Chapter 249 - Decisive Battle?
Now, we leave Cao Army and Liu Bei Army and we goes to Yuan Shao camp in Guandu. Right now, in Yuan Shao's main camp, the aura is very festive, because they kept on offensive while Cao Army were just doing defense, cutting down their numbers severely, while Yuan Shao also lost 50,000 troops, but his roster still got 200,000 troops. Enough to beat Cao Cao and all of his sons until their ass is destroyed. So, all of the army is implying, one more push, and it is the end of Cao Cao and right now they are celebrating ahead of the victory.
"Congratulations Milord! Guandu is broken as if a twig stepped by you!!! We are only one step to enter Central Plains. At that time, who can hope to match your Yuan clan's grandeur? Milord now is more glorious than Duke of Zhou once!!!" Said Guo Tu. That adviser is known to have honeyed tongue and is Yuan Shao's favorite. Yuan Shao just replied with a hearty laugh.
Also, it should be a no-brainer as to why Yuan Shao is really prideful right now. He managed to pacify the entire Hebei, a full 4 province by his power alone. Ji Province, which is his HQ right now, is one of this nation's granary. Bing Province, Qing Province and You Province, three of them also prosperous, although always under attack by those beyond Great Wall. However Yuan Shao and them were able to make peace by providing tributes to them, leaving north undisturbed for now. Also, his core generals Wen Chou and Yan Liang each of them commandeered 20,000 elite troops. Even his lesser generals like Zhang He and Gao Lan, all leading 10,000 troops. He still had Qu Yi's suicide squad and his Halberd Troops even though he executed him not a while ago. (TN: Previous translation, wrote Qu Yi as Ju Yi. The real name is Qu Yi, sorry for the confusion) Right now, Yuan Shao thought With such excellent roster like this, who is my match in this world? After that, he raised his head up pridefully. In just a few moments, this very country's surname will change into Yuan. Liu has been decadent for so long, it is Yuan clan time to rise!!! Thought Yuan Shao again.
Yuan Shao's mind then flew back to the event that already passed. He remembered how his father Yuan Kui often ignored him when he said his advice, he also remembered how Yuan Shu always sneered him in front of their father and always adding more insult when Yuan Shao's advice is rejected by him, telling him to know his place for he is just a maid's son. Yuan Shao then looked at Xu You, he remembered when the three of them are scoundrels. Scoundrels who liked to visit brothel. When remembering about the brothel, he remembered how delicious Lady Bian was and want to eat her, but was taken by Cao Cao who proposed to her after losing his wife Lady Liu. Yuan Shao then licked his lip in lust and thought Oooo, Cao Aman, I will not kill you for I will make a show only for you, where I fucked your wife in public!!!
"Yes, yes. Milord is the one who can change the fate of this nation. Han Dynasty is already corrupt so much it become Cao Aman's plaything. It is time for Yuan clan to take charge of this nation!" Said Feng Ji who sat near Guo Tu. This person had honeyed tongue same as Guo Tu, even more sweeter than him. Yuan Shao then scolded him "Hey, Yuan Tu. Stop that immediately!" Although he appeared to be scolding him, but Yuan Shao's lip curled up a smile. Feng Ji then said "Yes, Milord. Student said too far!!!" All while grinning toward Yuan Shao. Then all of them is toasting around as if Cao Cao is already yesterday's news.
Out of all of them, only one person who drink to drown his sorrow. That person is one of Yuan Shao's MOST CAPABLE AND MOST EARNEST advisors, besides Tian Feng. That person's name is Ju Shou. His courtesy name is Guangping. A little trivia about Ju Shou; he hailed from Ju clan, a prestigious clan from Ji Province, his family members comprised of father Ju Hu, younger brother Ju Zong and son Ju Gu. Historians from original timeline, always cited that Ju Shou is a person who "had a magnificent ambition and excel in military strategy" and this is also true in this timeline. During his early days, he took office as a clerk and a magistrate under previous Governor of Ji Province, Han Fu. When Han Fu surrendered himself, he took post under Yuan Shao and proposed many brilliant advices to him, and proved to be very useful to Yuan Shao, however Ju Shou did not possess honeyed tongue, so his words is very lightweight and Yuan Shao used him only for last resort. Right before this Guandu war happened, Ju Shou already proposed to attack Cao Cao and invade Xu Du while he still recuperating from his big loss from the Battle of Kaiyang, Ju Shou also proposed to ally with Liu Bei of Xu Province at that time, to stall Cao Cao by launching feint attacks, to make him busy. His friend Tian Feng also urged Yuan Shao to do this, for they knew that fighting a war in Guandu will result in a very catastrophic disaster. However, Yuan Shao did not listen to his excellent advice due to Yuan Shang was sick also in this timeline. Ju Shou, who is always straightforward in his speech, wanted to challenge Yuan Shao, but was prevented by Tian Feng, who then lamented silently "It is such a pity! Just as a unique opportunity presents itself, everything is spoiled by the illness of a child." Yuan Shao then dismissed those earnest warnings just as if a fly passing by his ear because he is too drunk with his own victory to the point senility reached him earlier before he is as old as Liu Biao. Readers, put yourself in his shoes and think what is his feelings right now after gaining FOUR provinces as his own, defeating everyone in his path.
His feelings must be really bloated to the top and it caused him to underestimating Cao Cao as if he is just an ant. Therefore, he really did not care how unorganized his army right now, how disunited, how tired they are after doing battle nonstop and how undisciplined they all. Seeing Yuan Shao like that, it made two of his civil advisers Guo Tu and Feng Ji, who were mentioned earlier, took Yuan Shao's condition as a chance to promote themselves further. Guo Tu and Feng Ji praised Yuan Shao endlessly and pushed Yuan Shao further to do a decisive battle in a manner of fair and square by overwhelming Cao Cao with his sheer numbers. Yuan Shao took the bait and right now, they are in Guandu doing this overtly-stupid maneuvered battle.
Regarding Ju Shou, even with his lord rejected his idea, he is still remained loyal and vigilant, since the first time they began battle, he noticed that Cao Cao is puttiing up an act by providing his troops 2 meals-a-day and those soldiers are singing during meals. In Ju Shou's eyes, it is a very poor act of covering up that his provisions left only a little as Cao Cao had been fighting all this time, before even started fighting his lord Yuan Shao. With that newfound knowledge, yesterday Ju Shou quickly reported back to Yuan Shao and proposed him to do war of attrition, however, again Guo Tu and Feng Ji refute his knowledge and he himself was ridiculed by Yuan Shao. Yuan Shao said "Ju Guangping, you said that Cao Cao is lacking in provisions. Have you lost your mind?! This is the beginning of summer, even we just harvested our crops. How can Cao Aman not harvest his own? Given his provinces more bountiful than mine's own. Is your brain damaged, huh?" Finished Yuan Shao while doing gesture that Ju Shou had screw loose, the nearby Guo Tu and Feng Ji also doing the same gesture, further insulting him and tell Yuan Shao "Milord, you will not need to afraid of Traitor Cao. He is an ant compared to your magnanimous presence. We, Guo Tu and Feng Ji, implore Milord to keep advancing like this. Give Traitor Cao no space to even breath!!! We surely will take Guandu in just matter of weeks now."
Guo Tu and Feng Ji's words at that time, represented the whole nobles' words who supported Yuan Shao. They cannot wait to enter Central Plains to divide the spoils amongst themselves, even if they have to kill each other.
Before Ju Shou retreated from Yuan Shao's main tent, he reported battle damage. Ju Shou then said "During that skirmish, our casualties is 50,000 troops while Cao troops is 30,000 troops. In Shou's opinion, this amount of casualties is not healthy at all. Shou implore Milord to do war of attrition once more, direct assault did not give the best result at all. Shou had strong faith that as of now, Cao Cao is losing provisions severely while our provisions is not lacking at all as we are already lost 50,000 mouths to feed. This is a good advice, Shou implored Milord to act on this!!!" Again, that good advice was halted by two of Yuan Shao's most favored advisers, they told Yuan Shao "Milord, again another rubbish spouted by this lunatic. War of attrition is not efficient and is not fit for a victor like you." Yuan Shao then snorted "Hmph, that is right, Gongze, Yuantu!!! War of attrition is foolish suggestion of a brain-damaged advisor!!! We lost 50,000 troops, yes. But I still have 250,000 troops. By the time I defeat Cao Cao, I can still stand strong in Central Plains!!!" Hearing that retort, made Ju Shou lose heart and he is already think that this battle is a lost cause and it is the end of Yuan clan.