Three Kingdoms: The Peerless Strategist of Wei

Chapter 50 The Bingzhou cavalry are really something, aren't they? Bring me Zhao Yun!

Lu Lingqi bit her lip, her gaze towards Gu Cheng extremely complex. It contained both anger and shock.

Lu Bu was annoyed because of Gu Cheng; his sneak attack had failed, resulting in a crushing defeat and his escape. But she was also shocked because she hadn't expected Gu Cheng's wisdom to be so profound. "Chen Gong's strategies are truly worthless in his eyes!" This thought flooded Lu Lingqi's mind.

After that.

She took a deep breath and bowed to Gu Cheng, saying, "Today, I have truly witnessed Young Master Gu's wisdom and strategy, and I am completely convinced."

After saying this, Lü Lingqi turned to leave. As she was leaving, Gu Cheng said, "Brother, please wait. I'd like to offer you some advice: although you have many men outside, they are not enough to forcibly abduct me. Acting impulsively will only damage our harmony."

Lu Lingqi was startled and turned around to look at Gu Cheng.

This young master before her had even guessed her intention to forcibly abduct him to see Lü Bu. "My every move has been meticulously planned by him. This Gu Cheng, he truly is..."

Cold sweat poured down Lü Lingqi's back; she couldn't find the right words to describe the shock she felt. "Let's go!"

She dared not linger any longer and turned to leave in a hurry.

Stepping out of the Gu residence, a night breeze swept over her, and Lü Lingqi let out a long breath, shivering deeply. She then realized that her back was drenched in cold sweat. "Miss, should we call the brothers to storm in and forcibly take that brat away?" Cao Xing suggested in a low voice. Lü Lingqi glared at him: "He's already exposed our intentions, so naturally he's fearless and not afraid of us using force. Taking action would only be humiliating!"

"That kid is really amazing, it's like nothing can be hidden from him." Cao Xing also gasped and clicked his tongue in amazement.

"Judging from his appearance, Cao Cao was able to easily break through Xiaopei and thwart his father's sneak attack by only giving him a little advice. If he really came out of seclusion to fully assist Cao Cao, I'm afraid even ten Chen Gongs combined couldn't defeat his wisdom."

Lu Lingqi was still shaken, her face full of apprehension. Cao Xing shuddered and asked in a panic, "Then what should we do?" Lu Lingqi sighed again, "Fortunately, I think he didn't intend to offer advice to Cao Cao this time, so we still have a chance. Let's go back to see our father first."

Cao Xing accepted the order and whistled, and the troops surrounding the Gu residence quickly withdrew. "Gu Cheng, Gu Cheng..." Lü Lingqi murmured the name, glanced back at the Gu residence one last time, and then hurriedly left. South of Xiaopei City.

A chase has only just begun.

Tens of thousands of Cao Cao's troops, taking advantage of their victory, marched south, pursuing Lü Bu for over a hundred li in one go, killing and wounding more than five thousand of his soldiers, until they reached the walls of Pengcheng. Lü Bu, like a dog with its tail between its legs, dared not enter the city to defend it, immediately abandoning Pengcheng and continuing his southward march. After fleeing for three days, Lü Bu finally met up with Chen Gong and his feigned retreating troops forty li south of Pengcheng. Lü Bu rallied his defeated army, set up camp on the banks of the Si River, and halted his retreat. (Central command tent)

"Lord Chen Gong, this is the so-called brilliant plan you offered, which caused me to lose nearly five thousand soldiers! Five thousand!" Lu Bu complained to Chen Gong with a pained expression.

Although Xuzhou was a large province, Lü Bu only truly controlled the kingdoms of Xiapi and Pengcheng, as well as half of Donghai Commandery. The remaining commanderies and kingdoms, such as Guangling and Langya, were all under the control of the Chen family and Zang Ba.

Therefore, Lü Bu, at his peak, only had about 13,000 troops under his command. This battle resulted in the loss of 5,000, severely weakening his forces. "My plan, while not brilliant, was flawless. How could Cao Cao possibly see through it? This is truly..."

Chen Gong's forehead was covered in sweat, and his eyes were filled with disbelief.

Zhang Liao sighed, "Prefect Chen, whether you believe it or not, Cao Cao was prepared, and our army's crushing defeat is a fact!" Chen Gong frowned, muttering, "Strange, truly strange. Who exactly saw through my plan for that traitor Cao..."

"Who else could it be but Gu Cheng!" A confident voice rang out from outside the tent. The tent flap was lifted, and Lü Lingqi, her face grave, stepped into the tent.

Lu Bu's eyes widened in surprise, and he asked urgently, "Lingqi, didn't I order you to recruit Gu Cheng? Where is he? Also, what did you mean by what you just said?"

Lu Lingqi cupped her hands in apology, saying with shame, "Forgive my incompetence, I have no way to bring Gu Cheng back to you, Father." Lu Bu frowned. Changing the subject, Lu Lingqi added, "But I have confirmed during this trip that Gu Cheng is indeed the legendary strategist behind Cao Cao, and I am even certain that he was the one who saw through Chen Gongtai's scheme!"

An uproar immediately erupted inside the tent.

Chen Gong looked at him with disbelief and questioned, "What makes you so sure, Miss?"

"Because, before my father launched the surprise attack, he personally admitted that it was he who had someone remind Cao Cao that my father was deliberately feigning weakness and retreating, only to launch a sneak attack on Xiaopei!"

"Lu Lingqi said loudly. Upon hearing this, Chen Gong's body trembled, and a look of horror flashed across his face. "Moreover, I also saw that Miss Mi was right next to him." "He also admitted that it was he who ordered Mi Shi to persuade Mi Fang to surrender, which allowed Cao Cao to easily take Xiaopei!" These words caused another uproar among the crowd.

At last.

Lu Lingqi looked directly at Chen Gong and retorted, "Tell me, with all his brilliant strategies, who else could this legendary extraordinary person be but Gu Cheng?"

Chen Gong's face was ashen, and he was covered in cold sweat, rendered speechless by the question. *Bang!*

Lu Bu snapped out of his daze and slammed his fist on the table.

"I never imagined that such an extraordinary person actually existed in this world, and was such a young man!" Chen Gong was also shocked and asked in bewilderment, "How could he be so young and have such wisdom and such unparalleled talent, yet he is just a reclusive member of a small clan in the countryside? This is really inexplicable, inexplicable!"

A murmur of surprise rippled through the main tent. "Lingqi!"

Lu Bu suddenly came to his senses and said sternly, "This Gu Cheng has such extraordinary talent, how can he be used by Cao Cao? Lingqi, why don't you kidnap him?"

"My daughter wants to too."

"But he was incredibly insightful and had already guessed that his daughter intended to abduct him, so he didn't take it seriously at all." "He also had two fierce warriors by his side, one named Zhou Tai and the other named Xu Chu, both of whom were highly skilled in martial arts. Even if his daughter tried to take action, she probably wouldn't be able to do anything to him."

Lu Lingqi, her face contorted with bitterness, explained the reason. "Damn it!" Lu Bu slammed his fist on the table, both angry and annoyed. "I've suffered such a crushing defeat, and without Gu Cheng's assistance, how can I possibly deal with Cao Cao!" His words, while highly praising Gu Cheng, unintentionally wounded Chen Gong's pride. Chen Gong's thoughts raced, his brows furrowed. Suddenly, a glint of light flashed in his eyes. He took a deep breath, calmed himself, and coldly sneered, "Victory and defeat are common occurrences in war. Why be so disheartened, Marquis Wen? Have you forgotten that we still possess a powerful weapon to defeat the enemy? Even Gu Cheng will be helpless against it."

"A weapon to defeat the enemy?" Lu Bu looked at Chen Gong with a puzzled expression.

Chen Gong stroked his short beard and said unhurriedly, "This sharp weapon is none other than Marquis Wen's Bingzhou Cavalry!" Lü Bu's body stiffened, as if suddenly awakened, the gloom on his face vanishing instantly. He slammed his fist on the table and laughed wildly, "I almost forgot, I still have the Bingzhou Cavalry! Even if we lose this battle, what do we have to fear from that Cao Cao!"

Bingzhou Cavalry!

The weapon that made Lü Bu so powerful that he could dominate the world.

During the Battle of Yanzhou, he relied on a thousand Bingzhou cavalry to nearly kill Cao Cao. It was also with these thousand Bingzhou cavalry that he was able to defeat Liu Bei and successfully seize Xuzhou. Lü Bu's invincibility wasn't solely due to his exceptional martial skills, but also to the thousand Bingzhou cavalry that earned him his undefeated reputation.

"Prefect Chen is right! When it comes to commanding cavalry, who in the world can rival Marquis Wen?" "We have the Bingzhou Cavalry, why should we play tricks on Cao Cao!" Zhang Liao, brimming with pride, bowed to Lü Bu. The generals' fighting spirit was ignited, and they all volunteered for battle.

Lu Lingqi's bright eyes also flashed with joy, as if a sudden enlightenment had dawned on her. Suddenly, she thought of something and said, "Father's Bingzhou cavalry is naturally invincible, but Gao Shun has not yet returned from buying horses, and the number of Bingzhou cavalry has not recovered. I'm afraid it will be difficult for them to fight against Cao Cao's army."

These words immediately poured cold water on everyone's heads.

"Lingqi reminded us that in the previous battle with Yuan Shu, the Bingzhou cavalry suffered heavy losses, leaving only about six hundred riders, which was indeed not enough."

Lu Bu frowned. Just then, a guard entered the tent, cupped his hands, and said, "Reporting to Marquis Wen, General Gao has returned." Lu Bu's spirits lifted: "Quickly, summon Gao Boping." Before long, Gao Shun entered, looking travel-worn, and greeted Lu Bu.

Before he could even speak, Lü Bu impatiently asked, "Gao Boping, you've returned just in time. Have you managed to buy the warhorses?"

"Reporting to Marquis Wen, although it was only half a cartload of gold, this humble general managed to purchase three hundred fine horses from Bingzhou!" Gao Shun said, bowing. "Three hundred is enough!" Lü Bu was overjoyed and laughed loudly, "Quickly distribute the warhorses to the Bingzhou cavalry who have no horses. Within three days, I will lead nine hundred elite cavalry to give Cao Cao a crushing defeat!"

"Yes, sir!" The generals received the order and laughed heartily.

Gao Shun hesitated for a moment, then cupped his hands and said, "Lord Wen, please allow me to rebuild the Trapped Camp so that I may help you defeat Cao Cao." "I already have the Bingzhou Cavalry, what use is your Trapped Camp?" Lü Bu waved his hand in rejection and shouted, "You must return to Xiapi immediately and quickly gather provisions to send to the front lines without delay!" Gao Shun's body trembled, and his brows furrowed.

Lu Bu not only refused to let him rebuild the Trapped Camp, but also wouldn't let him stay in the main camp to participate in the battle against Cao Cao. Instead, he sent him to procure and deliver supplies, which really chilled his heart.

He dared not disobey the order, and silently bowed, saying, "This subordinate obeys the order." That very night, more than three hundred fine horses from Bingzhou were dispatched to the Bingzhou Cavalry Camp. After three days of training and integration, the defeated troops gradually regrouped, and morale began to recover slightly.

At a moment's notice, Lü Bu led 7,000 infantry and cavalry northward along the Si River to meet Cao Cao's 30,000-strong army advancing south. At this time, Cao Cao was leading his main force south from Pengcheng, heading straight for Xiapi. The two armies met thirty kilometers south of Pengcheng. A great battle unfolded on the banks of the Si River in Xuzhou.

At dusk, at the south gate of Pengcheng.

Thousands of Cao Cao's soldiers entered the city dejectedly, many adorned with red ribbons and garb. The battle on the banks of the Si River, unsurprisingly, ended in defeat for Cao Cao's army. Night fell in the main hall of the prefectural government.

Cao Cao sat high on his throne, his brow furrowed. All the generals before him looked somber and dejected.

"Lu Bu's warhorses are exhausted, and the Bingzhou cavalry should be unable to fight, so how did he suddenly manage to gather a thousand cavalry? That's strange."

Cao Ren asked, his eyes full of doubt. The generals all agreed.

Cao Cao had experienced firsthand how powerful Lü Bu's Bingzhou cavalry was, so he was naturally prepared. It was only after hearing that Lü Bu's Bingzhou cavalry was unable to move due to the loss of his warhorses that Cao Cao dared to fight Lü Bu in the open field without any fear.

Unexpectedly, Lü Bu's Bingzhou cavalry made an unexpected appearance, catching him off guard. "Minister, I remember now," Guo Jia suddenly looked up and said, "When we were at Hulu, Prince Liheng seemed to have mentioned that Lü Bu had sent people to Hanoi County to buy horses, but we didn't pay much attention to it at the time."

The generals had no idea who "Prince Liheng" was and were completely baffled.

Cao Cao suddenly realized his mistake and blamed himself, saying, "Li Heng did indeed remind me, but it was my oversight. I cannot shirk my responsibility for this defeat."

"However, Lu Bu's Bingzhou cavalry is unexpectedly strong. Even if we were prepared, I'm afraid we still wouldn't be a match for them today."

Guo Jia sighed, a hint of helplessness in his eyes.

Cao Ren also said, "Lu Bu's Bingzhou cavalry are all extremely skilled in archery and horsemanship. Their archery is superb, and they move like the wind, far surpassing our Tiger and Leopard Cavalry!"

"Moreover, after these Bingzhou cavalry charged into our army's formation, they specifically targeted and beheaded officers. Once these officers were dead, our army fell into chaos without a fight, which is why it took a thousand of their cavalry to easily defeat our tens of thousands of troops."

Le Jin also said with lingering fear.

The generals were abuzz with discussion, clearly this defeat had instilled in them a great fear of the Bingzhou cavalry. "Lu Bu has long been stationed on the northern frontier, constantly fighting against the Hu people. His ability to command cavalry is unparalleled in the world." "I've heard that when Yuan Shao clashed with the Black Mountain Army, it was Lu Bu who, with only a few dozen Bingzhou cavalry, defeated over ten thousand Black Mountain cavalry, thus enabling Yuan Shao to win."

Guo Jia recounted Lü Bu's past glories once more. The generals' fear deepened.

"These Bingzhou cavalry are indeed troublesome. If we don't have a way to break them, it will be difficult to destroy Lü Bu and recover Xuzhou this time." Cao Cao pointed to his forehead, his brows furrowed. But one day, the generals looked at each other and shook their heads and sighed.

Even Guo Jia, for a moment, could not come up with a solution.

"My lord, Prince Liheng is in Xiaopei. Why don't you go and ask him for advice?" Dian Wei whispered behind him.

Cao Cao was suddenly enlightened, and the gloom in his eyes instantly dissipated.

"That's right, my son-in-law hasn't left Xuzhou yet. With the strategist so close at hand, what else do I have to worry about?"

Cao Cao laughed.

That very day, Cao Cao ordered Cao Ren to take command of the army and defend Pengcheng, refusing to engage in battle despite Lü Bu's challenges. Cao Cao then changed into civilian clothes and, escorted by Dian Wei, hurried to Xiaopei overnight.

Xiaopei City, Mi Mansion.

Zhou Tai was standing at the gate, directing his servants to replace the plaque above the gate with the words "Gu Residence." Just then, a carriage stopped in front of the gate, and Dian Wei helped Cao Cao down from the carriage. "Oh, Lord Yang has arrived! What brings you to Xiaopei again?" Zhou Tai greeted him with a smile.

Cao Cao laughed and said, "What, can't I even come to see my own son-in-law?"

"Alright, alright, of course. Your son-in-law is resting inside. Mr. Yang, please step aside." Zhou Tai quickly made way for Cao Cao, who then went straight into the inner courtyard.

His father-in-law was here again for a free meal, and Gu Cheng, as the son-in-law, naturally had to put on a show, warmly inviting him to sit down. After the tea was served, Gu Cheng asked, "Didn't you return to Xuchang, father-in-law? Why are you here in Xiaopei again?" "I originally intended to return to Xuchang, but on the way, I learned that Cao Cao had been defeated by Lü Bu at Pengcheng, with many soldiers killed or wounded, and the army was in dire need of medicine."

"That's why I had to urgently arrange a batch of medicinal herbs and personally send them to the front lines in Pengcheng," Cao Cao fabricated an impeccable excuse.

"I see." Gu Cheng poured him a cup of tea and casually said, "Lu Bu's Bingzhou cavalry is unparalleled in the world, so it's not surprising that Cao Sikong suffered a loss this time."

Cao Cao's eyes flickered, and he asked in surprise, "What, my son-in-law, did you foresee that I would be defeated by Lü Bu's Bingzhou Cavalry?" "A month ago, Lü Bu sent people to Hanoi to buy horses. I reckon that by now, the horses should have been purchased. With enough warhorses, why wouldn't he send Bingzhou Cavalry into battle?"

Gu Cheng sipped his tea and said casually. Cao Cao suddenly realized what he meant.

"However, I remember mentioning this matter when that Jia official was here last time. Didn't that Jia official remind Cao Mengde of it?"

Gu Cheng asked in confusion.

Cao Cao felt a pang of shame, thinking to himself, "I was there myself, and I didn't even notice, so how can I blame Guo Jia?"

"Ahem, perhaps it was just a momentary oversight." Cao Cao quickly lowered his head and sipped some tea to hide his embarrassment. After calming himself down a bit, Cao Cao sighed, "I heard that after Cao Sikong's defeat, the entire army has no way to deal with the Bingzhou cavalry. Now we can only stay at our gates and not fight, letting Lü Bu show off his power."

"What's so difficult about that? Breaking through cavalry has always been done with cavalry." "With Guo Jia assisting him, Cao Mengde should have thought of this, right?" Gu Cheng said dismissively.

"I'm sure Cao Cao could have thought of this as well." Cao Cao nodded slightly, but then said, "However, I've heard that Cao Sikong lacks cavalry generals. Although he has formed the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, they are far inferior to the elite cavalry of Bingzhou, and they are not as capable as Lü Bu, so they are simply no match for him."

The teacup that Gu Cheng had just brought to his lips suddenly stopped in mid-air.

He was just chatting with him and didn't really care about Cao Cao's predicament, but Cao Cao's words "lacking cavalry generals" suddenly made him think of something.

"The cavalry general..." Gu Cheng muttered to himself, a sharp glint suddenly flashing in his eyes.

He put down his teacup and immediately shouted, "Someone, quickly go and bring Zilong here!"