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

Chapter 328 The Ten Sages of the Martial Temple Must Have Made Contributions to Military Theory: Li Yi's Ten Victories and Ten Defeats Theory
In the first month of spring in the sixteenth year of Jian'an (208 AD), the Yellow River had not yet thawed, but the land of Henan was already engulfed in flames of war.

Xiahou Dun personally led an army of 100,000 to fight Liu Bei's final battle at the old site of Guandu. After seven days of fighting, the Wei army suffered a major defeat.

In fact, both sides had anticipated this outcome before the war even began.

After the Battle of Pengcheng, the main force of the Wei army was annihilated.

Cao Wei had basically lost the strength to compete with Liu Bei for the Central Plains.

The Battle of Guandu was nothing more than Cao Wei's last struggle.

Since they were all conscripted men and couldn't be taken away anyway, they were all sent to the battlefield.

This would also significantly reduce the population of Henan.

This indirectly weakens Henan's productivity and slows down its recovery.

The final defeat at Guandu was also within the expectations of the Cao Wei group.

On this day, the setting sun was like blood.

Xiahou Dun, with his one eye bandaged, led over ten thousand remaining soldiers to retreat to the walls of Luoyang.

"Open the city gate!"

Cao Hong roared from below the city walls, his voice like thunder.

Upon recognizing that the troops were his own, Sima Yi, the commander guarding the city, hurriedly ordered the drawbridge to be lowered.

When the defeated army entered the city, their banners were tattered and their armor was stained with blood.

Clearly, the battle in Henan had dampened their last shred of fighting spirit.

Xiahou Dun went straight into the mansion and immediately convened a top military meeting.

His single eye shone brightly as he surveyed the assembled generals, and he said in a deep voice:
"Gentlemen, the loss in this battle was due to our underestimation of the enemy."

He slammed his fist heavily on the table, making the teacups clink.

"The strength of the Qi army was truly beyond our expectations."

"I never imagined that the people of Qi, who had kept a low profile for so many years, would possess such formidable fighting power!"

Several battles in this Central Plains War were pure melee combat.

In a battle of attrition, everything depends on the team's morale and fighting strength.

Despite having a numerical advantage, the Wei army failed to decisively defeat the Qi forces.

This is indeed very frustrating.

"Now that Henan has fallen, the fate of the Central Plains is sealed!"

Xiahou Dun reluctantly announced the outcome of the battle.

Cao Hong frowned and said:
"Brother Yuanrang, why be discouraged? Before the war even started, didn't Lord Wei already prepare for the loss of Henan?"

"Although Henan has been lost, at least we still have Guanzhong."

"Except for those conscripted, most of the people in Henan have moved to Guanzhong."

"If we can rest for another three to five years, we might just have the strength to fight the Qi people again!"

"That's what Lord Wei thought too."

Xiahou Dun responded in agreement.

"...Urgent report from Chengdu is here."

He took out a scroll of silk from his bosom. "Duke Wei has decreed: We must defend Guanzhong to the death, for it is the last foundation of our Great Wei!"

The highest directive issued by Chengdu is that Xiahou Dun and his troops must hold Guanzhong.

Although Xichuan is easy to defend and difficult to attack, it is not easy to break in.

But launching an attack is equally difficult.

However, if there were Guanzhong as a buffer, the strategic situation would be much better.

Just as everyone was discussing how to pacify Guanzhong, a spy suddenly arrived with news—

"The armies of Li Yi, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Chen Deng have already assembled in Chenliu, showing no intention of disbanding or retreating."

"According to intelligence reports, they are definitely aiming for Guanzhong!"

The hall erupted in an uproar.

Sima Yi also stroked his long beard and said in a low voice:

"Moreover, according to intelligence reports, Ma Chao and Pang Tong's troops in Bingzhou have been frequently mobilizing recently, possibly to join forces with the enemy in Henan..."

Before he could finish speaking, Guo Huai suddenly stood up:

"That means five armies will launch a simultaneous attack! Even if General Han Sui leads the Xiliang army to reinforce, they will find it difficult to withstand their onslaught!"

"Our army has just suffered a defeat, and the soldiers have lost their will to fight. How can we possibly defend against the enemy?"

Upon hearing this, the entire room fell silent.

The silence lasted for a long time, and no one spoke.

It was Xiahou Dun who finally broke the silence.

"Allow me to write to Lord Wei and explain this matter."

"Let's see how Lord Wei decides."

Xiahou Dun was on the verge of tears; the outcome of this Central Plains war was even worse than they had anticipated.

Not only were their main forces scattered, but they also lost all of Henan, and failed to even seize the emperor.

Now, it seems we might not even be able to hold onto Guanzhong.

Xiahou Dun was truly too ashamed to return to Xichuan to see Cao Cao.

But ultimately, we have to face reality.

Cao Cao in Chengdu received a letter from Xiahou Dun, which read in brief:

Your subject, Dun, bows respectfully before Duke Wei:

"I am dull-witted and unworthy to hold this position. I have failed to contain the enemy from the outside, which led to the defeat of Chen and Peng. I deserve to die ten thousand times."

"The battle situation is hereby reported as follows:"

"In the Battle of Chen, our army fought fiercely with the main force of Qi for ten days and initially gained the upper hand."

"However, the bandit general Li Yi is full of tricks and secretly sent a surprise force to attack our rear."

"Despite the soldiers' valiant efforts, they were ultimately forced to retreat due to the cut-off of their supply lines."

"The emperor's carriage was caught in the chaos of the army; this is my greatest crime."

"In the decisive battle of Pengcheng, I personally led the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry in a fierce battle against Guan Yu's troops, killing three of his lieutenants and capturing twelve flags."

"However, the bandits swarmed together like ants, and our reinforcements had not yet arrived, leading to the defeat of the central army."

"Although the retreat was orderly, more than half of our elite troops were lost. This is my second major fault."

"Later, there were battles such as Chenggao and Guandu, in which there were minor victories, but they did not help the overall situation."

"The Qi army is now very arrogant. Instead of resting and regrouping, they are reinforcing their troops and stockpiling grain in Chenliu."

"A spy reports that Liu Bei has already formed an alliance with Li Yi, Chen Deng, and Guan Yu's forces, and may intend to advance westward."

"After our defeat at Pengcheng, our soldiers were scattered and killed, and the newly recruited soldiers had never fought in battle."

"To send an exhausted army to confront a newly victorious force is like throwing an egg against a rock."

"I humbly request Lord Wei to consider this carefully:"

“If we abandon Guanzhong, we can preserve the foundation of Western Sichuan, but I fear the whole world will be shaken.”

"If we want to protect Guanzhong, then please quickly dispatch elite troops from Xichuan and relocate people to populate the border."

"The decision on the survival of the nation is not one that I dare to make on my own."

"I am filled with trepidation as I write this, and await your wise decision."

"Your subject Dun bows and pays his respects twice."

"The sixteenth year of Jian'an, the third month of the year Gengzi."

……

Cao Cao felt deeply heavy-hearted upon receiving Xiahou Dun's letter.

"...Big Ears, you really make me look at you differently."

With that, Cao Cao slammed the letter onto the table.

Liu Bei's appetite also exceeded Cao Cao's expectations.

Originally, it was thought that Qi would be satisfied with conquering Henan after years of recuperation.

Unexpectedly, they also wanted to take over Guanzhong.

But then I thought about it again, and it made sense, since Henan had been completely ravaged by Cao Wei.

The State of Qi would certainly not be willing to suffer the consequences, so they would have to resort to bloodletting.

We must at least try to bring some Henan people back from Guanzhong.

"Lord Wei, it would be better to abandon Guanzhong."

Cheng Yu offered his opinion to Cao Cao.

"Since Xichuan has just been pacified, we cannot transfer too many troops out."

"If we ultimately fail to hold Guanzhong, it will only weaken the strength of Xichuan."

"It's really not worth the loss."

Cao Cao hesitated for a long time, then sighed:
"Am I really going to hand over Guanzhong, which I've built with so much effort, to Liu Bei just like that?"

So many resources had been invested in the westward migration of people to Guanzhong.

Finally, in order to prevent Liu Bei from having any of it, the infrastructure, granaries, farmland, and the like would definitely have to be burned.

But unless absolutely necessary, would Cao Cao really want to destroy it?

"Yizhou is a land of abundance."

"Emperor Gaozu thus established his imperial career."

Cheng Yu suddenly brought up an old story to Cao Cao.

"Does Lord Wei still remember why Liu Yan came to Yizhou back then?"

Cao Cao nodded, signaling Cheng Yu to speak.

Cheng Yu then said:

"Back when Liu Yan was in the capital, the Chamberlain Dong Fu once said to him privately—"

"The capital is in chaos, and the region of Yizhou has the aura of an emperor."

Therefore, Liu Yan requested the court to appoint him as the governor of Yizhou.

"Therefore, the court appointed Liu Yan as military supervisor and governor of Yizhou, and granted him the title of Marquis of Yangcheng."

Cao Cao raised an eyebrow, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

"What does Zhongde mean...?"

"Now Liu Yan and his son Liu Zhang have both been defeated and killed, yet they have failed to establish an empire."

"The land of Xichuan ultimately fell into the hands of Duke Wei. Is this not in accordance with the will of Heaven?"

"Xichuan is the place where you, my lord, rose to power!"

Well!
Upon hearing this, Cao Cao immediately perked up.

His heart was pounding; Cheng Yu's words greatly boosted his confidence.

Considering Dong Fu's prophecy, could it be that destiny truly belongs to the Cao family?
"...Ah, how dare I hope for such a thing."

Cao Cao said he dared not think about it, but a newfound ambition ignited in his heart.

This ambition arose from a twisted process after experiencing countless setbacks.

"Alright, let's abandon Guanzhong and defend Xichuan!"

With Cheng Yu's comfort, Cao Cao regained his spirits.

Right now, he has no time to care about what's happening in Guanzhong; he only wants to preserve Xichuan's strength.

So he immediately wrote a reply to Xiahou Dun, which read in brief:

Cao Baiyuanrang:

"I have received your letter. The defeat of Chen and Peng was not your fault."

"Victory and defeat are common occurrences in war; why should one take responsibility?"

"Now that things have come to this, we should think of a good plan and not harm ourselves."

"Although Guanzhong is a strategically important place, the Qi army is formidable and has Ma Chao as a reinforcement, so it may be difficult to hold out for long."

"Sichuan has just been pacified, and the various barbarian tribes have not yet submitted. If the garrison is lightly deployed, it may cause internal strife."

"Therefore, my mind is made up: abandon Guanzhong and preserve the foundation."

"You may gather all the troops and hold Hulao Pass."

"This pass is a strategically important and dangerous place, capable of holding off the enemy for years."

"In the meantime, quickly relocate the people of Guanzhong to Shu, so as not to let them aid the enemy."

"Although the migrants from Henan are resentful, extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures."

"Even if one out of ten moves, it's still better than keeping them all."

"Not a single person will be spared, not an inch of land will be given away!"

"Great undertakings are difficult; I hope you will persevere."

"Once Xichuan is stabilized, we can then plan our next move."

“Written by Wei Gongcao.”

After receiving the highest instructions from Chengdu, Xiahou Dun felt more confident.

He immediately summoned all the generals and gave them instructions:

"Lord Wei has made a clear decision; we should act on it swiftly."

"Immediately convey the Duke of Wei's order to the entire army."

"Guanzhong cannot be defended, but the people cannot be left behind."

"From this day forward, all people shall be relocated to Sichuan. Anyone who dares to linger shall be punished as a traitor!"

The generals solemnly accepted the order, but Cao Ren, filled with worry, offered his advice:
“Yuan Rang, the migration of people from Henan has not been long, and the people’s grievances have not yet subsided.”

"If we continue with this strategy now, it may lead to a major upheaval."

Xiahou Dun frowned; he was well aware of this outcome.
However, this was Cao Cao's order, and he could not disobey it.

Then he coldly said:

"Zixiao, the Qi army is now eyeing us covetously. If we wait until they are at the gates of the city before we move, it will be too late!"

"Even if public resentment boils over, we must not allow a single person to aid the enemy!"

Cao Ren remained silent and said no more.

Xiahou Dun then summoned Guo Huai to the tent and solemnly said:
"Boji, Hulao Pass is a formidable pass in the world."

"I now give you 20,000 elite troops. You must stop the enemy outside the pass and buy time for the people to migrate."

While Xiahou Dun's move was intended to promote younger talent, it also placed the most difficult and risky task on Guo Huai.

Guo Huai knew the weight of his responsibility, but still clasped his hands in agreement:
"This humble general will defend this pass to the death. Even if the Qi army has a million soldiers, they will not be able to cross this line!"

Xiahou Dun nodded and then instructed again:
"Remember, do not fight recklessly; just hold your ground."

"You may withdraw only after all the people of Guanzhong have been relocated."

Guo Huai's eyes narrowed, but he still said resolutely:
"Yes, I will understand!"

Subsequently, the Cao Wei group split into two routes.

One group, led by Guo Huai, headed to Hulao Pass to garrison the remaining elite troops.

Led by members of the imperial clan such as Xiahou Dun, Cao Hong, and Cao Ren, one group was responsible for carrying out a second migration of the people in Guanzhong.

The day the order was issued, Guanzhong was shaken.

The Wei army went door-to-door to drive out the people, and those who refused were burned down and their livelihoods cut off.

People, young and old, wept and cried throughout the fields.

An old man might kneel down and plead:
"General! We have lived in Guanzhong for generations, and our ancestral graves are all here. How can we bear to abandon them?"

The military officer shouted sternly:

"When Dong Zhuo moved the capital west to Chang'an, the emperor also traveled west."

"Besides, aren't you just an ordinary commoner?"

"Lord Wei has decreed that anyone who disobeys will be executed!"

They then forcibly drove them away.

To improve the efficiency of the migration, Xiahou Dun issued an order.

Separate the soldiers and civilians, with each civilian in one team and the soldiers in another, and have them drag and escort each other.

In a short time, countless people died in the ditch.

Because most of the regular troops in the Wei army had been annihilated, many of them were newly recruited soldiers with extremely poor discipline.

In addition, the Wei army suffered a defeat and its morale was low, so they raped women and children and stole food from people along the way.

The report was relayed to Xiahou Dun, Cao Hong, and other high-ranking Wei military officials, and a discussion ensued.

Everyone felt that maintaining firm control over the military was the right thing to do right now.

Although Xiahou Dun himself was also a skilled military trainer and emphasized strict military discipline.

However, there are simply too many newly recruited soldiers at the moment, and it is impossible to manage them all in a short period of time.

To maintain morale, we must be patient for now.

Otherwise, it would incite a mutiny, and the relocation plan would fall through.

Therefore, the soldiers' acts of raping other men's wives and daughters and robbing people's property were not investigated or restrained.

Because of the indulgence of the higher authorities, the cries of weeping in the Guanzhong region shook heaven and earth.

Anyone who is slow to proceed will be urged on by three thousand soldiers who will wield swords and kill people on the road.

Then the Wei army set fire to the houses of the residents.

Flames lashed, and farmhouses and houses were reduced to scorched earth.

He then ordered the tomb raiders and generals to continue the tradition in Henan, having soldiers excavate the tombs of officials and civilians.

The Wei army loaded thousands of carts with gold, pearls, silk, and other fine goods.

Relocating all the people of Guanzhong to Shu would not be something that could be done in just a few days.

Moreover, much wealth is still en route, and the Wei army will need a considerable amount of time. Whether this plan can be successfully completed depends entirely on Hulao Pass and Guo Huai.

……

Yanzhou, Chenliu.

Inside Qi Xiang's tent, a messenger announced that Yuan Yin, the Prefect of Danyang, had come to see him.

Li Yi ordered them to enter.

A moment later, Yuan Yin, disheveled and filthy, stumbled into Li Yi's tent, knelt down with a thud, and wept uncontrollably.

"Brother-in-law! That Wu traitor has betrayed us and actually feigned illness to launch a sneak attack on Danyang!"

"I...I have truly done my best..."

Yuan Yin immediately tried to claim kinship, seemingly very afraid of losing Danyang and being held accountable by the state.

Li Yi hurriedly stepped forward to help him up, gently comforting him:
"...Brother-in-law, please don't worry."

"Danyang was originally a barbarian land. The court established the prefecture only to prevent the Wu people from moving north."

"Over the years, my brother-in-law has recruited elite troops from Danyang and repeatedly thwarted the Wu army's advance, which has already been a great contribution to the country."

This statement gave Yuan Yin a way out.

The so-called repeated defeats of Wu's army's sharp edge actually meant that Yuan Yin led the Danyang troops to conduct military exercises on the border of Wu.

Sometimes they even crossed the border to conduct military exercises, and the people of Wu, fearing the state of Qi behind them, all chose to tolerate it.

Therefore, Li Yi jokingly referred to him as "repeatedly thwarting the Wu army's advance".

Of course, Yuan Yin's move dealt a heavy blow to Wu's army, at least ideologically.

That can also be considered a meritorious act.

Yuan Yin raised his tearful eyes:

"Could it be that my brother-in-law knew all along that Danyang was doomed?"

Li Yi sighed softly and gestured for a servant to serve tea.

"Ever since Lü Meng crossed the river in disguise to attack Jingzhou, I have predicted that Sun Quan would definitely target Danyang."

"With Jingzhou secured, the people of Wu will naturally seek another way out."

"hateful!!"

Yuan Yin suddenly slammed his fist on the table and stood up, his hair and beard bristling.

"Back then, the Sun family was nothing more than a lackey of the Yuan family."

"Sun Bofu was able to establish his career in Jiangdong thanks to my father's military force."

"Hmph, I never thought raising a wolf as a guard dog would be so difficult."

"How dare they turn against their master! Brother-in-law, you must avenge your brother!"

"Brother-in-law, please calm down."

Li Yi pressed down on Yuan Yin's trembling hands, "Although the Wu people gained Danyang, they lost their great general Lü Meng."

"This battle may seem to have been advantageous, but in reality it resulted in heavy losses and serious damage."

"It won't cause any major waves in the short term."

Li Yi strolled to the tent entrance and pointed westward:
"The most urgent task at present is to take advantage of the Wei army's recent defeat and recover Guanzhong in one fell swoop."

"Once the Central Plains are pacified..."

He turned to look at Yuan Yin, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

"At that time, we will advance by both land and water, and we will surely repay the Wu people with an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, making them pay for their blood debt!"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Yin's cloudy eyes finally lit up.

Li Yi patted him on the shoulder:

"I have already ordered a banquet to be prepared. Tonight, I will drink with my brother-in-law until we are completely drunk."

"Tomorrow I will submit a memorial to the King of Qi, requesting that my brother-in-law be transferred to Hebei to reunite with his family."

The implication was that Yuan Yin shouldn't overthink things and should just focus on living well.

Once you get to Hebei, your good days are far from over.

Yuan Yin was deeply moved and thanked him repeatedly. He then embraced Li Yi and they went into the tent to drink together.

After several rounds of drinks, a personal guard suddenly came to report from outside the tent:
King Qi urgently summoned the Prime Minister to his tent for a meeting!

Li Yi put down his wine cup and laughed:
"It must be a plan to advance into Guanzhong."

He turned to Yuan Yin and said, "Brother-in-law, please come with me."

Yuan Yin was taken aback upon hearing this, but then understood.

This clearly indicates that Li Yi intends to introduce himself to Liu Bei.

Such opportunities are rare and hard to come by.

Fortunately, he was related to Li Yi by marriage; otherwise, let alone ordinary people, how many high-ranking officials and nobles would have had the opportunity to meet Liu Bei?

And was he recommended by Prime Minister Qi?
Yuan Yin quickly straightened his clothes and said in a low voice:

"I will never forget my brother-in-law's kindness in helping me."

"Hey, we're family, no need to stand on ceremony."

Li Yi waved his hand to interrupt, and had already stood up and put on his brocade robe.

The two arrived at the royal tent under the moonlight, only to find it brightly lit.

Guan Yu stroked his beard as he looked at the painting, Chen Deng took notes, while Zhang Fei paced back and forth anxiously.

It seems that all the military leaders of Qi have arrived, and Li Yi is the rare last one to arrive.

Liu Bei sat upright in the main seat. Upon seeing Li Yi enter, he deliberately put on a stern face and said:
"Ziyu is always diligent in his duties, why is he so late today?"

"Could it be that he was tripped up by some beautiful woman?"

The generals in the tent all laughed upon hearing this.

For Li Yi, a figure who was almost "deified" in the State of Qi, to be ridiculed in this way in public was indeed laughable.

Li Yi calmly bowed and said:

"I was just talking with Yuan Yin, the Prefect of Danyang, which is why I am late."

He then turned to Liu Bei and introduced them:
“This is my brother-in-law, Yuan Yin, who guarded Danyang for more than ten years and repeatedly thwarted the Wu army’s advance.”

Liu Bei's eyes flashed like lightning as he sized up Yuan Yin.

Yuan Yin immediately prostrated himself in respect:

"A defeated general is ashamed to face Your Majesty."

"Please rise, Yuan Qing."

Liu Bei said gently, "Ziyu often tells me that although Danyang is small, it is a crucial point for containing Eastern Wu."

"It is truly remarkable that you have been able to persevere for so many years."

Liu Bei was truly giving him face. Knowing that Li Yi wanted to promote Yuan Yin, he took the opportunity to praise his achievements.

It is said that Yuan Yin protected Danyang and suppressed Eastern Wu for many years.

The reason he was able to hold out for so many years was not because Yuan Yin did anything particularly good, but because he had the State of Qi behind him.

Behind Danyang lies Huainan, where Chen Yuanlong's Huainan navy is located.

Would the people of Wu dare to make any rash moves?

But no matter what, politics is all about results.

Yuan Yin's defense of Danyang for many years was a testament to his political achievements.

Li Yi added in a timely manner:

"Last year, Lü Meng crossed the river in disguise. If it weren't for Prefect Yuan holding back the main force of the Wu army in Danyang, Jingzhou would probably have been difficult to protect."

Liu Bei then clapped his hands in praise and exclaimed:

"Such a meritorious official deserves a reward."

After a moment's thought, he said:
"He is hereby promoted to Marquis of Ganling, appointed as the Gentleman of Qi, and sent to Hebei to take up his post."

Well!
Yuan Yin was overjoyed.

It wasn't that being granted a title was particularly appealing; having come from a family that had held high office for four generations, he wasn't particularly interested in such fame and fortune.

Moreover, there were many marquises within the State of Qi, with more than eighty marquises within the Pass alone.

What truly surprised him was that not only would he escape blame for losing Danyang, but he would also receive such a generous reward.

Most importantly, Liu Bei personally appointed him to go to Hebei.

What kind of place is Hebei?
That was the province with the highest GDP in the State of Qi, a prosperous place with the highest per capita income.

But whose territory is Hebei?

That's my brother-in-law!
After living in such a poor and remote place as Danyang for so many years, I can finally go to the "Shanghai" of Qi to have some fun.

Yuan Yin never expected Liu Bei to give Li Yi so much face.

Just now, he made fun of Li Yi in public, and Yuan Yin was worried about the relationship between the emperor and his subject.

Now it seems he was overthinking things.

National affairs are national affairs, and family affairs are family affairs.

When Li Yi had any personal problems that needed to be resolved, Liu Bei was always happy to help.

"Quickly express your gratitude!"

Li Yi gently nudged Yuan Yin and whispered in his ear.

Yuan Yin trembled with excitement and kowtowed deeply:
"Chen...chen..."

"Wait a moment to express your gratitude."

Liu Bei suddenly laughed and said, "Today's military council is of great importance. Minister Yuan might as well stay and discuss it."

Upon hearing this, all the generals in the tent showed surprise.

It should be known that only the five military commanders were qualified to participate in such important military matters.

Guan Yu slightly opened his narrowed phoenix eyes, Zhang Fei stopped in his tracks, and Chen Deng glanced at Li Yi thoughtfully.

The three of them seemed to be tacitly teasing each other—"The Prime Minister has such a big face!"

Li Yi knew this was an extraordinary favor from the Prince of Qi, and was about to decline on Yuan Yin's behalf when he saw Yuan Yin already bowing respectfully.

"Your subject is willing to serve you like a dog or a horse!"

Ok.

Liu Bei nodded in satisfaction, then said seriously:
"Alright, now that Ziyu is here, let's get back to business."

"Gentlemen, a scout just reported that Xiahou Dun has begun forcibly relocating people from Guanzhong..."

"Although I have now taken over all of Henan, less than one in ten of the people of Henan remain."

"The farmhouses were completely destroyed, and the granaries were all burned."

"It is truly a case of one in a hundred surviving people, a thought that breaks one's heart."

"This poem was written by Cao Cao. How could he bear to do such a thing!"

Upon hearing this, everyone lowered their heads and sighed.

Henan's productivity has been severely damaged, and it will become Qi's drain for at least the next two or three years.

It is unlikely that the region will bring positive benefits to the State of Qi until its productivity is restored.

"...Hmph, Cao Cao is truly despicable!"

"We risked our lives and fought bravely to take Henan, but Cao Cao left us a piece of land empty-handed!"

Zhang Fei was so angry he wanted to grind his teeth.

Although there had been prior intelligence reports that Cao Wei had been conducting mass troop movements in Henan, burning fields and granaries.

But until they fully took over Henan, the Qi army still held onto a sliver of hope.

Leave some room for imagination.

I never imagined that Cao Cao was really this ruthless.

Bones are exposed in the wild, and no rooster crows for thousands of miles.

It turns out that Cao Cao wrote this poem to set performance targets for his subordinates!
Zhang Fei couldn't help but interject:
"Brother! Let me lead a troop of light cavalry to intercept them!"

"Yide, please calm down."

Liu Bei gestured for him to sit down, but his gaze fell on Li Yi.

"What does Ziyu think?"

Li Yi stared at the map on the table, then suddenly pointed to a pass:
"Our top priority is to take this place before Cao Cao's army does."

Everyone stood up and looked in the direction Li Yi was pointing—Hulao Pass.

"Gentlemen, you shall see that Cao Wei's current strategy will surely follow the old tricks of Dong Zhuo."

"Hulao Pass is bordered by the Yellow River to the north and Mount Song to the south, with intersecting mountains and ridges, truly a place blessed by heaven."

"One man can hold the pass against ten thousand."

"Back then, the coalition forces against Dong Zhuo were blocked at this formidable pass and could not advance an inch."

The group exchanged bewildered glances. Judging from Li Yi's words, Cao Wei likely intended to concentrate its resources at Hulao Pass to buy time for the relocation of the people.

However, it is universally acknowledged that Hulao Pass is easy to defend and difficult to attack.

Even the Guandong Coalition failed to break through Hulao Pass, and it was Dong Zhuo who took the initiative to move the capital and abandon it.

Of course, there were many reasons at the time.

The Allied forces were not united, and supplies could not keep up during the winter.

The Xiliang army was strong in combat, etc.

But these days are different.

Seeing everyone's worry, Li Yi suddenly flicked his robe:
"Gentlemen, do not worry, the situation today is different from that of the past."

"Our army has ten victories, while Cao Wei has ten defeats."

Guan Yu slightly opened his phoenix eyes, "I would like to hear the details."

Liu Bei also leaned forward slightly, listening intently.

"In the past, when the feudal lords attacked Dong Zhuo, each harbored their own selfish motives."

"Now that the royal army is on a campaign, the people above and below are of one mind."

“Yuan Shao and his ilk lack foresight, while Your Majesty strategizes with mastery. This is the way of Heaven, not a matter of strategic passes.”

"This way is the best."

"Dong Zhuo held the fierce and powerful army of Xiliang, and Cao Cao lost his elite troops in Henan."

"They defend the strategic pass with their remaining troops, while we attack with our full strength. With their forces shifting, what can we rely on even if there are passes?"

"This situation is advantageous."

"Back then, the heroes only knew how to swarm and attack cities like ants. Now, our army can send Ma Chao to cross the river as a surprise force, circumvent the enemy's rear, and make the rebels attack from both sides."

"Sun Tzu said, 'To engage with the enemy using orthodox methods and to win using unorthodox methods' is the best strategy."

"This strategy will succeed."

"Cao Cao relocated people like dogs and pigs, causing resentment among the people."

"The king's benevolence extends throughout the four seas, and the people look up to him with longing."

"He who wins the hearts of the people wins the world; what need is there for strong cities and high walls?"

"This people have won."

"In the past, the feudal lords collapsed when their food supplies ran out, but now our army's granaries are full."

"Before half of their people had been relocated, our troops had already arrived."

"It can truly be said that if one does not seize a gift from Heaven, one will suffer the consequences!"

"Victory is assured at this moment."

"In the past, Lü Bu was the bravest general in the world, but now Wei has no generals who can last long."

"Our general Guan Yu is a match for ten thousand men, and Yi De is a fierce and powerful minister."

"With our sharp edge, we will strike their laziness, and we will surely break through their defenses!"

"This general will win."

"Cao Cao held the emperor hostage and commanded the feudal lords; Your Majesty should uphold the Han dynasty and punish the disloyal."

"They are traitors to the Han, we are loyal and virtuous. Where righteousness lies, the three armies will fight to the death."

"This meaning is superior."

"The Wei government emphasized punishment and law, and the people feared its power but did not cherish its virtue."

"The laws of Qi clearly define rewards and punishments, and the soldiers are grateful and happy to serve."

"By using order to quell chaos, the outcome is already decided."

"This is the way to achieve victory."

"Cao Cao appointed people based solely on his own relatives, and all his subordinates were surnamed Xiahou or Cao."

"And Your Majesty selects officials according to their talents, so that even commoners can advance."

"They are bound by their own narrow-mindedness, while I gather all talents."

"This time we will win."

"Cao Cao was suspicious, and his generals and soldiers were disloyal."

"With the king's sincerity, the people are united as one. Facing darkness with light, it is like the sun melting frost."

"This is a clear victory."

"With these ten advantages, are you gentlemen still afraid that you cannot break through the small Hulao Pass?"

Li Yi presented his theory of ten victories and ten defeats in a lengthy and detailed manner.

(It is said that when later generations mentioned the theory of ten victories and ten defeats, they first thought of Li Yi, not Guo Jia.)

"good!"

Liu Bei was overjoyed and stood up, saying, "With these ten advantages, why should I worry about not defeating Cao Cao?"

Chen Deng calmly asked, "Does the Prime Minister mean that we should launch a full-scale attack on Hulao Pass regardless of the cost?"

Li Yi sneered and shook his head: "No, we still need to divide our forces."

(End of this chapter)