Three Kingdoms: Madam, I am a decent person

Chapter 731 Cao Cao's True Strength!
The generals' expressions were complicated when they heard Cao Cao say this.

Winning this battle will be extremely difficult.

However, no one dared to raise any objections.

Because, before the army set off, when they were in Xuchang, Cao Cao intercepted all the letters they wrote to Hebei and put them in front of them!
They were all terrified.

Everyone was being monitored.

The letters written to Hebei were intercepted without being touched!

Although Cao Cao said he had not read a single letter.

However, Kong Rong's entire clan was exterminated.

Everyone knew that this was Cao Cao's plan to make an example of someone.

In addition, the families of all civil and military officials were relocated to the south of Xuchang City for unified management.

Cao Cao's words were very pleasant to hear, making it easier for him to visit other people's homes.

However, everyone also understands that these are hostages, a blatant form of hostage detention.

If they fail to contribute or defect, their family members who remain as hostages in the south of Xudu will definitely be killed.

Just like how Kong Rong's entire clan was wiped out.

Hearing Cao Cao's lament, everyone could only comfort him, saying, "My lord, there is no need to be sad. We will surely win."

"We are determined to fight the General to the bitter end."

"I will live and die with Sikong!"

Cao Cao then lowered his head, scanned everyone, and a smile appeared on his face.

Just then, a warhorse galloped in.

The soldier on horseback, who had stopped beside Cao Cao, said, "My lord, the General has led his army to Guandu and sent an envoy named Jiang Gan with a declaration of war. Should we bring him over?"

Everyone turned to look at Cao Cao.

Cao Cao squinted and gritted his teeth, saying, "He's truly my good son-in-law!"

"Since he wants to fight me to the death, I'll see just how capable he really is!"

“Since I, Cao Cao, was recommended as a candidate for the civil service examination, I have fought for decades and have eaten more salt than rice.”

"What about the likes of Li Jue, Guo Si, and Yuan Shu? They all fell to my hand!"

"Back then at Kuangting, I, Cao Cao, with tens of thousands of troops, faced Yuan Shu's 300,000 troops and pursued him for sixty li!"

"I don't believe it."

"I'm truly defeated by my wonderful son-in-law!"

Cao Cao suddenly looked at the soldiers and said in a sinister tone, "Bring the messenger up!"

The soldier then rode away.

A short while later, a soldier brought up a young man dressed in brocade robes who looked refined and gentle.

The young man bowed to Cao Cao and said, "Jiang Gan, a man from Chaisang, has been ordered by my lord to deliver a letter of challenge!"

After saying that, he pulled a roll of cloth from his sleeve.

Cao Cao was about to draw the sword from his waist.

What kind of bullshit is this "when two armies are at war, the messenger shall not be killed"?
That brat has really gone too far in bullying us.

Today I will cut off the head of his messenger and let him see my determination, Cao Cao!
When Jiang Gan saw Cao Cao draw his sword, he was not afraid. Instead, he laughed and said, "When I was studying under you, you said that your friend Cao Mengde, who was much older than you, was a great man. But now it seems that he is nothing but a coward."

"You fear my lord's power and dare not vent your anger on him, yet you lay a hand on a nobody like me with knives and guns. What kind of skill is that?"

"An act of incompetence."

"You don't actually think that if you kill me, my lord will lose his composure, do you?"

“Before I, Jiang Gan, came here, I had already prepared myself to be killed.”

"If you've got the guts, then make your move."

“My lord has commanded Ju Shou to build an immortal monument in Ye City.”

"The names of all the heroes who died for their country can be engraved in this book."

"There are too many talented people in Hebei, and I, Jiang Gan, have no ability to stand out."

"To die here for Hebei now is quite an achievement." Everyone looked at Jiang Gan in surprise.

Is there any benefit to dying on the battlefield?

Cao Cao gripped the hilt of his drawn sword, his fingers turning slightly white.

After a long pause, he finally asked, "Who is your husband?"

Jiang Gan raised his head, looking smug, and said, "My master is a great Confucian scholar, and my lord's father-in-law, Cai Yong!"

Cao Cao sized up Jiang Gan before slowly sheathing his sword, taking the strip of cloth from Jiang Gan's hand, and coldly saying, "Step back!"

Jiang Gan glanced at Cao Cao before riding away on his warhorse.

Cao Cao unfolded the strip of cloth, quickly glanced at it, then threw it to the ground, laughing angrily, "What a fine son-in-law! You've really gone too far!"

"Does he really think I, Cao Cao, am like Yuan Shu?"

"For this challenge, he only mobilized 60,000 men, leaving 40,000 behind."

"very good!"

"Let's see just how capable you are!"

Scanning everyone, Cao Cao said sternly, "Return to the command tent immediately and discuss the great battle in Hebei outside Xingyang in five days!"

All the generals responded in unison, and then followed Cao Cao straight back to the military camp.

Five days passed quickly.

Early that morning, Zhang Sui led an army of 60,000 straight to Xingyang.

Outside Xingyang, Cao Cao had already led an army of 50,000 waiting.

Cao Cao stood at the rear of the army, protected by his personal guards including Xu Chu. He stood on the shaft of his chariot, gazing at the horizon.

In Cao Cao's view, the 50,000-strong army stretched as far as the eye could see.

At the very front of the army, Cao Xiu, as the commander of the vanguard, led 20,000 men as the vanguard.

Generals Xu Huang, Yue Jin, and Zhang Xiu led the vanguard.

Cao Xiu, a cousin of Cao Cao and nephew of Cao Hong, was exceptionally brave and strong. He followed Cao Cao in his campaigns from the time he was fighting against Dong Zhuo.

When Cao Ang was alive, Cao Cao had Cao Xiu follow him around and praised Cao Xiu as the Cao family's finest horse.

Behind Cao Xiu's 20,000 vanguard troops was a central force of 10,000 men led by General Zhu Ling.

Zhu Ling was one of Yuan Shao's earliest followers.

To avenge the murder of his father in Xuzhou, Cao Cao requested Yuan Shao to send troops to assist him. Zhu Ling was the general that Yuan Shao sent to support Cao Cao at this time.

Zhu Ling led an army of 6,000 to aid Cao Cao, and slaughtered Xuzhou several times, even besieging Tao Qian in Tancheng, the old capital of Xuzhou.

Afterwards, Lü Bu occupied Yanzhou, and Cao Cao withdrew his troops, but Zhu Ling did not leave Cao Cao.

He chose to lead Yuan Shao's 6,000 soldiers to join Cao Cao, becoming one of Cao Cao's most trusted advisors.

Behind Zhu Ling's 10,000-strong central army was Cao Cao's 15,000-strong rear army, commanded by Yu Jin, a trusted general from outside the Cao family.

Yu Jin initially followed his fellow townsman and friend Bao Xin, who was a friend of Cao Cao.

During the reign of Emperor Ling, the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out. Yu Jin followed Bao Xin and Cao Cao in their campaigns in the south and north, and made great contributions.

In the third year of the Chuping era, with the help of Bao Xin and Chen Gong, Cao Cao captured Yanzhou without losing a single soldier and became the governor of Yanzhou. Yu Jin was appointed as the Earl of Du and officially became Cao Cao's subordinate.

For Cao Cao, Yu Jin was not only a general, but also a like-minded friend.

He was the military general he trusted most, apart from his relatives.

On the left flank of the main army were the five thousand Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, which Cao Cao had spent several years building up.

The commander of the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry was Cao Chun.

Cao Chun was Cao Cao's cousin and Cao Ren's younger brother. He was also one of the earliest generals to follow Cao Cao.

In the past, Cao Chun and Cao Cao fought against Dong Zhuo and were almost killed by Xu Rong's three thousand cavalry.

Cao Chun hid beneath the corpses in the river and watched as Xu Rong's cavalry swept through Cao Cao's 10,000 men with ease.

At that time, Cao Chun vowed to build a cavalry force like Xu Rong's.

He will train this cavalry to be as strong as Xu Rong's cavalry, kill Xu Rong, and avenge the defeat!
After several years, with the assistance of the warlords of Guanzhong and the addition of many Guanzhong cavalry, the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, now numbering five thousand, was finally formed.

(End of this chapter)