Free Web NovelChapter 248: Scouring Xuzhou
At the time, it was late summer transitioning into early autumn.
The clear sky suddenly became densely overcast with ominous clouds, intermittently flashing with lightning and thunder.
Boom! Boom!
The thunder echoed through the sky, and shortly after...
Torrential rain poured down suddenly, cascading loudly onto the ground.
The dry soil quickly became saturated, turning sticky and making walking extremely uncomfortable and difficult.
Old Master Cao Song, already advanced in age, couldn’t endure such a downpour. He ordered his servants to immediately find shelter for temporary rest.
They would continue their journey after the rain stopped.
For miles around, there was no sign of human habitation.
They only found a dilapidated ancient temple in ruins. Helplessly, they had no choice but to take shelter and spend the night there.
The monks of the temple welcomed them inside.
Cao Song began arranging accommodations for his family, ordering Tao Qian’s general Zhang Kai to station the troops in the temple’s corridors.
The soldiers’ clothes were soaked by the rain, and collectively they sighed and grumbled in discontent.
They regretted undertaking this escort mission, enduring hardships like this.
Seeing the soldiers’ morale declining and their resentment growing, Zhang Kai secretly felt pleased.
This way, he could influence their morale!
Shortly after,
Zhang Kai personally summoned his subordinates to a quiet place for a discussion. He began,
"We were originally remnants of the Yellow Turbans. After their defeat, we reluctantly surrendered to Tao Qian, yet gained nothing in return.
Now, Cao Cao and his family have countless carriages and wealth. This wealth alone could make us all wealthy and respected."
Upon hearing this, the subordinates in the military flashed a fierce look, unconsciously gripping their sword hilts.
They were originally leaders of the Yellow Turbans, and later surrendered to Tao Qian out of pragmatism rather than any other reason.
Due to Tao Qian’s leniency, he did not strictly control his troops. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
As a result, the soldiers’ hearts were not united, and the remnants of the Yellow Turbans’ thoughts had not been completely eradicated; instead, they grew stronger.
Now, hearing Zhang Kai’s words, the desire to raid and enrich themselves surged uncontrollably.
"We will follow the general’s orders."
The Han Dynasty prioritized filial piety.
Suddenly, Cao Cao cried bitterly, eventually collapsing to the ground and fainting.
Xiahou Dun and Cao Ren hurriedly picked Cao Cao up, exclaiming:
"Master! Master!!!"
They pinched his philtrum and administered herbal medicine.
Only then did Cao Cao slowly regain consciousness.
However, his face was already pale, and his expression was somber.
He gritted his teeth and shouted:
"That old Tao Qian dared to allow his soldiers to kill my father.
The enmity of a murdered father is irreconcilable!
Today, I must gather my entire army, cleanse all of Xu Province, to console my father’s spirit above and wash away my deep-seated hatred below!"
The generals saw this and knew that this matter was now irreversible. For these warriors, only constant fighting and slaughter could earn them supreme merit and higher ranks.
Naturally, they were happy to hear this and eagerly requested to fight.
However, among the civil officials, some were inwardly opposed to this matter.
Because the hatred Cao Cao expressed was too intense, he even spoke of cleansing the entire Xu Province.
The implication of this statement was terrifying—it meant a massacre!
What does a massacre mean?
It means killing everyone in a city, leaving no one alive...
For these scholars, this was something they would never consider unless absolutely necessary.
First, a massacre would lose the people’s support. Even if Cao Cao captured Xu Province, he would face a populace entirely against him.
Secondly, a massacre would greatly increase the killing aura among the soldiers. Those with weak wills could fall into madness, losing their sanity and becoming deranged.
This could severely corrupt the entire army.
Lastly, and most importantly, if Cao Cao wanted to conquer the world in the future, this incident would become the greatest obstacle to his ascension.
Strategist Xun Yu still wanted to persuade him and earnestly said:
"Master, this matter requires careful consideration!!!"
Unexpectedly, Cao Cao waved his hand and sternly said:
"Wen Ruo, there is no need to discuss this further. My decision is made!"
Pausing, he then looked up with a dark expression and slowly said:
"I would rather betray the world!"
"Than let the world betray me!"
He then left Xun Yu and Cheng Yu to lead 60,000 troops to guard the three counties of Juancheng, Fan County, and Dong’e.
These three counties were Cao Cao’s strongholds in Yan Province, critically important. If they fell, Cao Cao would be left without a home to return to.
More troops should have been stationed there, but Cao Cao was consumed by rage and determined to take Tao Qian’s head.
He led the majority of his soldiers to attack.
Xiahou Dun, Yu Jin, and Xiahou Yuan, three formidable generals, set off as the vanguard.
Cao Cao issued a military order: any city captured in Xu Province must see its citizens massacred, to avenge the murder of his father, Cao Song.
This cruel and strict order subjected the innocent people of Xu Province to the harshest treatment.
Within a few days, the skies over Xu Province were filled with the killing aura of tens of thousands, with black smoke rolling, as if it were the end of the world.
