Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3664 The day Zhongda's thunderous roar shattered the wall, the day the ruthless hero drank poison and severed his own arm.

"Sima Zhongda...what swift hands and feet!"

Cao Cao's voice was terrifyingly low. His gaze swept over the generals under his command, finally settling on Xun Yu's deeply worried face.

For some reason, Cao Cao seemed to think that the "Sima" was born to restrain the Cao and Xiahou clans.
No sooner had Runan been rewarded by Cao Cao to celebrate Cao Yi's victory on the flank than Sima Yi pounced on him and slapped him across the face!

Cao Cao ordered Cao Yi to hold the fortified position, guard the flanks, and prevent a sneak attack, but how long had it been since the order was issued?
So what did Cao Yi do?

If he had done as required, how could he have been so easily defeated by Sima Yi again?

If he didn't do that, then what was he doing?
Normally, it's understandable that a few hundred or a thousand cavalrymen might not be detected during troop movements. But now there are tens of thousands of troops, plus auxiliary soldiers. How could they not know?

At this thought, Cao Cao suddenly paused.

Having spent so much time in Shandong, Cao Cao almost forgot about one thing...

The Flying Cavalry had almost no auxiliary troops! Even the Qiang cavalry were regular soldiers!

Or perhaps those auxiliary soldiers were actually craftsmen, making up a very small percentage of the army.

The reason for this is that Taishi Ci's cavalry swept through Ji Province back then, and now Wei Yan is causing trouble again...

If the cavalry were to infiltrate in small units and then regroup, it would be like Wei Yan breaking through the Taihang Mountains!
If Sima Yi really used a small-unit infiltration and surprise attack tactic, Cao Yi might not be able to withstand it!
Cao Cao felt a throbbing pain in his forehead.

Therefore, we cannot blame Cao Yi entirely.

After all, even with so many troops under Yuan Shao, they couldn't stop him back then, and they couldn't even keep the elite cavalry.

but……

Even if we can't hold it, we have to hold it!

Cao Cao knew that Cao Yi was exaggerating his military achievements and distorting the truth, but as long as Cao Yi could hold the flank, the exaggeration would become the truth, and the distortion would continue...

In the Central Plains region of Shandong, there is a saying: "In extraordinary times, extraordinary measures must be taken!"
As long as it succeeds and the result is correct, then the "extraordinary" aspects of the process can be considered "normal".

At worst, just apologize, make a statement, and say you'll be more careful next time.

But right at this critical juncture, Runan's flank was breached yet again!

Now, the news of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" was placed on Cao Cao's desk, alongside the "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" from Wen County...

Is the crisis on the flank of Runan really that the Flying Cavalry is heading south, intending to first break through Jingzhou and then seize Xuchang?
Could it be like the bait Cao Cao dropped in Wen County?
Could Sima Yi's advance be merely a ploy to lure Cao Cao south?

Cao Cao was extremely troubled by the information suppression from the Flying Cavalry.

He understood that Fei Qian's target was him, just as Fei Qian knew that Cao Cao was eyeing him.

All we can do is to invade, deplete, and destroy the opponent's advantage as much as possible before the final battle, and ultimately achieve victory for ourselves.

If the Han Dynasty had chili peppers, Cao Cao would really like a bowl of spicy pigeon pancakes right now.

Cao Cao felt a metallic taste rise to his throat, and his vision blurred. He forced himself to remain composed, but his face turned ashen, and the veins on his hands bulged as he gripped the table, his knuckles turning white.

Cheng Yu!

Wen County!

That chaotic and irresponsible military report!

At this moment, in Cao Cao's eyes, it was no longer a document requesting help, but the culprit that caused his delayed judgment and put him in a passive position!

It was Cheng Yu's incompetence and loss of control that caused him to miss the opportunity to issue a warning!

Although Cao Cao knew that Wen County and Nanyang were in the north and south respectively, and that the forces of the General of the Cavalry fishing and Sima Yi breaking through the pass were completely different and could not possibly be related, Cao Cao still favored his own clan members, partly to save face.

Faced with the dilemma of whether to protect Cheng Yu or Cao Yi, Cao Cao would side with Cao Yi, both morally and logically.

Cheng Yu was the commander of an army and a region, wielding immense military and political power. Meanwhile, Cao Xi had Xiahou Xian and Xun Yun by his side. Therefore, if Cao Xi were to be dealt with, should Xiahou Xian also be punished? Should Xun Yun also be punished?
This huge bunch of radishes...

"Excellent! Well done, General of the Cavalry! Excellent, Cheng Zhongde!"

Cao Cao's voice was as cold as ice from the deepest hell. His gaze swept over the blood-stained silk cloth from Wen County, and the last trace of hesitation in his eyes completely disappeared, leaving only a bone-chilling coldness.

"Send word to Cheng Zhongde!"

Cao Cao's voice was resolute.

"Wen County is of paramount importance! It is the crucial wedge driven into Hanoi! As its commander, you must defend it to the death! Without orders, you are not to retreat even a single step! If the city falls… you will bring your head to me! As for rumors and spies… anyone who undermines morale or acts suspiciously… kill! None! Pardon!"

The four words, "Bring me your head," echoed like a death knell in the silent night sky.

This was no longer an order, but a suspended death sentence for Cheng Yu.

Either hold onto this doomed, dead city until the very last moment, where there is still a sliver of hope for survival!
Either he takes his head and pays the price for this defeat!
The tent was deathly silent.

Xun Yu closed his eyes; he understood the meaning behind Cao Cao's order...

Cao Cao's order extinguished Cheng Yu's last shred of hope.

Cheng Yu might just want to "catch his breath," to readjust things, or perhaps he's more used to working behind the scenes as a planner and facilitator...

Some people are just like that.

If they are left to plan from the rear, they will come up with all sorts of ingenious ideas, and even some brilliant ones. But once these people are on the front lines and making decisions on the spot, they may fall into indecisiveness, feeling that anything is possible, nothing can be given up, everything will have problems, and everything will seem incredibly difficult.

Yuan Shao did the same thing back then, and Cheng Yu seems to have made the same mistake.

But now, Cao Cao has made his stance clear.

At the same time, Cao Cao's choice was not wrong in terms of grand strategy.

Ji Province could be lost, and it was even planned long ago to abandon it, inflicting heavy casualties on the gentry of Ji Province. Cao Cao had already approved an arrest list, most of which were associated with the gentry of Ji Province. As soon as the gentry of Ji Province began to bow down to the General of Chariots and Cavalry, Cao Cao would immediately take action, arresting a wave to enrich himself, which was also a "reserve" for the final battle.

But the southern gateway to Xu County cannot be lost!

The line between Yingyang and Yingyin is Yingchuan's last line of defense; it absolutely cannot be breached!

The messenger sent to Cheng Yu hurried off, and Cao Cao felt as if a burden had been lifted from his shoulders. His mind was now preoccupied with Sima Yi's surprise attack on the Yique line, the thunderous sound of the breach of Junbao, and the enormous trap deduced by Xun Yu!

If the General of the Flying Cavalry really wanted to cross Wuguan Pass, kill Cao Ren, and occupy Jingzhou and Xiangyang, that would be a real problem!
Although the actions of the Flying Cavalry were also troublesome, Cao Cao had a bigger headache!
The trouble for the cavalry was simply the difficult mountain roads. Whether they went through Wuguan, Yiqueguan, or Taiguguan, they all took mountain roads that were winding, undulating, and unpredictable. These were all long supply lines that were easy to infiltrate but difficult to defend.

Cao Cao's previous dispatch of small detachments to operate in these passes and mountain roads was not actually intended to infiltrate the He-Luo region and strike Fei Qian's supply lines, but rather to demonstrate a threat and force Fei Qian to be more inclined to choose the northern route, that is, the direction north of the Yellow River...

But to everyone's surprise, Sima Yi was actually quite 'brave'?
Sima... Zhongda...

Cao Cao gritted his teeth.

He had never hated anyone so much.

Even Yuan Shao and Chen Lin, or Zhang Miao and Bian Rang in the past, were like ripples in his heart, dissipating as soon as they were gone. Even Fei Qian in the present was more of a rival in Cao Cao's mind than a respected hero. But there was only one different Sima Yi...

Previously, Xiahou Yuan's defeat in Hedong was tantamount to directly undermining most of Cao Cao's strategy for Hedong. Now, with the capture of Junbao for the second time, it looks like Cao Cao's flank along the Jingxiang-Runan line is about to be threatened again...

Why are there so many capable men under the General of the Cavalry?!
Especially when compared to Cheng Yu and Cao Yi...

Cao Cao was filled with frustration and didn't know where to vent it!
Cao Cao's base of operations was all on the southern front!

Moreover, there is an even more serious problem: if Sima Yi really gets involved in Jingzhou and Xiangyang, then the hidden dangers that originally belonged to Cao Cao's territory of Yingchuan in Yuzhou might also be exposed!

Cao Cao took another sip of Henan-style spicy soup, his gaze sweeping over the figures of everyone inside the central command tent.

A deep sense of weariness washed over Cao Cao.

The Emperor!

The gentry! The Taishan Army!
Qingzhou soldiers!
People from Jingzhou have surrendered!

And so on...

Their differing interests intertwined, twisting and coiling around him, like a venomous snake lurking beneath his desk and in his mind, hissing constantly.

The increasingly silent Liu Xie in the palace hall, with his seemingly submissive but actually resentful eyes, seemed to be coldly watching him from hundreds of miles away.

Any major defeat, any wavering of authority, could become an opportunity for those old officials who still cherish the Han dynasty, and even some of Cao Cao's ministers, to support the emperor and launch an uprising!

Xu County has never been a monolithic entity!
And the gentry...

As for Ji Province, although Yuan Shao is dead, his vast aristocratic base and latent resentment have never dissipated. Those outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant powerful figures are probably holding their breath, waiting to see Cao Cao make a fool of himself, waiting for the General of the Cavalry to cut even deeper so they can jump out and "accept fate" to stab him in the back!

And Yingchuan in Yuzhou...

Cao Cao's gaze lingered on Xun Yu for a moment before turning to the distance.

There are also the Qingzhou soldiers he now commands, and the unruly Taishan army...

Nominally subjects, but in reality separatists, they obey proclamations but not orders, and hold considerable military power. They can be kept in check in normal times, but if the heartland of Yuzhou is in danger, their loyalty will likely be thinner than silk!
If troops are dispatched at that time, they will most likely be loyal ministers who appear to be there to protect the king, but in reality, they will be greedy wolves who want to take advantage of the chaos!
Of course, due to the inefficiency of the Han Dynasty's information system and the fact that Cao Cao's main attention was focused on the Guanzhong region, Cao Cao was unaware that the Taishan Army had already begun to take advantage of the chaos...

And there were also Qingzhou soldiers...

Why did Cao Cao personally lead the Qingzhou troops?

Part of the reason is that these Qingzhou soldiers are undisciplined, only recognize the Cao family and gold and silver rewards, and scorn the laws of the court. They are like ferocious beasts in a cage. If they are not strictly guarded, they will not care whether the flesh they bite off belongs to the Jizhou gentry or the Yuzhou gentry!

Another reason is that Cao Cao and the Qingzhou soldiers were actually 'abandoned'...

Thief, eunuch.

They are a match made in heaven.

It was precisely for these reasons that Cao Cao could not trust anyone else to command the Qingzhou troops without his supervision.

Another potential problem is the gentry from Jingzhou who have submitted to us…

Cai Mao and Kuai Yue wore smiles on their faces, but their eyes concealed aloofness.

Cao Cao himself understood that the surrender of these Jingzhou gentry was mostly due to circumstances rather than genuine admiration.

Cao Cao was powerful, so the Cao family was their temporary safe haven. But once this haven cracked, these sophisticated egoists would not hesitate to seek the next patron, the next safe haven, or even turn against the Cao family and set fire to them!

"call……"

Cao Cao exhaled a long, silent breath, as if trying to squeeze out the pent-up frustration and pressure churning in his chest.

The tent was deathly silent, but everyone could feel the heavy, suffocating pressure emanating from him. It was not just the feeling of military defeat, but the deep-seated weariness and isolation of the founder of a vast empire when his foundation was shaken.

Cao Cao looked at Xun Yu again, his expression extremely complex.

This was his most trusted strategist and advisor, but Xun Yu was also the leader of the Yingchuan gentry!

Is there still enough loyalty at this moment?
When a vulnerability appears on the flank, can he still stand firmly on Xun Yu's side as he did last time? All these questions made Cao Cao's gaze towards Xun Yu reveal not only the apparent trust on the surface, but also an unspeakable scrutiny and suspicion.

Xun Yu was incredibly perceptive and immediately caught the fleeting coldness in Cao Cao's eyes.

He felt a chill run down his spine, but his face remained calm and composed; he simply straightened his back even more.

"My lord," Xun Yu's voice broke the silence, carrying a resolute determination, "the danger at Runan is imminent! However, our main force must not be moved rashly, lest the main force of the Flying Cavalry take advantage of the situation. I have three strategies that may alleviate this urgent crisis and deter both internal and external threats!"

Cao Cao nodded slightly. "Wenruo, please speak."

"Of paramount importance, speed is of the essence in war!"

Xun Yu quickened his pace, "General Lü, please immediately rush to the aid of Taigu. The speed must be lightning-fast. The goal is not to annihilate the enemy, but to entangle Sima Yi and delay his advance, buying time for Cao Zicheng to cut off the fortified positions! At the same time, Your Excellency must personally write an order and send it by express courier to Jingzhou and Xiangyang, instructing the prefects and surrounding villages to strictly enforce the defense! Anyone who abandons the city will have their entire family executed! Those who defend the city will be ennobled and granted land! This order must be widely publicized and circulated throughout the land!"

Cao Cao glanced at Lü Qian and began to make plans in his mind.

Xun Yu's point was exactly what Cao Cao was worried about.

Xun Yu's strategy aimed to stabilize the front lines with swift and decisive measures, and to deter local officials and powerful figures who were hesitant to cooperate with the system of rewards and punishments, so that they would not dare to open their doors to thieves.

Just like corrupt officials in feudal dynasties, being imprisoned for ten or twenty years, or even being beheaded and skinned, was not a big deal. But if it involved the extermination of nine generations of their family...

Then you'll have to think about it carefully.

"Secondly," Xun Yu's eyes flashed with a cold light, "immediately dispatch elite troops to infiltrate the border areas of Ji Province and the lands of Qing and Xu! Closely monitor the movements of local powerful clans and the Taishan Army! Anyone found conspiring, spreading rumors, or colluding with foreign enemies, regardless of their identity, will be executed without mercy! Their heads will be displayed at the city gates, and their property confiscated! Better to kill the innocent than show leniency!"

This policy is practically a blatant form of white terror.

Suppress any potential internal rebellions using the bloodiest methods, especially in Ji Province and Qing and Xu Provinces, to stop the chaos with killings and to serve as a warning to others.

This strategy obviously has huge side effects and aftereffects, and may even trigger more serious riots. However, at present, it is indeed a necessary and drastic measure to temporarily suppress the unrest caused by the problems on the North and South fronts!
Now that there are problems on both flanks, if something else goes wrong from the rear, then we're all doomed!
So even though Xun Yu knew in his heart that this would bring a lot of trouble later, and might even lead to many wrongful convictions, he couldn't care less about those things...

Like poisoned wine.

Thirdly…

Xun Yu looked at Cao Cao, his voice softening, yet each word carrying immense weight: "I request that Your Excellency... immediately move the camp! Leave Suanzao and station yourself in Xu County, a key town near the capital! Firstly, being closer to the central government will allow for better control of the court and suppression of any potential troublemakers among the emperor's close advisors; secondly, if any unrest occurs in Runan or Jingzhou, we can provide swift support! Furthermore..."

Xun Yu didn't finish speaking, but Cao Cao already understood what Xun Yu meant.

This strategy is the most crucial, and also the most dangerous.

Moving the capital to Xu County, near the capital, was both a way to strengthen control over the emperor and the court, and also a way to avoid danger.

When Cao Cao's army was approaching, both the emperor and the opposition in Yingchuan would instinctively fall silent. This would temporarily ensure the "unity" of Yingchuan and Yuzhou at this stage, allowing Cao Cao to continue to "represent" the Han Dynasty and the gentry and people of Yingchuan and Yuzhou.

Unless someone is truly looking to die, they won't keep arguing when knives and guns are pointed at their face...

At the same time, Xun Yu also demonstrated the Xun family's firm determination to stand on Cao Cao's side through this strategy!

Xu County, a major town near the capital, is naturally located in Yingchuan!
The tent fell silent once more.

Xun Yu's three strategies were all incisive, especially the second and third strategies, which pushed the handling of Cao Cao's internal conflicts to the extreme!

Use the most brutal suppression to buy a temporary respite!
Cao Cao remained silent, his fingers unconsciously tapping the table again, the 'tap-tap' sound echoing like a death knell in the quiet tent.

His gaze swept back and forth across the map, the generals, Xun Yu, and the military reports.

Everyone was waiting for Cao Cao's final decision.

A moment later, the knocking stopped abruptly.

"allow!"

Cao Cao's voice was resolute, carrying a desperate madness and icy clarity: "Follow Wenruo's plan! Issue the order! Gather the central Tiger Guards and immediately break camp! Move to... Yingyin!"

Cao Cao's gaze finally swept over the military fortress reported by Cao Yi. "As for Cao Zicheng… give him the order! The entire Cao family fought valiantly… I hope he… will act accordingly!"

The simple phrase "take care of yourself" contains multiple layers of meaning.

Cao Cao could overlook Cao Yi's "petty actions" and temporarily tolerate his greed, but he would not allow Cao Yi to back down, be cowardly, or even affect the overall situation at this time!

Although this rat tail juice was delivered in a more subtle way than the order to Cheng Yu in Wen County, it was no less cold-blooded!
If one survives a near-death experience, then all previous transgressions will be wiped clean, and there may even be rewards!
If you're still hesitant and afraid of death, then this bowl of rat juice is nothing more than medicine for your journey to the underworld...

Military orders are absolute and must be conveyed swiftly.

Cao Cao's central camp instantly sprang into action, filled with a chilling atmosphere and a sense of urgency to escape. Soldiers and officers shouted and rushed about, various supplies were packed and organized, and the vanguard began to set off one after another.

Cao Cao himself, surrounded by Dian Wei and his guards, mounted his horse, but did not leave immediately. Instead, he turned his horse around, glanced at the direction of Wen County in the north, then at Runan in the southeast, and finally set his gaze on the deep night in the direction of Guanzhong. For a long, long time...