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

With Xiahou Yuan leaving the battlefield, Xu Huang and Li Dian also broke through the encirclement in the melee, and the once-mighty western army finally fell to Liu Bei's powerful attack.

"Quickly clean up the battlefield and transport all the supplies back to the city."

Instead of pursuing the enemy for personal gain, Liu Bei quickly organized people to move supplies and sent out scouts to investigate the situation in the direction of Nanpi.

Victory or defeat can often be decided in a single thought.

If Cao Cao's troops suddenly appeared in Nanpi, Liu Bei's carefully planned victory might turn into defeat, which was not an outcome Liu Bei wanted to see.

Furthermore, the soldiers had been fighting almost all day and night, except for taking turns to rest. Such intense fighting inevitably led to exhaustion.

If they cannot quickly retreat into the city to rest and take advantage of its terrain, they will be unable to withstand Cao Cao's counterattack outside the city.

At this moment, Zhang Zhi, the chancellor of Hejian, also demonstrated an amazing ability to mobilize troops, assisting Liu Bei in clearing the battlefield and even moving Liu Bei's grain and supplies, which were located ten miles away, into the city.

Subsequently.

The four gates of Lecheng were tightly closed. Zhang Zhi personally led his trusted officials and civilian militia to patrol the city and protect Liu Bei's army as they rested.

Liu Bei then took the opportunity to allow the soldiers of each camp to rest and recuperate in preparation for the upcoming battles.

Meanwhile, after breaking through the encirclement, Xiahou Yuan stopped twenty miles away from Nanpi. Looking at the scattered soldiers around him, Xiahou Yuan was overcome with grief.

"Ten thousand infantry and cavalry have been defeated to this extent. How can I face my lord now!"

Looking back on the battle plan, apart from rejecting Xu Huang's suggestion to join forces with Cao Chun to attack Liu Bei, Xiahou Yuan believed that he had not made any major mistakes.

However, it was precisely because of this that Xiahou Yuan was even more grief-stricken.

This means that even though Xiahou Yuan possessed both intelligence and martial prowess, he was completely defeated by Liu Bei in a direct confrontation. This feeling was even more depressing for Xiahou Yuan than when he abandoned his horse and fled up the mountain after being surrounded and killed by Guan Yu in Wei Commandery.

In this battle, Xiahou Yuan was completely outmatched by Liu Bei in terms of intelligence!
Xiahou Yuan relied on his martial prowess and the many victories he won with Cao Cao's help, but he always ignored a fact he was unwilling to face: Liu Bei, without the support of his family's influence, was able to rise from a humble villager who wove mats and sold shoes to a powerful warlord in Hebei in less than twenty years, which was a legend in itself.

Cao Cao did not call Yuan Shao and Liu Biao heroes, but he called Liu Bei a hero, which was a high recognition of Liu Bei.

In order to deal with Liu Bei, Cao Cao not only personally stationed himself in Ye City, commanding three armies to contain the troops under Liu Bei's command, including Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun, but also deployed 20,000 infantry and cavalry from the east and west, along with seven generals: Xiahou Yuan, Xu Huang, Li Dian, Cao Chun, Zhang Liao, Zang Ba, and Lü Qian. He directly regarded Liu Bei as the old Yuan Shao to be attacked.

When fighting Yuan Shang and Yuan Tan, Cao Cao did not exert his full strength.

This clearly demonstrates how much Cao Cao valued Liu Bei.

Now, Xiahou Yuan was defeated by Liu Bei because he refused to join Cao Chun in attacking Liu Bei, and this directly led to a crucial reversal of the momentum of Cao Cao's five armies.

Once one route is breached, all five routes can be breached.

Not long after.

Xu Huang and Li Dian also arrived one after another with their remaining troops.

The three generals looked at each other speechlessly, all filled with shame.

At daybreak, a troop arrived first, which was Cao Chun and Zhang Liao's troops who came from Nanpi.

Cao Chun and Zhang Liao were both greatly alarmed to see Xiahou Yuan leading his remaining troops to garrison this place.

"Wonderful talent, how could the army have suffered such a defeat?" Cao Chun's tone revealed his surprise.

Xiahou Yuan was filled with shame and remained silent, while Li Dian stepped forward and whispered the battle situation to Cao Chun and Zhang Liao.

Upon hearing this, Cao Chun and Zhang Liao were even more alarmed. Liu Bei's scheme was layered and meticulous, each step perfectly anticipating the reactions of Xiahou Yuan and his men. No wonder Xiahou Yuan and his troops were defeated.

"This battle was not due to Miao Cai's fault, but rather to Liu Bei's cunning, which made it impossible to guard against." Xiahou Yuan was one of their own, so Cao Chun naturally wouldn't mock him at this time.

Seeing Xiahou Yuan remain silent in shame, Cao Chun continued, "If I had advanced my troops overnight after learning the news, I would not have allowed Liu Bei to be so arrogant. I also bear responsibility for this battle."

Xiahou Yuan let out a long sigh and said, "Gongming once suggested that I write to Zihe to join forces to attack Liu Bei. I did not heed Gongming's good advice and insisted on fighting Liu Bei. However, I did not recognize Liu Bei's tricks, which is why we have suffered such a defeat. This battle is my fault, not Zihe's fault."

after all.

Xiahou Yuan's original intention was to send envoys to exchange intelligence rather than to have Cao Chun quickly send troops to reinforce. Cao Chun also had to consider the possibility that Zhuge Liang would also lead troops to reinforce Nanpi, so it was impossible for him to send troops overnight after learning the news.

Cao Chun's reaction was quick enough to advance his troops in the early hours of the next day.

What Cao Chun didn't expect was that Liu Bei's actions were even more swift and decisive, managing to defeat Xiahou Yuan a day ahead of everyone else!

During the conversation, Zhang Liao suddenly spoke up: "Liu Bei first fought at night, and then launched a strong attack during the day. His army must be exhausted. If we can press forward and succeed now, we may be able to achieve something."

These words enlightened everyone, and Xiahou Yuan was also invigorated.

Cao Chun did not hesitate at all, and ordered his troops to march quickly, intending to take advantage of Liu Bei's exhausted forces to try to seize victory.

In order to create a false impression, Cao Chun even raised Cao Cao's banner.

Cao Chun understood that at the moment, the only thing that could intimidate Liu Bei was Cao Cao's banner.

And the effect is naturally quite obvious.

When Cao Cao's banners appeared under Lecheng, Liu Bei, who had just caught up on a few hours of sleep, was also hurriedly awakened.

"Cao Cao?"

Liu Bei hesitated for a moment, and hurriedly led the others to the top of the city wall. There they saw banners fluttering below the city, with the Cao character banner standing out prominently.

"My lord, beware of a trap." Tian Feng glanced at the Cao banner and whispered a warning: "Perhaps Cao Chun from Nanpi is impersonating Cao Cao and wants to take advantage of your long journey and fatigue from the war to intimidate the soldiers and civilians of Lecheng."

After careful observation, Liu Bei also sneered: "If Cao Cao were in person, he would definitely invite me to speak. Now he is only shouting slogans, which shows that he is guilty. Let me deceive him once."

Finished.

Liu Bei shouted down to the city walls, "Where is Cao Sikong? Back in Xuchang, you betrothed Xiahou Yuan's niece to my brother Zhang Fei. Now that you've come to Lecheng, have you brought Xiahou's niece with you? Why don't we take this opportunity to call a truce, and I'll invite you to my wedding feast?"

The words fell.

The soldiers of Cao Cao's camp in the front row below the city were all stunned.

Xiahou's niece?

Should the troops cease hostilities?

Attending a wedding banquet?
What kind of secrets are these?
Those who were fortunate enough to hear this secret, such as Cao Chun, Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, and Li Dian, had strange expressions on their faces.

Xiahou Yuan was furious: "You big-eared scoundrel, how dare you still covet my niece! You're utterly despicable!"

Cao Chun glanced at the furious Xiahou Yuan and sighed inwardly, saying, "Liu Bei has already seen through my intentions. Using the name of the Minister of Works to bluff is no longer effective. I can only try a direct attack. Lecheng City is low, so it might be possible. Who is willing to lead the troops to attack first?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Liao clasped his hands and volunteered, "Since it was my suggestion, I will lead the Tiger Warriors to attack first." (End of Chapter)