xymnovel Chapter 77: If Father wants to defeat Yuan Shao, why should he seek advice from this villain!
Chapter 77: If Father wants to defeat Yuan Shao, why should he seek advice from this villain!
Chapter 77: If Father wants to defeat Yuan Shao, why should he seek advice from this villain!
After three months of stalemate, the situation gradually began to turn against Cao Cao. Inside Guandu City, the morale of Cao Cao's army gradually declined, and a heavy atmosphere permeated each camp. Only Gu Cheng remained leisurely, spending his days drinking tea and wine, quite carefree. Footsteps sounded, and Cao Ang, with a solemn expression, entered the tent.
"Young Master is here! This is the newly brewed Dukang wine. I just warmed it up." Gu Cheng invited him to sit down and personally poured him a cup of fine wine. Cao Ang, however, had no heart for drinking and sighed, "Brother Gu, rebellions are breaking out in various prefectures and counties. My soldiers are filled with anxiety. How can I have the mind to drink any wine?"
"To remain unmoved even when Mount Tai collapses before you—that is the composure of a true ruler. In this respect, the eldest son should learn much from Lord Cao."
Gu Cheng smiled faintly, then drank a cup of wine by himself.
"Brother Gu, I consulted you three months ago if you had a brilliant plan to defeat Yuan's army in one fell swoop. You told me to be patient and wait for the right opportunity."
"I've been waiting for three months now, isn't the time right yet?" Cao Ang couldn't help but ask.
"Has it been three months already?" Gu Cheng's eyes widened in surprise.
Cao Ang smiled wryly, "Brother Gu, you're living a carefree life. Three months have passed in the blink of an eye, but for me, each day feels like a year!" Gu Cheng said "Oh," and then started calculating with his fingers, muttering, "After such a long time, it should all have been transported." "What are you calculating, Brother Gu? Everything has been transported?" Cao Ang was increasingly confused and couldn't help but ask. Gu Cheng said calmly, "I'm calculating. In three months, Yuan Shao should have transported all the grain stored in his four provinces of Hebei to the front line at Guandu."
""
Grain from four prefectures? Transported to Guandu?
Cao Ang looked bewildered and asked, "Brother Gu, what exactly do you mean? Please explain."
"Young Master, think about it. In this situation, what fatal weakness could Yuan Shao have that could cause his army to collapse?"
Gu Cheng sipped his wine and asked in a slow and unhurried manner.
"Collapse?"
Cao Ang's thoughts raced, recalling Gu Cheng's earlier words, and suddenly a glint of light flashed in his eyes. "Brother Gu, are you perhaps referring to robbing Yuan Shao's grain supplies?" Cao Ang blurted out.
Gu Cheng secretly praised him, thinking to himself that he was indeed Cao Cao's son, understanding things so quickly. "That's right, it's about robbing grain."
Gu Cheng nodded slightly and pointed in the direction of Yuan Ying.
"Judging from Yuan Shao's current situation, he is clearly going to fight a protracted war with Cao Cao, relying on the resources of the four provinces of Hebei to wear Cao Cao down first."
"And the most important factor for waging a protracted war is food supplies."
"I predict that in these three months, Yuan Shao will have transported all the grain from the four provinces to the front line of Guandu, so as to supply his 90,000 troops nearby."
"If Cao Cao can launch a surprise attack and burn down Yuan Shao's grain camp, Yuan Shao's army, though numerous, will surely be thrown into chaos and collapse without a fight!"
Gu Cheng finally revealed his winning strategy.
Cao Ang's eyes gleamed with excitement, and ecstasy lit up his face. Suddenly, he jumped up in exhilaration. Then, as if remembering something, he sat back down.
"Burning Yuan Shao's grain supplies was indeed a decisive strategy."
"But Yuan Shao seems to be on guard as well, and has set up several decoy camps north of Guandu. Our spies have not yet been able to find out which one is Yuan Shao's real grain camp."
"If we don't even know where Yuan Shao's grain camp is, how can we talk about raiding and burning it?" Cao Ang shook his head and sighed, expressing his concerns.
Gu Cheng smiled: "Young Master, did you bring a map?"
Cao Ang came to see Gu Cheng seeking advice, and naturally carried a map with him, which he quickly spread out in front of Gu Cheng. "Yuan Shao's grain camp must be here."
Gu Cheng's fingertip slowly touched an inconspicuous spot on the map. "Wuchao!"
Cao Ang blurted out the place name. "That's right, it's in Wuchao!"
Gu Cheng, with a confident expression, said, "If Lord Cao only selects five thousand elite troops, all dressed in Yuan Shao's armor, and bypasses Yuan Shao's army to bypass Wuchao, he will surely be able to break through the enemy camp unexpectedly and burn Yuan Shao's grain supplies to the ground!"
Cao Ang stood up again, his expression one of shock and excitement, staring intently at the location of the crow's nest.
Suddenly, he couldn't help but ask, "Brother Gu, how did you determine that Yuan Shao's real grain camp would be located at Wuchao?" "Heavenly secrets cannot be revealed!"
Gu Cheng smiled knowingly: "Young Master, you don't need to ask me how I calculated it. Just ask yourself whether you believe me or not!" Cao Ang's body trembled, and he stood there speechless for a long time.
After a while.
Cao Ang's doubt vanished, and he cupped his hands, saying, "Brother Gu's strategy is flawless; how could I, Cao Ang, not believe it? Thank you, Brother Gu, for bestowing upon me this decisive strategy. Please accept my bow!"
Cao Ang bowed deeply to Gu Cheng with a look of gratitude and respect. Then, filled with excitement, he took his leave.
"Gu Lang, I'm also curious, how did you deduce that Yuan Shao's grain supplies would be stored at Wuchao?" Lu Lingqi, who had been listening quietly beside him, finally couldn't help but ask.
"Didn't I tell you, secrets of heaven cannot be revealed..." Gu Cheng smiled mysteriously, tilting his head back to gulp down the wine in his glass.
He put down his wine glass and said happily, "Lingqi, tell Zhongkang and the others to pack and prepare. We should be setting off for Jizhou in the next few days."
"To Jizhou?"
Lu Lingqi looked at him suspiciously and asked, "Why would we go to Jizhou out of the blue?"
"The decisive battle between Yuan Shao and Cao Cao is about to be decided. When Yuan Shao is defeated, Cao Cao's army will surely seize the opportunity to march into Ji Province." "My Gu family's business will naturally also take advantage of this opportunity to expand north of the Yellow River and snatch this big piece of fat meat, Ji Province, from the mouth of the Zhen family!"
Gu Cheng made his intentions clear.
Lu Lingqi suddenly realized what was happening, and a strange light flashed in her eyes.
"Yuan Shao's 90,000-strong army seemed like something that Cao Cao could crush in the blink of an eye. Was he really that confident in his plan to seize the grain...?"
Looking at the handsome young man before her, Lü Lingqi couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.
Guandu City, Central Army Tent.
Cao Cao flipped through the urgent reports of rebellions from various regions, his brow furrowed, a shadow falling over his face. "At this rate, we won't be able to hold out much longer. We must defeat Yuan Shao quickly..." Cao Cao tossed the urgent report onto the table, muttering a sigh. Just then...
Dian Wei entered the tent, cupped his hands, and said, "My lord, there is a scholar outside the city who claims to be your old friend Xu You and wishes to pay his respects." Xu You!
Upon hearing this name, Cao Cao's eyes immediately flashed with a sharp light.
Guo Jia exclaimed with delight, "Minister, Xu You must have come to join you! He is Yuan Shao's trusted advisor and must be carrying Yuan's military secrets!"
"That must be it! We have hope of defeating Yuan Shao!" Cao Cao nodded emphatically and said happily, "Quickly, summon Xu Ziyuan here."
Dian Wei frowned and said, "Minister Sikong, Xu You has also said that he will only enter the city if you personally go to greet him."
Upon hearing this, Cao Cao's brow furrowed. The generals in the tent immediately showed anger on their faces.
Cao Ren angrily said, "Minister of Works, Xu You has quite the airs, daring to have the Minister of Works personally come out of the city to greet him. He is utterly arrogant and rude!" The generals all echoed his sentiments, advocating that Xu You beheaded on the spot.
Cao Cao suppressed his displeasure and sighed, "For the sake of the greater good, I will personally go to greet him." Immediately, Cao Cao rose and left the tent, heading straight for the city gate. Outside the city gate...
Xu You stood with his hands behind his back, eyes slightly closed, exuding arrogance. The city gate opened. Cao Cao strode out, smiling broadly as he cupped his hands in a salute, saying, "My old friend Ziyuan, you've finally come to your senses and are willing to help me, Cao Cao, achieve my great cause. I've been waiting for you for many years!"
Xu You, however, kept his hands behind his back, not only refusing to bow or pay his respects, but also failing to return the gesture of greeting.
He raised his head and glanced at Cao Cao, saying only lightly, "Aman, it's been many years. How have you been?" He actually addressed Cao Cao as "Aman," a very disrespectful attitude. The generals around him, including Dian Wei, all widened their eyes, a murderous glint flashing across their faces. Cao Cao's brows also furrowed slightly.
But he suppressed his displeasure and smiled, "It has been many years. Let's hurry into the city and catch up." Cao Cao then pulled Xu You up, and the two entered Guandu side by side. The Cao army soldiers inside the city all looked on with curiosity, wondering who this scholar was that their lord treated him with such respect.
The attention from the crowd pleased Xu You greatly. Upon entering the central command tent, Xu You was seated as an honored guest. Cao Cao immediately ordered wine and tea to be served, treating him with the utmost courtesy.
"Ziyuan, you've come to see me this time, surely with a brilliant plan to help me break Yuan Shao's schemes?" Cao Cao even personally poured him a cup of wine and handed it to him. Xu You, however, smiled smugly and said, "In this world, I, Xu You, am probably the only one who can have you, Cao Aman, personally pour wine for me." Cao Cao was increasingly displeased, but for the sake of the overall situation, he could only force a smile.
After slowly sipping a few mouthfuls of wine, Xu Youfang said, "Aman, that young man behind you named Gu Cheng is indeed incredibly intelligent, almost like a demon. He has thwarted my brilliant plans several times."
Changing the subject, Xu You said sarcastically, "However, even if he were a strategist reborn, he would still be helpless in the predicament you are facing right now, Cao Cao."
He kept calling him "Aman" over and over, which enraged the generals, who wished they could chop him into mincemeat right then and there. But Cao Cao held back, and the generals could only swallow their anger.
Cao Cao forced a smile and asked, "Could it be that you, Ziyuan, have some brilliant plan to help me out of this predicament?" "Of course I have one!" Xu You said with arrogance in his eyes. "If I didn't have a winning strategy, wouldn't I be making a fool of myself by coming to see you, Cao Aman?" Hearing that Xu You had a plan, Cao Cao didn't bother to argue and gladly cupped his hands in greeting: "What brilliant plan do you have, Ziyuan? I'd like to hear the details!" "There's no rush for a plan." Xu You waved his hand and narrowed his eyes.
"Lord Yuan treated me very well. If he hadn't been deceived by Shen Pei and wanted to punish me, I wouldn't have easily betrayed him." "Now, I have single-handedly helped you, Aman, defeat Yuan Shao's 90,000-strong army. Such a great feat, I wonder how you, Aman, plan to treat me?"
He was demanding a high-ranking official position and generous salary from Cao Cao. Cao Cao clenched his fists, his anger burning fiercely. From forcing him to come out of the city to personally welcome him, to his disrespectful remarks about Cao Cao, and now his open demand for an official position, Xu You's arrogance had pushed him to the brink of unbearable frustration.
He was on the verge of having an attack.
But in the end, considering the bigger picture, he swallowed his anger.
After taking a deep breath, Cao Cao said, "If Ziyou has a plan to help me defeat Yuan Shao, I will appoint you as a..." Just then, an indignant voice rang out, the tent flap was lifted, and Cao Ang, his face filled with indignation, strode in. Everyone was startled.
Xu You was also taken aback and couldn't help but turn around. As soon as he turned around, Cao Ang kicked him in the face. "Bang!" Xu You was kicked in the face, let out a scream, and fell to the ground on the spot.
This scene stunned everyone. Even Cao Cao jumped to his feet, speechless with disbelief. "Who are you to dare insult me like this?"
Xu You scrambled to his feet, covering his face and shouting angrily at Cao Ang. Cao Ang coldly replied, "I am Cao Ang, and the current Minister of Works is my father." "Cao Ang, you are Cao Cao's eldest son?" Xu You was startled again and shouted, "I am your father's old friend, and I even have a brilliant plan to help your father defeat Yuan Shao. What gives you the audacity to be so disrespectful to me!"
Cao Cao suddenly came to his senses and frowned. He secretly felt relieved that his son had kicked Xu You.
But if Xu You becomes angry and refuses to offer any more advice, wouldn't that ruin the whole situation?
"Zixiu—" "Father!" Cao Ang interrupted Cao Cao, cupping his hands in a salute: "Father, if you want to defeat Xu You, why ask this villain for advice? I have my own brilliant plan to defeat Yuan Shao's 90,000-strong army!"
These words caused another wave of astonishment in the main tent.
Xu You's face flashed with sarcasm as he thought to himself, "This kid is incredibly arrogant. What kind of plan could he possibly have to dare claim he can defeat Yuan Shao's army? He's truly overestimating himself!"
"Could it be that Zixiu has obtained another brilliant plan from Liheng?"
Cao Cao's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he asked urgently, "What brilliant plan do you have, Zixiu? Speak quickly!" Cao Ang took a deep breath and said loudly, "My plan is to launch a surprise attack on Wuchao, burn all of Yuan Shao's grain supplies, and even if he has a million troops, he will surely fall into chaos without a fight!"
Xu You's body trembled violently, and all the disdain on his face instantly turned into horror and shock.
"Yuan Shao's grain supplies are stored at Wuchao, a highly confidential matter. Even within Yuan's camp, few people know this. How did he find out?" Xu You's eyes were filled with disbelief, as if he had seen a ghost.
"How...how did you know that Wuchao was Yuan Shao's grain depot?" Xu You asked in a trembling voice. The crowd's astonished gazes also turned to Cao Ang, all filled with curiosity. Cao Ang sneered, "Of course I couldn't know. It was Gu Liheng who calculated it!" "Gu Liheng, Gu Cheng?" Xu You exclaimed in shock, his eyes filled with boundless horror.
He was terrified and muttered, "How is this possible? Even if Gu Cheng is a genius, how could he possibly have figured out that Wuchao was a granary? How could there be such an incredible person in this world..."
Seeing Xu You's expression, Cao Cao realized that Gu Cheng's prediction was correct. He sneered, "Xu Ziyuan, it seems your dream of demanding an official position from me has been shattered by this strategist." Xu You shivered, trembling as he looked up at Cao Cao, deep fear welling in his eyes. He couldn't help but feel regret; he shouldn't have been so arrogant towards Cao Cao.
"Mengde, actually I, I..." He was covered in sweat, stammering as he tried to explain, but didn't know how to begin. "Swish!" Cao Ang drew his longsword and shouted sharply, "Dare to disrespect my father? Kill!" The sword slashed down furiously. Xu You didn't even have time to plead before his head rolled to the ground.