At the main battlefield of Guandu, the two armies faced each other. Yuan Shao’s forces pressed like a tidal wave, and the Cao army’s fortifications were breached in multiple places. Cao soldiers fought and retreated, relying on the last core camps for a desperate defense. Cao Cao himself, dodging arrows, stood at the front with his sword, voice hoarse but still commanding with unyielding resolve. The situation was precarious, as if the next moment the Cao army might collapse entirely.
Yuan Shao, surrounded by advisers and generals, observed from a high ground. Stroking his long beard, he was complacent, wearing a triumphant smile.
“To think that today, Cao Cao’s head shall fall into my hands! Issue the order—whoever kills Cao Cao shall be rewarded a thousand gold and enfeoffed as a marquis!”
Hearing the generous reward, the Yuan forces attacked even more frantically.
Guo Tu bowed and flattered:
“Your Majesty is wise! Cao Cao is like a fish in a boiling pot. His destruction is imminent!”
Meanwhile, in the Cao camp, Cao Cao deflected a stray arrow with his sword, sighing as he glanced at Xun You:
“Could it be that today we are fated to fall with this camp?”
At that moment, a rider came charging across the battlefield like a demon from hell, covered in dust, horse foaming at the mouth, recklessly racing toward the high ground where Yuan Shao stood! Before dismounting, he tumbled off the horse, rolling and crawling, wailing:
“Master! Master! Disaster! Disaster! Wuchao is ablaze! It’s gone! Last night, Cao’s army launched a surprise attack—General Chunyu Qiong is dead, and all the supplies burned to ashes!”
“What?!!” The news struck like lightning. Yuan Shao and all his advisers froze instantly.
The smile on Yuan Shao’s face vanished, replaced by shock and terror:
“Impossible! Cao Cao’s main force is here… how could the enemy have soldiers? Who did this?!”
The messenger sobbed:
“It… it’s Cao Cao’s son, Cao Zhi!”
“Cao Zhi?! Cao Zijiang? Again it’s him!!” The absurdity and humiliation overwhelmed Yuan Shao.
His body shook violently, face turning red then white, and he suddenly pointed ahead, spitting blood, then collapsed unconscious.
“Your Majesty!!” Chaos erupted atop the high ground.
The news of Wuchao burning and the commander’s collapse spread like plague through Yuan Shao’s army.
“Wuchao is burning! All the supplies are gone!”
“Our lord has collapsed!”
Panic grew exponentially. The massive Yuan assault slowed, caught in confusion, morale beginning to crumble.
Cao Cao, unaware of the details, saw the enemy’s disarray and the wavering commander’s flag, realizing an opportunity had come.
He leapt onto his war chariot, shouting:
“Soldiers! The Yuan army is in chaos! Follow me and strike—!!!”
From the brink of destruction, the Cao army erupted with fierce strength, charging!
Yet the leading generals of Yuan Shao still tried to organize resistance. The battle remained tense; Cao’s attack struck like hitting a massive wall that wobbled but did not yet fall.
At that moment, on the northwest horizon behind Yuan Shao’s forces, smoke and dust rose. Two tattered banners appeared—the character “Cao” on one, “Zhi” on the other!
A force, like divine intervention, appeared behind Yuan Shao’s army!
The troops looked exhausted; horses were fatigued, armor blackened by smoke and blood, yet they had marched and fought relentlessly without rest.
Still, their formation remained in attack posture, their relentless killing intent radiating for miles.
At the forefront was Cao Zhi, flanked by Zhao Yun, Zhang Liao, and Xu Huang.
Cao Zhi pointed toward Yuan Shao’s center and shouted with all his strength:
“Cao Zhi is here! Traitor Yuan Shao, Wuchao’s supplies are burned! Surrender now! Attack the enemy—target Yuan Shao!”
Zhao Yun, his white robes stained dark red, raised his gleaming spear:
“Zhao Zilong of Changshan is here! Your supplies are gone—surrender immediately!”
Zhang Liao roared:
“Attack—!”
The army suddenly appearing from Yuan Shao’s rear was the last straw. The already panicked Yuan forces suffered a fatal blow.
“Behind us! Behind us—Cao’s army!”
“We’re surrounded!”
“It’s over! It’s all over!”
Panic turned to total collapse. Soldiers had no sense of the enemy’s numbers, only that the Cao army was everywhere, the commander unconscious, supplies gone, and retreat cut off. All will to fight shattered in an instant.
Hundreds of thousands of Yuan soldiers, like an avalanche, lost all organization, abandoning arms, fleeing for their lives. Cao Cao’s front line struck fiercely, Cao Zhi’s force blocked the rear—encirclement complete.
The battle became a one-sided slaughter.
Yuan Shao, protected by his few hundred bodyguards, barely regained consciousness amid the chaos, hearing shouts of “Those who surrender will not be killed” and the relentless pursuit of Cao’s troops. Looking around, his million-strong army had vanished.
His face pale as death, tears streaming, he whispered:
“It’s over… all gone… tens of thousands… destroyed by a mere child… heavens, why mock me so…”
Finally, with only a hundred loyal guards, Yuan Shao fled across the Yellow River in utter humiliation, retreating to Ye in Hebei.
The Battle of Guandu, turned by Cao Zhi’s burning of Wuchao and the surprise attack, ended in a miraculous, resounding victory.
Cao Cao reunited with Cao Zhi amidst the chaos. Seeing his son exhausted but alert, and the army that had created a miracle behind him, Cao Cao could hardly speak, patting his son’s shoulder heavily. He understood everything in an instant.
It was Cao Zhi who had struck Wuchao.
It was Cao Zhi who had destroyed Yuan Shao’s lifeline.
It was Cao Zhi who, riding through the night without pause, delivered the enemy’s final blow at the last moment.
Cao Cao, voice choked with emotion, said to those around him:
“Today’s glory belongs first and foremost to Zijiang! He burned their supplies, cut off their rear, shattered their courage, and secured victory! Sons… should all be like Cao Zhi!”
The words spread through the army. Every Cao soldier looked at Cao Zhi with awe and fervor. In this battle, Cao Zhi not only proved himself but rose to become the foremost hero establishing the foundation of Cao Wei’s supremacy.