Liu Qi returned to Wancheng and received a scout's report that Xiahou Dun had led an army of 100,000 to attack Bowang and rushed to the frontline without stopping.
Nanyang is known as the powerful vassal state of Chu and Yu and the throat of Qin and Wu. It is surrounded by mountains on three sides and water on one side. It is backed by Qinling Mountains in the west, backed by Funiu Mountains in the north and faces Tongbai Mountains in the east. The Chu State once built the Great Wall here to resist the Central Plains.
There is a long and narrow corridor from the Central Plains into the Nanyang Basin, with hills and low mountains throughout, and Bowang is one of the key throat locations.
When Xiahou Dun's troops arrived at Bowang, he divided his troops into three camps and surrounded the city from a distance. Yu Jin and Han Hao each led an army to completely block the entire passage.
After setting up camp, Xiahou Dun was ready to go out to challenge the enemy. Han Haoyan said, "Guan Yu is guarding the city, so we can't fight him head-on. It would be better to attack from three directions and take the city before Liu Qi and Xu Shu arrive."
Xiahou Dun sneered, "Guan Yu is a man without strategy, why should we be afraid of him? I will capture him, and it will be easy to break the city again."
At the command, drums in Cao's camp sounded loudly, shaking the whole area, and a mighty force marched towards Bowang City. Smoke and dust filled the air, covering the sky and the sun.
Guan Yu stood on the top of the city wall, looking coldly at Cao's army. Seeing Xiahou Dun approaching in person, he ordered, "Follow me to meet the enemy!"
Wen Pin said: "Cao's army is powerful, hold on and don't move out."
Guan Yu smiled proudly and said, "Xiahou Dun is a general who is often defeated. Why should I be afraid of him? If I don't resist the enemy when they are at the gates of my city, and undermine my military prestige, won't I be laughed at by others?"
It was also the first time that Wei Yan had seen such a grand scene. He laughed and said, "Yun Chang is right. The two of us will go and kill Cao's army first, while General Wen will guard the city."
As the drums on the city wall sounded and the city gates opened, the Red Hare horse was like a ball of fire, raising its hooves and neighing with a sound like tearing silk.
"Xiahou Dun, come and die!" Guan Yu stood on his horse with his sword in hand, raised his beard and glanced coldly at the whole place, causing Cao's army to be in an uproar.
Xiahou Dun stared at Guan Yu with one eye alertly and ordered his guards: "Be careful of sneak attacks!"
Just as they were preparing to advance to meet the enemy, they lured Guan Yu to the front of the army and shot him with arrows. The deputy general Zhang Nan asked for the order, saying, "I am willing to lead the charge and present Guan Yu's head to you."
Xiahou Dun nodded and said, "Don't underestimate the enemy, just lead them to the front of the army!"
Zhang Nan surrendered to Cao Cao and killed countless enemies during the conquest of Wuhuan. He was promoted to a general for his meritorious service. He was full of confidence and rode out to the battle, pointing his spear at Guan Yu: "Guan Yu, your death is coming!"
Wei Yan clasped his fists and said, "Why use a butcher knife to kill a chicken? Let me do it!"
"Wen Chang, be careful!" Guan Yu nodded slightly and even smiled.
Guan Yu was arrogant and proud by nature, and was always indifferent to other generals. However, when he saw Wei Yan, he was calm and composed. Everyone thought it was because of his red face.
Little did he know that Guan Yu, on the other hand, admired Wei Yan for his martial arts prowess and his aloof personality.
Guan Yu was forced by the powerful families to kill people and seek refuge in the rivers and lakes. He made friends with all the heroes of the green forest. He knew the sufferings of the world, hated the nobles and pitied the people.
After achieving fame and success, he was proud of his superiors but did not humiliate his subordinates, bullied the strong but did not bully the weak, valued his capable subordinates very much, and looked down on those children of aristocratic families who held high positions by relying on family power.
Wei Yan rode out on his horse, and Zhang Nan shouted, "Who is coming?"
"That's Wei Yan!" Wei Yan said no more and rode his horse straight towards Zhang Nan.
Zhang Nan was furious and stabbed with his spear, but Wei Yan swung his sword to deflect him. He then swung his sword back and slashed at Zhang Nan, who hurriedly dodged.
The two horses crossed each other and turned around to fight. After only four or five rounds, Zhang Nan could not hold on any longer. He remembered Xiahou Dun's instructions, turned his horse around and rode away.
"Want to leave? Leave your dog head first!" Wei Yan shouted loudly, urged his horse to catch up, and slashed at him from behind with his sword.
Zhang Nan heard the sound of wind behind him and hurriedly lay on the horse's back to avoid it, but Wei Yan had already expected it and slashed down with his sword at an angle.
There was a flash of cold light, and the heads of Zhang Nan and his mount were chopped off, rolling down into the dust. The two corpses tumbled over and over, and blood spurted out like a fountain.
Cao's army was in an uproar. Xiahou Dun narrowed one eye and exclaimed, "Another red-faced one?"
"Watch me kill this man to avenge myself!" Jiao Chu was furious and urged his horse to enter the arena.
He and Zhang Nan were both generals under Yuan's command and had a deep friendship. When he saw Zhang Nan being killed, he came to seek revenge.
It was too late for Xiahou Dun to dissuade him, so he had to be ready to respond at any time. Jiao Chu rushed to the front of the formation, but was killed by Wei Yan in less than ten rounds, and his sword skills were in chaos.
Xiahou Dun shouted: "Jiao Chu, retreat quickly!" The archers in front of the formation were already prepared.
Wei Yan killed Jiao Chu so badly that he fled in panic, but he did not chase him. He drew his sword and laughed, "One-eyed dragon, do you dare to try the sharpness of my sword?"
"My sword is not sharp!" Xiahou Dun hated it most when people said he had one eye. He got furious when he heard that and went to fight Wei Yan.
Drums sounded loudly from both armies, and the two generals fought in circles on the field like a revolving lantern. After more than thirty rounds, there was no clear winner. Xiahou Dun was secretly shocked that the unknown general could have such strength.
After fighting for more than ten rounds, when the horses were circled, he saw Guan Yu turning his horse around in the corner of his eye. His Red Hare raised its head and pawed its hooves in front of the formation, as if it wanted to rush out. He was suddenly shocked.
But he forgot that he only had one eye, and when he glanced at Guan Yu out of the corner of his eye, the other side became a blind spot.
Wei Yan chopped with his sword, and because he was distracted, by the time he heard the sound of breaking wind, the blade was already close.
Xiahou Dun cried out in surprise and quickly lowered his head to avoid the attack. The tip of the knife passed over his head and hit his helmet. His head suddenly shook and stars appeared in his eyes.
"General, be careful!" When Cao's army saw Xiahou Dun's helmet tassel being chopped off, they shouted in fear.
Xiahou Dun was still in shock and worried that Guan Yu would launch a surprise attack, so he dared not fight any longer and fled on his horse.
Guan Yu was just getting a little impatient waiting in front of the battle line as the two men were fighting. He didn't even bother to launch a sneak attack. Only when he saw Xiahou Dun's defeat did he lead his troops to charge.
Xiahou Dun retreated in a panic, and the central army was in chaos. When they saw Guan Yu charging towards them, Cao's army became frightened before the battle and their formation was in chaos.
Guan Ping led the troops on the flank to support and followed Wei Yan, dividing into two groups, the left and the right, and charging straight towards the chaotic Cao army.
The Red Hare was like a flaming meteor, carrying Guan Yu at a gallop with a sword in hand, rushing to the front of the formation with the force of thunder. The Green Dragon Sword swept across, and the figure flew.
Guan Yu's reputation had already spread throughout Cao's camp. Anyone who dared to fight him would turn around and flee like Xiahou Dun.
On the other side, Wei Yan and Guan Ping were not much behind. They rode their horses at full speed, like tigers among a flock of sheep, and were invincible. Cao's army was thrown into complete chaos and fled in a panic.
Guan Yu led his troops to advance and prepared to charge directly at the central army camp, but Yu Jin and Han Hao were already on full alert. They let the chaotic troops pass through the middle road, and fired arrows from both wings, like locusts, making it impossible to penetrate.
The soldiers of Jingzhou killed each other in a frenzy, and corpses were everywhere outside the city, and blood flowed like a river. The Cao army formed a battle array and did not dare to attack, and could only watch them snatch weapons and return in triumph.
Xiahou Dun returned to the camp in a panic, sweating profusely, holding his head in shock, and still feeling a buzzing sensation in his head.
Yu Jin and his companions defeated the enemy and returned to the camp, saying, "We were defeated today and our morale is low. We should retreat to Mopo for now."
"I was just ambushed by someone, how can I say I failed?" Xiahou Dun said angrily, "Tomorrow, the whole army will attack the city. If I don't kill Wei Yan and capture Guan Yu, I will not be a human being!"
Han Hao said worriedly, "Guan Yu is brave and he has Wei Yan as his assistant. I'm afraid they will come to raid our camp tonight."
"Raid the camp?" Xiahou Dun rolled his eyes and said with a grin, "If Guan Yu really dares to come, I will capture him!"
Yu Jin understood and said, "If we can turn defeat into victory, we will surely capture the city tomorrow!"
Xiahou Dun smiled coldly, ordered the troops to reorganize and deploy secretly in the camp.