Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1004: Changing the Route to Xiapi and the Fall of Xudu

After Cao Ren and Cao Hong finished their discussion, they forced themselves to gather their strength, reorganized their remaining troops, and then turned their horses and galloped southeast, heading towards the route Cao Ang might have taken. Along the way, they kept urging the remaining troops to speed up, their hearts filled with anxiety.

Although the remaining troops were extremely exhausted, they had no choice but to grit their teeth and persevere under the urging of their commander and the dire situation. They knew that this journey was a great mission that concerned the safety of Cao Ang and Qiao County.

At this time, Cao Ang was leading his army, marching towards Xudu. Concerned about the safety of Xudu, he was unaware of the danger approaching. Astride his horse, Cao Ang would periodically look up into the distance, silently praying for the safety of Xudu.

Seeing Cao Ang's worried expression, Ma Yunlu rode closer and whispered, "Zixiu, don't worry too much. We'll hurry and make it to Xudu in time." Cao Ang looked at Ma Yunlu gratefully and said, "Yunlu, Xudu is extremely important to me. Now that Yingchuan has fallen, I'm really worried that Xudu will fall into enemy hands as well."

As Cao Ang and his men marched quickly, Cao Ren and Cao Hong, with their remaining troops, waited anxiously at the intersection ahead. Finally, a cloud of dust rose in the distance, and Cao Ren's eyes lit up. He said, "Zi Lian, look! That must be the eldest son and his men arriving." Cao Hong took a closer look and exclaimed excitedly, "Yes, that's them!"

As Cao Ang's army approached, Cao Ren and Cao Hong hurried forward to meet them. Seeing Cao Ren and Cao Hong leading the remaining troops, looking panicked, Cao Ang was startled and hurriedly asked, "Uncles, why are you in such a state of disarray? What happened?"

Cao Ren panted heavily and said anxiously, "My Lord, I'm afraid Xudu has fallen! We were ambushed by Lü Bu on our way back and suffered a crushing defeat. Lü Bu is ambitious and may have designs on Qiao County as well. You must not go to Xudu again."

Upon hearing this, Cao Ang was horrified, his blood boiling. The suddenness of Xudu's events was too much for him to process. Thinking his mother, brothers, and sisters might be in danger, he was terrified and immediately discussed returning to Xudu to provide assistance.

Seeing Cao Ang so impulsive, everyone rushed forward to persuade him, but they didn't dare to forcefully stop him, after all, this involved the young master's family affairs. Just as everyone was extremely anxious, Ma Yunlu rode up to Cao Ang, reached out to stop him, and said urgently, "Zixiu, calm down! Since Lü Bu dared to attack Xu Du, he must have made thorough preparations. If you rush forward now, you will undoubtedly be like an egg against a rock, and you will only lose your life and achieve nothing. It's better to calm down and think about how to remedy the situation."

Cao Ang was extremely anxious, his eyes bloodshot, and he shouted, "If I can't protect my mother and my family, how can I be a son? If I don't save them now, when will I save them?"

Ma Yunlu looked at Cao Ang with a firm and calm gaze and said, "Zixiu, I understand how you feel, but acting impulsively at this moment is not a good idea. You know, Lü Bu is originally stationed in Xiapi, and his family is also in Xiapi. We might as well take advantage of their unpreparedness and lead our army to capture Xiapi. Then, we'll have Lü Bu's family as hostages, and in exchange for them, we'll ask Lü Bu to release the people of Xudu and your family. Xudu has already fallen, and with our current strength, retaking it quickly would be incredibly difficult. We'd better find another way, capture Xiapi, and gain leverage in negotiations."

Cao Ang was shocked by Ma Yunlu's words, but his impulsive emotions calmed down a bit. He knew Ma Yunlu was right. If he rushed back to Xudu at this moment, his chances of success would be slim. But when he thought of his mother and family suffering in Xudu, he hesitated again.

Seeing this, Yu Jin also stepped forward and said, "Young Master, Miss Ma is absolutely right. Xudu's walls are strong, and Lü Bu has already prepared for them. If we force our way in, we will only suffer casualties. Lü Bu's forces in Xia Pi are relatively dispersed. If we take them by surprise, we might be able to capture them in one fell swoop. This would not only relieve Xudu's crisis, but also inflict a heavy blow on Lü Bu."

Le Jin also echoed, "Yes, sir. We must consider the overall situation at this time and not let our impulses lead to mistakes. Taking Xia Pi is the best solution at this moment."

Cao Ang took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He stared into the distance, weighing the pros and cons. After a moment, he turned back, his eyes hardening again. He said, "Okay, as Yun Lu says, we will march to Xia Pi immediately."

The army acted decisively, changing course immediately and marching towards Xia Pi. Along the way, Cao Ang repeatedly discussed battle plans with generals such as Ma Yunlu, Yu Jin, and Le Jin, while also sending out scouts to gather detailed intelligence on Xia Pi.

Back in Xudu, after Lü Bu and his men successfully ambushed Cao Ren and Cao Hong, Wang Yun, with a smug look on his face, said to Lü Bu, "Fengxian, this victory is just the beginning. The Qiao Commandery will undoubtedly return to rescue Xudu upon learning of its danger. We must be fully prepared and strike them head-on." Lü Bu laughed heartily and said, "Father-in-law, you are absolutely right. I have already ambushed troops along the main roads, waiting for them to fall into my trap."

However, Lü Bu and Wang Yun waited for five or six days, but no troops from Qiao County appeared. Wang Yun, doubtful, frowned and said to Lü Bu, "Fengxian, this is strange. So many days have passed, and there's still no sign of the Qiao County troops. I'm afraid Cao Ren and Cao Hong have already reported back to Qiao County about our ambush in Xudu and our preparations for battle."

Upon hearing this, Lü Bu's face darkened. He said, "Hmph! If that's the case, then our plan will be ruined." Wang Yun pondered for a moment and said, "Now that our plan has been exposed, we can't wait any longer. We must swiftly capture Xudu and occupy this strategic location before making our next move. As long as we control Xudu, Cao Cao will have to think twice before returning."

Lü Bu nodded in agreement and said, "Father-in-law is right. Pass the order down, and prepare the entire army immediately. We will launch a general attack on Xudu tomorrow morning. We must capture Xudu as quickly as possible."

The night was as dark as ink, hanging heavy over Xudu. Silence reigned within Lü Bu's army, broken only by the occasional clatter of weapons and the neighing of war horses. The soldiers, unable to contain their excitement, awaited the order to attack.

Wang Yun arrived at Lü Bu's tent and whispered, "Fengxian, tonight is the perfect time. The Xudu defenders will never expect us to launch a surprise attack at night." Lü Bu's eyes were sharp, and he gripped his Fang Tian Hua Ji tightly. He nodded and said, "Don't worry, father-in-law. I will ensure that Xudu changes hands tonight."

At Lü Bu's command, the army advanced silently, ghostlike, towards the city of Xudu. Siege ladders were quickly raised, and the soldiers crouched, their steps quick and light, striving to make as little noise as possible. As they neared the city, Lü Bu waved his hand, and suddenly, shouts of battle pierced the confines of the night.

"Kill!" Lü Bu led his elite cavalry, charging towards the city gate. The defenders on the wall were startled by the sudden cries of killing and immediately panicked. Torches were lit, illuminating the walls from top to bottom. However, before they could recover from their panic, Lü Bu's army had already reached the city.

Ladders were quickly erected, and Lü Bu's warriors scaled them like nimble monkeys. The defenders on the city wall began to put up a desperate resistance, raining down rocks and arrows. But Lü Bu's soldiers, high in spirit, showed no fear. As soon as a warrior was struck by a rock and fell from the ladder, the soldiers behind him quickly took up his position.

Lü Bu stood at the gate, watching the fierce fighting raging above, his heart aching. Seeing the gate's defenses weakened, he immediately ordered a group of soldiers to charge at it, carrying a massive battering ram. "Boom! Boom!" The battering ram slammed against the gate again and again, producing a dull thud. Under the powerful impact, the gate began to crumble.

By this time, the battle on the city wall had reached a fever pitch. One of Lü Bu's generals had already climbed the wall. Brandishing his long sword, he charged left and right, instantly cutting down several defenders. Under his leadership, more and more Lü Bu's soldiers scaled the wall, engaging in close combat with the defenders. Shouts and screams mingled, and blood flowed down the wall.

Finally, after a fierce collision, the city gate collapsed with a loud bang. Lü Bu shouted, "Charge!" The cavalry poured into the city like a tide. Attacked from both inside and outside, the Xudu defenders gradually lost their ability to resist. In the streets, fierce street fighting ensued. Lü Bu's troops, leveraging their surprise attack and high morale, pressed forward.

The commander of Xudu attempted to organize a resistance amidst the chaos, but it was too late. He watched the flames blazing throughout the city, his heart filled with despair. "Forget it, forget it!" he sighed, turning back to fight Lü Bu's army for a final stand, ultimately perishing in the chaos.

As daylight dawned, the cries of battle within Xudu gradually died down. Standing atop the city walls, Lü Bu gazed at his own army flags flying high in the air and laughed heartily, "From now on, Xudu is mine!" Wang Yun also ascended the tower and said with a smile, "Fengxian is truly valiant! This is a great achievement. Next, we must quickly stabilize the situation in Xudu to prevent Cao Cao's return."

Lü Bu nodded and immediately ordered his soldiers to clear the battlefield, pacify the civilians, strengthen the city defenses, and deploy sentries. Xudu, a major city that had once belonged to Cao Cao, fell into Lü Bu's hands overnight.

Cao Cao's household was now in a state of panic, thrown into turmoil by this sudden mutiny. His family members were in a state of panic, and the air was filled with frantic running figures and terrified cries.

Cao Cao's first wife, Madam Ding, suppressed her fear and tried to calm herself, calling her children to her side. Young Cao Zhang gripped the short blade tightly, his delicate face flushed with excitement. His eyes were filled with determination as he shouted, "Don't be afraid, mother! If they dare to enter our mansion, I will make sure they never return!" Madam Ding looked at Cao Zhang, his face childish yet resolute and determined, feeling both relieved and distressed. She kept saying, "Okay, okay, Zhang'er."

However, before he could finish his words, a group of soldiers, as fierce as wolves and tigers, rushed towards the Sikong Mansion with great momentum. The guards of the Sikong Mansion immediately felt like they were facing a great enemy and quickly took up their positions, holding their weapons tightly and looking nervous.

At this time, Cao Pi quickly walked to Madam Ding's side, bowed and said, "Mother, let me go and talk to them. I don't think they dare to do anything to us!" Madam Ding looked at the calm Cao Pi and felt a little comforted. She said, "Okay, you should be careful and don't be impulsive."