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

Chapter 280 Cao Cao Leads the People Across the River
Meanwhile, Sun Quan and Liu Bei formed an alliance and decisively defeated Cao Cao and the Jingzhou navy at the Battle of Red Cliffs.

Cao Cao suffered a major defeat and, with the help of Cao Hong, hurriedly made his way ashore.

All the generals of the Qi army were eager to fight.

At that moment, Li Yi suddenly ordered the withdrawal of the main Qi army, leaving the Eastern Wu army to pursue and kill them.

Everyone was puzzled by this order.

They eagerly volunteered and offered their advice:
"Now that the Battle of Red Cliffs has been won, the Northern army has been routed and is in retreat."

"The traitor Cao has already fled; now is the time for us to press our advantage and pursue him."

"If successful, Cao Cao can be captured in one fell swoop."

"Why does Your Excellency order us to withdraw our troops?"

Li Yi drew his sword and shouted:

"end!"

Upon receiving the order, most of the main forces ceased their pursuit.

Unable to stop them, the officers and soldiers had no choice but to return.

Otherwise, it would be a violation of military orders.

Seeing this, Chen Deng had no choice but to come forward and ask on behalf of everyone:

"Cao Cao is in a sorry state now. If we let him go, we may be raising a tiger that will cause trouble later."

"...Brother Ziyu, have you perhaps forgotten the purpose of your trip to Jiangnan?"

"...Never forgotten."

Li Yi answered seriously, pointing to the map with a flick of his sleeve.

"I think it's because you've forgotten our original intention in heading south."

Everyone was taken aback and looked at each other in bewilderment.

Li Yi continued speaking.

"Our journey south of the Yangtze River is not to eliminate Cao Cao, but to seize Jingzhou!"

"Even though Cao Cao was defeated, he still had loyal followers like Cao Hong."

"If we pursue them relentlessly northward, they will surely fight like cornered beasts."

"Moreover, Eastern Wu has long coveted Jiangling. If we launch a distant expedition, we will only allow Zhou Yu to reap the benefits."

"I will relinquish the credit for pursuing Cao Cao to Wu, and I will take the spoils of Jing and Xiang myself. What is wrong with that?"

Then everyone remembered that there was still a "trouble" in Jingzhou that had not been resolved.

That was Eastern Wu.

Zhou Yu commanded a navy of 20,000 men, a formidable force in the Jiangnan region.

The Sun-Liu alliance was formed out of a shared interest in defeating Cao Cao.

Now that Cao Cao has been defeated, the alliance no longer has shared interests, and a breakdown is inevitable.

It's just that Cao Cao has just been defeated, so there's no need for the two sides to immediately break off relations.

"Jingzhou is a land of fertile fields stretching for thousands of miles, bordering the Han River to the north, and is home to more than 100,000 armored soldiers."

"We have few troops in Jiangxia, and it will not be easy for us to conquer all of Chu."

Chen Jiao expressed his opinion.

It was believed that it would be difficult to directly conquer and completely annex the Jingzhou region by bypassing Eastern Wu.

After all, digesting land is a different matter from directly conquering cities and seizing territory.

Even Cao Cao in history, before the Battle of Red Cliffs, had completely conquered the Jingzhou region.

Jia Xu at the time also believed that it would take Cao Cao at least several years to digest them.

Now is the time to race against time. Jingxiang has nine counties. How can we bypass Eastern Wu and annex them all?
Li Yi's lips curled slightly as he surveyed the assembled generals, then pointed to the map with a smile and said:

"Gentlemen, look, the rich lands of Jingzhou are all located in Xiangyang and Nanjun in northern Jingzhou."

"As for the four commanderies of Jingnan, they are sparsely populated and have vast lands. What harm would there be in ceding them to Eastern Wu?"

Jingzhou is very large when you look at a map, but Jingbei and Jingnan are completely different concepts.

Although they are both from Jingzhou, people from northern Jingzhou mostly look down on their poorer friends from southern Jingzhou.

The main reason is that Jingnan is located in a very remote area, and most of the land under its jurisdiction is malarial land.

There are also mountains and rivers, and agriculture and handicrafts are extremely backward.

Jingzhou, which we often refer to as a haven during times of chaos, was the preferred place for northern scholars and officials to seek refuge.

It actually refers to Jingbei.

It is no exaggeration to say that the four prefectures of Jingnan combined are no match for Xiangyang alone.

At that time, Jingnan was even a place of exile.

Furthermore, although the Jingnan region appears large, transportation is inconvenient.

Such a vast territory, ironically, weakened the central authority of the government.

Because it is inconvenient for local authorities to transmit orders, there is a risk of regional separatism.

Of course, most of the prefects of the various counties in Jingnan were actually opportunists.

Basically, they would pledge allegiance to whoever controlled Jingzhou.

For example, Han Xuan, the governor of Changsha, was originally under Liu Biao's command.

When Cao Cao arrives, follow Cao Cao.

Later, Cao Cao was defeated, Liu Bei conquered Jingnan, and Han Xuan followed Liu Bei.

This is what a typical working professional looks like.

They knew that in a poor place like Jingnan, going against the central government would not end well.

So he'd go to whoever came to him; a few hundred yuan a month wasn't worth risking his life for.

The core area of ​​Jingzhou actually includes Nanjun, Nanyang, and Jiangxia.

Jiangxia was primarily a war zone; it was the place where Jingzhou produced warships and trained its navy.

The only prosperous and developed areas were Nanyang and Nanjun.

These two places alone are not inferior to Jizhou.

Thanks to Liu Biao's strategy of protecting Jingzhou at all costs, these two places have hardly suffered from war.

Meanwhile, due to the chaos in the north, a large number of northern scholars fled to places like Xiangyang to escape the turmoil.

This not only brought abundant labor and wealth to Xiangyang.

They also brought many advanced technologies and knowledge from the North to the South.

From a strategic point of view, Jingbei was originally a place that was contested by military strategists.

Its enormous wealth has made it a highly sought-after commodity.

Chen Deng frowned and said:

"North of Jing is prosperous, while south of Jing is poor."

"Zhou Yu is a man of great wisdom; how could he possibly forsake rich meat for coarse food?"

"If they forcefully seize Nan Commandery, our two families will inevitably fall into conflict, which will only benefit Cao Cao."

Li Yi snorted lightly and laughed coldly:

"I have a plan to take Jingbei."

"Gentlemen, just recall your troops; I have other plans."

The people followed his advice and urged the troops fighting abroad to return as soon as possible.

Then it was reported that most of the troops had been recalled.

Only a small number of troops, such as Gao Shun's and Huang Zhong's troops, were sent far away and could not return in the short term.

Li Yi said it was alright, ordered his men to withdraw and return to Xiakou, and also sent people to closely monitor the situation at the front.

Let's see where Cao Cao goes.

……

Speaking of Cao Cao, after he was rescued from the river by Cao Hong...

Seeing that there were still some warships on the river, Cao Cao ordered his men to burn the remaining ships.

Then he looked up at the sky and laughed, but the laughter was bitter.

"Li Yi, you brat, don't be so arrogant."

"You know how to use fire, and so do I."

"You don't need to chase me. I'll just burn my ship and leave on my own, thus fulfilling your undeserved reputation!"

As a result, the remaining warships that had not yet been set ablaze were also set on fire by Cao Cao's soldiers.

In an instant, fiery clouds filled the sky, forming a red tide on the river.

This effectively blocked the Huainan and Eastern Wu naval forces behind them.

Cao Cao suffered a crushing defeat and was clearly somewhat out of his mind.

But his mind remained clear as the fire at Red Cliffs ignited.

Cao Cao has lost the opportunity to compete with Liu Bei and even Sun Quan for control of Jiangnan.

These warships included some he brought with him and others from the Jingzhou army.

But no matter who it is, once they leave, it will eventually benefit Liu Bei or Sun Quan.

That would be better to burn it down.

If I can't have it, neither can you!

Looking at the raging fire, Cao Cao knew that Sun Quan and Liu Bei's naval forces on the river would definitely not be able to catch up with him.

However, we still cannot let our guard down.
So he spurred his horse and rode until dawn.

As the firelight receded into the distance, Cao Cao felt a little more at ease.

He looked around and said:

"Where is this?"

The person on the left and right replied:
"This place is west of Wulin and north of Yidu."

Cao Cao placed his hand on his brow and saw the dense trees and treacherous mountains. He then looked up on his horse and laughed uncontrollably.

Everyone asked in surprise:
"My army has just been defeated, why do you laugh so loudly, my lord?"

Cao Cao laughed and said:

"I don't laugh at others, but I laugh at Li Yi's lack of strategy and Zhou Yu's lack of wisdom."

"If I were to use troops, I would certainly lay an ambush here beforehand."

"Otherwise, the enemy will have no chance of escape!"

Before they finished speaking, suddenly the sound of drums resounded from both sides, and flames shot into the sky.

Cao Cao was so startled that he almost fell off his horse and hurriedly looked up.

A troop of soldiers charged out from the side, shouting:

"The Vanguard Battalion, acting on General Li's orders, has been waiting here for quite some time!"

Cao Cao instructed Cao Xiu and Cao Zhen to hold off Gao Shun, while he himself braved the smoke and fire to escape.

Gao Shun's troops, mostly infantry, were unable to catch up with Cao Cao.

They were so focused on seizing the flag that they were able to escape.

The sky was just beginning to lighten, with dark clouds covering the ground.

The east wind was still blowing strongly when suddenly a torrential downpour began.

Cao Cao's soldiers were all soaked in sweat.

Cao Cao had no choice but to advance with his soldiers in the rain, and he saw that everyone looked hungry.

Li Diannai stepped forward to request permission:
"Lord Wei, the soldiers have been traveling all night."

"I was cold, sleepy, hungry, and exhausted."

"Could we kill a horse to feed ourselves?"

Li Dian was a veteran general in the army. What difficulties and hardships had he not experienced?
He was able to endure such a terrible and miserable situation.

And they were able to tell that the soldiers were nearing their breaking point.

At this point, the only option was to slaughter some old horses to fill their stomachs.

Upon seeing this, Cao Cao did not immediately agree, but instead looked up from a high place.

Seeing a village not far away, he ordered his soldiers to enter the village immediately to plunder food and search for fire.

Then he strictly ordered that the civilians not be killed, but instead that they be robbed and taken away.

In ancient times, it was common to seize people, and Cao Cao actually enjoyed doing so as well.

Even when they were defeated and fleeing for their lives, they did not forget to rob some people.

Because, on the one hand, population is indeed very important, and it is a crucial factor that military strategists must contend for.

On the other hand, these are all abundant labor forces that he can employ.

As for those who die from exhaustion or starvation, that doesn't matter.

If he's dead, so be it. At least don't leave him to Eastern Wu or Liu Qi.

Upon receiving the order, the soldiers immediately entered the village.

They looted all the grain in the village and took all the local people with them.

Having obtained the grain, Cao Cao ordered his men to hurry on their journey and shake off the pursuing army first.

Suddenly, they heard thunderous hoofbeats behind them and saw an army approaching from afar.

Cao Cao was very flustered, fearing that pursuers were coming.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be Yue Jin and Lü Qian escorting the strategists.

Cao Cao was overjoyed and ordered his soldiers to finish their meal quickly before continuing their journey.

The soldiers and civilians set out, and before they had traveled more than a few miles, Cao Cao asked:

What kind of ground is ahead?

The report stated:
"On one side is the South Yiling Avenue, and on the other side is the North Yiling Mountain Road."

Cao Cao then asked:

"Where is the closest place to surrender to in Jiangling, Nanjun?"

After his crushing defeat, Cao Cao had effectively lost control of Jingzhou.

It goes without saying that the four prefectures of Jingnan were completely out of control.

As for Nanjun and Nanyang, they must have started to slowly jump off Cao Cao's ship as well.

However, Cao Cao was not entirely unprepared.

Cao Cao left trusted men to guard the important cities of Xiangyang and Jiangling.

Especially in Jiangling, the heart of Jingzhou, Cao Cao stationed a large number of troops.

Because if Cao Cao lost the battle, he would have to pass through Jiangling first in order to escape back to the Central Plains.

Having suffered a crushing defeat, Cao Cao had no other thoughts but to return to Jiangling as quickly as possible.

Then I went back to Yingchuan.

The waters of Jiangnan are too deep; he truly couldn't grasp them.

"Reporting to Lord Wei, the most convenient route is to take the Nan Yiling Road and pass through Hulu Pass."

Cao Cao then ordered them to flee to Nanyiling.

When they reached Hulu Pass, the army horses were starving and could not walk any further.

The horses were also exhausted, and many collapsed on the road.

Cao Cao then instructed his men to rest, and immediately, those carrying gongs and pots began to bring the grain they had seized from the village.

They found a dry spot by the mountainside, buried a pot, and cooked a meal. They also skinned the horse that had died from exhaustion, cut off the horse meat, and roasted it to eat.

Looking at the iron pot, Cao Cao couldn't help but sigh again:
"I was defeated by Li Ziyu, and now, as I flee for my life, I have to eat from the iron pot he made."

"This is truly bitter!"

The iron wok was invented because Li Yi liked to stir-fry dishes, and he asked craftsmen to make it.

Because this thing is convenient and is a civilian product.

So within a few years, people in the Central Plains and Hebei regions started using iron pots.

Cao Cao was no exception; he found this thing to be more convenient to carry than a pot or steamer, making it very suitable for use in the army.

It was then adopted by the entire army, leading people to replace their original cooking utensils with iron pots.

But now, in such a sorry state, eating from this iron pot felt incredibly bitter and ironic to Cao Cao.

When they were cooking, all the Wei soldiers took off their wet clothes and dried them in the wind.

They all removed their saddles and let themselves roam freely, biting into grass roots to get a short rest.

Cao Cao was sitting in a sparse grove when he suddenly looked up and burst into laughter.

The officials all asked:

"Just now, Duke Wei laughed at Li Yi and Zhou Yu for their lack of strategy, which led to the escalation of Gao Shun's involvement."

"Having lost so many men, why are you laughing now?"

Cao Cao gritted his teeth and laughed, saying:

"I laugh at Li Yi and Zhou Yu for their lack of wisdom and strategy."

"If I were to use troops, I would also ambush a force in this very place, waiting for the enemy to tire themselves out."

"Even if I manage to escape with my life, I will be severely injured!"

"He cannot see this place, so I laugh at him."

"……Hahaha!"

Just as they were laughing, the vanguard and rearguard shouted in unison.

Cao Cao was greatly alarmed, his face turned ashen, and with Cao Xiu's help, he threw off his armor and mounted his horse.

All around, smoke and fire filled the air, and an army was arrayed at the mountain pass, led by the veteran general Huang Hansheng.

Han Sheng, sword drawn, stood on his horse and shouted:

"Don't run, you traitor Cao! Huang Zhong is here!"

Huang Zhong! Cao Cao saw the old general with his gleaming sword, but this man had killed Xiahou Yuan.

She felt both hatred and anger towards him.

The Wei soldiers had long admired Huang Zhong's reputation, as he was one of the four generals of the Qi state.

They were exhausted and weary, with no will to fight, and all were terrified.

Huang Zhong led the Divine Arm Battalion to attack, ordering the front-line soldiers to charge and the rear-line soldiers to fire from high ground.

A volley of arrows rained down, and Cao Cao's soldiers suffered countless casualties.

Huang Zhong personally urged his horse forward, intending to capture Cao Cao.

Cao Cao left quickly and departed early.

Old Huang Zhong nocked an arrow and shot it at the target's face.

Cao Cao felt a chill run down his spine, realizing there was danger, and dodged to the side.

Unexpectedly, the arrow flew so fast that it grazed Cao Cao's face and pierced his mouth.

Cao Cao was bleeding profusely from his mouth, and his front teeth fell out.

They lay prone on their horses and fled in panic.

Huang Zhong wanted to pursue again, but Cao Hong rode a saddleless horse to fight, desperately holding off Huang Zhong.

Generals Li Dian and Yue Jin also rode over to join the attack.

The two armies were in a chaotic melee, and Cao Cao spurred his horse and escaped first.

Although Huang Zhong's main force was well-trained, its numbers were small.

Although the Wei troops were exhausted, they were numerous and powerful, and they were put in a desperate situation, so they fought back with all their might.

Unable to gain any advantage, and seeing that the Wei army was also unwilling to continue fighting, Huang Zhong ordered the troops to be withdrawn.

He ordered his soldiers to roll up their flags and put away their armor, clean up the battlefield, and return to Jiangxia to report back.

Meanwhile, Cao Cao fled in a long and winding manner, his pursuers gradually receding into the distance. Looking back, he saw that most of his generals were wounded.

My heart was filled with bitterness, and as I was walking, I saw two great roads ahead.

The sergeant reported:

"There are two roads ahead. Which one should the Prime Minister take?"

Cao Cao then asked which road was the shortest.

The sergeant replied:

"The road is relatively flat, but it is still fifty miles long."

"The small path leads to Huarong Road, but it's only about fifty li away."

"But the land is narrow and the roads are dangerous, with potholes and difficult to traverse."

Cao Cao stroked his beard and analyzed:
"Take the back path; the back path is the safest."

Everyone was puzzled and hurriedly asked:
"The narrow path is a dangerous place, and it is the easiest place to set up an ambush."

Why does Lord Wei say that the side road is the safest?

Cao Cao chuckled coldly and analyzed the situation for everyone:

"You may not know this, but both Liu Bei and Sun Quan want to take my head."

"But the battle has progressed to this point, and the soldiers on both sides are exhausted."

“If we take the main road, which is flat and easy to traverse, the enemy soldiers will surely pursue us when they see that it is easy to pass.”

"But because the path is steep and difficult to traverse, the enemy army would find it difficult and not everyone would be willing to pursue it."

Cao Cao was also an outstanding military strategist with a thorough understanding of human nature.

We tend to analyze things too much from the perspective of those in positions of authority.

War is not a game; once an order is given, soldiers will actually jump into a fire pit.

Take Zhang Fei's defense of the bridge over the river as an example.

Historically, the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry was the force that pursued Zhang Fei, which was considered Cao Cao's most elite cavalry.

As a result, he was so frightened by Zhang Fei alone that he dared not go over, which is quite legendary.

This has led many to doubt the authenticity of this historical account.

The reason is actually very simple.
The Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, having traveled three hundred li a day to pursue Liu Bei, were already exhausted and weary.

Then suddenly you encounter such a ruthless character; killing him might not bring much reward.

The Tiger and Leopard Cavalry had no reason to risk their lives against Zhang Fei.

After all, Cao Cao in history was not present at the scene.

If Cao Cao were alive, the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry could certainly go up and show their faces in front of the leader.

So that the boss will remember you and you can become a familiar face.

But the boss isn't here, so why should I risk my life?
In the workplace, only the results matter, regardless of how hard you work.

Leaders only care about the results.

At that time, the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry were preoccupied with plundering and seeking credit.

At that time, a large number of people were also fleeing.

If they were to plunder people, the wealth they would plunder would surely be enormous.

Isn't this delicious?

On the contrary, fighting Zhang Fei to the death not only carries the risk of losing one's life.

If we kill Zhang Fei, we'll have to share the military merit with five thousand of our colleagues.

Five thousand men—even if we capture Liu Bei, it won't be enough to go around.

Let alone Zhang Fei.

Similarly, Cao Cao understood human nature and was convinced that those lower-ranking officers would not risk taking shortcuts to chase after him.

Because leaders only need to drink tea and make decisions in their offices, while lower-level employees have to consider many things.

Cao Cao didn't believe that so many people would risk taking the back road.

Especially since they might not even be able to catch up with you.

And what about the Wei soldiers?
They are fleeing for their lives and have to endure the harsh conditions.

No one wants to be taken prisoner unless absolutely necessary.

This is not just a matter of humiliation, but more importantly, their families are all in the State of Wei.

Being captured could mean being separated from loved ones forever.

Moreover, the two places are different, and their lifestyles and eating habits are also different.

Without any relatives or friends, who would be willing to force themselves to adapt to a foreign environment?

"...As the military classics say: 'When things are empty, make them real; when things are real, make them empty.'"

"I'll just take the back road and see how many officers dare to chase me."

After hearing Cao Cao's analysis, all the officials were completely convinced:
"Lord Wei's strategy is truly brilliant, beyond the reach of ordinary people!"

So the group withdrew their troops and fled through Huarong Road.

It was the dead of winter, with torrential rain, and the Huarong Road was so muddy it was knee-deep.

The Northern army was exhausted and starving, with wounded and sick soldiers piling up, and could only travel no more than ten miles a day.

The soldiers were exhausted after traveling for three days straight.

The people were all starving and the horses were exhausted.

Those who are overwhelmed with worry should be helped along.

The man, wounded by an arrow and a gun, managed to walk away with difficulty.

Their clothes and armor were soaked through, and none of them were intact.

Military weapons and flags were scattered and disheveled.

Most of them were driven away in a panic on the Yiling Road, only able to ride bald horses, having abandoned their saddles, bridles, and clothes.

In the dead of winter, the suffering was indescribable!

Suddenly, the army horses could not move, and Cao Cao hurriedly sent someone to inquire about the reason.

The sergeant reported:
"The road ahead is narrow and secluded, and because it rained this morning, the water in the ditch is stagnant."

"The horse's hooves are stuck in the mud and it cannot move forward."

Cao Cao was furious and shouted angrily:

"The military opens up roads through mountains and builds bridges over rivers."

"How can it be so muddy that it's impossible to walk on?"

So, the order was given.

They instructed the people they had previously abducted to go and fill the roads.

The strong men carried soil, bundles of firewood, and moved grass and reeds from behind.

The elderly, weak, sick, and disabled were put in the lead, and sickles were used to cut thatch so that they could pave the road.

As they were clearing the road, Cao Cao climbed to a high point and saw the dust and smoke of pursuing troops appearing behind him.

So he said with resentment:

"Whoever comes to pursue me must be a great general!"

Cao Cao knew that it must be someone in a high-ranking and powerful position within the Qi and Wu armies.

Even after chasing him for so long, he still dared to order his soldiers to take back paths to catch up with him.

It's unlikely that a typical mid- to low-ranking military officer would choose Huarong Road.

So he summoned the cavalry commander Cao Chun and called out:
"The situation is urgent!"

"They can lead the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry behind, urging the old and young to speed up the road paving."

"In case of any unforeseen circumstances, I have a plan to help the soldiers escape."

Cao Chun accepted the order, led the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, swords in hand, and urged the people to move forward.

Action must be taken promptly; anyone who disobeys will be executed immediately.

Anyone who is slow or delays will be executed on the spot!
The elderly, both old and frail, were all prostrate in the mud.

Bleeding from his ten fingers, he plucked weeds; a frail, sick child carried firewood to fill a hollow.

People often fell into the water, their cries of agony never ceasing.

An old man knelt and wept, holding his grandson.

"General, please have mercy!"

"General, please have mercy!"

Cao Cao pointed his horsewhip to the sky and shouted:

"If Heaven does not help Cao, then you yourselves will be the path to Heaven!"

Therefore, Cao Chunli was ordered to execute those who caused the trouble, and in a short time, the number of deaths was countless.

The sound of wailing never ceased along the road.

Cao Cao, already feeling frustrated and depressed after his defeat, heard the wailing of the crowd and immediately began to curse:
"Life and death are preordained, why cry?"

Anyone who cries again will be executed on the spot!

Everyone had no choice but to swallow their tears.

The three groups of troops were: one group fell behind, one group filled in the ditch, and one group followed Cao Cao.

Suddenly, the sound of drums and horns shook the sky from behind, and a troop of soldiers had arrived three miles away.

However, the muddy road was not even halfway across, and the Wei soldiers could not cross it.

Many people were terrified, thinking they were doomed.

Cao Xiu hurriedly came to find Cao Cao and reported:
"Lord Wei! The pursuers are coming!"

"It's the army of Eastern Wu! Zhou Yu's vanguard has already advanced three miles away!"

Cao Xiu looked flustered, because they were currently trapped in Huarong Road.

Ahead lay mud, behind them pursuers.

Whether we advance or retreat, we are both worried.

Moreover, they cannot fight a "do-or-die" battle; that requires many preconditions.

Not to mention that the Wei soldiers were all exhausted and had no will to fight anymore.

Cao Xiu worried that if Zhou Yu's troops arrived, they would surely find it difficult to win.

He was eventually captured by Zhou Yu!
Not only Cao Xiu, but all the other high-ranking military officers of Wei came to Cao Cao's side.

The report says the matter is urgent, and we urge Lord Cao to come up with a solution immediately.

After all, it was you who insisted on taking the Huarong Road, saying that the enemy wouldn't chase after you.

As it turns out, the enemy has caught up with us. You'd better make the decision yourself, boss.

Seeing everyone in a state of panic, Cao Cao remained unusually calm.

"Gentlemen, do not be alarmed. We will surely return alive from this journey!"

These men were all veterans who had followed Cao Cao for many years. Given the extremely urgent situation, they had no choice but to trust Cao Cao.

Cao Cao spurred his horse, rode up to Cao Chun's side, drew his sword, and shouted fiercely:

"Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, heed my command—proceed on the way!"

At a command, the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry roared and charged forward.

While women, children, and the elderly were still paving the road ahead, they suddenly heard a loud shout from behind.

Looking back, they were horrified.

They tried to escape, but the muddy road prevented them from getting away.

They were all trampled to death by the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry.

As the iron hooves thundered, white hair and skulls shattered beneath the stomp, and sick bodies and limbs sank into the roadbed.

A woman tightly embraced her baby as she sank into the mud; the baby's tiny hand could be seen briefly appearing before it sank again.

The blood and mud surged and turned into dark red, hard soil, allowing the three armies to advance swiftly.

It turns out that this traitor Cao had planned this all along.

If the roads for the elderly, infirm, sick, and disabled can be paved in time, then we can take them with us.

If the road is not properly paved and the enemy catches up, let the cavalry run it over and turn it into a road.

In this way, the Wei soldiers could pass through Huarong Road smoothly.

This is why Cao Cao initially forbade his soldiers from cutting down trees, felling timber, or mowing grass to pave roads.

It wasn't just to save them energy; more importantly, he couldn't bear to sacrifice his own soldiers to fill the road.

Upon witnessing this tragic scene, Yue Jin, the general in charge of the army, advised Cao Cao:

"...The people are also sons of man, this—"

Cao Cao sneered and interrupted, saying:

"I would rather betray others than be betrayed by them!"

So he personally led Cao Chun and others to step over the corpses.

The cries of the surviving people reached the heavens.

In contrast to the historical Battle of Changban, Cao Cao was triumphant after conquering Jingzhou.

He led 5,000 cavalry to pursue Liu Bei, whose marching speed was extremely slow at the time.

They helped the elderly and children, leading 100,000 people.

Liu Bei, unwilling to abandon the people, uttered that famous line that has resonated through the ages:

"To accomplish great things, one must prioritize the people. Now that these people have come to me, how can I bear to abandon them!"

Therefore, Liu Bei was caught up by Cao Cao and was brutally murdered by Cao Cao.

Both daughters also fell into Cao Chun's hands.

Not long after the Battle of Changban, it was Cao Cao's turn to be pursued by Liu Bei.

As it turns out, when it comes to escaping, Liu Bei and Cao Cao were both top-notch.

In this pursuit of Cao Cao, Liu Bei was also unable to catch up.

When Liu Bei caught up with Cao Cao and set him on fire, Cao Cao had already fled with his elite troops.

And he laughed and said:

"Liu Bei is indeed my rival, but unfortunately his wisdom came too late."

"If he had set the fire sooner, we would have been finished."

Historically, Guan Yu was not present at Huarong Road, nor did Zhuge Liang deliberately let Cao Cao escape.

At that time, Liu Bei and Cao Cao were already irreconcilable enemies, and Liu Bei couldn't wait to kill the other.

As for the claim in a certain TV series that both Sun Quan and Liu Bei hoped the other would kill Cao Cao so that he would incur the enmity of Wei, that is naturally completely illogical.

After all, the grudge from the Battle of Red Cliffs means that whether you kill Cao Cao or not, you've already forged a deep-seated hatred with Cao Wei.

How could they be afraid to pursue Cao Cao out of fear of killing him?

Soon, Cao Cao's army successfully passed through Huarong Road.

When Zhou Yu led his army to catch up, he was shocked by what he saw.

But on the muddy road,

The broken hairpin and the tattered armor sank together, and the child's remains were buried along with the arrowheads.

An old woman stood frozen by the roadside, her young grandson in her arms now a bloody mess, yet still staring wide-eyed as if alive.

When Zhou Yu and the other generals of Eastern Wu saw this, they all covered their faces and sighed.

Although they were also warlords, and although they did the things that warlords did.

But the situation of Cao Cao, who treated ordinary people as the foundation for paving roads and crushed them to death, is truly unprecedented.

Zhou Yu covered his face and sighed deeply:
"Even though I won this battle, I am still ashamed!"

So he ordered a temporary halt to the pursuit, rescued the people, and buried them by the roadside.

Not to be discussed.

……

(End of this chapter)