Chapter 885

Executions of enemy generals on the battlefield were still rare, even in the Three Kingdoms era, where such glorious moments clustered around a handful of top-tier warriors—only Lü Bu was the exception.

After all, when Lü Bu first appeared, he looked down on the world and instantly slew several enemy generals; only Liu, Guan, and Zhang combined could defeat him. After that, Lü Bu achieved nothing further. Even though alcohol and lust had already dulled his peak, no one ever challenged him to single combat—he was always surrounded and beaten by crowds.

Yu Jin's combat ability was indeed not weak—he was one of the Five Elite Generals, even stronger than Cao Cao's kin-based warrior clique. But unfortunately, he met Huang Zhong, and neither knew who had killed whom.

The Five Elite Generals were Zhang Liao, Yue Jin, Yu Jin, Zhang He, and Xu Huang—all first-rate commanders, not reckless brutes, but wise generals capable of independently leading tens of thousands in major campaigns.

But Zhang Liao followed Lü Bu and defected to Wang Yan; Zhang He was captured in battle and also defected to Wang Yan, even persuading Gao Lan to join. The team was already impossible to assemble, and now Yu Jin had been killed by Huang Zhong. Meanwhile, Dian Wei had grown ever more muscular, content as his Xuanjia Captain.

One could say Cao Cao's fortune had been ruthlessly stripped by General Wang Da…

Of course Cao Cao was furious—but not because Wang Da had stolen his fortune; he didn't even know about such things, so how could he be angry about that? He was furious because Wang Yan's combat strength was too overwhelming—he couldn't match it.

It wasn't just that Yu Jin had died—though he had indeed relied heavily on Yu Jin, losing such a trusted general naturally had an impact. But the failures weren't limited to Yu Jin: Yue Jin, Xu Huang, and several of Cao Cao's kin-warriors had all suffered attacks, each suffering varying degrees of defeat; only Yu Jin had been killed, and Huang Zhong had now gained fame, proving his old age only sharpened his resolve.

Cao Cao's defenses were comprehensive: his troops lined the Yellow River's southern banks in Qingzhou and most of Yanzhou, encircling Yuzhou. Except for Hangu Pass, where he had ordered his forces to remain inside and Lü Bu's group had not forced an assault, Cao Cao had suffered near-total defeat across the front.

Though he had dispatched his most trusted generals and elite troops, and even outnumbered the enemy, in open-field battles of soldier against soldier and general against general, he had suffered near-total defeat.

Of course, defeat and rout were two different things. Only Yu Jin and Xu Huang had been routed—their opponents being Huang Zhong and Tai Shi Ci respectively. Xu Huang was luckier—he escaped death at Tai Shi Ci's hands. Others hadn't been routed, but all had suffered defeats, retreating in disarray to reorganize their defenses. One after another, pleas for reinforcements reached Cao Cao, and only then did he grow angry.

What enraged and terrified him further was that the entire armies led by Yu Jin and Xu Huang had surrendered, joining Huang Zhong and Tai Shi Ci to attack their former comrades.

But Cao Cao's advantage over Yuan Shao was that he was decisive. Unlike Yuan Shao, who convened grand councils over every trivial matter, Cao Cao made his own decisions swiftly.

He drank a gloomy cup of wine, slammed the "Five-Colored Glass Cup" produced under Wang Yan's rule onto the table, and ordered: "Wenruo, Wang Yan has seen through my scheme. His army is powerful; my plan has failed. The urgent task now is to retreat southward quickly. Go at once and arrange for the Emperor, ministers, and others to cross the river southward—oversee the construction of ferry boats with all possible effort. I will remain in Xu Chang to hold the rear and block Wang Yan's main force from advancing."

"Yes, my lord," Xun Yu replied with a nod, but did not leave immediately. Instead, he said: "I have pondered the situation in Jiang Nan repeatedly, and have reached a conclusion. My lord, hear me."

"Wenruo, speak freely," Cao Cao nodded. Though urgent, a few more moments would not matter.

Xun Yu stroked his beard: "The Han Emperor is under our control—that means we hold the moral high ground. Liu Biao of Jingzhou and Liu Zhang of Yizhou are both Han imperial relatives; Liu Bei of Yangzhou also claims descent from Liu Jing, Prince of Zhongshan. Moreover, Wang Yan's power is immense—he is about to seize Jiangbei and half of China. He slaughters powerful clans and wealthy families, refuses surrender, shows no mercy; even if he spares their lives, he subjects them to years of forced labor, and few survive beyond three years.

We may issue a forged imperial edict to pressure them with moral authority, then ally with powerful clans terrified of Wang Yan, forcing Liu Biao and Liu Zhang to surrender Jingzhou and Yizhou. Liu Bei of Yangzhou has old ties with Wang Yan, and his own forces include support from powerful clans of Xu and Yangzhou. If Liu Bei chooses to defect to Wang Yan, most of these clans will surely die. We can send envoys to sow discord among them and cause Liu Bei's own faction to collapse. Yuan Shu has suffered repeated defeats and lost popular support; we have long been in contact with Yangzhou's powerful clans. Now that we are crossing the river to attack, holding the moral high ground, Yuan Shu's downfall is long overdue.

Thus, my lord may unify Jiang Nan without bloodshed. After several years of reorganization in Bashu, training soldiers, and stockpiling grain, we can launch a northern campaign and unify the realm."

This was indeed an extraordinarily brilliant strategy—a yang strategy, one that would work even if refused. For Liu Biao and Liu Zhang, their rule rested entirely on legitimacy: they were appointed by the Han court, imperial relatives. Now, half the realm had fallen to Wang Da the rebel—this was a genuine external threat. If Liu Biao and Liu Zhang refused, they would lose moral legitimacy.

The importance of "moral legitimacy" needs no elaboration—it is legal authority, an unbreakable rule, a mandatory principle, and the very "name" that justifies a campaign. Without it, their rule over Jing and Yi becomes illegitimate, and they lose what little popular support they had. With no legitimacy above and no popular support below, they are finished.

If they agreed and surrendered willingly, all the better—after all, that was exactly what we wanted.

But this plan's precondition was the existence of Wang Yan, a monstrous rebel whose threat was immense, who fiercely hated powerful clans—cultivating his own officials while slaughtering the clans, uprooting them, exterminating them. He must also hold the Emperor, and be the most powerful warlord in the realm.

In summary: Cao Cao must prove himself worthy, and with Wang Yan's help, Cao Cao can issue forged edicts to pressure Liu Biao and Liu Zhang, while rallying Jiang Nan and Bashu's powerful clans under the banner of defeating Wang Da the greatest rebel, to aid his unification of Jiang Nan.

In fact, Cao Cao had once pursued similar tactics, but back then he was weak, lacked Liu Xie as his lucky charm, and had never even attempted to cross the river southward.

Now Xun Yu had distilled a clear, highly actionable strategy.

Cao Cao's gloomy face broke into a thousand wrinkles as he laughed heartily: "Wenruo, your genius! This plan suits me perfectly…"

As he spoke, Cao Cao, still wearing his foot wraps, rose from his seat, laughing, and poured wine for Xun Yu himself. He then detailed the specifics before saying: "We follow Wenruo's plan—this entire matter is entrusted entirely to you. But Wang Yan is pressing too hard; the immediate priority is a safe crossing of the river. You must still labor hard."

"My lord, I shall go at once to arrange the Emperor and court's crossing of the river."

Xun Yu did not delay. He drank, rose, and left. He was only thirty-eight, though already a grandfather—still in his prime. "Mature and prudent" described his steadiness, not his age or weakness.

Cao Cao then summoned a group of strategists to study how to defend with existing forces and execute a steady retreat southward. One mind is short, two minds are long—Cao Cao had always been good at accepting advice.

He possessed great breadth of vision and true leadership—qualities every competent commander must have. Without tolerance, one cannot achieve great things. His sons had learned little of this, nor had they inherited Cao Cao's longevity. Cao Cao had spent half his life on horseback, campaigning east, west, south, and north—and still lived to sixty-six.

This defeat had drawn blood and taught Cao Cao a lesson—he now understood he had angered Wang Yan and could not match him. His best course was to contract his battlefront, concentrate superior forces, and facilitate troop movements. Wang Yan's strength exceeded his imagination; Yuan Shao's defeat was no accident. He would command the battle personally.

Undoubtedly, Cao Cao was a tactical master. Though Wang Yan's army was powerful and had never suffered defeat, that did not mean it could not be defeated. In open-field battles, seven thousand of Wang Yan's troops could hold off ten or twenty thousand of other warlords' soldiers.

But warfare was never fought that way. When Cao Cao commanded from above, battles expanded from local to global—every front was interconnected. He might sacrifice some men to lure Wang Yan's forces into movement, then concentrate superior strength to overwhelm them locally, step by step, shaping the entire campaign's outcome.

Without Cao Cao, the units could not coordinate fully. With Cao Cao, the entire war became one chessboard. This was the true charm of warfare—the reason one became a commander, a military strategist.

"General, Cao's forces are retreating, establishing a circular defense, mutually supporting each other. The armies at Hangu Pass and Luoyang have also withdrawn south of the Qinling Mountains. Casualties and spoils from the previous battle have been tallied: our forces lost 586 men, wounded 1,839. We captured over 15,000 enemy soldiers, over 4,000 horses, and uncounted weapons, armor, grain, and supplies. The general Huang Zhong slew was Yu Jin—this man…"

After briefly outlining Yu Jin's past to demonstrate the value of Huang Zhong's kill, Jia Xu asked: "Given Cao's current movements, how does the General intend to proceed?"

Jia Xu came again to report frontline intelligence and plan the next moves.

In fact, the advance routes of Huang Zhong and others had all been arranged by Jia Xu. General Wang Da had merely said: "Let Cao Cao feel our military might," without specifying battle plans. Since no plan was given, it became Jia Xu's responsibility. The earlier strategy had been jointly devised by Jia Xu and the Supervisory Office, then transmitted to the frontline—true strategic planning.

Frontline generals must know the precise strategic objective before launching military operations. Without clear goals or plans, random fighting serves no purpose.

Strategy belongs to the commander; tactics and methods belong to the generals.

After hearing Jia Xu's report, Wang Yan smiled and nodded: "Previously, our campaign aimed to make Cao Cao feel our military might. Now, after crushing him, he has contracted his defenses, abandoned Hangu Pass, evacuated Luoyang, and retreated behind the Qinling Mountains—clearly, he fears our army. Since Cao Cao now knows our strength, he will urgently seek to cross the river southward. He is surely desperate to fight another battle and regain face—we must not grant him that wish, nor risk our soldiers."

Since Luoyang is now empty, Wenhé, lead the artisans and scholars of the Wenchang Pavilion to Luoyang immediately. Calm the people, repair buildings, build bridges and roads, initiate medical services, and select sites for the Wenchang Pavilion. When the realm is unified and I ascend the throne, Luoyang shall be the imperial capital. Go now and prepare Luoyang; after this autumn's harvest, I will move the capital."

"As for Cao Cao, you shall command the Henan forces to pressure him. Drive him off before spring plowing—no haste. If Cao Cao attacks first, do not yield—how you engage him is your decision. Your focus must be on reorganizing Sili. If you need manpower, draw freely from Jizhou's population to restore Sili's vitality as soon as possible."

Jia Xu's face filled with humble awe: "Such a weighty responsibility—I shall not fail the General's trust."

"Go."

Seeing Wang Yan wave him off, Jia Xu rose respectfully, bowed two steps backward, then turned and left.

This assignment was clearly a greater trust in Jia Xu. Though he already held partial chancellor-level authority, it was still far from true chancellor power.

But being dispatched to Luoyang was different: his mandate was to administer Sili, and he could command troops to pressure Cao Cao into fleeing. The reorganized army there now numbered nearly 80,000—Huang Zhong, Zhao Yun, Lü Bu, Tai Shi Ci—all the capable generals were under his command, all obeying his orders. He also commanded 50,000 militia maintaining order and assisting local officials.

Moreover, he could continue conscripting manpower from Jizhou—"manpower" meaning able-bodied men. All had undergone years of militia training. Though assigned to construction, each man, once armored and armed, became a formidable soldier.

Compared to Guo Jia's previous posting, which governed the western grasslands, Liangzhou, and Bingzhou, Jia Xu's current authority was actually greater. The difference was administrative: like comparing the Party Secretary of Chaoyang District in Wang Da's hometown to the Party Secretary of Shanghai—though not quite as vast as heaven and earth, the gap was real.

Hence Jia Xu's visible fear—but Wang Yan knew it was only surface-deep. Jia Xu's ability was truly sufficient; after his initial adjustment, he handled everything orderly and intelligently, shifting his mindset—appearing to have truly changed, prioritizing people's livelihood and acting in the majority's interest. So far, he had made no mistakes.

He was also extremely cautious, never over-interacting with other officials—diligent, tireless, a model official of the age.

Such a useful beast of burden must be heavily relied upon—convenient and reassuring.

Upon receiving Wang Yan's orders, the fifty-four-year-old Jia Xu proved even more "old but growing stronger" than Huang Zhong. Though he prioritized survival, who wouldn't want to be trusted, elevated, and powerful? Now he had a good boss who valued him—he worked with great enthusiasm.

That day, he first met with the Supervisory Office to finalize troop movements and transmit them to the frontline. Then he convened the Ministry of Governance to discuss resource and manpower allocation. Next, he visited the Medical Bureau, found Hua Tuo, and discussed Luoyang's medical facility plans. Finally, he went to the Wenchang Pavilion, consulted the senior scholars led by the sixty-eight-year-old Cai Yong, discussed the construction of Luoyang's Wenchang Pavilion, and requested the transfer of several scholars to assist with construction.

Today, Medicine was no longer merely medicine—it had evolved into a complete chain from primitive herbalism to healing, encompassing cultivation, research, teaching, experimentation, and more, with extensive experience accumulated.

Likewise, the Wenchang Pavilion was no longer merely a library or a venue for scholars to argue. That was only one function. More importantly, under the Wenchang Pavilion, specialized academies had been established to deeply study various disciplines, including countless research experiments. Today, the Wenchang Pavilion at Tuhe was no longer the original three buildings—it was merely one section.

And General Wang Da had clearly declared: Luoyang shall be the imperial capital. Especially under General Wang Da's rule—the strongest in history—this era, already a golden age compared to the past, was far from its peak for the thirty-five-year-old General Wang Da. China would continuously surpass itself and reach new heights.

Whether it was medicine or the Wenchang Pavilion, naturally both had to match the grandeur of the Imperial Capital of the great empire. One had to consider present use, future expansion, and also possess the magnificent, stately bearing of a great power, along with corresponding cultural depth — this was no simple matter.

At the same time, they were also very excited. Because construction of the Imperial Capital had already begun, and Henan was about to be administered, so the unification of the realm no longer seemed far off…

Jia Xu's busyness did not stop. After several days of meetings, he led his people in grand procession southward, entering Luoyang.

Cao Cao was quite sullen, because he had prepared for Wang Yan's army's stronger assault, but as luck would have it, Wang Yan's army spread out along his entire defensive line, and disgustingly advanced a few li every day. Small-scale skirmishes happened daily, and large-scale battles the enemy never refused — just constantly compressing their battle perimeter, wearing down their troop strength.

What was even more disgusting was that Wang Yan's army shouted slogans at them every day, using all manner of words to bewitch the troops, and the number of soldiers deserting grew day by day.

Yet Old Cao's forces here were insufficient. As Wang Yan's army deployed along his battle perimeter, he had no room to maneuver and display his command ability, no way to let Wang Yan feel Old Cao's military prowess. Because in terms of hard strength, his army's quality was truly lacking — ten or twenty thousand of his men simply could not beat a single fully staffed Guard of theirs. Not to mention there were still militia behind that hadn't been deployed; with over a hundred thousand troops, he simply could not hold.

Old Cao felt utterly like he'd been screwed over, yet had no effective way to stop Wang Yan's great army's advance. He could only curse and swear while retreating, hurrying to transfer more manpower and supplies southward.

Thus, under constant pressure, after losing over twenty thousand rearguard troops and horses, Old Cao finally preserved the bulk of his forces, successfully crossed to Jiang Nan, and with a measure of humiliation, began his new campaign…