Three Kingdoms: Fusion of Entries, Change of Destiny

Chapter 131: The Battle of Yanzhou Ends, Cao Yan Becomes the Prefect of Chenliu

With Lü Bu's defeat and retreat to Xuzhou, the battle for Yanzhou, which shocked the world, finally came to a perfect end.

In almost every battle, some promising new stars emerge.

For example, Qu Yi shone brightly during the Battle of Jieqiao between Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan.

For example, in the Battle of Puyang between Cao Cao and Yuan Shu, Cao Yan, Zhao Yun, Xiahou Lan, Cao Ang and others began to distinguish themselves.

In this battle of Yanzhou, many "new faces" emerged in Cao Cao's camp, including Dian Wei, Xu Chu, Cao Ren, and Yu Jin.

This made the other warlords green with envy and wonder where Cao Cao, who took the commoner route, found so many talented people.

Of course, these people's performance can only be described as impressive.

What's most surprising is Cao Cao's younger brother, Cao Yan, who makes us have to re-evaluate him.

Beneath the walls of Juancheng, Cao Yan, Zhao Yun, and Dian Wei joined forces and defeated Lü Bu in one fell swoop.

People were then surprised to discover that Cao Yan was not only highly skilled in training troops, leading armies, and strategizing, but also possessed top-notch martial arts skills.

This undoubtedly added countless mystique to Cao Yan, making him a popular topic of conversation among the public.

What truly terrified the other warlords was not the numerous fierce generals under Cao Cao's command, but rather the unfathomable group of strategists under Cao Cao's leadership.

Xun Yu was prudent and composed, overseeing the overall situation; Xi Zhi was resourceful and cunning, anticipating the enemy's moves; Guo Jia came up with ingenious and unconventional strategies; as for Cao Yan, he was simply unremarkable.

They first lured Lü Bu into a trap by threatening to conquer Xuzhou, and then took the opportunity to eliminate the powerful clans and local forces in Yanzhou who did not submit to them.

He also stirred up a huge upheaval in Xuzhou, laying a solid foundation for his next campaign against Xuzhou.

This grand drama, co-directed by four people, contains both intricately planned schemes and insidious plots that are difficult to guard against.

Let the world see that a battle of wits is far more deadly than a fight.

After the Battle of Yanzhou, it was time to reward those who had contributed, and promote those who deserved it.

Cao Yan was promoted from his original position as the Agricultural Attendant to the position of General Who Punishes Rebels and Prefect of Chenliu.

The other meritorious individuals also received corresponding rewards, which will be omitted here (about 10,000 words).

Whether Cao Cao did it intentionally or out of a perverse sense of humor, he actually handed over Chenliu County, the territory of Zhang Miao, who had a mortal feud with Cao Yan, to Cao Yan to manage.

On the city walls and the ground outside Juancheng, the mottled bloodstains had not been completely washed away, and the dark red ground still seemed to have a sticky feel.

The countless marks left by swords, spears, and halberds constantly remind the people of Juancheng that a fierce battle had just taken place here.

On the city wall, the brothers Cao Cao and Cao Yan stood side by side, gazing into the distance.

Cao Cao reached out and pressed his hand on a deep knife mark on the city wall, his fingertips rubbing the rough stone surface.

He turned to look at Cao Yan beside him, his gaze sweeping over his younger brother's increasingly robust physique, and suddenly burst out laughing:
"Remember when you said you wanted to let Lü Bu into Yan Province? We all thought you were crazy..."

Cao Yan's fingers unconsciously fiddled with the sachet at his waist, a gift from Zhuge Liang after their victorious return to the city.

Upon hearing Cao Yan's words, Cao Yan replied with a smile, "If we don't let Lü Bu and Chen Gong into Yanzhou, how can we expect those opportunists to jump out on their own?"

His gaze passed over the battlements and landed on the laborers clearing the battlefield in the distance outside the city.

"Chen Gong thought he had outsmarted everyone, but little did he know that from the day he persuaded Zhang Miao to let Yuan Shu into Yanzhou, he had fallen into the trap we had set."

"Zhang Mengzhuo was once our close friend, yet we've come to this point of fighting. How tragic and lamentable..." Cao Cao's smile gradually faded. He patted Cao Yan heavily on the shoulder: "The people of Xuzhou migrated north to Yanzhou, all the powerful families and local forces in Yanzhou that opposed us were wiped out, and even Liu Bei's takeover of Yanzhou to break the alliance between Gongsun and Yuan Shu seems to have been planned... The pit you, Wenruo, Zhicai, and Fengxiao dug is far too deep and far too wide." At this point, his voice suddenly lowered, "Don't get too deeply involved in these intrigues, or you'll be trapped in darkness!"

Cao Yan glanced at Lao Cao with surprise and said, "Brother, shouldn't you, someone who's been described as a 'treacherous hero in troubled times,' first reflect on yourself?"

"..." Cao Cao stared wide-eyed, speechless for a moment. How could he have forgotten about that?

Then, Cao Cao's gaze fell on Cao Yan's left arm, which was wrapped in thick bandages, the wound that had been cut open by Lü Bu's halberd.

Cao Cao sighed, "You shouldn't have gone into battle personally, especially since your opponent was Lü Bu!"

Cao Yan deliberately moved his arm to show that he was fine, but unexpectedly he grimaced in pain: "If I don't go up, I'm afraid Zhao Yun and Dian Wei alone can't beat Lü Bu."

Cao Cao's eyes reddened slightly. "Zian, you know that since Mother's death, you have been my closest relative! Everyone in the Cao family can die, but not you!"

"But I still want to thank you... If it weren't for your foresight and hard work, Yanzhou would probably have really been taken over by Lü Bu this time."

Cao Yan saw deep emotion and bond in Cao Cao's eyes, and at that moment, the system notification sounded.
[Ding! Congratulations, host! You have helped Cao Cao defend Yanzhou and preserve 70% of the people's livelihood and economy when he went to conquer Xuzhou.]

The second condition for the quest "Use People Without Suspicion" (when Cao Cao is in dire straits, help him turn the tide and completely dispel his suspicions about you) has been successfully completed!

Cao Yan smiled.

When Lao Cao saw Cao Yan smile, he smiled too.

Then, Cao Yan took out a piece of paper from his bosom, unfolded it in front of Cao Cao, and said, "Brother, since you have entrusted me with governing Chenliu, you should at least provide me with more talented people. This is a list I have compiled; please take a look and see if there are any problems."

Currently, those confirmed to accompany Cao Yan to Chenliu include Zhao Yun, Xiahou Lan, Dian Wei, Zhuge Liang, and Cao Ang, who is like a leech sticking to Cao Yan.

Cao Yan's list included not only some basic talents, but also two formidable figures, Xu Shu and Man Chong, who had yet to show their abilities.

Cao Cao's gaze lingered on a certain name: "Xu Shu?"

He looked up at Cao Yan and asked in surprise, "Is he the one you picked up from the pile of death row inmates?"

“Exactly.” Cao Yan nodded. “He has abandoned martial arts for literature, and he is quite talented. In the future, he will become a person who is proficient in both martial arts and literature.”

Xu Shu was discovered from among prisoners, and his knowledge and strategies were not yet fully developed, so Cao Cao was unaware of his capabilities.

Man Chong, however, was unable to fully utilize his talents because he had always served as a county magistrate in the local area.

Therefore, Cao Yan asked Cao Cao for these two men, and Cao Cao agreed.

Although Yu Jin also wanted to go to Chenliu County with Cao Yan, Cao Cao valued his military leadership skills highly.

When it came time to reward meritorious service, Cao Cao made an exception and promoted Yu Jin to the rank of Tiger Might General, keeping him in Juancheng.

The garrison troops that Yu Jin had previously led were now all placed under Yu Jin's command by Cao Cao, who also allowed him to expand his army to 30,000 men.

In this way, Yu Jin transformed himself, surpassing Li Dian to become the general with the most troops among those from other clans.

Cao Cao suddenly remembered that Cao Ang was also going to Chenliu with Cao Yan, so he rolled his eyes and said, "You know Wenlie, right? He's the brave young man who came to join us with his mother at the beginning of the year."

“Cao Xiu, Cao Wenlie, I know him,” Cao Yan nodded.

“I think he’s not bad either. Let him go to Chenliu County with you and get some experience.”

"That's fine..."

(End of this chapter)