Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3826 Mayfly Digging
When people are unaware of their place in society, they often indulge in a self-deceptive illusion that everyone around them is pretty much the same.

Even knowing that some people are in high positions, people will always find ways to comfort themselves.

For example, even the emperor's golden carrying pole can cause trouble for the wealthy...

Old Cao is a perfect example.

Under such circumstances, if Cao Cao could find a pretext to express that Fei Ziyuan was black-hearted and rotten-minded, he could feel somewhat at peace with himself.

The key point is that people tend to like to hear what they want to hear and see what they want to see...

After Cao Cao sat back down at his desk, his mood seemed to have calmed down considerably, and he even felt a sense of smugness at having seen through his opponent's pretense.

Cao Cao knew how difficult it was to break the shackles of the powerful clans and gentry; he himself had tried before, only to suffer heavy losses and be forced to compromise again. Therefore, he also felt that it would be very difficult for Fei Qian to accomplish this, but slogans could still be shouted loudly...

After realizing that Fei Qian was nothing special, Cao Cao thought that Xun Yu's warning might just be overly cautious, and that he was being misled by the feints of the cavalry on the east bank of the river.

The Flying Cavalry will definitely go to Ji Province, and also to Yan Province and Yu Province...

They won't be coming back!
Cao Cao confirmed it once again.

Even with a lingering doubt in my heart...

But Cao Cao comforted himself with this thought for the time being.

Otherwise, his decision to keep Emperor Liu Xie of Han at Sishui Pass would have lost some of its significance.

Although the emperor was not a very good person, at least he was a title.

The concepts of fame and fortune have been very useful from the very beginning.

Even if Fei Qian can escape, what about his subordinates?

Therefore, the emperor still had to remain under one's control.

Otherwise, if it is easily lost, Fei Qian might turn around and label Cao Cao a "traitor." Will Cao Cao accept that label or not?

Old Cao believed that the real threat still came from the east, from that vast plain suitable for cavalry to roam freely.

He decided to continue strengthening reconnaissance and defense preparations in the Yanzhou-Yuzhou direction, while closely monitoring any movements in the Jizhou direction to verify his deductions.

Although Cao Cao had already made up his mind, he remained in the position of examining the map, not moving for a long time, repeatedly deducing various possibilities in his mind, trying to grasp the answer that best fit his cognitive logic from the chaotic clues.

Deep down, he almost "hoped" that Fei Qian's main force was in Ji Province and in the Central Plains, because only in this way could he, Cao Cao, prove that his understanding of the world was correct, that Fei Qian was not some "outlier" beyond his time, and that they were essentially the same kind of people, playing the same game under the same rules.

However, another voice still faintly echoed in Cao Cao's heart...

The air inside the central command tent seemed to freeze, with only the candlelight flickering uneasily, casting Cao Cao's shadow on the wall, lengthening and shortening as it went.

Just like the pressure that Lao Cao is currently under.

In the midst of this oppressive silence, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside the tent, breaking the somewhat stagnant atmosphere.

"Prime Minister! Urgent military report!"

Cao Cao raised his head, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes. "Advance!"

A guard outside the main tent led a weary messenger in hastily, who knelt down. The messenger held a sealed bamboo tube aloft with both hands, exclaiming, "Reporting to the Prime Minister! Urgent military report from the Northern General!"

The Northern General is Cao Zhang.

Cao Zhang was in Yanzhou.

"Ziwen? Yanzhou?"

Cao Cao's heart tightened suddenly, and he quickly signaled to his personal guards.

The guard stepped forward, took the bamboo tube from the messenger, touched it briefly, and finding no danger, handed it to Cao Cao.

Cao Cao checked the sealing wax on the bamboo tube again. After confirming that everything was correct, he used a knife to cut it open, pried open the bamboo tube lid, and took out the tightly rolled silk book inside.

Cao Cao quickly unfolded the silk scroll, and at first glance, he recognized it as the handwriting of Cao Zhang himself, with its slightly rough style. Only then did he quickly read the military report.

Cao Zhang's military reports were concise and to the point, without any fancy words, but the content they contained was anything but simple.

Cao Zhang stated that he led his troops on a patrol to the border of Yanzhou, where they encountered the elite vanguard of the Flying Cavalry. A fierce battle ensued, resulting in losses on both sides. Cao Zhang has now retreated to Qiao County, Chenliu...

Although Cao Zhang wrote "each suffered losses," Cao Cao thought that they had suffered a loss, but it wasn't a big problem; otherwise, Cao Zhang wouldn't have been in charge of writing the military report.

Cao Zhang stated that the banner the other side was using was none other than Wei Yan, who had previously caused trouble in Jizhou and was widely disliked!
Although Cao Zhang's forces were outnumbered and unable to stop Wei Yan's breakthrough, it was confirmed that the enemy's troops were sharp and their fighting style was fierce. They were undoubtedly the main vanguard of the Flying Cavalry, and a large force of them was likely following closely behind, intending to move south and invade the heart of Yanzhou!

There's even a possibility that they could cross the city and head south to directly attack Yuzhou!

Cao Cao looked on, but instead of showing any fear or panic, he froze for a moment before bursting into a hearty, even exhilarating, laugh!
Haha! Hahaha—!

The guards stood by, slightly taken aback.

Did the cavalryman fall to his death on the road because his horse stumbled?
Why is Cao Cao so happy?

Cao Cao's laughter echoed in the tent, seemingly causing even the candlelight to flicker.

The laughter was filled with a sense of relief and exhilaration, a smug "I knew it" attitude, and a deeper layer of mockery and contempt.

"Good! Good indeed, Fei Qian, Fei Ziyuan! Good indeed, General of the Cavalry!" Cao Cao wiped away tears of laughter with his sleeve. His laughter subsided, but the mockery in his eyes deepened. "In the end... you are nothing more than this! You cannot escape the rut of power struggles, nor can you break free from the scheming of political maneuvering!"

Cao Cao clutched the messenger tightly, pacing back and forth in his tent, speaking rapidly and impassionedly, as if declaring victory to an invisible adversary: ​​"I was right! Your so-called 'putting the people first,' your so-called 'benevolent new policies,' are all nothing but deceitful rhetoric! No matter how flowery your proclamations are, no matter how grand your proclamations are, when it comes to real fighting, to the death, won't you still resort to plunder and steal food from the people?! Haha! Hahaha! Nothing more than that, nothing more than that!"

Cao Cao immediately felt his mind clear, and the heavy pressure he had been under seemed to have lessened by 30 or 40%!

He walked to the table and pointed to the location of Yanzhou. "Wei Yan! Wei Wenchang! These are fierce generals under the General of the Cavalry! This man excels at breaching cities and counties, tearing apart defenses! Fei Ziyuan has chosen him as his vanguard; his intentions are self-evident! He intends to take advantage of our weakened Central Plains, using his iron cavalry to ravage Yanzhou and Yuzhou, seizing provisions and sustaining the war through war! His feigned attacks in Jizhou and his bluffing in Hedong are nothing more than a cover for his true main force's southward raid!"

The more Cao Cao spoke, the more he felt his deductions were flawless, and all the doubts seemed to have been reasonably explained.

The "feint" that Xun Yu encountered at Shanjin was a decoy set up by Fei Qian to cover up the main force's southward advance!

Fei Qian ultimately chose what Cao Cao considered the most "realistic," most "effective," and most logical path in a chaotic world.

Leveraging their military superiority, they engaged in rapid expansion and plunder!
"Fei Ziyuan, oh Fei Ziyuan," Cao Cao shook his head slightly, his tone filled with the superiority of a pioneer, "you ultimately could not escape the ways of the world! Your profound theories are beautiful, yet you are disheartened before the frost and blade, your face pale with hunger and your breath thin. This campaign across a thousand miles of Yan and Yu, will you not depend on the surrounding lands for sustenance? With your elite troops facing starvation, how can they not seize the grain of the common people? Alas!!"

Cao Cao seemed to have already envisioned the scene where the Flying Cavalry would clash with local powerful families during their southward march, forcibly requisitioning provisions and causing widespread resentment!
And this was precisely the opportunity he had been waiting for to launch a counterattack!
"Send the order!" Cao Cao's laughter subsided, but his smugness and sharpness remained undiminished. He quickly returned to his desk, his voice regaining its usual authority. "Immediately copy this military report and send it to Commander Xun! The enemy at Shanjin is a feint; the main force of the General of the Cavalry has already appeared in Yanzhou. Order him to guard the ferry carefully and not be fooled by deception again. He may also probe the strength of the north bank; if the defenses are indeed weak, immediately send a detachment across the river to harass them, thus preparing for the eastern front!"

Secondly, dispatch more fast cavalry to urge scouts in Yan and Yu provinces to quickly ascertain the strength and movements of Wei's forces, and to ascertain whether the main force of the Flying Cavalry is behind them. It is imperative to find out whether Fei Ziyuan will personally lead the expedition!

Thirdly, an imperial edict is issued to the governors and commandants of the prefectures of Yan and Yu, ordering them to fortify their defenses and scorch the fields, carefully guarding their cities! In particular, all grain and fodder stored outside the cities must be moved inside; if it cannot be transported into the city, it must be burned on the spot, lest a single grain be given to the enemy! Their army has come from afar, their advantage being a swift victory; we must prolong the war against them. When their supplies run out, how can their so-called "royal army" not be reduced to bandits!

"Furthermore..." Cao Cao raised his head, looking south, "In my name, I wrote a letter to Sun Quan, revealing his ambitions... If he were to annex the Central Plains, his next target would surely be Jiangdong! I invited the Sun family to join forces against the rebel Fei, promising to share the land after the victory... Hmph! These officials in Jiangdong... though they are accustomed to playing both sides, they might not remain unmoved by the prospect of personal gain..."

As the orders were issued, Cao Cao felt all the pent-up emotions in his chest dissipate, and his mind became clearer than ever before.

He no longer felt confused or afraid, because he was certain that he had seen through Fei Qian's "true colors" and Fei Qian's "whole plan"!
The logic of war seems to have ultimately returned to the track that Cao Cao was familiar with and good at!
Cao Cao couldn't help but mock Fei Qian's slogans of "putting the people first," saying they were nothing more than that!
What's the use of shouting louder or more arrogantly?

In the face of harsh reality, it seems so ridiculous and unrealistic.

'Fei Ziyuan...'

Cao Cao stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the dawning sky outside the tent. A cold smile appeared on his face. "When you have stirred up resentment among the people of Yan and Yu, when your army is weary and exhausted, that will be the time for me to lead my troops in a counterattack and reclaim our land! This world, after all, cannot be shaken by a few empty words!"

Cao Cao was also a human being; he was not God, nor could he be omniscient and omnipotent, knowing everything from astronomy to geography, and from the past to the future. Compared to keyboard warriors, he was far inferior.

Keyboard warriors, when wielding their keyboards, are always calm, wise, and insightful. Cao Cao, however, clearly didn't have a keyboard, so he was immersed in his own constructed vision of victory, one that aligned with his own understanding… selectively ignoring one possibility—

Perhaps Fei Qian truly possessed a completely different logic of governance, one that Cao Cao could not understand, or was unwilling to understand.

Now, Cao Cao imposes his preconceived notions on his opponent and is complacent with what appears to be "verified" evidence. Little does he know that this "conclusive" evidence may be the very guide that leads him into the abyss...

However, at this moment, Cao Cao firmly believed that he was the one who had seen through the truth and the rules.

At least until he woke up, he still felt that dreaming was pretty cool.

……

……

The autumn night was deep, the moon was hidden and the stars were few, only the deep roar of the Yellow River echoed in the darkness.

Some unknown ferry crossing.

The water level of the river drops in autumn and winter, which slows down the flow of the river in this area.

If Mengjin Xiaopingjin is the northern gateway to Luoyang, then this small ferry crossing can only be considered a dog hole.

It doesn't even qualify as a side gate.

If we compare the cavalry to a large chariot, it would be more convenient to enter the Heluo region by going through the main gate, while the side gate would be slower and less spacious, requiring the dismantling of one or another to squeeze in.

At this moment, several dark shadows, almost blending into the inky black water, are silently drifting towards the south bank with the current.

There were several small boats and a number of inflated sheepskin rafts, carrying Zhu Ling and his carefully selected hundred or so elite soldiers.

Zhu Ling crouched at the bow of the lead boat, her eyes gleaming sharply in the darkness.

The distant mountain silhouettes are the fig leaf covering Luoyang, Beiman Mountain.

His target was the eyes and ears that Cao Cao's army had set up on Mount Beiman...

These Cao army outposts, situated on high ground with a wide field of vision, are not only an important link in Cao army's early warning system, but also a relatively weak and easily overlooked node in its defense chain.

The night breeze, carrying the dampness of the river and the chill of late autumn, brushed against my face.

Zhu Ling could hear the suppressed breathing of the soldiers behind him, as well as the soft gurgling sound of oars cutting through the water.

Everyone moved as quietly as possible, wrapped the key parts of their armor with strips of cloth, and gripped their weapons tightly to avoid any mistakes that might cause reflections or make noise.

They were like a group of ghosts in the dark, silently approaching their prey.

When the "message" from the east bank of the river reached Hanoi downstream, Fei Qian finalized the battle plan.

Fei Qian's choice of this location for smuggling was a well-thought-out decision.

This is not a major crossing point, and it is unlikely that Cao Cao's army would station and defend here. Moreover, the crossing point is well-hidden and requires an experienced guide. More importantly, landing here allows for covert engagement with the enemy using the complex terrain of the foothills of Beiman Mountain, directly attacking the flanks of Cao Cao's outposts in Beiman Mountain.

The small boat and raft finally touched the soft mud on the south bank.

Zhu Ling was the first to nimbly leap off the boat, crouching down and warily scanning her surroundings.

In the darkness, there was only the rustling of the wind through the withered grass and the distant rushing of the Yellow River; nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

Zhu Ling gave a hand signal, and the elite cavalry behind him quickly and orderly landed on the shore. Following the pre-rehearsed tactics, they quickly dispersed into a defensive formation and worked together to drag the raft to the reeds on the shore for concealment.

Scouts are dispatched... to ascertain the route... and mark Cao Cao's sentry positions...

Zhu Ling lowered her voice and gave the order.

Immediately, two small teams of nimble scouts silently disappeared into the darkness.

Zhu Ling led the rest of the group, concealing their presence, and slowly made their way towards Beiman Mountain.

A moment later, the scout returned and reported in a low voice: "We spotted a small group of Cao Cao's men on the ridge ahead, their sentry post glowing with fire...warming themselves around the fire, their vigilance lax."

A cold glint flashed in Zhu Ling's eyes.

Just as my lord predicted!
Since no alarms were heard from the directions of Mengjin and Xiaopingjin, the Cao army sentries on Beiman Mountain thought they were safe and sound, and even lit bonfires to keep warm in the night!

How is this any different from revealing one's whereabouts?
Zhu Ling whispered to the surrounding squad leaders, "Be quick and ruthless, and try to make as little noise as possible... Split into two teams, flank them from the left and right, cut off their retreat, and check the adjacent sentry posts..."

The order was quickly passed down, and the black figure moved swiftly through the rugged mountains, using rocks, bushes, and undulating terrain as cover, approaching the flickering campfire on the ridge of Beiman Mountain.

Getting closer.

Zhu Ling could faintly hear the snoring of Cao army sentries sleeping by the fire, and could even smell the lingering odor of food that Cao army had cooked earlier...

So it wasn't just a temporary way to keep warm; they'd been using the campfire all along...

Zhu Ling gestured for his soldiers to stop.

Before the final attack, he wanted to conduct one last thorough inspection.

The firelight illuminated the relaxed figures of Cao Cao's soldiers; some were dozing with their spears in their arms, some had their backs to the darkness, and others were lying by the campfire.

The sentries on the hilltop would glance around intermittently, their eyes mostly lingering on the warm campfire...

There were no other sentries in sight.

Zhu Ling waited a while longer, listening intently, but did not hear any warning sounds from the two squads he had previously sent to the flanks.

It's now!

Zhu Ling slowly drew his sword, then shot out from his hiding place like an arrow, rushing straight towards the Cao soldier who looked like a squad leader by the fire!

The cavalrymen behind Zhu Ling also launched their attack simultaneously, emerging from the darkness like ghosts and rushing towards their chosen targets.

The Cao army sentry standing on high ground was hit by a crossbow bolt and fell down like a broken sack.

"enemy……"

A Cao army sentry facing Zhu Ling noticed the anomaly. He opened his mouth to shout, but Zhu Ling slashed his throat with a knife, silencing any further alarms.

Chaos erupted around the campfire!
After their initial shock, Cao Jun's sentries frantically grabbed their weapons, but it was too late.

The elite cavalrymen were like tigers among sheep, their blades flashing and blood splattering.

Close-quarters combat is brutal and efficient; the dull thud of weapons piercing flesh, the whimpering of the dying, and the sound of bodies falling to the ground echoed in a small area.

The Cao army sergeant who was targeted by Zhu Ling had just grabbed the ring-pommel sword when Zhu Ling slung it over his arm!

Zhu Ling's attack was powerful and heavy; the Cao army sergeant couldn't even hold onto his sword. It felt as if his bones were about to break, and the sword slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground. Before the sergeant could even scream, Zhu Ling flicked his wrist and shoved a clump of dirt into the sergeant's gaping mouth...

Ah...cough cough cough...

The battle ended in a very short time amidst the sounds of Cao Jun's platoon leader struggling to speak and coughing.

The campfire was still flickering, but the air was thick with the stench of blood.

Be aware of your surroundings!

Zhu Ling, with Cao Jun's sergeant under his foot, issued orders while his men controlled their strength, striking the sergeant on the back of the head, knocking him unconscious. "Also, collect the enemy's waist tokens and command flags... Find a rope and tie this kid up..."