The Three Kingdoms: Hindsight is 20/20, and the Three Revivals of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 294 The current struggle in Hebei is actually a struggle between Cao Cao and Liu Bei (1st update)
Cao Cao narrowed his eyes: "Fengxiao means that even if Yuan Shang does not adopt this plan, Shen Pei will still take the risk?"

Guo Jia's gaze was profound: "Exactly! Shen Pei is a man of fierce and stubborn nature, even more so than Tian Feng. Moreover, both of his sons died at the hands of you, my lord, a blood feud that cannot be resolved! Now that Ye City is besieged and supplies are running out, for Shen Pei, it is no longer a choice of 'whether to hold out,' but a choice of 'how to fight to the death!'"

"What Jia predicted was that the defenders' determination to 'burn their boats and break the cauldrons' was not mere boasting, but a desperate fight to the death! He predicted that the defenders would be forced to eat their fill at every meal, not just 'three days' of sustenance.' This was intended to conserve the soldiers' strength and exhaust their remaining provisions, cutting off their retreat. Afterward, they would surely come out in full force to fight you to the death: if they won, they could harvest wheat outside the city to continue their supplies; if they lost... Ye City would be destroyed!"

Cao Cao sneered upon hearing this, with a hint of contempt: "Want to emulate Xiang Yu's burning of the boats? Fierceness alone is not enough. If it is as Fengxiao predicts, the person in charge of Ye City will probably have to be replaced. That brat Yuan Shang doesn't have the guts; only Yuan Tan has the courage."

After a pause, Cao Cao's sneer deepened: "Yuan Tan, though more reckless and brave than Yuan Shang, is far inferior to Xiang Yu's strategic brilliance. Even if he dares to lead his troops out of the city, it is nothing more than the courage of a common man, nothing to be afraid of."

Cao Cao's gaze sharpened slightly, and he changed the subject: "What I am deeply concerned about is that Zhuge Liang has also seen through Shen Pei's intentions. The struggle for Hebei is actually a struggle between me and Xuande. Xuande will certainly not sit idly by while we plot to seize Hebei, so we must be on guard."

"Zhuge Liang is a rare genius of our time, and he must have been able to foresee Shen Pei's scheme." Guo Jia first affirmed Zhuge Liang's wisdom, and then analyzed his possible response: "In the struggle for power, the people are fundamental. However, Liu Bei has just pacified the counties, and the land is barren and the population sparse. At this time, Zhuge Liang must prioritize gathering refugees and stabilizing the local area. If he implements a policy of gathering people, his military strength will be difficult to contend with Your Excellency face-to-face. If Liu Bei wants to cause trouble, he can only adopt the strategy of alliances and counter-alliances. In the present world, there are many warlords. Your Excellency possesses the Central Plains, a land of four battlegrounds. Besides Liu Bei and Yuan Shao, there are also Ma Teng and Han Sui, Zhang Lu and Liu Zhang, and Sun Quan and Liu Biao who can pose a threat to the borders."

Cao Cao narrowed his eyes slightly: "Ma Teng and Han Sui have hostages in Xuchang; Zhang Lu and Liu Zhang are guarding their own territories, and the plank roads have been destroyed, so they are not a concern. In the past, when I led the campaign against Lü Bu alone, Liu Biao did not invade the north; during the Battle of Guandu, he did not come to Yuan Shao's aid either. He is nothing but a dog guarding his house. Sun Quan has just taken control of Jiangdong, and his internal affairs are unstable. How can he have the spare strength to covet the Central Plains? In this light, Liu Bei's plan to use the strategy of alliances and counter-alliances is also in vain."

"Not necessarily," Guo Jia disagreed. "Liu Biao of Jingzhou is also a member of the Han imperial family, and Zhuge Liang has been in Jingzhou for many years, with deep ties to Liu Biao and his powerful families such as Kuai, Cai, Pang, and Huang. He might be able to persuade Liu Biao to take action. However, the journey from Zhuo County to Xiangyang is long and arduous, and the war has disrupted the peace. Even if an envoy were to go and persuade him, it would take at least three months. Considering this, there is enough time for you, my lord, to conquer Ye City!"

Cao Cao's discussion with Guo Jia did not avoid Meng Dai and Jiang Qi, who were in the tent.

The two were horrified upon hearing this.

Shen Pei's "do-or-die" strategy, which he regarded as a brilliant plan and placed high hopes on, was not only analyzed in detail and clearly understood by Guo Jia, but Cao Cao also only received a dismissive "nothing to fear" in his eyes.
What Cao Cao was truly worried about was that Zhuge Liang in Zhuo County might have also seen through Shen Pei's scheme? The subsequent discussion had nothing to do with Shen Pei at all!
If Shen Pei knew this, he would probably be so angry he'd vomit blood: how could he be looked down upon like this!
Cao Cao's decision to have Meng Dai and Jiang Qi listen in was intentional. It was both a show of courtesy to Meng Dai and Jiang Qi and a way to intimidate them, so as to prevent them from having any improper thoughts.

Subsequently, Cao Cao instructed Xu Chu to arrange for Meng Dai and Jiang Qi to rest in a separate tent, while also ordering Zhang He and Gao Lan to contact Meng Dai and Jiang Qi to formulate a future plan to persuade them to surrender.

Shen Pei planned to launch a decisive battle a month later, but Cao Cao only wanted to recruit as many soldiers in Ye City as possible within that month.

First, Zhang He and Gao Lan served under Cao Cao, and later Meng Dai and Jiang Qi surrendered and were enfeoffed as marquises. In addition, the news related to the wounded soldiers of Yuan Shao was also spreading, and the morale of the army in Ye City was indeed affected.

Shen Pei then took the opportunity to petition Yuan Shang again to ensure that the garrison was well-fed at every meal to reassure the troops. Yuan Shang was furious at the defection of Meng Dai and Jiang Qi, and had no choice but to agree to Shen Pei's decision.

As the dwindling grain reserves in the government granaries grew, Yuan Shang's sense of crisis intensified. He considered abandoning Ye City and retreating to Julu several times, but feared being ridiculed by Yuan Tan. He was tormented every day, feeling as if each day was an eternity.

Meanwhile, Xin Ping, who had parted ways with Guo Tu, arrived in Zhuo County after several days of rapid travel and informed Liu Bei of the current situation in Ye City, especially Shen Pei's "breaking the pot and sinking the boat" strategy, which Xin Ping emphasized. Upon hearing this, Liu Bei sighed, "Everyone wants to emulate Xiang Yu's 'breaking the pot and sinking the boat' and Han Xin's 'fighting with their backs to the river,' but those who imitate them are almost all merely mimicking the form, knowing only the appearance but not the spirit. Although Shen Pei is brave and courageous, he will ultimately be defeated by Cao Cao."

Xin Ping also sighed: "Gongze also thought so! Therefore, Gongze not only refuted Shen Pei in public, but also advised Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang to submit to the Left General as their master. Unfortunately, Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang thought too highly of themselves and only wanted the Left General to send troops to help them, but did not want to submit to the Left General."

Liu Bei was slightly taken aback, not expecting Guo Tu to have such an idea. He couldn't help but sigh, "Guo Tu and I hit it off immediately when we met in Yanjin. I am unworthy of such high praise from you!" He then asked, "Why didn't you come to Zhuo County with Xin Tu?"

Xin Ping truthfully replied, "Your Excellency intended to first go to Pingyuan to relocate our families and clansmen to Zhuoxian, but fearing that Hua Yan might obstruct us, you asked me to first enter Zhuoxian to inform the Left General, and then dispatch Xin Zhe to lead elite cavalry to Pingyuan to escort us."

Liu Bei was overjoyed. Guo Tu and Xin Ping were willing to move their families and clansmen to Zhuo County, which was no different from joining Liu Bei's cause.

Fearing for the safety of Guo Tu and Xin Ping's families and clansmen, Liu Bei summoned Huang Zhong and Xin Zhe, ordering them to lead three hundred elite cavalry to Pingyuan at full speed.

Xin Ping had also heard of Huang Zhong's reputation.

He was skilled in archery and horsemanship, possessing the ability to hit a willow leaf from a hundred paces away. He even shot down Afugan, the leader of the Wuhuan tribe of Yanmen, with a single arrow amidst a vast army, which made him a formidable figure.

"General Zuo's kindness is beyond my ability to repay!" Xin Ping was deeply moved.

Liu Bei replied solemnly, "Constable Xin, you are too kind. It was nothing, not worth mentioning!"

After arranging for Huang Zhong and Xin Zhe to go first, Liu Bei sent someone to invite Zhuge Liang, Xu Shu, and Tian Feng. After hesitating for a moment, Liu Bei also sent someone to invite Ju Shou to come along.

This is because Ju Shou's son, Ju Hu, is also in Ye City.

If Shen Pei insists on fighting Cao Cao to the death with a do-or-die attitude, Ju Shou's son will inevitably be affected as well.

Although Ju Shou claimed that he only wanted to be a teacher, Liu Bei understood that Ju Shou had been deeply hurt by Yuan Shao and would not be able to recover for a while.

　Update 1 is here!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)