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

Chapter 183 Liu Bei accepts Guan Yu's good plan, Yuan Shang regards Yan Liang as a contemptible man (3rd update)
While Zhuge Liang was building Liu Bei's reputation and recruiting talent in Zhen Ding, Liu Bei led his army to the vicinity of Dongwuyang.

Upon discovering that there were no Cao troops besieging the city, Liu Bei was immediately suspicious.

To avoid revealing his identity, Liu Bei left Guan Yu behind to escort the supplies and provisions, while sending Yan Liang and Wen Chou as the vanguard to scout out Dongwuyang City.

Half a day later, Yan Liang sent someone back with the news, and Liu Bei then learned the details:
When Yuan Shang first took command of troops in place of his father Yuan Shao, he arrived at Dongwuyang City three days ahead of schedule in order to show off his abilities.

Upon hearing the news, Cao Cao personally went to the city and sternly questioned Yuan Shao about why he had not come. Yuan Shang, on the city wall, retorted sharply, accusing Cao Cao of causing the death of Zhang Xiu's son, Cao Ang, because of his lust for Zhang Xiu's aunt, Zou Shi.

These words struck a nerve with Cao Cao, enraging him so much that he vomited blood in public and fell off his horse.

Taking advantage of the situation, Yuan Shang led his troops in a surprise attack, and Cao Cao's army, demoralized, was defeated and forced to retreat. That night, Yuan Shang adopted Feng Ji's ingenious plan and once again led his troops to raid Cao Cao's camp. Cao Cao's army was caught off guard and suffered another defeat.

Because Yuan Shang's troops were insufficient, he did not dare to pursue and expand the victory. After dawn, he withdrew his troops and returned to Dongwuyang City. Cao Cao, who suffered two defeats, withdrew his camp thirty miles and retreated to Cangtingjin.

Today, seeing Yan Liang and Wen Chou leading their troops into the city, Yuan Shang immediately ordered the entire army to regroup and advance towards Cangting Ferry to set up camp, intending to completely drive Cao Cao to the south bank of the Yellow River.

Upon hearing this military intelligence, Liu Bei frowned and turned to Guan Yu, asking, "Yun Chang, what are your thoughts?"

Guan Yu also noticed the oddity of the situation and judged: "Although Yuan Shang is favored by Yuan Shao, he has never commanded troops in battle. Now that he has just taken command of the army, he has been able to win two battles against Cao Cao. This is really strange. In my opinion, this must be a strategy by Cao Cao to lure the enemy."

Liu Bei nodded and said, "Yun Chang's view coincides with mine. Cao Cao is good at using surprise attacks and is very cunning. Yuan Shang is no match for him! Before leaving Zhen Ding, the strategist instructed us not to compete with Yuan Shang for the limelight, nor to let him die at the hands of Cao Cao. We should quickly write to Yan Liang to warn him against Cao Cao luring him deep into our territory."

Guan Yu stroked his magnificent beard and judged, "Yuan Shangzhi is a man of little talent and looks down on petty people. I predict he will not heed Yan Liang's advice. Why don't you turn the tables on him, brother?"

Liu Bei showed a slight look of surprise, but then remembered that Guan Yu had been studying with the strategist for a long time and was no longer the same as before, so he asked with relief, "What good plan does Yun Chang have?"

Guan Yu unfolded the marching map and pointed it out to Liu Bei, saying, "Brother, please take a look. Although the terrain around Cangting Ferry is mostly flat, there are several places that can be used for ambushes. Now that it's springtime, the soldiers won't get cold even if they lie in ambush all night. If I were Cao Cao, when I see Yuan Shang move his camp to outside Cangting Ferry, I can set up ambushes in multiple locations, feigning a raid, and then deliberately create an opening to lure Yuan Shang out of his camp to pursue. Once he underestimates the enemy and advances far from the camp, the ambushes will all spring up and surround him from all sides. In this way, Yuan Shang will undoubtedly be defeated!"

"As the old saying goes, 'The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.' Although Cao Cao could find out that Yan Liang and Wen Chou had arrived, he could hardly have imagined that his elder brother was also there. He could secretly inform Yan Liang, instructing him to prioritize protecting Yuan Shang if they encountered an ambush, in order to wait for his elder brother's reinforcements; at the same time, while Cao Cao was chasing Yuan Shang and his rear was undefended, he could secretly flank him with light troops and set fire to his supplies at Cangting Ferry. When Cao Cao heard that a fire had broken out in his rear, he would surely be terrified and retreat in disarray."

"Yun Chang's plan is brilliant." After listening to Guan Yu's analysis of the entire battle situation, Liu Bei couldn't help but clap his hands in praise, and the look in Liu Bei's eyes when he looked at Guan Yu was filled with indescribable satisfaction.

Hearing Liu Bei's praise and seeing the pleased look in his eyes, Guan Yu was also filled with undisguised excitement, and at the same time he thought of Zhuge Liang's careful teaching over the past two years.

Thinking of Zhuge Liang's calm and composed demeanor, Guan Yu suppressed his excitement and became gentle and humble: "It is not my ability, but all thanks to the strategist's past teachings."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei laughed and said, "Yun Chang, please don't be so modest. We will follow your plan."

In Dongwuyang City, Yan Liang, having received a secret report from Liu Bei, rushed to see Yuan Shang with Wen Chou, offering his advice: "Young Master Shang, Cao Cao is extremely skilled in battle, with many elite troops and fierce generals under his command. He is also experienced in warfare, yet he has suffered two consecutive defeats; I fear he harbors treacherous schemes. I urge you to reconsider the matter of moving the camp to Cangting Ferry." Yuan Shang, who was discussing with Feng Ji how to completely drive Cao Cao back to the south bank, was displeased upon hearing Yan Liang's advice. However, given that Yan Liang and Wen Chou were Yuan Shao's favored generals, Yuan Shang's tone was relatively tactful: "General, you have me as your commander-in-chief; how could I not recognize Cao Cao's tricks? General Yan, do not worry; simply follow my orders!"

However, Yuan Shang was tactful, but Feng Ji felt that Yan Liang and Wen Chou were deliberately causing trouble by coming to advise him at this time. He said sarcastically, "I didn't expect General Yan to know how to use schemes? What a pity. If General Yan had known how to use schemes earlier, there would have been no defeat at Baima Ford."

While seemingly marveling at Yan Liang's cunning, Feng Ji was actually mocking Yan Liang's defeat at Baima Ford by Cao Cao's stratagem. Feng Ji was quite adept at using sarcastic and ironic language.

Yan Liang was most averse to anyone bringing up the defeat at Baima Ford. Already frustrated by Yuan Shang's failure to heed his advice, he was further enraged by Feng Ji's sarcastic remarks. Yan Liang's anger exploded instantly, and he shouted, "Feng Ji, you pride yourself on your wisdom, yet you still lost Cangting Ford! If you hadn't lost Cangting Ford, would the General have been humiliated by Cao Cao?"

Feng Ji's expression changed, and his tone suddenly turned gloomy: "General Yan, I am guarding Dongwuyang, not Cangtingjin!"

Yan Liang chuckled coldly: "Isn't Gao Fan under your command? If you win, it's because you commanded well; if you lose, it's none of your business. In terms of shamelessness, you are even worse than the Hu people!"

Feng Ji was shocked by Yan Liang's sharp tongue today. He was so angry that his hands trembled. He bowed to Yuan Shang and said, "Young Master Shang is the commander-in-chief. How dare you disobey Young Master Shang's orders? Have you been serving as Liu Bei's deputy for so long that you've forgotten who you should be loyal to?"

In matters of slander, Yan Liang was far inferior to Feng Ji.

really.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shang's expression changed instantly, and his tone became no longer tactful: "General Yan, Cao Cao is adept at using tricks, which is not something you can handle. If I follow your advice, I fear I will suffer a defeat at Baima Ford."

Subconsciously.

Yan Liang recalled Liu Bei's act of yielding credit, and Zhuge Liang's words: "Since the battles of Baima and Yanjin, many petty people have mocked the two generals. This trip to Dongwuyang is a good opportunity to use the merit of defeating Cao Cao to restore the prestige of the two generals."

A comparison with Yuan Shang and Feng Ji reveals the obvious difference in their abilities.

“Feng Ji is very good at stirring up trouble, so we must not argue with him anymore. Let’s follow General Zuo’s plan for now,” Wen Chou said, pulling Yan Liang aside and whispering his advice.

After listening to Wen Chou's advice, Yan Liang suppressed his anger, but he didn't want to stay there any longer. He then cupped his hands and said, "In that case, we will stay in the camp and await Young Master Hou Shang's orders."

Watching Yan Liang leave in a huff, Feng Ji then slandered, "Young Master Shang's military prestige has not yet been established, and people like Yan Liang and Wen Chou are all dissatisfied."

Enraged, Yuan Shang said bitterly, "That's why I must defeat Cao Cao this time and reclaim Cangting Ferry! To establish my reputation as Yuan Shang!"

　Update 3 is here!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)