Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3883 Good Plans Lead to Success

Inside the main tent of the General of the Cavalry.

The tent curtains were drawn low, blocking out the gray afternoon light and howling wind of winter outside, while several braziers of charcoal provided warmth.

There was a pot on either side of Fei Qian.

Then there was also a potted plant next to Jia Qu, Du Ji, and Sima Yi.

In addition to the charcoal brazier, there were also torches and candles.

However, the temperature of the torches can no longer keep up with the pace of winter. Those who are close by can still feel the warmth, but those who are a little further away can only see the light but cannot feel the warmth.

The air was filled with the smells of animal and vegetable oils.

Because of the burning charcoal fire, it was somewhat stuffy, and I had to lift the curtain every now and then to let in some fresh air.

However, no matter how well sealed this leather tent is, it cannot compare to a brick and stone house, so there is no risk of carbon monoxide or sulfur dioxide poisoning.

Fei Qian sat upright behind the main desk, already quite accustomed to the murky atmosphere of military life.

On his desk was a large map of mountains and rivers, stretching from Luoyang all the way to Xu County...

Fei Qian's gaze, fixed on the map, was calm, as if he were rehearsing various possibilities.

Just then, two hurried yet steady footsteps sounded almost simultaneously outside the tent.

After a brief conversation, the guards outside the tent loudly reported...

"Reporting to the General! A reply has arrived from Cao Cao's camp inside Sishui Pass!"

Report! Battle report from Yique Pass!

Two documents, one after the other, were respectfully placed on the table in front of Fei Qian almost simultaneously.

Inside the military tent, the three strategists below Fei Qian, busy with various tasks, couldn't help but stop what they were doing and turn their gazes over...

The atmosphere inside the tent suddenly became somewhat subtle.

The fact that Cao Cao's reply and the battle situation at Yique Pass arrived at this crucial juncture at the same time is undoubtedly a coincidence. What new variables will emerge?
Fei Qian remained expressionless and first reached out to take the reply from Cao Cao from Sishui Pass.

Cao Cao's reply was quite simple in appearance.

It used neither the yellow silk representing the emperor nor precious brocade; it was just two wooden tablets bound together with hemp rope.

Sealing wax was applied to the thin hemp rope and then melted into the hemp rope and wooden tablet, forming a simple yet effective anti-tampering method.

Fei Qian examined the sealing wax briefly, and suddenly felt a stirring in his heart...

"Is this what they call 'binding firewood'?" Fei Qian said with a smile.

The Book of Songs contains the phrase "bundle of firewood," which many people believe describes the union of a man and woman in marriage and represents a ritual procedure. However, it is not simply a wish for a happy marriage, but rather represents a "covenant" rather than a "transaction."

If marriage is not a covenant but a transaction, then what is the difference between it and buying and selling a pig, a cow, or a sheep?
A pig, a cow, or a sheep sells itself for a price, and then demands what kind of pig, cow, or sheep it needs?
Cao Cao's refusal to use silk or yellow silk might have been partly due to the idea of ​​"binding firewood to ensure its strength from beginning to end."

Fei Qian broke the sealing wax, untied the hemp rope, and then unfolded the wooden tablet to read it.

Fei Qian's gaze swept quickly over the simple yet powerful characters on the wooden tablet.

After reading it, Fei Qian did not speak immediately, but gently placed the wooden tablet on the table and signaled the guards to pass it to several advisors.

Cao Cao's reply was brief in its meaning.

In short, it simply stated that "the meeting is of great importance. However, there are many complex matters within the pass, and the safety of the Emperor is of paramount importance, requiring discussion and arrangements. We humbly request a five-day period, after which we will provide a reply."

Jia Qu took the wooden tablet first and read it carefully twice, especially the four characters "five days to go".

He frowned slightly, looked at it again, and then handed the wooden tablet to the next person.

After Du Ji and Sima Yi had both reviewed the documents, and the guards returned the wooden slips to Fei Qian, Jia Qu slowly spoke, saying, "The Cao family has postponed the uprising by five days... This is merely a delaying tactic..."

Jia Qu cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, his gaze sharp. "I have observed that this is not merely a matter of feasting and ceremony. Our army is now as powerful as thunder, pressing upon our borders. The officials and people of Guanzhong are terrified, their safety uncertain for even a moment. The Cao family's five-day delay, in my opinion, is a ploy to preserve their army and escape! While the Si River may be considered a natural barrier, it is no longer a necessary defense. Therefore, I believe the Cao family intends to abandon this strategic location and head east, perhaps to regroup with their defeated troops or retreat to Yan and Yu provinces, relying on their long-established foundations to resist stubbornly. Furthermore, the people of Shandong are not entirely disaffected, especially among the powerful and wealthy families, some still harbor hopes, or are bound by greed and profit, seeking a sliver of opportunity to rebuild their armor and weapons and attempt another resistance. Even if they cannot immediately restore the former order, it will prolong the chaos and increase the difficulty of our pacification. Your Majesty should consider this carefully."

Sima Yi interrupted Jia Qu before he could finish speaking, his words swift and forceful: "Liang Dao's words reveal his treachery! Cao Mengde is a cunning strategist; how could he genuinely wish to meet with our lord on the battlefield to discuss the affairs of the world? It's merely a pretense, a ploy to escape unscathed and gain this last chance to breathe! My lord, since they wish to delay, why don't we turn the tables on them?"

Sima Yi said in a deep voice, "We can outwardly agree to their five-day deadline to lull the defending troops inside the pass into a false sense of security, making them believe our plan has succeeded. In reality, our army will secretly deploy elite troops, prepare more infantry and siege weapons, and secretly move our camp forward. Two days later, late at night, taking advantage of their complacency and laxity, we will launch a sudden and devastating attack on Sishui Pass!"

Sima Yi's eyes gleamed. "At that time, Cao Cao's army is demoralized and their defenses must be weak! Our army can catch them off guard! Even if we can't break through the walls in one fell swoop, we can greatly deplete their manpower, kill their generals and soldiers, and completely disrupt their retreat plans and rhythm, making their escape difficult and even trapping them in a desperate situation where they can't defend themselves from both ends! This is a classic case of turning the tables on them!"

Du Ji's suggestion, however, took a different approach: "If Cao Cao's army truly intends to abandon Guandong and retreat as Liang Dao predicted, they will have only two possible routes... Either they can follow the official road on the south bank of the Yellow River, heading east through Xingyang, Juanxian, and Yangwu, retreating towards Chenliu and Jiyin... This would be a retake of Qiao and Pei... Or they can go slightly southeast, passing through Yuanling and Xinzheng, heading towards Yingchuan, and finally reaching Xuxian, hoping to join up with the remnants of Cao Cao's army... This would be a way to hold the emperor hostage..."

Du Ji continued his analysis, "If we wait until they leave the Guandong region before pursuing them, we will inevitably face the hardship of a difficult siege... If their retreat is orderly, they will surely leave elite troops to cover their rear, relying on the passes to create layers of defense. Although our army is numerous, forcibly breaking through the passes or pursuing them will likely result in significant casualties... Secondly, there is the exhaustion of pursuing them. Even if we break through the passes, the long pursuit will leave our men and horses weary, lengthen our supply lines, and the terrain in the Guandong region is gradually opening up, making us vulnerable to ambushes or harassment..."

Du Ji cupped his hands in greeting, "Therefore, I believe it would be better to prepare in advance and implement a strategy of cutting off their escape route. We can send a detachment from Huai County and Ji County in Henan to cross the river and advance rapidly eastward, day and night, bypassing the area east of Sishui Pass, seizing strategic points such as the fields, marshes, and fords! We can either set up ambushes in advance or hold them... In this way, we can cut off the main force of Cao Cao's army's escape route to the east; secondly, we can prevent other remnants of Cao Cao's army from coming to their aid... This is attacking what they must defend, controlling their inevitable passage, and seizing the initiative."

Although Jia Qu and the other two had different focuses in their strategies, their core judgments all pointed to one thing...

Cao Cao would most likely abandon Sishui Pass and retreat eastward, but at the same time, he would be unwilling to just leave like this and would inevitably make some more plans.

Upon hearing this, Fei Qian did not make a decision immediately, but instead opened another military report sent from Yique Pass.

Fei Qian read quickly, then chuckled, "Jiang Zhu's troops have captured Yique Pass. The remnants of Cao Cao's army guarding the pass have scattered and fled towards Taigu Pass and Nanyang and Luyang. Generals Jiang and Zhu have joined forces with Sha Moke's troops and are currently clearing the passes and passages, and are sending troops towards Taigu."

The capture of Yique Pass was undoubtedly a major strategic advantage.

Now that Yique Pass has been captured, Cao Cao's army at Taigu Pass will inevitably be unable to hold out with only one arm.

This means that the Flying Cavalry's control over the southern edge of the Heluo Basin on the southern front has been decisively consolidated and strengthened.

The flank threat from the south of Mount Song has been largely eliminated, and the overall strategic situation is more favorable to the Flying Cavalry. Fei Qian also placed the report of victory at Yique Pass on his desk, alongside Cao Cao's reply.

Fei Qian's gaze fell on the map again, from the newly opened Yique Pass, northward to Sishui Pass, and then eastward from Sishui Pass, extending to the vast plains, hills and river network of Guandong...

A moment later, Fei Qian's voice rang out in the main tent, seemingly carrying a profound understanding of the battle situation and a power that transcended time and space: "If Cao Cao's army is indeed as you all predict, determined to abandon Sishui Pass and lead its troops eastward..."

What will Cao Cao's army do next? Will they choose several key cities and locations, divide their forces to defend them, and cede territory to protect themselves? Or... do they have other plans?

Upon hearing this, Jia Qu, Sima Yi, and Du Ji all became solemn.

Fei Qian's question immediately elevated everyone's thinking from the tactical level of "how to stop or deal with Cao Cao's retreat from Sishui Pass" to a higher level of predicting Cao Cao's overall strategic intentions after the retreat and the overall strategic actions he might take afterward.

They exchanged a glance, and without a word, tacitly gathered around the huge map again to ponder...

The light from the charcoal brazier illuminated their faces, some gaunt and some resolute, casting shimmering shadows on the map.

The three men stood before the map, exchanging opinions in hushed tones. Sometimes they pointed to Changyi, the capital of Yanzhou, and other places like Qiao County, Pei State, Chenliu, and Liang State. They also mentioned the names of some prefects and generals who were still under Cao Cao's nominal control but whose attitudes were ambiguous, as well as powerful families in Shandong who had marriage alliances or old friendships with Cao Cao...

During the discussion, they also touched upon the general mentality of Shandong's gentry and powerful families under the pressure of the new policies of the General of the Cavalry...

Fear, observation, resistance, and weighing options.

The hushed and intense discussion lasted for quite some time.

Fei Qian did not urge him, but sat quietly in the main seat, also thinking and weighing his options...

Ultimately, the three seemed to reach a consensus and returned from the huge map on one side of the main tent.

Jia Qu spoke as the representative again...

Jia Qu faced Fei Qian, gathered his thoughts, and then clearly reported their assessment: "My lord, after discussion, considering Cao Mengde's temperament, situation, remaining troops, and the situation in Shandong... we unanimously believe that if Cao's army abandons Guandong, it is unlikely that they will disperse their forces to defend a few isolated cities and resist stubbornly... In that case, they can only be calmly divided and defeated one by one by our army..."

Jia Qu paused briefly, raised his head slightly, and raised his voice a little, "We believe that Cao Mengde intends to emulate the story of the warlords of Guandong's campaign against Dong Zhuo! He intends to renew the alliance at Suanzao twice!"

"The Second Alliance of Suanzao?" Fei Qian's gaze involuntarily fell on the hemp rope used by Cao Cao to bind the wooden slips.

Is this the second meaning of "束薪"?
Jia Qu nodded and said, "Cao Cao's army will certainly do its utmost to gather and integrate its remaining forces, and will send envoys day and night to contact, persuade, and even coerce the officials of Shandong's prefectures and counties, local gentry, and scholars, in order to re-establish the Suanzao Alliance under the pretext of 'serving the emperor'!"

Sima Yi added, "That's exactly right. It may not necessarily be located in the old territory of Suanzao, but it bears a striking resemblance to the coalition forces of Guandong against Dong Zhuo... Although the Cao family suffered repeated defeats and their power was somewhat diminished, their strategic acumen and ability to maneuver effectively still leave a mark on Shandong. Especially their former officials, relatives by marriage, and deeply entrenched followers. This is similar to the Yuan family of the past."

Jia Qu nodded and said, "Zhongda's words are quite correct. They still hold the emperor's banners, though they are now worn and incomplete, the established laws and regulations have not been completely destroyed. If they retreat to the strategic passes of Yan and Yu, or advance eastward to powerful cities like Pengcheng and Xiapi, they could use the pretext of the Han chancellor receiving an imperial edict to send urgent dispatches to the prefectures and counties, vehemently accusing our army of coercing the emperor and violating ancestral rules, and rallying those who harbor resentment and fear of the new policies to gather troops and stockpile provisions to jointly obstruct our eastward advance..."

Sima Yi added, "Their five-day delay is likely a desperate attempt to seize every second to intensify secret communications with prefects and powerful local figures throughout Shandong, making arrangements and negotiating!"

Du Ji added, considering the suffering of the people, "If this plan succeeds, even if the large number of people gathered are a mob and difficult to command, Shandong is a vast and densely populated region with many cities, and there may be some accumulated money and grain, which will cause trouble in the short term... They may hold out in the cities and resist stubbornly, or they may carry out guerrilla warfare, adding many variables and causing the already exhausted people of Shandong to suffer further from the ravages of war, becoming displaced."

After listening to the three people's analysis and judgment, Fei Qian slowly nodded.

Cao Cao was by no means one to sit idly by and wait for death. Even in defeat, he would undoubtedly use his remaining political capital and influence to launch a fierce counterattack. Forming a second alliance centered around the "anti-General Huo Qubing" was his most likely option.

However, Fei Qian's thoughts did not stop there...

Fei Qian then followed up with a deeper question.

His gaze swept over the three advisors in turn. "In your opinion," he said, "can these two alliances at Suanzao... be compared to the ones of the past?"

This time, the three strategists shook their heads almost simultaneously, their faces showing clear, even somewhat mocking, disapproval.

After all, the times, public sentiment, and the balance of power are now completely different.

Jia Qu sighed softly and spoke first, "Absolutely impossible. Times have changed; how can one cling to outdated methods? In the past, Dong Zhuo was tyrannical, corrupting the palace, slaughtering officials, deposing and installing emperors—his various acts of perversion were universally condemned. When the warlords of Guandong first rose up, regardless of their private schemes, they did indeed have some genuine desire to 'be loyal to the emperor and punish the rebels' and 'restore the Han dynasty.' Therefore, they were able to gather more than ten armies, their banners obscuring the sun. Although they later harbored different ambitions and hindered each other, their power was indeed formidable, and they shared a common hatred for the enemy..."

"Looking at Cao Mengde today, he is truly a powerful minister who holds absolute power and coerces the emperor. Outwardly he acts as the Chancellor of Han, but inwardly he is a traitor to Han, a fact long known to all. Moreover, he has suffered repeated defeats, losing soldiers and territory, and has fallen into a desperate situation by controlling the emperor and ordering the other lords. His authority has crumbled, and his power has diminished. In contrast, our army has pacified Liangzhou, conquered the Three Auxiliary Regions, and pacified the North and South in just a few years, restoring order and bringing prosperity to the people… How can we possibly repeat the mistakes of our campaign against Dong Zhuo?"

Du Ji also said: "As for the various prefectures of Shandong, after the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the warlord conflicts, the infighting between Cao Cao and Yuan Shao, and the recent protracted stalemate, their populations have long been depleted and their granaries empty. The powerful clans each harbor schemes to protect their territories, and the common people are all weary of war. Even if the Cao family manages to forge an alliance, its key figures are merely the remnants of Cao Cao and Xiahou Dun's forces, and a few die-hard soldiers who are unwilling to retreat due to their deep-seated interests. The rest are either coerced by power or hold both sides, hesitant to advance and calculating every penny when it comes to supplying grain; how could they be willing to lightly damage their foundations? This is far worse than in the past. Jia Yi once discussed the downfall of Qin, saying that the lack of benevolence and righteousness changed the balance of power in attack and defense; is this not the case with the Cao family now? A grand building is about to collapse; it cannot be supported by just a few pillars. With the hearts of the people broken, even the old banners cannot be summoned."

Sima Yi's words were even more sarcastic: "They've merely gathered a rabble to catch their breath, knowing their end is near. Perhaps they can use the strategic advantage of Shandong to hold a few cities or harass our supply lines, delaying our complete control, but they have absolutely no chance of reversing the tide or turning defeat into victory! The only difference is when they will perish."

Jia Qu concluded, "Therefore, even if the Cao family were to take such action, attempting to form a second alliance, it would only be a delaying tactic. It would merely deplete Shandong's already scarce manpower and resources, causing the people to suffer even more from the chaos of war. However, for our army, we must also plan ahead to avoid further losses of soldiers and supplies, and prevent local unrest."

Fei Qian's gaze fell on the map again, moving from Sishui Pass to the vast lands of Yan, Yu, Qing, and Xu. A clear, grand, and flexible strategic outline quickly took shape and became more complete in his mind...

No one can guarantee that they will be invincible for life...

In some respects, Fei Qian is now successful, but not all of his plans can be implemented smoothly.

Taking the Battle of Heluo as an example, Fei Qian succeeded in the grand strategy, but failed in the details.

What gave Fei Qian an advantage over Cao Cao was not tactical planning, but strategic deployment.

Fei Qian's vision and focus of thought have completely transcended the gains and losses of a single city or place on the battlefield, or the victories and defeats of a single general, and have turned towards a broader and deeper future...

How can we help this war-torn land of China heal its wounds and regain its vitality with minimal disruption?

How can we make the people of Shandong, who are still observing, fearing, or even harboring resentment, truly realize that the arrival of a new era is inevitable, and ultimately accept and integrate into the new order wholeheartedly?
And then there are those aristocratic sons who are temporarily lying low in Guanzhong...

This might be even more difficult than defeating Cao Cao.

Fei Qian had already relayed the message of retreating three times and inviting Cao Cao to negotiate back to Guanzhong.

The old, surviving natives will surely be stirred up by this...

As Fei Qian was pondering, hurried footsteps suddenly sounded outside the tent, accompanied by joyful shouts of news: "Great victory! Great victory! News has reached Guanzhong: a great victory in Jingxiang!"

News of the Battle of Jingxiang originally traveled through Wuguan Pass, via Lantian and Chang'an, before reaching the front lines in Heluo. Naturally, it took Cao Cao a few days to receive the news...

(End of this chapter)