Journey to the West: Starting from Changing Sun Wukong’s fate
Chapter 694 - 534: Taking on 100,000 with 5,000, the Ambitions Are Likely Great_2

Chapter 694: Chapter 534: Taking on 100,000 with 5,000, the Ambitions Are Likely Great_2

"Combining these three points, I can say that our lord now has both a great general and a talented advisor at his disposal!"

Guo Jia said to Cao Cao.

Cao Cao sat there, immersed in thought.

When Cao Cao first heard Wang Yang’s demands, he found them absurd.

If Wang Yang failed, the thirty thousand Tiger Guard Army would merely return without having accomplished anything.

Moreover, Jiangdong had agreed to deploy troops to conquer Yuanshu, with everything subject to the dispatch of Emperor Xian of the Great Han from inside Xuchang City, and they would certainly not capture the Jianghuai region.

As for Liu Bei, Cao Cao was aware of the man, but to actually kill Liu Bei or place him under house arrest would truly damage his reputation. One could say that he could not carry out any of these three conditions.

However, what was strange was that after Guo Jia’s explanation, Cao Cao felt that each of these three conditions was strikingly to the point, and if things went as Wang Yang said, then pacifying the north would just be a matter of time.

"If that’s the case, then let’s proceed in this manner, Xu Chu!"

Cao Cao was a decisive man; although naturally suspicious, he never doubted people like Guo Jia and Xu Chu.

Guo Jia, knowing that Cao Cao had made up his mind, sat there without saying anything further.

And Xu Chu, who had been standing outside all this while, hurried in upon hearing Cao Cao’s words.

"Xu Chu, issue the order: Let Yu Jin and Dian Wei lead thirty thousand of the Tiger Guard Army and follow Wang Yang to Shouchun."

"Should you see chaos within Shouchun City, then strike down fiercely!"

Cao Cao gave his orders to Xu Chu, and as soon as he finished one, he continued, "Command Cao Ren and Cao Zhen to lead thirty thousand Tiger and Leopard Cavalry to the Jianghuai region, and make sure to secure the Jianghuai area!"

"If there is an opportunity, they should move into the lands south of Jingzhun and take control of the entire Jianghuai area!"

"Order Xu Huang to take fifty thousand Qingzhou troops to the Jianghuai area; the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry will clear the path, and the Qingzhou troops will control the cities!"

"Currently, Xiahou Dun is leading one hundred thousand Qingzhou troops toward Xuchang and must set out immediately. Also, inform Xiahou Dun to take an advance guard of five thousand troops and ensure that Liu Bei is kept under control within the city of Xuchang!"

Xu Chu firmly memorized one order after another, saying yes while inwardly feeling shocked.

These orders were exactly as Wang Yang had stated in the main hall just moments before.

The only difference might be that Cao Cao had added a little something extra.

And the suggestion that had just been dismissed as trivial had, in a moment, transformed into an order. Xu Chu knew that this would truly catapult Wang Yang to great heights.

Indeed, as long as Wang Yang returned alive, he was likely to become an advisor on whom Cao Cao relied, ranking just behind Guo Jia and Xun Yu.

As for a great general?

Of course, Xu Chu knew that capturing Shouchun with only five thousand troops was something he couldn’t achieve.

If Wang Yang returned, he would naturally be unmatched in battle.

But by that time, would someone like him still need to charge into battle?

But thoughts aside, Cao Cao’s orders were relayed immediately.

Just then, he came across Dian Wei who was about to head to the camp outside Ye City. Xu Chu passed Cao Cao’s words to Dian Wei and asked him to go to the Qingzhou troop’s camp to inform Xiahou Dun.

...

Inside Shouchun.

"According to the scouts, a junior officer under Cao Cao named Wang Yang is leading five thousand Qingzhou troops to attack us."

Yuanshu sat high and mighty in the grand hall, his eyes filled with a hint of disdain. It seemed he held nothing but contempt for the presumptuous junior officer, Wang Yang.

In these chaotic times, weren’t there plenty of people looking to make a name for themselves?

After all, in this world, figures as mighty as Lu Bu and Dian Wei, or as wise as Guo Jia and Zhuge Liang, had all made their names in battle.

After one successful battle, they rose rapidly in rank.

In these chaotic times, most people were ordinary. Even those with exceptional talents needed some notable deeds to become convincing.

Clearly, Wang Yang was one of them, but it was uncertain whether he would be the former or the latter.

If it’s the former, then Wang Yang is certainly a formidable enemy, but if it’s the latter, then he’s no more than a jumping clown, not worth mentioning.

"A mere minor general is not to be feared, and he only leads five thousand troops. If he dares to come, we shall ensure he has no return."

Someone stood arrogantly below the stage and said, his tone filled with disdain for Wang Yang.

"With General Ji’s remarkable skills and courage, there is naturally no fear."

"With General Ji here, what have we to fear?"

"Exactly, exactly, no matter who Wang Yang is or what, we haven’t even heard of him!"

"..."

The crowd below was abuzz with discussion, undoubtedly aiming to flatter Ji Ling, who was after all Yuanshu’s current top general.

Having lost Sun Ce and without Lu Bu, Yuanshu could only hold out in Shouchun, his power greatly diminished, and his personality also began to show some restraint.

Still, while habits die hard, there was now an added sense of suspicion, especially because the ingenious Guo Jia was under Cao Cao’s command.

Cao Cao’s achievements to date, Guo Jia had half the credit for them.

Under Cao Cao, generals like Xiahou Dun, Dian Wei, and Xu Zhu were not to be ignored. It was possible that Wang Yang could be one of the rare talents among them, for Cao Cao’s camp was known for its abundance of talents, and Wang Yang might just be a dark horse.

Without having fought yet, who knew what the outcome would be, even if now was his time of decline.

In the city, there were also a hundred thousand elite soldiers, so this mere five thousand cavalry was not enough to cause concern, which is why Ji Ling could be so boastful.

With a hundred thousand against five thousand, especially since they were defending the city, which had the absolute advantage to start with, the city walls were there after all. Even if the enemy general was as strong as Lu Bu, it would be difficult for one person to breach the walls of Shouchun City.

As soon as Ji Ling stood up, everyone else was full of flattery, but there were three people below the platform who each showed different reactions.

Among the three, one was named Zhang Xun, another Liu Xun, and the last one Li Feng.

The first two were military generals while the latter was a civil official.

Li Feng frowned slightly, seemingly disapproving of Ji Ling’s character, which was too fond of showing off. Although his strength was decent, he still paled in comparison to Lu Bu, who was famous for shooting arrows at the Yuanmen Gate.

Zhang Xun and Liu Xun, both military generals, had slightly less prowess than Ji Ling, but they were also young and full of vigor, finding Ji Ling’s shamelessness unbearable.

As for Wang Yang, putting aside his strength and strategies, just this bare five thousand cavalry, what could they possibly conquer?

Moreover, this was Shouchun, although Yuanshu’s strength had declined, the one hundred thousand army inside the city was not merely for show. A hundred thousand against five thousand, Wang Yang was clearly just handing over his head.

With Ji Ling’s bold declarations, the slight doubt in Yuanshu’s heart also vanished, replaced by increased contempt.

Indeed, unless Cao Cao’s five thousand cavalry were all like Lu Bu or Dian Wei, it would be impossible for them to break through Shouchun.

One must realize that Shouchun, being the site of Yuanshu’s imperial claim, was far from as simple as it appeared. Although resources might be lacking, compared to smaller cities, Shouchun was like a chasm in the heavens.

With the city walls in between, even if Wang Yang had all sorts of Divine Skills and Daoist Techniques, they would be of no use, for this world was one of ordinary mortals.

The only fear was that Wang Yang might have some strategy at play, turning these five thousand men into a feint. Wouldn’t Yuanshu have worried in vain? He now considered that this might be a ruse sown by Cao Cao to confuse him.

In this world, where does one find a battle of five thousand against a hundred thousand? Even if it were the God of War Han Xin or Sunzi himself, it would be impossible in the face of absolute strength; all conspiracies would prove to be just idle talk.

"Fu Yi, since that’s the case, when Wang Yang arrives, you will step forward to confront him. A mere minor general is trivial."

Yuanshu thus settled on his conclusion; if Ji Ling loved basking in the limelight, then let him. As for keeping both Zhang Xun and Liu Xun by his side, that seemed wise.

As a ruler, though he might have led a dissipated life as a young lord, given the length of time he had held a high position, he was definitely no ordinary person.

Regarding the two of them, Yuanshu was relatively satisfied. Even if they didn’t possess the unparalleled combat strength of Dian Wei or Lu Bu, their worth was still considerable.

It’s known that good soldiers are common, but a good general is hard to find. In these chaotic times, what was needed was leaders who could command troops in battle, or those with the strength to fight ten at once.

Such individuals were generally very rare, but for Yuanshu, they seemed inconsequential. After all, he had once possessed the strongest general of the Three Kingdoms, Lu Bu, although he had betrayed him. He had Sun Jian, who adept in planning, though he was deceased.

He also had Sun Ce, who had foresight and managerial talent, though he too had betrayed him. Even so, Yuanshu was not yet at a point where he had no troops to command.

That was enough to prove Yuanshu’s strength.

"Sire, this subject still thinks one should think thrice before acting. In this world, who would seek fame by such futile action? If there is one, I fear his aims are grander than I can fathom!"

Li Feng stepped forward and spoke up to dissuade him.