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

Chapter 367 Sima Yi Crosses the Lu River in May and Massacres the Southern Barbarians Seven Times.
In the early spring of the sixth year of Zhangwu.

The capital of Yizhou Prefecture was Dianchi City.

The Yong family mansion was brightly lit.

Yong Kai paced back and forth in the hall, holding Zhang Hong's secret letter in his hand.

"Is my lord still hesitating?"

Li Cheng, a trusted confidant, cupped his hands and said, "The oppressive policies of Cao Wei have caused the people of Yizhou to suffer for too long."

"The legitimate Han dynasty is now in Luoyang. Since His Majesty is willing to support us, how can we let this golden opportunity slip by!"

Yong Kai slammed the letter on the table, put his hands behind his back, and sighed:
“Zhao Ang has been pressing for the payment of grain and fodder very urgently lately, which is really annoying.”

"However, raising an army in rebellion is no small matter..."

Before he could finish speaking, a servant rushed to report:

"Mr. Zhang Hong has visited!"

Zhang Hong, dressed in blue robes and a silk turban, entered gracefully.

After exchanging greetings, he spoke frankly:
"Is Duke Yong still hesitant?"

"Zhuge has prepared 100,000 bushels of grain and 500 sets of armor, just waiting for Lord Yong to raise his arm and give the order."

"Then we can proceed with the plan!"

Yong Kai dismissed his attendants and whispered:

“Mr. Zigang, it is not that I am timid or hesitant.”

"However, the southern region is not as prosperous as Chengdu, and Sima Yi is ruthless and vindictive."

"I'm also worried that I can't afford the consequences of defeat..."

"Hahaha!"

Zhang Hong laughed loudly upon hearing this, "Have you not heard the saying, 'When a fierce tiger is in the deep mountains, all beasts tremble in fear'?"

"Now that Lord Zhuge is in Jiaozhou, he is like a tiger crouching on a mountain. How dare Sima Yi make a move?"

As he spoke, he took out a silk book from his sleeve.

"This is the Emperor of Han's own handwriting, appointing you as the Governor of Yizhou and General Who Guards the South."

In the candlelight, desire burned brightly in Yong Kai's eyes.

After pondering for a long time, he slammed his hand on the table and said:

"Excellent! That scoundrel Zhao Ang is pressing for grain supplies so urgently; I've wanted to get rid of him for a long time!"

"Now that the imperial edict is here, how can Kai not obey?"

That night, Yong Kai led his family troops in a surprise attack on the prefect's residence.

Zhao Ang was still reviewing documents when he heard the news and was greatly alarmed. He drew his sword and roared angrily:

"Yong Kai! How dare you rebel?"

Yong Kai sneered:

"You traitor Wei! Today is your death day!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a flash of light appeared on his blade.

Zhao Ang's head rolled off, blood splattering across the documents.

"Yong Kai has rebelled!"

The news quickly reached Chengdu.

Cao Pi slammed his fist on the table in anger, gritting his teeth in fury.

"I told you long ago that this scoundrel is no benevolent person."

"This scoundrel must be the one who instigated the local people to rebel the other day!"

"Order the troops to muster!"

"I will personally lead the army and slay this traitor!"

Cao Pi's eyes flashed with murderous intent, and he decided to personally lead an expedition south.

"Your Majesty, please wait."

Sima Yi stepped forward, his expression calm.
"The roads to the south are treacherous and the army is far away. I fear that such a long expedition would be fruitless and exhausting."

"It would be better to send an envoy to appease them first, and then make further plans."

Cao Pi snorted coldly:
"Does the Grand Commandant intend to let the tiger return to the mountain again?"

"Didn't you say before that Yong Kai was the chief culprit in the rebellion in the south?"

"I have absolutely no intention of letting the tiger return to the mountain."

Sima Yi shook his head and explained:
"It is not advisable to wage a large-scale war in the southern region, as it would only exhaust the people and waste resources."

"I believe that Zhang Yi should be appointed as the governor of Yizhou, and that he should write a letter to Yong Kai explaining the advantages and disadvantages."

Cao Pi hesitated for a moment, then sighed:

"Alright, this is my last chance for him."

"If they still do not appreciate our efforts, we will make the people of the South pay the price."

Therefore, an imperial edict was immediately issued, ordering Zhang Yi to enter the territory and pacify the southern region.

As soon as Zhang Yi entered the territory, he was captured by Yong Kai's men.

Seeing his emaciated appearance, Yong Kai sneered:

“Lord Zhang is like a gourd, smooth on the outside but coarse on the inside. Killing him would only soil my blade.”

He then ordered his men to bind him and send him to Chengdu.

At this time, Sima Yi's letter also arrived.

Yong Kai read it aloud and saw that it said—

"Your family has lived in the south for generations, so you must know that Zhuge Liang is cunning."

"Their instigation of chaos is actually an attempt to reap the benefits without lifting a finger."

"If you agree to withdraw your troops, the court will appoint you as the governor of Yizhou and forgive your past transgressions."

"Only the general can observe this."

After reading it, Yong Kai hesitated and asked Zhang Hong:

Is Sima Yi's letter credible?

Zhang Hong sneered:
"Have you not seen the Jingguan (a mound of stones) in Qi County?"

"Sima Yi slaughtered the people and built a tower of corpses."

"How can such vicious people be trusted with anything?"

Upon hearing this, Yong Kai's expression changed drastically, and he immediately wrote back:

"I have heard that there cannot be two suns in the sky, nor two kings on the land."

"The world is now divided into three, and people from afar are bewildered and do not know where to go!"

It means that I've heard that there can only be one sun in the sky and one ruler in a country.

The world is currently divided into three kingdoms, yet three different calendars are in use.

Therefore, people in remote places were deeply bewildered, not knowing where to turn.

Its arrogance and unruliness reached this point.

Subsequently, Yong Kai expelled the Wei envoy and formally raised an army to rebel against Wei.

However, the Han people of Yizhou were mostly afraid of Cao Wei's harsh laws and punishments, so few responded.

Yong Kai was worried about this and summoned his men to discuss it.

"The barbarian king Meng Huo is highly respected. If we can get his help, we can accomplish great things."

The strategist Li Cheng made a suggestion.

Yong Kai pondered for a moment and said:
“Meng Huo is ambitious and I fear he will be difficult to control.”

Zhang Hong, however, laughed and said:

"It is precisely because they are ambitious that they can be exploited."

"Our greatest enemy now is Cao Wei. We should discuss other matters after we have conquered Chengdu."

As for Zhang Hong, he only hoped that the south would be in complete chaos.

Whether the person in charge is Meng Huo or Yong Kai is not important.

The important thing is to make things difficult for Cao Wei.

That night, Yong Kai personally went to Meng Huo's camp.

The barbarian king, with his broad shoulders and thick waist, and wearing gold earrings, laughed loudly when he saw Yong Kai arrive:
"Duke Yong's visit at night, could it be that he wants to borrow our barbarian troops?"

Yong Kai said solemnly:
"The harsh policies of Cao Wei caused suffering to both Han and barbarian peoples."

"The Han emperor is currently in Luoyang and has appointed me as the governor of Yizhou."

"If Your Majesty helps me, we will share the land."

Meng Huo squinted:

"Han people are hard to believe; words alone are not enough."

"The five counties west of Dianchi Lake shall all belong to Your Majesty."

Yong Kai ordered someone to bring him a diagram.

"He also gifted 300 catties of salt and iron, and 200 bolts of brocade."

Meng Huo laughed loudly:

“Very well! In that case, I shall accompany Duke Yong on this journey.”

It turns out that Meng Huo had long harbored the intention to rebel against Chengdu.

They were simply afraid of Cao Wei's large army and dared not make any rash moves.

Now that the trend is clear, how can we not follow it?
"However, the Yi Sou tribe has not yet submitted, so we need to use a strategy to persuade them."

I'll tell him about it tomorrow.

The next day, Meng Huo summoned the chieftain of the Yi tribe and feigned concern, saying:

"The imperial court wants to conscript three hundred black dogs, all with black chests."

"Three bushels of mite brains, three thousand logs chopped, each log must be three zhang long."

The chieftain exclaimed in surprise:
"Is what Your Majesty says true? The tallest tree we can chop is no more than two zhang high. Isn't this forcing us to rebel?"

Meng Huo sighed and said:
"I also cannot bear to see the barbarians suffer."

"Why don't we—rebel with me!"

The old men looked at each other for a moment, then shouted in unison:

"Reverse! Reverse!"

On March 15th, the situation in Yizhou Prefecture changed drastically.

The allied forces of Yong Kai and Meng Huo attacked various cities, and Cao Wei officials were either killed or fled.

Above Dianchi Lake, a large banner bearing the inscription "Yong, Prefect of Yizhou during the Han Dynasty" hangs high.

One stone stirs up a thousand waves, and a storm suddenly rises over the southern land.

Upon receiving Yong Kai's proclamation, Zhu Bao, the governor of Zangke, immediately executed the Wei official in the prefecture and raised troops in response.

King Gao Ding of Yuexi also gathered tens of thousands of barbarian soldiers and attacked and occupied the prefecture capital.

The three southern prefectures of Yizhou all rebelled, but Lü Kai, the prefect of Yongchang, remained in his city and refused to obey the orders of the rebels.

Upon hearing the report, Yong Kai sneered:

"Lu Kai is out of touch with reality; he should be eliminated quickly!"

Zhang Hong waved his hand and said:
"The Lü family has guarded Yongchang for generations and is deeply loved by the people, making it difficult to conquer by force."

"It would be better to use a proclamation."

He then picked up his pen and wrote a letter, which he then sent urgently to Yongchang.

Yongchang City, Prefectural Governor's Residence.

Lu Kai held the proclamation in his hand, his fingertips trembling slightly.

The officials below the hall held their breath in anticipation.

Lu Kai slowly unfurled the silk, revealing it covered in ink stains:
"Disaster and chaos descended from the heavens, and treacherous heroes seized the opportunity. The world gnashed its teeth, and all nations mourned."

"General, you have received the Han's favor for generations. You should be the first to serve the country and live up to your ancestors' expectations."

"How can we bow down to the enemy and abandon the fundamental for the trivial?"

People on both sides said:
"Yong Kai merely borrowed Zhuge Liang's influence to attempt to establish a separatist regime."

"If you, my lord, agree to this, you will surely be used by Zhuge Liang!"

Lu Kai raised his hand to stop him and continued reading:
“In the past, Emperor Shun diligently served the people, but died in Cangwu.”

"King Wen received the mandate, and by the time of King Cheng, the country was at peace."

"Now His Majesty has risen to power in Luoyang, and the whole country follows his lead."

"General, do you not see the signs of rise and fall, success and failure?"

As dusk settled outside the window, Lü Kai sighed deeply and threw the manifesto onto the table:
"Zhang Hong compared Liu Bei to Shun and King Wen, and compared Yongchang to Cangwu..."

"This means that if I do not obey, I will be like a barbarian fool who does not know God."

That night, the gates of Yongchang were opened wide.

Lu Kai, dressed in white, stepped forward and bowed to Zhang Hong, saying:
"It is not that I am afraid of death, but that I cannot bear to see the people of this prefecture suffer the calamity of war."

Zhang Hong laughed loudly:

"General Lü is a man of great integrity and will surely become a great minister of the Han Dynasty in the future!"

So far,

The four commanderies of Nanzhong—Yizhou, Zangke, Yuexi, and Yongchang—all rebelled against Cao Wei.

Beacon fires illuminated the night, and smoke billowed into the sky.

Its momentum was immense, shaking the southwest.

When the news reached Chengdu, Cao Pi was furious upon reading the memorial.

He threw the tablet to the ground and summoned his ministers to discuss matters.

"The Grand Commandant has wronged me!"

Cao Pi slammed his fist on the table and stood up, staring at Sima Yi.

"You once said that Yong Kai could be pacified, but now you have raised an army in rebellion. What do you have to say about that?"

Sima Yi prostrated himself on the ground to plead guilty:
"I have failed in my judgment of people and deserve to die a thousand deaths."

"However, Yong Kai is fickle and unpredictable, which is beyond my ability to foresee."

Cao Pi was furious:

“Nanzhong is our rear. If we lose this place, the Qi people will surely take advantage of the opportunity to invade.”

"I will personally lead the expedition to serve as a warning to others!"

Sima Yi urgently advised:

"Your Majesty, please reconsider! The south is a barren land, a land of miasma and plague."

"It is not appropriate for Your Majesty to undertake such a heavy responsibility as to personally lead an expedition."

"Moreover, Yong Kai and his ilk are like scabies; we only need to send a great general to deal with them, and we will surely succeed."

Cao Pi pondered for a moment and asked:
"According to your suggestion, who should be sent?"

Sima Yi cupped his hands and said:

"The land of the southern barbarians is far from the country."

"Many people are not accustomed to the king's rule, making them very difficult to subdue."

"I am willing to personally lead the expedition. I can be both forceful and tactful, and I have made other considerations. It is not something that can be easily entrusted to others."

Cao Pi's anger turned to joy, and he said:
"If the Grand Commandant is willing to go, what more could I possibly worry about?"

Sima Yi was immediately appointed as the supreme commander of all military affairs for the southern expedition, and was granted the authority to lead the expedition independently.

Sima Yi returned to his residence and immediately mobilized his troops.

Deng Ai was appointed as his military advisor, and Fa Zheng as his chief secretary.

Huang Quan and Xu Jing were appointed as clerks.

Le Jin and Ma Zhong were appointed as generals and commanders-in-chief of the army.

Wang Ping and Zhang Yi were appointed as deputy generals.

Several dozen elite soldiers were transferred from the original Cao Wei group.

A total of 30,000 Sichuan troops were mobilized, and they chose an auspicious day to sacrifice the flag and set off for the expedition.

Before his departure, Fazheng advised him:
“The terrain in the south is treacherous, and the barbarians are cunning.”

"It is advisable to strike first and achieve a swift victory."

Sima Yi nodded:
“Xiaozhi’s words are correct.”

"However, Yong Kai and others each harbor different intentions, so they can be divided and defeated one by one."

The army departed Chengdu, its banners obscuring the sun, its weapons like a forest.

Sima Yi issued a strict order to his army: "Wherever you go, do not commit any offenses."

"Anyone who dares to take even a single item from the people without permission shall be executed without pardon!"

As a result, military discipline was strictly enforced.

Meanwhile, Yong Kai heard in Yizhou that Sima Yi was leading an army on a personal expedition.

He urgently summoned Zhang Hong, Gao Ding, and Zhu Bao to discuss the matter.

Zhang Hong offered a plan:
"The troops led by Sima Yi are all the elite of Wei, and cannot be defeated by force."

"We can divide our forces into three routes: General Gao will take the central route, Duke Yong will be on the left, and Prefect Zhu will be on the right."

"Advancing from three directions simultaneously will prevent them from attending to each other at the beginning and end."

"In this way, great things can be accomplished."

Yong Kai approved of the plan and immediately appointed Gao Ding as the vanguard of the central route.

Gao Ding returned to camp and summoned his fierce general, E Huan, saying:
"You are in charge of the vanguard; go ahead and meet the enemy."

"Sima Yi is no ordinary person; we must be careful."

This E Huan was nine feet tall, with a face as dark as the bottom of a pot and eyes like copper bells.

He wielded a halberd weighing sixty catties, possessing the courage to withstand ten thousand men.

Everyone says he is as brave as Lü Bu.

E Huan laughed loudly:
"Rest assured, my lord!"

"My Heavenly Halberd has not tasted blood for a long time, and I am about to take the head of a Wei general and present it to you!"

He immediately mustered his troops and marched in a mighty force toward the border of Yizhou County.

Sima Yi's army marched to the border of Yizhou, and the vanguard general Yue Jin sent scouts to report:
"Rebel troops have been spotted thirty miles ahead; their banners bear the banner of E Huan, a subordinate of Gao Ding."

Le Jin chuckled coldly:
"A mere barbarian general, not worth mentioning!"

He then discussed countermeasures with his deputies Zhang Yi and Wang Ping.

Wang Ping suggested:
“E Huan is brave and fierce, and cannot be defeated by force.”

"It is advisable to feign defeat to lure them in, then set an ambush and capture them."

Le Jin followed his plan and led three thousand elite troops ahead.

When the two armies met, Yue Jin stepped forward.

Seeing E Huan's ferocious appearance, he was secretly alarmed, but showed no sign of it on his face, and shouted sternly:
"The traitors who surrender now will be spared from death!"

Seeing that Yue Jin was short, E Huan couldn't help but sneer:

"You dwarf, how dare you shout in front of the enemy? If I hadn't seen you riding a horse, I would have thought it was a monkey making noise!"

Upon hearing this, Yue Jin was furious, but he suppressed his anger and sneered:

"A hero is judged solely on his height."

“Once I cut off your head, you will be as tall as me.”

E Huan flew into a rage, spurred his horse, brandished his halberd, and charged straight at Le Jin.

The two fought for less than ten rounds when Yue Jin feigned weakness and turned his horse to flee.

E Huan laughed loudly: "The Wei generals are nothing special!"

After saying this, he urged his troops to give chase.

They chased the enemy to a valley, when suddenly they heard a series of cannon shots.

Zhang Yi and Wang Ping each led an army to attack from the left and right, cutting off their retreat.

Le Jin turned back to fight again, and the three generals surrounded E Huan.

Although E Huan was brave, how could he be a match for three fierce generals?

After fifty rounds of fighting, Yue Jin knocked off his helmet with a single spear thrust.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Zhang Yi tripped him with a lasso, and the soldiers rushed forward and captured E Huan alive.

The defeated soldiers fled back and reported to Gao Ding, who was greatly alarmed:

"E Huan was a man of unparalleled bravery, yet he was captured alive?"

An urgent order was given to close the gates of the stockade and strengthen defenses.

Meanwhile, Yue Jin and the others escorted E Huan to the central army tent.

Sima Yi sat in the tent, with Fa Zheng and Deng Ai standing by his side.

E Huan was pushed into the tent, where he stood without kneeling, glaring angrily.

Sima Yi was not offended and said gently:
"Untie."

Hesitantly, Sima Yi said sternly:
Didn't you hear me?

The soldiers hurriedly untied the bonds.

Sima Yi ordered a seat to be set up and offered wine and food.

E Huan was suspicious:

"Kill me if you want, why pretend to be kind and righteous?"

Sima Yi laughed:
“I have heard that Gao Ding is a loyal and righteous man, but he has been misled by Yong Kai, which has led to this situation.”

"Go back and tell Prefect Gao to surrender as soon as possible to avoid disaster."

E Huan didn't believe it and hesitated to ask:

"Are you really going to let me go?"

Sima Yi said solemnly:

"Once a man has made his word, it is hard to follow him."

"You should go quickly. We can meet again on the battlefield and decide our fate then."

E Huan bowed in gratitude and left. Sima Yi then gifted him a fine horse and some dry rations.

After he had walked a distance away, Deng Ai asked:

"The barbarians are fickle; why did the Grand Commandant allow them to turn a blind eye?"

Deng Ai spoke very briefly in order to correct his stuttering problem.

The initial results are already visible.

Sima Yi laughed:
"How could I not know that barbarians are fickle and untrustworthy?"

"However, their troops are brave but lack strategy; I have a plan to defeat them."

The crowd then had no doubts.

On the other side, E Huan mounted his horse and rode away, thinking to himself on the way:

"Everyone says that Sima Yi is treacherous and cunning, but today I have met him and he is a benevolent and righteous man."

Upon returning to Gaoding Camp, E Huan recounted Sima Yi's generous treatment of him.

Gao Ding was skeptical:

"Sima Yi was known for his 'wolf-like gaze,' and he was a ruthless man."

"How could they be so benevolent? Could there be some trickery involved?"

Zhang Hong rushed over upon hearing the news and sneered:

"This is a counter-espionage plot! Sima Yi wants to sow discord between you, my lord, and Duke Yong. You must not fall for it!"

Gao Ding remained silent, having already made up his mind.

That night, he secretly summoned E Huan:

"You may go to the Wei camp again and say that I am willing to surrender, but I am afraid that Yong Kai will harm me. Please ask Grand Commandant Sima to devise a plan to rescue me."

E Huan asked in surprise:

"Does our lord truly intend to surrender?"

Gao Ding said in a low voice:

"...No."

"I want to test Sima Yi's strengths and weaknesses. If he is truly willing to surrender, then we will make further plans."

E Huan accepted the order and went to Wei's camp under cover of night.

Sima Yi laughed loudly upon hearing the news:
My plan has succeeded!

He urgently summoned Fa Zheng and Deng Ai to discuss the matter.

Fazheng stroked his beard and said:
"Gao Ding is hesitant and indecisive; his visit must be a test."

"Now we can turn the tables on them and make them fight each other with Yong Kai."

Deng Ai advised:
“A fake secret letter could be made and sent back by E Huan, deliberately allowing Yong Kai to intercept it.”

Sima Yi nodded and laughed heartily:
"Shi Zai's words are very insightful."

He immediately wrote a letter, saying that he had made a secret agreement with Gao Ding.

They jointly executed Yong Kai and Zhu Bao, among other things.

He also generously gifted E Huan gold and silver, and instructed him to act with caution.

E Huan returned with the secret letter in his heart. Halfway there, Yong Kai's ambush troops attacked and searched the area, finding the letter.

Yong Kai was furious upon reading the letter and immediately mustered his troops to attack Gao Ding.

Zhang Hong earnestly advised Yong Kai:
"This must be a counter-espionage plot by Sima Yi. Lord Yong, you must not fall for it!"

"If they kill each other, it will play right into their hands!"

Yong Kai, enraged, slammed his fist on the table and exclaimed:

“That scoundrel Gao Ding is secretly colluding with Wei Gou. The letters are here; how could they be fake?”

Zhang Hong earnestly advised:

"Lord Yong is wise! Sima Yi is skilled in using ingenious schemes. He once used a treacherous plot in Hebei to slander Prime Minister Li."

"It almost caused Hebei to fall apart at that time."

"Today, they are resorting to the same old tricks. How can you, Duke Yong, repeat the same mistake?"

Upon hearing this, Yong Kai's anger subsided slightly, and he pondered for a moment before saying:

"In Zigang's opinion, what should be done?"

After a moment's thought, Zhang Hong offered his suggestion:
"Why not invite Gao Ding to join forces to attack the Wei army and observe their actions?"

"If they try to shirk responsibility, their true intentions will be revealed."

"If he readily agrees, he can prove his innocence."

Yong Kai followed his advice and sent an envoy to Gao Ding's camp.

Gao Ding was still suspicious about Sima Yi's decision to release the soldiers, but when Yong Kai came to invite him, he reluctantly agreed.

The following day, Yong Kai and Gao Ding advanced in two columns, heading straight for the Wei army's main camp.

Unexpectedly, halfway through the journey, a series of cannon shots suddenly filled the sky.

Le Jin and Deng Ai each led their ambush troops out, unleashing a hail of arrows.

The rebel army was thrown into chaos, suffering heavy casualties; the rest were captured alive and taken back to Wei's camp.

Sima Yi sat in his tent and ordered the prisoners to be divided into two groups.

The prisoners of Yongkai's tribe are on the left, and the prisoners of Gaoding's tribe are on the right.

He also secretly ordered his soldiers to spread rumors:

"Those who are of high status will be spared death, while those who are of low status will be killed."

Shortly after, Sima Yi first led Yong Kai's soldiers to the front of the tent and pretended to ask:

"Whose subordinates are you?"

In order to save their lives, the soldiers all lied:

"We are indeed Gao Ding's subordinates."

Sima Yi feigned delight:
"Since they are General Gao's men, they should be treated well."

He immediately ordered them to be untied, gave them wine and food, and released them all.

They then promoted the Dingbu soldiers again, and followed the same method, but instead boasted:
“Yong Kai wants to offer your lord’s head to surrender, but I cannot bear to do it.”

"When you return, you should earnestly advise General Gao not to remain so stubborn."

The soldiers were deeply grateful and returned to Gaoding camp, whereupon they reported Sima Yi's magnanimity and kindness.

Gao Ding was skeptical, so he secretly sent his trusted confidant to Yong Kai's camp to investigate.

Just then, Yong Kai's subordinates were released and returned home. They all praised Sima Yi's kindness and said that Yong Kai already had the intention to surrender to Wei.

From then on, morale in Yong Kai's army was low, and many secretly switched their allegiance to Gao Ding.

Gao Ding was still not at ease, so he sent spies to Wei's camp to spy on them.

Sima Yi had anticipated this move, and deliberately mistook the spy for Yong Kai's men, feigning anger as he said:

"Since your lord has promised to present the heads of Gao Ding and Zhu Bao, why has he been so slow to act?"

He then wrote a secret letter and ordered him to take it back.

The spy returned to Gao Ding and presented him with a forged letter.

After viewing the haute couture, he slammed his fist on the table in fury:
"You scoundrel Yong Kai, how dare you do this!"

E Huan advised:
"Grand Commandant Sima is benevolent, which is quite different from the bad reputation he is rumored to have."

"On the contrary, Yong Kai is extremely cunning."

"The best course of action would be to kill Yong Kai and surrender to Wei."

Gao Ding followed his plan and set up a banquet to lure and kill Yong Kai.

Yong Kai was suspicious and refused the invitation.

That night, Gao Ding led his troops in a surprise attack on Yong Kai's stronghold, and the soldiers that Sima Yi had previously released turned against him.

Yong Kai suffered a crushing defeat and fled to a mountain path, where he was killed by E Huan with a single halberd strike. E Huan then beheaded him and surrendered.

Zhang Hong had anticipated Yong Kai's defeat and fled overnight.

In Sima Yi's main tent,

Gao Ding knelt and presented Yong Kai's head, fully expecting to receive a reward.

Unexpectedly, Sima Yi suddenly changed his expression and ordered his men to take away Gao Ding.

The haute couture brand screamed in panic:

"I killed Yong Kai and surrendered, why does the Grand Commandant want to kill me instead?"

Sima Yi sneered and took out a secret letter from the box:
"Zhu Bao has already accused you of forming a life-and-death bond with Yong Kai. Your surrender today must be a ruse!" Gao Ding cried out his innocence, swearing to the heavens:

"I am willing to capture Zhu Bao to prove my innocence!"

Sima Yi feigned deep thought, and after a long while, he said:

"...that's fine."

"Only if you can truly capture Zhu Bao can you clear your name of suspicion."

After Gao Ding left in a hurry, Deng Ai couldn't help but exclaim in admiration:

"Grand Commandant, your plan is brilliant! By letting the tigers fight each other, our army can reap the benefits."

Sima Yi clapped his hands and laughed:
“The southern barbarians fear power but do not cherish virtue. Only by killing one to warn a hundred can we eliminate future troubles.”

After saying this, he asked Fa Zhengdao:

"Xiaozhi has been in Sichuan for several years, what is your opinion?"

Fa Zheng cupped his hands and said:
"Barbarians are like jackals and wolves; they become arrogant when treated with kindness, and submit when threatened."

"We should follow the strategy of Bai Qi burying Zhao soldiers alive in the past, so that they will be terrified and dare not rebel again."

Sima Yi nodded:
"Xiaozhi's words are exactly what I thought."

"Order the three armies to wait until Gao Ding and Zhu Bao are both severely wounded."

"Unleash all our hidden forces and wipe them all out in one fell swoop!"

Meanwhile, Gao Ding led his troops to attack Zhu Bao's camp. When they reached Shili Slope, they encountered Zhu Bao and his army coming to meet them.

The high-end fashion brand started swearing:

"You treacherous villain, how dare you use a double agent to harm me!"

Zhu Bao was taken aback and didn't know what to say.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, E Huan launched a surprise attack from behind and killed Zhu Bao with a single halberd thrust.

In the midst of the fierce battle between the two armies, suddenly the sound of drums from the mountaintop shook the heavens, and the Wei army ambushed from all sides, raining down arrows.

Gao Ding was greatly alarmed. Looking up, he saw Sima Yi standing on a high place and hurriedly called out:

"Why is the Grand Commandant acting this way?"

Sima Yi said indifferently:

"By imperial decree, the rebels shall be punished without exception."

Gao Dingfang realized he had been tricked and angrily cursed:

"Sima the old traitor, you've broken your promise!"

Before he could finish speaking, a stray arrow pierced his throat, killing him instantly.

The Wei army surrounded the rebels from all sides, forcing the remaining rebel forces into the valley.

They pushed down logs and boulders, killing them all in the pit.

The wails never ceased throughout the day.

By this point, Sima Yi had quelled the rebellions of Yong Kai, Gao Ding, and Zhu Bao.

All the generals came to offer their congratulations.

Deng Ai, a military advisor, suggested:
"Grand Commandant, your divine might has been displayed. The Southern Barbarians have been defeated. You may return to the capital in triumph to reassure the King of Wei."

Chief Secretary Fazheng also said:

"Now that the leaders of the three bandit groups have been executed, the southern regions are in awe. It would be better to withdraw our troops and return to Chengdu to pacify the people."

Sima Yi sneered:
How short-sighted you all are!

"The southern barbarians are fickle; they surrender today and rebel tomorrow."

“If our army retreats, they will surely regroup and cause chaos again.”

“If you cut the weeds without removing the roots, they will grow again when the spring breeze blows!”

The generals looked at each other in bewilderment. Deputy General Wang Ping then advised:
"Grand Commandant, further south lies a desolate and pestilential land."

"The mountains are treacherous and the waters are dangerous; this is probably not a suitable place for military operations."

Sima Yi slammed his fist on the table and roared:

"I am ordered by the king to conquer the southern barbarians, what do I have to fear from the Lu River?"

Ignoring all advice, he ordered the army to continue its southward advance.

The army marched to the Lu River, and scouts rushed to report—

"The Lu River is swift and there are no boats or rafts."

"The barbarian soldiers on the opposite bank have built an earthen city, and their defenses are very tight!"

It was May, and the heat in the south was unbearable.

Soldiers marching in armor were drenched in sweat, and many suffered heatstroke and fainted.

Upon seeing this, Sima Yi ordered his soldiers to remove their armor and cross the river lightly.

Vanguard Yue Jin led several hundred soldiers to test the waters. Finding the river shallow, they waded through it naked.

But when they reached the middle of the river, the soldiers fell to the ground one after another, bleeding from their mouths and noses, and died.

Le Jin was greatly alarmed and immediately ordered the troops to withdraw, reporting back to Sima Yi.

Sima Yi was also surprised and uncertain, so he summoned the local people to inquire.

The native replied:

"Now in the height of summer, the Lu River is filled with toxic fumes; crossing it during the day will inevitably result in poisoning."

"If you want to cross the river, you must wait until it is late at night, the water is cold, the poisonous gas has dissipated, and you have eaten your fill before you can cross safely."

Sima Yi pondered for a moment, then ordered the local people to lead the way.

Six hundred strong and capable soldiers were selected and crossed the river at midnight, and sure enough, nothing happened.

Therefore, Sima Yi ordered Deng Ai to lead two thousand elite troops, guided by local people.

We headed straight for the vital grain transport route through Mandong—Jiashanyu.

Jiashanyu is a strategically important location, with two mountains flanking it, allowing only one person or one horse to pass at a time.

Deng Ai seized the valley entrance under cover of night, set up camp, and laid an ambush with archers and crossbowmen.

The barbarian soldiers were unaware that the Wei army had arrived and continued to transport grain as usual.

Once the grain convoy entered the valley, Deng Ai gave the order to ambush and kill them from both the front and rear.

More than a hundred grain carts were seized, and the barbarian soldiers were routed.

The defeated soldiers fled back to Meng Huo's main camp, weeping and lamenting:

"Your Majesty! The Wei army has crossed the Lu River and seized our supply lines!"

Upon hearing this, Meng Huo slammed his fist on the table in fury:
"Sima Yi has gone too far! He killed Yong Kai and then invaded our territory, leaving us no way out!"

He then summoned the leaders of the various caves to discuss countermeasures.

Meng Huo's younger brother, Meng You, offered the following advice:

"The Wei army has come from afar, and their supplies are running low."

"Now that we have occupied Jiashan Valley, we must rely on the grain route as our lifeline."

"We should launch a night raid on their camp and burn their supplies; their army will surely be thrown into chaos!"

Meng Huo nodded in approval and then ordered his general Ahuinan to lead 5,000 barbarian soldiers to raid the camp under cover of night.

Deng Ai was prepared, and his troops sprang into ambush, raining down arrows.

Ah Huinan suffered a crushing defeat, with more than half of his men killed or wounded, and fled back in disarray.

Upon hearing the news, Meng Huo was furious and personally led his troops to fight.

When the two armies faced each other, Sima Yi went out and saw that Meng Huo was nine feet tall and had a face as black as iron.

Holding a mace, he stood imposingly, inwardly sighing:
"Can even barren mountains and treacherous waters produce brave men?"

Meng Huo shouted:
"Sima Yi! Your Wei Kingdom has invaded my territory without cause. Today, I will make sure you never return!"

Sima Yi laughed:
“Barbarians have repeatedly rebelled and refused to submit to the king’s rule.”

"I was ordered to suppress the rebels; how can you say I was acting without cause?"

Meng Huo was furious and spurred his horse to fight.

Wei general Yue Jin rode out to meet the enemy, but after less than ten rounds, Yue Jin feigned defeat and fled.

Meng Huo pursued relentlessly, when suddenly a cannon blast rang out, and his ambush troops emerged, surrounding him completely.

The barbarian soldiers risked their lives to save their lord, and in the chaos of battle, Meng Huo was tripped by a horse-tripping rope.

The Wei army swarmed forward and captured Meng Huo alive.

The soldiers escorted him to the Wei army's main tent, bound him with ropes, yet he still stood with his head held high.

Sima Yi sat high on his desk, coldly looking down, and said:

"Meng Huo, you are now a prisoner. Do you accept your fate?"

Meng Huo's eyes widened in anger:

"If I hadn't fallen for your treacherous scheme, how could I have been captured?"

"Kill me if you want, why waste words!"

The generals in the tent were all enraged upon hearing this, and Yue Jin drew his sword and shouted:

"The barbarian chieftain is rude!"

Sima Yi raised his hand to stop him, and sneered:

"A barbarian clown, all talk and no action."

"Now our army is marching south to resolve the border troubles once and for all, so that you will not rebel again when we launch our northern expedition in the future."

After speaking, his tone softened slightly, and he said with a half-smile:

"However, I can give you a chance to redeem yourself."

Meng Huo asked what opportunity.
“I know very well that there are still many cave lords and barbarian kings in the southern lands.”

"But my army has ventured deep into the region and is unfamiliar with the geography."

"If you are willing to be our guide, persuade the barbarian soldiers to surrender along the way, and help us to fight against other disobedient barbarians."

"Then I promise that I can not only forgive your sins."

"I will also submit a memorial to the King of Wei, requesting that you be promoted and given a higher rank."

Upon hearing this, Meng Huo scoffed.
"Sima, you old scoundrel, are you trying to betray my own kin?"

"I'm telling you! That's wishful thinking!"

Just as the stalemate was at hand, a commotion broke out outside the tent.

Deng Ai led in dozens of barbarians, with a woman in red makeup and fierce armor at the front.

Even with his hands bound, he still kept his back straight.

It was Lady Zhurong, the wife of Meng Huo, after which Meng You and his family members were all dejected.

It turned out that this happened just as Meng Huo was being captured and brought back to his tent.

Taking advantage of the fact that the group was leaderless in the cave, Deng Ai led an army to raid Meng Huo's hometown.

They captured all the barbarians, including Lady Zhurong, and brought them back to their camp.

"Brother!"

When Meng You saw that Meng Huo was bound, he burst into tears.

Lady Zhurong retorted sternly:

"Why must you show weakness, my husband! At worst, I'll die!"

"We people from Nanzhong have no weak knees."

Sima Yi's gaze lingered on Zhu Rong's face, and he clapped his hands and laughed:
"I had long heard of the heroines of the southern barbarians, and seeing them today, I can confirm that they are indeed valiant and heroic."

Turning to Meng Huo, he said:

"Such a beauty, if presented to the King of Wei, would surely be richly rewarded."

Upon hearing this, Meng Huo's eyes widened in fury:
"You scoundrel! How dare you!"

He charged forward angrily, but was held down firmly by the warriors on either side.

As they struggled, the ropes dug into their flesh, drawing blood.

Deng Ai glanced at him sideways and said coldly:
"The barbarian king should be more pragmatic."

"During the search of the cave, we also found two young masters, about seven or eight years old."

Before she could finish speaking, Lady Zhurong screamed shrilly:

"If any of you harm my child, I will haunt you even as a ghost!"

Sima Yi slowly picked up his teacup and said leisurely:
"My patience is limited."

"Either lead the way to quell the barbarians, or—"

Suddenly, the cup was thrown to the ground, shards of porcelain scattering everywhere.

"I will send your wife to Chengdu tomorrow!"

The tent was deathly silent.

Meng Huo trembled all over and sighed deeply:
"I... am willing to surrender."

Lady Zhurong exclaimed in surprise:

"My husband, you mustn't!"

She tried to help him up, but the soldiers held her down firmly.

"You rude woman!"

The soldiers inside the tent shouted sternly.

Lady Zhurong sneered:
"We, the sons and daughters of the South, would rather die than surrender!"

"Kill me if you want, no need for further words!"

Meng Huo quickly nudged his wife with his elbow and whispered:

"Madam, be careful what you say!"

Sima Yi's gaze was sharp as a knife, slowly sweeping over the two of them before finally settling on Lady Zhurong's face.

"Noisy."

The two words were uttered softly, yet they felt like ice picks piercing to the bone.

The soldiers on either side understood and stepped forward to restrain Lady Zhurong.

A crisp, loud slap sent her head spinning to the side.

The second and third blows followed in quick succession, and blood spilled from the corner of her mouth.

"Grand Commandant, please show mercy!"

Meng Huo suddenly knelt down, his forehead hitting the hard ground with a dull thud.

"My wife is of fiery temper and has offended the Grand Commandant. I am willing to take the punishment in her place!"

Sima Yi raised his hand to signal the soldiers to stop, and slowly approached Meng Huo.

Sima Yi leaned forward, his black armor gleaming coldly:

"Does the Barbarian King know how to write the four characters 'heartfelt submission'?"

With that, he smiled and personally helped Meng Huo up.

"Since you have sincerely submitted, I will treat you with sincerity."

Turning his head, he gave the order:

"Send the lady and Young Master Mengyou to the rear camp to rest, and assign fifty elite guards to protect them."

Three days later, Meng Huo led his old troops as the vanguard, recruiting various villages along the way.

Outside the Bald Dragon Cave, the barbarian soldiers held their ground and defended it to the death.

Amidst a hail of arrows, Meng Huo personally held his shield and shouted:

"King Duosi! The Wei army is powerful, why not..."

"traitor!"

A bloody head was thrown down from the city wall; it was the very head of the envoy sent the day before to persuade them to surrender.

A hail of arrows rained down, and Meng Huo was struck in the shoulder and forced to retreat.

Sima Yi observed from a high vantage point, and only when the barbarian soldiers were running out of arrows did he order Yue Jin to lead five hundred crossbowmen to suppress them.

Turning to Meng Huo, whose face was covered in blood, he sighed:

"The barbarian king's prestige is nothing more than this."

"Grand Commandant, you are wise!"

Meng Huo knelt down and said urgently, "Tonight I am willing to personally lead my elite troops to launch a night raid on the cave entrance."

"No need."

Sima Yi waved his hand, pointing towards the valley.

"Can you see that wisp of smoke?"

It turned out that Deng Ai had already taken a detour and cut off their water source.

In less than three days, Bald Dragon Cave will fall into chaos without a fight.

"Alright, you can continue leading your men to besiege it."

"As ordered!"

Meng Huo descended, trembling.

Sima Yi stood with his hands behind his back, coldly watching his departing figure.

Is there any better way to pacify the barbarians than to use barbarians to kill barbarians?

Meng Huo was highly respected and recruited many barbarians along the way.

Then they were sent to kill other barbarians.

Regardless of whether they win or lose, it's the barbarians who die.

This is enough.

Sima Yi would not order the Wei army to advance unless absolutely necessary.

He wanted to minimize casualties among his troops.

Three days later, Bald Dragon Cave fell.

Sima Yi coldly gave the order—

"Slaughter Cave".

Sima Yi issued the order casually.

"What is the Barbarian King waiting for?"

Sima Yi stared coldly at Meng Huo, clearly intending for him to personally go to the Manchu Cave.

Meng Huo's fingernails dug deeply into his palms, and blood dripped from between his fingers onto the boundary marker of Bald Dragon Cave.

The faint cries of women and children could be heard from inside the cave, spoken in an ancient southern language:

"Brother Ahu, spare the children's lives..."

"If after the third drumbeat there is still no blood."

Sima Yi's hawk-like gaze fell upon Meng Huo.

"It wasn't just the people from Bald Dragon Cave who died."

"I'll kill!"

Meng Huo was startled, picked up his curved sword, and rushed towards the cave entrance.

The cave's guardian, King Dors, was his sworn brother, yet he was stabbed through the chest by him.

Doss gripped the blade in disbelief, blood gushing from her throat:
"You... you really did become... Wei Gou..."

"Brother, please don't blame me!"

Meng Huo's eyes were bloodshot, and he gritted his teeth, saying:

There is an old saying among the Han people: "Brothers are like hands and feet, wives are like clothes."

"But you can't even afford clothes, it's really hard for you to be my brother!!"

After saying this, Meng Huo killed King Duosi.

Then, like a mad beast, he started hacking at anyone he saw.

They didn't even spare the wet nurse who knelt down and begged for mercy.

A little boy hugged his leg and called him "Uncle".

Without saying a word, he raised his knife and splattered his own brains all over his face.

The people of Bald Dragon Cave never imagined that they would die at the hands of their own kin.

This was the most unbelievable thing for them.

Because what the barbarians are most proud of is the unity of their tribe.

Unlike the Han people, who were always fighting amongst themselves and turning against each other.

But they never expected that it would be their own people who wiped out their clan.

In the following days, Sima Yi, led by Meng Huo, massacred six barbarian caves.

Meng Huo also got used to it during this process.

Upon hearing the news, the southern barbarians all hid deep in the mountains and forests, never daring to come out again.

Sima Yi knew that he had achieved his goal.

He officially renamed Yizhou Commandery as Jianning Commandery, signifying that the area had returned to peace.

Inside the city, the Wei army camp was brightly decorated, and a victory celebration banquet was in full swing.

Sima Yi sat high in the main seat, wearing a purple brocade robe.

His face was thin and refined, and his eyes were like lightning.

The generals stood on both sides of the tent, and after several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere gradually warmed up.

Where is General Meng?

Sima Yi suddenly raised his cup and asked a question.

A commotion arose under the tent as a burly man rose to his feet, dressed in barbarian attire.

His face was resolute, yet it betrayed his weariness.

It was Meng Huo, the former barbarian king, now a prisoner.

"The end will be here."

Meng Huo cupped his hands in greeting, his voice low and deep.

Sima Yi smiled slightly, his gaze sweeping over the assembled generals:

"General Meng deserves much credit for pacifying the southern region this time."

"In particular, the extermination of the Blackwater Cave was truly clean and efficient, leaving no future troubles."

The tent fell silent instantly.

Meng Huo's expression changed drastically, and his hand holding the cup trembled slightly.

The people living in that black water cave were his distant relatives from his mother's clan.

"You flatter me, Grand Commandant."

Meng Huo gritted his teeth and said, "This is my duty."

Sima Yi stroked his long beard, a cold glint flashing in his eyes:
"General Meng put aside his own family for the greater good, truly a model for the imperial court."

"I, the Grand Commandant, will certainly report this to the King of Wei and request that the General be rewarded."

Fine beads of sweat appeared on Meng Huo's forehead, and the liquid in the wine cup reflected his distorted face.

He knew that once Sima Yi uttered these words, he would have no place to stand among the barbarians.

As the banquet was drawing to a close, Meng Huo finally couldn't contain himself and stepped forward to whisper:
"Grand Commandant, I have done as agreed. What about my wife and children...?"

Sima Yi smiled enigmatically and raised his hand in a gesture.

The guards brought in a woman, who was none other than Lady Zhurong.

She was dressed in rags and looked haggard. When she saw Meng Huo, she burst into tears.

"Husband!"

Meng Huo rushed forward, but was stopped by Sima Yi:

"General Meng, do not worry, the lady will be returned on her own."

"As for your younger brother Meng You, and a few other young masters..."

He paused for a moment, then said, "Chengdu is a prosperous city, the Land of Abundance, which is more suitable for young people to grow up in."

"I, the Grand Commandant, have already arranged for them to study at the Imperial Academy. They will surely become great men in the future."

Upon hearing this, Lady Zhurong knelt down with a thud:
"Grand Commandant, please have mercy! My young son is ignorant and cannot be separated from his mother!"

Sima Yi's face darkened:
"Madam, you are mistaken."

"General Meng serves the court, and his son should be educated. How can he waste his time like a barbarian?"

He turned to Meng Huo and asked, "What does General Meng think?"

Meng Huo clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms.

He looked at his tear-streaked wife, then thought of his detained brother and son, and finally let out a long sigh:
"The Grand Commandant's arrangements are...very appropriate."

Lady Zhurong looked at her husband in disbelief, her eyes filled with tears:

"My husband! Our child..."

"Madam... never mind."

Meng Huo closed his eyes, his voice hoarse.

"Since things have come to this, let it go."

Sima Yi nodded in satisfaction and took out a scroll of imperial edict from the table.

"In that case, I, the Grand Commandant, on behalf of the King of Wei, hereby appoint Meng Huo as General Who Pacifies the South."

"To guard the southern region and pacify the various barbarian tribes."

The so-called pacification of the barbarians was actually a way to get Meng Huo to continue killing the remaining barbarians.

Meng Huo mechanically accepted the imperial edict, feeling as if the silk was as heavy as a thousand pounds.

General Who Pacifies the Barbarians?
This title was incredibly ironic for Meng Huo.

After the banquet, Huang Quan followed Sima Yi into the inner tent and couldn't help but ask:

"Grand Commandant, Meng Huo is a barbarian hero."

"Releasing a tiger back into the mountains today may lead to future troubles."

Sima Yi chuckled, his eyes gleaming:

"Gongheng is overthinking it, Tiger?"

He shook his head. "Nothing more than a spineless dog."

"how do I say this?"

"In order to save his own life, Meng Huo personally led his people to slaughter his own clan."

"More than 300 people entered the Blackwater Cave, and no one, young or old, survived."

Sima Yi played with the jade pendant in his hand.

"Barbarians value blood revenge above all else. With his hands stained with the blood of his own people, how can he still call himself a barbarian king?"

Huang Quan suddenly realized:

"Grand Commandant, this move is truly brilliant!"

"Therefore, he had no choice but to serve the court wholeheartedly."

"Exactly."

Sima Yi looked towards the mountains to the south outside the tent.

"To kill someone, one must first destroy their spirit; this is the best strategy."

"I will not kill him, but I will make him suffer a fate worse than death, and make him a dog guarding the border of my Great Wei forever."

The night wind howled, as if weeping and lamenting.

Inside Meng Huo's tent, Lady Zhurong was weeping bitterly, her head resting on the table.

"Why not fight? Why not fight!"

"Give me back my child! Give me back my child!"

She pounded her husband's chest.

Meng Huo stood there blankly, letting her vent her anger.

After a long silence, he finally spoke in a hoarse voice:
"Compete? How can we compete? Youdi and the children are all in their hands..."

Lady Zhurong raised her tearful eyes:

"Then let's escape! Let's go back to the mountains and gather our old troops..."

"Former subordinates?"

Meng Huo laughed bitterly.

"Has the lady forgotten the corpses in Blackwater Cave?"

“Those are all your cousins! I did it myself…”

He suddenly choked up and couldn't say anything more.

The sound of a night watchman's drum came from outside the tent; the third watch had passed.

Meng Huo slowly removed the barbarian feather ornament from his head and put on a helmet in the style of the Wei army.

"From this day forward, there will be no more Meng Huo, the barbarian king."

He looked into the bronze mirror at the unfamiliar general reflected in it.

"Only the General Who Pacifies the South of the Great Wei."

Lady Zhurong gazed at her husband's retreating figure and suddenly realized that the hero who had once dominated the south was dead.

He died forever.

The following morning, Sima Yi stood on the city wall, watching Meng Huo lead the surrendered barbarian soldiers out of the city to "quell the rebellion."

Sima Yi said calmly:

"To govern barbarians is like to govern water; it is better to dredge than to block."

“Kill one Meng Huo, and there will be thousands upon thousands of barbarians to rebel.”

"But to send Meng Huo to suppress millions of barbarians... heh..."

A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips. "Then you'll achieve twice the result with half the effort."

In the distance, Meng Huo's troops disappeared into the mountains.

Sima Yi knew that this former barbarian king would spend the rest of his life bringing blood and fire to his people.

They will also use the blood of their people to wash away their last vestiges of dignity and pride.

Meng Huo was now in a state of being alive but dead.

He was just wondering why it was Sima Yi?
This opponent is not only powerful, but also ruthless.

If there were parallel universes, he truly hoped he wouldn't have encountered Sima Yi.

Perhaps my fate wouldn't have been so tragic...

(End of this chapter)