Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Shu, Loyal Officials of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 363 Cao Hong! Do you intend to ally with Yuan Shao?
Seeing that Cao Ren was determined to hold back his troops, Cao Hong became anxious.

"Zixiao!
This letter is not the only statement in this letter. The intelligence sent back by our spies planted in Yuan's army all corroborate this letter.

It's understandable that Zhang Xiu, having suddenly risen to a high position, considered himself Yuan Shu's adopted son, looked down on his generals, and issued overly strict orders.

Xing Daorong had long served as the Supreme General of Jingzhou and was the one who made the greatest contribution to Yuan Shu's conquest of Jingzhou.

He was arrogant and conceited, and refused to submit to Zhang Xiu, so he was publicly whipped and humiliated, as witnessed by all the troops!

How could it be fake?

The saying goes, "If you don't take what Heaven gives you, you will suffer the consequences."

This is a golden opportunity that will help me defeat Yuan Shao; it would be a great pity to let it slip by.

Upon hearing this, Cao Ren frowned and reprimanded him.

Seeing is not necessarily believing!
Let alone a beating, which might not make Xing Daorong truly submit, even if he were genuinely humiliated and couldn't bear to send me this letter, I still wouldn't believe it.

After all, it wouldn't matter if it were anyone else, but Xing Daorong?

Have you not heard of the old story of Liu Jingzhou?

His nature was such that he would fall at the sight of the wind and bow down with the wind, his fickleness surpassing even that of Lü Bu.

Today, he felt that Yuan Jun hadn't given him enough, and out of spite, he secretly conspired with me.

Who knows if he won't betray us again tomorrow for greater benefits and secretly serve Yuan's army?

He waited for the right price to buy, repeatedly changing his mind; few in the world could match him.

How can we trust and utilize people who are unclear about who is friend or foe, even if they turn against us in battle?
If he comes to join us, he will surely rebel in time.

If I were to follow the advice in this letter and cooperate with him from within, I fear that Wuguan would be destroyed by this man!

"How can one accomplish great things if one is timid and hesitant?"

Zixiao! If Cao Cao had the upper hand, we wouldn't have needed to do anything. We could have simply held Wuguan Pass and won without lifting a finger. In that case, I wouldn't have argued with you today.

But what's the situation right now?
Yuan Shu boasts an army of 830,000 marching north, while we face only a detachment of his forces, which already numbers 100,000. How much more so at Huanyuan Pass?
We are in Wuguan, where we can guard our gates and rest easy. But what about Cao Cao, who is currently facing pressure from Yuan Shu's main force? Has Zixiao ever thought about that?

Yes, we can hold Wuguan Pass and fulfill Cao Cao's orders even if we do nothing.

But we can't win!
If we do nothing, and Cao Cao is defeated by Yuan Shu's main force, Luoyang falls, and the emperor suffers a calamity.

"No matter how impregnable Wuguan Pass is, what good will it do?"

After Cao Hong finished speaking, he bowed to Cao Ren with his hands clasped and asked for his command:

“If Zixiao is concerned about the overall situation and fears losing Wuguan, then please allow me to lead my troops out of the city.”

With the support of the three hundred Tiger and Leopard Cavalry I brought, if Xing Daorong were to abandon his allegiance to the Ming Dynasty, he could inflict heavy losses on Yuan's army.

This major defeat should be enough to boost morale and dampen the spirits of the Yuan traitor.

Once Cao Cao receives this good news and informs his army, the current difficult situation will be somewhat eased.

As he spoke, he slightly raised his lowered face, looked at Cao Ren, and forced a smile.

"If, unfortunately, Zixiao's prediction comes true, Xing Daorong is indeed fickle and uses this as a deception."

It was nothing more than the loss of three hundred of my cavalrymen, who were of little use in defending the city.

At that time, please keep the city gates tightly closed and do not try to save me!
Prioritize the great cause and do not fail Cao Cao's expectations.

Hong underestimated the enemy and advanced recklessly; he would rather die than regret it!

Cao Ren remained silent for a long time!

At this moment, Cao Ren understood perfectly well that Cao Hong had put his words to this point.

Cao Hong was well aware of Xing Daorong's fickleness and opportunism.
He was like a drowning man grasping at a straw for Cao Cao, unwilling to let go.

For the sake of the Cao family's great cause, he was willing to gamble with his own life and fight for Cao Cao's chance of survival.

What if Xing Daorong is genuinely unhappy in Yuan's camp and sincerely wants to defect?
Lies never deceive the foolish, but rather those who are willing to believe.

At that moment, Cao Ren looked up at Cao Hong, his eyes filled with determination, and sighed softly.

"Zilian, you're getting impatient."

Cao Hongchang refused to bow, saying, "Time waits for no one!"
If we are locked in a stalemate with Yuan Shu and fail to gain the upper hand, we will have already lost.

If we cannot quickly resolve the mess and defeat Yuan Shu to intimidate the world.

At that time, all the feudal lords of the nine provinces will regard us as fish on a chopping block and meat under a knife, wishing they could share and eat us.

"Even if Wuguan Pass remains, how can it sustain life?"

He bowed again respectfully and said:

Hong Yuan signed a military pledge, vowing not to turn back until Yuan's army was defeated.

I hope the general will grant my request!

Cao Ren closed his eyes and pondered the matter.

Although he was not as hasty and impulsive as Cao Hong, he also understood the reasoning behind Cao Hong's words.

Time is not in your own hands!
Given this, what's the point of delaying the inevitable, no matter how well Wuguan is defended and how impregnable it is?
If Huanyuan Pass were lost, Cao Cao would be defeated and killed, and Yuan Shu would easily seize Luoyang and swallow up the entire Sili region.

At that time, Wuguan would be trapped within Yuan Shu's sphere of influence, attacked from both sides, with no reinforcements to support it. It would be trapped and waiting to die. What difference would it make if it held out for a long time?
It seems that not only is time not on our side, but even victory or defeat is not in our hands.

In that case, should we follow Cao Hong's plan and take a little risk at Wuguan Pass to give Cao Cao a glimmer of hope at Huanyuan Pass?

While Cao Ren was hesitating, he thought of the name Xing Daorong and immediately shook his head.

Even if one is to fight and struggle, one should choose a better time and circumstances, rather than betting everything on Xing Daorong, a man of many unpredictable nature whose allegiance is unclear.

However, Cao Hong is currently anxious about the war on Cao Cao's side. In order to do his part, he is willing to risk his life. If I directly try to persuade him, it will probably be difficult to convince him with reason.

Even if he had suppressed the matter now, he was afraid that Cao Zilian would act impulsively and continue to conspire with Xing Daorong in secret, taking advantage of the night to sneak out of the city and defeat Yuan.

If this leads to an opportunity for Yuan Shao's army to take advantage of the situation and put Wuguan in danger, then I will truly have no face to face Cao Cao again.

We must devise a plan to completely thwart Cao Hong's desire to leave the city, lest we cause future trouble.

Thinking of this, Cao Ren's expression suddenly turned cold, and he deliberately gave a cold laugh to rebuke him!

"A military order?
You will send your main force out of the city to fight, and you will not return until you have broken through.
Cao Zilian, do you think I haven't seen the battle report sent from Huanyuan Pass?

On that day, at Huanyuan Pass, Xiahou Miaocai said the same thing to Guan Yu. Then he left the city and joined Yuan Shao's army, never to return. He truly wouldn't return until the city was conquered!
"What? You, Cao Zilian, are in such a hurry to leave the city, could it be that you also harbor intentions of colluding with Yuan Shao, and wish to emulate Xiahou Miaocai?"

"Zixiao!
How could you think of me like that?

My loyalty to Cao Cao is as clear as day and as evident as the sun and moon!

Cao Hong looked at Cao Ren in disbelief and with a wronged expression. He never expected that he would be willing to fight for Cao Cao's great cause and even risk his life.

He was so moved he almost cried.

But Cao Zixiao, who was standing in front of him, not only remained unmoved, but even suspected him of colluding with Yuan Shikai. This was simply outrageous!
However, Cao Ren seemed to have anticipated his rebuttal, and only smiled coldly with indifferent eyes.

“Those who are on good terms with Yuan Shao all claim to be loyal to Cao Cao.”

When Xiahou Miaocai led his troops out of the city to defeat Yuan Shao, his unwavering loyalty shone like the sun and moon, moving everyone who witnessed it.

But the result?

Know people, know faces, but don’t know hearts!
Upon entering Yuan Shao's camp, Xiahou Miaocai surrendered voluntarily, taking over all the Cao army he had brought with him as Yuan Shao's troops.

He stared at Cao Hong, pressing closer with each step.

"Zilian! Knowing full well that Xing Daorong is a fickle and untrustworthy person, why are you still in such a hurry to leave the city?"

how?

"Are you already so eager to offer up Cao Cao's three hundred heavy cavalry, painstakingly built up, to Yuan Shu in order to secure a prestigious seat at the Golden Terrace and earn merit points for the Han Kingdom?"

"I didn't! I didn't! My heart was pure, but I was wrongly trusted!"

Cao Zixiao, you are utterly unreasonable!

Cao Hong's face turned red with anger, but he was rendered speechless by Cao Ren's rebuttal and didn't know how to prove himself for a moment.

Cao Ren coldly watched this scene and gave only a few instructions.

"Cao Hong is suspected of colluding with Yuan Shao!"

Take him away and keep a close watch on him, lest he secretly leave the city and defect to Yuan!

"You're the one who understands Yuan!"

Cao Hong was furious but didn't know what to say, so he just kept cursing as he was being led away.

"Cao Zixiao, you are not worthy of being a son!"

You wait, I will report this matter to Lord Cao.

My loyalty is self-evident!

As Cao Hong was led away, everyone watched this scene in silence, feeling a strange sense of unease.

On the opposite side, in Yuan's camp, Zhang Xiu, relying on his status as the adopted son of the King of Han, bullied the generals, causing internal discord. He even publicly whipped Xing Daorong, which made Xing Daorong so angry that he wrote a letter to Cao Cao.

Before they could even start laughing at the other side!
The generals within their own ranks also began to fall out. Cao Ren, relying on his position as the commander-in-chief, used the suspicion of colluding with Yuan Shao to suppress and monitor Cao Hong.

Cao Hong harbored resentment and wanted to write to Cao Cao to punish Cao Ren.

The courtiers: "."

Go ahead and make a scene, keep making a scene!

What exactly is going on here?

A worthy opponent is a worthy opponent; what kind of strength matches what kind of opponent?
Zhang Xiu on the other side and Cao Ren on their own side are now locked in a fierce battle.
I heard that at Huanyuan Pass, it's a fierce battle of siege and defense, with each side displaying their unique skills.

As for our Wuguan Pass, the daily siege battles, day after day, have become as calm as still water.

Instead, the commanders on both sides launched fierce attacks against their own people!
Look what a mess this has become!
Cao Ren noticed the increasingly strange looks he was receiving from his ministers. After a moment's thought, he understood their meaning and replied:

“I suspect Xing Daorong of being deceitful, not Zilian!”

However, Zilian was impulsive and stubborn, and fearing that he would not listen to advice, he tricked him by claiming that he had colluded with Yuan.

With this title, I no longer need to worry that he will ignore my advice and lead his troops out of the city on his own.

"Zilian is like a brother to me, and I love him dearly. Gentlemen, you should trust me and have no doubts."

The courtiers: "."

Are you worried that Cao Hong will fall into Xing Daorong's trap and be deceived?

So you preemptively swindle him, making him fall for your trap and be deceived by you first?

Do you love your brothers as much as you do?
No doubt?

You think we'd believe you?!

The assembled officials then bowed with their hands clasped, and said:

"General, your plans are profound and far-sighted; how could we not believe you?"

As a result, Cao Hong, who was most eager to leave the city to fight and cooperate with Xing Daorong from the inside, was captured by Cao Ren through trickery.

To prove his loyalty and avoid being branded a traitor to Yuan Shao, he refused to leave the city even under duress, instead writing daily letters to Cao Cao to report Cao Ren's disgraceful conduct. His letter stated:
Only those who are secretly connected to Yuan Shikai would readily suspect others of being in cahoots with him.

Only disloyal people judge others by their own standards and assume that others are also disloyal.

My lord!

Despite his unwavering loyalty, Hong was suspected by his son Zixiao and thus unable to achieve any merit or share the burdens of his lord.

This must be because Zixiao is in cahoots with Yuan, deliberately preventing me from having the opportunity to decisively defeat Yuan's army and establish my dominance over the entire land!

My lord, please recognize my loyalty and hand over the Wuguan army to Commander Hong to keep Cao Zixiao under surveillance!

If that is the case, even if Yuan's army numbers 100,000, Hong will surely defeat them.

A scholar will die for one who understands him; I am willing to go through fire and water for my lord, even unto death!

Therefore, Cao Ren was focused on defending Wuguan Pass and dared not easily trust Xing Daorong, while Cao Hong was busy proving his innocence and no longer plotted to leave the city.

This left Xing Daorong, who had been unjustly whipped in Yuan's army outside the pass, speechless.

Yuan Jun's main meeting tent.

Meeting Xing Daorong's rather resentful gaze from below, Zhang Xiu slightly averted her eyes, coughed lightly, and looked at Kuai Yue.

"Mr. Kuai, you once offered the plan of luring the enemy with self-inflicted injury. Now, more than ten days have passed, and there has been no news of General Xing's communication with Cao Cao. The situation in Wuguan is calm and peaceful."

Why is this?

Kuai Yue: "."

Kuai Yue felt rather embarrassed, and with a somewhat awkward expression, replied:
"I never imagined that Cao Ren's determination to hold the city and not leave was so strong. Even when he falsely accused Cao Hong of colluding with Yuan Shao, he refused to leave the city to fight. This was truly unexpected."

However, Kuai's plan was not entirely without merit.

Although the attempt to lure the enemy with self-inflicted injury failed, it did serve its purpose of sowing discord.

Currently, Cao Ren and Cao Hong are at odds within Wuguan Pass, causing much discussion among Cao's troops. This will make future attacks on Wuguan Pass much easier, and I would be happy to assist you.

Zhang Xiu: "???"

You, damn it, devised a self-inflicted injury scheme to lure the enemy, which actually achieved the effect of sowing discord, and then you tell me that your plan succeeded?
Zhang Xiu wanted to speak, but was somewhat speechless. Finally, he sighed and asked again:

"Cao Ren is holding firm, and although he is suspicious of Cao Hong, it will still be difficult for our army to break through Wuguan Pass."

What plan should be devised?

Please, strategist, instruct me.

Kuai Yue pondered for a long time, then sighed and said:

"Wuguan Pass is strategically located and easy to defend but difficult to attack."

To break through this pass, we must use a tactic to lure the enemy out of the city.

Zhang Xiu looked at him expectantly.

"The strategist has a plan; please tell me."

"Cao Ren is determined to defend the city to the death and cannot be moved."

On the other hand, Cao Hong is impulsive and easily angered. Perhaps we can take advantage of his conflict with Cao Ren and lure the enemy by feigning weakness.

Firstly, on the day before the battle, our soldiers can either remove their armor and weapons, sit on the ground, or lie down and sleep soundly. We can also select several groups of strong men to pretend to fight and play around with each other.

It appears that due to the conflict between the general and Xing Daorong, all the generals in our army are disobeying orders, morale is low, discipline is lax, and there is no will to fight.
Secondly, he ordered Xing Daorong to bring the best wine and meat from the army and set up a feast in an open area below the pass, where the generals and soldiers sat around drinking and singing.

He pretended to be Xing Daorong, trying to win people's hearts and minds and thus undermine the general's authority. Therefore, he spent his days drinking and eating meat with everyone, showing a careless and complacent attitude towards the enemy.
Thirdly, he sent a skilled speaker to shout from below the city walls, his words feigning arrogance and insults, but secretly implying that Xing Daorong had prepared everything and invited Cao Hong to come out of the city to cooperate, so that they could launch a coordinated attack from within and without and defeat our army, thus achieving great merit.

Indeed, Cao Hong desperately needed a great victory to prove his innocence. Moreover, seeing our army weakened and complacent under Xing Daorong's sabotage and cooperation, how could he not be tempted?

If they cannot restrain themselves and leave the city without permission, that will be the opportunity to breach the pass!

Zhang Xiu agreed wholeheartedly upon hearing this.

"Alright, then I'll trust you one more time, sir."

As he spoke, he looked at Xing Daorong again and said, "General Xing, I'm still troubling you this time."

Xing Daorong: "."

(End of this chapter)