didn't have that many men!
Cao Ren was bragging without restraint, yet... his words were spoken with such conviction that they gave a very real impression.
Of course, although two hundred and fifty thousand was not the case, mobilizing a hundred thousand troops into Xudu...
This was still possible...
Cao Cao had a special use for them!
"Your Majesty, all ministers, listen carefully. Yuan Shao has been defeated in three battles and suffered heavy losses. His remaining troops are less than four hundred thousand, aren't they? But as the situation changes, it is different for me, Cao Cao. My current troops are now on par with his. And at the front line alone, we have one hundred thousand armored soldiers commanded by Minister Lu. They are the sword hilt and the spearhead of me, Cao Cao!"
"Under Minister Lu's strategy, led by the Dragon Mighty Camp, and with the charge of one hundred thousand armored soldiers, they can pierce through Yuan Shao's three armies in one blow! Everyone might ask, then... what about these two hundred and fifty thousand troops in Xudu City? What will they do?"
"I tell you, these two hundred and fifty thousand troops have only one mission: after this 'decisive battle between Cao and Yuan' on the banks of the Yellow River, when Yuan's army collapses, let them pursue and slaughter without restraint! Until the Yuan army is completely annihilated!"
Cao Cao paused again...
Speaking continuously, his voice became somewhat hoarse, but... his spirit was incredibly exhilarated!
"Hahaha... the war has reached this point, in reality... there is only one battle left! That is the next battle, the Battle of Guandu! If we win this battle, then Yuan Shao will be defeated like a collapsing mountain, the rebels will be eliminated, and the world will return to Your Majesty's hands!"
"If we lose, then I, Cao Cao, will surely lose my home and be unable to find a place to bury myself, but what about the Han court? Yuan Shao does not want to be a powerful minister; he wants to be the Son of Heaven! A person who wants to be the Son of Heaven, can he tolerate another Son of Heaven?"
Boom...
These words, upon leaving his mouth, were like five thunderbolts striking the assembled monarch and ministers, a moment of enlightenment!
Yuan Shao's intentions were not difficult to guess...
The Great Han had always developed and revolved through the power struggles between powerful ministers, eunuchs, and the Son of Heaven...
What was the most Yuan Shao could achieve?
At most, he would be like Dou Wu, Chen Fan, or He Jin, powerful ministers. But in the course of history... the fates of these powerful ministers were not good!
Cao Cao's words undoubtedly struck the heart of Emperor Liu Xie and all the Han ministers!
It hurt, it was a piercing pain!
And Cao Cao's words continued.
—"Therefore... all ministers, gather your spirits and open your eyes to see clearly!"
—"In the use of people, who do I, Cao Cao, use? Who does Yuan Shao use? My Cao camp has achieved consecutive great victories, while Yuan Shao is routed... Hahahaha, the offensive and defensive positions have shifted! The strong and weak have shifted!"
—"Are you going to hesitate, or support the court and justice! Everyone, do not let fleeting clouds obscure your vision, seeing a leaf but not Mount Tai!"
...
...