Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3721 Zhefu becomes a city
Outside Gongxian City, tattered Cao army flags lay helplessly on the ground, along with broken weapons, scattered arrows, charred wood, and twisted corpses, all mixed together among the collapsed earthen walls and trenches.

Some of the wounded soldiers of Cao Cao's army who were lucky enough to survive either huddled in corners groaning in suppressed anger or stared blankly at the sky, as if their souls had been completely shattered by the sudden thunder at dawn.

Under the desperate protection of his personal guards, Cao Hong retreated in a sorry state into the relatively safe barbican of the west gate of Gongxian's main city. He hurriedly ordered his men to be on guard, raise the drawbridge, and close the city gate.

Seeing the soldiers around him with their helmets askew and their armor scattered, Cao Hong was furious. He scolded and berated them for a while before leaning against the crenellations of the Gongxian city wall and looking westward.

Cao Hong had anticipated Fei Qian's attack on Sishui Pass in Gong County; he knew it was bound to happen sooner or later. However, he hadn't expected the Flying Cavalry's attack to be so fierce and sharp!
too fast!
If Fei Qian and Cao Jun were to remain locked in a stalemate around Gong County for ten days or even just a few days, Cao Hong could accept it, but now…

How long has it been?

Cao Hong's fingers, gripping the city gate's crenellations, trembled slightly from the excessive force; he stared intently at the western earthen rampart...

There, a dazzling black banner was firmly planted by the cavalry soldiers on the highest remaining arrow tower, fluttering in the rising sun.

"Sorcery...this must be sorcery!"

Chen Mao, a military officer who had followed Cao Hong into retreat, muttered to himself, somewhat distraught. His voice was hoarse, and his eyes were filled with incomprehensible fear. "How...how could they have predicted it so accurately? The cannons had barely stopped when they were already upon us! That bridge...did that bridge just appear out of thin air?!"

His words, like a stone thrown into a stagnant pool, instantly stirred up a suppressed resonance and a deeper chill in the surroundings.

"Yes! I had just ducked to avoid the cannon fire, and when I looked up again, the cavalryman's blade was right under my nose!"

"The paths they took! Strange! What looked like muddy ground, they ran on as if it were flat! The pits we dug and the barbed wire we planted were all right by the roadside! They didn't step on a single one!"

"And those cannons! Those two cannons behind us were aimed specifically at our assembly point, as if they had eyes!"

The cacophony of voices was filled with the shock of surviving a disaster and the fear of unknown forces.

The "safe rhythm" established over the past ten days has been completely shattered, resulting not only in physical injuries and deaths, but also in a collapse of cognition.

Cao's soldiers were used to advancing with drums and retreating with gongs, to commanding their generals with flags, to fighting on the battlefield with their strength and experience, and to the rhythm and speed of old-fashioned cold weapon combat. But what had just happened was beyond their comprehension.

It was as if people weren't fighting a war, but rather a huge, cold, precise, and emotionless machine was operating and reaping the harvest!
The roar of artillery fire was the command, the soldiers' charge was the pre-set mechanism, and even the road under their feet seemed like a pre-laid track!
This feeling of being completely crushed, where even struggling seems futile, is more despairing than facing a massive army charging into battle...

As Cao Hong listened to his subordinates' discussion, he clenched his teeth, and the muscles on his cheeks bulged.

The turmoil in his heart was far greater than that of these soldiers.

"You bastard!" Cao Hong kicked Chen Mao to the ground. "If you utter another word about sorcery and confusing the army, I'll chop your head off!"

Chen Mao was immediately jolted awake and shrank back.

Cao Hong glared at him angrily, then suppressed his rage.

As a general commanding troops, what he saw was not scattered "demonic magic," but a completely different way of fighting that sent chills down his spine!

The warfare that Cao Hong was familiar with emphasized the principle of "one effort, then decline, and finally exhaustion," meaning that attacks should be rhythmic and defenses should allow for respite.

But what about the Flying Cavalry now?
Fei Qian divides time like a skilled carpenter, working with the wood in his hands!

The gaps in their shelling were precisely calculated by them to become deadly traps!
The first round of artillery fire was not intended to kill or injure, but to drive them away, to make these defenders, like tamed birds, habitually retreat into their pre-set 'safe' nests!
Then, just as Cao Cao's soldiers all turned back, the real killing move came down with lightning speed!

This almost ruthless grasp and utilization of timing made Cao Hong feel that he and his soldiers had become pieces of wood under the enemy's machinery, being precisely controlled to be cut, separated, and broken!

Cao Hong painstakingly constructed the western fortifications, laying out trenches, pitfalls, and earthen walls layer by layer, boasting that they were impregnable.

But the cavalry seemed to have eyes that could see through all obstacles!

Those attack routes perfectly avoided all of his defensive strongholds and traps!
The soldiers charged along the drawn white lines as if walking on flat ground, directly attacking his weakest point!

This is by no means a mere coincidence!

This can only be...

It can only be said that the other party had already thoroughly surveyed this land, as if drawing a map!
Cao Jun believed that as long as he controlled the fortifications, he could stop the cavalry's hooves. However, Cao Hong now realized that the cavalry's lazy actions and the intermittent cannon firing had actually laid a deadly path in the battlefield space that Cao Hong thought he had completely controlled!

This meticulous control and planning ability over the battlefield space made Cao Hong feel like a fool struggling blindfolded in a maze, while Fei Qian stood on high ground, overlooking the entire game!

The coordination between different branches of the armed forces, and between artillery and soldiers, was more like a nightmare.

The artillery coordination of the Flying Cavalry was not unique to Gongxian, but its precision, speed, and effectiveness still left Cao Hong with a profound sense of powerlessness.

The cannon fired, and the bridge was completed!
Fire another shot, suppress the flanks!

The infantry charged, their precision like wedges embedded in pre-designed cracks!

Follow-up actions, thorough cleanup and consolidation, all done in one go!
Throughout the entire process, the various combat units of the cavalry were like different limbs of a giant, precisely commanded by the same mind, cooperating seamlessly without the slightest delay or chaos!

This is hardly a war.

This is clearly like a hundred craftsmen building a palace, each performing their own duties, chiseling and mortise and tenon joints, fitting together perfectly!

In contrast, Cao Hong's orders took time to reach the grassroots level and for the soldiers to understand and execute them. Meanwhile, it seemed that every soldier on the other side had the same, precise battle plan in their minds!
How can we possibly fight this war?!

"General... what... what do we do next?"

Lieutenant Li's trembling voice pulled Cao Hong back to reality from his cold thoughts.

Cao Hong turned his head and glanced at his deputy.

Lieutenant Li's face was also deathly pale, clearly terrified by the devastating breakthrough.

How to do?
Cao Hong was completely bewildered.

The barrier he relied on to hold off the cavalry collapsed overnight.

The way the opponent was waging war completely exceeded all his life's learning and his understanding of the "strategy of war".

He suddenly remembered how he had mocked the Flying Cavalry's futile "feigned attack" just a few days ago, laughing at them for merely banging on the earthen ramparts. Now, thinking back, how could that have been futile?

That's the enemy measuring time with artillery fire, mapping the terrain with footsteps, and laying the groundwork for killing with every advance and retreat!
"Sorcery...mechanical arts..."

Cao Hong let out a low, guttural laugh, tinged with a hint of despair.

He knew it wasn't sorcery, but he couldn't understand or describe the feeling of being completely outmaneuvered and utterly powerless, except by using those words. It was a feeling more suffocating than facing an army of 100,000. His pride in his bravery, experience, and quick thinking seemed so clumsy and laughable in the face of that cold, precise system.

Cao Hong looked at the glaring black banner on the western rampart, then looked back at the panicked and disorganized garrison and the chaotic scene of hastily deployed defenses in Gongxian City. A chill ran from his feet to the top of his head.

The earthen rampart to the west has been lost, and the western barrier of Gongxian County has been breached.

What's even more frightening is what this ability demonstrated by the Flying Cavalry means?
Did they already measure, calculate, and plan the attack route and key points inch by inch, like the main city of Gongxian and even Sishui Pass, like earthen ramparts?
When will the next thunderclap sound?
In what unimaginable way will it arrive?

"Close the city gates tightly! Send more scouts! All generals, proceed to the county office for a meeting immediately!"

Cao Hong almost roared as he gave the order, his voice filled with a panic he himself was unaware of.

He needed time, he needed to catch his breath, he needed to rack his brains to figure out how to deal with this completely unfamiliar form of warfare. But deep inside him, a voice cried out in despair…

Really...

Can it be stopped?
The morning sun shone brightly in Gongxian, but it couldn't dispel the heavy clouds hanging over Cao Hong's heart.

The collapse of the earthen ramparts was not only the loss of a defensive line, but also the complete collapse of an old war concept under the impact of a completely new system.

Fear, like a cold, venomous snake, coiled tightly around the hearts of every Cao army general and surviving soldier.

They discovered that what they were facing was no longer just sharp swords and spears, or powerful artillery, but a war abyss that they could neither understand nor predict.

……

……

Although autumn has not yet arrived, the chill of winter seems to have quietly crept into Cao Cao's camp. Even the smoke from the bronze incense burner on the table could not dispel the heaviness and oppression that permeated the air.

The new cannons of the Flying Cavalry were transported to Cao Cao's location.

In the open space in front of the large tent, there were two cannons that had been dismantled and were covered in mud and blood, having been knocked and bumped along the mountain road.

Even now, with the cannons lying silently on the ground, the air still seems to be filled with a strong smell of rust, lingering gunpowder smoke, and an indescribable stench of blood and mud.

The cannons lay silently on the ground like the dismembered remains of two ancient beasts, covered in dried mud and dark brown stains.

This was the "spoils of war" that Xun Yu had obtained at a heavy price. Cao Cao sat inside his tent, his gaze piercing through the lifted tent flaps, looking at the cannon's thick barrel, twisted support, and the complex structure of the cannon. The deep scratches and dents on the cannon, along with the congealed, blackened blood mixed with mud, seemed to silently tell Cao Cao the tragic story that had unfolded on this cannon.

"Prime Minister, the chief craftsman has arrived..."

Outside the main tent, soldiers came to report.

"pass."

Cao Cao said.

A moment later, several of the most skilled craftsmen from Cao Cao's artisan workshops, who had been urgently summoned, arrived in front of the cannons.

The expressions on these people's faces were extremely complex at that moment.

At first, these master craftsmen of Cao Cao's army were filled with awe and fear...

After all, according to rumors, this was the "divine weapon" of the General of the Cavalry, capable of summoning divine thunder from the heavens to punish the sins of the mortal world...

They approached cautiously, reaching out as if on a pilgrimage, yet not daring to actually touch those cold and imposing parts. They circled around, like cats and dogs, hesitant yet eager to get close to people.

"What are you all doing?!" Cao Cao, unable to bear it any longer, scolded, "What can you possibly learn by just walking around and looking without actually doing anything?!"

After being reprimanded by Cao Cao, these master craftsmen finally got close enough to clean the dirt off the cannons and begin to examine their structure.

But after the master craftsman carefully examined the inside of the cannon barrel, the iron hoops on the gun body, the casting mold lines, the composite hoop connecting the gun body and the gun carriage, the locking mechanism on the powder magazine, and the latches that were obviously for quick disassembly and adjustment...

The craftsmen seemed to have been enlightened, and they couldn't help but dance with joy.

"So that's how it is!"

"Ingenious! This interlocking mechanism uses such a clever interlocking mechanism!"

"The inside of the chamber is so smooth; it must have been polished with water!"

"Look at this place, it must be used for hoisting assistance! But what kind of equipment could lift such a massive object?"

"..."

Soft gasps of amazement, slaps of realization, and excited pointing rose and fell.

The craftsmen's eyes lit up, their faces filled with the excitement and exhilaration of solving a long-standing mystery. They circled the cold components as if they had discovered rare treasures, muttering to themselves and gesturing with their fingers in the air, as if they had instantly grasped the ingenious designs contained within, designs that surpassed their previous understanding.

Those powers and knowledge belonging to "Thor"...

Cao Cao watched all this with a cold eye, feeling no joy whatsoever, but rather a deep sense of helplessness in his eyes.

The artisans' reaction was exactly what he expected.

They understood it, and even grasped the underlying principles.

With their skills, given enough materials and tools, and with the time and effort they put in, it's not entirely impossible for them to replicate a cannon that looks similar.

Perhaps its performance is inferior, perhaps it's bulkier, perhaps it has a higher risk of barrel explosion...

But eventually, a rough outline can be created.

It's like gunpowder.

When gunpowder was first introduced to Shandong, many people thought the General of the Cavalry had gone mad or lost his mind...

But Cao Cao later discovered that the fool was not Fei Qian, but the people from Shandong.

Now, seeing these craftsmen excitedly discussing the cannons with an air of "aha!" and "so that's how it is!" as if they understand everything, is precisely the greatest irony!

What does "I see" mean?
This means that these ingenious designs and incredible concepts are not some unattainable celestial book, nor some unfathomable sorcery!

They were already there, laid out naked before our eyes!
The principle can be understood, and the structure can be disassembled!
But why?
Why didn't these principles and structures originate from the workshops of the artisans under his jurisdiction?
Why weren't the artisans from Shandong the first to have this "sudden realization"?
Why could his army only use their flesh and blood to fight against these deadly weapons created by the cavalry?
The answer, like a cold thorn, pierced deeply into Cao Cao's heart.

Cao Cao looked at the craftsmen whose faces, after the initial excitement, gradually showed fear and helplessness, slowly closed his eyes, and sighed softly.

The problem lies there, but the craftsmen in Shandong are trained to only be skilled at execution; they are 'tools' that create implements according to blueprints and instructions.

How can tools think?
How can tools explore the unknown?
Tools only need to complete the designated process before they wear out completely!
Then you can replace the tools with the next batch...

Cao Cao recalled the rumors circulating about the areas under the control of the General of the Cavalry...

There are specialized artisan camps, meticulous workshops, generous salaries, and it is even said that some artisans have been awarded titles for improving tools!
It's not a bounty, it's a title!

In Fei Qian's eyes, those craftsmen were probably not just "tools," but people who could think, create, and bring surprises!
And what about Cao Cao?
When did he and the entire Shandong region ever truly regard craftsmen as 'people' worthy of being cultivated?
It's just a consumable!

The weapons were damaged, and the craftsmen were punished!
If the workmanship is substandard, the craftsmen will be held accountable!

Those who bear responsibility and are punished are always the craftsmen, the servants, the high-ranking officials, and the corrupt officials who have lost their protective umbrella!
As for the others...

Once the storm has passed, it will rise again.

These were just low-status "craftsmen," practically no different from cattle or horses.

When needed, they are driven like dogs and horses; once used, they are discarded like worn-out shoes.

If a tool breaks, just replace it with a new one; if a tool gets old, just throw it away.

Who cares about the ideas behind a 'tool'?

Who would cultivate the innovation of a 'tool'?

Therefore, they can only "suddenly realize" when they see the finished product, and only when the enemy has a sharp blade to their neck do they understand how far behind they are!
This realization came too late, and it was too painful!
An uncontrollable rage and a deeper sense of powerlessness surged into Cao Cao's heart.

Cao Cao suddenly stood up and walked out of the tent.

The craftsmen in the open space in front of the main tent were so frightened that they immediately fell silent and prostrated themselves on the ground in fear.

"Could we... forge it?" Cao Cao asked in a low voice.

The lead old craftsman, his forehead pressed against the cold ground, answered tremblingly, "Reporting to the Prime Minister... this thing, this thing is exquisitely crafted... it is indeed... no ordinary craftsmanship... we old men need time to study it... perhaps... perhaps we can... capture its form, but... however, its power... I'm afraid, is beyond our reach..."

He dared not say that it was completely impossible to build, much less guarantee that he could build a cannon with the same power.

The last craftsman who dared to make such a guarantee has already been beheaded.

If someone does something wrong, the person who did it should take responsibility, right?

The craftsmen who said it couldn't be made were also executed...

After all, who would keep a useless tool just to eat?
Cao Cao fell silent.

He knew perfectly well that the problem didn't lie with the craftsmen.

These artisans are merely the very last product of this corrupt system.

What he hated was this deeply ingrained problem, and what he hated was that even though he had clearly seen through the root cause, he was powerless to change it in a short period of time!
What he needs is a weapon that can be immediately deployed to the battlefield and turn the tide of battle, not a long process that requires building a system of artisans from scratch, investing huge resources, and not knowing when it will take effect!
The current war will not give him that time.

The Han Dynasty lasted three or four hundred years...

They couldn't even keep up with the cavalry in those three or four years!

Looking at the two piles of cold metal on the ground, stained with blood and symbolizing the enemy's strength and his own backwardness, and then at the craftsmen lying on the ground, fearful and helpless, Cao Cao felt a wave of dizziness and exhaustion wash over him.

He gritted his teeth, steadied himself, and waved his hand, his voice betraying a barely concealed weariness and frustration, "Take him away...carefully...analyze it..."

He turned away, no longer looking at the metal wreckage and the terrified craftsmen, and looked up at the sky.

The afterglow of the setting sun stretched his lonely figure long.

The twilight of the Han Dynasty...

The tent's shadow resembled a huge, broken cage.

Cao Cao stood in the twilight, carrying this enormous prison on his back.