⚔️ Story 35: Battle of Guandu - Burning Wuchao

1. Cao Cao's Army's Predicament

 

During the Three Kingdoms period, Yuan Shao and Cao Cao were vying for control of the north, each hoping to become the hegemon. At that time, Cao Cao was stationed at Guandu. From August until the end of September, his military strength gradually dwindled, and his food supplies were running low. Cao Cao considered abandoning Guandu and retreating to Xuchang. Hesitant, he wrote a letter and sent someone to Xuchang to consult his strategist Xun Yu. Xun Yu replied to Cao Cao, saying, "...You should now draw a line on the ground to defend your position, tightly controlling Yuan Shao's army's throat and preventing them from advancing. Yuan Shao's situation is clear; his momentum and resources are almost exhausted, and a change in course is inevitable. Now is the perfect opportunity for you to use your ingenious strategies; you absolutely cannot miss it."

 

2. Xu You's Advice to Yuan Shao

Xu You, a strategist in Yuan Shao's army and a childhood friend of Cao Cao, came to see Yuan Shao and said, "Cao Cao has stationed his army at Guandu, confronting us for a long time. This means Xuchang (Cao Cao's base) is likely undefended. If you send a detachment to launch a surprise attack on Xuchang tonight, you can capture it and Cao Cao can be captured. Now Cao Cao's supplies are almost exhausted; this is the perfect opportunity for us to attack him from two directions." Yuan Shao replied, "Cao Cao is a cunning man; your suggestion is probably a trap to lure us in." Xu You said, "If we don't seize it now, we will be harmed by Cao Cao later."

 

3. Xu You Deploys to Cao Cao

 

Xu You stepped out of his tent, looked up at the sky, and sighed, saying, "Honest advice is hard to swallow (the truth is often unpleasant to hear, but it is truly helpful). Yuan Shao is a useless man; he's not worth advising!" He was so angry that he wanted to draw his sword and commit suicide. A guard beside him quickly took the sword from him and advised, "Why are you giving up your life so easily? Yuan Shao doesn't listen to loyal advice and will surely be captured by Cao Cao. You and Cao Cao were old friends; why not leave the corrupt Yuan Shao and join the righteous Cao Cao?" These words awakened Xu You. So, Xu You went directly to Cao Cao's camp. The soldiers on duty in Cao Cao's army seized him. Xu You said, "I am an old friend of Prime Minister Cao. Quickly go and announce that Xu You from Nanyang has come to see him."

 

4. Cao Cao's Warm Welcome

 

At that time, Cao Cao had just taken off his clothes to rest when he heard that Xu You had secretly come to join him. He was overjoyed and, without even putting on his shoes, rushed out barefoot to greet him. He saw Xu You from afar, clapped his hands and laughed happily, then took his hand and led him into the tent. Surprisingly, Cao Cao knelt and bowed to Xu You first.

 

5. Xu You Discovers the Grain Supply Xu You asked, "How much grain do you have left in your army?" Cao Cao replied, "Enough for a year." Xu You smiled and said, "I'm afraid not." Cao Cao changed his answer, saying, "About six months." Xu You angrily stood up, ready to leave the tent, saying, "I came to you so sincerely to join you, yet you deceive me like this! This is not what I wanted!" Cao Cao quickly grabbed him, pleading, "Ziyuan (Xu You's courtesy name), don't be angry. Please let me tell you the truth. The grain left in our army can only last for three months."

 

6. The Scheme of the Wuchao Grain Raid

Xu You shouted, "Don't lie to me! Your grain is all gone!" Cao Cao grasped his hand tightly and said, "Since Ziyuan still remembers our old friendship, please tell me quickly what to do." Xu You said, "...I have a scheme that can defeat Yuan Shao's million-strong army without a fight in less than three days." Xu You said, "Yuan Shao's army's grain and vital supplies are all piled up at Wuchao, and Chunyu Qiong is guarding it. Chunyu Qiong is fond of drinking and has no guard. You can select a group of elite soldiers, pretending to be Yuan Shao's general, Jiang Qi, and lead troops there to escort the grain. Take the opportunity to burn their grain and supplies, and Yuan Shao's army will fall into chaos within three days." Cao Cao was very pleased and treated Xu You well, keeping him in his camp.

 

7. Yuan Shao's Great Defeat

Later, soldiers who escaped from Yuan Shao's army brought news of the defeat at Wuchao back to the camp. Yuan Shao asked, "How did Wuchao fall?" The defeated soldiers replied, "Chunyu Qiong was drunk and asleep, so he couldn't resist the enemy." Cao Cao, having learned that Yuan Shao's army was demoralized due to their food supplies being burned, immediately divided his army into eight routes and charged Yuan Shao's camp. Yuan Shao's soldiers, lacking fighting spirit, scattered and fled, resulting in a complete defeat. Cao Cao achieved a complete victory and distributed the captured treasures to his soldiers.