Bab 499: 480. Cai Mao's Death
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As the night deepened, Cao Cao retreated to his private chambers. There, in the solitude of his room, he allowed himself a moment of reflection. The road ahead was fraught with danger, but he had faith in his sons, and in the strength of the Cao family. They would endure, they would prosper, and one day, they would achieve the unification of the land under their banner.
Meanwhile, to the southwest of Luoyang, at the border between Yang Province and Jiaozhi Province, the Sun Clan Army led by Zhou Yu was lying in wait to ambush the army led by Cai Mao.
Cai Mao, emboldened by the belief that Sun Ce was on the brink of death from a deadly poison, had brazenly led his forces into Yang Province, hoping to reclaim the lands he had lost to the Sun Clan in previous skirmishes.
Unbeknownst to him however, Sun Ce's condition had improved, thanks to the timely intervention of Hua Tuo and Zhang Zhongjing, and the Sun Clan was far from being the weakened force he assumed it to be.
His overconfidence would be his downfall as he had also left behind his most trusted and strongest general, Zhang Yun, to defend Lingling, believing that the Sun Clan would not dare strike directly at his heartland while being engulfed in chaos. Zhang Yun's absence only made Cai Mao more vulnerable without him knowing.
This time, almost all of the elite generals of the Sun Clan participated in the battle, except for Han Dang, who was assigned to guard the Sun Clan's capital and protect the Sun family.
Veteran generals such as Huang Gai, Cheng Pu, Dong Xi, and Zhu Ran, alongside formidable warriors like Zhou Tai and Wei Yan, led their own assigned units, each positioned strategically according to Zhou Yu's meticulously crafted plan. They waited in silence, their hearts steady, knowing that the success of their ambush hinged on the element of surprise.
Zhou Yu, perched atop a hill overlooking the narrow pass that Cai Mao's forces were now entering, observed the enemy's movements with hawk-like precision.
The narrow pass had been chosen deliberately, its confined space would leave Cai Mao's forces vulnerable to attack from all sides, making it difficult for them to mount an effective defense or retreat. The traps they had laid earlier—hidden pitfalls, rolling logs, and sharp stakes concealed under loose earth—were all in place, ready to spring at the slightest signal.
As Cai Mao's army approached, Zhou Yu raised his hand, signaling his troops to prepare. The men, hidden in the surrounding hills and forests, tightened their grips on their weapons, their muscles tensed in anticipation. Zhou Yu's eyes narrowed as he watched Cai Mao's vanguard pass the point of no return. With a sharp, decisive gesture, Zhou Yu gave the signal to attack.
The ambush was sudden and devastating. Arrows rained down from the hills, cutting through Cai Mao's ranks with deadly accuracy. The rolling logs, released from their precarious positions on the hilltops, crashed down upon the soldiers below, causing chaos and confusion.
At the same time, the Sun Clan's infantry, led by Huang Gai and Cheng Pu, surged forward from their hidden positions, cutting down the disoriented enemy soldiers who were scrambling to form a defense.
Cai Mao's forces, caught completely off guard, were quickly overwhelmed. The narrow pass, which had seemed like a straightforward route into Yang Province, had turned into a death trap.
Cai Mao's men, who had entered the pass with confidence, now found themselves trapped, unable to retreat or regroup. The Sun Clan's generals, executing Zhou Yu's plan with flawless precision, pressed the attack relentlessly, cutting through the enemy ranks with ruthless efficiency.
Wei Yan and Zhou Tai, leading the Sun Clan's cavalry, charged into the fray, their horses thundering across the battlefield. Their swords flashed in the dim light of the setting sun, cutting down any of Cai Mao's soldiers who tried to flee. Dong Xi and Zhu Ran, commanding the flanking units, ensured that no one could escape. The ambush had been so well-coordinated that Cai Mao's army had no chance to recover or mount a counterattack.
Cai Mao, realizing too late that he had walked into a trap, desperately tried to rally his troops, but it was no use. The Sun Clan's ambush was too well-executed, and his army was outnumbered and outclassed. His generals fell one by one, cut down by the relentless onslaught.
His army was soon routed, and the men who had not already been killed or captured were fleeing in all directions, abandoning their weapons and armor in their haste to escape. The 100,000 strong army was destroyed in a matter of hours due to the Sun Clan's advisors' meticulous planning.
As the last of Cai Mao's soldiers were either captured or fled into the wilderness, Zhou Yu rode forward, his expression calm and composed despite the carnage that surrounded him.
His eyes fell upon Cai Mao, who had been captured by his men and was now being brought before him, bound and gagged. The once-arrogant general, who had led his army into Yang Province with such confidence, now looked like a beaten dog, his face pale and his eyes wide with fear.
When Cai Mao was brought before Zhou Yu and the assembled generals of the Sun Clan, he glared at them with a mixture of hatred and defiance. Despite his predicament, Cai Mao's arrogance had not been entirely subdued. As soon as he was within spitting distance of Zhou Yu, he sneered and spat at the strategist's feet.
"Release me at once!" Cai Mao demanded, his voice dripping with venomous pride. "Do you have any idea who I am now and the kind of power I wield!?"
The generals of the Sun Clan, their hands still stained with the blood of Cai Mao's soldiers, bristled at his insolence. Huang Gai, always the first to speak his mind, stepped forward, his face a mask of anger. "You dare speak to us with such insolence after leading your men to their deaths, you snake? We should kill you where you stand!"
But Zhou Yu, ever the master of composure, raised a hand to silence Huang Gai. "Patience, General Huang Gai," Zhou Yu said calmly, his eyes never leaving Cai Mao's. "Cai Mao is not without his uses. Killing him now would be a waste."
Turning his attention back to Cai Mao, Zhou Yu's voice took on a cold, almost clinical tone. "You will not be released, Cai Mao, until we have negotiated the terms with Liu Biao. Surely you understand the importance of proper protocol in these matters?"
Cai Mao laughed loudly when he heard Liu Biao's name, his eyes blazing with defiance and arrogance. "You should negotiate with me, not Liu Biao, for he is dead! Now the new lord is Liu Cong, his youngest son, who is nothing more than a puppet as the Cai Clan was the one out of him in that position. The real power is in my hands now. I could have had you all crushed underfoot, but you were lucky enough to ambush me. Now, let me go, and perhaps I'll consider sparing you in the future."
The Sun Clan generals exchanged looks and voices of disbelief and shock, but Zhou Yu silenced them with a raised hand. "So, Liu Biao is dead, which I believe was your doing," Zhou Yu mused, his voice thoughtful. "And you think that makes you invincible and all powerful now?"
Cai Mao let out a sinister laugh, his voice dripping with malevolence and pride. "Yes, it's true," he sneered. "The Cai Clan and I were the ones who disposed of that old fool, Liu Biao. He had it coming for what he did to us in the past. His death was a necessary step to reclaim our rightful power. And, of course, it makes me invincible and all-powerful because no one dares to kill a high-ranking noble without a trial."
His words, laced with arrogance, hung in the air, causing the already seething Sun Clan generals to tense even more. Though they cared little for Liu Biao's demise and even rejoiced at the news, it was Cai Mao's unbridled arrogance that ticked them off.
The contempt in his voice, the way he spoke of his power as if he were untouchable, was more than enough to test their patience. Huang Gai, Dong Xi, and Zhou Tai exchanged glances, their hands gripping the hilts of their swords, barely restraining themselves from cutting him down where he stood.
Zhou Yu, however, remained composed. He watched Cai Mao laugh, his eyes narrowing slightly in thought as he let the man finish his boast. When Cai Mao finally fell silent, Zhou Yu allowed a small, amused smile to curve his lips.
"Who says that Cai Mao was executed without a trial?" Zhou Yu asked, his voice smooth and measured. His words were delivered with such calm certainty that it sent a chill down Cai Mao's spine. "Cai Mao will be killed in battle, fighting valiantly to defend his men and the dignity of his clan. That is the story that will be told."
For a moment, Cai Mao's face froze, the color draining from his cheeks as the meaning of Zhou Yu's words sank in. The sudden realization that the Sun Clan was determined to kill him, and that they intended to craft a narrative of his death that would ensure no retribution would come their way, filled him with a growing sense of dread. He had underestimated Zhou Yu's cunning, and now, he was paying the price.
Panic began to well up within Cai Mao. His bravado faltered, and he tried one last desperate attempt to turn the situation in his favor. "Even if you kill me," he hissed, trying to sound defiant but failing to mask the fear in his voice, "your lord Sun Ce will join me soon enough. The poison I used on him is deadly. It's only a matter of time before he succumbs to it. What good will your victory be if your leader is dead?"
Zhou Yu's smile widened, and this time, it was the Sun Clan generals' turn to laugh. The sound of their laughter echoed in the narrow pass, reverberating off the rocky walls and adding to the ominous atmosphere. Cai Mao's eyes darted from one face to another, his fear deepening as he saw nothing but amusement and disdain in their expressions.
When the laughter subsided, Zhou Yu leaned slightly forward, his eyes locking onto Cai Mao's. "You truly are ignorant of the current state of affairs," Zhou Yu began, his voice laced with mock pity. "Lord Sun Ce has been cured, thanks to the miraculous intervention of Hua Tuo and Zhang Zhongjing, two of the most renowned physicians in the land who served Lord Lie Fan. They were personally escorted by Lord Lie Fan to our capital to ensure that the poison you used was neutralized."
Cai Mao's heart sank as Zhou Yu spoke. The knowledge that his plan to eliminate Sun Ce had failed was a blow he had not anticipated. He had staked everything on the belief that Sun Ce's death would leave the Sun Clan leaderless and vulnerable. But now, with Sun Ce alive and the Sun Clan's forces stronger than ever, he realized just how dire his situation had become.
Zhou Yu, seeing the terror in Cai Mao's eyes, pressed on, his tone now filled with cold finality. "Your defeat here is complete, Cai Mao. You have no power, no influence, and no future. Your army lies in ruins, your plans have failed, and soon, you will meet your end, not as the invincible warlord you fancied yourself to be, but as a traitor who overestimated his worth."
Cai Mao's mind raced, desperately searching for a way out. "Wait!" he blurted, his voice cracking with desperation. "If you spare me, I can be of use to you. I can help you secure Jing Province, I can—"
"Silence," Zhou Yu cut him off, his voice icy. "You think we would trust a traitor like you? Your words mean nothing to us. You have brought this upon yourself, Cai Mao. Your arrogance has led you to this end, and now, you must face the consequences."
Cai Mao's last shred of hope crumbled, and he slumped in defeat, the reality of his situation finally sinking in. He was finished. There would be no negotiations, no mercy. The Sun Clan had outmaneuvered him at every turn, and now, they would erase him from the annals of history, leaving behind only the tale they chose to tell.
Zhou Yu straightened in his saddle, his gaze still fixed on Cai Mao. "Take him away," he ordered, his voice firm. "Make sure the story of his death is exactly as I've described. He fought valiantly but was ultimately defeated in battle, defending his men and his honor."
The Sun Clan generals nodded, their expressions grim and resolute. They understood the importance of crafting a narrative that would serve their interests. Cai Mao would die, but his death would be presented in a way that ensured no backlash from his remaining allies, and more importantly, it would serve as a warning to others who might dare to challenge the Sun Clan.
As Cai Mao was dragged away to be killed on the field of battle, Zhou Yu turned his attention back to the battlefield. The Sun Clan's forces were already beginning the process of rounding up the remaining enemy soldiers and gathering the spoils of war. The victory had been decisive, and the Sun Clan's dominance in the Yang Province remains unchallenged.
Zhou Yu allowed himself a moment of satisfaction. The plan had been executed flawlessly, and the threat posed by Cai Mao had been eliminated. But he knew that the road ahead was still fraught with challenges. The chaos following Cai Mao's death would undoubtedly lead to further power struggles in Jing Province, and the Sun Clan would need to be vigilant and prepared for whatever came next.
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Name: Lie Fan
Title: Overlord Of The Central Plains
Age: 31 (198 AD)
Level: 16
Next Level: 462,000
Renown: 1325
Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)
SP: 1,121,700
ATTRIBUTE POINTS
STR: 951 (+20)
VIT: 613 (+20)
AGI: 598 (+10)
INT: 617
CHR: 96
WIS: 519
WILL: 407
ATR Points: 0
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
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