Chapter 38: A Feast Among the Tigers

A chill ran down Cao Cao’s spine.

Whether it was about seizing territory or competing for victory, if the words hadn’t been spoken, winning or losing wouldn’t matter.

Cao Cao had no need to vie for glory with his own son-in-law.

But now the boasting had already been aired—right in front of Xun You.

“The Marquis of Huaiyin revived...”

If, as Xun You predicted, Chen Cong had indeed stolen the Changzi Commandery, what face would Cao Cao have as a ruler?

Moreover, Chen Cong had been appointed Governor of Bing Province for less than two months, his position far from secure.

With such elite soldiers and valiant generals under him, failing to seize the territory would be a disgrace.

“Xu Chu! Send orders to the armies on both flanks: after capturing the city, halt the advance and redirect to simultaneously attack Changping Pavilion!”

“Yes, sir!”

After issuing the order to Xu Chu, Cao Cao turned to Xun You. “The plan to divert the river to flood the city is too brutal. Does Gongda have another strategy?”

Xun You’s thoughts were as clear as a mirror.

The so-called brutality was nothing more than the lord’s concern for his son-in-law.

Bing Province was harsh and bitter; only Shangdang and Taiyuan Commanderies were relatively prosperous.

The wealth of Shangdang lay in Changzi and Tunliu. Flooding the city would surely destroy its riches.

Xun You pondered briefly. “Victory in battle relies on momentum; swift and unexpected strikes. Since the lord is reluctant to flood the city, it would be better to advance along the river, station troops where the Zhang and Jiang Rivers meet, to create uncertainty.

“First, Zhang Yang fears that the lord will flood the city and would not allow our troops to camp upstream of Zhang and Jiang.

“Second, Zhang Yang also fears that we might bypass Changzi and strike directly at Tunliu; if Tunliu falls, it would threaten Huguan, and if Huguan falls, the armies of Sili and Taiyuan would unite, leaving Changzi isolated and vulnerable.

“At that time, if the lord crosses the river to camp, with the Zhang River at his back, we can annihilate the enemy in the open field. With no way to retreat, they must fight to the death. Perhaps, in one battle, Changzi can be secured.”

At this critical moment, Cao Cao hesitated.

The problem was that Xun You’s methods were too bold.

Leaving aside the idea of flooding the city, Chen Cong had just sent him a pair of exotic beauties; to turn around and flood the richest land in Shangdang now was simply unreasonable.

Luring and annihilating the enemy in the open field had the flavor of a desperate gamble.

Zhang Yang commanded no fewer than thirty thousand seasoned troops, plus the ten thousand Yuan forces led by Yan Liang. Even with defenses scattered across multiple locations, Changzi must have had at least thirty thousand soldiers.

If this battle was lost, all of Cao Cao’s resources would be utterly destroyed.

Or perhaps...

It would be wiser to divide the forces into three routes, systematically subduing the southern counties, gradually eroding Shangdang’s strength—at least a safer bet.

Seeing Cao Cao’s hesitation, Xun You quickly understood his thoughts.

He continued, “Has the lord considered why Yuan Shao’s reinforcements for Shangdang originated from Yecheng?”

“Han Fu is weak and indecisive, and Yuan Benchu’s power is great and oppressive. Stationing troops in Yecheng is no surprise.”

Xun You shook his head. “How can one be calm dividing their forces when bullying with strength? I have often heard that Qu Yi, a great general of Jizhou, is strong, brave, and holds considerable prestige. He has long been disobedient to Han Wenjie’s command. If he now submits to Shao, then Jizhou’s military might is assured. Should the lord delay in Shangdang too long, Sili may be lost.”

***

Cao Cao was greatly alarmed.

If Yuan Shao were still merely the Governor of Bohai, there would be little to fear.

After all, Bohai lay in the northeast corner of Jizhou, separated from Sili by the states of Hejian and Anping, as well as Julu and Wei counties.

But if Yuan Shao seized Jizhou and shifted his center to Yecheng, the situation was entirely different.

Where was Yecheng?

Situated in Wei County, it bordered Shangdang to the west and Henei to the south.

In other words,

If Yuan Shao took advantage of Sili’s weakness to seize Yecheng, he could reach Henei in a day, and Luoyang in half a month.

This was the true reason Cao Cao was reluctant to offend Yuan Shao.

With such a powerful neighbor nearby, any disturbance could cost him his foothold.

What worried him more was that Zhang Yang had already defected to Yuan Shao. If he could not swiftly take Shangdang, then Sili and Taiyuan would be difficult to connect.

Two enclaves under Yuan Shao’s spearhead would be attacked and defeated one by one.

Cao Cao could no longer sit still. Gazing toward Yang’a Weike, he shouted sharply, “Xu Chu! Dian Wei!”

“Your orders, my lord!”

“At your service!”

“Don your heaviest armor! Lead the Tiger Guards to storm the city!”

The two iron towers bowed in unison and replied in gruff voices, “Order received!”

Dian Wei donned his heavy armor, slung a small halberd, carried a long spear on his back, and held a short halberd in hand.

He bowed deeply to Cao Cao and led three hundred Tiger Guards ahead.

Xu Chu, broader in build, was slightly slower.

Once clad in his seventy-pound iron armor, his chest armor clanking loudly, he grasped his blade and led another three hundred Tiger Guards out.

“Lord, please wait. I’ll be right back!”

“Be careful,” Cao Cao cautioned.

“Save that for Chen Zining. I’m not fond of injury.”

Damn fool! Cao Cao glared fiercely at Xu Chu, who had already turned his head away, leaving only a proud nape.

...

The setting sun bled crimson as corpses littered the ramparts of Yang’a.

The city’s commander, Yang Chou, struggled briefly with Le Jin but was caught off guard when the pommel of a crosswise sword struck his cheek.

Overpowered, he ordered his guards to swarm and temporarily repel Le Jin.

He then spat a blood-tinged mouthful at the base of the wall in frustration.

He had thought the short man, less than seven feet tall, was an easy target—but not only had he failed to crush him, he had even lost a tooth.

“General, look!”

Yang Chou angrily withdrew his gaze and looked where the soldiers pointed.

His jaw dropped in shock.

Armored spear-men led by a stout figure marched boldly toward the ramparts under a rain of arrows.

The arrows rang against their armor, sparking but failing to halt their advance.

In moments, they reached the base of the wall and began climbing the ladders.

The fierce man unclasped the pouch at his chest while scaling, and when faced with falling stones, rolling logs, and flaming oil from above, he used his small halberd to kill soldiers on the ramparts.

The whistling halberds could easily shatter bone and skull; when they missed, they struck the battlements with a shower of flying stones.

Upon reaching the top, he appeared like a towering iron pillar beside the seven-foot man, as imposing as Mount Tai among hills.

He seized a long spear and held off dozens of soldiers, pushing over a dozen into the void below with a mighty shove.

Wielding both long and short halberds, he swept away a swath of soldiers with each arc.

Meanwhile, a broad-hipped man on the ground led troops up the wall, clad in heavy armor.

With a forceful kick, he broke the iron ladder.

Enraged and humiliated, he turned away from the siege engines and corpses, charged forward, and shouted as he pushed the cart to the base of the wall.

He then climbed the cart and hacked wildly with his great blade.

Each step he took struck the ground like a heavy hammer beating a drum.

The soldiers’ blades struck his armor with effort, leaving only faint white scratches.

“I am doomed!”

Poor Yang Chou, a latecomer who had not participated in the campaign against Dong and was unfamiliar with Cao Cao’s commanders.

When Zhang Yang ordered him to garrison Yang’a, he had thought he would avoid the legendary Chen Wudi and face only minor soldiers.

Now, seeing the truth, his heart was shattered.

More tragic was that Cao Cao’s army blocked the west side, while the east side of Yang’a faced the Qin River.

Yang Chou wanted to abandon the city but found escape impossible.

As the defenders at Yang’a fell in droves, pressure at the base of the wall eased.

At last, the vanguard general Cao Ren scrambled onto the ramparts, shouting and cursing.

He was ready to make a grand strike for glory.

But then the iron halberd came first.

Before surrender could be pleaded, it cleaved off the head of his helmeted soldier.

The heavy iron blade severed the great banner atop the wall almost simultaneously.

Then,

Dian Wei hung the severed head at his waist, while Xu Chu tore down the flag and tied it to his back.

The first to storm in was Le Jin, the one to slay generals was Dian Wei, and the one to seize the banner was Xu Chu...

Cao Ren’s thoughts spun wildly as he bellowed, “Those who kneel and surrender shall not be killed!”