My father Liu Xuande

Chapter 470 Mengde Enters the Game
Inside the central command tent of Cao Cao's army in Chang'an, heavy curtains blocked out the noise of the outside world. Only the candlelight inside flickered uneasily, its dim yellow light swaying on the tent walls like ghostly dances, adding to the tense and solemn atmosphere.

Cao Cao stood ramrod straight, clutching tightly the urgent documents sent from Luoyang by Xiahou Dun, Xun Yu, and others. His brows were furrowed, his gaze burning as he stared intently at the papers in his hand.

The document at the top was written by Fu Xun, the envoy from Jingzhou. Upon closer inspection, it detailed a series of events that had occurred in Jingzhou since last year: the chain reaction triggered by the harboring of Liu Xun, the rebellion in southern Jingzhou, the difficult suppression of the rebellion in northern Jingzhou, the fierce surprise attack by the Yang army, and the thrilling battles in Zhouling, Hanchuan, and other places. Every single detail, every word, revealed the unpredictable and turbulent situation in Jingzhou, as if an unpredictable storm could sweep in again at any moment.

The reasons behind Fu Xun's detailed account are complex. He himself comes from a prestigious family with generations of officials and a distinguished lineage. Although he now resides in Xiangyang, he always cherishes his family's honor and his loyalty to the Han Dynasty.

Deep down, he actually held Liu Biao in contempt.

This was not because he underestimated Liu Biao's abilities, nor because he thought Fu Xun was two-faced and ungrateful. On the contrary, it was precisely because Fu Xun was dissatisfied with Liu Biao's control of Jingzhou and his dominance over the region, yet he was content with the status quo and did not think of serving the Han court.

Since the Eastern Han Dynasty, the dual monarchy system had become an unspoken rule in officialdom, and even the emperor of the Han Dynasty had to acquiesce to this reality. Fu Xun was a subject of both Liu Biao and the emperor, and Liu Biao was also a subject of the emperor. This delicate and complex relationship created the peculiar phenomenon that Fu Xun, as a subject, looked down on his lord.

In Jingzhou, the majority of people shared Fu Xun's views. Ultimately, this was because Liu Biao, despite possessing Jingzhou, failed to make any progress and squandered valuable resources and opportunities, leaving many scholars with aspirations for the world utterly disappointed.

Liu Biao was not without ambition for expansion, but his strategic vision was extremely poor, and his methods of expansion were even worse than his strategic vision. In the end, he failed to expand and instead plunged Jingzhou into a predicament of being surrounded by enemies.

Jingzhou is located in the center of the country, bordering five other states and kingdoms. However, Liu Biao not only failed to make any allies, but also made enemies with his neighbors, which seriously hindered and delayed his own development.

Initially, Liu Biao occupied the three counties north of the Yangtze River in Jingzhou. At that time, Yuan Shu had fled to Yangzhou, and his only enemies to the north were the Xiliang warriors in Guanzhong and the Yellow Turban rebels in Yingchuan. Both of these were mediocre people who were content with their territories and had no ambition for expansion. The situation at that time was actually quite favorable.

Whether Liu Biao attacked Wuguan Pass and entered Guanzhong to serve the emperor, or followed Yuan Shu and took the opportunity to seize the counties of Yuzhou, both were quite good strategic policies.

But Liu Biao chose an unconventional path. At this critical moment, he abandoned the war between Yuan Shao and Cao Cao in the north and instead turned to interfere in the situation in Yi Province. Taking advantage of Liu Zhang's ascension to the throne, he instigated Gan Ning and others to rebel, needlessly making enemies. However, he was unwilling to invest any resources and watched helplessly as Liu Zhang calmly quelled the rebellion, thus forging an irreconcilable blood feud with Liu Biao.

Immediately afterwards, Liu Biao turned his attention to Jingnan, engaging in a series of fierce battles with Zhang Jin, the governor of Jiaozhi, which made the situation in the south tense as well.

Later, Yuan Shu was driven by Cao Cao to Yangzhou, while Sun Jian's main forces were mostly in Jiangdong, and the eastern part of Jingzhou instantly became the territory of their arch-enemy.

By this time, the encirclement network personally laid out by Liu Biao had finally taken shape, with enemies from all sides closing in and constantly eyeing him covetously.

If these enemies hadn't never considered joining forces, Liu Biao would have been killed by his own actions long ago.

How could such a ruler of a state be appreciated and loyal to by wise men with lofty ambitions and great talents?
Not to mention that Liu Biao's tribute to the court was essentially a tribute with ulterior motives. Moreover, the most frequent tributes were made when the military men of Liangzhou were in power and Li Jue and Guo Si were bullying the emperor. Such behavior inevitably made people feel that he had ulterior motives.

If it weren't for the fact that he had offered a considerable amount of grain and wealth when the emperor was down on his luck in Luoyang, even the young emperor probably wouldn't have been able to tolerate him.

All these factors led the locals of Jingzhou and the scholars from the north to look down on Liu Biao, and there were ample reasons for this. Liu Biao himself was indeed to blame.

After reading Fu Xun's memorial and the secret letters from Xiahou Dun, Xun Yu, and others, Cao Cao slowly closed his eyes and fell into deep thought.

His fingers tapped lightly on the table, making a rhythmic sound, as if he were weighing the pros and cons of each decision.

Xiahou Dun and Xun Yu were of the same mind and both advocated for preserving Liu Biao's life.

If Fu Xun's words are true and without any omissions or errors, then Liu Biao now only has Nanyang Commandery left, as well as parts of Nan Commandery and a small part of Jiangxia Commandery. His military strength has plummeted to only two or three tenths of what it used to be. He has been severely weakened by Liu Feng, and his backbone has almost been broken.

But for Cao Cao and the imperial court, this was a golden opportunity.

If the imperial court could take this opportunity to take in Liu Biao, even if it was just to preserve Liu Biao who only had Nanyang Commandery left, it would be a huge boost to the strength of both Cao Cao and the imperial court.

After all, the people of Jingzhou all have their hearts set on the imperial court. Even if Liu Biao cannot be replaced for the time being, there will be no shortage of opportunities to recruit him into the court in the future.

If Liu Biao leaves Xiangyang, wouldn't the entire Nanyang Commandery fall into the hands of Cao Cao and the imperial court?

From a strategic perspective, the imperial court held a significant geographical advantage over Nanyang. After Cao Cao conquered Guanzhong, the court had already encircled Xiangyang from both Guanzhong and Yingchuan. Once Xiangyang surrendered, the area would form a triangular region with crisscrossing waterways and convenient transportation, which would undoubtedly be a huge boost to Cao Cao's territory.

In this way, the four territories of Guanzhong, Nanyang, Yingchuan, and Luozhong would be connected, forming a unified defensive line that would protect each other. This was precisely the strategic situation Cao Cao had long dreamed of. Considering the long, narrow, and shallow territory of Yanzhou in the past, which had caused Cao Cao so much suffering in war, achieving this new arrangement would be ideal.

After reading the letter, Cao Cao felt a surge of excitement, a barely perceptible glint of joy in his eyes. He knew that Xiahou Dun and Xun Yu had left out one benefit, yet subtly hinted at it between the lines: curbing Liu Feng's continued expansion.

Liu Bei and his son already control two and a half provinces, and now they have taken over two counties in Jingbei. Their strength has expanded too rapidly, making them seem like a rapidly rising behemoth, which makes people wary.

If Liu Bei were to hand over Nanyang Commandery, the Liu family would likely become the most powerful regional power in the land, making it even more difficult for Cao Cao to control them.

Don't forget that Cao Cao made a deal with Liu Feng last year, handing over Jiaozhou to him.

Xiahou Dun and Xun Yu had privately opposed this deal, but Cao Cao insisted on going ahead with it. The reason was simple: it wasn't that he truly favored Liu Feng, but rather that he understood that even if he didn't give it to him, given Liu Feng's ambition and strength, couldn't he simply take it himself?
Even though the imperial court did not grant Yuan Shao the official titles of Governor of Bingzhou, Governor of Qingzhou, and Governor of Youzhou, Yuan Shao still managed to conquer these three provinces through his own strength.
At the time, Cao Cao thought that rather than making enemies of Liu Bei and his son by feuding over Jiaozhi, it would be better to gain some benefits. Moreover, Liu Biao was in Jingzhou in the south, keeping Liu Feng in check. If Liu Feng really went to take Jiaozhi, Liu Biao would certainly not stand idly by.

Who could have predicted that Liu Biao, who once commanded hundreds of thousands of troops, dominated Jingzhou and Xiangyang, and defeated Yuan Shao and Sun Quan in succession, would be so easily defeated, suffering repeated defeats at the hands of Liu Feng and completely losing his former prestige?

"Go and invite Mr. Zhicai to my study to discuss matters."

Cao Cao suddenly opened his eyes, a resolute glint in them. He opened the door and instructed Dian Wei, who was guarding outside, "Wait, and also summon Zixiao, Wenze, Zilian, and Wenqian."

His voice was low and powerful, with undeniable authority.

"Yes, General."

Dian Wei bowed and accepted the order, his figure quickly disappearing into the night. He knew the importance of this matter, and hurried away without the slightest delay, immediately sending people to invite Xi Zhicai, Cao Ren, Cao Hong, Yue Jin, and Yan Xiang.

Before long, the group arrived as ordered and filed into the study. Their faces bore different expressions; some were solemn, others were full of curiosity, but all were eagerly anticipating the matters to be discussed.

Cao Cao immediately handed out the letters from Xiahou Dun and Xun Yu to everyone for them to read.

Everyone received the letter and lowered their heads to read it carefully. For a moment, the study was so quiet that only the sound of turning pages could be heard, and the atmosphere grew increasingly tense. The letter was quickly passed around, and Cao Hong was the first to speak.

He was Cao Cao's brother, a veteran general, and had saved Cao Cao's life. There were many things that others couldn't say to Cao Cao, but he had no reservations.

"Congratulations, General! Congratulations, General!"

Cao Hong's voice was loud and clear, echoing in the study like a great bell. The straightforward man immediately congratulated Cao Cao: "General, this is a golden opportunity. If Heaven gives you this opportunity, not taking it will only bring you harm!"

Cao Hong's face was full of excitement, and his hands involuntarily clenched into fists, as if he could already see Cao Cao taking Xiangfan.

"Oh?"

Cao Cao became interested, narrowed his eyes slightly, stared intently at Cao Hong, and asked curiously, "Zilian, the Yangzhou army is advancing like a whirlwind, and the Jingzhou army is almost unstoppable. If we were to accept Liu Biao at this time and invite the Yangzhou army to attack us, what should we do?"

Cao Hong's expression turned serious, and he clasped his hands in a fist salute, saying, "General, the Yangzhou army is indeed valiant, but how could we, the brave warriors of Yan and Yu, be afraid? We have followed you in your campaigns, enduring countless life-or-death trials, and have been invincible. The Yellow Turbans of Qingzhou, with their million-strong force, what have they done? Under your brilliant command, they were utterly routed. Yuan Shu and Kuang Ting came with great force, attempting to challenge you, but they were utterly defeated and fled in disarray. Lü Bu, once cunning and treacherous, plotted to seize the foundation of our enterprise, but in the end, he was driven out of Yanzhou by us, like a stray dog. The warriors of Liangzhou were arrogant and conceited, treating the emperor like a child, but where are they now? They have been driven out of Guanzhong by us!"

Cao Hong became more and more excited as he spoke, and his voice grew louder and louder, as he wanted to show Cao Cao his confidence.

"General Zilian is absolutely right!"

Le Jin also clasped his hands in a fist salute and stood up to speak on Cao Hong's behalf: "I am not underestimating Yang Jun, but we are absolutely not afraid of him. Whether we live or die, we shall see the truth on the battlefield. How can we retreat just because the enemy is strong? We soldiers have long since disregarded life and death and are willing to go through fire and water for the Great General!"

Le Jin was a warmonger by nature. Despite his short stature, he was a true battle maniac. Among Cao Cao's capable generals, he was the one who led the charge the most times, and by a significant margin. The combined number of times all the other generals led the charge did not equal his alone.

In every battle, Yue Jin always took the lead. Even renowned generals like Cao Hong and Yu Jin, who were known for their bravery, acknowledged Yue Jin's prowess.

After Yue Jin finished speaking, Cao Ren also stood up with a smile and said, "Zi Lian and Wen Qian are absolutely right. Moreover, to be honest, the soldiers under the General of Chariots and Cavalry are probably far inferior to those under the General of the Left. Besides, even under the General of the Left, the only ones who have truly impressed our lord are those thirty to fifty thousand men."

Cao Ren frowned, carefully recalling what he had seen before, and cautiously revealed his thoughts. Since Liu Feng successfully seized Yangzhou last year, Cao Cao's attention to Liu Bei and his son had increased day by day, as if they had become his greatest threat.

To ascertain the true strength of Liu Bei's army, Cao Cao dispatched numerous spies to infiltrate the three provinces of Xu, Yu, and Yang to gather intelligence. Among these, the intelligence that most attracted the attention of Cao Cao and his generals was the true combat strength of Liu Bei's army.

This intelligence report clearly states that Liu Bei's cavalry force comprised two main parts: the Xuzhou army and the Yuzhou army. The former originated from the Danyang army left behind by Tao Qian and newly recruited troops from Xuzhou, while the latter's main force consisted of surrendered Yellow Turban soldiers from Yuzhou. Coupled with numerous supporting pieces of evidence, the bureaucrats and generals of Cao Cao's intelligence system unanimously concluded that Liu Bei's army was inferior to Cao Cao's army in both individual combat capabilities and formation warfare strength.

This was good news, but it also made Cao Cao's generals very wary. After all, Liu Bei had only been in charge of Xu Province for four years and Yu Province for only two. The fact that he could train his army to this level in such a short time showed that Liu Bei's ability to train troops was truly not to be underestimated.

The intelligence that followed, obtained from Liu Feng, shocked Cao Cao's army even more.

From Cao Cao onwards, to Xi Zhicai, Cao Ren, Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, and others, none of them dared to underestimate Liu Feng's troops. They always believed that among the Liu family father and sons, Liu Feng's troops were more skilled in battle and stronger.

After all, the two armies had fought side by side during their joint western expedition to defend the emperor. The generals had all witnessed the strict discipline of Liu Feng's army, and they both admired and feared it.

When Cao Cao's army learned that Liu Feng had mobilized all his elite troops to form an elite force called the Vanguard Army, they were greatly shocked.

Although intelligence on the Vanguard Army is extremely scarce, the limited information available indicates that it is a combined arms force, including elite units such as cavalry and armored soldiers. The sheer strength of such a force, personally trained by Liu Feng and composed of carefully selected veterans, is enough to send chills down one's spine.

(End of this chapter)