Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3871 Working Day and Night (Bonus Chapter)
The news of Cao Hong's defeat at the city gates of Gongxian County further dampened the already low morale of Cao's army.

Cao Cao and Cao Hong originally thought that the cavalry's "eager" arrival must be due to the influence of the imperial edict, so the vanguard of the cavalry probably had some tasks with a limited time, which might make them impatient and negligent in some ways...

Unexpectedly, although Huang Zhong and his group arrived quickly, it was not because of the imperial edict, but because this was originally Fei Qian's plan, so there was no question of them being anxious or hasty.

The gap between his ideals and expectations led to the failure of Cao Hong's plan and his humiliating retreat.

The series of defeats intensified the tense atmosphere within Cao Cao's army. It was like the flu: at first, it was just a cough, one or two people coughing, which didn't attract much attention. But when a group of people around you were coughing, even if you weren't infected, you couldn't help but feel a chill and a sense of dread.

Cao Hong led the retreating remnants of his army back to Gong County, bringing not only the painful groans of the wounded but also the cold reality that the ferry crossing had been lost and the mighty cavalry could arrive at the gates of Gong County at any moment.

Gongxian had been captured by the Flying Cavalry once before, so now they were hoping to use fortifications inside and outside the city to resist and wear down, or rather, delay the Flying Cavalry...

Just like the slogan of "get rich first," not only did the soldiers and military academy students not believe it, but even Cao Hong himself did not believe it.

Cao Hong failed to delay the vanguard of the Ferry Cavalry at the crossing...

In some ways, it seems to be something that was expected.

Inside the county government office, the flickering lights illuminated Cao Cao's expressionless face, as well as Cao Hong's frustrated and resentful expression.

After a moment, Cao Cao smiled, as if nothing had happened and he was still completely unfazed.

"Zilian, don't blame yourself. This general is experienced and shrewd; this Gongshui... it's not your fault either."

Cao Cao's voice broke the suffocating silence. He smiled, as if recounting a trivial matter, "Gongxian is a small town with low walls and limited storage; it's not a place to hold out for long. To be able to use the ferry crossing to weaken one of their vanguard and delay them for two or three days is already quite an achievement."

Cao Hong gritted his teeth and said, "It is hateful that I have failed my lord's trust! I failed to severely damage their vanguard! My lord... now the cavalry is at the city gates. My lord should go ahead to Sishui Pass! I will cover their retreat here. As long as I have a breath left, I will ensure that the cavalry cannot advance any further!"

Cao Cao shook his head, "This place... cannot be defended..."

Cao Cao's gaze swept across the simple county government hall, as if he could see through the walls to the entire scene inside and outside Gong County. "Morale has collapsed, troops are insufficient, and supplies are dwindling. Fei Ziyuan's main force will arrive in an instant. Being trapped in this isolated city will only increase casualties and do nothing to improve the overall situation."

Cao Cao paused, then made his decision, speaking calmly as he said, "Withdraw! Arrange for a quiet, phased withdrawal tonight, retreating to Sishui Pass to join the Emperor and the guards. Gong County... should be abandoned."

Cao Cao spoke casually, but in reality, his plan had been revised again and again...

The "King of Ideas" from Shandong isn't actually like Doraemon, able to pull an idea out of his pocket at any moment. Rather, he doesn't pretend to have a plan or a knack for coming up with ideas; it's more likely that...

"Just like that?" Cao Hong knew this was the only option, but he still felt aggrieved. "Wouldn't that be letting that brat, the General of the Cavalry, off too easily!"

"Then leave him some gifts..." Cao Cao nodded, a cold glint in his eyes, and slowly said, "How much gunpowder do you have left?"

Cao Hong was taken aback, then understood: "There are still more than ten barrels that haven't been used yet... My lord means..."

"More than ten barrels?" Cao Cao frowned. "Not enough, not enough!"

"More than twenty barrels were buried under the main street in the city..." Cao Hong said.

"Take everything away," Cao Cao ordered. "There's no need to preserve any streets within the city..."

Cao Cao pointed and said, "They should all be buried here... in the main hall, the second hall... bury them well hidden... and then arrange for assassins to hide in the underground caves..."

"Buried inside the government office?" Cao Hong immediately understood Cao Cao's intention. But then, a practical question popped into Cao Hong's mind: "What if... what if the General of the Cavalry doesn't enter the government office, or what if the General of the Cavalry is cautious and sends someone to search carefully first..."

Cao Cao remained silent.

I come up with ideas, and you try to sabotage them, huh?
So you didn't do a good job even when I asked you to!

Silence, an awkward silence.

Inside the county government office, only the occasional crackling sound of lamp wicks popping could be heard.

The silence lasted for a long time, so long that Cao Hong thought Cao Cao would not answer, or might change his mind.

Finally, Cao Cao slowly exhaled, and his breath condensed into a thin white mist in the cold air.

"If they don't enter... perhaps we should search them first..." Cao Cao smiled slightly, his voice soft, "Then we'll see what fate has in store..."

Cao Cao's lips twitched slightly, a half-smile playing on his lips: "When Fei Ziyuan secretly recaptures a city, wouldn't he step into the main hall to assert his authority? Even if he himself is cautious, wouldn't his generals, upon achieving victory, rush to occupy the government office to display their glory? Such is human nature; greed blinds the mind, and achievement makes the heart restless. This plan gambles on this very human nature, on their complacency and smugness following their sudden victory!"

Cao Cao paused, then his tone became resolute and forceful, "We will do our best to make thorough arrangements; the rest... we'll leave to fate. Even if there's only a 10-20% chance of severely damaging their leader, it's worth a try. Even if it fails... hehe..."

Cao Cao didn't finish speaking; it seemed he still had calculations to make.

Cao Hong solemnly clasped his hands and said, "This subordinate understands! I will immediately arrange for my trusted men to act tonight! I will ensure that the gunpowder is buried undetected and the fuse is perfectly set!"

Cao Cao nodded slightly and waved his hand.

Cao Hong bowed and withdrew to make arrangements.

Inside the county government office, Cao Cao sat alone under the dim light.

The flickering lights cast Cao Cao's shadow long and short.

……

……

On the west bank of the Gong River, the main camp of the Flying Cavalry Army had already been erected, with banners waving and an imposing presence.

The newly built pontoon bridge is wider and more stable, and vehicles and infantry are passing through in a constant stream, transporting more troops and supplies to the east bank.

Huang Zhong had already handed over the defense of the ferry crossing to the central army and was currently in the central army tent, giving Fei Qian a detailed report on the capture of the ferry crossing and the defeat of Cao Hong's troops.

Fei Qian sat upright, listening quietly. He praised Huang Zhong's decisiveness and experience, saying, "Han Sheng responded to the situation with quick thinking, defeating the enemy before they could act, burning their ambush, and disrupting their morale. His actions were measured and skillful. This is a meritorious deed, and his troops will be rewarded after the battle."

Huang Zhong clasped his hands in thanks and stepped aside.

Fei Qian was not complacent because of the victory in the vanguard battle. His gaze swept over the strategists in the tent: Jia Qu, Sima Yi, and Du Ji.

Fei Qian's gaze seemed to convey something...

The next moment, Fei Qian composed himself and asked calmly, "Gong County is now in sight. Cao Cao's army has just suffered a defeat. Liang Dao, Zhongda, and Bohou, in your opinion, what should we do now? Can we take Gong County? And if we do, what should we do next?"

The three knew that the general was testing them and also pooling their wisdom.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Du Ji glanced at Jia Qu, then at Sima Yi, and spoke directly: "Reporting to the General, in my opinion, Cao Cao's army has just suffered a defeat at Gongshui, losing many soldiers and generals, and their morale is low. Gongxian is a small city with low walls and insufficient defenses; it is not a fortified city. Now our army is assembled in great numbers, with high morale. We can easily encircle them from three sides and take them directly. With the sharpness of my cavalry, breaking through this defeated and panicked enemy should be as easy as pouring boiling water on snow; we can take them in a day or two. If Cao Cao's army is wise, seeing that our encirclement is complete, they will probably abandon the city and retreat eastward to Sishui before we can even launch an attack. Our army can then take advantage of this opportunity to recapture Gongxian, rest briefly, and then plan our eastward advance."

If you fight squarely and honestly, with proper tactics and composure, you will naturally leave no openings.

As soon as Du Ji finished speaking, Sima Yi shook his head slightly, cupped his hands in a salute to Fei Qian, and said, "Du Zhizhong's words are reasonable. However, in my opinion, Cao Cao's military tactics are often unpredictable, and he may not necessarily be trapped in an isolated city. If my prediction is correct, he is probably already planning a retreat."

Sima Yi slightly raised his head, his expression calm. "The Cao army at Gong County has lost the crossing point, and their gates are wide open. With Cao Mengde's wisdom, how could he allow his army to sit idly by in Gong County, only to suffer a wasted valuable force? Therefore, I predict that if we wait for our main army to leisurely encircle them, we will likely only capture an empty city. Even if we kill some of Cao's rearguard, it will be of little benefit."

"Therefore, I believe we should immediately dispatch elite troops to traverse the mountains and valleys, bypassing the main force of Gongxian, to scout their retreat route, seek opportunities to intercept and harass them, wound their soldiers, seize their supplies, and make their retreat even more chaotic. If we can capture one or two of Cao Cao's generals, it will not only exhaust their army but also demonstrate the might of our forces. Even if Cao Cao's army retreats to Sishui, their morale will be low and their will to fight will be gone."

Fei Qian listened without comment, then turned his gaze to Jia Qu, who had been silently pondering. "Liang Dao, what's your opinion?" Jia Qu stroked his beard, his brow furrowing slightly. "Du Zhizhong wants to quickly capture Gongxian, and Sima Canjun wants to pursue the fleeing enemy—both are from a military perspective and have their reasons. However, what I'm thinking about is what to do after capturing Gongxian, or when the pursuit reaches the foot of Sishui Pass…"

Fei Qian received the imperial edict but made no comment or attempt to avoid it as he had done before, which naturally made everyone under the command of the General of the Cavalry understand the situation.

In fact, this is inevitable.

The power of those in power comes from violence.

And this violence stems from the concessions made by those in lower positions.

What those in power fear most is the end of this kind of transfer and the violent replacement.

Just like the Yellow Turban Rebellion, as long as Zhang Jiao didn't shout that "Heaven is dead," Emperor Ling of Han was still fighting with the upright officials and didn't care whether there were any Yellow Turban Taoists preaching in Luoyang. But once Zhang Jiao shouted that he wanted to replace them by force, Emperor Ling of Han immediately made peace with other superiors and joined forces to deal with the Yellow Turbans.

Now, how should the Emperor deal with this? After receiving the imperial edict, Fei Qian did not give a clear answer...

Jia Qu's statement was, in fact, a test.

Jia Qu paused, noticing all eyes in the tent were on him, and slowly said, "Within Sishui Pass, the Emperor's carriage stands. The Cao family, holding the Emperor hostage to command the feudal lords, is gradually weakening, but the Emperor's authority still exists. Since our General Cavalry rose to power, we have proclaimed ourselves 'to restore the Han Dynasty and punish the traitors.' Today, the Emperor is near, and our army is at Sishui Pass. Will the Emperor 'welcome' or 'besiege' us? This is a matter of great righteousness and legitimacy, and the will of the army and the people. We must consider this carefully… Gongxian is not a concern, only this… I humbly request Your Majesty to decide."

The attack on Gongxian was a military matter.

Attacking Sishui Pass, especially when facing the nominal ruler of the world within the pass, became an extremely sensitive political issue.

The tent fell silent for a moment.

While capturing cities and pursuing fleeing soldiers are important, how to treat the emperor is the hidden worry that may affect the overall situation in the next step.

Upon hearing this, Fei Qian nodded, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Lord Bo's plan to encircle and capture the enemy is extremely prudent. However, Zhongda's words are not without merit; Cao Cao's army may not simply wait to be surrounded. It would be a pity to let their entire army retreat. Therefore, we should deploy many scouts to investigate the enemy's movements from afar. If Cao Cao's army retreats, this will serve as a signal, disrupting their advance, damaging their supplies and provisions, exhausting them, and weakening their morale..."

However, even a centipede with a hundred legs will not fall down when dead, so we should not pursue it relentlessly or push it too far...

"As for Liang Dao's concerns..." Fei Qian's gaze was profound. "The Emperor's presence at the pass is indeed a hindrance. However, I am neither Dong Zhongying nor Cao Mengde. Is the only great principle in the world the ancient laws of the Spring and Autumn Annals? If the law precedes the law, then what follows? Observe the celestial phenomena of the nine heavens, the celestial sphere changes its course. Look down upon the eight directions, the rivers and mountains are ever new. In the past, the Duke of Zhou established rites, sculpted the stars, and Guan Zhong minted coins, and springs circulated for fish and salt. Yet Yu dredged the Dragon Gate to guide the floodwaters, not following the example of Gun; the Han dynasty abolished the harshness of Qin to bring peace to the people, not imitating the corrupt official. Therefore, it is said that laws have no fixed rules, the way lies in adaptability, governance has no constant methods, and righteousness values ​​timeliness."

"As the saying goes, rivers flow ceaselessly day and night, eventually flowing into the vast ocean; crops are sown annually, filling granaries to overflowing. If Xihe (the legendary sun god) were to cease his whipping, day and night would be confused; if Houji (the legendary emperor) were to continue planting the same crops, all grains would wither. Confucius, in editing the Six Classics, still lamented the unknowable nature of additions and subtractions; Mencius, in discussing the way of the king, clearly stated that the people are more important than the ruler. How can one fix musical scales with glue, or make rotten seedlings yield good harvests? To restore the Han dynasty is not empty talk, but how to restore it must be determined by the people of the world. Without the people of the heavens, how can there be a great emperor of the Han? Our army's weapons are for clearing the world and restoring order, not for imprisoning or coercing one person to settle the world. If the world could be settled by one person, then why were there the burning of the Yellow River and the chaos in Shandong?"

Fei Qian surveyed the surroundings and ordered, "Hansheng, lead 1,000 cavalrymen to scout ahead. If Cao Cao's army has retreated, split into two groups and harass them along the way, keeping them constantly on edge. Also, be wary of Cao Cao's ambushes."

Huang Zhong accepted the order in a loud voice.

Fei Qian then said, "The rest of you should settle your troops and follow me to Gongxian."

Everyone accepted the order in unison.

As for how the emperor should handle this...

Didn't Fei Qian say that?
……

……

It was late at night, and the lights in the central command tent flickered.

Sima Yi arrived alone late at night, requesting an audience with Fei Qian.

Fei Qian pondered for a moment, then summoned him.

Upon entering the main tent, Sima Yi immediately apologized for disturbing his lord's rest and bowed respectfully.

Fei Qian wasn't in a hurry to say anything. He first asked Sima Yi to sit down, and then had someone bring Sima Yi some tea, as if he were just having a casual chat with Sima Yi.

After drinking some tea and the steam dissipating slightly, Sima Yi spoke slowly: "What you said during the day, my lord, was insightful and far-sighted, and I greatly admire it. However, the matter of Sishui Pass concerns matters of great principle and reputation; a single move can affect the whole situation. While Du Bohou's approach is sound, it is too impractical; Jia Liangdao's plan is well-considered, but somewhat hesitant. I have a humble suggestion, but I don't know whether I should share it..."

Fei Qian's eyes flickered slightly: "Zhongda, please speak."

Sima Yi bowed slightly. "In the past, when the Zhou dynasty moved east, the royal authority crumbled. Duke Huan of Qi and Duke Wen of Jin rose to power, advocating the principles of respecting the king and repelling the barbarians, thus achieving hegemony. What was the key? It wasn't merely strong military and sufficient food, but rather using the name of righteousness to carry out their own actions. Duke Huan convened the feudal lords at Kuiqiu, and Duke Wen invited King Xiang to Jiantu; both used the title of 'Respecting the King' to establish the order of the feudal lords. When the king arrived, the righteous cause and legitimacy were in hand; when the king was by their side, commands were issued from their mouths."

"The current situation bears a striking resemblance to that of antiquity. The Emperor is in distress, trapped in the Guandong region. Cao Cao holds him hostage, much like the feudal lords of old who forcibly invited the Emperor to their capitals. However, their methods are illegitimate, their power waning, and this is common knowledge. General, you can simply revisit this old predicament by leading a powerful army to purge the Emperor's inner circle..."

"What old story?" Fei Qian asked.

"I request that the Emperor return to the Western Capital." Sima Yi uttered these words, paused for a moment, and then continued, "Chang'an has been recovered, and although the ancestral temples and palaces are in ruins, repairs can be carried out. Why not submit a memorial, with earnest words, detailing how Cao Mengde deceived the Emperor, causing him to suffer the hardship of exile, and clearly stating that Chang'an is the legitimate capital of the Han Dynasty, earnestly requesting that the Emperor return west and reclaim his throne? This proposal is in accordance with propriety and sentiment, demonstrating the Lord's respect for the King; who in the world can criticize it?"

Fei Qian had previously submitted a memorial requesting the emperor to return the western capital, Chang'an, but Shandong province simply "remained silent" on the matter, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, and the matter was dropped...

Sima Yi's revisiting of this old matter now naturally carries a very different meaning than before.

Sima Yi lowered his eyelids slightly. "If the Emperor gladly agrees and his carriage comes west, then the world will be turned upside down. The Emperor will be freed from the shackles of Shandong, and reside under the protection of our lord. At that time, the imperial edict will originate from the General's residence, and the righteous cause and legitimacy will be entirely in our hands. How can the remnants of Shandong resist? This is the best strategy—to subdue the enemy without fighting."

"If they refuse, my lord should plead with them three times."

Sima Yi slightly raised his eyes, his gaze clear and bright. "Through three requests, he still refuses… Perhaps he is manipulated by treacherous officials, or perhaps he himself is greedy for the empty power of Guandong, refusing to return to the ancestral temple and the place of the legitimate dynasty… Then we can proclaim to the world that King Xiang of Zhou, fleeing the chaos of Shu Dai, resided in Fanyi of Zheng, and the feudal lords came to his aid, eventually returning to Chengzhou. The Son of Heaven's refusal to return to Luoyang is tantamount to severing ties with the ancestors of the Han Dynasty and abandoning the hopes of the people! At that time, it will not be that our lord is disloyal, but what can be done if he does not return to the ancestral temple? Since he disregards the foundation of the state, then all those with discernment in the world should join together to support a wise ruler and restore order to the world."

If Sima Yi were to bring up the idea of ​​Liu Xie returning to Xijing again, regardless of the emperor's choice, Fei Qian would ultimately benefit and take the initiative.

If you agree, you gain a puppet; if you refuse, you destroy the very foundation of its righteous cause.

What's even more ruthless is that Sima Yi seemingly handed the choice over to the emperor, but in reality, he placed it under the magnifying glass of public opinion. No matter which side he chose, Fei Qian could stand on the moral high ground.

Fei Qian pondered, simply looking at Sima Yi. Sima Yi calmly returned his gaze, his eyes serene and unwavering, as if what he had just said was not a shocking scheme to manipulate imperial power, but rather an ordinary military matter no different from discussing the transportation of provisions and the arrangement of camps.

This is so Sima Yi...

He treats everyone as a pawn...

The emperor is a piece of chess, Cao Cao is a piece of chess, public opinion is a piece of chess, and even the ethereal concept of "righteousness" is a piece of chess.

"Zhongda's proposal," Fei Qian slowly began, "uses the principles of the *Spring and Autumn Annals* as its outward expression, while implementing... extraordinary measures internally. It can be said to have deeply grasped the essence of expediency."

Sima Yi bowed, "My lord, you are wise. Only whoever holds the reins can decide the outcome of the game. The Emperor is now also in this game. If we can use this opportunity to establish our authority and reap real benefits, then the Central Plains can be secured, and the hearts of the people will soon be won over."

Fei Qian remained silent for a moment, then waved his hand: "I am aware of this matter. You may leave now."

"I take my leave." Sima Yi bowed again and calmly withdrew from the tent, his figure disappearing into the night outside, as if he had only come to offer advice and whether or not Fei Qian would listen.

Fei Qian didn't believe that Sima Yi had come up with this on the spur of the moment, or that it was a sudden inspiration in the middle of the night...

Fei Qian could roughly guess why Sima Yi didn't mention this matter in front of everyone during the day, but the purpose behind Sima Yi's suggestion was still worth considering.

However, setting aside Sima Yi's personal motives, his suggestion does have some merit and is worth a try.

　Happy New Year to all my book lovers!

　　A new year, a new beginning!
　　May you have good fortune, peace, and good health!
　　(End of this chapter)