Chapter 312: Unrivaled 【Subscription Request】

The lights are dim and the night is hazy.

"Have you been studying military affairs recently?" Cao Cao asked.

"Well, I want to know more."

Yao Jing pursed her lips and knelt in front of the low mat, her figure graceful.

"I am the military advisor to the King of Wei. If I don't know anything about military affairs, I'm afraid something might go wrong."

Yao Jing is the kind of person who has a strong desire to learn and a strong sense of responsibility.

Cao Cao also had one in his house.

The last time he came back from the expedition against the Eastern Xianbei, he saw Bian Mei was also learning military affairs.

The strategic sketch she drew, trying to analyze the enemy and ourselves, looked quite realistic.

Cao Cao spread out his hands and said, "During this trip, you should write down the route I took and what I did. Show it to me."

Yao Jing hesitantly took out a booklet with a khaki paper cover from her sleeve.

Cao Cao has ordered the promotion of the papermaking industry, expansion of its scale, and attempts to reduce production costs.

If paper can be gradually promoted, it will allow text to have further spreadability and a more convenient carrier.

It will have a fundamental driving force in increasing the talent base.

Most of the middle and high-level officials in Cao's camp had switched to using paper because it was light and easy to carry.

Bound with thread, a booklet can hold as much writing as hundreds of bamboo slips.

Cao Cao opened the booklet.

It is filled with timeless yet elegant official script.

Yao Jing recorded what she saw and heard while following him, analyzing the intentions of various things and what impact they would bring.

Including Cao Cao's strategies for using troops repeatedly.

This is the first time I have met such a studious female academic.

Cao Cao flipped through the booklet and pointed to a place:
"You wrote the names of Liu, Guan, and Zhang here, and you also put ink on Zhang Fei's name. Are you suspicious of me for letting him go?"

Yao Jing nodded slightly, "I am a little surprised. Given the King of Wei's personality, he seems to be particularly lenient towards Zhang Fei?"

"In the past, you ordered the massacre of the Wuhuan even though they were willing to surrender.

The same is true for the Eastern Xianbei. The land of the Xianbei is full of bones..."

Cao Cao said:
"The current national strength of Wei State and its military strength are growing day by day. The situation is different from the early years. It is not something that can be easily shaken by anyone."

“So if we want to restore the old mountains and rivers, it’s time to make a distinction.

They are cruel to foreigners because they fear power rather than virtue.

Being relatively lenient internally is to gather strength and expand territory.”

"Secondly, Yizhou, Bashu and other places have always been difficult problems to solve.

In those days, the Emperor of Qin sent troops to conquer the southern barbarians several times, but suffered heavy losses. The great power of Qin was still very difficult, and the consumption was huge, with hundreds of thousands of soldiers and horses lost in the process. "

"How does the Wei Kingdom compare to the Qin Kingdom?"

"Of course I am not as good as you."

Cao Cao thought for a moment and said:
"Liu Bei entered Shu and Yizhou. Let him first establish his roots and clean up the areas in the south where hundreds of tribes live. Then many complicated things will become simple.

His power has been weakened by me many times, and he is short of men.

If Zhang Fei is killed, he will have too few soldiers and generals to deal with the problems in Bashu."

There was one more thing Cao Cao didn't say, which was that when Liu Bei was at the peak of his power in history, even with Zhuge Liang, entering Bashu was still a dilemma.

Zhuge Liang launched several northern expeditions, but none of them was successful.

Because he was blocked by natural dangers and couldn't get out.

If Liu Bei entered Shu, he would be held back by the complicated situation there and would not be able to pose an effective threat to Cao's camp.

Therefore, there is no such thing as releasing Zhang Fei and creating an enemy for yourself.

From a long-term perspective, as long as there is a glimmer of hope to subdue Zhang Fei and Guan Yu, Cao Cao would also like to give it a try.

If the two of them were used in the attack, they would be invincible. How many casualties could be saved and how many victories could be achieved?

If you focus on the short term, you will feel that letting Zhang Fei go is a mistake.

In the long run, the opposite is true.

It might not be difficult for Cao Cao to defeat Liu Bei now.

But the result is that he has to face the complex problems of Bashu and Yizhou again.

Compared with the Qin Dynasty, Cao Wei was more like the people who occupied Bashu and Yizhou for generations in history and were trapped there and unable to leave. What about them?

This is a problem that may not be solved even if hundreds of thousands of troops are consumed.

Using Zhuge Liang's strategy, Liu Bei's cohesion, and Zhang Fei and Guan Yu's bravery to join forces to enter Shu and serve as the vanguard for Cao's camp was a trade-off that minimized their own consumption.

This was something Cao Cao had discussed many times with his advisers.

On the surface, it seemed that Zhang Fei was released, but in reality, Cao Cao was implementing his plan and using them as pawns to make them work for him.

Where does the lack of consideration and lack of strength come from?
Cao Cao explained briefly to Yao Jing.

"Since Liu Xuande and others must be allowed to enter Shu, the King of Wei is now trying to lure Jiangdong into it and attack Jiangdong in order to push the two sides to unite as soon as possible. In this case, Liu Xuande will not have enough time to operate in Shu. Isn't this a contradiction?" Yao Jing asked.

Cao Cao laughed and said, "You don't understand Liu Xuande and Jiangdong.

It’s not that I defeat them once or twice and then they will unite immediately.”

“We create external pressure, which will accelerate the expansion of both sides.

If they can't get out, they can only annex the surrounding areas to strengthen themselves, which is my goal. In the end, they will try to unite to fight against me and fight a major battle. That will be the time for unification."

Yao Jing lowered her head, thinking about things.

Cao Cao suddenly asked, "You said before that you have a husband's family. Who is it?"

"what?"

Yao Jing's eyes flickered: "The Yao family is an old friend of mine."

Then he whispered, "I have sent someone to send a letter back... I have mentioned the cancellation of the marriage. King Wei, please do not cause trouble for the Yao family."

"Why do you want to cancel the engagement?" Cao Cao asked teasingly.

While the two were talking, a soldier came to the door and reported: "King Wei, Governor Zhang and others have arrived."

"Bring them here." Yao Jing stood up in a panic, looked out of the study, and suddenly felt someone tapping her from behind.

Cao Cao also exerted force and his hands were full of bounces.

Yao Jing was so shocked and ashamed that she turned around and gave him a look.

At this time, footsteps were heard outside, and it sounded like there were quite a few people coming.

The leader was tall and thin, with a dark complexion, looked very strong, and had bright eyes. What was impressive was that he had very long eyebrows.

This person was Zhang Xian, the governor of Changsha.

Xun You and Cheng Yu traveled south several years ago to contact and instigate them to rebel and control Jingzhou from behind.

Two years earlier, Chu contacted Zhang Xian and others and the two sides established a cooperative relationship.

But Cao's camp continued to grow stronger and provided them with secret support.

Now, two years later, Cao's camp has become unified, and there is a distinction between the master and the servant.

Zhang Xian and others chose to submit.

Cao Cao then ordered their core members to make preparations early, bring their families, withdraw from Changsha, and head north to join the group.

I mentioned before that Jingzhou’s terrain is like a pocket.

By controlling Xiangyang, Cao Cao guarded the entrance to the pocket.

The only way to get inside the pocket is to cross mountains or take water routes.

Let Jiangdong and Liu Bei compete in the pocket, and pull Zhang Xian and others out. There is no need to participate in it, which will only increase consumption.

At this time, Zhang Xian and others came to meet up and gathered in the study.

There was constant laughter in the study that night.

Cao Cao highly praised Zhang Xian and his colleagues for their contribution in containing the enemy for the past two years and rewarded them generously.

After several days, the situation inside and outside Jingzhou changed.

"Report - Jiangdong's army of more than 16,000 has approached Jiangxia County."

Cao Cao received the report.

"At this stage, even if Liu Bei and Liu Qi join forces, they are no match for Jiangdong. We have to take sides.

In name, Jingzhou has already pledged allegiance to the State of Wei, so the attack from Jiangdong is an attack on the State of Wei."

"Where are Gan Xingba, Cai Degui, and Zhang Wenyuan? Tell them where they are. Once they have reached their designated combat positions, we can deploy our troops."

All parties in Cao's camp received the order.

On the fourth day after Jiangdong, under the command of Zhou Yu, entered Jiangxia, Cao's army, led by Zhang He and Li Dian, was in the south of Yuzhou, bordering Jiangdong, and they took the lead in advancing southwards.

Cao's army suddenly switched from its previous deterrent tactics to real military action and declared war!

At the same time, in the area bordering Jiangxia and Jiangdong, inside the Jiangdong general’s camp.

Zhou Yu and Lu Su are discussing strategy.

"The Cao army south of Yuzhou is just bluffing.

Judging from Cao Mengde’s past combat methods, his use of troops may seem risky at first, but in fact they are all aimed at attacking the enemy’s weaknesses, without losing stability.

"That is why Cao Mengde would never allow Li Dian and Zhang He's troops, who are from the north and do not know how to swim, to cross the Yangtze River and start a war with us in Jiangdong."

Zhou Yu and Lu Su smiled at each other with determined expressions.

Both of them realized that Cao Cao was using a feint.

To take a step back, if Cao's army really dared to cross the river and start a war on the Yangtze River, Jiangdong would not be afraid and would be more than happy to do so.

"Cao Mengde wants to confuse the enemy, tie us down, and force us to retreat. How can we let him do what he wants?"

The two men formulated a strategy and not only did not retreat, but they also planned to intensify the offensive against Jiangxia, seize the land of Jingzhou, and strengthen themselves.

However, in late January, another group of Cao's troops marched from Jingzhou by water, through a tributary of the Yangtze River, and suddenly entered Jiangdong from the northeast corner.

The troops were led by Cai Mao and Gan Ning.

The two men joined Cao's camp one after another, both wanting to make merit, and once the war broke out, they were fierce.

Zhou Yu and Lu Su were right.

The troops south of Yuzhou were a feint, the purpose of which was to contain Jiangdong.

The real point of attack was the navy of Cai Mao and Gan Ning.

But this is only the first step in a diversionary move.

What was even more unexpected was that Cao's army had a cavalry unit, which was very small in number, but suddenly appeared in the heart of Jiangdong and tore through the enemy's territory.

When this army arrived and what route it took were all beyond Zhou Yu and Lu Su's prior judgment.

When did Cao Cao deploy an army and sneak into Jiangdong?
The leader of the team is Zhang Liao, a general with a powerful talisman that no one in Jiangdong can match.

He led 48 heavy cavalry and 800 soldiers from the Xianzhen Camp, which were both mobile and aggressive.

Their offensive was so fierce that it directly attacked Jianye, the important city in the heart of Jiangdong.

Zhou Yu and Lu Su were shocked upon hearing the news.

Because Sun Ce was seriously injured, he was sent back to the rear to rest, and his destination was Jianye.

There are also many relatives and important figures of the Sun family, all in Jianye.

"How did Cao's army break through the outer defense line and send a cavalry into the heart of Jiangdong?"

"If there are less than a thousand people, it is not impossible to sneak in in batches."

"We have only been in control of Jiangdong for a short time, so our defenses are not very tight."

Lu Su and Zhou Yu looked at each other.

After the two men fought with Cao Cao, they understood why Cao Wei had been so arrogant for years.

Cao's elite troops, less than a thousand men, penetrated deep into enemy territory. Jiangdong sent out multiple troops to intercept them, but they were defeated one after another.

At this time, Zhou Yu came to seize Jiangxia's troops and found himself in an awkward situation, not knowing what to do.

By the end of January, Zhou Yu received the latest battle report: "The Cao army entered Jiangdong and was originally attacking Jianye, but suddenly turned and rushed to Pengze near the river. Before the rescue troops arrived, they broke through the city and retreated, and kidnapped many of our Jiangdong people."

"Pengze?"

Zhou Yu asked in a deep voice: "Who was robbed?"

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(End of this chapter)