novelAbuy Chapter 85 Historical Changes
Chapter 85 Historical Changes
Suddenly, from the northeast, the deafening sounds of war drums and horns resounded!
A large banner with the character "于" fluttered in the wind, and a well-disciplined and vigorous new army appeared as if divine soldiers had descended from the sky, inserting themselves between Cao Cao's remnants and Zhang Xiu's pursuing troops!
The leading generals were none other than Yu Jin and Yu Wenze!
"Yu Jin is here! Do not harm my lord!"
Yu Jin stood on his horse, sword drawn, his voice booming like a bell.
His troops were all elite, and had been resting and preparing for battle for a long time. Now, they were able to hold off Zhang Xiu's pursuing forces.
Seeing that Cao Cao's army had reinforcements arriving and that the troops were well-organized, Zhang Xiu's army dared not attack rashly. After a brief stalemate, they slowly retreated.
According to the original timeline, Cao Cao should have fled back to Xuchang two or three days earlier.
Yu Jin, on the other hand, lagged behind the main army, fighting off the pursuers while retreating in an orderly manner.
Finally, when they arrived in Yanzhou, they met Cao Cao.
However, it was precisely because of the changes in the historical timeline that Yu Jin caught up with Cao Cao's footsteps and brought him a fresh force.
With the crisis averted and Cao Cao's shock subsided, he looked at the well-disciplined soldiers behind Yu Jin and was deeply moved:
"Wenze! If you hadn't arrived, I would be dead!"
Yu Jin said in a deep voice:
"Jin was ordered to patrol the rear and receive supplies. Upon hearing of the turmoil in Wancheng, he was extremely anxious and rushed here day and night. Fortunately, by divine intervention, he met our lord!"
At this moment, Xun You, the strategist who had arrived with Yu Jin, carefully observed the situation of both sides and the direction of Wancheng. A glint of light flashed in his eyes, and he quickly walked up to Cao Cao, uttering a startling statement:
"My lord! This is not the time to retreat, but a golden opportunity presented by heaven to turn defeat into victory!"
Cao Cao was taken aback:
"Why do you say that, Gongda?"
Xun You calmly analyzed:
"My lord, please consider this: Zhang Xiu has won by sheer luck. At this moment, he must think that our army has been completely wiped out, and that you are either dead or have escaped. His entire army is immersed in the ecstasy of a great victory, and their vigilance will inevitably be relaxed!"
Wancheng has just been captured, and its defenses are not yet secure. Zhang Xiu never expected that our army, having just suffered a major defeat, would dare to launch a counterattack so immediately!
He pointed in the direction of Wancheng, his expression resolute:
"This is the perfect opportunity to strike unexpectedly and catch the enemy off guard! If we send an elite force now to feign opening the city gates and launch a night attack, we can surely capture Wancheng in one battle, kill Zhang Xiu, and avenge this great humiliation!"
Yes, I have Yu Jin's fresh troops, why not take this opportunity to give it a shot?
Cao Cao was a hero of his time, and he was only momentarily overwhelmed by grief and frustration. After Xun You's guidance, he immediately came to his senses.
He couldn't help but grit his teeth and say:
"Gongda's words are like the sun breaking through the clouds! To leave this grudge unavenged is the act of a true man! But how should we deceive the city?"
Xun You was confident and prepared:
"Select several dozen elite elite soldiers, disguise them with captured Zhang Xiu army armor, and impersonate their victorious vanguard returning to the city. The lord's main army will then stealthily follow and ambush in the woods outside the city. Once the city gates open, light a fire as a signal; with coordinated attacks from within and without, the battle will be won!"
"Who is capable of shouldering this heavy responsibility?"
Cao Cao surveyed his generals.
Xiahou Dun stepped forward with a flourish, cupped his hands, and said:
"My lord! I am willing to go! This perilous mission is best left to me! If I cannot trick the city gates open, I will bring you my head!"
"Excellent! Yuan Rang is truly a tiger general!"
Cao Cao patted Xiahou Dun heavily on the shoulder.
"Then we shall follow Gongda's plan! The entire army, listen to my command: eat your fill of dry rations, rest on the spot for one hour! When night falls, we will march on Wancheng and avenge our defeat!"
That night, beneath the walls of Wancheng.
Everything went as Xun You had predicted.
After Zhang Xiu's army won a great victory, the entire army relaxed and indulged in revelry, and the guards at the city gate were also distracted.
Xiahou Dun personally led dozens of elite soldiers, donned Zhang Xiu's army uniforms, and arrived arrogantly at the east gate of Wancheng.
"Open the door quickly! We are General Hu Che'er's men, returning from pursuing the remnants of Cao Cao's forces! Open the door quickly!"
Xiahou Dun lowered his voice and shouted.
By the light of the fire, the commander on the city wall carefully examined the troops below and saw that they were indeed dressed as his own. He also heard that they were returning victorious and did not suspect anything. In addition, he was tired late at night and ordered the city gate to be opened.
The moment the city gates opened, Xiahou Dun's eyes flashed with a fierce light. He suddenly attacked, slashing down the guards by the gate with a single stroke, and shouted sharply:
"Prime Minister Cao's army has arrived! Those who surrender will not be killed!"
Dozens of fierce warriors behind him seized control of the city gate in an instant, lit the torches they had prepared beforehand, and waved them vigorously!
Cao Cao, who was lying in ambush in the darkness outside the city, saw the firelight on the city wall and knew that Xiahou Dun had succeeded. He drew his sword and pointed it forward:
"All troops, charge! Take Wancheng, leave no one alive!"
Cao Cao's main force surged into Wancheng like a tidal wave!
Most of Zhang Xiu's army inside the city were still in a drunken stupor and caught off guard, resulting in chaos!
Many people were killed in their sleep, unable to mount any effective resistance.
Zhang Xiu was celebrating his victory with his subordinates when he heard the news and was greatly alarmed.
Why did Cao Cao return after leaving?
The supplies promised by Yuan Tan have still not arrived!
How am I supposed to defend myself?
Seeing the city filled with shouts of killing, he knew that the matter was beyond redemption.
In his fury, he blamed the entire defeat on Yuan Tan!
This guy gave me a worthless check, but he's hiding behind the scenes, having a great time!
Zhang Xiu's eyes were bloodshot, but he was helpless.
They could only hastily don their armor and prepare for battle, but defeat was already inevitable.
Under the fierce protection of Jia Xu and other trusted confidants, Zhang Xiu, with only a few close followers, broke through the siege from the west gate and fled towards Shouchun. Wancheng changed hands once again!
When Cao Cao stepped back into Wancheng, he was overwhelmed with mixed feelings as he looked at the corpses and flames that filled the streets. He felt both the satisfaction of revenge and the sorrow of a Pyrrhic victory.
He immediately ordered that Dian Wei, Cao Ang, Cao Anmin, and all the soldiers who died in this battle be given a grand funeral, and he personally offered sacrifices, weeping bitterly, which moved the entire army.
……
In the northern part of Jiujiang Prefecture, on the border of Shouchun, there are desolate villages and wild roads.
The setting sun was like blood, and a battered and bruised army was marching through the wilderness.
It was Zhang Xiu's remaining troops who had managed to break through from Wancheng by sheer luck.
The team consisted of fewer than a thousand people, all of whom looked pale and had low morale.
They originally intended to head east to Lujiang to seek refuge with Zhang Xun, and then turn to Lü Bu, but their provisions had run out and they were starving.
"Wenhe, I intend to go to Xuzhou to seek refuge with Lü Bu. Yang Feng, one of his subordinates, has a past relationship with my uncle, so I think he can help me when I go to Xuzhou."
Zhang Xiu rode on a thin horse, his face gloomy.
Jia Xu stood silently to the side.
You, Zhang Xiu, do have a past with Yang Feng. But I am an enemy of Lü Bu.
Lü Bu followed Wang Yun's plan to eliminate Dong Zhuo and seize Chang'an.
The soldiers of Xiliang were all in a state of panic and almost disbanded on the spot.
In the end, if I hadn't suggested that Li Jue and Guo Si launch a surprise attack on Chang'an, the country would probably have been pacified long ago.
So, my grudge against Lu Bu runs deep.
When we go to Xuzhou, Lü Bu won't make trouble for a junior like you, but he'll definitely skin me alive.
Therefore, Jia Xu had repeatedly tried to persuade him to switch allegiance to Yuan Tan of Qingzhou, but Zhang Xiu remained resentful.
"Wenhe, there's no need to say anything more!"
Zhang Xiu waved his hand impatiently, interrupting Jia Xu's impending advice.
"Yuan Xiansi! Hmph, he made solemn promises and pledged to provide assistance, but what was the result? In the bloody battle of Wancheng, not a single soldier or grain of rice from Qingzhou was seen!"
If he hadn't made empty promises and confused me, I might not have hastily started this rebellion, leading to my current defeat! How could I possibly entrust myself to such a faithless scoundrel? Although Lü Bu is brave but lacks strategy, he has a past relationship with Yang Feng, and is ultimately a wise choice!
Jia Xu sighed inwardly, knowing that Zhang Xiu's inner turmoil was deep and difficult to resolve.
He glanced at the listless soldiers and said worriedly:
"General, even if we were to surrender to Lü Bu, we must first secure our food supplies. The soldiers have been without food for two days, and I fear they will not be able to hold out until we reach Lujiang."
Zhang Xiu looked at his men, who were starving and staggering, and a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes:
"There's no time to worry about anything else! Send the order down to the nearby villages to gather food on the spot! Anyone who resists will be killed without mercy!"
This "procurement of grain" naturally meant allowing troops to plunder.
Upon hearing the order, the remaining soldiers' eyes gleamed with a green light, and with a shout, they surged towards the sparse villages on both sides of the road like a flood bursting its banks.
In an instant, chaos erupted, with cries, pleas, and snarling laughter filling the air, turning the peaceful village into a scene of utter devastation.