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

Cao Cao was dumbfounded.

Wasn't Guan Yu leading the main force of the Chu army to attack Xinzheng, which was 200 li away?

Just a day earlier, Xu Huang's military report from Xinzheng confirmed this.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have dared to venture south so boldly, heading straight for Yanling.

But how did Guan Yu and the main force of the Chu army suddenly appear at Yanling Ferry?
Even if the Chu army had wings, they couldn't possibly fly back so quickly!

Cao Cao's mind was buzzing, and countless questions flashed before his eyes.

"Your Majesty, could it be that Guan Yu feigned an attack on Xinzheng while actually traveling by bamboo raft down the Wei River, thus deceiving Xu Gongming and setting up an ambush at Yanling Ferry ahead of him?"

Dong Zhao cried out in alarm from behind.

Cao Cao was startled and suddenly woke up.

Only then did he suddenly realize that Xinzheng and Yanling were both located on the banks of the Wei River, one upstream and the other downstream.

Traveling downstream by waterway would indeed allow tens of thousands of troops to be transported to Yanling and ambushed overnight without raising suspicion!

"Even so, why did Guan Yu abandon the attack on Xinzheng and instead sneak back to Yanling to set up an ambush?"

Could it be that he—

Before Cao Cao could finish speaking, his expression suddenly changed drastically, and he shivered deeply.

Dong Zhao also guessed the secret behind it, and exclaimed in a trembling voice:
"The reason Guan Yu was able to arrive so quickly and sneak back to Yanling to set up an ambush must be because he already knew that the King was going to march south from Chenliu to attack Xuchang."

"It must be Xiao He who saw through Chen Qun and Du Xi's plan, which is why he instructed Guan Yu to make this arrangement..."

At this point, Dong Zhao's expression changed again:
"No, it wasn't Xiao He who saw through our plan; it was all a scheme set up for us by Xiao He from beginning to end!"

"Liu Bei retreated to Suiyang, Guan Yu feigned an attack on Xinzheng, and Chen Qun and Du Xi held military power... All of this was Xiao He's scheme to lure the enemy."

"His intention was to make the king think that Xudu was undefended and that Chen Qun and others could act as internal agents, so that he would lead his army south to attack Xudu and fall into his trap."

"Only in this way can Guan Yu inflict heavy damage on us, and Liu Bei can take advantage of our army's heavy losses to seize Chenliu!"

"Your Majesty, Xiao He has been plotting against our Chenliu City from the very beginning!"

Dong Zhao's wisdom was still on point; at this critical juncture, he finally understood Xiao He's overall strategy.

Cao Cao's face had turned deathly pale, and he felt as if he had fallen into an icy abyss, trembling uncontrollably.

"If my guess is correct, then Xiao He's grand wedding banquet at this time is to lull Chen Qun and his men into a false sense of security, and to provoke Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty, we have been tricked by Xiao again!"

With a face full of grief and indignation, Dong Zhao delivered another blow to Cao Cao.

Cao Cao was struck dumb; the whip slipped from his hand, and he couldn't even hold onto his horse's belly. He swayed and fell to the ground.

"Your Majesty!"

Xu Chu and the others were shocked and hurriedly dismounted to help Cao Cao up.

"That country bumpkin, that wicked man, how treacherous, how vicious!"

"I should have listened to Cang Shu and Jiang Ji's advice. I shouldn't have listened to those fools Cheng Yu and Chen Qun and come to attack Xuchang!"

Cao Cao was both shocked and furious, his teeth clenched, filled with grief, indignation and deep regret.

"Your Majesty, now is not the time for regret. The Chu army is about to surround us. Your Majesty must make a decision quickly!"

Xu Chu forcibly helped Cao Cao up and shouted loudly.

Cao Cao was suddenly jolted awake. He struggled to climb onto his warhorse, forcibly suppressing his fear, and looked around.

Judging from the Chu army attacking from all sides, there were at least 30,000 to 40,000 of them.

His own army that crossed the river numbered only over 30,000, and its elite troops were inferior to those of the Chu army. He had little chance of winning even in a direct confrontation, let alone being ambushed by Guan Yu.

However, the Wei River blocked their way from behind. How could 30,000 troops cross the north bank in such a short time?
I'm afraid that at most three to five thousand people will cross the river before the Chu army arrives.

At that time, these 30,000 troops will surely be wiped out, and they will all perish here!

Cao Cao's eyes darted around a few times, and he had no choice but to grit his teeth and shout:

"By my order, the entire army must not panic, immediately form ranks and repel the enemy!"

Dong Zhao was taken aback and quickly advised:
"Your Majesty, the enemy outnumbers us, and our army has fallen into an ambush. Our morale is in chaos. How can we possibly be a match for Guan Yu?"

"If we force a battle, all 30,000 troops will be wiped out. The only option now is to make a drastic decision and order an escape across the river to the north bank. We can save as many as we can!"

Cao Cao felt a chill run down his spine.

That's 30,000 men! Are you just going to abandon them like that?
It hurts so much...

"How can we let our 30,000 soldiers die in vain? If we suffer such a heavy blow, and that big-eared traitor takes advantage of the situation to attack Chenliu again, how can I resist?"

"No, I cannot abandon these 30,000 men. If I fight with my back to the wall, I might still have a chance of victory!"

Cao Cao, however, was reluctant to part with his flesh. He drew his sword and shouted fiercely:
"Listen up, sons of Wei! The Wei River is right behind us. You have nowhere to retreat!"

"Those who want to live, fight me to the death!"

Seeing that Cao Cao still wanted to make a desperate attempt, Dong Zhao was so anxious that large beads of sweat rolled down his face.

What kind of time is this? You're still trying to emulate Han Xin's desperate fight with his back to the river?
Who is Han Xin? He's the genius of war!
Compared to Han Xin, your rank, King of Wei, is at best bronze, far inferior.

In such a life-or-death moment, instead of quickly cutting off your own flesh to save your life, you overestimate your abilities and want to fight like Han Xin with your back to the river. Aren't you just courting death?

Dong Zhao was extremely anxious, but dared not offer any further advice, and could only let Cao Cao overestimate his abilities.

The 30,000 Wei troops who had crossed the river were thrown into chaos when they saw the Chu army's ambush.

Originally intending to retreat, they were forced to hastily form ranks and prepare for battle under Cao Cao's forceful command.

In front.

A large banner bearing the character "关" (Guan) fluttered like the wind under the setting sun.

Guan Yu rode on Red Hare, wielding the Green Dragon Crescent Blade, and galloped like a streak of fire.

Following behind were tens of thousands of elite Chu troops from the Western Garrison.

These soldiers were veterans who had followed him since Fancheng and had experienced countless fierce battles.

Seeing that the Wei army in front of him not only did not flee, but also began to hastily form a battle formation, a hint of contempt flashed in Guan Yu's half-open eyes.

"Cao Cao, now that you have fallen for my son-in-law's trap, why do you still insist on fighting instead of crossing the river to escape?"

"It seems you really don't take me, Guan Yu, seriously."

Guan Yu opened his phoenix eyes wide, raised his sword, and shouted:

"Great Chu soldiers, heed my command! Follow me to slaughter the Wei invaders and annihilate the Cao traitor!"

The thunderous roar ignited the blood of the soldiers in an instant.

"Slay all the Wei invaders—"

"Exterminate the traitor Cao!"

The Chu soldiers brandished their weapons, raising their arms and shouting wildly. Seventy paces, fifty paces, thirty paces…

The surging torrent crashed into the hastily assembled formation of the Wei army.

Slay, break through, cut, crush...

The Wei army's loose formation, like a fragile glass wall, was shattered by the Chu army in an instant.

Hundreds of Wei soldiers were felled to the ground, plumes of blood rising into the air above the ferry, screams echoing everywhere...

The 30,000 Wei troops quickly disintegrated and began to retreat step by step, fleeing towards the shore.

Guan Yu rode on Red Hare, moving as if treading on fire.

With his Green Dragon Crescent Blade, he slashed left and right, cutting down the Wei soldiers blocking his way as easily as chopping vegetables and melons.

"It's Guan Yu, it's the magnificent-bearded Guan Yu!"

"Guan Yu is personally leading the charge, run!"

"Run away, run away!"

Terrified screams suddenly erupted from the Wei army.

When Guan Yu killed Yan Liang and Wen Chou, he was already considered a god-like figure by Cao Cao's soldiers.

Seeing Guan Yu arrive in person today, how could the Wei army not be terrified and flee in panic?

Guan Yu trudged through the blood-soaked path, breaking through the Wei army with overwhelming force, and headed straight for Cao Cao's royal banner.

Central Army Department.

Cao Cao's stern expression had now turned into bleak despair.

The 30,000-strong army was routed by the Chu army in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, and retreated in complete disarray.

The hope of turning the tide in a desperate battle was easily shattered by the overwhelming fighting power of the Chu army.

Cao Cao clenched his fists, a mixture of grief, resentment, and helplessness.

"My lord, the situation is hopeless! We must retreat to the north bank at once!"

Dong Zhao, standing beside Cao Cao, was practically pleading with him in a tearful voice.

Cao Cao, however, gripped his whip tightly, his teeth clenched as if about to break, still making a final, hesitant struggle.

"Guan... Guan Yu, it's Guan Yu who's coming!"

Xu Chu's loud shout rang out beside them.

The Tiger General, the most skilled warrior in Cao Cao's camp, trembled slightly the moment he recognized Guan Yu.

Cao Cao stiffened and quickly looked up.

A few dozen steps ahead, a figure that had been absent for many years yet was incredibly familiar came into view.

A man with a long beard and a red face, riding the Red Hare, wielding the Green Dragon Crescent Blade…

His power was unstoppable, his might like that of a martial saint.

If it's not Guan Yu, then who is it!

Cao Cao's face turned pale with horror.

In a daze, the scene of Guan Yu taking Yan Liang's head from the midst of ten thousand troops in the Battle of Baima suddenly appeared before my eyes.

At this moment, he was just like Yan Liang back then.

If Guan Yu were to charge over here, who could save my life?
"Which of you can stop Guan Yu?"

Cao Cao pointed his whip at Guan Yu and demanded in a trembling voice.

None of the generals on either side uttered a sound, their incredulous gazes secretly sweeping over Cao Cao.

As you said yourself, that's Guan Yu!
We're not stupid. Don't we know our own limitations? If you want us to stop Guan Yu, we might as well just order our deaths.

Even Xu Chu was now powerless and dared not make any rash moves.

"Your Majesty knows better than anyone how strong Guan Yu is. Who can stop him?"

"Let's retreat quickly! If Guan Yu charges in, even if the King wants to leave, he won't be able to. He's riding the Red Hare, which was bestowed upon him by the King!"

Dong Zhao pleaded desperately, tears welling up in his eyes.

Cao Cao's last shred of hope crumbled, and all his pride and dignity were shattered by the approaching Guan Yu.

"Protect the orphan across the river! Quickly, protect the orphan across the river!"

Cao Cao turned his horse around and screamed in terror.

The crowd felt as if they had been granted a pardon, and they quickly turned their horses around, surrounding Cao Cao as they retreated to the shore.

Thirty thousand Wei soldiers, like ants in a nest, swarmed to the shore, scrambling to get onto the bamboo rafts.

The Wei army on the north bank had stopped crossing the river, and the bamboo rafts already in the river turned around.

There were only about a hundred bamboo rafts moored on the bank, which was far from enough to accommodate everyone crossing the river at the same time.

Before the Chu army even arrived, the Wei army began fighting amongst themselves.

They pushed and shoved each other, disregarding everything to push their comrades aside, and desperately scrambled to get onto the bamboo raft.

Cries of agony rang out intermittently; someone was either pushed into the river or cut down by their comrades' blades.

"Get out of my way, all of you!"

Xu Chu led the way, smashing aside the Wei soldiers blocking his path as if they were made of paper, and forcefully cleared a path for Cao Cao to board one of the bamboo rafts.

No sooner had Cao Cao boarded the raft than Xu Chu slashed the ropes with a single stroke and ordered the Tiger Guards to steer the raft away from the ferry.

The soldiers who couldn't get on the boat rushed down the river, clinging to the bamboo rafts and refusing to let go, trying to drift across to the other side.

With so many people holding it back, the bamboo raft swayed left and right, and Cao Cao lost his balance and fell to the ground.

Seeing that the bamboo raft was about to capsize, Xu Chu's eyes turned bloodshot, and he swung his sword wildly.

A wail suddenly erupted.

He severed all the hands that were gripping the bamboo raft, and the soldiers with severed hands all drowned in the river.

The bamboo raft finally stabilized and stopped rocking and sinking.

Xu Chu, carrying his blood-stained blade, ordered his Tiger Guards to hastily steer the raft towards the north bank.

Cao Cao also breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that he had escaped a calamity.

At this time.

Guan Yu had already chased Cao Cao to the shore. Seeing that Cao Cao had escaped onto the bamboo raft, he immediately ordered the archers to fire a volley at Cao Cao.

"Whoosh whoosh!"

More than a hundred arrows soared into the air, raining down on Cao Cao like a deluge. (End of Chapter)