Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3876 Upholding the Right and Wrong
Soon, Cao Hong realized—

He fell for their trap yet again!

This thought was like a cold iron awl, digging deep into his mind, bringing immense pain and chill!

The arrogance that Cao Hong had felt earlier because he had seen through Sima Yi's feint attack was instantly shattered!

Instead, there was a furious outburst of folly, followed by panic...

Just as Cao Hong and most of the Cao army soldiers and officers in Gongxian were focused on the battle for the East Gate, Huang Cheng's troops, which had been maintaining a certain level of pressure but had not yet exerted their full strength, suddenly launched a fierce attack outside the West Gate of Gongxian!
The sound of war drums resounded with earth-shattering force!

The drumbeats roared wildly, like a storm!
The drumsticks seemed to be shattering the drumhead, and the sound waves rose higher and higher, more intense and violent than any previous attack!
It pierced through the city gates, overflowed all the noise of Gong County, and clearly struck the ears of every Cao army soldier!

"All troops—Attack!"

Amidst the rousing drumbeats, Huang Cheng ripped off his cloak, raised the ring-pommel sword that had accompanied him in battle for many years, and roared in fury!

This time, it's no longer a feigned cooperation, nor a tentative advance!

Having rested and recuperated for a long time, the elite cavalry, who had been eager for battle, roared like hungry tigers finally freed from their chains, baring their cold and sharp fangs as they pounced on the walls of Gongxian!

The swordsmen and shieldmen in the front row held their shields in front of them, forming a moving iron wall.

The spearmen, crossbowmen, and the most valiant climbing warriors followed closely behind the swordsmen and shieldmen, like a flood bursting its banks, surging towards the Gongxian city wall wherever Huang Cheng's blade pointed!
In order to coordinate with feints and mobilize the defending troops, Huang Cheng's troops intentionally or unintentionally abandoned or were forced to leave behind some ladders, grappling hooks, and other climbing equipment at the foot of the western city wall during several attacks and retreats...

These seemingly messy discarded items have now become the best climbing tools that can be easily obtained without the need for further transportation!
The cavalrymen, familiar with the terrain, grabbed the climbing tools and roared as they charged toward the western city wall of Gongxian!

As for the Cao army defending Gongxian, after Sima Yi's wave of fierce attacks at the east gate, which were difficult to distinguish between real and fake, and Huang Cheng's continuous large-scale troop movements at the west gate, which were "actively responded" and "forced to retreat", Cao Hong's already stretched troops were completely dizzy and disoriented, running around and exhausted!

The defenses of Gongxian West City were caught completely off guard at this moment!
The Cao army troops defending behind the western city wall were caught off guard and panicked by Huang Cheng's sudden and all-out attack!

The Wang Sima left behind by Cao Hong was just moments before preparing to resolutely "execute" Cao Hong's orders, deploying most of his troops near the barely filled gap to deal with the imagined feint attack by the Flying Cavalry...

As the war drums thundered outside the city, Wang Sima stood on a makeshift wooden platform behind the breach, shouting at the top of his lungs to encourage his men...

When he realized with horror that Huang Cheng's troops were not only rushing towards the breach, but also attacking every crenellation on the west wall and every section that looked climbable, it was too late!

Wang Sima felt his scalp tingle and his limbs go weak. In a panic, he ordered the garrison gathered near the breach to immediately disperse and support the other sections of the western city wall that were being rapidly breached. He declared that he would launch the strongest counterattack against the cavalry units climbing up from every corner of the western city wall...

This idea is theoretically sound and a standard emergency response, but in reality, given the current state of Cao Cao's army, with its morale on the verge of collapse, its rigid command structure, and a severe shortage of garrison troops, it is completely unfeasible to implement.

But Wang Sima didn't understand...

He simply assigned tasks to his subordinates as was his usual practice.

Cao Hong went to the East Gate. Wang Sima was indeed the highest-ranking official at the West City Wall, but he didn't realize that he didn't have Cao Hong's command ability to control the situation, nor did he have the martial prowess to lead from the front!
Unlike Cao Hong, he could not roam the city walls to provide reinforcements, use his personal bravery to clear out the newly emerging climbers, stabilize the front line, and delay the arrival of reinforcements.

Even more frightening is that the morale and fighting spirit of Cao Cao's soldiers have plummeted to rock bottom...

Now, when the real fatal blow suddenly struck, the situation began to collapse instantly. In many places, Cao's soldiers saw that the situation was not right and did not wait for any military orders from Wang Sima. They shouted, threw down their weapons and fled into the city along the horse road, or simply knelt down and surrendered!

Cao Jun's line of defense on the west city wall of Gong County collapsed before it could even last for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn!

Huang Cheng quickly rushed up the west city wall of Gong County and then set his sights on Wang Sima.

Wang Sima wanted to run, but it was too late.

Within a few rounds, Huang Cheng chopped off his head with a single blow, killing him instantly.

With Wang Sima's head falling, the Cao army troops in the western part of Gong County offered almost no organized resistance...

The few remaining sporadic battles were quickly submerged in the black and red cavalry tide.

Huang Cheng killed Wang Sima, his body surging with blood energy, but his eyes shone as brightly as stars.

While ordering his personal guards to raise the banner of the cavalry army, signifying the occupation, he commanded his soldiers to bypass the area behind the breach that might contain traps, and to sweep inward along the city wall in two routes, north and south.

At the same time, Huang Cheng personally led a force into the city, shouting and spreading the news of the city's fall while heading straight for the east gate along the main road, trying to deliver a fatal blow to Cao Hong from behind as quickly as possible and attempt to surround and capture him...

……

……

When cries of terror and despair, such as "The city has fallen!", "The west gate has been breached!", and "The cavalry has entered the city!" reached the east gate amidst the sounds of war drums and battle cries, Cao Hong felt a surge of blood rush to his head, his vision went black, and he staggered, nearly falling off the blood-soaked and mangled city wall!

Fortunately, a guard caught him, and Cao Hong was able to barely keep his balance.

Finished!

Everything's fucking ruined!

Cao Hong felt a chill in his heart.

He thought he had seen through Sima Yi's feint, but little did he know that he was being manipulated from the very beginning by an even higher level of the enemy's scheme.

Sima Yi's strong attack at the east gate was a feint, but also a real attack; Huang Cheng's feint at the west gate was real, but also a feint.

By using a mix of deception and trickery, he gradually fragmented his already limited forces, ultimately making it impossible for him to attend to both the east and the west, leading to the complete loss of Gongxian!

Only then did Cao Hong realize that the General of the Cavalry's strategy was never a simple one plus one equals two, but rather a series of interconnected steps that had driven him into a desperate situation!
"General! We can't hold on! The west gate has fallen, and the enemy is attacking from inside the city! We must leave now! It will be too late if we don't leave now!" Several blood-covered guards rushed forward and grabbed Cao Hong, who was on the verge of madness, their voices trembling with tears.

Cao Hong abruptly shook off his personal guard's hand, his bloodshot eyes sweeping across the east gate.

When news of the city's fall arrived, the Cao army's defenders at the east gate naturally wavered. With the tide turning and the enemy's strength waning, the Flying Cavalry seized the opportunity to press forward, and the Cao army's lines began to crumble!
Cao Hong suddenly remembered that there was another trap...

Those gunpowders buried under the main hall and the second hall of the county government office!

That was his last resort, and also his "gift" to the victor.

If the explosion is successfully detonated, it could severely damage the cavalry general who would inevitably occupy the county government office as his command center after entering the city, at least...

It will make them pay a heavy price!
Perhaps this gunpowder can at least add some color to this humiliating defeat, making it less embarrassing!

Cao Hong looked around, hoping to find someone to fall into the trap and become bait to lure the cavalry into an attack, but he suddenly realized that there was no one there...

He has no one else available!
Loyal subordinates had long been thrown out, time and again, until they were all dead…

Even the remaining officers, such as Wang Sima and Li Xiaowei, were dead...

unless……

"withdraw--!"

Cao Hong practically spat out the word through gritted teeth.

Perhaps the more pathetic my escape, the more likely I am to be underestimated by the enemy?

maybe……

Previously, when Cao Hong first uttered this word on the battlefield, how filled he was with grief and indignation, how unbearable the pain, as if his entire life had lost its luster and the world had turned gray...

What a humiliation that was!
But now...

He seemed to be speaking very fluently and smoothly...

I've even become somewhat numb, losing that piercing, heart-wrenching grief, leaving only a helpless exhaustion...

This feeling is both strange and terrifying.

There was no sadness, only exhaustion and a desire to escape.

At this moment, Cao Hong, in this almost numb state, under the protection of more than a hundred elite soldiers of the central army, did not call upon or gather the ordinary Cao soldiers who were still fighting a final battle with Sima Yi's troops near the east gate, and directly charged towards the north of Gong County!
Cao Hong and his men abandoned all sources of fire and discarded any flags that might attract attention, and fled in haste.

Relying on his own martial prowess and the desperate fighting of his direct subordinates, he was like a raging, wounded tiger, frantically hacking away at the scattered scouts of the elite cavalry trying to stop him. Ultimately, before the north gate was completely controlled by Huang Cheng's troops, he fought his way out of Gong County. In the darkest and coldest hour before dawn, Cao Hong fled once again…

Without even glancing back at the fallen city, he led his remaining troops and fled desperately toward Sishui Pass...

His figure appeared disheveled and flustered as he disappeared into the dark wilderness.

……

……

The morning light pierced through the thick smoke that shrouded Gongxian County, painting a touch of human color on the ravaged streets, collapsed houses, scattered weapons and corpses of this small town that had just been baptized by blood and fire.

The deafening shouts of battle gradually subsided, replaced by the short, forceful commands from officers of all ranks in the Flying Cavalry.

At the street corner, the suppressed groans of wounded soldiers were mixed with the uncontrollable cries of pain from others.

The dull clang of the armor clashing against the patrolling soldiers gradually restored order to Gong County.

The flags symbolizing Cao Cao's army had been torn down and thrown into the mud to be trampled on.

The tricolored cavalry battle flags slowly rose above the city gate, fluttering in the wind.

But the change of flags on the city walls was just the beginning.

The cleanup, reorganization, reassurance, and response to potential remaining threats within the city have only just begun.

Huang Cheng's troops, who were instrumental in the capture of the city, quickly took control of the main streets and four gates, and deployed soldiers to guard key locations such as the government warehouses and granaries.

The soldiers began to systematically gather the prisoners, driving the distraught Cao army soldiers to designated open areas.

The civil officials then began to nervously inventory the government treasury's money, grain, and military supplies.

Another small team patrolled the area, extinguishing any remaining fires caused by the fighting and preventing them from reigniting.

Huang Zhong, acting as an assistant and holding the line, first helped Sima Yi in the battle, and now he is gradually gathering his troops and returning to the original camp of the Flying Cavalry.

Sima Yi then took over his old profession, leading a team of elite personal guards and several clerks skilled in surveying and recording, to carefully inspect the key points of the city's defenses, especially the sections of the city wall where fierce battles had taken place, assessing the extent of the damage and estimating the manpower and resources needed for repairs.

The remaining Cao army soldiers, under the concentrated guard of the Flying Cavalry soldiers, sat slumped on the open space under the eaves of the street corner.

Most of Cao Cao's prisoners of war had vacant eyes.

Occasionally, someone would cautiously look up at the surroundings while on patrol, but as soon as they saw the well-disciplined cavalrymen, they would quickly lower their heads again.

Among these surrendered Cao army soldiers, a very small number were elite troops directly under Cao Hong's command, but most were ordinary veterans from Qingzhou.

Another small group consisted of local laborers or those captured along the way who had recently been forcibly taken into Cao Hong's camp. They didn't even have proper weapons or armor, and looked even more bewildered and helpless.

The outcome was decided, and the commander fled. The instinct for survival overwhelmed the last vestige of loyalty to his former master, which had already faded, and also overwhelmed the foolish thought of continuing to resist in vain.

Laying down their weapons seemed to be their only option.

But after laying down their weapons, they still didn't know what to do, or what they would become...

Surrender does not mean they will be at ease immediately.

Panic continued to spread silently among the surrendered soldiers.

They huddled together, seeking a sliver of illusory security, their hearts filled with trepidation...

They worried about the victors' reckoning afterward, about being dragged out and executed as a warning to others for their stubborn resistance, and about future suffering...

Was he to be forced into hard labor, or was he to be assigned to a suicide squad?

Just then, a voice with a distinct Jiaodong accent rang out at a large street corner where the prisoners were gathered.

At first, the voice was a bit dry and hesitant, as if the speaker himself lacked confidence, but soon, perhaps due to adjusting his mindset, or perhaps encouraged by the glances from the officers of the cavalry academy next to him, the voice became louder.

Although the tone was not high, it clearly reached the ears of most of the surrendered Cao army soldiers.

"Brothers! Men of all ages in Qingzhou! Look up and see who I am!"

Many of these dejected surrendered soldiers from Cao Cao's army felt that the accent was unusually familiar, so they subconsciously looked in the direction of the sound.

Several cavalrymen were seen standing with one person at a slightly higher point at the street corner.

The man was wearing the ordinary battle robe of the Flying Cavalry, without armor. He had a haggard face and sunken eyes, but his gaze was complex. He was none other than Wang Laokou, the former captain of Cao Cao's scouts who had surrendered to the Flying Cavalry after crossing the Gong River at night.

He was sent by Sima Yi.

Sima Yi felt that sending Wang Laokou to persuade them might be more convincing than sending other cavalry soldiers and officers...

Looking at his former comrades, most of whom looked pale and fearful, Wang Laokou felt somewhat nervous.

Many of these surrendered soldiers from Cao Cao's army were from the same hometown as Wang Laokou...

Old Wang's throat bobbed violently. He felt his mouth was dry and his voice was hoarse. He coughed heavily twice and adjusted his posture.

He knew his current situation was somewhat awkward...

But he knew even more that in order to reduce the suffering of his fellow villagers and to truly establish himself within the cavalry system, there were certain things he had to say, and he had to show his face.

"I'm Wang Laokou! From Wangjia Village, Huang County, Donglai Prefecture! Many brothers recognize me! I used to be the scout captain in our army!" Wang Laokou took a deep breath and raised his voice, "Why did I come here? Why did I end up like this? It's not that I don't cherish the camaraderie of the past, nor am I inherently rebellious! It's General Cao, it's Commander Hao and the others, they don't treat us soldiers like human beings!"

His words caused a slight commotion and whispers.

Many of the surrendered soldiers raised their heads and focused their gazes on him.

Shandong, located in the Central Plains region, actually loves to shout slogans like "people-oriented"...

However, in reality, the rulers of Shandong and the Central Plains never regarded ordinary people as human beings.

Most ordinary people naively believe that "people-oriented" means the value and well-being of ordinary people themselves. However, unfortunately, in the eyes of many in power, the "people" in this slogan are actually "human resources" or "human capital," which are "tools" and "numbers" that can be calculated for wear and tear and replaced.

The plight of Cao Cao's lower-ranking soldiers bears a striking resemblance to this.

Old Wang looked around and raised his voice.

"They knew perfectly well that going out to scout was a death sentence, a mission that would send them to their deaths! Yet they still forced our squad to leave the city at night to infiltrate the cavalry's camp! If we came back and couldn't explain the enemy situation clearly, they would curse us to death, beating us mercilessly with sticks and whips! They wouldn't let us catch our breath, and immediately send us out again... Brothers, tell me, is this scouting? It's a death sentence! It's pushing us brothers to our deaths!"

Old Wang's voice was filled with genuine grief and indignation.

This sentiment resonated with some veterans of Cao Cao's army who had experienced similar situations...

Many soldiers, also from the Qing and Xu regions of Shandong, had experienced or heard of similar mistreatment within Cao Cao's army, and thus felt a certain degree of empathy.

A few suppressed sighs of agreement rang out from the ranks.

"The cavalry is different now!"

Old Wang suddenly pointed to the cavalry sergeant accompanying him. The sergeant had a stern face and stood straight. Although his hand was on the hilt of his sword, he did not make any move to stop him and just stood there quietly.

"Our squad crossed the river last night without being killed, tied up, or humiliated. They gave us hot soup and bread, questioned us carefully, then had someone watch over us and even gave us blankets! So we could rest properly! This morning… they even sent me here to show the surviving brothers a way out, a way to survive!"

When Old Wang shouted the last few words, the veins on his neck throbbed.

A way out.

Yes, in many situations, ordinary people are simply looking for a way to survive...

(End of this chapter)