Chapter 71- Cao Cao and His Generals Underestimate Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang

Liu Bei making his move on Hanzhong. Kongming naturally is pulling the strings, orchestrating this master plan. What's the initial setup look like from his side? Well, what's really interesting is how multi-layered it is. Kongming doesn't just, you know, send everyone in at once. He sends the veteran general Huang Zong and the strategist Fa Zeng to hit Dingzhen Mountain directly. But, and this is key, he doesn't stop there. He's already thinking ahead, anticipating challenges, figuring out backup. Very proactive thinking. Yeah, it's classic Kongming. And this next bit seems particularly clever. He sends Zhaoyun. Right, the formidable Zhaoyun. But not just his regular backup. He gets these specific, almost sort of counterintuitive instructions. Bring a surprise fort. Zhaoyun, using a small path. But, and here's the kicker, only step in if Huang Zong is losing. If Huang Zong's winning, Zhaoyun stays put. What's the thinking there? That's pure Kongming genius, isn't it? It's not just about having extra soldiers. It's about psychological impact. It's about timing. It's about saving resources until they matter most. Holding Zhaoyun back means they don't show their full hand too early. Right, keeps the enemy guessing. Exactly. Or it wastes their advantage. A surprise force works best when the enemy's overconfident or when your guys are really flagging. It's that critical moment intervention. A tactical ace up his sleeve. Precisely. A powerful deterrent, too. So it's crafting this perception of strength and delivering a shock when it counts. And he takes the psychological stuff even further. Oh, absolutely. We also see Lu Feng and Meng Da sent off with, what, 3,000 soldiers? Yeah, something like that. And their job is just to set up many banners. Yeah. In these dangerous mountain passes. Ah, the old banner trick. Yeah. It's not about fighting for them. It's pure deception. Yeah. Make the enemy think they're facing a much bigger army. Makes them hesitate, maybe split their forces. Exactly. Manipulating perception. Just as important as actual troop numbers back then. This is classic, but the execution here, wow. Shows he understands people, not just battles. Really playing the long game. Precisely. And it doesn't stop there. Ma Chao gets secret orders in Jiabi, and Yan Yan goes to Baxi Langzong to relieve Zhang Fei and Wei Yan. Freeing them up for the main event in Hanzhong. Right. It's all connected. A coordinated offense. Every piece moving together. It's a, well, a truly global view of the battlefield. So what's the takeaway for you listening to this? Kongming's moves, Huang Zong's feint, Zhaoyun hidden, the banners. It shows strategy isn't just numbers. Not at all. It's about psychology, careful orchestration, understanding consequences. Thinking several steps ahead. It's a masterclass, really. Applies anywhere, not just ancient battlefields. Definitely lessons there for any competitive situation. Okay, so while Kongming's complex plan is rolling out, the news is already hitting Cao Cao's side hard. Yeah, the alarm bells are definitely ringing. How does it reach him? What's the reaction? Well, the news travels fast. Zhang Yan, Xiaohu Shang report to Xiaoyun first. Tiandag Mountain's lost, and Xiaodei and Hanhao are dead. They stress how serious it is, tell Xiaohu Yang to get word to Cao Cao immediately that Lu Bei himself is leading this thing. So it's not just a minor offensive? No, this is the main event, led by his biggest rival. And this news gets to Zhu Qing. Cao Hong tells Cao Cao, the sources say he's greatly astonished. Why so shocked? Losing the mountain or Lu Bei's presence? I think it's both, but Lu Bei's personal involvement really ups the ante. Han Zong was maybe seen as secure, or at least not vulnerable to this level of attack from Lu Bei. A direct threat to his power base in the Central Plains. Absolutely. It signals a major shift. His immediate reaction, call in the officials. Right, and Lu Ye steps up. Yeah, Lu Ye, always the sharp advisor. He basically says, look, if Han Zong falls, the whole Central Plains gets shaken up. You, Cao Cao, have to lead this expedition personally. It's that critical. Han Zong is the gateway to the West. Losing it is unthinkable. And Cao Cao, he actually expresses regret. Says he hated that he didn't follow your advice earlier. That's rare for him, isn't it? He's usually so confident. It's incredibly rare. Shows a moment of, well, maybe vulnerability. Or at least pragmatic self-reflection. For someone like Cao Cao to admit regret publicly, it just highlights how huge the stakes are for Han Zong. And maybe acknowledges he underestimated Lu Bei's threat this time. So he realizes the gravity. Instantly. He doesn't mess around. Yeah. Mobilizes a massive army, 400,000 troops. 400,000. Yeah, and prepares to lead them himself. This autumn, 218 CE. And the description of this march, it's incredible. Cao Cao on a white horse, gold saddle, jade belt, brocade robes. Right, the whole imperial procession. Red umbrella, gold and silver weapons, dragon and phoenix banners. Plus 25,000 elite guards. These five divisions, blue, yellow, red, white, black, all matching flags, armor, horses. It sounds absolutely stunning. Like a moving city of power. It's more than just moving troops, isn't it? It's pure political theater. He's bringing everything. It's meant to inspire fear, show the futility of fighting back. But then amidst all this, this massive military machine getting ready for war, Cao Cao takes this fascinating detour. Almost paradoxical. Yeah, it's a strange pause in the action, isn't it? Where does he go? He spots some trees near Tangwan Pass, learns it's Lantian. And that's where Cai Yang's estate was. Cai Yang, the scholar. The very one. And crucially, his daughter, Cai Yan, and her husband, Dong Si, live there now. So Cao Cao decides to pay them a visit. A visit while marching an army. Shows a different side to him. It really does. A more cultured side, often overshadowed by the warlord image. And Cai Yang wasn't just any scholar. He was close to Cao Cao, right? Yes, they were friends. But Cai Yang's own story. Wow. It's quite something. A real saga of resilience. Tell us about it. Well, her life was tumultuous. First married to Wei Zongdao, who died young. Then, during all the chaos, she was captured by northern nomadic tribes. Captured? Yeah. Lived among them for years. Had two sons there. And during that time, she wrote the famous 18 Songs of a Nomad Flute. Those poems. Expressing her longing for home. The culture shock. Exactly. Really poignant stuff. Anyway, Cao Cao remembered his friendship with her father. Felt sorry for her situation. And set a huge sum. 1,000 pieces of gold to ransom her back. He paid to bring her back. He did. Then, personally arranged her marriage to Dong Si. To make sure she was settled and safe. That's quite an act of compassion. And cultural respect. It really highlights his appreciation for learning. His personal connections. Paints a much more complex picture than just ruthless warlords. Incredible story. And this detour continues inside her home, right? He sees something on the wall. Yeah, he notices this old stone inscription. A steel. Hanging there. Okay. Taiyan explains it's the steel of Cao Yi. And the story behind that is another level of intense feeling. Cao Yi. Who was she? It's a famous tale of filial piety. A huge deal in Chinese culture then. Back in Emperor He's time. There's this sorcerer. Cao Gan. He drowns during some drunken ritual. Oh dear. His daughter, Cao Yi, only 14, was devastated. Cried by the river for seven days straight. Then, just jumped in after him. No! Yeah. Five days later, her body surfaces. Still holding her father's body. Wow. That's intense devotion. Totally. The locals buried them together. The magistrate reported it. And she was officially honored as a filial daughter. A powerful example. Truly moving. But the steel itself. Taiyan, her father, did something with it. That connects back to Cao Cao. Exactly. Taiyan saw the steel once. But it was getting dark. Couldn't read it properly. So he read the inscription by touch. Then, still in the dark, he added eight characters to the back of it. Added characters? What were they? An Ah-Huang-Wa-Yu-Fu-Fei-Zi-Chun-Ju. You know, yellow silk, young woman, grandson, mortar. Yellow silk, young woman, grandson, mortar. That sounds like a riddle. Precisely. A really complex literary riddle. And apparently, even Taiyan, brilliant as she was, couldn't figure out what her father meant. So Cao Cao sees this riddle. And he challenges his own advisors, right there. None of them get it, except one guy. Yang Shi. Super smart. Yang Shi solves it. Yep. But Cao Cao, being Cao Cao, wants to show off his own brainpower. He tells Yang Shi, hold on. Keep quiet. Let me think about it. Uh-huh. A bit competitive. Seems like it. A moment of intellectual sparring, right there amidst the war preparations. So does Cao Cao get it? Apparently. The story goes, they travel just three, maybe a mile or so down the road. And bam, it hits him. Ah. He calls Yang Shi over, asks for his explanation. And Yang Shi lays out these classic character deconstructions. Okay, break it down for us. How does it work? Right. So yellow silk, hint at you. Excellent. It plays on the characters for color and silk, suggesting something absolute or perfect. Okay. Young woman points to, yeah, yeah, wonderful. Combining the characters for woman and young makes her a grandson, which literally means his daughter's child, forms the silk. That character is made of woman and child. Clever. And the last one, the mortar. Mortar. Specifically one for pungent stuff like garlic or spices. Hints at C word seisei. This one's the trickiest. How so? It relates the idea of receiving pungent things like criticism or sharp words with the character components for mortar and pungent to form kiss. It's a real linguistic puzzle. Wow. Okay. So put it all together. Yellow silk, young woman, grandson, mortar means... Which means absolutely wonderful words or an absolutely wonderful essay referring to the original text on the stele. Ah. So Tai Yang was praising the original inscription. Exactly. And Cao Cao was thrilled, apparently saying, yep, matches my thinking exactly. A moment of intellectual triumph for him. Totally. It's not just a game. It shows how much intellectual skill, appreciating refined language mattered, even to powerful warlords. Validates his own intellect, connects him to Tai Yang. Right. And reinforces his image as more than just a military man. It's a reminder that brilliance took many forms back then. Fascinating detour. Okay. But we need to get back to the war. Right. Reality bites. Cao Cao's massive army finally reaches Nanchang. The pieces are moving. What's the situation report? Cao Hong updates him. Tells him about Zhang. His earlier struggles in the campaign. And Cao Cao's reaction. Is he angry? Surprisingly, no. He's very pragmatic. He basically absolves Zhang. He's saying, you know, victory and defeat are common in warfare. Huh. That is understanding. Especially from Cao Cao. It is. Shows a different side again, doesn't it? He understands the realities of command, maybe. Blaming generals for every loss isn't productive. Need them to take risks, perhaps? Could be. Anyway, Cao Hong also reports that Huang Zong is hitting Dingjun Mountain hard. Jiahou Yuan. Cao Cao's trusted general. Right. He's holding his ground. Waiting for Cao Cao to arrive before making a big move. But Cao Cao doesn't like that. Waiting. Hates it. He sees it as weakness. Shows cowardice. He says. Yongshuo. Real failure of initiative in his eyes. That seems harsh. Especially after being pragmatic about Zhang. He's defeat. What's changed? It's a contradiction, maybe. Or maybe he forgives defeat after bold action. But not inaction when the moment seems right. He demands daring. But then Liye steps in again. The voice of caution. What does he say this time? He reminds Cao Cao about Shouyu Yan's personality. Calls him too rigid. Basically he's worried Shouyu Yan's stubbornness and maybe his pride will make him walk right into a trap. Bumming's known for traps. Right. Aggression versus caution. The classic dilemma. Exactly. Balancing the need for action with the general's temperament. So Cao Cao. He wanted action. But Liye warns him. What does he do? Sends a direct order. No, he does something subtler. He sends Jiahou Yuan a personal letter. A letter. Not just a command. A psychological nudge. Precisely. It's cleverly worded. It gently reminds Shouyu Yan that a good general needs both firmness and flexibility. Not just brute force. But then he adds the pressure. Says he's come all the way to Nanshang just to see Jiahou Yuan's excellent talent in action. And hopes he won't disgrace that reputation. So it's not an order to attack, but it's definitely pushing him. Don't disappoint me. Exactly. An encouragement wrapped in a challenge. Yeah. Masterful manipulation, really. And how does Jiahou Yuan take it? He's overjoyed. Overjoyed. Not cautious. Nope. He completely misreads the subtlety. Or maybe just hears what he wants to hear. He sees it as a green light to go for glory. Oh dear. He immediately tells Zhang He, right, I'm going to capture Huang Zong and prove my worth. And Zhang He, the cautious one. Zhang. He advises strongly against it. Points out Huang Zong is tough and smart, plus he has Fa Zhang helping him. Recommends firm defense. Especially with the tricky mountain terrain. Sound advice. Very sound. But Jiahou Yuan brushes it off. Glory calls. He tells Zhang He, you just defend, I'm going out to fight. Pride before a fall, maybe. Looks like it. He then sets up his own plan, sends Jiahou Shang out to lure the enemy. A trap within a trap. Seems so. With specific orders for Jiahou Shang. Only lose, not win-ja. Make the retreat look convincing. He thinks he's got a clever plan. Classic luring tactic. But the dangers. Huge dangers. He's underestimating Kong Ming. This standoff at Dingjun Mountain Pass. How does the action actually start? Well, it begins with Huang Zong and Fa Zhang. They're Lu Bei's guys facing off against Jiahou Yuan, who's holding the pass for Cao Cao. Right. And Jiahou Yuan is dug in deep. He knows the terrain. He's not coming out easily. So a bit of a stalemate initially. Kind of. Until Jiahou Shang, who's a relative of Jiahou Yuan, he decides to come down and challenge. Okay, breaking the deadlock. Sort of. And on Lu Bei's side, Huang Zong's subordinate, Chen Xi, he eagerly volunteers to go fight him. Ah, maybe a bit too eager. That's putting it mildly. This is where the first bit of cunning really comes into play. Jiahou Shang fights a bit. Then he feigns defeat. The old fake retreat. Exactly. And Chen Xi, well, he falls for it hook, line, and sinker. He pursues. Oh dear. Yeah, straight into a trap. Suddenly, there are falling logs and stones raining down, blocking his escape route. And before Chen Xi can really react, Jiahou Yuan himself pops out and captures him. Just like that. Wow, swift. That's a big early blow for Lu Bei. Definitely. It's a classic example, really, of, you know, overconfidence meeting a well-laid trap. Poor reconnaissance, maybe. Not respecting the enemy's position. It highlights those dangers, for sure. So Chen Xi's captured. How does Fa Zheng, Lu Bei's strategist, respond to this? This is where Fa Zheng really shows his value. No panic. Instead, he gives this incredibly sharp assessment of their main opponent, Jiahou Yuan. What does he say? He tells Hong Zong, look, Jiahou Yuan is impetuous, brave, but lacks strategy. Brave, but reckless. Pretty much. Brave, but predictable, maybe. And that psychological insight, that becomes the absolute key to Fa Zheng's whole counter-plan. So understanding the enemy commander's personality is crucial. It's everything sometimes. Strategy isn't just about numbers. It's about minds. Okay, so based on Jiahou Yuan being impetuous, what's the plan Fa Zheng comes up with? He proposes the Xia strategy. It translates roughly to countering the guest with the host. Countering the guest with the host. What does that mean in practice? Well, instead of staying defensive, waiting for Jiahou Yuan, Fa Zheng says Hong Zong should go on the offensive. But not in a reckless way. He advises Hong Zong to excite and encourage the troops. Big morale boost. Give them rewards, all available goods. Get them fired up. Okay, motivated troops. Then what? Then advance slowly, methodically. Advance step by step, making camp as they go. Ah, so it's a slow, deliberate pressure. Exactly. The goal isn't a big, risky assault. It's to lure Jiahou Yuan out, make him impatient, make him attack them on ground they choose, then capture him. It's clever psychological warfare. Turning the tables, making the defender feel like they have to attack. But isn't advancing slowly like that also risky? Gives Jiahou Yuan time. It's a calculated risk, yeah. But Fa Zheng is betting on Jiahou Yuan's known impatience. The slow advance, the visible troop morale. It's all designed to provoke him, you know. To make him crack under the pressure. Right. And rewarding the troops ensures they're disciplined and loyal during the slow push. And Huang Zheng pulls it off. Yeah, perfectly. His troops are psyched. There are cheers throughout the valley. Saying they're ready to fight to the death. And he starts that slow, methodical advance, building camps as he goes. So how does this look from Jiahou Yuan's side? What's the reaction in his camp? Well, this is where Zheng He, another of Cao Cao's generals, shows he's got a good head on his shoulders. Okay. He immediately sees what's happening. He tells Jiahou Yuan, look, this is countering the guests with the host. It's a plot. Don't attack. Sound advice. Does Jiahou Yuan listen? What do you think? True to Fa Zheng's assessment, he completely ignores Zheng He. He's getting annoyed by the slow advance, maybe. He sends Jiahou Sheng out to challenge again. Unbelievable. He just doesn't learn. Seems that way. And this time, Huang Zheng is ready. He engages Jiahou Sheng and boom, in just one move, his house captures him. Another quick capture. So now Liu Bei's side has Jiahou Sheng. Yep. Which leads to a kind of bizarre situation. Jiahou Yuan offers an exchange their captured general Chen Xi for his relative, Jiahou Sheng. Okay, a prisoner swap. Seems reasonable enough. They agree to meet on the battlefield to do the exchange. And get this, both generals are told to come out without armor, only wearing light clothes. Without armor? That seems odd. Trusting. Or maybe setting something up. Because what happens next is pretty brutal. As Jiahou Sheng is running back towards his own lines after the exchange. Yeah. Huang Zheng draws his bow and just shoots him. Shoots him in the back with an arrow. During a truce. A prisoner exchange. Exactly. Raw, ruthless pragmatism. Jiahou Sheng makes it back, but he's wounded. There are no real rules when survival's on the line, it seems. I can only imagine how Jiahou Yuan reacted to that. Furious doesn't even cover it. He charges Huang Zheng immediately. They fight hard for over 20 rounds. A proper duel. Yeah. But then suddenly, the gongs sound in the cell camp. The signal for retreat. Retreat? Why? Was Jiahou Yuan losing? He's confused too. He pulls back. His officers tell him they saw Xu army flags in several places in the mountain hollow. And they feared an ambush. Ah, so maybe Huang Zheng had another trick up his sleeve. Or just the fear of one. It's not entirely clear if the flags were real or just a perception, but the effect is the same. Jiahou Yuan, maybe for the first time, actually gets spooked. He believes this and entrenches. So he digs in again. Yeah. But Huang Zheng won't let him just sit there, right? Not a chance. Jiahou Yuan digging in just gives Huang Zheng another problem to solve. What's the next move then? Huang Zheng spots it. He points out this towering high mountain to the west of Dingzhen Mountain. It's surrounded by perilous paths, right? But crucially, Yes. It overlooks the strengths and weaknesses of Dingzhen Mountain. It's the ultimate observation post. Right. Controlling the high ground. Seeing everything. Exactly. Fa Zheng tells Huang Zheng, if you take this opposite mountain, Yuna, then Dingzhen Mountain itself is basically in their palm. Information dominance leads to tactical dominance. Makes sense. So how do they take it? Swiftly. A night attack. At the second watch, Huang Zheng leads his troops up, gongs and drums beating, making a huge racket. Psychological element again. Definitely. Jiahou Yuan's general defending it, Du Shi, only has a few hundred men. He's totally overwhelmed and basically just abandons the mountain. Another win for Huang Zheng and Fa Zheng. So now they hold this key position. They do. And Fa Zheng immediately implements another brilliant strategy for holding it. This one's called Huang Bo. Okay, what's that one? Resting while the enemy toils. It's about conserving energy and striking when the enemy is exhausted. How does it work here? It's ingenious. Huang Zheng positions his main force halfway up the mountain. Fa Zheng goes to the very summit to observe. The plan is, when Jiahou Yuan inevitably comes to attack and try to retake the mountain, Fa Zheng will raise a white flag. Signal for? Signal for Huang Zheng to hold his troops still. Just let Jiahou Yuan's army struggle up the slope, cursing and shouting, getting tired. Let them wear themselves out. Exactly. Only when Fa Zheng sees that the Cao troops are weary and unprepared, Jiahou totally exhausted and probably letting their guard down. Then he raises a red flag. And that's the signal to attack. That's a signal for Huang Zheng to charge down with fresh troops. Maximize surprise. Maximize the impact against a fatigued enemy. It's brilliant patience. So this relies again on Jiahou Yuan being predictable, right? On him having to attack. Completely. And sure enough, Du Shi reports the loss of opposite mountain. Zheng immediately warns Jiahou Yuan it's Fa Zheng's plot. Let me guess. Jiahou Yuan ignores him. You guessed it. He's furious. He declares he cannot not go out to fight. It's like he's constitutionally incapable of listening to Zhang He. It's almost tragic in a way. It really is. So Jiahou Yuan leads his troops, surrounds opposite mountain, cursing and challenging Tai, just as Fa Zheng predicted. And Fa Zheng raises the white flag. Yep. Huang Zheng waits. Midday comes and goes. By noon, Jiahou Yuan's troops are visibly weary. Their spirits fallen. Many have even dismounted to rest. The perfect moment. Ah, Zheng sees it. He waves the red flag. Gongs, drums, a great shout erupts. Huang Zheng. Huang Zheng explodes down the mountain. A horse leading the charge. He gallops down the mountain. The description is like heaven shattering and earth collapsing. Just pure momentum and fury. Jiahou Yuan must have been completely shocked. Totally off guard. Huang Zheng charges straight for his banner, lets out this incredible roar like thunder. Wow. And with his precious blade, he cuts Jiahou Yuan down. Cuts Jiahou Yuan head and shoulder into two sections. Good goodness. A brutal, decisive end. Absolutely legendary. There's even a poem praising Huang Zheng for this. I'll read it. Okay, it goes. Cao Si Rui was saying like, he says he's this. That's powerful. Captures his image as this, like fearsome old warrior. Exactly. Gray haired, facing a great enemy. White headed, displaying divine might. It talks about his archery, his blade work, his tiger's roar, his dragon-like horse. All celebrating his immense contribution. He might be old, but he's still terrifyingly effective. So Jiahou Yuan is dead. What happens to his army? Nope. He gets flanked by Huang Zheng and Qin Shi, remember him? The guy captured earlier. He's back in the fight. Zheng, he's forced to retreat. But there's another twist, right? There is. As Zheng, he falls back. Suddenly another legendary hero appears, shouting, Changsha, Zhao Zilong is here. Zhao Yun, another major player. Blocking Zheng, he's escape route. And then Zheng, he gets even more bad news from Duxi. Dingjun Mountain has already been taken by Lu Feng and Meng Da. Wow, so the whole position just collapsed for Cao Cao. Totally disintegrated. Zheng, he and Duxi have no choice but to retreat all the way back to the Han River. This news must have hit Cao Cao like a ton of bricks. How did he take it? Losing his relative, his key general, the whole mountain pass. He was devastated. When the news reached him, the account says he cries loudly. Oh, genuine grief. Understandable. And it's then he supposedly remembers, or finally understands, this prophecy he'd heard from a mystic named Guan Lu. A prophecy? What does it say? It was cryptic stuff. Three eight crisscross, referring to the year, the 24th year of Zhan Yan. Sorry? Three by eight, 24. Yellow pig meets tiger, referring to the specific month and year, south of Dingjun. South of Dingjun, the location. And the final part, broken limb. Broken limb, meaning Xiaoyuan. Exactly, who Cao Cao saw as like a brother, a limb of his own body. It's a stark reminder of how foresight, or maybe just paying attention to warnings, could have changed things. Hindsight is 20-20, I suppose. So what's Cao Cao's next move after this disaster? Pure revenge. He's described as deeply resenting Huang Zong. Mind you, he gathers a massive army, 200,000 troops, and personally leads them, naming Xu Huang as his vanguard. 200,000, that's serious. It is. Though, Zhong He and Du Shi, having learned something, advise him to first secure the grain supplies, move them from Maiqing Mountain to a safer fort at North Mountain before advancing. Smart. Logistics matter, especially with such a huge force. They certainly do. Okay, so Cao Cao is mobilizing this massive revenge force. Meanwhile, back on Liu Bei's side, how are they celebrating this huge victory? Well, Huang Zong formally presents Xiaoyuan's head to Liu Bei and Jiaming Pass. Big moment. I bet. Liu Bei is understandably ecstatic. He promotes Huang Zong to general who conquers the West. Cha Shi throws a huge feast, major celebrations. But they must know Cao Cao is coming, right? Oh, yeah. The celebration mood doesn't last long. Reports come in. Cao Cao himself, 200,000 strong, heading their way for revenge. And confirming that point about logistics, Zhang, he is moving those grain supplies from Maiqing Mountain. So the threat is very real and immediate. Zhou Guoliang must have had a plan. Always. Zhou Guoliang's analysis is quick and sharp. He figures Cao Cao's huge army probably stretches his supply lines thin. OK, exploit the logistics. How? He proposes a daring raid. Send someone deep into enemy territory to burn their grain supplies and seize their baggage. A direct hit on their supplies. Yep. The aim isn't just to deny resources. It's psychological, too, to frustrate Cao Cao's morale. Yeah. Right from the start. Hit them where it hurts before the main fight even begins. Sounds like a job for someone brave and maybe a little reckless. Well, guess who immediately volunteers? Has to be Huang Zong, right? Yeah. Still riding high from killing Xiao Yuan. You got it. Despite his age, he says, the old man volunteers for this task. He's eager. But Zhou Guoliang pumps the brakes a bit. He does. He cautions him. Cao Cao is not like Xiao Yuan. One cannot take him lightly. Cool. Basically, don't get cocky. And Liu Bei adds to that. Yeah, Liu Bei sort of ups the ante, saying, look, killing Xiao Yuan was great. But Zhang, he is 10 times better. And so taking out Zhang, he would be an even bigger achievement. Trying to channel Huang Zong's energy towards the right target. Perhaps. And Huang Zong, full of resolve, immediately re-volunteers, specifically saying he'll take on Zhang He. The man's confidence is sky high. So does Zhou Guoliang let him go alone? No, this is interesting. Ah, the two legends together. But he tells them to discuss everything and act accordingly. He adds, let's see who makes a contribution. Setting up a bit of a friendly competition. Seems like it. He even assigns Zhang Zi as Huang Zong's deputy. It's like managing two star players, let them compete, but make sure they cooperate for the team win. How does that play out? Do they immediately start competing? Pretty much instantly. Zhao Yun kind of questions the sheer scale of facing 200,000 troops. Then Huang Zong insists he wants to go first on this grain raid mission. Of course he does. But Zhao Yun also wants to go first. Huang Zong tries pulling rank. I'm the lead general here. But Zhao Yun has a great response. Both of us are serving our lord. Why quarrel? Essentially, we're on the same team. Let's not fight about this. Sensible. How do they resolve it? Very pragmatically. They decide to draw lots. Leave it to chance. Who wins? Huang Zong draws the lot to go first. Okay, so he gets his wish. What's Zhao Yun's role then? Zhao Yun agrees to support him, but he sets clear conditions. This shows really good planning. They agree on a deadline. Noon. Yeah. If Huang Zong is back by noon, mission successful or not, Zhao Yun stays put. But if Huang Zong isn't back by noon... Zhao Yun goes in. Zhao Yun will lead his army to reinforce. It's a clear backup plan. Vital coordination. No one gets left behind, and there's a trigger for action. That's smart. Covers the bases. Definitely. And Zhao Yun's own preparations back this up. He goes back to his camp, which is positioned near the dangerous terrain of the Han River. Okay. And he gives strict orders to his subordinate, Zhang Yi. Guard the stockade carefully. Basically, lock things down. Don't do anything rash if Zhao Yun himself has to leave to go help Huang Zong. Meticulous planning. Huang Zong's big gamble. He's just beating Xiaohu Yuan, feeling pretty good about himself, right? On top of the world, probably. And he decides, okay, let's go for the jugular. Let's hit Tao's green supply. It's a classic move, isn't it? High risk, super high reward. Definitely. Cut off the food, you cripple the army. But it's deep in enemy territory. So the plan is quite specific. He tells his deputy, Zhang Zuo, Okay, you stay here, guard the camp. Just 500 guys. Just 500, that's thin. Very thin. Meanwhile, Huang Zong takes the main force, leaves at 4am, crosses the Han River in the dark, heads for North Mountain, job one. Grabs Zhang Yi, job two, bring that grain. Seems straightforward enough on paper. And at first, it works perfectly. They cross the river, find the grain, smack like a mountie. The text says hardly any guards. They scatter. Nice and easy, so far. Huang Zong's eyes start piling up firewood, ready to light the whole thing up. But here, here's where it goes south. Fast. Just as they're about to torch it, Zhang, he shows up with his troops. And then, right behind him, Zhu Hong with reinforcements. Suddenly, Huang Zong is, and I quote, trapped at the heart of the encirclement. Wow. Talk about the tables turning. And it gets worse. Zhang Zuo, the deputy, he managed to slip out with 300 men. But nope, he gets intercepted too. Wen Pin and more Cao Cao soldiers surround him. So both forces are now caught. Completely isolated. Yeah. Total disaster unfolding. Right. What are the risks of hitting something so vital, so deep? Exactly. But the risk was inherent. And this time, it just didn't pay off. A tough lesson for a veteran general. Okay, so Huang Zong's trapped. Zhang Zuo's trapped. Time's ticking away. Back at the main camp. Who even notices something's wrong? Good question. Who's watching the clock? Enter Zhao Yun. He's there. He sees it's getting late. Noon comes and goes. No sign of Huang Zong. And Zhao Yun, he doesn't wait around. Doesn't hesitate. Nope. He immediately gets ready. Tells his general, Zhang Yi, hold the camp. Make it strong. Get bows, crossbows ready. He's already thinking defensively, expecting the worst. Smart. Foresight. Even under pressure. That's leadership. So order's given. Zhao Yun takes 3,000 troops and just charges straight into the chaos. He's like a whirlwind. Just cuts right through. Takes out two Wei generals almost immediately. Murong Lai, one of Wen Pin's guys. Spear. Gone. Then Zhao Bing makes the mistake of yelling something like, the Shu soldiers are all dead. Big mistake. Huge. Yeah, Zhao Yun deals with him instantly too. He's just carving this path, you know? Relentless. Unstoppable force. He smashes through to North Mountain. Sees Huang Zong's guys pinned down. Trapped by Zhang Yi and Shu Huang. And his entrance, the book describes it so vividly. He rushed left and right as if entering an unmanned land. Wow. His spear. Like dancing pear blossoms all over his body. It was like fluttering snow. It's pure poetry, but deadly poetry. That imagery is incredible. Captures the motion, the skill. And guess who's watching? Cao Cao. From up high. He's stunned. Asks, who is that general? He doesn't recognize him. Apparently not immediately. But when they tell him, that's Changsha Zhaozalong. Cao Cao supposedly cries out, the hero from Changban, he's still alive. The legend precedes him. Changban was that terrifying for Cao Cao's army. Exactly. And Cao Cao orders his troops, do not engage lightly. Just knowing who it is changes their tactics. That's the power of reputation right there. It's amazing, isn't it? That psychological impact. Zhaoyun's name. His reputation from Changban, where he saved Liu Bei's kid. Basically single-handedly against, like, Cao Cao's whole army. Oh, right. It's not just backstory. It's an active weapon. It's like a brand. You know, a brand of pure terror and invincibility for the enemy. They already believe he can do the impossible. So his reputation does half the fighting for him. Pretty much. It shapes how the enemy reacts before he even lifts his spear. Fear. Caution. It dictates their moves. You wonder how that plays out today, right? Right. Like in business or politics, where someone's reputation or a company's brand affects how people deal with them. Sometimes more than the immediate facts. That's a really sharp point. The brand of Zhaoyun is pure intimidation, and he's not finished using it. Still more rescuing to do. Just from seeing the flag? Remembering Changban, the text says, They just flee in terror. The flag alone is enough. And boom! Zhaoyun saves Zhang Zu, too. Incredible. One man, two rescues, fueled by skill and sheer terror-inducing reputation. But wait, it gets even crazier. Zhaoyun, having pulled off these two insane rescues, is now heading back to his own camp. But who's chasing him? Let me guess. Cao Cao himself. Bingo! An absolutely furious Cao Cao leading his generals personally. They're bearing down on Zhaoyun's camp. Okay, now this looks bad. Outnumbered, pursued by the main man. Right. So they get back to camp. Zhaoyun's subordinate, Zhang Yi, says the obvious thing. Quick! Shut the gates! Get on the walls! Defend! You know, standard procedure. Makes sense. Fortify. But Zhaoyun, his reaction is just unbelievable. He yells, Don't close the gates! What? Why? He says, basically, Don't you remember, Changban? I faced down 830,000 of Cao Cao's troops with just one spear. Now I've got soldiers, generals. What's there to fear? Okay, that's either insane confidence, or he has a plan. Oh, he has a plan? What's he doing here? Okay, so this is just brilliant. It's a version of the classic empty fort stratagem, but with Zhaoyun's unique, terrifying twist. It's a bluff, yeah, but it's so much deeper. How does he set it up? He orders his archers, his crossbowmen, to hide. Down in the trenches, outside the camp. Completely silent. All the camp flags. Lowered. Drums. Silenced. Utter quiet. Okay. And then, Zhaoyun stands alone. Spear in hand. Outside the wide open gates. Just standing there. One guy. Wow. Okay, that's a sight. So Zhang He and Xu Hong ride up as dusk is falling. They see the open gate, the eerie silence, and this one legendary figure just waiting. What do you think they think? Trap. It screams trap, especially with Zhaoyun involved. Exactly. Their brains are screaming, ambush! Don't go in! Even when Cao Cao arrives and tells them, go! Charge! They hesitate. The soldiers apparently charge forward a bit, then just turn back. Can't bring themselves to go in. Because the situation is just too weird. Too unnatural. Precisely. It plays on that basic human fear of the unknown. A defended fort. You can assess it. An open, silent fort with Zhaoyun standing there. That's pure psychological nightmare fuel. It's like reverse psychology using his own reputation. Perfectly put. Yeah. They expect him to be cunning, to have a trap. So the lack of an obvious defense becomes the most terrifying thing. And then, Zhaoyun springs the real trap. Okay, so what happens? He gives a signal. Suddenly, those hidden archers let loose a massive volley of arrows from the trenches. In the fading light, it must have been terrifying. Cao Cao, totally unsure how many troops are hidden, instantly decides, nope, I'm out. He turns and runs first. The text says, first turned his horse and fled. Then a huge shout goes up from the shoe side. Drums start beating like crazy, and Zhaoyun's forces pour out in pursuit. The bluff worked perfectly. And now the attack. And it's a total rout. Cao Cao's army just collapses. They panic. The text mentions soldiers trampling each other, falling into the Han River and drowning. Just chaos. A self-inflicted defeat, triggered by fear. Zhaoyun, Huang Zong, who's now free, and Zhang Zua chase them relentlessly. And then the final nail in the coffin, Lu Feng and Meng Da show up from Minkang Mountain. Oh, perfect timing. And they set fire to Cao Cao's grain supply. The very thing Huang Zong tried to do earlier. Poetic justice, almost. Cao Cao gives up North Mountain entirely. Retreats. Zhaoyun takes over Cao's camp. Huang Zong gets the grain. They capture tons of weapons. It's an absolute, overwhelming victory. Wow, that whole sequence. It's just a masterclass in psychological warfare. Yeah. Turning weakness into strength. Using reputation as a weapon. It's not just about swords and spears. It's about getting inside the enemy's head. Understanding fear. Expectations. Exactly. That fear of the unknown. Amplified by Zhaoyun's legend. It was more powerful than thousands of soldiers. It shows you could overcome numbers with sheer cunning if you understand your opponent's mind. It took incredible nerve, though. That bluff could have gone wrong spectacularly. But it didn't. And the celebration must have been something. Lu Bei, Xuan De, and the master strategist Zuge Liangkang Ming. They arrive to see the aftermath. Must have been quite a sight. Lu Bei gets the full story. Zhaoyun saving Huang Zong. Saving Zhengzhou. The empty fort trick. And he's just overjoyed. All courage. Or a body full of courage. High praise, indeed. And there's this poem praising him. Connecting Changban to this battle. At Changban of old, his might undiminished. When trapped, he showed bravery. Ghosts swept. Gods cried. Changshan Zhao Zilong, all courage he possessed. Really lays it on thick. He earned it, though. Absolutely. And Lu Bei gets him a new title. Tiger Might General. Huwei Zhangjun. Nice. And that recognition. That public praise. It's so important, isn't it? For morale. For loyalty. It shows everyone that kind of bravery gets noticed. Gets rewarded. Yeah, it reinforces the whole culture. Leadership isn't just about orders. It's about inspiration, right? Definitely. It cements the legend. Not just for Zhaoyun, but for Lu Bei's whole cause. Yeah. But like always in this story, the fight's not really over, is it? Never. We find out Cao Cao, even after that disaster, is already sending another army back to retake the Han River. Lu Bei's feeling confident, though. Ready for them. Always regrouping. Always coming back. The persistence is incredible on all sides. And this next move by Cao Cao leads us to that other lesson you mentioned earlier. The danger of misusing history. He sends Zhuhuang again as vanguard. But joining him is a guy named Wang Ping. Used to be a Yamen general, like a gate commander. The key thing is, he knows the local area really well. Seems smart. Local knowledge is always valuable. Good move by Cao Cao, adding him. So Zhuhuang gets there, and he's got this plan. We're crossing the river. We'll fight with our backs to it, like Han Xin did. He's referencing a famous historical victory. The whole fight to the death because there's no retreat idea. Ah, the backs to the river strategy. Famous, yes. Also famously risky. Exactly. And Wang Ping, the local guy, speaks up. He says, basically, hold on. Han Xin used that trick against a, well, an unwise enemy. Are you sure Zhao Yun and Hong Zong are gonna fall for that? Can you really predict what they'll do? Ooh, good point. Crucial point. Context matters. But Zhuhuang, he totally dismisses him. He's locked onto that historical precedent. Tells Wang Ping, you take the slow infantry. I'm taking the cavalry across. Doesn't want to hear the caution. And right there, that's the trap, isn't it?