Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Shu, Loyal Officials of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 203 Cao Cao: Take Shouchun and destroy Yuan Shu today!
"Expressing dissatisfaction with the truth? Liu Jingsheng is arrogant!"

Thinking of Mi Heng's hurtful words, Cao Cao felt a prickling sensation in his back and gritted his teeth in hatred.

"What makes him think he can? Isn't he afraid that I will deliberately not send troops, delay the inevitable, and watch him and Yuan Gonglu both suffer heavy losses?"
"If I don't send troops to help, I'd like to see how long he can hold out against Yuan Shu's army!"

Sima Yi smiled calmly at this, saying, "My lord will send troops."

Cao Cao remained silent, his murderous gaze meeting Sima Yi's. Sima Yi, however, remained fearless and bowed, saying:
"Please prioritize the overall situation and do not let personal matters interfere with public affairs, thereby damaging the foundation of our great cause."

My lord, you know better than anyone else that we cannot sit idly by and watch Yuan Shu occupy Jingzhou and Xiangyang. And it just so happens that Liu Biao also knows that you know this, which is why he dares to act so recklessly.

Zhongda believed that, "My lord, you are a hero of our time; how could you be bound by trivial matters?"

After pondering for a long time, Cao Cao finally sighed when he heard Sima Yi call him a hero of our time, still harboring resentment in his words.

"That may be true, but must I simply swallow this insult?"

Taking a step back opens up a whole new world; the more you think about it, the angrier you get!
In my mind, there was Mi Heng's passionate face, and his words, sharp as knives, seemed to be tearing off the hypocritical mask he wore.

It reveals its inner, bloated, decaying body, like Dong Zhuo's, dominated by power.

I still remember twenty years ago, when he was recommended as a filial and incorruptible official and served as the Northern Commandant of Luoyang, he used the prestige of the Cao family to befriend the Yuan family. A broad road to success seemed to be within reach, and the ideal of Cao Hou, the General Who Conquered the West of the Han Dynasty, seemed to be within reach.

But when that loyal and righteous young man climbed to the top of the nine-layered palace, what he saw was not a noble person who served the country and its people, but a group of rats in a chaotic world who were devouring the world.

The decaying golden dragon of the Han Dynasty on the palace in Luoyang has been devoured by them, leaving behind piles of white bones and dripping with blood.

Why is this happening?

Weren't all those selected through the recommendation system for filial piety and incorruptibility virtuous and upright individuals? Why did those court assemblies resemble a feast where a multitude of rats devoured the entire realm?

At the time, he didn't understand what a mere Northern Commandant of Luoyang could possibly do.

But he still did it resolutely! Regardless of the consequences, he did what he could, hoping only to contribute his meager strength to this great man.

He erected five-colored clubs at the entrance of the government office, proclaiming the prohibitions and upholding the law, declaring that anyone who violated the prohibitions, regardless of whether they were commoners or officials, would be beaten to death.

That year, the uncle of Jian Shuo, a eunuch favored by the late emperor, violated the prohibition by going out at night. The young man showed no mercy and executed him with a five-colored club.

At that time, the capital city was completely silent, and no one dared to offend them!
However, the young man was thus promoted in name only by the eunuch faction and transferred away from Luoyang.

I still remember ten years ago, when he returned to Luoyang again, serving as a cavalry captain.

Seeing Dong Zhuo's chaotic rule, his tyranny over the country and the people, the entire court wept from night to dawn, and from dawn to night, lamenting in vain.

The young man, with lofty ambitions, wished to save the Han Dynasty from its decline. Thus, once again disregarding the consequences, he resolutely took the Seven-Star Sword and stabbed Dong Zhuo at his bedside.

Although this mission was unsuccessful, it demonstrated their courage and bravery!

At that time, the whole world heard of his deeds of risking his life to punish the wicked, and in the midst of chaos, he was like a bright star that pierced through the gloom.

However, the world was in darkness, with warlords carving up the country, and the Han dynasty was in constant decline, like eggs on a pile, with the overall situation crumbling and the state hanging by a thread.

At this time, only those with great talent can quell the chaos, and only those with great strategy can save the world!

They fought in the south and north, conquering and killing, leaving bones exposed in the fields and the people displaced.

At this very moment, he sits high in Luoyang, treating the emperor like the legendary emperors Yao and Shun, with all power in his own hands, as if he were Dong Zhuo reincarnated, no different from the likes of Li and Guo.
You're wrong!

You've all misjudged me, Cao Cao!

Yuan Shao's ambition to usurp power is common knowledge. He dominated half of the north, while figures like Lü Bu, Liu Biao, and Liu Zhang carved out their own territories and were prone to rebellion.

Without me, Cao Mengde, who else could restore the Han Dynasty?
If the court does not have a true leader who holds absolute power, and instead continues to engage in petty scheming and power struggles, how can it mobilize the entire nation's strength to fight against the feudal lords of the world?

But did Mi Heng really misjudge?

Honestly, as Mi Heng's words of piercing truth resonated in my ears, I thought of Dong Zhuo, Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, Lü Bu, and Liu Bei.
As he journeyed along, each old friend seemed to be right before his eyes, and each past event vividly came to life on the page.

Behind them, a young man slowly walked out. He had narrow eyes and a long beard, and his official robes fluttered. As he approached, he exuded an aura of dignity and integrity.

He wields a five-colored club in one hand, capable of striking down the treacherous officials of the court; and a seven-star sword in the other, capable of bringing order to the world.

It was none other than General Cao Hou, the Great General Who Conquered the West of the Han Dynasty!

[Cao Mengde! Is your youthful ideal still your current ideal?]

Words are like knives; they can pierce the heart and kill!
In a daze, Cao Cao felt a headache and dizziness. He put his hand to his forehead and sighed deeply.

"Alright! Let Mi Heng go. Didn't he ask for help? Since he looks down on me, just send him to Xuande."

Upon hearing this, Sima Yi immediately clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Your plan is brilliant! Even if Liu Bei can tolerate him, Lü Bu certainly will not!"

This act of using someone else to do the dirty work neither harms your virtue nor diminishes my own anger.

Cao Cao: "."

Why do you always think the worst of people?

He gently rubbed his temples, his eyes flickering with a dim light, and said:
"Don't mention this person."

Regardless of Mi Heng's situation, Liu Jingsheng's plea for help has arrived. You gentlemen are all wise and resourceful men of the world. What good strategies do you have for Yuan Gonglu's expedition to Jingzhou?
Why not discuss this with everyone?

Upon hearing Cao Cao's question, Xun Yu took the lead in expressing his opinion:

"The army of Yanzhou can be ordered to march out of Chenliu to attack Yue Jin of Liang."

Liu Bei and Lü Bu joined forces to attack Ji Ling of the Chen Kingdom.

The lord personally led a large army to attack Xiahou Dun in Yingchuan!

With three routes advancing simultaneously, if any one of them breaks through the defenses, Yuan Shu will be unable to attend to both ends and will have to withdraw his troops to reinforce, thus resolving Liu Biao's predicament.

Even without a great victory, whether in Yingchuan or Chen, we will occupy each city we capture, and we will hold each prefecture we capture.

"With Yuan Gonglu's main force absent, you, sir, can surely recapture lost territory and gain something."

After Xun Yu finished speaking, Xun You added to his points.

"Wenruo's words, though wise and prudent, are based on the principle of using orthodox tactics to engage and unorthodox tactics to win, with the two complementing each other."

Wenruo's plan was more than safe, but everything depended on Liu Jingsheng's ability to withstand Yuan Shu's military might.

But if Yuan Gonglu, under pressure from us, causes Liu Jingsheng's sudden death and then mobilizes his main force to defend against us, what benefit would gain from capturing a few county towns be to the overall situation?

After Xun You's analysis, everyone felt that although Liu Jingsheng was known as one of the Eight Steeds, his prestige shook the nine provinces, and he was stationed in the vast Jingxiang region with well-trained troops and sufficient supplies, he would not be defeated in an instant.

But considering Yuan Shu's previous battles against them, where he lost one general and was defeated in every battle, they couldn't find a way to refute it.

Xun You continued to explain to everyone, "Moreover, Yuan Shu's Yingchuan is fortified every five steps and ravine every ten steps. Even with an army of ten thousand, it would be difficult to conquer the city and would take a lot of time. As for the garrison forces of Chen and Liang, Yuan Shu did not move an inch, and there are also great generals Ji Ling and Yue Jin as commanders."

Both of them were renowned generals of their time, far from mediocre. If they stubbornly defended themselves, even with the combined forces of Liu Bei and Lü Bu, victory would be no easy feat.

To everyone's surprise, Xun You's words completely refuted Xun Yu's plan. Just as they were secretly astonished, they heard Cao Cao, who was at the head of the group, laugh loudly.

"Gongda speaks with such certainty, he must have some brilliant plan. Why don't you tell us now?"

"My lord, you are wise."

Xun You nodded slightly, cupped his hands, and offered his advice:
"Now we can mobilize the troops of Yanzhou to attack Liang, and send another general to attack Ying, each with a small force, all as a feint!"
At that time, with Liu and Lü's armies launching a full-scale attack on Chen, it will be enough to deter Yuan Shu and make him think that our main force is following Wenruo's plan to seek stability in order to aid Jingzhou.

In reality

Xun You paused slightly, met Cao Cao's gaze, and uttered four words softly.

"Borrowing a route through Nanyang!"

"Borrowing a route through Nanyang?" Those present were shocked upon hearing this, and Xun You then explained to everyone.

"Looking at Yuan Shu's defenses along the border, Lujiang was the weakest."

This was because Liu Biao, whom he had prepared, had his main force tied up in Changsha by Yuan Shu, so in Lujiang, Zhang Xun only ordered 20,000 men to feign an attack on Jiangxia.

If our main force then passes through Nanyang and marches straight into Jiangxia, annihilating Zhang Xun's troops, then Lujiang will be within our grasp!
With Lujiang captured, Shouchun is within reach. At that time, not only will we be able to force Yuan Shu to return to defend, but if the offensive goes smoothly, we can also take advantage of Yuan Shu's main force being away to destroy Shouchun in one fell swoop.

If this is the case, then even if Yuan Shu does not perish, he will suffer a severe blow, and his lord will no longer need to worry about him.

Upon hearing this, the entire room fell silent; it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Aren't we discussing how we can rescue our allies to stabilize the situation in the south and prevent Yuan Shu from becoming too powerful after Yuan Shu launches a large-scale attack on Liu Biao?

How did you come up with this plan to strike at Shouchun and destroy Yuan Shu in an instant?
But don't tell me! You really shouldn't tell me!

As everyone pondered this further, they realized that Xiahou Dun's army in Yingchuan numbered 30,000, Yue Jin's army in Liang Kingdom numbered 30,000, and Ji Ling's army in Chen Kingdom numbered 30,000.

Zhang Xun's army of 20,000 men marched to Jiangxia, Jiang Qin's army of 20,000 men fought with the Jingzhou navy for control of the Yangtze River, and Yuan Shu's main army of 60,000 men attacked Changsha!
Yuan Shu's army has reached a total strength of 190,000!

If a full 190,000 troops are tied down outside, no matter how many soldiers and generals Yuan Shu has, how many defenders can Shouchun have?

Once Zhang Xun is defeated, Lujiang will be nothing more than a small number of county troops, and the area near Lujiang will be Yuan Shu's heartland of Huainan.

If we march straight to Shouchun, even if we fail to capture the city, we can still inflict heavy losses on Yuan Gonglu by slaughtering and looting in Huainan.

What's most ingenious is that Xun You's plan was a brilliant scheme, using Nanyang as a pretext!
Even if Yuan Gonglu and his strategists were brilliant strategists, how could they have predicted that Cao Cao's army would descend like a divine force, cross Nanyang, rush to Jiangxia's aid, and then directly reach Lujiang?

But what makes a cunning scheme cunning is its fatal weakness.

While others were astonished by Xun You's brilliant strategy, as if they had already foreseen the future of capturing Shouchun and defeating Yuan Shu.

Sima Yi stepped forward and loudly rebuked him!
"Xun Gongda, you are taking such a risk. Do you intend to put our lord in an unjust position?"
"Using Nanyang as a pretext? That sounds nice, but Liu Jing Sheng and we are nominally allies, but in reality, we have different intentions. If he has ulterior motives and closes the gates of Nanyang, then our lord and tens of thousands of troops will all perish without a trace because of your words!"

Xun You seemed to have anticipated Sima Yi's rebuttal. He smiled meaningfully and said softly:

"How could I not know what Zhongda was worried about?"

But who says that by passing through Nanyang, one must necessarily be controlled by Liu Biao?

Looking at the intriguing smile on Xun You's face, Sima Yi frowned in deep thought, and couldn't help but feel surprised.

"Zhang Xiu of Wancheng? Are you confident you can talk about him?"

“Zhongda is wise and insightful; though he may not be perfect, he is not far off.”

Having said that, Xun You no longer held back and presented a letter to Cao Cao.

"This is a letter between Zhang Xiu's strategist Jia Xu and Jia Wenhe, and me in secret communication!"
What you may not know is that Jia Wenhe's letter, though seemingly righteous, actually reveals his loyalty to the Han dynasty.

In You's opinion, this person was most skilled at self-preservation.

Seeing that Luoyang was stable and the court was secure, he wanted to return to the central government of the Han Dynasty.

After all, being by the emperor's side meant that no matter how the feudal lords fought for supremacy and the world turned upside down, he could remain calm and composed.

Jia Xu is now considering taking up an official post in the court. Although Zhang Xiu has not yet been persuaded to surrender, he will surely agree if we merely pass through Nanyang.

With Jia Xu by our side as our strategist, we have no worries about our future.

If we can indeed defeat Shouchun in one fell swoop and return with a great victory, we might be able to subdue Zhang Xiu and regain Nanyang. It is still uncertain.

"If I hadn't received this secret letter and had absolute certainty, how could I have dared to carry out such a risky plan, placing my lord in danger?"

As Xun You spoke, he looked at Cao Cao, who was seated in the main seat.

"My lord, you are wise. Why did Jia Wenhe have to come at this particular time? He could have come earlier or later."

You privately believed that he could also have thought of this plan, and deliberately using You's words to present it to the lord was his way of showing his loyalty.

After Xun You finished speaking, even Sima Yi among the crowd found it difficult to refute him. However, according to his nature, he still felt that this plan was too risky and not safe enough, and sighed.

As the sage said, "A wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall. Why would you, with your precious life, place yourself in such a perilous place?"
In my opinion, it would be sufficient to send a general with a detachment, through Nanyang, to intimidate Yuan Shu into returning his army and relieve the crisis in Jingzhou.

"Your Excellency has a sound strategy; why resort to unorthodox and risky tactics?"

Sima Yi then took out a letter and presented it, saying, "This is a secret letter between Zhang Lu, the leader of the Five Pecks of Rice sect in Hanzhong, and me!"
The letter stated that he had long desired to submit to the emperor's rule and return to the Han dynasty.

However, Yi was wary that he wanted to use the pretext of the imperial court's righteousness to actually plot to seize Yizhou.

Therefore, it was not presented before, and it was planned to be presented to you, my lord, when the time was more secure, so that you could gain full control of the territory of Sichuan.

The time is ripe, and in fact, Your Excellency does not necessarily need to use Gongda's risky strategy. I have a third plan to offer!

You may feign an attack on Yingchuan, Liang, and Chen by launching a three-pronged offensive, as Xun Yu suggested, while secretly deploying a separate force to follow Xun You's ingenious plan and advance on Shouchun to force Yuan Shu to return to its aid.

Taking advantage of the chaos in the south and the infighting among the warlords, Your Excellency should raise a large army and march on Hanzhong, joining forces with Zhang Lu to take Yizhou.

If so, the southern warlords will fight each other and suffer losses without gaining anything. On the other hand, our lord, by using Zhang Lu, will be able to gain something from Yizhou.

This is truly a wise strategy to weaken the enemy while strengthening ourselves, to seek victory through stability, and to gradually build up our hegemony!

However, when Sima Yi presented this plan, Cao Cao remained silent for a long time.

After a long while, he suddenly burst into loud laughter!

"A wise man does not stand under a dangerous wall? But I, who have fought in the north and south all my life, only know that wealth and honor are sought in danger!"
Yuan Shu's power is too great to be contained. If we don't devise a clever and risky strategy, how can we defeat him?
Today presents a golden opportunity; if we do not seize it, we will suffer the consequences!

(End of this chapter)