Chapter 59: Ambition

In the spring of the 12th year of Jian'an, Cao Cao personally led his army to conquer Wuhuan!

April

When Cao Cao arrived in Wuzhong County, his plan of marching route was to go along the coast to Mian County (in Liaoning) and then head north to Liucheng. However, people's calculations were not as good as heaven's calculations. In June and July, heavy rains were heavy, rivers were flooded, and land was difficult to move on the beach. Cao Cao's marching route was naturally blocked!

His heart was as cold as ice. Cao Cao stood on the mountain and looked down at the land on the coast. The muddy and potholes made him feel the bone-broken cold and powerless.

The sky was clear, but Cao Cao looked up at the sky, as if he wanted to see through the will of heaven.

Why?

Why does this heavy rain fall this year?

God's will is unpredictable, and Cao Cao was disheartened.

The Lai Shi scored everything in the expedition, but lost to heaven.

Dissatisfied?

What if you don’t accept it?!

The summer was scorching and Cao Cao was heartbroken. Just as he turned around and planned to withdraw his troops, Cheng Yu, who was on the expedition, climbed up the mountain with excitement.

"Lord! I have a way!"

Cheng Yu shouted and ran to Cao Cao. The mountain road was slippery and he almost fell. Fortunately, Cao Cao was quick-eyed and his hands were almost pulled.

Cheng Yu stood firm with lingering fear and wanted to salute and thank him, but Cao Cao held his wrist and asked anxiously: "What are the wonderful strategies of Zhongde?"

With a self-deprecating smile, Cheng Yu quickly waved his hand and said, "My lord is so proud that it is coming down. It's raining heavily in the sky blocks the road, and there is no clever plan to go against the will of heaven. However, there is no way to go. I'm going to check everywhere, wanting to see if I can take another way to attack Liucheng. As a result, the sky will not let people down. One of the local households, named Tian and Chou, heard that our army was the King of Han to attack Wuhuan, so he gathered local people and was willing to be our army's guide. According to him, there is a small road called Lulong Road in the east of Ji County! From this road, you can pass through the Xifengkou Sutra and go straight to the west of Liucheng!"

Cao Cao was shocked and laughed to the sky after a moment of stagnation!

At this time, Cao Cao was already a powerful minister who was afraid of the world and was ranked as prime minister, but he ran down the mountain regardless of his image. Before coming to the military camp, Xu Huang came up to greet him. Cao Cao turned a blind eye and rushed directly to the people dressed in the people with joy.

This group of people moved to the mountains and forests to avoid disaster due to war, which happened to be encountered by Cao's army in the remote forests.

Cao Cao asked the group of ordinary people with a smile: "Who dares to ask which one is Tian Chou?"

A group of ordinary people were actually quite scared when they saw Cao Cao, but Cao Cao smiled and was not arrogant at all. He acted very kindly, so he eliminated a lot of fear.

Tian Chou came out from the crowd, looking at his appearance only, and becoming like everyone else.

"I have met the Prime Minister."

Tian Chou didn't know what kind of rituals to perform, so he knelt down and kowtowed. Seeing this, the other people followed suit.

Cao Cao quickly pulled him up and said to everyone: "Get up, fellow villagers, it's Cao who should salute you. Cao will remember your great kindness for the rest of his life."

After his eyes turned, Cao Cao looked at Tian Chou again and asked with a smile: "I heard that you are living in seclusion in the mountains and forests. Since that's the case, why should you help Cao with one arm? Aren't you afraid of causing a murder?"

If Cao Cao wanted to attack Wuhuan, it would definitely be impossible to kill all the Wuhuan people. It is difficult to guarantee that no one would know about Tian Chou and other people leading the way today. If the remnants of Wuhuan come to retaliate, the consequences will be unimaginable.

Tian Chou looked solemn and said with a firm voice: "Prime Minister Cao, you lead the Han Dynasty's King's Army to attack Wuhuan. As a Han Chinese, how can Caomin stand by and watch? He can do his part to Prime Minister Cao? He has no choice but to do his best."

Cao Cao almost burst into tears. He held Tian Chou's hand and said word by word: "I understand the great righteousness in my feet. Cao cannot repay me. Please accept Cao's greeting."

After Cao Cao said that, he took a step back and bowed, and was extremely solemn. Behind him, Xu Huang, Xiahou Yuan and other generals, saw that Cao Cao had bowed, they all quickly bowed to the people.

With Tian Chou and his people leading the way, Cao Cao led his army to the west of Liucheng on Lulong Road, which lasted more than 500 miles.

By August, Cao Cao fought with Wuhuan at Bailang Mountain near Liucheng, and won a great victory, took advantage of the victory and pursued the Wuhuan royal court!

Tadun was beheaded, and under the rule of Wuhuan, more than 200,000 Han people were surrendered!

The only drawback is that Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang fled to Liaodong and defected to Gongsun Kang before the war began.

The attack on the Wuhuan won a complete victory, but Cao Cao's original intention had not yet been achieved, so he would completely kill the remnants of the Yuan family!

Liucheng

After Cao Cao's victory, he felt particularly comfortable. He held a banquet with the military generals to celebrate the achievements, cooked cattle and slaughtered sheep, and there was nothing outside the frontier, but there was no shortage of cattle and sheep.

There was still barbecuing lambs on the bonfire, and the generals laughed happily while drinking.

After celebrating Cao Cao with a glass of wine, Xu Huang said to Cao Cao: "Lord, the two boys of the Yuan family are not dead yet. Otherwise, take advantage of the current victory to kill Liaodong, so as to eliminate future troubles forever."

The other generals agreed, but Cao Cao smiled strangely, sat in the main seat with a little drunkenness, and looked at Cheng Yu, asking, "Zhongde, why don't you agree with Gongming's proposal?"

Cheng Yu smiled with his beard, and that smile coincided with Cao Cao.

"The lord is already confident, why bother asking the officials?"

Ha ha ha ha

Cao Cao drank the wine in the bowl and laughed loudly.

"Assuming the order, the entire army will set sail in three days and return to the south."

Xu Huang and others were stunned.

When fighting Wuhuan, civil officials and military generals did not agree with it, and Cao Cao insisted on fighting.

Now that we have won, everyone suggested that Cao Cao take advantage of the victory and pursue him again, but Cao Cao wants to withdraw his troops again.

Withdrawal? Then all previous efforts will be wasted?

Military generals often go straightforward when thinking about problems, and few can see further. If there is, then he will be a famous general who can kill formations and enemies, and plan for strategists.

Three days later, Cao's army won the victory and returned to the south. Cao Cao did this to give Gongsun Kang a clear explanation.

If you withdraw to the south of the Great Wall, Gongsun Kang would not have to worry that Cao Cao would use the excuse of attacking Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang to wipe out him together.

If Cao Cao did not withdraw his troops, it is conceivable that Gongsun Kang might collude with Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang.

But Gongsun Kang didn't have to worry about Cao Cao, and he would start to re-examine what choice he made between Cao Cao and the Yuan family. Is it because the Yuan family, which has already declined and cannot make a comeback, offend Cao Cao? Or is it a good relationship with Cao Cao?

The answer is obvious. Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang defected to Gongsun Kang without political acumen. Gongsun Kang may not have a lofty look, but in terms of immediate interests, it is obviously more beneficial not to offend Cao Cao, who is at the peak of his life.

Therefore, Yuan Xi and Yuan Shang came to pay homage to Gongsun Kang. Before the ceremony was finished, the head was cut off by the knife and axe siege bent by the door. Then Gongsun Kang sent the heads of the two to Yecheng with a quick whip.

Everything seems to be under Cao Cao's control.

However, human calculations are still inferior to God's calculations. Cao Cao did not expect that on his way to withdraw his troops to the south, he actually walked around outside the gates of hell.

It was late autumn when the troops were withdrawn, but it was cold outside the border and the weather was cold.

The battle was spring, and the clothes brought by the troops were obviously not enough to keep warm.

On the way back to Cao Cao, many soldiers were so cold that they were in danger of death. What’s even more terrible is that they had not encountered a single source of water when they returned to the south!

On midnight late autumn, Cao Cao stood outside the camp wearing a cloak, looking at the listless soldiers and those who were thirsty with white and chapped lips, Cao Cao felt heartbroken.

Cheng Yu walked to Cao Cao, opened his mouth and finally said nothing.

What is the difference between this current situation and a desperate situation?

Cao Cao took a deep breath and said to Cheng Yu: "Appointment to dig a well on the spot tomorrow."

Cheng Yu nodded and left silently.

The next day, Cao's army dug wells in many places.

Cheng Yu met Cao Cao with a pale face.

"Lord, I have been drilled more than 30 feet into the ground, but no drop of water is seen."

This news shocked Cao Cao.

But what shocked Cao Cao even more was still there.

"Lord, the army needs less than three days of grain storage."

Cheng Yu said bitterly.

Cao Cao closed his eyes and looked sad, and after a while, he said, "After the food is gone, kill the horses to satisfy his hunger."

"Master!"

Cheng Yu spoke anxiously and was shocked.

Can war horses be killed? Yes, but they are war horses that are ten times more expensive than soldiers!

Cheng Yu gritted his teeth and left, while Cao Cao was alone in the tent, crying bitterly.

Wiping away the tears, Cao Cao's expression became extremely ferocious.

He made the mistake.

Before he returned to the south, he did not surrender to the Wuhuan to collect enough cattle and sheep, bring together drinking water and clothes, causing his army to reach such a hungry and cold situation.

But Cao Cao was more unwilling to give up!

People all over the world call him a thief Cao!

After several life and death, he fought on the battlefield for decades, and opened his eyes wide and watched the soldiers who were loyal to him fall down one by one.

Why?

Why do you still have to be loyal to the Han Dynasty?

"Your Majesty, Cao has been loyal for decades and has a clear conscience. But now no one says that my Cao family is a loyal minister. I have no way to go, so I can only confirm the name of this Han thief!"
To be continued...