When Zhao Yun saw Cao's army attacking the city, he sent troops to respond. Xu Huang ambushed his troops and was caught off guard when he was killed.
When the two were fighting outside the city, the camp in the rear caught fire again. Zhao Yun fell into the trap and forced Xu Huang to retreat and lead his troops in defeat.
In the dark night, Xu Huang did not dare to pursue rashly. He stabilized his formation and reported to Cao Cao. Cao Cao's army swarmed forward and set up their formation outside Bowang City, and their morale skyrocketed.
Cao Cao stroked his beard and looked around and said with a smile: "Xu Shu and Zhuge are just like this. They were defeated by someone's plan. What can Liu Qi do?"
Xun You said: "Bo Wang has no food and grass. The two battalions have been destroyed. Liu Qi will definitely retreat. The prime minister should make preparations early and fight to enter Nanyang after dawn."
When Cao Cao led his troops to the city, it was already dawn. He saw that Guan Yu's camp was flooded by water, its tents collapsed, clothes and armor were floating, and it was in a mess. Zhao Yun's camp was still burning with fire and thick smoke billowing.
Cao Cao looked around and laughed and said: "I really agreed with Zuo Ci's words, but the disaster of fire and water should be on Liu Qi's head, not on me, Cao Mengde!"
Cao Chun smiled and said: "Master Zuo is actually not wrong. The Prime Minister is a master of water and fire. Without this clever plan, how can there be a disaster of water and fire?"
Cao Cao looked up to the sky and laughed: "Zi He's words are reasonable. This time we conquer Jingzhou, I will reward Zuo Ci generously."
Cao Chun cupped his fists and said: "Prime Minister, the mighty tiger will defeat Liu Qi's dog and dolphin!"
At this time, Tan Ma came to report that Guan Yu and Zhao Yun had led their remaining armies to retreat, and the defenders in the city were also leaving the city one after another and heading south.
Cao Cao was about to send troops to chase him, but he saw Zhang Fei still at the top of the city, glaring at Cao Jun with a spear, as if he was a king with angry eyes, majestic.
Cao Hong was eager for revenge and said anxiously: "Zhang Fei must be the rear guard in the city. He wants to stop our army by himself. It is too much to bully others. It is better to send other people to chase the enemy."
Cheng Yu offered advice: "Why not capture Zhang Fei and exchange for Cao Ren?"
"This is a wonderful plan!" Cao Cao nodded happily and ordered Cao Hong, Cao Xiu, and Le Jin to each guard a gate to surround Bowang, while Xu Huang led his troops to pursue the enemy.
Xu Huang led 10,000 elite soldiers across Bowang and pursued them straight to Bowang Slope. As soon as they turned around the mountain col, they saw a group of soldiers and horses standing on the road. The man in the lead stood on horseback with his sword drawn and his long beard flowing. He was Guan Yu.
Xu Huang's heart sank. As expected, Liu Qi divided his troops and stepped forward to shout: "Yun Chang, the prime minister still admires the general. Liu Bei was killed by Liu Qi and his son. He is a man of righteousness. Why don't you abandon the dark side and turn to the bright side?"
Guan Yu snorted coldly: "Xu Gongming, it's in vain that you know the word "righteousness". A certain brother is sworn to live and die, and is determined to revitalize the Han Dynasty. How can he serve Cao Cao? Guan has his own judgment on my elder brother's affairs, and there is no need for you to tell me what to do. "
Xu Huang frowned slightly, wanting to pursue the enemy, but he was afraid of Guan Yu's courage and did not dare to rush over. The two armies met like tigers and wolves on the road, and they faced off in a stalemate.
Vice General Yin Shu clasped his fists and said, "General Xu, if you delay the military flight, the Prime Minister will definitely punish you!"
Zhu Gaiyan said: "Guan Yu only has two thousand troops. We swarmed him. He has three heads and six arms, can't he do it?"
Xu Huang took a deep breath, raised his ax and shouted: "Kill!"
Xu Huang swung his mountain ax to attack Guan Yu. As long as he could hold Guan Yu back for a while and his wings dispersed, he would be victorious.
Guan Yu lightly picked up the silk reins, and the red rabbit and horse stood up and galloped out like an arrow from the string. They took advantage of Xu Huang and fought on the mountain road.
Cao Jun's shouts shook the sky, and he followed Xu Huang and charged forward, rushing over the mountains and plains like a tide, drowning the Jingzhou soldiers in a blink of an eye.
Seeing that the situation was not good, Guan Yu shouted loudly and forced Xu Huang to retreat, leading the remaining soldiers to go south. Xu Huang was overjoyed and immediately waved his troops to cover up the attack.
After walking a few miles, suddenly drums sounded loudly on the mountain, and ambushes from the mountains on both sides rushed out. Guanping on the left and Zhoucang on the right cut off Cao's army in the middle, causing chaos in the formation.
Guan Yu turned his horse's head, stroked his beard and laughed loudly: "Xu Gongming, you have fallen into someone's plan, why don't you surrender?"
Xu Huang was shocked and ordered his soldiers to form formations and retreat. However, the Red Rabbit Horse was very fast and Guan Yu rushed straight into the rebel army with his sword, killing several people in an instant.
Yin Shu was chasing happily, but he was unaware of the ambush. When he realized that something was wrong, Guan Yu had already led his troops to counterattack. He hurriedly retreated back, but was crowded by the rebels and could not move.
Guan Yu rushed to kill him and slashed him with the Green Dragon Sword. Yin Shu couldn't even muster the will to resist. He watched the cold light approaching and shouted in despair: "General Xu, save..."
Before he finished speaking, he was beheaded by Guan Yu. Cao Jun fled in panic, trampling and injuring countless people.
Xu Huang did not want to suffer the humiliation of being captured, so he led his soldiers to kill the ambush and fled the way they came. Zhu Gai followed closely, but was stopped by Guan Ping.
"General Xu, save me, save me quickly..." Guan Yu was already riding up behind him, and Zhu Gai shouted in a tearful tone.
Under the huge pressure, he could not hold his weapon firmly, and he barely resisted Sanhe, but was cut off from his horse by Guan Ping with a single sword.
Cao's army was defeated, Guan Yu organized his troops and turned back, fighting back to Bowang City. It was Cao Xiu who besieged the south gate.
Xu Huang was retreating in embarrassment just now, and he was confused in his heart. Suddenly he saw Guan Yu leading his troops to pursue him. He took a breath of air and Cao's army was also in a commotion.
"Hahaha, you bandits, you still want to capture me?" At the same time, the south gate opened, and Zhang Fei led his troops out.
"Retreat, retreat quickly!" Cao Xiu did not hesitate at all, and rode southward.
Cao's army fled in all directions. Zhang Fei left the city almost without any hindrance and joined forces with Guan Yu. The two brothers slowly retreated backwards.
When Xu Huang was defeated, he apologized, but Cao Cao stroked his beard and said with a smile: "It's not fair, everything is as expected."
Xu Huang was startled, and Xun You said: "This is the plan used by the prime minister to defeat Zhang Xiu in the past. Liu Qi retreated calmly and must be prepared. Only by chasing the enemy at this time can he win."
Xu Huang sighed secretly, believing that he was going into a trap, and silently retreated to the rear to rest.
Little did he know that Cao Cao was suspicious by nature. If there were no ambushes in front to intercept and kill him, he would instead become suspicious and suspect that Liu Qi's withdrawal was a fraud.
Now that Guan Yu and Zhang Fei have joined forces to break the rear, it can be seen that Liu Qi has indeed retreated, and his doubts are gone.
One of Xiahou Dun's eyes shone brightly, he cupped his fists and said, "Prime Minister, it's time for me to wait for my revenge!"
"Be careful there is an ambush ahead!" Cao Cao warned, and dispatched Xiahou Dun's 30,000 troops. Generals Cao Xiu and Han Hao then responded and killed Ben Wancheng.
Thick smoke rose in Bowang City. Zhang Fei set fire to the three gates when he left. Le Jin entered the city from the south gate and sent troops to put out the fire and open the city to welcome the army.
"Liu Qi, let's see where you go this time!"
Cao Cao smiled coldly, led his troops into the city, sent a message to his troops to rest, transport grain and grass to meet them, and marched into Nanyang in one go tomorrow.
Xiahou Dun was eager for revenge and ordered Li Tong to lead the front team. He urged his horses to pursue him until he came to a dangerous place with a fork in the road, but the valley was burned to scorched earth and covered with ashes.
Xiahou Dun laughed and said: "This must be a place where Liu Qi will be able to rob food. It will prevent Liu Qi from ambush. God is helping me!"
The men and horses continued to move forward, but suddenly saw Li Tong's front army stopped. Xiahou Dun hurriedly urged his horses forward and asked, "What happened?"
Li Tong pointed forward and said: "The scouts have just discovered that there are flags waving in the forest ahead, and there is a fear of an ambush!"
Xiahou Dun's eyes were slightly gleaming, and he ordered Li Tong to continue forward, and he was in the middle to press the formation. Xiahou Lan then responded, and the men and horses formed a formation and moved forward carefully.
