Is “The official history records that Guo Huai proactively retreated upon seeing Zhuge Liang's main force, while the novel changes it to a disastrous defeat from an ambush by Shu troops.” true?

based on fact

The Records of the Three Kingdoms, Book of Shu, Biography of Zhuge Liang records that when Zhuge Liang sent Chen Shi to attack Wudu and Yinping, Guo Huai originally intended to intercept, but upon seeing Liang personally lead the campaign: 'Wei's Yongzhou刺史 Guo Huai led troops to attack Shi, but Liang personally came out to Jianwei, Huai retreated, and the two commanderies were pacified.' In the official history, Guo Huai retreated without engaging in battle. However, in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, chapter 99, to glorify the might of the Shu army, it is rewritten as a multi-pronged attack by Shu forces: 'Attacked from both sides, the Wei army suffered a great defeat. Guo and Sun abandoned their horses and fled into the mountains.' The novel adds the detail of them abandoning their horses to escape.

Guo Huai

The official history records a proactive retreat, while the novel changes it to a defeat with abandoned horses.

Sources cited above. Compiled with AI assistance and checked against those sources; for cultural reference.Data & method →

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