Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3904 Time Flies Like a River, Day and Night Pass By
Yingchuan County, about fifteen li south of Yangcheng City, is a relatively flat riverbank.

The makeshift camp was set up against a small stream; it was quite large, but appeared rather disorganized.

The outer barricades and makeshift trenches were dug at varying depths, and the wooden watchtowers were also built somewhat crookedly.

As night fell, campfires flickered across the campsite.

The orange-red flames flickered, trying to dispel the winter night's chill, but they were powerless to illuminate the shadowy, dark corners deep within the camp.

Inside the military tent in the center of the camp, Xun Yu, who had just returned from a trek from the direction of Taigu Pass after his defeat, looked somewhat haggard.

But in front of Xun Yu was Cao Ren.

Since both of them were defeated generals, there was no question of one looking down on the other.

Cao Ren's eyes no longer held their usual composure and certainty, but instead held a more gloomy look. He didn't exchange many pleasantries with Xun Yu. After a few brief words, he took out a scroll of silk from his inner armor and silently pushed it in front of Xun Yu.

Xun Yu read carefully by the dim light.

The handwriting on the silk scroll was Cao Cao's own. The sense of urgency emanating from the words made Xun Yu's heart sink.

After a long while, Xun Yu slowly put down the silk scroll, raised his eyelids, and looked at Cao Ren.

"Wenruo," Cao Ren said slowly, his voice low, "the situation within the pass is extremely precarious... I must quickly gather all available troops and advance westward as soon as possible! Every day of delay increases the danger!"

Xun Yu nodded silently, his Adam's apple bobbing, but he ultimately made no sound.

He understood Cao Cao's predicament at that moment; he had to grasp at any straw.

When will we be able to get out of this predicament?
Hope seems to be dwindling.

But we still need to fight for it.

At this moment, any personal fatigue or doubts must be suppressed.

Next, despite his physical and mental exhaustion, Xun Yu began to assist Cao Ren in handling complex military affairs.

With Xun Yu's coordination and assistance, the results were obvious.

The temporary camp outside Yangdi City expanded and became bustling at a visible speed.

Teams carrying various family banners, private armies of varying sizes, and supplies of provisions and weapons kept arriving to join them.

The camp was filled with newly added tents, flags of different styles stood in a mixed and orderly fashion, men and horses neighed, and swords and spears gleamed. At first glance, it really did have the grand atmosphere of "heroes flocking and righteous armies gathering".

Some hotheads from Yingchuan, young gentry sons, regarded this "loyalty to the emperor" as a rare opportunity for advancement or to make a name for themselves. They were full of vigor and talked big, as if victory was within their grasp.

You know, there are always people like this around.

However, it was precisely this outwardly vibrant but inwardly restless appearance that caused Xun Yu's heavy heart to not lessen, but rather to increase day by day...

Most of the young men from Yingchuan were dressed in fine clothes, with bright saddles and bridles, and the weapons they carried were mostly exquisite swords that were more decorative than practical.

The designs are either inlaid with gold or adorned with gemstones; they are all very beautiful.

They gathered around the campfire, excitedly exchanging news from the front lines that they had heard from who-knows-where, news that may have already been distorted, their faces glowing with a mixture of tension and excitement.

Loud conversations drifted almost undisguisedly throughout the camp...

"Gentlemen! In my humble opinion, although the General of the Cavalry seems powerful, their lord, the Fei family, ultimately comes from a humble background. How could he not feel uneasy about suddenly rising to such a high position? The accusation of 'regicide and usurpation' is not easy to bear! It could easily lead to eternal infamy! How could he dare to act rashly?! His Majesty the Emperor is still within the pass; this is the very foundation of righteousness! We are here to serve the Emperor as ordered, in accordance with Heaven's will and the people's will, and the time is ripe! We will surely be remembered in history, bringing glory to our families!! Haha! Hahaha!"

"My brother is absolutely right! Thinking back to the alliance at Suanzao, when the banners of righteous men rose in Guandong, even the mighty and ruthless Dong Zhuo had no choice but to abandon them and flee to Chang'an! Today, though the General of the Cavalry is strong, he may not be stronger than the Liangzhou rebels of that time! Moreover, the righteous men of Guandong are united, and their strength is no less than that of the warlords of yesteryear! A mere border general, having gained power by chance, how can he possibly contend with the assembled elites and heroes of the Central Plains? Once our main army is assembled and joins forces with the Prime Minister's elite troops within the pass, we will surely defeat them in one battle and restore our land!"

"Haha, when we drive out the cavalry and pacify the world, and the court rewards those who have rendered meritorious service... according to our dynasty's old precedent, those who have contributed will be granted increased fiefdoms and titles, extending to their descendants! At that time, not only will the lands and estates of every family in Yingchuan be secure, but they might even receive some fertile land and be registered as farmers... This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

"Exactly! My brother sees things clearly! We have studied the classics since childhood, deeply understanding loyalty, filial piety, integrity, and righteousness. We possess the strategies for governing the country and commanding armies! How can we, who only know how to wield swords and spears and charge into battle with mere bravado, compare to those reckless men from Guanzhong and Longxi? This battle is precisely to let the world know what true talent for governing the world is!"

Everyone carries a bridal sedan chair...

This is normal.

They will never have the wisdom of keyboard warriors.

Their clear eyes revealed a kind of foolishness.

They were either immersed in the strong sense of self-pity and mission brought about by the moral halo of "loyalty to the emperor and patriotism," or wishfully fantasizing about repeating the glorious narrative of the previous jujube incident where righteous armies joined forces to drive out tyranny, or calculating the rich returns and consolidated status that this political and military investment might bring to their families...

What is lacking is a clear understanding of oneself, one's enemies, and the world as a whole.

They were even less aware of the true situation regarding the Han Dynasty; their information was severely distorted and outdated…

In the information age, everyone can access countless information sources online through smartphones, some true, some false, some illusory, some real. From a young age, people learn how to filter and discern information, and how to wait for the bullets to fly...

But these burly Han natives couldn't do that.

And most importantly, they need to win!

Yingchuan must win, Shandong and the Central Plains must win, and the old system and the old world of the Han Dynasty need to win even more!

This "victory" is not necessarily a military victory, but more importantly, a psychological victory!
They may have been exposed to news of "losing," but they refused to accept it, refused to acknowledge it; they only wanted to win!
After all, they had been victorious for one or two hundred years under the Han Dynasty...

The invisible barriers formed by local regionalism, along with the deep-rooted sense of cultural superiority among the aristocratic class, together wove a bubble of confidence that enveloped them, shielding them from the true bloodshed and cruelty of the battlefield.

Without the "crudeness" of the warriors of Xiliang, how could the "culture" of the Central Plains of Shandong be revealed?
Without the harsh and squalid frontier, how could Shandong and the Central Plains feel that they were in a land favored by the gods?
If we cannot denigrate the surrounding area as "uncivilized barbarians," how can we let the world know about our noble "family tradition of classical studies"?
Therefore, they cannot 'lose,' they can only 'win'!
Therefore, they live in the world of "winning," and cannot see or hear anything.

It's not that they didn't notice something, but rather that they selectively filtered it out.

It's like telling a gambling addict the harsh truth that nine out of ten gamblers lose. The gambler will definitely say that the others are definitely nine, and he is the one who escapes...

Therefore, when these bright and spirited young men happened to meet Xun Lingjun, whom they had always admired, in the camp, they would immediately surround him with enthusiasm and respect, asking him all sorts of questions about the real situation on the Guanluo front. They were eager to get confirmation of their optimistic guesses from this man they knew and to get more good news to support their excitement.

Note that it is "confirmation," not "inquiry"...

"My lord! What is the situation at the pass? I've heard that the Fei bandits dare not attack the city? May I ask if the Emperor's carriage is safe and sound?"

"My lord, we have heard that although the General of the Cavalry is large, its soldiers are mostly Qiang and Hu barbarians from the north, who are not educated and their discipline is bound to be lax. Is this true?"

"My lord, you are wise and resourceful; you must know the enemy's strengths and weaknesses! In your opinion, can the loyalty and righteousness of our Central Plains gentry defeat those greedy, despicable, and shameless barbarians?"

"Your Excellency..."

Surrounded by others, Xun Yu looked at the young faces, their glowing faces filled with excitement, illuminated by the campfire, but his throat felt as if something was blocking it, and he couldn't utter a single word.

What could he say?
Should I tell them what I saw with my own eyes at Taigu Pass, how the Flying Cavalry formation was so strict and orderly, like mountains and forests, and how their advances and retreats were so disciplined and controlled?

Could it be that the fortified walls they relied on were not much more sturdy than paper in the face of the formidable heavy machinery of the Flying Cavalry?

Does this mean that Cao Cao has suffered repeated defeats, lost many soldiers and generals, is trapped in an isolated pass, and is running out of food and supplies, making his situation extremely precarious?

Could it be that revealing to them that this glorious "righteous act of loyalty to the king" is most likely a dead end with no return and no remains?

he can not.

Not only because speaking frankly would immediately shatter the barely cohesive morale, but also because some chilling truths, to these young people influenced by enthusiasm and blinded by illusions and prejudices, sound like the most vicious curses and slanders. They wouldn't believe him; instead, they might suspect that Xun Wenruo had lost his courage due to successive defeats, or even secretly speculate that he harbored ulterior motives…

In the end, Xun Yu could only manage a forced smile and vaguely reply, "Military and national affairs are ever-changing... Your loyalty and bravery are commendable, but you must diligently hone your skills and strictly obey orders..."

Then Xun Yu left almost as if fleeing, leaving behind his fellow townsmen and younger generation to continue arguing heatedly and spitting as they debated empty questions such as "Which is more fearful of the Emperor's righteousness, the General of the Cavalry or the morale of our Central Plains brothers?"

However, with each such gathering and questioning, Xun Yu's suffocating sense of guilt deepened...

The more you open your eyes, the clearer you see the world, the more pain you experience.

Xun Yu could see it clearly, which was why he was in so much pain...

As night deepened, the daytime hustle and bustle of the camp gradually subsided.

Xun Yu lay on a simple and cold military couch, with only a thin layer of dry grass beneath him and a coarse hemp blanket covering him. He tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

For the past two days, those young, passionate faces, full of blind brilliance yet utterly empty, have been flashing and overlapping before his closed eyes like a revolving lantern…

These young men from Yingchuan may have selfish motives, desires for fame and fortune, and responsibilities to their families, but among them are also promising talents with a pure desire to serve their country and bring peace to the world.

Are we just going to watch them walk onto that battlefield, destined to be a bloodbath and a place where their chances of survival are slim?
A surge of intense pain compelled Xun Yu to sit up, put on his outer robe, and leave the military tent.

Xun Yu found Cao Ren.

Inside the tent, Cao Ren sat behind the rough wooden table, with the latest roster and several rough lists of grain and supplies spread out in front of him.

Cao Ren frowned, his eyes filled with seriousness. He was having a major headache over these hastily assembled 'armies'.

The number of people seems to be quite large, and each family has brought its own armor and weapons. The food supplies also seem to be sufficient for the short term.

But he knew the true nature of this team better than anyone else—

This is just a mob lacking basic training in formations and ranks, and they don't even know how to give commands!

If we lead such troops to fight against the elite cavalry of the Flying Cavalry, the enemy will probably only need one decent cavalry charge to completely collapse our forces!
At that time, instead of helping to relieve the siege, they may disrupt the formation of the few remaining truly combat-ready soldiers during the retreat, leading to a complete disaster for the entire army!
How to do?
"General Zixiao."

Xun Yu's voice rang out.

Cao Ren was stunned for a moment, then looked up, somewhat puzzled. But when he saw the undisguised pain on Xun Yu's face and the struggle in Xun Yu's eyes, Cao Ren seemed to understand something.

Cao Ren gestured for Xun Yu to sit down, then quietly looked at Xun Yu.

Xun Yu sat down but did not speak immediately.

Xun Yu's back seemed slightly hunched. He remained silent, as if organizing his thoughts, or perhaps engaged in a final internal struggle. Finally, he spoke slowly, each word seemingly squeezed out from a frozen heart: "These young men from Yingchuan in the camp… most are young and inexperienced, never having faced battle, unaware of the dangers of war, or the vicissitudes of fate. What they have heard is mostly hearsay and falsehood; their knowledge is limited to their local communities and clans… I believe… if we use such men to face the formidable enemy of the General of the Cavalry, I fear… less than one in ten will survive, only adding more lost souls to the ranks of the dead…"

Xun Yu paused, then took a deep breath, as if gathering strength to speak. His gaze fixed on Cao Ren, the pleading in his eyes almost tangible. "I...I humbly request that the General...perhaps, under the pretext of transporting supplies to the rear, pacifying bandits in the countryside, and ensuring smooth roads, select from the conscripted soldiers those who are still young and inexperienced, or the only sons of their families, and temporarily...temporarily keep them? So that they may not immediately face death...perhaps...perhaps they can preserve some seeds of learning for the scholars of Yingchuan..."

That's right, a "reading seed"...

Reading requires a seed, but what about other industries...?

Other industries, of course, are just a matter of "take it or leave it."

Xun Yu had previously thought he could calmly observe these events, that these people would become mere numbers in his book, representing a statistical significance. But when the moment arrived, Xun Yu discovered that he was experiencing unbearable inner turmoil…

So he went to find Cao Ren.

Even though Xun Yu knew in his heart that doing so, making such a request, was tantamount to a kind of 'betrayal' of Cao Cao...

Xun Yu's voice trembled slightly, seemingly out of control, and his face showed deep shame and inner conflict. "I know this is womanly compassion, and utterly inappropriate for the urgent military affairs at this moment… However, I think of their ignorance… If I knew that what lay ahead was a death trap, yet pretended not to know and let them go… I… would be truly uneasy, unable to sleep at night… I beg the General… to understand…"

After Xun Yu finished speaking, a long, almost suffocating silence fell inside the tent.

Cao Ren's gaze lingered on Xun Yu's face for a long time, looking at the shadows of grief that were almost entirely covering Xun Yu's face.

After a moment, Cao Ren lowered his head slightly and his gaze fell on the register on the table.

The names on that roster were vivid yet blind faces in the camp.

Yes, this is suicide.

Cao Ren's gaze seemed to pierce through the thick tent, landing on the deep, boundless dark night sky—

There lay the precarious Sishui Pass, where Cao Cao, the cousin of Cao Cao, awaited with bated breath, and on the final battlefield that would determine the fate of the Cao family and all of them…

And he, Cao Ren, was going to send these vibrant, yet blind, lives up there, to that altar of flesh and blood!

Time passed slowly, and every breath seemed exceptionally long.

Finally, Cao Ren exhaled a heavy, slow breath from deep within his chest.

The aura seemed to carry a hint of the bloody stench of the netherworld.

Cao Ren raised his eyes and looked at Xun Yu again. The complex emotions in his eyes gradually disappeared, leaving only the cold numbness of a veteran general who had seen life and death on the battlefield.

Cao Ren slowly shook his head. "They cannot be left behind. Not a single one can be missing; they must all be taken to Sishui."

"General Zixiao..."

Xun Yu cupped his hands, seemingly wanting to say something more, but Cao Ren reached out and stopped Xun Yu from speaking further.

"Now the imperial authority is in disarray, wolves and tigers block the roads at the Si River, and beacon fires illuminate the sky at the banks of the Luo River. The sons of officials from the prefectures and kingdoms are now stripping off their official robes and wielding weapons. As the saying goes, when propriety is lost, seek it in the countryside; how can the lineage of culture be confined to the clothing of officials?"

Simply put, don't be reluctant to take off your long gown.

Cao Ren was also a scholar-general, and his words were quite eloquent.

But every word Cao Ren spoke was like a dull knife, slowly and cruelly cutting away at Xun Yu's remaining hope...

Cao Ren spoke forcefully, a stench of blood rising within him, "Wenruo, this is a chaotic world! Foolishness itself is a path to death!"

"But..." Xun Yu sighed, "I find it hard to bear... They are all learned men, wise and discerning..."

Cao Ren remained expressionless. "Having already trapped in thorns, one should discard the fragrant herbs; having already lost one's baggage, why distinguish between a fine steed? Do not be burdened by official robes, lest your fine hat fall to the ground. Moreover…"

Cao Ren paused for a moment, then finally said, "Now it's not just Yingchuan... Chen Liang of Yanzhou and the areas of Qiao and Pei have already marched to Sishui... If Yingchuan survives, where else can't we survive? Wenruo, we must not let small things cause us to lose big ones!"

According to Cao Ren, Yingchuan was already being treated very well; people from other places had already set off long ago.

If people from Yingchuan arrive, what will other places think when they hear that Yingchuan has left behind some "seeds of learning"?
Upon hearing this, Xun Yu immediately sensed something was amiss. "Have the others already set out?"

Cao Ren nodded slowly.

Xun Yu's heart skipped a beat; he knew Cao Ren was lying!

but……

Why did Cao Ren do this?