My father-in-law Guan Yu, I persuaded Liu Bei to launch a surprise attack on Xiangyang at the beginn

Chapter 280 Cao Cao: My benevolence and righteousness have brought about the extinction of the Cao family! The Bian family mother and daughter are gathering firewood; Cao Cao, you're in the pot!

Chenliu City.

At dusk, on the East Gate tower.

Cao Cao watched the Chu army retreat like a receding tide, his tightly clenched whip loosening slightly as he let out a soft breath.

Another tidal wave of attacks by the Chu army finally came to an end, and they retreated after leaving behind hundreds of corpses.

For ten days, Liu Bei launched a relentless attack day and night.

Cao Cao had lost count of how many times the Chu army had launched this attack.

Without exception, they were all defeated by him.

Relieved, Cao Cao's lips curled into a mocking smile, and he coldly snorted:
"Big-eared thief, let's continue tomorrow. I want to see how many soldiers you can fill this bottomless pit of Chenliu City."

The generals on either side all joined in the laughter.

The repeated repelling of the Chu army's attacks greatly boosted the morale of the Wei army, and the generals seemed to have regained much of the confidence that had been lost to the Chu army.

"Judging from the Chu army's offensive in recent days, I believe that Liu Bei's offensive is nearing its end."

"The Chu army should only be able to attack for another three days at most before their morale is exhausted and they cease their offensive."

Cheng Yu pointed at the retreating Chu army and laughed.

Cao Cao nodded slightly, turning his gaze south:
"You and the others have been besieged for seven or eight days. Once the Big Ear Bandit's offensive is over, I will personally lead an army south to relieve the siege of Xuchang."

Cheng Yu nodded in agreement and said:
"Given the strength of Xuchang, and with General Dong Gongren assisting him, as long as we hold our ground and do not venture out, holding out for about a month should be no problem."

Cao Cao smiled and said arrogantly:
"Although Zihe's military talent is not as great as Zixiao's or Yuanrang's, he held Xuchang for a month, so I still have faith in him—"

The character for "heart" has not yet appeared.

Tiger Guard rushed up and reported that Dong Zhao had entered Chenliu and that there was an extremely urgent military situation to report.

Cao Cao stiffened, and the smile on his face vanished abruptly.

Cheng Yu and the others also changed their expressions.

Dong Zhao?

Shouldn't he be in Xu Chu, assisting Cao Chun in defending Xudu?

Why did they suddenly appear in Chenliu?

Moreover, Xu Du was surrounded by Guan Yu in an impenetrable formation, yet Dong Zhao, a mere civil official, managed to break through the encirclement.
Countless questions thundered in the ears of the Wei king and his ministers.

A sense of extreme foreboding instantly enveloped everyone's hearts.

"Quickly, summon Gongren here!"

Cao Cao hurriedly waved his hand and shouted, his voice barely concealing his unease.

A moment.

Dressed in simple clothes, Dong Zhao stumbled and climbed up the city wall.

Seeing his attire, everyone's hearts skipped a beat again.

"My king, my king!"

Dong Zhao knelt before Cao Cao, his face instantly filled with grief and indignation, tears streaming down his face.

Cao Cao released his cane, grabbed Dong Zhao to support him, and excitedly demanded:
"Gongren, why have you suddenly come to Chenliu?"

"How is Xuchang? Has something gone wrong?"

Dong Zhao gripped Cao Cao's arm tightly, choking back tears as he said:

"Your Majesty, Guan Yu has captured Xuchang, and my 20,000 garrison troops have been wiped out. General of Chariots and Cavalry, he too... was killed by Zhao Yun."

"I originally intended to live and die with Xuchang, but then I thought of reporting to Your Majesty, so I disguised myself as a commoner and risked my life to sneak out of Xuchang to see Your Majesty—"

Xuchang has fallen!

Cao Chun died in battle!

These eight words, like eight thunderclaps, struck Cao Cao squarely on the head.

In an instant, Cao Cao felt dizzy and the world spun around him, and he fell down with a thud.

"Your Majesty!"

"Father!"

Cao Pi, Cao Chong, Cheng Yu, Xu Chu, and others, disregarding their shock, rushed forward to help Cao Cao up.

"Xu is gone, Zihe is dead, Zihe is dead..."

Cao Cao muttered to himself, his expression dazed, as if his soul had been shattered.

Cao Xiu, Cao Zhang, Cao Zhen, Xiahou Yuan, Xiahou Shang…

Many of his nephews and brothers died at Liu Bei's hands.

Now, Cao Chun has been added to the list!
The outcome of the battle between Chu and Wei was still undecided, and it seemed that Cao Cao's sons, nephews, and brothers, including Xiahou Yuan, were about to be wiped out by Liu Bei!
How could such a devastating blow not shatter Cao Cao's soul?
The officials of Cao Wei on either side were immediately thrown into an uproar.

"Xuchang has fallen in just a few days?"

"The General of Chariots and Cavalry has at least 20,000 troops, how could he be so easily defeated?"

"If Xuchang falls, won't our Yingchuan County be in danger, and the entire Yuzhou Province fall into the hands of that big-eared thief?"

"The tide has turned, the tide has turned..."

Various panicked and disoriented discussions echoed across the city walls.

Those discussions, like countless sharp blades, pierced Cao Cao's heart.

"Impossible, this is impossible!"

Cao Cao suddenly regained his senses, struggled to his feet, grabbed Dong Zhao, and roared hysterically:
“Zihe is no useless man, and my 20,000 soldiers are no rabble either. How could we have lost Xuchang in just seven days!”

"I don't believe you, Dong Gongren! I don't believe a single word you say!"

Cheng Yu and the others also calmed down a bit, and their questioning and puzzled gazes all turned to Dong Zhao.

They need a reasonable explanation.

"It was Xun Yu! It was Xun Yu who secretly surrendered to Liu Bei, helping him capture Xuchang from within and without!"

Dong Zhao let out a sorrowful sigh. He then set a trap for Xun Yu at the Hongmen Banquet, detaining most of the aristocratic generals, thus rendering half of the city's private armies unusable for Cao Chun. This resulted in Cao Chun's forces being depleted after the Chu army breached the city with their powerful cannons, ultimately allowing the Chu army to break through and capture the city…

He silently recounted the whole story, some of which he had learned through inquiries, and some of which he had deduced.

"Xun Wenruo, he... he actually betrayed our Great Wei?"

Cheng Yu gasped, looking at everyone with disbelief.

The people around were all stunned and shocked, as if they had misheard.

Xun Yu was Cao Cao's former strategist and a key minister of the Cao family!
Without Xun Yu, Cao Cao would have lost Yan Province long ago, and would probably have followed in the footsteps of Yuan Shu and his ilk.

Without Xun Yu, there would be no Wei Kingdom as we know it today!

How could such a founder of the Wei Kingdom betray Cao Cao?
It was at the critical moment when Xu Du was besieged that he suddenly betrayed Cao Cao, delivering the most fatal blow.
For a moment, no one could believe it.

Cao Cao's mouth was agape, his eyes widened, and he stood frozen in place, unable to utter a single word.

"Father!"

"That old scoundrel Xun Yu only has the Han Dynasty in his heart, and he has no regard for my Cao Wei!"

"Father, have you forgotten? When you established your kingdom and became a duke, everyone submitted petitions in support, but only Xun Yu opposed it!"

"I suspect he harbors resentment. His so-called resignation and return home is merely a pretext to lie low and wait for an opportunity. In reality, he must have already secretly pledged allegiance to that big-eared thief."

"Now that the enemy troops under Big Ears have besieged my Xuchang, he has stepped forward to help the enemy break through my Xuchang from within and without!"

Cao Pi, his face filled with resentment, voiced his speculation, and embraced Cao Cao, saying with grief and indignation:
“Father, you were too merciful. You spared his life because you remembered his merits.”

"Father, you should have killed him back then to prevent future troubles!"

Cao Cao was suddenly awakened, feeling as if a thousand arrows had pierced his heart, and was in excruciating pain that made him want to die.

"Xun Yu, you disloyal and treacherous villain! I was wrong to trust you, so wrong to trust you!"

"I shouldn't have been so soft-hearted. I should have killed you long ago, killed you!"

Cao Cao beat his chest and stamped his feet, then looked up to the sky and cried out in deep regret.

At this moment, he was filled with grief and anger, and he truly believed that he had spared Xun Yu's life because of his kindness and soft heart.

In reality, he did not kill Xun Yu, but only because he was wary of Xun Yu's immense prestige.

Seeing that Xun Yu refused to commit suicide and voluntarily resigned from his post to return to his hometown, he weighed the pros and cons and then let Xun Yu go.

He completely forgot that he was wary of Xun Yu's influence and feared that Xun Yu would defect to Liu Bei, so he used various means to force Xun Yu to move to Xuchang so that he could keep a closer eye on him.

Who would have thought that his suspicions would give Xun Yu the opportunity to work from within and without to help Liu Bei capture Xuchang.

"Xun Yu, Liu Bei, Xiao He, Zhao Yun... I swear to kill you traitors, I swear to kill—"

Before he could utter the word "kill," Cao Cao was overcome with rage, his vision went black, and he instantly passed out.

"Your Majesty!"

"Father!"

A gasp of alarm erupted from the city wall, and chaos reigned once more.

Within a single day, news of the fall of Xuchang and the execution of Cao Chun spread throughout Chenliu.

The 100,000 Wei soldiers were all terrified.

As for Xuchang, Guan Yu immediately sent a proclamation to Yingchuan and the various prefectures and kingdoms of Yuzhou the day after the city was captured.

When the Wei officials in various prefectures learned of the fall of Xudu and the severing of Yuzhou's connection with Yanzhou, they were all filled with fear and surrendered to Chu at the first sign of trouble.

Within a few days, most of the area south of Xuchang in Yuzhou changed its flags and came under Liu Bei's command.

Regarding Chenliu.

Upon receiving Guan Yu's report of victory, Liu Bei was naturally overjoyed, and the morale of the 100,000 Chu troops was greatly boosted.

After reviewing Xiao He's strategy of seizing Chenliu, Liu Bei decisively adopted it, ordering the abandonment of the attack on Chenliu and the withdrawal of 100,000 troops to Suiyang for rest and reorganization. He also spread rumors that the attack on Dingtao was a pretense.

Liu Bei then issued an edict to Guan Yu and Xiao He, instructing the father-in-law and son-in-law to act according to Xiao He's plan.

After resting for five days, Guan Yu personally led nearly 50,000 Chu troops northward along the Wei River, heading straight for Xinzheng, feigning an attack on Luoyang.

In Xuchang, only less than 30,000 troops remained, all under the command of Grand Commandant Xiao He, to hold the rear.

In order to induce surrendered officials such as Chen Qun to harbor disloyal thoughts, Xiao He secretly monitored them, but on the surface, he trusted them completely.

Even the nearly seven thousand Wei private soldiers who surrendered were allowed to continue to be commanded by Xiao He, with Liu Bei's permission.

The net is laid out, the bait is scattered, and all we have to do is wait for the fish to bite.

...

On this day, at the Grand Commandant's residence.

Xiao He was lying on the recliner, sipping tea and listening to Deng Ai's report.

"According to my surveillance, Chen Qun has recently been in frequent contact with Du... Xi and other surrendered generals of Wei."

"We also discovered that Chen Qun's confidant left Xudu two days ago, heading north. Because we were afraid of alerting him, we didn't intercept him..."

Deng Ai recounted the intelligence gathered by his spies.

Xiao He seemed to be deep in thought, his gaze turning to Deng Ai:

"Shizai, in your opinion, have Chen Qun and others secretly surrendered to the puppet Wei and sent their confidants to lure Cao Cao into attacking our Xuchang?"

Deng Ai pondered for a moment, then cupped his hands and said:
"Judging from all the signs, Ai believed that Chen Qun and these Wei surrendered officials had indeed secretly returned to Cao Wei and probably wanted to lure Cao Wei to attack Xuchang so that they could cooperate from the inside and outside to make amends for their mistakes."

"But whether Cao... will this traitor Cao seize this opportunity and really lead his main force to attack? Ai always feels that we are still... still a little short of the mark."

Xiao He toyed with the tea, murmuring:

"Just a little off, just a little off..."

Just as he was pondering this, a guard came to report that it was Bian and Cao Jie, mother and daughter, who had arrived in Xuchang with the troops from Yingtian to inspect the army, and were now outside the Grand Commandant's mansion.

Bian and her daughter!

Xiao He suddenly sat up straight, his eyes lighting up:
"The two of them arrived at just the right time. With this addition of firewood, the fire will be hot enough; Cao Cao should be ready to go into the pot..."

(End of this chapter)