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

Although Cao Chun also deeply resented Xu Shu, he was better at self-control than Xiahou Yuan. After suppressing his anger, he made a judgment: "The enemy has used trickery to scheme against us, which shows that their generals are weak and their soldiers are cowardly, and they dare not face us head-on. Liu Bei has sent Ju Shou, Tian Feng and Xu Shu to lead the army, which means they are already at their wits' end. We should quickly attack Lecheng and Nanpi to prevent Liu Bei from secretly sending Guan Yu and Zhang Fei back to reinforce them."

Xu Huang and Zhang Liao both expressed their agreement.

Although Cao Cao had deployed heavy troops along the Changshan and Zhongshan lines, it would not have been difficult for Liu Bei to secretly recall Guan Yu and Zhang Fei.

If Guan Yu and Zhang Fei arrive suddenly, coupled with the ferocity of the troops in Zhuo County, it would be virtually impossible for Cao Chun and Zhang Liao to quickly defeat Xu Shu's ambush as they had the previous night.

Despite his immense reluctance, Xiahou Yuan had no choice but to stamp his feet in frustration. Given the current situation, continuing to entangle with Xu Shu would be unwise. The best course of action was to quickly capture Lecheng and Nanpi before Liu Bei or Zhuge Liang's main forces returned to reinforce them.

After a brief rest, Xiahou Yuan and Cao Chun each led their troops back.

Not far north of Lecheng, having learned that Cao Cao's army had retreated, Mi Fang was overjoyed: "Cao Cao's generals were fighting amongst themselves first, and now they are exhausted and returning. If we lead our troops to pursue them, we will surely win again."

Xu Shu glanced at Mi Fang, whose courage had "increased," and gently shook his head: "Being greedy for merit and advancing rashly is a major taboo in military strategy. It was already a stroke of luck that we succeeded last night. If we rashly pursue now, we will surely be countered by Cao Cao. I expect that Cao Cao will return empty-handed and launch a strong attack on Lecheng and Nanpi. Tian and Ju are both shrewd and decisive men. When they see Cao Cao launch a sudden attack, they will surely understand the reason behind it. There is no need for us to do anything more."

Mi Fang didn't quite understand, and after a moment's hesitation, she asked again, "So we're just going to stay in Chengping and do nothing?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Shu's lips curled up slightly: "With troops in hand, how can we sit idly by and wait for death? Bypass Nanpi and take the southern counties of Bohai Commandery directly. Although Kongming has devised a plan to appease the people, the powerful families and clans in the counties are alarmed by the ferocity of Cao's troops and may not dare to make a rash move."

Mi Fang hesitated for a moment: "But our military mission is to support the garrison in Leping and Nanpi. If we go deep behind enemy lines, it may ruin our lord's plans."

Fearing that Xu Shu might misunderstand him as being cowardly, Mi Fang quickly added, "Even if you were to go, you should first send someone to ask the lord for permission."

Seeing that Mi Fang was timid again, Xu Shu secretly shook his head and said, "Have you not heard the saying, 'When a general is in the field, he may disobey the emperor's orders'? Chengping is hundreds of miles away from Zhuoxian. Even if he travels back and forth by fast horse, it will take at least three days. Three days is enough time for me to go around to the back of Nanpi and persuade the powerful families and clans of the counties."

Changing the subject, Xu Shu continued, "To prevent Cao Cao from discovering my whereabouts, I will give you some troops and leave you with many banners. You will stay in Chengping to make a show of force. If the lord arrives, you can tell him the truth."

This arrangement not only ensured the implementation of the plan but also allowed Mi Fang to stay in Chengping with peace of mind, demonstrating Xu Shu's emotional intelligence.

Mi Fang felt relieved and said, "I will follow the Chief Secretary's arrangements. Since the Chief Secretary wants to divide the troops, he might as well send envoys to request permission at the same time, so as not to give others a handle to use against us in the future."

Subsequently, Xu Shu selected eight hundred brave soldiers, who then traveled eastward and southward along the coastal road to various counties.

Mi Fang acted according to the plan, making a great show of force in Chengping, and deliberately sent a messenger with a challenge letter to Cao Cao's camp. In contrast, Mi Fang's challenge letter was strong in wording but weak in reality, and the messenger did not dare to enter Cao Cao's camp, but only dared to wrap the letter on an arrow and shoot it at Cao Cao's camp from a distance.

This behavior further reinforced Cao Chun's judgment: Liu Bei has run out of tricks!

Therefore, Xiahou Yuan, Xu Huang, and Li Dian of Lecheng, and Cao Chun, Zang Ba, Zhang Liao, and Lü Qian of Nanpi, all ignored Mi Fang of Chengping and disdained to divide their forces to attack him.

To prevent Liu Bei from sending reinforcements, Lecheng and Nanpi launched fierce attacks almost simultaneously.

One side had brave and valiant soldiers, while the other side held firm in the city.

The two cities were engulfed in constant warfare.

However, Cao Chun's judgment was too arbitrary, and reality did not allow him to successfully attack the city. Just three days later, Liu Bei led generals Chen Dao, Yang Qun, Ding Li, Liu Deran, Liu He, Zhao Du, and Huo Nu, with 3,000 troops, to Chengping.

When fighting within his own territory, Liu Bei didn't have to worry too much about supplies and logistics, so his marching speed was far superior to when attacking enemy territory.

On the way to Chengping, Liu Bei had already received Xu Shu's request for permission to bypass the southern counties of Bohai. Liu Bei also deeply agreed with Xu Shu's decision to go around to the southern counties of Bohai.

Although Zhuge Liang selected a thousand men from his own troops and sent them to Hejian, Bohai, and Qingxu to distribute proclamations and spread the news, as Xu Shu had said, the powerful families and clans in the counties were indeed alarmed by the ferocity of Cao Cao's troops and might not dare to act rashly.

With Xu Shu's eight hundred elite soldiers circling around to the southern counties of Bohai, even if the powerful families and clans in those counties intended to stand by and watch, they would have to consider the possibility of Liu Bei punishing them after Cao Cao's army was defeated.

After arriving in Chengping, Liu Bei learned from Mi Fang about the movements of Cao Cao's troops in Lecheng and Nanpi. He then decisively chose to lead his troops westward into Lecheng.

The reason is simple: Nanpi has Cao Chun's Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, as well as Zang Ba and Zhang Liao.

Liu Bei's newly recruited three thousand men would be easily routed if they encountered Cao Chun's elite cavalry. Furthermore, Liu Bei was well aware of Zang Ba and Zhang Liao's martial prowess and military leadership, so it would be unwise to confront them head-on in Nanpi. Moreover, Nanpi was more fortified than Lecheng, and with Huang Zhong and Ju Shou by his side, defending the city should be no problem.

In comparison, Liu Bei was more worried about Tian Feng and Qian Zhao in Lecheng.

After reorganizing the three thousand soldiers and the thousand-plus soldiers in Lecheng, Liu Bei left Mi Fang with only a few hundred wounded and sick soldiers, still ordering Mi Fang to garrison Chengping and make a show of force.

Subsequently, Liu Bei led more than 3,000 troops straight to Lecheng.

The sudden appearance of reinforcements surprised Xiahou Yuan, Xu Huang, and Li Dian.

This is also related to Mi Fang's challenge letter, which essentially said: I am the brother-in-law of the Left General. I have come, and the Left General will be here soon. If you don't want to die, surrender now.

With Xu Shu's tactical deception preceded him, Mi Fang's blustering yet cowardly challenge to battle naturally failed to fool Xiahou Yuan, instead only increasing Xiahou Yuan's contempt.

Unexpectedly, Liu Bei actually came!
"Damn Liu Bei, how could he arrive so quickly!" Xiahou Yuan was furious.

After several days of fierce attacks, Lecheng was on the verge of collapse. Xiahou Yuan was about to take Lecheng in one fell swoop when, at this critical moment, Liu Bei personally led troops to reinforce the city.

When Liu Bei's banner appeared under Lecheng, without Tian Feng and Qian even needing to call out, Lecheng's demoralized morale instantly soared back to its former height.

Seeing this, Xu Huang calmly considered the situation and analyzed, "Liu Bei's reinforcements arrived at Lecheng first, which should be his intention to attack the weak first and then the strong. General, you should quickly send a messenger to inform the troops in Nanpi and join forces to attack. As long as we defeat Liu Bei, Lecheng and Nanpi will be within our grasp."

Xu Huang's analysis is reasonable and realistic; however, it has the flavor of "boosting Liu Bei's morale and diminishing Xiahou Yuan's prestige."

To Xiahou Yuan, it sounded utterly awkward.

Xiahou Yuan was immediately displeased: "Gongming, what do you mean by that? I have ten thousand infantry and cavalry at my disposal. With overwhelming numbers, capturing Liu Bei alive would be a piece of cake. Why would I need to ask the troops from Nanpi to join the attack?" (End of this chapter)