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

Whether it was Huchuquan or Xiahou Dun, everyone was bursting with confidence and in high spirits.

Guo Huai's cold water was poured on the room, and everyone fell silent. All the complicated looks in their eyes were directed at him.

Some were wary, some looked blank, and some looked displeased, blaming him for making a fuss.

"Guo Boji, what do you mean by that?"

Xiahou Dun's face also darkened, and he asked in displeasure.

Guo Huai took a deep breath and said seriously:

"Xiao Hesu is cunning and treacherous. I'm a little worried that this 100,000 bushels of grain might be a trap to lure the Great Chanyu into leading 40,000 troops to seize the grain."

"If the Han army is lying, wouldn't the Great Chanyu be walking into a trap?"

Xiahou Dun felt a chill run down his spine, instantly regaining his composure, and nodded slightly:
"Boji reminded us that His Majesty has repeatedly warned us to be wary of Xiao He's cunning and to never take the initiative to attack."

"This attempt to seize grain is indeed risky."

The people of Wei suffered many losses at the hands of Xiao He, and Xiahou Dun was no exception. Naturally, he was wary of that brilliant strategist.

Huchuquan is different.

He had only heard about Xiao He's prowess, as he had never personally suffered a setback at Xiao He's hands.

The successive raids on grain supplies left Hu Chuquan well-fed, which naturally led to a degree of complacency.

Despite Guo Huai's reminder and Xiahou Dun's composure, Hu Chuquan waved his hand domineeringly:

"General, you overestimate Xiao He and underestimate my Xiongnu cavalry."

"Don't forget, my supply corps outnumbers the Han army's four to one, and they're all cavalry. What can Xiao He's cunning do against my overwhelming superiority?"

Xiahou Dun and Guo Huai exchanged a glance.

To dare to be so arrogant in front of Xiao He is not a good sign.

"Great Chanyu, when the Wuhuan people fought against Xiao He, they were outnumbered but were defeated by the Han army's repeating crossbows."

"Although the Han army's grain escort troops are currently few, if Xiao He were to resort to his old tricks again and use repeating crossbows, how would the Great Chanyu deal with it?"

Hu Chuquan's arrogance faded slightly, and he stared wide-eyed in surprise:

"A repeating crossbow? What kind of weapon is that?"

Guo Huai then recounted in detail to Hu Chuquan the power of the repeating crossbow and how Xiao He had used it to defeat the Wuhuan cavalry.

"Sigh~~"

Hu Chuquan gasped, his face filled with disbelief, and said:

"There are actually crossbows in this world that can fire ten arrows in quick succession? Such a divine weapon exists?"

"That repeating crossbow, was it really made by Xiao He?"

Guo Huai nodded emphatically and said:
"Great Chanyu, you may not know this, but Xiao He is not only a brilliant strategist, but also a master of weaponry. I have heard that many of the Han army's powerful weapons were made by him."

Guo Huai then described the weapons, such as the Divine Thunder Cannon and the Mo Dao, to Hu Chuquan one by one.

Hu Chuquan's face gradually darkened, and the arrogance between his brows quietly turned into fear.

Seeing that Hu Chuquan had calmed down, Xiahou Dun then said:

"Great Chanyu, I think we should carefully consider the matter of seizing 100,000 bushels of grain from the Han army."

Hu Chuquan fell silent.

The example of the Wuhuan people and the repeating crossbows mentioned by Guo Huai made him less arrogant and more vigilant.

"General, if we give up the idea of ​​robbing the grain, Liu Bei can easily obtain 100,000 bushels of grain."

"If he sees that the grain transport is successful, he will follow this method and use heavy troops to protect the grain each time. After several trips, he can accumulate hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of bushels of grain along the Yong'an line."

"Wouldn't our strategy of seizing grain be rendered useless by then?"

"At that time, Liu Bei had well-trained and well-supplied troops. If he attacked Jiexiu Pass again, wouldn't we be back to being on the defensive?"

Wang Ling, who had been silent all along, suddenly gave a reminder.

Xiahou Dun suddenly realized something, and frowned:
"Yan Yun is absolutely right. We must not allow that big-eared thief to transport these 100,000 bushels of grass to Yong'an, or the consequences will be unimaginable!"

For a moment, Xiahou Dun was caught in the middle. He wanted to order Huchuquan to seize the grain, but he was also afraid that Xiao He might be plotting something.

If we don't raid them, we can only watch helplessly as Liu Bei's provisions gradually increase, waiting for the 100,000 Han troops to attack Jiexiu again.

I'm in a dilemma...

"How could we not seize 100,000 bushels of grain and fodder!"

Hu Chuquan slammed his hand on the table and stood up, his expression resolute:

“My mind is made up. I will still gather my 40,000 iron cavalry and head south to seize 100,000 bushels of grain.”

"But rest assured, I will be extra careful and will never give Xiao He the chance to use his old tricks again and use crossbows to break my iron cavalry."

"As long as I am careful enough, I don't believe I can fall for Xiao He's tricks again!"

Hu Chuquan still decided to make a move.

After careful consideration, Xiahou Dun took a deep breath and bowed to Huchuquan.

"The Great Chanyu is right. We must not sit idly by and watch the Big-Eared Bandit transport the grain to Yong'an."

"Then this trip will still require the great leader to make it."

"However, Great Chanyu, please be careful and never underestimate the enemy, lest you fall into Xiao He's trap!"

Hu Chuquan's face regained its confidence, and he smiled:

"General, rest assured, I, Huchuquan, am not that fool Tadun, and I will never repeat his mistakes."

"I will surely send back good news within seven days!"

Having finalized their plan, Hu Chuquan immediately took his leave.

Xiahou Dun personally went to the city wall to watch Huchuquan lead tens of thousands of Xiongnu troops out of the pass and head south.

"General, what does General Huai think..."

"You don't need to say anything more."

Xiahou Dun interrupted Guo Huai's reminder and asked in return:

"I ask you, if we do not order Huchuquan to fight, do you have a foolproof plan to stop the big-eared traitor from transporting 100,000 bushels of grain to Yong'an?"

Guo Huai was speechless.

Xiahou Dun turned his gaze to the departing Xiongnu people, and said with a hint of helplessness:
"For the sake of the greater good, I had no choice but to do this and send Chu Quan to take the risk."

Guo Huai understood Xiahou Dun's predicament and could only sigh softly, daring not to say anything more.

"I hope Hu Chuquan will remember my instructions and never underestimate Xiao He or the power of his repeating crossbow."

"As long as he avoids a direct confrontation with the Han army and prevents them from using their repeating crossbows, Huchuquan should be able to win this battle..."

Xiahou Dun muttered to himself, trying to comfort himself.

However, a hint of guilt was faintly visible between his brows.

...

Yong'an City.

News of Huchuquan's departure to the south had already reached Liu Bei.

With the fish hooked, Xiao He immediately set out to oversee the final battle to catch them.

As night fell, Liu Bei personally escorted Xiao He to the south gate.

As they were about to part, Liu Bei suddenly remembered something and couldn't help but ask:
“Bowen, although your plan has led Huchuquan to raise 40,000 troops to march south, given the precedent of the Wuhuan people, I am worried that Huchuquan is wary of our repeating crossbows and may not engage us in direct combat.”

"If that's the case, how would you resolve it?"

Xiao smiled and said:

"Your Majesty, rest assured, I have my own methods to make Nahuchuquan fight whether he wants to or not!"

Liu Bei's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly asked Xiao He what brilliant plan he had. (End of Chapter)