Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3847 Think Twice
The cold wind swirled withered grass and yellow sand, bringing with it a faint sense of desolation from afar.

Standing atop the city wall, Zao felt a chill run through his entire body. He tightened his battle robe, but still couldn't ward off the cold that welled up from the depths of his heart. Gazing at the vast wilderness beyond the city, his brow furrowed, his eyes filled with worry.

Du Ji stood beside him, gazing intently into the distance.

He glanced at the jujube tree and sighed softly.

This magistrate was an upright man who cared deeply for the people and was also an expert in agriculture, but unfortunately, he was born in this chaotic era.

Du Ji felt that Zao Zhi was not suitable for the battlefield, or even for the court. If it weren't for the protection of the General of the Cavalry, Zao Zhi would probably only be an agricultural official, someone that everyone said was important and noble, but who would never be able to hold real power.

Du Ji took a deep breath; the cold air made his lungs sting.

Du Ji looked at Zao Zhi and slowly said, "If Cao Cao's army does indeed have more ambushes, their plan must be to use our reinforcements! Cao Cao's army most likely knows that we cannot bear to see our comrades trapped, and will surely send troops to their rescue repeatedly. In this way, they can weaken our forces and lure our army out of the city... At that time, Cao Cao's elite troops will turn around and retaliate, and Luo City will be in grave danger!"

Du Ji's voice was not loud, but every word was clear, sounding particularly cold and stern in the cold wind.

As Zao Zhi listened, he unconsciously held his breath and stood solemnly.

"Since Zhongda is willing to lead troops out of the city," Du Ji continued, turning his gaze to Sima Yi, "with Zhongda's abilities... how could he be completely unprepared? Although Zhongda says he's using this as a training exercise, he also intends to test the strength of Cao Cao's army. These two armies alone are sufficient for testing Cao Cao's forces! Sending more soldiers would leave the city defenses unprepared, while adding too few would be of no use! Zhongda's force is mostly cavalry; if things become unfavorable, they should have a good chance of breaking out and protecting themselves. If Your Excellency sends more troops and generals, it would become a burden if things change, further endangering Luoyang!"

That's it!

As Zao Zhi listened to Du Ji's analysis, it felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over him. His anxiety and impulsiveness were gradually replaced by a deeper chill. He realized that his previous considerations had indeed been too simplistic.

As an official in charge of agriculture, Zao Zhi was accustomed to the routine of spring planting and autumn harvest, and the reassuring belief that sowing would inevitably lead to a harvest. He forgot that every step on the battlefield was fraught with hidden dangers.

Du Ji's analysis progressed step by step, getting straight to the heart of the matter. He thoroughly dissected the possible series of poisonous schemes that Cao Cao's army might have set up, as well as the terrible consequences of their own rash actions.

Simply put, it's like placing stones in Go. You can use one or two stones to test the waters, and it doesn't matter if you lose your initial advantage. But if you invest too many stones, you'll inevitably find yourself in a passive situation where you have to fight to the death to determine the winner.

Sending someone on a mission can be a form of training or a test.

Zao Zhi's decision was neither right nor wrong.

It's like a move on a chessboard; after making a poke, you have to decide your next move based on your opponent's response...

Therefore, Zao Zhi's decision to send Sima Yi again before fully understanding the opponent's response demonstrates his strategic immaturity.

Zao remained silent.

He had to admit that Du Ji's considerations were far more profound and comprehensive than his own.

What level of composure does that require?

as well as……

Zao Zhi exhaled a long breath of stale air, the white smoke quickly dissipating in the cold air, as if he wanted to expel all the pent-up emotions and worries in his chest with this one breath.

"So be it..."

Zao Zhi's voice was low and somewhat weary, but his eyes had regained their resolve. "Then we shall follow the Marquis's advice. Issue the order! Imprison all four gates! Double the number of scouts to reconnoiter the area twenty li outside the city! Order General Huang to strictly guard the city, repair the fortifications, and be on standby at all times, guarding against a possible counterattack by Cao Cao's army!"

The order was passed down quickly.

A clashing of armor suddenly rang out from the city wall. Soldiers rushed forward, flag bearers waved their command flags, and the sound of horns echoed low in the twilight.

Luoyang City resembled a startled hedgehog, instantly raising all its quills as it nervously watched the perilous wilderness outside the city.

The archers behind the battlements adjusted their bowstrings, the soldiers beside the catapults carried stone projectiles, the logs and bricks were moved back to the top of the city wall, the torches were lit, and the soldiers hurriedly repaired the damaged parts, their faces full of solemnity.

……

……

Sima Yi's troops marched across the wasteland, their horses' hooves pounding the yellow earth with a dull thud.

After traveling for a while, Sima Yi ordered the troops to stop, then looked up at the sky and looked back.

The outline of Luoyang City was no longer visible.

Only the vast wilderness appeared particularly desolate in the twilight.

The sky was dark and the clouds were thick, making it impossible to determine the time by the stars and moon. However, Sima Yi judged by his own biological clock that it was already close to dawn.

"Order to rest on the spot!"

Sima Yi calmly gave the order.

His voice was calm, revealing no emotional fluctuation.

The soldiers dismounted as ordered. Some began feeding the horses, some checked their equipment, and others took a short rest against their horses' backs.

For a moment, only the sound of the wind and the occasional neighing of horses remained on the wilderness.

Sima Yi sat on a large rock, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

He harbored no ill will toward Zao Zhi; it was simply that Sima Yi felt he couldn't fully utilize his talents under Zao Zhi's command.

Sima Yi also had no deep feelings of camaraderie with his comrades.

In his eyes, these colleagues were nothing more than stepping stones for him to realize his ambitions.

In Sima Yi's view, only those like Hao Zhao, who possess both martial prowess and strategic acumen and can also communicate via Bluetooth, can be considered true teammates, while those who haven't activated the voice chat channel are merely ordinary colleagues.

Therefore, Sima Yi never felt the need to save someone who was "seeking death."

After all, if you get sick, you can seek medical treatment, but if you become stupid, then there is truly no cure.

By using the past incident as a pretext to escape Luoyang City, Sima Yi felt as if he had broken free of his shackles...

Now, Sima Yi can act according to his own ideas.

He narrowed his eyes slightly, as if he were plotting something, a barely perceptible glint of light flashing in them.

However, it was clear that the soldiers and officers Sima Yi had brought with him did not understand why he had stopped to rest instead of continuing on his way. Although they were resting as ordered, they also gathered in small groups, talking quietly, their faces full of confusion.

Within the group, unease and doubt spread quietly, like ripples on the surface of water.

Several junior officers exchanged glances. Finally, a senior military officer, steeling himself, approached Sima Yi, who remained silent, gazing northwards. He bowed and asked, "Commander, the situation is critical as the colonel pursues the enemy south. We are here to provide support; why are we lingering? Shouldn't we proceed south immediately to prevent any unforeseen circumstances?"

The old military officer's voice was sincere and restrained, but his anxiety to rescue his comrades was unmistakable. His face, etched with the marks of time from his armor, showed that comrades were brothers to him, and how could he stand idly by while his brothers were in danger?

Sima Yi slowly turned around, his gaze calmly sweeping over the military officer, then over the soldiers behind him who, though silent, also wore doubtful expressions and cast inquiring glances. He smiled slightly and nodded, seemingly rewarding the officer's inquiry, "What you said is perfectly normal."

"What does it look like?" The old general was momentarily speechless.

Sima Yi spoke, his voice low but steady, "It's human nature. However, warfare is based on deception, and should not be governed by common sense. How could Cao Cao, retreating south, not have left a contingency plan? Those cunning fellows will surely have laid an ambush along the southern route, waiting for our pursuing troops to fall into their trap."

His voice was exceptionally clear in the chilly morning air, each word carrying an unquestionable authority.

Sima Yi smiled and called out, "Men! Send a troop of fast horses, lightly armed and with minimal entourage, to catch up with the Colonel's unit. Tell them that Cao Cao's army is retreating south and there will surely be an ambush; they must be extremely cautious! If they encounter danger, they can retreat towards the western mountains and wait for an opportunity to escape."

Sima Yi's instruction was clear, yet somewhat perplexing.

They merely informed us of the risks and suggested a retreat direction, rather than indicating any support or rescue, and even pointed out that Xishan was a location different from Luoyang City and the southward retreat direction of Cao Cao's army...

What does this mean?
The old general couldn't help but ask, "Commander, so... are we heading to the rescue now?"

Sima Yi smiled again, waved his hand, and said, "No, we will proceed north along this road!"

"ah?"

The old general was stunned. "North?"

When Cao's army retreated south, the captains would usually pursue them. If they encountered danger, Sima Yi, the military advisor, would be ordered to provide support. So why did they go north instead?
This completely defies common sense. Sima Yi glanced around, observing the changes in the expressions on everyone's faces, and raised his voice, saying, "If our army rashly marches south, following their old path, not only will we fail to save our former allies, but we may also fall into a trap ourselves, only increasing casualties. What good will that do for the overall situation?"

"But...from the captain's side..." The old military commander frowned, his hands involuntarily clenching together and twisting tightly.

Sima Yi laughed and said, "Don't you trust the captain? Besides, what Cao Cao's army wants is far more than just a captain! If we get caught up in this again, will you save us or not, Lord Zao? Not saving us would be unjust, but saving us would jeopardize the overall situation in the Heluo region and the safety of Luoyang. Don't let a small matter cause you to lose the big picture; saving one person could harm an entire city!"

Sima Yi's smile gradually faded, his tone turned serious, and his gaze swept across the face of every soldier with lightning speed.

"This..." The military officer felt that Sima Yi's words seemed to make some sense, but also something was wrong, but he didn't know how to put it.

He scratched his head, his wrinkles deepening.

Is a captain more important, or a city?
Sima Yi's explanation seems reasonable.

But whether the old general was inflexible or simply stubborn, he wasn't immediately convinced by Sima Yi. After a pause, he pressed on, "But if we don't go to their aid, are we just going to watch the captain and the others...fall into a deadly situation?"

"No, no!" Sima Yi laughed again, his laughter echoing across the wilderness. "People must save themselves before others can save them! It's not that we won't help, but we must find another way, such as employing a strategy of 'besieging Wei to rescue Zhao,' or cutting off their ambush route. That would be the best course of action."

Sima Yi then changed the subject, pointing north and speaking in a clear voice, "Do you all know why Cao Cao's army fled south in such a panic?"

Before anyone could answer, Sima Yi answered his own question: "Because my General of Chariots and Cavalry's main force has already turned back from the north bank! They will soon cross the river and head south! At that time, north of the river, banners will blot out the sun, and armored soldiers will be like a forest! This is an overwhelming force! How could that traitor Cao not flee in panic?!"

"What? ! 』

"Is the General of the Cavalry coming?"

"May the cavalry be victorious!"

Upon hearing Sima Yi's words, all the military officers and soldiers were overjoyed, and they looked at each other with beaming smiles.

Sima Yi deliberately raised his voice slightly, "Cao Cao's retreat south is intended to avoid the main force's advance and prolong his life! But he is surely unwilling to accept defeat! Consider this: what if Cao Cao's army had secretly hidden an ambush along the route our main force must take south, waiting to attack us halfway through our advance? What would the consequences be?"

The question sent a chill down the spines of every soldier!
Troops are relatively vulnerable when they are on the march and are attacked without effective defense.

These seasoned cavalrymen understood this principle all too well…

Sima Yi took in everyone's reactions, knowing that his words had had the desired effect. A slight, almost imperceptible smile appeared on his lips.

Sima Yi's tone grew increasingly resolute, "Therefore, our journey here is truly burdened with a heavy responsibility! Our northward march is to welcome our lord! To clear obstacles for our army and scout the enemy's situation! If we indeed discover an enemy ambush, we can launch a surprise attack from their flank and rear, helping our main force to defeat the enemy in one fell swoop! This is a crucial matter concerning the entire Heluo campaign!"

Sima Yi's gaze swept over the old military commander, his voice deep and resolute, "I have already dispatched a messenger to warn the colonel, instructing him to act swiftly and move towards the western mountains… With the colonel's martial prowess, even if ambushed, he can break through without hindrance! Our immediate priority is to ensure our lord's safe southward advance and the annihilation of the bandits! This is our primary responsibility! Are you all willing to follow me, protect the army's southward march, and achieve this great feat?"

Sima Yi's words seem to make a very clear logical choice.

Since they're always able to fight and run, there's not much need to go to the rescue. Besides, are a few hundred people more important, or are thousands or tens of thousands more important?

The answer seems obvious.

Sure enough, the doubts on most soldiers' faces were gradually replaced by a mixture of a sense of mission and a desire for merit.

They straightened their backs, gripped their weapons tightly, and their eyes gleamed, clearly having made their decision. The old military commander also opened his mouth, as if wanting to ask something, but in the end, he swallowed his words, cupped his hands, and said, "Your subordinate understands. I am willing to follow you and serve the General in sweeping away the bandits!"

Welcome, General!

"Oh, oh, oh!"

The other soldiers also roared in unison, their morale soaring.

The warhorse seemed to sense its master's emotions, pawing the ground restlessly.

Sima Yi nodded slightly. His gaze swept over the passionate soldiers, but his heart remained unmoved.

Sima Yi wasn't actually telling the truth, but he felt he didn't need to tell the truth to these soldiers and military officers.

In his eyes, the soldiers under his command, the soldiers under his command, and even his colleagues in Luoyang City were all just chips in this grand game that could be weighed, used, or even discarded when necessary.

All you need to do is get them to obey and have enough motivation to carry it out...

"Excellent!" Sima Yi reined in his horse, pointing it north. "All troops, listen to my command! Head north! Scouts, advance ten li; report back immediately if anything unusual is detected!"

The team set off again, this time with a clear direction: northwards.

The sound of horses' hooves echoed across the wilderness, raising clouds of dust.

Sima Yi took the lead, his back standing out in the morning light, appearing both exceptionally tall and exceptionally lonely.

……

……

A cold wind swept across the desolate plains, and the flying sand stung my face with a chilling coldness.

He reined in his warhorse, his brow furrowed, and looked at the panting cavalry scouts before him.

This scout team was sent by Sima Yi...

The horses were covered in sweat, clearly having galloped all the way here.

They brought a brief but unsettling message...

"The Cao army's southward retreat may be fraught with ambush; exercise extreme caution. If danger arises, retreat towards the western mountains."

"ambush?"

He frowned, then chuckled, his voice somewhat abrupt in the open wilderness, "Military Advisor Sima is being far too cautious! Cao Cao's army is demoralized, like stray dogs! How could they possibly have the mind to lay an ambush? Besides, if we don't pursue them now, when will we? Are we going to wait until they run back to Mount Song, rely on the passes, and then launch a full-scale attack?"

His voice clearly betrayed his disdain.

The team leaders under his command looked at each other in bewilderment.

A more experienced captain hesitated for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "Captain, since Military Advisor Sima has sent someone to warn us, perhaps... it would be better if we slowed down and sent out more scouts to investigate ahead..."

"No need!" she interrupted impatiently, pointing to the faint dust rising in the southern sky, possibly from the retreating Cao army, visible in the dawn light. "The enemy is right before our eyes! Speed ​​is of the essence! We are all cavalry, free to come and go as we please! If we wait to scout before pursuing, the enemy will have already retreated into the mountains!"

His voice was firm and unwavering.

The burning desire for military merit within him consumed his reason like a flame. He could almost see the glory of capturing and killing a general of Cao Cao's army, and hear the cheers at the victory banquet.

Sima Yi's warning sounded to him almost like a form of obstruction, a way of preventing him from achieving merit...

Xishan?

If cavalrymen go into the mountains, what kind of cavalrymen can they still be?
This is a joke!

"There are only three places nearby where we could set up an ambush!" Zong Lai shouted, his voice echoing across the open field. "The three-way intersection ahead is one! Ten miles to the east, there's a narrow path, another one! And there's another one to the southwest, near the mountains, along a valley path! Apart from these three, the rest are all open roads! We only need to probe the three-way intersection; if there's no Cao Cao's army there, we're safe! As for the other two, we won't go there. What do we care if they have thousands of troops lying in ambush?!"

He always believed in himself and was familiar with the terrain, so he spoke with great certainty and his analysis was indeed very reasonable, which made many soldiers nod in agreement.

Without wasting words, he immediately sent people to investigate the three-way intersection ahead, while the rest of the people stayed put to rest.

He dismounted and carefully inspected his horse gear and weapons, glancing south every now and then with an eager look in his eyes.

A moment later, the scouts reported that they had indeed found no signs of Cao Cao's troops lying in ambush at the crossroads.

"Pass down the order!" Without hesitation, his voice was resolute. "All troops, accelerate! Follow Cao Cao's tail! Whoever spots Cao Cao's banner will be rewarded with a hundred gold pieces! Whoever captures or kills a Cao Cao general will be promoted three ranks according to the law!"

The initial doubts that arose from Sima Yi's warning were replaced by a desire for merit after confirming that the three-way intersection ahead was safe and with the encouragement from his predecessor.

The cavalrymen responded in unison, urging their horses onward like wolves drawn by the scent of blood, speeding along the official road toward the alluring smoke and dust to the south.

(End of this chapter)