Novel scene
Jia Xu Foresees the Enemy and Wins 賈文和料敵決勝
About this event
Jia Xu Foresees the Enemy and Wins is the scene from the first half of the title of Chapter 18 of the Romance, "Jia Wenhe Foresees the Enemy and Decides the Victory; Xiahou Dun Pulls Out an Arrow and Eats His Eye." It is the passage of the Battle of Rang in which Zhang Xiu's adviser Jia Xu sees through Cao Cao's stratagem and has the retreating Cao army pursued twice. The Romance opens this passage with Cao Cao, who in the 4th month, in summer, of the 3rd year of Jian'an (198) has again set out against Zhang Xiu, surrounding the city of Nanyang, riding around the walls for three days to observe them, and then having brushwood piled at the corner of the west gate. Romance, Ch. 17 §34 · 41–42Romance, Ch. 18 §1
Chen Shou's text also has the same fighting. The Annals of Emperor Wu, Records of Wei 1, records that in the 3rd month of the 3rd year of Jian'an (198) Cao Cao besieged Zhang Xiu at Rang County and, when his rear was cut off by Liu Biao's relief force in the 5th month, defeated them at Anzhong; the biography of Jia Xu in Records of Wei 10 records how Cao Cao was pursued twice on Jia Xu's advice when he withdrew. Records, Wei 1 §46–47Records, Wei 10 §75–77
In the Romance
In Chapter 18 of the Romance, Jia Xu reckons that Cao Cao is aiming at the old wall at the southeast corner while piling brushwood at the northwest to draw the defenders away, so he hides picked troops in the houses on the southeast and has commoners dressed as soldiers guard the northwest. Believing his stratagem has worked, Cao Cao climbs the wall at the southeast in the second watch of the night, is heavily defeated by the ambush and loses more than 50,000 men, and Lü Qian and Yu Jin are wounded. Jia Xu has a letter sent to Liu Biao asking him to cut off Cao Cao's line of retreat. Romance, Ch. 18 §1–4
Even on hearing that Sun Ce has stationed troops at Hukou, Liu Biao, urged by Kuai Liang, has Huang Zu hold the strategic pass and advances to Anzhong himself. Cao Cao passes Xiangcheng and holds a sacrifice for Dian Wei at the Qing River; on reaching Anzhong, he has a road cut through the rough ground at night and hides cavalry, and at daybreak he heavily defeats the troops of Liu Biao and Zhang Xiu. Romance, Ch. 18 §5–9
When Xun Yu reports that Yuan Shao intends to attack Xudu, Cao Cao turns his army back that same day. Jia Xu says that a pursuit is sure to fail, but Zhang Xiu, urged by Liu Biao, pursues and is heavily defeated; when Jia Xu then says that a second pursuit is sure to succeed, Zhang Xiu alone pursues and does indeed win. Jia Xu explains to Liu Biao that Cao Cao would surely have left strong commanders in his rear to hold off pursuers, and that since his hasty retreat must be due to trouble at Xudu, he would make no preparations once he had beaten the pursuing force. Li Tong, coming out from behind a hill, blocks any further pursuit, and Cao Cao enfeoffs him as Marquis of Jiangong. Romance, Ch. 18 §9–15
Where the Romance differs
The defeat on the city wall: In Chapter 18 of the Romance, Cao Cao falls into Jia Xu's ambush while climbing the wall and loses more than 50,000 men. The Annals of Emperor Wu of the Records records that Cao Cao besieged Zhang Xiu at Rang County and had his rear cut off by Liu Biao's relief force, and the biography of Xun You records that Cao Cao, not following Xun You's advice, advanced to Rang and fought, and was put at a disadvantage when Liu Biao came to Zhang Xiu's rescue. Romance, Ch. 18 §1–4Records, Wei 1 §46Records, Wei 10 §55–56
The two pursuits: In Chapter 18 of the Romance, Cao Cao turns back because Xun Yu reports Yuan Shao's movements; Zhang Xiu pursues together with Liu Biao and is defeated, then pursues again alone and wins, and it is Liu Biao who asks Jia Xu the reason. In the biography of Jia Xu in the Records, Zhang Xiu himself pursued when Cao Cao, after attacking him repeatedly, suddenly withdrew one morning; he was defeated, pursued again and won, and it was Zhang Xiu who asked the reason. Jia Xu judged that since Cao Cao had withdrawn before his strength was spent, there must be trouble within his own state. Romance, Ch. 18 §9–13Records, Wei 10 §75–77
Li Tong: In Chapter 18 of the Romance, Li Tong appears from behind a hill, blocks Zhang Xiu's pursuit and becomes Marquis of Jiangong. In the biography of Li Tong in the Records, when Liu Biao was aiding Zhang Xiu and Cao Cao's army was at a disadvantage, Li Tong arrived at night with his troops and, leading the way, heavily defeated Zhang Xiu's army; he was appointed Assistant General and enfeoffed as Marquis of Jiangong. Romance, Ch. 18 §11 · 14–15Records, Wei 18 §13
Written by 3KDEX (not yet reviewed) — The tags at the end of each paragraph link to the exact passage in the Records volume or Romance chapter it is based on.