The Battle of Hanbian 3

Cao Xiu was shocked to see a unit of cavalry cutting through the gap between the divided Wei army.

He had prepared for contingencies. If Zhang Fei had truly gone mad and recklessly charged in, he would have calmly responded while mocking his foolishness.

His preparation for the unexpected had indeed proven necessary. But this was beyond his expectations.

He had already thought it strange that Liu Bei’s army, despite having many rural Yi Province recruits, had so few cavalry. But to think they had been hiding such a dagger…

‘Cao Zhen has already advanced too far. It’s difficult to turn the army around now!’

But he couldn’t just leave that cavalry unit unchecked. The cavalry was crushing through the regular infantry like a flood, heading straight for Cao Hong. Their aim was clear.

‘If the General of Chariots and Cavalry (Cao Hong) falls, the army will collapse.’

Though Cao Xiu was the de facto commander, that was only within the military command. For the common soldiers, Cao Hong was truly their leader.

If Cao Hong were to fall to the enemy’s blade, the soldiers’ morale would crumble like a sand castle.

‘That must be prevented at all costs!’

“Cao Bin!”

Cao Xiu called for Cao Bin, Cao Zhen’s younger brother. Though not quite at Cao Zhen’s level, Cao Bin at least knew the basics of commanding troops.

“You don’t need to win. Just think of holding out!”

Without waiting for Cao Bin’s response, Cao Xiu led part of the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry he had kept in reserve for emergencies and rushed to intercept the enemy cavalry charging towards Cao Hong.

“No!! You shall not reach the General of Chariots and Cavalry!”

It was only then that Cao Xiu realized the enemy leader was a woman. Rumors of a woman wearing long cloth flashed through Cao Xiu’s mind.

Setting aside the question of how someone who was supposed to be stationed at Tangge could be here, Cao Xiu steeled himself for death.

‘They say she inherited her father’s martial prowess…’

Indeed, her momentum in breaking through the Wei army was ferocious beyond compare. Though not quite matching the impossible strength of Zhang Fei he had just witnessed up close, Zhang Ran’s fierce onslaught also defied common sense.

Noticing Cao Xiu’s approach, Zhang Ran didn’t even spare him a glance and simply called out to someone:

“Gou Bo.”

At those two syllables, Gou Bo, who had been guarding her right flank, turned his horse to block Cao Xiu.

Cao Xiu had intended to quickly dispatch a mere lieutenant rather than Zhang Ran herself, but Gou Bo was not as easy an opponent as Cao Xiu had expected.

“Kuk!”

In the moment Cao Xiu faltered at Gou Bo’s unexpectedly strong force, Zhang Ran continued straight ahead. Only forward. Her eyes had not left Cao Hong for even an instant.

Cao Hong, who had been staring at Zhang Ran since first spotting her, knew this better than anyone.

That the eyes burning behind the mask were aimed at him.

And that he could not escape those eyes.

‘Brother, it seems this is as far as I go.’

So Cao Hong could not retreat. He knew that if he showed his back here, it would truly lead to an irreversible situation.

“Cao Xiu! Cao Zhen!”

He chose to sacrifice himself.

“This is an order! Regroup the army and retreat to Wudu. I will take responsibility.”

Cao Hong did not run away.

He did not cling to his life. Ever since that day he was utterly defeated by Xu Huang, Cao Hong had let go of his attachment to his own life. For the sake of Cao Cao, who had chosen the world and cut him off.

‘But it’s regrettable. That I won’t be able to see Brother’s unification of the world to the end.’

Cao Hong raised his sword to meet the spear thrust coming down on him. His sword was too weak to block the spear strike like a bolt of lightning.

Kaaang!!

Should he take comfort in the fact that his sword did not break?

But while the sword maintained its form, Cao Hong’s body could not.

Blood splattered. It burst forth from Cao Hong’s body.

The sword had endured, but Cao Hong’s arm holding the sword could not.

“Haha…”

A laugh mixed with blood flowed out. It was self-mockery.

“I’ve grown lax…”

No matter how unbelievably strong Zhang Ran was as the daughter of Zhang Fei, Cao Hong too was a warrior who had made a name for himself with some martial prowess.

But in his high position, Cao Hong had neglected his training. The price for that was bitter.

“Please, accomplish the great cause, Brother Aman.”

Screech!

The silver moon cut through the battlefield. Before blood drops could even stain it, the spear tip passed through Cao Hong’s neck in an instant.

Zhang Ran clearly felt the sensation of cutting flesh and breaking bone as she pulled on the reins. Leopard Moon Crow reared up on its hind legs with a fierce cry.

“The enemy general! I, Zhang Ran, have slain him!”

§

Immediately after beheading Cao Hong, I lifted his head and announced his death. Though the Wei army was composed of elite troops, the shock of losing their commander was by no means light.

However, the Wei army was barely maintaining their formation thanks to the efforts of Cao Zhen and Cao Xiu.

Cao Xiu, who had somehow repelled Gou Bo and was now commanding the troops, quickly joined up with Cao Zhen to regroup the army.

Though Father was strong, it was difficult for him to face the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry without cavalry of his own. Rather, the fact that he managed to confront the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry with just infantry was proof of Father’s ability.

On horseback, mobility is fundamentally different. Knowing that numerical superiority means little with an army whose morale has been broken, Cao Xiu moved to save as many troops as possible.

“Pursue, but don’t overextend.”

Our army’s fatigue had also accumulated considerably. Facing greater numbers with fewer troops requires even more strength. Blindly chasing after them in pursuit of merit could lead to a reversal.

Bu Rong, who had relatively preserved his strength, led the pursuit while I remained behind to collect Cao Hong’s body. Even if he was an enemy general, it didn’t feel right to just carelessly discard someone of Cao Hong’s stature.

As I was somehow managing to gather Cao Hong’s head and body, Father approached me.

“You did excellently.”

“I was lucky.”

If Cao Xiu had been just a bit closer to Cao Hong and responded successfully, it would have been impossible to capture Cao Hong. Even if the army had collapsed completely, if Cao Hong had fled, catching him would have been unlikely.

It was a great victory, but our side had not escaped unscathed either.

“I see, General Lei Tong…”

Lei Tong, who had been holding out against Cao Zhen, had fallen, and most of the soldiers stationed at Hanbian were either dead or seriously wounded. Father’s forces were not in much better shape either.

Even the cavalry unit had taken casualties, so the infantry must have fared much worse.

“Still, they won’t be able to come out of Wudu for a while now.”

“Our lord must have marched to Yangping Pass by now.”

We had succeeded in our primary objective of securing Hanbian.

Liu Bei could now advance smoothly to Yangping Pass without fear of attack.

However, despite our victory, I was not entirely at ease.

“I’m worried about how Cao Cao will react to Cao Hong’s death.”

Cao Cao cherished his kinsmen terribly. When his father Cao Song was murdered, he carried out the massacre of Xu Province in retaliation, and when Xiahou Yuan died, he angrily marched to Hanzhong himself. Would Cao Cao really let Cao Hong’s death pass quietly?

“Ye is still far away, and due to Cao Cao proclaiming himself King of Wei, rebellions are breaking out in the Central Plains. Even if he raises an army, he won’t be able to move easily. We still have time.”

By crowning himself King of Wei, Cao Cao was now dealing with sporadic rebellions. Under the justification that only those of the Liu clan could receive royal titles, and that any other case was tyranny by a power-hungry minister and treason, there were those calling for Cao Cao’s overthrow.

Even some who had been as good as his confidants were expressing dissatisfaction and being purged, so unless Cao Cao lost his mind like Liu Bei did at Guan Yu’s death, it would be nearly impossible even for Cao Cao to lead a large army in a short time.

“When he hears of this victory, Big Brother will also push his offensive more strongly. For now, we’ll establish a proper military camp at Hanbian.”

My father and I, along with my main force that had joined us later, built a stockade at Hanbian and set up a camp.

Now that we had occupied Hanbian, which the enemy had to pass through to enter Hanzhong from Wudu, their supply lines would be much more inconvenienced.

Though Hanbian would eventually fall due to our numerical inferiority, if our forces capture Yangping Pass before then, we will have reaped the full benefits of occupying Hanbian.

As my father and I were stationed at Hanbian, keeping watch on Cao Xiu and Cao Zhen who had holed up in Wudu, news arrived that Liu Bei’s main force had finally crossed Jiamen Pass.

§

“Capture Cao Hong? Repel the enemy and completely occupy Hanbian?”

Liu Bei stood up abruptly from his seat, saying he needed to read the astonishing report from Zhang Fei himself.

Though Zhang Fei was an unparalleled asset to Liu Bei, he hadn’t expected this much. He would have been satisfied if Zhang Fei just maintained a stalemate until the main force reached Yangping Pass, and if not, it couldn’t be helped.

But as if to prove that Liu Bei had underestimated him too much, Zhang Fei had spectacularly defeated an enemy three times his size. And even securing Cao Hong’s head in the process.

“My goodness, Xiaozheng, did you hear? No, look at this. Haha, I underestimated my brother too much. Isn’t that right?”

Following the great victory at Tangge, another great victory at Hanbian. Liu Bei was grinning from ear to ear, looking ready to break into dance at Zhang Fei’s brilliant military achievement of defeating Cao Hong’s 20,000-strong army with just a few thousand troops.

Fa Zheng too carefully read through the report, reconsidering his evaluation of Zhang Fei who had shown results far beyond expectations in succession.

“It says the General Who Maintains Vigor took Cao Hong’s head.”

“Indeed. I saw that too. Ho ho, how can I not be delighted when my niece is also performing so brilliantly.”

Unlike Liu Bei who looked like he wanted to embrace Fa Zheng to express his joy, Fa Zheng maintained his composure.

“With Cao Hong dead, Cao Cao’s heart will be even more grieved.”

“That’s true.”

Liu Bei briefly considered how he would feel if he lost Zhang Fei. It was terrifying just to imagine, but if it really happened, Liu Bei would surely go forth with everything he had to destroy the villain who killed Zhang Fei.

But the Cao Cao that Fa Zheng imagined was different.

“Cao Cao won’t be able to move easily.”

“How so?”

“Cao Cao has presumptuously ascended as King of Wei, but this was a bad move that caused internal strife while he had not yet settled external threats. If Cao Cao raises an army in earnest over Cao Hong’s death, that too would be good for us. Then we can temporarily withdraw our forces and rely on Jiamen Pass and Sword Gorge to buy time, waiting for the enemy to self-destruct.”

With the giant that is Cao Cao fallen, the Central Plains would once again be plunged into chaos with no clear ruler and warlords vying for power. Then Liu Bei, who had built up strength based on Yi Province and Jing Province, could gradually conquer the world like Liu Bang of old.

“Rather, it would be best for our side if Cao Cao loses his self-control. But Cao Cao won’t do that.”

“Yes… Cao Cao has grown too big now to pour everything into this.”

Cao Cao too has familial love. The massacre of Xu Province was the cruelest evidence of that.

But now Cao Cao has become King of Wei, and he is too realistic a schemer to uproot the foundations of the nation he built to go rushing off. He is a crafty hero who would choose practical benefit over sentiment.

“But it won’t be without effect. We should adjust our plans assuming Cao Cao will move more quickly.”

“What do you mean?”

“Now that we’ve taken Hanbian, if we cut off Mamingge, Yangping Pass will be isolated. Let’s send a force to take Mamingge as well, and then capture Yangping Pass.”

“Who would be good to send?”

“I believe Chen Shi would be sufficient.”

However, Liu Bei hesitated on the personnel decision despite Fa Zheng’s recommendation.

With Hanbian occupied, taking Mamingge would be much easier. As Fa Zheng said, sending a capable general like Chen Shi would likely be enough to succeed, but Liu Bei wanted a bit more.

The fierce might shown by Zhang Fei and Zhang Ran must have spread to the surrounding ethnic tribes as well. In that case…

“Let’s send the Pacification General.”

“You mean Ma Chao?”

“Have Chen Shi manage Mamingge as the Pacification General’s lieutenant, and have the Pacification General subjugate the surrounding tribes.”

There were quite a few Di tribes living between Wudu and Hanzhong. If Ma Chao, who still enjoyed high prestige among the Qiang and Di peoples, took an active role, it wouldn’t be unreasonable for the Di tribes to submit.

“Hmm, I see. That does seem quite possible.”

“Then I’ll inform the Pacification General personally. Xiaozheng, please go prepare for the advance on Yangping Pass.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Though Ma Chao had entered Liu Bei’s service, it was better for Liu Bei to deal with him directly to give treatment befitting Ma Chao’s reputation.

As Zhang Ran had suggested, Ma Chao had sincerely pledged loyalty, moved by Liu Bei sparing his family. But it was still necessary to be mindful of how others perceived it.

As he waited for Ma Chao to arrive, Liu Bei tried to calm his excitement. Hanzhong flickered before his eyes. And beyond that, the Central Plains and all under heaven.

It now seemed close enough to grasp if he just reached out his arm.

‘Not yet. It’s not time to let my guard down yet. Xuande, how can you be so impatient when you’ve only just earned a place to contend with them for the world?’

Liu Bei’s self-admonishment continued until he was informed of Ma Chao’s arrival.