Chapter 128: The Target of the Estrangement Strategy, Xu You

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Cao Peng realized it was futile to reason with them further, so he led the two into the camp tent and lit a campfire. He skewered two potatoes on bamboo sticks and roasted them over the fire. Soon, a tantalizing aroma wafted through the air.

Seated across from Cao Peng, Cao Cao and Guo Jia couldn’t help but salivate at the scent of the roasted potatoes. Seeing that the potatoes were ready, Cao Peng pulled the skewers from the fire and tossed them to the two men.

The potatoes were so hot that Cao Cao and Guo Jia nearly dropped them upon receiving them.

“Delicious, I never expected you to find such a treasure,” Cao Cao remarked. Guo Jia had just claimed they wouldn’t taste good, yet now he was eating with relish.

In Cao Peng’s mind, the “law of true fragrance” appeared vividly.

The food shortage crisis was temporarily resolved thanks to the potatoes Cao Peng brought, but defeating Yuan Shao’s massive army would take far longer than a month. Even if they persisted for a month, the outcome wouldn’t change.

So Cao Cao asked, “Anmin, now that you’re back, why don’t you share your strategy for breaking the enemy’s forces?”

Cao Peng deliberately turned to Guo Jia and said, “Mr. Fengxiao, why don’t you explain how we should defeat the enemy this time?”

Guo Jia forced a wry smile, sensing Cao Peng’s grudge and his intention to make him look foolish here.

“Anmin, don’t discourage me. I admit I was wrong last time. At critical moments, we still need your efforts.”

Cao Peng didn’t intend to persevere indefinitely. He joked briefly before speaking.

“Our main crisis and the point where failure is most likely is the supply of provisions. As long as the food supply is sufficient, we can completely crush Yuan Shao.”

Cao Cao nodded. “Exactly.”

If it weren’t for this supply issue, he wouldn’t have fallen to such a desperate state.

Guo Jia interjected, “But we can’t divert any more supplies now…”

Indeed, everyone knew this was a vicious cycle.

“We’ve already encountered such trouble from lack of provisions. Imagine what would happen if Yuan Shao’s massive army suddenly lost its supplies,” Cao Peng said with a smile.

This remark awakened Cao Cao from his reverie, and he almost blurted out, “If Yuan Shao’s army suddenly lost its supplies, he would surely be doomed. Could it be that the Jinyiwei have already discovered where Yuan Shao’s grain is stored?”

Cao Peng shook his head. “Of course not.”

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In fact, he could have said outright that Wuchao was the granary’s location, but that would have seemed too simple.

“Alas…” Cao Cao looked disappointed.

If they didn’t know where Yuan Shao’s supplies were hidden, how could they devise a strategy to defeat him?

Whether it was intercepting grain or burning the enemy’s provisions, these were Cao Cao’s specialties. But without knowing where their supply routes lay, he was helpless.

“Since Anmin says this, then there must be a way,” Guo Jia observed carefully, making an educated guess from Cao Peng’s words.

“Really, Anmin?” Cao Cao looked at him with questioning eyes.

Cao Peng smiled casually. “Uncle, how do you think we can discover where Yuan Shao stores his provisions?”

Cao Cao thought for a moment and said, “Spies?”

Then he shook his head.

“But even the Jinyiwei can’t find out. Who else could have such capability?”

Cao Peng gave a further hint: “Even the best spies have to infiltrate Yuan Shao’s camp. So who else would know the granary’s location better than one of Yuan Shao’s own strategists?”

In the end, he still didn’t reveal Wuchao’s name directly.

He took such a roundabout way simply to avoid arousing Cao Cao’s suspicion.

Suddenly, a spark lit up Cao Cao’s mind. He furrowed his brow and asked, “Anmin, do you mean I should try to turn one of Yuan Shao’s strategists to our side?”

“Exactly!” Cao Peng was relieved that Cao Cao finally understood.

To Guo Jia, this look was almost like a patronizing gaze upon a mentally challenged child.

“Though Yuan Benchu enjoys great prestige and has many strategists under his banner, he is poor at utilizing talent. These men are divided into factions that undermine each other—they are united in appearance only. Turning one of them is not difficult.”

“Does the Jinyiwei have a target?” Cao Cao asked.

Cao Peng nodded. “I’ve already sent evidence of Xu You’s embezzlement to Guo Tu. I’m sure he will sow discord before Yuan Shao.”

Seeing Cao Peng’s smile, both Cao Cao and Guo Jia felt a chill.

They hadn’t expected someone so young to be so well versed in manipulating minds.

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Guo Jia was even more excited. “Yuan Shao has already imprisoned Tian Feng, and Ju Shou feigns illness to avoid going out. If Xu You is removed, the remaining Guo Tu and others are nothing but buffoons.”

“Good. Then I entrust this matter to you, Anmin. If successful, you shall be the first to claim credit for defeating Yuan Shao!” Cao Cao clasped his hands in respect.

Cao Peng waved his hand dismissively. “It’s just a small stratagem. Nothing worth boasting about.”

“There’s one more thing. Uncle, you should act now. You need to write a letter and have someone deliver it out. It’s likely Xu You will intercept it.”

Cao Cao narrowed his eyes and immediately asked, “What should the letter say?”

“Just include that our army is about to run out of grain,” Cao Peng replied.

“What!” Cao Cao exclaimed in shock.

Even the suspicious Cao Cao struggled to hold back his anger. If the person speaking weren’t Cao Peng, he would have assumed he was a spy for Yuan Shao and had him executed long ago.

After all, if news of their shortage leaked out and Xu You passed it to Yuan Shao, the consequences would be disastrous.

If Yuan Shao marched his army recklessly to attack, Cao’s forces would be doomed.

Ignoring Cao Cao’s astonished gaze, Cao Peng asked, “Uncle, tell me, what kind of plan would Xu You propose to Yuan Shao upon receiving this letter?”

Suppressing his doubts, Cao Cao thought for a moment and answered, “Yuan Shao would mobilize all his troops, divide them into several routes. One route would engage our forces directly, while the others would launch a surprise attack on our rear in Xudu.”

Cao Peng’s eyes showed admiration.

As expected of a military strategist.

If it weren’t for the fact that Ten Miles is Inferior to Ten, Yuan Shao would definitely not outmatch Cao Cao.

“That’s right. Xu You will propose exactly what you said as a sacrificial plan to Yuan Shao. But Yuan Shao will probably refuse and scold Xu You.”

“Why?” Cao Cao genuinely didn’t understand.

Cao Peng explained, “Because Yuan Shao just heard about Xu You’s embezzlement and thinks poorly of him. Suddenly hearing such a plan, and with someone whispering in his ear, Yuan Shao will suspect Xu You of colluding with you.”