Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3846 Jade Bu Zhuo

On the walls of Luoyang, the early autumn sunlight struggled to penetrate the thick clouds left by days of rain, barely illuminating this ancient capital that had suffered through countless battles.

As the weather grew colder day by day, Luoyang City seemed to be welcoming the dawn of victory, but in the damp and cold air, there seemed to be a lingering, persistent smell of death.

Cao Cao's army has retreated!
Even though Cao Cao's army tried to be as 'secret' as possible in their retreat, the high-ground city of Luoyang could still detect some clues from the slightest hints...

For the first two or three days, Zao Zhi and his men were not entirely certain, but after a period of careful observation, they were basically certain that Cao Cao's army was indeed retreating.

This news brought both joy and some worry to Zao Zhi and the others.

Inside the council hall of the city tower, Zao Zhi, Du Ji, Sima Yi, Huang Zhong, Cong Lai, Wang Chang, and others sat around in a solemn atmosphere.

Zao Zhi, as the person in charge of the city, frowned and spoke in a deep voice, "This retreat of Cao Cao's army... what do you all think we should do?"

Luoyang City, as a crucial part of the Battle of Heluo, served as a powerful magnet attracting Cao Cao's army. Now, Cao Cao's army is trying to break free from this "magnet"...

Is this a good thing or a bad thing?
Du Ji stroked his beard and spoke first: "Cao Mengde is known for his cunning and deceitful military tactics. Although he appears to be suffering a defeat, his strategists, such as Xun Yu, are still alive. If we rashly pursue him now, we risk falling into an ambush and losing Luoyang. In my opinion, we should hold the city firmly, guard against a possible counterattack, and wait for our lord to arrive with his army. Then the situation will be settled. This is the safest course of action."

His words were earnest, his gaze sweeping over everyone before finally settling on Zao Zhi's face.

However, as soon as Du Ji finished speaking, Cong Lai, who was sitting at the lower end of the table, could no longer contain himself.

To be honest, the one who was most heartbroken by Cao Cao's army's disruption of Heluo and Hongnong was not anyone else, but the one who was most distressed.

Although he did not outwardly restore his own surname, nor did he show any desire to restore the livelihood of the people of Heluo Hongnong and rebuild the Yang family's reputation, in his heart, he tossed and turned countless times, unable to eat or sleep, and dreamed of returning to Sizhitang countless times...

The more you miss someone, the more you hate them.

Upon hearing Du Ji's statement that they would hold their ground and watch Cao Cao's army retreat, Guan Zi, who had been somewhat impatient, exclaimed, "Du Ji, you are mistaken!"

Zong Lai bowed slightly to Zao Zhi and said, "Cao Cao's army was first defeated at Tongguan, then at Hedong, and then at Gongxian. Their current counterattack on Heluo is nothing but a death throes, a spent force! Their hasty retreat south is a time of low morale and demoralized troops! This is a golden opportunity; how can we allow them to retreat so easily? If we let them escape into Songshan and hold their position, future campaigns will cost our army countless resources and lives! I, your humble servant, am willing to lead an elite force out of the city to pursue them. Even if we cannot annihilate their entire army, we must at least cut off their retreat, seize their supplies, and blunt their morale, so that they will not dare to underestimate our Luoyang garrison!"

He spoke with great passion and fervor, his face flushed with excitement.

Have I always been an idiot?

The previous statement would have been, "Are you still so foolish?"
Originally a scholar, the longer he served in the army, the more he leaned towards martial prowess. Now, fueled by both old and new grudges, his blood boiled, his brow furrowed, and he longed to immediately lead troops to hunt down Cao Cao's army. Partly, he wanted to vent the anger that had been simmering in his heart for so long; partly, he hoped to accumulate more merit so that he could obtain more resources for reconstruction upon returning home…

I've always been clear about things in my mind.

In terms of martial arts, he was no match for Huang Zhong, and he certainly couldn't beat any of the other top-tier generals under the General of the Cavalry. So, would they need a second-rate guy like him to lead the army when they marched into the Central Plains?

Even if they did go to fight in the Central Plains, they would basically be subordinates to some general. At best, they would be vanguard officers, or perhaps just some kind of supply officer...

Rather than doing that, it's better to stay in the Heluo region!

But staying in the same place means no new merits will be earned...

Therefore, the current pursuit of Cao Cao's retreating army may be the only chance to finally take the head of the enemy general and increase one's own performance!
Letting them go so easily, I'm afraid I'll regret it every day from now on!

Is there no risk in pursuing Cao Cao's army?

Obviously not, but I'm always willing to take that risk!

The veteran general Huang Zhong, sitting opposite Cong Lai, merely glanced at Cong Lai upon hearing his words, offering no comment.

Huang Zhong's personality was quite interesting. He was highly skilled in martial arts, but he didn't particularly enjoy fighting; otherwise, he wouldn't have only shown his brilliance in the later stages of the Three Kingdoms period. Huang Zhong wasn't very interested in being pursued by Cao Cao's army. Moreover, Huang Zhong was a calm and composed person and didn't feel he should be a teacher, offering advice, pointing out flaws in mentality, or imparting his experience. Therefore, even though he clearly saw through the impetuousness of this young general, he didn't bother to say anything at this moment.

A brief silence fell over the council chamber, broken only by the occasional crackling of the charcoal fire.

Zao Zhi's gaze fell on the face that was always flushed with excitement. He saw not only a general who had volunteered for battle, but also a soul burned by hatred for family and land.

Zao Zhi understood the anger he had always felt towards Cao Cao's army.

This anger, how could he not understand it?
Having managed agriculture and sericulture for many years, he understands all too well the pain of the blood ties between people and the land, which have been severed.

However, understanding is not the same as agreeing.

As the head coach, he must restrain this empathy.

Zao Zhi could almost see the smoke signals that might rise along the retreating Cao army's route, and the banners that might appear and disappear in the valley.

"What if we're ambushed..."

The thought sent a chill down his spine.

He almost spoke up to refuse—

After all, holding the city and waiting for the lord is the safest strategy.

Just then, an unexpected voice rang out.

"What the captain said makes sense."

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw that it was Sima Yi who spoke.

Zao Zhi frowned slightly and looked at Sima Yi: "Does Zhongda also advocate pursuit?"

Sima Yi nodded slightly, smiled at Sima Yi, and said calmly, "Cao Cao's army has just suffered a defeat and retreated hastily; their morale is bound to be unstable. If we can take advantage of this situation to attack, we can certainly gain a great advantage. However..."

Sima Yi changed the subject, his voice slightly lower, "However, Cao Mengde is no ordinary man; how could he not be planning a retreat? I fear he must have ambushes along the way to hinder our pursuit. If you wish to pursue him, you must be extremely cautious, deploy scouts widely, and absolutely avoid being greedy for merit and advancing rashly."

Zao Zhi suddenly looked up at Sima Yi, who always had a slight smile on his face.

Did Sima Zhongda support the pursuit?

This is so unusual.

Who doesn't know that this person is extremely cautious and suspicious?
But what does it mean to say something that's ambiguous?
Zao Zhi's brows furrowed more and more as he tried to read Sima Yi's true intentions from his calm expression, but all he saw was a deep pool of water.

Sima Yi's words seem contradictory, both affirming the feasibility of the pursuit and pointing out the potential risks.

It sounds like a reminder or supplement, which seems comprehensive, but in reality, it says nothing and allows one to rely on both sides.

Since Sima Yi saw the danger of an ambush, why did he still agree to pursue them?

At this moment, however, he only felt that Sima Yi was supporting the pursuit. As for Sima Yi's later "reminder," he considered it just a routine "safety net" remark, and immediately declared proudly: "Rest assured, Military Advisor Sima! I will understand! I will act cautiously and prevent Cao Cao's scheme from succeeding!"

Zao Zhi had a slight headache.

He was skilled in farming, and his strategic wisdom wasn't too bad, but he wasn't the quick-witted type. He immediately demanded pursuit, again citing the overall situation under the Generalissimo of the Cavalry as a pretext, and then Sima Yi expressed his support...

Zao Zhi glanced at Du Ji.

Du Ji pinched his beard, seemingly lost in thought.

Wang Chang, sitting to the left, rarely offered any opinions unless Zao Zhi asked him directly. Even when he did offer opinions, they were always moderate, and he rarely strongly opposed or supported anything.

After thinking it over, Zao Zhi decided that sending Cong Lai to pursue them wasn't a bad idea. After all, seeing Cong Lai's confident and eager-to-achieve-merit demeanor, and with Sima Yi's 'support,' Zao Zhi feared that forcibly rejecting Cong Lai's request would demoralize the soldiers and make him appear too cowardly.

Zao Zhi spoke first: "If that's the case... then let's follow the captain's orders."

"Your humble servant is here!" He suddenly stood up, clasped his hands in greeting, and his eyes gleamed with excitement.

"I'm giving you five hundred elite soldiers. Go out of the city and pursue Cao Cao's army," Zao Zhi said in a deep voice, emphasizing again, "Remember, the main purpose of this mission is to probe the enemy's strength and disrupt their retreat. Do not linger in battle! If things become unfavorable, retreat immediately to preserve your forces! If anything goes wrong..."

Zao Zhi said, enunciating each word clearly, "Military law is merciless!" "Your subordinate obeys! I will certainly not fail the lord's trust!" came the reply in a loud voice. He then took the command token and strode out of the council hall to muster the troops.

The atmosphere in the hall did not lighten after he left.

Zao Zhi rubbed his temples, his worried expression undiminished. He looked at Sima Yi, hesitating for a moment before finally asking, "Zhongda, since you said Cao Cao's army must have an ambush, why did you still agree to attack from the rank of colonel?"

Du Ji also looked at Sima Yi, his gaze filled with inquiry.

Upon hearing this, Sima Yi's faint smile deepened.

Sima Yi nodded and said slowly, "My lord, you are wise. Have you not heard the saying, 'Jade that is not carved cannot become a vessel'? The colonel is indeed brave, but he is impatient, greedy for merit, and prone to resentment. If he doesn't experience setbacks, how will he understand the importance of 'caution'? Even if we exhaust ourselves here, analyzing the advantages and disadvantages, it will be like a spring breeze passing by his ears, quickly forgotten. Only by personally experiencing defeat and tasting the bitter fruit can he truly understand and learn the reasons behind it."

There's definitely some truth to that. No matter how much others say, it's not as good as experiencing it for yourself.

Zao Zhi nodded, but his brow remained furrowed. "That makes sense... but what have these soldiers done to deserve this? Why should they come along to face this danger?"

Sima Yi laughed and said, "What you say is absolutely right, my lord. I was indeed somewhat mistaken in my earlier considerations. How can we so easily risk the lives of our soldiers? Since you are so concerned, I am willing to offer my services as a rearguard for the colonel. If they are indeed ambushed, I will do my utmost to support them and help them escape. This will also allow me to scout out Cao Cao's forces, discover their ambush location, and clear obstacles for our army's future operations. If everything goes smoothly, I will not compete with the colonel for credit. In this way, we can uphold camaraderie, protect our soldiers, and achieve our objective of reconnaissance—a win-win situation. What do you think, my lord?"

Sima Yi's words were eloquent and persuasive, both responding to Zao Zhi's accusations and taking the initiative to assume the risks, while also proposing a seemingly perfect solution.

Zao Zhi looked at Sima Yi's calm and expressionless face, his mind racing.

Zao Zhi sensed that Sima Yi seemed to have some ulterior motive, perhaps he wanted to investigate something, perhaps he wanted to plot something, or perhaps he wanted to seize something in the chaos. But having Sima Yi act as a backup was better than doing nothing at all.

Du Ji frowned slightly, his gaze complex.

Zao Zhi seemed to have a feeling. With a formidable enemy at hand, the people in Luoyang had cooperated seamlessly, but now that Cao Cao's army had retreated, all sorts of thoughts were starting to surface…

After a long silence, Zao Zhi finally nodded slowly, his voice tinged with weariness, "Very well. I will do as Zhongda says. I will give you three hundred soldiers to follow closely behind, as backup. Remember, your primary tasks are to support your troops and scout the enemy's situation. Unless absolutely necessary, do not engage Cao Cao's main force."

Sima Yi rose and bowed respectfully: "I obey your command. I will certainly not fail in my duty, Your Excellency."

into the night.

On the walls of Luoyang, the wind seemed to grow colder, carrying the dampness lingering on the battlements and lashing against the faces of Zao Zhi and Du Ji.

Sima Yi, having already led his troops away, also led three hundred soldiers, silently merging into the vast night outside the city.

Zao Zhi frowned. Although Sima Yi always assured him that he would be cautious, the way things were developing always made Zao Zhi somewhat uneasy.

This unease stemmed not only from the war itself, but even more so from personnel matters…

Zao Zhi did not doubt Sima Yi's abilities, but rather that this man was too deep in thought and often acted in unexpected ways.

Zao Zhi finally granted permission to pursue, which was not only a military decision, but also a test of humanity.

He chose a compromise.

Give them opportunities, but strictly enforce the rules.

This was perhaps the best solution he could think of.

but……

"I am quite uneasy..." Zao Zhi said to Du Ji.

"Is Your Excellency worried about the Colonel and the Military Advisor?" Du Ji asked.

Zao Zhi nodded.

Du Ji remained silent.

If they were already uneasy, why did they agree to pursue Cao Cao's army?
This naturally stems from Zao Zhi's immaturity in "personnel matters".

It's not about the wedding night, but about interpersonal relationships.

While there is some correlation between intelligence and interpersonal skills, there is no necessary connection. It's true that a highly intelligent person possesses a significant advantage in handling interpersonal relationships, finding it easier to build deep, healthy, and lasting relationships with others, colleagues, and superiors and subordinates. However, possessing a powerful toolbox doesn't guarantee that one will build a house, or even a good one.

If a person's wisdom is mainly directed towards scientific research, artistic creation, or philosophical speculation, they may find dealing with complex interpersonal relationships too exhausting and prefer to be alone.

The same applies to jujubes.

Zao Zhi is not good at handling interpersonal relationships, nor is he able to firmly refuse certain requests.

For example, when faced with Cong Lai's request to fight, Zao Zhi hesitated. At that moment, all he could think of was Cao Cao's ambush, and when Cong Lai said that he could identify the ambush and would not advance recklessly, Zao Zhi lost his reason to refuse.

Sima Yi's subsequent addition made Zao Zhi feel that some parts were correct, but some parts were also not quite right...

After pondering for a long time, Zao Zhi said in a low voice, "Lord Bo, since Zhongda has already gone to provide backup, with his abilities, he should be safe, right? Even if there is an ambush, he can retreat unscathed after the backup."

Du Ji did not answer immediately. He frowned, as if he was deducing something in his mind. After a long while, he slowly withdrew his gaze and looked at Zao Zhi, his eyes filled with unprecedented solemnity.

"My lord," Du Ji's voice was low and slow, "Sima Zhongda should be well..."

"Oh?" Zao Zhi's heart tightened. "Why do you say that, Lord Bo? Do you perhaps feel that serving as a colonel is dangerous?"

Du Ji nodded, his gaze returning to the direction where Sima Yi's troops had disappeared. He said solemnly, "Exactly. What I fear is not merely an ambush by Cao Cao's army, but... the possibility of another ambush!"

"Another ambush?" Zao Zhi was taken aback at first, then shook his head. "Is Lord Bo overthinking this? Military strategy dictates that the key to an ambush is surprise. Once an ambush is set up in one place, regardless of success or failure, it's already exposed. Why would you set up another ambush in the same or nearby location? Wouldn't that be superfluous, a waste of manpower? Cao Cao's army is eager to retreat; why would they engage in such delaying tactics?"

Du Ji turned around and said seriously, "Does Your Excellency recall the time some time ago when we were guarding the outskirts of Luoyang and harassed Cao Cao's army from multiple directions?"

Upon hearing this, Zao Zhi's pupils contracted slightly; he remembered.

Secondary ambushes have indeed been used...

Du Ji's tone was solemn. "Everyone thinks that an ambush should not be repeated... but the way of war is to combine the orthodox and the unorthodox. If we do the opposite, we can also achieve surprising results! Cao Cao's army has many strategists. If they anticipated that our army would send generals to pursue us during this retreat, and they also know that we have people in our army who are familiar with military strategy and can spot ambushes... then they could ambush us again, or perhaps hide another elite force a little further away, and suddenly attack when our army is off guard..."

Du Ji did not continue speaking.

However, this danger made Zao Zhi break out in a cold sweat, and he realized exactly what was causing his unease.

If Du Ji's prediction is true, Cao Cao's army not only anticipated the pursuit, but also the reinforcements!
Sima Yi thought he could be the mantis stalking the cicada, but little did he know that there might be hunters lurking in the shadows, ready to catch the cicada!
"broken!"

Zao Zhi blurted out, his face paling, "The city's defenders haven't lost a general yet, but what if they...?"

Zao Zhi was somewhat anxious. "There's no time to lose! We must send reinforcements immediately! There are still some forces left in the city; we can order General Hansheng to lead troops out of the city to recall the two!"

As he spoke, Zao Zhi turned around to give the order.

"Zijing! Wait a minute!" Du Ji grabbed his hand instead.

"Lord Bo? What do you mean by this?" Zao Zhi was both anxious and angry. "Are you just going to stand by and watch them both perish?"

Du Ji's gaze was intense as he stared intently at Zao Zhi, his voice low but clear: "Zijing! Sending General Hansheng out of the city now is not for rescue, but rather... to harm Luoyang!"

"Huh?" Zao Zhi was taken aback.

Du Ji gripped Zao Zhi's sleeve tightly, his words earnest, "The magistrate of Luoyang is now... the governor! Having made the decision, how can you change it so easily?!"

"..." Zao Zhi took a deep breath, and he suddenly understood some things.

Jade that is not carved cannot become a useful object.

Was the "jade" that Sima Yi mentioned merely something from the beginning?