Chapter 119: The Gambler

"In that case, we shall withdraw our troops!"

Liu Ye let out a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

However, Chu Feng’s tone shifted, his expression turning sharp: "But only after we have seized Wu Commandery! If we cannot take Wu Commandery, how can we hope to hold the balance of power in the world?"

"Cao Cao worries that our army might strike his rear during the great northern campaign, but do we not also worry that Sun Ce might strike Shouchun? Rather than being manipulated by others, it is better to gamble for a chance at survival."

"My Lord, this... this is far too risky! If Shouchun falls, our army will be isolated, and everything we have worked for will be reduced to naught."

"My Lord, withdrawing now and planning for Wu Commandery only after Cao Cao retreats is the superior strategy!" Liu Ye urged urgently. Both he and Lu Su were of the opinion that a retreat was necessary.

Seeing that Chu Feng remained unmoved, Liu Ye offered an example: "My Lord, when Lu Bu attacked Cao Cao’s Yan Province, Cao Cao was on the verge of seizing Xu Province, yet he still chose to withdraw."

Chu Feng waved his hand in dismissal:

"Cao Cao is a man of great ambition. Since he has come to attack now, he will surely come again when I move to take Wu Commandery. If we repeat this cycle, how can we speak of hegemony? Rather than living like this, it is better to take a gamble."

"If we win, we control the entirety of Yangzhou. If we lose, we can always rise again. What is there to fear?"

Chu Feng had thought this through thoroughly and remained convinced that they must strike. After all, if Cao Cao could attack Shouchun once, he could do so a second time. If he were always held hostage by this threat, how could he ever accomplish great things?

Liu Ye’s mouth twitched. He had to admit that his lord’s ambition was truly boundless. If it were anyone else whose home base was being threatened, they would be desperate to rush back and defend it, yet Chu Feng was doing the exact opposite.

"My Lord, this is no child's play; you must not stake everything on a single throw!" Liu Ye continued to plead.

Chu Feng picked up an ancient text, pondered for a moment, and asked, "Ziyang, what do you think is Cao Cao’s true purpose in leading his army to strike at Shouchun?"

"This..." Liu Ye hesitated.

"Does Cao Cao really want to capture Shouchun? He has no intention of taking it. He only fears that I might annex Sun Ce and threaten his rear, so he pressures Shouchun to force me to return and defend. Is that not the case?" Chu Feng added with a light chuckle, not even looking up.

"My Lord, Cao Cao may not want to take Shouchun, but that is under the premise that you return to defend it. If you do not return, Cao Cao will certainly press his advantage and take the city."

"When that happens, it will be too late for regrets!" Liu Ye said earnestly.

"Haha, that is where you are wrong. Precisely because he is Cao Cao, he would never do something so foolish. If he destroys me, Sun Ce will dominate the Jianghuai region, and Cao Cao will remain in a precarious position."

Chu Feng looked up and met Liu Ye’s gaze, challenging him.

The latter frowned slightly, momentarily at a loss for words. He could not argue, for Chu Feng was correct: Cao Cao’s goal was to maintain balance, not to wipe them out. Unless he could annihilate both Sun Ce and Chu Feng in one stroke, the consequences of playing favorites would only backfire on Cao Cao himself.

"My Lord, that may be true, but Shouchun is the foundation of our army. Such a risk is not worth it!" Liu Ye persisted.

"Haha, Ziyang, you misunderstand me!"

"Military strategy dictates: strike where they are unprepared, appear where you are not expected."

"Cao Cao’s goal is for our army to withdraw, so I shall withdraw. However, this withdrawal is not what he expects. You and Zijing both believe I should retreat, and Cao Cao surely thinks the same. I imagine Sun Ce and Zhou Yu will also naturally assume I am returning to defend Shouchun. Since that is the case, I will play along and begin a public withdrawal."

"In reality, I will be secretly plotting against Wu Commandery!"

"This way, once Cao Cao hears that I have led my troops back, he will not be foolish enough to launch an all-out assault on Shouchun, as he will have already achieved his goal."

"Once Sun Ce realizes we are retreating, he will inevitably let his guard down and lead his forces to drive us out of Piling. That is when we will use this psychological inertia to catch them completely off guard!"

"As long as we can take Wu Commandery quickly, Cao Cao’s subsequent attempts to take Shouchun will be impractical, will they not?" Chu Feng said with a faint smile, looking at Liu Ye.

When he finished speaking, Liu Ye fell into deep thought.

He was momentarily speechless. To be honest, Chu Feng’s words sent a tremor through his heart. While it seemed incredibly risky and audacious, when he thought it through, it was filled with feasibility.

First, the Cao army, believing that Chu Feng was returning to defend, would never launch a full-scale assault on Shouchun, as their strategic objective was merely to force his return. Conversely, Sun Ce would also conclude that Chu Feng’s retreat was a given. With this mindset, Chu Feng’s surprise attack could indeed yield great success.

Liu Ye found himself admiring Chu Feng even more.

"My Lord, this plan is indeed feasible, but how can we ensure we defeat Sun Ce in one blow, rather than getting bogged down in a war of attrition?" Liu Ye asked curiously.

"Then we gamble once more," Chu Feng said heartily. "While one part of our army makes a show of withdrawing, I will personally lead a separate force, traveling light and fast, hiding by day and moving by night, bypassing the enemy to strike directly at Wu County!"

"I suspect Sun Ce would never dream that I would double back. Once I lead my army to the city walls, how could the noble families within Wu County do anything but surrender?"

"Sun Ce’s soldiers have their families in Wu County. If the city is lost and their loved ones are threatened—and without supply lines—no matter how much Sun Ce tries to persuade them, these soldiers will certainly not continue to follow him." Chu Feng explained in a low, firm voice.

In later years, after Lu Meng raided Jiangling, even Guan Yu, who loved his soldiers like his own children, saw them abandon him; there was no help for it, as no one could forsake their wives and children.

Liu Ye fell into thought once more. The more he contemplated it, the more he frowned; he realized that Chu Feng’s plan was a series of interlocking rings, and his foresight was far-reaching.

"My Lord, since you already have a strategy in mind, I shall say no more!" Liu Ye bowed, truly convinced.

"If we can truly take Wu Commandery this time, Cao Cao deserves fifty percent of the credit," Chu Feng laughed. If it weren't for Cao Cao, he would truly have no way to handle Sun Ce. But now, it was different; Cao Cao’s invasion had drawn the attention of the world, and everyone believed he would retreat, which was the perfect opportunity.

"My Lord, if we are victorious, it will not be due to Cao Cao’s efforts, but because you have planned with such strategy and anticipated the enemy. I am truly humbled," Liu Ye said with sincere admiration.

This was no empty flattery. In Liu Ye’s view, Chu Feng was progressing with astonishing speed, and his insights were enough to command his total respect—no small feat.

Chu Feng did not dwell on the matter. "Very well, go and summon the various commanders. We must arrange this battle immediately."

"Understood!" Liu Ye nodded.

Immediately, messengers were sent to notify all the commanders.

As for Lu Meng, who stood by Chu Feng’s side, he suggested: "My Lord, I believe we should withdraw within the sight of Sun Ce’s scouts."

"On the night of the withdrawal, we shall split into two, don the armor of Sun Ce’s army, and take a detour to launch a surprise attack on Wu County. Otherwise, if we alert the enemy, our efforts will be in vain!"

"Excellent. That is exactly what we shall do!"

Chu Feng nodded. These were the small details that mattered.

Before long, all the commanders arrived with steady strides. Chu Feng briefly repeated his decision, and the generals were all eager for the fray.

In the end, Liang Gang was left to defend the city. Li Feng led a small detachment to withdraw, while the rest followed Chu Feng, hiding by day and moving by night to bypass the enemy and reach Wu County.