Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3722 Few Things End Well
Cao Cao sat upright in front of the huge map, his figure seemingly more hunched over than when he conquered Jingbei.

The bamboo slips piled up on the desk were like heavy mountains, making it hard to breathe.

Each scroll of bamboo slips is like a death warrant, recording the ever-widening cracks in the foundation of the Han Dynasty.

His gaze swept across the map, and everywhere he looked, there was devastation and hidden dangers.

There is no such thing as good news, only bad news, and even worse news.

The tragedy of Guanzhong is a pain that pierces to the bone.

Xiahou Yuan, Cao Xiu, Yue Jin...

These names were like red-hot irons, searing his heart every time he thought of them.

This was not just the loss of a great general, but also the removal of the backbone that supported Cao Cao's military machine!

Originally, these veteran generals in Cao Cao's army, who had been through many battles and could stand alone, were the pillars of the army, with their experience, prestige, and ability to stabilize the army!

Their deaths left the ranks of generals to be promoted in a shortage, and made the army increasingly clumsy and slow to respond to the new tactics of the Flying Cavalry.

Cheng Yu's predicament in Wen County and Cao Hong's predicament in Gong County are merely subsequent developments resulting from this massive talent gap...

Thinking of Cheng Yu, Cao Cao couldn't help but clench his fists and grit his teeth.

The fall of Wen County and the death of Cheng Yu were not merely losses of a city and a general!

Cheng Yu, stationed in Hanoi, has painstakingly built a strategic barrier connecting Jizhou and protecting Hanoi over many years!

His death was so gruesome that it caused panic throughout the entire Hanoi defense line. All the food, supplies, and weapons that had been stockpiled, as well as all the preparations made for the counterattack, were wiped out!
The loss of Wen County was like a fatal blow to Cao Cao's army's weak point in the north, allowing the Flying Cavalry to directly threaten the heart of Ji Province!
Then there's this quagmire in Jingbei...

Although Cao Cao has now captured Wancheng, Zhuyang, and Xinye...

On the surface, it seems like they've recovered lost territory and expanded their land by thousands of miles, but in reality, it's a huge quagmire!
The bloody battle at Ghost Cry Pass further proves this point.

These repeated battles in the mountains have already depleted too many of Cao Cao's elite troops.

Even more deadly was the "chill and fever syndrome" that quietly spread across the humid and hot battlefield of Jingbei and was brought back to the camp by the exhausted wounded soldiers and laborers!
The army's medical officer was helpless, forced to watch as coughing continued day and night in the tents, and soldiers who had died from illness were hastily dragged away. Troop numbers were dwindling, morale was plummeting, and the supplies of provisions and manpower needed to maintain the occupation of Jingbei, suppress local rebellions, and repair the cities were a bottomless pit!
So-called "victory" is nothing more than using the foundation of the future to fill the hole in front of us.

We should trust the wisdom of future generations...

What if the wisdom of future generations is insufficient?

Or perhaps there are no descendants left, so where can one "believe"?
Does making future generations pay an extra fee in exchange for more "identical" benefits constitute a form of "wisdom"?

That's utter nonsense!
Cao Cao took a deep sip of the chicken meatball.

And those cannons...

The elite cavalry is advancing rapidly.

The latest cannons made Cao Cao even more uneasy.

During the Battle of Tongguan some time ago, when Guo Jia was still alive, he pointed out the flaws in the artillery...

It can only attack one line, can only be used in sunny weather, and consumes a lot of resources, making it unsuitable for prolonged battles.

But now?
Watching as the cavalry's artillery went from only being able to fire in a vertical line to sweeping across a large area horizontally!

It can even be launched in the rain!

This means that the artisans of Feiqian are constantly improving those cannons that spew flames and death, making them longer and more powerful! Every day of delay makes the enemy's blade sharper!
What will happen next?
In contrast, Shandong hadn't even developed gunpowder yet...

Cao Cao sighed.

In fact, his lament was repeated a thousand years later, in the late Ming Dynasty, by his so-called descendants. Despite possessing the technology to cast cannons, they insisted on buying them from foreigners, not because of a lack of technology, but because of a lack of capable people…

The person is no good!

Since human nature is the same, and since there were greedy and corrupt people among our predecessors, how can we completely avoid them among our successors?

Rotten...

Cao Cao closed his eyes and gritted his teeth.

Above all these difficulties, the most fatal one is that the very foundation supporting Shandong's war machine is being eroded by the rapid decay of resources!

The autumn harvest forecasts reported by counties and prefectures across the country are getting worse with each passing year.

Yuzhou and Yanzhou, these former granaries, have long been exhausted due to years of conscription and unfavorable weather.

What's even more chilling is that while soldiers on the front lines were groaning and waiting to die in their wounded camps, several major cases of corruption by corrupt officials were uncovered along the supply lines in the rear!

The life-saving rations that were meant to be sent to the front lines were embezzled at every level and used to line private pockets!

The shocking list of embezzled funds and the names of the officials involved, including many from collateral branches of powerful families in Yingchuan and Runan, were presented to Cao Cao, almost causing him to lose his composure and become extremely angry on the spot!
But how can one sever the foul-smelling, filthy lesions inside the body?

Cao Cao felt a metallic taste rise in his throat. He forced it down, but the anger and chill in his heart intertwined and spread.

This was not merely a loss of supplies, but a blatant provocation against his ruling authority, and a sign of the aristocratic clans becoming increasingly disaffected under immense pressure!
Every thorough investigation means that the internal rifts deepen a little more!
However, neglecting this will cause the entire logistics system to collapse completely!
Xun Yu quietly walked in, stood at the lower end, glanced at Cao Cao's gloomy face and slightly trembling hands, then lowered his eyes and stood quietly to the side.

Needless to say, the mountain of urgent documents piling up on Prime Minister Cao's desk and the list of embezzled funds that Xun Yu had previously submitted already spoke volumes.

This is not about the gain or loss of a single city or place, but about the foundation upon which the entire Cao regime relies for operation being shaken and decayed!

This "victory" in Jingbei didn't actually bring much real benefit; rather, it was like stepping on the foundation again, accelerating its collapse.

In the imperial court, former officials of the Han dynasty and representatives of powerful families with ulterior motives watched the scene with eyes that were either open or hidden, whispering among themselves in the shadows.

The halo of Jingbei's "great victory" will quickly fade and become pale and laughable in the face of the constant internal crises.

This political pressure, like an invisible boulder, is pressing down on us along with the military and logistical difficulties.

It weighed down on Cao Cao, and it also weighed down on Xun Yu's shoulders.

The original strategic plan was to use strong city defenses and pre-arranged battlefields at Gongxian and Sishui Pass to exhaust the cavalry, and then have the autumn grain stored in Shandong, making grain transport convenient, while Fei Qian was living in the ruined Heluo area, making transport troublesome!

When one side's strength diminishes while the other's weakens, then we'll have a decisive battle...

But now, every single road is blocked!
Should the cavalry take the initiative to attack?
All signs indicate that Fei Qian possesses even more formidable offensive methods and patience!

The cavalry used precise "daggers" to slice through the flesh piece by piece, watching as Cao Cao's army collapsed amidst internal and external troubles!

Should we wait until the autumn harvest to have the final showdown?

This year's harvest was already destined to be bleak, and the greedy mouths of the rats were waiting to devour the last remaining fruit!

Once the grain supplies are stored, how much will be left to send to the front lines?

Is it enough to sustain a protracted and decisive battle?
A profound fear of the passage of time gripped Xun Yu. He seemed to see an invisible noose tightening, while Fei Qian stood at a distance, coldly watching and waiting for Cao Cao's army to fall on its own.

Internal rebellions, the defection of the gentry, the depletion of supplies, the rampant spread of plague...

Any disease, if it flares up in a major outbreak, can be fatal!

"Wenruo..." Cao Cao stood up, walked to the map, put his hands behind his back, and slightly raised his head, looking at the swaying black shadows and lines under the twilight lamplight, "Now... there is only..."

Cao Cao stretched out his hand and pointed to a certain place on the map.

In Cao Cao's eyes, the flickering lights inside the tent were reflected, like flames burning in a desperate gamble.

Since a slow death is inevitable, let's do everything we can, risk everything, and fight for that one and only chance of survival before we completely collapse!
Crush Fei Qian with a decisive victory!
Use the corpses of your enemies to fill the holes in your own foundation!
To reunite the people and suppress any internal unrest through a glorious, awe-inspiring victory! This was Cao Cao's usual tactic, and the secret to his previous success...

"..." Xun Yu's lips moved, as if he wanted to say something, but seeing the unwavering, almost burning madness in Cao Cao's eyes, he ultimately just bowed deeply, accepted the order, and left. He knew that the Prime Minister had been forced to the edge of a precipice, with no way to retreat.

This change of plans and early departure was not a clarion call for victory in Jingbei, but rather a trembling note before the collapse of the entire situation.

Cao Cao stood alone in front of the huge map, looking at the territory between Sishui Pass and Gong County.

That place will become the final arena.

He scrambled all the remaining chips in his hand, like a gambler who had lost everything, betting everything on the final hand. Victory meant turning the tide; defeat meant utter ruin.

Outside the main tent, the evening wind howled, stirring up clouds of dust, as if playing a mournful prelude to this premature decisive battle that would determine the fate of the Central Plains.

……

……

The news that the General of the Flying Cavalry had once again defeated Cao Cao's army, captured the earthen fortress of Gong County, and advanced to the foot of Gong County, heading straight for Sishui Pass, was like a boulder thrown into a calm pool, stirring up layers of bizarre and wonderful ripples across the Guanzhong Plain.

On the banks of the Wei River, in the suburbs of Xinfeng County, a field ridge.

Several farmers were tending to their crops in the fields before the sun got too strong.

In a little while, it will be harvest time.

A boy, barely out of school, came running up from the direction of the official road, panting and his face flushed with excitement. "Father! Father! A great victory! The General of Chariots and Cavalry has won another victory in the Heluo region! I heard they've even overturned Cao Cao's army camp!"

The old farmer straightened his back, leaning on his hoe, but his deeply furrowed face showed little excitement. "They won? Then...it must be almost over, right? Your second uncle...and Zhuzi from the next village...will they be back soon? If they come back early, they might even get a taste of the new wheat!"

He was more concerned about when his son, who was serving in the military, and the young man next door would be able to return home, as he was already too busy with the work in the fields.

A farmer in the nearby field heard the boy's shouts and chimed in, "Finished? Not a chance! I heard... behind Gongxian, there's Shandong! Shandong is huge!"

Another farmer joined in, "I wonder if the price of grain will rise further if this war continues? The price of old rice in the city's grain shops has gone up several times already! If it rises again, what will we do when there's a shortage of rice next spring?"

For these farmers, a distant victory was clearly less important than a nearby meal.

The boy looked at him, Yeye, and the other farmers with a mixture of understanding and bewilderment.

The joy of victory seems somewhat hollow in the face of the pressure of survival.

"Sigh... let's finish this quickly..." The old farmer who spoke first sighed, bent down again, and carefully used his rough fingers to remove a piece of soil and stone that was pressing down on the crops.

For them, the end of the war meant reduced labor, lower food prices, and family reunions.

As for who wins and who loses, unless war directly hits their doorstep, it's far less important than the growth of the crops in the fields.

……

……

In a private room of a street-facing tavern in the eastern part of Chang'an City.

This is where young scholars gather for intellectual discussions.

When news of the great victory in Heluo arrived, the atmosphere in the private room immediately became lively, but the core of the discussion was far removed from the bloodshed on the battlefield.

"Haha! Brother Wang, what do you think? I told you long ago that General Huo Qubing's military tactics were divine, and Cao Zilian was nothing but a brute. Gong County would surely fall!"

A young man dressed in a brocade scholar's robe clapped his hands and laughed, speaking to his slightly embarrassed classmate opposite him.

This young man, dressed in a brocade scholar's robe, had analyzed Cao Hong's advantages in relying on the Gongshui River and earthen ramparts for defense in front of others just half a month ago, expressing his deep concern that the General of Chariots and Cavalry might be in trouble...

Of course, now he seems to have never said those discouraging words, but has accurately predicted the victory of the Flying Cavalry!

Now, the brocade-clad scholars are the supporters of the cavalry, 'challenging' those 'brothers' and others who still refuse to change their rhetoric or stance.

The other young man, addressed as "Brother Wang," blushed slightly but still insisted, "Brother Li, you are mistaken! What I said at the time was that Cao Cao's army held the advantage of terrain, and holding out for the time being might be possible. However, General Huo Qubing's strategic planning, combining orthodox and unorthodox tactics, made breaking through the fortifications inevitable! How could I have been wrong?"

He cleverly shifted the focus, attributing the prediction failure to the so-called "general trend"...

"What 'great trend'?" the scholar in brocade robe persisted. "Why didn't my brother mention it before? Now it's suddenly appeared as if there's a 'great trend'..."

Before the "brother Wang" could offer any insightful opinion, the other person steered the debate on the outcome in a more practical direction.

One man stroked his beard and said, "With the western fortress breached, Gongxian will fall in no time! The General's victory this time, coupled with the newly recovered territory of Heluo, will undoubtedly create a great need for talent! I wonder if the number of positions will be increased this time? Or will new posts be created? We should prepare accordingly!"

His eyes shone brightly, as if he could see the broad road to officialdom.

"Exactly! Exactly! The Heluo Military Colonization Program! Post-war resettlement of displaced people and redistribution of land—this is a great undertaking! If one could serve as a county magistrate or land official within it, the future…"

Some people immediately echoed this.

"I've also heard that the General's workshops have produced new cannons, even more powerful! The number of people required to oversee the manufacture, transport, and register such weapons will likely increase considerably!"

The conversation quickly shifted from the outcome of the battle to predictions and analyses of future official vacancies, as well as a demonstration of each candidate's strengths.

For them, victory meant a possible expansion of their power base and the beginning of a new round of competition.

As for those lives that turned to dust under the earthen mound, they were merely background noise ignored as they calculated their future.

……

……

Within the Chang'an Chamber of Commerce.

Inside the brightly lit hall, several well-dressed and wealthy businessmen sat in a huddle, discussing something in secret. The air was thick with the smell of alcohol and a restless atmosphere of speculation.

"The news is confirmed! The General of Chariots and Cavalry has captured Gongshui, and Gongxian is in sight! His army is about to march straight into the heart of the Central Plains!" A merchant with a goatee lowered his voice, unable to hide his excitement. "This is a divine favor! A divine favor indeed! The General has wiped out the rebel Cao Cao and restored the Han Dynasty. His achievements are unparalleled! How could he possibly remain a mere cavalry commander?"

"Brother Zhang, your insight is brilliant!" another immediately chimed in, his eyes gleaming. "We have all received great favors from the General! Pingyang and Hedong are the places where the General rose to power! On the occasion of this great victory, we should jointly submit a memorial to the Emperor, respectfully requesting that the General be promoted to Duke of Jin! To demonstrate his virtue and to comply with the Mandate of Heaven!"

He deliberately emphasized "Pingyang and Hedong" as if this would allow him to catch the fast train of "following the dragon".

"Yes! Duke Jin! It must be Duke Jin!" Someone slammed his fist on the table, spitting as he spoke with excitement. "We will immediately contact the elders of the prefecture, the local worthies, and renowned scholars to jointly sign the petition! The petition must be written in eloquent prose, clearly stating that this is the request of the people, the inevitable trend of the times! We must let the court, and the whole world, see the sincere loyalty of the people of Pingyang and Hedong!"

"But..." someone hesitated slightly, "I've heard that the General is always modest and dislikes empty fame... He's been politely refused all previous attempts to persuade me to accept the throne..."

"Alas! Times have changed!" the goatee-bearded merchant declared resolutely. "In the past, when our foundation was not yet secure, we naturally had to be humble. Now, with a great victory imminent and our prestige extending throughout the land, if we do not now bestow upon ourselves the Nine Bestowments and elevate ourselves to the rank of Duke, how can we demonstrate our achievements? How can we govern the four directions? Our actions are precisely to relieve the General's worries and to stabilize the realm!"

Lü Buwei's investment in Yiren, a hostage prince of Qin, and his eventual ascension to the throne, paved the way for his own rise to the position of Prime Minister of Qin, Marquis Wenxin, and immense power. This is indeed one of the most successful cases of "political venture capital" in Chinese history. While imitators certainly exist, few have succeeded; in fact, it could be said that Lü Buwei's model is fundamentally impossible to replicate.

However, this does not mean that the collusion between officials and businessmen will end.

Lü Buwei's practice of "bloodline implantation" was common even in later generations.

Investing certainly carries risks.

But such high returns will drive all capital crazy.

For example, the salt merchants of Jiangzhe during the Qing Dynasty infiltrated the power system by bribing officials and marrying into powerful families, forming a monopolistic business network. They directly imitated Lü Buwei's model of binding political and business interests. How many of the Yangzhou "slender horses" followed the same path as Zhao Ji?

Lü Buwei's "Lüshi Chunqiu" set a precedent of "using scholarship to package power," which became a shortcut for many people in later generations to follow. While criticizing money, they engaged in resource exchange and used any means necessary to climb to a high position.

Isn't the United States' massive song and dance troupe some kind of replica of Zhao Ji?
Even the US government itself has been infiltrated by businessmen and has become a tool representing the will of big businessmen and capitalists.

To expand trade routes and connect the Western Regions, the General of the Cavalry also spurred the emergence of a large number of merchants. Now, a speculative feast centered around "urging the emperor to ascend the throne" has quietly begun behind the General of the Cavalry, even before the smoke of war in the Heluo region has cleared.