Chapter 403

Chapter 403

Can a strategist not ascend the throne? Final Volume: The Rise and Fall of Kingdoms, Unification of the World, Chapter 403: The Arrow of Dawn

Belonging to the book:


Can a Strategist Not Ascend the Throne?

Chapter 403: The Arrow of Dawn…

The claim that one can achieve great things by being devoted to the Han dynasty is just Yuan Shao’s nonsense.

However, at this moment, sending troops is undoubtedly more in line with Yuan Shao’s interests than delaying.

Although the current situation does not meet his expectations, the principle of “time waits for no one” has become deeply ingrained in him after losing land and people due to Qiao Yan’s interference.

Delaying further, no one can guarantee that more soldiers won’t be sent to Yanzhou from Yingchuan or Hulao Pass. It’s better to make a decisive move first.

After all, the attitude of the noble families in Yanzhou has been made clear in their recent conversations with Yuan Shao.

Xu You has also observed and verified from the side, confirming that they genuinely see Yuan Shao as their savior.

Now, Zhong Yao has come to deliver a message from Chen Gong, and even showed an unusually friendly attitude upon seeing Yuan Shao…

This further reveals the attitude of the noble families from Ru and Ying towards Yuan Shao.

Neither Qiao Yan nor Cao Cao can satisfy the interests of the noble families like Yuan Shao, which becomes a crucial factor in turning the tide.

Thus, sending troops now is certainly feasible!

“Doesn’t this situation resemble the Suanzao Alliance back then?” Guo Jia asked, sitting in the military tent.

Cao Cao was about to ask why Guo Jia made such a comparison when he suddenly realized it indeed bore some resemblance.

The Suanzao Alliance back then was formed to oppose Dong Zhuo in Luoyang, with Lu Zhi as the alliance leader. However, Yuan Shao’s noble background gathered a group of followers around him, and even the absurd request to borrow grain from Qiao Yan was his idea.

Now, he has once again united the various forces gathered in Yanzhou, painting a promising future with little actual combat strength.

Guo Jia laughed, “What’s more interesting is that during the Suanzao Alliance, the former Prefect of Dong Commandery preferred to follow Yuan Shao’s orders rather than ally with his own kin. The same situation is happening now.”

The former Prefect of Dong Commandery was none other than Qiao Yan’s relative, Qiao Xuan’s nephew Qiao Zhao, who followed Yuan Shao in battle but died at Hulao Pass.

Today, the Qiao family of Liang is prominently present in Yuan Shao’s army heading to Yongqiu.

Cao Cao was unaware of this, but Guo Jia had already gathered information on the participants of “Yuan Shao’s Alliance” and informed him.

Hearing this analogy, Cao Cao couldn’t help but feel frustrated.

What are the Qiao family thinking?

Although Qiao Yan has distanced herself from them since becoming Grand Marshal, as long as Yanzhou is under the Chang’an court’s control, wouldn’t the Qiao family members be treated fairly if they stood in court based on their talents?

Moreover, the daughters of Qiao Rui and Qiao Zhao have shifted from the Suiyang Qiao family of Liang to the Leping Qiao family, isn’t that a signal?

Ultimately, clan affiliation depends on Qiao Yan’s attitude.

Back then, they were denied kinship with Qiao Yan due to their arrogance, but now they could regain their position through their own efforts.

Yet, today they see Yuan Shao as their savior to reclaim their status, which is no different from severing ties completely.

Thinking this, Cao Cao felt relieved about his own family relations.

In this precarious situation, he saw Xiahou Yuan and Cao Ren following Man Chong’s reasonable arrangements, while Cao Ang and Cao Hong defended the camp, far wiser than the foolish Qiao family of Liang.

However, there’s no need to boast about this now, as a large clan might not be a good thing for surrendered officials. Once Yanzhou is settled, they might be dispersed across the nine, or rather, eleven provinces, to fit Qiao Yan’s control.

Cao Cao simply asked, “By the way, what does His Majesty think of their arrangements?”

Guo Jia replied, “His Majesty has stated that those who resist stubbornly will die.”

This statement offers no special treatment for the Qiao family of Liang.

But one can’t blame Qiao Yan for being ruthless.

If any other family had such a leading figure who ascended the throne during the Han dynasty’s decline, they wouldn’t have drawn such clear boundaries.

Now that Yanzhou’s situation requires military action to quell the chaos, why show special mercy?

Cao Cao understood and replied, “Then let’s handle it impartially.”

On the day Zhong Yao was sent out, Cao Ren in Dingtao noticed Yuan Shao’s advance.

Yuan Shao’s rare display of initiative was evident here.

After deciding to march to Yongqiu, Yuan Shao led the noble families’ forces across Daye Lake via Shouzhang and Juye, reaching Changyi in Shanyang.

Changyi is not far from Dingtao.

Connected by the Ji River, if Yuan Shao sought convenience, he would pass through Dingtao and head to Chenliu, then Yongqiu.

But Cao Ren made no move.

In the dark night, he watched Yuan Shao’s march from afar, his expression calm yet stern.

It wasn’t time to act yet.

The noble families under Yuan Shao were mostly in place, but with the troops stationed here, even if they caught Yuan Shao off guard, it wouldn’t be enough to annihilate him.

They needed to lure him further into a trap, completely encircled.

In Guo Jia’s orders to Cao Ren, there was a special arrangement:

He didn’t need to pretend to be a bribed general welcoming Yuan Shao’s mixed forces. He only needed to hold the city gates, keeping them closed.

He didn’t even need to reveal who was defending the city or raise any false banners.

“Incredible,” Cao Ren murmured, watching the disappearing troops. “Yuan Shao didn’t attack the city to secure the towns along the way.”

But this wasn’t surprising.

If Guo Jia were to explain, he’d say the best way to lure the enemy isn’t to give them a clear path, making them suspicious.

Instead, making them pause halfway uses clever force.

Previously, Yuan Shao passed through Juye and Changyi, where the noble families’ assistance made the local officials turn a blind eye to their taking military supplies, almost welcoming a new ruler.

Dingtao, however, was a different story.

With its gates closed, Dingtao seemed like a dead city except for the soldiers on the walls.

Seeing Yuan Shao’s displeasure, someone in the group suggested, “Most noble families in Yanzhou don’t reside in Jiyin. The local powers in Chengshi, Juyang, and Dingtao are strong, and the gentry disdain them. We don’t know the situation in Dingtao.”

“If the Grand General is dissatisfied and thinks we should attack city by city, let’s take Dingtao tonight. It’s in the heart of Yanzhou and Yuzhou, with few defenses. Taking it shouldn’t be hard.”

But to his surprise, Yuan Shao rejected the suggestion.

Looking at Yuan Shao’s face, there was no sign of displeasure.

Yuan Shao said, “No need, let’s bypass Dingtao tonight.”

Yuan Shao felt these private soldiers lacked capability, especially compared to the Gao family in Chenliu. If they caused trouble attacking Dingtao, it might push Chen Gong to side with Cao Cao, causing bigger problems.

Yuan Shao thought keeping Dingtao’s gates closed without hindering their march wasn’t a bad thing.

In Yanzhou’s power struggle, not everyone would bow to him upon hearing his name, nor would everyone think the noble families’ mobilization was to help Cao Cao rather than challenge his authority.

Sending troops without the governor’s permission is essentially usurpation!

So, some remain loyal to Cao Cao, some follow the noble families’ command, and some prefer to stay neutral, waiting for the “Governor of Yanzhou’s” orders. Isn’t that understandable?

Of course!

Once the dust settles, even if they want to remain loyal, they can’t resist the tide.

Among the counties Yuan Shao passed, only Dingtao showed such peculiar behavior, indicating Cao Cao had lost control over most of Yanzhou. Perhaps only Dong Commandery fully obeyed him, which isn’t bad news.

Chenliu, controlled by Zhang Miao for years, also wouldn’t belong to Cao Cao. What’s there to worry about?

Thinking this, Yuan Shao’s rejection at Dingtao didn’t deter him but strengthened his resolve to fight at Chenliu!

After bypassing Dingtao, the troops marching at night seemed less like a disorganized private army and more like a proper military. They rested briefly in a small town west of Dingtao before heading to Yongqiu as Chen Gong intended.

However, the previous night march didn’t mean a swift advance.

Yuan Shao even paused near Jiyang on the way west along the Ji River.

“Aren’t we attacking Yongqiu quickly?” Zhong Yao questioned Yuan Shao’s slow strategy. “Grand General, don’t forget that the power shift in Yanzhou mustn’t give the Chang’an court an opportunity. If Yanzhou is lost, what’s the point of our actions?”

Seeing Yuan Shao’s signal, Xu You stepped in front of Zhong Yao, “Master Zhong, don’t be angry. Let me ask you two questions.”

“From your perspective, how long would it take to breach Yongqiu’s gates with these soldiers?”

Zhong Yao frowned, looking around at the soldiers, his expression growing more troubled.

He clearly knew these hastily assembled troops were at best fillers, hardly effective in攻城略地.

Perhaps the Yingchuan troops in Yongqiu had already moved north, engaging Cao Cao, leaving few defenders. But if they could still fight, wouldn’t this army crossing half of Yanzhou to Chenliu become the enemy’s morale booster?

“Another point, Master Zhong, you must have heard ‘to secure the outside, first settle the inside’? If Chen Gong’s guess isn’t wrong, and Cao Cao has indeed allied with the伪朝 forces to harm Zhang Miao, to keep Yanzhou, we must first eliminate the traitors.”

“By slowing our march slightly, letting Cao Cao hear of our reinforcements, wouldn’t that be enough for Chen Gong to make a judgment?”

Zhong Yao hesitated, then replied, “Then let’s proceed as planned.”

However, Yuan Shao and Xu You were frustrated when they camped near Waihuang for half a day on the way to Yongqiu, without further instructions from Chen Gong.

Seeing Yuan Shao’s impatience, Zhong Yao couldn’t help but say, “Perhaps Luoyang has sent reinforcements to Hulao Pass, leaving them no time to notice our movements. Let me go there to investigate.”

Yuan Shao pondered and agreed to Zhong Yao’s suggestion.

His slow march didn’t mean he wanted to miss this rare chance to bring down Cao Cao.

Without quickly confirming the situation, his seemingly proactive attack on Cao Cao would actually leave him passive.

“Then I’ll trouble Master Zhong. But with the mixed forces and Qiao Yan’s troops active here, for your safety, take more men.”

Accompanying Zhong Yao were members of the Wang family from Shouzhang.

Rather than escorting Zhong Yao to Cao Cao and Chen Gong, it was more like Yuan Shao still doubted Zhong Yao, wanting someone to observe the situation.

Zhong Yao seemed indifferent to this “surveillance,” heading northwest with his men.

But within a day, the Wang family member returned to Yuan Shao in a state of panic.

“Something… something’s happened!”

His terrified expression needed no words. Under Yuan Shao’s gaze, the young man swallowed before saying, “Cao Cao might really surrender to Chang’an. When Master Zhong and I went north to Pingqiu, we saw the city under siege.”

“Under siege?”

“Yes, Cao Cao is outside the city, Zhang Miao and Zang Ba are inside. Cao Cao can’t quickly take the city, and General Zhang can’t break out. The situation…”








The situation has reached a stalemate. Because these two generals appeared on the city walls of Pingqiu, I was able to see clearly.

Yuan Shao quickly asked, “Then where is Chen Gongtai?”

Upon hearing Yuan Shao’s question, the young man’s face grew even more fearful. “I don’t know, but Mr. Yuanchang told me not to enter the military camp yet. He would go in first to gather information. If he could come out, it would mean Chen Gongtai is still safe, and he would inform me of the arrangements. But if he didn’t come out, it likely means he was detained, and I should report to the Grand General immediately.”

“After waiting for a long time without seeing him, I hurried back.”

“Is that all?” Yuan Shao asked coldly.

Zhong Yao’s disappearance at this moment might not be a good sign.

“No… not just that. On our way back, we saw a coffin being transported to Junyi County, all dressed in Yanzhou military attire. Thinking we had more men, we intercepted it.”

“Only after stopping it did we realize that the coffin contained Bian Rang, the famous scholar from Chenliu!”

The young man’s lips trembled with fear. He never expected that what they thought was a sure victory had silently turned into such a dire situation.

Bian Rang’s status meant he was always protected within the military. Unless something extremely unusual happened, how could he have ended up on the battlefield and lost his life?

The only one who could have killed him was Cao Cao!

“Mr. Bian Rang loved banquets. I had met him a few times before and would never mistake him. After sending a few men to escort him back to Junyi, I hurried back.”

He dared not think further.

With Bian Rang dead, what about Chen Gong? And Zhong Yao, who had just returned to the military camp?

How long could Zhang Chao and Zang Hong, trapped in Pingqiu City, hold out?

This sudden turn of events also caught Yuan Shao off guard.

If he were in Ye City, hearing such news, he should have sent troops from Ji Province south while issuing a formal condemnation of Cao Cao in the name of the Ye court. But now, he was in Chenliu, leading a force composed of private soldiers from noble families.

How could he respond to this crisis in the usual way?

He could choose to retreat while Cao Cao was besieging Pingqiu. At least, if Cao Cao hadn’t noticed their arrival, their departure wouldn’t cause any commotion.

But Yuan Shao knew that if he made such a decision, the noble families of Yanzhou who still supported him would not just be disappointed. By tomorrow, his cowardice would be known throughout the provinces.

Given Qiao Yan’s tendency to publish everything in the Leping Monthly Report, Yuan Shao had no doubt about how quickly this news would spread.

And that was just the smallest of the consequences.

Could he really accept Yanzhou and Yu Province falling into Qiao Yan’s hands?

No, absolutely not!

He especially couldn’t accept such an outcome when he had already arrived in Yanzhou.

Yuan Shao’s repeatedly wounded pride was now fully ignited in this predicament.

After temporarily settling the young man from the Shouzhang Wang family and strictly ordering him not to contact anyone else, Yuan Shao turned to Xu You and said, “I plan to launch a surprise attack on Pingqiu City.”

He spoke with determination, not seeking Xu You’s opinion as he had before.

Yuan Shao continued, “We both know that if Zhang Menggao and Zang Ziyuan are already trapped in the city, once Cao Mengde mobilizes troops from Dong Commandery to march south, they will have no chance to counterattack. They will either be trapped to death or die when the city falls. The only opportunity is now, when the forces on both sides are not too imbalanced. Someone must attack the city now, open a breach, and give those inside a chance to break out!”

If Zhang Chao and Zang Hong were incompetent, Yuan Shao might not have made this decision.

But they were not. With Zhang Miao dead and Cao Cao launching a siege against them, would they really ignore the opportunity Yuan Shao’s rescue offered?

Yuan Shao understood this logic, and so did Xu You.

But for some reason, when Xu You thought of the news brought back from Pingqiu, he felt an indescribable unease.

This made him somewhat resistant to Yuan Shao’s plan to advance.

However, seeing Yuan Shao’s warning glance, clearly not wanting him to continue this attitude, Xu You suppressed his expression and said, “If you truly intend to proceed with this plan, it’s fine. But in this surprise attack, you are not… Please do not charge at the forefront.”

Yuan Shao’s face darkened for a moment.

He knew exactly what Xu You had omitted in that suspicious pause.

Xu You meant that Yuan Shao was not Qiao Yan.

But considering the risks Xu You had taken to accompany him to Yanzhou, Yuan Shao held back his rebuke.

Forget it, if he couldn’t match her in this aspect, so be it. He would prove himself after dealing with Cao Mengde!

Convincing the other factions present was much easier for Yuan Shao than convincing Xu You.

Yuan Shao still had a way out, but they did not.

The news of Bian Rang’s death, Zhang Miao’s death, and Zhang Chao and Zang Hong being trapped seemed to have set a precedent for their own fates. Unless they had the power to move mountains or ascend to immortality, instantly relocating their families to Ji Province, they had to face reality.

They hadn’t even made a move, and Cao Cao had already begun purging the noble families of Yanzhou!

If they could attack the military camp outside Pingqiu City, allowing the defenders inside to break out and coordinate an inside-outside attack to defeat Cao Cao, even if it meant significant losses, it would be better than everyone dying.

Yuan Shao, the Grand General, had not withdrawn but decided to fight alongside them for a chance to turn the tide, which boosted their confidence.

By dusk, they had reached the vicinity of Pingqiu City and hid in a nearby valley.

The scouts who went ahead brought back news almost identical to what the young man from the Shouzhang Wang family had reported.

Cao Cao’s troops were at the gates of Pingqiu, and the defenders inside couldn’t break through the surrounding defenses.

Fortunately, Cao Cao didn’t have too many men, some of whom seemed to be mere fillers, creating the illusion of a large force.

“Cao Mengde’s ability to block the two generals’ breakout is closely tied to the numerical advantage of these soldiers. But the two generals on the city walls couldn’t see the difference, while we, observing from below, could spot some anomalies.”

Xu You drew on the map before him, indicating a route from their current position to the gates of Pingqiu. “Before dawn, when the camp’s defenses are weakest, we will strike from here!”

Cao Cao seemed to have focused all his attention on the Pingqiu defenders, not even scouting the surroundings, perhaps thinking that in Chenliu, with Zhang Miao and Bian Rang dead, and Zhang Chao and Zang Hong trapped, no one could stop him.

But in Yuan Shao’s view, this arrogance would soon teach him a harsh lesson, showing him how victory could slip away at the last moment!

As the faint light before dawn arrived, Yuan Shao, mounted on his horse, pointed in the direction Xu You had chosen as the breakthrough point and shouted, “Advance!”

If he remembered the lesson Gongsun Zan had once learned, he would know that such a seemingly surefire surprise attack might not go as smoothly as he hoped.

But in his mind, Youzhou was now just a memory of Lü Bu and others who had once kidnapped Gao Lan. He no longer remembered the battle Gongsun Zan and Tadun had fought against Zhang Liao.

All his focus was now on the present.

They were already close to Cao Cao’s military camp.

When the commotion of their charge alerted the camp in the early morning, Yuan Shao’s vanguard cavalry had already reached the outskirts of the camp.

He had finally selected a few skilled horsemen with decent combat abilities to lead the charge, hoping they would make a strong impact.

The noble families’ private soldiers, with their superior weapons, did not disappoint Yuan Shao’s expectations.

Relying on this advantage, they broke through the outer defenses and stormed into the camp.

The soldiers Xu You had judged to be mere fillers were in complete chaos in the face of this sudden attack. Even when the charging cavalry set fires in the camp to signal the city defenders, they only scrambled to grab their weapons and flee.

As the rear cavalry’s blades were about to strike them, they tumbled into the surrounding tents, seeking shelter in the dim light.

In the chaotic battle, Yuan Shao couldn’t tell how many enemies his soldiers had killed. He only gave the order to attack when the vanguard successfully set the fires.

These private soldiers, inexperienced in battle, were emboldened by the vanguard’s success and charged into the camp with newfound courage.

Zang Hong, who had been taking turns with Zhang Chao to keep watch for any sudden attacks, stood on the city walls and couldn’t miss the commotion.

From the walls of Pingqiu, the trail of fire seemed to tear a vivid gap in the dark mass of the camp below, spreading rapidly to both sides.

Seeing this, Zang Hong gripped his sword tightly.

The clashing of weapons below completely dispelled his drowsiness.

This couldn’t be a ruse by Cao Cao to force them out of the city.

The situation for him and Zhang Chao was far worse than what Yuan Shao and the others had observed.

Cao Cao no longer had Chen Gong as his strategist, but he had Guo Jia, who should have been at Hulao Pass, planning this battle with him.

In a situation where victory was already within reach, why would they let their subordinates suffer such unnecessary losses?

This must be the noble families of Yanzhou, whom Chen Gong had contacted earlier, coming to their aid after realizing the situation in Chenliu.

This aid…

Couldn’t have come at a better time!

If they could seize this opportunity to break out, even if they couldn’t counter Cao Cao, they at least had a chance to escape.

He hurried down from the city walls and began mobilizing the defenders. Soon, Zhang Chao also arrived, having heard the commotion.

After hearing Zang Hong’s quick assessment, Zhang Chao nodded and said, “I trust you. Let’s break out together!”

If they couldn’t break out, they would eventually be captured by Cao Cao and face certain death.

If the commotion outside was a trick by Cao Cao, breaking out would also mean certain death.

Either way, death awaited them. So why not choose the option that offered a glimmer of hope?

Following the orders of these two decision-makers, one of Pingqiu’s city gates opened, and the defenders charged toward Yuan Shao’s forces, aiming to break through Cao Cao’s camp.

This should have been a time when people were still drowsy.

But beneath Pingqiu, with the entry of another force, the battle grew even fiercer.

The fires set by Yuan Shao’s troops grew stronger, but even more intense was the will to survive burning in the hearts of Zang Hong’s men.

They charged toward the flames at a speed faster than usual, hoping to escape through the narrow opening.

The shifting shadows and the unclear vision in the dim light did not hinder their steps.

They had to be faster than the enemy.

Their opponents also moved, blocking their path.

This might not be the best time for battle, but it was the time they had to act!

If someone could view this chaotic battlefield from above, they would see a scene like boiling oil in a wok.

In this picture where everyone seemed to be moving for their own purposes, only one person remained motionless.

But he was not simply still.

He had been on the watchtower of the military camp all night.

His statue-like state made people think no one was up there.

When the flood of soldiers poured out of Pingqiu City and into the camp, he finally, in the dim light, slowly drew his bow, nocked an arrow, and aimed it in a certain direction.

Six years ago in Jing Province, an arrow he fired had killed Sun Jian, who was attempting to march north.

Today, his hand, long unused in battle but still trained, remained steady.

The taut bowstring seemed frozen for a moment.

But the next moment, everything in Huang Zhong’s hands came alive.

The man was alive, the bow was alive, and the arrow he released was alive!

Amid the chaos of arrows flying in the battle, he clearly saw the trajectory of his arrow and knew it would not miss.

The arrow, with the speed and force of thunder, pierced Zang Hong’s throat.

The Yanzhou general clutched his neck but couldn’t stop the fatal strike.

Before he could even join forces with Yuan Shao’s army, he fell from his horse, lifeless.

As he hit the ground, urgent drumbeats suddenly rang out.

Yuan Shao, startled, looked around and saw the sea of fire they had ignited now clearly separated from the rest of the camp by two distinct lines.

Around the tents in the half-light, countless torches lit up like countless eyes.

Each pair seemed to be looking in his direction.

He no longer had the luxury to care about Zang Hong’s fate.

A terrible thought had completely taken over his mind—

Damn it, we’ve been tricked!