With Cao Cao by my side, what do I have to fear from the world?

Chapter 135, Ten Victories and Ten Defeats

Yuan Shao acted immediately, summoning his civil and military officials and deciding to launch a military campaign against Cao Cao.

Tian Feng and Ju Shou both advised against going to war, but Yuan Shao insisted on his own way and eventually sent Yan Liang and Wen Chou to Liyang, raising an army of 100,000 men. When the news reached Xuchang, it greatly frightened Cao Cao.

"Your Majesty, I never imagined that your discussion of the heroes of the world on New Year's Eve had such a profound meaning."

Upon learning that Yuan Shao had dispatched troops, Jia Xu looked at Liu Xie standing before him and a rare smile appeared on his face.

Because of Liu Xie's intervention, the Battle of Guandu was brought forward slightly.

Liu Xie said, "Wenhe once reminded me that I must not let Cao Cao be idle. As long as he is idle, he will keep an eye on me. So, I will find something for him to do. Anyway, after pacifying Nanyang and Xuzhou, even if I don't take action, Yuan Shao and Cao Cao will inevitably have a battle soon."

On New Year's Eve, Liu Xie deliberately posed the question of evaluating Yuan Shao to Cao Cao, and then had Cao Cao's classic comments spread throughout Ye City.

Liu Xie had repeatedly succeeded in gathering intelligence and conducting propaganda, and had already tasted the benefits of it.

A person's energy is ultimately limited. Now that Yuan Shao has turned his attention to Cao Cao, Liu Xie's pressure has been reduced considerably.

With Lu Bu and Liu Bei on the inside, and now Yuan Shao, such a behemoth, emerging on the outside, Cao Cao is in for a lot of trouble!

After a while, Jia Xu said again: "However, in my opinion, Yuan Shao lacks courage in his actions. Although he is indeed sending troops, it is more of a deterrent. He will not really start a war with Cao Cao for the time being."

Liu Xie nodded. "This is actually quite good. It puts pressure on Cao Cao and gives him enough time to prepare. I am just using Yuan Shao to restrain Cao Cao. If Yuan Shao decisively sends troops, the battle will be unfavorable to us."

The fifth year of Jian'an was destined to be the most difficult year for Cao Cao.

Although Cao Cao expressed great disdain for Yuan Shao, he still felt very wary of Yuan Shao's strength.

Yuan Shao possessed four provinces, had a large army and many generals, and his grain supplies were piled up like mountains. In terms of both prestige and strength, he was superior to Cao Cao.

Cao Cao immediately summoned everyone together, and the atmosphere became extremely tense. Apart from a few top strategists, all the other civil and military officials were frowning, and some had even secretly written letters to Yuan Shao to communicate privately.

"Gentlemen, Yuan Shao has dispatched his generals Yan Liang and Wen Chou to advance on Liyang. How should we respond?"

Cao Cao glanced around, taking in everyone's expressions.

Many people quickly lowered their heads when Cao Cao cast his gaze.

Just like when Sun Quan faced Cao Cao's hundreds of thousands of troops before the Battle of Red Cliffs, most people felt panic and fear.

Guo Jia and Xun Yu remained calm and composed, just as usual.

"My lord, His Majesty has arrived." Cao Cao was in the middle of a meeting when his steward, Cao Fu, pushed open the door and walked in.

Cao Cao was taken aback for a moment, secretly blaming Liu Xie for arriving at such an inopportune time.

Cao Cao thought for a moment, then said, “Wait here for a moment, I will be right back.”

Cao Cao thought he might as well say a few words to get rid of Liu Xie first, so as not to delay important matters.

Liu Xie was in the front hall at the moment, where Cao Ang, Lady Bian, Cao Pi, and Princess Qinghe were all present, chatting idly.

Cao Pi only practiced swordsmanship in the afternoons; he usually stayed at home.

In front of Lady Bian, Liu Xie did not forget to praise Cao Pi, "My lady, Zi Huan has been practicing swordsmanship very diligently and has made rapid progress. I believe that it will not be long before he is able to fight on the battlefield like Lord Cao."

Lady Bian smiled and said, "It is all thanks to Your Majesty's guidance and supervision. Zihuan is still young. Not to mention compared with Cao Gong, he is far inferior to Zixiu. I hope Your Majesty will teach him strictly in the future."

Cao Ang did not realize that there was anything wrong with it. Instead, he praised, "Zihuan is talented and progresses quickly. I am just a few years older. When Zihuan grows up, his swordsmanship will definitely be better than mine."

Cao Ang was deeply influenced by Madam Ding from a young age. He was not competitive with others and would never target his family. He genuinely hoped that his younger brother would have a better future.

Little did they expect that Lady Bian had instilled in Cao Pi the idea that he was a rival from the very beginning.

Princess Qinghe remained silent, constantly stealing glances at Liu Xie.

Liu Xie was composed and elegant in speech. He was also handsome and dashing, perfectly inheriting the beautiful genes of Lady Wang. Every move he made exuded a charm that could make young girls fall in love with him.

A moment later, footsteps sounded; Cao Cao had arrived.

"Your Majesty, what brings you to my residence today?" Cao Cao asked directly, hoping to get rid of Liu Xie as soon as possible so that he could discuss military matters.

Liu Xie said, "Lord Cao, I heard that Yuan Shao has sent troops, so I came here specifically to see if you have any countermeasures."

Cao Cao patiently replied, "Your Majesty, do not worry. We will deal with whatever comes our way. I will come up with a solution as soon as possible."

Liu Xie nodded. "I know I can't be of much help in military strategy and warfare. I've come here today simply to share my thoughts."

"May I ask what your brilliant insights are, Your Majesty?" Cao Cao became somewhat interested.

Liu Xie said, "I think that Cao Cao has many advantages over Yuan Shao. In my opinion, Cao Cao has ten advantages and Yuan Shao has ten disadvantages!"

Cao Cao stared in astonishment, "Your Majesty, may I ask what your ten victories are? And what your ten defeats are?"

In fact, Guo Jia had already proposed the Ten Victories and Ten Defeats in the second year of Jian'an!
However, although Guo Jia spoke, this was a private discussion between Cao Cao and Guo Jia, and it was highly confidential.

Cao Cao had never told anyone this before, and Guo Jia wouldn't go around spreading rumors, but Cao Cao was greatly surprised to hear Liu Xie say this.

Liu Xie cleared his throat and said, "I came here today to tell Lord Cao that there is no need for any concerns. I believe..."
Yuan Shao was overly formal and elaborate, while Cao Cao was more natural and unpretentious; this approach is superior.

Although Yuan Shao was a regional hegemon, he rebelled against his superiors. Cao Cao was my right-hand man, who helped me pacify the world. This is the superior reason for my victory.
Yuan Shao was lenient with his troops, and his laws and regulations were not strict. Military orders and laws were practically meaningless. Cao Cao, on the other hand, was strict in his military discipline and orderly in his administration. His soldiers were brave and his civil and military officials were of one mind. This is the reason why he was victorious.
Yuan Shao was outwardly generous but inwardly suspicious, and he was distrustful of his subordinates. Most of the people he relied on were his relatives and brothers. In contrast, Cao Cao was unwavering in his selection of people, choosing only those with talent and not being bound by convention. This was the superiority of Cao Cao.

Yuan Shao was good at planning but lacked decisiveness and was indecisive, while Cao Cao acted decisively and could adapt to changing circumstances, which led to his victory.
Yuan Shao was a fame-seeker, all show and no substance, surrounded by people who were perfunctory and insincere. On the contrary, those who spoke frankly and offered honest advice were not valued. Cao Cao, on the other hand, treated people with sincerity, was broad-minded, and was willing to accept loyal advice. This was his superior virtue.
Yuan Shao only considered what he could see, ignoring what he couldn't, focusing only on superficial matters and lacking a strategic vision. Cao Cao, on the other hand, paid attention to every detail; this demonstrates his superior benevolence!
Yuan Shao and his ministers were at odds, with ministers vying for power and many treacherous officials framing their colleagues. The civil and military officials were not united, and slanderous words caused chaos. Cao Cao, on the other hand, was fair in his dealings and used people appropriately. With everyone united, the army fought bravely. This was a clear victory for him.
Yuan Shao was unable to distinguish right from wrong, loyalty from treachery, while Cao Cao was clear in his rewards and punishments, treating the right with courtesy and the wrong with the law. This is the superiority of Cao Cao.
Yuan Shao, when leading troops, only knew how to bluff and lacked military strategy. Cao Cao, on the other hand, was a brilliant strategist, adept at using surprise attacks to achieve victory, often turning the tide of battle with fewer troops. This is the essence of military superiority.

Liu Xie spoke eloquently and passionately, his words not only well-reasoned and supported by evidence, but also full of praise for Cao Cao.

Cao Cao listened intently, his already furrowed brows furrowing even more deeply. His Majesty's words were strikingly similar to Guo Jia's original statement.

After calming his surprise, Cao Cao asked, "Your Majesty, who told you this?"

Liu Xie shook his head. "No, I just heard that Yuan Shao has sent troops, so I rushed over." What? What? What? Cao Cao was immediately filled with questions.

Could it be that His Majesty came up with all of these ideas himself?
If that's the case, then His Majesty is truly extraordinary!

"Lord Cao, although Yuan Shao has many soldiers and generals, he is not a threat. In the past, Dong Zhuo's army was far stronger than Yuan Shao's, but what was the result? Now Dong Zhuo's body has long been reduced to ashes."

"Furthermore, Yuan Shao has just been assassinated and it will be difficult for him to recover in a short time. In addition, the pain of losing a son will torment him for the rest of his life. And most importantly, I think that the death of one of Yuan Shao's sons will actually make the competition between his remaining two sons even more intense. This is Yuan Shao's biggest hidden danger."

Liu Xie's analysis was more comprehensive, including not only the ten wins and ten losses, but also Yuan Shao's injuries and grief over the loss of his son, as well as the future competition between Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang.

Guan Jing stabbed him twice; under the medical conditions of ancient times, a complete cure was simply impossible.

Cao Cao nodded repeatedly, "Your Majesty sees things so clearly. In this light, although Yuan Shao is strong, he is full of hidden dangers and is not invincible."

Liu Xie nodded, "Lord Cao, I believe in you. You will eventually defeat Yuan Shao. With you, Lord Cao, what do I have to fear from the world!"

"With Cao Cao by my side, what do I have to fear from the world!" Cao Cao had heard this phrase many times before, and each time it stirred his excitement. But when he calmed down, he realized that His Majesty was too adept at manipulating people's hearts.

If Cao Cao had only one thought in his mind, which was to be a loyal subject of the Han Dynasty, no matter how much Liu Xie praised him, he would only be excited and swear to serve him.

But his current thoughts are that he wants to be a loyal subject, but he also wants to break free from the emperor's control once he has enough power.

Therefore, every time Liu Xie praised him, Cao Cao would have an internal struggle, feel happy for a while, and then immediately calm down.

After seeing Liu Xie off, Cao Cao immediately returned to the council hall.

In just a short while, everyone noticed that Cao Cao had a happy expression on his face and seemed much more relaxed.

Guo Jia stood up with a smile, "My lord, it seems His Majesty has brought you more good news."

Cao Cao walked to Guo Jia's side, leaned down and whispered in his ear, "Fengxiao, have you ever mentioned the matter of the ten victories and ten defeats to anyone else?"

Guo Jia shook his head. "No, my lord. Why do you ask such a question? Could it be that..."

Guo Jia was incredibly clever, and he immediately guessed it.

Seeing Cao Cao nod, Guo Jia's face also showed an expression of disbelief.

"This...how is this possible?"

Cao Cao's expression was somewhat cold; he could no longer treat the emperor lightly.

Next, Cao Cao and his men discussed the matter and immediately made arrangements.

Let Zang Ba lead his troops north from Xuzhou to occupy Qi, Beihai, Dong'an and other places, so as to contain Yuan Shao from the right flank and prevent Yuan's troops from invading from Qingzhou.

Yu Jin was ordered to garrison troops at Yanjin to assist Liu Yan, who was stationed at Baima.

Along the south bank of Guandu, Cao Cao was also frequently reinforcing his troops. Although he was not afraid of Yuan Shao, Cao Cao still had to make the necessary preparations.

Facing the behemoth that was Yuan Shao, Cao Cao dared not be careless at all.

Even Cao Cao himself decided to personally lead his troops to Liyang to confront Yuan Shao's army.

Cao Cao entered the palace to ask Liu Xie, "Your Majesty, I will be setting out with troops tomorrow. Will you also accompany me this time?"

Liu Xie shook his head. "I won't go this time."

"Why is that?" In the past, Liu Xie would always accompany the army on expeditions, but this time, he seemed to have no interest at all.

"Lord Cao, I think Yuan Shao is just bluffing this time. Of course, you did a good job. We still need to take precautions, otherwise Yuan Shao will have an opportunity to take advantage of the situation and turn the feint into a real attack."

Cao Cao was more than happy that Liu Xie refused to go, so he immediately sent Xiahou Dun to guard the city while he personally led 40,000 troops to Liyang.

As soon as Cao Cao left, Liu Xie immediately felt refreshed and his pressure was greatly reduced. Even his breathing felt much easier.

Leaving the palace and walking along the road, Liu Xie instructed Lu Xun: "Boyan, from now on, I will give you a month to memorize the entire structure of Xudu, inside and out, and then draw it on blueprints."

"Here!"

Lu Xun followed leisurely behind, glancing around from time to time.

His expression was the same as that of a passerby; he didn't deliberately look elsewhere, but he remembered things very quickly and accurately!

"Zilong, have you noticed?"

After assigning Lu Xun his homework, Liu Xie left him to his own devices. Lu Xun had a strong sense of self-control; as long as he had something to do, he wouldn't waste his time on anything else.

Zhao Yun subconsciously looked around. "Your Majesty, what's wrong?"

“Every time Cao Cao went out to war, the general left to guard Xuchang would be Xiahou Dun. He would either leave Xiahou Dun in Xuchang or leave him near Xuchang. No matter what happened, Xiahou Dun could appear in the shortest possible time.”

Zhao Yun nodded. "Yes, I noticed that too."

Liu Xie said, "Take some time to get to know as much as possible about the generals and officers around Xiahou Dun, his troop deployment, and even Xiahou Dun's preferences and what he likes to do in his spare time."

"Your Majesty, do you perhaps wish to?" Zhao Yun, usually so composed, was now somewhat overcome with passion.

Liu Xie smiled and shook his head. "Knowing yourself and your enemy will ensure victory in every battle. It doesn't mean that I should do anything now, but rather that I should understand things in advance so that I can be prepared."

Seeing that no one was approaching, Liu Xie said with a serious expression, "There will definitely be a war between Cao Cao and Yuan Shao, and it is very likely that the war will start in the second half of the year. Once Cao Cao wins, the next one to deal with will be me!"

"Does His Majesty wish for him to win?"

"Has Zilong not noticed that I have been helping Cao Cao all along? I helped him in the battles against Zhang Xiu and Lü Bu, and this time is no exception. If Yuan Shao wins, wouldn't the court be finished? But Cao Cao is doing what he should do, and I am doing what I should do!"

Cao Cao wanted to control the world, and Liu Xie wanted to control Cao Cao!
(End of this chapter)