Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3860 Feigning Foolishness

North of Fancheng, the camp of the Flying Cavalry.

Cao Zhen's guess was actually correct. Zhuge Liang did not bring many soldiers, and Cai Mao and Shamoke had already been dispatched. They were not accompanied by any generals, so it was indeed just a "feint".

However, even a feint is still a tactic!

Inside the central command tent, the charcoal brazier dispelled the chill of early winter, but also brought a touch of excitement and tension.

Zhuge Liang calmly swept his gaze over the letters on the table.

A letter of surrender.

Cao Zhen just sent someone to deliver it.

The letter was written in a sincere tone, fully describing the predicament of Fancheng and the morale of the army. Cao Zhen claimed that he "could not bear to see the innocent soldiers and civilians of the city turn to dust" and was willing to surrender Fancheng to the General of the Cavalry in order to save the lives of his men.

The letter also stipulated the details of the surrender of the city...

At dawn tomorrow, Cao Zhen will personally open the north gate of Fancheng and raise three red lanterns on the city wall as a signal to request the cavalry to send a vanguard into the city to take over.

Zhuge Liang smiled slightly, pondered for a moment, and then summoned several of his military officers.

……

……

The next day, during the darkest hour before dawn.

On the north gate tower of Fancheng, Cao Zhen, clad in heavy armor, stood with his hand on his sword, his gaze fixed on the silent darkness outside the city.

After the messenger returned, Cao Zhen became somewhat more confident in the "feigned surrender" strategy.

Historically, Zhuge Liang was only truly valued by the Cao Wei regime during the first Northern Expedition. After Liu Bei's death, the Shu Han state weakened, and Cao Wei generally considered Shu Han no longer a threat. Emperor Cao Rui of Wei even accused Zhuge Liang of "bluffing," believing him to be isolated and unable to threaten the Central Plains. Consequently, Cao Wei's strategic focus shifted to Eastern Wu, adopting a defensive posture against Shu Han. The western defense line was guarded by the mediocre Xiahou Mao in Guanzhong, with no special precautions taken against Zhuge Liang.

Even during Shu Han's covert preparations for war, after Zhuge Liang had pacified the southern regions and restored the country's strength, and was secretly preparing for the Northern Expedition for a long time, Cao Wei still did not realize his strategic intentions, or rather, they thought that Zhuge Liang was just making a lot of noise but achieving little, and was merely trying to seize power by cultivating enemies. Therefore, they did not make any targeted adjustments to the border defenses.

From this perspective, the most successful of Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions in history was actually his first one, but unfortunately...

Therefore, Cao Zhen's attitude towards Zhuge Liang is actually quite contemptuous.

He's just a scholar; how much skill could he possibly have?
However, for some reason, when the moment came, Cao Zhen's heart was still pounding like a drum.

There might be tension from taking a risk, or perhaps a glimmer of hope to defeat the vanguard and reverse the decline.

Cao Zhen was surrounded by carefully selected, loyal and reliable military academy students and personal guards.

Of course, this kind of "loyalty" has been somewhat diminished now.

The old slogans that used to say that loyalty was not absolute or that loyalty was absolutely not absolute are no longer effective.

On both sides of the barbican, and in the ruins of residential houses near the city wall, hundreds of the most elite armored soldiers held their breath, swords drawn and bows strung, waiting for their prey to fall into their trap.

"General, the time has come."

The guards reminded him in a low voice.

Cao Zhen suddenly felt a jolt in his heart!
"What……"

Cao Zhen said subconsciously.

The guards announced that the appointed time had arrived...

Cao Zhen glanced at the guard and decided to find a reason to transfer him away later.

He can't even speak properly. What does "the general's time has come" mean?
They can't even be bothered to say a couple more "agreements"?
Cao Zhen took a deep breath, trying to calm his inexplicably turbulent emotions, and ordered in a deep voice: "Raise the lamps!"

Three lanterns covered with red cloth slowly rose above the north gate of Fancheng, emitting an eerie yet alluring light in the darkness of dawn, like a guide to the entrance to hell.

Almost at the same instant the red light came on, a deafening roar of war drums and shouts suddenly erupted from the darkness of the forest north of Fancheng!
Torches are lit, connecting to form lines, and then forming surfaces!

In the firelight, Zhuge Liang's composed face was revealed.

Zhuge Liang nodded slightly to the military academy officer beside him.

The military academy officer bowed and accepted the order. The next moment, he roared and led nearly a thousand cavalrymen, like a flood bursting its banks, surging towards the open north gate of Fancheng!
Judging from their momentum, they seem eager to rush into the city immediately!
"Haha! They're here, they're here!"

Cao Zhen was overjoyed, his voice tinged with contempt, "Ignorant brat, you fell for the trap! Order them to enter the barbican!"

The cavalry charged forward at great speed, and in the blink of an eye they approached Fancheng. They were about to rush onto the drawbridge and step into the deadly barbican area!

However, at this critical moment, the cavalry officer at the forefront suddenly stopped, raised his sword high, and roared, "Halt! Form ranks! Shields forward! Spearmen in second place! Archers, light fires and spread them across the city walls!"

The well-trained cavalrymen stopped immediately upon receiving the order, their momentum abruptly halted!

The swordsmen and shieldmen at the front quickly moved closer, slamming their huge shields heavily onto the ground to form an impenetrable shield wall.

The spearmen behind them extended their spears from the gaps in their shields, their blades gleaming coldly.

Meanwhile, the archers at the rear did not hesitate to unleash a rain of arrows at the city walls and the positions of Cao Cao's ambush troops that had been predicted beforehand!

This sudden change was completely unexpected by Cao Zhen and his ambush troops!

Logically, having fallen for the feigned surrender and lured the enemy, the vanguard of the cavalry, seeing the city gates wide open, should have rushed in to seize the victory, thus trapping themselves in the fortified city. However, this cavalry unit stopped at the last moment and quickly formed a defensive formation!

"We've been found out?!"

Cao Zhen's mind went blank, and his face turned deathly pale instantly.

But now the die is cast, and there's no turning back!

"Kill! Unleash all the ambush troops! Slaughter them all!"

With red eyes, Cao Zhen gave the order in a hoarse voice.

After all, the opponent was just a "handsome scholar"...

He still has a chance, doesn't he?
At Cao Zhen's command, shouts of battle erupted from the hidden troop caves on both sides of the barbican and from the ruins of civilian houses near the city wall!
Hundreds of Cao's soldiers rushed out, brandishing their swords and spears, and charged towards the Flying Cavalry formation that was stationed at the city gate!

At the same time, Cao Cao's army on the city wall reacted and unleashed a barrage of arrows and crossbow bolts downwards!

In an instant, the north gate of Fancheng was transformed into a bloody meat grinder!
The cavalry led by the military academy were like rocks in a raging torrent, enduring fierce attacks from the front and above.

The shields thudded under the arrows, and every now and then a cavalryman would be shot down and dragged to the rear, but the overall cavalry formation remained solid.

The spears thrust out from behind the shields, knocking down the charging Cao army soldiers.

Just as the battle cries shook the north gate of Fancheng, drawing the main force of Cao Cao's ambush—

"boom!"

A muffled bang, accompanied by an even wilder shout of battle, suddenly erupted from the south side of Fancheng, on the banks of the Han River!

Liao Hua, who was separated from Fancheng by a river, immediately led two warships and eight hundred soldiers to attack the water gate of Fancheng like a sword drawn from its sheath after seeing that Zhuge Liang had successfully attracted Cao Zhen's attention!

Liao Hua and Zhuge Liang had worked together for some time and had some understanding of each other. Although they were separated by the Han River, they worked together as if they were one person.

Zhuge Liang used a clever plan to draw Cao Zhen's attention, and indeed, his forces were insufficient to inflict a heavy blow on Cao Zhen, but this created an excellent opportunity for Liao Hua to launch a surprise attack!

Liao Hua did not directly join forces with Zhuge Liang, but instead used Cai's warships to directly attack the water gate of Fancheng!
In a sense, the warships that Cai Mao, or rather the Cai clan, secretly built in Yunmeng Marsh were actually funded by Cao Cao's army...

These ships are now playing a crucial role.

It could be used to transport soldiers, and its tall deck could also be used as a platform for archers to suppress Cao Cao's army on the walls of Fancheng.

While sabotaging the water gate, the cavalrymen used their grappling hooks to scale the wall and quickly seize a section of the city wall on the side of the water gate. Then, they charged and attacked along the ramparts of the city wall towards the gate tower and the inner barbican!

This completely disrupted Cao Zhen's plans!

Liao Hua's sudden appearance was like a knife stabbing Cao's army in the chrysanthemum!

The Cao army on the city walls was forced to divide its forces to fight back, engaging in fierce combat with the cavalry that charged up the ramparts. They were attacked from both sides!

Cao Cao's ambush troops were immediately thrown into great chaos!

What's even more terrifying is that the morale and fighting spirit of the ordinary Cao army soldiers inside Fancheng are almost zero. They collapse immediately when they come into contact with Liao Hua's troops!
What Cao Zhen feared most and least wanted to see has finally happened!

If even a few ordinary Cao soldiers had held out, Liao Hua’s eight hundred soldiers would have been unable to advance, and Cao Zhen would have had a chance to turn the tide and put out the fire!
Unfortunately……

"No! Don't panic! Hold on! Drive them all out!"

Cao Zhen, watching from the city tower, was furious, brandishing his sword and roaring.

But he discovered that the effectiveness of the orders was declining rapidly.

Seeing the ferocity of the Flying Cavalry, many of Cao Cao's soldiers were terrified and retreated involuntarily, completely disobeying his orders...

Meanwhile, to the north of Fancheng, Zhuge Liang's troops, whose pressure had been greatly reduced, also took the opportunity to launch a counterattack!
With the cavalry flanking them from the north and south, Cao Cao's army in Fancheng was in even greater distress...

"General! We can't hold them off! The cavalry are charging in!"

A Cao army officer covered in blood scrambled up the city wall, his voice filled with panic.

Looking at the terrified and desperate eyes of the soldiers around him, Cao Zhen suddenly realized that the situation was hopeless!
All the scheming and struggles vanished in the face of absolute power and superior wisdom!
"Retreat...retreat! Exit through the east gate!"

Cao Zhen's voice was hoarse, filled with endless bitterness and a sense of defeat. He didn't even have time to organize an effective resistance; under the desperate protection of his personal guards, he could only flee the north gate tower in a panic, heading east towards the city, trying to find a last chance of survival.

With Cao Zhen's escape, the remaining will to resist of the defenders of Fancheng completely collapsed.

The cavalry poured in from the north gate like a tide and quickly spread throughout the city.

The banners of Cao Cao's army on the city wall were cut down, while the battle flags of the Flying Cavalry Army fluttered high in the morning light.

Zhuge Liang stood on the high platform of the Beishan camp, gazing at the banner of the General of the Cavalry rising over Fancheng, a faint smile on his face.

With the successive fall of Fancheng, Xiangyang, and the twin cities of Jingbei, it signifies the collapse of Cao Cao's overall structure in Jingzhou. The remaining issues are simply settling the territory and rebuilding the county and prefecture governance system...

……

……

Of course, even if Xiangyang and Fancheng fell into the hands of the Flying Cavalry, it did not mean that Jingzhou and other surrounding counties would also change their allegiance.

For example, Xinye was still in the hands of Cao Cao's army.

Xinye is a small town, and in the early winter wind, it appears even more dilapidated and desolate.

Many of the crenellations on the low city wall have collapsed and have not yet been repaired.

Rather than describing Xinye as a small military town, it's more accurate to say that Xinye is like an abandoned transit point.

It has now become a place where refugees and defeated soldiers can barely find temporary shelter.

Cao Ren settled down here.

Cao Ren's mood at this moment was even more gloomy and cold than the weather in Xinye.

He retreated all the way from Jiangling, gathering scattered soldiers and vagrants from various places. When he arrived at Xinye, he managed to assemble nearly three thousand men under his command.

In the era of cold weapons, the percentage of soldiers who died directly in battle was actually not high.

The highest mortality rates actually occurred in the postwar period, due to unavoidable inflammation and the brutal methods of mass graves.

Although Cao Cao's soldiers often secretly discussed the merits of the Flying Cavalry, seemingly eager to immediately turn around and worship them, the old inertia still made these soldiers unconsciously follow the old "tracks" and often only realized when they reached their destination, "Oh dear, how did I end up back here again?"

It's like the cattle and horses of later generations squeezing into sardine cans on shuttle buses day and night. How many times have I fantasized about slapping my keyboard on my boss's greasy face and hanging the company CEO on a street lamp? But the next day, I still have to race against the sun to catch the subway and bus...

However, how much initiative and loyalty these cattle and horses... oh, I'm wrong, how many Cao soldiers these Cao soldiers have left is another matter entirely.

Faced with such soldiers, Cao Ren could not do anything immediately. He could only send people to inquire about Cao Zhen and Jingzhou while trying his best to reorganize the defeated soldiers, distribute the remaining food and rations, and attempt to rebuild some fighting strength.

Cao Ren still harbored a sliver of hope and some resentment.

"Although Zidan is young and may have oversights, Fancheng is fortified. If everyone is of one mind, we might be able to hold out for a while... Once I have reorganized my troops, I may be able to march south to provide support. Even if we cannot recapture Xiangyang, at least we can help him stabilize his position and retreat with his entire army..."

Cao Ren spoke to the few remaining military officers under his command, as if trying to convince himself.

He simply couldn't accept that the situation in Jingbei had deteriorated to such an extent under his leadership, and he wanted to do something to salvage the situation, even if it was just to save face.

He even began planning how to use Xinye as a base to send small detachments to harass the north bank of the Han River, contain the Flying Cavalry, and relieve pressure on Fancheng, etc.

Unfortunately, just as Cao Ren had roughly reorganized the scattered troops, distributed some food and equipment, and was preparing to convene the military academy to discuss the next course of action, the bad news arrived.

"Fancheng has fallen!" The scout trembled.

Cao Ren jumped to his feet, ignoring the bump on the table, and asked in a trembling voice, "What? What did you say?!"

"Fancheng...Fancheng has fallen! The General of the Cavalry has entered Fancheng! General Cao...is retreating in defeat! He's on his way..." The scout was somewhat incoherent, but he managed to get the gist of the story.

Cao Ren was greatly alarmed and, without thinking twice, led his military officers straight to the city wall.

He didn't know how much time had passed—perhaps just a moment, or perhaps half a day—before Cao Ren saw scattered dust on the road in the distance…

After a while, Cao Ren saw a group of men who were even more disheveled than the routed soldiers he had brought from Jiangling...

The leader, whose armor was covered in dust and blackened bloodstains, whose helmet was nowhere to be found, whose hair was disheveled, and whose face was a mixture of soot, sweat and the dejection of defeat, was none other than Cao Zhen.

"Zidan!"

Cao Ren hurriedly ordered the city gates to be opened, then went forward and helped Cao Zhen, who was about to fall to the ground.

When Cao Zhen saw Cao Ren, his lips trembled a few times. He wanted to say something, but he felt a lump in his throat. A huge sense of shame and helplessness welled up in his heart, and in the end, it turned into a long, bitter sigh...

"Uncle...nephew...nephew is incompetent...Fancheng...is lost!"

Seeing Cao Zhen's state and the dejected remnants of his army behind him, Cao Ren's last thought of fighting back vanished completely.

Cao Ren originally planned to reorganize his troops to support Fancheng, but he did not expect Cao Zhen to retreat even faster!

A sense of shared misery, mixed with despair at the complete loss of control of the situation, permeated the two generals from the Cao clan.

"Enough...enough..." Cao Ren patted Cao Zhen's shoulder, his voice low and hoarse, "It's not your fault, it's that the enemy army...is too cunning...and the General of the Cavalry...is too powerful..."

Upon reaching this point, Cao Ren's heart clenched again!
Cao Ren looked around. Putting aside Cao Zhen and the defeated Cao army soldiers in front of him, even the dilapidated city walls of this small city of Xinye made Cao Ren feel extremely uneasy!

The small town of Xinye was simply indefensible. The town's food supplies were limited and insufficient to feed the two rout armies. More importantly, morale was low; the soldiers had no will to fight. Staying there meant certain death if the cavalry caught up.

"We cannot linger here!"

Cao Ren acted decisively, speaking to Cao Zhen and his own military officers, "The Flying Cavalry has successively captured Xiangyang and Fancheng, and their momentum is strong. Their next move will undoubtedly be to sweep north and conquer Nanyang! Xinye will be the first to fall, and it offers no natural defenses. We must evacuate immediately!"

"Withdraw? Where to?"

Cao Zhen looked up blankly, his eyes devoid of their former sparkle.

"Yingchuan!" Cao Ren said decisively. "Yingchuan is located in the heart of the Central Plains, with abundant reserves and formidable fortresses. We can temporarily avoid the advance of the General Huo Qubing! We must set off immediately, gather the defeated troops along the way, and head to Yingchuan to regroup before devising further plans!"

This is currently the only seemingly feasible solution.

Only by retreating to the core area where Cao Cao's power was relatively stable could they gain a chance to regroup.

Cao Ren's order naturally received a very high response.

The two defeated troops, already like frightened birds, did not resist the order to continue their northward retreat. Instead, they felt a sense of relief at escaping a dangerous area.

No one thought about counterattacking or holding their ground anymore; survival and escaping to safety were the only thoughts in the minds of every soldier at that moment. The Cao army soldiers, who had been somewhat sluggish, listless, and even dejected, now had some hope and began to move.

Cao Ren and Cao Zhen didn't even have time to rest in Xinye before joining forces and leading this seemingly large but actually demoralized mixed army away from Xinye in a panic, like a flock of sheep being driven away. They then traveled along the official road towards Yingchuan in the north.