With Cao Cao by my side, what do I have to fear from the world?

Chapter 282, Xun You's Plan
While marching, Zhang He sent men to keep a close watch on Xue Ti and the others. The team was able to march smoothly not only because Xue Ti played a good role as a guide, but also because of another person, Tian Chou.

Tian Chou was invited by Liu Xie himself. He had once served as an aide to Liu Yu and later lived in seclusion in the Xu Wu Mountain area.

During the march, Tian Chou was like a living map, knowing many places along the way like the back of his hand, which saved Zhang He a lot of trouble.

In addition, Yan Rou, Tian Yu, and Sima Yi also came with the army. These were all helpers that Liu Xie had selected for Zhang He.

The plan to leak Xue Ti and the others' whereabouts in advance was devised by Sima Yi, while Wu Tu was someone Yan Rou found.

When Yan Rou was young, he was captured by the Wuhuan people and even served as their Sima. He was familiar with everything about the Wuhuan people, so finding a few familiar helpers among them was not a difficult task for him at all.

Xue Ti was ambushed and in a precarious situation. He eventually followed Zhang Liao's advice and led his men up White Wolf Mountain.

Mount Bailang is towering into the clouds, with dense forests and rugged terrain. Even though the Wuhuan people are very familiar with everything here, they dare not be careless once they enter the mountains.

The mountains and forests provided excellent cover for Cao Cao's army. Halfway there, Xue Ti still hadn't quite figured it out and couldn't help but ask Zhang Liao, "Wen Yuan, the enemy has a large number of soldiers, several times our strength. Under these circumstances, why do you insist on advising me to go up the mountain? If the enemy just surrounds Bailang Mountain and blocks all the passages in and out, wouldn't we be finished?"

Zhang Liao had a very clear understanding of the situation. He explained, "The enemy is too powerful. We can't escape. The roads are difficult to travel, and there has just been a heavy snowfall. Facing pursuers who outnumber us several times over, we have no way to break free."

"Escape will only embolden the enemy, while we do the opposite. As long as we climb to a high place and have a commanding view, even if we are trapped, we will have a certain advantage. The Wuhuan people will have to pay a heavy price to devour us. As long as reinforcements arrive in time, we will be able to hold the enemy here and thus achieve great merit!"

Everything has two sides; bad things often have a good side as well.

Xue Ti sighed, "Wen Yuan's insight is brilliant. I hope the reinforcements will arrive in time."

As for what would happen to Youzhou, Xue Ti no longer cared. Since he led his troops away from Jixian, it meant that control of Youzhou had completely returned to the emperor's hands.

If they can't handle you, they'll send you away; that's the emperor's privilege.

Xue Ti was given the order to attack the Wuhuan. Would he dare not go?

Zhang Liao was responsible for covering the rear, leading his men in a fighting retreat, blocking Tadun's pursuing troops all the way.

Tadun ordered his men to surround White Wolf Mountain and advance up the mountain in batches, but Zhang Liao repelled each attack.

Zhang Liao led his men to hold a strategic position in the mountains, taking full advantage of the high vantage point and making full use of all available resources.

If the Wuhuan people dared to attack, they would immediately suffer a crushing defeat, either with whistling arrows or boulders rolling down from above. Their advantage in defending from high ground was too obvious.

Although Li Dian usually disliked Zhang Liao and even had a personal grudge against him, in this critical moment, Li Dian temporarily put aside his personal prejudices and split up with Zhang Liao to guard against Tadun's attack.

After repelling several attacks by the Wuhuan people, Zhang Liao became increasingly composed, having discovered the Wuhuan people's greatest weakness.

Xue Ti had fallen seriously ill and was lying in a makeshift tent, his face pale and his thin body trembling. But he was still concerned about the war.

Xue Ti sent someone to fetch Zhang Liao. Upon meeting him, Zhang Liao forced himself to sit up and asked anxiously, "Wen Yuan, have the people who requested reinforcements been sent out?"

Zhang Liao nodded. "They've already been dispatched. Hua Xin is in charge of logistics and food transport. As long as our men make contact with him, His Majesty will definitely send reinforcements."

Xue Ti sighed, "I hope so. The Prime Minister originally ordered us to stay and guard Youzhou, but I never expected it to turn out like this."

Even now, Xue Ti is still somewhat unwilling; conquering the Wuhuan was not his job at all.

Now things are really messed up. All the troops that were originally left in Youzhou have been brought out by him and are now surrounded by the Wuhuan people. Xue Ti really doesn't know how to explain this to Cao Cao.

Zhang Liao didn't take it to heart. He could sense the power struggle between Cao Cao and the emperor even without being told.

Zhang Liao was very happy to receive the emperor's order this time, as he did not want others to label him as "one of Cao Cao's men".

Xue Ti was very pessimistic about the current situation and asked, "Wen Yuan, the enemy has a large force, and we don't know when reinforcements will arrive. Are you confident that you can hold out?"

Zhang Liao replied confidently, "Chief Secretary Xue is overthinking it. Although the Wuhuan people are numerous, from my observation, their military discipline is lax, they have almost no armor, and their combat strength is negligible. They are nothing more than a rabble!"

Zhang Liao was absolutely right. Tadun didn't have a proper army at all. Many of his troops were forcibly conscripted laborers who didn't undergo rigorous training and whose equipment was disorganized, just like the Yellow Turban Army back then.

Such a team can only rely on its large number of people to win battles when things are going well. Once it encounters a tough opponent, its morale will be dampened, and no matter how many people it has, it will be useless!

In fact, they didn't even need to ask for help. Zhang He's scouts kept relaying messages back and forth, and everything that happened at White Wolf Mountain was under his control.

Hua Xin told Zhang He about the request for help and asked, "General Zhang, do you think we should head over there immediately?"

Zhang He, who was always serious, thought calmly for a moment, and then said slowly and in a low voice: "Pass down the order: the wind and snow are blocking the way. The whole army should slow down and let the scouts continue to gather information!"

Hua Xin then understood that Zhang He was not in a hurry at all. This was probably also the emperor's order, since Xue Ti was Cao Cao's man.
Sima Yi volunteered, "General Zhang, I will go ahead and go to White Wolf Mountain to monitor the enemy's movements."

Zhang He nodded, and Sima Yi left quietly with only a few guards.

Hua Xin hesitated for a moment, then reminded Zhang He, "General Zhang, Xue Ti and the others are currently trapped on the mountain, unable to supply them with food and supplies. The enemy has as many as 30,000 troops. I'm afraid they won't be able to hold out for long."

Zhang He glanced at him indifferently and asked in return, "What? Is Attendant-in-Ordinary Hua sympathizing with them?"

Hua Xin hurriedly replied, "General Zhang, you misunderstand. I was just stating the facts."

Zhang He said firmly, "I am only carrying out His Majesty's orders to annihilate Tadun's forces as completely as possible!"

Zhang He was always calm and composed. He would not act on emotion and would never hesitate to do his best to complete any task assigned by the emperor.

…………

After forcing Liu Bei to leave, Cao Cao had beautiful women in his arms and indulged in nightly revelry, enjoying the best of luck.

Lady Cai only received an empty promise from Cao Cao. She repeatedly urged Cao Cao to ask when Liu Cong would be appointed as the governor of Jingzhou, but Cao Cao always made excuses to avoid it. On this day, Xun You came to see Cao Cao. There were several servants in the room at the time. Seeing that Xun You's expression was very cautious, Cao Cao understood and waved his hand, "You may all leave."

After the attendants had all left, Cao Cao leaned forward and asked, "Gongda, is there anything I can help you with?"

Xun You glanced around again before leaning closer and lowering his voice to say, "My lord, His Majesty has led his troops north, and Xue Ti has been forced to become the vanguard commander. I fear that Youzhou will soon fall into His Majesty's hands."

Cao Cao sighed helplessly, "Yes, I had already guessed this outcome. Who told him to be the emperor? The emperor's orders are hard to disobey. We can't blame Xue Ti for this."

Cao Cao was not one to dwell on trivial matters. He had already thought this through carefully, and even if it were someone else, no one would dare to disobey him.

Even though the emperor led his troops to attack the Wuhuan, if anyone dared to disobey orders, these 40,000 troops would immediately take action.

Therefore, Xue Ti had no choice but to accept the emperor's orders.

Cao Cao sighed, "I have just gained Jingzhou and am about to lose Youzhou. I have been busy for so long, but in the end, I have only benefited His Majesty."

Cao Cao trusted Xun You very much, so he didn't hide these words from him in front of him.

Xun You seized the opportunity to say, “My lord, since His Majesty took control of Xudu, His Majesty’s power has grown stronger day by day. Now he controls Yuzhou, Xuzhou and Qingzhou. If He were to take Youzhou as well, it would be very disadvantageous to you. I believe that His Majesty must not be allowed to continue to grow stronger.”

Cao Cao said, "Gongda, we are not strangers, so please speak frankly."

Cao Cao knew that Xun You had been secretly watching Xuchang and was resentful. From Xun You's tone of voice, he could probably guess what was going on.

Sure enough, Xun You glanced warily at the door again, making sure no one was approaching, before saying, "My lord, His Majesty is currently away on a military campaign in Youzhou, leaving Xuchang's forces vulnerable. This is a golden opportunity for us. I have already investigated the situation of the secret passage. If you are willing, my lord, you only need to send an elite force to take back control of Xuchang."

Cao Cao pondered for a moment, then said with some concern, "Gongda, indeed, this is an opportunity. Xuchang is currently at its weakest point in terms of defense, but His Majesty is not in Xuchang. If the news leaks out, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Even if Cao Cao controlled Xuchang, the emperor would not be under Cao Cao's control, especially since the emperor still held military power. This could easily provoke Cao Cao and lead to a fierce conflict between the two sides.

Xun You had long suspected Cao Cao's intention to retake Xuchang, so he advised, "My lord, it is precisely because His Majesty is away that we have a chance to succeed. Once His Majesty returns with his troops, Lü Bu, Zhao Yun, and the others will follow. In recent years, His Majesty has concentrated his main forces in Xuchang. As long as His Majesty is in Xuchang, we have no chance of winning. This time, while His Majesty is away, we can take him by surprise, retake Xuchang first, and then block the news, luring him into a trap!"

"How confident are you?" Cao Cao stared into Xun You's eyes and asked seriously.

Xun You replied confidently, "Your Majesty would never have imagined that you would make a move against Xuchang at this time. I believe that we will succeed."

Cao Cao's eyelids suddenly twitched with displeasure; he didn't want to be the "mastermind" behind this.

I must not take the lead in seizing Xudu.

This plan is extremely risky. Even if we can control Xuchang, it doesn't mean we can control the emperor. If the plan fails, we could turn against the emperor at any time. In recent years, the emperor has grown rapidly and his power has even surpassed that of Cao Cao.

Therefore, Cao Cao had to take all possible outcomes into account.

What if we fail? What if the ruler and his ministers turn against each other?
The thought of how he had just ruined Liu Bei's reputation made Cao Cao extremely wary.

If problems arise and someone causes trouble in Xudu, that's a serious crime!
Cao Cao would never allow this crime to be pinned on him! Absolutely not!

After thinking it through, Cao Cao said to Xun You, "Gongda, if you want to do this, I will fully support you. If you don't have confidence, I think you should give up."

Xun You was incredibly intelligent; he immediately discerned the hidden meaning in Cao Cao's words.

It wasn't Cao Cao saying "I want to do it," but you, Xun You, saying "If you want to do it, I will fully support you."

These are two completely different things. Although Cao Cao was very interested in Xuchang, he would never take the risk lightly, much less take the lead in doing it himself.

If Xun You wanted something, Cao Cao would give it to him.

If anything goes wrong, Xun You will have to bear all the responsibility himself.

Cao Cao knew that Xun You was different from others because he had long been targeted by the emperor. Therefore, he was eager to help Cao Cao turn the tide. He believed that as long as Cao Cao regained control of Xuchang, the emperor would not do anything to him.

"Gongda, Jingzhou has just been pacified, and I really cannot spare the time. But as long as you are confident, I can provide you with as many troops as you need."

Xun Yu thought for a moment and nodded, "In that case, I am willing to share your burdens, Your Excellency."

Xun You estimated the demand and proposed 5,000 soldiers.

Cao Cao said generously, "I'll give you ten thousand men, so go ahead and do it!"

Cao Cao was constantly preoccupied with Xuchang. He was truly unwilling to give up, after all, his family was there, and he had devoted far too much effort to Xuchang.

Cao Cao summoned Cao Ren and Xiahou Dun, and in order to provide Xun You with maximum support, he asked them to personally select elite soldiers and hand them over to Xun You to command.

With everything prepared, Cao Cao personally saw Xun You off. As they parted, Cao Cao held Xun You's hand, reluctant to leave, and gave him repeated instructions.

Xun You had made up his mind. He did this for Cao Cao's sake, but also for his own.

Only by helping Cao Cao control the situation can he control his own destiny.

Unfortunately, no matter who controls the situation, some people are destined to become pawns in the power struggle between Cao Cao and the emperor.

If the emperor really wanted to kill someone, no one could protect them; Cheng Yu is the best example of this.

Back then, Cao Cao was in charge, but in the end, he still obediently killed Cheng Yu.

To cooperate with Xun You, Cao Cao ordered Xiahou Dun, the governor of Yan Province, to return to Yan Province. Xun You's troops marched from Yan Province towards Xuchang. Xiahou Dun provided necessary cover and support for Xun You's actions.

The end of the year is the time when people are most relaxed, but correspondingly, it is also the time when they are most likely to succeed!
(End of this chapter)