Three Kingdoms: My Strategy Simulator

Xiahou Yuan, Cao Ren, and Yu Jin divided their forces into three routes, each rapidly constructing simple bridges.

A small river less than ten zhang wide, with water that could hardly be called湍急, and with trees on both banks, allowed the three simple bridges to be erected in less than two quarters of an hour with sufficient manpower.

Thereafter, Xiahou Yuan, Cao Ren, and Yu Jin almost simultaneously led their trusted troops to investigate the situation on the opposite bank.

The dense forest on the opposite bank was not wide or dense, and it would only take about two quarters of an hour to traverse it northward.

Soon, reports were swiftly relayed to Cao Cao.

No ambushes were found within the dense forest, nor any flammable materials, and not even traces of a large-scale enemy ambush were left behind, only the tracks of a large army opening a path through the forest and leaving.

'We've been tricked!'

When the news from Xiahou Yuan, Cao Ren, and Yu Jin all verified this fact, the faces of everyone, including Cao Cao, turned somewhat grim.

If a large-scale enemy force had been lying in ambush within the dense forest, it would inevitably have left behind a large number of obvious traces.

The current result was obvious: Liu Bei's army, after passing through Liyang Bridge, had gone straight through the dense forest to the north, leaving only Zhang Fei at Liyang Bridge to delay them with a feigned show of force.

However, upon learning the truth, Cao Cao surprisingly maintained his composure, preparing to patiently wait another half an hour and send a message to Xiahou Yuan and the others, instructing them to continue probing the situation outside the dense forest to the north.

It was at this moment that Yu Jin sent back a prisoner escorted by his trusted aide, much to Cao Cao's delight.

"Reporting to the Lord, this man is suspected to be an enemy scout, ambushed in the dense forest. He was accidentally bitten by a venomous snake and fainted temporarily. After being captured by the General, he was sent back immediately."

As the trusted aide reported urgently, Cao Cao strode forward, taking three steps in two, and squatted down to examine the scout, whose weapons had been removed.

Cao Cao lifted the scout's trouser leg and clearly saw a venomous snake bite, and his entire left leg was visibly swollen.

There was no doubt that he had been bitten by a venomous snake, and the scout's symptoms clearly indicated that he had been poisoned by some kind of snake venom.

Xi Zhicai also stepped forward to observe for a while, and asked with some delight, "Lord, should we quickly summon a physician, or perhaps we can obtain some information from this scout."

"No need for such trouble."

Cao Cao said, then drew the sword from his waist and directly slashed at the scout's swollen left leg.

"Thwack!"

The sword fell and the leg was severed. The scout, who had been unconscious, woke up on the spot in pain and began to wail.

In the next moment, Cao Cao's Han sword instantly pierced through the scout's shoulder, pinning the scout directly to the ground, while he stepped on the severed limb to stop the bleeding.

"Ah! Ah! Ah! ! !"

The scout's face was pale with pain, and large beads of sweat kept popping out of his forehead. He was almost forcibly awakened.

After Cao Cao gently twisted the Han sword a few times, stirring the scout's flesh, the intense pain exceeded a certain limit, and the scout could not even shout, his body twitching uncontrollably, his throat making a "嘎嘎嘎" sound.

Only after a few breaths did Cao Cao stop the Han sword and question sharply.

"Tell me what you know, and I will spare your life!"

The scout gasped for breath, revealing a look of fear and trepidation.

"Spare me, spare me! I'll tell you, I'll tell you everything, spare me..."

Immediately, Cao Cao asked the question he was most concerned about.

"Who is the main general that Liu Da'er sent to stay behind at Liyang Bridge?"

The scout grimaced in pain and stammered, "Uncle Liu... no, Liu Da'er, the main general Liu Da'er left behind is... is Zhang Fei..."

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao's face visibly darkened by a third.

As expected, he had been tricked!

Immediately, Cao Cao asked again, "How many troops are left behind? Where is Zhang Fei now?"

"There are a thousand cavalry. Zhang Fei has already left after destroying the bridge, leaving only the little one to monitor in the dense forest. The little one really doesn't know anything else, spare..."

Before the scout could finish speaking, Cao Cao, annoyed and frustrated, drew his sword and slashed at the scout's neck, cutting off the rest of his words.

The blood constantly gushing from his throat caused the scout's mouth to open, but he could no longer say anything, and his eyes dimmed at a speed visible to the naked eye.

'General Xuande, Marquis, your kindness in raising me... Liu Ke is grateful beyond words. Unfulfilled kindness, I will repay in the next life...'

In the hazy consciousness, Liu Ke, who came from Taoyuan, vaguely heard Cao Cao's exasperated order to gather the entire army and cross the river immediately to pursue.

Liu Ke's mouth, which had maintained a terrified expression, subconsciously wanted to twitch slightly, but there was no more reaction.

...

Outside the dense forest, Li Ji was also whispering the name "Liu Ke", engraving the name deeper in his heart.

A dead spy.

This was a necessary plan to eliminate the last of Cao Cao's doubts.

When Li Ji proposed this plan, almost every member of the Taoyuan group, who were acting as personal guards to protect Li Ji, volunteered.

In troubled times, the common people are like weeds, let alone the orphans rescued from the bandits of the Yellow Turban Army.

Even aristocratic families have no shortage of retainers who are willing to die for their masters, let alone the many children in the Taoyuan group who were raised by Liu Bei and Li Ji.

The reason why Liu Ke was able to seize this quota was also very simple. Compared to the other brothers present, he was already married and had children.

'A dead spy…'

Even if Li Ji's rationality clearly understood the so-called "compassion does not command troops" principle, and also understood that sacrificing one Liu Ke could save the lives of more soldiers in the battle of Xuzhou.

However, Li Ji's heart was also uncontrollably filled with deep feelings and waves.

In addition to firmly remembering Liu Ke, all Li Ji could do was to compensate Liu Ke's widow as much as possible, and...

Achieve a great victory worthy of Liu Ke's sacrifice!

At this moment, the sky was about to completely darken, and the last rays of light were rapidly being swallowed by the night as the sun set.

When Li Ji opened his eyes again, his eyes also returned to their usual calm, staring at the distant dense forest that was gradually shrouded and becoming increasingly unclear.

After the dense forest was finally swallowed by the night, Li Ji raised his hand and waved it forward.

Immediately, the generals behind Li Ji maintained relative silence and slowly surrounded the various directions of the dense forest again.

The invisible killing intent, like shadows hidden in the night, shrouded the dense forest.

The generals could not see the direction of the dense forest under the influence of the night, which also meant that the Cao army in the dense forest could not see the approaching ambush.