Chapter 523 - Cao Cao on the Run

Mid-March, 201 AD.

Zhuge Liang stood before a thousand official in the court in Ye throne room, reading a golden scroll in his hands.

It was the imperial edict.

"Ghost Legion and Red Hare Legion are to head toward Yi Province and Jing Province to solicit the area from Huang Zhong and Liu Biao. Navy Legion shall depart from Xiangping port and move south to reinforce our forces at Guangling. Wu Legion and Red Tiger Legion will act as reserve forces to support Gan Ning and other legions freely. Immortal Legion and Monster Legion will move to Lujiang and take the lead in this southern campaign. Also, the prime consort, Diaochan, and the 6th consort, Wang Yi, will head out with the Immortal Legion!"

"All ministers must abort the tasks at hand and support the mobilization! We shall now change our domestic policies into wartime policy! Concentrate on producing weaponry and food supplies for the soldiers on the frontline!"

A grand mobilization order was finally issued and shocked the land once more.

Unlike Tong, who was overly cautious about everything and solved all problems using pacifist methods, Dong Bai was bolder as she utilized everything she had to vanquish her enemies.

Dong Bai didn't bother trying to negotiate or give a chance for Cao Cao to surrender. Instead, she assumed that Cao Cao would join forces with Sun Ce in Jianye.

Of course, she didn't listen to all advice from the clan's strategists, who wanted to negotiate with Cao Cao first.

However, Dong Bai liked some of their suggestions. They wanted Dong Bai to eradicate Cao Cao as soon as possible, but they wanted Dong Bai to issue another edict and claim that Cao Cao became a rebel first. Then, they could have a cause to fool their subordinates and hunt them down.

But Zhuge Liang had another idea. He gave Dong Bai his advice, and she allowed Zhuge Liang to act as he pleased.

"In addition, Sima Clan is to form a legion and head to Xiapi to apprehend Cao Cao, his subordinates, and their families. He is currently under the suspicion of colluding with Sun Ce, and we need Cao Cao and his men contained during the southern campaign. We will investigate if he had any dealings with Sun Ce later."

Dong Bai didn't allow Cao Cao to roam free or declared war against them. Instead, she sent their hidden threat, Sima Clan, to clash against Cao Cao's forces, so these two forces could weaken each other while they were busy fighting against Sun Ce.

"As for the Silver Axe Legion, they will move to Yan Province to protect the central plain and the logistic supply routes."

Xu Huang and his soldiers would become their backup army in case something went wrong. For example, Sima Yi and Cao Cao might not fight each other but cooperate to strike Ye and the northern regions while all forces were away. In such a case, Silver Axe Legion would become their rearguards against this threat.

Even if everything went according to the plan, Silver Axe Legion would still attack the Xu Province and kill the victor of Sima-Cao battle.

In other words, Xu Huang was the executioner who would hunt down Sima Yi, Cao Cao, or both, regardless of whatever outcome.

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= Xiapi City, Xu Province =

"They've moved. We have to make the decision, now."

Cheng Yu warned Cao Cao as he got the information from various former colleagues, such as Xu Huang, Zhang He, Zhang Liao, and many others who had submitted to Tong and his family.

As these generals didn't want to see their lords ended up fighting each other, they wanted Cao Cao to stop what he was scheming. Unfortunately, Cao Cao's plan was already in motion.

"We'll leave Xiapi and head to Jianye. Zihuan, gather our clan members and abandon everyone else. We can't trust those betrayers."

Cao Cao had already packed his belonging and informed his men in advance. He also managed to draft 100,000 strong men from the entire province to join his forces using everything in his treasury. In addition, the Xu Province was an agricultural region, so Cao Cao stockpiled more than enough provision for the next war with every gold he had.

He was broke, but he got enough resources for another major war.

With such preparation, Cao Cao asked Cao Pi to begin their migration to regroup with other Lilim's subordinates in Jianye.

"I'm going to spread a rumor that those generals are plotting to disobey Dong Bai. Then, we can get a bit of time."

Cheng Yu was not without fangs. As an elite strategist with two worlds of experience, he could still find weaknesses in Tong's ranks.

Currently, the stance of Xu Huang, Zhang He, Zhang Liao, and many other former Cao Cao's officers were still questionable as they usually acted neutral in every political conflict that Cao Cao had with Tong's wives. However, this upcoming war would force them to take sides if they wanted to continue serving Tong or rejoin with Cao Cao's armies.

As long as Cheng Yu could make Dong Bai suspect these valuable generals, the men would be forced to migrate to Cao Cao's side to save their own skins.

"Very good. I'll leave it to you," Cao Cao rejoiced that Cheng Yu was still as good as ever.

"I also would like to add that Sima Yi also doesn't like Li Feihong since he has a crush with Princess Zhang Min. I hope you could secret messages to him and persuade him to join our side."

"Already done a long time ago. He refused to migrate with us, but he will act on his own."

"I see. What a pity."

The mobilization started, but Cao Cao didn't look sad. Instead, he smugly grinned and texted messages to a couple men, who betrayed his trust.

Cao Cao: "Good luck, Fengxiao. You'd better not cry and beg for my forgiveness later on."

Guo Jia: "You've made the biggest mistake of your two lives, Mengde. Surrender now, or your family will be extinguished. Think of your two daughters in Zhang Tong's harem."

Cao Cao: "Too late. I heard Dong Bai is going to send Xu Huang to Yan, so they will hunt me down regardless if I surrender or not."

Guo Jia: "You're an idiot! Is Lilim's promise more important than your family's lives? Think about your two daughters in Zhang Tong's harem! What do you think will happen to them if you really revolt!? You're killing them!!"

Cao Cao: "I only have two choices, Fengxiao. Be a second man under an absolute immortal and enjoy system skills, immortality, and infinity bedtime… Or I have to be Zhang Tong's lapdog for all eternity without any other reward than being able to live forever. Why should I torture myself by picking the second option when the former gives me more benefit!?"

Guo Jia: "This gamble is pointless. You know who's going to win."

Cao Cao: "Obviously, Lilim will defeat Zhang Tong's dogs."

Guo Jia: "You're overestimating Lilim. Did you forget what I told you about the last life? In wars, never trust your friends, especially if they had a brain of a pig! Lilim isn't someone you can rely on! She's stupid enough to get trapped in her dimension with Zhang Tong, and she never cares about our lives but our immortal oaths!"

Cao Cao: "I know. And I don't regret my decision."

Guo Jia: "Mengde! Are you insane!?"

Cao Cao: "I'll see you on the battlefield, old friend."

Cao Mengde closed the chat and opened an extra option on Guo Jia's name. He blacklisted Guo Jia from sending him private messages as he didn't want to continue chatting with him anymore.

'I'm disappointed, Fengxiao. You've missed the opportunities! You've got to take risks if you want to win big! If I fail, at best, I'll just die and reincarnate like those otherworlders. But if I win …'

The burning ambition soared. Cao Cao no longer feared death.

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In the same month, Cao Family, Xiahou Family, Dian Wei, Xu Chu, Li Dian, Yue Jin, Cheng Yu, and a massive army of 100,000 soldiers left Xiapi, heading toward Jianye in Yang Province.

As for Guo Jia and Chen Qun, they didn't follow after these men as they refused to rebel against the royal family. Zhuge Liang had already sent a rescue squad and got them out unharmed last month.

The migration of Cao Cao alarmed Dong Bai's retainers since they didn't expect that Cao Cao would be this decisive. Moreover, facing 100,000 soldiers with cultivation power would be difficult than usual since this type of war was new to everybody in this world.

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Cao Cao's massive army terrified local mayors to the point that they didn't dare to resist against Cao Cao's troops.

The warlord didn't let this chance slip by. On the way from Xiapi to Jianye, he forcefully conscripted local policemen, strong men, and hidden private troops of local nobles into his army from five cities in Shouchun Commandery. Cao Cao also didn't forget to ransack provision and gold from these cities to replenish his resources.

However, Cao Cao didn't get away without a consequence. Since 90% of the local policemen were from Ye and Julu academies, their loyalty belonged to Tong and his clan. The moment Cao Cao conscripted them into their armies, these men immediately deserted and ran away with Cao Cao's provision the day after.

In the end, Cao Cao increased his soldier number by 100,000 and plundered 100,000 gold from Tong's minor cities. However, his food supply decreased by half, which would only last them for 3 months with this large army.

Thus, Cao Cao didn't wait for Cheng Yu's plan to take effect. He moved his armies south across the Yangtze River and reached Jianye in late April.

There, he was welcomed by a mysterious old man, the cult leader of Gan Sect.

He was a cultivator with 8 demonic wings.

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Immortal Legion and Crimson Angel Legion chased after Cao Cao's trail and recaptured all cities. By the time they reached Lujiang, it was the end of May.

All Cao Cao's men had already crossed the Yangtze River and fortified their defense on the other side, which barricaded Dong Bai and Li Feihong's troops from advancing any further.

Tension brew as two major forces began to spread out their troops, fortifying the river banks, building warships, and getting ready for the next grand war.

On both sides, soldiers with two white wings or two black wings became a common sight as everyone could cultivate. Some even detached their souls to scout the perimeters around their units.

From now on, warfare and strategies wouldn't be the same.

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