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

Chapter 138 Yuan Shao Makes One Mistake After Another, Zhang He and Gao Lan Defect to Cao Cao (3rd Update)
Cao Cao's main camp was attacked by Zhang He and Gao Lan.

A large number of siege towers advanced, arrows rained down, and the sounds of battle roared like thunder.

however.

From dawn to noon, Cao Cao's main camp remained impregnable.

Although Cao Cao took most of his brave generals and soldiers with him, he left Cao Hong and Xun You to guard the main camp, and Jia Xu and other strategists to guard other camps.

And now.

The main camp of Cao Cao's camp could not be captured, and the other camps also encountered setbacks.

This difference stemmed not only from the difference in the bravery of the soldiers on both sides, but also, more importantly, from the difference in morale.

Those who remained to guard the camp were all determined to fight to the death if Cao Cao did not return.

Everyone understood that if they couldn't hold the main camp, even if Cao Cao won the raid on Wuchao, they would hardly survive; but if they held the main camp, even if Cao Cao lost the raid on Wuchao, they would still have a way out.

In contrast, Yuan's troops generally lacked the spirit of facing death and burning their boats; they treated it as just another routine attack on Cao's camp.

They only eat soup and rice every day, why are they risking their lives like this!
"General Zhang, I'm afraid today's events will not end well. If Wuchao is safe, we may survive; but if Wuchao is lost, we will be held responsible." Gao Lan took off his helmet, rolled up his sleeve to wipe the sweat inside, and his face showed undisguised exhaustion.

Zhang He frowned: "General Gao, we mustn't spread alarmist rumors and undermine morale."

Despite this, Zhang He was deeply worried.

If Chunyu Qiong is indeed defeated by Cao Cao's troops who are robbing grain, as predicted, 100,000 infantry and cavalry will go hungry. Even if there is still grain on the way from Ji Province, it will be too late to solve the immediate problem.

Gao Lan sighed inwardly and stopped arguing.

All the generals were fighting a fierce battle, while the Guandu camp was in a different state.

Yuan Shao, on the other hand, took a nice nap and didn't wake up until noon.

Upon waking, Yuan Shao immediately asked his attendants, "Has Chunyu Qiong defeated Cao Cao's troops? Have Zhang He and Gao Lan captured the camp?"

The fact that Yuan Shao could ask such a question is enough to show that he was not worried about losing at all.

With Chunyu Qiong's more than 10,000 infantry and cavalry protecting the grain, and light cavalry sent to rescue it, along with Zhang He and Gao Lan leading heavy troops to attack Cao Cao's camp, how could they possibly lose with such meticulous planning?
Whether it was to pander to his preferences or because someone had genuinely given false intelligence, his men directly told Yuan Shao that "the rebel troops at Wuchao have been killed and scattered."

Yuan Shao laughed and was no longer worried about Wuchao. Instead, he sent more troops to attack Cao Cao's camp, determined to take advantage of this golden opportunity to capture Cao Cao's camp in one fell swoop.

Just as Yuan Shao was feeling triumphant, someone suddenly reported that Cao Cao's troops had launched a direct attack on the camp gate.

Yuan Shao was furious upon hearing this: "Who dares to speak such nonsense! How dare they undermine the morale of our army?"

With Yuan's troops completely blocking Cao's camp, how could Cao's troops possibly attack Yuan Shao's camp gates directly? It can't be said that Cao's troops who raided Wuchao also came to play the trick of "besieging Wei to rescue Zhao".
Is it worthy?

Just as Yuan Shao thought someone was spreading rumors, the camp gate commander came in fright, kneeling and weeping: "Reporting to the General! Cao soldiers have brought nearly ten thousand severed noses and tongues from the camp gate, as well as General Chunyu's head!"

Cao Cao was also cunning.

In reality, only a little over a thousand Yuan soldiers were killed at Wuchao, but Cao Cao cut off the tongues of oxen and horses to make up the numbers, and threw them along with Chunyu Qiong's head in front of Yuan Shao's camp gate, creating the illusion that nearly ten thousand had been killed.

"impossible!"

Yuan Shao slammed his fist on the table and stood up, glaring angrily as he shouted.

"Chunyu Qiong has over ten thousand men, and I have sent three thousand light cavalry to attack from both sides. How could we have been defeated? How dare you undermine the morale of my army? What are your intentions? Guards, drag this man away and behead him!"

The camp gate commander was both shocked and frightened, and cried out, "I'm innocent!"

But the executioners wouldn't listen to the gatekeeper's pleas and dragged him out. Although the gatekeeper was beheaded, Yuan Shao's mood didn't improve, and he hurriedly sent men to gather intelligence on the Wuchao army and the movements of the Cao troops who had raided the gate.

Only when the defeated and depleted army returned to their camp at Wuchao and it was reported that Chunyu Qiong had been defeated and killed did Yuan Shao dare to believe it.

"Chunyu Qiong has ruined my grand plan!"

"Issue my order: the entire army shall launch a fierce attack on Cao Cao's camp; those who retreat shall be executed!"

Yuan Shao panicked.

Once news of the burning of the grain supplies at Wuchao spreads, the 100,000 infantry and cavalry will collapse in an instant. The only chance to turn the tide is to break through Cao Cao's camp in one fell swoop.

however.

Yuan Shao overestimated his ability to command 100,000 infantry and cavalry.

The Yuan soldiers who were attacking the camp were shocked to find Cao Cao's troops behind them. Now they received orders to launch a full-scale attack, and rumors spread from the rear that nearly 10,000 soldiers in Wuchao had been killed.

Morale was shattered.

Whether it was Yuan's troops attacking other camps or Zhang He and Gao Lan's troops attacking the main camp, they were all affected and became panicked.

"Just as I predicted, Chunyu Qiong failed to defend Wuchao, and we are all going to die here!" Zhang He cried out in grief and indignation, feeling both anxious and helpless.

Gao Lan, however, had a strange expression on his face, and it was unclear what he was thinking.

Just as Zhang He was at a loss for what to do, a messenger from Guo Tu secretly reported that "the General intends to punish you two for your failure in attacking the camp."

Upon hearing this, Zhang He immediately flew into a rage: "It's all the General's fault for not listening to me, which led to this defeat! How can you blame us for not attacking the camp effectively?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang He regretted it. Even if he was dissatisfied, he could not speak disrespectfully to Yuan Shao.

I don't know.

Zhang He's words were quickly relayed to Guo Tu, who was secretly delighted. He hurriedly went to Yuan Shao and flattered him, saying, "Just now I sent men to supervise the battle, but Zhang He and Gao Lan not only neglected their duties but also spoke rudely, saying, 'The General did not listen to good advice, which is why we suffered this defeat.' This is outrageous! If the two hadn't refused to exert themselves, how could Cao Cao have succeeded!"

Yuan Shao was already troubled by Chunyu Qiong's defeat at Wuchao. Now, after listening to Guo Tu's slander, he subconsciously thought that Shen Pei's arrest of Xu You's family had led to Xu You's defection and the leak of secrets. He concluded that these people from the powerful families of Hebei were all unscrupulous villains, and his anger surged like a spring.

"You two traitors have ruined my grand plan, yet you dare to be so disrespectful! Guo Tu, I hereby order you to take my sword and seal and strip them of their military power. Today, we will surely break through Cao Cao's camp!"

Yuan Shao was now frantic with worry over the sudden collapse of the situation. He didn't even consider the possibility that Guo Tu was slandering him. He only wanted Guo Tu to take over the military power of Zhang He and Gao Lan, and then launch a strong attack on Cao Cao's camp.

After obtaining the sword and seal, Guo Tu led the supervisory team straight to the front and immediately ordered the capture of Zhang He and Gao Lan.

Hearing Guo Tu's high-sounding reasons, Zhang He was both shocked and furious: "Guo Tu, how dare you harm me?"

Guo Tu raised his sword and seal high: "The Great General's sword and seal are here, who dares to disobey!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Gao Lan shouted, "General Zhang, the Grand General has listened to slander. How can we sit and wait to die? We should go and surrender to Cao Cao!"

Then he drew his bow and nocked an arrow, which struck Guo Tu in the left arm.

Zhang He thought to himself, "This is terrible."

If it were merely a defeat, the families would not suffer; but now that they have betrayed their country on the battlefield, their families will all perish!
However, the current situation did not allow Zhang He any further time to think.

Seeing Guo Tu flee in a sorry state, Zhang He hardened his heart, brandished his spear, and shouted: "The General listens to slander and wants to harm us! Anyone willing to surrender to Cao Sikong, follow me and burn down the siege towers!"

　Chapter 3 is here!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)