Chapter 121: Lure Cao Hong Out to Kill Him

“What? The enemy bypassed us overnight and is heading straight for Kunyang?”

That night, Cao Hong did not rest.

He had noticed during the day that the enemy outside the city began to pack up their camps, so he remained vigilant.

After nightfall, he dispatched a large number of scouts to investigate.

Soon, the scouts reported back that Shen Chen’s army first feigned a retreat, pulling back over ten miles, then moved westward near the Funiu Mountains around Lushan. Once it was dark, they turned northward, heading toward Kunyang.

The detour was more than ten kilometers from Yexian, but Cao Hong had a group of cavalry scouts trailing them closely. Upon discovering this, they immediately reported back.

Hearing the news, Cao Hong was greatly surprised. His deputy generals rushed to him, asking, “General, could they be planning a night raid on Kunyang?”

“That’s possible,” Cao Hong frowned and said, “But we can’t rule out the chance that they’re just passing Kunyang en route to attack Xuchang.”

“Attack Xuchang?” one deputy exclaimed in disbelief. “How could that be? They only have about ten thousand troops, while Xuchang is guarded by nearly ten thousand soldiers. That’s a death wish!”

Cao Hong pondered, “But Xuchang is large now; nearly ten thousand troops may not be enough to hold it.”

Ancient cities were generally small, averaging only two to three square kilometers.

For instance, Changsha during the Republican era covered merely five square kilometers, and during the Han dynasty, it was less than half that size, yet it was the most prosperous city in southern Jing.

Originally, Xuchang was merely a small county seat in Yingchuan, with walls three to four meters high enclosing about two square kilometers—a modest, ordinary city.

Later, when Cao Cao moved the capital to Xuchang, bringing the emperor’s court along with the highest officials and noble families, the population surged dramatically, leading to severe overcrowding. Even the high-ranking officials had trouble finding places to live.

Thus, Cao Cao began expanding the city, designating the original city as the inner city to serve as Emperor Liu Xie's palace, while building an outer city for nobles and commoners alike.

Historical records show that after Cao Cao’s expansion, the outer city was five times the size of the inner city, bringing the total area of Xuchang to about twelve square kilometers. The outer city’s walls stretched twelve kilometers, giving it the aura of an imperial capital.

However, this was only achieved after Cao Pi forced Liu Xie to abdicate and moved the capital from Xuchang to Ye City around 220 AD.

At present, Cao Cao had only settled in Xuchang for four years—he lacked the resources for such large-scale expansion.

Therefore, the current Xuchang had both inner and outer city areas, but the outer city walls were not yet built, only many houses.

In other words, only Liu Xie’s palace was protected by walls; the outer city lacked fortifications and was vulnerable to direct attack.

If Shen Chen truly intended a surprise attack on Xuchang, this would be an urgent crisis for Cao Hong.

“Ten thousand troops daring to raid three hundred miles to Xuchang?” a deputy questioned incredulously.

Cao Hong coldly replied, “Is there anything Shen Chen wouldn’t dare to do?”

The others paused, then agreed. Shen Chen and Cao Cao were mortal enemies. Although attacking Xuchang was risky, if successful, it would mean the destruction of Cao Cao. That madman might just attempt it.

After a moment of contemplation, Cao Hong asked, “Are you sure they only have ten thousand troops? Any laborers with them?”

“No,” the scout responded. “We have been tailing them since before dark—no laborers.”

“Any supply wagons?”

“None either.”

“Are you certain?”

“I saw clearly—none. However, each soldier carries a backpack.”

“Hmm.” Cao Hong lowered his head in thought.

Two scenarios presented themselves:

One, they feigned an attack on Xuchang to lure him out and set an ambush.

Two, they truly planned to surprise attack Xuchang.

In ancient warfare, a considerable number of laborers were usually needed to transport provisions.

For example, Emperor Wu of Han’s campaigns against the Xiongnu involved 600,000 soldiers, with at least 400,000 laborers transporting supplies.

Zhuge Liang’s northern expeditions also required many laborers to deliver provisions, often retreating due to shortages.

However, these were long-distance campaigns or battles over difficult terrain, undertaken out of necessity.

On flat plains, unless it was a massive operation like Yuan Shao’s with over 100,000 troops, laborers were rarely used. Small to medium-sized forces of thousands to tens of thousands generally carried their own supplies.

For instance, when Sima Yi marched a thousand kilometers to surprise Meng Da, covering an average of 56 kilometers daily in mountainous terrain, no laborers accompanied the army; soldiers carried a month’s ration themselves.

Cao Cao’s campaigns in the east against Xu Province, Liu Bei, and Lü Bu also had no laborers; troops carried several months’ rations, with battles typically lasting only two to three months before retreat.

Similarly, before our army’s Long March, we prepared about 1.6 million dan of grain for 40,000 troops, with no laborers to assist in transportation—soldiers carried supplies themselves, or used horses and carts.

The areas we passed through were all controlled by warlords, with no local support, yet we managed to travel 25,000 kilometers relying solely on our own strength and endurance.

Thus, in Central Plains warfare, laborers for supply transport were seldom used; troops carried their own provisions.

This time, Shen Chen’s northern force of 10,000 men only gathered about 5,000 laborers, totaling 15,000 people, with roughly 2,000 carts carrying weapons and equipment and about 1,000 carts for grain—approximately 50,000 dan in total.

Each soldier also carried personal backpacks with twenty days’ dry rations. According to the Juyan Han slips, a soldier’s monthly grain consumption was 2.7 dan, so rationed carefully, they could last three months.

Although Shen Chen spent two months at Duyang, he should have less than twenty days of supplies left.

However, during his stationing at Duyang, an additional 200,000 dan of grain was sent from the rear, so his supplies actually increased and remained ample.

Cao Hong surmised that Shen Chen did not bring large quantities of grain northward, only personal rations with his soldiers, suggesting he might indeed intend a light and swift surprise attack on Xuchang.

After all, Xuchang lies only about 130 kilometers from Yexian, roughly 300 li, across flat terrain with no obstacles—a relatively short march.

If they marched at Sima Yi’s pace of 56 kilometers per day, setting out in the morning, they could arrive by the afternoon of the third day. Not to mention, during the Long March, our forces recorded speeds up to 120 kilometers per day in mountainous terrain.

Thus, Cao Hong needed to know whether Shen Chen truly planned to attack Xuchang or was laying a trap to lure him out.

He immediately ordered, “Send someone at once to warn Xuchang. Also, inform Liu Dai and Wang Zhong to be cautious. And Li Kuang—”

“Yes, General,” Li Kuang stepped forward.

“You lead a thousand troops to pursue them and see if they have set an ambush.”

“Understood.”

As Li Kuang turned to depart, Cao Hong called out, “Wait.”

“Yes, General.”

Li Kuang turned back respectfully.

Cao Hong thought for a moment, then said, “If there is an ambush, determine their numbers carefully. Avoid prolonged engagement; retreat immediately if anything seems amiss.”

“Understood,” Li Kuang bowed and left.

Another deputy questioned, “General, what is your intention?”

Cao Hong explained, “If Shen Chen truly plans to raid Xuchang, he will certainly leave some troops behind to block us. Otherwise, if we chase him immediately, we risk being caught in a pincer between Xuchang and our own forces. The number of enemy troops in the ambush will reveal whether he is genuinely advancing north or trying to trap us.”

The deputy nodded in admiration. “Excellent insight, General!”

...

While Cao Hong was making his arrangements, Shen Chen was doing the same.

His army departed overnight without heavy supplies, leaving a thousand men to guard Duyang. Each soldier carried twenty days’ rations as they marched north in great numbers.

On the road, Shen Chen told Gan Ning, “Uncle Xingba, when you lead the main force to hide in Lushan, send two thousand men to set an ambush along the road. When Cao’s army arrives, strike suddenly to scare them off.”

Gan Ning was puzzled. “Wouldn’t that reveal our ambush to them?”

Shen Chen replied, “Cao Hong has served with Cao Cao for many years; he won’t blindly follow us just because we bypassed Yexian. He’ll suspect an ambush and send a small force to probe. If we commit our main force, he’ll realize the ambush and be cautious. Therefore, we must expose some troops to make him think this is our blocking force.”

“Oh,” Gan Ning nodded, then had an idea. “If we send all our main force, won’t Cao Hong be scared off? He’d think we’re ambushing him. If he retreats into the city, couldn’t we just march straight to Xuchang?”

Shen Chen rolled his eyes. “Attacking Xuchang is the best-case scenario. But what we fear most is the garrisons in Yexian, Kunyang, and Wuyang following us. If they strike our rear while we fight Cao’s forces in Xuchang, we’d be trapped and defeated. This plan can fool Cao Hong, but once our main force passes Kunyang and Wuyang, they’re no fools. They’ll report to Cao Hong immediately, exposing our ambush and forcing him to pursue us.”

“That’s true.” Gan Ning reconsidered; his idea was flawed. Though passing Yexian might deceive Cao Hong, the nearby cities would spot the main force. Then the ambush would be revealed, and they’d be forced to chase after them.

Hence, Gan Ning’s suggestion was unreliable.

Shen Chen said, “The art of war is a blend of deception and reality. Our goal is to convince Cao Hong we genuinely intend to raid Xuchang—not that we’re setting an ambush. If he suspects an ambush, he won’t be fooled by Kunyang and Wuyang’s defenders. That’s why my detachment is heading north—to deceive those garrisons and lure Cao Hong out to kill him.”

“Understood,” Gan Ning nodded, finally grasping Shen Chen’s strategy.

The army lit torches and marched through the night. Around midnight, after about two hours covering twenty kilometers at an average speed of five kilometers per hour—close to a normal walking pace—they approached their destination.

Yexian was about forty kilometers from Kunyang, with the towering Lushan Mountains to their left.

The soldiers of Huangmenting were used to daily training and ten-kilometer marches, but Gan Ning’s troops began to feel sore and slowed down.

Fortunately, they had reached their destination.

Shen Chen and Gan Ning parted ways; Gan Ning’s troops concealed themselves in Lushan, deploying two thousand men in an outer ambush, while he led the main force deep into the mountains.

Shen Chen took three thousand men, carrying three-pronged spears and torches, moving toward Kunyang.

Freed from Gan Ning’s slower troops, Shen Chen ordered a forced march, covering over ten kilometers in less than an hour. From a distance, by the light of torches on Kunyang’s walls, they glimpsed the city hidden in darkness.

“March!” Shen Chen, on foot himself, urged his soldiers onward. Their goal was to pass Kunyang and reach Xiangcheng.

Xiangcheng lay about forty kilometers north of Kunyang. From there, only fifty kilometers remained to Xuchang. If his troops reached Xiangcheng, it would surely cause a great stir.

“Brother Shen!”

“Hmm!”

Shen Changqing greeted acquaintances on the road with nods or brief salutations.

Yet no one showed any extra expression; all seemed indifferent.

Shen Changqing was accustomed to this.

This was the Demon Suppression Division, a force maintaining stability in the Great Qin, primarily tasked with slaying demons and monsters, though it had other duties as well.

In this division, everyone’s hands were stained with blood.

One who witnesses life and death constantly tends to become indifferent to many things.

When Shen Changqing first arrived in this world, he felt uneasy, but over time he grew used to it.

The Demon Suppression Division was large.

Those who remained in it were either formidable experts or had the potential to become such.

Shen Changqing belonged to the latter category.

The division had two ranks: Suppression Officers and Demon Exterminators.

Everyone entered at the lowest level, that of Demon Exterminator, gradually advancing with hopes of becoming a Suppression Officer.

Shen Changqing’s former self was a trainee Demon Exterminator, the lowest rank among exterminators.

With memories from his past life, he was very familiar with the division’s environment.

He soon stopped before a pavilion.

Unlike the other grim and bloodstained places in the division, this pavilion stood out like a crane among chickens, exuding a peaceful aura amidst the bloodshed.

The pavilion’s door was wide open, with occasional people coming and going.

Shen Changqing hesitated only briefly before stepping inside.

Inside, the atmosphere changed instantly.

A waft of ink fragrance mixed faintly with the smell of blood met him, causing his brow to knit instinctively, but soon relax.

The blood scent on everyone in the Demon Suppression Division was almost impossible to wash away.