Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

Li Ji had never been a gambler.

The art of war emphasizes using illusion to create reality, and reality to create illusion, blending orthodox and unorthodox tactics.

The most crucial factor in Zhang Fei's ability to force Cao Cao's army to retreat was a clever timing.

Of course, the success of this plan also hinged on the opponent being Cao Cao.

As dusk approached, Cao Cao, limited by time, could not make many arrangements, despite his skill in warfare.

Precisely because Cao Cao was adept at military strategy and inherently suspicious, Li Ji only needed to subtly eliminate Cao Cao's other options to dissuade him from taking risks.

If Xiahou Dun were the commander, he might stubbornly gamble that there were no ambushes on the other side, not caring even if a portion of his forces were lost.

In that case, although Li Ji wouldn't suffer any real losses from such a reckless move, his planned countermeasures would undoubtedly be completely disrupted.

Seeing that Chen Dao had ideas for 'improvement,' Li Ji casually decided to test him, asking:

"Shuzhi, tell me, if you were the commander, how would you proceed? Should the Liyang Bridge be preserved? And how should our troops be deployed and arranged?"

Chen Dao pondered for a moment after hearing this and replied:

"The river is less than ten zhang wide. Even if we destroy the Liyang Bridge, Cao Cao can quickly rebuild a bridge for his army to cross."

"Therefore, the Liyang Bridge should remain intact, which might deceive Cao thief for a while longer."

"And we can use this time to accelerate the reinforcement of our rear camps, even building a small fort nearby to form a strategic alignment."

"In this way, relying on the strength of two camps, it would not be difficult for our army to hold off Cao Cao's 60,000 troops with just 30,000 for ten days to half a month."

After speaking, Chen Dao looked up, cautiously assessing Li Ji's reaction.

Li Ji smiled and said, "Shuzhi is steady, and his use of troops is already showing the demeanor of a great general."

This wasn't just Li Ji praising Chen Dao; it was a factual assessment.

From Chen Dao's words alone, one could see that Chen Dao's abilities were considerable, his steps were steady and cautious, and this choice would steadily hold off Cao Cao's army.

The fact that Li Ji's army lacked sufficient food was true, but equally, Cao Cao's supply lines were about to be cut off, and the situation in Tan County and Yishui was urgent. Cao Cao couldn't afford to delay either.

Let alone holding Cao Cao for ten days to half a month, Cao Cao definitely couldn't stand even five or six days of fortifying the camps.

However, just as Li Ji finished speaking, Zhang Fei destroyed the Liyang Bridge's supports in a few swift moves, causing it to collapse on the spot.

"Oh no, General Yide acted impulsively!"

Chen Dao blurted out, "In this case, Cao thief will surely think that General Yide is feeling guilty, knowing that there are no ambushes in the dense forest."

Li Ji raised his hand to reassure him. "Shuzhi, don't worry. Yide's actions were at my command."

"Governor, why is that?" Chen Dao asked in confusion.

A smile couldn't help but appear on Li Ji's face, and then he said:

"Of course, it's to… lure Cao Cao into a trap…"

After speaking, Li Ji looked up at the sky, still slowly waving his folding fan, and muttered:

"It hasn't rained for seven days. The next rainfall is expected at noon tomorrow. It can be said that the weather is dry and flammable…"

… …

Cao Cao led his army back three miles in a somewhat disheveled state, arranging for his men to set up camp while waiting for nightfall to secretly send confidants across the river to scout for ambushes.

Then, after the army rested well for the night, they could make proper countermeasures regardless of whether there were ambushes on the other side.

However, when Cao Cao learned from the scouts' reports that after the army retreated, Zhang Fei hastily destroyed the Liyang Bridge and disappeared into the dense forest on the other side.

Cao Cao was so enraged that veins seemed to be throbbing on his forehead.

As the saying goes: Never more than three times.

From last night until now, Cao Cao had encountered three feints in a row.

"How dare this brat deceive me?"

Cao Cao threw the water pouch in his hand heavily on the ground, saying with uncontrollable anger.

"Gather the entire army and continue the advance. Tonight, I will cross the river and catch up with that Zhang Fei, and I must flay him alive."

It would be one thing if there were ambushes on the other side, but without them, Cao Cao led 60,000 troops but was scared off by Zhang Fei alone. Wouldn't that be a laughingstock to the world?

Upon hearing this, Xi Zhicai quickly advised, "My lord, you must not. We still do not know who Liu Bei sent to hold the rear, nor how many troops are doing so. If Marquis Guoshi is the commander, he may be doing this intentionally, to provoke you into crossing the river at night in anger."

These words made Cao Cao, who subconsciously thought Zhang Fei was holding the rear alone, suddenly calm down.

After the cavalry was completely annihilated, Cao Cao not only lost the initiative on the battlefield but even had very limited intelligence available.

The most crucial thing right now was that Cao Cao had no idea whether Liu Bei's main force was ambushing on the other side or just a detachment holding the rear, and who was the commander of this detachment.

Zhang Fei as the commander and Li Ji as the commander were undoubtedly two different concepts.

But without cavalry, Cao Cao was like a blind man, unable to determine anything.

Cao Cao forced himself to calm down and re-examined the situation carefully, his mental state unconsciously leaning towards "Never more than three times."

The Yangzhou army had already used two feints. How could there be a third?

Moreover, Cao Cao knew Zhang Fei quite well. Ordered by Liu Bei to hold the rear, he would have felt exhilarated briefly guarding the Liyang Bridge, and after unexpectedly scaring him away, it would be normal for him to destroy the bridge and expose his hand.

"Speed is of the essence. The faster we catch up with Liu Bei's army, the more chances we have to encircle and attack them with the 30,000 troops led by Cao Hong…"

Cao Cao muttered, making up his mind.

"If only a small number of troops led by Zhang Fei are holding the rear, and Zhang Fei has now exposed his hand, it is enough to prove that Liu Bei has led the main force day and night to Yishui."

"Zhang Fei would never expect our army to pursue them after having already retreated, continuing to march at night. Now, we may be able to catch up with Liu Bei's trail immediately."

As Cao Cao spoke, the group of strategists and generals surrounding him had no way to refute him.

The current situation was very unfavorable for Cao Cao. The key to turning defeat into victory was none other than quickly catching up with Liu Bei's army and then attacking Liu Bei from both the front and rear with the Cao army led by Cao Hong.

Therefore, Liu Bei couldn't afford to delay, and Cao Cao couldn't afford to delay either.

"Xiahou Yuan, Cao Ren, Yu Jin…"

Immediately, Cao Cao named three generals, ordering them to set up simple bridges at different locations on three small rivers, and then each lead 3,000 elite troops across the river to investigate whether there were ambushes on the other side.

Just as Xiahou Yuan, Cao Ren, and Yu Jin received their orders and hurriedly prepared to execute them, Cao Cao suddenly stopped them and said in a deep voice:

"Among all strategies, water and fire are the most dangerous. There are dense forests on the other side. Even if there are no ambushes in the forest, we must be careful whether there are flammable materials hidden in the forest."

"Yes, my lord."

The generals' expressions became serious, and they quickly responded.

(End of chapter)