The Three Kingdoms: Zhaolie, the strategist, and the rise of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 248 Cao Cao: What Liu Bei has, I cannot lack.

Meanwhile, Li Yi led over ten thousand troops from Hebei and launched a surprise attack on Julu before Liu Bei's main army arrived.

At that time, the garrison commander of Julu was Cao Ren. Because Li Yi attacked suddenly and was caught off guard, he cleared away all the trees and boulders outside the city.

Li Yi hastily deployed a counterweight catapult, which roared like thunder, its impact deafening.

From day to night, the city walls were bombarded in turn.

By evening, a huge breach had been blasted in the city wall, allowing the Qi soldiers to scale the wall without having to use ladders.

From the breach, they surged into the city like a tide.

Cao Ren, wielding a white blade, fought his way through the alley, killing several people.

However, the more than 10,000 soldiers selected by Li Yi were all battle-hardened and fearless.

The defending troops were already terrified by the catapults, and when it came to a close encounter where the brave would prevail, they were even more unable to withstand the might of the Qi army.

But then Qi general Zhang Liao, wielding a halberd, led the charge, followed by over a hundred swordsmen, who advanced in formation.

The blade flashed like snow, and the Wei soldiers shattered upon contact with it.

When they reached the alley entrance, the Wei army used oil canisters on the top floor to block the enemy.

Flames soared into the sky, but unexpectedly, the heavily armored soldiers of the Qi army walked on the fire, their iron boots sizzling as they pounded the ground.

Cao Ren, his hair disheveled and covered in blood, his blade chipped and broken, still roared like thunder:

"Lord Wei will surely arrive; my lords, fight to the death!"

However, no matter how much Cao Ren tried to boost morale, he could not withstand the Qi army, which was driven to a frenzy of killing.

As the Qi army grew larger and larger, pouring into the city, Cao Ren looked up to the sky and sighed:

"...Julu is lost!"

He then led a dozen or so personal cavalrymen, split open the pile of corpses at the west gate, and several riders fled to Guangping.

Upon entering the city, Li Yi, as usual, ordered his men to inventory the battlefield.

Cao Ren had not yet had time to burn 50,000 bushels of grain.

They received another golden helmet, which Li Yi bestowed upon Zhang Liao, who had made a meritorious contribution by being the first to charge into battle.

Then he climbed the city wall and saw Cao Ren fleeing in disarray under the twilight. He laughed and said to his generals:

"...Now that Cao Ren is gone, I have no more worries."

To be honest,

Cao Ren was one of the most capable generals in Cao Cao's camp, and he was also extremely skilled in defense.

Otherwise, Cao Cao would not have entrusted the extremely important eastern battlefield to Cao Ren.

Li Yi worried that once Cao Cao was ready, he would continuously add defensive resources to Cao Ren's eastern front.

They will slowly gnaw at it, and the Qi army will pay a heavy price.

Therefore, they did not hesitate to abandon their baggage and, without waiting for Liu Bei's army, led only 10,000 men to raid Julu under cover of night.

They caught Cao Ren off guard, leaving him no time to fortify his defenses.

This allowed the counterweight catapult to reappear and demonstrate its power.

Even so, they still encountered fierce resistance from Cao Ren's army.

High-ranking officers, even division commanders, were willing to personally take up arms and fight on the battlefield.

It is clear that Cao Ren also knew how important Julu was, and how much loss of it would affect Cao Cao.

Julu is mainly flat terrain with no natural defenses.

In addition, its land is fertile, making it an important granary in Jizhou.

Both Yuan Shao and Cao Cao in history collected grain here.

Therefore, when Cao Cao divided up Ji Province, he insisted on demanding Julu.

The reason Li Yi dared to cede Julu to Cao Cao was because he knew the place was easy to conquer.

I gave it to you today, and tomorrow I'll launch a surprise attack, catching you off guard, and it'll be mine again.

In the end, Li Yi's Qi army suffered more than 3,700 casualties.

There's no way around it; this is siege warfare, this is meat grinder warfare.

Even the bravest soldiers, facing thousands of troops and countless flying swords, cannot guarantee they will not suffer a defeat.

When an army's casualty rate reaches 30%, it loses its combat effectiveness.

Therefore, Li Yi was not in a hurry to continue the attack; he wanted to first secure his gains.

So each side sent a thousand soldiers to guard the two passes.

He then led the remaining troops into the city to pacify the people and repair the city walls.

At that time, Cao Cao was still in Wei Commandery preparing his troops when he heard that Cao Ren had been defeated and lost Julu.

He was greatly alarmed, but still sent someone to appease Cao Ren first.

On the other hand, he continued to send people to urge and supervise the troops in Dongjun, Chenliu, Yingchuan, and Guanzhong.

He knew that Qi only possessed Julu temporarily.

Once he has gathered his troops, he will be able to seize back Julu in one fell swoop, and even take over the remaining territory of Ji Province.

Cao Cao's biggest advantage over Liu Bei was actually trading space for time.

The main battlefield was chosen in Hebei, or more specifically, within Jizhou.

Cao Cao could then deploy Wei's troops to the battlefield in the shortest possible time.

However, the troops that Liu Bei summoned from Huainan and Xuzhou had to first travel from Qingzhou to Jizhou.

The time lost during this period was definitely longer than that of Cao Cao.

Cao Cao wanted to take advantage of Liu Bei's army's absence and use his superior numbers to gain a strategic advantage.

"...My lords, do not be impatient. Let us gather our troops and hold our ground."

"Li Yi's troops are few and far between; he will surely dare not advance. Let us wait for our main army to gather—"

"Not only will we recover the city of Julu, but all the remaining counties of Ji Province will also fall into our hands and become our Wei territory!"

Cao Cao comforted the defeated generals.

We can't appease them; Liu Bei is currently the stronger party.

Cao Cao suffered a setback in his first battle, and someone had to be blamed.

But Cao Ren was his trusted general, and he had indeed fought to the very last moment in this battle, giving his all.

Cao Cao could only appease the troops on the eastern front first, and then resort to his usual "pie in the sky" tactic.

Once the main army arrives, Julu will be able to be recaptured.

"...Zixiao, are you saying that Li Yi used the catapults that defeated Yuan Shao in this surprise attack?"

Afterwards, Cao Cao sought out Cao Ren alone and inquired about the details of the battlefield.

Cao Ren fled all night, his face covered in blood and grime, and he hadn't even washed his face yet.

He then replied to Cao Cao with a crestfallen look on his face:

"...Indeed, during the Battle of Guandu, the Yuan family built an earthen mound, which allowed them to shoot arrows down on our allied army's camp."

"At that time, Li Yi built this giant cannon. Its power was like thunder. With one strike, the Yuan family's mountain collapsed."

"Yuan Jun was shocked, and our Cao family soldiers were also astonished."

"When attacking Julu, Li Yi used this cannon again, just like he had done at Guandu."

"They launched a sudden attack, and I was unable to clear the fields and defend them, which allowed the enemy to make siege weapons."

"Without such a powerful weapon to breach the city walls, this humble general would surely have been able to hold firm and await Lord Wei's reinforcements!"

Cao Ren gritted his teeth and said bitterly.

He seemed quite dissatisfied with this defeat.

Cao Cao stood with his hands behind his back, his brow furrowed with discontent.

"...Let's go and take a look at the workshop."

Cao Cao led everyone to the workshop.

When the craftsmen saw Cao Cao, they all bowed down.

Cao Cao gestured for them to dispense with the formalities, then summoned the workshop's manager and asked:
“I remember three years ago, I ordered you to imitate the catapults of the State of Qi.”

"How is the research and development going?"

When a new weapon emerges that can change the course of a battlefield, it is inevitable that other countries and states will follow suit.

As early as when Liu's army first brought out the counterweight catapult during the campaign against Yuan Shu, it had already shocked people at the time.

At that time, Cao Cao, as a military strategist, keenly perceived its advantages on the battlefield.

He then allocated funds to establish a workshop specializing in the research and development of counterweight catapults.

However, due to the Battle of Guandu, people and workshops were relocated inland.

In addition, the annual wars have led to population loss.

This resulted in extremely unsuccessful progress in the early stages of the research.

Now that the political situation has finally stabilized, the skilled craftsmen can finally rest assured and continue to replicate the counterweight catapult.

"Your subject reports to Duke Wei that we have been replicating it day and night without ever slacking off."

"However, we lacked actual objects to refer to, and the design of the cannon made by the Qi people was only passed down orally among the soldiers."

"We have never seen the instrument in person, which is why the research and development has been delayed and difficult to progress."

Fearing Cao Cao's wrath, the craftsman took the lead in putting on a suit of armor.

Cao Cao looked displeased. Over the past three years, he had spared no expense in hiring the best craftsmen in the land.

This was used to imitate the counterweight catapult.

However, the Qi state's secrecy technology was so strict that they themselves used it very little.

This prevented Cao Cao from replicating it for three years.

"If we could find a reference object, we could build this cannon in just three months."

The craftsmen promised Cao Cao that if he gave them samples, they would be able to replicate them.

Otherwise, relying solely on eyewitness accounts is akin to the blind men and the elephant.

"...This matter is difficult."

Cao Cao also understood the artisans' predicament, because it was not easy to obtain a genuine piece.

As mentioned above, the State of Qi was used infrequently, so Cao Cao had few opportunities to seize it.

Moreover, under what circumstances were these powerful catapults used?

Those were only used when the enemy attacked and we were defending, when others wanted to break through our city.

To put it bluntly, they had a huge advantage.

I had already retreated to the city walls, but they bombarded me with catapults.

If we could just rob, why would we need to cower in the city and get beaten up?
Moreover, these large catapults were dismantled after use.

Because it's too big, it's impossible to transport over long distances, let alone store it in an armory.

Unless Cao Cao could recruit the skilled workers inside, he would have to conduct the research himself.

"In that case, we can have Fengxiao send spies first to secretly lure the Qi craftsmen to surrender."

"As for you all..."

Cao Cao then changed the subject and turned his gaze to the craftsmen.

"Now present the newly made equipment. This item can still be used for the defense of Dadu."

Catapults can be used not only for attacking cities, but also for defending them.

The destructive power of defending a city is even greater than that of attacking it.

After all, the attacking troops are directly exposed in the open.

However, cities that could set up catapults were all large, fortified cities.

The small town doesn't need it, nor can it provide it.

A fortified city is inherently easy to defend and difficult to attack; a single moat can stop a large number of enemy troops from attacking.

Not to mention that after the city gates were breached, there were still barbicans.

Beyond the city walls lies the inner city.

The East Asian military archives are not just empty boasts.

With war imminent, Cao Cao had no time to copy homework.

They only allowed the craftsmen to bring out their existing achievements and place them in important towns like Yecheng and Handan.

"...Wei Gong."

The artisan who served as consul advised Cao Cao:

"The power of our current artillery is still not as great as that of the people of Qi."

"When facing the enemy in battle, be careful not to engage them in direct combat."

Cao Cao nodded, accepting the craftsman's disclaimer.

With a major war looming, we must use all available resources.

But after inspecting the workshops, Cao Cao personally went to the drill ground to review the cavalry troops.

In the early years of the Jian'an era, Cao Cao selected and trained his personal guards based on the "most valiant warriors in the land," and placed Cao Chun, the younger brother of Cao Ren, in command of them.

It also has a resounding name – Tiger and Leopard Cavalry.

This force, known as the number one cavalry unit in the Three Kingdoms period, was built by Cao Cao at great expense.

Firstly, regarding the selection of personnel...

The selected commanders of a hundred men were not ordinary soldiers.

They were well-equipped and had formidable combat capabilities.

They were not only the elite troops of Wei, but also Cao Cao's personal guards.

Cao Cao gained a great deal of wealth and warhorses by defeating Yuan Shao and occupying Hebei.

They also spent a lot of money to build a Tiger and Leopard Cavalry unit of 5,000 men.

Rather, it was what prompted Cao Cao to make up his mind and grit his teeth to build this elite cavalry force.

It was during the Battle of Guandu that I witnessed the power of Liu's cavalry.

At that time, Liu Bei inherited five thousand iron cavalry from Gongsun Zan.

Without exception, all of these cavalrymen were equipped with double stirrups and high-bridged saddles.

The emergence of these two items further improved the balance of cavalry on horseback, resulting in a surge in combat effectiveness.

Cao Cao, of course, could not let go of this opportunity to steal the technology.

Of course, compared to the complex technology of counterweight catapults.

These stirrups and the Takahashi saddle have little to no technical merit and offer no security features.

At most, they amaze the audience when they make their first appearance.

Even if one had only heard of it, let alone seen it with their own eyes, it wouldn't have been difficult to create double stirrups and Takahashi saddles.

After all, stirrups and saddles already existed in this era.

In particular, the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry in history may have already been using double stirrups and high-bridged saddles.

This is also why it is so powerful in combat.

The prevailing view in academia is that the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry of Cao Wei was the prototype of early heavy cavalry.

Therefore, when Liu Bei's camp used double stirrups and high-bridged saddles, it was less that Cao Cao had stolen their techniques, and more that Cao Cao had used them a few years earlier.

Knowing that Cao Cao was coming to inspect the training results of the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, Cao Chun invited Cao Cao to the platform.

On this day,

The frost and wind were biting, and the banners covered the sky.

A thousand horsemen stood in solemn formation below the platform, their armor gleaming in the cold sun.

The horse puffed out white steam, and there was complete silence.

After the third drumbeat, the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry charged straight out.

They charged at the wooden fortress, their spears striking out like thunder.

In the blink of an eye, all the masts and oars were destroyed.

Then came the archers who shot at straw targets, their arrows flying like locusts, piercing through enemy lines and willows at a hundred paces.

Then the cavalry split into two groups and clashed, their swords and spears clanging and sparks flying.

The onlookers were all terrified and full of praise.

Cao Cao was overjoyed, threw his cup to the ground, and then sternly gave the order:

"Capture the flag!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than dust and smoke rose up.

The cavalry on both sides had already returned with their flags, their horses drenched in sweat, but their men were still at rest.

Cao Cao was greatly pleased upon seeing it, and turned to his generals, saying:
"...Good! Good! Very good!"

"The power of tigers and leopards can shatter metal and stone."

"In the past, Wei Qing had valiant cavalry, and Emperor Guangwu established the elite cavalry."

“Now I look at the young men, how can they be inferior to the ancients?” “What Liu Bei relies on is nothing more than the five thousand cavalrymen from the border of Youzhou under Gongsun Xu.”

"Now I also have five thousand elite cavalry, enough to rival Liu Bei."

It can be said that everything Cao Cao did before the war was meticulously planned.

All of this was preparation for dealing with Liu Bei.

Did Liu Bei possess powerful siege weapons?
Alright, I'll spend a fortune and gather the world's best craftsmen to make a replica for me.

Liu Bei developed his cavalry by acquiring not only fine horses from Liaodong, but also advanced cavalry tactics from the Gongsun clan of Youzhou.

Okay, I'll spend even more money.

They established the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, modeled entirely after Liu Bei's cavalry force.

In short, no matter what Qi develops or what military actions it takes,

What Qi has, Wei cannot do without.

……

According to later historians,
At that time, military expenditures accounted for 70% of the national budget of the State of Wei.

During the same period, military expenditures in the State of Qi accounted for only about 45% of the country's total expenditures.

The remaining funds were mostly used for improving people's livelihoods and rectifying official corruption.

Therefore, historians criticize Cao Cao for his excessive military campaigns, as detailed in the "Treatise on State Affairs" in the Book of the Later Han Dynasty.
"Wei occupied the Central Plains and possessed the vast population of China, yet military expenditures accounted for six or seven tenths of its annual tax revenue."

"The cost of armor, boats, carts, and provisions was twice that of Qi."

“Qi Xiuwen governed the country, reduced taxes and levies, and most of the annual revenue went to schools, canals, and granaries.”

"Therefore, the government was efficient and the people had no complaints."

"The loss of Wei was not due to inferior troops or poor strategy, but rather to exhausting its military resources."

"Although the army was numerous, the people's hearts had already turned away, which is why Zhaowu was able to take advantage of the situation."

"Therefore, looking at the rise and fall of the Wei and Qi dynasties, is it not true that those with more soldiers are defeated, while those with more popular support prosper?"

……

Cao Cao was not short of money; his family was already very wealthy.

Besides, when he really needs money, he can always resort to tomb raiding.

As an early master of tomb raiding, Cao Cao even appointed two officials specifically for this purpose.

—The Lieutenant General of the Tomb Raiders and the Captain of the Tomb Raiders.

Wherever they went, it was a scene of "broken coffins and naked corpses, with no remains left unexposed."

Each excavation yielded a fortune in gold.

Cao Cao was a typical example of a "militaristic" thinker, believing that all national priorities should serve the military.

Once the enemy is defeated and the external threat is eliminated, people's livelihoods can be gradually restored.

Therefore, even if it meant drinking poison to quench his thirst, Cao Cao was willing to do it.

Seeing the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry's bravery, Cao Cao's confidence in the war effort increased.

He bestowed the sword he had been given to Cao Chun, who thanked him.

The soldiers of the three armies knelt down in unison, shouting, "Victory is certain!"

After inspecting the troops, Cao Cao made the following arrangements.

Xiahou Yuan was appointed to replace Cao Ren and take overall command of the eastern front.

Cao Ren was sent to Runan and given command of the southern military.

He wrote to Liu Biao of Jingzhou, inviting him to attack Sun Quan's Lujiang, and indicated that he would send Cao Ren to cooperate.

Cao Cao's move was also an attempt to forcibly drag Liu Biao into the mess.

After all, Jingzhou was located in the rear, and it was impossible for him to support an attack on Liu Bei.

But he could help us fight Sun Quan.

Sun Quan is now Liu Bei's lackey.

Relying on veteran generals like Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu, they launched a surprise attack on his Huainan.

Cao Cao chose to be patient for one reason: his strategic focus was in the north, and he dared not easily shift his attention to the south.

Secondly, it was because he deliberately "sacrificed his own flesh," giving up Huainan, a fertile territory he had cultivated for many years, to lure Liu Biao to seize it.

It should be noted that Huainan had always been a territory that Liu Biao longed for.

To this end, he spent countless resources and supported several puppet forces.

But in the end, it was the Sun family who reaped the benefits.

Taking into account the feud between the Sun and Liu families, Cao Cao firmly believed that as long as he was willing to take the lead in guaranteeing the deal, the Liu family would be able to win.

Liu Biao, who had already proclaimed himself Duke of Chu, would certainly be willing to send troops to Lujiang.

Cao Cao's handwritten letter was quickly sent to Xiangyang.

At this time, Liu Biao was bedridden and suffering greatly.

The doctor carefully applied the medicine to him from the side, and after a while, said:
"Reporting to Lord Chu, the illness you suffer from is carbuncle on your back."

Upon hearing this, Liu Biao immediately ordered his attendants to bring a mirror to observe.

The carbuncle was as large as a bean, reddish-purple and oozing pus.

It was truly excruciating.

"What illness is this?" Liu Biao asked.

"Your illness is due to the poison of rich food."

The doctor patiently explained to Liu Biao, "Prolonged sitting and lack of movement, coupled with the strain of paperwork, have caused blood stasis in his back."

“He was filled with worries and anxieties, and Jingzhou was plagued by troubles, causing his qi to stagnate.”

"When the two poisons attack for a long time, a carbuncle develops."

After Liu Biao entered Jingzhou, he spent all his time thinking about how to govern Jingzhou well.

How to balance the four powerful families, how to dance on three eggs.

Wouldn't that lead to exhaustion from paperwork and a buildup of worries and anxieties?
Is this disease curable?

Liu Biao was sweating profusely.

The doctor replied:
"I can first use a golden knife to drain the pus for Duke Chu and apply moxibustion to the affected area."

"Then medicine and stone therapy are needed, but the poisoning has already progressed deeply."

"Lord Chu needs to dispel his worries and calm his anger."

The idea was to encourage Liu Biao to relax and not worry about things all the time.

Liu Biao sighed:
"For fifteen years I have been isolated in Jingzhou and Xiangyang, never having a single day of peace. Now I have finally met with this calamity!"

Liu Biao was extremely depressed and had no desire to see guests.

A servant replied that an envoy from Yedu was requesting an audience, but Liu Biao refused to see him.

The waiter added that the State of Wei had already dispatched troops.

Liu Biao then became alert and hurriedly ordered someone to present a letter.

After a quick glance, Liu Biao exclaimed in surprise:
"The states of Qi and Wei have mobilized their entire nations for a decisive battle?"

It's no wonder Liu Biao was so surprised, because the great war between Qi and Wei came without any warning whatsoever.

First, they attacked Yuan Shu; later, they attacked Yuan Shao.

Every single time, it became known to the whole world.
Even before the war began, everyone was holding onto their belts tightly, fearing that the war would drag them into it.

But what about the current war between Qi and Wei?
They start a major war without any procedures.

Even after Liu Biao received Cao Cao's letter, Li Yi had already led his troops to capture Julu.

Now, both Cao Cao and Liu Bei are mobilizing their troops in their respective countries for a major battle in the north.

Both sides have really stopped pretending...

However, the world situation has come to this point.

Anyone could see that in the end, the world would fall into the hands of the rulers of Qi, Wei, and Chu.

Liu Bei was a member of the Han imperial family and a relative by marriage to four generations of high-ranking officials.
Or was it Cao Cao, the cunning and ruthless warlord who was adept at military strategy and would rather betray others than betray them?

Or perhaps it was Liu Biao, who "held two-thirds of the world but still served the Yin dynasty"?

"Envoy Cao is waiting outside. I wonder if Lord Chu would like to see him?"

The waiter asked cautiously.

Liu Biao hesitated for a long time, but finally agreed to meet with Cao's envoy.

The envoy was none other than Man Chong, who had previously visited Jingzhou to invite Liu Biao to become a duke.

Man Chong immediately spoke his mind, stating Wei's request in a straightforward manner.

"The Duke of Wei wishes that your country should send troops to punish the Sun family as soon as possible."

"The Duke of Wei has already dispatched General Cao Ren to oversee military affairs in the south."

"If your country is willing to send troops, our country will certainly send soldiers to help."

After pondering for a long time, Liu Biao said to the attendant beside him, "Help me up."

The attendant carefully helped him up, and Liu Biao bypassed Man Chong and went to the window.

Before my eyes, the sun shines brightly; in my ears, the gentle breeze whispers.

Looking at the magnificent landscape of Jingzhou, Liu Biao's heart was filled with emotion.

Not only did a thought emerge,
Now that the State of Wei has invited him to send troops to Lujiang, could this be the last chance that Heaven has given him?
He adhered to the philosophy of "developing stealthily" for half his life, and his foreign policy was always to rely on others to maintain border stability.

But now, if we don't act...

Thinking of this, Liu Biao subconsciously straightened his chest, feeling the piercing pain in his back.

If he doesn't act soon, he might not be able to hold on any longer...

Ugh……

Liu Biao sighed, then said to Man Chong:

"I am sorry to trouble you to return and report to the Duke of Wei. I am willing to lead the army of Chu to punish the Sun family."

"We hope that your country will communicate with each other at that time and support each other."

"...If we win this battle, Wei will take Hebei, and Chu will take Jiangnan, each getting what they deserve."

Clearly, both Liu Biao and Cao Cao understood one principle.

That means that even if we win this battle, it will be impossible to destroy the State of Qi in one fell swoop.

The State of Qi has a very strong foundation.

Even if Liu Bei loses and loses Hebei, he still has Shandong.

Even if he loses Shandong, he still has Huainan.

The margin for error is so high that Lao Liu has probably never fought such a rich battle in his life.

"...Thank you, Lord Chu. I will certainly report your country's intentions to Lord Wei truthfully."

Man Chong bowed and thanked him.

Liu Biao wanted Man Chong to rest at the post station for a few days, but Man Chong declined, citing official business.

After seeing Man Chong off, Liu Biao immediately summoned his civil and military officials for a meeting.

"...Gentlemen, all of you have served me for more than ten years."

"We are not only ruler and subject, but also good teacher and helpful friend."

Liu's expression deepened, and tears streamed down his face.

"I have achieved this state thanks to the tireless efforts and dedication of you all, working day and night without rest."

"I am deeply grateful and will remember this forever!"

All the civil and military officials were astonished upon seeing this.

They didn't understand why Liu Biao would suddenly summon them to talk about these things.

Cai Mao was a close advisor to Liu Biao and often monitored Liu Biao's daily life.

Someone had already informed him that Liu Biao had secretly summoned a physician.

Thinking that Liu Biao was nearing his end, he stepped forward and said:

"...It is an immense honor for us to serve Duke Chu in this lifetime."

"If Lord Chu has any orders, we will be willing to risk our lives and go through fire and water for you."

"I will absolutely not refuse!"

Cai Mao thought Liu Biao was about to die and was preparing to make his final arrangements.

He was hoping that his nephew Liu Cong would succeed him to the throne.

They're trying to gain an advantage by showing goodwill now.

The other ministers, seeing Cai Mao's obsequious and flattering manner, secretly suspected that something was amiss.

They then stepped forward one after another, tears streaming down their faces:
"We are all willing to serve the Duke of Chu, even at the cost of our lives!"

All the ministers knelt on the ground, creating a spectacular scene.

Liu Biao nodded in satisfaction upon seeing this.

"...Very well, since none of you have any objections."

"Then let's settle on sending troops to punish the Sun family."

Ok?
Upon hearing this, all the ministers were astonished.

Everyone looked at each other, wondering why Liu Biao had suddenly decided to attack the Sun family.

Everyone sees your haggard appearance, and with all the emotional appeals and summoning of the court officials, they all think you're about to make your final arrangements.

Suddenly, the old man announced that he was going to attack the Sun family, catching everyone off guard.

"...Gentlemen, please listen to my frank words."

"Just now, an envoy from Wei arrived in Chu, inviting me to join forces to attack the Sun family."

"Huainan originally belonged to the Chu territory, but Liu Bei broke his promise and cheated us out of a lot of grain, fodder and naval forces."

"Now the Sun family is allowed to seize Lu land again."

"If this grudge is not avenged, how can one be a true man?"

Liu Biao's gaze darkened and became piercing.

"...Therefore, I have decided to mobilize the entire nation's army to attack the Sun family and vindicate Heaven."

"We shall use our military might to reclaim our lost territory of Huainan!"

"Do any of you have any objections?"

Jingzhou was known as the northern border of Hanchuan, and it had more than 100,000 armored soldiers.

This is never an empty statement.

The real problem was that Liu Biao couldn't mobilize those 100,000 troops.

Therefore, Cao Cao commented that Liu Biao was "all show and no substance, merely a figurehead."

This is also one of the reasons why Liu Biao's foreign policy was limited, and he could only support vassals.

Previously, the Jingnan rebellion was suppressed because it was an internal conflict within Jingzhou.

Liu Biao was able to mobilize the soldiers of Jingzhou to maintain the prosperity and stability of Jingzhou.

However, it becomes quite difficult to get the powerful families of Jingzhou to expand their influence elsewhere.

Therefore, Liu Biao decided to take one last gamble.

He staked his reputation and prestige, built up over fifteen years as a "good shepherd in troubled times," on pressuring the powerful families of Jingzhou.

He forced them to send troops, thus completing the final stroke of his ideal blueprint.

If Liu Biao lost the bet, he would truly lose everything.

His prestige plummeted, and his painstakingly cultivated policy of "neutrality" collapsed overnight.

If the gamble pays off, the path to hegemony can be established.

Liu Biao dared to gamble because he knew his days were numbered.

There's nothing left to fear, nothing left to lose.

Cao Cao just happened to provide him with such an opportunity.

Let's seize this opportunity and take one last gamble...

"...Mr. Chu."

Prefect Liu Xianzheng was about to speak up and offer his advice.

Liu Biao immediately interrupted:

"My lord, at this moment we should only discuss the battle plan against the Sun family."