After Xiahou Dun won two encounters against Zhao Yun, he kept pressing the attack. Seeing the sky darken and hearing the wind rustle through the dense woods on both sides, he began to worry that ambushers might be hiding there.
But by then, the arrow was already on the string. If he ordered a retreat from the valley, the cavalry at the front could trample the infantry behind them, so Xiahou Dun could only grit his teeth and charge ahead.
Suddenly, flaming arrows rained down from the western hillside. Shouts erupted throughout the valley as Guan Yu and Zhang Fei's ambushers charged out together. Cao Cao's troops immediately fell into disarray.
"General, there really are ambushers! We must withdraw at once," Yu Jin urged in alarm.
"Wenze, get the troops under control immediately and order the entire army to withdraw from the valley at once." At this point, Xiahou Dun could only rely on Yu Jin, whose command of the army was impeccable.
"Understood." Yu Jin hurried off.
Just then, Zhao Yun led his troops in from the south, forming a three-sided pincer with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. Cao Cao's army plunged into chaos. The cavalry horses, spooked by the flames, bolted wildly, charging into the infantry behind them and trampling countless men to death.
Watching the fires from the woods, Liu Bei was delighted. "The strategist's plan was brilliant. This time, we might even capture Blind Xiahou alive."
Xu Shu nodded. "Victory is already decided. Whether we capture their commander alive is up to fate."
At the camp to the north, Li Dian saw the flames soaring over Bowang Slope and concluded that Xiahou Dun had fallen into Liu Bei's ambush. He immediately led the troops in camp south at full speed to reinforce him.
At first, Xiahou