Guan Yu's withdrawal from the war shocked the Central Plains. Cao Zhen was training troops in Puyang and was on standby. After hearing the news, he urgently summoned his generals for discussion.
Xiahou Ba laughed and said: "Guan Yu is arrogant and has no one. This is the retribution he deserves. Send troops quickly to relieve the siege of Xuchang."
Cao Zhen said: "Guan Yu is so arrogant, how could he retreat due to injury?"
Cao Tai nodded and said: "Zi Dan's words are reasonable. With Guan Yu's temperament, I am afraid that he would rather cut off his arm than retreat. I am afraid that there is fraud in it."
Xiahou Ba said: "There is no cure for the poison that Guan Yu suffered from in the early days. Hua Tuo failed to eradicate the root cause and only suppressed it. Now the old injury has recurred and the poison has penetrated into the bone marrow. How can I doubt it?"
Cao Zhen was hesitant, but Cao Tai said: "If Guan Yu uses Zhuge Liang, a Confucian scholar, as a general, the people will definitely be dissatisfied. Why not send an army to garrison Suanzao first and wait for action?"
"This is a wonderful plan!" Cao Zhen told Xiahou Ba: "Zhong Quan will lead an army to Suanzao first, contact General Zhang to inquire about the military situation, and then send 5,000 Xianbei troops to assist in the battle."
Xiahou Ba happily accepted the order and ordered 10,000 soldiers and horses to rush to Suanzao. At this time, it was widely rumored in the army that Guan Yu had returned to Xiangyang to recuperate. He hurriedly sent people to Guandu to inquire about the news and agreed to attack Zhuge Liang's army with Zhang Liao.
At this time, Zhang Liaozheng received a letter from Zhang Wei, informing Guan Yu that he had indeed returned to Xiangyang and was preparing to amputate his arm within two days. The arm must have been severed by the time the letter arrived.
Zhang Liao finished reading the letter and said with emotion: "I didn't expect that the hero Yunchang would end up like this."
Hou Cheng smiled and said: "Guan Yu broke his arm, and my father has no opponent, so why not worry about it?"
Zhang Liao sighed melancholy: "Although I and Yun Chang are their own masters, they cherish each other. They lived a brave life. If they lose their arms at this time, they will not be able to save them in the later years. They must be in great pain."
Zhang Hu said: "Guan Yu attacked Kunyang, captured Yuzhou, and pushed forward step by step, causing his father's reputation to fall into disrepute. Why do we miss the old days? Now that our powerful enemy is gone, when we are about to avenge our shame and regain the lost territory, why sigh."
"What my son said is absolutely true. If we take back Yuzhou, we will live up to the Prime Minister's trust!"
Zhang Liao put away his thoughts and was about to tell the envoy to ask Xiahou Ba to send troops when he suddenly came to report. Zhuge Liang sent troops to attack Guandu first.
Zhang Liaoben was still doubtful. When he heard that Zhuge Liang took the initiative to send troops, he looked up to the sky and laughed and said: "I have been confronting Yun Chang for more than half a year, and there are no omissions. This must be because the Jingzhou soldiers are unstable, and Zhuge Liang cannot control it, so he has to take the initiative to attack. God helps me." I also."
Hou Chengyan said: "Zhuge Liang is quite good at using tricks. We need to prevent him from attacking in the east and attacking in the west, and make a desperate attempt to attack Xuchang."
Zhang Liao sneered and said: "Guan Yu has retreated, what's the point of Zhuge Liang? Now that Cao Zidan has arrived in Puyang, all we need is Xiahou to guard Guandu. I will return to Xuchang, take Kunyang to the south, and cut off the return route of Jingzhou soldiers. The Central Plains can be settled!"
Zhang Hu offered advice: "No matter where Zhuge Liang sends troops, the old camp will be empty at this time, why not go and rob the camp instead."
Zhang Liao shook his head and said: "Zhuge Liang marches cautiously. The camp must be well prepared and there is no need to waste energy. If someone goes straight to Kunyang, he will come to rescue him. Zidan can scare him from pursuing him and make it difficult for him to look at the head and tail."
"Father!" Zhang Hu recalled that in order to kill Zhuge Liang, Zhang Liao was trapped in a tight siege and he was captured by Guan Yu. He couldn't help but feel frightened.
Zhang Liao sent people to report to Cao Zhen at night, and transferred Xia Houba to Guandu to guard the camp. He then returned to Xuchang to prepare his troops. If the Jingzhou soldiers came to sneak attack, they would attack them head-on. If they did not attack, they would go south to Kunyang and cut off their return route.
…
Xiahouba led his troops to Guandu. The fortresses where he fought with Yuan's army in the past were still there. He discussed with King Gongsun of Liaodong how to divide the troops and deploy them.
King Gongsun held out his round belly and said proudly: "Young general, you don't have to go to such trouble. When the enemy comes, I will kill him without leaving a single piece of armor behind."
Xiahou Ba said: "There are many people in the Central Plains. Although the king is brave, he should not be underestimated."
King Gongsun laughed and said, "Even if that Guan Yu you mentioned comes, I can kill him."
When Cao Cao went north to conquer Xianbei, he met King Gongsun at Wuhuan Mountain. This man was also a tribal king in the northeastern part of Liao Dynasty. According to legend, his ancestors were Dingling people. He was nine feet tall, with broad arms and a round waist. He was as big as a mountain when he was riding on a horse.
King Gongsun was born with supernatural power, and he single-handedly conquered a territory between the two major tribes of Xianbei and Wuhuan. Cao Jun fought with him. Cao Zhang, Cao Zhen and others were no match. They fought Xu Chu in a hundred battles with no difference in outcome.
Cao Cao cherished his talent, used a trick to capture him alive, and made him a general. He was named King Dingling and commanded 10,000 Xianbei cavalry. It was this man who was sent to fight against Guan Yu, so Cao Cao could go to Huainan with confidence.
Xiahou Ba looked at this reckless man with a yellow beard and small eyes, frowned slightly, and patiently warned: "People from the Central Plains are good at using the art of war, so your Majesty must not be reckless."
King Gongsun said disdainfully: "Is there anyone who knows how to use troops better than Prime Minister Cao?"
Xiahou Ba was speechless and didn't know how to answer. It would be disrespectful to say that someone is better than Cao Cao. If he said that someone is not as good as Cao Cao, this reckless man may underestimate his enemy.
When they were helpless, the defenders suddenly came to report. The Jingzhou army rushed to the front of the stronghold, and a red-faced general was calling for formation.
"Sure enough, Guan Yu is malingering!" Xiahou Ba was shocked and hurriedly led his troops out of the camp.
King Gongsun held a pair of bronze hammers. He opened the camp gate and urged his horse to rush out. He said in a buzzing voice: "Guan Yu, take my hammer."
"This is Wei Yan..." Xiahou Ba quickly stopped, but King Gongsun had already arrived at the scene, so he had to order people to beat drums to cheer him up.
Wei Yan led the Red Flame Army from Luoyang day and night to rush for reinforcements. Zhuge Liang ordered him to go straight to Guandu. He thought Zhang Liao was in the camp, but a bear-like monster suddenly appeared in the camp and was surprised.
On the side, Zhang Yi came out to fight with King Gongsun. After only three rounds, he was beaten by the copper hammer and was unable to resist. He was defeated and ran away. Hu Ji rushed forward to rescue him and barely managed to survive five or six rounds. He was unable to withstand the sharpness and moved his horse. Lost.
King Gongsun did not pursue him, but pointed at Wei Yan and shouted: "Guan Yu, I am here today to get your dog's head."
"You bastard!" Wei Yan was furious. He stepped forward on horseback and shouted, "This is Wei Yan from Nanyang! Who are you from? Tell me your name."
"It turns out he is an impostor!" King Gongsun was greatly disappointed. He raised his hammer and shouted, "I am King Dingling, King Gongsun."
"I call you the King of Swordsmen today!" Wei Yan shouted, slapping his horse to fight this behemoth.
King Gongsun danced his two hammers, one hammer hit the door in front of Wei Yan, and the other hammer swept across, creating a fierce wind, and the copper hammer formed a golden light in the sun.
Wei Yan dodged the hammer in his left hand and parried with a horizontal sword. He heard a loud noise, which made his arms numb. He couldn't help but feel shocked. This copper hammer weighed at least fifty or sixty kilograms.
If the mount had not been equipped with stirrups, he might have fallen off the horse at this moment. The two horses were staggered, holding the sword tightly and focusing on the battle.
The hammers were like wooden hammers in King Gongsun's hands, swinging them effortlessly. From a distance, there were circles of brilliant light, wrapping Wei Yan in them.
After thirty years, Wei Yan's arms were sore and numb, and his broadsword no longer dared to come into contact with the copper hammer. He only relied on his skills to deal with it. He was completely at a disadvantage. However, King Gongsun became more and more courageous as he fought, as if he had infinite power.
Xiahou Ba was overjoyed when he saw this. He sent an order to add more drums to encourage him and cursed: "Wei Yan, the dog thief, you first attacked Chang'an and then stole Guandu. Today, you can't eat and are walking around."
