Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3885 Do not be presumptuous, nor necessarily rigid.

In the open fields at the border of Yanzhou and Henan provinces, the winter wind whips up sand and dust, making it impossible to open one's eyes.

Wei Yan's mood was as gloomy and oppressive as the sky.

The elite cavalry he led was originally a sharp dagger thrust into the heart of Cao Cao's army. Initially, it did indeed cause unrest in Cao Cao's territory, creating a climate of fear and panic in Cao Cao's rear.

However, as they delved deeper, problems arose one after another.

Cao Cao's army seems to have learned its lesson, with key cities heavily fortified and supplies moved and concealed, making it difficult to spot large enemy forces in the wild.

The strict discipline of the Flying Cavalry, which forbade the looting of civilians, became a rope binding their hands and feet on this land where hostility had not subsided.

With large-scale military operations, supply lines were stretched out, making it difficult to transport supplies from the rear. Local requisitioning was also restricted, which began to affect the mobility and sustained combat capability of the troops.

Looking at the dwindling food supplies and the soldiers showing signs of fatigue, Wei Yan, for the first time, considered whether he should temporarily retreat and rejoin the main force...

On this day, Wei Yan was frowning at the rough map, pondering whether to continue eastward to try his luck, turn south to look for an opportunity to fight, or retreat and maneuver, when suddenly a series of rapid hoofbeats came from outside the tent.

A commotion followed.

"Wen Chang! Haha! The sentries have caught some big fish!"

Gan Feng burst in excitedly, flung open the tent flap, waving a piece of silk stained with mud and a few dark red marks. "A troop of Cao Cao's messengers, disguised as merchants, were intercepted by us! We killed five, captured two alive, and found this! Damn it! In this state, what merchant would dare to swagger across the border?!"

Wei Yan's spirits lifted, and he took the silk and unfolded it.

This is an official document issued in the name of Cao Cao's Prime Minister's Office, addressed to the prefects and chancellors of Qiao, Pei, and other places...

The general idea is that due to changes in the frontline battle situation, in order to ensure the emperor's safety, the emperor's entourage will be temporarily moved from Sishui Pass to the old site of Qiaopei. Local authorities are required to prepare temporary palaces in advance, or requisition suitable palaces and residences, stockpile corresponding supplies, clear roads, and strengthen security, etc.

The document was written in an urgent tone, containing words such as "top secret" and "handle immediately".

"The Emperor has moved to Qiao and Pei?" Wei Yan frowned. "Is Cao Cao's army in such a hurry to move the Emperor back to his hometown? Do they think Sishui Pass can't be held and are preparing an escape route in advance? Or... do they have other plans?"

Years of military campaigns instilled in Wei Yan an instinctive vigilance against discordant information.

The fact that this intelligence came at such a "perfect" time, and that its contents were so significant, aroused his suspicions.

Gan Feng, however, didn't think so much. His eyes lit up: "Wen Chang! Whether he's really moving the emperor or not! Whatever he wants to do, we'll stop him! He wants to move the emperor to his old lair in Qiao and Pei? We'll intercept him halfway!"

Gan Feng grew increasingly excited as he spoke, "Haha, haha! From Sishui Pass to Qiao County, we must pass through the Chenliang area, a wide-open area—perfect for our cavalry! We're all fast horses, swift as the wind! We'll find out the imperial carriage's route, seize the opportunity, rush in, seize the emperor… no, 'welcome' the emperor and run! Cao Cao's army is mostly infantry; even if they have cavalry, they might not be able to catch us! Even if they're on guard, we can strike and retreat in one fell swoop, and they won't be able to do anything about it! If this succeeds, it will be an immense achievement! Ahaha, hahahahaha!"

Wei Yan couldn't help but laugh a few times, but ultimately controlled his impulse. "However, how easy is it to intercept the Emperor's carriage? The guards will be tight, and the route will be concealed... Moreover, how can we know this isn't a trap set by Cao Cao? Based on this document, whose authenticity is unknown, would we dare to walk into the line of fire? We should reconsider carefully..."

Gan Feng removed his helmet, tapped his calves to remove lice, scratched his head, and muttered, "But this opportunity is rare... What if it really happens? Are we just going to watch the Emperor be held hostage and forced to flee east? Besides, we're running low on supplies; we can't go back empty-handed, can we? We have to pull off something big!"

Wei Yan was also conflicted.
Although Gan Feng's words were impulsive, they touched on some of his thoughts...

There is a desire to make achievements and establish a career, as well as a dissatisfaction with the current stalemate.

Just as Wei Yan was hesitating, a personal guard reported: "General, General Zang requests an audience."

Zang Ba?

What is he here to do?
Wei Yan's heart skipped a beat, and he said, "Let him in."

Zang Ba maintained his obsequious yet somewhat rough-and-tumble demeanor. After entering the tent and bowing, he lowered his voice and said, "General Wei, my men have just returned from the south and have gathered some information..."

"Speak," Wei Yan said in a deep voice.

"A major incident has occurred in Jingzhou and Xiangyang!" Zang Ba said with a look of 'sharing a secret.' "The Flying Cavalry army is sweeping through northern Jingzhou. Xiangyang and Jiangling have fallen one after another. Cao Zixiao and Cao Zidan suffered a major defeat, and their remnants have retreated across the Han River. They are currently resting and regrouping in southern Yingchuan and western Runan. Morale is extremely low, and the situation is very tense! I heard the losses are heavy!"

"A major defeat in Jingzhou and Xiangyang? Cao Cao's army retreated to Yingnan?" Wei Yan's eyes flashed with a sharp light. He hurriedly picked up a map and began to examine it. His gaze moved rapidly across the map, from Xiangyang and Jiangling to Yingchuan and Runan, then jumped back to the secret letter in his hand and the land of Qiao and Pei.

That's it!

In an instant, many doubts seemed to be connected by a single thread...

Why was Cao Cao in such a hurry to move the emperor from Sishui Pass to Qiaopei?
Because Jingzhou and Xiangyang were lost!

With the loss of Xiangyang and Jiangling, the entire southern front will be wide open, and the Flying Cavalry can directly threaten Yingchuan and even the old territory of Xu County from the south, from the directions of Nanyang and Runan!
Yingchuan is no longer safe!
Cao Cao was afraid that the emperor would lose his southern defenses, so he urgently wanted to transfer this most important political bargaining chip to Qiaopei, which he considered safer and closer to his base!
This is a double insurance policy, and also an inevitable choice in the face of defeat!

The intelligence brought by Zang Ba matched perfectly with the contents of the intercepted secret letter in Wei Yan's mind!

That secret letter was no longer an isolated and questionable piece of information, but rather an emergency measure that Cao Cao would inevitably take in the context of a reasonable major defeat!
Wei Yan's doubts vanished, replaced by an excitement at seizing a crucial opportunity.

It seems that Cao Cao is really going to flee, and he intends to take the emperor with him!

We must not let his scheme succeed!
but……

Wei Yan glanced at Zang Ba.

"General Zang, is this news true?" Wei Yan finally confirmed.

"It's absolutely true! This humble general wouldn't dare to deceive the general! It's being said all over the south that people are in a state of panic..." Zang Ba affirmed.

Wei Yan nodded but said nothing, only telling Zang Ba to step back.

Zang Ba is gone.

Wei Yan stared at Zang Ba's retreating figure, his brows furrowing once more.

"Very good!"

Gan Feng excitedly slapped his helmet, shaking off some more dust. "That's it! I'll tell my men to prepare for battle immediately, stock up on rations and arrows, and check the horses' horseshoes..."

"etc!"

Wei Yan stopped Gan Feng.

For some reason, Wei Yan suddenly felt something was off, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was...

Indeed, intercepting and "seizing" the emperor would not only bring unparalleled glory, but also deal a fatal political blow to Cao Cao, and might even change the course of the war in the Central Plains.

but……

This Zang Ba...

Didn't Zang Ba have many conflicts with me before, and we were only superficially friendly?

"Let's send someone to investigate whether what this guy said is true or false..." Wei Yan said in a deep voice, "The Jingxiang defeat...didn't he say it's all over the south...Take some men and go capture some more prisoners to question them!"

"Uh... alright!" Gan Feng didn't think much of it and simply put his helmet back on his head. "What if Jingzhou really falls?"

Wei Yan looked up at the sky, remained silent for a moment, and finally said, "We need to double-check if the Emperor's carriage is there... If it is, then we might as well go for it!"

……

……

Banners fluttered askew, carriages and horses clattered.

Grand Master of Ceremonies Wang Lang, holding the imperial insignia, and Grand Censor Hua Xin as his deputy, led a procession known as the "Emperor's Envoy on the Front Lines," departing from Sishui Pass in the early winter chill and winding eastward along the official road.

The procession was quite large, with ceremonial guards, escorts, and vehicles carrying "consolation documents" and a few gifts. It looked rather impressive, but the somber and oppressive atmosphere was completely at odds with the name "consolation."

Wang Lang and Hua Xin rode in the same carriage, both of them looking ashen-faced, their eyes filled with fear and unease.

The farther they got from the pass, the more their fear grew. They knew perfectly well that this trip was not that of an "envoy to the front line," but rather a pawn thrown out by Cao Cao, a lure to entice the possible presence of the Flying Cavalry.

Every distant bird call, every unusual cloud of dust, sent shivers down their spines, as if cavalrymen might suddenly charge out from either side of the road at any moment.

Upon reaching a three-way intersection, according to common sense, since the vehicle was heading to the main cities of Yingchuan County for the purpose of pacification, it should have taken the southwest-facing fork in the road.

However, Xiahou Wei, the team leader, did not hesitate to direct the convoy to continue traveling due east-southeast.

Wang Lang, who saw everything clearly from inside the carriage, was filled with suspicion. He couldn't help but lift the curtain and ask Xiahou Wei, who was riding alongside the carriage, in a trembling voice, "General Xiahou, this road... seems to continue eastward? Towards Qiao County? Aren't we supposed to be going to Yingchuan to offer condolences? Have we... taken the wrong road?"

Xiahou Wei, mounted on his horse, glanced at Wang Lang expressionlessly and delivered a curt speech, "Minister Wang, matters of military secrets are not to be discussed lightly. The route was personally planned by Prime Minister Cao, and there are reasons for it. You only need to sit back and enjoy your duties as 'angels,' and ask no further questions!"

Wang Lang was speechless. Looking at Xiahou Wei's cold and hard profile and the indifferent eyes of the Cao army soldiers around him, his unease grew even stronger.

Instead of going to Yingchuan, we'll continue eastward...

He retreated back into the car and met Hua Xin's gaze; both of them saw deep fear and confusion in each other's eyes.

That night, the team set up camp behind a sheltered earthen slope.

Campfires flickered, and Cao Cao's soldiers patrolled rigorously, creating an atmosphere even more somber than during the day.

Wang Lang and Hua Xin were placed in a separate small tent, which was heavily guarded by soldiers and isolated from the outside world.

Shortly after nightfall, Wang Lang, feeling uneasy, pretended to need to relieve himself and, accompanied by Cao army soldiers who were ostensibly guards but were actually watching over him, took a short walk at the edge of the camp.

Wang Lang vaguely saw that in the core area of ​​the camp, Xiahou Jie was directing some soldiers to carefully push out a more ornate carriage decorated with dragon and phoenix patterns from several supply wagons covered with thick felt, and place it in the most protected position in the camp...

What is this for?
Wang Lang's heart skipped a beat, and a terrible thought popped into his head uncontrollably!
They're not some kind of "envoys to the front lines"; they'll probably have to pretend they're the emperor's carriage!

Moreover, Cao Cao not only wanted them to be used as bait, but also wanted to get rid of these "useless" burdens halfway through the journey!
If the cavalry were to attack, these true "envoys" would likely be the first to be shot to death by arrows or "accidentally killed" by their own people!
The more he thought about it, the more frightened he became, and cold sweat instantly soaked through Wang Lang's inner shirt.

He almost staggered back to the tent and told Hua Xin about his discovery and his terrifying speculation.

Upon hearing this, Hua Xin turned pale and grabbed Wang Lang's arm: "Brother Jingxing, what... what should we do? Are we just going to sit here and wait to die?"

"We can't just sit here and wait to die!" Wang Lang gritted his teeth, his cloudy old eyes filled with the struggle for survival. "I have to find a way to stall for time, or... find a chance to escape!"

The next day, Wang Lang "fell ill." He lay in the carriage, groaning incessantly, claiming that he was old and frail, unable to withstand the fatigue of the journey, and had caught a cold, urgently needing to stop and rest for several days. He hoped to delay the trip, perhaps waiting for the situation to change…

However, Wang Lang's "illness" did not elicit the slightest pity.

Xiahou Jie personally led military medical practitioners to "diagnose and treat" the patients.

The physician took Wang Lang's pulse rather perfunctorily, and at Xiahou Jie's prompting, said that Wang Lang was only "slightly tired, nothing serious, and could continue his journey," without even offering any medicine...

Wang Lang even thought that the doctor was a fake!
Even taking a pulse can't pinpoint the location!
But ironically, two negatives make a positive...

Xiahou Jie immediately released the 'physician's' diagnosis, coldly declaring, "Doctor Wang, matters of state are of paramount importance. This is merely a minor ailment; please overcome it! The journey ahead is short; do not delay the important matter entrusted to you by the Emperor!"

"Not much further?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Lang was even more terrified.

Despair, like an icy tide, nearly overwhelmed Wang Lang and Hua Xin.

The number of Cao soldiers guarding the area seemed to have increased again because of Wang Lang's illness, and they were watching their every move at all times.

"Ziyu..." Wang Lang whispered, secretly discussing with Hua Xin, "We can't all die here! Someone has to escape and tell the outside world what's happening here! Perhaps... perhaps there's still a glimmer of hope!"

Hua Xin's eyes darted around as she looked in all directions. "Escape? How can I escape? There are guards everywhere..."

Wang Lang leaned closer and whispered, "I'm a conspicuous figure, and as the chief envoy, they're watching me closely... Just say you're afraid of being infected by my illness and need to change carriages... Find a gap in the night and slip out of the camp! You're more agile than me... run towards Yingchuan! If you encounter any fellow villagers or acquaintances, tell them we're being used as bait! Perhaps... perhaps we can save our lives, or at least... expose Cao Mengde's treacherous plot!"

Wang Lang was too old to run, so he could only place his last hope on Hua Xin.

Although this hope was as faint as a candle flickering in the wind, it was the only solution he could think of in his desperate situation.

Hua Xin's expression changed, but ultimately, driven by the desire to survive, she nodded emphatically.

That night, Hua Xin acted according to the plan.

He first changed cars to avoid getting sick, so he wouldn't be with Wang Lang...

Then Wang Lang's side also made a commotion at night, sometimes saying he was vomiting, sometimes saying he was sick and weak, thus attracting the attention of Cao's soldiers.

Hua Xin found an opportunity, changed into her attendant's clothes, and, under the cover of night and the shadows of the earthen slope, crawled out of the camp's simple fence little by little.

Once he was out of Cao Cao's camp, Hua Xin immediately scrambled and ran as fast as he could, not daring to look back, desperately heading towards Yingchuan, the direction he remembered.

The cold wind was like a knife, whipping against his face, but Hua Xin only felt a burning heat all over his body, with only one thought in his mind...

Get out!
Hua Xin didn't know how long he had been running, how many times he had fallen, his clothes were torn by thorns, and his face and hands were covered in blood.

Just as dawn was breaking and he was exhausted and about to collapse to the ground, torchlight and the sound of rapid footsteps suddenly appeared on the road ahead!
But it wasn't the Flying Cavalry, it was Cao Cao's army!

Hua Xin was startled and struggled to get up to avoid it, but it was too late...

Cao Jun's vanguard spotted Hua Xin and immediately stepped forward, ready to kill him with a single blow.

Left with no other choice, Hua Xin could only shout out her identity.

Cao Jun's vanguard soldiers were suspicious, so they had Hua Xin captured and taken to the central army.

When Hua Xin looked up at the general of Cao's central army, he was taken aback!
"Dr. Hua? Why do you look like this?" Cao Zhen recognized Hua Xin and frowned slightly.

Hua Xin's mind was in complete chaos.

Shouldn't Cao Zhen's troops have regrouped in southern Yingchuan instead of retreating from Jingxiang?
How would it appear here?

"Doctor Hua?" Cao Zhen looked down at Hua Xin and asked again, his tone unreadable. "Why are you here alone? And in such a disheveled state? Where is Doctor Wang? Where is General Xiahou?"

Hua Xin's mind was in complete chaos, a mixture of fear and immense confusion making him incoherent. "General Cao... General Cao... you... you all... General Xiahou... Doctor Wang... over there... I... that carriage..."

Cao Zhen was confused, but judging from Hua Xin's expression and clothing, he guessed somewhat. "You snuck out?"

"Me? No..." Hua Xin tried to deny it, "No, no! I was ordered to go to Yingchuan as the emperor's vanguard to offer condolences..."

Cao Zhen looked at Hua Xin as if watching a clown perform, a slight smile appearing on his face. "Your Majesty, it is indeed time to go to Yingchuan… but you, the envoy of the vanguard… should not be going to Yingchuan…"

Hua Xin listened blankly, feeling as if she had fallen into an ice cave, yet also as if she had been enlightened!

All doubts were instantly resolved!
He got it!

As the emperor's "envoy to the front line," he could never possibly follow the same path as the emperor!

His "path forward" was actually a "dead end" from the very beginning!
Exhausted and under such a huge blow, Hua Xin could no longer hold on. Her vision went black, her legs went weak, and she fainted.

Before losing consciousness, Hua Xin seemed to hear Cao Zhen's calm command, "Men! Take him with you and speed up! The cavalry... should be arriving soon..."

The cold wind was still biting, and a pale sliver of white appeared on the eastern horizon.

The world is vast and boundless, and they are all just tiny pieces on this enormous chessboard...

(End of this chapter)