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

Chapter 137 Cao Cao Sets Fire to Wuchao, Zhang Liao and Xu Huang Capture Generals and Seize Flags (2 Updates)
Yuan Shao has reinforcements.

But Yuan Shao's reinforcements were still gathering outside Wuchao at this moment.

It wasn't that they were just sitting idly by and watching the outcome, but rather that after a 40-mile raid by light cavalry, although the men still had the stamina to fight again, the horses' stamina was not as good as theirs.

Furthermore, Yuan Shao's military order was to "cut off their retreat," so after arriving at Wuchao, this light cavalry did not immediately charge into the enemy lines to reassure Chunyu Qiong and others, but instead slowly approached from behind Cao Cao's army to recover their strength.

Even so, it greatly frightened Cao's soldiers who were engaged in battle.

The attendants urgently reported to Cao Cao, suggesting that he divide his forces to resist.

Having experienced countless battles, Cao Cao, upon hearing that only Yuan Shao's cavalry was approaching, did not even look behind him and immediately rebuked, "Report only when the enemy is behind you!"

Compared to Yuan Shao, who was cautious about his life when it came to great things, Cao Cao was more adept at risking his life and at scheming.

As long as the cavalry behind him doesn't charge, then no matter how many cavalry Yuan Shao sends, it will be to no avail.

On the contrary, the arrival of the cavalry gave Cao Cao an opportunity to boost morale.

"The enemy cavalry is gathering; we must fight to the death to survive!" Cao Cao shouted, brandishing his spear.

If it were a disorganized mob, upon hearing that enemy cavalry were gathering in the rear, their morale would surely collapse and they would flee in disarray.

However, Cao Cao's troops today are all elite soldiers and fierce generals, and the five generals of Xiahou and Cao Cao, as well as his personal guards, have all received favors from Cao Cao. If Cao Cao does not retreat, how can his generals retreat?

With courage, soldiers will not back down.

As the art of war says: "Place them in a desperate situation, and they will survive."

When the enemy outnumbers us, only by putting our soldiers in a life-or-death situation will they fight desperately for survival.

All of a sudden.

The Cao army soldiers, who were originally exhausted, suddenly regained their strength and had the momentum of breaking through enemy lines.

"war!"

"war!"

"war!"

With roars like tigers and leopards, Cao Cao's soldiers, their eyes bloodshot, became even more frenzied.

The valiant general Yue Jin led from the front, seemingly oblivious even when struck by arrows, and relentlessly broke through Yuan's army's defenses.

Han Juzi was the first to be attacked and was killed by Le Jin. The Yuan soldiers around him were so frightened that no one dared to step forward and fight Le Jin!

And in the back.

Zhang Liao and Xu Huang joined forces, one clad in armor and wielding a halberd, the other in armor and wielding an axe. They personally led the charge, directly plunging into the enemy ranks, and none of Yuan's soldiers could stop them.

"Gongming, please help me!"

But then Zhang Liao shouted and charged straight at Chunyu Qiong's banner.

Knowing Zhang Liao's intentions, Xu Huang followed closely behind, clearing away any open or hidden attacks from Zhang Liao's rear and sides.

Faced with Zhang Liao, who charged fiercely like a tiger right up to his banner, Chunyu Qiong was so shocked that his face turned pale, and the generals around him were also quite frightened.

At this moment, Zhang Liao appeared to the Yuan generals like a human chariot, his oppressive presence enough to inspire fear.

Chunyu Qiong was frightened and immediately turned and ran.

"Gongming, cut down the flag!"

Zhang Liao roared and called out to Xu Huang as he chased after Chunyu Qiong.

Almost the instant Zhang Liao's roar subsided, Xu Huang's great axe flew towards the Yuan soldier carrying the banner, and the Yuan soldier, caught off guard, died on the spot.

Then Xu Huang leaped down like a bear or tiger, drew his great axe, turned around and chopped down the high-hanging banner.

Upon seeing their banner fall, Yuan's troops, already demoralized, became even more fearful, while Cao's troops, on the other hand, saw their morale rise even higher.

"Chunyu Qiong, don't run! Fight me!" Zhang Liao roared with bloodshot eyes. When he encountered a Yuan general blocking his way, he struck him with his halberd without caring whether the general lived or died.

Chunyu Qiong was terrified and exclaimed, "He's not human!"

In the past, Zhang Liao's performance was not so fierce. Surrendered generals were not valued by Cao Cao, so they would not be too willing to risk their lives for Cao Cao.

The reason for this was that Zhang Liao was both amazed and envious after hearing from Xu You that Guan Yu had single-handedly killed Tadun amidst a vast army.

Zhang Liao was a brave and skilled general from the border region, and he also had a close relationship with Guan Yu, so he naturally didn't want to fall behind.

Xu Huang was the same. He was from the same place as Guan Yu in Hedong and was privately called "elder brother" by Guan Yu. Xu Huang also had the desire to compete with him.

With Yuan Shao's cavalry gathering in the rear, everyone was in a life-or-death situation, so Zhang Liao and Xu Huang both wanted to seize the great merit of beheading generals and capturing flags.

As Xu Huang cut down the banner, Zhang Liao chased Chunyu Qiong all over the camp. Unable to withstand the pressure, Yuan's soldiers finally collapsed, either abandoning their armor and fleeing or lying on the ground to surrender.

Despite having the advantage of over ten thousand men, their morale was low, and no matter how many people they had, they were no different from fleeing cattle and horses.

Chunyu Qiong was being chased by Zhang Liao so fast that he accidentally bumped into a grain cart, and his head started ringing.

Zhang Liao lunged forward and immediately began to wrestle with Chunyu Qiong.

Chunyu Qiong was already less brave than Zhang Liao, and now he was also afraid. Although he tried his best to break free, he became weaker and weaker under the fierce blows of Zhang Liao's fist.

Before long, Chunyu Qiong was bruised and swollen, and on the verge of death.

"Wen Yuan, catch the rope!"

Xu Huang cut the rope off the grain cart and threw it at Zhang Liao.

While Zhang Liao and Chunyu Qiong were fighting, Xu Huang had already arrived. However, Xu Huang did not try to steal credit from Zhang Liao. Instead, he fought fiercely around Zhang Liao and engaged in combat with Chunyu Qiong's personal guards.

After binding Chunyu Qiong, Zhang Liao stepped on Chunyu Qiong, scanned the surroundings, and shouted angrily, "Chunyu Qiong has been captured alive by me. Who dares to step forward!"

Under the combined pressure of Zhang Liao and Xu Huang, the surrounding Yuan soldiers scattered in panic.

Seeing Zhang Liao capture Chunyu Qiong alive amidst ten thousand troops, and hearing that Xu Huang had cut down the banner, Cao Cao couldn't help but laugh: "Xuande has Yunchang, and I have Wenyuan and Gongming, enough to rival you!"

Seeing Chunyu Qiong's miserable state, Cao Cao couldn't help but laugh triumphantly: "Chunyu Qiong, do you know why you suffered such a defeat today?"

Cao Cao and Chunyu Qiong were colleagues as early as when Liu Hong established the Xiyuan Army.

However, Chunyu Qiong had always been close to Yuan Shao and looked down on Cao Cao.

Having captured Chunyu Qiong today, Cao Cao felt a sense of smug satisfaction, thinking, "You used to ignore me, but today I'll make you regret it."

However, Chunyu Qiong's disdain for Cao Cao stemmed from his inherent superiority; even after his defeat, he refused to bow his head, saying, "Victory and defeat are determined by fate, why ask me?"

When Cao Cao saw that Chunyu Qiong refused to submit, he hesitated and considered sparing Chunyu Qiong's life.

Xu You, who was traveling with him, advised, "Chunyu Qiong is proud and arrogant, and he will not forget the humiliation of today's defeat. He should be killed!"

Upon hearing Xu You's voice, Chunyu Qiong suddenly looked up and asked in astonishment, "Xu Ziyuan, what are you doing here?"

Thinking of the sudden attack tonight and the defeat, Chunyu Qiong's eyes were bloodshot, and he roared angrily: "It was you, you traitor, who leaked my whereabouts! The General will not forgive you!"

Cao Cao glanced at Xu You, then at Chunyu Qiong, sighed inwardly, and waved his hand, signaling, "Kill him!"

Although it is unknown what personal grudge Xu You and Chunyu Qiong have, keeping Xu You alive is obviously more useful than keeping Chunyu Qiong alive. If keeping Chunyu Qiong alive displeases Xu You, Xu You might defect again.

If Xu You then leads another attack on Cao Cao's rear, it could truly be a case of Xu You succeeding and Xu You failing.

After killing Chunyu Qiong, Cao Cao ordered the supply train and grain to be set on fire on all sides.

A raging fire broke out at Wuchao, and only then did the light cavalry sent by Yuan Shao manage to assemble!

　The second update is here, but the image didn't even pass the review!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)