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In Xuzhou City, Tao Qian sat in the hall, his face ashen and his eyes vacant, haunted by the relentless news of disaster: wherever Cao Cao's army passed, cities fell, civilians were slaughtered, graves were desecrated, and the cries of anguish filled the air. Tao Qian sighed deeply, covering his face with his hands as tears flowed like a spring. "What virtue or capability do I have that has brought such calamity upon the people of Xuzhou? I have sinned against heaven and implicated the innocent!"
The officials listened in sorrow, rendered speechless. Suddenly, General Cao Bao stood up, clasping his fists and speaking sternly, "My Lord, with Cao's troops approaching, can we just sit idly by and await death? I am willing to lead our forces into battle to help you drive back Cao Cao!"
Tao Qian raised his head, hesitated for a moment, and finally nodded. "The people of Xuzhou have suffered greatly. If we can hold on to even a sliver of hope for survival, I will have no regrets."
That day, Tao Qian organized the troops and led them out of the city to confront the enemy. In the distance, Cao Cao's army advanced like a tide of frost and snow, covering the sky and earth. The center of their formation raised two white flags high, boldly inscribed with the words "Avenge and Repay." In the cold wind, the white flags fluttered ominously, sending chills down spines.
Cao Cao donned a white robe and rode out on a tall warhorse from within his ranks. His expression was dark, his gaze fierce as he raised his whip and shouted angrily, "Old fool Tao Qian! You killed my entire family; today I come to take your life!"
Seeing this, Tao Qian sighed silently. He urged his horse forward respectfully and bowed deeply, his voice filled with sorrow and sincerity. "Lord Cao, I have long admired your talents and wished to form a bond with you. Who would have thought that Zhang Kai's treachery would lead to such calamity? This is entirely due to his wicked heart; it is not my fault. I earnestly request you to see this clearly."
Upon hearing this, Cao Cao's fury intensified as he rebuked sharply, "Shut up! You are the lord of Xuzhou yet cannot control your subordinates. Even if Zhang Kai commits evil deeds, you bear no responsibility? My father died tragically; the people are displaced! Today you will pay blood for blood!"
He suddenly turned around and shouted loudly, "Who dares to capture this traitor alive?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiahou Dun galloped out on horseback, pointing his spear directly at Tao Qian. "I am willing to go!" he declared.
Tao Qian was taken aback and quickly turned his horse to flee back into the ranks. Xiahou Dun shouted fiercely and pursued him on horseback, the tip of his spear gleaming coldly as it pressed toward Tao Qian's back. At that moment, Cao Bao leaped forward on horseback with a shout, brandishing his spear to block in front of Tao Qian.
"Xiahou Dun! With me, Cao Bao here, you shall not harm my Lord!" he bellowed as he charged into battle. The two horses collided; spears clashed together with sparks flying.
In the midst of this fierce combat, suddenly the sky darkened dramatically as a fierce wind arose. Sand and stones flew about chaotically, obscuring vision; both armies were battered by the storm and could hardly open their eyes. The sounds of horses neighing and soldiers screaming merged into chaos as formations broke down and weapons could not distinguish friend from foe.
Cao Cao, seeing the chaotic situation, urgently ordered the retreat of his troops. Taking advantage of the moment, Tao Qian quickly organized his forces to withdraw into the city for a temporary respite from the onslaught. The bloody battle was abruptly halted by this sudden change in weather.
Tao Qian returned to Xuzhou City in disarray, his face pale as paper, his clothes still stained with mud and water from the wind and sand. He entered the government office, wearily leaning against a chair, surveying the crowd gathered in the hall. His voice was low and filled with despair: "Cao Cao's army is pressing down on us, vastly outnumbering our forces. If we delay any longer, the people of Xuzhou may face slaughter..." He paused, closed his eyes, and sighed deeply towards the sky. "I must bind myself and personally go to Cao Cao's camp to plead for mercy. If I allow him to cut me down, perhaps I can save the lives of the people of Xuzhou."
At these words, an uproar erupted in the hall; everyone exchanged glances, none daring to speak. In the midst of this silence, one person stepped forward from below the hall. He stood tall and proud, his voice resonant: "My lord, you must not! The people of Xuzhou have long appreciated your kindness; how can you abandon the city and march to your death for a moment's respite?"
Tao Qian opened his bloodshot eyes and fixed his gaze on the speaker. "At this moment, what other options do we have? My Xu Zhou Army is weak and our supplies are insufficient; how can we confront Cao Cao head-on?"
The man remained calm and took a step forward, his expression resolute. "My lord, although Cao Cao's troops are strong, they are not without weaknesses. As long as you and the citizens of the city unite in purpose and hold fast to our defenses, I have a plan that may leave Cao Cao with no place to bury his dead!"
Upon hearing this, everyone turned their heads in surprise, astonished by his words. Tao Qian straightened up, his eyes filled with a mix of doubt and hope. "Is this true? What clever strategy do you propose?"
The man confidently clasped his hands together and replied, "Though my talents are humble, I am confident that this plan can break Cao Cao's siege. However, my lord and all present must hold firm within the city; do not engage in battle lightly."
Everyone held their breath in anticipation; the atmosphere in the hall was tense as all eyes focused on him, waiting for him to reveal his strategy against Cao Cao's army.
Inside Tao Qian's office, everyone looked anxiously at the man who had just proposed a plan. He was dressed simply but exuded confidence and composure in every gesture. He spoke clearly: "I am Mi Zhu from Donghai County. Though I lack remarkable martial skills, I am willing to offer my humble strategy to save Xuzhou from peril."
Tao Qian raised his hand to signal for silence and gazed at Mi Zhu with urgency in his tone: "Mi Zhu, if you have a good plan, please share it quickly. The people of Xuzhou depend on your words for salvation."
Mi Zhu bowed respectfully and replied: "My lord is wise. Cao Cao's forces are strong; relying solely on our city's defenses makes it difficult for us to compete. However, if we unite forces from all sides, we may be able to break through. Governor Kong Rong of Beihai County has always been friendly with you and has a sense of righteousness; Tian Kai from Qingzhou is also kind-hearted and would not tolerate Cao Cao's wanton slaughter of innocents. If we can send envoys to both places for assistance and prompt them to attack simultaneously, even if Cao Cao has divine troops at his command, he will find it hard to retreat unscathed."
Upon hearing this proposal, Tao Qian furrowed his brows tightly and asked: "This plan is indeed feasible; however, the distances involved are great. If we send envoys for help now, it may be too late to resolve our current crisis."
Mi Zhu smiled slightly and said, "This matter can be approached in two ways. I volunteer to go to Beihai County and persuade Kong Taishou to send troops for rescue. Additionally, I request that the Lord send a trusted messenger to Tian Kai in Qingzhou to explain Cao Cao's crimes. As long as the armies from both places move together, Cao Cao will surely not dare to linger."
Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall nodded in agreement, believing it to be an excellent plan. Tao Qian looked deeply at Mi Zhu, his gaze revealing a hint of emotion. "Mi Zhu, if you can resolve the crisis in Xuzhou, the people will surely be grateful to you. But your family has accumulated wealth ov second brother nerations; why must you put yourself in danger?"
Mi Zhu's tone was firm, and her expression serious. "My Lord, I once learned through a strange encounter that wealth is as fleeting as clouds, while life is truly precious. If I can contribute even a little to the people of Xuzhou now, I will not have lived this life in vain."
Tao Qian nodded in agreement with Mi Zhu's plan and immediately ordered two letters to be prepared, one addressed to Beihai Governor Kong Rong and the other to Tian Kai in Qingzhou. He stepped forward, scanning the crowd with a solemn yet determined voice. "This mission concerns the survival of Xuzhou; who is willing to go to Qingzhou for help?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a tall figure stepped forward confidently and clasped his hands in salute, responding loudly, "I am willing to go!"
All eyes turned towards this person. The newcomer was tall and slender, with a lean face that revealed wisdom and determination. Someone whispered in surprise, "Isn't this Chen Deng from Guangling?"
Tao Qian carefully examined the newcomer and showed a hint of relief. "Yuan Long, I have heard of your intelligence and deep loyalty. Since you are willing to go, I entrust this important task to you, but you must act cautiously and bring back Tian Kai's army as soon as possible."
Chen Deng clasped his hands and accepted the mission. "My Lord, rest assured; I will not fail in my duty!" He then took the letter and turned to leave with determined strides.
After sending off Chen Deng, Tao Qian handed another letter to Mi Zhu and said earnestly, "Mi Zhu, this journey to Beihai is equally perilous, but Kong Wenju is a descendant of great scholars; he may lend us his support. It all depends on your words."
Mi Zhu accepted the letter with a deep bow. "My Lord, do not worry; I will do my utmost to persuade Kong Taishou."
Once both had set off on their respective missions, Tao Qian gathered everyone together to discuss the defense of the city and began urgent preparations for battle.
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