Chapter 36: Yuan Shao's Character

The Battle of Baima, in which the white horse was rescued, ended in a resounding victory for Cao’s forces, with both Yan Liang and Wen Chou meeting their deaths. This triumph truly secured for Cao the chance to stand against Yuan Shao at Guandu. News of the battle swept across the vast realm of Han with unprecedented speed, and for a time, many lords found themselves forced to reassess the situation.

Those who had believed Yuan Shao would swiftly unify the north began to lose faith in him. When they had once allied to campaign against Dong Zhuo, Yuan Shao had not only claimed the mantle of alliance leader, but had often boasted of his mighty generals, Yan Liang and Wen Chou. Now, however, it seemed those men were little more than hollow names, mere pretenders.

With this crushing defeat, many of the lords who had previously cheered for Yuan Shao fell silent. The art of taking sides was delicate; lesser lords, who sought only to survive between great powers, could do so only by reading the tides of fortune with sharp accuracy.

After Wen Chou’s battered remnants retreated, Yuan Shao was left livid, speechless in his fury.

“Xuande, tell me,” Yuan Shao demanded, fixing Liu Bei with a sidelong, hostile gaze in the icy silence of his command hall, “our army outnumbered Cao’s nearly ten to one—why did we lose?”

Behind Liu Bei, Zhang Fei quietly clenched his fist. He understood well enough that Liu Bei was only here out of necessity, and if things grew so dangerous that their lives were forfeit, there would be no point in remaining.

“This defeat was brought about entirely by Cao Cao’s cunning schemes! Had his men not abandoned their supplies and baggage along the road, General Wen Chou would have kept his troops in order, and our army would never have suffered such a loss. I implore you, Lord Yuan, grant me a force of soldiers, and I will avenge General Wen Chou!”

Liu Bei’s words were emphatic and sworn with conviction, leaving Yuan Shao at a temporary loss. He knew now was not the time for rash retaliation, but was also convinced that Liu Bei could not have contributed much to the defeat.

“What does your advisor think?” Yuan Shao, after a moment’s hesitation, turned to consult Ju Shou standing behind him.

Ju Shou raised his eyes to Yuan Shao, then glanced at Liu Bei, giving a faint smile. “Our troops’ morale is at its lowest. It would not be wise to send them out now.”

With that, Ju Shou said nothing more, dropping his gaze to his feet.

Ju Shou was one of Yuan Shao’s foremost strategists. Though he, Tian Feng, and the other counselors could not quite match the likes of Guo Jia, Cheng Yu, or the brothers Xun Yu and Xun You, they were not far behind. Yet theirs was not the fortune to serve a sovereign as shrewd as Cao Cao. Yuan Shao, though famous from youth and of a family boasting five high ministers in four generations, had flaws too glaring to overlook: hesitance and stubborn self-will. He could not abide counsel that differed from his own.

With such a nature, Yuan Shao had triumphed over weaker foes by sheer obstinacy, and had indeed relied on it to reach his current position. But both Ju Shou and the more seasoned Tian Feng knew well that this Yuan Shao could never overcome Cao Cao.

Thus, when Tian Feng had earnestly advised a surprise attack on Xuchang and Yuan Shao refused on the pretext of his son’s illness, Tian Feng had grown ever more distant from him.

Now, the likes of Guo Tu and the other counselors had little mind for winning battles, preoccupied instead with seizing power and influence left vacant by Tian Feng’s absence.

In truth, upon learning that Wen Chou had perished and only Liu Bei had returned with a handful of troops, Ju Shou had already advised Yuan Shao, “Though our Hebei soldiers are many, they lack the valor of the men from Henan. Cao Cao’s weakness is his shortage of supplies, but though he appears to dig in at Guandu for a long defense, in fact he seeks a swift victory. Therefore, we should prolong the conflict and wear him down.”

This was a profound and accurate assessment. While Cao Cao outwardly prepared for a drawn-out siege at Guandu, any discerning eye could see that a war of attrition would ultimately spell his doom at Yuan Shao’s hands.

But Yuan Shao would not see it. He saw no parity between himself and Cao Cao, holding his rival in contempt. Even with the loss of Yan Liang and Wen Chou, Yuan Shao believed Cao Cao’s victories to be mere flukes, and since his own supplies and forces remained largely intact, he was determined that the attack on Guandu—and the defeat of Cao Cao—must not be drawn out.

Ju Shou, disheartened by Yuan Shao’s prior actions, became even more so when his latest counsel was ignored. He had all but abandoned any hope of offering sound strategies. Though Yuan Shao continued to ask for his advice, Ju Shou’s answers now were little more than perfunctory.

“Xuande, you may go and rest for now. We shall take our time to deliberate over the attack on Cao Cao.”

“To deliberate”—these words had become something of a refrain from Yuan Shao’s lips.

“Rest assured, Lord Yuan. When next we meet Cao Cao in battle, I shall devote myself entirely! I vow to bring you the head of that traitor!” Liu Bei railed fiercely against Cao Cao as he bowed deeply to Yuan Shao, who, in that moment, once again regarded Liu Bei as a younger brother. The death of Wen Chou, his loyal companion of many years, was quickly forgotten.

Ju Shou watched Yuan Shao’s swaggering figure and shook his head in silent dismay. He knew that if the battle continued in this fashion, Yuan Shao’s chances would only grow slimmer. As for what Yuan Shao would do next, Ju Shou had already guessed: confronted with a Cao Cao well-prepared for a protracted struggle at Guandu, Yuan Shao’s arrogance would never allow for a lengthy campaign. He would launch a fierce assault on Guandu, gradually eroding his own hopes of victory.

At this time, they had no inkling of Cao Cao’s greatest support—the one who lent him so much strength and resolve, Emperor Liu Xie, was no longer in Xuchang. How this unexpected change might affect the outcome, perhaps only Liu Xie himself could guess.

By now, Liu Xie had all but galloped beyond the reach of Cao Cao’s control.

Along the way, whether toward Sun Ce or Zhang Hong, Liu Xie’s regard had grown. Though his escape was hastily arranged and fraught with peril, he realized that the resources and contingencies prepared by the East of the River were indeed many and varied.