When Zhao Yun saw Cao's army attacking the city, he sent troops to support them. Xu Huang was ambushed and killed by surprise.
When the two were fighting outside the city, a fire broke out in the camp at the rear. Zhao Yun fell into the trap and forced Xu Huang to retreat and flee.
In the dark night, Xu Huang did not dare to chase rashly. He stabilized the formation and reported to Cao Cao. Cao's army rushed forward and formed a battle formation outside Bowang City, and their morale soared.
Cao Cao stroked his beard and looked around, then said with a smile: "Xu Shu and Zhuge Liang were no better than me. They were defeated by my tricks. What can Liu Qi, a little boy, do?"
Xun You said: "Bowang has no food and grass, and the two camps have been destroyed. Liu Qi will definitely retreat. Prime Minister, make preparations early and march into 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, tents collapsed, clothes and armor were floating, and it was a mess. Zhao Yun's camp was still on fire and thick smoke was billowing.
Cao Cao looked around and laughed, "It really is as Zuo Ci said, except that the disaster of water and fire should be on Liu Qi, not me, Cao Mengde!"
Cao Chun smiled and said, "Master Zuo is actually right. The Prime Minister is a master of water and fire. If there is no such ingenious plan, how can there be water and fire disasters?"
Cao Cao laughed loudly and said, "Zihe's words make sense. I will reward Zuo Ci handsomely for conquering Jingzhou this time."
Cao Chun clasped his fists and said, "The Prime Minister's mighty power will surely defeat Liu Qi, a dog and a pig!"
At this moment, scouts came to report that Guan Yu and Zhao Yun had each led the remaining troops 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 after them, but he saw Zhang Fei still on the top of the city wall, holding a spear and glaring at Cao's army. He looked like a furious King Kong, looking very majestic and awe-inspiring.
Cao Hong was eager to take revenge, and said anxiously: "Zhang Fei must have stayed behind to guard the city. It is too much for one person to try to stop our army. It is better to send other troops to pursue the enemy."
Cheng Yu suggested: "Why not capture Zhang Fei and exchange him for Cao Ren?"
"This is a great plan!" Cao Cao nodded happily and ordered Cao Hong, Cao Xiu and Le Jin to guard one gate each to surround Bowang, while Xu Huang led the troops to pursue the enemy.
Xu Huang led 10,000 elite soldiers across Bowang and chased towards Bowangpo. As soon as he turned the corner, he saw a group of soldiers standing on the road. The man in the lead was standing on his horse with a sword in hand and his long beard fluttering. It was Guan Yu.
Xu Huang's heart sank. Liu Qi had indeed divided his troops to cover the rear. He stepped forward and shouted, "Yunchang, the Prime Minister still admires you. Liu Bei was killed by Liu Qi and his son. You are a man of justice. Why don't you abandon the dark and join the light?"
Guan Yu snorted coldly, "Xu Gongming, you know nothing about righteousness. My brother and I have sworn brotherhood and are determined to revive the Han Dynasty. How can we serve Cao Cao? I have my own judgment on my elder brother's affairs. You don't need to interfere."
Xu Huang frowned slightly. He wanted to chase the enemy, but he was afraid of Guan Yu's bravery and did not dare to kill him rashly. The two armies met on the road like tigers and wolves, and they were in a stalemate.
Deputy General Yin Shu clasped his fists and said, "General Xu, if you delay military operations, the Prime Minister will punish you!"
Zhu Gai said: "Guan Yu only has 2,000 men and horses. If we attack him all at once, will he be able to defeat us?"
Xu Huang took a deep breath, raised his axe and shouted, "Kill!"
Xu Huang swung the mountain-splitting axe and went straight for Guan Yu. As long as he could delay Guan Yu for a while and disperse the two wings, he would win a great victory.
Guan Yu lightly lifted the silk reins, and the Red Hare stood up, galloping out like an arrow from a bow, and caught Xu Huang. The two fought on the mountain road.
The Cao army shouted loudly and rushed forward with Xu Huang. They rushed over the mountains and plains like a tide and submerged the Jingzhou soldiers in a blink of an eye.
Seeing that the situation was not good, Guan Yu shouted loudly to force Xu Huang to retreat, and led the remaining troops to flee south. Xu Huang was overjoyed and immediately led his troops to attack.
After they had walked for a few miles, there was a sudden sound of drums on the mountain, and ambushes from both sides of the mountain rushed out. Guan Ping on the left and Zhou Cang on the right cut Cao's army in half, and the formation was immediately in chaos.
Guan Yu turned his horse around, stroked his beard and laughed, "Xu Gongming, you have fallen into my trap, why don't you surrender?"
Xu Huang was shocked and ordered his soldiers to form a formation and retreat, but the Red Hare was extremely fast, and Guan Yu rushed into the chaotic army with his sword brandishing, killing several people in an instant.
Yin Shu was enjoying the pursuit and was unaware that the ambushes had come out. By the time he realized something was wrong, Guan Yu had already led his troops to counterattack. He retreated in a hurry, but was crowded by the chaotic army and could not move.
Guan Yu rode over and slashed at him with his Qinglong sword. Yin Shu didn't even have the heart to resist. He watched the cold light approaching him and shouted in despair, "General Xu, help..."
Before he could finish his words, he was beheaded by Guan Yu with a single blow. Cao's army fled in panic, and countless people were trampled to death.
Xu Huang did not want to suffer the humiliation of being captured, so he led his personal soldiers to kill the ambushers and escaped the way they came. Zhu Gai followed closely behind him, but was stopped by Guan Ping.
“General Xu, save me, save me quickly…” Guan Yu was already riding his horse towards him from behind, and Zhu Gai shouted in a crying voice.
Under the tremendous pressure, he could not hold his weapon steadily and barely resisted three attacks, but was killed by Guan Ping with a single blow.
After Cao's army was defeated, Guan Yu reorganized his troops and turned back to attack Bowang City. It was Cao Xiu who was blocking the south gate.
Just now, Xu Huang was retreating in a panic and was feeling confused when he suddenly saw Guan Yu leading his troops to chase him. He gasped and the Cao army was also in a commotion.
"Hahaha, you dogs, 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 rode his horse south without any hesitation.
Cao's army fled in all directions, and Zhang Fei left the city almost without any hindrance. He joined forces with Guan Yu, and the two brothers slowly retreated backwards.
When Xu Huang was defeated and returned to plead guilty, Cao Cao stroked his beard and smiled, saying, "It has nothing to do with Gongming. Everything is as I expected."
Xu Huang was startled. Xun You said, "This is the strategy that the prime minister used to defeat Zhang Xiu. Liu Qi retreated calmly, so he must have been prepared. Only by pursuing the enemy now can we win."
Xu Huang sighed inwardly, realizing that he had fallen into a trap, and silently retreated to the rear to rest.
What he didn't know was that Cao Cao was suspicious by nature. If there were no ambush ahead, he would become suspicious and suspect that Liu Qi's withdrawal was a fraud.
Now that Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were working together to cover the retreat, it was obvious that Liu Qi had indeed retreated, and all the doubts in his heart were gone.
Xiahou Dun's eyes glowed, and he clasped his fists and said, "Prime Minister, it's time for us to take revenge!"
"Be careful, there is an ambush ahead!" Cao Cao warned, and dispatched 30,000 soldiers and horses from Xiahou Dun, followed by Generals Cao Xiu and Han Hao, and rushed to Wancheng.
Thick smoke rose from the city of Bowang. Zhang Fei set fire to the third gate when he left. Le Jin entered the city from the south gate, sent troops to put out the fire, open the city gate, and welcome the army.
"Liu Qi, let's see where you can escape this time!"
Cao Cao smiled coldly, led his troops into the city, ordered his men and horses to rest, and sent food and grass for support, so that they could march into Nanyang in one go tomorrow.
Xiahou Dun was eager for revenge, so he ordered Li Tong to lead the vanguard and chase after the enemy. When they arrived at a dangerous fork in the road, they found that the valley had been burned to ashes.
Xiahou Dun laughed and said, "This must be the place where Le Jin robbed the grain. Liu Qi couldn't ambush him. God is really helping me!"
The men and horses continued to move forward, and suddenly saw Li Tong's front army stopped. Xiahou Dun hurriedly urged his horse forward and asked, "What happened?"
Li Tong pointed ahead and said, "Just now our scouts discovered flags fluttering in the forest ahead. I'm afraid there are ambushes!"
Xiahou Dun's eyes were slightly stern. He ordered Li Tong to continue moving forward, while he stayed in the middle and Xiahou Lan followed up. The men and horses formed a formation and moved forward carefully.