At this moment, Cao Cao was not in Xu as Liu Bei had expected.
For a chancellor who had commanded troops in person countless times, sitting safely in Xuchang was never his style. Even before Wuyang had fallen, while the front was still locked in stalemate, Cao Cao had already been moving around Yingchuan Commandery, overseeing both battle and logistics. Staying close to the front also meant he could receive reports faster.
Unfortunately, none of the dispatches arriving from the front carried any good news to ease his anxiety.
Since last year, he had tried to retake northern Jing Province. Guan Yu had held the line stubbornly, and the two sides had traded blows again and again. In the end, Cao Cao gathered a massive force and pushed east, hoping to overwhelm Wan City by sheer numbers and drive Guan Yu back to the Xiangfan line.
He had almost succeeded.
But then he realized that he still had never truly understood Guan Yu.
At Baima, Guan Yu had charged through ten thousand men and taken Yan Liang's head. A fierce warrior.
In Jing and Xiang, he maneuvered a navy with ease and launched a surprise strike on Wan. The bearing of a true general.
Later, in the struggle for northern Jing, he unleashed armored cavalry that ruined Cao Cao's plans. By then he could be called a famous commander.
Able to train fleets. Able to raise cavalry in the south. A formidable fighter himself.
No wonder he was Guan Yu.
Admiration was one thing. The failed attempt to retake Jing was another. After witnessing the armored cavalry with his own eyes, Cao Cao could not even consider withdrawing the army stationed along the Jing–Yu border. That region still had mountain barriers and triple passes to hold Guan Yu in check. If those troops pulled back and Guan Yu gained freedom of movement, those armored riders could charge straight to the gates of Xu.
The situation felt like riding a tiger.
But then again, had he not once faced Yuan Shao at Guandu for ten months and swallowed Hebei with a weaker force? If he could do it then, why not now…
He had also discussed the situation with his advisers.
Xun You, bedridden with illness, believed Yu Province might already be beyond saving. As for what to do next, however, the sick strategist had no answer yet. He only said he needed to see the enemy himself once he recovered.
Dong Zhao, Jiang Ji, and Liu Ye held a different view. Liu Bei's army was sitting in Luoyang because he was busy winning hearts and minds, they said. Grain spent feeding the populace must be running low. Any real offensive would have to wait until spring. If Cao Cao wanted a surprise attack, winter snow would be the perfect moment.
On the surface, their reasoning made sense.
Yet Cao Cao felt it was not that simple.
Perhaps he should ask Xun Yu?
Before the defeat in Jing, discussions about elevating him to duke had already begun in private, and that matter had soured his relationship with Xun Yu badly. Then came Xu Shu's return south, and Xun Yu blamed himself. With Cao Cao's tacit approval, he stepped down from his post as Minister of the Secretariat, though he was still forbidden to leave Xu.
But to lower himself and seek Xun Yu's advice…
Before he could settle the matter, the flood of urgent reports in mid-October shattered all hesitation.
Xu Huang from Yan County reported: enemy forces pushed east, taking Wuyang and Xiping. Xiahou Yuan, Cao Ren, and Li Dian were missing, fate unknown.
Cao Xiu from Jia County reported: Zhang Fei had marched south from Yique Pass. Guangcheng Pass and Liang County had fallen in succession. Cao Xiu and Yu Jin would hold Jia County to block Zhang Fei and would not retreat.
Cheng Yu from Shangcai reported: enemy reinforcements reached Wuyin City. General Xue Hong was defeated and killed. Cheng Yu had abandoned Wufang and Quyang and would defend Shangcai to the end.
Wen Pin from Shenyang reported: the enemy had come out in full force. Meng and Anyang were lost. Zhang Liao was missing after defeat, and Cao Zhen's position at Xinxi had gone silent.
From Chen County came a joint report from Zang Ba, Wei Zhen, and from Ruyang, Xiahou Dun and Man Chong: the enemy's main army was advancing north. Xincai, Tongyang, and Gushi had all fallen. They would unite their forces with Xiahou Dun in command to counterattack.
All these dispatches arrived within two days.
The message could not have been clearer.
Liu Bei had launched a massive offensive, and it was moving with terrifying speed.
What Cao Cao could not understand was something else. Losing Wuyang or suffering defeat at Wuyin was one thing. But Guangcheng Pass was a major stronghold. How could it possibly fall after "half a day under thunder from Heaven," as the report claimed?
Even if one placed an eight year old child in command, that pass should not fall in half a day.
And what was this nonsense about heavenly thunder? Was Zhang Jiao reborn?
Then there was the report from Chen County claiming the enemy's main force was advancing north. If that was the main force, then what were the tens of thousands who had crossed the Yi River and taken Yingyang?
After much thought, Cao Cao halted his roaming movements in Yingchuan and stationed his army at Yingyin, west of Xuchang. It lay only one river and fifty li from the recently fallen Yingyang.
With every direction reporting crisis, he could not sit safely in Xu. Yet because every direction was in crisis, he also did not know where to go.
Just two days ago he had been planning how to scrape together more grain and winter clothing, hoping to launch a winter strike on Luoyang and drive Liu Bei back to Guanzhong.
Now Liu Bei was practically at Xu's doorstep.
In such a situation, Cao Cao had few options. He could only rush troop movements, gather supplies, and send out as many scouts and couriers as possible to ensure every scrap of battlefield news reached him immediately.
War moved like fire, forcing him to adapt to a tempo unlike anything before.
---
The next day, a letter of surrender was sent across the river.
Cao Cao opened it with interest, read it carefully, then passed it to his advisers and shook his head.
"So Liu Bei has come in person."
"If he has the courage to show himself, I cannot appear timid. Send word across the river."
"The Chancellor of the Han, charged with punishing rebels, is here. Why do traitors not submit to Heaven's will?"
He spoke calmly, but the advisers in the tent exchanged worried glances. It was obvious Cao Cao wanted to draw the enemy's attention onto himself. Whether that was wise was another matter.
They had all studied the reports closely. None of them were strangers to war. Precisely because of that, they hesitated.
Cheng Yu and Wen Pin's reports were normal enough.
But Xu Huang claimed that before Wuyang fell, scouts heard several dull thunderclaps, then saw a section of wall collapse on its own. Enemy troops poured in unopposed.
Cao Xiu insisted Zhang Fei could spit fire and summon thunder like a demon. Each thunderstrike brought explosions, smoke, and flame on the walls, breaking the defenders' morale and causing the pass to fall.
Could immortals truly have descended because Heaven pitied the Han?
No one had answers. Among them, Liu Ye frowned the hardest.
Soon another messenger rushed in with a letter. Cao Cao read it and burst out laughing.
"This Liu Bei wants to meet me across the river and reminisce."
"My lord, agree to it!" Liu Ye nearly leapt forward. "We still have heavy crossbows. At one hundred and fifty paces they remain deadly. And there are bed crossbows that can be disguised and pushed to the front."
Cao Cao said nothing.
Liu Ye stepped closer, voice urgent. "My lord!"
Hesitation had never been Cao Cao's nature. He raised a hand.
"Do it."
A time and place were arranged for one hour later.
When Cao Cao arrived, however, he found Liu Bei standing more than two hundred paces away. Whenever they spoke, their attendants had to shout the words across.
"Xuande, are you afraid I have hidden crossbows?" Cao Cao called, feigning anger.
From across the river, Liu Bei laughed.
"Mengde, it is not fear. It is simply that our crossbows now reach two hundred paces. If I stood closer and you died here, I would never be free of the blame."
Liu Bei meant it honestly. To Cao Cao, it sounded like mockery.
Annoyed, Cao Cao strode forward a few steps and shouted, "When Lü Bu shot his halberd at the gate, it was barely one hundred fifty paces. And now you claim two hundred pace crossbows? Do you take me for a fool?"
A sharp twang cut the air.
Cao Cao turned just in time to see a bolt bury itself in the ground behind him, a dozen paces away. The shaft quivered violently.
Cold crept up his spine.
His guards rushed forward in panic and dragged him back.
Despite the scare, the two sides were at least able to talk. Though Liu Bei thought Cao Cao seemed unusually irritable.
"Xuande, you defy the Emperor and raise arms. Do you seek rebellion?"
"The Son of Heaven has taken refuge in Hebei. Your treachery is known to all under Heaven. You cloak yourself in benevolence while hiding disaster within. Do you think the world will not spit on you one day?"
"If you cross the river and surrender, we are old friends. I will greet you barefoot and speak of your loyalty before the Emperor…"
"Mengde!"
Liu Bei finally cut him off, finding the speech tiresome.
"Do you truly not know that your death is near?"
"Do you truly not know that the Cao cause is already doomed?"
The effect was immediate. Blood rushed to Cao Cao's face, and even his guards could see his steps falter.
At that moment, riders galloped into the rear camp. Soon a commotion rose. Cao Cao's attention snapped back. What he longed for most now was a victory report.
Dong Zhao hurried forward with several letters in hand, face tense.
"My lord, urgent news from Zhaoling. Yancheng and Shangcai are lost. Xu Huang and Cheng Yu are missing. There is also urgent news from Hebei. Ye City…"
Not good news.
Another two cities gone.
Cao Cao suddenly tasted sweetness in his throat.
Dong Zhao's hesitation chilled him further.
"Give them here."
He had barely read for a few breaths before roaring:
"Wretches!"
Chaos erupted among the attendants.
"The Chancellor has fainted!"
"Summon the court physician!"
"Hurry!"