Three Kingdoms: Daily settlement helps Liu Bei revive the Shu Han dynasty.

Cao Cao's army camp.

Cao Cao allowed his soldiers to plunder in Langya Commandery for more than ten days.

Massacre, looting, arson...

The wails of the people of Xuzhou were nothing more than the buzzing of ants before their death to him.

Only when the soldiers' horses were laden with valuables did Cao Cao order his troops to break camp and march south, reaching the city of Tan.

On this expedition, he only brought one strategist with him—Xi Zhicai.

The poor scholar who was the first to seek refuge with him,

That top strategist who had calculated every move flawlessly, yet was now frail and sickly.

As for Xun Yu and Cheng Yu, they were both left in Yanzhou.

With these two men behind him, Cao Cao was able to come to attack Xuzhou with peace of mind.

In the central command tent, Cao Cao summoned his generals to discuss matters.

"Zhicai".

Cao Cao looked at his strategist Xi Zhicai, who was sitting in the first seat to his left.

With a hint of inquiry in his tone, he asked:

"Liu Bei, that weaver of mats and seller of shoes, actually came to Xuzhou to serve that old scoundrel Tao Qian."

"Zhicai, tell me, how should we deal with this?"

Upon hearing this, Xi Zhicai bowed slightly, about to speak, but couldn't help coughing twice first.

He raised his hand to cover his mouth and nose, paused for a moment, and then spoke again:

"My lord need not worry."

The Xuzhou army had long been terrified by their lord; Tao Qian's generals were nothing but chickens and dogs.

"Although Liu Bei had two generals, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, his army numbered only a little over ten thousand, and he was powerless to reverse the decline."

"Ahem... Right now, my lord only needs to speed up the construction of siege equipment. Once the equipment is ready, we will launch a thunderous attack on Tancheng."

Tao Qian is beset by internal and external troubles and is bound to collapse.

"Once Tancheng falls, Xuzhou will have no more defenses. My lord, you can divide your forces to attack Xiapi and Guangling..."

Halfway through his sentence, Xi Zhicai suddenly coughed violently, and a sickly red flush appeared on his face.

He quickly pulled out a handkerchief and covered his mouth.

After the cough subsides,

Several dark red spots had appeared on the silk handkerchief.

Xi Zhicai calmly lowered his hand, but gripped the handkerchief tightly.

Cao Cao did not see the bloodstains on the handkerchief; he only said with a look of deep sorrow:

"Zhicai, your health... sigh."

From now on, you should stay in Yanzhou with Wenruo and not travel with the army anymore.

Xi Zhicai shook his head slightly and remained silent.

He knew that his body was failing and that his days were probably numbered.

If they don't offer more advice and strategies to Cao Cao while they are still able to work, it will be too late when their time comes.

Xi Zhicai was very unwilling.

He finally found a lord who dared to break with societal prejudices and give important positions to scholars from humble backgrounds.

Before he could even put his life's work to use, his health collapsed...

Cao Cao knew Xi Zhicai's temperament, so he sighed and didn't try to persuade him any further.

He raised his head and glanced at the generals in the tent.

Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Cao Ren, Cao Hong, Yue Jin, Li Dian, Yu Jin... each one was poised to strike, exuding murderous intent.

Cao Cao spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but carrying a sharp killing intent:

"All generals, heed my command!"

"Your subordinates are here!" the generals responded in unison, their voices echoing through the tent.

"Having captured Tancheng today, I grant you permission to massacre the city for three days!"

Upon hearing this, the eyes of all the generals in the tent gleamed with excitement.

Only Xi Zhicai showed a hint of reluctance in his eyes.

He had tried to dissuade Cao Cao several times when Cao Cao massacred Xuzhou.

Cao Cao always brushed it off by saying that "the army is short of food and cannot support so many prisoners."

But Xi Zhicai knew in his heart that the food shortage was only a small part of the reason.

The real reason,

Cao Cao wanted to use this to weaken the fighting force of Xu Province.

Shocking the people of Xuzhou

He wanted the soldiers and civilians of Xuzhou to see him and never again have the will to resist.

But what have the common people done wrong?

On several occasions, Xi Zhicai even doubted his own choice.

He thought of the fields in his hometown that had been trampled by the marauding soldiers, and of the women and children who had been displaced...

But Cao Cao listened to his advice and regarded this scholar from a humble background as his chief strategist.

In this world where powerful families control the world, it's hard to find another person in the entire land who would be willing to give such important positions to a lord from a humble background.

A scholar will die for one who understands him.

Xi Zhicai clenched the handkerchief tightly, suppressing his reluctance deep in his heart.

……

The next morning, Cao Cao's army poured out of the camp, preparing for a formal attack on the city.

however,

Just as Cao Cao reached the gate of the camp,

Suddenly, a cavalryman appeared in the distance, galloping towards them.

The messenger saw Cao Cao.

Before the warhorse could stop, he leaped off.

The warhorse collapsed to the ground with a thud, foaming at the mouth and convulsing in its limbs; it was clear it was doomed.

Due to excessive inertia,

The messenger rolled on the ground four or five times before stumbling and crawling to Cao Cao.

Upon seeing this, everyone's expression changed simultaneously.

An ominous premonition spread through their hearts.

The messenger scrambled to Cao Cao's horse.

He knelt on both knees, his forehead pounding heavily against the ground, and cried out in a voice trembling with sobs:

"My lord! Something terrible has happened!!"

Cao Cao's heart tightened, and he said in a deep voice, "Speak!"

"Lu Bu... that bastard Lu Bu took advantage of the emptiness of Yan Province and launched a sneak attack on Dongjun!"

The powerful families from all over Yanzhou surrendered without a second thought!

Now most of Yanzhou has fallen into Lü Bu's hands!!!

"What?!" Cao Cao's face turned deathly pale instantly.

Lü Bu launches a surprise attack on Yan Province...

The powerful families surrendered without a second thought...

Most of Yanzhou has been lost...

Cao Cao felt his vision blurring.

Immediately afterwards, a severe headache surged like a tidal wave.

"ah--!"

Cao Cao cried out in pain, his body swayed, and he was about to fall off his horse to the ground.

"My lord!" everyone exclaimed.

Cao Hong reacted quickly, reining in his horse and reaching out to support him.

"Brother, are you alright?" Cao Hong helped Cao Cao sit up and asked anxiously.

Cao Cao's headache has flared up again.

He pounded his head with his fist as he ordered, "Keep the news under wraps! The soldiers can't know our rear has been attacked!"

"I'll take care of it right away!" Cao Hong handed Cao Cao over to his personal guards, then turned and strode away.

The other generals looked at each other, their faces showing alarm.

Xiahou Dun gritted his teeth and said, "Mengde, why don't we return tonight and catch Lü Bu off guard!"

Cao Cao waved his hand without replying.

He closed his eyes, tapping his forehead with his fist as his mind raced.

A moment later, he opened his eyes, his gaze clear again: "Today... we'll continue the siege!"

The generals were puzzled, but Xi Zhicai nodded slightly.

Cao Cao glanced at everyone, then explained:

"Our rear has been attacked. In such a situation, we must not let Liu Bei and Tao Qian see any flaws."

"If they find out that Yanzhou has fallen, they will surely launch a full-scale attack."

"By then, we might really be unable to leave."

Upon hearing this, the generals in the tent all clasped their hands in a fist salute, saying, "Our lord is wise!"

But Cao Cao's heart continued to sink.

After the fall of Yanzhou, Lü Bu took control of the province.

He hadn't even considered this step before.

Cao Cao grew increasingly uneasy and couldn't help but ask Xi Zhicai, "How dare that brat Lü Bu attack my Yan Province?"

Before Xi Zhicai could speak, the messenger preemptively reported, "General, Xun Sima said that Lü Bu's current strategist is Chen Gong, a renowned scholar from Yanzhou!"

Cao Cao's eyes widened in surprise. "Chen Gongtai?" he exclaimed.

After a moment, he calmed down and smiled at everyone, saying, "So it's Chen Gongtai assisting Lü Bu. That's not surprising..."

Everyone was speechless.

Thinking to myself, "What time is it already?"

You, Lao Cao, can still laugh...