Although Cao Cao's Northern Expedition to Wuheng faced many twists and turns, with the help of Guo Jia, Tian Chou and others, and the lives of the three armies, he still achieved the final victory.

[The soldiers are fast, unexpected]

When Cao Cao's army marched to Yi County, Guo Jia felt that the speed of advance was still too slow, so he proposed: "The soldiers are very fast, and now they have traveled thousands of miles to carry out surprise attacks, and they have too much baggage, and it is difficult to grasp the opportunity. And if the Wuhuan people get the news, they will definitely strengthen their vigilance; It is better to leave the baggage, and the army rushes in with double speed and attacks by surprise. ”

At that time, it was just in time for summer, the heavy rain did not stop, the coastal area was muddy and difficult to walk, and the Wuhuan people were still sending troops to guard the main transportation routes, and the Cao army was blocked and could not advance.

Cao Cao was very worried about this and asked Tian Chou for countermeasures. Tian Chou said: "This road often accumulates water in summer and autumn, and the shallow ones cannot be navigated to vehicles and horses, and the deep ones cannot carry boats and boats, which is a long-term problem that cannot be solved. Originally, the right Beiping County Government was located in Pinggang, and the road passed through Lulongsai to Liucheng. Since Emperor Guangwu established the martial arts, the road has been broken and no one has walked for nearly two hundred years, but there are still traces of the road to follow. Now the Wuhuan people thought that there was no end to the end of our army, and the army could not advance, so they had to retreat, so they relaxed their guard. If we silently return to the army, but cross the white sandalwood danger from the mouth of Lulongsai, and enter the area where they are not fortified, the road is close and the movement is convenient, and if we are not prepared to attack it, we can catch the Badun without a fight. ”

Cao Cao said: "Very good! So he led the army to retreat from Wuzhi, leaving a large wooden sign by the side of the road by the water, which read: "Now the summer is hot, the road is impassable, and wait until autumn and winter, and then send troops to fight." When the scout cavalry of the Wuhuan people saw it, they really thought that Cao Jun had left.

【Great Victory over Wuheng】

After successfully paralyzing the Wuheng people, Cao Cao ordered Tian Chou to lead his subordinates as guides, go up to Xu Wu Mountain, dig mountains and fill valleys, march more than 500 miles, pass through Baitan and Pinggang, pass through the royal court of the Xianbei tribe, and point to Liucheng to the east. When he was more than 200 miles away, Wuhuan discovered that Cao Cao was coming. Yuan Shang, Yuan Xi and Bao Dun, as well as Liaoxi Shan Yu Louban, Youbei Pingshan Yu Nengchen and others led tens of thousands of cavalry to meet Cao's army.

So the two sides launched a decisive battle at White Wolf Mountain, when Cao Cao led his army to suddenly meet the Wuhuan army, and the Wuhuan army was strong. Cao Jun's vehicles and baggage were all behind, and there were very few soldiers wearing armor, and the people around Cao Cao were afraid.

Cao Cao ascended the heights, saw that the Wuhuan army was not in order, Zhang Liao was also vigorous, and urged Cao Cao to engage in battle, so Cao Cao attacked in columns, sent Zhang Liao as the vanguard, and led the tiger and leopard cavalry with Cao Chun to follow Zhang Liao to attack the Wuhuan army array, the Wuhuan army was in chaos, the cavalry could not resist, and fled after being defeated. Bandun Shan Yu and the other leaders were captured and beheaded by the Tiger and Leopard Riders. Cao's army took advantage of the situation to chase the enemy to the north, forcing the enemy to surrender with 200,000 troops.

【Yuan Shang's Death】

After being defeated by Cao Cao, Dongdan Yu Sufumaru and Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi defected to Sun Kang, the Taishou Gong of Liaodong County, and they were followed by thousands of cavalry. At that time, someone persuaded Cao Cao to take advantage of the situation to pursue, and Cao Cao said: "I will make Gongsun Kang send the heads of Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi, and there is no need to work hard to mobilize the people." In September, Cao Cao led a large army from Liucheng.

After escaping to Liaodong, Yuan Shang discussed with Yuan Xi and said: "Now that I am in Liaodong, Gongsun Kang will definitely see me, and I will kill him with my own hands for my brother, and occupy Liaodong, which can also be used to expand myself." ”

As a result, Gongsun Kang also wanted to kill Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi as a credit to the imperial court, so he first ambushed the elite soldiers in the stable, and then invited Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi to come in. Yuan Xi was suspicious and didn't want to go in, Yuan Shang forced him to go in, so Yuan Xi went in with him. Before they could take their seats, Gongsun Kang called out an ambush and caught them. Let the two of them sit on the frozen ground. Yuan Shang said to Gongsun Kang: "When you don't die, you can't stand the cold, can you give us a seat?" Gongsun Kang said: "Your head is about to travel thousands of miles, what do you want the mat for!" (Note 1)

So he beheaded Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi, and sent them to Cao Cao along with the head of the Servant Pill. At that time, someone among the generals asked Cao Cao: "You have retired from the army and Gongsun Kang killed Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi, why is this?" Cao Cao said: "Gongsun Kang has always been afraid of Yuan Shang and Yuan Xi, if I attack in a hurry, they will join forces to resist; When they are in moderation, they kill each other; It was circumstances that made them do so. ”

After the proposals of Xun You and Guo Jia, Cao Cao seems to have obtained three of them. After defeating Wuheng and Gongsun Kang sending Yuan Shang's head, Cao Cao had already cleared the potential threat from the north, and Cao Cao could prepare to go south without worry.

[The death of Guo Jia and Zhang Xiu]

Although Cao Cao won the Battle of Wuheng, he actually suffered great losses, and his heavy general Zhang Xiu and important strategist Guo Jia both died on the way to the Northern Expedition. According to the "Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms", Zhang Xiu followed Cao Cao to Liucheng to conquer Wuhuan, and died before he arrived ("Wei Luo" has other records about Zhang Xiu's death), and was called the Marquis of Ding, and his son Zhang Quan succeeded him.

On the way back from Liucheng, because of the unaccustomed water and soil, the harsh climate, coupled with the rush day and night and overwork, Guo Jia also died of illness.

【Objections to the Grand Prize】

After Cao Cao got Yuan Shang's head, he hung it up for public display, and ordered the three armies: "Anyone who dares to cry will be beheaded!" But this can't stop those grateful people, lead the sacrifice alone, cry loudly, Cao Cao thought he was a righteous man loyal to the old master, recommended him as Maocai. Because Tian Chou was once recruited by Yuan Shang, he went to mourn. Cao Cao did not pursue it, but admired it greatly.

After returning from victory, Cao Cao rewarded meritorious deeds, and sealed the field as a pavilion marquis, with 500 fiefs. Tian Chou said: "I was originally to avenge Liu Yu and lead the crowd to flee, but my intention was not achieved, but I profited from it, which was not my original intention." "Resolutely resigned, refusing to accept the knighthood. Cao Cao knew that Tian Chou was sincere, and agreed to his resignation, and did not force him to accept.

During Cao Cao's Northern Expedition, there was a period of cold weather, and there was a great drought, there was no water for 200 miles, and the army lacked food, so they had to kill thousands of war horses as military food, and dig more than 30 zhang of ground to see water. After the army returned, Cao Cao investigated the people who had previously discouraged him from sending troops to fight against Wuhuan, and everyone was afraid of what reason.

As a result, Cao Cao rewarded the dissuasioners and said to them: "I sent troops before, which is really dangerous, although I won by luck, it is all based on the blessing of God, and cannot be used as a rule." Your opinion is the perfect solution, so reward it, and don't be afraid to say the opposite. ”

Tian Chou and Cheng Yu did not listen to the call of other princes, and were willing to take refuge in Cao Cao, which was not without reason.

Note 1: The record in the "Dictionary" is said by Yuan Xi, and the record in the "Book of the Later Han" is said by Gongsun Kang.