My father-in-law Guan Yu, I persuaded Liu Bei to launch a surprise attack on Xiangyang at the beginn

Chapter 265 So the clown was actually myself? Cao Cao: Don't call me King of Wei, please call me the Defeat King!
"No matter how many variations it takes, I will simply and brutally defeat it..."

Liu Bei muttered to himself, seemingly lost in thought.

After a long while, his thoughts suddenly became clear, and he burst into laughter:
"Bowen is right. I was indeed overthinking it. What do I care about reducing the number of cooking fires or feigning a retreat!"

"Let's follow Bowen's plan and use this simple and crude method to defeat them!"

Having made up his mind, Liu Bei immediately dispatched a messenger northward, ordering Huang Zhong to launch an attack on the Wei camp at Huating at sunrise the next morning.

Liu Bei left several thousand elite troops to guard Ningling, and after nightfall, the main army took advantage of the darkness to march north at breakneck speed.

...

The following day, at the Wei camp in Huating.

As dawn breaks in the east, the sky begins to lighten.

On the watchtower, Cao Cao stood with his hands behind his back, his face ashen, his eyes fixed on the night outside the camp.

Below the watchtower, yawns rose and fell in waves.

Even the tiger guards behind him couldn't help but yawn quietly.

There was no other way; they hadn't slept for two nights in a row, armed and waiting in ambush.

This was Cheng Yu's plan.

They spread rumors that Cao Cao had been injured by a stone bullet and was in critical condition, leaving the 140,000-strong Wei army leaderless and forced to retreat north.

Along the way, they reduced the number of cooking fires and abandoned supplies, all to create the illusion of unrest in the army and desertion among the soldiers.

The purpose was to lure the Chu army into a relentless pursuit.

This way, he could ambush the Chu army halfway through their advance and inflict heavy losses on their lightly armed and reckless troops.

Unfortunately, Liu Bei did not fall for the trick.

Although the 100,000 Chu troops did manage to pursue them, they proceeded cautiously, following them for about ten miles, advancing and stopping as needed, but never rashly pursuing them.

Cao Cao retreated more than a hundred miles, but the Chu army did not take the bait.

Moreover, Liu Bei was quite cautious, dividing his army into two routes, the vanguard and the central army, with Huang Zhong's 40,000 vanguard troops protecting the 60,000 central troops behind them.

Left with no other option, Cheng Yu offered another plan: when they reached Huating Ferry, they stopped their northward retreat.

At the same time, a large number of warships were brought in from upstream, pretending to abandon the pretense and have the entire army board the ships and escape back to Chenliu by waterway.

This is an attempt to put Liu Bei in a difficult position.

On the surface, this was the Chu army's last chance. If they did not launch an attack, they would have to watch helplessly as 140,000 Wei soldiers fled back to Chenliu in one fell swoop.

If Liu Bei did not want to give up this golden opportunity, he would surely order Huang Zhong's vanguard to launch an immediate attack on the Wei camp at Huating.

However, after waiting for two nights, Huang Zhong still did not come to attack.

"Could it be that Xiao He saw through our army's feigned retreat, and that Liu Bei was wary of us, which is why he refused to attack earlier?"

Jiang Ji couldn't help but speculate.

Cheng Yu, however, remained as confident as ever, stroking his beard and smiling:
"If we simply retreat, given Xiao He's intelligence, he will most likely suspect that our retreat is a ruse."

"However, with Your Majesty's plan to reduce the number of cooking fires, Xiao He will surely think he is being clever and will deduce that we are trying to cover up the fact that our soldiers are deserting and our morale is wavering."

"Once this plan is devised, the smarter a person is, the more they think about it, the more likely they are to be outsmarted by their own cleverness."

"Zitong, be patient. I predict that Huang Zhong will definitely attack tonight!"

Cao Cao was already feeling anxious, but Cheng Yu's flattery immediately dispelled that anxiety.

Cao Cao stroked his short beard, a look of arrogance on his face, and said:

"I do not believe that the big-eared thief can remain inactive and do nothing when he has such a golden opportunity to break through my main force."

"All of you, please calm down and wait patiently a little longer..."

Before the word "wait" could be uttered, a bugle call suddenly sounded outside the Huating camp.

Immediately afterwards, countless torches burst into flame, illuminating the still-dark night.

Outside the camp, a dense mass of Chu infantry and cavalry, like ghosts emerging from the underworld, surged toward the ferry camp like a tidal wave.

The yellow flag is still faintly visible.

Huang Zhong is coming to attack!

Upon reaching the watchtower, the ministers of Wei were immediately invigorated.

The worry on Jiang Ji's face vanished instantly, replaced by surprise.

Cheng Yu laughed heartily and pointed outside the camp, saying:
“Zitong, you see, I told you long ago that once the king comes up with the plan to reduce the number of stoves, Xiao He will be too clever for his own good.”

"That big-eared scoundrel really couldn't bear to let go of this god-given opportunity, and ordered that old codger Huang Zhong to lead the vanguard to launch a surprise attack on our army!"

Jiang Ji felt relieved, but a hint of shame appeared on his face.

Cao Pi, standing to the side, seized the opportunity to offer a flattering smile:
"Father's strategy is brilliant. His plan to reduce the number of stoves was a stroke of genius. Combined with Commandant Cheng's plan to lure the snake out of its hole, it was a flawless and ingenious scheme."

"It seems that even though Xiao He is cunning and treacherous, he has outsmarted himself this time and has finally miscalculated."

Listening to his son's flattery and seeing the Chu army sweeping in from outside the camp, Cao Cao's face showed a long-lost smile, and he couldn't help but burst into laughter.

He pointed his whip, a murderous intent flashing in his eyes, and shouted:

"Pass down the order to let the Chu army into my camp. As soon as I give the command, the ambush will be sprung up!"

"I will annihilate these 40,000 Chu troops, severely damage the Big-Eared Bandit, and wipe away the shame of so many defeats over the years!"

The order was passed down.

The Wei soldiers guarding the camp line offered only token resistance before scattering in all directions.

Huang Zhong's 40,000-strong Chu army easily broke through the camp walls with overwhelming force.

Unstoppable, they marched straight into the heart of Wei's camp.

Just as the Chu army charged into the camp a few dozen paces away, war drums suddenly sounded from all sides, and countless torches were lit, illuminating the entire Huating Ferry.

Tens of thousands of Wei soldiers surged out from behind tents, haystacks, and the shadows, rushing towards the Chu army from all directions.

The ambush has begun!
The 40,000 Chu soldiers were all taken aback when they saw the ambush suddenly appear.

Huang Zhong, however, showed no fear; instead, a cold smile appeared on his lips.
"Everything is exactly as Grand Commandant Xiao predicted. Cao Cao was indeed plotting something, just waiting for me to take the bait..."

Huang Zhong's cold smile vanished, and he arrogantly brandished his sword, shouting:
"Great Chu soldiers, listen to my command! Do not panic! Follow me and fight to the death against the Wei dogs!"

As he spoke, Huang Zhong brandished his longsword, cutting down several Wei soldiers who rushed forward as easily as cutting grass.

The 40,000 Chu soldiers quickly calmed themselves and formed a battle formation to repel the enemy.

An unprecedented siege and killing battle unfolded at this ferry crossing.

As the sun rises in the east and dawn breaks, the situation at Huating Ferry becomes clearly visible.

Look upstairs.

Looking at the Chu army that fought to the death and refused to break, Cao Cao couldn't help but sigh:
"Under such dire circumstances, the Chu army still possesses such a fighting spirit; they are truly an elite force."

"I must say, the soldiers trained by that big-eared bandit's 'fubing' system are all fierce and brave men; it's truly enviable..."

Cheng Yu, standing to the side, sneered:
"The Chu army's troops are indeed elite. If it were Liu Bei's entire army that were to attack this time, the outcome of this battle would truly be unpredictable."

"It's a pity that Liu Bei was too focused on stability and divided his troops into two armies, the vanguard and the central army. The attacking force was only Huang Zhong's 40,000 vanguard troops."

"Even if every enemy soldier were a reincarnation of Lü Bu, my 140,000 troops would be enough to surround and annihilate them!"

Cao Cao suppressed his emotions, his face lighting up with confidence, and proudly declared:
"Zhongde is right. Even if Lü Bu were to be resurrected, what could the Chu bandits do?"

"Pass down the order: I will slaughter all 40,000 Chu soldiers and not allow a single one to escape!"

Cao Cao, now in a high position, directed his generals to move about and led the Wei army in a frenzied attack on the Chu army.

As Cao Cao had predicted, although the Chu army's soldiers were incredibly brave and fierce, their numbers were simply too small.

Under the siege of Wei forces nearly four times their size, they struggled to hold on, but gradually could no longer withstand the onslaught.

The situation has reached a critical point.

"Your Majesty, have you not arrived yet? My men and the soldiers are on the verge of collapse..."

Huang Zhong also looked worried, and as he swung his sword, his gaze couldn't help but turn back to the south.

Suddenly, their eyes focused, and an overwhelming sense of surprise welled up inside them.

At the edge of the horizon, a cloud of dust could be faintly seen, sweeping in from the north.

One after another, large banners bearing the character "Chu" were faintly visible.

coming!

Liu Bei's personally commanded 60,000-strong central army finally arrived.

"Soldiers of Great Chu, the King's reinforcements have arrived! We will not die!"

"Follow this old man to slay the traitors!"

Huang Zhong, full of energy, let out a wild roar and unleashed a flurry of long sword strikes.

The Chu soldiers, who were fighting a fierce battle, suddenly felt their morale soar, and their fighting power surged as if they had been injected with chicken blood.

Outside the camp.

Liu Bei reined in his horse, raised his binoculars, and surveyed the Wei camp at Huating.

The situation of 40,000 Chu troops being besieged by over 100,000 Wei troops was clearly visible and fully understood.

The Wei army was not deserting or demoralized; it was clearly an ambush set up by the entire division.

"Bowen's words came true. Cao Cao did indeed feign serious injury and retreat in order to lure me into a desperate pursuit."

"My timing is perfect."

After expressing his feelings, Liu Bei drew his sword and pointed it forward:
"All generals, listen to my command! Infantry and cavalry, charge forward and coordinate with Huang Hansheng to launch a pincer attack from both inside and outside, and crush the Wei invaders in one fell swoop!"

Wuwuwu——

The solemn horn sounded.

Sixty thousand Chu soldiers, having mustered all their strength, swept across the battlefield like tigers descending from the mountain.

Zhao Yun personally led four thousand White Horse Cavalry, charging forward like a white torrent.

Look upstairs.

Cao Cao's confidence crumbled, and his eyes were filled with utter astonishment.

"Father, it's the Chu army, the main force of the Chu army under that big-eared scoundrel~~"

Cao Pi pointed at the Chu army sweeping in from the south, his voice hoarse and trembling.

Cheng Yu's forehead was covered in cold sweat, and he exclaimed in surprise:
"The main force of the Big-Eared Bandit's army was clearly still twenty miles away, so how did it suddenly appear in Huating?"

The Wei ministers on both sides were all shocked and astonished.

At this time.

Sima Yi's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly said:

"Your Majesty, this must be because Xiao He saw through Commandant Cheng's plan and concluded that our army's morale had not collapsed. He must have set up an ambush at Huating Ferry."

"He ordered Huang Zhong to lead the vanguard to attack my main camp, which lured out all my ambush troops. However, Liu Bei rushed north overnight and arrived at Huating at the right time."

"Only in this way can he launch a pincer attack from both inside and outside, and defeat our army in one fell swoop!"

Sima Yi revealed the truth.

Cheng Yu's mind went blank for a moment, and he staggered back half a step, almost falling off the watchtower.

Whether it was Cao Pi, Cao Chong, or the other ministers like Jiang Ji, they were all shocked and astonished.

Cao Cao, on the other hand, was as stiff as a stone statue, his face frozen in a moment of blankness, as if he had become mentally numb.

While the Wei king and his ministers were in a state of shock and panic, the main force of the Chu army had already swept in from outside the camp.

The White Horse Cavalry charged forward with unstoppable force, storming into the Wei army from behind.

Screams, cries, gasps of alarm...

Caught completely off guard, the Wei army was slaughtered in an instant, with men and horses falling in disarray.

Immediately afterwards, the main force of the Chu army's infantry swept in and pounced on the Wei army, which had been thrown into disarray by the cavalry.

Huang Zhong then led 40,000 vanguard troops and launched a surprise attack from the inside out.

With 100,000 Chu troops attacking from both inside and outside, they annihilated 140,000 Wei troops in just a short time.

"Your Majesty..."

Cheng Yu turned his head with difficulty, looking at Cao Cao with guilt and fear, not knowing what to say.

Cao Cao trembled, as if awakening from numbness, looked up at the sky, and let out a long, helpless sigh:

"In the end, I outsmarted Liu Bei and ended up being outsmarted by him instead."

"How ridiculous! I was laughing at Xiao He for being too clever for his own good, but it turns out I was the one who was just being a clown who thought he was clever."

"What kind of King of Wei am I? I should be called the Defeat King."

"Ugh--"

(End of this chapter)