Three Kingdoms, Myth

"Since that is the case, Lord Xuande, please divide the troops into two groups. The front team will conduct a night raid, and if it fails, the rear team can provide support. At worst, tonight's night raid will turn into a full-scale assault," Jia Xu said calmly with his head lowered. There was a ten out of ten chance that Cao Cao was prepared, but there are only two opportune times to eliminate a major enemy: either by surprise at the outset or by dragging the fight until the enemy is exhausted.

Jia Xu was confident that if it came down to a drawn-out battle, they would undoubtedly survive. In this world, the only force that could go toe-to-toe with Taishan's forces was not Cao Mengde.

The problem was, if they prolonged the fight, it would only result in both Liu Bei and Cao Cao being weakened, benefiting Yuan Shao. After all, occupying Yanzhou without securing the northern territories would be pointless for Liu Bei.

Jia Xu and the other strategists had considered going all out to eliminate Cao Cao, even if it meant leaving Yanzhou for Lü Bu. However, this idea was ultimately dismissed—not because of a lack of foresight, but because of Yuan Shao.

Whether they wanted to admit it or not, Yuan Shao's display of power at the Battle of Jieqiao had shaken the world. Even Yuan Shu sheltered Lü Bu out of gratitude for his past deeds with the Yuan family. What Jia Xu and the others feared most was Yuan Shao offering Lü Bu the chance to return to his home in Bingzhou, or even aiding Lü Bu's return to power.

The possibility of this happening was slim, but because of its dangerous implications, Jia Xu and the others decided to avoid it. After all, if such a disastrous scenario were to occur, the Han dynasty would be as good as over.

If Jia Xu had shared this with Chen Xi, Chen Xi would have told him that the chances of this happening were nine out of ten.

The celestial phenomena in 191 and 192 CE might have been favorable, and with Xun Yu and Xi Zhicai helping Cao Cao seize Nanyang with a population of 2.4 million, Cao Cao could rise. However, from the year of the Xu Province massacre onward, locust plagues, droughts, and freezes never ceased. Most of the provinces were left without any stored grain.

From this point on, no matter which territory you seize, it won't have a three-year grain supply. In fact, if you manage to find three months' worth, that territory would be considered wealthy. From now on, whoever can seize power will be victorious...

This means that Lü Bu running out of food was inevitable. Whether Yuan Shao provides grain to help Lü Bu relocate to Bingzhou or directly seizes Yanzhou while Lü Bu is weakened by starvation, Yuan Shao would gain control of Yanzhou. There's nothing more important than the Yuan family reuniting the north and south.

No matter how deep the enmity between Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao, when the Central Plains is left with only Liu Bei and the rest are Yuan family members, the Yuan family would undoubtedly target Liu Bei.

Whether Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao would prioritize their family in such a situation, both Jia Xu's understanding of human nature and historical evidence—such as Yuan Shu fleeing north with the Imperial Seal to join forces with Yuan Shao—suggest that noble families truly prioritize their clan above all else.

Unlike in history, where Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao saw each other as rising and falling rivals with little reason to cooperate, this time both Yuans control more than two provinces each and are expanding. Once they reunite, they could easily intimidate several southern provinces. After redistributing resources and combining their strengths, the Yuan family would become immensely powerful.

With nearly eight provinces under their control, possessing three grain-producing regions and three horse-breeding regions, the Yuan family wouldn't need any intricate strategies to wipe out Liu Bei, who had just fought a major battle with Cao Cao. It would take less than a month.

The reason is simple: after recently seizing Yanzhou, Lü Bu would be unable to withstand a single wave of Yuan Shao's attacks this summer. Even during Cao Cao's time, when he had capable advisors, Tian Feng and others repeatedly advised eliminating Cao Cao whenever possible. Replacing him with Lü Bu, under these circumstances where the Yuan family reuniting essentially means the world is theirs, the Yuan family would surely prioritize their reunion.

Once Yanzhou falls into Yuan Shao's hands, the Yuan family will undoubtedly turn their attention to wiping out Liu Bei, who will be completely surrounded. Holding the ten provinces of You, Ji, Bing, Qing, Yan, Xu, Yu, Yang, Jing, and Jiaozhi, plus most of Sili, the Yuan family will be in an unassailable position.

In fact, Jia Xu had also calculated that if they could eliminate Cao Cao with minimal losses, they could end the chaos even more quickly. With Liu Bei holding Qing and Xu provinces, along with sufficient troops and grain, surviving the Yuan family's first wave of attacks with eight provinces wouldn't be too difficult. After that, with Chen Xi's pre-prepared strategy, dominating the north would be a certainty. Although the process might be dangerous, it seemed like a feasible plan.

However, this process was indeed perilous. If they mishandled it, the Yuan family could have ten provinces under their control this year and unite the country next year.

This is why, despite having a strategy to deal with Cao Cao, Jia Xu had hesitated to use it—because it was simply too risky.

Nevertheless, Chen Xi's firm belief that now was the best time to eliminate Cao Cao had convinced Jia Xu. If they could eliminate Cao Cao with minimal losses, then facing the Yuan family and ending the chaos sooner would be a good outcome.

Because of this, Jia Xu decided to observe the situation and, if possible, eliminate Cao Cao here. If the plan succeeded and they eliminated Cao Cao with minimal losses, then a new chapter in history would begin, and they could proceed confidently—after all, Chen Xi had assured them he could handle the situation. If the plan failed, Jia Xu could send a fake messenger to inform Cao Cao that Yanzhou had been taken and that he needed to rush back to defend it. In any case, Jia Xu would never sacrifice significant forces to eliminate Cao Cao.

Jia Xu took a deep breath and thought.

"So be it. I'll lead the night raid, and you and Zijian will handle the rear guard," Liu Bei made the decision Jia Xu had predicted.

"Very well, Lord Xuande. If there's no result within an hour, Zijian and I will lead the troops to rescue you," Jia Xu said with his head lowered. Perhaps Liu Bei saw this level of personal risk as nothing unusual. With Xu Chu and Wu Anguo protecting him, even if the night raid failed, Liu Bei would remain unharmed. Besides, Liu Bei didn't believe they would necessarily fail.

Jia Xu carefully observed Liu Bei's every move, considering all the possibilities.

Liu Bei ordered the army to rest, and all the soldiers knew that a battle was inevitable that night. After lunch, they all retreated to their tents to rest.

"Will Liu Xuande come tonight, Gongda?" Cao Cao asked as he paced back and forth in his tent. Although he was convinced Liu Bei would come, he couldn't shake his unease since Liu Bei had crossed the Ji River.

"He will come. Whether it's Liu Xuande himself or his strategists, tonight's battle is unavoidable. Our goal is to defeat Liu Bei with minimal losses," Xun You replied woodenly.

"I believe Liu Xuande's side has also prepared for a strong assault. However, this time, not only must we crush the night raid with overwhelming force, but we must also press the attack and seize Liu Bei's main camp, even if it costs us thousands of men. The outcome must be decided before we cross the Ji River," Xun You said calmly.

"A fight with our backs to the river?" Cao Cao frowned. "Given how well Liu Xuande treats his soldiers, if he fights to the death, the odds of him pulling off a back-to-the-river victory are high. At that point, we'll be in a difficult position."

"It's not a problem. If we find ourselves near the Ji River and the situation becomes what you fear, we'll simply retreat. In a nighttime battle, where friend and foe are hard to distinguish, we can withdraw without suffering heavy losses. Even if we don't rout Liu Xuande, we can still inflict significant damage," Xun You said confidently.

Xun You had also considered the possibility of Liu Bei camping with his back to the Ji River. Such battles, where victory or defeat hinged on a razor's edge, were the most difficult to control. A step forward could lead to a rout, but once Liu Bei's army was cornered by the river, they might fight desperately for survival, potentially turning the tide.

For battles where the outcome was so precarious, Xun You preferred not to engage. If they couldn't defeat Liu Bei before reaching the Ji River, tonight's battle would be a mere minor victory.

"Very well. A nighttime battle where friend and foe are indistinguishable—if we reach the Ji River, we'll retreat. But I'm concerned that Liu Xuande might pursue us," Cao Cao sighed.

"Then we'll leave a blocking force near the Ji River. If Liu Xuande stubbornly pursues us, we'll crush him," Xun You said coldly.

"Good. That's how it should be. The outcome will be decided tonight! If Liu Bei's reinforcements arrive, Zhongde, lead your forces out of Pengcheng and join me in a pincer attack!" Cao Cao ordered Cheng Yu.

"Understood!" Cheng Yu saluted with a bow. After all, he was a strategist who could serve as a general, and his martial skills were not to be underestimated.

"What's the status of the Danyang soldiers?" Cao Cao shifted topics, asking Cheng Yu, who was handling the matter.

"Although they've surrendered, their morale and enthusiasm are still low. As of now, we've only managed to recruit about five thousand of them," Cheng Yu sighed. "It will take at least a month to fully integrate them."

"Five thousand it is, then. We'll take it slowly," Cao Cao sighed.

As the sun set and darkness fell, Zhang Fei and Wei Yan, under the guidance of Guo Jia, quietly led five thousand infantry and cavalry across the Ji River. Li You, accompanied by Zhao Yun and Chen Dao, took a similar force across the Yellow River under the cover of dusk. Liu Ye, along with Gan Ning and Taishi Ci, led an equal number across the Bian River, while Guan Yu, accompanied by Guan Ping, circled around to the outskirts of Pengcheng.

"Military Advisor Guo, where are we heading?" Zhang Fei asked in a low voice, passing his wine jug to Guo Jia.

"We're going to end Cao Cao. The key to this plan lies in fighting with our backs to the river and coordinating between the generals. Jia Wenhe aims to decide the outcome in one battle, and only we can time our moves correctly. As for fighting with our backs to the river, Jia Wenhe is betting that Cao Cao won't dare risk letting us turn the tables. If everything goes according to plan, our victory hinges on how well we execute our roles," Guo Jia replied solemnly, draining the wine in one gulp.

Meanwhile, Li You carefully calculated their positions and ordered Zhao Yun and Chen Dao to conceal their forces in the darkness.

Liu Ye gazed up at the sparse stars in the sky and the crescent moon. Indeed, it was a perfect night for murder and arson.

"Tonight, Cao Mengde will meet his end," Liu Ye remarked with a cold smile.

It wasn't that Liu Ye underestimated Cao Cao, but rather that he saw no way out for him. The most terrifying aspect of an ambush on all sides was that it left the enemy disoriented and defenseless. In the end, when soldiers didn't know their commanders, and commanders didn't know their soldiers, there was only one path left—defeat. Moreover, Jia Xu had chosen a terrain that made it clear he had no intention of letting Cao Cao escape alive.

Jia Xu folded the map and stood up slowly. Using himself as bait was a joke. If two thousand Taishan soldiers were defeated on a forty-mile stretch of road, he might as well slit his own throat.

Jia Xu merely wanted to test Liu Xuande's courage. He had simulated this battle six times, and each time, there was no way out for Cao Cao. Unless a meteor fell from the sky and wiped out at least two of the ambushing forces, Cao Cao, with his disorganized troops, would meet his end at Pengcheng.

At midnight, Liu Bei led Xu Chu as the vanguard, with three thousand men, to raid Cao Cao's camp. Xu Chu wielded a massive, dark blade that slashed into the Cao camp, making it clear that tonight's mission was a full-scale assault. He bellowed as he led three thousand soldiers through the breach.

As soon as they charged into Cao Cao's main camp, enemy troops swarmed from all sides. Fortunately, Jia Xu had forewarned Xu Chu, so there was little panic. Xu Chu's massive blade cut down dozens of enemies, and he turned his horse to protect Liu Bei and make a retreat. However, before they could escape, a flurry of drums signaled the arrival of Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan from the flanks. Xu Chu parried Xiahou Dun's spear, while Wu Anguo's massive hammer deflected incoming arrows aimed at Liu Bei.

"Hahaha, I've encountered a worthy opponent!" Xiahou Dun exclaimed, his body buzzing with excitement despite the numbing impact of their weapons clashing.

"Face my blade!" Xu Chu roared, swinging his massive sword at Xiahou Dun, dark energy swirling around it.

"Stop hiding behind arrows!" Wu Anguo bellowed, swinging his enormous hammer to block Xiahou Yuan's attack.

"Wu Anguo, I didn't expect to see you here," Xiahou Yuan narrowed his eyes at Wu Anguo, the top-tier warrior who had survived a duel with Lü Bu at Hulao Pass, now fighting under Liu Bei's banner.

"Kill!" Liu Bei showed no signs of panic. Before the battle, he had prepared himself for the possibility that Cao Cao might be ready for them. Ambushed, his fury only intensified as he fought his way through the Cao army with his male sword, protected by his guards.

"Release the arrows!" Cao Cao laughed. "Liu Xuande, you've come personally! Seize him!"

"Lord, retreat quickly!" Xu Chu bellowed, driving Xiahou Dun back with a mighty blow. Wu Anguo shielded them from the arrows with his massive hammers, while Xu Chu escorted Liu Bei out of the camp.

Liu Bei's troops were far more elite than Cao Cao's, and since they hadn't penetrated too deeply into the camp, they soon managed to break free. By then, the sound of hooves could be heard in the distance.

"Reinforcements have arrived! Soldiers, charge!" Liu Bei laughed as he gave the order.

In Pengcheng, Cheng Yu had been waiting on the city walls, listening for the sound of hooves. When he finally heard them, he turned and began descending the walls. Pengcheng had been entrusted to Zhao Yan; now it was time for Cheng Yu to lead his troops out of the city and join the battle. Tonight, the outcome would be decided.

"Kill!" Hua Xiong led his three thousand Xiliang cavalry with a fierce momentum, directly charging into the rear of Cao Cao's army, which had surrounded Liu Bei's forces. In an instant, chaos ensued, and the Xiliang cavalry carved a path of destruction, cutting through Cao Cao's encirclement with brutal efficiency. The sheer destructive power of the Xiliang cavalry was fully unleashed in that moment.

"Form a wedge and break through!" Hua Xiong commanded, leading his Xiliang cavalry as they trampled over the bewildered Cao soldiers. Soon, they regrouped with Liu Bei.

"Lord, follow me and break out!" Hua Xiong called out as he directed the Xiliang cavalry's energy. The red glow of their aura flared out, forcing back the advancing Cao generals, including Cao Hong.

"Rear guard to the front, retreat!" Liu Bei ordered his messengers. The night raid had failed, and now it was up to Jia Xu's five-pronged plan to decide the battle.

"Don't let Liu Bei escape!" Cao Cao roared as he saw Cheng Yu ignite the fire-soaked wood they had prepared. In an instant, the sky lit up with flames.

"Hmph!" Hua Xiong showed no fear as he confronted Cheng Yu's approaching forces. Although the leading troops were revealed to be Danyang soldiers, Hua Xiong knew that no force in the Han Empire could match the Xiliang cavalry's sheer power. Historically, any army that dared to stand in their way had been crushed to dust.

"Break through them!" Hua Xiong roared, leading his Xiliang cavalry in fragmented wedge formations directly into the Danyang soldiers.

In an instant, dozens of Xiliang cavalrymen fell, but far more Danyang soldiers were sent flying. The massive shields they held were shattered by the cavalry's charge. Under Hua Xiong's command, the already demoralized Danyang soldiers were quickly routed.

"It's the Xiliang cavalry!" the Danyang soldiers shouted, recognizing the fearsome force that had fought alongside them in the past. As soon as they made contact, the veterans who had fought in the Western Liang campaign called out for their comrades to fall back.

These soldiers had no real loyalty to Cao Cao; they had only been mustered to bolster his forces. But now, facing Hua Xiong's Xiliang cavalry, the most devastating force in the Han Empire, they knew that resisting would only lead to their deaths.

Hua Xiong continued to trample the infantry in front of him, the red aura of the cavalry tinged with blood as they carved a path through the battlefield.

The Xiliang cavalry lacked the speed and flexibility of the White Horse Volunteers and the versatility of the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry. What they possessed was unparalleled destructive power. The massive warhorses of the Western Liang carried a momentum that crushed anything in their path. No other unit could withstand their charge—except, perhaps, for another Xiliang cavalry.

"Lord, move quickly!" After breaking through, Hua Xiong had no time to mourn the loss of veteran soldiers. He shouted for Liu Bei to follow, while Xu Chu instinctively led the Tiger Guard to cover their retreat.

As Hua Xiong's Xiliang cavalry brutally cut through the blocking forces, Xun You couldn't shake a feeling of unease. But before he could dwell on it, Cao Cao, flanked by the Xiahou brothers and the rest of his forces, charged out of the camp.

"This Xiliang cavalry..." Cheng Yu and Xun You exchanged worried glances as they followed Cao Cao.

"My uncle's vision surpasses mine. Indeed, to rule the north, one must have a cavalry force. Compared to the agile and mobile White Horse Volunteers, the Xiliang cavalry's sheer power has an overwhelming impact on both enemy morale and our own," Xun You sighed.

After witnessing three thousand Xiliang cavalry break through over ten thousand infantry, Xun You had fully embraced his uncle's view. While many of the enemy troops were the demoralized Danyang soldiers, there was no denying the Xiliang cavalry's devastating charge.

"Very well. After we defeat Liu Xuande and return to Yanzhou, we'll unite our opinions and fully persuade the lord," Cheng Yu agreed.

Liu Bei's forces retreated, and Cao Cao pursued them relentlessly. In Liu Bei's main camp, a fierce battle raged as they fought their way out. The morale of Cao Cao's troops soared, but they were still unable to capture Liu Bei. They chased him all the way to the Ji River, where the thunderous roar of the river could be heard, but they still couldn't finish him off.

Seeing that there was no way forward, Liu Bei had no time to blame Jia Xu for his incomplete plan. He turned and shouted, "There's no retreat ahead. Why not fight to the death, soldiers!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei's troops rallied, with Xu Chu leading the charge. Under the cover of their aura, they cut down dozens of enemies, and Liu Bei's forces fiercely attacked, causing chaos in Cao Cao's vanguard.

Cao Cao sighed and, following the plan he had discussed with Xun You, ordered a retreat back to camp. Liu Bei's forces pursued them in the dark, but soon found their path blocked by the rear guard Xun You had set up earlier.

As they retreated, they traveled only about ten miles before Zhang Fei appeared on the left and Wei Yan on the right. Both forces charged into the Cao army, causing chaos among the retreating troops. Cao Cao gathered the Xiahou brothers and his relatives to protect Xun You and Cheng Yu as they fought their way out.

After a bloody retreat for another ten miles, a sudden drumbeat signaled the arrival of Zhao Yun on the left and Chen Dao on the right. Their forces attacked, leaving the battlefield littered with Cao soldiers' bodies and rivers of blood.

After traveling only a few more miles, Taishi Ci and Gan Ning led three thousand men from both flanks, launching a brutal assault on the remnants of Cao Cao's army. Terrified, Cao Cao pushed forward, desperately fleeing towards Pengcheng.

"Did you catch Cao Cao?" Guo Jia asked Zhang Fei and Wei Yan as a formality.

"That rabbit Cao Cao ran too fast! I didn't even see him," Zhang Fei grumbled in frustration.

"Any progress?" Li You asked Zhao Yun and Chen Dao.

"We did catch a glimpse of Cao Cao, but the main force blocked us!" Chen Dao sighed, slapping his left hand in frustration.

"Cao Cao is still alive?" Liu Ye glared at Gan Ning and Taishi Ci.

"We did corner him, but the Xiahou brothers fought desperately, and we couldn't take him down," Gan Ning admitted with some embarrassment. He had been thrown off when Xiahou Dun gouged out his own blinded eye and ate it—an incident that had unnerved him during the battle.

"None of you managed to finish off Cao Cao?" Jia Xu asked as he arrived, having broken through the rear guard to pursue them. Seeing the three of them looking sheepish, he was genuinely surprised. "That shouldn't be. Although the central forces were blocked, after enduring six waves of ambushes, how could Cao Cao's troops still have any fighting strength?"

"Now that you mention it, it does seem odd," Li You remarked with a frown. After being ambushed six times in the pitch-black night, Cao Cao's forces should have collapsed by now. How could they still have any combat effectiveness?

"Cao Mengde's leadership shouldn't be underestimated. However, General Guan led the largest force of infantry and cavalry, stationed outside Pengcheng. Cao Mengde should meet his end there," Liu Ye speculated. "After this, we'll peacefully take over Xu and Qing provinces. We won't need to worry about food supplies anymore."

"Start paying attention to the Yuan family. Without Cao Cao, I have no faith in Lü Bu. Once the Yuan family reunites the north and south, the only one who might struggle is Gongsun Bogui. The rest will likely 'surrender' in no time," Guo Jia remarked nonchalantly.

The whole group fell silent. After a long pause, Jia Xu spoke, "The Ji province is indeed the essence of the north. We'll be able to sweep through the land even faster."