My father Liu Xuande

Chapter 678 Aftermath of the Victory

Sima Yi and Yang Xiu returned to Fucheng and reported Liu Feng's merciless rebuke and ultimatum to Cao Ang in detail. After listening, Cao Ang remained silent for a long time, and finally just waved his hand helplessly with a bitter smile on his face.

"That's enough. Things have come to this. It's a blessing in disguise that we were able to preserve our clan. Pass down the order to prepare for the opening of the city tomorrow, as requested by General Zuo."

Cao Ang spoke the last two words with exceptional difficulty, as if he had used up all his strength.

That night, the Cao army camp in Fucheng was silent. There were no more sounds of drills or the clappers of the night watchmen. Only suppressed sobs, helpless sighs, and the low whispers of officers relaying orders could be heard.

The firelight illuminated faces filled with bewilderment, sorrow, or relief. Some silently polished their ring-pommel swords that had accompanied them in battle for many years, some carefully hid wooden slips inscribed with letters from home, and others sat together in silence.

Don't be fooled by the idea that surrendering might save your life; that's from a later perspective.

From the perspective of people in this era, surrendering is tantamount to entrusting one's life to the hands of others, with the possibility of being overturned at any time.

Putting aside everything else, their own lord, Cao Cao, had countless instances of massacring surrendered soldiers.

The highest peak was the Battle of Guandu, where Cao Cao massacred 60,000 to 70,000 elite soldiers of Yuan Shao's army who had surrendered.

This is precisely why Cao Cao failed to achieve a significant increase in strength after winning the Battle of Guandu, as he himself squandered one of the greatest victories.

Imagine if we could have absorbed and assimilated these 60,000 to 70,000 of Yuan's most elite soldiers, would we still need to spend another six years conquering Hebei?

Liu Feng's political and economic achievements were in no way inferior to his military glories; it's just that skilled warriors don't have illustrious names, and his military exploits were hidden beneath the surface.

Consider that Cao Cao wasn't a bloodthirsty monster who enjoyed killing. Why would he sit idly by and watch these elite troops go to waste, instead choosing to massacre them?
If Cao Cao was truly a bloodthirsty monster, then why did he endure immense pressure to protect the million-strong Yellow Turban army?

Later, when Cao Cao conquered Hebei and swallowed up Jingzhou, there was no massacre of Hebei soldiers or Jingzhou soldiers.

Ultimately, it all boils down to one word—food shortage.

During the Battle of Guandu, Cao Cao was already in dire straits with no food left. How could he possibly support 60,000 to 70,000 surrendered soldiers?

If you can't afford to raise them, and you don't dare to release them, then isn't killing them the only option left?

Throughout the first half of Cao Cao's life, most of the massacres of surrendered soldiers were due to food shortages, which made the growth of Cao Cao's strength relatively slow. The only major leap forward was when he took in a million Yellow Turban rebels.

It was this success that laid the foundation for Cao Cao's conquest of the world, enabling him to turn the tide even when he was in dire straits.

Liu Feng learned from this and tried every means to raise and store grain, which ensured that after each major military victory he always had enough grain to feed the surrendered soldiers. This gave the Left Army the time and space to absorb and digest the surrendered soldiers.

This is the fundamental reason why the Left Army's strength has expanded like a snowball in just ten years.

Perhaps because of the good reputation of Zuo Mujun and Liu Feng, the lower-ranking officers and soldiers of Cao Cao's army, although they were uneasy and had many thoughts, did not have much fear or dread.

Cao Chun personally inspected the various camps. Looking at these young men who were about to lay down their arms, even this scholar-general, known for his strict military discipline, couldn't help but feel tears welling up in his eyes. Until the very end, he didn't say anything, only patted the shoulders of a few capable subordinates, everything was understood without words.

The next day, early in the morning.

The sky was overcast, and a light drizzle began to fall, as if even the heavens were weeping for this bloodless conquest.

The heavy city gate of Fucheng was slowly pushed open amidst the piercing sound of winches, revealing the desolate streets and the Cao army soldiers lined up waiting inside.

Cao Ang, dressed in plain clothes and without armor, carried the seal and tally symbolizing command of the army in both hands and walked at the front. Behind him were civil and military officials, including Cao Chun, Cao Xiu, Li Zheng, Sima Yi, and Yang Xiu, who were also dressed in plain clothes.

Behind them were Cao Cao's soldiers, arranged according to their unit's formation. They had been disarmed as ordered, and their armor, weapons, and arsenals were neatly gathered in the armory and treasury of Fucheng, resembling silent metal hills. The tens of thousands of horses, on the other hand, were left in the camp to be looked after and cared for by grooms.

The rain soaked their clothes, adding to their desolation.

Outside the city, the Left Guard Army was already lined up and waiting.

Their army was in full force, with banners like a forest, and swords and spears gleaming coldly in the rain. Every soldier's face was filled with pride.

To show respect and goodwill, Liu Feng personally oversaw the takeover. This was also to avoid provoking Cao Ang and others, while also demonstrating the authority and composure of the Left Guard Army.

Sun Ce, clad in silver armor, rode a white warhorse with a solemn expression. His gaze swept over the surrendered Cao army, a strange look on his face, as if he were recalling past events.

Wei Yan, Huang Zhong, Ling Tong, and other generals were already prepared, each standing at the front of the formation with their hands on their swords, their sharp eyes scrutinizing the surrendered soldiers of Cao Cao's army to ensure that the surrender process would proceed without any mistakes.

Upon seeing Cao Ang and his entourage emerge, Liu Feng, escorted by Sun Ce, Sun Yi, Zhou Jun, and others, rode up to greet them.

Cao Ang took a deep breath, stepped forward, bowed deeply to Liu Feng, raised the seal and military tally with both hands, and said loudly, "The defeated general Cao Ang, leading the entire army of Fucheng, surrenders to the Left General of the Great Han! The seal and military tally are here; please examine them, General!"

His voice trembled slightly in the rain, but he still maintained the last vestige of dignity befitting the son of the current Grand General.

Liu Feng dismounted, stepped forward, and solemnly accepted the seal and military tally. He said in a deep voice, "Zixiu is a man of great righteousness. He averted a war and saved the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians in the city. I am deeply grateful. I hereby issue this order: after accepting the surrender, we will honor our previous promise and treat the Cao family and all the surrendered soldiers well."

After speaking, Liu Feng turned around and handed the seal to Sun Yi and Zhou Jun behind him, then nodded to Sun Ce.

Sun Ce understood, raised his arm, and swung it forward.

Immediately, a deep bugle call rang out from the Left Army's ranks.

Squads of well-prepared Left Army soldiers marched silently and orderly into Fucheng. They swiftly took over key locations such as city defenses, government warehouses, and granaries, demonstrating exceptional efficiency and discipline throughout the process.

Under the guidance of officers from the Left Guard Army, Cao Cao's soldiers inside the city began to march in batches to their designated camps to await further reorganization or disbandment. There was no commotion, no resistance; only the heavy footsteps and the sound of raindrops falling mingled together.

Cao Ang, Cao Chun, and the others stood there, watching their own army being so quickly absorbed and taken over, and watching the city, a symbol of power and status, change hands. Their hearts were filled with mixed emotions.

Cao Chun clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white, but in the end, he could only let go helplessly.

Sima Yi lowered his eyelids, making it impossible to see the expression in his eyes.

Yang Xiu's face turned pale; his former arrogance had been shattered by reality.

Liu Feng said to Cao Ang, "Zixiu, generals and gentlemen, I have prepared a banquet in the camp to calm your nerves. Please follow me."

This so-called "feast to calm nerves" was naturally a form of surveillance and control, a subtle way to separate Cao Cao's high-ranking officers and strategists from his middle and lower-ranking officers and soldiers.

Cao Ang and the others understood, but they were powerless to refuse. They could only nod silently and, under the "escort" of the Left Army soldiers, headed towards the Left Army camp outside the city.

The rain continued to fall. At the head of Fucheng, the large flag symbolizing the character "Cao" was slowly lowered and replaced with the banner bearing the character "General Liu of the Left," which fluttered proudly.

After a series of twists and turns, this important town in northern Yizhou finally fell completely under Liu Feng's control.

The change of flags on the city walls signified that Liu Feng had completely eradicated the Cao family's influence in Shu, and also foreshadowed the rapid formation of a new order on this land.

With the surrender of Fucheng and the written orders and letters from Cao Ang and Li Zheng, Li Dian of Zitong had no choice but to open the city gates and surrender.

The takeover of Fucheng not only signified that Guanghan County had returned to the rule of Yizhou, but also meant that Liu Feng had completely opened up the passage from Shu to the north, integrated most of the forces in Yizhou, and gained a considerable number of surrendered soldiers.

His gaze could now be directed unhindered towards the empty and weak Hanzhong.

Cao Ang's surrender, and the chain reaction that followed, undoubtedly cast a heavy shadow over Cao Cao's mind in Jingzhou. The war situation in northern Jingzhou was thus shrouded in an even deeper shadow.

Cao Ang surrendered the city, and the Left Guard Army completely took over Fucheng. After capturing Cao Ang's troops, Liu Feng began the next phase of his operation.

Firstly, in terms of military affairs, according to the pre-arranged plan, the day after Cao Ang surrendered, more than 10,000 elite troops led by Wei Yan and Huang Zhong, along with more than 20,000 troops under Zhou Yu, began to march south, taking the Fu River waterway to Jiangling.

Upon arriving in Jiangling, they will decide on their next course of action based on the situation.

Secondly, with He Qi's forces as the main force, they will march north into Hanzhong to replace the various armies there. Zhou Tai's naval forces will be replaced and return to the waterways.

Liu Feng tasked He Qi with overseeing the defenses of northern Shu, stockpiling grain and supplies, and preparing to seize Hanzhong. His primary objective was to recapture Baishui Pass, followed by an attempt to probe Baima Fortress.

In terms of political affairs, Liu Feng did not send Cao Ang and others to Chengdu, but instead sent them to Jiangzhou first.

After all, Cao Ang and others had ruled Chengdu before, and Liu Zhang was also there. In addition, Sima Yi had set fire to Chengdu, so it was clearly not suitable to settle them in Chengdu.

On the contrary, Jiangzhou, with its strategic location and convenient waterways, and the fact that Liu Zhang's influence was minimal, was undoubtedly an extremely suitable place for house arrest.

In addition, Liu Feng also ordered Yang Hong, the governor of Guanghan who was in Chengdu, to take up his post immediately.

Guanghan Commandery, located in the heart of Sichuan, bordering Hanzhong to the north, Ba Commandery to the east, and Shu Commandery to the west, was once a vital transportation hub, abundant in resources and prosperous in people. But now, as far as the eye can see, it is a scene of devastation.

All of this began with the rebellion of Zhao Wei.

When Zhao Wei rebelled against Liu Zhang, his main force marched north along the Fu River, intending to pass through Fucheng and then enter the Jinniu Road to attack Chengdu.

Wherever the rebels went, it was like a locust plague.

Zhao Wei's army was already poorly disciplined, and in order to replenish its troops and supplies, they forcibly conscripted able-bodied men everywhere, plundered grain and fodder, and massacred entire cities and villages if there was any resistance.

Many once densely populated villages have been reduced to ruins, with fields overgrown with weeds and bones exposed in the wilderness.

Although Zhao Wei's army was eventually defeated, the vitality of Guanghan County was severely damaged, and the people's livelihood was in ruins.

But soon after, before the wounds had healed, war broke out again.

Taking advantage of the fact that the internal strife in Shu had just been quelled and the region was weak, Zhang Lu, who was entrenched in Hanzhong, ordered his brother Zhang Wei to lead troops south to plunder the Shu region.

Guanghan Commandery, located in northern Shu, was naturally the first to be affected.

Although Zhang Wei's troops were largely influenced by religion, their military discipline was not good, and they had fought with the Shu army for many years, resulting in deep-seated hatred between the two sides.

After the Hanzhong army entered Shu, they burned, killed, looted, and committed all sorts of atrocities.

They not only robbed grain and property, but also abducted people to serve as "ghost soldiers" or slaves, causing many families to be broken up and villages to become completely desolate. The area from Baishuiguan to Fucheng became almost a ghost town, and the once bustling thoroughfares for merchants and travelers became deserted and teeming with bandits.

Two wars had pushed Guanghan County to the brink of collapse. However, the misfortune was not over.

Cao Cao supported Zhang Lu and also coveted Yizhou, sending a large army into Shu.

The entire army of 80,000 men had to be supported by Hanzhong and Guanghan, and this heavy burden naturally made the two prefectures feel suffocated.

Hanzhong was Zhang Lu's base of operations, and he was willing to cherish and preserve it. Guanghan, on the other hand, was newly acquired territory, so it was obvious which one should be sacrificed.

Guanghan was subsequently exploited to the point of being drained dry. During the most difficult period, even prominent families like the Qin family in Guanghan could not escape the fate and had to hand over most of their food and supplies in order to protect themselves.

The most urgent task is to restore the livelihood of the people in Guanghan as much as possible.

After receiving the order, Yang Hong did not go to Luocheng, the capital of Guanghan Commandery, immediately, but instead rushed to Fucheng to listen to Liu Feng's opinion.

Liu Feng gave Yang Hong three suggestions, the first of which was about manpower.

Liu Feng gave Yang Hong an order, allowing him to transfer people from the Shu army, surrendered soldiers, and those engaged in labor service in Guanghan County back to their hometowns and restore their settlements.

Secondly, he transferred three thousand men from He Qi's troops to Yang Hong's command temporarily.

Although Cao Ang had surrendered, the war over the past two years had still resulted in a significant increase in bandits in Guanghan County.

These bandits were mostly groups of rebels and refugees, and the mountainous terrain northeast of Guanghan provided them with considerable living space.

These bandits, having tasted the sweetness of disrupting order through burning, killing, and looting, would not easily surrender simply because of Liu Feng's order.

Therefore, suppressing the bandits was imperative.

At this moment, Guanghan County was like a patient with a knife wound, needing not only massive blood transfusions but also wound sutures to reduce bleeding. And these bandits were the biggest bleeding point at present.

Finally, Liu Feng instructed Yang Hong to actively take stock of the current land area in Guanghan.

Although the damage to Guanghan was a disaster, it solved Liu Feng's biggest worry: how to feed the hundreds of thousands of surrendered soldiers.

Cao Cao's direct troops who surrendered numbered as many as 30,000 to 40,000. Add to that Zhang Wei's troops, the troops from Hanzhong Commandery, the troops from Dongzhou, and the Shu army, and the total number of surrendered troops would be over 100,000.

Don't assume that the surrendered soldiers from Dongzhou and Shu can be settled. In fact, not to mention the soldiers from Dongzhou, most of the soldiers from Shu in Shu also do not own land and rely solely on being soldiers for food.

This means that Liu Feng would be responsible for feeding all these people, and if they were not resettled, they would immediately become the biggest hidden danger.

(End of this chapter)