Cao Cao,persisting in the desperation - The Battle of Guandu（Three Kingdoms 32）
History of Three Kingdoms
Previous Chapter ：Three Kingdoms - 31Most difficult moment for Cao Cao in Battle of Guandu
Cao Cao wrote to Xun Yu, expressing his desire to return to XuChang许昌,while Xun Yu replied that he would try his best to solve the problem of provisions,and at the same time encouraged Cao Cao to continue to persevere and dare to use ingenuity to take the initiative of battle.
Why did Cao Cao send someone to XuChang at such a critical time to seek Xun Yu's opinion, which was related to the political structure of the Cao Cao's regime.
The generals under Cao Cao were mainly his clan members or from the same hometown, such as Xiahou Dun夏侯惇, Xiahou Yuan夏侯渊, Cao Ren曹仁, Cao Hong曹洪, Cao Chun曹纯, Xu Chu许褚, Shi Huan史涣 and others. They were all from Cao Cao's hometown as Qiao谯 County,Pei沛 Commandary, so it was also known as the "Qiao-Pei generals group".
While Cao Cao's civil ministers, such as Xun Yu荀彧, Xun You荀攸, Guo Jia郭嘉, Zhong Yao钟繇, Chen Qun陈群, Du Xi杜袭, Zhao Yan赵彦,they were all came from Yingchuan颍川 Commandary , where XuChang was located, so they were also known as the "Yingchuan Strategists group".
These two major groups became the cornerstone for Cao Cao to conquer and rule the Central Plains. As the representative of "Yingchuan Strategists", Xun Yu played a similar role as a partner in the Cao Cao's side. Cao Cao first issued the Part-time farming Order in Yingchuan after he greeted the Emperor Xian of Han to the XuChang in 196 AD,by the time of the Battle of Guandu happended in 200 AD, Yingchuan had been under the Part-time farming Order for nearly four years and achieved great results. At that time, Yanzhou兖州 and Sili司隶 were already very empty due to years of war, so the provisions and materials of Cao Cao's army were basically supported by Yingchuan. In Xuzhou徐州 and the southern Commanderies of Yuzhou豫州, most of them responded to Yuan Shao or was under rebellion, which could not count on. The people of Yingchuan,even old people and children, helped transport provisions to the front-line,gave great support to Cao Cao,who was struggling in hardship.
Therefore,after Cao Cao clarified Xun Yu's attitude, he resolutely gave up his intention to withdraw and decided to continue to hold on. In order to gain the initiative, Cao Cao decided to burn Yuan Shao's provisions so that Yuan's army could also taste the feeling of hunger.
At this time, Xun You荀攸 suggested to Cao Cao:"Yuan Shao's grain transport convoy would reach Gushi故市 within a day, and the general in charge of guarding the convoy, Han Meng韩猛, was bold and powerful but underestimating the enemy, and if we attack him now,we will definitely win." Cao Cao decided to take Xun You's suggestion, so he asked: "Who do you think should be the leader?" Xun You replied: Xu Huang徐晃. Cao Cao was clear about Xu Huang's abilities, but the problem was that at such a life-and-death moment, it was impossible for Cao Cao to fully trust him. Xu Huang broke away from Yang Feng杨奉,a leader of the former Yellow Turban Army, he just joined Cao Cao after Cao Cao greeted Emperor Xian of Han. Once Xu Huang took the opportunity to lead his troops to defect to Yuan Shao, Cao Cao would be at risk of total collapse. So after thinking twice, Cao Cao decided to send Shi Huan, who was from "Qiao Pei general group",to accompany Xu Huang.
Xu Huang won a complete victory in this battle, Han Meng was defeated, and all the grain escorted were burned. After Xu Huang returned, Cao Cao was overjoyed and immediately gave him the fief as a Marquis of Capital Precinct.
This defeat made it difficult for Yuan Shao to supply provisions too, but compared to Cao Cao, who is exhausted, Yuan Shao's grain storage in Jizhou冀州 was still very sufficient.
In October 200, Yuan Shao sent his general ChunYu Qiong淳于琼 with more than 10000 men to escort grain convoy and stationed to Wuchao乌巢, about 20 kilometers north of Yuan Shao's battalion . Ju Shou沮授, whose previous repeated attempts had not been adopted, he offered Yuan Shao his last piece of advice, which is sending the general Jiang Qi蒋奇 to lead another troop next to ChunYu Qiong to prevent a sneak attack by the Cao Cao. It is not because he can predict, but considering that at the moment Cao Cao's soldiers are demoralized with little grain, they can only work sneaking up on provisions,now as long as Yuan's army ensure that there is no problem in Wuchao, it will not be long before the Cao's army collapse without a fight. However, Yuan Shao still did not adopt this last suggestion.
After Yuan Shao entered Jizhou,Ju Shou began to plan for Yuan Shao's grand cause of competing for the throne, but Yuan Shao seldom followed his advice later. He repeatedly offered advice to Yuan Shao, but Yuan Shao repeatedly refused to adopt it, while Ju Shou was often proved right afterward.
Looking through the history books, I am afraid that we will never find such a brilliant adviser as Ju Shou, and not once did his strategy fail to work. Despite his power being repeatedly weakened by Yuan Shao and his suggestions repeatedly rejected, he still diligently devoted his wisdom I'm afraid we won't find such a sad strategist as Ju Shou, because Yuan Shao has not listened to his strategy once, and compared to Ju Shou, some strategists are famous in history because only a few words were adopted,such as Xu You许攸. When we compare the advisers of the three kingdoms, when we admire these dashing victories between conversation and laughter, have we considered the feeling of Ju Shou, this is ironic to Yuan Shao,Or is it the sorrow that has long been doomed ？
To be continued