🔥Story 46: Zhuge Liang Burns Bowang Slope

After Liu Bei acquired Zhuge Liang, he treated him with the respect due to a teacher. His brothers Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were displeased, saying, "Zhuge Liang is so young, what real skills does he have? Brother, you've treated him too well! We haven't seen him display any real ability!" Liu Bei replied, "Having Kongming is like a fish finding water. My two brothers, say no more." Hearing this, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei fell silent.

 

One day, someone brought yak tails (a type of wool used to decorate hats). Liu Bei personally picked up the yak tails and began weaving hats. Zhuge Liang entered and saw Liu Bei. He said sternly, "Have you lost your lofty ambitions and are only preoccupied with these trivial matters?" Liu Bei threw his hat on the ground and apologized, saying, "I'm just doing this temporarily to forget my worries." Zhuge Liang asked, "How do you feel about yourself compared to Cao Cao?" Liu Bei replied, "I'm no match." Zhuge Liang said, "You only have a few thousand soldiers here. What will you do if Cao Cao's army comes?" Liu Bei said, "I'm worried about this very thing and haven't found a good solution yet." Zhuge Liang said, "You can quickly recruit civilians as soldiers. I will personally train them, and they can resist the enemy." So Liu Bei recruited civilians from Xinye, obtaining three thousand men. Zhuge Liang taught them battle formations morning and evening. Suddenly, someone reported: Cao Cao has sent his general Xiahou Dun with an army of one hundred thousand to attack Xinye! Upon hearing this, Zhang Fei said to Guan Yu, "Let Zhuge Liang go to meet the enemy." Just then, Liu Bei summoned them in and asked, "Xiahou Dun has arrived with his troops; how should we meet him?" Zhang Fei said, "Brother, why not let Kongming (Zhuge Liang) go?" Liu Bei said, "Strategy depends on Kongming, and bravery depends on my two younger brothers. How can we shirk our responsibilities?" Guan Yu and Zhang Fei had no choice but to leave.

 

Liu Bei then consulted with Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang said, "I fear Guan Yu and Zhang Fei will not obey my orders. If my lord wishes me to lead the troops, please lend me your sword and seal (the commander's sword and seal, representing the commander's authority)." Liu Bei immediately handed the sword and seal to Zhuge Liang. Zhuge Liang then summoned all the generals to receive his orders.

 

Zhang Fei said to Guan Yu, "Let's go and hear his orders first, see how he deploys them." Zhuge Liang issued the following orders: "To the left of Bowang Slope is a mountain called Yu Mountain; to the right is a forest called An Forest; both are suitable for ambushing troops.

 

• Guan Yu will lead 1,000 soldiers to Yu Mountain and lie in ambush. When the enemy arrives, let them pass without engaging them in battle. The enemy's supplies and provisions (vehicles carrying supplies and grain) will surely be behind. As soon as you see fire on the south side, you can attack and burn their supplies.

 

• Zhang Fei will lead 1,000 soldiers to the valley behind An Forest and lie in ambush. As soon as you see fire on the south side, they can come out and set fire to the old granaries of Bowang City.

 

• Guan Ping and Liu Feng will lead 500 soldiers, prepare fire-starting tools, and wait on both sides behind Bowang Slope. When the enemy arrives at the first watch (7-9 PM), you can set the fire.

 

• Also, send someone to recall Zhao Yun from Fancheng, making him the vanguard. Don't aim for victory; just feign defeat." "My lord (Liu Bei), you should lead a troop of soldiers as reinforcements.

 

Everyone must act according to the plan without fail." Guan Yu asked, "We've all gone out to meet the enemy. What will you be doing, strategist?" Zhuge Liang replied, "I'll remain in the city." Zhang Fei laughed loudly, "We're all out fighting, while you're sitting at home, how comfortable!" Zhuge Liang said, "The sword and seal are here. Anyone who disobeys orders will be executed!" Liu Bei said, "Haven't you heard of 'Planning strategies within the tent, deciding victory a thousand miles away'? (Planning in the tent, yet deciding the outcome a thousand miles away.) My two brothers must not disobey orders." Zhang Fei sneered and left. Guan Yu said, "Let's see if his plan succeeds first, then we can question him."

 

Both left. The generals, unaware of Zhuge Liang's military strategy, were filled with doubt despite receiving the order. Zhuge Liang said to Liu Bei, "My lord, you can lead your troops to camp at the foot of Bowang Mountain today. Tomorrow at dusk, the enemy will surely arrive, at which point you should abandon camp and retreat. As soon as you see the fires, immediately turn back and counterattack." He also instructed Mi Zhu and Mi Fang to lead 500 soldiers to garrison the county town, and ordered Sun Qian and Jian Yong to prepare a celebratory banquet and arrange the merit book (a record of achievements). With all the arrangements complete, even Liu Bei felt somewhat doubtful and uneasy.

 

Meanwhile, Xiahou Dun and Yu Jin (Cao Cao's generals) led their troops to Bowang. They deployed half of their elite troops as the vanguard, while the rest protected the supply wagons. It was autumn, and a cool breeze was blowing. As the troops marched, they suddenly saw a cloud of dust rise ahead. Xiahou Dun immediately deployed his troops and asked the leading official, "Where is this place?" The official replied, "Ahead is Bowang Slope, and behind is Luochuan Pass." Xiahou Dun ordered Yu Jin and Li Dian (Cao Cao's generals) to hold their ground, and he himself rode to the front lines. Seeing Liu Bei's army approaching in the distance, he suddenly burst into laughter. The others asked, "General, why are you laughing?" Xiahou Dun said, "I'm laughing at Xu Yuanzhi (Xu Shu, Zhuge Liang's friend) praising Zhuge Liang as a god before the Prime Minister (Cao Cao)! Now, seeing his military strategy, he's only sending such a small force as the vanguard to resist us—it's like herding sheep and dogs to fight tigers and leopards! I boasted to the Prime Minister that I would capture Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang alive, and now my words will surely come true." He then spurred his horse forward.

 

Zhao Yun rode out to meet him. Xiahou Dun cursed, "You follow Liu Bei like lost souls following a wild ghost!" Zhao Yun was enraged and spurred his horse forward to engage in battle. The two horses clashed, but after only a few rounds, Zhao Yun feigned defeat and fled. Xiahou Dun pursued him. Zhao Yun ran for about ten li before turning back to fight, but again fled after a few rounds.

 

Han Hao (a general under Cao Cao) spurred his horse forward to advise, "Zhao Yun is luring us; there might be an ambush." ​​Xiahou Dun replied, "The enemy has such a small force; even if there's an ambush on all sides, what do I have to fear!" He ignored Han Hao's advice and pursued them all the way to Bowang Slope.

 

Suddenly, a cannon fired (an ancient military signal), and Liu Bei personally led his troops to meet Zhao Yun in battle. Xiahou Dun laughed and said to Han Hao, "This is their ambush! I swear I won't retreat until I reach Xinye tonight!" He then urged his troops forward. Liu Bei and Zhao Yun retreated and fled.

 

By this time, night had fallen, dark clouds covered the sky, and there was no moonlight; the wind that had blown during the day had grown stronger by night. Xiahou Dun was preoccupied with urging his troops to pursue.

 

Yu Jin and Li Dian chased them to a narrow pass, flanked by reeds. Li Dian said to Yu Jin, "Those who underestimate the enemy will surely fail. This road to the south is very narrow, the mountains and river are close together, and the trees are numerous and tangled. What if they use fire?" Yu Jin said, "You're right. I should hurry ahead and tell the commander (Xiahou Dun). You can hold off the troops from behind." Li Dian immediately turned his horse around and shouted, "The troops behind, slow down!" But the men and horses were in a hurry to move forward and couldn't stop them. Yu Jin also hurriedly urged his horse forward and shouted, "Commander (Xiahou Dun) in front, stop!" As Xiahou Dun was charging forward, he saw Yu Jin running from behind and asked what was wrong. Yu Jin said, "The road to the south is very narrow, the mountains and river are close together, and the trees are numerous and tangled. Be careful of fire attacks." Xiahou Dun suddenly realized his mistake and immediately turned his horse around, ordering his troops to stop.

 

Before he could finish speaking, shouts erupted behind them, and flames were already visible; then the reeds on both sides caught fire as well. In an instant, everything in all directions was engulfed in flames. The strong winds intensified the fire. Cao Cao's soldiers and horses trampled each other, resulting in countless deaths and injuries. Zhao Yun returned to pursue, while Xiahou Dun, braving the smoke, fled into the fire.

 

Meanwhile, Li Dian, seeing the dire situation, hurriedly rushed back to Bowang City. There, amidst the flames, a troop of soldiers blocked his way. The leading general was none other than Guan Yu. Li Dian charged into the fray, fighting his way out. Yu Jin, seeing the grain carts ablaze, escaped via a side path. Xiahou Lan and Han Hao (Cao Cao's generals) rushed to salvage the supplies, only to encounter Zhang Fei. After a few rounds, Zhang Fei pierced Xiahou Lan with his spear, unhorsing him. Han Hao broke through the encirclement and escaped.

 

The fighting continued until dawn before they finally withdrew. Corpses littered the field, and blood flowed like rivers.

 

Xiahou Dun gathered the remaining troops and returned to Xuchang.

 

Meanwhile, when Zhuge Liang withdrew his troops, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei remarked to each other, "Zhuge Liang is truly a hero!" After traveling only a few miles, they saw Mi Zhu and Mi Fang leading an army surrounding a small carriage. Seated atop the carriage was none other than Zhuge Liang. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei dismounted and knelt before the carriage in reverence.

 

Soon afterward, Liu Bei, Zhao Yun, Liu Feng, Guan Ping, and others arrived. They rallied the troops, distributed the captured grain and supplies to the soldiers, and then led their army back to Xinye. The people of Xinye, watching the dust they raised, knelt by the roadside to welcome them, saying, "We were able to save our lives because our lord (Liu Bei) received the help of a wise man (Zhuge Liang)!" Zhuge Liang returned to the county and said to Liu Bei, "Although Xiahou Dun has been defeated, Cao Cao will surely lead a large army here personally." Liu Bei asked, "What should we do then?" Zhuge Liang said, "I have a plan to deal with Cao Cao's army."

046 

Zhuge Liang burned Bowang Slope, defeating Cao Cao's tens of thousands of troops. Kongming arranged for Liu Bei to act as bait to attract Cao Cao's army, while Zhao Yun led the main force into easily flammable terrain.