Chapter 104: The Battle of Guandu (Part Three)

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The piled-up provisions were vast, yet the supplies for an army of fifty thousand amounted to no less than thirty thousand dan of grain! Grain sacks were carelessly tossed along the road as large groups of Yuan's troops pursued the supplies. "Who gave you permission to halt? Follow me and we will annihilate Cao Cao!" Wen Chou roared in anger.

However, Yuan's soldiers abandoned their weapons.

"Seize the grain quickly!"

"We’ve struck gold—there’s meat in here!"

"Don't cause chaos, everyone stay calm!"

Cao Cao brandished his long sword. "Generals, follow me into battle!"

The light cavalry charged swiftly and fiercely, like a sudden storm. "The enemy approaches, prepare to meet them!" Wen Chou shouted furiously as Cao Cao’s army pressed forward without hesitation.

Dian Wei led the charge, with Cao Cao closely behind, ruthlessly cutting through the enemy ranks. Blood stained the grain sacks.

"Retreat! Fall back!"

Yuan’s troops fled in disarray, utterly unable to counterattack. Wen Chou had no choice but to order a withdrawal.

"Kill them!" Dian Wei shouted fiercely, gripping his horse with his legs, ready to pursue. Xun You urgently called out, "General, do not pursue! Return!"

Dian Wei seemed not to hear and continued the lone pursuit. Cao Cao’s expression changed; he hastily rode to catch up.

"Dian Wei, return!" Cao Cao commanded. Hearing Cao Cao’s voice, Dian Wei reluctantly reined in his horse and turned back.

Yuan Shao watched the returning soldiers. “Report: General Wen Chou was trapped ahead and defeated by Cao Cao. He is currently retreating!”

Yuan Shao’s face shifted unpredictably; unwilling to speak, he had suffered successive heavy losses. To press on now would be madness.

"Order the entire army to return to camp!"

At Cao Cao’s White Horse camp.

"Generals, it is with your support that today we have crushed Yuan Shao’s arrogance!" Cao Cao spoke passionately. "Among you, Military Adviser Xun deserves the highest credit for his countless brilliant strategies!"

"Today, I, Cao Cao, will raise a toast—with water instead of wine—to honor all of you!"

"The lord will surely triumph! The lord will surely triumph!"

Cao Cao raised his hand lightly, silencing the cheers.

"Yuan Shao commands two hundred thousand troops. Today’s actions were but his underestimation. After this battle, he will undoubtedly be more cautious and reluctant to mobilize. After today’s rewards, each of you shall return to your duties." Cao Cao proclaimed loudly. "Will you stand with me to the very end?"

"Swear to follow the lord to death!"

"Swear to follow the lord to death!"

At Zhou Yu’s residence in Xiangyang.

"Master! News from the Battle of Guandu!"

"Bring it at once!"

"Why does Lord Zhou care so deeply about Guandu? You haven’t slept much these days."

"Know your enemy and yourself, and you will never be defeated."

Zhou Yu opened the letter; the more he read, the grimmer his expression grew.

The Battle of Guandu was the focus of all warlords. Every development had to be closely watched.

At White Horse, Cao Cao had routed forty thousand of Yuan’s troops, not counting the wounded. This was a significant defeat for Yuan Shao.

Zhou Yu set the letter aside, muttering, "This is no blessing for our side."

Elsewhere, other warlords, once certain of Yuan’s victory, began to waver—could it be that Cao Cao actually had a chance?

At Yuan Shao’s camp.

Xu You stirred, feeling his body had mostly recovered and his mind at ease.

"Xu You, the lord requests your presence!"

"Though I am recovering, I am still an overseeing officer! How dare you address me by name so casually?"

"Enough talk, take him away!"

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At Yuan Shao’s camp, advisors and generals had been dismissed. After such a heavy loss, Yuan Shao found no outlet for his frustration except to summon the one who devised the plan.

Xu You was brought in under guard. Yuan Shao sat angrily but made no comment.

Xu You smoothed his clothes. "My lord’s generous treatment truly overwhelms me. Might I ask the reason for this summons?"

"Do you know your crime?"

"I have been bedridden and confined to my quarters, unaware of any wrongdoing."

Yuan Shao’s face twisted with rage. "Your strategy cost me forty thousand soldiers. How can you claim innocence?"

Xu You bowed respectfully. "My lord, I once advised that if our forces engaged Cao Cao directly, when he was overwhelmed, we could send a surprise force to attack Xuchang, cutting off his front and rear. However, you did not engage Cao Cao directly and prematurely sent the surprise force, which was easily detected."

Yuan Shao snorted, then laughed loudly. "So according to you, this is my fault? I am of noble lineage, commanding two hundred thousand troops. Cao Cao has only sixty thousand. Even a commoner could defeat him, let alone me! Yet I have suffered loss after loss. Your tactics were crude and cost us every chance of victory!"

"I have served you with utmost loyalty, devising plans I believed invincible, yet you deem them worthless!" Xu You’s face darkened with anger. "My lord, you overestimate yourself and underestimate Cao Cao. A commander must be open to advice and never belittle the enemy. History teaches that those who do so never win!"

"Your every word accuses me. Seems your backside healed too quickly!" Yuan Shao sneered. "Take him away and give him forty lashes!"

"Foolish lord, foolish lord!"

Xu You was dragged to the stocks and struck repeatedly—each blow sending shock through his bones.

Xu You’s son rushed to the camp but was stopped. "The lord is unwell today; no one may see him. Please leave."

Outside the camp, Xu Yan knelt and begged, "My lord, my father may have spoken harshly, but he has always been loyal. After his last punishment, his wounds have not healed. Another forty lashes would surely kill him. I beg you, spare his life!"

"Fifteen!" came the command.

"Bang!" Xu You’s eyes lost all light as he fainted from the pain. Yuan Shao calmly adjusted his headdress. "There’s too much noise outside—send them away!"

"Yes, my lord!"

"Please, sir, I beg you—deliver a message to the lord!"

"Get lost!"

"Twenty!"

Xu You gasped for breath on the wooden bench.

Ju Shou clenched his teeth fiercely. "Stop! I will see the lord at once. No more punishment until I return!"

At Cao Cao’s camp in Guandu, the generals stood silently on both sides, and the strategists were quiet as well.

The soldiers drilled as usual. Despite Yuan Shao’s heavy losses, Cao Cao did not relax but grew even more cautious. Unlike Yuan Shao, Cao Cao’s forces were far fewer; one wrong move could be fatal.

Given his current strength, Cao Cao’s only choice was to defend and wait; an offensive was impossible.

Guo Jia’s health deteriorated, and he rested alone in a tent. Though Cao Cao sometimes doubted, he withheld his worries.

He had to rely on his other advisers.

Xun You stepped forward. "Yuan Shao, frustrated by his failures, has severely punished Xu You to vent his anger."

Cao Cao shook his head. "Xu You and I have known each other since childhood. I know his character well. He would never betray us so easily."

Xun You smiled. "My lord, why focus on Xu You and force him with words? That is a crude tactic. I have a better plan."

Within Yuan Shao’s camp, a month had passed since the Battle of White Horse. Yuan Shao grew more cautious but still did not heed Tian Feng or Ju Shou’s advice. He stationed troops at Liyang, gathering and drilling daily.

"Hey, did you hear? Xu You and his son are plotting rebellion!"

"Where did that rumor come from?"

"No one knows, but it has been circulating for some time, all stemming from the lord’s harsh punishment of Xu You."

Yuan Shao stood behind the soldiers, his face dark. Guo Tu gestured for silence; the soldiers nodded, sweat dripping down.

At Yuan Shao’s camp, the generals and advisers assembled in a line.

Guo Tu smiled. "My lord, the rumor you heard just now is not something I spread. You came personally, so I’m sure you understand."

"Commander Guo, may I ask when these rumors began?" Ju Shou asked coldly.

"At least a month ago," Guo Tu replied with a smile. "Ju Commander, you seem very concerned. Could it be related to Xu You?"

"Xu You is a loyal minister. Though bedridden now, no one may sully his name!"

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"Enough!" Yuan Shao’s face darkened. "If there’s suspicion of rebellion, send someone to investigate. Shen Pei!"

"At your command!"

"Order a strict investigation of the Xu family immediately. All correspondence must be thoroughly examined!"

"Yes, my lord!"

After the meeting, Guo Tu and Shen Pei walked and spoke quietly.

"With this thorough investigation, Xu You will have no chance to recover his position. We can push him out of court and gradually erode his power."

"We must thank the rumors of rebellion for giving us this opportunity. Without them, seizing Xu You’s authority would be much harder."

Shen Pei bid farewell to Guo Tu.

"Father!" Xu Yan looked at Xu You lying on the bed. It had been a month, and Xu You’s high fever persisted. If not for herbal remedies keeping him alive, he would have long since passed.

Seeing his father in such misery, Xu Yan’s hatred for Yuan Shao grew. How could such a capricious and arrogant lord deserve his father’s loyalty?

This fueled a dark thought: to kill Yuan Shao’s youngest son and make the lord suffer as his father had.

But the plan had not been set in motion because of the persistent rumors of rebellion against him and his father.

"I am Shen Pei, sent by the lord to investigate Xu You’s treason. Bring Xu You and his son to prison!"

Shen Pei entered Xu You’s camp and saw a beautiful woman feeding Xu You medicine. His heart stirred.

"Who are you? My husband is unconscious. You cannot treat him this way!" Xu You’s wife shouted.

Shen Pei licked his lips, eyeing her up and down. "Fine. If you come quietly, I won’t harm Xu You. He’s useless to me now anyway."

"Very well, I will go with you!"

Shen Pei immediately pulled her into his arms, ignoring her struggles. "Also take Xu You’s son!"

Inside the camp, Xu You slowly opened his eyes, filled with despair and hopelessness.

At night, Ju Shou came alone to Yuan Shao’s camp.

Yuan Shao, by lamplight, was studying maps. Seeing Ju Shou, he said, "Another plea? If not for your intercession, those forty lashes wouldn’t have been reduced to twenty. One plea I could accept, but repeated requests make me suspect you’re colluding with Xu You."

"My lord, Xu You’s condition is dire. For a month, he has lived only by medicine. He barely regains consciousness and quickly loses it again. How could such a sick man plot rebellion?"

Yuan Shao glanced at Ju Shou, then looked down thoughtfully. "Though your argument lacks logic, Xu You’s son recently confessed to plotting against my son. I was enraged and ordered Shen Pei to execute him. Xu You’s wife was given to Shen Pei as a concubine."

Ju Shou’s hands trembled violently. He bit his lip and stormed out.

He went to Xu You’s camp; without family care, only soldiers tended to him. Occasionally, Xu You muttered in his sleep.

Ju Shou asked, "Has he ever awakened?"

A soldier bowed respectfully. "He has never fully regained consciousness."

"Very well. You may rest, but care for him diligently. Report to me immediately if he wakes."

Seasons passed—autumn to summer—yet Yuan Shao’s massive army did not advance. They daily taunted Cao Cao’s borders but retreated as soon as reinforcements arrived.

For a long time, they wore down Cao Cao’s morale and supplies. Cao Cao seethed with frustration but had no choice but to hold firm; he could not afford to strike first.

At Cao Cao’s camp, he sat silently on a wooden chair, speaking not a word. Beside him were Xun You and other strategists. Guo Jia had been sent to Xuchang to recuperate.

"How much grain remains?" Cao Cao asked.

"Less than a month’s supply, my lord."

"How long have we held out against Yuan Shao?"

"Five months in total, my lord."

"Xun You, do you have any new strategies?"

Xun You shook his head. Cao Cao nodded. "Dismiss everyone. I want to be alone."

When all had left, Cao Cao picked up a brush and ink, wrote a letter, and dispatched troops to deliver it to Xuchang.