Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3684 Night Fire Deceives the Heart, Burns Away Old Stratagems; Blood Soaks the Ruined Fortress, and New Banners Are Replaced
When Cao Yi personally led a crack assault force, along the rugged and secluded mountain path, and silently reached the foot of Feihu Fort under the cover of night, he couldn't help but feel smug.

Indeed, Cao Yi believed that he had truly "deceived" Sima Yi.

In reality, it was his own scouts who deceived Cao Yi himself...

Of course, part of this was Cao Yi's willingness to "deceive" himself.

He wanted to hear these things, so he was willing to believe them.

A few days ago, he was severely reprimanded by Cao Cao's men, which made him lose face.

Thus, this abandoned military fortress, Flying Fox Fortress, naturally became Cao Yi's "heartache".

Now that they "learned" that Sima Yi had indeed been distracted by the feigned attack at Guiku Pass, they subconsciously ignored the fact that the so-called "normal" news constantly being reported by his scouts was itself abnormal!

Looking at the abandoned fortress not far away, and seeing how its walls had collapsed during repeated battles, and the desolate surroundings, Cao Yi suddenly felt that he was really smart. Now, all he needed to do was quickly occupy this place, rebuild the defenses, and not let his guard down, and he could block the cavalry's southward advance!

It can also salvage the points lost in Cao Cao's eyes!

"Charge! Quickly capture the fortress walls!"

Cao Yi gave the order in a low voice, completely unaware that the deathly silence indicated something was wrong.

Under orders, Cao's soldiers began to climb the broken walls and ruins one after another.

Just as they were about to climb atop these crumbling fortress walls—

"Strong wind!"

A cold command shattered the silence!

In an instant, rows of cavalry archers stood up in unison behind the seemingly empty battlements of Flying Fox Fortress!

Even in the dim light, the cold arrows and crossbow bolts still gleamed with a deadly chill!
The torches were thrown down, followed by a barrage of arrows and crossbow bolts, like a violent storm!

*Whoosh whoosh whoosh—!*

A barrage of crossbow bolts rained down!

Caught off guard, Cao Jun's assault team was thrown into chaos, with screams echoing across the field.

The Cao army soldiers at the forefront were instantly riddled with arrows and rolled off the wall.

At the same time, tricolor battle flags were raised on the mountain roads and ridges, and cavalrymen emerged from their hiding places, shouting and preparing to cut off Cao Cao's army's rear!

"We've fallen for their trap! Retreat! Retreat now!"

Cao Yi's face turned deathly pale, his liver and gallbladder felt like they were about to burst, and he roared hoarsely.

He never expected that Sima Yi would not only see through his plan, but also lay a trap for Feihu Fortress in advance!

This is hardly a merit that can be obtained easily.
It's clearly a trap with its jaws wide open!

Cao's army retreated in disarray along the route they had come from.

However, their escape route has also been cut off!

How could Sima Yi allow Cao Cao's army to retreat so easily? He had already sent men to occupy the high ground on both sides of the valley, and arrows poured down from the top of the mountain. Cao Cao's army, crowded together on the mountain path, became perfect targets.

Cao Yi charged left and right, his personal guards falling one by one, their blood staining his battle robe.

Protect the general!

The guards desperately parried the incoming arrows, their voices filled with despair.

Just as Cao Yi was about to be cut off from his way back, either shot to death, crushed into a pulp by rolling stones, or become a prisoner of the Flying Cavalry, a deafening battle cry suddenly rang out from outside the valley!
A force of Cao Cao's troops suddenly appeared and launched a fierce attack on the encirclement of the Flying Cavalry from the outside!

The leading veteran general, whose armor still bore traces of undried blood and whose arm was bandaged, was none other than Han Hao, a long-serving general under Cao Cao!

"My men, follow me and charge in to rescue General Cao!"

With his hair and beard bristling, Han Hao roared and, disregarding his unhealed injuries, brandished his long sword, charging ahead of the cavalry into the line of attack that was trying to cut off Cao Cao's retreat!

The besieged Cao army also saw hope and launched a frantic advance, opening a breach from both inside and outside.

Even a cornered dog will jump over a wall; the fighting power that Cao Cao's army unleashed when they saw a chance to break through should not be underestimated.

Han Hao's sudden appearance was unexpected by Sima Yi.

This fresh force launched a fierce attack from the outside, and with Cao Yi and his men fighting desperately for survival, they quickly tore a gap in the encirclement of the Flying Cavalry, carving a bloody path through them...

"General Han!"

Cao Yi was both shocked and ashamed, his voice choked with emotion.

"Go!" Han Hao grabbed Cao Yi's arm and shouted sharply, "We can't stay here any longer! Let's break through!"

The soldiers he brought immediately formed a circular formation, protecting Cao Yi in the middle, while desperately resisting the cavalry that surged in from all directions, and charging back the way they came.

Sima Yi, who was on the mountain, saw everything clearly and his brows were furrowed.

Han Hao's appearance disrupted his plan to annihilate the enemy.

He immediately ordered his troops to tighten the encirclement, attempting to re-encircle and focus on strangling the enemy.

Unfortunately, the battle lines have been disrupted, and the dead cannot simply drink a red or blue bottle and be reborn in glory, reviving on the spot to start fighting again...

The cavalrymen who rushed over from another region to try and silence the enemy were still a step too late.

In the end, thanks to Han Hao's desperate fight for a chance of survival and the desperate struggle of Cao's soldiers, Cao Yi and Han Hao led the five or six hundred remaining soldiers they had managed to save out of the Death Valley below Feihu Fortress, leaving behind more than two hundred Cao soldiers' corpses and a scene of devastation.

Sima Yi stood on the ridge, looking in the direction of Cao Cao's army's retreat, his face grim.

While it was regrettable that Cao Yi was not captured or killed, it severely damaged the morale of Cao's army and greatly weakened the arrogance of Cao Xi and others at the Songshan defense line.

More importantly, Flying Fox Fortress remained under Sima Yi's control.

This mountain path enabled him to contact Li Dian and Liao Huajun, and also greatly increased the threat to Cao Jun's Runan and even the entire Jingzhou region.

"Clean up the battlefield and reinforce the defenses of Feihu Fortress." Sima Yi's voice was unreadable. "Report this battle situation to the General of Chariots and Cavalry immediately! Also, keep a close watch on the southern part of Songshan Mountain and the Yingchuan area... Prime Minister Cao is probably getting restless."

……

……

The bloody ambush at Feihu Fortress was like a resounding slap in the face of Cao Yi, who was trying to emulate Cao Ren, and also a slap in the heart of Cao Cao, who had just felt a little relieved by the victory in Xiangyang.

On the northern front, Cheng Yu of Wen County in Hanoi was besieged, and on the southern front, although Xiangyang had achieved a minor victory, it was still heavily besieged. Now, the Songshan defense line in the middle...

Cao Cao was truly exhausted.

The opponent is powerful, that's known...

But having a terrible teammate is always an unknown factor!
The figure of General Fei Qian, the General of the Cavalry, was like a huge shadow hanging over the Cao family, stretching from the Heluo and Henan regions to the southern Jingxiang and Central Plains.

The atmosphere at the temporary prime minister's residence in Yingyin City was gloomy and oppressive.

I've only been feeling relaxed for two days!

Just like the stock market in later generations, after seeing a small rise, people thought it was finally a rebound from the bottom, but it turned out to be just a bumpy ride halfway up the mountain...

Cao Cao was dressed in plain clothes, without armor, but the weariness and solemnity between his brows were heavier than the armor itself.

He stared at the several silk scrolls from different directions on the table in front of him, his brows furrowed.

This is not simply a matter of victory or defeat, but a heart-wrenching loss.

The Yellow River and Luo River regions retreated, Luoyang fell, Ji Province became disaffected, and Jingbei was in dire need of help...

Now even Cao Yi, whom he placed "high hopes" on... well, the tallest among the short, has suffered a crushing defeat in his operation along the Songshan line.

The loincloth can barely cover it anymore!
Where is Lü Zike?!

Cao Cao had already dispatched Lü Qian south to provide initial assistance to Cao Yi, but unexpectedly, before Lü Qian even arrived, Cao Yi ran into trouble again.

Xun Yu lowered his eyes slightly, "Cao Zicheng has indeed obtained General Lü's troops..."

Cao Cao: '...'

Understood.

If Cao Yi could seize it once, he could certainly seize it a second time.

"I ask... Where is Lü Zike?" Cao Cao asked again.

Xun Yu said, "Cao Zicheng ordered him to garrison Huanyuan Pass."

"Nonsense!" Cao Cao exclaimed in fury.

Huanyuan Pass was one of the last passes to be developed. The roads were so rugged that even dogs wouldn't be able to walk on them. Just stationing three to five hundred soldiers there would be enough to hold off even thousands of troops. Why would Lü Qian need to be stationed there specifically?

After Cao Cao cursed, he remained silent for a long time.

"Wenruo," Cao Cao's voice was slightly hoarse as he looked at Xun Yu, who stood beside him with an equally grim expression, "Cao Zicheng underestimated the enemy and advanced recklessly, nearly losing his life in the valley. If it weren't for Han Yuansi's desperate rescue... now we haven't captured Feijun Fortress, but have suffered heavy losses. The Songshan pass is wide open, and Sima Yi could easily march south to threaten Runan, or even cut off our connection between Yuzhou and Jingxiang... This is Cao Zicheng's fault! Issue the order to immediately strip Cao Zicheng of his generalship..."

Before Cao Cao could finish speaking, Xun Yu bowed deeply, interrupting him. His gaunt face was filled with worry. "My lord, you are wise. General Zicheng's mistake lay in his eagerness for quick success, which allowed Sima to see through his defenses. However, this defeat also exposed Sima's true character; his cunning in warfare and his keen understanding of human nature make him a formidable opponent..."

Xun Yu paused, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes. "However, fortune and misfortune are intertwined. Although General Zicheng suffered a defeat this time, his strategy of 'feigning an attack on Guiku Pass while actually capturing the abandoned military fortress' was not entirely without merit."

Cao Cao's gaze sharpened: "Oh? What does Wenruo mean?"

"Sima Yi saw through General Zicheng's scheme and repeatedly defeated our Songshan troops..." Xun Yu slowly analyzed, "Young...it's inevitable to be arrogant. Now that they have won such a great victory over our army, how can they not be proud? This is only human nature, but an arrogant army will surely be defeated...Why doesn't my lord...try this plan again?"

Xun Yu's mention of "young people" seems to refer to Sima Yi, but it also seems to refer to someone else.

"To repeat this plan?" Cao Cao frowned, his fingers tapping faster. "Wouldn't that... be too risky?"

Xun Yu spoke firmly, "My lord, you are wise; times have changed. General Zicheng's previous defeat was due to his intentions being exposed and his hasty execution, which allowed the Sima clan to exploit his weakness… This time, the time is ripe to repeat this strategy!"

Xun Yu stepped forward and pointed heavily at the location of the abandoned military fortress on Mount Song on the map. "Firstly, our army is making a large-scale attack, still feigning an assault on Guiku Pass!"

"A feint attack?" Cao Cao asked.

Xun Yu nodded, "With Sima's abilities, he will surely be able to find out the movements and numbers of our troops... therefore... let him investigate!"

Cao Cao narrowed his eyes. "Wenruo's meaning is..."

Xun Yu nodded. "A mix of real and feints. Our advance on Guiku Pass should be more impressive than last time, with more soldiers, flags, and weapons—that's the real force. Sima's scouts will surely discover our main force is at Guiku Pass. Secondly, we must select a truly elite force, capable and daring to fight to the death. The number doesn't need to be large, but they must be highly skilled… to launch a surprise attack on the abandoned fortress!"

Xun Yu's eyes gleamed with wisdom. "Although Feijun Fort is small, it controls several vital paths leading north and south of Songshan Mountain. Once Feijun Fort falls into our hands, we can sever its connections! Sima will surely think our attack on Guiku Pass is a feint, so he will either attack our feint or lead troops to relieve Feijun Fort..."

Cao Cao laughed loudly, "In this way, both places can be disguised as real!"

……

……

Sima Yi sat upright in his tent, his fingertips lightly brushing across the map in front of him, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Cao Xi's crushing defeat and Han Hao's desperate rescue efforts felt like yesterday.

Scouts have just reported that there are signs of a large-scale movement of Cao Cao's troops in the southern direction of Mount Song, and their target seems to be...

Ghost Cry Pass?
"Heh, trying again?" Sima Yi chuckled lightly, his tone tinged with a hint of mockery. "The same trick again, trying to pull it off in front of me a second time?"

Sima Yi immediately dispatched scouts again to investigate in detail, but the news that came back surprised him.

Because this time, it's actually 'real'!

The flags are real, and the soldiers are real too!

Sima Yi has now received reinforcements from Fei Qian, increasing the number of soldiers he commands; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to so easily defeat Cao Yi through a two-pronged ambush last time.

But now...

Sima Yi questioned the scouts again in detail, confirming the number and distribution of Cao army soldiers who had come to Guiku Pass, and couldn't help but frown.

Is this a desperate gamble?
Or should we just give up and do whatever we want?

Logically speaking, Cao Yi has just suffered a defeat and his morale is low. Even if he attacks Ghost Cry Pass again, he will hardly achieve anything. So, his high-profile attack is to launch a surprise attack on the abandoned Flying Fox Fortress.
Sima Yi's gaze swept across the map, pausing slightly as it passed the location of the abandoned military fortress. He then shook his head, "That's not right either... If the Ghost Cry Pass is a feint attack, then what are all these troops doing?"

"Could it be..." Sima Yi's gaze suddenly sharpened.

Just as Sima Yi gained access to Feihu Fortress, thus opening up the road to the south, if Cao Cao's army were to recapture Guiku Pass, it would be equivalent to gaining passage through Taigu Pass, giving them the opportunity to bypass Songshang and invade Heluo.

Sima Yi immediately ordered his men to inspect the situation at Huanyuan Pass. The scouts' reports confirmed to Sima Yi that this might be a preparation for a major counterattack by Cao Cao's army...

Because at Huanyuan Pass, it was actually Lü Qian!
Sima Yi was confident in his judgment. Cao Cao's army had suffered a major setback at Feijun Fortress, incurring heavy losses, with their commander nearly losing his life. Logically, it seemed highly unlikely they would encounter such a formidable obstacle again in the short term, yet Cao Cao's army had come nonetheless!

Therefore, there must be a problem!

If Sima Yi received support from the General of Chariots and Cavalry, then Cao Cao's army would naturally also receive support from Cao Cao!
Cao Cao's general Lü Qian is at Huanyuan Pass. If he then captures Taigu Pass, he can directly advance into Heluo and launch a surprise attack on the rear of the Flying Cavalry, thus disrupting the Heluo region!
Faced with this situation, Sima Yi thought for a long time and finally decided to gather a portion of his troops to strengthen the defenses of the area from Guiku Pass to Taigu Pass.

The reason is simple: Feijunbao is not far from Yique Pass, but it is far from Cao Cao's army in Runan and Songshan, as well as Yingchuan in Yuzhou. So if Cao Cao's army were to go to the far-off place to attack Feijunbao and Yique Pass, and then try to advance into the Heluo region, then their flank would be right under Sima Yi's blade!
Therefore, Sima Yi firmly believed that Cao Cao's army's grand campaign to attack Guiku Pass was not merely for the pass itself, but rather for a larger strategic plan.

Sima Yi's judgment wasn't wrong, but he was only half right...

……

……

The night was black as ink.

The not-so-tall walls of the abandoned military fortress had become increasingly dilapidated after repeated attacks.

Han Hao, clad in heavy armor, still throbbed with pain from his wounds, but his eyes were sharp as a hawk's. Gazing at the silent fortress ahead, he whispered orders to the officers beside him: "Remember, the lord's orders are strict: this battle must be won! The shame of the past will be avenged today! The Flying Cavalry will surely have set a trap, but this time… so what if there is a trap?! We must advance, not retreat! We will not withdraw until this fortress is captured!"

With Han Hao's command, a deafening battle cry suddenly erupted from the darkness!
Countless figures rushed out from Cao Cao's army's gathering point and headed towards Flying Fox Fortress.

Unlike before when they only had weapons such as swords, spears, and shields, this time Cao Cao's army actually pushed battering rams and ladders up!
The reason for choosing to attack at night was not for a so-called surprise attack, but to cover these siege weapons!

Cao Jun knew that the cavalry scouts must have discovered their arrival, but they might not know that behind their vanguard were craftsmen and timber!
Hand-made siege weapons are also siege weapons.

The battering rams charged straight at the fortress gate, and ladders were also set up as Cao Cao's soldiers swarmed forward.

The Flying Cavalry had prepared traps and ambushes, but the Flying Cavalry soldiers did not expect that when the Cao army saw the Flying Cavalry appear, they were not flustered at all. They had already pointed their shields and swords at the mountain path, and the archers on the mountaintop also began to tilt their arrows at the position where the Flying Cavalry ambushes would appear from behind their shields.

Cao's army was larger in number and their formation was well-organized.

If Sima Yi were at Feihu Fortress, he might have been able to adjust his strategy immediately, but unfortunately, Guiku Pass was clearly more important. The cavalry officers guarding Feihu Fortress hesitated for a moment, and the experienced Han Hao seized the opportunity, pressing on relentlessly and giving the cavalry officers no chance to reorganize their ranks or redeploy their soldiers!
Cao Jun's sudden, fiercer, and more resolute attack, after a period of attrition, finally breached the fortress's defenses!

Han Hao took the lead, brandishing his long sword and personally leading the suicide squad in a fierce attack.

The fortress gate was shattered once again by the impact of the battering ram. The ambushing cavalrymen on the outer perimeter were unable to break through Cao Cao's defensive line. Instead, because they were relatively dispersed, they suffered a strong counterattack from Cao Cao's army.

Cao's army came prepared this time. The elite soldiers who scaled the city walls were fearless and fought to the death. People kept falling, but more people surged onto the city walls and engaged in fierce hand-to-hand combat with the defenders.

Under Han Hao's personal supervision and the vengeful, frenzied assault of Cao's soldiers, one section of the city wall was breached!

Immediately afterwards, the fortress gate was smashed open with a loud bang!

Cao's army surged into the fortress like a tidal wave!

Seeing that the situation was beyond saving, the cavalrymen outside the fort had no choice but to order a retreat.

As dawn broke, on the dilapidated city wall of the abandoned military fortress, Han Hao personally planted the Cao army's flag...