Guan Yu's retreat from the battle shocked the Central Plains. Cao Zhen was training his troops in Puyang and was on standby when he heard the news. He urgently summoned all his generals to discuss the matter.
Xiahou Ba laughed and said, "Guan Yu is arrogant and has no one to blame. This is the retribution he deserves. Send troops quickly to lift the siege of Xuchang."
Cao Zhen said: "Guan Yu is arrogant by nature, so why would he retreat because of his injury?"
Cao Tai nodded and said, "Zi Dan's words make sense. Given Guan Yu's temperament, he would rather lose an arm than retreat. I'm afraid there must be something fishy going on."
Xiahou Ba said: "The poison Guan Yu was poisoned with was incurable. Hua Tuo was unable to eradicate it, but only suppressed it. Now his old wound has recurred, and the poison has entered his bone marrow. What else can I doubt?"
Cao Zhen was hesitant, and Cao Tai said, "Guan Yu is using the scholar Zhuge Liang as his general, which will surely make people dissatisfied. Why not send an army to Suanzao to station there and wait for the right opportunity to act?"
"This is a brilliant plan!" Cao Zhen instructed Xiahou Ba, "Zhongquan will lead an army to Suanzao first and contact General Zhang to inquire about the military situation. I will then send another 5,000 Xianbei troops to assist in the battle."
Xiahou Ba gladly accepted the order and led 10,000 soldiers to rush to Suanzao. At this time, it was rumored in the army that Guan Yu had returned to Xiangyang to recuperate, so he hurriedly sent people to Guandu to inquire about the news and agreed to join forces with Zhang Liao to attack Zhuge Liang's army.
At this time, Zhang Liao was receiving a letter from Zhang Wei, informing him that Guan Yu had indeed returned to Xiangyang and that he would have his arm amputated within two days. By the time the letter arrived, his arm would have been severed.
After reading the letter, Zhang Liao sighed, "I never thought that Yunchang, a hero in his lifetime, would end up like this."
Hou Cheng smiled and said, "With Guan Yu's broken arm, father has no rival anymore, why don't you worry about it?"
Zhang Liao sighed with melancholy: "Although Yunchang and I serve different masters, we respect each other. He has been brave all his life. Now that his arm is broken, his integrity will be ruined. He must be in great pain."
Zhang Hu said: "Guan Yu attacked Kunyang and took Yuzhou, pressing us step by step, causing my father's reputation to be ruined. Why do you miss the past? Now that the powerful enemy is gone, it is time to avenge the previous humiliation and regain the lost territory. Why sigh for so long?"
"My son is absolutely right. Only by taking back Yuzhou can we live up to the Prime Minister's trust!"
Zhang Liao put his thoughts aside and was about to order the messenger to ask Xiahou Ba to send troops, when suddenly a scout came to report that Zhuge Liang had sent troops to attack Guandu first.
Zhang Liao was still skeptical at first, but when he heard that Zhuge Liang had taken the initiative to send troops, he looked up to the sky and laughed, "I have been confronting Yunchang for more than half a year, and there has been no omissions. This must be because the morale of the Jingzhou soldiers was unstable, and Zhuge Liang could not control them, so he had to take the initiative to attack. God is really helping me."
Hou Chengyan said: "Zhuge Liang is quite good at making plans. We must guard against him making a feint to the east and attacking the west, and then making a desperate attempt to attack Xuchang."
Zhang Liao sneered, "Guan Yu has retreated, so what's the point of Zhuge Liang? Cao Zidan has already arrived in Puyang. We only need Xiahou Ba to guard Guandu. I will go back to Xuchang and take Kunyang in the south. I will cut off the route for the troops from Jingzhou to return. Then the Central Plains can be settled!"
Zhang Hu suggested: "No matter where Zhuge Liang is sending his troops, the old camp must be empty now. Why not go and rob the camp?"
Zhang Liao shook his head and said, "Zhuge Liang is very cautious in his march, so the main camp must be well prepared. There is no need to waste energy. I will go straight to Kunyang, and he will surely come to rescue us. Zi Dan can frighten him and chase him from behind, making it difficult for him to take care of both ends."
"Father, this is a good idea!" Zhang Hu remembered that in order to kill Zhuge Liang, Zhang Liao was surrounded and trapped, and he was captured by Guan Yu. He couldn't help but feel scared.
Zhang Liao sent someone to inform Cao Zhen overnight, and transferred Xiahou Ba to Guandu to guard the camp. He returned to Xuchang to prepare troops and horses. If the Jingzhou troops came to attack, he would fight them head-on. If they did not attack, he would go south to Kunyang and cut off their way back.
…
Xiahou Ba led his troops to Guandu. The camps where they had fought against Yuan’s army in the past were still there. He discussed the division of troops and deployment with the King of Liaodong, Gongsun Wang.
Gongsun Wang, with his round belly sticking out, said proudly: "Young general, there is no need to bother with this. When the enemy comes, I will kill them without leaving a single piece of armor."
Xiahou Ba said: "There are many great men in the Central Plains. Although Your Majesty is brave, you should not underestimate him."
Prince Gongsun laughed and said, "Even if the Guan Yu you mentioned comes, I can kill him."
When Cao Cao went north to conquer the Xianbei, he met King Gongsun in Wuhuan Mountain. Gongsun was also a tribal king in northern Liaodong. It was said that his ancestors were Dingling people. He was nine feet tall, with broad shoulders and a strong waist. When he rode a horse, he was like a mountain.
Gongsun Wang was born with supernatural powers. He single-handedly conquered a piece of territory between the Xianbei and Wuhuan tribes. When Cao's army confronted him, Cao Zhang, Cao Zhen and others were no match for him. They fought with Xu Chu for a hundred rounds but there was no clear winner.
Cao Cao valued his talent and captured him alive, then made him a general, named him the King of Dingling and gave him command of 10,000 Xianbei cavalry. It was precisely because of sending this man to fight Guan Yu that Cao Cao felt at ease to go to Huainan.
Xiahou Ba looked at the reckless man with yellow beard and small eyes, frowned slightly, and patiently reminded him: "The people of the Central Plains are good at using military tactics, Your Majesty, don't be reckless."
Prince Gongsun said disdainfully: "Is there anyone who is better at commanding troops than Prime Minister Cao?"
Xiahou Ba was speechless, not knowing how to answer. If he said that someone was better than Cao Cao, it would be disrespectful. If he said that no one was as good as Cao Cao, this reckless man would probably underestimate his enemy.
Just when they were feeling helpless, the defenders suddenly reported that the Jingzhou army had arrived in front of the camp and a red-faced general was challenging them.
"Guan Yu is indeed faking illness!" Xiahou Ba was shocked and hurriedly led his troops out of the camp.
Prince Gongsun held a pair of copper hammers in his hands. As soon as he opened the camp gate, he urged his horse to charge out, saying in a buzzing voice: "Guan Yu, take this hammer from me."
"This is Wei Yan..." Xiahou Ba hurriedly shouted, but Gongsun Wang had already arrived at the scene, so he had to order people to beat drums to cheer.
Wei Yan led the Chiyan Army from Luoyang to rush to the rescue day and night. Zhuge Liang ordered him to take Guandu directly. He thought Zhang Liao was in the camp, but suddenly a bear-like monster appeared and he was startled.
Zhang Yi on the side came out and fought with Gongsun Wang. After only three rounds, he was beaten by the bronze hammer and could not resist. He was defeated and fled. Hu Ji rushed forward to rescue him and barely managed to hold out for five or six rounds, but he could not withstand the sharp attack and turned his horse to flee.
Prince Gongsun did not chase after him, but pointed at Wei Yan and shouted, "Guan Yu, I have come here today to take your dog head."
"Asshole!" Wei Yan was furious and rode forward, shouting, "I am Wei Yan from Nanyang! Who are you, you bastard? Tell me your name."
"It turns out to be a fake!" Gongsun Wang was very disappointed and raised his hammer and shouted: "I am Gongsun Wang, the Dingling King."
"Today I will call you the king of swords!" Wei Yan shouted solemnly and spurred his horse to fight the behemoth.
Gongsun Wang swung his two hammers, one hammer hit Wei Yan's face, and the other hammer swept across with great force. The bronze hammers formed a golden light in the sun.
Wei Yan dodged the hammer in his left hand and blocked it with his sword. There was a loud bang, which made his arms numb. He was secretly shocked, as the copper hammer must weigh at least fifty or sixty kilograms.
If the mount had not been equipped with stirrups, he would probably have fallen off the horse. The two horses crossed each other, and they held their swords tightly and concentrated on fighting.
The two hammers were like wooden hammers in Gongsun Wang's hands, and he swung them effortlessly. From a distance, there were circles of brilliant halos, wrapping Wei Yan in them.
After thirty rounds, Wei Yan's arms were numb and he dared not make contact with the bronze hammer with his sword. He could only rely on his skills to fight it and was completely at a disadvantage. However, Gongsun Wang became more and more courageous as the battle went on, as if he had infinite power.
Xiahou Ba was delighted when he saw this, and ordered four more drums to be played to cheer him up, and he cursed: "Wei Yan, you bastard, you first attacked Chang'an, and now you come to steal Guandu. Today I will make you pay for what you have done."