The Battle of Hanbian 2

The Wei army stationed at Hanbian was centered on cavalry, as Zhang Ran had predicted.

Cao Cao had appointed Cao Hong as the commander and deployed the troops, but the actual commander was Cao Xiu, the Cavalry Commander. Cao Xiu, who was also the commander of the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, was widely regarded as one of the top generals among Cao Cao’s kinsmen.

Although Cao Cao officially appointed Cao Hong as the commander due to distribution and rank, he had actually chosen Cao Xiu to lead the army in practice.

Cao Hong, Cao Cao’s cousin and a founding contributor, might have been displeased to be overshadowed by his nephew, but he followed Cao Cao’s words and entrusted military affairs to Cao Xiu, limiting himself to the role of giving orders.

Cao Xiu, who had become the army commander, was listening intently to the reports of the scouts. Cao Xiu, who had been deep in thought with a posture as unmoving as a stone statue, twitched his eyebrows at one report.

“Say that again.”

“They say Zhang Fei is heading towards Gushan.”

“If we lose Gushan, wouldn’t we lose our retreat path?”

The voice of Cao Hong, who was listening to the report with Cao Xiu, was urgent. The pressure of Zhang Fei’s reputation, who had crushed Zhang He, one of Wei’s top generals, and the importance of Gushan as a strategic point weighed on Cao Hong’s shoulders.

But for the young and passionate Cao Xiu, Zhang Fei’s reputation held no sway.

“It’s an empty show of force.”

“An empty show?”

“Yes. Due to them sending an army to Hanbian, our scouting is hindered. Yet we found out this quickly, which means they deliberately revealed it.”

It’s the same as when facing Zhang He. Intentionally exposing information they want the opponent to see to induce their actions. Cao Xiu was not one to fall for a strategy that had already been used once.

“If they really wanted to block our retreat path and strike a blow, they should have hidden it. Zhang Fei’s ploy is to make us afraid and cautious to buy time. If we attack now while they are scattered, victory won’t be difficult. Once the vanguard collapses, they’ll realize their ploy didn’t work and retreat.”

“Then shouldn’t we launch an attack immediately?”

This was a question from Cao Zhen, who, like Cao Xiu, was one of Cao Cao’s second-generation kinsmen generals.

Unlike Cao Xiu, who was Cao Cao’s relative, Cao Zhen was originally of the Chen family but was given the Cao surname by Cao Cao in honor of his father’s merits, making him similar to an adopted son.

However, Cao Zhen, who had grown up with Cao Pi, Cao Xiu, and others under Cao Cao’s care, was no different from real brothers.

“Zidan (Cao Zhen’s courtesy name), you take the vanguard.”

Although Cao Xiu was no slouch when it came to bravery, befitting the leader of the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, Cao Zhen’s bravery was extraordinary. With agility that belied his massive physique, Cao Zhen had even hunted a tiger with back-shooting.

“I’ll entrust you with the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll crush Liu Bei’s lackeys in one breath.”

“Uncle, please take charge of the main force.”

Cao Hong asked with puzzlement:

“You’re not taking charge yourself?”

“I’ll prepare for contingencies.”

Although he was treated as second-tier, overshadowed by Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan, Cao Hong was still a veteran who had been through all sorts of battles. Even Cao Hong was overkill for dealing with mere Wu Lan and Lei Tong.

If Cao Zhen took the vanguard and Cao Hong commanded, Liu Bei’s unknown generals would be swept away in an instant.

‘There’s no possibility of Zhang Fei intervening. But as they say, preparedness prevents calamity. Zhang Fei has a swiftness comparable to the General of Chariots and Cavalry. You never know.’

Just 1 shichen (2 hours) after receiving intelligence that Zhang Fei was heading towards Gushan, the Wei army began marching towards Hanbian.

It was the opening of the full-scale battle for Hanzhong.

§

I caught up with my father just as he was about to enter Gushan.

The plan was to station troops at both Hanbian and Gushan to restrain the enemy’s movements, as neither Wu Lan and Lei Tong’s forces nor my father’s army were large in scale.

I urgently sought out my father. My father, who came out personally to greet me upon hearing of my arrival, asked with a rare surprised expression:

“What, you’re here already?”

“I came leading only the cavalry. Is the enemy commander Cao Hong?”

“Hmph, Cao Hong is just a figurehead. The real one is a fellow named Cao Xiu.”

As I had previously evaluated Cao Xiu as a great general, his reputation matching his skills was already known.

In this period, character evaluations received from famous individuals greatly influenced a person’s reputation and fame.

Among character evaluations, the most famous would be “Capable minister in peacetime, cunning hero in chaotic times” received by Cao Cao. And Cao Xiu was the one who received an evaluation from this very Cao Cao that he would become the thousand-li horse of the family.

“If it’s Cao Xiu, he’ll take advantage of our army’s division to launch a preemptive strike.”

“But this is the best we can do. Even if our forces were all gathered, they would advance trusting in their numerical superiority.”

Knowing this, my father relied on a fifty-fifty chance. If they fail to read our bluff and hesitate, it’s our gain; even if they see through it and attack, our army will only sacrifice a part, thus avoiding the worst.

From the start, the Battle of Hanbian is not a major factor in the war for Hanzhong. It’s just a preliminary skirmish, nothing more than feeling each other out.

Still, the more decisively and quickly we win in Hanzhong, the clearer the uncertain future becomes.

“If they see through our creation of something from nothing and attack, we just have to show them.”

“Are you saying we should go down and launch a pincer attack if they really attack Hanbian?”

“Yes. If you come down from Gushan, they’ll be thrown into confusion. Even if they’re prepared, they’ll have doubts about whether their judgment was wrong. While they’re confused, I’ll strike at Cao Hong.”

Originally, when Hanbian is attacked, it would be right for my father to withdraw his troops. You have to give what needs to be given and save what can be saved.

No matter how we attack from both Hanbian and Gushan, the enemy’s numbers are twice that of our army.

Cao Hong, Cao Xiu, and Cao Zhen are not as incompetent as Xiahou Mao, and a simple pincer attack won’t be enough.

However, while they’re fighting on two fronts, if 1,000 cavalry cut across the battlefield?

Even if we can’t win, wouldn’t it give our army enough room to withdraw?

“But it’s dangerous.”

“With you and me, Father, it’s possible.”

That’s what it means to be a fierce general.

Did Xiang Yu break through the Han army’s encirclement because he had many subordinates? He broke through over 5,000 enemies with just 100 men.

Our army’s numbers are dozens of times more than that, and the terrain is advantageous to us.

And above all, this battle is not alone like Xiang Yu, but together, you and me, Father.

“What a reckless idea…”

Just as I was swallowing my disappointment, thinking it wouldn’t work after all.

“But I like it. Since when did this Zhang Yide become so timid!”

My father shouted exuberantly.

“Mere cavalry. I faced the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry at Changban with just a few dozen riders. Now we have a thousand cavalry, what is there to fear!”

That’s right. Father is the legendary fierce general who already made the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry tremble with fear at Changban. Moreover, he’s the strongest warrior in Liu Bei’s army, combining both martial prowess and wisdom.

“I’ll entrust my cavalry to you as well. Furong!”

“Yes, General.”

“You heard, right? Follow the General Who Maintains Vigor.”

My father addressed me not as his daughter but as the General Who Maintains Vigor, firmly establishing that this was military business.

But Furong? Is this the same person who fought for Shu until his death along with his son Bu Zhan that I know? I don’t think I saw him during the previous Battle of Tangge.

But my question was soon resolved. It turned out that he had brought him in to fill the vacant position of my father’s lieutenant after I had sent Zhang Da and Fan Jiang away to remote areas.

I didn’t expect bomb removal to lead to this. It wasn’t a big issue, so as I was about to leave with Furong, someone came running and shouted:

“General! Please take me with you!”

“Zhan’er!”

It was a boy who still hadn’t lost his childish appearance. Bu Zhan, Furong’s son, knelt before me, not his father, clasped his hands, and pleaded earnestly:

“I want to go with you too.”

“We are a cavalry unit.”

“I’ve learned how to ride since I was young. Please give me just one spare horse. I promise I won’t be a burden.”

In fact, the role assigned to me and the cavalry is the most dangerous one. If we lose our breakthrough power and get caught in the middle of the enemy, annihilation is certain.

While his determination to voluntarily enter such a dangerous situation is admirable, that’s precisely why it was difficult to allow.

However, Bu Zhan pulled out something that made it impossible for me to refuse.

“I heard that you’ve been going on campaigns helping the Pacification General, your father, since you were nine years old. Please don’t turn me away just because I’m young!”

“…How old are you?”

“Eighteen.”

“The same as me.”

I gave a nod to Ma Dai. The quick-witted Ma Dai immediately brought one of my spare horses and handed over the reins.

“Ride it.”

“Thank you! Even if I die, I will definitely be of help to you, General!”

“I’m giving you this horse so you don’t die. Live. Then I’ll keep you by my side personally.”

Was my scouting offer so moving? Bu Zhan, with tears welling up in his eyes, bowed to me and accepted the horse.

“Then, Ran, you’ll be short one horse.”

As he said this, my father brought a black horse.

“Take my horse.”

“Father, that horse is…”

“Yes. It’s Leopard Moon Crow.”

Leopard Moon Crow (豹月烏). Swift as a leopard, fast as light, black as a crow.

Although not quite matching Red Hare, Leopard Moon Crow was still one of the finest horses in the world. My father’s affection in giving me such a horse was transmitted through the reins.

“General! We have a report that the enemy is marching towards Hanbian!”

At the scout’s report, I looked at my father. As our eyes met, my father nodded. It’s a feeling that’s conveyed without needing words.

My father and I moved to where we each needed to be.

Mounting my horse, I spoke to Ma Dai, Gou Bo, and the newly joined Furong:

“Soon, the Pacification General will come down from Gushan to attack. We’ll depart without delay as well.”

The moment Wu Lan and Lei Tong, stationed at Hanbian, clash with the Wei army is when my father will strike.

And we need to strike when the Wei army splits into two to block my father.

We went around Gushan to descend. Soon, shouts and the sound of footsteps coming down the mountain reverberated behind us.

The moment we stepped onto the flat ground after descending from Gushan, a cloud of dust spreading in the distance came into view. A chaotic scene where tens of thousands of men and horses are entangled. A hellish scene on earth where the tragedy of internal strife runs rampant is there.

“All units, form a wedge formation.”

A formation that stretches out pointedly with one point at the lead, like an awl.

“I’ll take the vanguard. I’ll entrust my left and right to Gou Bo and Ma Dai.”

“Understood.”

“General Furong, please maintain the formation in the middle.”

“Understood.”

Before plunging into the melee, I hear the throbbing sound of heartbeats. The sound of horses snorting merges with the pulsing rhythm. Is the fear of facing death the same for both humans and horses?

But adrenaline is secreted in the brain. The natural drugs produced in the brain blow away the fear and fill that space with excitement.

I take a deep breath, filling my lungs to the fullest, and release it all at once.

“Charge─!”

Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!!!

The thunderous sound of hooves striking the earth.

Like an arrow shot, like a bullet fired.

Cutting through obstacles, trampling and crushing, we advance and advance again.

We cross the battlefield before their vaunted Tiger and Leopard Cavalry can even arrive.

The awl that has pierced the center of the enemy formation now stabs straight into their heart.

“Cao Hong──!!!”

The enemy general wearing splendid battle robes turns to look at me. Eyes filled with shock. I was reflected in those eyes.

The ember that Wu Lan and Lei Tong protected with their lives.

And the flame that my father breathed life into.

It was my turn to spread it.

“Your head! Hand it over─!!!”