“Give Sima Ju two hundred trebuchets.”
Zhang Jing continued:
“Lead twenty thousand troops and join the thirty thousand central army in attacking Puyang.”
“Sima Ju accepts the order!”
“Geng Ling shall take four hundred trebuchets, together with his own troops and Bian Xi’s forces, and place themselves under Master Zhongde’s command, awaiting deployment at any time.”
“Geng Ling accepts the order!”
“Zhongde.”
Only then did Zhang Jing turn to Cheng Yu and speak solemnly:
“The preparation of supplies for the Qihuo Army, as well as the administration of Wuyan City, will be entrusted to you.”
“This subordinate will not fail Your Lordship’s trust.”
Cheng Yu calmly bowed and accepted the task.
He understood that this was the true turning point for the Qihuo Army.
Only by quickly capturing several commanderies of Yan Province could they gather sufficient grain and population.
Afterward, they could relocate the people and abandon most of Yan Province, retaining only:
Taishan Commandery
Jibei Kingdom
Dongping Commandery
Rencheng Commandery
and the territory south of the Yellow River in Dong Commandery
This had been the plan previously discussed with Zhang Jing.
Only by seizing the opportunity provided by this victory and devouring the resources of the entire province in one great sweep could they create breathing room for the million civilians under their control.
“Also send word to Guan Hai in Qing Province and Que Xuan in Feicheng.”
Zhang Jing nodded slightly and ordered:
“Command Que Xuan to lead fifty thousand troops and five hundred trebuchets into Taishan Commandery.”
“Capture Fenggao, the commandery seat, and link up with Guan Hai’s forces from Qing Province.”
Taishan Commandery was a strategic objective that Zhang Jing absolutely had to obtain.
The Liangfu Pass there was one of the few major natural strongholds within Yan Province.
As long as a large force defended Liangfu Pass, attacks from Qing Province and Xu Province against Taishan Commandery could be blocked.
Back when the Yellow Turbans had invaded Taishan Commandery, they had been stopped precisely at Liangfu Pass.
As long as the pass remained secure, the only way to take Taishan Commandery would be from within Yan Province itself.
Conveniently, Taishan bordered Jibei Kingdom.
Feicheng was less than one hundred li from Fenggao.
The terrain between them was largely flat and open.
“My lord.”
Xu He pondered briefly before saying:
“You previously stated that once we advanced on Wuyan, Cao Cao’s forces in Dong Commandery would certainly strike our rear.”
“Now that Que Xuan is being transferred away, could that be…”
“It matters not.”
Zhang Jing waved his hand.
“Cao Cao has suffered a crushing defeat.”
“The Cao forces currently inside Jibei Kingdom are like a tree without roots.”
“I estimate that within a few hours they will withdraw from Jibei entirely.”
“Besides, even if they wish to retreat now, it may not be so easy.”
“Two hours ago I already dispatched Yuanshao to attack them from another direction.”
“They have likely engaged the enemy by now.”
This time, however, Zhang Jing’s prediction was wrong.
Xiahou Yuan and Cao Ren, who had been attacking Feicheng, received news of Cao Cao’s disastrous defeat before Pei Yuanshao arrived.
At this very moment, they were already retreating toward Dong Commandery.
“My lord is wise.”
Xu He finally understood and respectfully cupped his fists.
“Order Wang Du to lead fifty thousand troops.”
Zhang Jing continued:
“Advance into Dong Commandery and recover all counties south of the Yellow River.”
“You are not to cross the river.”
“You are not to harass the common people.”
“Zhou Cang shall defend Lu City.”
“Pei Yuanshao shall defend Feicheng.”
“Yes, sir!”
A messenger officer stepped forward and accepted the order.
“Everyone may withdraw.” Zhang Jing waved his hand.
“When you march tomorrow, spread the news everywhere.”
“Wuyan has fallen.”
“Cao Cao is dead.”
“Those who surrender will not be punished for their past actions.”
Whether Cao Cao was actually dead or not, Zhang Jing did not know.
But that did not stop him from spreading the rumor in order to undermine the confidence of officials and soldiers throughout Yan Province.
“We obey!”
The assembled officers accepted the orders respectfully.
………….
At the third quarter of the Zi hour (around 11:45 PM), bright fires illuminated Feicheng’s walls.
Clop! Clop!
Several messengers arrived on horseback, shouting:
“Wuyan has fallen!”
“Our army has won a great victory!”
“General Que, open the gates!”
Upon hearing the news, the exhausted soldiers atop the walls visibly perked up.
Excitement filled their eyes.
“A great victory?”
“Really? We won?”
“Wuyan has fallen too?”
“Quick, inform the general!”
“Haha! We’ve won!”
The defending soldiers were even more excited than when they had repelled the Han army’s assault earlier.
“Open the gates at once!”
After personally confirming the messengers’ identities, Que Xuan waved his hand grandly.
“Welcome our brothers into the city!”
Soon afterward, the messengers appeared before him.
“Little brother!”
Que Xuan’s face was glowing with excitement.
“Hurry and tell me!”
“How did our army capture the city?”
“Did Cao Cao die?”
“General Que.”
The messenger respectfully replied:
“This subordinate still has important duties to carry out and cannot remain long.”
“General Pei is transporting grain behind us.”
“He should arrive in a few hours.”
“Right, right!”
Que Xuan nodded repeatedly.
“I was being too impatient.”
Que Xuan quickly came to his senses after hearing that and laughed heartily.
“Then, little brother, hurry and spread the news of our great victory throughout the army so that all the brothers can celebrate!”
After the messenger departed, the entire city of Feicheng erupted in cheers.
“Have you heard?”
“We won a great victory! We seized Cao Cao’s grain stores!”
“I heard the grain is piled up like mountains—we won’t be able to finish eating it all!”
“Haha! The Han army isn’t so impressive after all!”
“We’ll never have to worry about food shortages again!”
“…”
……………….
Wuyan City — Governor’s Residence, Side Hall
By candlelight, Cheng Yu sat at a desk organizing records of the grain stores within the city.
About two zhang (roughly six meters) in front of him stood Bian Xi.
With a nervous expression, he cupped his fists respectfully and said:
“General, this subordinate fought poorly and failed to obtain Cao Cao’s head. I ask the strategist to forgive my failure.”
“Cao Cao escaped?”
Without even looking up, Cheng Yu spoke in a calm tone that revealed neither pleasure nor anger.
“Reporting to the strategist,”
Bian Xi replied respectfully,
“Cao Cao was severely wounded and escaped under the protection of a few riders.”
“One of his brave generals, along with more than eight hundred soldiers, were all slain by our army.”
“Among them was also a scholar.”
“General Bian has done well.”
Only then did Cheng Yu raise his eyes and look at Bian Xi.
Slowly stroking his beard, he asked:
“Did you bring back the heads of that general and the scholar?”
On that official road, Cheng Yu had arranged two ambushes for Cao Cao—one false and one real.
His original intention had been that, if everything went smoothly, they might be able to kill Cao Cao.
Although the chances had never been very high.
That was because when he planned the ambushes, he had never imagined that the battle for Wuyan would go so smoothly.
Under the current circumstances, Cheng Yu was indeed somewhat disappointed.
Still, Bian Xi had managed to eliminate two of Cao Cao’s important subordinates, which meant the operation was hardly a loss.
“They’re outside the hall.”
Bian Xi’s face lit up with joy.
“This subordinate will fetch them for you at once.”
He knew that since the strategist was asking about the heads, his failure to kill Cao Cao would likely be overlooked.
“Chen Gong of Dong Commandery… Chen Gongtai?”
Looking at the blood-soaked severed head before him, Cheng Yu showed no surprise.
Yet inwardly he felt somewhat sentimental.
Chen Gong had come from the noble families of Dongwuyang.
Cheng Yu himself was from Dong’e.
The two places were very close, separated only by the Yellow River.
Moreover, the circle of famous scholars was quite small.
Though they had never been particularly close, they had met several times in the past.
Who could have imagined that their next meeting would occur under such circumstances?
“Yue Jin of Dong Commandery… Yue Wenqian?”
Cheng Yu pursed his lips.
He had never expected that his carefully arranged ambush would end up killing two talented men from his own homeland.
“Have these sent to Xun Yu in the prison.”
A trace of ruthlessness flashed through Cheng Yu’s eyes as he ordered:
“Even if Cao Cao survives this ordeal, he will no longer be a threat in the future.”
“I will personally request merit and rewards from the lord on your behalf.”
“This subordinate thanks the strategist!”
Bian Xi quickly bowed and replied respectfully:
“If not for the strategist’s divine calculations, this subordinate would never have achieved such merit.”
“In the future, should the strategist have any command for me, I would gladly die ten thousand deaths carrying it out.”
— The end of the Chapter–
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