Xu Shu, clutching his books, slipped away to continue his studies; as for what Lord Pang De said about urgently studying the grand situation of the world, Xu Shu had basically no interest. This fellow came from a Humble Family, and the greatest hobby of a layabout is taking advantage. In Xu Shu’s view, if he didn’t understand the grand situation of the world, surely someone else would; anyone with a bit of ability could talk in circles.
Since anyone with a little weight could spin a complex tale, why should he bother? As for unique insights, aren’t they just about the details? As long as you’re on the right general path and you have enough strength, couldn’t you just steamroll your way through? As for when the time came to meet with Lord Xuande and he needed to wax lyrical about the grand situation of the world, Xu Shu had already prepared his material.
His friends Cui Zhouping and Shi Guangyuan were both adept at pontificating about the grand situation, and if all else failed, he still had Lord Pang De and Shuijing Sima Hui. When it was time for him to leave, they would surely offer advice on what to consider. The grand situation they would describe was sure to be ninety percent consistent, with ten percent personal bias. So by the time he departed, his own version would blend their ninety percent with a mix of what he had learned along the way; that would give him his own version of the grand situation.
Well, Lord Pang De was unaware of Xu Shu’s thoughts, but if he knew, he would definitely have smacked him with a slap; how could someone be so lazy?
Meanwhile, back in Nanyang, Lyu Bu had already received benefits from Cao Cao, but because Cao Cao was rather stingy and gave only half, signaling that if Lyu Bu beat up Yuan Shu he would give the rest, Lyu Bu, upon receiving the benefits, turned around without a word and went to find his brother Zhang Yang. Who would be so foolish as to duel Yuan Shu alone? And in front of Cao Cao at that? Was my intelligence as low as yours, Cao Cao?
After witnessing this, an irate Cao Cao almost sent troops to intercept Lyu Bu, but fortunately, Xun Yu persuaded him to hold back. However, Cao Cao, now scorned by Lyu Bu, completely abandoned his intention to subjugate him. Lyu Bu, the man of broken word, the Three-Family Slave, the frenzied patricidal maniac. No matter how much Cao Cao cursed, it didn’t change the fact that he had been played by Lyu Bu.
Looking down at the seemingly endless troops of Yuan Shu beneath Wancheng, Cao Cao finally recognized the gap between himself and the super-rich Yuan Shu. The only reason he was suppressing Yuan Shu in battle before was because Yuzhou was left in a mess by Liu Bei, leaving Yuan Shu unable to deploy his troops!
Now, at the end of autumn, after spending several months, Yuan Shu had almost completely restored the chaotic situation in Yuzhou. No longer needing his troops to suppress domestic unrest, he promptly mobilized his army, ready to give Cao Cao, the upstart, a proper lesson, of course, this was also due to being slapped in the face by Lyu Bu.
"This army must have at least a hundred thousand," Cao Cao said, wiping off his sweat with a gloomy expression from atop the city wall. This was terrifying. Not only was Yuan Shu beating up Liu Biao because of Lyu Bu; his strength was formidable indeed.
"With Regular Soldiers and Auxiliary Soldiers combined, there are a full one hundred and twenty thousand. As soon as Yuzhou was restored, Yuan Shu immediately transferred troops here. It seems that one reason Lyu Bu left was due to this," Xi Zhicai commented in amazement as he observed the army below Wancheng, particularly interested in their food reserves, which were immensely substantial.
"What do we do now? The difference from our estimation is too great. We previously thought Yuan Shu would send only thirty thousand men against us, and now there are one hundred and twenty thousand. If they keep piling on without regard for day or night, traitors will inevitably appear inside Wancheng, especially since we took over not long ago," Cao Cao said with a bitter smile, previously full of pride, thinking he could thrash Yuan Shu. Yet not three months had passed before he realized it was all an illusion.
"Lord, rest assured, the situation is still in our hands; this farce should come to an end. It’s time to finish toying with Yuan Shu," Xi Zhicai said with a cold laugh. They had anticipated this outcome from the start and naturally had measures in place to respond. Did Yuan Shu really think that having many soldiers and generals equated to great strength?
"Alas, the Yuan Family’s strength is indeed formidable. Yuan Benchu defeated Gongsun Bogui and took control of Jizhou and Bingzhou, while Yuan Gonglu defeated Liu Biao. If not for Liu Xuande sending troops to Yuzhou, Yuan Gonglu would now have dominion over three prefectures," Cao Cao said, looking enviously at Yuan Shu’s endless military camps below the city walls. Tens of thousands of veterans. What a difference compared to his own troops, cobbled together and barely trained for a year.
"It’s a pity that Yuan Gonglu doesn’t understand the times, nor does he grasp military strategy. Such a waste of a golden opportunity," Xi Zhicai remarked with a look of regret. After all, Yuan Shu’s strength, as manifested, was truly enviable, but he lacked a true hero of outstanding talent. His most noteworthy general, Ji Ling, was but a competent commander, far from the pinnacle.
"He doesn’t understand military strategy?" Cao Cao said, delighted. That meant Xi Zhicai already had a plan to defeat the enemy.
"Indeed, does Yuan Gonglu really think that no one will send out troops with winter approaching? The only feudal lord capable of sending forces into his homeland, Liu Xuande, does not have adequate strength. How could such an opportunity come so easily? By moving out in full force, bringing his strongest attack power, he has also left his rear defenseless. Yuan Gong’s borders are too long," Xi Zhicai said with a sneer.
In Xi Zhicai’s view, it was time to put an end to this farce. By now, most of the soldiers had already seen blood; what remained was to use the southern Nanyang region as the battlefield for continuous small-scale fights!
On one hand, these endless, small-scale engagements would wear down the Yuzhou aristocratic clans based on Nanyang, expanding Cao Cao’s not-so-wealthy government treasury, thus enabling him to take over Nanyang more securely.
On the other hand, it was also to give Liu Biao hope to keep going and see the opportunity to continue depleting Yuan Shu’s strength. Of course, the chance to drill soldiers using Yuan Shu’s forces was not to be missed. As for the southern part of Nanyang turning into a hell on earth, Xi Zhicai was utterly unconcerned. The fate of the opposing aristocratic clans had nothing to do with him. Even if his own side’s aristocratic clans were wiped out, as someone from a Humble Family, Xi Zhicai wouldn’t be too troubled.
"Lord, there’s no need to worry. The outcome will be clear in at most three days. However, Yuan Gonglu will have to relocate after this. Runan is indeed a good place. It’s a shame it was emptied by Chen Zichuan. Who knows what Miaocai will be able to bring back," Xi Zhicai said with a helpless expression, considering Yuan Shu’s decision-making critically flawed.
Runan is adjacent to Nanyang; the distance between Yuan Shu’s administrative center, the Yuan Family’s hometown of Pingyu, and Wancheng of Nanyang is at most a two-day forced march. Could Yuan Shu really dare to leave his rear exposed and focus on attacking Wancheng? Is he serving his head on a platter? (Those with a map can check this out, historically, Yuan Shu did just this, though it was Liu Biao who cut off his supply lines. This man often engaged in such self-destructive actions.)
"Cut off Runan’s supply lines?" Cao Cao was taken aback, and then he understood everything. He had been intimidated by Yuan Shu’s hundred-thousand-strong army. But now he realized that sending out a hundred thousand troops would leave the rear vulnerable; wasn’t this delivering his own head on a platter? Then he quickly found a pen to write this tactic inside his own clothing. This would be his trump card in the future! Simple yet incisive, straight to the vitals! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to vote for it at . Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)