Novel scene
Cao Cao Raids Wuchao and Burns the Grain 劫烏巢孟德燒糧
About this event
Cao Cao Raids Wuchao and Burns the Grain is the latter scene of Chapter 30 of the Romance, titled "Fighting at Guandu, Benchu is utterly defeated; raiding Wuchao, Mengde burns the grain": the story of how Cao Cao, acting on the plan of Xu You, who had left Yuan Shao, made a surprise attack on Wuchao with 5,000 troops disguised as Yuan Shao's army and burned all the grain that Chunyu Qiong was guarding. It is the scene depicting the Battle of Wuchao. Romance, Ch. 30 §21–41
Chen Shou's text also has the same battle. The Annals of Emperor Wu (Records of Wei 1) and the account of Yuan Shao in Records of Wei 6 record that in the 10th month of winter in the 5th year of Jian'an (200), Cao Cao, urged on by Xu You, led 5,000 infantry and cavalry to Wuchao by night and beheaded Chunyu Qiong and all the others. Records, Wei 1 §68–70Records, Wei 6 §53–54
In the Romance
In Chapter 30, after Xu Huang and Shi Huan burned Han Meng's grain wagons, Yuan Shao sent Shen Pei, who urged that Wuchao be guarded by a large force, back to Ye, and gave 20,000 men to the wine-loving Chunyu Qiong to guard Wuchao. Xu You, who had got hold of Cao Cao's letter urging the dispatch of grain, proposed a surprise attack on Xuchang but was suspected by Yuan Shao, and when news also came that his sons and nephews had been imprisoned, he threw in his lot with Cao Cao. Romance, Ch. 30 §16–25
Cao Cao, who ran out barefoot to welcome Xu You, repeatedly lied that his remaining grain would last a year, half a year, three months, and only told the truth when Xu You produced Cao Cao's own letter. Xu You said that if Cao Cao, passing his troops off as those of Jiang Qi, burned the grain at Wuchao, Yuan Shao's army would fall into disorder of itself within three days. Romance, Ch. 30 §27–32
Cao Cao reassured the doubting Zhang Liao, arranged the main camp and ambushes on the left and right, and then himself set out by night at the head of 5,000 men, flying Yuan Shao's banners, carrying grass and firewood on their backs, with gags in their mouths. Passing themselves off as Jiang Qi's troops, they reached Wuchao in the fourth watch and set fires on every side, and Chunyu Qiong, who had been lying drunk, was dragged down with hooks and captured. Cao Cao also turned and struck down Sui Yuanjin and the others who came to the rescue, and all the grain was burned. Cao Cao cut off Chunyu Qiong's ears, nose and fingers, tied him to a horse and sent him back to Yuan Shao. Romance, Ch. 30 §33–41
Where the Romance differs
Why Xu You came over: In Chapter 30 of the Romance, Xu You, suspected after recommending a surprise attack on Xuchang, was driven away by Yuan Shao because of a letter saying Shen Pei had imprisoned his sons and nephews. The Annals of Emperor Wu in the Records says it was because Xu You was greedy for wealth and Yuan Shao could not satisfy him, while the biography of Xun Yu records that he turned against Yuan Shao in anger when Shen Pei arrested his wife and children. Romance, Ch. 30 §22–25Records, Wei 1 §69Records, Wei 10 §32
Chunyu Qiong's end: In Chapter 30 of the Romance, Chunyu Qiong was captured and sent back with his ears, nose and fingers cut off. In the Annals of Emperor Wu in the Records, Cao Cao crushed Chunyu Qiong and the others and beheaded them all, and the biography of Yue Jin records that it was Yue Jin who cut off his head. Romance, Ch. 30 §39–41Records, Wei 1 §70Records, Wei 17 §21
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.