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

Xiahou Dun's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly asked Yang Fu what brilliant plan he had.

Yang Fu then lowered his voice and slowly explained his plan.

Upon hearing this plan, Guo Huai's expression changed, and he couldn't help but look at Yang Fu.

Xiahou Dun nodded slightly, his gaze also turning to Guo Huai:
"Yishan's plan is indeed a clever way to delay the Big-Eared Bandit. I think it's feasible. Boji, what do you think?"

After pondering for a moment, Guo Huai cupped his hands and said:
“Yang Yishan’s plan is not entirely unacceptable. Huai is from Bingzhou. Given the current situation where Bingzhou is on the verge of collapse, it would be reasonable for him to betray Wei and surrender to Han.”

"Although this plan is reasonable, I am worried that it will not escape Xiao He's discerning eye."

Xiahou Dun felt a chill run down his spine, and his brows furrowed once more.

After a moment's thought, he sighed helplessly:
“You’re right. This time, we might not be able to fool that scoundrel Xiao. But at this point, besides Yishan’s plan, does anyone else have a foolproof strategy?”

Guo Huai remained silent, and Wang Ling kept quiet.

Both of them were out of options.

Xiahou Dun, no longer having any reservations, waved his hand and shouted:

"It's settled then, Guo Boji. Act according to the plan immediately."

Guo Huai had no choice but to accept the order.

Xiahou Dun looked south and murmured:
"I hope Heaven will not forsake my Great Wei, and that I can bring these 80,000 soldiers back to Guanzhong safely for the Emperor."

...

South of Jiexiu Pass, Han camp.

"Guo Huai wishes to surrender to me, Bowen, what do you think?"

Liu Bei raised the secret letter in his hand, his eyes showing both joy and a hint of suspicion.

It was nightfall when a man in black sneaked out of Jiexiu Pass and secretly entered the Han camp, claiming to be Guo Huai's confidant and delivering a letter from Guo Huai.

In his letter, Guo Huai claimed that as a native of Bingzhou, he had no choice but to defect to the Han Dynasty when the Wei Kingdom collapsed and Bingzhou changed hands.

Guo Huai also stated that he was willing to lead his troops in a mutiny to seize the south gate of Jiexiu Pass, welcome the Han army into the city as a gift to atone for his past sins.

"What is Your Majesty's opinion on Guo Huai's letter of surrender?"

After carefully reading the letter, Xiao He asked a question in return.

"Guo Huai is from Bingzhou. Seeing that Bingzhou is in danger, it is only natural that he would surrender to me."

"Furthermore, according to reports from spies, Guo Huai and Xiahou Dun often disagree on political matters. Guo Huai had previously advised against Xiahou Dun's offer to cede territory and borrow troops from the Xiongnu."

"At this time, Guo Huai surrendered to me, and I believe there is at least a 60% chance that this is true."

"Furthermore, if Guo Huai can defect, we can quickly break through the border and avoid many soldiers dying or being injured, which is also a fortunate thing."

Liu Bei expressed his judgment.

Clearly, they tended to believe Guo Huai's surrender and saw it as an opportunity to quickly break through the border and close the pass, thus reducing unnecessary casualties.

Xiao smiled, his eyes holding a hidden meaning.

"Does Bowen perhaps believe that Guo Huai's surrender was a ruse?"

Liu Bei noticed something amiss in Xiao He's eyes and immediately became alert.

Xiao He put down Guo Huai's letter and sneered:

"Let's put aside whether Guo Huai's surrender was genuine or feigned. Just looking at the current situation in Bingzhou, even a blind man could see that Xiahou Dun couldn't hold Jiexiu Pass, and Bingzhou was destined to fall to the enemy."

"Even without Guo Huai's surrender, we could take this pass in a few days at most."

"Once this pass is breached, the road north to Jinyang will be wide open, and Xiahou Dun will have no more defensible terrain to defend."

"Besides defending Jinyang to the death, Xiahou Dun's only option was to cross the river to the west and retreat into Guanzhong via Xihe County."

“If Xiahou Dun chooses the former, then his 80,000 troops will be trapped in Bingzhou and destroyed along with Bingzhou.” “If he chooses the latter, although he will escape, he will abandon the main force of the Wei army in Bingzhou, including Pingcheng, Jingxing, and Huguan.”

"No matter what choice Xiahou Dun makes, the Bingzhou army is doomed to annihilation."

After a lengthy analysis, Xiao He looked at Liu Bei:
"I was wondering, even if Xiahou Dun was willing, was Cao Cao willing to abandon all 80,000 Bingzhou soldiers and let them fend for themselves?"

Liu Bei seemed to understand something and nodded slightly:

“What Bowen said is absolutely right. To Cao Cao, these 80,000 Wei soldiers from Bingzhou are extremely valuable. Cao Cao has no reason to abandon them.”

The conversation shifted, and Liu Bei became bewildered again:
"But what does what you, Bowen, say have to do with Guo Huai's surrender?"

Xiao He got up and went to the sand table, pointing to the west:

"My guess is that Cao Cao must have already ordered Xiahou Dun to abandon Bingzhou immediately and take all 80,000 Wei troops back to Guanzhong."

"At this time, the Wei armies on all sides have probably abandoned the passes of Jingxing and other Taihang Mountains, and are frantically retreating towards Linxian Ferry, attempting to cross the river and escape into Guanzhong."

"Based on this premise, it is highly likely that Guo Huai's feigned surrender was a delaying tactic by Xiahou Dun to buy time for the Wei army to retreat to Linxiang County Ferry!"

Liu Bei was startled and suddenly stood up, taking a few steps to the sand table and quickly scanning it.

After a moment, Liu Bei suddenly understood:

“Bowen is right. Xiahou Dun must want to abandon Bingzhou and flee west with his entire army. This is the best option for Cao Cao at the moment.”

"In that case, Guo Huai's surrender is undoubtedly a ruse!"

The generals then suddenly realized what was happening.

The generals were all in high spirits and petitioned Liu Bei to order an immediate and fierce attack on Jiexiu Pass, so as not to give Xiahou Dun any chance to delay.

"Your Majesty, if the Grand Marshal's judgment is correct, the Wei armies in Bingzhou should already be on their way to Lin County."

"In order to buy time for the Wei armies on all sides, Xiahou Dun will certainly spare no effort to defend Jiexiu Pass to the death, so as to block our main force from advancing north and cut off the retreat of the Wei armies on all sides."

"In my opinion, attacking Jiexiu Pass is secondary. What we should do now is to quickly send troops to Linxian Ferry to cut off the Wei army's route across the river."

Ma Su stepped forward and offered his opinion, which differed from that of the other generals.

Liu Bei nodded emphatically in agreement:
“You Chang’s words make sense. The key is to capture Linxian Ferry and cut off the Wei army’s retreat.”

"I absolutely cannot let these 80,000 Wei soldiers escape into Guanzhong!"

Liu Bei's tone was resolute and stern.

Eighty thousand Wei soldiers—even for the Han Dynasty, that was no small number.

With these 80,000 Wei troops, Cao Cao would have enough strength to build a defensive line along Puban Pass to block Cao Cao's westward attack on Guanzhong from Bingzhou.

Along the Tongguan Pass and other strategic locations, the natural defenses of the pass meant that a small number of troops could ensure the pass remained intact.

In this way, although the Han Dynasty gained Bingzhou, it would still be difficult to conquer Yongliang and destroy the pseudo-Wei.

It's not that we can't conquer Yongliang, but that we'll only suffer the loss of countless soldiers.

The most perfect ending to the Battle of Bingzhou would be to capture Bingzhou and annihilate Xiahou Dun and his 80,000 Wei troops there.

In this way, it will be much easier to attack Yongliang and completely destroy the pseudo-Wei in the future.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, Xiahou Dun will not escape. All 80,000 Wei troops will remain in Bingzhou!"

Xiao He's lips curled into a cold smile.

Liu Bei's spirits lifted, his eyes lit up, and he hurriedly asked Xiao He what he meant by those words.

Xiao He smiled faintly and said slowly:
"Has Your Majesty forgotten? Zilong and those ten thousand iron cavalry did not accompany me north to Jiexiu."

"After I destroyed the Xiongnu at Baibo Pass, I ordered Zilong to lead the iron cavalry diagonally towards Lin County, cross the river and wipe out the five Xiongnu tribes."

"At this very moment, Zilong's iron cavalry has probably already reached Lin County!" (End of Chapter)