💥 Story 24: Cao Cao's Ambush

⛰️ Cao Cao Defeats Zhang Xiu and Liu Biao

 

A day later, Xun Yu suddenly sent a messenger to Cao Cao reporting, "Liu Biao is aiding Zhang Xiu and has stationed troops at Anzhong, blocking our way back."

 

Cao Cao replied to Xun Yu, "I only travel a few miles each day. It's not that I don't know the enemy will pursue me, but I have already planned it. If we reach Anzhong, we will definitely defeat Zhang Xiu. You have no doubt." After saying this, he urged his army to head towards the border of Anzhong County. Liu Biao's army had already occupied the strategic location, and Zhang Xiu subsequently led his troops in pursuit.

 

Strategy: Carving a Road Through the Dark Cao Cao ordered his soldiers to dig a road through the strategic location at night and secretly lay an ambush. At dawn, Liu Biao and Zhang Xiu's armies joined forces. Seeing that Cao Cao's forces were small, they assumed he had fled and rushed into the strategic location to attack. Cao Cao immediately released his ambush troops, inflicting a great defeat on Liu Biao and Zhang Xiu's armies. Cao Cao's army crossed the border of Anzhong and set up camp outside the pass. Liu Biao and Zhang Xiu each reorganized their defeated soldiers and met with each other.

 

Liu Biao said, "I never expected to fall into Cao Cao's trap!" Zhang Xiu said, "Let us think of another way to deal with him!" So the two armies regrouped at Anzhong.

 

🏹 Jia Xu's Brilliant Prediction

 

At this time, Xun Yu learned that Yuan Shao planned to attack Xuchang and immediately rode to write a letter to Cao Cao. Cao Cao received the letter and panicked, immediately deciding to withdraw his troops back to the capital.

 

A spy reported this news to Zhang Xiu, who wanted to pursue Cao Cao. Jia Xu (Zhang Xiu's strategist) said, "We cannot pursue; pursuit will surely lead to defeat." Liu Biao said, "If we don't pursue today, we will have missed an opportunity!" He strongly urged Zhang Xiu to lead more than ten thousand troops to pursue.

 

After pursuing for about ten li, they caught up with the rear of Cao Cao's army. Cao Cao's army fought valiantly, and Zhang Xiu and Liu Biao's forces suffered a crushing defeat.

 

Zhang Xiu said to Jia Xu, "I didn't listen to you, and as expected, we suffered a defeat." Jia Xu said, "Now we can reorganize our troops and pursue him again!" Zhang Xiu and Liu Biao both said, "We've just suffered a defeat, why should we pursue again?" Jia Xu said, "This time, we will surely achieve a great victory. If we fail, please cut off my head." Zhang Xiu believed him. Liu Biao was suspicious and unwilling to go with them. Zhang Xiu led a small force to pursue Cao Cao's army, and Cao Cao's army was indeed routed, with troops and supplies scattered everywhere as they fled in disarray. Just as Zhang Xiu was about to give chase, an army suddenly charged out from behind the mountains. Zhang Xiu dared not pursue any further and withdrew his troops back to Anzhong.

 

🤔 The Reason Why Defeated Soldiers Defeat Victorious Soldiers

 

Liu Biao asked Jia Xu, "When we used our elite troops to pursue the retreating Cao army, you said we would surely be defeated; later, when we used our defeated soldiers to fight the victorious Cao army, you said we would surely win. The results were exactly as you predicted. Why did the circumstances differ, yet the results both came true? I hope you can explain this clearly to me."

 

Jia Xu explained, "It's easy to understand. Although General Zhang Xiu is skilled in warfare, he is no match for Cao Cao. Although Cao Cao's army is retreating, he must have a powerful general protecting them from our pursuit; our soldiers, though full of vigor, are no match for them, so I knew we would inevitably fail.

 

As for Cao Cao's haste to retreat, it must be because something happened in Xuchang. Since he just defeated our pursuers, he will surely return quickly and unprepared; we took advantage of his unpreparedness to pursue him, which is why we were able to win." Both Liu Biao and Zhang Xiu greatly admired Jia Xu's insightful analysis. Jia Xu advised Liu Biao to return to Jingzhou, while Zhang Xiu guarded Xiangcheng, serving as a shield for each other, and the two armies dispersed.

 

024

Cao Cao was about to retreat when Zhang Xiu wanted to pursue him. His advisor, Jia Xu, said, "You mustn't pursue him; you'll surely lose." Zhang Xiu didn't believe him and insisted on pursuing, resulting in his defeat. At this point, Jia Xu said, "Go and fight again; you'll win." Although Zhang Xiu found it strange, he did as instructed; the second time he pursued, he won, and indeed he did. The reason was that the first time, Cao Cao would arrange a powerful general to cover the rear. Later, Cao Cao was in a hurry to return, so he wouldn't make such an arrangement the second time. Predicting the opponent's arrangements is key to success. Judging the timing and circumstances of those arrangements is also crucial.