Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3923 If I hear the Way in the morning, I can die content in the evening (Bonus Chapter)
Above Sishui Pass, the sky is filled with stars.

Cao Cao stood atop the pass, gazing at the night sky.

The land beneath our feet still seemed to be the land of the Great Han Mountain in Shandong, but once we left Guanzhong, we entered the territory under the jurisdiction of the Flying Cavalry.

He's not young anymore.

When you're young, you're not afraid of failure or suffering.

Because when you're young, there's still hope.

In the past year, Cao Cao came to attack Guanzhong with the greatest hope...

The false prosperity of Shandong and the Central Plains, coupled with the sycophancy of court officials and local officials, gave Cao Cao a delusion. He felt he could control the entire Shandong and Central Plains, and devote all his manpower and resources to resisting Fei Qian!
This illusion was deadly, but Cao Cao, caught in it, was oblivious. He even thought that dealing with Fei Qian, a "junior," might be a little more troublesome than dealing with Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, but not by much...

Talented people emerge in every generation.

Cao Cao thought he was the only "talented person"!

He used to think that he was the protagonist of this world!
And now he knows he was wrong...

Even if he was the protagonist in the past, new heroes will always emerge in the world, while the heroes of the past will always grow old.

Although it was a matter of life and death for Cao Cao at that moment, he did want to take a look at the General of the Cavalry.

At least you can see exactly where you went wrong.

Just like gamblers at a card table, after losing, they always want to see their opponent's hole cards.

He was already so old, leaving the Shandong Central Plains where he had spent his entire life to go to such a dangerous place. It was hard to say whether he would even survive until tomorrow. Perhaps all sorts of "accidents" would happen in the Flying Cavalry camp, and he would encounter all sorts of "mountain bandits" who would suddenly appear out of nowhere on the road, just like those envoys who went to Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu back then.

Cao Cao suddenly laughed self-deprecatingly, his smile bitter.

Dian Wei remained by his side.

"This time, I'll have to drag Evil along with me..."

Cao Cao laughed and patted Dian Wei's arm, "I've never given Elai a high position or generous salary, yet I've repeatedly put you in dangerous situations... I feel ashamed of you..."

Dian Wei knelt on the ground, saying, "Even if it means facing mountains of knives and seas of fire, I will not hesitate to die!"

Cao Cao helped Dian Wei to his feet, then turned to gaze at the rising morning star in the east, took a deep breath, and said, "Guards! Prepare the carriage and clothing!"

It has finally come to this.

Perhaps the dust has settled.

Perhaps it was the beginning of everything...

……

……

As dawn broke and the sky began to lighten with the first hint of white, the first light of day appeared.

On a winter morning, it seems that the world is shrouded not in a thin mist, but in a biting frost.

The distant mountain forests were faintly visible in the mist, creating a desolate scene.

The vehicle creaked and groaned as it rolled over the cold ground.

It was naturally impossible for Sishui Pass to have prepared a full-fledged ceremonial guard for the prime minister...

Of course, the most crucial thing is that most of the carriages and entourage used by the emperor in the past have been used as "bait". Now, what's left is just a bunch of mediocre ones that can barely be picked out whole.

Inside the carriage, Cao Cao was not wearing his dazzling gold and silver armor, but rather a slightly worn-out prime minister's court robe.

The court dress was naturally the standard Han official style, with wide sleeves and a broad belt.

Cao Cao's face seemed even more gaunt than usual, with deep-set eyes, but his eyes, though in the shadows of the carriage, remained calm and deep, like two ancient wells that reflected little ripple.

He tucked his hands into his sleeves, straightened his back, raised his head slightly, and remained silent.

Dian Wei stood guard beside the carriage, never leaving its side.

Dian Wei was naturally fully armored.

The specially made heavy iron armor gleamed with a cold, hard black light in the morning light. The terrifying iron halberd was slung over his back. Dian Wei stared wide-eyed, like a wild beast in a state of alert, ready to pounce at any moment.

In addition, a small squad of carefully selected trusted guards, also fully armed, silently stood watch before and behind the carriage. Their hands never left the hilts of their swords, and the atmosphere was heavy.

Before their departure, Cao Ren strongly advised that more elite troops should be sent to escort them, at least to bolster their prestige.

Cao Cao simply replied, "If you wish to show sincerity, why have armored soldiers accompanying you? It only arouses suspicion. If they truly intend to harm you, what good would it do to bring a hundred or so more men?"

This is both a helpless situation and a fact.

Bringing too many men will not help with safety; on the contrary, it will make us appear timid and cowardly. It is better to travel light and simply to show our sincerity.

The scouts of the Flying Cavalry quickly appeared around Cao Cao's convoy, but they did not approach or make contact. They simply watched from a distance, as if they were protecting the convoy, or perhaps scrutinizing it, or maybe...

Looking down.

Standing on the railing outside the monkey enclosure, looking down at the monkey mountain and the monkeys.

As they drew closer, the outline of the cavalry camp, resembling a lurking beast, became clear on the horizon.

The camp walls were towering, constructed from large logs and rammed earth.

The watchtowers were imposing, and the tricolor flags fluttered in the morning breeze.

Although no array of swords and spears was displayed, the pervasive sense of impending doom was already palpable.

In front of the gate was an open area that had obviously been swept clean. Jia Qu, who had been informed in advance, led a team of about fifty armored soldiers and waited in formation outside the gate.

This group of armored warriors were all burly and imposing, with stern expressions. They wore identical, finely crafted armor, covered by dark red battle robes, and carried long halberds with ring-pommel swords at their waists. Although they stood silently, they exuded an aura of seasoned warriors.

Jia Qu was dressed in neat official robes, with a sword at his waist, and his expression was neither humble nor arrogant.

The carriage slowly came to a stop about twenty paces in front of the gate.

Jia Qu remained unmoved.

The armored soldiers of the Flying Cavalry were also as if cast in stone, remaining motionless.

For a moment, it was as if time had stopped at the gate of a camp, with only the cold wind howling past.

After a moment, Dian Wei grew impatient, snorted coldly, and stepped forward, slamming his iron halberd into the ground with a dull thud. "The Chancellor of the Great Han is here!"

Dian Wei's massive body stood like an iron tower, protecting the front of the chariot.

The remaining Cao family guards also put their hands on the hilts of their swords, took half a step forward, and surrounded the vehicle on both sides.

Seeing this, Jia Qu smiled slightly, calmly stepped forward two paces, and under Dian Wei's intimidating gaze, bowed respectfully towards the carriage, his voice clear and steady: "This humble official is here to greet Lord Cao on the orders of the General of Chariots and Cavalry. Lord Cao has traveled a long way and must be tired."

The carriage curtain was lifted by a slightly pale hand.

Cao Cao leaned out, his eyes met Jia Qu's, and he nodded slightly.

Before Cao Cao could utter any pleasantries, Jia Qu spoke directly, "The General has ordered that the camp is a place for military administration, not for court meetings and political affairs. To conform to camp regulations and avoid inconvenience, I humbly request that Lord Cao change his warhorse and wear lighter armor. Lord Cao's carriages and regalia may be temporarily stored on the east side of the camp gate; soldiers will take good care of them and return them all when Lord Cao leaves the camp."

Upon hearing this, the veins on Dian Wei's forehead bulged instantly, and his already bulging beard seemed to stand on end. He took a sudden step forward, his towering figure almost engulfing Jia Qu. "Outrageous! How dare you be so insolent! The Prime Minister is of inestimable worth, a pillar of the nation, personally bestowed with the purple ribbon and golden seal by the Emperor himself! How dare you be so disrespectful! What, changing clothes and riding horses? Are you deliberately trying to humiliate me?!"

Cao's elite guards also glared angrily at the same time, gripping their sword hilts tightly, and the atmosphere instantly became tense.

Although the cavalrymen at the gate remained standing at attention, their eyes instantly sharpened, and they slightly adjusted the angle of their halberds, subtly forming a wary stance towards Dian Wei and the others.

Just as tensions were about to escalate, Cao Cao's voice rang out, quelling Dian Wei's rage: "Er Lai."

Upon hearing this, Dian Wei, like a tiger restrained by invisible reins, reluctantly took a half step back, but his eyes remained fixed on Jia Qu, as if he wanted to devour him alive.

Cao Cao, holding onto the carriage door, slowly got out of the carriage.

He straightened up, raised his head slightly, and calmly swept his gaze over Jia Qu and the armored cavalrymen. A complex smile suddenly appeared on his face. "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."

"E'lai, no need for further words." Cao Cao turned to Jia Qu, his tone calm, "Then we will proceed as the General intends. Thank you for your trouble."

Jia Qu remained expressionless, cupped his hands again, and said, "Lord Cao is wise."

Jia Qu then turned to the side and nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Soldiers who were already prepared led over ordinary warhorses with glossy coats and well-proportioned bodies, complete with saddles and bridles, but without any special decorations. At the same time, another soldier carried a lacquered tray, presenting a set of light armor standard for the Flying Cavalry. The armor was made of tanned cowhide, with polished iron plates inlaid in key areas and connected by leather ropes. The craftsmanship was certainly excellent, but compared to Cao Cao's deep purple court robes, which represented the authority of the Chancellor of the Han Dynasty and were embroidered with imperial insignia, it appeared particularly plain.

Dian Wei and Cao Cao's personal guards inspected the warhorses and light armor, but found nothing unusual.

Cao Cao remained calm. With the help of his guards, he removed his outer robe, untied his court robe, and revealed his inner garment.

The biting winter wind swept by, making Cao Cao shiver slightly.

Cao Cao remained calm and allowed his personal guards to put the light armor on him and tighten the leather straps.

After changing his clothes, Cao Cao stretched his arms and legs and was taken aback!
The size of this armor...

Cao Cao felt a chill in his heart, but his face remained calm and expressionless.

Dian Wei led his warhorse over and knelt on the ground.

Cao Cao stepped on Dian Wei's leg, which was a little difficult, but he still tried his best to maintain his composure as he mounted his horse.

After settling in, Cao Cao even subconsciously straightened his back...

Although he was now wearing enemy armor and riding unfamiliar warhorses, Cao Mengde's own indomitable spirit, which had withstood the test of time, would not disappear.

Despite his anger and resentment, Dian Wei could only glare fiercely at Jia Qu and the surrounding cavalrymen, gripping his iron halberd like a fierce mastiff protecting its master, clinging tightly to the side of Cao Cao's warhorse.

"Oh, right..." Jia Qu said from the side, "Please leave your weapons here for now... We'll return them to you when Lord Cao returns."

"What?!" Dian Wei's eyes widened in fury, and he took a step closer to Jia Qu. "As long as I hold this halberd, I'll live! Don't even think about making me lay down my weapon!"

Jia Qu seemed completely unfazed by Dian Wei's intimidation, simply smiling as he looked at Cao Cao.

Cao Cao took a deep breath. "Erlai... since the General of the Cavalry is afraid that we will come carrying weapons... then we shall go along with the host..."

Suppressing his anger, Dian Wei viciously slammed his iron halberd into the ground!
Dian Wei possessed immense strength; the shaft of his iron halberd sank nearly a foot into the ground, a truly astonishing feat.

Keep in mind that it's winter right now, and the soil is very hard...

Other soldiers in Cao Cao's army also wanted to learn from Dian Wei, but they didn't have that much strength, so their thrusts were shallow and crooked...

Jia Qu remained smiling, saying little, and didn't even bother to order his cavalry to collect the weapons of Dian Wei and Cao Cao's troops. Seeing that Cao Cao and his men had laid down their weapons, he stepped aside again and gestured: "The General is waiting at the western training ground. Lord Cao, please follow me."

Guided by Jia Qu and accompanied by a troop of elite cavalry, the group slowly passed through the open gate and entered the cavalry camp.

Upon entering the camp, Cao Cao was still quite surprised by what he saw, even though he had prepared himself.

What was unexpected was not the anticipated "baptism of fire," but rather that what the cavalry camp displayed was quite different from what he had imagined...

Indeed, Cao Cao believed that Fei Qian's order for him to dismount, change horses and armor, and remove his weapons was a way to give him a "show of force." However, when Cao Cao entered the camp, he found that there weren't many cavalry soldiers waiting for him...

Strictly speaking, very few people actually 'care' about him!

There was no orderly array of swords, nor were there any deliberately arranged powerful soldiers.

Only the roads within the camp were straight and level. They were compacted with gravel and rammed earth, so even with many people walking on them, they remained firm, flat, and free of mud.

The tents were arranged like a chessboard, with almost identical sizes and spacing, and the tent doors all facing the same direction.

Between each large tent compartment, drainage ditches were dug and covered with stone slabs or wooden planks.

At every strategic location, watchtowers stood guard, and sentries stood with halberds, patrolling back and forth.

Most of the soldiers seemed to have finished their morning exercises, were eating, or were resting, but there was no noise or commotion in the camp, and no one was wandering around.

The cavalrymen were either quietly eating by the fire in front of their tents, polishing and maintaining their weapons, or sitting together listening to a lecture. Everything was orderly, subtly revealing a restrained discipline and efficiency.

Even when someone occasionally looked up at Cao Cao and his entourage, no one showed any curiosity or resentment...

Was it because the carriages and horses were changed?
Cao Cao was not entirely sure.

However, Cao Cao was certain of one thing: the armor and weapons used by most of the soldiers in the Flying Cavalry camp were better and stronger than those of Cao Cao's army...

Next to some tents were piles of disassembled crossbow parts, the curve of the crossbow arm and the structure of the winch appearing more intricate.

In other open spaces, there are complex cloud ladder models, which appear to have folding and rapid unfolding mechanisms.

There were also some oddly shaped digging tools, resembling both shovels and picks, clearly used for civil engineering work...

These things were all in the camp, seemingly intentionally scattered in a staggered manner.

This distribution wasn't meant to be displayed to Cao Cao, but rather to allow these cavalry soldiers to have daily contact with, use, and study it...

As Cao Cao continued on his journey, something even more unexpected happened.

Instead of leading them to the central command tent, Jia Qu went straight through the entire Flying Cavalry camp and headed west!
Cao Cao was surprised, but in order to maintain a calm demeanor, he dared not ask...

After passing through the cavalry camp, the view suddenly opened up.

After walking for a while, the scene before them made Cao Cao, who was used to grand occasions, along with his vigilant Dian Wei and Cao's elite guards, all gasp in surprise.

Before you is a huge and realistic battlefield model!
This is Sishui Pass!
On the loess soil, the Sishui Pass, a gate built of earth and wood, stands majestically!
It is fully equipped with defensive facilities such as battlements, parapets, watchtowers, ramparts, and corner towers!
Before the wall was built, the large open space was transformed into a complex and varied terrain. There were earthen slopes simulating natural undulations; there were also trenches dug and filled with water; and there were also obstacles deliberately scattered to simulate deer antlers, chevaux-de-frise, and pits...

Cao Cao squinted, quickly scanned the area, then gritted his teeth, instantly feeling unwell.

Apart from the different location, this "Sishui Pass" in front of us seems to be no different from the real Sishui Pass!
Jia Qu glanced at Cao Cao, then led him around the "Sishui Pass" and headed to the high platform to the side and rear.

Halfway there, before they even reached the high platform, war drums suddenly boomed, startling Cao Cao and his men. They quickly turned around and saw a siege exercise taking place at Sishui Pass!
Cao Cao reined in his horse and turned to look intently...

Upon seeing this, Jia Qu smiled slightly and did not urge him on.

The exercise seemed unaffected by Cao Cao's arrival, proceeding according to the established plan, appearing incredibly realistic and awe-inspiring.

The more Cao Cao looked, the faster his heart beat.

The way the Flying Cavalry organized their attacks completely overturned Cao Cao's previous understanding of siege warfare...

"I see……"

Cao Cao was somewhat skeptical of Cao Hong's account of how Gong County had been captured by the Flying Cavalry.

But now Cao Cao saw with his own eyes that the Flying Cavalry did not rush in all over the mountains and fields, nor did it have the situation of one core attacking while seven others watched, as was the case under the old system. Instead, the attacking force was clearly divided into several functional and closely connected echelons...

At the forefront should be scouts and craftsmen...

Cao Cao stared intently, as if trying to see and remember everything.

These soldiers wore light armor that allowed for easy movement, and carried a round shield in one hand and a short axe or a specially made shovel in the other.

They moved as swiftly as cats, advancing with skillful tactical maneuvers under the cover of archers behind them. They quickly cleared away the simulated deer antlers and chevaux-de-frise, used long poles to locate the pits, and then their comrades following behind immediately filled them in with sandbags and planks, or set up makeshift passages.

"This is... paving the way for an attack..."

Cao Cao gritted his teeth as he watched the soldiers' clean and efficient movements.

Could Cao Cao's soldiers have done that?
It's not impossible, but to achieve the same level of perfect coordination, like waves crashing together...

Then, the archers, carrying crossbows and ballistae, pushed forward along the passage and took their positions.

Dozens of crossbow carts, clearly characteristic of the Flying Cavalry, were pushed by the soldiers into effective firing range.

Then Cao Cao witnessed a scene that made his toothache even worse...

The officers commanding these ballistae, holding small red and yellow flags, were not firing indiscriminately and mindlessly, but were conducting targeted, segmented, and comprehensive coverage fire in accordance with orders from the central command!
The first volley was clearly aimed at suppressing the densely packed flags at Sishui Pass...

This is the soldiers' assembly point...

The second round covered the middle section of the city wall...

"These are the positions of the archers on the city wall..."

The third round involved coordinating with crossbowmen to fire sweeping fire from both sides of the advancing infantry.

The crossbowmen, under the cover of large shields, worked in groups of three: one held the shield, one aimed and fired, and one loaded the gun. With precise bursts, they cleared away the occasional grass targets that popped up among the simulated defenders...

Cao Cao felt his head buzzing, and he seemed to see Cao soldiers falling continuously from the battlements of Sishui Pass, as well as Cao military officers...

Under the cover of long-range firepower, the actual assault force began to advance steadily...

Old Cao was dumbfounded...

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, I wish all my readers good fortune and continuous blessings! May your happiness be as high as the mountains, your bliss as long as the river, your good things come one after another, and your mood as bright as the warm sunshine of spring!