Brother, stop curling up! You're curling up like the founder of the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 260 Before Liu Bei could even make a move, Yuan Shu had already fallen (Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets)
As the rains suddenly arrive, the value of the saying "A general who does not understand astronomy, geography, yin and yang, or the art of divination and military formations is a mediocre talent" continues to rise.

On Mount Lu.

Guan Yu personally led his personal guards to inspect the camp, either organizing soldiers to "dredge ditches and burn and bury filth", or digging deeper drainage ditches in the camp to divert sewage into the valley below the mountain; or burning and burying rotten hay, animal carcasses and soldiers' excrement to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes; or ordering soldiers to drink boiled spring water and river water, and assigning special personnel to guard the water collection points to prohibit direct drinking of spring water and river water.

The camp was further divided into groups of fifty men each. If any soldier developed diarrhea or fever, they were immediately isolated and taken to a dry spot on the mountaintop, where military doctors would treat them with herbal fumigation.

and many more.

With the establishment of the Imperial Medical Bureau, Liu Bei also strengthened the military medical system. The military doctors accompanying the army were also responsible for battlefield health supervision and management, in order to minimize the spread of epidemics caused by war.

All these measures were taken to address the negative impacts of astronomy and geography on military marches and encampments.

Guan Yu also applied these precautions one by one to the march and camp setup.

Therefore, despite the rain for many days, the Han army was not greatly affected.

In contrast, consider Yuan Shu.

Not only did he ignore Lü Bu's advice to "move the camp to higher ground and postpone the attack," but he was also annoyed by the rain, saying, "I am ordered by Heaven to launch a northern expedition, how can rain stop me?"

By the fourth day of the rain, the camp was flooded to a depth of over a foot. Some of the grain and fodder that could not be moved in time were soaked, and the soldiers gradually developed symptoms such as diarrhea and fever. Only then did Yuan Shu have no choice but to abandon his belief that "Heaven's Mandate is with me" and choose to adjust his strategy and move the camp to higher ground.

However, having missed the optimal time to move camp, and only considering moving camp three days after the rain, presented considerable difficulties.

These more than 100,000 men were not as easily commanded as the Lingyan Army. Not only was the command chaotic and the various battalions fighting for roads, causing stampedes, but the soldiers also complained bitterly because medicine and clean food could not be delivered to them in time.

When faced with soldiers infected with the disease, Yuan Shu merely ordered the sick to be abandoned outside the camp instead of being isolated and treated. This not only failed to control the epidemic but also demoralized the army, leading to an increasing number of deserters.

Before Yuan Shu could even engage Guan Yu in a formal battle, he found himself in a perilous situation due to the continuous rainfall, which caused "a shortage of food and supplies, frequent outbreaks of disease, and a collapse in morale."

"I regret not heeding the advice of the General of the Cavalry."

Upon hearing the reports from the various camps, Yuan Shu regretted his decision.

Just to spite the moment, believing that destiny was in their hands, they insisted on defying the sudden rain, causing the morale of the more than 100,000 troops, which had only recently been built up, to collapse before the battle even began.

However, it's too late for regrets now that things have come to this.

For a moment, Yuan Shu had the idea of ​​retreating, but he thought that he had come with great momentum, and if he retreated in a humiliating manner, he would be ridiculed.

Looking at the chicken ribs in the bowl, Yuan Shu couldn't help but say, "Chicken ribs, chicken ribs, tasteless to eat, but a pity to throw away."

"Your Majesty, perhaps we should temporarily avoid confrontation and send envoys to sue for peace," Zhang Xun, who was also at a loss, cautiously suggested.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shu instantly flew into a rage: "I am the Zhong Emperor, and Guan Yu is merely a general under Liu Bei! I am to avoid his sharp edge? And to send envoys to sue for peace? This is outrageous!"

Zhang Xun retreated hesitantly, cold sweat beading on his forehead, and dared not speak again.

The generals in the tent were also terrified.

It's no wonder Zhang Xun wanted to temporarily avoid the limelight and send envoys to seek peace; in reality, Zhang Xun was afraid of being discarded by Yuan Shu like trash.

Yesterday, General Le was infected with the plague and suffered from persistent diarrhea. Yuan Shu actually sent someone to move Le to the outermost camp. Although a military doctor was sent to treat him, it made the generals extremely disheartened.

No one can guarantee they won't get infected with the disease!
If Zhang Xun were to be infected, he would inevitably suffer the same fate as Le Jiu.

Disease does not discriminate between the rich and the poor; even Yuan Shu, if infected, would suffer from diarrhea and fever.

From Yuan Shu's perspective, it was about avoiding infection; from the perspective of his generals, it was about being forgotten once the person left.

See this.

Lü Bu also stepped forward and advised, "Your Majesty, I believe the General's words are reasonable. The morale of the army is currently low. If Guan Yu launches a surprise attack after the rain stops, the more than 100,000 troops will be utterly defeated. It would be better to return to Wancheng for the time being, reorganize the morale, and then decide whether to fight Guan Yu again. There is no need to send envoys to sue for peace; we can simply set up a false flag and secretly withdraw."

Yuan Shu already had the intention to retreat, otherwise he wouldn't have lamented that it was "a chicken rib" (meaning something of little value). He just didn't want to lose face and slink back like that.

Although Lü Bu was also trying to persuade Yuan Shu to withdraw his troops, he saved Yuan Shu the trouble of sending envoys to sue for peace and added the option of resuming the war after the rain stopped, which made Yuan Shu feel much better.

Furthermore, Yuan Shu regretted not heeding Lü Bu's advice earlier. After much deliberation, Yuan Shu finally issued the difficult order to withdraw his troops.

With the battle going on like this, Yuan Shu was filled with resentment.

If Yuan Shu had been defeated by Guan Yu through strategy or martial prowess, he could have accepted it by saying that he was simply outmatched in skill.

However, due to continuous rainfall, he had to withdraw his troops, which was a far more serious blow to Yuan Shu than the previous incident of cutting off his beard and abandoning his robe.

Yuan Shu claimed to be the chosen one of Heaven. After declaring himself emperor, he successively destroyed the forces of Liu Dai, Liu Biao, and Liu Yan, becoming a powerful figure south of the Han River. Powerful families and clans vied to attach themselves to him, all convinced that Yuan Shu was the chosen one of Heaven.

As a result, Yuan Shu, the chosen one, had to withdraw his troops on his first personal northern expedition after becoming emperor due to continuous rain.

what is this?
Is the destiny of the Central Plains in Liu Bei's hands?

Does this mean that Yuan Shu will never be able to conquer the Central Plains and can only be a separatist emperor in the south?
The more Yuan Shu thought about it, the more frustrated he became, and the more he couldn't sleep. The double blow to his mind and body, coupled with the serious epidemic in the army, caused Yuan Shu to fall ill before Liu Bei could even make a move.

"Your Majesty's health is of utmost importance and cannot be compromised. I will escort Your Majesty back to Wancheng first! Although the rain has stopped, Guan Yu will surely take the opportunity to launch a surprise attack. General, you stay behind to cover the rear and must hold off Guan Yu." Lü Bu preemptively took on the task of escorting Yuan Shu.

Although Zhang Xun also wanted to return to Wancheng with Lü Bu, Zhang Xun was now a general.

With Yuan Shu absent, Zhang Xun had to take command of the armies, and the generals would not be willing to let Lü Bu take command.

Zhang Xun could only suppress his reluctance and let Lü Bu escort Yuan Shu away first.

After Lü Bu escorted Yuan Shu away, Qin Yilu also quietly left the camp and went to Guan Yu's camp in Lushan to reveal his identity.

"Yuan Shu has fallen ill and gone to Wancheng?"

Guan Yu was both surprised and delighted upon hearing the news.

Rain after a long drought brings joy.

When a long drought is followed by continuous rain, it's like jumping from a fire pit into a mud pit.

A sudden change from hot to cold can easily trigger an epidemic if one is not careful.

To Guan Yu's surprise, Yuan Shu also contracted the plague!

Yuan Shu cannot die now.

If Yuan Shu is kept alive, he can hold back the powerful families in the south; if Yuan Shu is gone, his son Yuan Yao will surely become a puppet emperor.

When powerful figures from prominent families like Zhou Xin come to power, Liu Bei's plan to raise pigs in the south will fall through.

This is also why Guan Yu did not launch a surprise attack when Yuan Shu moved his camp.

Guan Yu feared that he might accidentally kill Yuan Shu, which would then affect Liu Bei's overall strategy.

Now, Yuan Shu has fallen ill and has been escorted to Wancheng by Lü Bu.

The two men who made Guan Yu hesitant to act had already left safely, and the remaining Yuan soldiers were merely military achievements in Guan Yu's eyes.

"Issue a military order! Prepare for a surprise attack!"

His generals, having rested and recuperated for many days, were already eager to get started.

As soon as Guan Yu issued the order for a surprise attack, the nine generals Wu Ban, Zhang Zhang, Zhou Cang, Gong Du, He Yi, Huang Shao, Wang Ling, Han Meng, and Guan Ping all responded and accepted the order.

The soldiers of each camp, their armor bound with ropes and their horses' hooves wrapped in cloth, descended the mountain path. The mountain was well-drained, and the Han army was free from disease. Now, they were all in high spirits, pouncing on the foot of the mountain like tigers.

Yuan Yingzhong.

Zhang Xun was frantically searching for a map when suddenly a deafening battle cry erupted outside the camp.

A guard rushed over: "General, Guan Yu has come down the mountain!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xun was terrified.

"Damn it! Why did they have to wait until His Majesty left to come down the mountain, of all times?!"

If Yuan Shu were alive, then even if they were defeated, Zhang Xun would bear secondary responsibility.

If Zhang Xun was defeated right after Yuan Shu left, Zhang Xun would be held responsible!

"Guan Yu, you scoundrel, you've gone too far!"

"How dare you charge into our camp head-on! Do you think our swords are not sharp enough?!"

While shouting encouragement, Zhang Xun ordered all the battalions to prepare for battle.

Guan Yu did not choose to launch a night attack, but instead went down the mountain in broad daylight to break the enemy's formation.

It wasn't that Guan Yu thought the night raid would fail, but rather that he was worried that the night raid might accidentally injure his own soldiers.

There was no need for a night raid against a group of Yuan soldiers whose morale was low and whose troops were demoralized.

Ahead!

Wang Ling brandished his iron spear, using it to push aside the deer antlers that were blocked by the accumulated water.

Guan Ping charged ahead with his spear, the first to enter Yuan's camp, followed by a surging tide of soldiers.

As Guan Yu's son, Guan Ping did not cherish his life because of his noble status. On the contrary, he was ashamed of cherishing his life. Knowing that the first person to charge into battle was in the greatest danger, Guan Ping was fearless and took the lead in battle.

The general is the courage of the soldiers.

Guan Ping's troops were not the valiant and disciplined Lingyan Army, nor were they the Gebei Army, which was the first to be reorganized by Liu Bei. Instead, they were new recruits that Guan Yu had recruited from Yuzhou.

Among the various camps in Yuzhou, Guan Ping's troops were ranked third in terms of combat strength.

Although his troops were not as elite as the Lingyan Army and Gebei Army, Guan Ping's courage in leading from the front and his bravery in battle inspired the generals.

Looking at Guan Ping ahead, who bore a striking resemblance to Guan Yu, Han Meng subconsciously recalled the scene of Guan Yu slaying Chunyu Qiong amidst a vast army. He couldn't help but marvel inwardly: "Like father, like son! Lord Guan is invincible, and his son is just as valiant!"
The floodwaters became a nightmare for Yuan's army. The Yuan soldiers, caught off guard, staggered and fled through the mud and water. However, their armor was soaked through, making them move as slowly as turtles.

The Han army, taking advantage of the mountain's terrain and high ground, swept through the enemy with unstoppable momentum, cutting and stabbing with ease as if they were in an empty field.

"I can't stop it!"

Zhang Xun looked down from his vantage point at the various camps, their troops trembling with fear like stray dogs, feeling both angry and helpless.

Despite having over 100,000 troops, they were no longer under command, fighting independently and fleeing whenever possible.

"General, Guan Yu is approaching the camp!"

The guards, with sharp eyes, pointed to Guan Yu's banner directly in front of them and shouted in fear.

A person's name, the shadow of a tree.

Zhang Xun had long heard of Guan Yu's feat of slaying Chunyu Qiong amidst a vast army.

Seeing Guan Yu charging towards the camp, Zhang Xun's fear outweighed Yuan Shu's punishment.

Abandoning the army and fleeing would save one's life, while resisting stubbornly would result in being killed. This was not a difficult choice.

"withdraw!"

Zhang Xun reined in his horse, turned around, and headed towards Wancheng without looking back.

To cover the rear?

Whoever wants to cover the retreat can go!

Anyway, I, Zhang Xun, am not going!
Other generals, such as Qiao Rui and Liu Xun, also abandoned their troops and fled without the slightest hesitation.

The army of over 100,000 was no different from the bandits of over 100,000. Guan Yu led his troops in a fierce attack and slaughtered them. Some surrendered, some fled, and countless others trampled each other in the process.

After the battle, a headcount revealed that there were over 30,000 surrendered soldiers alone!
To prevent the spread of the disease, Guan Yu did not pursue Zhang Xun and his men relentlessly. Instead, he isolated and treated the thousands of infected people out of the more than 30,000 men and carried out disease prevention modifications on Yuan Shu's camp.

More than 30,000 able-bodied men are those 30,000 young people who can be developed into loyal supporters of the Han Dynasty.

Having been saved, it will be easier to get these 30,000-plus people to accept the new policies in the future.

In Wancheng.

Upon learning of Zhang Xun's defeat, Yuan Shu was overcome with grief.

Despite strong opposition, Zhang Xun led his troops on a northern expedition. However, he suffered repeated defeats, was hampered by heavy rain, and unfortunately contracted an epidemic. In the end, his army of over 100,000 men was defeated and forced to retreat.

No matter how you look at it, it seems like fate is mocking Yuan Shu.

"I am the chosen one of Heaven, so why does Heaven favor Liu and not me?"

Yuan Shu showed no awareness of his own shortcomings, but instead blamed everything on fate, believing that his defeat to Guan Yu was due to fate helping Liu Bei.

Lu Bu, listening from the side, was filled with disdain.

If only a capable commander had been in charge, the army of over 100,000 wouldn't have suffered such a crushing defeat, instead of them blaming fate after their defeat.

However, Yuan Shu's defeat was none of Lü Bu's business. From now on, as long as he could continue to live off Yuan Shu's influence in the south, he would be content.

As a professional inside agent, one must have a firm stance.

Not only that, Lü Bu also took the opportunity to plead for Zhang Xun and the others, which not only won their gratitude, but also brought the conflict back to the point where Zhou Xin might mock them.

The instigation was obvious: all the generals had lost, so if Zhou Xin hadn't, wouldn't it make them seem incompetent? Did they really intend for Zhou Xin to become the Grand General?
Compared to the disastrous defeat of the Western Route Northern Expeditionary Army, Zhou Xin's Eastern Route Northern Expeditionary Army, although failing to conquer Pei State, was not defeated by the Han army either. After learning of Yuan Shu's defeat, he safely withdrew to Shouchun.

Yuan Shu, however, was ill and unable to travel, and ashamed to return to Echeng, he stayed in Wancheng.

The good news reached Luoyang.

Seeing that Yuan Shu had contracted the plague due to a rainfall, Liu Bei couldn't help but sneer: "He's over forty years old and still refuses to restrain himself from wine and women. Yuan Shu is courting death. Even if he doesn't die from this illness, he will hardly have the ambition to launch a northern expedition again."

"However, the Yuan Shu I want to see is one who has no ambition to launch a northern expedition. He should focus his energy on dealing with powerful clans and nobles internally."

Think of this.

Liu Bei then summoned Xu You and instructed him, "Ziyuan, would you dare to take Fan A from the Imperial Medical Bureau to Wancheng for me? The conditions in Wancheng are terrible, and without a renowned doctor, I fear Yuan Shu will die."

Xu You laughed without fear: "How could I be afraid of a mere skeleton in a tomb? Besides, with Lü Bu in Wancheng, Yuan Shu cannot harm my life."

Liu Bei nodded and added, "By the way, also bring Yuan Shu the simplified version of the Thousand Character Classic and the Comparison of Characters. It's time to promote simplified characters in the south."

(End of this chapter)