Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3930 A nation cannot stand without faith; a nation collapses without faith.
Inside Sishui Pass, people were filled with anxiety.

Although Sishui Pass is still Sishui Pass, the hearts of the people in the pass are worlds apart from those during Dong Zhuo's time.

When Dong Zhuo entered the capital, most of the people in Shandong and the Central Plains continued to sing and dance as usual. Even after Dong Zhuo defeated Wang Kuang and massacred people in Yangcheng, he still failed to frighten the people of Shandong and the Central Plains. Instead, he made them more united to fight against him.

But now...

Why were the jujube trees able to form an alliance before, but now the people of Sishui no longer have any support?

This problem seems simple, yet it also seems quite complex.

Before Cao Cao could fully understand this problem, Shandong, the Central Plains, dealt him another heavy blow!

It suddenly slammed onto Cao Cao's desk and hit him squarely on the head!
Urgent report from Xu County!

Cao Cao stared at the urgent report, remaining silent for a long time.

He dismissed his attendants, leaving only Cao Ren and Dian Wei.

Only the heavy, uneven breathing of the three men remained inside the camp.

After a long silence, Cao Cao opened the seal, took out the silk, took a deep breath, and slowly unfolded it.

Every word and phrase pierced the eye like a knife or dagger.

"Guan led three thousand elite cavalry from the south of Yingchuan, capturing several counties in Yingchuan and patrolling the outskirts of Xu County day and night, constantly conducting scouting and reconnaissance, cutting off our external communications and disturbing the peace of our people. Although I have tried my best to gather local militia and clan soldiers from all over Yingchuan, and many responded at first, their weapons were incomplete, their commands were inconsistent, they fought over ownership, and supplies were scarce."

Seeing an opening, Guan made a feigned move to approach the city, causing discord among the Yingchuan reinforcements, which then descended into chaos and disarray. The enemy seized the opportunity to launch a counterattack, advancing directly to the walls of Xu County. The city walls trembled, nearly collapsing.

"Fortunately, General Zilian received the news and rushed here from Chenliu with his troops, joining forces to repel Guan's forces, thus temporarily securing peace in Xu County. However, General Zilian then withdrew most of the soldiers and stored provisions from Xu County, heading north in a flash. Now, the defenses of Xu County are weak, the garrison is exhausted, the weapons are damaged, and the provisions will only last for ten days. Although I have tried my best to stabilize the situation, even the most skillful cook cannot cook without rice, and even the best craftsman cannot carve without materials. The situation is extremely critical. I humbly beg Your Majesty to investigate carefully and make a swift decision!"

After reading the report, Cao Cao remained silent for a long time before handing it to Cao Ren.

Cao Ren took the document, read it, and frowned. "My lord… is Guan Yu… truly so valiant?"

Since there was no instance of Guan Yu warming wine to slay Hua Xiong or taking the head of an army of ten thousand, Guan Yu's reputation was naturally not very well-known.

Cao Cao remained silent, dragged another military report from the other side of the table, and tossed it to Cao Ren.

Cao Ren opened the box, his gaze immediately fixed on it, then his voice became hoarse, "This...below Xu County, this...only eight hundred cavalry?!"

"Indeed! Eight hundred cavalry!" Cao Cao couldn't help but grit his teeth and hiss in a low voice, "Xun Wenruo is stationed in Xuchang! Yingchuan is his hometown and ancestral home, with disciples and former officials all over the place, and local gentry and powerful families flocking to his aid! Yet... he was forced into such a sorry state by Guan Yu's mere eight hundred cavalry? Moreover, with his abilities, he couldn't even control the local braves of Yingchuan, letting them fight amongst themselves and scatter?! Heh... if it weren't for Zilian's report, I would have thought that three thousand elite cavalry had truly arrived!"

Although three thousand is not a lot, it is not even in the same league as eight hundred.

Actually, Xun Yu's report of three thousand men wasn't wrong, since Guan Yu had three thousand men when he marched north to attack Yingchuan.

The reason why the number of cavalrymen under the walls of Xu County was not mentioned in detail...

In the past, Cao Cao wouldn't have thought much of it, but now, with Xun Yu and Cao Ren disagreeing and Cao Hong reporting discrepancies in the figures, Cao Cao's suspicions, like venomous snakes, silently surfaced and began to gnaw at his mind.

Who was Xun Yu?

Praised as a man of exceptional talent, Cao Cao was well aware of his prestige, ability, and skill in managing domestic affairs, coordinating affairs from all sides, and balancing various forces.

Yingchuan is the very foundation of the Xun family!
When Xun Yu raised his voice from a high place, the number of people who responded was far greater than that of an ordinary mob!
Okay, even if those hastily recruited volunteers were of varying quality and lacked training, they shouldn't have so easily turned on each other under the threat of Guan Yu's mere eight hundred cavalry. Collapse!
Eight hundred cavalrymen want to attack the city?

Do you really think everyone is like Fei Qian, with cannons accompanying them?

The speed of Yingchuan's defeat was simply illogical!
unless……

Unless Xun Yu himself never truly made up his mind to defend Xu County to the death from the very beginning?

Or perhaps he intentionally or unintentionally condoned the internal conflicts and chaos, or even...

Did someone secretly orchestrate this situation?

This thought, like the venom of a viper, entered his bloodstream and spread wildly, entangled and eroded Cao Cao's reason.

Cao Cao couldn't help but recall how Xun Yu had insisted on returning to Xu County to protect the land and its people, leaving Cao Cao behind!

Now that the situation in Xu County has deteriorated to this point, it is almost as if Guan Yu's army has come to the city gates, and it is almost impossible to defend it.
Xun Yu himself was merely exhausted.

Who isn't exhausted these days?
Was Sishui Pass easy to capture?
All of this, when put together, made Cao Cao begin to have doubts...

Could it be that Xun Wenruo, the former chief strategist whom he regarded as his right-hand man, has already made his choice in secret?

Or is the Xun family placing bets again?
Perhaps this urgent report was fabricated specifically to evade responsibility?
After all, the Xun family was the most prominent aristocratic family in Yingchuan, and they also needed to consider the future of the family.

"Wenruo... even you... are you going to abandon me too?"

Cao Cao silently recited to himself, and a chilling loneliness, even more bone-chilling than when facing Fei Qian's iron torrent beyond the pass, slowly crept into his heart.

And this suspicion will spread!

Currently, in Sishui Pass, there are local militia and gentry recruited from various places, more than half of whom are from Yuzhou, and among these people from Yuzhou, Yingchuan is the most numerous!

Xun Yu's "unreliability" in Xu County at this moment made Cao Cao suspect whether these people were "reliable" or had ulterior "motives".
After all, the sons, private soldiers, and retainers of these powerful clans and gentry in Yingchuan were essentially of the same origin and bloodline as the "righteous soldiers" who had scattered in Xu County...

If the leader in Xu County is unreliable, how can Cao Cao fully trust these people inside the pass?
"Yingchuanzi... is not trustworthy now..." Cao Cao whispered to Cao Ren, "Immediately send more men to closely monitor all the camps of Yingchuan natives! If there are any signs of unusual activity..."

Cao Cao's words startled Cao Ren!
What does this mean?
But in the next moment, Cao Ren understood and, without the slightest hesitation, immediately went to make the arrangements.

But this creates another problem...

The people monitoring the youths of Yingchuan were not seasoned veterans.

Humans have a sixth sense, or what we might call an instinct for dealing with danger from our ancient genes. Meanwhile, the truly experienced, loyal, and seasoned military officers in Sishui Pass had already been almost entirely wiped out in the continuous battles, leaving very few. The people who could be transferred to monitor the Yingchuan youths were naturally loyal enough, but not very experienced in military affairs, and were relatives and sons of the Cao and Xiahou clans.

On the other hand, after experiencing the hardships of a long journey and witnessing the increasingly grim and oppressive atmosphere after entering Sishui Pass, coupled with their close understanding of the situation of the Flying Cavalry and their firsthand observation of the tragic state of some wounded soldiers within Sishui Pass, the initial impulsive enthusiasm and arrogance that had arisen in the hearts of these Yingchuan militiamen gradually cooled down.

After the initial impulse, a sense of bewilderment and emptiness washed over him, and the fear of death gradually took over. As a result, his mind began to wander, and he started thinking about how to get away from danger and return to the countryside.

Such behavior naturally attracted the attention of those monitoring the situation and led to rigorous scrutiny.

The members of the Cao and Xiahou clans had serious faces and cold attitudes, questioning people repeatedly, much like a banker in later times questioning people about where their money came from and where it was going to be used...

In fact, these members of the Cao and Xiahou clans were also under tremendous pressure. After all, they were deeply tied to the Cao Group. With the economy declining, performance falling, and income plummeting, they also had to face the heavy pressure from the Flying Cavalry. How could anyone be in a good mood or have the spirit of not fighting back or arguing back?

Therefore, most of these Cao and Xiahou clan members were thinking to themselves, "We can't do anything about our fat boss or the incompetent bank manager, and we can't control the corrupt officials. But surely we can handle you small fry?"
Soon, a small-scale argument broke out.

Soon, the Yingchuan youths discovered that the Cao family soldiers and military academy officers who came to maintain order did not care about their origins at all. They simply held them down and cursed them, grabbed them and beat them, and sent them to the suicide squad at the drop of a hat... Small quarrels quickly turned into big conflicts.

"See those people? Something's off about them! They're definitely here to spy on us!"

"We knew it! They lured us into this deadly place, and they're still not at ease, treating us like thieves!"

"What kind of bullshit loyalist army is this! They're clearly just trying to trick us into being their human shields!"

"I regret not listening to so-and-so's advice; I should have given up halfway! Now I'm trapped in this cage, crying out to heaven in vain!"

"We can't just wait to die! We have to find a way to get justice!"

Dissatisfaction, fear, and anger are like dried firewood, easily ignited and spreading rapidly.

Some young noblemen, who considered themselves to be from prestigious families and well-educated, and who were used to being arrogant and domineering in their hometowns, felt that they had been deeply humiliated. They had paid taxes for the Han Dynasty and considered themselves the pillars of the Han Dynasty. If it weren't for the taxes they paid, where would the food and pay of these soldiers and officers of Cao Cao's army come from?

And now these soldiers and officers of Cao Cao's army dare to be so rude to them?!

They secretly gathered in a secluded corner of the camp, indignantly discussing countermeasures.

Some people recalled the time of Emperors Huan and Ling, when imperial students gathered at the palace gates to discuss politics and even besiege the residences of eunuchs. They felt that perhaps they could emulate the ancients and exert pressure through "public discussion" and "petitions" to demonstrate their strength.

"We are all sons of good families in Yingchuan, with a tradition of scholarship and propriety. Hearing of the Emperor's plight and Cao Cao's summons to punish the rebels, we risked our families' wealth to relieve the turmoil and answered the call to come. Our hearts are sincere, as clear as day! Now we are met with such suspicion and surveillance, treated like prisoners and enemies—this is outrageous! This is not the way to treat scholars, and it chills the hearts of all those who are loyal and righteous!"

"Excellent! We must plead our case before the Emperor in person! We demand justice!"

"Yes! Let's gather together, emulate the upright officials of old, and march in protest! We must let Cao Cao know that the scholars of Yingchuan cannot be easily humiliated!"

"We not only demand an explanation! We also demand improved food and accommodation!"

"Furthermore, we must be informed of the current state of the war! We must not be used as suicide soldiers! We are all educated individuals; how can we endure such filth!"

These demands, imbued with scholarly idealism, carried a degree of naive calculation and a superstitious belief in the power of their own "public opinion."

They decided to gather early the next morning, taking advantage of the change of guards, and march along the main streets inside the pass to the emperor's temporary residence to hold a demonstration. In the name of "loyal and righteous people suffering an injustice," they wanted to put pressure on the emperor, whom they believed might be more reasonable and sympathetic to the scholars, and seek a turning point.

Their clandestine meetings and unusual gatherings, though attempted to be concealed, were inevitably too noisy due to their lack of experience, and thus could not be completely covered up...

The news was quickly reported up the chain of command and eventually reached Cao Cao.

At this moment, Cao Cao was in a state of utter chaos and sensitivity, seeing everyone as a potential traitor. Upon hearing the news, he didn't get angry but instead laughed, 'Just as I thought! Good, good, good! They couldn't hold back any longer and were about to jump out!'

Cao Cao's eyes flashed with murderous intent. He immediately summoned Cao Ren, Dian Wei, and the Xiahou brothers, and secretly deployed archers and heavy infantry to key intersections leading to the emperor's residence and high points of buildings on both sides.

Arrows are nocked, swords and spears are drawn, awaiting only the command.

……

……

The next morning, the sky was overcast, with leaden clouds hanging low, creating an oppressive atmosphere that made it hard to breathe.

After being secretly instigated, hundreds of Yingchuan militiamen, centered around prominent members of their families, along with a large number of ordinary able-bodied men who shared the same fear and discontent, stormed out of the camp in a chaotic manner.

They unfurled several banners written on hastily torn white cloths or old flags, the ink crooked yet glaring...

"Loyal and righteous people wronged," "Begging to live and return home," "Seeking an audience with the emperor"...

The crowd began to slowly and noisily swarm forward along the relatively wide main street inside the pass, converging on the direction of the emperor's residence.

At first, they were somewhat timid and their ranks were disorganized. However, when they saw that the Cao army guarding the route did not immediately rush forward to stop them, but instead stood guard at a distance with their weapons, watching coldly, this gave them a false impression...

Perhaps Cao Cao's army also had some reservations?

Perhaps their "public criticism" really did have a deterrent effect?

As a result, some people gradually grew bolder and began to shout slogans, venting their dissatisfaction with Cao Cao's "unfair rewards and punishments and suspicion of loyal officials"...

The crowd grew increasingly noisy and their emotions became more and more excited.

Cao Jun's reaction still seemed slow, but as the crowd moved, the outer perimeter of the cordon also moved in sync, always maintaining a certain distance, like a silent shadow, slowly following.

This tacit approval further fueled the arrogance of the marchers, who became increasingly haughty, waving their arms, spitting, shouting, pushing and shoving, completely blocking the not-so-grand gate of the emperor's temporary residence.

Several sons of powerful and wealthy families, confident in their eloquence and family background, stood at the front of the crowd, shouting slogans while adjusting their attire, preparing to pay homage to the emperor and petition his court...

Just then...

'Thump—thump thump thump—'

Suddenly, war drums sounded, and Cao's soldiers emerged from behind the doors and windows of the houses on both sides of the seemingly calm and deserted streets and alleys!

The archers occupied various high points, their cold arrowheads reflecting a chilling light in the pale sunlight.

At the same time, Cao Cao appeared on a high platform, his cold gaze sweeping over the aristocratic youths...

As the war drums ceased, Cao Cao's soldiers shouted three times, pushed their shields forward three steps, and then slammed them to the ground, revealing a forest of swords and spears, their cold light gleaming.

The aristocratic youths, squeezed by Cao's soldiers, huddled together in panic, some even losing their footing and falling to the ground.

Cao Cao swept his gaze across the young, pale faces, paused for a moment, and then raised his voice, "What is your purpose in gathering here, making a ruckus, and storming the Emperor's forbidden area?"

The gentry of Yingchuan fell into a brief silence. After a moment, a man in his thirties, dressed in a brocade robe and standing at the front of the crowd, mustered his last bit of courage, or perhaps a pitiful sense of scholarly dignity, and bowed deeply to Cao Cao. Then, raising his head, he cried out in a slightly trembling but forceful voice: "Lord Cao, please understand! We, the people of Yingchuan, grateful for the Emperor's grace, answered the imperial edict to serve the King with unwavering loyalty, as Heaven and Earth can attest! However, since entering Guanzhong, not only have we not been properly settled, but we have also been subjected to unwarranted surveillance, as if guarding against bandits. This is not the way to treat scholars, and it chills the hearts of righteous men throughout the land! Today, we gather at the risk of our lives, not to rebel, but because we have no other choice. We only wish to present our grievances to His Majesty and Lord Cao, and beg for justice! We hope that Lord Cao will understand our plight, distinguish between the loyal and the treacherous, and not let us, the loyal and righteous men, suffer heartbreak within our own walls before our blood is shed on the battlefield!"

"Fairness?" On the high platform, Cao Cao's lips curled into a disdainful sneer, then he roared, "With a formidable enemy at our doorstep, the flames of war raging, and life and death hanging in the balance! Instead of uniting to resist this foreign aggression, you gather here to cause trouble, threaten your commander, disrupt morale, and undermine the very foundation of our army! Is this what you call distinguishing loyalty from treachery? Is this the conduct of you righteous men of Yingchuan?!"

Cao Cao really didn't have much patience to argue with these people anymore, and seemed tired of this meaningless conversation, so he simply waved his arm and gave the order.

Below the platform, Cao Ren, who had been standing at attention with his hand on his sword, saw Cao Cao's gesture and his eyes flashed with a fierce light. He shouted loudly: "By order of the Prime Minister! Gathering a crowd to cause trouble and storming the headquarters is tantamount to treason, a crime deserving no mercy! The ringleaders will be executed on the spot! The rest will immediately disarm and kneel to be bound! Anyone who dares to resist will be killed without exception!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill!"

Following Cao Ren's command, Cao's army advanced three steps, brandishing their swords and spears.

At this point, Cao Ren still held back a bit, not directly ordering the execution, but instead stating that only those who dared to resist would be killed without exception...

The problem is that some of these Yingchuan youths haven't realized the seriousness of the issue; they think they outnumber the others!

The law doesn't punish everyone!
Some were cowardly, some retreated, but others hid behind the crowd, thinking that even if someone died or was injured, it would be others in the front row. So they pushed and shoved from behind, throwing stones at Cao Cao's soldiers...