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

Xiahou Lian's threat could not sway Chen Deng's mind. As he just said, since he had decided to raise an army in response, he must have carefully weighed the pros and cons.

After quickly eliminating Xiahou Lian's confidants in the army, Chen Deng assigned his own confidants to command Xiahou Lian's troops, and then swiftly marched on Xiapi City.

Having received advance intelligence from the routed soldiers, Mao Jie sent people to request reinforcements while simultaneously closing the gates of Xiapi.

Upon seeing Chen Deng arrive in person at the gates of Xiapi, Mao Jie was both surprised and furious: "Prefect Chen, what is your intention in bringing troops here?"

Chen Deng didn't stand on ceremony with Mao Jie and directly shouted to the terrified officials and soldiers on the city wall: "Listen up, soldiers and civilians of Xiapi! Cao Cao has repeatedly slaughtered my Xuzhou. This hatred is irreconcilable. I thought that by compromising, I could protect the people of Xuzhou. I never expected that Cao Cao would repeatedly doubt me. This is intolerable!"

"Now that General Zuo has risen in Hebei and led seven armies to march south against Cao Cao, I have raised troops in response to General Zuo. Those who wish to follow may kill Mao Jie; those who do not wish to follow may lay down their weapons, and I will not force them; but if you insist on obstructing me, do not blame me, Chen Deng, for not considering our kinship."

"This is Xiahou Lian's head!"

As soon as Chen Deng finished speaking, Mao Jie's face turned deathly pale.

The Chen family of Xiapi already held considerable prestige, and Chen Deng, the governor of Guangling, was also highly respected. Now that he had killed Xiahou Lian, who in Xiapi would dare to stop him?

Before Mao Jie could react, a man behind him drew his sword and killed Mao Jie, then threw Mao Jie's head off the city wall and bowed, saying, "We are willing to surrender!"

Chen Deng secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

If Mao Jie still has the strength to defend the city, given the fortification of Xiapi, Chen Deng's troops alone cannot break it.

If Xiapi cannot be captured quickly, Chen Deng will also be unable to persuade the anti-Cao forces in the counties of Xuzhou to raise troops in response.

"Chen Ying, immediately issue a proclamation to all counties, stating that those who are willing to respond to the Left General can expel the officials appointed by Cao Cao." Chen Deng issued the orders one by one, his momentum overwhelming.

Subsequently, Chen Deng went to a separate residence in the city to find Yuan Huan, the former governor of Xuzhou, and asked Yuan Huan to temporarily take over as governor of Xuzhou and preside over various affairs.

Upon hearing that Chen Deng had killed Xiahou Lian and Mao Jie, Yuan Huan was immediately horrified: "Yuanlong, disaster is imminent for Xuzhou! Do you really want the people of Xuzhou to be slaughtered by Cao Cao again?"

Chen Deng was always resolute and would not regret his actions once he had made them. He said sternly, "Lord Yaoqing, I know you love the people and do not want them to suffer from the ravages of war. But how can I forget the hatred of Cao Cao's massacre of Xuzhou in the past? Now that General Zuo is leading seven routes to the south, it is the time for the people of Xuzhou to fight back. How can we let this opportunity slip by?"

Yuan Huan stamped his foot and said, "But what if General Zuo's southern expedition fails? Once Cao Cao returns, he can reach Xiapi within ten days. General Zuo is far away in Hebei. How can he possibly reinforce Xiapi? Yuanlong, you are too impulsive!"

"Not necessarily," Chen Deng said confidently. "If I were the only one raising an army, I would lie low in Guangling. But now Yuan Shao has secretly ordered my uncle to go to Runan, intending to mobilize Yuan Shao's former followers and officials there to also rebel against Cao Cao. In addition, the Left General originally had seven armies, so there are nine armies rebelling against Cao Cao. If Liu Biao of Jingzhou hears the news, wouldn't he take the opportunity to retake Wancheng? Now there are ten armies attacking Cao Cao. Cao Cao is already too busy to deal with himself, how can he turn his army back to attack Xiapi?"

Looking at Yuan Huan, who was still frowning, Chen Deng said confidently, "General Zuo is a benevolent and righteous man, and Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong are also brilliant strategists. If they hear that Xuzhou and Runan have raised troops in response, how could they let us miss the opportunity and allow Cao Cao to defeat us one by one?"

"Lord Yaoqing, you were once a subordinate of the Left General. At this critical moment, how can you not step forward? If we can settle this in one battle, the turmoil in the world will be quelled. Isn't this exactly what Lord Yaoqing has been hoping for?"

"Moreover, given the current situation, even if Lord Yao does nothing, he will inevitably be punished by Cao Cao in the future. How could Lord Yao not understand the principle that if the ruler suspects his minister, the minister will surely die? If Cao Cao truly trusted Lord Yao, he would not have allowed Mao Jie to replace him." Yuan Huan's initial shock and panic gradually disappeared under Chen Deng's persuasion, replaced by solemnity and determination: "Enough! Enough! It's too late for me to blame you now. I will try my best to help you integrate the strength of the counties in Xuzhou. If we still fail in the end, I will commit suicide by the Si River to atone for the suffering of the people of Xuzhou because of me."

With Chen Deng and Yuan Huan working together, Xuzhou quickly rallied in support.

In Runan, Chen Yu also visited Yuan Shao's former students and officials, carrying Yuan Shao's tokens.

This group of anti-Cao forces, who had been lying low since Yuan Shao's defeat at Guandu, were not trusted by Cao Cao even though they appeared to be behaving themselves. They had long been harboring resentment.

Now that they have seen Yuan Shao send envoys to make contact, and have learned the true situation in Hebei from Chen Yu, this group of Yuan's former protégés and officials who were lying in wait in Runan have also responded to Chen Yu.

Chen Yu was overjoyed to learn from the crowd that Liu Biao had sent his eldest son Liu Qi to prepare troops in Xinye. With Chen Deng raising troops in the east and Liu Biao sending troops in the south, plus the former officials and students of the Yuan family in Runan raising troops, how could he not succeed?

One side is happy, the other side is worried.

After receiving intelligence that Ma Chao had captured Hongnong, Liu Qi had reorganized his army in Xinye, Chen Deng had captured Xiapi and killed Mao Jie and Xiahou Lian, and Chen Yu had gathered Yuan family disciples and former officials and Yellow Turban rebellion in Runan, Xun Yu, who remained in Xudu to oversee the overall situation, felt a chill run down his spine.

Originally, after Zhong Yao retreated to Hangu Pass, Xun Yu was confident that he could stabilize the overall situation. Even after learning that Liu Qi was reorganizing his army in Xinye, Xun Yu did not take it seriously.

But now that Chen Deng has captured Pi and killed Mao Jie and Xiahou Lian, and Chen Yu has gathered Yuan's old troops to rebel in Runan, Xun Yu has no choice but to deal with the situation carefully.

Today's disaster is no less than the disaster that Zhang Miao and Chen Gong caused in Yanzhou in the past. If he is not careful, Cao Cao will suffer a complete defeat and be left homeless!

The reason why Liu Bei's seven-pronged southern expedition could trigger so many chain reactions was essentially because Cao Cao had committed too much bloodshed in the past.

In particular, the massacre of Xuzhou meant that Cao Cao's nominal occupation of Xuzhou did not actually make the people of Xuzhou willingly submit.

Even if Chen Deng had not raised an army in response, others would have.

The same applies to Runan. Cao Cao did not trust the old subordinates of the Yuan family. He could suppress them with military might on ordinary days, but once someone took the lead in responding, it would spread like wildfire.

During the Battle of Guandu, Liu Bei's failure to enter Runan laid the groundwork for the subsequent response from the counties of Runan. Meanwhile, Yuan Shao, in order for Yuan Mai to inherit the title of "Four Generations of Three Dukes" under Liu Bei's command, stabbed Cao Cao in the back at a crucial moment.

otherwise.

Even if Liu Bei were to launch a seven-pronged southern campaign, at most he could only drive Cao Cao back south of the Yellow River. And even after Cao Cao entered Ye City, this goal might not be achieved.

Liu Bei was able to withstand Cao Cao's five northern expeditions, and Cao Cao was equally able to withstand Liu Bei's seven southern expeditions. Neither side had an absolute advantage in military strength or strategy over the other.

Yuan Shao's scheme against Cao Cao directly plunged Cao Cao into a perilous situation, surrounded by enemies on all sides. (End of Chapter)