After summoning his subordinate officers one by one and giving them instructions, Guan Yu ordered Zhou Cang to prepare his five hundred elite guards, the "Xiaodao Troop," and be ready to swarm the enemy when they charge in, following Guo Jia's plan to capture them alive.
"What a pity," Guo Jia remarked as he looked around the camp. When they set up the camp, they had chosen an open and flat area, a terrain that provided a broad view to avoid ambushes. However, this also made it difficult to ambush others.
"What's the matter?" Guan Yu rarely served Guo Jia a cup of wine, but Guo Jia had no choice but to drink it. Once he finished, Guan Yu took away the wine cup and jug, replacing them with a teapot, teacup, and some snacks.
Guo Jia, resigned, picked up the teacup and imagined it tasted like wine. Before every battle, Guan Yu would offer Guo Jia a single cup of wine, but after that, Guo Jia wouldn't see any more alcohol until the battle was over. That was Guan Yu's rule. He allowed some special privileges in the camp, but he never tolerated drinking that could interfere with duties.
"The enemy is smart. Our plan to surround them won't work; they won't come in too deep. Position the archers and ballistae. Let's see how much damage we can do. This area is too flat—it has both advantages and disadvantages," Guo Jia sighed, pointing out the limitations of the terrain.
"Indeed. In that case, let's avoid entanglement. Deploy the archers and ballistae at the front lines. When the enemy shows up, hit them hard. After that, our cavalry will charge from both flanks. Capture or kill as many as possible, but don't pursue them too far if they retreat," Guan Yu decisively ordered, understanding the situation. The camp's location was too open. While it offered a clear view, it also gave the enemy the same advantage, and with the enemy's cautious nature, they could easily see through any traps.
"That's the best we can do. They came too fast for us to prepare thoroughly. If we leave the camp now, we'd have to go quite far to find suitable terrain for an ambush. It's better to confront them head-on," Guo Jia lamented. "Better to meet them on our own terms."
"Agreed. Ready the archers at the front camp, and have the cavalry on both flanks prepared. We'll strike hard when they appear. If we can't hold them, don't chase too far," Guan Yu decided with finality.
Meanwhile, Zhang Liao silently finished the remaining dry rations, counted his men, and waited for nightfall.
Zhang Liao washed down the dry food with some water, then poured the rest over his face, letting the coldness sharpen his focus. Now wasn't the time for distracting thoughts. He had to defeat Guan Yu before considering anything else.
As Guan Yu's troops prepared dinner, he had already stationed archers around the camp's perimeter, with the ballistae in position. Unlike the usual two-layered camp walls, this time the barricades were only half a man's height but were densely packed, leaving no gaps. The archers and ballistae were crouched behind these solid walls, invisible from the front.
Guan Yu ordered Zhou Cang to stand by with the Xiaodao Troop, guarding the camp while feasting with the soldiers. Meanwhile, Jiang Gong and others were positioned along the camp walls.
With these preparations, even if the night raid proved stronger than expected and the archers couldn't fend off the enemy, the Xiaodao Troop in the center of the camp, along with Guan Yu's presence, could quickly stabilize the situation and counterattack.
"Yuan Shao, any news?" Guan Yu glanced at Pei Yuanshao, who, unlike Zhou Cang, had sharp ears and was currently eavesdropping with a bowl turned upside down on the ground.
"Not yet..." Pei Yuanshao shook his head. Then, his eyes suddenly widened with excitement. "Here they come! Just as the strategist predicted—about a thousand riders!"
"Fengxiao predicted this," Guan Yu boasted. Though he often appeared disdainful of scholars, that attitude didn't extend to those who truly demonstrated their abilities. With strategists like Chen Xi, Guo Jia, and even the transferred Liu Ye, Guan Yu held great respect. He despised only the corrupt scholars, not those with true wisdom.
"Go, inform Jiang Gong to be ready," Guan Yu ordered Pei Yuanshao.
As for the Yellow Turban soldiers under his command, Guan Yu treated them fairly out of respect for Guan Hai's loyalty. Many of the Yellow Turban leaders were battle-hardened. Although they lacked the strategic vision of higher-ranking officers, they were more than capable of commanding a thousand men in battle. Moreover, these leaders possessed considerable martial skills, making them well-suited as captains or sergeants. As a result, many mid-level officers in Taishan's forces were former Yellow Turban leaders.
As twilight descended, Zhang Liao began wrapping the horses' hooves and slowly advanced towards Guan Yu's camp, maintaining a slow pace to minimize noise.
When they were about a mile from the camp, Zhang Liao could already smell the scent of meat and wine. Though Guan Yu had only given each soldier a bowl of wine, the sheer number of men—nearly ten thousand—meant the aroma of the wine wafted far and wide.
As Zhang Liao caught a whiff of the scent, a faint smile appeared on his face. Even if Zhang Liao had goodwill toward Liu Bei's side, or even plans to join him, he wouldn't hold back in this moment.
As they drew closer, Zhang Liao could hear the shouts and sounds of wrestling within the camp. His heart swelled with excitement. He quietly ordered his men, "Mount up and prepare to attack."
Zhang Liao mounted his horse, and his men followed suit, grim-faced as they leaped onto their steeds. Without further concealment, they charged toward Guan Yu's camp. In the blink of an eye, the swift wolf riders had covered the mile distance.
As Zhang Liao approached the camp, he instinctively glanced at the camp walls, and what he saw sent cold sweat dripping down his back—those dark glints weren't just shadows; they were the reflections of crossbow bolts!
"Fall back!" Zhang Liao shouted at the top of his lungs, unleashing his internal energy. In the firelight, his expression turned ferocious. At the same moment, a barrage of arrows, crossbow bolts, and massive ballista bolts the size of spears rained down upon Zhang Liao and his men.
In an instant, chaos ensued, with men and horses toppling everywhere. Just as Guo Jia had predicted, Zhang Liao, to keep his men from scattering in the night raid, had kept them tightly grouped. But in this dense formation, the hail of projectiles caused devastating losses.