Three Kingdoms: Fusion of Entries, Change of Destiny

Chapter 169 Relocation of the Capital to Xuxian, Yingchuan
on the city wall,
Emperor Liu Xie and his ministers looked down from their high positions at the battlefield outside the city, their emotions rising and falling with the deafening sounds of battle.

At first, when they saw the Xiliang army's 20,000 iron cavalry rushing in like a black torrent, the earth trembling at the sound of their hooves, their hearts were filled with worry.

Liu Xie gripped the bricks and stones on the city wall tightly with his hands, his knuckles turning white from the excessive force, and his eyes revealing endless fear.

He knew all too well that if Cao Cao's army could not withstand the attack, he would likely repeat the same mistake, falling into the hands of Li Jue, Guo Si, and others, and once again plunging into that dark abyss.

Yang Biao's brows furrowed into a deep "川" shape, his face so solemn it seemed as if water could drip from it.

He pondered to himself, "Although Cao Cao's army is said to have 30,000 men, what are their chances of winning against 20,000 elite Xiliang cavalry and more than 20,000 Xiliang infantrymen?"
Although Cao Yan had won several battles, this was ultimately a fierce battle with a vastly unequal strength!

Zhao Wen stood to the side, his lips trembling slightly. He wanted to say something, but he swallowed it back. He just kept shaking his head and sighing, his face full of helplessness and worry.

Zhao Qi tried to remain calm, his eyes fixed intently on the battlefield, but the fine beads of sweat on his forehead betrayed his inner tension.

He prayed silently in his heart, hoping that Cao Jun could create a miracle.

After all, Cao Cao was a loyalist chosen by Zhao Qi himself, carrying his earnest hope for the restoration of the Han Dynasty.

As the battle began, Zhang Ji's five thousand cavalrymen charged towards Cao Cao's position, but were instantly routed by Cao Cao's carefully laid horse traps, caltrops, and a dense barrage of arrows and crossbow bolts.

Upon seeing this scene, the people on the city wall were first stunned into silence, and then burst into wild joy.

A glimmer of hope flashed in Liu Xie's eyes. He straightened up and said excitedly, "General Hou has indeed lived up to my expectations, managing to rout Zhang Ji's cavalry so badly!"

Yang Biao's eyes were also filled with shock. He muttered to himself, "This Cao Zi'an actually has such methods, able to use infantry to defeat cavalry. It's really unexpected."

Zhao Qi clapped his hands excitedly and shouted, "Wonderful! Wonderful! General Hou is truly mighty!"

However, before they could celebrate for long, Li Jue and Guo Si's army, with their numerical advantage, broke through the dangerous area and reached the shield wall of Cao Cao's army.

In an instant, the battlefield was filled with shouts of battle, and the two sides were engaged in fierce melee.

Liu Xie's heart leaped into his throat again. He stared nervously at the battlefield, his hands clenched into fists.

Yang Biao and the others were once again on edge, their eyes glued to the battlefield, barely daring to breathe, for fear of missing a crucial moment if they weren't careful.

But throughout, Cao Cao, standing beside Liu Xie, remained completely calm and composed.

At that moment, Cao Yan seized the opportunity and decisively ordered the Trapped Camp to attack.

The soldiers of the Trapped Camp were like a sharp dagger, plunging fiercely into the ranks of the Xiliang army.

They were heavily armored, impervious to swords and spears, and their formation was tight and their command was excellent.

Wherever they went, the Xiliang army was routed and dared not stand in the slightest to resist their advance.

Dian Wei followed behind the Trapped Camp, fighting fiercely and mercilessly, like a ruthless meat grinder, slaughtering the Xiliang army until they were all thrown into chaos.

Zhao Yun led 5,000 cavalrymen on the outskirts, easily and comfortably reaping the fleeing Xiliang army.

Wherever they went, the Xiliang army was thrown into panic and fled in all directions.

The people on the city wall were completely stunned by what they saw.

Liu Xie's mouth dropped open, his eyes filled with disbelief. He never imagined that Cao Cao's army could defeat the Xiliang army so decisively, even when they seemed to be at a huge disadvantage.

Yang Biao couldn't help but sigh: "After this battle, Cao Yan's name will surely resound throughout the world!"

……

After more than two hours of fierce fighting, the Xiliang army finally collapsed completely and fled like birds and beasts, and Cao's army achieved a brilliant victory.

The battlefield was a scene of devastation, littered with corpses and filled with the heavy stench of blood.

Cao Yan left some soldiers to clean up the battlefield, then rode his horse slowly to the foot of the city wall.

He dismounted, straightened his clothes, and strode up the city wall to meet the emperor.

With a bright smile, Cao Cao approached Cao Yan, pulled him to Liu Xie, and respectfully bowed.

Cao Cao said, "Your Majesty, I have successfully completed my mission. Our army has defeated the Xiliang army."

Liu Xie hurriedly stepped forward and helped Cao Cao and Cao Yan up, saying excitedly, "Minister Cao and General of the Rear, this battle is entirely thanks to you two, and I am deeply grateful." Cao Yan humbly replied, "Your Majesty flatters me. This is all thanks to the soldiers' bravery in fighting the enemy. I only used a small trick."

Cao Cao seized the opportunity to say, "Your Majesty, Anyi is no longer a place to stay for long. Although the Xiliang army has been defeated, its remnants have not been eliminated, and I fear that it may cause trouble again in the future."

Your Majesty is advised to relocate to Xu County, Yingchuan.

This place is strategically important and well-supplied with provisions. With my large army nearby, Your Majesty's safety is assured.

"Not Yanzhou?" Upon hearing that it wasn't Yanzhou, the ministers were slightly surprised, but then felt better.

However, Liu Xie still hesitated.

Although he was willing to go to Xuchang with Cao Cao, he did not want to move the capital.

He preferred to stay in Xuxian County temporarily and return to Luoyang after the city was rebuilt.

"But Minister Cao, the ancestral temples and mausoleums of our Great Han Dynasty are all in Luoyang. As the Son of Heaven, how can I abandon them?"

Ancestral temples and mausoleums?

What kind of ancestral temples and mausoleums are these!
Lu Bu had already turned the imperial tombs upside down, and Dong Zhuo had burned the ancestral temples to ashes.

"Your Majesty, it would be much easier to move the imperial mausoleum and ancestral temples to Xuchang than to rebuild Luoyang." Clearly, Cao Cao was determined to move the capital to Xuchang.

In any case, I cannot stay in Luoyang.

After all, there were other warlords around Luoyang, such as Zhang Yang, who were eyeing the emperor covetously.

If one day Yuan Shao suddenly decides he doesn't understand and tries to seize the emperor, that would be quite a spectacle.

Moreover, rebuilding such a large city as Luoyang would require an immense investment of manpower and resources, as heaven knows.

Now is a crucial time for all heroes to focus on their development.

At this crucial time when all the warlords are focused on development, if Cao Cao were to expend too many resources on rebuilding Luoyang, causing his own development to stagnate, he might be attacked by the surrounding warlords and fall into an abyss of no return.

Seeing Cao Cao's resolute attitude, none of the ministers and officials behind him dared to stand up and speak on behalf of the emperor.

Instead, Zhao Qi was the first to step forward and persuade Liu Xie, saying, "Your Majesty, what Minister Cao said is absolutely right. The world is in chaos now, and Your Majesty needs a safe and stable place to handle state affairs with peace of mind."

Luoyang is already in ruins, and it is unknown how long it will take to rebuild it.

Yanzhou is the stronghold of Minister Situ, bordering Yingchuan, and can be reinforced at any time, making it an excellent choice.

Zhao Wen nodded in agreement, saying, "The Grand Tutor is absolutely right. If His Majesty were to move to Yingchuan, he would surely be able to restore the prestige of our Han Dynasty."

Zhao Qi then said, "Your Majesty, Minister Cao is utterly loyal to you. Only by moving him to Yanzhou can you rest easy."

However, some advised, "Your Majesty, we should find a neutral location to maintain Your Majesty's authority."

"Absurd! If we move to a neutral territory, who will protect His Majesty? Who will supply the court's needs?"

"This……"

For a time, the ministers were divided into two factions and argued endlessly.

As Liu Xie listened to the ministers' arguments, he became even more conflicted.

He glanced at Cao Cao and Cao Yan, then at the ministers who supported and opposed the relocation to Yingchuan, and thought to himself, "Now that my Han Dynasty is in decline, I am nothing more than a puppet emperor. What difference does it make where I flee to?"

Thinking of this, Liu Xie sighed deeply and said, "Fine, then I'll go to Yingchuan with Situ."

But there was one more thing he didn't say: "Anyway, I'll just be a puppet to be manipulated wherever I go, so I might as well settle down sooner."

Liu Xie's decision brought a sigh of relief to many people.

Cao Cao said, "Your Majesty is wise. I will do my utmost to assist Your Majesty and restore the Han Dynasty."

Cao Yan also said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, we are willing to protect the Han Dynasty and its people, even at the cost of our lives."

(End of this chapter)