Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3761 If the people abandon their rulers, what else is there but destruction?

All the changes seemed to happen naturally.

For many of Cao Cao's troops, especially some of his former Qingzhou soldiers and some undisciplined units, the war was largely a massive plundering operation.

The interests and loyalty of Cao Cao's soldiers were largely tied to the promise of "allowing looting".

Cao Cao rose to power in Yanzhou and fought in all directions. In many cases, he had to rely on this kind of primitive self-interest to maintain the cohesion and combat effectiveness of his army.

As the saying goes, "An army marches on its stomach," if supplies are insufficient, then plundering becomes the norm, and even a tacitly approved incentive.

Meanwhile, Cao Cao's high-level strategic objective in this campaign against the Yellow River and Luo River regions was destruction and devastation. At the lower levels of execution, this strategic intent could easily have morphed into unbridled burning, killing, and looting.

At this point, on Cao Cao's strategic chessboard, the people of Heluo were not people whose hearts needed to be won over, but rather "liabilities" that needed to be eliminated, as they might aid the enemy in the future. Therefore, it didn't matter how many Heluo people died; for Cao Cao, it was like purifying society.

Even many of these people from Heluo were originally from Shandong.

After all, these people no longer pay taxes to Cao Cao's army or to Shandong...

Therefore, the logic behind Cao Cao's actions is consistent with that of the massacre in Xuzhou.

Through extreme terror and destruction, destroy the enemy's war potential and intimidate all potential rebels.

Cao Jun previously achieved good results using this method.

The army under General Fei Qian underwent several years of reform and reshaping, and its core military ideology was deeply influenced by the concept of "people-oriented governance".

Fei Qian vigorously promoted military and civilian settlements, emphasizing the army's self-sufficiency and protection of production.

The army's food and pay supply gradually became more systematic, and its reliance on plundering civilians decreased significantly.

More importantly, the rule of the Fei Qian group in the Heluo region was based on restoring order, developing production, granting land, and reducing taxes and corvée labor. Many of the lower and middle-ranking officers and even soldiers of the Flying Cavalry Army were themselves beneficiaries of these policies, and their homes and lands originated from this new system.

Protecting the people is, to some extent, protecting themselves and the community of interests they belong to.

On a deeper level, this is a difference in political ideology.

Cao Cao's actions were more characteristic of Legalist hegemony; he was willing to use any means to achieve his strategic goals, and the suffering of the people was a calculable cost in his grand scheme. Fei Qian, on the other hand, attempted to build a new order in the He-Luo region, an order that emphasized production, distribution, and protection. His army was not only a tool for fighting but also entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding this order.

Therefore, when Du Ji and Huang Zhong saw the people being slaughtered and the fields being destroyed, they saw not only the tragic scene, but also the enemy frantically destroying the "new order" that their lord was trying to establish and that they had become accustomed to and begun to accept.

The anger of Du Ji and others, as well as the officers of the cavalry, stemmed not only from instinctive human compassion, but also from a collective anger at the destruction of their homes and the trampling of their careers.

Therefore, for the cavalry detachment, rescuing civilians and protecting farmland quickly escalated from an unconscious moral choice into a conscious military and political mission.

In the process of rescuing the people of Heluo, they formed a fusion of resistance against aggression and defense of the safety of the people of Heluo!

Faced with the hard work of their crops, the people of Heluo, even those originally from Shandong, gradually began to side with the Flying Cavalry...

This was something even Zao Zhi might not have fully anticipated. The "chess pieces" he sent out to delay the enemy naturally became the key force in saving the life of the Heluo region and thwarting Cao Cao's scorched earth strategy due to the inherent attributes of his army.

When ordinary people truly sense who is good and who is bad, they will instinctively make their choices.

Although most of these people are not good at speaking.

Everything is quietly changing.

This subtle difference stems from the fundamental difference in ideology between the two sides, and will largely determine the fate of the Heluo region and the support of the people after this battle.

The battlefield was no longer a clear battle line, but a completely jagged and intertwined mess.

Every burning village, every road billowing with smoke, could instantly erupt into a life-or-death struggle.

Cao Cao's sabotage plan did indeed cause enormous disaster, leaving the Heluo region scarred and devastated. However, the "chain of exhausted enemies" dispatched by Zao Zhi inadvertently played the role of a fire brigade. They could not stop all the destruction, but within their capabilities, they saved countless lives, recovered some supplies, and made Cao Cao's sabotage squads pay a bloody price, making him hesitant to divide his forces too recklessly and causing him to act more cautiously. This also forced Cao Cao to change his tactics and strategies...

……

……

Chang'an, the General's Office.

Xun You was saying to Fei Zhen, "Han Feizi said, 'Those who rely on ghosts and spirits are negligent in their duties to the law; those who rely on feudal lords endanger their states.' The key to the situation in the Heluo region today lies precisely in this 'reliance'."

Fei Zhen frowned and said, "Zao Zijing?"

Xun You nodded, "Indeed. There are also people from Shandong."

Fei Zhen asked, "Why?"

"Zijing's achievement lies in benevolence, yet benevolence alone is not enough to inspire fear," Xun You said slowly, his expression somewhat helpless. "According to investigations by the authorities, many are hiding in the Heluo region, yet the people of Shandong do not report this."

Fei Zhen seemed to be deep in thought.

"As the saying goes, 'He who foresees the strategy of both direct and indirect approaches will prevail.'" Xun You said slowly, "Direct approaches are dangerous, difficult, and thorny. Indirect approaches are circuitous, perplexing, and slow. Direct approaches are not truly direct, and indirect approaches are not truly indirect. One must foresee these differences beforehand to devise a strategy for victory. My lord's plan is based on this."

"But what Gongda said was that Zijing... was too kind?" Fei Zhen asked.

Xun You nodded and said, "Therefore, we should have others assist him."

"Lord Du?" Fei Zhen suddenly realized.

Xun You nodded and said, "This is one point."

Fei Zhen's eyes darted around a few times. "And...Sima Zhongda?"

Xun You smiled and said, "Sima Zhongda is good at making decisions and knows how to be direct rather than indirect; Zao Zijing is good at guarding his principles and understands gains and losses. Only by complementing each other can we achieve the great work of craftsman and stonemason."

Before he finished speaking, a messenger rushed over with an urgent report from 800 li away.

Xun You unfolded the document and nodded slightly: "Zao Zijing has already ordered the harvesting of crops in the He and Luo regions."

Xun You handed the urgent report to Fei Zhen and asked, "Does the young master know why Zijing previously ordered him to accept the bribe but he refused, and why he made that decision this time?"

Fei Zhen pondered for a moment: "The crops are almost ripe, and if we harvest them now, the people will resent us. We have already lost Yique; there is nowhere left to retreat."

"Excellent!" Xun You said with approval in his eyes. "The *Guanzi* says, 'The people are happy when given something, and angry when it is taken from them.' This is exactly the point. Now that Cao Cao's army is destroying and burning everywhere, the people are mostly afraid, so they naturally have no complaints."

……

……

Fear alone is not enough.

Because there are many types of fear, and sometimes they are mixed together, it's hard to know exactly what they are...

Even now, despite news of Cao Cao's army causing destruction everywhere and witnessing firsthand the civilians killed or wounded by Cao Cao's army, there are still some people who are unwilling to harvest their crops ahead of time and are blocking the cavalry from taking action.

You could say these people are short-sighted, or you could say they are ignorant, but it is undeniable that they have a deep and simple affection for the crops they have worked so hard to cultivate.

They are reluctant to do so.

In a little while, the crops will be fully filled with grain and mature. Harvesting now means that even if they finish harvesting, there will be a significant loss.

The old farmer knelt on the ground, weeping bitterly, and pleaded before Zao Zhi, "My lord! Please wait five more days, five days... if that's not enough, wait three more days, even three days will do!"

Zao Zhi didn't scold him, but instead stepped forward and helped the old farmer up, his voice choked with emotion: "Old man, please look—" Zao Zhi pointed to the black smoke rising in the distance over the Heluo Plain, "It's not that we don't want it to ripen, but Cao Cao's army is like locusts, destroying everything in their path! If we harvest ten bushels now, we can still save some for planting; if we wait until tomorrow, it will all become the enemy's resources!"

The old farmer wept uncontrollably, speechless with grief.

Zao Zhi had someone deliver a wooden plaque, which he personally handed to the old farmer, saying, "Today, we are confiscating your land, sir, at a rate of three shi per mu. After the war, you may use this plaque to claim your land!"

The old farmer was shocked. "My fields can't even yield three bushels per mu!"

Zao Zhi waved his hand and said, "Now that I have taken your food and clothing, how can I not repay you? You need not refuse."

The old farmer looked at Zao Zhi and remembered how Zao Zhi had helped them with farming and guided them in planting. Looking at the wooden sign in his hand, he could only shake his head and sigh repeatedly. He no longer insisted and was helped to the side of the road by Zao Zhi.

If it were someone else, without the prior effort, how could there be the emotional support in the present moment?

Zao Zhi waved his hand, and the harvest could finally resume.

……

……

On the other hand, the battles that Zao Zhi dispatched, led by Huang Zhong and others, inadvertently amplified the advantages of the Flying Cavalry, namely the role of elite soldiers.

The smaller the scale of the battle, the greater the impact of the quality of individual soldiers, or their "eliteness," on the outcome.

The Heluo region was a relatively wide and well-connected battlefield, at least much wider than the passes.

In this battlefield, Cao Cao's tactic of destroying production in the Heluo region was precisely countered by Zao Zhi's "exhaustion" tactic. This was because the troops dispatched by Cao Cao's army were scattered and small-scale.

In small-scale battles, typically involving hundreds of soldiers, the commanding general can easily ensure that his orders reach every single soldier, and tactical intentions can be executed swiftly. In such situations, the quality of each "part" of the war machine—the soldiers' skills, courage, experience, and on-the-spot reactions—directly determines the war machine's combat effectiveness.

Conversely, in large-scale battles involving tens of thousands of soldiers, the commander's orders must be relayed through multiple levels of officers and military academies before reaching the lowest-ranking soldiers. In this process, delays, distortions, and misinterpretations of information are fatal. Maintaining formation, maneuvering troops, and seizing the opportune moment are far more important than the bravery of individual soldiers. The scope for a soldier to demonstrate their individual martial prowess is very limited.

Of course, we can't rule out the possibility of a low-probability event like Guan Yu capturing a general and seizing a flag...

In large-scale battles, tactics focus on macro-level planning, such as "heavy infantry holding the line on the front, with cavalry flanking from both sides." Individual maneuvering space is very limited because there are people all around. The battle is more like a push and wear down between two phalanxes.

When Huang Zhong and his men engaged in battle with Cao Cao's small forces, the location of the battle was uncertain and could occur at any time, such as in a river, forest, village entrance, or ferry crossing...

Elite soldiers can fully utilize the terrain, leveraging their superior combat skills, physical strength, and richer combat experience. Soldiers can execute more complex tactical maneuvers, such as seamless teamwork, precise long-range shooting, and flexible flanking maneuvers. Here, qualitative superiority cannot be easily offset by quantity. A battle-hardened veteran might easily take on three to five ordinary peasant soldiers with minimal losses.

At the same time, the logistical and equipment advantages of the Flying Cavalry also helped Du Ji and Huang Zhong increase their chances of winning small-scale battles.

Better armor, better weapons, and better logistical support meant that the cavalry would incur significantly higher training and time costs, but they reaped the full rewards in this small-scale skirmish.

Large-scale operations dilute the importance of the individual, while small-scale operations amplify the value of the individual.

Although Zao Zhi's military prowess was inferior to Cao Cao's, his actions in the Heluo region this time, due to the special circumstances at the time, amplified the fighting power of the Flying Cavalry. They not only fought Cao Cao's tactics to a standstill, but even gained a slight advantage, causing Cao Cao a great deal of trouble.

……

……

As soon as Sima Yi and Wang Chang returned from Taigu Pass, Zao Zhi summoned them to his side. Pointing to the ripe and nearly ripe wheat and millet fields outside the city, he said in a heavy and urgent tone: "Zhongda, the survival of Luoyang depends not only on weapons, but also on provisions. If Cao Cao's army arrives, the crops here will not be our food, but rather the enemy's supplies! I must seize them! We must bring all the ripe and nearly ripe grain nearby into the city before Cao Cao's iron hooves trample the city! This matter is of utmost importance, and only someone as meticulous as Zhongda and Wen Shu can plan and manage it so effectively."

Sima Yi and Wang Chang did not hesitate at all and immediately accepted the order. Together with Zao Zhi, they coordinated the ratio of soldiers to farmers and launched a harvest campaign.

This is a life-or-death struggle that is even more crucial than a direct confrontation.

The four gates of Luoyang were wide open, and it wasn't just soldiers entering and leaving, but a flood of harvest teams, a mixture of soldiers and civilians, poured out and rushed into the fields of the Heluo Plain. Golden waves of wheat rippled in the autumn wind, a scene that should have been one of joyful harvest, but was instead filled with an unprecedented tension.

The harvesting army, like migrating worker ants, bustled between the fields and roads, the cold gleam of sickles and the golden grains weaving together a grand yet anxious scene.

A constant stream of carts and horses carried the heavy loads of grain back to the city's enormous granaries.

All the open spaces in the city were put to use as places for threshing grain and drying millet.

"Harvest quickly! Harvest quickly! Once we've collected the grain and entered the city, the General of the Cavalry will be back! We still have hope!"

"We can't leave this to that traitor Cao!"

"We worked so hard to grow them, we can't just let them go to waste!"

Despite the exhaustion from continuous hard work, everyone persevered, their backs soaked with sweat.

Soldiers helped the elderly carry their grain sacks, while women and children gleaned grain at the edge of the field. For a moment, a special sense of solidarity and mutual support was evident.

However, even under such circumstances, there will still be some who actively or passively "sing a different tune"...

"These millet ears aren't fully ripe yet. If we harvest them now, how much less will we get!"

"The government always makes it sound so easy. After they harvest the grain, will the compensation they give be enough to last until next year?"

"I'm counting on this little bit of food to get through the winter... and now it's all gone together, what will happen then..."

Farmers whose fields are far from the city and who are at the back of the harvesting schedule have even more concerns.

Some of them dawdled, were unwilling, and some even secretly hid food.

This fertile ground of reluctance and grievances became the breeding ground for Cao Cao's spies and internal collaborators...

The contest takes place not only in the sunlight but also in the darkness; it involves not only bloodshed on the front lines but also sordid acts behind the scenes.

……

……

Xun You put down the urgent report, then turned to Fei Zhen and said slowly, "Young Master, observing this Heluo chess game, do you understand its key points?"

Fei Zhen pondered for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "This student is dull-witted, but has gained some insight. Cao Mengde's actions resemble Bai Qi's massacre of his soldiers at Changping; his methods were cruel and his momentum overwhelming, yet his heart was not steadfast, and his people did not follow him."

Xun You nodded slightly, his eyes showing approval: "It is good that you, my lord, have seen this. However, you have not yet grasped the whole picture. Sun Tzu's *The Art of War* says, 'The Way is to make the people and their ruler of one mind, so that they will follow him to death, to live with him, and without fear of danger.' Cao Mengde seized power by force and schemed with cunning, but his 'Way' lies in destruction, not in construction; in ruin, not in achievement. The people of the Heluo region, formerly subjects of Shandong, are now subjects under my rule. Their loyalty will not change overnight."

Xun You slightly raised his head, gazing eastward, as if piercing through layers of buildings to see the smoke of war in the Heluo region. "When Duke Huan of Qi attacked Chu, he rebuked them for 'not bringing in the bundled reeds.' Was it truly about the bundled reeds? He was rebuking them for not respecting the king's 'way' of repelling barbarians. Now, Cao Cao destroys fields and slaughters people; though he gains temporary advantage, he loses the hopes of the people. Our army protects the fields and safeguards the people; though we lose a temporary opportunity, we win the hearts of the people. The gains and losses of this 'way' cannot be measured by the advance or retreat of a single city or territory on the battlefield."

Fei Zhen seemed to understand something and said, "Do you mean that although Cao Mengde gained the strategic advantage of Yique, he lost the hearts of the people of Heluo? And although our army lost the fortified passes, we gained the support of the people?"

"Indeed," Xun You clapped his hands. "Mencius said, 'Those who follow the Way receive much help; those who stray from the Way receive little help.' When help is scarce, even relatives turn against them; when help is abundant, the whole world submits. Cao Cao, with his troops from Shandong, attacked the people of the Yellow River and Luo River regions. His actions were unjust, and although his army was large, his strength was truly isolated. Although Zijing, Bohou, and Hansheng fought with fewer troops against a larger force, they repeatedly thwarted the enemy's advance because they protected the people and crops, and acted in accordance with the Way of Heaven and the hearts of the people. This was not merely due to the soldiers' bravery, but truly because of the 'Way' they embodied."

Xun You paused, then continued, "My lord, consider this: Huang Hansheng, though over sixty, can still gallop across the battlefield, slaying generals and capturing flags; Du Bohou, a mere scholar, can also devise ambushes and defeat the enemy; and the Colonel, originally from an old clan in Hongnong, now serves me to the death. Why is this so? Once this 'way' is established, the entire army will be of one mind, with everyone sharing the same desires. How could Cao Mengde possibly defeat us with mere inducements?"

Fei Zhen's eyes gleamed, clearly deeply moved: "I understand now. The Qin Emperor, having unified the six kingdoms, was indeed a formidable ruler, yet his excessive corvée labor and harsh laws led to his downfall after only two generations. Emperor Gaozu, upon entering Guanzhong, established the Three Laws, abolishing the Qin's oppressive policies, thus winning the hearts of the people and stabilizing the realm. Now, Cao Cao's actions resemble the tyranny of Qin without realizing it; Father's policies are close to Gaozu's, but even surpass them. Previously, I only observed their battles on the battlefield, failing to consider the underlying morality and the hearts of the people; my understanding was truly shallow."

Xun You smiled and said, “My lord, it is truly admirable that you have grasped the principles of rise and fall throughout history. Lao Tzu said, ‘Govern the state with righteousness, and wage war with unorthodox tactics.’ Governing a state requires righteousness, establishing the Way, and clarifying virtue; waging war can employ unorthodox tactics, devising strategies, and implementing plans. However, war is ultimately a tool for extending the reach of governance. This conflict between the Yellow River and Luo River regions, seemingly a clash of swords, is in reality a clash of different ways of governing. Cao Cao seeks to destroy our foundations with his hegemonic methods, while you, my lord, protect the people and their livelihoods with your benevolent rule. The difference in their approaches is already becoming apparent.”

Xun You concluded solemnly: "Therefore, those who govern must not fail to examine the fundamental principles of the 'Way.' All major military and political affairs originate from and return to this. When you, my lord, inherit this great cause, you must always remember: victory or defeat on the battlefield may be decided in a moment; but the survival or decay of the 'Way' concerns all generations. This is the profound meaning of our lord's words. I have only briefly discussed it today; my lord should ponder it carefully."

Fei Zhen straightened his clothes and respectfully bowed deeply to Xun You: "Sir, your teachings today are like the sun breaking through the clouds; I have benefited immensely and will surely remember them, carefully considering and diligently practicing them!"

During the Eastern Han Dynasty, ordinary passes like Yique Pass were usually garrisoned by several hundred soldiers, while during special periods or at important passes, the number could reach around a thousand. The exact number varied depending on the situation, the importance of the pass, and the control of the imperial court.

Furthermore, Ma Hou wasn't quite sure what the term "elite" meant. He wondered if, for some people who felt they were always getting beaten down, it might be equated with warriors like the "300 Spartans" from the movies...

For the sake of entertainment, the movie portrays a small group of people, claiming that 300 could resist an army of a million, but in reality, the defenders at Thermopylae numbered at least seven thousand. Moreover, during the retreat, over a thousand died covering the retreat, including the three hundred Spartans.