The Three Kingdoms: Hindsight is 20/20, and the Three Revivals of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 135: Cao Cao's Sneak Attack on Wuchao – A Battle for Heroic Fame with Liu Bei (6th Update)
If others agree, they might disagree.

The strategist Jia Xu agreed, while those who wanted to object were secretly considering their options. Many of those present had suffered losses at Jia Xu's hands during the Battle of Wancheng.

Most importantly, after Jia Xu joined Cao Cao's camp, he spent most of his time drawing a salary without doing any work, just loafing around and wasting his days.

The last time he spoke was half a month ago when Cao Cao wanted to retreat to Xuchang and asked Jia Xu for advice. Jia Xu directly said, "Cao Cao is better than Yuan Shao in terms of wisdom, courage, personnel management, and decisiveness. He has these four advantages, but he has not been able to defeat Yuan Shao within half a year. It is only because he wanted to be prudent. As long as he seizes the opportunity, he can win quickly."

Although Cao Cao praised him, most people thought that Jia Xu was just using flattery to please Cao Cao. Now, after remaining silent for half a month, Jia Xu actually thinks that now is the time to attack Yuan Shao!
Just as everyone hesitated, another taciturn person spoke up, using even simpler words than Jia Xu: "Opportunity knocks but once!"

Xiahou Yuan looked in the direction of the voice and saw that the speaker was none other than Xun You, who had "defeated Yan Liang with his schemes, defeated Wen Chou with his plans, and burned Han Meng with his plot." The words that were about to rise to his throat were instantly swallowed back down.

He then adopted a cautious, inquiring tone: "Does Military Advisor Xun also believe that what Xu You said is true?"

Xun You glanced at Xu You, who was still eating meat and drinking wine, and said calmly, "If what Xu You said is false, then behead him."

Xu You almost choked on his blunt words.

Xu You coughed more than a dozen times before he caught his breath, then angrily pointed at Xun You: "Xun Gongda, do you have some old grudge against me?"

Xun You glanced at Xu You, his tone as usual: "Although there are no old grudges, there may be new ones."

Seeing Xun You's sparing use of words, Xu You felt a pang of melancholy. He turned to Cao Cao and said, "I once heard that Mengde (Cao Cao) and Liu Bei discussed heroes over wine, concluding that the only heroes in the world were Mengde and Liu Bei. I didn't believe it before, but today I do. Yuan Xi sent a messenger on horseback to say that the rebellious forces in Dai Commandery, Shanggu Commandery, Yuyang Commandery, Guangyang Commandery, Youbeiping Commandery, and Liaoxi Commandery have all been wiped out, and even the Wuhuan kings such as Nanlou, Tadun, and Wuyan have been executed. You and I both know that Yuan Xi doesn't have that ability. And Liu Bei only arrived in Zhuo County in August!"

Cao Cao exclaimed in shock, "Ziyuan, are you saying that Liu Bei conquered the six commanderies of Youzhou in just two months and also killed the Wuhuan kings such as Nanlou and Tadun?"

Xu You sneered: "Not only that, in the Battle of Wuzhong City, Liu Bei personally led over a thousand elite cavalrymen to charge into the enemy lines and defeated over thirty thousand cavalrymen of the Wuhuan kings, including Tadun. Among them was a man named Guan Yu who single-handedly cut off Tadun's head from the midst of ten thousand soldiers! Mengde, the opportunity to defeat Yuan Shao is right in front of you. If you are afraid, then in the future, the only one who can compete with Yuan Shao will be Liu Bei."

Cao Cao's expression gradually turned serious.

The information Xu You brought today is truly astounding.

It was not only a place where Yuan Shao stored grain, but also a place where Liu Bei had a terrifying record of victory in Youzhou.

"Yun Chang's bravery is truly astonishing." Inspired by this, Zhang Liao stepped forward and volunteered for battle, saying, "Now the enemy outnumbers us, and only a clever plan can bring us victory. I am willing to lead my elite troops and risk our lives to launch a surprise attack on Wuchao!"

Perhaps influenced by Liu Bei's astonishing victory in Youzhou, or by Guan Yu's single-handedly slaying Tadun amidst a vast army, or by Zhang Liao's resolute request to serve, or perhaps by trusting Jia Xu and Xun You's judgment.

Cao Ren, Cao Hong, Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Yu Jin, Li Dian, Yue Jin, Xu Huang, Xu Chu and other valiant generals volunteered for battle: "We are willing to lead our elite troops and risk our lives to raid Wuchao!"

Seeing the courage of everyone rushing to raid Wuchao, Cao Cao was also inspired and said with great emotion: "The raid on the grain supply is imperative! There is no time to lose, quickly issue my orders. Cao Hong and Xun You will guard the camp, and the rest of the generals will quickly select 5,000 infantry and cavalry, impersonate Yuan Shao's army, have each man gagged and their horses bound, and each carry a bundle of firewood. Tonight, I will personally lead you all to raid Wuchao!"

Cao Hong advised, "The commander-in-chief is the lifeblood of the entire army. Raiding a camp is extremely dangerous and should not be undertaken lightly. I urge my lord to consider this carefully!"

Cao Cao laughed loudly: "If I don't personally brave arrows and stones, how can my soldiers be expected to fight to the death? Even Liu Bei can personally lead his elite cavalry into battle, so how can I be inferior to Liu Bei? Don't try to persuade me any further!"

The heroes of the world are you and me.

Cao Cao did not want to lose the battle or lose face.

Seeing Cao Cao's decisiveness, Xu You's feelings suddenly became complicated: If Yuan Shao had been as decisive as Mengde, things would not have come to this.

If this were Yuan Shao, let alone taking immediate action, he wouldn't have been able to mobilize troops without three to five days of intelligence gathering. Seeing this, Xu You couldn't help but sigh inwardly: No wonder Mengde would rather consider Liu Bei a hero than Yuan Shao. Apart from family background, Yuan Shao is far inferior to Mengde.

Cao Cao was very efficient, and his civil and military officials were also wholeheartedly devoted to his duties. In less than half an hour, he had selected five thousand infantry and cavalry.

As Cao Cao said, "If I do not personally brave arrows and stones, how can my soldiers be expected to fight to the death?" When they saw Cao Cao donning his armor, riding a horse, and wielding a spear, ready to personally lead the attack on Wuchao, the five thousand soldiers were all excited.

The general is the courage of the soldiers.

Cao Cao's ability to defeat a much larger force at Guandu was no small feat.

Instead of lengthy, tedious leadership speeches, Cao Cao simply said, "Tonight, I am with you all!"

Subsequently.

Cao Cao took the lead and charged straight to the front.

When they encountered Yuan soldiers along the way and asked questions, they all replied, "The General fears a surprise attack from Cao Cao, so he sent us to guard Wuchao."

This is the disadvantage of Yuan Shao's 100,000-strong army.

With a large army but unclear division of responsibilities, arrogant generals and inconsistent orders, Cao Cao was able to deceive the Yuan army along the way with a simple lie. Even when he arrived at Wuchao, no one discovered that Cao Cao's 5,000 infantry and cavalry were in disguise.

As dawn broke, Cao Cao, fearing for his life, immediately ordered his soldiers to surround the baggage train and set it on fire from all sides.

The fire immediately alerted Yuan's soldiers protecting the grain, as well as Chunyu Qiong.

"How brave!"

Because Han Meng was ambushed while transporting grain, Xu Huang and Shi Huan burned several thousand grain carts.

Therefore, Chunyu Qiong led more than 10,000 guards to transport the grain this time, and was accompanied by brave generals such as Sui Yuanjin, Han Juzi, Lü Weihuang, and Zhao Rui. With a large number of soldiers and generals, Chunyu Qiong was not afraid of anyone trying to rob the grain.

Seeing that Cao Cao's army was small, Chunyu Qiong was even more undaunted. He went straight out of the camp and set up his formation, intending to challenge Cao Cao. (This part does not use the fictional setting; according to the official setting, there is no Wuchao Wine Immortal.)
Cao Cao sneered and ordered: "Chunyu Qiong, relying on his martial prowess and taking advantage of our small number of soldiers, does not defend the camp gate but instead wants to fight us. All generals, attack him fiercely!"

Chunyu Qiong did not recognize Cao Cao at this time, nor did he know that Cao Cao had brought almost all of his elite troops. He made the same mistake as Yan Liang at Baima Ford, abandoning the strategic advantage of the camp gate to fight Cao Cao.

Those who dare to confront the Xiahou and Cao families, the Five Elite Generals, and fierce generals like Xu Chu head-on are few and far between, let alone Yan Liang and Chunyu Qiong; even Lü Bu wouldn't have had that courage.

As his own troops' formation was broken and even the fierce general Sui Yuanjin was stabbed to death, Chunyu Qiong finally realized that something was wrong.

At that moment, Cao Cao's fierce face also came into Chunyu Qiong's view.

"Cao Cao?"

"Oh no, I've become Yan Liang!"

　It's early today, so I'll update 6 times. Please vote with monthly tickets. Early to bed and early to rise, more tomorrow.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)