Three Kingdoms: I, Yuan Shu, Loyal Officials of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 312 Enduring hardship and biding one's time, plotting a rebellion

The next day, Huanyuan Pass.

"The one who once slew Dian Wei is Xu Sheng, the adopted son of the King of Han!"

"Those cowards on the city walls, dare you fight me to the death?"

"Guan Yu? He has a great name but is a defeated general under Ji Ling. I regard you as a target to be sold."

"Chen Dao, the adopted son of the King of Han, is here. Quickly engage me in a decisive battle to the death!"

General Guan!

Years ago, when we parted ways in Beihai, what heroic spirit Liu Shijun and his three brothers possessed! Even today, I still remember them vividly.

When Cao Cao invaded Beihai and massacred Xuzhou, Lord Xuande upheld righteousness throughout the land. Even with only three thousand soldiers, he dared to fight to the death.

Why then do you aid and abet the tyrant?

Taishi Ci looked up at Guan Yu on the city wall and earnestly advised him.

"The King of Han is a loyal and virtuous man of the Han Dynasty. He went north only to support the country and save the emperor."

General, you followed Lord Liu in your ambition to serve the country. Why would you choose to stay on a rotten tree instead of a high branch?

Why not open the city gates, assist the King of Han, jointly protect the Han dynasty, and punish the traitor Cao?

"Lord Xuande is a member of the Han imperial family, and his reputation for benevolence and virtue is known throughout the land. The King of Han will certainly not make things difficult for him."

However, despite the provocations and attempts to persuade Guan Yu to surrender made by Xu Sheng, Chen Dao, Taishi Ci, and others below the city, Guan Yu remained unmoved, holding only his Green Dragon Crescent Blade and standing proudly atop the city wall.

Only when he was mentioned as Ji Ling's defeated opponent did Guan Yu raise an eyebrow slightly and look at him coldly.

"Go back and tell Ji Ling that I have been waiting for this battle for a long time."

I will wait for him here at Huanyuan Pass, to determine who is superior and who will live or die!
As for you all?

Guan Yu slowly closed his phoenix eyes, pretending not to see.

“They are no different from Hua Xiong, they are just like chickens and dogs.”

Chen Dao, Xu Sheng, and Taishi Ci exchanged glances and couldn't help but smile wryly.

They never expected that their plan to provoke Guan Yu into coming down from the city to fight him would be aborted because General Ji Ling was not present.

"General Ji Ling still has a great reputation, but it's a pity that he hasn't made a move since he defeated Lü Bu in one move."

It is a deep regret that, despite being my godfather for so many years, I have never witnessed General Ji Ling unleash his full power.

"Having the title of the number one person in the world is really useful. General Ji Ling doesn't need to waste words mocking him like we do. He probably only needs to fight a battle outside the city, which would be more effective than any mocking insults."

Xu Sheng couldn't help but sigh, "To be honest, let alone Guan Yu, even I, Sheng, would like to have a match with General Ji Ling when he arrives."

Even knowing they were no match, how could they not yearn for such a monumental achievement in martial arts, with its unparalleled general?

Taishi Ci shook his head at this, saying, "Don't overthink it."

General Ji Ling will surely accompany the King of Han on this journey.

If he arrives, our monumental achievement of breaking through Huanyuan Pass before the King of Han arrives will be lost.”

When the topic turned to the monumental achievement, the group's expressions turned serious, and they nodded in agreement.

"That's true, but the important matter at hand is more pressing."

"First, follow the strategist's orders and launch a feigned attack for several days to wear them down."

"Alright, the battle this morning will be handled by Sheng Wei. Second Brother, you can come and relieve me this afternoon."

Xu Sheng took the lead and commanded his soldiers to begin the attack on the city.

Guan Yu, who was on the city wall, had long been prepared.

He had already received a letter from his elder brother Liu Bei, in which he expressed his longing and separation.

The letter also contained many praises of Cao Cao, such as being loyal to the emperor and loving the people, and urged the author to assist Cao Cao, to put him first in everything, to guard Huanyuan Pass, and to prevent the rebels from invading.

However, after so many years of brotherhood, he could naturally see the helplessness in Liu Bei's letter and understand his deeper meaning.

[Follow Cao Cao's lead in all matters; be sure to provide excellent support.]

This is to avoid having to put in your best effort and instead focus on supporting tasks.

Indeed, these soldiers under his command are the patronage of his elder brother Liu Bei over many years. How could they be allowed to be defended by Cao Cao and all of them be lost here?
Therefore, seeing that the Han army's offensive was not urgent, Guan Yu also did not rush to defend, prioritizing the preservation of his strength. The two armies gradually engaged in a fierce battle at Huanyuan Pass.

While the battle at Huanyuan Pass was unfolding, on the other side, Cao Cao led his army to Huanyuan Pass. Halfway there, he suddenly heard someone report: "Yang Jijiu has arrived!"

"Yang Xiu?"

Cao Cao was surprised to hear this. "Didn't I just send him to Lü Bu to discuss the Cao-Lü alliance? He's back so soon?"
They hurriedly called him inside.

Yang Xiu arrived, his face beaming with joy, and said to Cao Cao:

"Prime Minister Cao! Great news!"

Cao Cao scrutinized him intently, his eyes filled with suspicion.

Great news? Could it be that they've reached an agreement with Lü Bu?
No, is it really necessary to be this fast?
That's only a short time, enough for you to have just arrived in Xuzhou, and you're already back!
"Oh? What brings you joy today? Please tell me in detail, Dezu?"

Meeting Cao Cao's suspicious gaze, Yang Xiu immediately realized that he had misunderstood and hurriedly explained.

"Prime Minister Cao is unaware of something."

Xiu was ordered to rush to Xuzhou to persuade the King of Qi, but before he had gone far, he saw the Qi envoy arrive in Luoyang, saying that he was willing to pay tribute, become a vassal, and help the court.

Seeing that Prime Minister Cao had already left Luoyang for Huanyuan Pass, I hurried over to deliver this good news, lest we miss the opportunity for battle.

Upon hearing this, Cao Cao's eyes narrowed slightly. "So, Lü Bu also understands the principle of 'if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold,' and has even taken the initiative to come to me for an alliance."

"Ha, at least he wasn't blinded by greed, thinking that after my death, Yuan Gonglu would really leave a Qi King like him to sleep soundly in his bed."

"more than.

As we expected, Lü Bu is a fickle man, and he is now on the path of turning against Yuan Shao's army.

The envoy's purpose in coming here is to ask Prime Minister Cao to cooperate with him in first eliminating the enemy outside Huanyuan Pass, thus cutting off one of Yuan Shao's arms.

If this succeeds, it will dampen their morale, making our subsequent battles much easier.

Cao Cao nodded in agreement, quite pleased to hear that Lü Bu had proven so reliable this time.

However, after listening to the detailed information sent by Yang Xiu, his expression darkened, and he said something was wrong.

According to the current war situation, Zhang Xiu attacked Wuguan, Xiahou Dun, Lu Xun and others attacked Huanyuan Pass, and Lü Bu attacked Yanzhou. These three are the first to attack.

Because these local armies were close by, they could be considered Yuan Shu's vanguard.

Later, Yuan Shu's main force of 150,000 troops was mobilized from Huainan, Jiangdong and other places.

Lu Bu's plan to defect is precisely taking advantage of this time difference.

The plan was to launch a surprise attack on Yuan Shu's army outside Huanyuan Pass before their main force arrived, turning them against Yuan Shu and launching a pincer attack to wipe out Yuan Shu's army.

The problem is that although the distance from Luoyang to Huanyuan Pass is much shorter than the distance Yuan Shu came from, Yuan Shu was the one taking the initiative to attack, while we were the one on the defensive and counter-attacking side.

As things stand, by the time I heard the news and organized a large army to rush to Huanyuan Pass to defend it, it was already too late.

When they arrive at Huanyuan Pass, they probably won't be much faster than Yuan Shu's main force.

However, for Lü Bu to carry out this defection plan, he would inevitably have to launch a cavalry raid and act before Yuan Shu could join forces. In other words, this time difference not only belonged to Yuan Shu but also to Lü Bu himself.

At present, the only army that can cooperate with Lü Bu and launch a pincer attack is the garrison at Huanyuan Pass.

Of course, with Lu Bu's 10,000 cavalrymen defecting and launching a surprise attack, and with 30,000 troops stationed at Huanyuan Pass to cooperate, it shouldn't be difficult to defeat Yuan Shu's 60,000-strong local army with a combined attack from both the front and rear.

After all, the commanders of these Yuan army generals were only Xiahou Dun, the General Who Guards the North; Yue Jin, the General Who Guards the East; and Li Dian, the General Who Guards the West.
Wait a minute, isn't there something slightly wrong with the lineup that Yuan Shu sent?

Cao Cao found the situation increasingly strange, feeling both frustrated and angry.

But it doesn’t matter!

No one understands Xiahou Dun, Yue Jin, and Li Dian better than him!
Most of these people were good at commanding troops, but lacked military strength.

Once faced with Lu Bu's defection and surprise attack, and with Guan Yu's assistance, in the midst of the chaos, it would be like cutting melons and vegetables; who could possibly defeat them?

But that's where the problem lies!

Will Guan Yu (Yun Chang) go to war to help Lü Bu?

Firstly, regarding the matter of seizing Xuzhou, Lü Bu and Yuan Shao had a long-standing grudge, and Yuan Shao might be happy to see Lü Bu fight to the death with Yuan Shao's army.

Secondly, his 30,000 troops are all former subordinates of Liu Bei. It is still unknown whether he is willing to genuinely deplete Liu Bei's forces to defend Huanyuan Pass for me.

Asking him to lead these precious darlings of Liu Bei out of the city to fight and assist Lü Bu would probably be difficult.

Thirdly, I just had Liu Bei write him a letter demanding that he stay put and not come out, which was perfectly reasonable and stern, as he refused to cooperate with the surprise attack and stood by Lü Bu until he was in dire straits.

Cao Cao's head was getting more and more ache. No matter how he looked at it, the possibility of Guan Yu cooperating with Lü Bu's plan was extremely low.

Without a pincer attack, even Lu Bu's 10,000 cavalry would be bogged down in a quagmire if they were held back by Yuan Shao's 60,000 troops.

Even if they manage to escape, they will lose the ability to continue fighting alongside their side. Wouldn't that be a pointless loss of their only ally?

With this in mind, Cao Cao summoned Yang Xiu and the envoy Lü Bu he had brought, questioned them in detail, and then ordered someone to call Xiahou Yuan over.

"Wonderful talent, the matter is urgent."

Who else but you could lead the troops on a rapid march and launch a surprise attack on Huanyuan Pass before the incident occurred?

Are you now willing to die for me?

Xiahou Yuan replied without hesitation, "Since the lord has given the order, please speak freely!"

"it is good!"

Cao Cao nodded in satisfaction and then recounted to him the events involving Lü Bu, Guan Yu, and Huanyuan Pass.

"Now, I command you to lead eight thousand elite soldiers, marching day and night, to Huanyuan Pass!"
He carried the Emperor's edict and my oral instruction, ordering him to cooperate with Lü Bu and, upon seeing Yuan's army being attacked, to immediately launch a pincer attack from both sides and inflict a great defeat on the enemy.

If he refuses, you may tell him of Xuande's previous letter, instructing him to do everything according to my will, and promising him the title of Marquis of Hanshou after the matter is accomplished.

"Here!"

Watching Xiahou Yuan lead his troops away in haste, Cao Cao could only suppress his unease and hope for a successful battle.

It wasn't that he didn't see the risks involved in ordering Guan Yu to leave the city and assist Lü Bu.

Everyone understands the principle of "if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold"—when one is destroyed, Lü Bu will be destroyed!

He couldn't fathom why Lü Bu would aid Yuan Shu and conspire with him to frame him.

As for the claim that Lü Bu has completely surrendered to Yuan Shu, that's even more impossible, because given Lü Bu's current reputation for being fickle, no one can tolerate him anymore.

Even if Yuan Shu had actually taken him in, the two would still have been suspicious of each other, one worried about when the other might rebel, and the other worried about being betrayed after using him.

Therefore, it is perfectly reasonable for Lü Bu to now ally with him and launch a surprise attack on Yuan Shu.

Once this plan succeeds and Yuan Shu is crippled, the already unfavorable situation that I was in when fighting Yuan Shu will immediately be reversed to a balance of power.

When you have the advantage, you should naturally and fairly crush it. But when you are at a disadvantage, if you are timid and hesitant and dare not take risks, how can you win?

Therefore, this plan is worth the gamble.

Most importantly, even if the plan fails, the losses will only be to Xuande's old subordinates, who were not of one mind with him to begin with, so the losses will not be too painful.

He was taking Xuande's troops out to risk his life, gambling on the balance of power in his decisive battle against Yuan Shu.

Even if the war goes badly and troops are lost, when they meet again, Guan Yu, who has suffered a new defeat, lost face, and has no troops under his command, will be easier to subdue.

Of course, it's best if this doesn't happen.

Being so far apart, all he could do now was hope that Xiahou Yuan could arrive in time so that the whole plan could go smoothly, both to cripple Yuan Shu's troops and to dampen his spirits.

This is the day.

Beneath Huanyuan Pass, a man and a horse galloped up under the cover of night, shouting:

"My father is Xiahou Yuan!"

"Open the city gates immediately! Let me see General Guan!"

The soldiers guarding the city walls naturally dared not open the city gates, but after reporting the matter to Guan Yu, they still ordered someone to hoist it up in a basket.

Inside the gates, in the council hall, a red-faced man coldly looked at the people below, his narrow phoenix eyes slightly narrowed.

"You are Xiahou Ba?"
I, Guan, have heard of the reputation of being the adopted son of the King of Han, but I never imagined I would walk right into his trap.

"What Han King? This is a traitor to Han!"

General Guan, please don't insult me!
My father, Xiahou Yuan, was a trusted confidant of Cao Cao. I, Ba, have been favored by Cao Cao since childhood; how could I possibly do such a thing as recognizing a traitor as my father?

Guan Yu: "."

Seeing that Guan Yu did not believe him, Xiahou Ba became even more generous and righteous.

"General, you are unaware of this!"

Ba followed his uncle in surrendering to Yuan, not for wealth and status, but to eliminate the traitor!
My uncle, Xiahou Dun, was captured after his defeat in battle and had long harbored a heart for loyalty and righteousness.

Thinking of the great defeat he suffered, he decided to end his life, thus jeopardizing Cao Cao's great cause, and he had no chance to repay Cao Cao's kindness.

Therefore, I could not bear to die!
Although he was in Yuan Shao's camp, his heart was with Cao Cao. For many years, he never offered a single plan or strategy, only to endure hardship and plot to overthrow the Yuan dynasty.

If the general does not believe it, he can check it himself. His uncle has been in Yuan's camp for so many years, always keeping a low profile. He is called a general, but in reality, he is imprisoned.

The men in Yuan's camp were merely used by him; they were strictly guarded when they went out, and their speech was not even free.

Despite being called the General Who Guards the North and the Marquis of Loyalty and Righteousness, Yuan Shikai never truly trusted him from beginning to end.

As for hegemony?
When he was defeated, he was surrounded by Yuan's army. He failed to break out and was prepared to die.

Fortunately, my uncle gave me some advice, teaching me to preserve my life until it becomes useful, so as to plan for the future.

All matters here, once the general has verified them, if even a single word is found to be false, please behead me.

My uncle and I have endured for years, all for this day. I implore the general to see the truth and not to doubt us!

Guan Yu: "."

Guan Yu's face turned red with anger; he felt that these people were looking down on him.

You two, uncle and nephew, one a General Who Guards the North and the other the adopted son of the King of Han, talk about enduring hardship and biding your time for years. Do you think I'm a fool?
Fortunately, his face was already red, so it wasn't visible on his face. He just looked at Xiahou Ba meaningfully and continued to probe.

"Oh, is it so?
"So, as you say, you and General Xiahou have endured for years without daring to make a move, yet you risk your life to find me tonight. What brings you here?"

(End of this chapter)