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Inside the tent of Li Jue and Guo Si, the light was bright, but both men wore dark expressions, their anger rising. A scout reported that Cao Cao's army had arrived, and the soldiers felt an increasing pressure. Guo Si gritted his teeth and said, "Cao Cao has come from afar; although his troops are elite, they must be weary. We should strike quickly to seize their momentum and achieve a great victory!"
Standing nearby, Jia Xu appeared calm despite the tension. He stepped forward and clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, advising, "Generals, do not underestimate the enemy. Cao Cao's troops are skilled and fierce, marching like thunder. We are low on supplies and have no reinforcements; engaging in direct combat may lead to disaster. It would be wiser to send envoys to seek surrender, preserving our lives for future plans."
Upon hearing this, Li Jue's fury ignited, and he slammed his hand on the table, rising abruptly. "How dare you dampen our morale!" He drew his sword from his waist, glaring fiercely at Jia Xu with a cold voice. "You treacherous rat seeking glory at the expense of your lord should be executed!"
Jia Xu sneered and replied unhurriedly, "General, refusing to heed wise counsel will surely lead to regret." The oth second brother nerals sensed the escalating situation and hurriedly stepped forward to restrain Li Jue.
That night, Jia Xu rode out alone into the darkness and returned to his homeland.
***
The next day, Cao Cao's army faced off against Li Jue and Guo Si on the plain. As dawn broke, the two armies stretched for miles, banners fluttering in the wind amidst a palpable atmosphere of bloodshed. Although Li Jue's forces were numerous, their formation was chaotic and morale low.
Cao Cao stood atop a hill, surveying the enemy lines with piercing eyes. He turned to Xu Chu, Cao Ren, and Dian Wei and commanded, "Three hundred iron cavalry will charge into their ranks three times to break their spirit."
The three men clasped their fists in acknowledgment and led the cavalry like fierce tigers into the enemy lines. Xu Chu was the first to plunge into battle, sweeping his long blade across several soldiers who screamed as they fell. He moved through the enemy ranks as if they were unguarded territory, breaking through multiple formations while leading the cavalry in relentless assaults that threw Li Jue's troops into disarray. Cao Ren and Dian Wei followed closely behind, their blades glinting as they carved a bloody path through the enemy.
Moments later, Cao Cao ordered the cavalry to regroup for another assault. In the center of the enemy formation, Li Jue's two nephews, Li Xian and Li Bie, suddenly charged out on horseback, standing boldly in the middle of the battlefield as they shouted fiercely, "Cao Army brats! Who dares fight me?"
Before they could finish speaking, Xu Chu suddenly galloped forward with a roar: "How dare you speak so boldly!" In a flash of steel, Li Xian barely had time to react before he was struck down from his horse. Seeing this, Li Bie turned pale with fear and hastily reined back his horse but accidentally fell from his saddle. Xu Chu showed no mercy as he rushed forward to deliver another blow; both heads rolled onto the ground. He picked up the bloody trophies and returned to present them to Cao Cao.
Cao Cao laughed heartily as he patted Xu Chu on the shoulder. "You truly are my Fan Kuai!"
***
Afterward, Cao Cao personally organized his troops, ordering Xiahou Dun to lead forces from the left flank while Cao Ren took command of the right flank; he himself led the central army with drums sounding in unison. The three armies surged towards Li Jue's position like a tidal wave.
The battlefield echoed with cries of battle as swords clashed against spears; blood splattered everywhere. Cao Cao's soldiers were well-trained and methodically advanced step by step, quickly dividing the enemy formation. The morale of Li Jue and Guo Si's troops collapsed; their ranks shattered as many soldiers dropped their weapons and fled in panic.
Cao Cao's gaze turned icy as he drew his treasured sword and rode to the front lines with a commanding voice: "Leave no one alive; pursue them relentlessly!"
The Cao Army pursued with all their might while Bandit Troops lay dead across the field; countless surrendered. Li Jue and Guo Si fled in disarray, their armor askew like lost dogs before finally disappearing into the deep mountains without a trace.
As night fell, the flickering lights within the tent of Yang Feng and Han Xian outside Luoyang City cast shadows on their faces. The two men sat at the table, their expressions contrasting sharply. Yang Feng gripped his wine cup tightly, his brow furrowed as he murmured, "Cao Cao has achieved great success, holds military power, and has the Emperor's trust. Our situation... is likely dire."
Hearing this, Han Xian set down his cup and replied solemnly, "We both know what kind of person Cao Cao is. He appears humble on the surface but is deeply scheming; how could he allow us to share power? If we remain in Luoyang, we will surely become thorns in his side sooner or later."
Yang Feng let out a cold laugh, frustration evident in his tone. "We risked our lives to protect the Emperor, leading to our current position, yet now we are being constrained by him. How can we endure this?"
After a moment of silence, Han Xian suddenly proposed, "Why not take advantage of Cao Cao's current instability? We could petition the Emperor under the pretext of pursuing Li Jue and Guo Si, requesting to mobilize our troops away from Luoyang and station them in Daliang."
Yang Feng's eyes brightened slightly but then furrowed again. "This plan is feasible, but if Cao Cao discovers our intentions, might he use that as an excuse to mobilize against us?"
Han Xian replied decisively, "If we do not leave Luoyang soon, when he decides to act, we won't even have a chance to fight back. Once we reach Daliang with our forces intact, even if Cao Cao moves against us, we will not be caught off guard."
Yang Feng pondered for a moment before finally nodding. "Let’s proceed as you suggest. But how should we word the petition so that Cao Cao does not suspect our true intentions?"
Han Xian smirked. "We will state that it is for the purpose of completely exterminating the remnants of Li Jue and Guo Si and pursuing them to Daliang. This reason is perfectly legitimate; Cao Cao will have no grounds to object."
***
The next morning, Yang Feng and Han Xian entered the palace to meet Emperor Han Xian Di, kneeling respectfully before him. Yang Feng spoke up, "Your Majesty, although Li Jue and Guo Si have been greatly defeated, their remaining followers are not yet eradicated. We wish to lead our troops to Daliang to completely eliminate them and restore peace to the realm."
Upon hearing this, Han Xian Di pondered for a moment before a hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes. "Both generals are loyal to the country; I am greatly comforted by this. In that case, your request is granted!"
Han Xian and Yang Feng bowed deeply in gratitude before turning to exit the palace, unable to hide their relief. They understood that this step away from Luoyang was not only a means of evading Cao Cao's influence but also a chance for them to seek survival.
As their troops broke camp and departed, Luoyang City gradually faded into the morning light behind them, while their future loomed ahead like a misty road filled with uncertainty and danger.
One day, Han Xian Di sent an envoy to Cao Cao's camp summoning him to the palace for discussions. When the envoy arrived, Cao Cao was busy handling military affairs within his tent. Upon hearing the announcement, he immediately rose to greet him with open arms. "The envoy has traveled far; please come in and rest for a while."
The visitor entered the tent with composure; he was handsome and appeared healthy—his rosy complexion starkly contrasting with the prevailing famine around them. Cao Cao scrutinized him closely and thought to himself: "The common people are suffering from displacement; officials and soldiers alike look pale and haggard, yet this man appears vibrant and well—truly strange."
Cao Cao smiled slightly and spoke with a hint of probing in his tone: "Currently in Dongjun there is great famine; everyone is suffering from hunger. May I ask how you maintain such good health?"
The man replied unhurriedly with cupped hands: "It’s nothing special; I've simply maintained a light diet for over thirty years."
Cao Cao listened, secretly nodding in admiration. "It is indeed rare for someone to hold steadfast like you," he remarked, then asked, "May I inquire your esteemed name and current position?"
The envoy replied, "I am a humble man from Dingtao in Jiyin, surnamed Dong, named Zhao, styled Gongren. I was originally engaged by Yuan Shao and Zhang Yang. Upon hearing that the Emperor has returned to the capital, I came to pay my respects and have been appointed as a Regular Official."
Upon hearing this, Cao Cao was overjoyed. He quickly rose from his seat, clasped his hands in salute, and said, "I have long heard of the esteemed name of Duke Dong. It is truly a blessing to meet you today!" He immediately ordered his attendants to prepare a banquet to show his hospitality and summoned Xun Yu to arrange for the two to meet and discuss the current situation.
As the feast was in full swing, a personal guard came to report, "My lord, just now a group of horsemen has left the camp heading east. They seem to be in a hurry, but we do not know their origins."
Cao Cao furrowed his brow, setting down his wine cup. He turned to the generals beside him and commanded, "Quickly investigate who these horsemen belong to."
At that moment, Dong Zhao spoke calmly, "That must be Yang Feng and Bai Bo, form second brother nerals of Li Jue. They do not wish to remain with the Prime Minister out of suspicion and have thus led their troops to Daliang."
Cao Cao sneered coldly, a glint of frost flashing in his eyes. "Do they think that I, Cao Cao, cannot tolerate them?"
Dong Zhao shook his head with a smile. "They are merely short-sighted fools. The Honorable Duke is wise and formidable; there is no need to be angered by such small-minded individuals."
Hearing this, Cao Cao's expression lightened slightly as he asked again, "Li Jue and Guo Si have fled into the mountains; if they manage to catch their breath, could they become a future threat?"
Dong Zhao raised his wine cup and smiled gently. "Those two thieves are like tigers without claws or birds with broken wings—without anyone to assist them and running out of ammunition and provisions; it is only a matter of time before they are captured by the Honorable Duke. There is nothing to worry about."
Upon hearing this, Cao Cao laughed heartily and raised his cup in invitation. "Duke Dong's words resonate with my heart! It truly feels like fate that we meet today." Inside the tent, everyone drank and chatted merrily as the atmosphere gradually lightened with Cao Cao's laughter, further boosting his confidence in controlling the current situation.
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