Chapter 98 The Time Is Ripe

"Drink!"

Yu Jin roared, his blade cleaving into the neck of the enemy soldier before him.

The enemy soldier clutched at his neck, staggering backward as blood spurted from between his fingers, instantly reminding Yu Jin of slaughtering chickens in his childhood.

The soldier swayed, then collapsed heavily to the ground.

Yu Jin raised the ring-pommel sword in his hand, its edge already chipped and worn, almost unusable. That last strike had been a wound inflicted almost purely by brute force.

He stood on the city wall, looking around. The Xu province soldiers had been almost entirely slaughtered. Behind him, Cao Cao's soldiers were climbing up in droves.

The soldiers leaped down from the city walls, cutting down the last few soldiers guarding the city gate, and pulled the gate open.

"The city is breached!"

Cao Cao's soldiers roared, surging into the city like a tide.

Yu Jin sat on the city wall, watching smoke and fire rise within the city, the sounds of crying and screaming never-ending. He suddenly felt a sense of disillusionment.

When Ji Bei Chancellor Bao Xin was alive, things were clearly not like this.

Yu Jin had previously been under Bao Xin's command. Bao Xin was from Yangping in Mount Tai Commandery, while Yu Jin was from Juping in Mount Tai Commandery, the two places separated by only a hundred or so li.

In the first year of Zhongping (184 AD), during the Yellow Turban Rebellion, Bao Xin recruited Yu Jin, and together they campaigned against the Yellow Turbans.

From that time on, Yu Jin had followed Bao Xin, until the third year of Chuping (192 AD), when Bao Xin died in battle to save Cao Cao.

After that, Yu Jin was recommended to Cao Cao and appointed Military Advisor. After attacking Xu province in the fourth year of Chuping, he was appointed Commandant Who Breaches Formations.

Yu Jin knew that Cao Cao had treated him fairly well, but this attack on Mount Tai Commandery caused a great deal of conflict in Yu Jin's heart.

When he saw the Qingzhou soldiers under his command, wielding their blades against the common people of his hometown, Yu Jin felt a sense of bewilderment.

He stood up, looking at the civilians in the city fleeing in all directions, sighed, and felt a sudden wave of fatigue wash over his body.

He turned to look at Cao Cao's main camp. Seeing that Hua County had been breached, the camp gates were wide open. Several units of soldiers who had previously retreated from the siege were now moving out, apparently preparing to massacre the city.

Yu Jin shook his head and was about to descend the city wall when he heard the sound of gongs signaling a retreat from within the main camp!

Several units immediately retreated. Yu Jin quickly ordered his guards to enter the city, ordering the soldiers to first search for enemy troops and temporarily postpone the massacre.

He became suspicious. What had happened?

Before long, a fast horse galloped out of the main camp, ordering Yu Jin to return to camp immediately.

When Yu Jin arrived at Cao Cao's main tent, he found that almost all the strategists and generals were present, and the atmosphere was unusually solemn.

Cao Cao sat at the head of the table, his face gloomy. The bronze plates and wine vessels on the table in front of him had been swept to the ground, and everyone looked uneasy.

At this moment, someone spoke.

Hearing Xi Zhicai's voice, the people in the tent breathed a sigh of relief.

He said, "My lord, do not worry, there is still room to salvage the situation."

"Now Wenruo (Xun Yu) is defending Juancheng, the administrative seat of Yan province, Zhongde (Cheng Yu) has rushed to Dong'a and Fan counties, and Yuan Rang (Xiahou Dun) has returned from Dong Commandery to reinforce Juancheng."

"If these three places are not lost, my lord can quickly summon General Zixiao (Cao Ren), who is still in Jimo, to join forces in the south and return to Yan province to quickly quell the rebellion."

Only then did Yu Jin understand what had happened. Something had happened in Yan province?

And judging from Xi Zhicai's tone, all the cities except these three had been lost?

He was very puzzled. Weren't the gentry clans of Yan province all supporting his lord?

Cao Chun spoke, "This urgent report must be wrong!"

"How could Zhang Miao, the governor of Chenliu, betray my lord!"

Yu Jin was shocked. Zhang Miao had also rebelled?

How was that possible!

Logically speaking, even if he himself rebelled, Zhang Miao would not rebel!

Zhang Miao, one of the Eight Worthies, was from Shouzhang in Mount Tai Commandery, and also a fellow townsman of Bao Xin and Yu Jin.

He had always been on good terms with Cao Cao and had a feud with Yuan Shao. Yuan Shao had once asked Cao Cao to kill Zhang Miao, but Cao Cao had not complied and had instead argued with Yuan Shao.

Moreover, when Cao Cao left to attack Xu province last year, he entrusted his wife to Zhang Miao.

With such a relationship between the two, how could Zhang Miao betray Cao Cao?

Yu Jin's first reaction upon hearing this news was that it was absolutely impossible!

However, looking at the reactions of the people in the tent, this news should be true, otherwise Cao Cao would not be so distraught.

He suddenly thought of the rumors about his lord, and felt quite ironic.

Pei Songzhi's Commentary on Sun Sheng's Miscellaneous Records: When Taizu heard the sound of his tableware, he thought he was plotting against him, so he killed him at night. Afterwards, he said sadly: "I would rather wrong others than have others wrong me!" And so he did.

Now his lord had also been wronged by others.

Xiahou Yuan shook his head and sighed, "Mengzhuo is one thing, but what is going on with Gongtai (Chen Gong)?"

Yu Jin was dumbfounded. Chen Gong had also rebelled?

That was his lord's confidant who had been following him since the beginning of his uprising. What was going on?

Xi Zhicai's expression was solemn, "Gongtai is a big trouble. The key should be on Marquis Wen's body."

As everyone discussed animatedly, Yu Jin finally understood what had happened in Yan province.

Zhang Miao, the governor of Chenliu, and Chen Gong, a strategist under Cao Cao, had welcomed Marquis Wen, Lü Bu, and the gentry clans of various counties in Yan province had responded in droves. Now only three cities remained un-rebelled!

A sentence appeared in Yu Jin's mind: success through the gentry, defeat through the gentry!

Cao Cao's military generals were from the Qiao County group, the civil officials were from the Yingchuan group, and the Yan province gentry clans had not gained any advantage at all, so they would definitely be dissatisfied.

The Yan province gentry clans had supported Cao Cao as the governor of Yan province a few years ago, but now they had betrayed Cao Cao and supported Lü Bu!

This put Cao Cao in an extremely unfavorable situation!

Cao Cao could definitely understand what Yu Jin himself could understand. The key was that there was not enough cake to share.

Yu Jin also had an idea that he dared not say.

Cao Cao killed Bian Rang, a famous man from Chenliu, and took his wife, Lady Huan, as a concubine, which probably aroused public outrage among the scholars of Yan province.

"Zizhi Tongjian"— "Cao Cao heard of it and killed him, along with his wife and children." (Here, "bing" is a verb, meaning to incorporate and merge.)

The current situation is that Cao Cao's army has little food left. To the north, Tian Kai of Qingzhou is leading troops to aid Tao Qian. To the east, Liu Bei of Tancheng, Xuzhou, is leading troops to garrison and resist. Behind him, Lu Bu and Chen Gong are watching intently.

Besieged on three sides!

No, there is also Yuan Shu of Yuzhou to the south.

Surrounded on all sides!

Now, the only safe passage left for Cao Cao's army is to the northwest towards Ji Province. But if they do that, wouldn't they only be able to rely on Yuan Shao and be subordinate to him?

Cao Cao tapped the table and sneered, "Yuan Shao's information is quite accurate. The urgent letter about Lu Bu's rebellion and Yuan Shao's letter advising me to surrender arrived almost at the same time!"

Xi Zhicai sighed inwardly. Yuan Shao chose an extremely vicious time.

Although the chaos in Yan Province should not have been instigated by Yuan Shao, he must have heard some rumors but did not inform Minggong in advance.

If Minggong were in a desperate situation on all sides at this time, it could instead inspire the morale of the soldiers to be of one mind, willing to die and use their lives, and they would be very confident in breaking out a path.

However, Yuan Shao gave Cao Cao a safe way out at this time, and the morale has been greatly weakened.

Since there is a way out, who would dare to risk their lives?

The timing is too good. Yuan Shao has a brilliant strategist planning for him!

Thinking of this, Xi Zhicai shuddered and said in a deep voice, "The content of Yuan Zhoumu's letter must not be leaked!"

Only then did the others react and fall silent. Cao Cao nodded with a calm face: "We will follow Zhicai's advice. Anyone who speaks of retreat will be killed without mercy!"

Cao Ren stood up and said, "Minggong, a decision should be made as soon as possible. If the enemies from all sides encircle us, our army will be in danger."

The others nodded and looked at Xi Zhicai.

Xi Zhicai said, "Xuzhou is not a place that can be taken down in the short term."

"Moreover, the people of Xuzhou are quite hostile to our army. Even if we take it down, we may not be able to hold it."

The others thought of the massacre and thought that this time they had really shot themselves in the foot.

"The current plan," Xi Zhicai said, "is that although there is a rebellion in Yan Province, the rebels in various places should not have gained a firm foothold yet. Now, we should rush back, ignore the three counties of Jibei, Dongping, and Rencheng, and directly enter Jiyin County to relieve the siege of Juancheng, the seat of Jiyin. This is the best strategy!"

Only then did the others wake up as if from a dream. Juancheng is where the families of Cao Jun's soldiers are located. If it is lost, everyone will be in panic, a large number of deserters will appear, and with low morale, Cao Jun will collapse without a fight, and there will be no need to fight!

Cao Cao listened and praised, "Zhicai is indeed my backbone!"

He suddenly stood up and said, "The whole army will break camp and rush back to Juancheng at full speed!"

One army after another rushed out of Cao Jun's camp, like long dragons, leaving Taishan County and heading towards Jibei County.

Yu Jin was responsible for the rearguard. He gathered the soldiers within Hua County to return, and many of the soldiers under his command were indignant and cursed in low voices.

They finally captured the city, but before they had time to massacre and loot, they gave up like this?

Yu Jin also knew that this would have a great impact on morale, but for some reason, he felt a lot more relaxed.

With his order, a large number of people followed the direction in which Cao Jun's main force left.

Not long after Yu Jin's army left, two or three people crawled out from their hiding places in Hua County, looked at each other, and felt as if they were in a dream for a long time, unable to believe this inexplicable escape from death.

Before long, smoke of war was everywhere in Yan Province, and Cao Cao's army and Lu Bu's army launched a siege and defense battle around Juancheng.

When the news reached Ye City, Tian Feng picked up a bamboo slip, which read that Tian Kai, the governor of Qingzhou, had sent troops into Jibei County, wanting to cut off Cao Jun's rear, and the defensive strength of Qingzhou was also weakened as a result.

He read it out and said to Yuan Shao, "Congratulations, Zhoumu, the time to attack Qingzhou has come."

Guo Tu took another bamboo slip and said to Yuan Shao, "The eldest son is indeed extraordinary. He has only been in Beixin City for a short time, and he has already taken the neighboring Fanyang and Rongcheng."

Yuan Shang laughed and said, "Big brother is indeed extraordinary. In less than two months, he has completely reversed the situation in Zhuo County, which has not changed for three years."

His mentality is already somewhat unbalanced. These words are clearly sarcastic about Yuan Xi's inaction for three years.

Yuan Xi didn't care. Yuan Tan, the eldest brother, was really kind. Taking down the two cities in Zhuo County really helped him a lot.

After Yuan Tan suffered setbacks from Gongsun Zan and Tian Kai, he did not insist on saving face and wanting a fair duel. Instead, he decisively transferred 5,000 of the 20,000 troops facing Tian Kai in Qingzhou to Beixin City.

Gao Lan returned to Yuan Tan's command. He claimed to have scouted the enemy's situation at night and was knocked down into the valley by the enemy, and was later rescued by the mountain people.

Although Yuan Tan knew there was something fishy, after Yuan Xi wrote a letter to explain, Yuan Tan began to pretend to be confused.

With Gao Lan, and with the cooperation of Qu Yi and Zhao Yun, Yuan Tan gathered all his troops, forced back Tian Yu, who was leading the White Horse Volunteers, and then first broke Rongcheng to the south, and then took Fanyang to the east.

In this way, the mobilization space of Gongsun Zan's army was greatly compressed, and a safe passage was opened between You and Ji.

Yuan Xi was not envious. More soldiers means more confidence. Even if his hundreds of soldiers are all armored, they can only fight in the field. In the end, the siege still depends on the number of people and equipment.

Yuan Shao was in a good mood. He said, "Qingzhou is empty, it is indeed a great opportunity."

He turned to Yuan Xi and said, "Xianyi, you will temporarily take the position of prefect of Zhuo County, and I will allocate 2,000 soldiers to you. First, join up with Xiansi in Pingyuan, Qingzhou, and destroy Tian Kai!"

As soon as these words came out, Yuan Shang broke down again.