Novel scene
Cao Cao Relieves the Siege of Baima 救白馬曹操解重圍
About this event
Cao Cao Relieves the Siege of Baima is the latter scene of the Chapter 25 title of the Romance, "Camped on the earthen hill, Lord Guan sets three conditions; rescuing Baima, Cao Cao breaks the tight siege," the story of Cao Cao setting out to the rescue when Yuan Shao's senior general Yan Liang attacks Baima, and Guan Yu beheading Yan Liang. It is the scene depicting the Battle of Baima, and the Romance opens it with Yuan Shao, saying that spring is warm, raising troops against Xudu. Romance, Ch. 25 §37 · 39–48
Chen Shou's text has the same fight. The Annals of Emperor Wu and the Biography of Yuan Shao in Records of Wei 1 and 6 and the Biographies of Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Ma Chao, Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun in Records of Shu 6 record that in the 4th month of the 5th year of Jian'an (200) Cao Cao went to rescue Liu Yan, sent Guan Yu and others ahead, beheaded Yan Liang and lifted the siege of Baima. Records, Wei 1 §60–61Records, Wei 6 §51Records, Shu 6 §4
In the Romance
In Chapter 25, Yuan Shao imprisons Tian Feng, who urges holding fast, and Ju Shou, distributing his property among his clan, says that if they win all will be well, but if they lose he will not be able to save even himself. When Yuan Shao makes Yan Liang the vanguard to attack Baima, Ju Shou remonstrates that Yan Liang is narrow-minded by nature and cannot be given sole command, but Yuan Shao does not listen. When the great army reaches Liyang, Liu Yan, the Administrator of Dong Commandery, reports the emergency to Xuchang, and Guan Yu volunteers for the vanguard, but Cao Cao sends him back, saying he will call on him next time. Romance, Ch. 25 §37–39
Cao Cao goes ahead with 50,000 men, reaches Baima, camps on an earthen hill, and is alarmed at the sight of Yan Liang's 100,000 elite vanguard troops. When Song Xian and Wei Xu go out and die one after the other under Yan Liang's blade and even Xu Huang falls back after twenty bouts, Cheng Yu has Guan Yu summoned, saying that if Guan Yu defeats Yuan Shao's troops, Yuan Shao will suspect Liu Bei, who has taken refuge with him, and kill him. Romance, Ch. 25 §40–43
Guan Yu, having taken leave of his two sisters-in-law, looks down from the earthen hill on Yan Liang's array and calls it chickens molded of clay and dogs baked of tile; riding the Red Hare, he cuts his way into the midst of ten thousand men, stabs Yan Liang from his horse under the great banner with a single stroke, and returns with his head. The Hebei troops fall into great disorder, and Cao Cao calls him a divine man. Hearing from Yan Liang's routed survivors about a general with a red face and a long beard, Yuan Shao orders Liu Bei beheaded. Romance, Ch. 25 §44–51
Where the Romance differs
How Baima was rescued: In Chapter 25 of the Romance, Cao Cao camps directly at Baima, sends out his generals one after another, and then summons Guan Yu. In the Annals of Emperor Wu in the Records, following Xun You's plan, Cao Cao made as if to cross the river at Yanjin, drew Yuan Shao's troops west and then surprised Baima, sending Zhang Liao and Guan Yu ahead from the start. Romance, Ch. 25 §40–44Records, Wei 1 §60–61
Song Xian and Wei Xu: In Chapter 25 of the Romance, the two are cut down by Yan Liang at Baima. In the Biography of Lü Bu in the Records, they appear as Lü Bu's generals who bound Chen Gong and surrendered at Xiapi in the 3rd year of Jian'an (198), and their names are absent from the account of Baima. Romance, Ch. 25 §41–42Records, Wei 7 §26Records, Wei 1 §60–61
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.