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

Chapter 40 The bandits not only refused to surrender, but also dared to retaliate against Guan Yu.
Xiahou Bo, standing to the side, couldn't help but wonder: "The art of war says, 'If I am united as one and the enemy is divided into ten, then we can attack one of them with ten, thus making us numerous while the enemy is few.'"

“Our troops are few while the enemy's troops are many. If the enemy splits their forces, we can concentrate our strength and use our numbers to defeat the few. If the enemy sends all their troops, we will be outnumbered and it will be difficult to win.”

"Please forgive my ignorance, but why is the strategist pleased rather than worried?"

It's no wonder Xiahou Bo was puzzled.

Zhuge Liang had few soldiers, and even fewer armor and weapons.

Only two hundred White Feather Soldiers are capable of fighting!

Moreover, these two hundred White Feather Soldiers were all new recruits who had only trained for a few months and had never been on the battlefield, and their armor and weapons were also rudimentary.

The three hundred able-bodied men were hastily assembled from wandering households, corvée laborers, and slaves. They were untrained and their weapons and armor were even more rudimentary. They could only shout encouragement but were not allowed to fight on the battlefield.

If Wang Zhong were to divide his forces and attack, Zhuge Liang could concentrate his strength, ordering the White Feather Soldiers to kill the enemy and the able-bodied men to cheer and encourage them, thus creating a situation where he could defeat the enemy with superior numbers on a local battlefield.

But now.

Zhuge Liang, however, believed that it would be troublesome for Wang Zhong to divide his troops and come with his own forces, while it would be simpler to bring them all.

This left Xiahou Bo puzzled.

Zhuge Liang did not answer, but looked at Guan Yu: "Does Commander Guan have any doubts?"

Guan Yu spoke in a gentle tone, cupped his hands, and said, "I have some humble opinions, and I would appreciate your guidance, strategist."

"My elder brother led tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians northward, but could only travel a dozen or so miles each day."

“Wang Zhong has more troops than we do. Wang Zhong can either send troops to attack Xiaopei or send troops to harass the people who are heading north.”

"At that time, it will not be us who restrain Wang Zhong, but Wang Zhong who will divide his troops to restrain us."

"Now that Wang Zhong's troops have all come to Xiaopei, even if he finds out his elder brother's true whereabouts, he will not be able to send troops to harass him."

"Although we have few soldiers, Wang Zhong is unaware of this."

"We can make a show of force in the city, while secretly sending elite troops to flank them from behind and cut off their retreat, and then launch a joint attack with the troops in the city. If Wang Zhong is unable to respond to either of these actions, he will surely be in danger."

Zhuge Liang smiled and said, "What Guan Sima said is exactly what I wanted to say."

He then instructed Xiahou Bo: "The Commandant can lead two hundred White Feather Soldiers to flank them from behind, and lie in ambush in the valley. When the city walls are on fire, attack them at the same time."

Xiahou Bo exclaimed in surprise, "If I take all two hundred White Feather Soldiers with me, the strategist will only have three hundred able-bodied men left. How will we defend the city?"

Zhuge Liang laughed and said, "A skilled defender can deceive the enemy even without a single soldier. Moreover, with Guan Yu and Sima Yi here, one man wielding his sword is invincible against ten thousand!"

Zhuge Liang's praise made Guan Yu's phoenix eyes gleam with pride: "With me in the city, I am more than capable of protecting the strategist. Do not doubt my loyalty!"

Seeing that Guan Yu was also like this, Xiahou Bo suppressed his worries and secretly led two hundred White Feather soldiers away.

Zhuge Liang then ordered many flags to be erected in the city and straw figures to be made, and also ordered many obstacles to be set up outside the city.

Spies had already informed Liu Dai and Wang Zhong.

Wang Zhong was worried again: "Liu Bei is brave and now he is on guard. It would be better to find a strategic location and set up a camp to confront him."

Liu Dai sneered: "There's no need for that! Haven't you heard the saying in military strategy: 'In battle, courage is paramount! Once, twice, it wanes; a third time, it's exhausted.'"

"We should press on with our momentum and besiege the city. If we set up camp and confront them, it will only weaken our morale. Once we exhaust their strength, we will surely be defeated by Liu Bei."

Wang Zhong remained silent.

When it comes to military strategy, Wang Zhong is naturally no match for Liu Dai, the Chief Secretary of the Ministry of Works.

With a sigh, Wang Zhong gave up arguing with Liu Dai.

The more they argued, the more Liu Dai became dissatisfied and suspicious.

Immediately.

Liu Dai urged his troops to march quickly and arrived at the city of Xiaopei.

"As the strategist predicted, although it was Changlu's troops that came, the commander was not Wang Zhong."

"Instead of choosing a dangerous place to establish a fortress, they instead besiege the city. How arrogant!"

Looking at the troops gathered and arrayed below the city, Guan Yu narrowed his phoenix eyes and sneered contemptuously.

With a gentle wave of his feather fan, Zhuge Liang discerned the level of the troops' formation below the city with just one glance.

mob!

In the eyes of ordinary military generals, Liu Dai and Wang Zhong's formation was passable, since everyone's skill level was about the same.

But in Zhuge Liang's eyes, it was like a top-level master looking at a bronze-level player; all the fancy moves were just flaws.

"Commander Guan, open the gates and challenge us to battle."

Zhuge Liang first informed Guan Yu of several major weaknesses in the enemy formation, and then ordered Guan Yu to go out of the city to challenge them to battle.

Guan Yu had long been unable to contain himself. He immediately agreed, "Strategist, please observe the battle from the city wall and watch me defeat the enemy!"

"咚咚-"

A deep, resonant drumbeat sounded.

But then Guan Yu rode out on his horse, sword in hand, leading a hundred men, and stood proudly at the front of the formation.

"General Zuo Sima, Guan Yu is here!"

"Who dares to fight!"

What would it feel like to be challenged to a burly man who is over two meters tall, broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, riding a tall horse, carrying a terrifying broadsword, and wearing armor?
Most people don't understand.

Wang Zhong didn't understand this before either.

But Wang Zhong understood today.

The saying that he is a general as strong as a bear or a tiger is not an exaggeration.

Looking at Guan Yu riding his horse and brandishing his sword ahead, Wang Zhong felt as if he were facing a fierce beast.

That damned woman!

I will not fight!

Before the battle even began, Wang Zhong was already filled with fear. He instinctively gripped his spear tighter and looked at Liu Dai, whose face was stiff, asking, "Chief Secretary Liu, what should we do next?"

Liu Dai's face was stiff.

As the Chief Secretary of the Ministry of Works, Liu Dai had naturally met Guan Yu.

Although many civil and military officials in Cao Cao's camp were wary of Guan Yu's martial prowess, in Liu Dai's mind, Guan Yu was just a bodyguard who always wore a tattered green robe by Liu Bei's side.

At that time, Liu Bei's foundation was completely destroyed, and he could only rely on Cao Cao for refuge.

Even Liu Bei himself had to keep a low profile, so Guan Yu naturally couldn't project any intimidation.

But now.

Liu Bei was like a bird soaring into the sky or a fish entering the sea; he was no longer bound by Cao Cao, no longer needed to live under Cao Cao's roof, and no longer needed to tuck his tail between his legs in front of Cao Cao.

Guan Yu no longer needed to hide his power.

Although he was only an incomplete Guan Sheng Di Jun, his power was enough to make even a chief clerk like Liu Dai, who was skilled in literary matters, tremble with fear.

In front of Wang Zhong, Liu Dai could not show weakness.

When they arrived, they boasted arrogantly, "We will march on the city in one fell swoop!" If they show any weakness now, where will Liu Dai put his face?
"We have two thousand men, while Guan Yu only has a hundred. Twenty against one, the advantage is on our side, what is there to fear?"

"On my command, all troops, advance!"

Liu Dai raised his whip and gave a stern order.

The words have not yet fallen.

Suddenly, Wang Zhong's eyes widened as he stared in astonishment ahead.

Liu Dai looked in the direction of Wang Zhong's gaze with suspicion, and was also astonished, almost dropping his horsewhip.

For ahead, Guan Yu charged into the enemy lines alone, sword in hand!

Because Zhuge Liang had informed Guan Yu of several major weaknesses in the enemy formation beforehand, Guan Yu easily charged into the enemy ranks, causing chaos within them.

Although there were two thousand men in formation, their strength could not be concentrated in one place, and they were exhausted from marching, making it even more difficult to gather their strength.

Before Guan Yu, a general as fierce as a bear and tiger, a warrior capable of defeating ten thousand men, the rabble was utterly no match!
Guan Yu charged straight at the central army banner.

Nothing can stop it!
"fight back!"

"fight back!"

"fight back!"

Liu Dai was so frightened he almost lost his soul.

I have two thousand people!
Two thousand people!
You charged in alone, completely disregarding me!

How rampant!

How hateful!

If Liu Dai knew that Guan Yu's thoughts at that moment were, "Not only do these thieves not surrender, but they also dare to fight back against me!", he would probably be so angry that he would faint.

That's incredibly humiliating!

　It's almost the end of the month, and Dragon Boat Festival is coming up, so I'm asking for monthly votes. If I run out of votes this month, can I shamelessly ask for votes at the beginning of the month (October 1st)?

　　
　
(End of this chapter)