Chapter 1805: Closing In

When Zhuge Liang set out on campaign, he again dispatched Zhang Liao and Chen Gong to assist.

After seeing Zhuge Liang leave Jingzhou, Zhang Liao and Chen Gong immediately hurried back to Xiang Yang and reported the matter of Jingzhou to Liu Zhang.

Liu Zhang had originally been worried that Liu Chan would seize the opportunity to take Jingzhou, but now hearing that Liu Bei and Sun Ce had both perished, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

"Excellent. Liu Yu has finally been separated, head from body," Liu Zhang said joyfully.

Liu Zhang instructed Zhang Liao, Chen Gong, and the others: "Gongtai (Zhang Liao, styled Gongtai) and Hansheng (Chen Gong, styled Hansheng) must protect Liu Yu's family well. If any of Liu Yu's family is harmed, I will hold you accountable."

"Rest assured, my lord. This minister will certainly complete the task," Zhang Liao and Chen Gong said respectfully.

Chen Gong cupped his hands and said: "My lord, on this journey we shall do everything within our power. No matter who it is, anyone who dares to obstruct us absolutely must not be let off lightly!"

Liu Zhang nodded and said: "Mm, I know full well the abilities of Gongtai and Hansheng. I need not say more—you all understand, yes?"

Chen Gong and Zhang Liao exchanged a glance, then bowed and said: "Your Majesty may rest assured! This minister will certainly pledge his life to protect Your Majesty's family."

Although Liu Bei did not care for Liu Yu, he still acknowledged Liu Yu as his brother after all, and naturally did not wish Liu Yu's family to come to harm.

After leaving Liu Zhang, Chen Gong and Zhang Liao led their respective subordinates to begin consolidating their forces, preparing to set out for Jiangdong.

……

Meanwhile, Cao Cao also received news of Liu Bei and Sun Ce's death in battle. When Cao Cao first learned of this, he felt as though the heavens had collapsed. Liu Bei and Sun Ce were his two strongest fierce generals—yet they had died under Liu Yu's command.

"How could Liu Xuande and Sun Bofu be so unlucky? To run into that jinx Liu Yu one after another," Cao Cao muttered to himself.

Cao Cao wanted to find someone to ask for the specific details, only to discover that he hardly had anyone left under him. Cao Cao could only go in person to consult his strategists Cheng Yu, Xun Yu, and others.

Cheng Yu, Xun Yu, and the others wore grief-stricken expressions and recounted everything they knew.

Upon learning that Liu Bei and Sun Ce had actually died in his own elder brother's trap, Cao Cao could not help but sigh to the heavens: "I truly have committed a sin! To have caused the death of my elder brother and nephew."

Cao Cao hated himself deeply, but also knew that at this moment he was powerless.

Cao Cao took several deep breaths, calmed the hatred in his heart, then said in a heavy voice: "Since my elder brother and nephew have already passed away, and Liu Yu is our enemy, we can no longer continue to drag this out with Liu Yu. Otherwise our losses will become enormous, and there may even be the danger of collapse."

Though Cao Cao spoke these words, he still felt quite wretched inside—after all, Liu Bei and Sun Ce had treated him very well. Now that the two had died, Cao Cao felt not only sorrow but also guilt.

After Cheng Yu and the others finished listening, solemn expressions appeared on their faces. Liu Bei and Sun Ce had both passed away; as Liu Biao's son, Cao Cao ought to inherit his father's enterprise and take command of Yanzhou. Unfortunately, the situation in Yanzhou was now extremely dire, and the people of Yanzhou were destitute. Cao Cao did not wish to sit and await doom, because he knew that if he continued according to the original political landscape, he would certainly be swallowed up by Liu Biao.

Seeing that everyone had fallen silent, Cao Cao said: "What say you, my lords?"

"Your Majesty, Liu Yu has occupied Beihai Commandery, and his strength grows daily. If Liu Yu is not removed, I fear our situation in the future will be exceedingly harsh. This general requests that Your Majesty dispatch troops soon to eradicate this scourge, Liu Yu!" Xia Hou Yuan stepped forward and said.

Xia Hou Yuan's thinking was simple—since war with Liu Yu was inevitable sooner or later, they might as well eliminate this hidden threat, Liu Yu, sooner.

No sooner had Xia Hou Yuan finished speaking than the other military officers stepped forward one after another, echoing Xia Hou Yuan's view. They too agreed that Liu Yu should be dealt with now.

Seeing so many officers supporting him, Xia Hou Yuan was brimming with confidence, and said to Cao Cao: "Your Majesty, this general earnestly requests that you issue the decree as soon as possible."

"Cao Cao nodded and said in a heavy voice: "Since all of you, my lords, agree to eradicate Liu Yu, then I shall issue the decree—we march on Beihai Commandery today!"

Although Cao Cao wished to eradicate Liu Yu, Liu Yu was after all his own nephew; for Cao Cao, this battle was also an exceedingly painful one.

……

Meanwhile, Liu Yu, having gained large numbers of soldiers and supplies in the Battle of Xiang Yang, had expanded his original force of only a few thousand men to over thirty thousand at a stroke, becoming a force in Jiangdong that could not be ignored.

Liu Yu knew that his next step would very likely be Cao Cao's target of attack, so he made thorough preparations—drilling his soldiers day and night, while simultaneously dispatching scouts to closely monitor Cao Cao's movements.

On this day, Liu Yu was handling affairs in his tent when he suddenly heard the shouts of soldiers outside.

Liu Yu immediately set aside what he was doing, walked out of the main tent, and saw his scout running over, drenched in sweat.

"What is it?" Liu Yu asked hurriedly.

"Report! General! Cao Cao is leading a large force and charging straight at us!" the scout said, panting.

"Cao Cao is coming? How many men has he brought?" Liu Yu pressed.

"It looks like he's brought a hundred thousand troops! Ferocious and overwhelming, their momentum is overwhelming!" the scout said, somewhat terrified.

"What? A hundred thousand troops?" Liu Yu could not help but draw in a sharp breath.

Although Liu Yu had already made thorough preparations, facing a great army like Cao Cao's, he still felt a trace of fear. After all, Cao Cao had brought far too many men, and Cao Cao himself was extremely formidable—just the thought of it was frightening.

"Let's run! While we haven't been surrounded yet!" the scout urged anxiously.

"What's the panic! Useless wretch!" Liu Yu snapped.

Though Liu Yu was also greatly shocked, he did not lose his reason. He immediately ordered: "Pass the word down! Have all soldiers prepare their armor—we are going out to meet the enemy!"

"Yes, sir!" the scout replied respectfully, then quickly ran back to deliver Liu Yu's order.

……

Cao Cao led his great army all the way to the border of Beihai Commandery, only to discover that the original small force of a few thousand men had swelled to over thirty thousand! This made Cao Cao involuntarily draw in a sharp breath.

"This Liu Yu actually has so many men now?" Cheng Yu said, somewhat astonished.

"It seems this Liu Yu does indeed have some ability! But we cannot afford to be careless!" Xun Yu also said.

Cao Cao nodded and said: "Mm, this Liu Yu is indeed not to be underestimated. But as long as we deploy properly, the many against the few, there is no fear we cannot take Liu Yu down!"

As they were speaking, Cao Ren suddenly came running over in great haste, shouting loudly: "Elder brother! This is bad! There's an ambush ahead!"

"What? An ambush ahead?" Cao Cao and the others all started in unison.

"Yes! There are at least ten thousand men ambushed in the woods ahead! This general has already sent men to investigate!" Cao Ren said, panting.