Guan Yu, as an admired military general during the Three Kingdoms period, was widely known for his bravery and loyalty. In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, even Guan Yu, who is so heroic, has opponents he fears. There are only five generals who can make Guan Yu feel frightened, of which Cao Wei occupies three seats and Dongwu two seats, but the famous Ma Chao is not included in this list.
Guan Yu, the word cloud chief, is Liu Bei's sworn brother and one of the important pillars of Shu Han. His martial arts are strong and he is known as the "Martial Saint", but even such a heroic figure also has his own fears and awe in the long years of war.
When it comes to the characters in Cao Wei who can make Guan Yu jealous, I have to mention Zhang Liao. Zhang Liao, originally a famous general under Cao Cao, his martial arts are extraordinary, and he has made great achievements on the battlefield many times. Especially in the Battle of Hefei in 215 AD, Zhang Liao led only 800 elite soldiers to fight against Sun Quan's army, which eventually caused Sun Quan's army to lose morale and had to retreat. Guan Yu was extremely jealous of Zhang Liao's martial arts and command ability, and thought in his heart that it was best to avoid confronting Zhang Liao head-on unless necessary.
It was another general of Cao Wei, Xu Chu. Although Xu Chu does not have a glamorous battlefield performance like Zhang Liao, his personal courage is well known in the rivers and lakes. He was so powerful that he once singled out the enemy and made people fearful. In Guan Yu's opinion, Xu Chu's heads-up ability may be one of the biggest threats he has encountered.
Let's talk about the two of Soochow, Zhou Yu and Lu Xun. Zhou Yu, known as "Mei Zhou Lang", his wisdom and way of using troops made him defeat Cao Cao's million-strong army in the Battle of Chibi, which also completely shattered Cao Cao's ambition to go south. Guan Yu was deeply jealous of Zhou Yu's resourcefulness, and he knew that Zhou Yu was an opponent to be reckoned with, and his wits were full of scheming, and he could find an opportunity to win in the disadvantage.
Lu Xun was a later up-and-coming general of Eastern Wu, although he was young, he won more with less in the Battle of Yiling, skillfully used fire to attack, and defeated the Shu Han army, which also directly led to Guan Yu's loss of power. Although Guan Yu did not have too many confrontations with Lu Xun during his lifetime, Lu Xun's measures and tactical arrangements were very fearful of Guan Yu.
Among these opponents, each of them has their outstanding points, whether it is Zhang Liao's troops in Hefei, Xu Chu's bravery, Zhou Yu's wisdom, or Lu Xun's fire attack, they have all left an indelible impression in Guan Yu's heart. And Ma Chao, although he is also an extraordinary general, in Guan Yu's eyes, his strength is not enough to make the "Martial Saint" take it to heart. This may be because although Ma Chao is heroic, in Guan Yu's opinion, his fighting style and tactical use are not mature enough to pose a threat.
In the era of heroes in the Three Kingdoms, Guan Yu was able to remain vigilant and jealous of these characters, not only because of their martial arts or resourcefulness, but also because of his keen perception of the battlefield situation and his deep understanding of the opponent. Every confrontation and battle made Guan Yu more clear: in this troubled world, only by constantly learning the strengths of the opponent can he grasp the opportunity to win in the future battle.
On the other hand, Guan Yu's mentality also reflects his strategic vision and battlefield wisdom. He knows that the existence of every strong enemy is an opportunity for his own growth. By observing these opponents who made him jealous, Guan Yu constantly adjusted his tactics and strategies, trying to find the opponent's weaknesses in every encounter. This ability to continue to learn and adapt is also one of the important reasons why Guan Yu can gain a foothold in troubled times.
In this process, Guan Yu's image gradually plumped up. He is no longer just a brave warrior, but also a far-sighted general. In his heart, every adversary worthy of awe is his teacher. He learned from them how to survive in the complex battlefield, how to find a glimmer of life in seemingly desperate situations.
Such Guan Yu is a warrior full of wisdom, and his story not only makes us feel the fierceness and blood on the battlefield, but also allows us to see how a hero grows up in constant challenges, and how he sharpens his will and strategy in every duel with a strong enemy.
Guan Yu's story also brings profound inspiration to us today. In each of our lives and work, we may encounter those opponents or challenges that make us feel jealous or even afraid. Guan Yu's story tells us that these challenges and opponents are the catalyst for our growth. We need to face up to these challenges, learn from them, grow from them, and ultimately turn them into motivation for ourselves in the years to come.
Looking back on Guan Yu's story, we see a heroic image of the Three Kingdoms period, and we also see a wise man who is constantly learning and improving. Throughout his life, the opponents he feared actually became the force that propelled him forward. Guan Yu's career reminds us that whether it is personal or professional development, when we encounter challenges and difficulties,