Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3698 Brown Python Devours the Sky, Blood Rain Spreads, Thunder Shatters the Chess Game, Ghosts Cry in the Cold
The Ghost Cry Pass truly lives up to its name.

On both sides of the narrow pass are steep cliffs, as if cut by a knife and axe. Rainwater washes over the dark rocks, forming small, muddy waterfalls that cascade down.

The only passable mountain path in front of the pass was muddy and treacherous after being soaked by rain, resembling a winding, brown python.

At this very moment, the giant python was soaked in blood and roars, as if it would come back to life once it had drunk its fill of flesh and blood.

Xun Yu did not personally witness the clash of swords at the forefront. Instead, he was stationed in a relatively dry, temporarily constructed cave command post some distance from the pass. Although the view was limited from there, he could still clearly hear the deafening shouts, the clashing of weapons, and the cries of the wounded coming from the front.

His face was calm and composed, his gaze constantly scanning the rough map, revealing his inner focus.

Messengers traveled back and forth, constantly relaying information from the front lines and conveying Xun Yu's orders to the generals there.

Xun Yu faced the map as if he were playing an invisible game of chess.

The sound of drizzling rain outside the cave mingled with the crackling of torches burning inside.

Occasionally, someone's sudden scream could be heard, but because of the distance, it seemed rather small and faint.

The map was laid out on the rough stone platform. Xun Yu's slender fingers were precisely tracing the location of a stone platform marked "Jia San" on the left side of the pass. That was the weak stronghold of the cavalry garrison that he had discovered.

"Order the left flank to advance and feign an attack on the main gate of the pass, drawing the defenders' crossbow bolts. Simultaneously, send two elite squads from the left flank to the rear of the 'Jia San' stone platform, taking advantage of the defenders' distraction by the feigned attack on the main gate to seize it in one fell swoop! After capturing the platform, immediately suppress the wooden palisade guarding the right side of the pass!"

Xun Yu's voice was steady and clear, carrying a calmness that indicated he was in control of the situation.

The messenger beside him quickly jotted down the orders and then rushed out of the cave.

"Left wing, push forward!!"

"Central Army, swords and shields! Advance slowly with shields raised! Once close, destroy the cavalry's palisades!"

"The right flank feints to draw enemy fire! Once the central force breaks through, immediately launch a pincer attack!"

"..."

One order after another, transmitted through messengers running back and forth, was like precise nerve signals, reaching the various units of Cao Cao's army fighting bloody battles at the front.

Undoubtedly, Xun Yu's deployment was sharp and deadly. He accurately grasped the weak points in the cavalry's defense and made targeted troop deployments.

The stone platform in section 3 (甲三) is poorly defended.

This was precisely the opportunity Xun Yu had been waiting for.

Taking this high ground will allow us to disrupt the entire pass's defenses at minimal cost, and with a strong attack down the central route, victory will be imminent.

He could almost see the elite troops scaling the stone platform, fire arrows raining down, the defenders overwhelmed and their lines collapsing.

This is his way of using troops—

Use skill to overcome brute force, and wisdom to triumph over courage, achieving the greatest results with the least cost.

With the capture of Guiku Pass, Taigu Pass will be wide open, and the land of Heluo will be right before our eyes. This is the kind of victory that Xun Yu and Xun Wenruo deserve, not a Pyrrhic victory with mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

Yes, that was Xun Yu's original plan.

A gentleman possesses four virtues.

Although the defenders of Guiku Pass put up a tenacious resistance thanks to their advantageous terrain, their forces were stretched thin. Under Xun Yu's multi-pronged and combined attacks, the defensive line began to crack, much like a dam repeatedly battered by giant waves.

A key defensive line of the Flying Cavalry was breached by Cao Cao's army in a desperate attempt to break through.

The simple stone walls and fences originally used for defense were breached by dozens of fearless Cao army soldiers who braved rolling logs, boulders, and sparse arrows. They smashed open the gap with their own flesh and blood, driving the breach into the pass like a wedge!

"The breach has been made! Charge in!"

A deafening cheer erupted from Cao Cao's army, greatly boosting their morale.

The follow-up troops, like sharks smelling blood, surged frantically toward the breach.

Inside the pass, the cavalry garrison fell into brief chaos. The military officers left behind by Sima Yi, acting as commanders, had their desperate shouts drowned out by the battle cries. It seemed that this defensive line, built with countless lives, was about to collapse, and the gates of Guiku Pass had already opened before Xun Yu.

Upon hearing the messenger's report from the front lines, Xun Yu nodded in the cave, a smile finally appearing on his face.

That's exactly the time difference he was trying to gain!
As long as this pass is captured before Sima Yi's main force breaks free from Han Hao and Xun Yun's entanglement and rushes back, the overall situation will be settled!

He could even imagine Sima Yi's expression when he received the devastating news...

However, just as Cao Cao's vanguard surged into the breach, and the follow-up troops followed like a tidal wave, victory seemed within reach, but an unexpected event occurred for Xun Yu.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

A series of dull, oppressive, yet terrifyingly powerful explosions suddenly erupted from a high point inside the pass!

This sound was different from the usual trebuchet catapults or crossbow volleys; it was deeper and more resonant, as if the earth itself was roaring angrily, and it clearly echoed throughout the entire battlefield!
Immediately afterwards, the screams of many Cao soldiers drowned out the previous shouts and roars of battle!

The vanguard of Cao's army that poured into the breach, as well as the follow-up troops that were crowded on the narrow mountain path outside the breach, were swept away as if by an invisible giant scythe!

The soldiers at the forefront were instantly riddled with countless tiny bloody holes!
Iron sand, broken copper, and even sharp stones, under the relatively weak thrust of the first-generation shotgun, formed a terrifying metal storm at close range!

Although the penetrating power of a single bullet is greatly weakened by the heavy, humid air in the rain and the armor of soldiers, and it rarely causes fatal penetrating wounds, the terrifying coverage area and density make the person hit feel as if they have been pierced by countless red-hot iron nails at the same time!
A sergeant from Cao's army charged at the forefront, shield in hand. Instantly, dozens of tiny bullets became embedded in the shield, emitting a dense "thud" sound. The immense impact caused him excruciating pain in his arm, and he nearly dropped the shield.

The soldiers around him were not so lucky. Some had their faces embedded with iron filings, their faces covered in blood and mud, and they screamed in agony as they covered their faces. Others had their arms and legs riddled with bullet holes, and the excruciating pain made them writhe on the ground, howling and struggling in the mud. Still others were hit in the neck or eyes by flying shards of stone and died instantly.

At the same time, accompanied by a loud bang, several plumes of thick, grayish-white smoke with a pungent sulfur smell rose from the inside of the pass!

The smoke was quickly suppressed by the rain and could not form a shield, but the hellish atmosphere mixed with the smell of blood was like a cold ghostly hand, gripping the heart of every Cao army soldier!

Fear spread like a plague through Cao Cao's army in an instant!
"Thunder...the Thunder God is angry!"

"It's sorcery! It's the sorcery of the Demon General!"

Run! Run fast!

Desperate cries echoed throughout the room.

This was not the first time Cao Jun had seen artillery; they had experienced the power of these "fire-breathing iron tubes" in previous battles.

In their understanding, this kind of "firearm" is extremely valuable. It is a single-shot live ammunition, and generally speaking, as long as you avoid the direction the cannon is aiming at, there is a high probability of survival...

but now……

And the most crucial point, which is also the reason why Cao's soldiers dared to launch a frenzied attack this time, was that Xun Yu and other senior officers and military officers told them that the firearms and gunpowder of the Flying Cavalry were ineffective in damp and rainy weather!

This point was also demonstrated during Cao Ren's campaign against Li Dian and Liao Hua!

The firearms and gunpowder used by the cavalry were most vulnerable to moisture!
It's raining now, and the crossbows are all malfunctioning, so how could this damn thing possibly still fire?

Moreover, the sounds, the pervasive smoke, the terrifying devastation...

This is completely different from the solid shot that I've seen before that shattered shields and collapsed stockade walls!
This is practically divine retribution!

It is the spirits and deities who are helping the Flying Cavalry!
Xun Yu suddenly stood up in the cave, his expression changing drastically for the first time!
A dull, oppressive, terrifying roar, like a hammer blow, clearly penetrated the cave through the rain and the mountain rocks!

He clearly heard those muffled cannon shots, and even more so, the sudden, massive chaos and terrified screams that erupted ahead!
"It's artillery! In the rain...they dare to use artillery?! What's going on?!"

Xun Yu strode to the cave entrance, ignoring the rain hitting his face, and looked out.

Although the specific damage caused by the distant artillery fire is not clearly visible, it is obvious that the effect was devastating...

The purely physical damage may be limited, with many projectiles missing their mark or being blocked by armor and mud, but the blow to the morale of Cao Cao's soldiers is devastating!

The opening that had been painstakingly created seemed to turn into a death trap in an instant!
The vanguard of Cao Cao's army that surged in was either killed or wounded, and even those who were uninjured were hastily retreating. The follow-up troops were terrified by the terrifying storm of metal and the tragic state of their comrades. They were crammed together on the narrow, slippery mountain path, unable to move forward or backward, trampling each other!
The panic that spread like a plague drowned out the officer's roars and screams of despair. His meticulously planned and seemingly inevitable surprise attack on the "Jia San" stone platform had instantly become meaningless!
The gap that had been painstakingly opened in the middle was turned back into a meat grinder that devoured lives under the desperate blocking of the defenders and the cover of those terrifying shotgun shells!
Xun Yu's pupils suddenly contracted, and his heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand.

He had calculated everything, accurately predicting the movements of Sima Yi's main force, the strength of the defending troops, and even the impact of rain on conventional weapons. However, he never expected that the Flying Cavalry would be able to use artillery in the rain!
The entire offensive was like hitting an invisible iron wall, instantly halting and collapsing!
Taking advantage of this brief respite created by fear and chaos, the previously crumbling cavalry defenses within the pass erupted with astonishing fighting spirit once again. Led by their officers, the cavalrymen used their spears to hack, shove, and drive away the wailing wounded and chaotic Cao army soldiers at the breach.

More cavalrymen carried logs and stones, frantically trying to plug the breach that had been smashed open!
The archers in the rear, though their arrows and crossbow bolts were much less powerful, seized the opportunity to unleash a hail of arrows and crossbow bolts into the chaotic and crowded ranks of Cao Cao's soldiers.

Cao Jun's attack was repelled.

Although the smoke from the artillery fire quickly dissipated in the rain, a cloud of fear hung over the hearts of every Cao army soldier. They looked at the even more menacing temporary obstacles that had been re-erected within the pass, heard their comrades groaning in pain in the mud, and felt the impending "divine punishment." Their courage to attack vanished like a flame extinguished by the rain. No matter how the officers roared and whipped them, the soldiers only cowered and hesitated, some even beginning to crawl backward.

Xun Yu stood in front of the cave entrance, the cold rain hitting his face.

He gazed at the battlefield ahead, now engulfed in chaos and fear, and at the pass that had become fortified once more, and felt a chill run through him.

The precious opportunity he had painstakingly gained, bought with the lives of countless soldiers in the mud and water, was completely disrupted by the sound of artillery fire that seemed particularly eerie and terrifying in the rain!

His pride in his wisdom and his exquisite, chess-like tactics appeared so fragile and laughable in the face of these iron cylinders that relied on the power of sulfur and saltpeter!
Sima Yi's main force...

They might arrive at any moment!

Although Xun Yu dispatched Han Hao, Cao Yi, and even his own son Xun Yun to surround and ambush Sima Yi, Xun Yu was not certain that the three of them could completely eliminate Sima Yi, or even just hold him back...

Now, even though the battle has progressed to this point, Guiku Pass is still firmly held by the Flying Cavalry.

A tremendous sense of frustration and anxiety about the situation spiraling out of control weighed heavily on me, like the endless rain.

Xun Yu knew he had to make a decision immediately: to continue the assault under the shadow of "Thunder Magic," despite the enormous casualties and psychological pressure.
Before the Ghost Cry Pass, the cold rain washed over the muddy mountain path, but it couldn't wash away the thick, pungent smell of blood.

The corpses of Cao Cao's soldiers piled up in layers on the narrow pass, the muddy water turning them dark red, which was then diluted by the new rain, forming shocking streams of blood.

The cries of the wounded rose and fell amidst the rain, like a lament from hell.

Xun Yu stood at the entrance of the cave, rainwater flowing down his crown and dripping onto the cold armor plates.

His face was even more grim than the gloomy sky.

What came from ahead was no longer the loud shouts of battle, but screams of fear, desperate roars, and the hysterical roars of officers.

Xun Yu pursed his lips tightly, and his long beard seemed to have lost its former elegance.

retreat?

The moment the thought arose, he forcibly extinguished it.

What does retreat mean?
This means that the sacrifices of Han Hao and Xun Yun in desperately blocking Sima Yi's main force in the mud and blood were in vain!

This means that Cao Xi's predicament and the despair of countless abandoned wounded soldiers have all become meaningless!
This means that his meticulously designed feint and diversionary tactic failed at the last minute!
Are all these sacrifices to be wasted because of these few cannon shots?
Who knows when the next opportunity will come, and who knows how many lives will be lost!

More importantly, missing this golden opportunity when Sima Yi's main force was transferred away would come at an unimaginable cost if we tried to launch a strong attack on Guiku Pass again! Giving up Guiku Pass is equivalent to giving up Taigu Pass and missing the best opportunity to open up the Heluo region!
No refunds!

but……

If we don't withdraw, it means...

The makeshift cave was deathly silent, except for the crackling of the burning torches, the sound of rain outside, and the chaotic shouts.

The messengers and guards held their breath, watching their strategist, their commander.

Xun Yu's back remained straight, but his hands trembled slightly. He closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, only a helpless choice remained deep within his usually gentle and wise eyes.

Xun Wenruo, who prided himself on his infallible strategies and masterful planning, was now forced to resort to the most primitive, barbaric, and reckless methods to seize victory when faced with the small Guiku Pass!
This runs counter to his lifelong pursuit of the "superior strategy of attacking the enemy without fighting" and is a complete denial of his wisdom!

However, Xun Yu was forced to question himself in the present moment!

A resolute glint flashed in Xun Yu's eyes, his voice as cold as iron, piercing through the rain: "Give the order! Beat the drums! Fight to the death! All officers, heed my command! Concentrate all forces! Target the breach in the pass! Attack relentlessly, at all costs! Anyone who retreats in fear will have their supervising officer executed! The first to break through the pass will be promoted three ranks and rewarded with a hundred gold pieces!"

He no longer pursued exquisite command; at this moment, he could only risk his life to crush the defenders' last will and those damned cannons that could be used in the rain, using the most primitive and cruel methods!
The ingenious orchestration has turned into the current frenzy of flesh and blood.

The order has been issued.

That brilliant attack plan is now lost in the cold, damp air.

Instead, the sound of battle drums, urgent and like a death knell, suddenly rang out from outside the cave!

Every drumbeat struck Xun Yu's heart, shattering the gentlemanly facade he had tried so hard to maintain.

*Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!*

The dull, urgent war drums, carrying the imminent threat of death, resounded like a death knell behind Cao Cao's army!
The supervising officer, holding a ring-pommel sword, stood coldly in front of the retreating soldiers.

The sheep-like habits were once again evident among Cao Cao's soldiers.

Retreating means certain death, but advancing might offer a glimmer of hope?

Under the immense pressure of death, the fear of Cao Jun's soldiers was temporarily twisted into a desperate madness.

"Kill them—!"

"Charge in! Kill them all!"

Driven to the brink of despair, Cao Cao's soldiers roared like trapped beasts and surged toward the deadly pass once more like a tidal wave!

This time, Cao Cao's offensive was even more chaotic and frenzied, completely using flesh and blood to break through the newly constructed death line...

However, it is also very effective.

Inside the pass, the smoke of battle had not yet completely dissipated, and the pungent smell of sulfur mixed with the stench of blood was nauseating. The military officer in charge of the defense, watching the Cao army surge forward again below, their faces contorted in a ferocious grimace, roared: "Artillery! Quick! Load loose shells!!"

The gunners are already very busy.

The rainwater seeped in, making the inside of the cannon barrel extremely slippery, and the gunpowder also became somewhat sticky.

They covered the gun barrel with tarpaulin as much as possible, quickly cleaned the barrel with a cleaning rod, and stuffed the pre-packaged gunpowder bags and the loose shells wrapped in tarpaulin into the muzzle.

"ignition!"

"laugh……"

Boom! Boom boom!

Another storm of metal swept through, and the swarming Cao army soldiers were once again driven back.

However, soon, urged on by their supervising officers, Cao Cao's soldiers launched another wave of attacks...

Xun Yu stood in the cave, each cannon shot feeling like a slap in the face. He saw the lives of his soldiers, which he could have saved in a more ingenious way, being thrown into the raging flames of the Ghost Cry Pass like cheap firewood, just to burn a bloody path to 'victory'.

Even if he captured Ghost Cry Pass, it wouldn't be the kind of victory he had originally envisioned.

Xun Yu let out a long sigh.

This was won at the cost of his strategist's dignity and the lives of countless soldiers—a bloody and smoky battle...

A humiliating victory.

He once said that a gentleman should "transform things, follow the will of Heaven, benefit the people, and establish customs," but in his present day, which of these has Xun Yu actually accomplished?
A gentleman...

Unethical.