Chapter 1073: Cao Cao’s Northern Campaign

While Chen Xi was still indulging in his moments of leisure, chaos had already erupted in Bingzhou. It wasn’t just Lü Bu fighting; Cao Cao was engaged in battle as well, and even the Qiang Hu were involved. To make matters worse, their enemies were not just the Xianbei but also the Qiang Hu.

Naturally, the Qiang Hu would deal with the Qiang Hu, while the Xianbei and Xiongnu were left to Cao Cao and Lü Bu. However, it was clear that the relationship between Cao Cao and Lü Bu was far from friendly. After opening up his heart, Lü Bu was now utterly straightforward, driven by both love and hate.

If he hated someone, he would openly express it. If he disliked something, he wouldn't hide it, and he certainly wouldn’t compromise for anyone. When it was time to fight, he would fight without mercy!

Even though Cao Cao sent supplies to Lü Bu without any discount, Lü Bu did not reciprocate with any goodwill. Instead, he merely stated that as long as he was alive, neither the Xianbei nor the Xiongnu would pass Jiuyuan. Lü Bu himself, like an iron fortress, would stand as Bingzhou’s final line of defense.

How should one interpret this? Cao Cao was pleased when he heard it. Lü Bu, for all his eccentricities, never held back on the battlefield. If he said he would hold the line, then even if he was bleeding from every pore, he would stand firm.

With Lü Bu's assurance, Cao Cao felt confident that there was no need to worry about a northern invasion from the east. He could now free up resources to deal with the Xianbei in the west of Bingzhou, in cooperation with the Qiang Hu under Ma Teng.

In terms of strategy, this effectively made Cao Cao and Lü Bu allies, watching each other's flanks. And Lü Bu wouldn’t retreat in the face of an enemy, which was good news. However, the hostility that Lü Bu showed toward Cao Cao left the latter quite unhappy.

After all, Cao Cao had sent a large amount of grain, and to show goodwill, even provided a generous amount of meat. Yet, Lü Bu responded so coldly. Cao Cao had always hoped to recruit Lü Bu and his men.

Nonetheless, Cao Cao’s ambitions had not waned, and the interests of the state outweighed personal grievances. With the broader picture in mind, Cao Cao refrained from bickering with Lü Bu and instead turned his attention to organizing his forces to launch a major offensive against the Xianbei. While he did not expect to annihilate them, he intended to cripple their ability to cause trouble.

However, Cao Cao’s current military strength was not as robust as it once was. His new recruits, untested in battle, were not on the same level as seasoned veterans. Since his defeat at Xuzhou at the hands of Liu Bei, Cao Cao had struggled to recover.

Even so, this was a rare opportunity. Cao Cao resolved to throw considerable forces into the attack against the Xianbei rather than settle for a defensive strategy. To this end, he redeployed Cao Ren's forces, which had been stationed at Wancheng, to Chang’an, preparing for a decisive blow.

It’s important to note that Cao Ren’s troops, numbering over ten thousand, were some of the most battle-hardened and elite soldiers in Cao Cao’s command. This unit, led by his brother-in-arms Cao Ren, was stationed at Wancheng to guard against Yuan Shu and later against Sun Ce. It was one of Cao Cao’s most powerful and unbroken military forces.

After Zhou Yu's recent maneuver involving the horses near Wancheng, tensions between Cao Cao and Sun Ce began to ease. Once the large herd of horses left Wancheng, Cao Cao responded by withdrawing the majority of his forces from the city.

Following this development, Zhou Yu pulled his troops back from Nanyang to Xiangyang, significantly de-escalating the previously tense situation between the two sides.

With this buffer in place, Cao Cao was finally able to consolidate his forces. He secretly raised an army of fifty thousand, appointing Zhang Xiu as the vanguard to march toward northwestern Bingzhou, intending to make a significant impact.

Zhang Xiu was deeply moved by this appointment, feeling as if he had found a lord worthy of dying for. What he didn’t notice, however, was the lingering gaze of Cao Cao, enchanted by Zhang Xiu’s aunt, Lady Zou, as she came to see him off.

Following Zhang Xiu, Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, and Cao Ren also led their troops into battle. Though Cao Cao himself didn’t participate in the campaign, he sent many of his most powerful generals, including even Xun You, Cheng Yu, and Du Xi, leaving only Xun Yu and Dian Wei behind by his side.

Meanwhile, Ma Chao was brimming with confidence. He hadn’t clashed with Cao Cao after gaining power and authority. Instead, his respect for Cao Cao had only grown—perhaps a form of admiration for his wisdom. Agreeing with Cao Cao's plan, Ma Chao decided to take his troops north of the desert, emulating the path of the legendary general Huo Qubing by attacking the rear of the Xianbei.

The difference was that this time, Ma Chao was leading the Qiang Hu. Whether this was a way to prove himself or for some other reason, Ma Chao didn’t mind. He knew the Qiang Hu needed food, slaves, wealth, and livestock, while the Han empire wanted stability in the northern frontier. Their goals did not conflict. Defeating the Xianbei would free up land, which suited everyone.

Thus, Ma Chao led the Qiang Hu warriors who trusted him on this dangerous journey. Though traversing the northern desert was fraught with peril, Ma Chao’s prowess and his title as a king inspired many Qiang warriors to follow him into battle.

Most of the Qiang Hu, however, remained cautious. The journey through the northern desert was treacherous, with the threat of snowstorms and strong winds taking a toll. Even with the best preparations, Ma Chao expected to lose about twenty percent of his forces just from the harsh conditions. Since participation was voluntary, only about eight thousand of the most fearless and young Qiang warriors chose to follow Ma Chao.

As for the remaining Qiang forces, Ma Chao, as their king, ordered them to follow his father and uncle’s leadership while he was away, preparing to support Cao Cao’s forces.

The alliance between the Qiang Hu and Cao Cao couldn’t be hidden once the Qiang Hu began to mobilize, so the timing of their attack became crucial. There would only be one opportunity, and thus, Zhong Yao personally served as Ma Teng’s strategist.

After being appointed as Ma Teng’s strategist, Zhong Yao didn’t take many actions, but he did place even more importance on Pang De, greatly strengthening his forces and upgrading his weapons and equipment.

As for the larger Qiang Hu army, Zhong Yao removed the old, weak, and infirm, retaining only the strongest warriors. He then began rigorous training with almost fanatical intensity. Zhong Yao understood why the Qiang Hu couldn’t match the Han soldiers and set about resolving this issue.

The solution was simple: make the Qiang Hu see themselves as citizens of the Han Empire. If the Qiang warriors could identify as part of the empire, the problem would be solved. This wasn’t easy, but it wasn’t impossible either.

The easiest way was to have a general with a military formation talent lead them. The military formation talent, which combines willpower and cloud energy, would naturally influence the soldiers over time, instilling in them the same mindset as their general.

However, this process was slow, so Zhong Yao focused on Pang De. Once Pang De activated his military formation talent, the instantaneous strengthening effect would inspire a large number of warriors. From there, an unstoppable elite army, hardened through countless battles, would emerge.

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