The historical image of Yuan Shao does not seem to be very good. It has always been what is "outer wide and inner taboo" and "good planning". Recently, the internet's comments on Yuan Shao have begun to improve, recognizing him as a relatively capable and powerful warlord at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, but it is still not good compared with Cao Cao.
Of course, Xiaobian also believes that Yuan Shao's ability is weaker than Cao Cao's, after all, the "Battle of Guandu" can be said to be a stage for the two to compete one-on-one (there are also the influences of other warlords, but the protagonists are Cao Cao and Yuan Shao), and cao Cao, who is relatively weak, won the final victory.
Especially when the Wuchao was burning, Cao Cao's boldness and Yuan Shao's decision-making mistakes formed a sharp contrast. Let's talk about this matter.
In the middle of the "Battle of Guandu", Yuan Shao gained a huge advantage
Although it is recorded in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, in the "Battle of Guandu", Cao Cao's side fought many victories. For example, beheading Yan Liang and Xue Wen ugly; or defeating Liu Bei and Runan Haoqiang; or burning Yuan Shao's grain convoy. But these are some partial victories. Of course, these partial victories had a great impact on the process of the "Battle of Guandu", but on the whole, they did not reverse Cao Cao's disadvantage in the first and middle periods.
In fact, in the "Battle of Guandu", Yuan Shao relied on his strong strength to push the front from Baima and Yanjin to the south to Yangwu and Guandu. Although Cao Cao resisted Cao Cao's offensive at Guandu, he basically suffered losses in the process of confrontation. Moreover, there are great problems in logistics and supplies, and the hearts and minds of the people and the army. Judging from some records, before the counterattack on Wuchao, Xiaobian really did not see the hope of Cao Cao's reversal.
Chronicle of the Three Kingdoms, Wei Shu, Emperor Wu of Wu: "When the soldiers were dissatisfied with ten thousand, the wounded were twelve or thirteen... But the crowd ran out of food, and the soldiers were tired... In the books of the public receipts, the books of the people in the army and the people in the army were burned. ”
"Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Wei Shu, Yuan Shao's Biography": "Shao does not follow. The company battalion moved forward a little, forced the officers to cross, and fought together, and the Taizu army was unfavorable. ”
Cao Cao's desperate gamble and Yuan Shao's decision-making
Just when Cao Cao's mountains were exhausted, Xu You's defection brought about a turnaround. Cao Cao warmly welcomed Xu You's arrival. This may have little to do with Xu You's personal talents or the old feelings of the two people, but the confidential value of Yuan Shao's army that Xu You possessed was very high. Sure enough, Xu You brought news to Cao Cao that a large amount of Yuan Shao's military grain was hoarded in Wuchao, forty miles from Yuan Shao's camp.
This news came out of the mouth of the descendants, and it also aroused suspicion in Cao Cao's clique. But this opportunity was indeed the last turning point for Cao Cao to turn the tables. So Cao Cao led 5,000 men to launch a surprise attack on Wuchao.
Chronicle of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Wei, Emperor Wu of Wu: "Gong Nai left Cao Hongshou and rode five thousand people at night." ”
Regarding Cao Cao's raid on Wuchao this time, different historical sources have different accounts. One is that Cao Cao has been discovered by the Wuchao defender Chun Yuqiong, and the two sides have fought, Chun Yuqiong did not fight Cao Cao, and Wuchao fell; the other is that Cao Cao secretly attacked the Wuchao camp under the banner of Yuan Shao and defeated Chun Yuqiong in the chaos.
The former is recorded in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and the latter is Pei Songzhi's "Biography of Cao Concealment". From an authoritative point of view only, Xiaobian personally prefers the former.
"Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Wei, And Emperor Wu": "Qiong and others saw that there were few public soldiers and went out of the Chen Gate." When the public attacked, Qiong withdrew from the camp and attacked it. ”
Yuan Shao's side received news that Cao Cao had secretly attacked Wuchao. There were also two voices in Yuan Shao's clique, Zhang Gao believed that Wuchao should be rescued, and Guo Tu believed that cao Cao's base camp should be attacked by means of "encircling Wei and saving Zhao".
At this time, Yuan Shao's "scheming and indecisive" personality was reflected. He listened to both, sending troops to support Wuchao on the one hand, and sending troops to attack Cao Cao's base camp on the other. Neither side won. Wuchao's grain was burned down, and Cao Cao's camp could not be attacked, and Yuan Shao basically laid the foundation for defeat at this time.
Why Yuan Shao chose to "encircle Wei and save Zhao"
Why did Yuan Shao choose to "encircle Wei and save Zhao"? Xiao Bian thought that yuan shao's biggest reliance on not going all out to rescue Wuchao was the strength of the troops.
Cao Cao's forces in the Battle of Guandu were inferior to Yuan Shao's. The Chronicle of Emperor Wu says that Cao Cao was "dissatisfied with ten thousand soldiers" and "less than six hundred on horseback". Of course, this figure is somewhat controversial, but one thing is clear, Cao Cao's military strength is indeed less than Yuan Shao's. Moreover, when Cao Cao sneaked into Wuchao, there were only 5,000 people, and Chun Yuqiong had at least more than 10,000 troops in Wuchao, which was twice as large as Cao Cao.'s.
Although Yuan Shao could not have known the specific strength of Cao Cao's sneak attack on Wuchao, it was also very likely that he had found out Cao Cao's strength during the confrontation, and speculated that Cao Cao's sneak attack on Wuchao was limited. Therefore, Yuan Shao was more at ease with Wuchao, and only dispatched a small number of cavalry as support.
Another point is the problem of cavalry. As we all know, in ancient times the role of cavalry was very strong. One of its huge advantages is speed. Yuan Shao had the advantage of troop strength, why only a small number of cavalry were divided to support Wuchao, Xiaobian thought that it might be the lack of cavalry.
There are two theories about the strength of Yuan Shao's troops in the "Battle of Guandu", one is 100,000 infantry and 10,000 cavalry; the other is 50,000 infantry and 8,000 cavalry. There are big differences between the two theories, but in the cavalry area is unified, both are about ten thousand.
However, by the end of the "Battle of Guandu", Yuan Shao's cavalry was no longer so much. In the "Battle of Yanjin", Cao Cao successfully defeated Wen Ugly and Liu Bei's troops and beheaded Wen Ugly. The cavalry unit led by Wen Ugly and Liu Bei can be said to be a great loss to Yuan Shao.
Chronicle of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Wei, Emperor Wu of Wu: "Shao Riding General Wen Ugly and Liu Bei riding five or six thousand horses back and forth to... Big break, cut ugly. ”
Therefore, Xiaobian thought that in the face of Cao Cao's surprise attack on Wuchao, Yuan Shao was biased towards "encircling Wei and saving Zhao", so he put a limited cavalry on the attack on Cao Cao's base camp, and a small number of cavalry supported Wuchao, and the final result led to the defeat of Wuchao.
Yuan Shao's decision-making was wrong
Yuan Shao's method of "encircling Wei and saving Zhao" seemed very reasonable and in line with the art of war. But Xiaobian believes that this strategy is fundamentally wrong. Because at that time, the balance of victory was already tilted towards Yuan Shao.
In this advantageous situation, Yuan Shao only needed to ensure that there were no huge mistakes on his side, such as things like Wuchao being secretly attacked and grain and grass being burned out, he could drag Cao Cao down.
At this time, Yuan Shao should not hope for a decisive battle such as capturing Cao Cao's base camp, but should rely on huge military superiority to stabilize Cao Cao.
The so-called "good warriors have no outstanding merits", and if they can win a victory safely, they do not need to use any strange plots and strange soldiers, which is the biggest mistake of Yuan Shao in the small editor's opinion.
Another point is that Yuan Shao lacked Cao Cao's courage. Cao Cao's sneak attack on Wuchao was personally led, showing great boldness and also helping to improve the morale of his troops; while Yuan Shao sent Zhang Gao and Gao Lan to carry out this mission. As a result, Chun Yu Qiong's side failed, and the news reached the ears of Yuan Jun, who attacked Cao Cao's base camp.
Yuan Shao was not at the front, and the army was naturally dominated by Zhang Gao and Gao Lan. Zhang Gao had not suggested attacking Cao Cao's base camp and carrying out Guo Tu's suggestion, which was the opposite of his own; when he heard the news of Chun Yuqiong's defeat, he naturally surrendered to Cao Cao.
Successive defeats and the problem of grain and grass made Yuan Shao's army shake, and Yuan Shao lost, and Cao Cao won the final victory in the Battle of Guandu. Although this was related to Cao Cao's military ability, it was also based on Yuan Shao's erroneous decision.
References: Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Book of the Later Han Dynasty