NOVPUB"Liu Xuande is a hero who remains unchanged in his ambition amidst wealth and power and stays true to his heart even when he wields great authority. Unlike what you all previously thought, disregarding Liu Xuande, I was certain from early on that he came for me. In his heart, taking Xuzhou is less important than killing me. Even if there are those among Liu Xuande’s men who help conceal the matter of Xuzhou, as soon as Liu Xuande learns the truth..." Cao Cao’s face revealed a trace of bitterness.
Cao Cao also knew that this time he had indeed gone too far. If Liu Bei were to discover the truth of the matter, given his benevolent nature towards the people under his rule, a relentless pursuit would be inevitable. Therefore, Cao Cao had prepared for a battle with Liu Bei and even planned to take advantage of Liu Bei’s anger to capture him in one fell swoop!
"My lord, there’s no need to dwell on this matter. Let us first capture the Elite Troops of Danyang and then discuss further plans. Once Cao Bao’s forces are defeated, Xuzhou will be virtually undefended for the short term," Cheng Yu said with a grave expression.
"The veteran soldiers of Danyang are indeed the elite left over from Tao Qian’s time in Xiliang; their strength is truly formidable. However, with Liu Bei supporting from behind, it’s better not to make a frontal assault on Cao Bao. Although he is inexperienced in military affairs, Tao Gongzu’s Danyang veterans have been through numerous battles and can rely on their experience to unleash their formidable power without the need for commands," Xun Youi said, frowning slightly.
The most troublesome aspect of elite troops is that they have been involved in too many wars. In the end, even without commands, they know what to do in any given situation based on the battle conditions, adjusting their every move accordingly.
As he spoke, a sharp glint flashed in Xun Youi’s eyes, then his expression reverted to its usual impassive state.
"This is indeed a difficult issue to handle. Honestly speaking, if we could capture those elite veterans, it would be of tremendous help in bolstering the strength of Yanzhou," Cao Cao said with envy on his face.
More than thirty thousand seasoned veterans, half of whom had participated in the battles of Xiliang with Tao Qian, and the other half having been involved in various conflicts to some extent. If this force could be successfully reorganized, it would be an incredible reinforcement for Cao Cao, who didn’t have many veterans in his ranks.
"The Danyang Troops are semi-mercenary in nature; if we can capture them, we can integrate them into our forces," Cheng Yu chimed in.
Cheng Yu then remembered the combat power of the Danyang veterans and let out a sigh, "Cao Bao may lack talent and virtue, but thirty thousand elite Danyang soldiers, even without Cao Bao, would not be easily defeated with just the command of Centurions, Military Marquises, and Simas. They’ve experienced too much warfare, and they know what to do in any situation without needing instructions."
"I believe it’s precisely because of Cao Bao that we can easily win this battle," Xun Youi, who had been silent like a wooden figure, suddenly spoke up.
"Gong Da, do you have a brilliant plan?" Cao Cao asked excitedly.
"The veteran soldiers of Danyang are known as elite because they are mercenaries who nonetheless obey strict orders," Xun Youi stated expressionlessly. "The concept of executing commands has been ingrained in their minds. For an excellent commander, all that is needed is to trust the combat power of the Danyang veterans and then issue orders at the right moment. As for Cao Bao..."
"What a wonderful plan!" Cheng Yu instantly understood Xun Youi’s point, laughing and clapping his hands in approval.
After a moment’s contemplation, Cao Cao also grasped Xun Youi’s meaning, his face brightening with joy. In this way, by continuously forcing Cao Bao to issue orders, the Danyang Troops would eventually fall into disarray due to his ignorance in military affairs, and in the end, they would collapse without an attack.
"Given this situation, there’s no need to recall Yuanrang and Miaocai yet. When reinforcements arrive one by one, it will cause chaos in the commands of the Danyang troops each time. In the end, once the Danyang troops are in complete disorder, defeating them will be as easy as turning over one’s hand," Cao Cao laughed heartily as he envisioned the capture of the veteran Danyang soldiers.
As for whether Cao Bao would issue orders indiscriminately, Cao Cao could guarantee that when the time came, Cao Bao would certainly give many orders that were unrealistic, because someone who has never been on the battlefield would invariably make that mistake the first time. More importantly, they cannot discern the true state of the battlefield.
This would lead to a disconnect between reality and perception, as well as a disconnect between the commander-in-chief and his subordinates. Places that are not dangerous may seem dangerous to the commander-in-chief, and places that are truly perilous may seem safe to them. This will cause discrepancies with the judgement of the veterans, and after a few times, chaos becomes inevitable.
"We need to select an appropriate place for the battle. As long as we challenge Cao Bao to fight and keep winning, he will surely accept the challenges. Moreover, to show his magnanimity, he will certainly agree to the battle location we choose. Thus, we should select a place suited for large-scale combat," said Cheng Yu, now assured of their strategy’s feasibility, turning his attention back to the map. Their goal was to expand their power, not to kill as many enemies as possible.
"Here," said Xun You, his slender finger pointing to a spot on the map. "Treating prisoners well is also a mark of benevolence among the Feudal Lords. ’Those who surrender will not be killed’ can also help us wash away any negative image we’ve had before. The money, grain and jewels collected previously can be used to persuade the captured Danyang troops after keeping them for a ten-day period."
Cheng Yu and Cao Cao both looked at the plain where the Yi River met the Yellow River and nodded in agreement. The place was suitable for battle, though the ice on the surface had already grown unstable. It could still support a handful of people crossing, but it would be impossible for tens of thousands. The weather of the lunar February was already warming up.
"If that’s the case, then let’s choose this place. I simply do not believe that Cao Bao has the ability to lead the Danyang troops to fight with a back-to-water spirit," Cao Cao laughed heartily.
"Without Cao Bao, there might still be a chance, but now it’s absolutely impossible. Cao Bao, being a man of great ambition and limited talent, will definitely flee at the first sign of an unfavorable situation. This presents us with an opportunity," Cheng Yu also said happily.
Cao Cao quickly composed the letter of challenge to Cao Bao, sent it off to Pengcheng, and then waited for Cao Bao’s reply.
On the same day, Cao Bao’s response was delivered. There were no modifications made to it, and it even noted that if Cao Cao was not satisfied with the chosen battle location, it could be changed without any objections from him.
"As expected, he is brimming with confidence," Cheng Yu laughed after reading the letter. "This battle will end Xuzhou’s resistance capability. Cao Bao truly lives up to his name!"
"Gong Da, you seem to be not very excited," Cao Cao said from the side, writing orders to the Xiahou Brothers while envisioning the impact on his forces after defeating Cao Bao.
"I was contemplating what kind of approach Liu Xuande would take if he were to launch an attack, given his nature," said Xun You calmly.
"Given Liu Xuande’s benevolence, knowing the actual truth, he would probably wish he could devour me alive. From our previous interactions, it is highly likely he will throw caution to the wind and direct an assault at me without hesitation," Cao Cao said without a second thought.
"[This is indeed a good opportunity. Capturing Liu Bei would give us the freedom to move as we please.]" Xun You thought to himself, little did he know that this was precisely what Jia Xu was betting on. (To be continued. If you like this work, please cast your recommendation votes and monthly votes at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read. )
