Judgment of Dayu.

Summary

Elder Guandou, after assessing recent battles, decided to shift tactics from direct assaults to a war of attrition to wear down the enemy. He convened a meeting with his officers, instructing them to engage the enemy using archers and rotating attacks while producing arrows with clay heads dipped in copper. After three days of attrition, Guandou's forces inflicted significant losses on the imperial army, which struggled to replenish its troops. On the fourth day, as Guandou's army prepared for another attack, the Xiahou Clan launched a surprise cavalry charge, creating chaos and forcing Guandou's forces to retreat. This was a strategic ruse by the imperial army, aimed at disrupting Guandou's offensive rather than capturing him. After realizing the futility of further attacks, Guandou ordered his troops to rest, believing they were on the verge of victory. Meanwhile, the acting commander of the Huaishan Clan, Chang Feng, planned a night raid to set fire to Guandou's camp, intending to harass and exhaust the enemy. His troops were eager for the skirmish, viewing it as an easy task.

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