Chapter 39 Xun Yu

A moment later, all four generals arrived.

Cao Cao sat back down at his desk and briefly recounted the military discussions held during the day.

Xiahou Dun glared with his single eye: "If my lord wants me to go to Hulao Pass, I'm willing to go! Is Lü Bu some kind of god descended from heaven?"

"I'm not sending you to Hulao Pass," Cao Cao waved his hand. "It's Liu Bei who's going."

Xiahou Dun was taken aback, then his face showed disdain: "Liu Bei? A mere weaver of mats and seller of shoes, why should our lord concern himself with him? What does his death at Hulao Pass have to do with us?"

Cao Cao remained silent.

Cao Ren glanced at Xiahou Dun: "Yuan Rang, during today's military council, Liu Zishan asked about supplies, reinforcements, and retreat routes, and Yuan Shao couldn't answer a single word."

Xiahou Dun frowned: "So what?"

Cao Ren said, "Yuan Shao couldn't answer, not because he was ignorant of military affairs, but because he never intended for Liu Bei to return alive."

Xiahou Dun opened his mouth, but said nothing more.

Xiahou Yuan asked, "Does our lord intend to... lend Liu Bei a helping hand?"

Cao Cao didn't answer, but just stared at him with a grin.

Xiahou Yuan said, "This humble general has a question. My lord and Liu Bei are not related. Moreover, this man raised an army in Youzhou and had a past with Gongsun Zan. He also associated with Sun Jian at the alliance meeting in Suanzao. If he becomes powerful in the future, he may not be a friend of my lord. Why lend a hand now?"

Li Dian said, "General Miaocai is right. Our army is already small, and we have not yet recovered from the losses in the Battle of Xingyang. If we send troops to Hulao Pass, it will not benefit our army, and it may not help Liu Bei either."

Cao Ren said, "I have some understanding of what my lord means."

Having said that, he looked at Cao Cao.

Cao Cao nodded, signaling Cao Ren to continue.

Cao Ren said, "You all only see 'Liu Bei,' but you don't see 'Hulao Pass.' Dong Zhuo relies on three things to occupy Luoyang: first, the troops on the western border; second, the natural defenses of Hulao Pass and Sishui; and third, the bravery of Lü Bu. Now that Sishui is besieged and Hua Xiong has been killed, Dong Zhuo has lost his courage. Hulao Pass is his last fig leaf. If Liu Bei can break through Hulao Pass, he will tear this fig leaf off in front of the world."

Cao Cao smiled upon hearing this.

Cao Ren said, "This tremendous achievement cannot be allowed to go to Yuan Shao. He has no intention of taking it. He intends to use this piece of cloth to suffocate Liu Bei."

The generals seemed to be deep in thought.

Le Jin said, "My lord! But what if Liu Bei really breaks through Hulao Pass..."

"Then let him break through," Cao Cao said. "Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun under Liu Bei are all warriors capable of defeating ten thousand men, which is common knowledge throughout the land. If he defeats Lü Bu and then attacks Luoyang... then... Dong Zhuo will hate him, Yuan Shao will be wary of him, and the other warlords will be on guard against him."

The candlelight reflected in his eyes, flickering uncertainly: "At that time, Liu Bei only had one path to take."

Cao Cao did not specify what that road was.

No one in the tent questioned them further.

Xiahou Dun scratched his head and said in a deep voice, "I'll fight however the lord says. I don't understand all the intricacies."

Cao Cao chuckled.

Just as he was about to speak, the tent flap was lifted a crack, and a guard reported in a low voice:

"My lord, a man has arrived outside the camp. He claims to be Xun Yu of Yingchuan and requests an audience."

Xun Yu of Yingchuan.

Cao Cao suddenly stood up.

He knocked a corner off the silk book on the table, and it fluttered to the ground.

Cao Cao didn't pick up the silk scroll; he simply said one word: "Please."

......

The curtain was lifted.

The man was about thirty years old, dressed in a simple linen turban and plain robe, covered in dust from his journey.

The hem of his clothes was damp with night dew, and the edges of his boots were covered in mud, indicating that he had traveled quite a distance.

But those eyes were as calm as an ancient well.

The man entered the tent and bowed deeply to Cao Cao, saying, "Xun Yu of Yingchuan greets Lord Cao."

Cao Cao had already walked around the desk and placed his hands on Xun Yu's arms: "Wenruo, how have you been?"

Xun Yu straightened up.

Their eyes met, and suddenly they both smiled.

Cao Cao released his grip, took a half step back, straightened his clothes, and then solemnly returned the salute.

This gesture is a way of expressing gratitude.

Xun Yu lowered his head slightly.

All the generals were present in the tent, yet it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Cao Cao straightened up and looked at Xun Yu: "Where did Wenruo come from?"

Xun Yu replied, "At Yuan Shao's place."

Cao Cao did not ask "Why have you come?", but only asked, "How has Yuan Shao treated Wenruo?"

Xun Yu said, "You are an honored guest."

Cao Cao then asked, "Since he is an honored guest, why do you want him to leave?"

Xun Yu lowered his eyes, and after a short while, replied, "Lord Yuan treated me with courtesy, but he did not heed my advice. I once suggested that Dong Zhuo's tyranny was universally resented. We should take advantage of the alliance of the lords, quickly advance to Hulao Pass, and welcome the Emperor back to the capital to rectify the court." Lord Yuan remained silent for a long time, then said, "The various lords are not yet in control; we cannot act rashly." Xun Yu then said that Han Fu of Hebei was weak and incompetent, and Gongsun Zan was brave but lacked strategy. We could gradually take over Ji Province and use it as our base. Lord Yuan was pleased, but asked Xun Yu what strategy he had for this. Xun Yu said, "We should be cautious and wait for the right time, and win over those far away with virtue." Lord Yuan did not answer.

Cao Cao asked, "Wenruo's strategy is the right path. Why didn't Yuan Shao answer?"

Xun Yu said, "Because what he wants is not the right path."

Cao Cao smiled calmly, asked no further questions, slowly sat back down behind the table, and gestured for Xun Yu to sit as well.

Xun Yu thanked him and calmly took his seat.

Cao Cao asked, "Wenruo, do you know what my army lacks?"

Xun Yu said, "Food, armor, and warhorses can be accumulated gradually. I dare say that what Cao Cao's army lacks most are not these."

Cao Cao raised an eyebrow: "What is it?"

Xun Yu said, "A strategist who can persuade Cao Cao not to kill anyone."

The tent fell silent.

Xiahou Dun, his hand on his sword, glared angrily: "You!"

Cao Cao raised his hand to stop him.

Cao Cao looked at Xun Yu without anger, and asked, "How do you know, Wenruo?"

Xun Yu said, "In the Battle of Xingyang, Cao Cao ambushed Dong Zhuo, and although he was defeated, he was still honorable. However, after the battle, Cao Cao killed two hundred deserters."

A cold glint flashed in Cao Cao's eyes.

Xun Yu said, "Deserters should be executed; that is the law of the army. But I have heard that those two hundred men fought on despite their wounds, were captured after exhaustion, and escaped back to their camp under cover of night. They did not desert in the face of battle."

Cao Cao remained silent for a long time before saying, "Wenruo is far away in Ji Province; how could he know such trivial matters?"

Xun Yu said, "Since I have chosen a master, I dare not fail to examine him carefully."

Cao Cao dismissed all his generals, leaving only Xun Yu.

Cao Cao said, "Yuan Shao ordered Liu Bei to go to Hulao Pass alone. Wenruo, do you think this man will return alive?"

Xun Yu lowered his eyes to look at the map of Juanhulao on the table. The mountain ranges, passes, and road markings were more detailed than any military map of the allied forces.

"My lord, who painted this picture?"

Cao Cao said, "Liu Zishan sent someone to deliver it."

Xun Yu nodded, seemingly unsurprised.

"Yu was under Yuan Shao's command. That day, Liu Zishan accompanied Liu Bei into the tent to hand over the grain and fodder. Yuan Shao asked him a few questions."

"Ask him what?"

"When asked why Liu Bei's cavalry had won every battle, Liu Zishan replied: 'It's simply because they trained diligently, ate well, and conserved their strength.'"

Cao Cao said, "This is just a pretext."

Xun Yu said, "Yes. Yuan Shao didn't press the matter. But after I returned, I thought about it for a long time. Liu Bei's army only had a few hundred horses, and only one cavalry general, Zhao Yun. How could Zhao Yun fight Hua Xiong without being at a disadvantage at Sishui Pass? How could the White Feather Camp infantry withstand the onslaught of the Xiliang cavalry? I have no concrete evidence. But I believe that Liu Bei's army is hiding something that others don't have."

Cao Cao said, "Wenruo, please speak freely."

Xun Yu said, "In the Battle of Hulao Pass, Yuan Shao used a borrowed knife to kill. But I believe Liu Bei may not necessarily die."

Cao Cao said, "Because Liu Zishan is here."

"Indeed!" Xun Yu said. "This man helped Liu Bei recruit soldiers, suppress bandits, defeat the Yellow Turbans, kill the inspector, and seize Anxi in Youzhou. He advanced step by step and never made a mistake. Before Sishui Pass, he sent Zhao Yun to escort grain with Sun Jian to save Zu Mao from the blade. When Hua Xiong challenged him to battle, he pushed Guan Yu into the fray and killed him while the wine was still warm. This man's strategy was not found in the court, but on the edge of the blade."

Cao Cao asked, "Does Wenruo believe he has a plan to defeat Lü Bu?"

Xun Yu shook his head: "I don't know. But I do know that if there is anyone in the world who can defeat a large number of enemies with a small force, control cavalry with infantry, and fight Lü Bu with an ordinary body, it must be the formation devised by this person."

Cao Cao gazed at the candle flame, which burned silently.