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

Chapter 390 Bo Wen's Military Strategy: Han Bai's Resurrection is Nothing More Than This! Cao Cao: What... what is a repeating crossbow?

"In less than five days, the Wuhuan army was utterly defeated. Bowen's military tactics are no better than Han Bai resurrected!"

Liu Bei clapped his hands and laughed, then showed the victory report to his ministers.

When Pang Tong, Zhang Liao, and other ministers read it, they were all overjoyed, and the surrounding area was in an uproar.

"Your Majesty previously mentioned that there are divine weapons that can defeat the Wuhuan cavalry. May I ask what kind of divine weapons they are?"

Zhang Liao suppressed his surprise and asked with eyes full of curiosity.

Everyone looked at Liu Bei, eager to know the truth.

Liu Bei no longer concealed the truth and revealed to his ministers the whole story of how Xiao He and Zhuge Liang jointly forged the repeating crossbow, secretly formed a repeating crossbow army, led by Zhao Guang, marched north to join forces with Xiao He, and then decisively defeated the Wuhuan army.

"A repeating crossbow? It can fire ten arrows in a row?"

"Such an incredible crossbow exists in this world?"

Zhang Liao gasped, his wide eyes filled with profound shock.

The ministers were all amazed and wondered, and a great deal of discussion arose.

"Grand Commandant Xiao is not only a brilliant strategist, but also a master of weaponry. It is not surprising that he could create such a divine crossbow."

"However, it was somewhat unexpected that Kongming was also involved this time."

Pang Tong nodded slightly, then changed the subject:
"I suspect that Cao Cao's strategy of holding Juyong Pass is because he hopes that the Wuhuan people will do something, or even attack Ji County and cut off our supply lines."

"Now that Grand Commandant Xiao has decisively defeated the Wuhuan and killed Tadun, Cao Cao's hopes of reclaiming Youzhou have been completely dashed, and his escape from Juyong Pass should be imminent."

After a brief pause, Pang Tong pointed north again:
"After passing Juyong Pass and heading west, we will reach the Taihang Mountains, where our cavalry will have no use for the time being."

"I believe Your Majesty should adopt Grand Commandant Xiao's plan and order Wen Yuan to lead 5,000 cavalry to intercept the remaining Wuhuan forces and wipe out the Wuhuan tribe in one fell swoop, thus completely eliminating the border troubles of Youzhou."

Pang Tong also wholeheartedly supported Xiao He's strategy.

"Shiyuan is right. Bowen is indeed a man of profound wisdom and foresight!"

Liu Bei nodded emphatically and exclaimed with delight:
"Wen Yuan, listen to my command! I order you to lead all the cavalry in my army and immediately use Bo Wen's plan to intercept the remaining Wuhuan rebels who are retreating eastward to Liucheng from Lulong Pass!"

Zhang Liao readily accepted the order.

At that moment, Liu Bei ordered the Chu army to cease its attack and return to camp.

Zhang Liao led more than 5,000 Chu cavalrymen eastward from Juyong Pass, rushing day and night to Youbeiping.

On the walls of Juyong Pass.

Cao Cao, leaning on a cane with one hand and holding his sword with the other, looked solemn and prepared to meet the Chu army head-on.

The tens of thousands of Wei soldiers stationed along the front line of the pass were all on high alert, ready for battle.

The war drums suddenly stopped, and the sound of gongs took their place.

The Chu army, which was approaching the pass, retreated slowly in the blink of an eye, like the receding tide.

Why did the big-eared bandit suddenly retreat and stop attacking?

Cao Cao breathed a sigh of relief, but at the same time, doubts arose in his heart.

Sima Yi's eyes darted around a few times, then suddenly lit up:
"Could it be that Tian Guorang has lured Tadun into marching his troops into the pass and capturing Ji County? The big-eared thief, upon learning that his supply lines have been cut off, has abandoned his attack on Juyong Pass and is now urgently withdrawing his troops eastward?"

These words greatly boosted the morale of all the generals of Wei.

Cao Cao's face lit up with a long-lost joy, and he nodded, saying:

“Zhongda is right. What else could possibly force the Big Ears to halt his attack at the last minute?”

"If that's the case, then I must prepare to turn defense into offense, pursue the Chu invaders, and recover the lost territory!"

The confidence of the Wei rulers and their ministers soared.

The helplessness of losing troops and territory and being forced to flee west was replaced by a newly ignited glimmer of hope.

"Ahem~~" Jia Xu coughed a few times and said:

"In my opinion, Liu Bei's retreat before battle alone is not enough to determine that Tadun has already captured Ji County and cut off the Chu army's retreat route."

"According to my spies, Liu Bei's pursuing troops numbered no more than 260,000. From this, we can deduce that he left at least 30,000 troops behind."

"Those were 30,000 elite Chu troops. Could the Wuhuan people really have defeated them and captured Ji County in just a few days?"

Jia Xu poured cold water on the idea.

The joy on Cao Cao's face vanished almost instantly.

The Wei army's elite troops were superior to the Wuhuan people, and even when facing 30,000 Chu troops, his Wei army dared not underestimate them.

As Jia Xu said, even if the Wuhuan army was all cavalry, if they really had the strength to quickly defeat 30,000 Chu troops and so easily take Ji County, could they have done so?
“Wenhe’s words make sense, but it’s not time to draw conclusions easily.”

Cao Cao calmed down, looked suspiciously at the departing Chu army, and murmured:

"But if Ji County hadn't fallen, why would the big-eared bandit have retreated before the battle?"

Footsteps sounded, and Xiahou Wei, looking solemn, climbed up the city wall, panting.

"Your Majesty, this is an urgent report just sent by Tian Guo."

"A few days ago, Tadun was decisively defeated by the Chu army led by Xiao He at the foot of Yanshan Mountain. The Wuhuan army suffered heavy losses, with its main force almost completely wiped out. Tadun was also killed by Xiao He!"

"Tian Guorang has now persuaded Su Puyan and other minor kings of the Wuhuan to retreat from Guangping to Liucheng in order to recuperate and restore their strength."

"Tian Guorang said that after the Wuhuan people elect a new Chanyu, he will continue to encourage the Wuhuan people to go south and plunder Youzhou in order to contain the pseudo-Chu army."

"However, Sima Zhongda's plan has failed. He urges Your Majesty to immediately abandon Juyong Pass and retreat to Bingzhou as soon as possible!"

With a tone of grief and indignation, Xiahou Wei delivered the devastating news and presented a letter with trembling hands.

On the city wall, it suddenly felt like the dead of winter.

From Cao Cao to Sima Yi, the rulers and ministers of Wei froze in place.

Cao Cao trembled all over, his mouth wide open, his eyes wide with astonishment, as if he had seen a ghost.

The Wuhuan people not only failed to capture Ji County, but were actually defeated by Xiao He.

Even Tadun, the Wuhuan chieftain, lost his life?

Such unbelievable news was completely beyond Cao Cao's comprehension, leaving him stunned and his mind blank.

"No wonder Liu Bei retreated before the battle. It turns out that he knew in advance that the Wuhuan had suffered a crushing defeat and calculated that we would abandon the pass and retreat westward. He could take Juyong Pass without bloodshed and naturally would not have to make unnecessary sacrifices."

Jia Xu was the first to come to his senses, letting out a long, helpless sigh.

The next instant, the city wall exploded.

"That's impossible, it doesn't make any sense at all!"

“Tadun has at least 30,000 iron cavalry. Even if he were to fight Xiao He, he wouldn’t be able to win, but he shouldn’t have suffered such a defeat that he even lost his own life?”

"This is impossible, absolutely impossible!"

Sima Yi, suddenly awakened, was also thrown into disarray and shouted excitedly.

Cao Cao's body jolted violently, and he staggered forward, snatching the letter from Tian Yu from Xiahou Wei's hand.

Tadun issued a challenge, using provocation to lure Xiao He into a decisive battle. On the eve of the battle, the Chu army used repeating crossbows to severely damage Tadun's main force, and Tadun was captured…

Throughout the entire Battle of Yanshan, every detail that Tian Yu could ascertain was clearly recorded in the document.

His words were like thunder, shattering Cao Cao's remaining illusions.

He raised his head, looked at Sima Yi and the others with a confused expression, and stammered:

"What...what is a repeating crossbow?"

(End of this chapter)