Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3928 A nation in peril has entered a state of chaos.
Cao Cao returned, staggering.

I didn't take a car.

Instead, he rode a warhorse of the Flying Cavalry, without even changing his armor and clothing.

On the one hand, the shock was too great, leaving them physically and mentally exhausted; on the other hand, most of them were also thinking about getting a few more warhorses...

But when Cao Cao returned to Sishui Pass, he was not greeted by cheers of relief or by resolute soldiers fighting with their backs to the river. Instead, he saw a fortress with cracks and on the verge of collapse, filled with an atmosphere of chaos.

People are restless, morale is low, and there is panic and agitation.

The fire at the temporary palace was extinguished, but the fire in the hearts of people inside Sishui Pass continued to burn.

Sishui Pass, a place that has gathered too many people, has also absorbed too much of the hormones emitted by humans.

Fearful, sad, angry...

Although the sudden riot and fire at the East Gate was swiftly suppressed by Cao Ren, who led his troops to the scene after hearing the news, the negative impact and psychological shock caused by the riot were not as easily extinguished as the open fire on the palace walls.

Cao Ren rushed to see Cao Cao and immediately reported the situation that had occurred inside the pass.

Cao Ren felt deeply ashamed, realizing that Cao Cao had just entrusted him with the defenses, and yet this had happened at the East Gate...

Cao Cao patted Cao Ren on the shoulder without uttering a word of reproach.

As Cao Ren followed behind Cao Cao, he recounted the events to Cao Cao...

The chaos erupted hastily, with looters and instigators mixed with genuine panicked escapees. Although dozens were killed on the spot to temporarily stabilize the situation, no fewer than a hundred people had already managed to escape beyond the pass amidst the chaos...

Most of these fugitives were sons of various aristocratic families who had responded to the call to serve the emperor or were forced to come, along with their servants and retainers...

Although these troops were of questionable combat capability and lax discipline, their numbers were still considerable, and their very existence was a symbolic component of the morale and public sentiment within the Great Wall...

These people came with a lot of illusions, thinking that the air and water of Sishui Pass were sweet and delicious. But they never expected that when they actually arrived, they would find that the death knell was right at their necks...

Therefore, the escape of these people was not only a loss of manpower in some ways, but more importantly, it cracked the frozen river, allowing the darkness and fear beneath to seep out...

As these people flee, the fragility and impending collapse of Sishui Pass, this so-called last stronghold, will gradually be exposed to the people of Shandong and Zhongyuan...

Cao Cao listened in silence.

The torches around him flickered and trembled in the cold wind, and the wrinkles on Cao Cao's face looked even more ashen under the light and shadow.

Cao Cao did not erupt in fury, nor did he show much surprise or reproach. He simply sighed deeply, forced an awkward smile, and said, "Just as I expected..."

Yes, chaos, flight, and the collapse of morale—

All of this was within Cao Cao's expectations.

But when I actually saw this cold reality, I still felt terrible.

This group of aristocratic youths who usually pontificate and criticize others, claiming to know everything and be clever at everything, yet whose strategies are all superficial, are exactly what I'm talking about.

How could Cao Cao possibly have too many expectations?
But when Cao Cao actually went to inspect these aristocratic youths who had been captured during the riots and failed to escape, he still couldn't control his disgust...

This group of people...

These people were being held in the drill ground.

The howling cold wind passed through without any hindrance.

Dozens of aristocratic youths, their hands bound behind their backs, huddled together in fear. Their brocade robes and jade belts were covered in mud, and many of them had abrasions or bruises on their faces. Their eyes were filled with lingering fear.

Perhaps there's also some frustration at being captured?

Do you think that if you do this or that, you won't be able to catch it?
Most of these people came from prominent families in counties and prefectures in Henan and Yanzhou. They were neither high nor low in their families, were well-educated and reasonable, and had no worries about food and clothing. But it was precisely because of this that they wanted to "progress".

Within these families, there were even lower-ranking members, some struggling to even afford food and clothing, yet these lower-ranking individuals rarely came. It wasn't that these lower-ranking people didn't yearn for upward mobility, but rather that in their local communities, the sons of lower-ranking aristocratic families were often engaged in specific tasks, unlike these middle-class individuals who had ample free time.

These people essentially belong to the "small but stable" class of the Han Dynasty. They yearn for upward mobility but are extremely afraid of losing it, making them the middle class whose stance is most easily swayed. When things are going well, they may cheer and bolster morale; but when things go against them and morale wavers, they are often the first to collapse and seek self-preservation.

Just like now.

Cao Cao's gaze slowly swept over these people.

There was no interrogation, no questioning, not even a stern reprimand. Cao Cao simply glanced at them, then turned and left, leaving behind the words: "Those who led the commotion, behead them at the gate! The rest... drive them all to the front camp, form a separate squad, and serve as suicide soldiers."

Cao Cao originally sent these people here to have them die...

Now that these people have walked right into our trap, we might as well go with the flow.

Several aristocratic youths who were clearly accused of inciting others to flee were immediately dragged roughly from the crowd by soldiers.

Cries for mercy, screams, and explanations suddenly filled the air, sounding particularly mournful in the cold wind.

However, all the struggles were in vain.

After a flash of light and a few short screams, silence returned, leaving only a large pool of dark red on the ground.

The headless corpses were thrown outside the city, and their heads were hung at the crossroads.

A strong smell of blood spread.

Those who remained, witnessing this scene, turned ashen-faced and trembled violently.

Some people even collapsed to the ground, losing control of their bladders and soiling their robes.

These people were then ruthlessly kicked, driven, and escorted by the soldiers to the front-line camp, where they were destined to become cannon fodder.

Many people tried to establish kinship ties and connections during their transport, claiming to be so-and-so, and then mentioning marriage alliances with so-and-so, or that they were someone's descendant...

It's like being caught drunk driving by the police.

Cao Cao had neither the interest nor the time to carefully examine whether there were any innocent people who had been coerced or wronged.

In the face of the impending final battle, the fate of individuals and the rights and wrongs of the matter have become insignificant.

Upon his return, Cao Cao used the most direct and bloody methods to intimidate all the remaining disloyal and hesitant people within the pass, while simultaneously sending them to the meat grinder to extract the last bit of usable value.

After dealing with this upsetting and unpleasant matter, Cao Cao returned to his temporary camp and, under Cao Ren's worried gaze, slowly sat down behind his desk.

Cao Cao took the bowl of still-warm hot soup that Cao Ren silently handed him, held it to his lips, and slowly drank a few mouthfuls.

The warm liquid flowed down my dry throat, slightly dispelling the bone-chilling cold that seemed to come from nowhere, and the mental exhaustion that had been filling my body.

"My lord..."

Cao Ren, who was standing to the side, finally couldn't help but call out softly.

"In this cavalry camp..."

Cao Ren was naturally overjoyed to see Cao Cao return, but he was also eager to know the details of Cao Cao's solo incursion into the General of the Cavalry's camp...

Cao Ren wanted to know what Cao Cao and Fei Qian had discussed, and even more so, he wanted to know the next moves and intentions of the Flying Cavalry, as this concerned the survival of the next pass and the lives of everyone involved. Cao Cao remained silent, his hands still holding the rough earthenware bowl, the rising steam from the hot water blurring his lowered eyelids. He seemed lost in his own thoughts, or perhaps gathering the strength to speak.

Time passed slowly, and only the occasional crackling of charcoal fires and the howling wind outside the window remained inside the camp.

After a long while, so long that Cao Ren was almost unable to sit still, Cao Cao sighed and gestured for Cao Ren to bring the map from the side.

Above the map is a defense diagram of Sishui Pass.

The layout of the fortified walls, the watchtowers and watchtowers, the horse-faced watchtowers, the inner and outer moats, the traps and secret passages, and even the deployment of the garrison troops in each section, the location of the crossbows and boulders, the grain and armory, and the residences of the generals are all clearly listed.

This is the culmination of many days of hard work by Cao Cao and Cao Ren, and it is also a direct reflection of the current Cao army's defense system.

The map was laid out.

Cao Cao lowered his head, looking at the armor of the Flying Cavalry he was still wearing. He remained silent for a moment before reaching out, picking up a brush from the table, dipping it in cinnabar, holding it above the map, pausing for a moment, and then lowering it.

The vermilion ink began to outline the thick black lines representing the pass and the complex terrain markings in front of the pass.

The first stroke, a striking red line, extends from a simulated cavalry starting position somewhere outside the pass. It doesn't rush straight towards the majestic pass wall, but rather meanders like a venomous snake seeking a crevice, pointing towards the southeast corner of the pass wall.

Due to slight flaws in the foundation treatment during its early construction, coupled with subsidence over time, the walls of Sishui Pass have a very slight inward tilt. While this doesn't affect the overall stability, it creates a tiny blind spot for long-range fire coverage. When the defending troops fire from the watchtowers on both sides, the angle is slightly off, reducing the power and density of their attacks…

Cao Cao's first stroke precisely targeted this seemingly "insignificant" flaw!
With a second stroke of his pen, Cao Cao drew two vermilion arrows, pointing to the western section of the wall.

There are two guard towers here for crossfire support, and due to the terrain, they are about twenty paces apart from each other, which is slightly more than the standard distance.

Cao Cao paused slightly here, then sketched the outline of the Flying Cavalry's "centipede ladder" on the city wall, precisely at this weak point where the support connection was slightly delayed...

With his third stroke, Cao Cao used a striking vermilion circle to cover a section of the wall.

The rock strata here are relatively thin, and the soil is relatively loose and sandy.

Cao Cao's brushstrokes made a mark here, then extended downwards towards the Sishui Pass wall, symbolizing possible 'tunnel excavation' or 'underground blasting'...

Cao Ren gasped.

However, it didn't end there. Cao Cao turned his brush back, pressed the tip into the cinnabar, and then picked up the brush again to write.

Diagonal patterns representing arrows cover several key defensive nodes of the gate wall...

The arrows, representing a dual attack of real and feint, intertwine to create an offensive structure that makes it difficult to distinguish between the two...

The reserve team's position was painted bright red...

With his exceptional memory, years of military experience, and deep understanding of the defense system of Sishui Pass, Cao Cao transformed the tactical training he had briefly observed in the Flying Cavalry camp into the current map!

As the markings became more numerous and detailed, Cao Ren's expression gradually changed, and even a fine layer of cold sweat seeped from his forehead!
Cao Ren was horrified to discover that the attack routes, key strike areas, and tactical connections outlined by Cao Cao in his writings mostly corresponded precisely to the real weaknesses in the Sishui Pass defense system!
These are all the difficulties in defending Sishui Pass!

In some places, even after Cao Ren himself had inspected them repeatedly these past few days, there were hidden dangers that could not be perfectly remedied due to a severe shortage of troops and equipment!

"This...my lord, what are these...?!"

Cao Ren's voice was dry and strained, and his fingertips trembled slightly as he pointed at the map.

"This is a rough outline drawn up by someone who observed their siege tactics practiced at that camp, deduced their strategies based on their tactics, and combined them with the actual situation of our defenses."

Cao Cao's voice was weary. "Zixiao... I've probably meticulously recorded every undulation and elevation of the walls, the brick and stone, and the regular intervals between the garrison's rotations... The various ingenious weapons they use and the coordinated combat tactics they practice are all tailor-made and repeatedly refined..."

The more Cao Ren listened, the more his heart sank, and a chill ran from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

What kind of tactic is this?
How is that even possible?
But since it came from Cao Cao's mouth, Cao Ren couldn't help but believe it.

This feeling is like the other person knowing exactly what color your underwear is, what size your balls are...

The other side even built a model based on this data and practiced with it day and night...

Cao Ren shuddered and immediately said urgently, "My lord! Now that we have discerned their intentions and know their key points, we must immediately begin adjusting our defenses! Strengthen these weak points! Send more elite troops to garrison them, add hidden fortifications and barricades, and prepare more rolling logs, stones, oil, and boiling water..."

As Cao Ren spoke, he hurriedly grabbed a brush and leaned over the desk, attempting to add his own defense adjustments next to Cao Cao's vermilion mark.

At first, Cao Ren could wield his brush swiftly, but after a few strokes, his movements became slower and slower, and his brows furrowed more and more deeply...

Finally, the pen stopped, unable to write again for a long time.

Cao Ren found himself in a near-unsolvable predicament...

The total troop strength is limited, and the core elite combat troops are even more limited!
If heavy troops and precious resources are concentrated on reinforcing that blind spot in the southeast corner, then the already strained defense zone on the west side may become even more vulnerable...

To build temporary fortifications and set up ambushes between the two watchtowers, it would not only require drawing upon already exhausted soldiers, but also time and materials such as wood and stone...

Trying to be comprehensive and reinforce all the marked potential weaknesses would only further weaken an already thin defense; a defense without a focus is equivalent to having none of the key points defended...

Cao Ren's so-called adjustments are like patching an old robe that is already riddled with holes and made of fragile fabric. He manages to sew a patch here, but the uneven pressure on the side may tear an even bigger hole. He is struggling to keep up with everything, and the more he tries to patch it, the more dilapidated it looks!

Cao Cao watched silently, observing Cao Ren's trembling hands and the sweat dripping from them.

The General of the Cavalry was not afraid that Fei Qian knew the methods of attack, because what Fei Qian demonstrated was not a single, rigid routine, but a systematic attack that combined multiple troop types, applied continuous pressure in stages, and combined feints and real attacks!
Under this offensive mode, the test is not the defense of a single point or a single watchtower, but the entire defensive system of Cao Cao's army at Sishui Pass!

It tests the defenders' all-round resilience and coordinated response, from command and communication to inter-service coordination, from material allocation to the psychological resilience of soldiers!

Cao Cao's army, on the other hand, was currently lacking a sufficient number of well-trained, middle and lower-ranking military officers who could accurately understand and strictly execute complex and ever-changing defensive orders!
Cao Cao's elite troops, having fought countless battles, were either killed or given away; now there are very few left!
The newly added "soldiers" simply cannot cope with the almost professional offensive tactics of the Flying Cavalry, nor can they develop a targeted countermeasure or contingency plan in a short period of time!
This is definitely not something that can be easily remedied by temporarily adjusting the number of troops, adding a few more defensive positions, or piling up some logs and stones...

Watching Cao Ren go from initial eagerness, to focused effort as he tried to adjust his approach, to anxiety and helplessness upon discovering the predicament, and finally, sweating profusely, he dejectedly put down his pen...

A bitter smile slowly appeared on Cao Cao's usually expressionless face.

How could he not know what Cao Ren was thinking and struggling with at that moment?
This was precisely the helplessness and powerlessness he felt when facing the training exercises of that sophisticated war machine in the cavalry camp.

Just as Cao Cao took a deep breath, seemingly preparing to say something to Cao Ren, a light but hurried footstep sound came from outside the door.

A pale-faced, beardless eunuch, led by a guard, trembled as he approached the gate, not daring to raise his head. His voice quivered as he reported, "Your Majesty… Your Majesty… Your Majesty has sent me here, saying there is urgent business, and requests that Your Majesty immediately come to see me."

Cao Cao's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Indeed, logically speaking, Cao Cao should have paid his respects to the emperor upon his return, but what time was it? Naturally, he should do the most important thing first…

However, since the emperor has summoned me...

Cao Cao's gaze first fell on the defense map on the table, which was now a mess of red and black ink marks and scribbles. He then slowly stood up and said to the eunuch, "Please go ahead. I'll come after I change my clothes."

The eunuch hurriedly withdrew.

As his attendants and guards helped Cao Cao change his clothes, Cao Cao whispered to Cao Ren, who was standing silently beside him, "Zixiao... General of the Cavalry... we will advance in three days..."

"What?!" Cao Ren was taken aback. "Three days?"

"It's all fabricated..." Cao Cao looked up at the dark night outside the door, then turned his head slightly to indicate the scribbled map. "If I'm not mistaken... the General of the Cavalry... and the cannons... While we were rearranging our defenses inside the pass, they were laying down artillery paths outside the city..."

Cao Ren's eyes widened immediately.

Time is really running out.