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

Chapter 47 Cao Cao and Zhuge Liang schemed against each other; whoever laughed the loudest lost.

After a moment's consideration.

Cao Ren replied in a deep voice: "If General Zuo takes advantage of the conflict between Sikong and Yuan Shao to send troops into Runan, the counties of Runan will surely surrender upon hearing the news of General Zuo's arrival, in order to save their lives."

"I deeply admire Guan Sima's excellent strategy."

"However, the Left General has few soldiers and generals, making it difficult to hold out for long. If he were to command Yuan Shao's troops, he would not be able to make good use of them in the short term."

"Such troops can be defeated in one strike."

"At that time, the Minister of Works will send a message to all the counties, disregarding their faults, and Runan will be pacified in no time."

Upon hearing Cao Ren's words, Guan Yu's expression immediately turned solemn.

Cao Ren was both brave and resourceful, and was the most cunning of the Xiahou and Cao clans under Cao Cao. Guan Yu was intimidating Cao Ren, and Cao Ren was intimidating Guan Yu in return.

Despite their differing inner emotions, neither of them gained the upper hand in their verbal sparring.

Consider for a long time.

Guan Yu then said, “Cao Yilang, there is no benefit in our verbal dispute. My elder brother is far away in Pingyuan and certainly cannot come. If Sikong really has something to say to my elder brother, he can speak with Military Advisor Zhuge in person.”

It was not Guan Yu who made the decision on his own.

When Zhuge Liang ordered Guan Yu to wait here for Cao Cao's generals, he had already anticipated the scenario that Cao Cao would come in person, and instructed Guan Yu: If Cao Cao comes in person, then arrange a meeting with Cao Cao.

When Cao Ren saw that Guan Yu insisted that Liu Bei was far away in Pingyuan, he guessed Guan Yu's intention.

As long as Liu Bei doesn't meet with Cao Cao face-to-face, he can continue to use the pretext of "being wronged and heading north".

This banner is so useful.

This allowed Liu Bei to remain in a vulnerable and aggrieved position, while also gaining the sympathy of the northern people.

More importantly, this banner can dispel Yuan Shao's doubts and conceal Liu Bei's true intentions for heading north!

Is this another of Zhuge Liang's schemes?

Mind this.

Cao Ren stopped arguing with Guan Yu and replied, "Please trouble Commander Guan to convey that the Minister of Works will arrive in person in three days!"

dusty.

Cao Ren came quickly and left quickly.

Watching Cao Ren's cavalry depart into the distance, Guan Yu couldn't help but feel envious.

In the past, when Liu Bei's army was at its peak, he had more than a thousand cavalrymen of various ethnic groups. Guan Yu led the cavalry to traverse Hebei, enjoying a carefree and exhilarating time.

Unfortunately, after several battles in Xuzhou, Liu Bei's mixed barbarian cavalry was almost completely wiped out, and now he can only muster less than fifty cavalrymen!

"Once I return to Zhuojun, I will definitely train elite cavalry again and crush Cao Ren's arrogance!"

Envy is envy.

Guan Yu did not forget his mission and ordered two riders to guard the road crossing to prevent Cao Ren from returning.

Subsequently.

Guan Yu then led two more riders to another intersection of the narrow passage.

Zhuge Liang and his White Feather Army were stationed here.

"military adviser."

Upon meeting Zhuge Liang, Guan Yu truthfully recounted his confrontation and conversation with Cao Ren.

His words also frequently revealed his admiration for Zhuge Liang's uncanny ability to predict events.

If my elder brother had had a strategist's help five years ago, he certainly wouldn't have lost Xuzhou.

Guan Yu couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

After listening.

Zhuge Liang gently waved his feather fan, paced back and forth for a moment, and asserted: "Although Cao Ren made the appointment for three days later, Cao Cao saw Liang's letter and then asked General Zuo to meet him in person. He certainly wouldn't waste time on sending messages back and forth."

"This place is rugged and densely forested, a perfect hiding place for military strategists. Quickly divide into 100 White Feather Soldiers, with 50 hidden in the dense forests on each side. Gather firewood and straw, piling them up every ten paces, arranging them in neat rows and columns. Light them when the drum sounds to create a diversion!"

Guan Yu exclaimed in surprise, "Now? Could it be that Cao Cao will arrive tonight?"

Zhuge Liang's eyes were piercing: "For Cao Cao, what he lacks most right now is time. If I were Cao Cao, I would definitely rush here overnight after hearing that Cao Ren and Guan Yu had agreed to meet in three days. If we are careless and unprepared, we will definitely be captured by Cao Cao."

After Zhuge Liang's reminder, Guan Yu thought of Cao Cao's usual style of marching and broke out in a cold sweat: "If it weren't for the strategist's reminder, even if I hadn't been captured by Cao Cao, I would have fled in a sorry state."

With the profound experience of a 54-year-old, Zhuge Liang's caution was ingrained in his very being.

Only with preparation can we avoid trouble. And indeed, things turned out exactly as Zhuge Liang had predicted.

Cao Ren had just returned for about twenty li when he encountered Cao Cao and Xu Chu, along with more than a hundred cavalrymen.

"Sikong."

Cao Ren dared not delay and hurriedly recounted his confrontation and conversation with Guan Yu truthfully.

"A three-day agreement? Zixiao's actions are exactly what I wanted." Cao Cao couldn't help but laugh: "Tonight, we might be able to capture Yunchang alive!"

Cao Ren had followed Cao Cao for a long time and was already accustomed to Cao Cao's military style. The three-day meeting was a trap that Cao Ren deliberately set for Guan Yu.

Thinking of Zhuge Liang, Cao Ren added, "Zhuge Liang is extremely good at calculations, and this plan probably cannot be hidden from him."

Cao Cao didn't take it to heart: "It's alright. If Zhuge Liang can't see through Zixiao's plan, he's not qualified to talk to me face to face. Order the cavalry to rest where they are, and set off again in an hour."

Looking at the mountains ahead, Cao Cao's gaze deepened.

Let me see what kind of person Zhuge Liang is, the one whom Xuande can entrust with important matters and who can make Yunchang submit to his orders!

An hour later.

Dust rose again.

Cao Cao led a thousand cavalrymen, including Cao Ren and Xu Chu, straight towards the narrow passage where Zhuge Liang and Guan Yu were located.

In early February, night falls early.

Before they even reached the narrow pass, night had already fallen.

To avoid alerting the enemy, Cao Cao lit only a few torches and ordered his cavalry to proceed slowly.

however.

Zhuge Liang had already deployed hidden sentries near the narrow passage.

Just as Cao Cao's cavalry reached the narrow pass, a rapid drumbeat sounded at the crossroads.

The White Feather Soldiers, hidden in the dense forests on both sides, ran after hearing the drumbeats and set fire to the firewood they had already piled up.

Every ten steps there's a pile, arranged in rows and columns.

One hundred White Feather soldiers lit five hundred bonfires, creating the illusion of over two thousand men in the surrounding dense forest.

"Protect Sikong!"

Upon seeing this, Xu Chu immediately summoned several elite guards with shields to protect Cao Cao.

Cao Cao reined in his horse, looked around, and quickly noticed something suspicious.

There was the sound of drums, but no shouting.

There was a campfire, but no banners.

Cao Cao couldn't help but laugh: "Neither waving flags nor shouting, what is there to fear from such a clumsy feint! Zixiao, shout something!"

Cao Ren understood and accepted the order, then spurred his horse forward.

As the drumbeats subsided, Cao Ren called out loudly, "Sikong himself has arrived! Please invite Zhuge Liang, the military advisor and general under the Left General, to answer my question!"

The voice just fell.

Several riders appeared at the crossroads; they were Zhuge Liang, Guan Yu, and others.

Guan Yu recognized Cao Ren and shouted, "Cao Yilang, since you made a promise to me in three days, you should keep your word. What are you trying to do by rushing here tonight?"

Cao Ren laughed loudly: "Sikong was afraid that Military Advisor Zhuge and Commander Guan would wait too long, so he rushed here day and night, which shows his sincerity in the face-to-face talks. But Commander Guan has ambushed troops on both sides, what is his intention?"

Guan Yu sneered, "It was cold at night, and I couldn't bear to see the soldiers suffer, so I had them warm themselves by the fire. How could there be an ambush? Cao Yilang, you're overthinking it!"

Despite their heated verbal sparring, both Guan Yu and Cao Ren were secretly astonished by each other's strategy.

During the debate.

Then two riders were seen going their separate ways.

On the west side, Cao Cao.

On the east side, Zhuge Liang.

They all possess an imposing presence without needing to be angry.

　At the beginning of the month, I'm asking for monthly votes. [My book dropped off the new book chart, I'm heartbroken.]

　　
　
(End of this chapter)