NOVPUB"Let’s not. If it’s too deliberate, we might end up giving Xun Youruo and Tian Yuanhao a chance to spot the flaws," Chen Xi shook his head and said.
"Excess is just as bad as deficiency. Never mind, since it’s like this, this matter will depend on Wen Ruo’s handling. After all, if Wen Ruo purposely schemes against the unsuspecting, it’s very hard for anyone to stand against him. It’s all down to Wen Ruo’s performance now," Jia Xu sighed and said. He was somewhat excited as well; a master tactician always gave him a sense of exhilaration.
"Scheming against the unsuspecting, huh." Chen Xi seemed to be reminded of some rather unpleasant matters. "What if Xun Wenruo has been plotting against Chen Gongtai ahead of time, how would we resolve the situation now? Right, the strategic plans Kongming gave to Cao Mengde must have infuriated him. What seemed like a viable strategy at the time has now become flowers in the mirror, the moon in the water."
"I remember you mentioning Kongming’s strategy. It appeared highly feasible, but many aspects of it actually undermine the foundations. Zhuge Kongming isn’t that benevolent," Jia Xu shook his head and said. "Moreover, at first glance, the strategy seemed flawless, but on closer inspection, one would realize it’s fraught with hidden dangers. Mengde, caught in his rage, wouldn’t see it, but once he calmed down, he’d understand."
In fact, Jia Xu was slightly mistaken. At the time, Cao Cao was furious, and after reading it, Zhuge Liang’s letter had irritated him to the core. He tore the letter to pieces; although he remembered Zhuge Liang’s strategy was brilliant, he didn’t want to dwell on that depressing incident. He hadn’t reconsidered Zhuge Liang’s strategy, so in Cao Cao’s mind, Zhuge Liang still appeared like a sage of extraordinary genius.
"One can’t easily deceive people with it. I knew it; unless someone like you is willing to take the risk, a mere letter alone won’t stand scrutiny," Chen Xi also sighed. The letter itself was meant for Zhuge Liang to showcase his intelligence and leave Cao Cao with lifelong regret. Deceiving momentarily was enough to demonstrate Zhuge Liang’s wisdom.
"There’s no way around it. Not to mention Xun Wenruo, even Xi Zhicai and others, Meng De himself is one of the world’s most sagacious men," Jia Xu sighed. "As for the situation you mentioned, I’ve thought it over and over, and there’s only one possibility."
Chen Xi’s expression turned bitter upon hearing this. Taking into account Chen Gong’s character, Lyu Bu’s personality, Xun Yu’s caution, Cao Cao’s dominance and his appreciation for talent, as well as the composition of the Cao clan’s strategists, the only possibility he deduced indeed turned out to be the case.
"You’ve guessed it too?" Jia Xu sighed. He was always curious about Chen Xi, who sometimes seemed slow but at other times displayed an intelligence that matched anyone’s.
"Xun Wenruo takes one step to see three steps ahead, how can one play this game?" Chen Xi said exasperatedly, "If that’s the only possibility, then there’s nothing to talk about. It’s inevitable. Truly helpless."
"Hahaha! You say Xun Wenruo takes one step to see three ahead, but don’t you do the same? Besides, up to this point, haven’t all of Xun Wenruo’s ingenious plans been forced by you to that extent?" Jia Xu laughed heartily. "You, Chen Zichuan, always forget to count yourself. Both Xun Wenruo and you can anticipate three steps ahead, yet he’s unable to grasp the bigger picture and can only be forced by you to make desperate moves."
"It’s not that simple. Whether we admit it or not, the Cao Army has become increasingly strong. Even if we have routed them this time, they are still many times stronger than when they returned from Hulao Pass. Xun Wenruo has always been strengthening the Cao Army," Chen Xi shook his head and said. Xun Yu, whom Cao Cao called "my Zifang," was indeed very difficult to handle, and his presence was too important for the stability of Cao Cao’s rear.
"However, after this defeat, it will be very difficult for Cao Mengde to rise again. Lyu Fengxian won’t give him the chance. After failing to withstand a strong attack for more than three months, when the summer grain comes in, Cao Mengde is going to struggle," Jia Xu said with an indifferent expression.
"Cao Mengde, heeding the advice of Zao Zhi and Xun Wenruo, opened up the waste lands of Yanzhou for farming, only for Lyu Bu to almost entirely occupy Yanzhou now. Ninety percent of the farming areas have fallen into Lyu Bu’s hands. This can only be described as self-entrapment." As Jia Xu spoke these words, he shook his head repeatedly, reluctant to comment further on Cao Cao’s misfortune.
Chen Xi appeared reflective, truly at a loss for words. If Cao Cao had not attacked Xuzhou, and if Yanzhou had truly reaped a bountiful harvest this year, Cao Cao would have had the resources to campaign westward. Unfortunately, now the opposite has happened; the capital for soaring to new heights has all been handed to Lyu Bu. If Lyu Bu didn’t use this capital to give Cao Cao a pounding headache, that would be surprising. Chen Gongtai is indeed ruthless, and Xun Wenruo is truly audacious.
"Originally, Xun Wenruo’s plan must have been to use Lyu Fengxian and Chen Gongtai to expose all the internal conflicts within Yanzhou. Then, whether he decided to clean house himself or use Lyu Bu to do it, afterward Yanzhou would have become united," sighed Chen Xi. "Moreover, Xun Wenruo was fully confident that in our battle at Mount Tai, the Cao Army would definitively lose, and Cao Cao would realize his mistakes."
"He would also realize the disparity, and then lead his troops back to fight against Lyu Bu, who has occupied most of Yanzhou. One could say that Lyu Bu is doomed to defeat," Chen Xi added with a hint of admiration in his voice.
"Cao Mengde, regardless of anything else, has a certain audacity. Once he recognizes the gap between his strength and ours, he will definitely devise a way to subdue Lyu Bu. Furthermore, considering Chen Gongtai’s personality, if Lyu Bu values his life and Cao Mengde overlooks past grievances and admits his own errors, Lyu Bu will most likely surrender and never rebel again," Jia Xu said, continuing the thought with a heavy sense of emotion.
"Losing Yanzhou was all for the purpose of purifying his forces and absorbing Lyu Bu’s faction, forcing Cao Cao to return with his army." A touch of elusive mockery appeared on Chen Xi’s face. "Man’s plans are inferior to those of heaven. If he really had absorbed Lyu Bu’s faction, Xun Wenruo would definitely propose to send troops into Sili, and the Xiliang Iron Cavalry would surely be incorporated under Cao Cao’s command. But as things stand now, it’s like flowers in the mirror, the moon in the water."
"I’m afraid it won’t be so easy for him to fail," Jia Xu said, shaking his head. "Although Cao Cao can’t withstand Lyu Bu on the plains, being cornered and defending Chenliu, guarding the passes tightly, it would be very difficult for Lyu Bu to push Cao Cao out of Yanzhou."
Chen Xi didn’t pick up the conversation. In history, Cao Cao’s initial battles against Lyu Bu were indeed just as Jia Xu had assessed; Cao Cao was no match at all. It was only after a locust disaster occurred and Lyu Bu had no summer grain that Cao Cao got an opportunity to breathe and later returned to defeat Lyu Bu decisively.
"What I’m worried about now is if Xun Wenruo still finds a way to take control of Sili and absorb the Xiliang Iron Cavalry, that would be troublesome," Chen Xi sighed. Xun Wenruo’s strategy of thinking three moves ahead was no joke, and although Chen Xi could guess what Xun Wenruo’s expression would have been upon learning of Cao Cao’s complete rout, he believed even more that this situation was not yet desperate enough to leave Xun Wenruo with no plans. History had shown that Cao Cao had been in far more dangerous situations than this many times before.
"We’ll just have to take it one step at a time. Let’s focus on our own matters first; expanding our own power is always more important than weakening others," Jia Xu said calmly. "As long as we maintain our current strength and fear no schemes from the other side, isn’t it best to break them with an overwhelming force? That’s what you’re best at." (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for it, monthly tickets are also welcomed. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.)
