My Three Kingdoms is not right

Cao Cao only knew that from this day forward, the veil of warmth maintained between her and the young prince, whom she had once felt was special and even had some different feelings for, due to shared interests and mutual appreciation, had been completely torn away.

She saw his unyielding integrity, and he saw her ruthless side, willing to shed blood to achieve her goals.

"Send orders to all camps," Cao Cao's voice regained its usual coldness and decisiveness, as if the previous turmoil had never occurred. "Strictly discipline the soldiers, take stock of the battle results, and treat the wounded. Rest for a day, and then march on Xiapi."

"promise!"

The generals accepted the order and departed.

In the empty tent, only Cao Cao remained once again.

A night breeze blew by, carrying a faint smell of burning and a subtle stench of blood.

Cao Cao suddenly murmured something very softly to himself, which then vanished in the wind:

"Your Highness, you are too naive. This world has no place for such naivety."

The night was as dark as ink, swallowing up Pengcheng and the continuous camps outside the city.

-----------------

Xiapi, the residence of Marquis Wen.

"Bang!"

The exquisite jade cup was smashed hard onto the bluestone floor, scattering shards everywhere.

Lu Bu, with her long hair disheveled and wearing only a scarlet brocade robe, stood barefoot in the hall, her beautiful face contorted with rage: "Chen Deng! That treacherous wretch! I have treated the Chen family of Guangling well!"

Below the hall, generals Chen Gong, Gao Shun, Zhang Liao, and others stood with their heads bowed, none daring to provoke them at this moment.

"I had already mustered my troops to relieve Pengcheng!" Lü Bu paced back and forth, his full chest heaving with rage. "If it weren't for having to return to defend Xiapi and deal with Chen Deng, how could Pengcheng have fallen in a single day? How dare Cao Cao advance so unimpeded?!"

"Men, tie Chen Deng's entire family up to the city wall and tell her that if she doesn't withdraw her troops, her whole family will be slaughtered!"

Chen Gong sighed: "General, please calm down. The Chen family of Xiapi has been officials for generations, with deep roots in Xuzhou and influence throughout the Jianghuai region. To harm the entire Chen family would be tantamount to making an enemy of all the powerful and influential families in Xuzhou."

"Cao Cao is still facing external threats. Please be patient with her for now, otherwise it will be detrimental to the upcoming battles."

"Fine! I'll endure it!" Lü Bu gritted his teeth and said, "I'll settle accounts with these traitors after I've dealt with Cao Cao!"

"Zang Ba and Chang Xi have already agreed to raise an army and march south. Judging by the time, they should be here soon."

Returning to the war, Lü Bu's face regained its arrogance: "The sooner Cao Cao takes Pengcheng, the sooner he will fall into the trap."

"When her army arrives at the walls of Xiapi, I will personally lead my iron cavalry out of the city to meet her. Let the world see once again the might of Lü Bu!"

All the generals clasped their hands in agreement.

"Excellent!" Lü Bu laughed heartily, his spirit soaring. "Let Cao Cao and that arrogant little princess come and see what it truly means to be unparalleled in the world!"

-----------------

The stench of bloodshed in Pengcheng had not yet dissipated when Cao Cao's main force broke camp and advanced eastward.

Cao Cao left less than two thousand infantrymen to garrison Pengcheng and maintain the supply route connecting the rear; his main force of nearly thirty thousand men marched south along the Si River, their advance aimed directly at Lü Bu's stronghold—Xiapi.

Meanwhile, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, the three sisters, were ordered to lead their more than a thousand men northward to gather those counties that nominally submitted to Lü Bu but were actually wavering.

Liu Xun knew that Cao Cao was giving Liu Bei an opportunity.

After all, Liu Bei had spent several years in Xuzhou and was known for his benevolence. Local powerful figures like Mi Zhu and Sun Qian still remembered her fondly. Having her personally intervene to pacify the region would be much more effective.

Whether it was because Liu Bei joined him in dissuading the massacre of the city that they showed some degree of closeness in their stance, and thus Cao Cao deliberately isolated him, is hard to say.

Forty li outside Xiapi City was Cao Cao's army camp.

After arriving near Xiapi, Cao Cao's army did not rush to attack the city, but instead spent two days setting up camp. They laid out trenches, barricades, palisades, and watchtowers, proceeding methodically and steadily.

Liu Xun returned from patrolling the camp with Zhao Yun and entered the central command tent, where he saw Cao Cao and Xun You discussing a map.

They haven't spoken a word to each other since that night in Pengcheng.

Cao Cao did not deliberately avoid him; military meetings were held and orders were issued as usual. However, when his gaze swept over Cao Cao, there was no longer a smile.

The barrier between Cao Jun's soldiers and the Imperial Guards, which had gradually dissolved due to their joint battle in Wancheng, seemed to be quietly re-emerging.

News of Liu Xun stopping the massacre had quietly spread. Some admired Princess Wannian's benevolence and courage, while others criticized his wife's kindness.

Liu Xun didn't regret it.

He can't pretend he didn't see so many innocent people being killed.

He wanted to restore the Han dynasty so that he wouldn't see the tragedy of the "Five Barbarian Invasions," but he couldn't create a new tragedy for that goal.

"Report—!"

The rapid sound of horses' hooves interrupted his thoughts.

A scout galloped into the camp, drenched in sweat. He stumbled as he dismounted, shouting, "Reporting to our lord! Lü Bu has personally led a large army out of the city and is arrayed ten miles away!"

Cao Cao suddenly raised his head.

The faces of the surrounding generals all changed color.

A person's name, a tree's shadow.

Lü Bu, the unparalleled Flying General.

She may not be a good ruler, but when it comes to charging into battle alone and taking the head of a general from among thousands of troops, no one in the world dares to rival her.

When Yuan Shu's seven armies besieged Xiapi, which one of them wasn't routed by her? Zhang Xun, who boasted 100,000 troops, was routed in a single blow by her.

"Well done!" Cao Cao laughed loudly, his clear laughter piercing through the suddenly stagnant air in the camp.

"If Lü Bu had just stayed in Xiapi and acted like a coward, it would have taken me quite a while to attack the city. But today, she personally came out to her death, saving me so much trouble!"

Despite saying that, there was no carelessness in her phoenix eyes.

"Form ranks and prepare to meet the enemy."

As Cao Cao descended the watchtower, the smile on her face vanished, replaced by an almost cold calm. She walked towards the central command platform, issuing orders as she went, her words rapid and decisive:

"Xiahou Dun and Yu Jin led the vanguard infantry to form a defensive line and confront Lü Bu head-on."

"promise!"

"Li Dian and Yue Jin, each led two thousand cavalrymen to protect the left and right flanks, preventing enemy cavalry from flanking them."

"promise!"

"Cheng Yu was in charge of overseeing the rear guard and protecting the supplies and provisions."

"promise!"

"Each unit must proceed cautiously and steadily, and no one is allowed to launch an attack without authorization. Anyone who disobeys will be executed. First, wear down Lü Bu's momentum, and once her troops are exhausted, I will have a backup plan to defeat her."

"promise!"

The generals received their orders and departed to mobilize their troops. The camp resounded with the dull thud of drums, the sharp blasts of horns, the clanging of armor, and the footsteps of soldiers. The once quiet camp transformed into a monstrous beast, baring its fangs and stretching its limbs.

Just then, another urgent report came from the northwest.

"Report—!"

This time, it was a scout captain under Cao Ren's command. She nearly fell to her knees as she dismounted, her voice filled with terror: "Minister of Works, the Taishan Army is here!"

Cao Cao paused, then said, "Explain yourself."

"The five armies of Taishan—Zang Ba, Chang Xi, Sun Guan, Wu Dun, and Yin Li—are simultaneously advancing south from the north! Their vanguard is less than thirty li from our main camp!"

The air in the entire central command tent seemed to freeze.