Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3859 The People Have No Faith

Liu Bei entered slowly, his face still bearing the same gentle smile that seemed to never change.

Putting everything else aside, Liu Bei's smile alone is something that an ordinary person could never learn in a lifetime.

Upon seeing Xu Huang, Liu Bei, with a perfectly measured expression of emotion and congratulations, cupped his hands in greeting and said, "Congratulations, General Gongming, and congratulations, General Huo Qubing! I've heard that Xiangyang has been restored and Jingbei is now secure; this is truly a blessing for the people of Jingzhou!"

Liu Bei paused slightly, and without waiting for Xu Huang to ask, said in a sincere tone: "I have heard that Xiangyang has just fallen, and although Cao Cao's army has fled north in defeat, I fear there may be a reversal. I wish to send Guan Yu with a contingent of troops north to assist in the defense of Xiangyang, to contribute my meager strength, and also to preserve the friendship between me and General Huo. I wonder what General Gongming thinks?"

Liu Bei's words were quite subtle.

Furthermore, it demonstrates that Liu Bei was exceptionally skilled at interpersonal relationships.

People like Liu Bei, who rose from humble beginnings as wandering knights, naturally had unique ways of dealing with people and situations.

Leaving aside the historical "Three Visits," Liu Bei's strategy of biding his time and using retreat as a means of advancement among different warlords is enough to teach a large group of people in later generations who like to fight when they disagree to something they can never learn.

Just like now, before Xu Huang even came to him, Liu Bei took the initiative to suggest something to Xu Huang, and it was exactly what Xu Huang was worried about...

Xu Huang's reluctance to leave Jiangling undoubtedly stemmed from his perception of Liu Bei as a risk, hence his simultaneous cooperation and wariness.

Sending Gan Ning, who was still recovering from his injuries, northwards would not significantly enhance combat strength, except for providing some troop replenishment. However, the addition of Guan Yu would make a world of difference!
Moreover, Liu Bei's decision to send Guan Yu away was tantamount to showing his "sincerity" to Xu Huang, or rather, to General Fei Qian!
Handing over one's second child to someone else—doesn't that demonstrate a cooperative attitude?

However, this matter also carries risks.

After all, it's easy to invite a god but difficult to send him away.

Guan Yu is far superior to Gan Ning; he possesses both pride and talent, and more importantly, represents the interests of Liu Bei's side. Would sending him into Xiangyang, a city that has just changed hands and is rife with internal strife, be...?

Xu Huang's mind raced as he weighed the options.

Refusing would probably be even more inappropriate.

Putting aside the fact that Xiangyang did indeed need support, simply refusing Liu Bei's suggestion not only made the General of the Cavalry appear petty, but also gave Liu Bei a legitimate reason to stay in Jiangling!

After weighing the pros and cons, Xu Huang made a decision after a moment.

Xu Huang smiled slightly and said to Liu Bei in a deep voice, "General Zheng Nan is deeply righteous, and I am extremely grateful! In that case, I will trouble General Guan."

Xu Huang then turned to Gan Ning, saying, "Xingba, your injuries haven't healed, and you shouldn't be making such a fuss. However, the situation in Xiangyang is critical, and you need to go with General Guan. You are familiar with naval warfare, so you can head north along the Han River and advance alongside General Guan by land, supporting each other."

Liu Bei, without a word, smiled and accepted the military order.

Xu Huang, however, kept Gan Ning behind, saying, "Xingba, there are a few things you must remember on your journey to Xiangyang."

Gan Ning cupped his hands and said, "General, please give your orders."

Xu Huang's expression was grave. He lowered his voice, "Firstly, assisting Commandant Liao in securing the city's defenses and eliminating the remaining enemy forces is of paramount importance. Secondly..."

Xu Huang pondered for a moment, his gaze drifting in the direction Liu Bei had left. "Guan Yu is a man of extraordinary courage and strategy, but his heart is unfathomable. His entry into Xiangyang is ostensibly to assist, but his true intentions remain unknown. You must keep a close watch on him secretly, and consult with Commander Liao on matters… Commander Liao should be the primary figure in Xiangyang's military affairs! On the surface, cooperation and courtesy are necessary, but we must never allow Guan Yu to seize control of Xiangyang! If anything amiss… inform me immediately! If the matter is urgent, you may make the decision on the spot!"

Gan Ning's expression hardened. Though brave, he wasn't entirely ignorant of political maneuvering and immediately understood Xu Huang's concerns. He said in a deep voice, "This subordinate understands! General, rest assured, I know what I'm doing!"

Xu Huang didn't say anything more. Such matters were better left unsaid and not written down, so he sent Gan Ning to prepare to leave it unmentioned.

Meanwhile, in the courtyard where Liu Bei was temporarily staying, Guan Yu listened to his brother's instructions before his departure.

"Second brother, Xiangyang is the foundation of Jingzhou and Xiangyang, and now it has fallen into the hands of General Huo Qubing... its fate is sealed..."

Liu Bei's tone was calm, but his eyes were deep. "Xu Gongming's agreement to your assistance was both a last resort and a test. On your journey, you must outwardly do your utmost to help Liao and Gan stabilize the situation, repel any potential enemies, and demonstrate our army's integrity and martial prowess..."

This is the most critical point.

As a wandering knight-errant, Liu Bei understood that always standing on the side of the victor was the way to survive in chaotic times.

If the Flying Cavalry had not captured Xiangyang, Liu Bei might have wanted to use some tactics with Xu Huang in Jiangling. However, upon hearing that Xiangyang had also been captured, he immediately changed his original plan and placed himself in the position of an assistant.

However, assistance also needs to be compensated...

Liu Bei changed the subject, his voice even lower, "However... after Yunchang arrives in Xiangyang, you must also pay close attention... For example, what is the true fighting strength of the Flying Cavalry? What are the characteristics of the Liao family's military tactics? What is the relationship between the local gentry such as Cai and Kuai and the Flying Cavalry? The strength and weakness of Xiangyang's defenses, its food reserves... Yunchang must carefully observe all these situations and send someone to inform you... You must not let it all remain on paper, lest you give others a clue... As for the future of Jingzhou and Xiangyang... there may very well be a place for my brothers to establish themselves! Everything should be done according to circumstances, with caution as the priority..."

Guan Yu narrowed his phoenix eyes slightly, stroked his long beard, and nodded, saying, "Brother, rest assured, I know what's important. When it's time to help, I will not hesitate to exert my strength; when it's time to watch, I will not miss a single detail!"

Liu Bei nodded and patted Guan Yu's arm.

The tacit understanding between brothers needs no further explanation.

The following morning, both teams left Jiangling one after the other.

Gan Ning led his elite troops, skilled in water, onto some of the boats provided by Cai Mao, and sailed upstream along the Han River. Guan Yu, on the other hand, led two thousand carefully selected infantry and cavalry, with banners waving, and headed north towards Xiangyang along the official road.

The two teams share the same goal, but each harbors their own agenda.

On the city wall of Jiangling, Xu Huang and Liu Bei stood side by side, watching the dust settle in the distance, their faces smiling, but each with their own thoughts.

The land of Jingzhou, a region that has just undergone dramatic changes, is welcoming new reinforcements, but also sowing the seeds of uncertainty for the future.

Beneath the surface of the alliance, undercurrents continue to surge...

……

……

On the other hand, the Cao army in Jingzhou was having an increasingly tough time, like Wang Xiaoer celebrating the New Year, with each year getting worse than the last.

In the past, ordinary people could be made to act as Wang Xiaoer, painstakingly prying things out of their teeth and belts. But now...

Cao Ren, having retreated from Jiangling, saw that Xiangyang had changed its flags. Naturally, he was like a frightened bird, leading his battered and broken troops in a hasty retreat northward along the north bank of the Han River without looking back.

Cao Ren's escape was understandable, but it left Cao Zhen in the hot seat...

As a result of the chain reaction, Cao Zhen's hard times began.

The news couldn't be kept secret.

When the news of Cao Ren's crushing defeat at Jiangling and his escape to Xiangyang spread like wildfire throughout Fancheng, the city, already gripped by fear due to the change of control of Xiangyang across the river, saw its last vestiges of order and fighting spirit crumble, transforming it into a city shrouded in despair.

The once well-organized defenses on the walls of Fancheng have visibly crumbled.

The soldiers of Cao's army leaned against the cold battlements, staring blankly at the glaring tricolor flags on the city walls of Xiangyang across the river, or gazing blankly in the direction where Cao Ren's defeated troops had fled, their faces devoid of any color.

Whispers inevitably arose in every corner of the city, gradually coalescing into an unsettling commotion.

"Even General Cao has fled... how can we possibly fight this battle?"

"Xiangyang has fallen, what's the point of us holding onto Fancheng? Are we just waiting to be attacked from both the north and south?"

"The cavalry is incredibly fierce; they've slaughtered countless people in Jiangling..."

It wasn't just people like Liu Bei who knew how to observe the situation; even ordinary civilians and soldiers could discern things from their daily lives and understand whether the situation was good or bad...

Even though the authorities claim everything is fine.

To live is a basic human instinct.

Therefore, the anxiety about life and death is unavoidable and cannot be replaced by administrative orders, announcements, or manifestos...

Especially when the hope of victory is slim, and the shadow of death is so real, the instinct for survival overrides all awe and fear of military law and superiors.

During the day, the officers' suppression and inertia could maintain a semblance of calm, but once night fell, Fancheng became a playground for fugitives...

The first adventurer appeared. A rough rope was quietly lowered from a secluded crenellation in the city wall, and a dark figure slid down with the agility of an ape, landing and then plunging into the dark wilderness without looking back.

Once there's a first, there's a second, a third...

Despite Cao Zhen's increased night patrols and even his personal involvement in arrests, including the public beheading of several captured deserters whose bloody heads were displayed on the city gate tower, this brutal deterrent proved insufficient to cure the pervasive despair in the face of the city.

"Kill! Kill! Staying in the city means death, escaping might offer a chance of survival! It's better than having your head chopped off by the cavalry or being trapped and dying in the city!"

Such thoughts grew wildly in the minds of many soldiers.

The horror of beheading pales in comparison to the despair of the future.

The escape, which began as an adventure by a few daring individuals, gradually became a semi-public secret. Officers mostly turned a blind eye to it, and some lower-ranking officers even considered leaving themselves, but held back for the time being due to their positions.

Cao Zhen was not unaware of all this...

He was extremely anxious, like an ant on a hot pan.

He repeatedly summoned the mid- to low-ranking officers under his command, such as military academy officers, military commanders, and captains, in an attempt to boost morale.

"Gentlemen! Do not panic!" Cao Zhen tried to appear confident. "The cavalry in the northern mountains is merely a diversionary force! Although Xiangyang has fallen to the south, the Han River separates us! Our Fancheng is well-fortified and has sufficient supplies for several months! As long as we unite as one and hold our ground while awaiting reinforcements, the Prime Minister will not stand idly by and watch Jingbei crumble. He will surely send a large army to its rescue! At that time, with forces from within and without, we may well be able to retake Xiangyang! Just like last time!"

Cao Zhen's analysis, from a purely military perspective, is not entirely without merit.

Fancheng is indeed easy to defend and difficult to attack. After capturing Xiangyang, the Flying Cavalry on the opposite bank also needs time to digest and reorganize. They may not be able to gather enough troops to cross the river and launch a strong attack in the short term.

However, Cao Zhen overlooked one point, or rather, one point he couldn't change...

human heart.

The officers and cadets below Cao Zhen appeared to be listening attentively, but their eyes were mostly wandering. They knew more than the ordinary soldiers, and for that very reason, their worries were deeper.

After Cao Zhen finished speaking, a senior captain stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and said with barely concealed worry: "General, you are wise. While holding out for reinforcements is reasonable... the morale of the army is low, and desertions are increasing daily. If this continues, I fear our army will collapse before the General of Chariots and Cavalry even arrives... Moreover... Fancheng is now an isolated city..."

The captain didn't spell it out explicitly, but the meaning was clear—

Cao Ren fled at the mere sight of him; how can you expect your men to believe that a resolute rescue will be forthcoming?
How can we believe that we can hold on to it?

These officers and military academy students were no longer thinking about how to win, but rather how to minimize their losses and how to secure a way out for themselves and their brothers, or simply for themselves, in this seemingly doomed war.

Their families, their businesses, and their future prospects all need to be considered.

Will they defend Fancheng to the death and be buried alive with the Cao family?

This is not their first choice.

The authority of the Cao family's central government, represented by Cao Zhen, is rapidly depreciating in the face of local interests and personal survival.

The "ideological unification briefing" that used to be effective is now completely useless.

No matter how loudly Cao Zhen shouted on stage, no one in the audience believed him or listened...

Such rifts in interests and the inability to forge a consensus were extremely common in feudal dynasties.

Cao Zhen and a few core confidants belonged to the Qiao-Pei clique, which had close ties with Cao Cao. Their interests were highly intertwined with the Cao regime; they shared both prosperity and adversity.

Therefore, Cao Zhen was able to grit his teeth and persevere, attempting to turn the tide.

However, many more middle and lower-ranking officers came from different regions and factions.

There were officers from the Qingxu army who had been incorporated in the early days, officers from Jingzhou who had surrendered, and even leaders of other tribes brought by powerful northern clans.

They joined Cao Cao for fame and fortune, seeking refuge and development in the chaotic world, not out of boundless loyalty to the Cao family.

The situation in Jingbei is now in disarray, and the Cao regime's rule here is on the verge of collapse.

Continuing to hold out in Fancheng would be extremely risky for them, with little chance of reward.

Once the city falls, everything will be destroyed; even if it manages to hold out, it may be severely weakened and marginalized in the future power structure...

Therefore, no matter how many slogans Cao Zhen shouted, saying that as long as they endured a little more hardship and persevered, they could wait for the Prime Minister's army to return and Jingzhou would still have a bright future, it could not stop the middle and lower-ranking military officers from having their own restless thoughts.

Under such circumstances, Cao Zhen's idea of ​​getting this group of people, each with their own agendas, to form a strong sense of unity in a time of crisis and fight to the death for a distant and uncertain "reinforcements" and "victory" is nothing short of a pipe dream.

The traditional military model of feudal dynasties often built its cohesion on victory, interests, and high pressure. But now, victory is out of reach, interests are scarce, and high pressure is nearing its breaking point...

Cao Zhen wasn't a fool; he naturally sensed the despair pervading the army and the growing disloyalty among the lower-ranking military officers. He knew that empty talk about "holding firm" or emphasizing "reinforcements" would no longer bolster morale. He had to do something, even if it was a desperate measure, to temporarily stabilize the situation; otherwise, before the cavalry even attacked, Fancheng would collapse!

After much deliberation, Cao Zhen gathered a small number of mid- to high-ranking military officers whom he considered somewhat trustworthy.

Cao Zhen no longer bothered with pretense and stated bluntly: "Gentlemen, the situation is dire enough that I need not elaborate further. Morale is low, desertions are rampant, and if this continues, we will be trapped like turtles in a jar without even needing the General of the Cavalry to cross the river!"

The officers remained silent, their faces grave.

Cao Zhen took a deep breath, a ruthless glint in his eyes. "The only option now is to take a risk! Rather than wait to die, it's better to... launch a preemptive strike!"

"Attack?" A military academy officer asked in astonishment. "General, with our troops' morale so low, how can we launch an attack?"

"It's not a full-scale attack," Cao Zhen said in a low voice, "but... a feigned surrender!"

Cao Zhen explained his plan in detail.

Select a skilled and eloquent assassin whose family resides in Qiao and Pei, secretly leave the city, and surrender to the Flying Cavalry north of Fancheng, agreeing on a date to hand over Fancheng.

Once the cavalry believed it to be true, they sent their vanguard to take over the city. When they approached the city, the ambush troops came out and inflicted heavy damage on them!
If we can win, even if it's just defeating a part of them, it will greatly boost the morale of our troops!

At that point, whether to continue defending the city or take advantage of the enemy's confusion to orderly withdraw from Fancheng and move north, would be a more proactive and deliberate approach...

"Is this plan... too risky?"

Another military academy student hesitated before saying, "If they find out, I'm afraid..."

Cao Zhen smiled bitterly: "Isn't the situation dangerous enough right now? Trapped in this city, morale is low, and annihilation is imminent! This plan offers a sliver of hope! At least we must win one battle, letting our men know the Flying Cavalry is not invincible, only then will we have a chance to retreat! Otherwise, even if we retreat now, how many of us do you think will safely return north under the watchful eyes of the Flying Cavalry? I fear that once we leave the city, we'll scatter for miles, left to be slaughtered!"

Upon hearing Cao Zhen's last words, the military academy students present couldn't help but nod in agreement.

Yes, if we flee now, it will be a rout, a disorganized scattering of troops, and the chances of survival are extremely slim!
If we can win a battle before retreating, even a small one, we can stabilize our position, retreat in an orderly manner, and preserve more strength...

The atmosphere inside the sealed room subtly changed.

The officers exchanged glances. Although they still had doubts, Cao Zhen's words did offer a seemingly feasible way out of their current predicament.

"General...this plan is brilliant!"

"Yes, we absolutely cannot sit idly by and wait to die!"

"If we can defeat the enemy's vanguard, our retreat will be more relaxed..."

Seeing that everyone basically agreed, Cao Zhen felt a little relieved.

But this is merely a gamble born of desperation.

Even if the plan succeeds, it will only buy a brief respite; the overall situation in Jingbei is already beyond saving…

Cao Zhen sighed inwardly, then waved for everyone to go and prepare.

Where exactly does the root of all these problems lie?
Cao Zhen couldn't understand it.

(End of this chapter)