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

Xiahou Yuan was naturally unaware that, under normal circumstances, Guan Yu would not have been able to grow to this level in just two and a half years. He would have needed at least ten years of diligent study and experience of the Battle of Red Cliffs before he could gradually mature.

But now Guan Yu has the meticulous guidance of Zhuge Liang after the fact, and even though it has only been two and a half years, the results are far better than Guan Yu's ten years of self-cultivation.

Although the battle in the valley was still ongoing, Xiahou Yuan was gradually losing his footing.

The thousand light cavalry that entered the valley were now divided into seven or eight small groups. Apart from the hundred or so riders who were closely following Xiahou Yuan, they were completely caught in the predicament of fighting on their own.

peripheral.

Xu Huang was also extremely anxious.

The rolling logs and boulders of the powerful clans separated Xiahou Yuan and Xu Huang, and in the urgency, Xu Huang was unable to enter to provide support.

"Clear the road immediately!"

Xu Huang shouted an order, while observing both sides and directing his cavalry to dismount and move the scattered wood and stones.

However, as time went by, the shouts of battle in the valley grew weaker and weaker, and Xu Huang's unease grew stronger: If General Xiahou were to fall, my life would be over!

Although Xu Huang had warned him beforehand, the commander would also be punished if his deputy was lost.

If Xiahou Yuan returns alive, Xu Huang might be praised by Cao Cao; if Xiahou Yuan loses his life, Xu Huang, as the deputy general, will certainly be held responsible.

"Bring another hundred people, and clear them out immediately!"

Even someone as composed as Xu Huang sounded a hint of panic in his voice at this moment.

In the valley.

Looking at his scattered cavalry, Xiahou Yuan felt a growing sense of sorrow.

The trend is over!

No matter how Xiahou Yuan shouted, he could no longer gather his troops. In this battle that determined both the victor and the loser, Xiahou Yuan was completely defeated by Guan Yu in terms of command!
"General, the situation is urgent! The slope on the south side is gentle; we might be able to escape there," the Imperial Guard Captain cried out urgently.

Xiahou Yuan's eyes were bloodshot as he stared fiercely at the large banner with the character "Guan" on the north slope. Being completely defeated in command was already a great humiliation; if he were to be captured alive or die in the chaos of battle, the mark of "General in Vain" would be even more humiliating...

Thinking of this, Xiahou Yuan seemed to hear Yan Liang and Wen Chou's mocking shouts again, and a chill ran down his spine!
The overwhelming will to survive instantly overwhelmed everything; only by staying alive could one have a chance to turn the tide!
"Abandon the horse! Quickly, get up the south side of the mountain! Hurry!"

Xiahou Yuan suddenly turned his head and pointed to a relatively gentle hillside where many "miscellaneous soldiers" had been swaying before, and where there were the fewest shouts.

Without further hesitation, Xiahou Yuan roared at the dozen or so trusted henchmen beside him, "Follow me to break through! Climb the mountain!"

The sounds of fighting, screams, and neighing horses at the bottom of the valley continued unabated. Taking advantage of Yan Liang and Wen Chou's pursuit of the remaining troops elsewhere, Xiahou Yuan, along with his elite soldiers, abandoned his cumbersome horses and, like a desperate beast at the end of its rope, hurriedly fled down the gentle southern slope. The mountain wind howled, whipping the abandoned banner and Xiahou Yuan's disheveled hair and beard.

"General, Xiahou Yuan has escaped!"

Guan Ping, with his sharp eyes, spotted Xiahou Yuan abandoning his horse and fleeing, and urgently reminded him.

"It doesn't matter."

Guan Yu glanced in Xiahou Yuan's direction, his lips twitching almost imperceptibly upwards, as if he had expected this all along.

Having chosen this place to ambush, Guan Yu naturally knew where Xiahou Yuan could escape. He deliberately placed the fewest of the powerful clans and miscellaneous soldiers in the escape area. This was not only an application of the military strategy of leaving an opening when besieging an enemy, but also a political wisdom of giving Xiahou Yuan a way out.

If it were Cao Ren, Cao Hong, or other generals from outside Cao's camp who came, Guan Yu would capture them alive even if he didn't kill them.

Since it was Xiahou Yuan who came, we had to think about it.

Having spent several months in Xuchang, Guan Yu knew very well that among the generals inside and outside Cao Cao's camp, Xiahou Dun was the leader, followed by Xiahou Yuan.

In other words, Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan's positions in Cao Cao's camp are similar to those of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei in Liu Bei's camp. If Xiahou Yuan were to fall, Cao Cao, who is currently enjoying great power in Ye City, would certainly not let the matter rest.

Cao Cao had previously issued a strict order that "from now on, anyone holding a hostage should be attacked without regard to the hostage's status" after Xiahou Dun was captured alive by Lü Bu's generals. He would absolutely not compromise just because Xiahou Yuan was captured alive.

If Cao Cao felt deeply humiliated and insisted on fighting Liu Bei to the death, it would seriously affect Liu Bei's current strategy of resting the people and resting the country. Zhuge Liang's intention in this southward campaign was only to help Liu Bei win over the hearts of the people in Hebei, not to fight Cao Cao to the death.

Conversely, if Cao Cao were to simply defeat Xiahou Yuan and let him live, he would have to weigh the pros and cons: whether to continue fighting Liu Bei to the bitter end or to temporarily cease hostilities and seek another opportunity.

Guan Yu also had to consider whether Ma Teng, Han Sui, Zhang Lu, Liu Zhang, Liu Biao, Sun Quan, and Yuan Tan, who had gone to Pingyuan, would mistakenly believe that Liu Bei's power had surpassed Cao Cao's because Guan Yu had captured Xiahou Yuan in one battle, and thus choose to sit on the sidelines rather than join forces with Liu Bei to counterbalance Cao Cao.

When Zhuge Liang instructed Guan Yu on military strategy, he also incorporated political wisdom, fearing that Guan Yu would only focus on military victory and defeat and neglect political considerations, thus repeating the disastrous consequences of "flooding the seven armies, capturing Yu Jin, beheading Pang De, and shaking the whole country, and then crossing the river in white clothes, Mi Fang surrendering the city and dying in Maicheng, shocking Cao Cao and Liu Bei."

At present, Liu Bei's foundation is still very weak, and he has no room for error!
Seeing Guan Ping's doubt, Guan Yu patiently instructed him: "Tanzhi, you must remember. Any military action is an extension of political objectives. Our lord's foothold in Hebei is not yet secure, and the exhausted people need rest. The strategist's intention in going south to manage affairs is to win over the hearts of the people, not to fight Cao Cao to the death! Leaving Xiahou Yuan alive is to leave some room for maneuver. Although it will make Cao Cao resentful and angry, it will not make him lose his mind."

"Xiahou Yuan is Cao Cao's right-hand man and flesh and blood. If we capture or kill him, not only will Cao Cao be so grieved that he will fight to the death with our lord, but the warlords of the world, such as Sun Quan, Liu Zhang, and even Yuan Tan of Pingyuan, may mistakenly believe that our lord has the ability to swallow Cao Cao whole. At that time, they will certainly not be willing to 'join forces with our lord to subdue Cao Cao,' but will sit on the sidelines and watch the tiger stalk the horn, profiting from the situation, or even joining forces with Cao Cao to attack our lord! As the strategist often says, 'When two strong forces fight, the weak will seize the opportunity.' This is the nature of humanity. Therefore, leaving Xiahou Yuan alive today is also a strategy to stop the fighting and avert disaster."

Then, Guan Yu withdrew his gaze and earnestly admonished Guan Ping: "Tanzhi, on the battlefield, a general should strive for the courage to make a thousand troops flee and be invincible to ten thousand men. However, a commander must see beyond this mountain and look towards that peak; his heart must encompass this country and consider other nations. Killing and annihilation are easy, but weighing the pros and cons and preserving the overall situation are the true wisdom of a general. This is also the teaching of a military advisor."

Guan Ping stood solemnly, clasped his hands and bowed deeply: "Father's teachings are etched in my heart! Only today do I realize that the victory or defeat of a general is also tied to the fate of the world!"

Seeing that Guan Ping had grasped the point, Guan Yu stroked his magnificent beard with a touch of pride.

The sense of accomplishment from understanding Zhuge Liang's words and then using them to guide others is far greater than simply displaying personal bravery on the battlefield. Which general would not want to be like Wei Qing or Huo Qubing, using their wisdom and courage to awe the world?
Seeing that Cao Cao's soldiers were still putting up a stubborn resistance, Guan Yu gave another order: "Now that Xiahou Yuan has fled, this battle can be over. Quickly raise the command flag; those who surrender and lay down their weapons will be spared." (End of Chapter)