Three Kingdoms, Myth

"Enemy general defeated! Soldiers, charge with me and crush the enemy!" Cao Cao shouted, leading the reserve troops as he charged forward with the Yitian Sword in hand.

Upon hearing this, the morale of the Danyang elite troops collapsed. They were capable of fighting without a commander, but if the commander fled during battle, who were they fighting for? Although the Danyang troops had the qualities of elite soldiers, their core nature was still that of mercenaries. Even after being employed by Tao Qian for years, their relationship remained a mercenary contract. Now that Cao Bao had fled and had previously been withholding their rations, the Danyang soldiers lost the will to fight.

In the next moment, the lower-ranking officers of the Danyang troops made the same decision. Almost simultaneously, they mobilized their cloud energy and launched an attack on Cao Cao's forces. Then, taking advantage of a brief disengagement, they quickly tightened their formation, pulling back into a defensive circle with shield-bearers on the outside, spearmen in the middle, and archers protected at the center. Their formation resembled a bristling hedgehog as they coldly stared down Cao Cao's army.

"Lord, do not focus on the Danyang elites. Pursue Cao Bao and capture him first. After that, we can talk about surrendering the Danyang troops," Cheng Yu advised as he rushed over to Cao Cao, who was hesitating whether to attack.

"Zimou, capture Cao Bao alive! The rest of you, fall back ten steps," Cao Cao ordered Xiahou Yuan.

The Cao army's withdrawal allowed the Danyang troops to relax slightly, but years of battle experience kept them wary of the Cao forces as they held their spears, silently standing off against the enemy.

Xiahou Yuan spurred his horse and pursued Cao Bao, who was inexplicably fleeing across the ice of the Yishui River toward the confluence with the Yellow River.

"Where do you think you're going?" Xiahou Yuan shouted as he spotted Cao Bao from afar. His spear gleamed as he launched a powerful attack at the ice beneath Cao Bao. The ice shattered, sending Cao Bao and his guards plummeting into the frigid river.

"Got you!" Xiahou Yuan leaped over to the spot where Cao Bao had fallen, thrusting his spear into the water and pulling Cao Bao out. "Ha! Caught a big fish!"

"So cold..." Cao Bao shivered, teeth chattering as he pleaded, "General, please spare me. I am the head of the Cao family in Xuzhou. If you spare my life, the Cao family will be forever grateful."

Xiahou Yuan laughed. "Cao Bao, you really are a fool. Don't you even know who I am? Enough talk. My elder brother is waiting for me to bring you back." With a cold expression, Xiahou Yuan clamped Cao Bao under his arm and, with a few swift jumps, returned to his horse and headed back.

"Elder brother, I've captured Cao Bao," Xiahou Yuan said proudly as he tossed the shivering Cao Bao, who was either frozen or terrified, in front of Cao Cao.

"Cao Bao, tell me the truth about my father," Cao Cao demanded, pressing the Yitian Sword against Cao Bao's throat, his expression icy.

"Lord Cao, please spare me! I was only following Tao Qian's orders to have Zhang Kai escort your father. All of this was Tao Qian's doing; it has nothing to do with me! Please believe me, Lord Cao!" Cao Bao grovelled, abandoning all pretense of being a nobleman as he begged for his life.

"Cao Bao, tell me the truth. If you do, your Cao family in Xuzhou will live. If not, I will wipe out your entire family!" Cao Cao kicked Cao Bao to the ground, his voice filled with rage. "This is your last chance. Tell me the truth, or your family will be annihilated!"

Cao Bao kowtowed repeatedly but still refused to reveal the truth.

"If you won't talk, then I'll say it! You ordered Zhang Kai to ambush and kill my father. You used my name to massacre the people of Xuzhou. Everything you've done was to undermine Tao Qian and seize power for yourself," Cao Cao roared, his eyes bloodshot. "I don't care if you wanted to undermine Tao Qian. I don't care if you wanted to seize power. But you should never have involved my father! You deserve to die!"

"Lord Cao, I was wrong! Please, spare me! I can help you take Xuzhou! The Cao family can help you take Xuzhou! Please, spare me!" Cao Bao pleaded desperately, his fear driving him to abandon all dignity.

"Die!" Cao Cao, consumed by fury, swung his sword, slicing Cao Bao in two. But even that wasn't enough to quell his rage. He continued hacking at Cao Bao's body, reducing it to a bloody pulp in front of tens of thousands of soldiers.

Finally, after venting his anger, Cao Cao stopped and collapsed to the ground, weeping bitterly. His father had been killed over such a trivial matter, and in his grief, he had slaughtered countless innocent civilians. Now, standing over the real culprit's remains, he felt no sense of justice or relief. The people of Xuzhou who had perished could no longer accuse him of their deaths, but that didn't ease his conscience.

At that moment, Cao Cao felt a profound disillusionment. He had strived for the well-being of the people, from his defeat at Hulao Pass to his return to Chenliu, to taking control of Yanzhou, occupying Yingchuan, and seizing Nanyang. He had worked tirelessly to govern his territories, promoting agriculture, suppressing bandits, and recruiting talented individuals, all in an effort to improve the lives of his people. Yet, this was the outcome.

"Hahaha... If the heavens are blind, then I will be their eyes. Even if I make mistakes, it's better than doing nothing. I, Cao Mengde, will remain steadfast, whether praised or condemned!" Cao Cao seemed to reach a moment of clarity, and his mind cleared. The anxiety, despair, and disillusionment that had plagued him vanished in an instant.

Cao Cao appeared to undergo a transformation, his confusion and doubt replaced by unwavering resolve. Those close to him, like Cheng Yu and Xun You, felt their own convictions grow stronger as if their minds had been purified.

Cao Cao stepped forward and addressed the Danyang soldiers, saying, "Lay down your weapons and surrender, and I guarantee your safety."

The Danyang soldiers murmured among themselves. They had been deeply disappointed by Cao Bao's conduct during the battle. Moreover, Cao Bao's interactions with Cao Cao had made it clear that he was the true culprit behind Xuzhou's suffering, which only fueled their resentment.

As mercenaries recruited from Danyang, the soldiers had little loyalty to Cao Bao. His behavior, coupled with the revelations about his role in the tragedy of Xuzhou, made them feel like accomplices to his crimes. They began to wonder if they had been fighting on the wrong side all along.

"I surrender," someone finally said, dropping their weapon. One after another, the Danyang soldiers followed suit, laying down their arms. And thus, Tao Qian's once mighty Danyang elite force came to an end under his command.