Chapter 1991: Chapter 1787: By Means of Intimidation
Cao Zhen heard this and immediately left joyfully. After he left, Xiahou Shang spoke, "Zidan is young. If he leads our elite troops in a charge, he might be inadequate. The chief general’s strength is insufficient. How can we break through the formation?"
Sima Yi merely glanced at Xiahou Shang and then withdrew his gaze, not bothering to respond to him further, and simply continued, "I’m not entirely familiar with the military officers in our army. Who among you will select appropriate officers and incorporate them into the vanguard?"
"I’ll do it." Although Cao Ang is not adept at commanding troops, he is skilled in interpersonal relationships and adept at maintaining balance. Of course, someone like Sima Yi, who is completely beyond limits, can’t be balanced no matter how much effort is made, so Cao Ang chose to relinquish power directly.
"Then let’s do it this way." Sima Yi nodded slightly.
Then Sima Yi turned to Xiahou Shang, who had been standing aside for some time and whose face had turned somewhat dark, and said, "In a large-scale battle like this, if you choose a single valiant general to lead the charge, then those below Inner Qi Manifestation have basically no value."
"Currently, we do not have generals with Inner Qi Manifestation in our army, so there’s little point in considering age or strength for the leader. As for Cao Zidan, I think his brain is suitable for commanding troops," Sima Yi said, pointing to his head.
Xiahou Shang was so infuriated by Sima Yi’s indifferent tone that his chest tightened, leaving him speechless, and in the end, he could only grunt as an acknowledgment.
Sima Yi was not concerned with whatever thoughts Xiahou Shang had. To him, Xiahou Shang was just a minor character. If Xiahou Shang could control enough resources, he might be able to suppress him, but in the current situation, Sima Yi controlled more resources, so he didn’t need to pay attention to Xiahou Shang.
Seeing Xiahou Shang displeased, Cao Ang stepped in to mediate, preventing the situation from worsening. Afterwards, he took Xiahou Shang to select capable military officers to reinforce the troops under Cao Zhen’s command.
"Zhongda, what you’re doing isn’t right," Cheng Wu hesitated for a while before advising. After all, being recommended by Xun Yun to serve as an army advisor, Cheng Wu wasn’t incompetent. While he might not be as outstanding as his father, he still had a clear view from the outside.
"If he wants to compete with me, then I’ll play along; it’s a good way to pass the time, and keeping entertained isn’t bad either." Sima Yi made no attempt to hide it, fully displaying the arrogance of a young man. Ever since receiving that letter, Sima Yi had not been acting normal.
Cheng Wu was speechless, then sighed deeply. He understood Sima Yi’s mindset. After all, as a child of fortune, why should he concede? Frankly speaking, who is Xiahou Shang compared to Sima Yi’s backing? The nephew of Cao Cao? But in terms of backing, Sima Yi’s isn’t any weaker than Xiahou Shang’s!
Moreover, Sima Yi targeted only Xiahou Shang, while also drawing Cao Zhen to his side. If the conflict between them remained confined to just the two of them, Cheng Wu thought, Xiahou Shang might as well stop trying, and the elders certainly wouldn’t intervene in this matter.
"Then I’ll take my leave, Zhongda. Your machinations, though clever, if they managed to disrupt the camp, the majority of the Southern Huns might not discern the truth. But after the battle, Chanyu Huchuquan and the others may not be oblivious. Lord Cao is not far from the Hun Tribe." Cheng Wu said to Sima Yi as he left.
After saying this, without paying attention to Sima Yi’s expression, he turned and left.
Sima Yi watched Cheng Wu’s departing figure and sneered. There was negligible difference in intelligence between Cheng Wu and Xiahou Shang, but the disparity in their thinking methods and focal points placed their exhibited wisdom on entirely different levels.
[How can the dead talk promises with us?] Sima Yi sneered as he thought.
The agreement between Sima Yi and the Chanyu was just empty talk. He was neither a Han Envoy nor an authentic messenger of the edict; the so-called imperial edict was something he had stolen. As for what Huchuquan and the others thought, it was merely a one-sided matter for Sima Yi.
Even if they figured it out, so what? By then, they’d have eliminated seventy percent of the Southern Huns, and it would be them who helped kill seventy percent of the Southern Huns. Could Huchuquan and the others make a decision to turn hostile on the spot?
Of course not. By that time, Huchuquan and the others would have to swallow their bitterness, unable to turn against Sima Yi.
Moreover, even if Sima Yi hadn’t seized the opportunity at the banquet to capture the Southern Huns’ high-ranking officials, led by Huchuquan, they still wouldn’t be able to retaliate.
By the time the Southern Huns received word that their rear had been captured before Sima Yi did, and sought to trouble Sima Yi, by then, Sima Yi, firmly defending the camp, would not be something the remaining Southern Huns could take down.
When Huchuquan received the message that their rear had been captured, within two days, the Han Army’s reinforcements from the north would arrive. Forget about a master like Sima Yi; even if Cao Zhen held fort with twenty thousand new troops, the thirty thousand Southern Huns wouldn’t be able to break through by then.
If the Han Army managed the situation deftly, with the message of the Southern Huns’ rear being captured and the Han reinforcements arriving in quick succession, launching a pincer attack, the remnants of the Southern Huns could be wiped out.
So Sima Yi had no qualms about having deceived Huchuquan and the others. It’s simply bullying their lack of intelligence. What of it? Dare you bite me? Do I fear you?
