Chapter 76: The Enemy Arrives

Wailing echoed through the valley.

"Kill!"

At the foot of a mountain in Chengde County, Huainan Commandery, Cao Xin led over one hundred seventy Langya cavalry in a charge against more than five thousand bandits.

These groups of bandits had entrenched themselves between Huainan and Lujiang, frequently pillaging villages and sometimes joining forces to besiege county towns, growing ever more audacious.

After taking office, Cao Xin instructed Liao Hua and Chen Lan to set up multiple barricades, forcing the bandits down the mountain, gathering them together to annihilate them.

Bang!

Riding his black stallion, Cao Xin and his Langya cavalry plunged straight into the midst of the bandits, smashing through their central ranks like a storm, capturing their leaders in one fell swoop.

The other bandits, seeing their chief slain, scattered in terror.

"Lay down your weapons!"

"Surrender and you shall not be killed!"

Liao Hua led more than six hundred light cavalry to encircle the bandits from all sides.

Chen Lan blocked their retreat with infantry at strategic points.

Surrounded by blades and spears, over four thousand bandits meekly laid down their arms and lay motionless upon the ground.

"Haha, not bad—another four thousand pioneers for us," Cao Xin said, lifting his metal mask with a smile.

"Liao Hua, follow the old routine: pick out those who are strong, swift, and accurate with the bow. We'll form a new Huainan Mountain Battalion."

"Yes, General!"

Liao Hua went to organize the captives.

"General!"

A young man clad in light armor rode onto the battlefield.

"Zi Shan, what is it?"

This was Bu Zhi, styled Zi Shan—a young scholar with ambition and talent, full of potential. Cao Xin had brought him close, appointing him as a libationer and assistant to Jia Xu.

"General, urgent news. This morning, Qiao Rui, Prefect of Lujiang, led fifteen thousand troops in a fierce assault on Liu'an. He sent envoys requesting your aid," Bu Zhi shouted.

"Fifteen thousand? That's quite the commotion!"

"Come, let us return to the city to discuss!"

With a shout, Cao Xin rode off, taking Bu Zhi and the Langya cavalry into the wilderness.

[Battle ended]

[100 vs. 5,000: Victory, zero casualties. Gained 1 free attribute point.]

[Remaining free attribute points: 1]

—

"Yuan Shao, what's the situation in Danyang?"

Back at the council hall in Shouchun, Cao Xin met Pei Yuan Shao waiting at the door. Behind him stood a scholar in green robes, in his twenties, with a small moustache. Cao Xin glanced at him but paid no special attention.

"General, the Yuan forces in Danyang are gathering, it seems they're planning something big," Pei Yuan Shao reported.

"Haha, Master Wenhe, it seems you were right—Yuan Shu is playing a game of feint. We shall turn his trick to our advantage and play a greater game!" Cao Xin said, standing by the map.

"General, perhaps we should temporarily abandon Lujiang and hold fast to Shouchun. Once the Yuan forces retreat, you can then strike west and seize Lujiang," Jia Xu advised.

"Too slow. We have no reinforcements in Huainan, no support from the local gentry. If Shouchun is besieged, we will face a joint attack from Yuan Shu, Sun Ce, and Liu Biao, and be stabbed in the back by the Huainan aristocrats—beset on all sides. Better to lure them out and catch them all at once!" Cao Xin said, clenching his fist.

Jia Xu bowed, saying no more.

After a while, the generals gathered in the council hall. Cao Xin explained the situation and looked around at his officers.

"Chen Lan, how many troops do you command?"

"General, recently I have recruited over five hundred bandits. I now command four thousand soldiers," Chen Lan replied, clasping his fists.

"Good. Liu'an is besieged. I order you and Yuan Jian to lead your forces in support, depart at once, and do not delay."

"Yes, General!"

---

Chen Lan and Liao Hua bowed and left the hall.

"Da Shi, Old Yu, how many recruits have you gathered?" Cao Xin asked Yu Du and Liu Da Shi.

"General, too few locals volunteer. Da Shi and I have recruited just over five hundred new soldiers, and fewer than twenty are qualified for the Langya new recruits camp," Yu Du replied with a pout.

"Recruit more after the battle. Da Shi, how goes the collection of provisions?"

"General, we offered prices ten percent above market, but few were willing to sell. As per your orders, I announced that the army was short of grain and would forcibly requisition the gentry and merchants' stockpiles. Many quietly moved their grain outside the city to hoard it," Liu Da Shi reported.

"Good. Da Shi, lead the logistics camp and escort our supplies. Secretly join Liao Hua and Chen Lan at Hefei and make camp there immediately."

"Yes, General!"

Liu Da Shi bowed and departed.

Once Liao Hua, Liu Da Shi, and Chen Lan had left with their troops, only a hundred Langya cavalry, fifty guards, over a thousand Langya infantry, six hundred archers under Li Da Yan, and two thousand city defenders remained—a total of just over three thousand.

"General, this is still too risky," Jia Xu said, his brow furrowed, so troubled he forgot to fan himself.

"Haha, Master Wenhe, why not accompany Liu Da Shi to Hefei? Fear not—the logistics camp consists mostly of veteran and wounded soldiers from the infantry and cavalry, their fighting strength is not much less than the infantry," Cao Xin said with a laugh.

Jia Xu hesitated, then clenched his teeth and decided to stay.

Seeing his indecision, Cao Xin could not help but laugh.

"Report!"

A scout from the reconnaissance camp rushed onto the city wall, sounding the long horn.

"General, Black Eagle has sent word—the Yuan forces in Danyang are on the move."

The scout handed over a roll of white cloth.

Cao Xin unfolded it. It contained several brief messages.

The Yuan army numbered thirty thousand—twenty thousand from Danyang, the remaining ten thousand of unknown origin, bearing the banner of the 'Jianghuai Volunteer Army'. All were dressed as bandits, with leather armor beneath, their formations even more disciplined than the Yuan forces.

The scout speculated this force might be reinforcements from Jiangdong or Jingzhou.

"Looks like a tough battle ahead," Cao Xin said, handing the cloth to Jia Xu and instructing the scout to continue investigating the 'Huainan Volunteer Army'.

—

"Report!"

At noon, scouts returned with information: the 'Huainan Volunteer Army' had four leaders, all fully armored and masked, dressed in a manner similar to the Langya cavalry.

The scouts believed two to be Zhou Yu and Kuai Yue, and two others were tall, about nine feet, burly—one likely Zhou Tai, a fierce general under Sun Ce, the other still under observation.

Additionally, scouts discovered many objects in wooden crates in the Yuan army's rear camp, suspected to be secret weapons.

"Zhou Yu? Kuai Yue? Secret weapons? What are these scoundrels up to?" Cao Xin muttered, baffled.

"Send word to Commander Pei: ignore the masked ones, focus on discovering what the secret weapons are."

"Yes, General!"

The scout bowed and departed.

"General!"

Yang Hong and Bu Zhi ascended the city wall.

"Ten thousand citizens have been evacuated; over twenty thousand refuse to leave," Yang Hong reported.

"Let those who won't go remain. Zi Shan, have your family left Shouchun?"

Cao Xin looked at Bu Zhi, recalling the young lady of the Bu family.

"General, they arrived in Hefei yesterday," Bu Zhi replied.

Cao Xin nodded.

Wailing echoed again.

By noon the following day, the vanguard of Yuan Shu's army had reached ten miles outside Shouchun—the vanguard was the 'Jianghuai Volunteer Army', with five thousand troops.

Cao Xin assembled the Langya cavalry, preparing to probe the enemy.

—

"Governor Yang, Zi Shan, I leave the city in your care."

"Yes, General!"

Yang Hong and Bu Zhi bowed in acceptance.

"Yu Du, Da Yan, guard the city walls well—don't let anyone sneak up."

"Yes, General!"

Yu Du and Li Da Yan accepted their orders.

"Old Dian, protect Master Wenhe. If anything happens, evacuate him first."

"Yes, General!"

Dian Wei bowed in acceptance.

"Langya cavalry!"

"Present!"

One hundred seventy-two Langya soldiers shouted in unison.

"Ride out!"

Cao Xin brandished his iron spear and roared.

Thunder rumbled as the southern gate swung open. Cao Xin led his Langya cavalry out of Shouchun.

—

"Report! Strategist! Cao Xin has led the Langya cavalry out of the city, heading toward us!"

In the vanguard camp, a scout ran up to Zhou Yu.

"Cao Xin only brought the Langya cavalry?"

Zhou Yu asked, fanning himself.

"Yes, one hundred seventy-three riders in all," the scout replied.

"Haha, this Cao Xin is arrogant—he thinks the Langya cavalry can conquer the world. Today, I'll make sure he never returns!" Zhou Yu sneered.

"Gongjin, I'll leave Cao Xin to you," Kuai Yue said, bowing.

"Of course. You Ping, Zi Yi, join forces against Cao Xin. If you can kill him, do so on the spot. If not, lure him and the Langya cavalry into our formation and cut them down," Zhou Yu commanded.

"Yes, Strategist!"

Zhou Tai bowed in acceptance.

Taishi Ci hesitated; he originally had no wish to engage in such underhanded business, but having just submitted to Sun Ce, he could not refuse orders.

"Strategist, let me handle Cao Xin alone. I do not need General Zhou's assistance," Taishi Ci said.

Zhou Yu frowned slightly, then smiled. "Zi Yi, Cao Zi Yu is a warrior unmatched in valor, his martial skill not inferior to Lu Bu. Be careful."

"Yes, Strategist!"

Taishi Ci accepted the order.

Kuai Yue hesitated, then added,

"General Taishi, when you meet Cao Xin, do not show mercy and do not listen to his words—stab him with your spear and be done. He is a bandit by origin, rebellious at heart, cunning and depraved, vicious and corrupt. According to Jingzhou spies, Cao Xin's mansion in Xudu is larger than the imperial palace, his carriages are made of pure gold, his house filled with hundreds of beautiful girls for his pleasure. He is a gourmand, fondest of a delicacy called stuffed buns."

Kuai Yue exaggerated the recipe a hundredfold for effect, claiming he used the skin of beauties for the bun, hearts and livers for the filling, and ate dozens at a time.

The listeners were both shocked and disgusted.

"Rest assured, I will personally slay this villain," Taishi Ci said, gripping his spear in anger.

"We leave it to you, General!"

—