I Can Control My Ancestors-Chapter 240 - 22: Slaughtering Until None Dare Claim Supremacy

Chapter 240: Chapter 22: Slaughtering Until None Dare Claim Supremacy

Jian’an 10th year, April;

——Gu Chen officially mobilized the army to attack Xuchang.

At the same time, Liu Bei also moved his forces from Jingzhou State, aiming to attack Yu Province and Yang Province.

However, Cao Cao was prepared for this.

Sun Ce also mobilized his forces, intending to block Liu Bei’s path in Jiangdong.

During this time, the influential families under Sun Ce, who were originally from Jingzhou, played a crucial role.

They not only strengthened Sun Ce’s power significantly.

But also kept Liu Bei in check.

The initial stability in Jingzhou meant Liu Bei couldn’t deploy all of his forces.

If any unexpected events occurred in Jingzhou, with those families familiar with the region, it was highly likely that Jingzhou could easily change hands.

This was something Liu Bei could never accept.

Perhaps Liu Bei was overly confident, planning to initially eliminate Sun Ce, which would not only resolve future worries but also further strengthen his own power.

But Zhuge Liang stopped him.

With the Yangtze River as a natural barrier, Jiangdong was definitely not easy to conquer.

Reluctantly, Liu Bei left Guan Yu to guard Jingzhou.

While he himself led the troops to attack Yu Province.

The world’s situation spiraled into another great war!

.....

Cao Ren was the one defending Xuchang.

Since the battle in Chenliu years ago, Cao Ren was no longer an obscure young general, but had completely become a renowned defender of the cities.

He stationed forty thousand troops in Xuchang.

Around the perimeter, he set up twelve connected camps relying on the terrain.

Even Gu Chen had to admit, Cao Ren was unquestionably one of the top defenders of cities in the world.

But what difference does that make?

To Gu Chen.

As long as Cao Ren couldn’t mend the rift in the people’s hearts, he was destined to not be able to stop him.

The people’s resolve in Yingchuan was completely lost.

Cao Cao’s move to change the capital, whether to the influential families in Yingchuan or to the common people.

They all recognized this as Cao Cao abandoning them.

More so, with Gu Chen’s overwhelming momentum?

Under such circumstances, how could Cao Ren possibly stop Gu Chen?

Jian’an 10th year, June;

Gu Chen continuously led his army to break through three of Cao’s camps, beheading nearly ten of Cao’s generals, so much that Cao’s soldiers feared Gu Chen like a tiger.

As the news spread, panic struck Yingchuan.

Deserters began to appear successively in each camp.

And the numbers continued to grow.

Cao Ren could only use harsh methods to control the deserters.

Jian’an 10th year, August;

Gu Chen broke through five more camps and continued to push towards Xuchang.

At the same time, he had Xun Yu draft the "Surrender Silk Book," to further instill fear among the soldiers and people of Yingchuan.

But Cao Ren was, after all, a general destined to etch his name into history.

No matter how fierce Gu Chen’s offensive was, he didn’t lose his composure in the slightest.

He never thought that just twelve camps could stop Gu Chen.

Cao Ren had always admired Cao Cao greatly.

And Gu Chen was a figure even Cao Cao highly praised, how could he underestimate him?

He was not flustered at all, methodically organizing the troops within Xuchang, trying every means to block Gu Chen.

Even developing the hook spear.

Specifically to counter Gu Chen and Ma Chao’s elite cavalry.

And it wasn’t as if Cao Cao would just sit idly in the rear.

He, too, was attempting to break the deadlock.

He not only commanded Lu Bu to move from Jizhou State, allowing him to follow Cao Ren’s arrangements but also sent the designs of the Thunderbolt Vehicle to Sun Ce, to assist Sun Ce in attacking Jingzhou.

And he himself hurried to Yu Province and Yang Province to guard against Liu Bei, stabilizing the morale.

Leaving the matters of Peng City entirely to Cao Ang.

In Cao Cao’s eyes.

Compared to Gu Chen, Liu Bei was naturally the easier one to handle.

If he could repel Liu Bei, the morale would be undoubtedly stabilized.

The winds of change swept across the world.

October;

The appearance of the hook spear indeed impacted Gu Chen.

But he was far from being just a brute who only knew how to charge and kill.

Upon realizing the recent drought, Gu Chen immediately adopted the tactics of the Warring States’ Tian Dan breaking the Yan, forming a Fire Ox Array, and once again dealt a heavy blow to Cao’s army.

Within a few months, he completely broke through the twelve linked camps established by Cao Ren.

Leading the troops towards Xuchang.

Meanwhile, by the end of October.

Liu Bei set foot in Runan.

Following the plan of his newly appointed strategist Pang Tong, he dispatched Zhao Yun leading five thousand troops disguised as a supply convoy of Cao’s army, to set fire to Cao’s granary.

Captured several cities in quick succession, his reputation surged.

The speed of his advance only slowed when Cao Cao personally arrived.

November;

Cao Chun led the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry to cut off Gu Chen’s supply route at Yangyao, blocking Gu Chen’s offensive.

They even encountered Ma Chao’s Qiang cavalry.

The two sides fought fiercely.

Both suffered casualties, with no clear victor.

Until Gu Chen personally led his troops to arrive, Cao Chun retreated in defeat.

Gu Chen did not directly attack Xuchang.

Xuchang was a significant stronghold, with forty thousand defenders, it wasn’t something easily conquered.

He chose to rest his troops, replan the supply routes.

Additionally utilizing the classic tactics passed down from the Gu Clan generation after generation.

Various "miracles" appeared in succession.

A stele suddenly appeared in Luoyang, proclaiming "Xuchang’s defeat, Luoyang’s rise";

A calamity star appeared, seen as an omen for Xuchang’s downfall;

Various rumors emerged one after another, continuously eroding the fighting spirit of Cao’s army.

Even Gu Yi couldn’t help but exclaim, "My forefathers are truly too thorough."

But upon careful thought, it all made sense.

Gu Chen was never a prodigy far beyond his peers since childhood.

——On the contrary, it was quite the opposite.

His experiences from a young age determined his character, how could he become overly arrogant?

This style of warfare truly drove Cao Ren to despair.

Only now, after facing Gu Chen himself.

Cao Ren finally understood why Cao Cao decided to relocate the capital back then.

Gu Chen had no flaws!

From every aspect, he was impeccable.

Whether it was the foundation building; the judging of the battle situation; or even in terms of understanding human psychology;