Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3901 Sufficient Food, Enough Soldiers, and Popular Trust
At the main camp of the Flying Cavalry, banners stood solemnly, and armor gleamed in the sun.

The winter sun seemed to be captivated by the cold gleam of the cavalry's armor, hesitantly letting its own radiance carefully shine through the clouds, gently covering the cavalry's continuous tents and fluttering tricolor flags.

The passageways in the camp were marked with chalk, and patrolling squads of soldiers came and went in orderly steps. Apart from the necessary commands and the clanging sound of armor plates rubbing together, there was no extra noise.

A surge of battle intent, poised to be unleashed, silently permeated the air above the camp.

In front of the central command tent, several armored guards stood with their hands on their swords, their posture upright and their sharp eyes scanning the surroundings.

Inside the main tent, Fei Qian had just finished processing a batch of reports related to winter preparations in Guanzhong and was discussing the subsequent transport of grain with Jia Qu, Zhuge Liang, and others when a personal guard suddenly entered the tent to report that Prime Minister Cao from Sishui Pass had once again sent a messenger with a letter.

"Oh? Another envoy?" Fei Qian put down his pen, his face showing little surprise. He simply said, "Bring him in."

A short while later, a messenger dressed in the attire of a civil official, who appeared to be about forty years old, was almost carried into the tent by two guards of the Flying Cavalry. He was as limp as a rag doll and could barely speak. Clearly, this deep penetration into the Flying Cavalry army had brought him immense psychological pressure.

Fei Qian sized up the messenger but did not urge him on.

The messenger struggled to his feet, kowtowed deeply, and reported in a trembling voice, "I...I...I...I...I...I...I am on my way...on my way..."

As he spoke, he held a scroll of bamboo slips sealed in a brocade bag high in his hands, his whole body trembling like a leaf.

The guard standing by stepped forward, took the brocade bag, and carefully examined it to make sure there was no hidden danger. Only after confirming that there was no danger did he open it at Fei Qian's signal, check the bamboo slips again, and then unfold the bamboo slips for Fei Qian and place them on Fei Qian's desk.

Fei Qian did not immediately look down at the bamboo slips. Instead, he glanced at the messenger, who was slumped on the ground, barely daring to breathe, and casually asked, "Did Prime Minister Cao have any further instructions?"

The messenger's head was almost buried in the cracks of the wooden floorboards. When Wen Feiqian asked, he hurriedly replied, "Yes...yes...yes...no, no...no..."

Fei Qian chuckled, said no more, and gestured for his guards to take the messenger away.

The messenger felt as if he had been granted a pardon, repeatedly kowtowing in gratitude, tears streaming down his face, as if he had been given a second chance at life, and then left without saying another word.

This messenger was clearly an ordinary clerk who couldn't even speak clearly.

Some even stutter...

Simply put, it was like a tool that Cao Cao casually threw out...

As for the mail delivery tool, after delivering the mail, like that brocade bag, it didn't matter to Fei Qian whether he kept it or threw it away.

Why did Lao Cao do this?
Fei Qian pondered for a moment, then turned his gaze back to the bamboo slip.

Bamboo slips are made of pine wood with uniform texture, and are flat and smooth.

The ink marks are recent, written in standard Han Dynasty clerical script, with vigorous strokes and a rigorous structure.

Ok?
This handwriting doesn't look like Cao Cao's own...

Moreover, Cao Cao's signature was not even found at the end of the bamboo slips.

Fei Qian narrowed his eyes slightly.

The contents of the bamboo and wooden slips are not lengthy, and the core meaning is clear...

I once again earnestly request that the meeting between the two sides be postponed for three days.

Several reasons were listed, including "the fasting and prayer ceremonies within the pass have not been completed, and we fear that we may be disrespecting the gods and bringing misfortune to the emperor" and "we need to make more thorough preparations for the meeting to show its solemnity." The wording remained polite, and even seemed to carry a sense of reluctance and apology.

Fei Qian's gaze swept calmly over every word on the bamboo slips, his face revealing no emotion.

After reading it, he gestured to the guards standing by to pass the bamboo slips to Jia Qu and Zhuge Liang.

The guard respectfully took the bamboo slips and presented them to Jia Qu, who was sitting to the lower left of Fei Qian.

Jia Qu took the bamboo slips and quickly scanned them. His brows immediately furrowed, and his expression grew increasingly somber with each reading. By the time he finished the last line, his face was frosty, and his eyes revealed undisguised disgust and disdain. He gathered the slips up and handed them directly to Zhuge Liang, who was standing to the side, as if the slips disgusted him so much that he had no patience to even tidy them up.

"My lord!" Jia Qu turned to Fei Qian, his voice booming with barely suppressed indignation. He spoke first, "Cao Mengde's actions are utterly shameless! He's double-dealing, untrustworthy, and a complete scoundrel! We already voluntarily retreated three steps to show our sincerity, avoiding any confrontation at the pass. Yet he used the excuse of 'needing to follow ancient rites and fast for three days' to delay! Our army granted his request, which was more than enough, giving him face! But what about his actions?"

Jia Qu's speech quickened, and his gesture unconsciously pointed towards the location of Sishui Pass. "First, they won't send the Emperor back to the west to return to the proper calendar; second, they won't personally come in court attire with full ceremonial regalia to show respect. They'll only send Liu Liang and his irate, terrified cowards out of the pass to make up the numbers and probe the truth! The three-day deadline is approaching, and now they've sent another three days' delay! Are they mocking us?!"

Jia Qu paused slightly, took a deep breath, seemingly to calm the surging anger in his chest, and said, "The Spring and Autumn Annals say, 'If trust is not from the heart, sincerity is useless.' Since they have no sincerity whatsoever and have repeatedly broken their promises, they are merely wasting time, wearing down our army's morale, allowing them to fortify their defenses, gather reinforcements, or perhaps plot something else! In my humble opinion, my lord, there is no need for you to continue with this pretense and waste your breath! In the past, when Duke Huan of Qi attacked Chu, he refused to enter the camp to demand an explanation, first sending an envoy to question them, showing utmost courtesy before launching an attack. Now, we have exhausted all courtesy, yet they remain obstinate, resorting to this deceptive delaying tactic. We should follow the sage's teaching, 'When courtesy is exhausted, then war is necessary!' I beg my lord to see the truth!"

Jia Qu's words were powerful and impassioned, and the temperature inside the tent seemed to rise a few degrees because of his emotions.

Although Jia Qu knew that Fei Qian was currently training troops and simulating the battlefield of Sishui Pass, Cao Cao's bamboo slips disgusted Jia Qu!
That's downright provocative!
It's the kind of thing that makes you want to grab Cao Cao and give him a good beating...

Upon hearing this, the guards standing by straightened their backs slightly, their faces showing agreement, and their eyes gleamed as they looked at Fei Qian, clearly already impatient with Cao Cao's repeated delays.

Zhuge Liang took the bamboo slips and carefully read them, his pace slow, his gaze lingering on a few key sentences as if pondering their deeper meaning. Only after Jia Qu finished his eloquent narration did Zhuge Liang calmly hand the slips back to the guard, his expression less angry and more composed than Jia Qu's.

Zhuge Liang first nodded slightly to Jia Qu before slowly continuing the conversation.

"Brother Liang's words are incisive and reveal his treachery," Zhuge Liang said calmly and clearly. "This traitor Cao's repeated requests for a three-day postponement are fickle; he is undoubtedly trying to buy time to regroup, or perhaps... to secretly lure us into advancing!"

Jia Qu frowned. "Why does Kongming say such a thing?!"

Zhuge Liang laughed and said, "First there was Liu Liang, and now seeing our army doesn't move... so he's sending this message again! What will happen if we get angry?"

Jia Qu was a clever man, and he immediately understood Zhuge Liang's meaning: 'That old scoundrel is trying to provoke me?!'

"Indeed." Zhuge Liang nodded, cupped his hands to Fei Qian, and said, "If my prediction is correct, Cao Cao's army must have made some preparations to await our surprise attack..."

Upon hearing Zhuge Liang's words, Jia Qu immediately understood.

This is actually just a subsequent variation of Liu Liang's strategy...

Fei Qian looked at Jia Qu and Zhuge Liang and nodded slightly.

That's good.

Jia Qu was more radical, but he could also remain calm and composed, while Zhuge Liang was more steady, but he also possessed a sharp edge.

This is the correct structure and a more reasonable political discourse model. Otherwise, the two sides are black and white. Not attacking is seen as weakness and incompetence, and not being steady is seen as recklessness and impetuosity. The two factions are opposed to each other and argue with each other. Wouldn't that be just like the old Han Dynasty system?
"What if Cao Cao gains control for three days?" Zhuge Liang smiled, extending a long, slender finger. "First, he will hasten the eastward relocation of vital supplies and troops remaining within the pass... Sishui Pass is isolated here and cannot be held for long. Cao Cao is a seasoned military strategist; he will surely consider this..."

Fei Qian and Jia Qu both nodded.

Zhuge Liang held up a second finger. "Secondly, we could again seize the emperor's carriage and forcibly move it to the heart of Yuzhou, using the emperor as a shield to avoid our military advance, or we could use the emperor's name to command the troops from Shandong who come to the emperor's aid." Jia Qu nodded, but Fei Qian pondered for a while and then shook his head.

Zhuge Liang immediately understood, 'The emperor will not move lightly...'

Fei Qian then nodded.

Zhuge Liang paused briefly, his gaze turning to Fei Qian. "Thirdly… even if the three-day agreement is fulfilled, Cao Cao will most likely find another excuse… either feigning a sudden serious illness, or simply breaking the promise again… At that time, the world will only see our army repeatedly retreating, being toyed with like children by Cao Cao… If our army is angered and launches a strong attack, he can use this to spread rumors and stir up public opinion, accusing our General Cavalry of 'disregarding the Emperor's safety' and 'lacking integrity.' This is a case of failing to provoke us, so we must be wary."

Upon hearing this, Jia Qu clapped his hands in agreement, "Kongming's concerns are absolutely correct! That treacherous Cao Cao is as cunning as a devil; he must be plotting this! Now that we have seen through his scheme, we should not agree to this unreasonable request for delay! Against such a faithless and unrighteous scoundrel, the best course of action is to launch a swift and decisive attack, crushing his defenses with overwhelming force, and thwarting his treacherous scheme! I urge my lord to make a swift decision and lead the army to attack!"

Zhuge Liang shook his head slightly, his tone remaining calm. "Brother Liang, citing the Spring and Autumn Annals is certainly a perfectly reasonable argument. But do you know why, when Confucius wrote the Spring and Autumn Annals, rebellious ministers and traitors throughout the land feared him? Why do later scholars invariably cite the great principles of the Spring and Autumn Annals, while mostly despising the cunning and deceit of the Warring States period?"

Zhuge Liang did not wait for Jia Qu's reply, but continued: "During the Spring and Autumn Period, although the states were constantly at war, the framework of the Zhou rites still largely remained. In diplomatic relations, alliances, diplomatic visits, and military campaigns, everything had to conform to 'rites,' which is what is meant by 'a just cause for war.' This 'rites' were not merely empty formalities, but the grand system for maintaining national order and regulating warfare. However, by the Warring States Period, rites and music had almost completely collapsed. States only cared about strength, resorting to deception and treachery to the extreme, losing all moral boundaries, ultimately leading to widespread suffering and chaos. Now, my General Cavalry has risen in the western borderlands of Hexi, pacifying the northern frontier and western regions. Wherever our army points, it is invincible. This is the result of the soldiers' bravery and our lord's strategic brilliance. However, in the eyes of the gentry of the Central Plains and the powerful clans of Shandong, there may be preconceived notions, with some accusing them of being 'tigers and wolves of Bing and Liang, only knowing how to rely on force.'" Our lord's invitation to Cao Cao to meet is a strategy of diplomacy before force, using courtesy to subdue Shandong. This is not a temporary measure, but rather a matter of long-term stability and security for the Central Plains, and must be carefully considered.

Zhuge Liang bowed respectfully to Fei Qian and said solemnly, "That traitor Cao Cao has repeatedly used the tactic of provoking and angering his generals, hoping that I will act like a reckless man from the Warring States period, relying solely on my bloodlust to launch a furious attack. If our army truly follows his plan and launches a fierce assault on Sishui, even if we can ultimately break through the pass and capture the enemy with our superior military strength, the infamy of 'forcing the emperor to his death,' 'blatantly breaking the treaty,' and 'bullying the weak' will be like a leech, difficult to wash away. At that time, although we may gain the advantage of a pass and a city, we may lose the hearts of the people and the nation. Wouldn't that be losing the greater good for the sake of the lesser?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Qu frowned even more deeply and couldn't help but raise his voice, saying, "Kongming! So, in your opinion, do you mean I should wait three more days and watch Cao Cao act with impunity? Wouldn't that play right into his hands? Such delays might only lead to unforeseen complications!"

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Liang laughed and said, "Brother Liang, you misunderstand. My intention is naturally not as Cao Cao wishes..."

His gaze shifted to Fei Qian, his voice clear and forceful, "At this time and place, the one who is disrespectful and untrustworthy is not our lord, but the traitorous Cao Cao who has repeatedly broken promises!"

Zhuge Liang raised his voice slightly and stated his core suggestion: "My lord, why not march forward tomorrow to the foot of Sishui Pass, form a formidable battle array, and send envoys directly to the gates to invite Cao Cao to a meeting on the battlefield as previously agreed? This is not an attack, but a formality to force him to fulfill his promise!"

Upon hearing this, everyone inside the tent perked up.

Zhuge Liang continued his explanation, his arguments clear and logical: "At that time, the situation will be entirely in my hands! If that Cao traitor still has any courage and is willing to come forward and discuss matters in detail as agreed, my lord, you can certainly confront him directly and sternly in front of both armies, under the watchful eyes of the masses… The Emperor is the ruler of all under Heaven, so why is he still imprisoned in Guanzhong, preventing him from returning to Chang'an to rule the Han Dynasty? In this great Han Dynasty, is the Liu family truly supreme, or is the Cao family? Is his repeated delay due to a lack of sincerity, or does he harbor ulterior motives?"

Zhuge Liang's tone shifted, his gaze sharpening. "If he is cowardly and dares not leave the pass for talks, or if he resorts to tricks and excuses to evade... then the whole world will see his faithless and unrighteous face! Our army has always upheld the principles of propriety and trustworthiness, while Cao Cao's words and actions are deceitful and cowardly; the difference in their superiority is immediately apparent! The hearts of the people are like water flowing downwards; who can stop it? Since our lord has followed the strategy of Duke Wen of Jin's three she (a unit of distance) in the past, how can he abandon them all because of a mere letter? Cao Cao wants to provoke us, but our army can make him fall into a position of faithlessness! This will greatly demonstrate our lord's integrity and righteousness, and enlighten the world!"

Jia Qu's expression softened slightly, and he stroked his short beard, lost in thought.

After a moment's thought, Jia Qu added, "Kongming's words are indeed reasonable. If Cao Cao does abandon this pass and flee east with the Emperor, although he will lose the advantage of terrain, he will still retain the Emperor's name. Like a cornered beast, he will fight on, and will remain a threat. Destroying him in the future will be much more difficult. This is something we must consider."

To Jia Qu's surprise, after listening to his concerns, Zhuge Liang gently shook his head and slowly said, "Brother Liang's concerns are certainly thorough. However, in my opinion... if Cao Cao truly resorts to this inferior strategy, abandoning the strategic pass of Sishui and hastily fleeing eastward..."

Zhuge Liang paused briefly, then looked at Fei Qian and said, "For our army, this is actually a good thing!"

"Oh?" Jia Qu was taken aback at first, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes, but then he seemed to understand, his gaze shifting rapidly. He was a quick-witted man; he had been preoccupied with Cao Cao's cunning and the current military standoff, but after Zhuge Liang's explanation, he immediately grasped some of the situation. He slowly nodded, a look of understanding and agreement on his face. "So that's how it is… indeed… If he flees east, it may seem like he's prolonging his life, but in reality, he's cutting himself off from the world…"

Simply put, if Cao Cao abandoned Sishui Pass and fled eastward, it would mean that he had voluntarily abandoned his last line of defense, and it would also mean that he had admitted his complete defeat in the Heluo region.

While fleeing with the emperor temporarily preserved the political symbol of "holding the emperor hostage," it also exposed their military weakness and strategic predicament.

Once Cao Cao escapes with the emperor, who in Sishui Pass, with the current morale and fighting strength of Cao's army, could possibly stop the Flying Cavalry?

Without the strategic passes and natural barriers, how could Cao Cao's army possibly cope with the powerful mobility of the Flying Cavalry on the vast plains, even if they tried to escape?

Moreover, those prefectures and counties that were still observing the situation, seeing Cao Cao in such a sorry state, would they continue to be loyal or seek another way out?

Therefore, for Cao Cao, the best strategy left was to use the emperor to block the advance of the Flying Cavalry, and then use the pretext of serving the emperor to resist the Flying Cavalry as much as possible!

The tent fell silent again, and all eyes were on Fei Qian, awaiting his final decision.

"Liang Dao and Kongming's words are both reasonable. Cao Mengde is untrustworthy, but our army cannot be unrighteous, nor can we be controlled by him and waste time," Fei Qian said in a deep voice. He paused briefly and then issued a clear order: "Pass down the order! Except for the troops undergoing training, who will remain as planned, the rest of the troops will prepare breakfast at 1-3 AM tomorrow, and march forward to form ranks outside Sishui Pass."

"Furthermore," Fei Qian said, glancing at Zhuge Liang, "I'll draft a reply letter. No need for a brocade pouch; the standard military letter format will suffice..."

Fei Qian smiled and said, "Inform Prime Minister Cao that the three-day agreement has passed. Our army, as previously agreed, will arrive at the pass before noon tomorrow. Please meet with him at the pass as agreed to discuss important matters."

As the saying goes, it is impolite not to reciprocate. Since Cao Cao sent Fei Qian a letter without even his own signature, Fei Qian's reply to Cao Cao was naturally a "military letter" similar to a notification to his subordinates...

One point Zhuge Liang made was something Fei Qian agreed with…

People in the world are often biased and easily swayed by one side's opinions!

Therefore, since Fei Qian has already "retreat three steps" and adopted the posture of "peaceful meeting," it is naturally impossible for him to give up all his previous efforts and abandon this obvious moral high ground!
While Jia Qu's direct attack was certainly not wrong, it inevitably gave others ammunition to criticize him. On the other hand, Zhuge Liang's deployment of troops at the pass forced Cao Cao to either make a humiliating treaty or take a desperate gamble and declare his refusal to negotiate, which undoubtedly better suited Fei Qian's strategic needs.

If Cao Cao fabricates reasons to delay further at the pass, it won't matter.

On one hand, the cavalry had exhausted their military etiquette, while Cao Cao was left with only lies to maintain his position. Among his soldiers and officials, anyone with a discerning eye could see who was right and who was wrong. Just like when Fei Qian deliberately and publicly announced "peace talks," he wasn't afraid of the world knowing about the peace talks, but rather he didn't want the world to be misled by Cao Cao.

Whether Cao Cao repeatedly tried to lure or provoke Fei Qian, he was hoping to lead Fei Qian astray...

On the other hand, Fei Qian also needed some time to train his soldiers.

The Battle of Sishui Pass must be fought only once, just like the previous attack on Gongxian!
Only by winning in one battle can we achieve the greatest deterrent effect!

What if Cao Cao took the opportunity to escape?

That's not a problem.

The current situation has changed dramatically since the early stages of the Battle of Heluo.

Not only has Hanoi been captured, but Ye City has also fallen into the hands of the Flying Cavalry. The Songshan line on the other side will soon be taken, connecting Jingzhou and Xiangyang. This means that Cao Cao's two flanks have completely collapsed, so how could the overall strategy be the same as before?
The current situation is just like what Fei Qian and Zhuge Liang discussed last night. Even if Cao Cao escapes with the emperor and joins up with those people from the "Second Suanzao" group, Fei Qian would actually be happy to see it happen. It would be a good opportunity to gather them together and wipe them out, saving a lot of effort in post-war pacification and the implementation of new policies...

This is a true strategy, a way to use power to intimidate others.

As soon as Fei Qian gave the order, the atmosphere inside the tent changed instantly.

Jia Qu and Zhuge Liang bowed in unison, saying, "Our lord is wise!"

Now that the agreement had been reached, the entire Flying Cavalry began intensive preparations for the army's advance the next day.

Jia Qu, Zhuge Liang, and the others soon took their leave and went about their respective business.

Soon, only Fei Qian remained in the central command tent.

He turned his gaze back to the huge map on one side, landing on the Sishui Pass, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

Outside the main tent, the sounds of watchtowers signaling orders, the clanging of armor and weapons being prepared, and the occasional neighing of warhorses rose and fell in waves. The cavalry camp, like a giant awakened, began to operate in an orderly manner...