Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3794 A Heart Consumed by Power, A Desperate Gamble; A Loyal Heart Falls into the Trap.

The greatest advantage of young people is their energy and upward spirit, but this is also where the problem lies.

Cao Pi had been quiet for a while and listened to Chen Qun's advice, but that did not mean that Cao Pi was willing to be a good boy, become Chen Qun's puppet, or a decoration in Ye City.

Cao Pi was well aware of the risks involved in the conflict between Zhang and Zhao beneath the city walls.

Of course!
However, from a political perspective, Cao Pi had to take this risk.

At least that's what he thinks.

After all, Cao Cao had more than one son...

If we continue to defend, even if we manage to survive the calamity, will we be ridiculed for military incompetence and being a coward for the rest of our lives?
This thought, like a venomous snake, would occasionally creep out from the shadows and gnaw at Cao Pi's heart.

He stood atop the tall watchtower of the North Terrace of Ye City, his hand resting on the cold crenellations, his gaze fixed on the distant, sprawling camps of the Flying Cavalry.

The campfires flickered in the night, like the mocking eyes of the enemy.

trap?

He was well aware that it might be a trap.

Chen Qun's analysis was all reasonable. Zhao Yun and Zhang Liao were both veterans of the battlefield. How could they lose their composure when facing a formidable enemy because of a few minor frictions?

The so-called "internal strife" presented to Ye City was somewhat deliberate, even coincidental.

All coincidences are suspicious.

The military books Cao Pi read were not limited to Sun Tzu's Art of War annotated by his father; many of them also admonished generals not to let personal emotions influence their decisions...

But did he have a choice?

Thinking of this, Cao Pi gripped the cold and hard edge of the crenellation tightly, as if using this action to gain 'support'.

At least psychological 'support'...

The Northern Cavalry Army before us is not adept at siege warfare.

In recent days, Zhang Liao and Zhao Yun's damage to Ye City has been limited to the outer fortifications and outposts, and has not caused much damage to the city itself.

The only serious attack occurred in the southern part of the city, and that was commanded by Chen Qun at that time...

This is the key point!

Cao Pi couldn't help but recall that two years earlier, in Xuchang, his father Cao Cao had hosted a banquet for his officials, with his sons in attendance. During the banquet, he asked each of them to compose a poem.

Cao Zhi wielded his brush with great skill and wrote a brilliant piece, winning thunderous applause from the audience.

The father clapped his hands and laughed, his eyes full of admiration.

Cao Pi, on the other hand, only managed to write a poem after much deliberation at the very end, which only earned him a perfunctory "acceptable" from his father.

At that moment, he clearly saw the fleeting smugness on Cao Zhi's lips, and the open or covert mockery from his other brothers.

The title of "Crown Prince" is never permanent...

Cao Pi wasn't the "heir apparent" back then!

Cao Zhi was renowned for his talent, Cao Zhang for his military achievements, and even the young Cao Chong was deeply loved by his father.

And what did Cao Pi have?
If he were to remain in a besieged, isolated city and achieve nothing, how would he face his father when he returned with his troops?
He had let go of these thoughts, or rather, he thought he had let go of them, but like gambling, drugs, and prostitution, once you've been involved, they'll resurface from the shadows at the slightest provocation.

"Is there any news from Ziwen's side?" Cao Pi suddenly asked his trusted confidant behind him in a low voice.

The trusted aide replied in a low voice, "Your Highness... I heard that they recently inflicted a great defeat on mountain bandits on the plains, beheading over a thousand..."

Cao Pi's lips twitched slightly.

See? His good brothers never disappoint him.

Cao Zhang achieved great merit in Pingyuan.
Although Cao Zhi did not defend the city walls while in Ye City, he was able to inspire morale with his poems and essays, earning him the reputation of being "fearless in the face of danger," and his fame among the gentry and celebrities grew ever higher.

He alone was trapped in the city, doing nothing but "holding his ground".

Even those arrangements and deployments in Nancheng were Chen Qun's achievement, not his!
One can imagine that if things continue like this, if they can hold out, it will be due to Chen Qun's skillful command; if they can't, it will be due to Cao Pi's incompetence.

No matter how you look at it, he's the one who's at a disadvantage.

He needed a victory, a victory that belonged to him, Cao Pi.

It doesn't need to be a huge victory, but it must be one that he leads and that he makes the decisions for.

He wanted his father to know that he not only had the ability to defend the city, but also the courage to defeat the enemy.

He wanted to show those hesitant ministers that he, Cao Pi, was not a puppet who would only obey the orders of his advisors.

Ren Jun...

His image flashed through Cao Pi's mind.

Ren Jun is a good man, and extremely loyal.

Such a person is best suited for this kind of dangerous mission...

They won't overthink or ask questions; they'll just bury themselves in execution.

If he succeeded, it was due to Cao Pi's strategic planning; if he failed...

Ren Jun should have died when he was defeated...

Is it cold-hearted?
Maybe.

But that's politics.

Didn't Father also kill people back then, causing the likes of Bian Rang and Kong Rong to die and disappear?
This is how the art of rulership should be.

To achieve great things, how can one be bound by trivial matters?

"Your Highness, Lady Chen requests an audience." The guard's announcement interrupted Cao Pi's thoughts.

Cao Pi took a deep breath, quickly composing himself, and said, "Please come in."

Chen Qun slowly ascended the city wall, his expression still calm and composed. "Your Highness, it is late. Please rest early."

"Your long letter has come at just the right time." Cao Pi turned around, a perfectly timed expression of worry on his face. "I was just observing the enemy camp and noticed some unusual activity from Zhang Liao's troops. Has something happened?"

Cao Pi was still testing the waters, still wanting to win him over.

Chen Qun's gaze lingered on Cao Pi's face for a moment. "The General of the Cavalry is known for its strict discipline. Even if there are disagreements, they won't cause chaos in front of the enemy. Your Highness, I still maintain that holding your ground and awaiting reinforcements is the best strategy."

It's the same old excuse again!

Cao Pi sneered inwardly, but outwardly feigned an expression of understanding: "Changwen's words are quite correct. However... our army has been besieged for too long, our supplies are dwindling, and morale is wavering. If this siege continues, I fear..."

Cao Pi deliberately left the conversation open to observe Chen Qun's reaction.

But the strategist simply shook his head slightly: "Your Highness, rest assured, the Prime Minister will surely make arrangements. Our task is simply to defend Ye City; that alone will be a great achievement."

A great achievement?
Cao Pi almost burst out laughing.

How can the merit of defending a city be compared to the merit of defeating the enemy?

When his father returned and lifted the siege of Ye City, the world would only praise his father for his brilliant military strategy. Who would remember how long Cao Pi had to hold out in this city?
Even if it's a great achievement, it belongs to Chen Qun...

After seeing Chen Qun off, Cao Pi paced alone on the city tower.

The night wind was cold, making his clothes flutter. He remembered his father teaching him and his brothers military strategy when he was a child: "A general must know how to choose and how to discard."

Choices...

Isn't he facing a choice right now?
Ren Jun and hundreds of soldiers risked their lives for a chance to prove themselves.

As for the soldiers who might lose their lives for this...

Cao Pi shook his head vigorously, trying to shake off this weak thought.

Wasn't Father's massacre of Xuzhou and burying of surrendered soldiers also for a greater purpose?
If you want to wear a crown, you must bear its weight.

He understands this.

"Orders must be obeyed; only loyalty matters..."

Cao Pi murmured the words "Shandong," a phrase that was frequently emphasized and seemed like an ironclad rule, a cold smile creeping onto his lips.

Yes, loyalty.

What he needs is this kind of loyalty—loyalty that doesn't question right or wrong, and doesn't consider the cost.

In the distance, the campfires of the Flying Cavalry were still flickering, as if beckoning to him.

No matter how great the risk, he had to give it a try.

This is not only a military adventure, but also a political gamble.

Chen Qun excused himself, saying he needed to inspect the city's defenses, leaving Cao Pi alone pacing restlessly.

"Since you, Chen Changwen, prefer to play it safe, then I will take this risky step!" Cao Pi could not stand by and watch the opportunity slip away.

That night, Cao Pi secretly summoned Ren Jun, the Director of Agriculture.

However, what Cao Pi did not know was that news of his secret meeting with Ren Jun soon reached the ears of Chen Qun, who was still at work, through some channels.

After listening to his confidant's report, Chen Qun stood by the window of his study in his mansion, gazing at the deep night outside. His face showed no surprise, only a deep, bitter smile mixed with indescribable weariness.

"As expected... I'm still young..."

Chen Qun sighed softly. Persuasion was pointless; forcibly stopping him would only lead to a complete break with the Crown Prince, further hindering the defense of the city.

Moreover, deep down, Chen Qun couldn't help but harbor a tiny sliver of hope...

What if I'm overthinking it?

What if there really is an opportunity to take advantage of it?

After a long silence, Chen Qun slowly closed his eyes, as if trying to suppress all his worry and helplessness. Finally, Chen Qun softly instructed: "Tell our men...to strengthen security near the South Gate, but...not to interfere with General Ren's actions."

Chen Qun decided to pretend he knew nothing about the matter.

This is also a helpless and tragic compromise for a subject when facing an obstinate ruler.

Chen Qun buried all his judgments and worries deep in his heart, then secretly prayed that his worries were unnecessary, and that Ren Jun's attack would bring a miracle, rather than...

A disaster.

……

……

The night was as dark as ink, blurring the majestic outline of Ye City.

Ren Jun, the Agricultural Commissioner, turned and looked towards the north city, seemingly sensing Cao Pi's gaze upon him.

Deep and somber.

Ren Jun rubbed his hands together; his palms were calloused from years of supervising the farming and working diligently in agriculture.

He's good at land reclamation, but not at fighting...

The reason he was appointed as a General of the Central Army was not because of his martial achievements, but because he was related to the Cao family.

He couldn't help but wipe his hands on his armor.

A moment later, he couldn't resist wiping it again.

An hour ago, the unquestionable command of Crown Prince Cao Pi still echoed in my ears.

"General Ren, this is my decision! The situation in war changes in an instant; how can anything be guaranteed to be foolproof? I know your loyalty; if this succeeds, you will be the one to achieve the greatest merit in lifting the siege of Ye City!"

Loyalty...

Ren Jun stopped and looked at the deep night outside the city, feeling a bitter taste in his mouth.

He is certainly loyal.

Since the turmoil in Yanzhou, when he gave away all his wealth and gathered hundreds of his clansmen, guests, and retainers to join Cao Cao, his life has been inextricably linked with the Cao family.

He remembered those arduous early years, when Cao Cao patted him on the shoulder and praised him, saying, "Managing agriculture and establishing military farms is the foundation of the state; with ample food supplies, the morale of the army can be stabilized." He didn't understand those profound strategies, nor was he good with words; he only knew that Cao Cao had entrusted him with the important task of establishing military farms, which was a great trust. The only way he could repay Cao Cao was to work diligently, obey orders without question, and be utterly loyal.

He was in charge of land reclamation, water conservancy construction, and the manufacture of military equipment, managing the rear area in an orderly manner and ensuring that the army at the front had no shortage of food and supplies.

Behind the glorious victory of conquering the two Yuan brothers and occupying Ji Province, there was also the sweat of Ren Jun and countless other officials, soldiers, and laborers who worked silently like him.

Welcoming the emperor and establishing the capital in Xuchang was such an exciting moment!
He seemed to see the glory of the Han Dynasty reborn in Cao Cao's hands, and he, Ren Jun, as a member of Cao Cao's army, also shared in the glory.

Back then, Cao Cao's army was united and unstoppable, unlike now...

And last time too.

Warfare is a perilous path.

The crown prince sent him on an extremely dangerous mission...

They took the initiative to launch a surprise attack on the General's camp and attempted to frame Zhao Yun and Zhang Liao for internal strife.

Indeed, he was not a purely civilian official with no military experience.

Even when he was in charge of the military farms, he still had to protect the grain routes and suppress small groups of bandits.

He had indeed fought in battles and seen blood.

But that was before they fought against the Flying Cavalry.

Now he's expected to dance and leap among tigers and leopards...

This level of difficulty was completely beyond his capabilities.

He instinctively felt something was wrong.

How formidable was the Flying Cavalry?

Who were Zhao Yun and Zhang Liao?

Why would they fall into a trap and turn on each other because of a simple sneak attack?

This plan sounds...

You take it for granted.

Ren Jun had tried to express his concerns tactfully: "Your Highness, I believe... Zhao and Zhang are both renowned generals of their time, and they are not easy to deal with. Should we... discuss this plan with Commander Chen again...?"

Before he could finish speaking, Cao Pi impatiently interrupted him.

"Discuss? Discussing with Chen Changwen is tantamount to sitting and waiting for death!" Cao Pi's young face gleamed with a mixture of anxiety and ambition. "General Ren, do you know that Li and Guo were nothing more than brutes from Xiliang, with a motley crew under their command? How could they wreak havoc in Chang'an and hold the court hostage? It wasn't their superior military strength, but rather their internal discord and mutual suspicion, which gave others an opportunity to exploit them! Now, the General of the Cavalry is outwardly strong but inwardly weak, ineffective in attacking cities, and has been stationed outside the city for a long time, which is precisely the time of their anxiety. This is why the conflict between Zhao and Zhang has become apparent! This is exactly the same as the old story of Li and Guo! My plan is to emulate the scheme of Chang'an back then, making them kill each other! Once those two fight, our army can reap the benefits! General Ren, you only need to follow the plan, and success will surely be achieved!"

Really?

Ren Jun listened, somewhat bewildered.

Li and Guo had indeed been fighting each other before, but he always felt that the Crown Prince's analogy was a bit far-fetched.

The Flying Cavalry Army was disciplined and Fei Qian was good at managing his subordinates. How could they be compared to the chaotic Xiliang soldiers of that year?
Even if Zhao Yun and Zhang Liao had disagreements, how could they easily fall into such an obvious trap?

However, faced with the Crown Prince's burning gaze and expectations of "first merit" and "loyalty," his worries based on simple experience and intuition seemed so pale and powerless.

What could he say?
Should we directly question the Crown Prince's judgment and this seemingly "brilliant" plan?

He didn't understand the intricate political maneuvering and deep strategic games; he only knew that when the superior gave an order, he, as a subordinate, should obey.

Orders must be obeyed; only loyalty will suffice.

This has always been his belief, and it is the foundation upon which he has secured his position within the Cao Group.

Oppose?

What grounds does he have to object?
How could he dare to object?
Even someone as wise as Chen Lingjun couldn't dissuade the Crown Prince.
What can Ren Jun, a general known for his expertise in land reclamation and practical matters, do?
"This humble general... obeys."

Finally, he squeezed out those four words from the depths of his throat, as if he had used up all his strength. At that moment, he felt a deep sense of powerlessness, as if he were being swept away by an invisible torrent, rushing towards an unknown and dangerous abyss.

"General, everything is ready..."

The guards came to report.

Ren Jun's heart skipped a beat.

The city gate hinges were coated with grease, so they didn't make a loud noise when pulled open, but the pitch-black outside seemed poised to devour everything...

Including hope.

He recalled his early days serving Cao Cao, when military supplies were scarce. He shared weal and woe with his men, personally going to the fields to supervise production, watching the millet grow taller day by day. Those were times filled with hope…

He recalled how, before the Battle of Guandu, the agricultural settlements he was in charge of provided solid logistical support for the army. Cao Cao had personally written a letter of commendation, praising him for his "meritorious service to the nation." At that time, there was also a great deal of hope...

At that time, although he was busy and working hard, he felt fulfilled and determined because he knew what he was doing, knew that his efforts were valuable, and that they were for a clear goal—

He assisted Cao Cao in pacifying the world and restoring the Han Dynasty.

But now?

Beneath the walls of Ye City, the Crown Prince's urgent and risky plan...

Everything made him feel unfamiliar and uneasy.

He felt as if he were in a fog, unable to see the direction, and could only passively follow the vague instructions.

Loyalty, at this moment, became so heavy that it almost crushed his spine.

"Is everything ready?" Ren Jun noticed his voice was a little hoarse. "Check it one more time... make sure everything is perfect..."

The guard responded and turned to leave.

What are you checking?
Actually, not too many checks are needed.

The Flying Cavalry and Cao Cao's army originally belonged to the Han Dynasty system, and some of their armor and flags were quite similar. Therefore, all that was needed was to prepare some temporarily collected mixed-color flags and some similar armor to disguise them as those used by Zhang Liao's Flying Cavalry.

Ren Jun's request for a re-examination was merely an attempt to appear as if everything was handled in an orderly manner, and to use familiar practical work to dispel the confusion and fear in his heart.

Perhaps, as long as we do what we're told to do as usual, we can get through this difficult time?

That was the only way he could console himself.

"Orders must be obeyed without question; only loyalty will suffice."

He silently repeated these eight words in his heart over and over again, as if they were the only belief that could support him to keep going.

The inspection ended quickly, and Ren Jun had no reason to delay any longer. And the imagined "General, please wait!" at the last minute ultimately did not occur.

Should we run away?

He's already escaped once...

Will it drop?

The mark of the Cao family is too deep on him...

Ren Jun took a deep breath, trying to make his voice sound calm: "By order of the Crown Prince, we will march out of the city tonight to defeat the enemy! Gentlemen, you must fight bravely and display the might of our army!"

Without much mobilization, he didn't know how to explain this complex and bizarre operation.

He simply followed the Crown Prince's plan, ordering the troops to slip out silently from the south gate.

Night is the best cover.

Ren Jun led his troops, bypassing possible scouts, and headed straight for the designated target...

A sentry post and camp on the outskirts of Zhao Yun's cavalry unit.

Before they got close, they quickly changed into prepared multicolored flags and some insignia similar to those of Zhang Liao's tribe...