Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3825 The People's Misinformation
Heluo.

Luoyang.

The chill of late autumn seemed to have permeated every corner of this land.

Even with a brazier nearby, Cao Cao still felt an unbearable chill.

On the table were military reports sent from various parties.

The flickering candlelight illuminated his ever-changing expression.

The most important military report was naturally the urgent message sent by Xun Yu from the Shaanxi-Jin Ferry.

The deep anxiety and urgent warning conveyed between the lines are palpable.

Those individual ink characters were like tiny hammers striking Cao Cao's head, causing him a terrible headache.

"Wenruo issued a warning..."

A feint?

Is this a covert attempt to build a pontoon bridge?

Cao Cao knew that Xun Yu wouldn't speak without reason, nor would he fabricate military intelligence. The reason he sent the urgent message must be because Xun Yu had noticed something...

The problem is, even Xun Yu couldn't determine where "Chencang" was.
Is it in Mengjin or Xiaopingjin? But there are no warning signs in Mengjin or Xiaopingjin.

So it was at Baima Guandu?

Or perhaps in…

Cao Cao's gaze fell upon the other military reports on the table, his brows furrowing deeply.

Where is Chencang...?

Perhaps placing Xun Yu in Shaanxi and Tianjin was not a wise arrangement.

After all, if Xun Yu were in the central camp in the Heluo region, the reports sent from other places might have given him some inspiration, and he might have been able to discover some secrets that Cao Cao had failed to find in seemingly ordinary news.

The problem is, Shaanxi and Tianjin can only send Xun Yu...

Han Hao is going to Xiaopingjin and Mengjin, and Dian Wei must stay by his side. More importantly, Xun Chen is currently in charge of Hedong...

Xun Yu must pass this test before Cao Cao can truly trust him.

otherwise……

Not only did Hedong have Xun Chen, but Guanzhong also had Xun You.

Who knows if leaving Xun Yu in the central army camp will lead him to send out some messages at some point...

Cao Cao certainly trusted Xun Yu, but what if something went wrong?
So this letter...

An indescribable sense of tension crept up Cao Cao's back, making his hair stand on end.

He stood up, put his hands behind his back, and paced back and forth in the tent, quickly calculating and carefully weighing the options in his mind.

"Leaving aside Wenruo for now...where exactly is the main force of the Flying Cavalry?" This thought rose again in Cao Cao's mind. "Is the Heluo region a trap set by the Flying Cavalry?"

Cao Cao had suspected this matter before at Yique Pass, and only after confirming it repeatedly did he lead his troops into the Heluo region. But now he's starting to have doubts again...

His first suspicion was based on the news that had been sent back from Ji Province regarding the discovery of the movement of the Flying Cavalry.

The reports were detailed and detailed, describing the banners and scale of the Flying Cavalry, the fall of cities, and even records of battles with the Flying Cavalry. This convinced him that Fei Qian's main force had marched into Ji Province. This gave Cao Cao the time and confidence to attack the Heluo region and even plan a counterattack.

But now it seems...

What if those guys from Ji Province, in collusion with the Flying Cavalry, spread false information, feigning resistance while actually surrendering?

"If the news from Ji Province is false..." A cold glint flashed in Cao Cao's eyes, "then it is Fei Ziyuan who deliberately set up the gongs and drums in Ji Province to mislead me!"

Cao Cao immediately pulled out a map from the side of the table and spread it out, his eyes sweeping over the mountains, rivers, cities, and passes.

"If the main force of the Generalissimo's cavalry is not in Ji Province, is it in Guanzhong?"

This was what Cao Cao was most worried about.

However, when Cao Cao's gaze fell on Tong Pass, he shook his head again.

Xiahou Wei's probing attempts over the past few days, though thwarted, have not prompted a large-scale offensive by the garrison at Tong Pass. If Guanzhong is indeed where the Flying Cavalry's main force is stationed, why would they be so conservative?
Moreover, the key point is that if Fei Qian hides his army in Guanzhong, then as soon as the Flying Cavalry army marches out of Tongguan, Cao Cao will immediately run away.

From Tongguan to Luoyang, the distance was neither long nor short. Along the way, from Xin'an in Shanxian County, through the abandoned Hangu Pass, to Luoyang, there were beacon towers and watchtowers set up by Cao Cao. As soon as the smoke signaled, Cao Cao would know immediately.

However, the Tongguan garrison never showed any intention of launching a large-scale offensive. If they really had a large force stockpiled, why were they so conservative?
Cao Cao pondered for a moment and felt that the possibility of Fei Qian leading his army back to Guanzhong was too small.

Guanzhong was indeed Fei Qian's stronghold, so it was only natural to leave a large force there. However, if all his main forces were placed in Guanzhong, not only would Hedong be left vulnerable, but it would also not be in accordance with the principles of warfare.

So, is it in Hedong?
Cao Cao then turned his gaze to Hedong.

"Wenruo said that the enemy on the other side were mostly newly recruited soldiers, whose skills were still developing..."

"If the main force of the Generalissimo's cavalry were truly in Hedong, why would they need to appear so weak?"

"No, is this a trap?"

"That's even more unreasonable. The General of the Cavalry is now very powerful, and Wenruo is not a reckless person. A strategy of luring the enemy... would be to directly send elite troops to thunderously overwhelm the border and force a crossing of the river. How could Wenruo possibly withstand that? To say it's a tactic of luring the enemy doesn't make sense."

Cao Cao pondered and rejected several of the inferences.

Hedong and Guanzhong are closely connected, so there must be some troops stationed there, without a doubt. However, to say that Fei Qian personally led the main force to hide there, but used new recruits to put on a show, would be too pedantic and not like Fei Qian's usual style of military operations.

Furthermore, according to the information provided by Xun Yu, the purpose of the pontoon bridges built by the Flying Cavalry in Hedong was to allow wood chips and debris to float downstream. Therefore, the most likely location for the Flying Cavalry is in Hanoi...

Indeed, south of Hanoi lies Luoyang. Crossing the river and over the Beiman Mountain, one can directly appear north of Luoyang.

Cao Cao then turned his gaze to Mengjin and Xiaopingjin on the map.

The problem was that after receiving Xun Yu's message, Cao Cao immediately sent people to Mengjin and Xiaopingjin to investigate, but found nothing unusual and no large-scale troop movements were discovered...

Small units can indeed evade detection by sentries by hiding during the day and moving at night, but large units certainly cannot conceal their movements.

If the cavalry force were to gather at the Mengjin and Xiaopingjin ferry crossings, intending to break through from these two points, how could there be no movement?

Cao Cao once again denied this possibility.

If Fei Qian were to return from Jizhou to Hanoi, it would mean that Fei Qian had received a 'signal' from Hedong. The troops would need time to regroup, and Fei Qian might not be willing to do so.

Cao Cao couldn't help but sneer.

Power is like a power, and so is interest.

Power allows people to quickly gain obedience and resources, and this pleasure can easily lead to dependence. The experience of power activates the brain's reward center, creating a sense of pleasure and satisfaction, which makes people constantly seek more power, demonstrate the utility of power, replicate this feeling, and then become addicted to it.

Money, land, and various tangible and intangible assets, along with their associated benefits, are similar to this dopamine 'reward'.

The key point is that power rarely exists in isolation.

Even if Fei Qian has such strong willpower and decisiveness that he can give up the Ji Province he has already conquered, would the generals and soldiers under Fei Qian's command be willing to do so?
Cao Cao thought of Xuzhou.

It was indeed Cao Cao who issued the order, but it was not Cao Cao who couldn't stop himself.

Of course, Cao Cao should take the blame, since he was the commander. But now, will Fei Qian also be blamed for this?
Cao Cao pondered.

There were Cao Cao's sentries around Luoyang, especially in the Guanzhong Plain, Hedong and Henei areas, as well as at Sishui Pass. If the Flying Cavalry Army were to move around, it would inevitably be detected by Cao Cao.

"Could it be that the cavalry will emerge from underground?"

Cao Cao's thoughts were in turmoil.

The more I deduced, the more shrouded in mystery I felt.

Fei Qian's military tactics were always unpredictable, often catching opponents off guard.

This time, where did Fei Qian, Fei Ziyuan, hide his true blade? Xun Yu's warning was like a thorn, piercing Cao Cao's heart and back, making him uneasy. He felt as if he were on a giant chessboard, his opponent making unpredictable moves, while he himself could not see through their strategy.

This feeling……

"Guards!" Cao Cao shouted in a deep voice.

A servant entered in response and bowed to receive the order.

"Immediately issue the order! Select scouts on horseback, dispatch them overnight, eastward from Sishui Pass to Yanzhou and Yuzhou, to thoroughly investigate any unusual movements of the Flying Cavalry. Inquire carefully at all passes and cities along the way; report back immediately at the slightest clue! There must be no error!"

Cao Cao spoke very quickly, and his orders were clear and stern.

"Yes, sir!"

The attendant received the order and hurried away.

Once again, only Cao Cao remained in the large tent.

He returned to his desk, picked up Xun Yu's letter, and read it again. He knew Xun Yu wouldn't speak without reason; this warning must have some basis. But Cao Cao, too, had his own judgment and pride.

He absolutely did not believe that Fei Qian would truly place so-called "benevolence and righteousness" above the outcome of war.

In Cao Cao's deeply ingrained belief, the struggle for supremacy was a brutal game of life and death, and benevolence and morality were merely tools to be used for embellishment and manipulation.

"Fei Qian, Fei Ziyuan... what exactly do you intend to do?"

Cao Cao frowned and muttered to himself.

This gamble involves the Han Dynasty, the Emperor, and the future of the entire Shandong Central Plains!
This war is destined to be long and arduous!
Cao Cao was like a caged beast, keenly sensing danger but unable to determine the direction from which the fatal attack would come. He could only tense up and vigilantly watch the surrounding darkness.

Various speculations, doubts, and worries clashed in his mind as he tried to piece together the true location and intentions of the cavalry army from the chaotic information...

Outside the tent, the sky was still as dark as ink, and dawn was still far away.

Cao Cao was wide awake. He dismissed his attendants and faced the map alone, pondering deeply, as if trying to memorize the mountains, rivers, cities, and passes, and then find the true direction from which the Flying Cavalry would attack.

The more he thought about it, the more complicated it seemed, and the more possibilities there were. In the end, the anxiety brought about by long periods of contemplation and uncertainty made Cao Cao feel increasingly tired, and his headache became more and more obvious. However, his unwillingness and stubborn doubt made Cao Cao grit his teeth and persevere.

Cao Cao forced himself to calm down and think about it from a different perspective—

If he were Fei Qian, with such superior forces, especially that formidable cavalry, what choice would he make?

"If I were Fei Ziyuan..."

Cao Cao's gaze swept across the map, finally settling on the vast plains of Ji, Yan, and Yu provinces.

"The Bingliang cavalry are the most valiant in the land, unparalleled in open battle. Having obtained such a sharp weapon, how can it be kept hidden in its sheath, deployed in the rugged mountain passes of Guanzhong and Hedong, to fight the enemy city-to-city, thus wearing down their fighting spirit?"

Cao Cao shook his head slightly.

If he had as many elite cavalry as Fei Qian, even if it was only half of his number...

Cao Cao had estimated the number of Fei Qian's cavalry many times, but the exact number remained a mystery.

Regardless, Cao Cao estimated that the Flying Cavalry had at least 30,000 men!

Of course, there could be even more, but if it gets any more...

Cao Cao really hoped that Fei Qian would raise an army without restraint, like Dong Zhuo, absorbing countless Hu cavalrymen, and forming a huge, difficult-to-control, even sluggish cavalry group with Qiang, Xiongnu, Xianbei, Wuhuan and other people.

Then they completely bankrupted Fei Qian and emptied Guanzhong...

Unfortunately, Fei Qian only selected the elite, and only wanted the elite.

There were some battle losses, and some supplies were also replenished.

This meant that Fiji's economy in Guanzhong did not suffer enormous pressure...

Thinking of this, Cao Cao couldn't help but feel a little dazed. If only he had chosen the "elite" troops back then, instead of swallowing up 300,000 Qingzhou soldiers in one fell swoop...

Three hundred thousand Qingzhou soldiers are no match for thirty thousand elite cavalry, yet they need to feed three hundred thousand people…

Cao Cao sighed softly and shook his head.

At that time, he had no choice, nor was he allowed to choose.

Cao Cao refocused his attention, pondering, his finger slowly sliding across the map.

Before the great battle, most of the cavalry were stationed in Hedong, Yinbei, Longyou, and Guanzhong, while the other half were in the northern desert region.

The rebellion in the Western Regions led Cao Cao to misjudge Fei Qian's situation.

Cao Cao originally thought that Fei Qian would "fight among himself" in the Western Regions, and then the Western Regions cavalry and the Guanzhong cavalry would suffer losses against each other. If this were the case, even if Fei Qian eventually won and returned, he would not have many troops left. Moreover, the Western Regions, which had betrayed him, might not be able to stabilize quickly, and might even have to tie down the troops in Longyou...

By the time Cao Cao learned of the Shanshan affair, he was already in a bind and could only hope that the so-called "Shanshan Treaty" sent by Fei Qian was a feint...

Cao Cao swallowed, feeling a dryness in his throat.

In this situation, "If... I possessed such elite cavalry, I would emulate the legendary generals Wei Qing and Huo Qubing, galloping a thousand miles and sweeping across the plains! Ji Province is already devastated, but Yan and Yu Provinces still retain their foundations and offer no natural defenses, making them ideal for cavalry! If we can swiftly conquer Yan and Yu, the Central Plains will be shaken, severing our foundation, and we can also use the momentum of a great victory to force the surrender of Jiangdong... This is the best strategy!"

"That must be it!" The more Cao Cao thought about it, the more he felt that this made sense.

The advantage of cavalry lies in its mobility and its ability to charge; it can only unleash its full power in open terrain.

Using cavalry in mountainous or wetland swampy areas would undoubtedly be abandoning their strengths and using their weaknesses.

Fei Qian is no mediocre person; how could he do such an unwise thing?
As for Fei Qian's advocacy of "putting the people first"...

"hehe……"

Thinking of this, Cao Cao couldn't help but let out a cold smile that was a mixture of sarcasm and disbelief.

Cao Cao put down the map in his hand, shook his head, and said, "This is nothing but empty talk to win people's hearts, a guise to deceive the world and steal a reputation!"

Cao Cao stood up, circled the central command tent twice, then returned to his desk. He pressed his hand on the desk, as if mocking Fei Qian, whom he had imagined, was sneering at the other side. "From ancient times to the present," he thought, "who among kings and generals truly cared for the common people? You, who study the Zuo Zhuan, should also know that 'the people cannot be indulged, nor can their ways be changed!' Managing the people is like managing cattle and horses; only by whipping and driving them can things be accomplished! The court's so-called 'rest and recuperation' is nothing more than raising livestock until they are fat and strong, so that more flesh and blood can be squeezed out!"

As he spoke, he also recalled his various actions since he raised his army.

To secure provisions, manpower, and consolidate his rule, he levied heavy taxes, promoted land reclamation, and sometimes even had to tacitly condone certain actions of the army...

He told himself that this was the helplessness of a chaotic world, the price that had to be paid to achieve great things.

"A merciful general cannot command an army!" Cao Cao murmured. "It has always been so..."

He seemed to be defending himself, yet also reinforcing his beliefs. "It's not that I don't desire benevolent governance, but given the current situation, without drastic measures, the collapse of the nation cannot be prevented! A few sacrifices are for the greater good; it's a necessary evil!"

Cao Cao simply did not believe that Fei Qian could truly transcend the limitations of this era...

"In the Guanzhong and Bingliang regions, he might be able to control his subordinates and implement so-called benevolent governance, because his power base is newly established and he needs to win the hearts of the people! But now your army is on a distant expedition, deep into enemy territory. Where will your provisions come from?!"

Cao Cao's eyes sharpened, as if he had seen the crux of the problem.

Cao Cao entered the main tent, flicked his long sleeves, and declared arrogantly, "The granaries of the Central Plains have been emptied by me! Your tens of thousands... yes, plus the Northern Desert troops, at least hundreds of thousands—how much does it cost to feed the men and horses every day?! Do you think you can conjure them out of thin air without forcibly requisitioning them from the local powerful clans? If you do, you will inevitably incur the wrath of the local strongmen, and the very foundation of your so-called new policies will be shaken! If you turn to exploiting the common people and plundering their wealth, then your claim to prioritize the people will crumble without a fight, and you will become a laughingstock!"

Indeed, Cao Cao believed that the Flying Cavalry would sweep across the Central Plains, not only attacking Ji Province, but also attempting to attack Yan Province and Yu Province!
Because he felt that this was the only correct way!
If he were leading such a cavalry unit, he would definitely do it!

Cao Cao even began to imagine that scene...

Initially, the Flying Cavalry was able to capture many cities, and some cities didn't even need to be captured. However, due to the problem of food supplies, the Flying Cavalry began to plunder grain and conscript men in Ji Province and Yan and Yu Provinces, which caused widespread resentment and alienated the people!
"At that time..." Cao Cao paced back to his desk, his finger emphatically pointing to the Yan-Yu region on the map. "If your main force is bogged down in the Central Plains, entangled with local powers, I will march from Jingzhou to Nanyang, threatening their very foundations in Heluo and Guanzhong! If you rescue Guanzhong, I will take Yuzhou! If you defend Yuzhou, I will break through Heluo again and advance into Hedong! You will be unable to attend to both ends! Even if you have elite cavalry, what good will it do? Running east and west will be in vain!"

How could Fei Qian's main cavalry force not march into the Central Plains?!

The more Cao Cao reasoned, the more reasonable he felt his judgment was, and it also aligned with his consistent understanding of human nature, power, and the nature of war.

Cao Cao believed that Fei Qian's new policies, or rather "benevolent governance," might be effective in peacetime, but in the face of a life-or-death war, especially in resource-scarce enemy territory, they would inevitably be difficult to maintain and would eventually fall into the old pattern set by Cao Cao, becoming a remnant of the old rulers.

And by then...

'Fei Ziyuan, oh Fei Ziyuan,' Cao Cao thought, growing increasingly pleased, almost to the point of laughter. 'No matter how eloquent and flattering you are, how different are you from us in the end?! Nothing but empty words and pretense! This world ultimately belongs to the strong, to those who strategize and plot. Can it be changed by simply shouting "putting the people first"?!'

"Haha, what a joke, what a joke..."