Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3917 Tiger and Rhinoceros Emerge from Cage, Tortoise and Jade Destroy the Box
Beneath the walls of Xu County, Guan Yu led eight hundred elite cavalry in battle formation.

These eight hundred cavalrymen were selected from the two thousand men in his northern expeditionary force. Each of them was equipped with two horses, one for riding and the other to carry armor, weapons, and provisions.

The knights were all dressed in black armor, with cloaks over them for warmth. Although they had been fighting and running for days, their armor was inevitably covered with dust and dirt, and marks from swords and arrows were visible everywhere. However, there was a fierce and murderous aura emanating from them, which went straight to the top of Xu County.

The horses were all fine steeds, and although they were slightly thin from the long journey, they were still uniform and pawed the ground, emitting a strong odor, as if they were about to charge straight into the city at any moment.

Guan Yu, clad in his famous green brocade battle robe and covered by gleaming armor, sat astride his warhorse, as imposing as a mountain. One hand reined in his horse, while the other hung down, holding his eighty-two-pound Green Dragon Crescent Blade.

The blade gleamed with a cold, eerie light in the thin winter sunlight.

What?
Zhou Cang?

He hasn't come yet; he's still in Jiaozhi.

With his henchmen absent, Guan Yu had to carry the knife himself.

Guan Yu narrowed his phoenix eyes slightly, slowly scanning the banners standing tall on the city wall of Xu County and the faintly visible figures of the guards, finally fixing his gaze on the tall banner with the character "Xun" in the center of the city wall.

Guan Yu loosened the reins and slowly stroked his thick, black beard. For some reason, he suddenly felt like laughing out loud!
Xu County!

Mr. Guan is here!
What about the capital of the Han Dynasty?!
What good is the emperor's residence?!
Guan is here!
Guan Yu's lips curled up slightly.

The large banner bearing the character "关" (Guan) behind him was stretched straight by the biting north wind, fluttering and rustling like the beating of war drums.

However, to think that eight hundred cavalrymen could storm a fortified city is nothing short of wishful thinking.

Therefore, what Guan Yu wanted was to provoke, oppress, and humiliate, to break the will of the defending troops, and to intimidate these incompetent people in Shandong and the Central Plains!
Go away!

Without turning his head, Guan Yu ordered a burly-looking guard beside him, "Take your men and take turns going forward to give me a proper 'greeting'!"

"Understood!" The squad leader grinned, revealing yellowed teeth, his eyes gleaming with a fierce, eager light.

He'll go to the outskirts of Xuxian and hurl insults at them; that's enough for him to brag about for the rest of his life!
The squad leader selected a dozen or so loud-voiced soldiers, spurred their horses out of formation, and only reined in their horses when they were within an arrow's reach of the edge of the enemy lines.

The men laughed and exchanged glances, then raised their voices and shouted towards the city walls of Xu County: "Listen up, sirs! Your commander, Xun Yu, is nothing but a petty man from Yingchuan, a mere figurehead! He claims loyalty and righteousness, yet he's a traitor to the state, Cao Cao, engaging in the rebellious act of holding the emperor hostage to command the princes. He's long since cast aside his loyalty to the Han dynasty! Now, Cao Cao's forces are exhausted and on the verge of collapse, leaving you here to guard the gates and prolong your lives! Xun Yu, you coward, if your ancestors knew in the afterlife, seeing you serving the traitor and submitting to a villain, they'd probably rise from their graves in fury and spit in your face!"

"Hahaha! Cowards! Pathetic cowards! Only daring to lean against the city walls, hiding in their shells! Do you even consider yourselves men? Why don't you loosen your belts and see if you're empty-handed down there, and go home to nurse your children! Otherwise, you'll tarnish the name of the Han people!"

"With the heavenly army here, if you know what's good for you, quickly bind that scoundrel Xun Yu, open the city gates, and surrender. You might still be spared and given a meal! If you remain obstinate, when my army breaches the city, I will slaughter you all, leaving not a single chicken or dog alive! Don't blame me for being merciless then!"

He swore and spewed vulgarities incessantly.

From cursing Xun Yu for "aiding and abetting evil" to "bringing shame to his family," from cursing the garrison for "being as cowardly as pigs and dogs" to "having children without an anus," he used every trick in the book of street thugs.

The sound echoed in the empty space below the city, clearly reaching the top of the city wall and into the ears of every soldier guarding the city.

Some of Cao Cao's younger, more impetuous soldiers blushed and gritted their teeth as they listened; while others, older and more reserved, remained expressionless, as if the foul language from below the city walls went in one ear and out the other…

On the city wall, inside the city gate tower.

Xun Yu remained silent. He wore a slightly oversized dark blue robe, with leather armor, a sable fur coat for warmth, and a scholar's cap. His face was calm and composed, as if he heard not vicious curses, but insignificant sounds of wind and rain.

"Guan Yu, Guan Yunchang..." Xun Yu's gaze was fixed on the large banner below the city and the imposing figure beneath it.

Between the gray beard and the long beard, which one is the real beard?
Xun Yu felt a deep sense of helplessness.

The General of the Flying Cavalry already has enough brave generals, and now even someone like Guan Yu is standing under the tricolor banner...

Is there no law left?!
However, Xun Yu was still Xun Yu. He had already strictly ordered all departments to guard the four gates and not to open them without authorization. At the same time, he dispatched more craftsmen and laborers to reinforce the weak points of the city walls overnight, adding deer antlers and chevaux-de-frise at the city walls and inside the barbican...

In short, we must fortify our defenses and never engage in reckless fighting!

As for the young members of the Cao and Xun clans, Xun Yu merely glanced at their flushed faces and said, "When a common man is insulted, he might draw his sword and fight, spilling blood five steps away and lying dead on the city wall. But that's just a momentary gratification, leaving him only as a laughingstock."

Xun Yu, maintaining a calm demeanor, said, "A general bears the lives of his army and the safety of the region. His anger should result in the deaths of millions and bloodshed for miles around. He must act for the sake of the nation, not for personal grudges."

Xun Yu paused, slightly raising his head, his long beard flowing. "Guan Yu now relies on no more than eight hundred elite cavalry, fierce and swift, advantageous for field battles and raids. Although our army is numerous, many are newly recruited, inexperienced in battle, and lack proper armor and weaponry. If we angrily march out of the city, we will play right into his hands! Even if our army outnumbers the enemy several times over, the outcome in open battle is still uncertain. You... do you intend to act rashly, sacrificing the lives of my soldiers to add another glorious chapter to the bandit's name?"

These words were so calm they were almost cruel, so direct they were practically a direct attack, implying that all of you combined couldn't defeat Guan Yu...

Reality is often harsh.

The soldiers and military officers who had previously escaped and returned described these military officers and captains from the Cao and Xun clans, and they had heard a great deal about them.

If he were truly capable of defeating Guan Yu, would Xun Yu have needed to arrange so many things?
The Cao and Xun clan officers felt as if they had been doused with a bucket of ice water. Their anger turned into cold sweat, and they looked at each other, speechless. They could only lower their heads in shame, clasp their hands in greeting, and retreat.

Xun Yu's strategy was not flawed. Like an experienced hunter facing a tiger that has invaded his territory, he did not rush to fight it head-on, since he could not win in a direct confrontation. Instead, he laid a trap, avoided its sharp edge, cut off its supply lines, and waited until it was exhausted before gathering his forces to annihilate it.

Xun Yu, on the one hand, strictly sealed off the four gates of Xu County, turning the city into a tightly sealed bag. On the other hand, in his capacity as Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, he issued an urgent proclamation in the name of the imperial court to the surrounding cities, fortified villages, and powerful local clans that had not yet been directly affected by Guan Yu's military campaign.

The proclamation bitterly denounced Guan Yu's "isolated army's invasion of the border, overstepping its bounds and showing disrespect," demanding that they "uphold loyalty and righteousness, and jointly relieve the national crisis," and immediately assemble local militia, retainers, and private troops to come to their aid. From a purely military perspective, Xun Yu's strategy was undoubtedly the best way to deal with Guan Yu's isolated army, which lacked heavy equipment and had no so-called secure rear.

Having suffered a crushing defeat, Xun Yu was acutely aware of the vast disparity between his current troops, the General of the Cavalry, and Guan Yu. He knew they were no match for Guan Yu in a direct confrontation. Therefore, he abandoned any thoughts of adventure or wishful thinking, fully utilizing the advantages of fighting on home soil and the potential for greater manpower. He traded time for space, gradually tightening the invisible noose around Guan Yu's neck, patiently waiting for his opponent to make a mistake, exhaust himself, and ultimately reveal a fatal weakness…

But the problem is...

The world, or rather the Central Plains of Shandong, is no longer just facing a crisis involving Guan Yu and a single army!
Even within Xu County, it's not a monolithic entity!
The immense psychological pressure brought about by the siege, the increasingly strict control over the distribution of supplies, and the frustration and humiliation brought about by Guan Yu and others hurling insults outside the city, as well as Xun Yu's strategy being denounced as "cowardly" and "cowardly," were things that the keyboard warriors of the Han Dynasty could hardly tolerate.
Commenting on the government and pointing out the flaws in the country were traditional skills of the gentry in the Eastern Han Dynasty. How could they possibly stop doing so now, or be understood so easily?
Coupled with the advocacy of some aristocratic officials who already harbored dissent or harbored resentment towards Cao Cao's rule, certain opinions naturally arose. What began as whispers quickly escalated into increasingly sharp and undisguised criticisms.

Some self-proclaimed "pure stream" or "loyal sons of the Han dynasty" became the main initiators and disseminators of these ideas.

"Xun Wenruo? His reputation as a brilliant advisor once resounded throughout the Central Plains, but now he appears nothing more than a cowardly and mediocre man!" An elderly man with graying hair and beard, who had once held a minor, sinecure in the court and was now retired, openly criticized Xun Yu. "Sitting atop the fortified city of Xuchang, with ample provisions and weapons, and with righteous warriors to rely on from all directions, he fears those eight hundred cavalry as if they were tigers and wolves! He keeps the gates closed, hanging a 'no war' sign, allowing them to swagger and bully under the city walls, disgracing his ancestors and insulting his entire army! Our mighty Han Dynasty, in its heyday, Wei Qing and Huo Qubing campaigned far into the northern deserts, achieving the legendary feat of sealing the wolf's lair—what boundless heroism! Even during the restoration under Emperor Guangwu, a single Han soldier could hold off five barbarian tribes—what heroic spirit! Now…now he has stooped to cowering like a tortoise, allowing the enemy to run rampant beneath the walls of the old capital! Truly a disgrace to our ancestors, a shame before the people of the world!"

One Han Chinese could rival five Hu barbarians.

How magnificent and mighty is the Han Dynasty!

There's nothing wrong with that, but it shares the same problem as keyboard warriors in later generations: generalizing from a single instance, taking a small thing as a starting point and concluding that everything is either black or white, either this or that.

Can the soldiers of the mighty Han Dynasty be compared with those of the Eastern Han Dynasty when the country was in decline and warlords were rampant?

Just like the seasoned veterans outside the city, can they be considered the same as the peasant soldiers inside the city?
Unfortunately, these people don't care at all; they just want to enjoy their own ranting...

A middle-aged man nearby immediately chimed in, his tone even more vehement, directly targeting Cao Cao: "That's absolutely right! Cao Mengde was never a loyal subject! He held the emperor hostage, moved the capital to Xuchang, ostensibly to support the emperor, but in reality, he imprisoned him. He controlled the government, bestowed titles and rewards at will, and long ago trampled the dignity of the Han dynasty to the ground! Now that his power is waning and his army is defeated, it is precisely the time when Heaven is weary of the Cao family! Looking at the walls of Xuchang, I see hardly the banners of the Han dynasty fluttering; they are clearly banners of cowardice! These soldiers defending the city, where is even a trace of the spirit of the Han army? They are nothing but a pack of cowardly dogs!"

Those with more cunning lowered their voices and uttered even more enticing words: "Continuing to hold out like this is absolutely not a good strategy! Xu County is fortified, but there's no reliable external support, and internally… well, that's human nature. The Cao family is already riddled with problems, yet they want to drag us down with them… Why should we be buried with them? I've heard that General Fei, though implementing new policies and his methods are somewhat harsh, is at the height of his power, seemingly destined for greatness! And I've heard that he's willing to welcome the Emperor back to the Western Capital… After all, he's still a Han official… It's a thousand times better than staying here with these desperate Cao family, trapped in this city of despair, living in constant fear, and suffering this humiliation and frustration!"

These criticisms, on the surface, are an expression of extreme dissatisfaction with Xun Yu's military strategies, or perhaps a questioning of the legitimacy of Cao Cao's rule, or a heart-wrenching lament for the passing of the glory of the Han Dynasty. However, once these high-sounding veils are peeled away, their deeper motives become clear: to carefully weave a morally justifiable facade for the "change of allegiance" situation they are about to face, and to lay the groundwork and test public opinion.

Xun Yu is finished!

Cao Cao is finished!
The Han Dynasty, well, that depends on whether the General of Chariots and Cavalry thinks it's over...

The talent that should have been a king's advisor has now become a mediocre talent who aids and abets evil!

Then Cao Cao naturally went from being the "Prime Minister" to a "traitor to the country"!
The more fiercely they criticize Xun Yu for "forgetting his roots," the more they are trying to preemptively absolve themselves of the accusation of "disloyalty and injustice" that they might bear if they joined the General of the Cavalry, thus seizing the moral high ground and ultimately making it seem natural for them to "abandon darkness for light," "follow the will of Heaven," and "choose a tree to perch on"!
However, those who are the first to lose their composure and jump out are usually the small fry.

Xun Yu was not deaf or blind. He had managed Xudu for many years and had spies and informants all over the city. How could he not know what was happening in the city?
Although the soldiers of the Cao and Xun families were no match for Guan Yu, capturing these noisy people in the city was still a piece of cake.

Xun Yu decisively ordered a sudden operation, centered around his absolutely reliable Xun clan troops, to arrest the officials and scholars who had spoken most vehemently, under the pretext of "colluding with foreign enemies, plotting rebellion, spreading rumors, and disrupting morale."

However, after a night of intensive interrogation, separate interrogations, and even the use of torture, the confessions and conclusions Xun Yu obtained made him feel an almost absurd irony.

Xun Yu thought that among these people, there were some spies from the Flying Cavalry, and then he could take the opportunity to trick Guan Yu. However, he never expected that the people he captured were not spies pre-planned by the Flying Cavalry!
These guys talk big in private, full of passion and pontificating, as if they have everything under control. But once they're thrown into jail and tortured, they immediately reveal their true colors and make a complete fool of themselves!
They had no concrete plans to defect to the enemy, no reliable channels to contact the Flying Cavalry, and were not even very familiar with the Flying Cavalry's current policies; everything they knew was hearsay!

Their so-called "plans" mostly amounted to venting their frustrations verbally and bolstering each other's courage with complaints. There were no follow-up plans whatsoever, and they weren't spies or undercover agents...

While arresting these people alleviated some of the discontent within the city, it also exposed the current disunity and potential instability in Xu County. Fortunately, Guan Yu's army outside the city also faced a similar predicament of not knowing where to begin.

The days of verbal sparring were certainly enjoyable, but it was clear that words alone could not conquer Xu County.

Xu County was like an old turtle, shrinking its head and letting Guan Yu scold it, which made Guan Yu's impatience and annoyance grow stronger day by day.

"snort!"

Inside the central command tent, Guan Yu tossed a grain rations book onto the table, his complaints undisguised. "If that scoundrel Zhuge Liang had given me 20,000—no, even 15,000 elite troops—why would I be wasting my time here with that rat Xun Yu? I would have already led my army to raze this city to the ground and captured that old man beneath the imperial palace!"

Guan Yu hadn't given it much thought; even if Jingzhou had 15,000 troops, would he be given command of them?

Of course, it's even less likely that they would consider where the daily food and fodder would come from if there were really 20,000 or 15,000 soldiers.

Whether the supplies were collected from northern Jingzhou or transported via Wuguan Road, the increase in the number of people would inevitably lead to a geometric increase in logistical pressure. At that time, would Guan Yu still be able to move so flexibly and mobilely across the heart of Yingchuan?
The junior officer of the Flying Cavalry, who was assisting nearby, felt somewhat embarrassed upon hearing Guan Yu's words about "country bumpkins," so he simply ignored it and pretended not to hear. He said, "General Guan, Xu County is a well-fortified city, defended effectively, employing a scorched-earth policy and avoiding direct confrontation. Our army is isolated, and our advantage lies in a swift victory, not in a protracted battle. Although we are now at the city gates, Xu County itself has not suffered any damage. If, given time, the surrounding counties and towns were to encircle us… our forces would ultimately be too weak. If our supply lines were to falter even slightly, they might cut off our retreat… In my humble opinion, it would be better… better to withdraw while we're ahead, retreat to the Yingyin-Wuyang line, strengthen communication with the rear, ensure unimpeded supply lines, replenish our troops, and then plan our next advance."

Previously, when the Commandant of the Cavalry was ordered to return to Wuyang to protect the supply lines, he carefully instructed the junior officer to remind Guan Yu in time to not let Guan Yu engage in reckless battles...

Upon hearing this, Guan Yu's expression darkened, clearly displeased.

Should we withdraw our troops here?
How can this be achieved?!
Guan Yu's campaign of conquering three cities in a row and bringing his army to the gates of Xuchang shocked the world. Wouldn't that have been a case of starting strong but finishing weak?
"Xun Yu is a coward, only good for cowering and avoiding battle; he's a spineless coward! He dares not leave the city to fight, and I'm wasting my time here, which is indeed inappropriate..." Guan Yu squinted, stroking his white beard. "However, retreating now is not what I, Guan Yu, would do!"

Guan Yu rose proudly and declared, "If they dare not fight, then I will go and find those who dare! Issue my order: the entire army shall break camp and advance north! I will march north! Cao Cao's army can cut off my supply lines, so why can't I, Guan Yu, cut off theirs?! Let's see how long that Cao traitor can cower in this city and pass! Let's see who in the Central Plains will dare to underestimate my military might!"

The cavalry captain was taken aback.

Marching north means penetrating deeper into the heartland where Cao Cao's forces still exist, which will lengthen the supply lines and make it easier to get truly surrounded.

Just as Guan Yu said, if they could really cut off Cao Cao's supply lines, they could not only create a greater strategic momentum and further disrupt Cao Cao's rear plans, but also create an opportunity to divide Yan Province, thereby gaining greater initiative and glory at the strategic level.

However, this was also a bolder and more risky decision than continuing to station troops under Xuchang County...