Chapter 89: Seeing Traitors Everywhere

Enraged, Lu Bu simplistically assumed that Cao Cao had come to steal their victory.

However, Liu Bei considered the situation more deeply.

Cao Cao had remained inactive until they pushed Yuan Shu back relentlessly and were on the brink of a decisive battle. Only then did he choose to intervene.

It was clear he aimed to reap the benefits without exerting any effort!

Upon meeting, a fierce confrontation between them would be inevitable.

Fortunately, thanks to Lu Bu’s extraordinary prowess today, they achieved a significant victory at a relatively low cost.

Under normal circumstances, regardless of the outcome, they would have been too weakened to resist the freshly arrived and fully revitalized Cao forces entering the fray!

“We’ve borne the brunt of fighting against Yuan Shu. Now, with Cao Cao deploying his troops at this moment, his intentions are self-evident.” Liu Bei’s expression darkened; the feeling of someone swooping in to snatch away their hard-won achievements was truly disheartening.

“In my view, it’s not just Cao Cao. Sun Ce, who controls the six commanderies of Jiangdong, is likely also itching for action,” Chen Gong sighed, voicing his concerns apprehensively.

“Damn you, Cao Aman! Damn you, Sun Ce! All traitors and scoundrels! And that Liu Biao, remaining indifferent to Yuan Shu’s usurpation—what a disgrace as a member of the imperial family,” Lu Bu cursed furiously, his heart boiling with anger. At this moment, everyone seemed like a traitor to him.

While he might not fully grasp intricate politics, he understood well enough that Cao Cao’s arrival was solely to steal his glory—to snatch away the immense credit for vanquishing the false emperor!

As for Sun Ce, driven by ambition, aimed to seize more territory just like his father, Sun Jian—a man who never truly embodied loyalty.

“Gongtai, we cannot let that Caode get ahead. Tomorrow, I shall lead our troops to capture the false emperor!”

Seeing his lord genuinely agitated, Chen Gong could tell urgency had taken hold.

Liu Bei interjected, “Fengxian, it mustn’t be done. Our forces have just endured a major battle; they need time to rest and regroup.”

“Rushing recklessly now for fleeting victory will only exhaust our soldiers. Should we encounter Cao Cao’s vast army in such a state, how can we possibly stand against him?”

Lu Bu gritted his teeth, retorting, “Are you suggesting we sit idly here?!”

Liu Bei added, “Sun Ce has already secured Jiangdong, and with Cao Cao’s forces advancing from the waterways, Huaibei is now under our control. Currently, Zhang Xiu and Yuan Shu have no choice but to retreat and entrench themselves in Shou County.”

By this stage of the campaign against Yuan Shu, Yangzhou had largely fallen.

Only the major city of Shouchun, along with a few surrounding fortifications, remained unconquered; Yuan Shu had nowhere else to flee beyond Shouchun.

“My lord, Messenger Liu speaks wisely,” Chen Gong nodded, agreeing with Liu Bei’s analysis. “We must not hastily attack Shou County.”

“Yuan Shu, trapped like a cornered beast, will fiercely counterattack if we strike first. This could result in heavy casualties for our troops, ultimately benefiting both Cao Cao and Sun Ce.”

“For now, let our soldiers rest and recuperate. Slowly advance the battle lines, consolidating our victories. Once our forces reach Shouchun, observe the movements of the Cao army before deciding on further actions.”

With these brief words, Chen Gong outlined their strategic approach moving forward, leaving Lu Bu responsible for execution.

“This false Emperor shall surely fall by my hand!”

Night had fallen.

Yet along the Huai River, massive warships sailed downstream one after another, their decks adorned with banners bearing the character “Cao.”

These were indeed vessels from Cao Cao’s fleet!

On the deck of the largest ship, Cao Cao leaned against the railing, gazing at the moonlit scenery of the Huai River below.

“The Huai River truly is magnificent,” Cao Cao marveled. He turned to Xun You standing beside him and asked, “Gongda, has your seasickness improved somewhat?”

To expedite his journey and avoid encountering Yuan Shao or Lu Bu’s forces, he chose to travel by waterway. However, Xun You was not accustomed to sailing and had been feeling seasick since boarding.

“My lord need not worry, I… urgh!” Before finishing his sentence, Xun You leaned over the railing and retched miserably.

“Ha ha ha!” Cao Cao laughed heartily, gently patting Xun You on the back while smiling. “Bear with it for now, Gongda. Once we capture Shou County and apprehend the false emperor, we’ll return by land instead of water. I will accompany you on the journey home.”

His words carried a casual confidence, as if victory were already within reach.

Xun You wiped his mouth with his sleeve, taking a moment to compose himself before asking, “My lord, are you so confident in capturing Shou County?”

Cao Cao nodded firmly. “Of course. With Lu Bu and Yuan Shu confronting each other near the Huai River, the defenses of Shou County must be weakened. This presents the perfect opportunity for us to seize control!”

Ever since the Wancheng campaign concluded, he had closely monitored developments in Yangzhou.

His earlier reluctance to intervene wasn’t due to disinterest but rather his unwillingness to be the first to strike. Now, Lu Bu had already depleted much of Yuan Shu’s forces, and both sides were engaged in a decisive battle along the Huai River.

If they didn’t seize this opportune moment, when would there be a better chance? Capturing Shou County would cut off Yuan Shu’s retreat route.

The 50,000-strong naval force was not venturing alone; on the Yuzhou border, Xiahou Dun led another formidable army, poised and ready to advance. Once Shou County fell, they would march towards Yangzhou, encircling Yuan Shu, Yuan Shao, and Lu Bu with a pincer movement from two directions, swallowing them all in one swift move!

It was truly a plan capable of killing three birds with one stone!

Xun You pondered for a moment before asking, “In your opinion, my lord, who will emerge victorious between Yuan Shu and Lu Bu?”

“Who wins or loses is of no concern to me,” Cao Cao replied nonchalantly. “Regardless of their outcome, I shall be the ultimate victor. These two fools merely pave the way for my ambitions!”

“Goo-goo…”

A series of bird calls echoed through the night. Moments later, a pigeon landed on the ship’s railing. Upon closer inspection, it could be seen that a small bamboo tube was tied to its leg.

This was a specially trained military messenger pigeon, used for urgent communication regarding military affairs.

Xun You approached and detached the bamboo tube tied to the pigeon’s leg, extracting a small slip of paper within. Under the moonlight, he began reading its contents, astonishment gradually filling his eyes.

“What is it?” Cao Cao asked upon noticing Xun You’s reaction.

Carrier pigeons were valuable assets, typically reserved for urgent messages due to their rarity; they were seldom used otherwise.

For Xun You to appear so shaken, something significant must have occurred.

“My lord…” Xun You released a deep breath, his expression conflicted as he said, “The message states that Lu Bu shot and killed one of Yuan Shu’s top generals across the Huai River, severely demoralizing their troops. In the ensuing battle, Yuan Shu’s forces suffered a crushing defeat with countless casualties.”

“You’re kidding!” Cao Cao’s eyes widened, snatching the letter from Xun You’s hands to read himself.

His face grew increasingly grim, mixed with shock and disbelief. “Lu Bu killed Yuan Shu’s general with a single arrow across the Huai River?”

Cao Cao looked up at the vast expanse before him, finding the notion utterly absurd and implausible. It seemed impossible! The width of the Huai River alone made shooting someone on the opposite bank inconceivable, let alone managing to hit them. No person alive could achieve such a feat!

Yet no matter how preposterous it felt to Cao Cao, the words in the letter were clear and unmistakable—a truth beyond doubt.

That brute Lu Bu possessed such extraordinary prowess.