The Battle of Zhaoyang 2

A blue wave cuts across the battlefield. The cavalry charges, fluttering their golden brocade robes embroidered with “Luanling,” making powerful hoof beats.

The charge of the heavy cavalry brings morale to our army and despair to the enemy. And soldiers consumed by fear are nothing more than scarecrows.

Crash!

Before the Wei army’s generals could even encourage their troops, the galloping horses pierce through the defensive formation like lightning.

Every time the spear cuts through the air, a spray of blood shoots up into the sky. Before they can come to their senses, it completely shatters the enemy soldiers’ morale.

The spear blade that severs the enemy’s necks cuts off the thread of hope, and the hooves that trample the fallen enemies crush the sprouts of will.

“Don’t waver! Second rank, converge towards the enemy cavalry, first rank, slowly retreat and rebuild the defensive formation! Trap the enemy cavalry inside! Even infantry can defeat cavalry that has lost its speed!”

An enemy general burning with fighting spirit despite the defensive formation being breached.

Though I didn’t recognize his face, he didn’t appear to be an ordinary person. This is Wei. Even enemy generals I don’t know are this skilled.

But no matter how excellent the enemy general is, there’s no way for the soldiers’ level to grow rapidly. Because reality is not a game. No matter how much you boost morale, there’s no such thing as the soldiers’ stats increasing.

The spear whirls. The elegantly rotating spear sweeps away everything that gets in its way.

Slash! Crash! Thud!

Flying heads. Shattered armor pieces. Tumbling bodies. This was the fate of those who stood in the way of our army’s advance.

Terror spread across the faces of the enemy soldiers who witnessed the horrific sight of dozens, hundreds of soldiers falling into the pit of death right before their eyes. Some even appeared who dropped their weapons, overwhelmed by the helplessness seeping into their hearts.

After that, it was uncontested territory. The Wei army, swallowed by fear, died watching blankly as spear tips flew at them, not even extending their spears as the cavalry passed by their sides.

The distance to the enemy general is close. The clearly visible figure of the enemy general is not that of a cowardly commander fleeing in fear, but that of a true general burning with determination even while standing on the edge of a cliff.

That’s why he must be killed here.

“Bu Zhan! Guard the surroundings! I’m going for the enemy general!”

Now that the defensive formation has crumbled, there’s a limit to how long the Wei army can hold out. If we take down the enemy general on top of this, the tide of battle will completely turn in our favor.

Clang!

The enemy general twisted and deflected with his sword the spear tip that was accurately targeting the gaps between his armor and helmet. I immediately retrieve the spear that barely grazed him and connect it to a second and third strike.

It’s a barrage of spear strikes like a downpour. On the sixth spear strike, the enemy general’s sword is knocked away, and the seventh strike grazes his arm.

Blood spreads on the undergarment worn beneath the armor. With his right arm cut, it’s no longer possible to wield a sword. This meant the enemy general’s end.

My spear, without even giving time for last words, mercilessly slices the enemy general’s neck. The enemy general glared fiercely with both eyes wide open until the moment of death, even as the spear cutting his neck passed by.

Only at the moment of falling from his horse did the enemy general show his back. I briefly regretted not having learned his name.

“The General Who Protects the North has beheaded the enemy general!!”

Bu Zhan’s shout spread like ripples across the entire battlefield. But it shouldn’t stop here.

I immediately turned my gaze. To the center of the enemy camp. That’s where Xu Huang was.

‘If I go there myself, will he retreat, or will he try to capture me for a reversal?’

Gladly, to confirm this, I grasped the reins.

§

“General Zhou Ling has fallen.”

As soon as he saw Xu Huang returning to the center, Zhao Yan ran to him and reported.

Of all times, they struck while Xu Huang had gone to support the opposite side. No, they must have aimed for that from the start. For those in the position of surrounding and attacking, it would be proper to strike at the weakened part of the defensive formation on the opposite side rather than where the enemy has strengthened their defenses.

The opponent is not someone like Lu Bu who engages in mindless brute force. While enjoying frontal clashes, he also has an intelligent aspect that knows how to target the enemy’s weaknesses.

Zhao Yan sensed a crisis. Once a hole is pierced, it will soon burst open in various places. It was time to somehow regroup the army and prepare for retreat.

“General, we must retreat. The enemy’s momentum has risen high, and our army’s morale is low. Fighting on like this will only result in losses for our army.”

Xu Huang spoke while directly facing Zhang Ran, who was rushing towards him after beheading Zhou Ling and riding the momentum:

“We just need to capture Zhang Ran. They are followers of Zhang Ran more than Liu Bei, so if we can just capture Zhang Ran, we can turn the tide of battle.”

“General, please be rational! Zhang Ran is a fierce general just like her father! Remember what happened to General Zhang He!”

At Zhao Yan’s earnest request, a slight twitch appeared at the corner of Xu Huang’s eye.

Zhang He. He who was counted among the Five Elite Generals along with Xu Huang ultimately met his end at Zhang Ran’s spear.

However, Xu Huang was confident that he was stronger than Zhang He. Even if not in terms of skill as a commander, in terms of individual martial prowess, he believed he was superior to Zhang He.

To defeat her, they would need to bring Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, who were called peerless under heaven. Even if they came, it would be unlikely to win without any injuries.

In fact, Xu Huang had competed with Guan Yu before. During that time when Guan Yu briefly served under Cao Cao. Even though it was just a duel, Xu Huang had the experience of contending with that Guan Yu.

The reason why the arrogant Guan Yu formed a friendship with Xu Huang and Zhang Liao and respected them was because they were fierce warriors comparable to Guan Yu himself.

Zhang Ran? He acknowledged her. It might be luck once, but from the second time, it’s her own ability. How many Wei generals had fallen to Zhang Ran’s spear?

Cao Hong, Zhang He, Zhao Chang had fallen. Zhang Ran’s strength was real.

However, that didn’t mean Xu Huang thought he would lose.

Zhao Yan, who read the confidence underlying Xu Huang’s thoughts, quickly added:

“Of course, you would defeat Zhang Ran, General. But how long do you think it would take? Can our army hold out until then?”

“The battles between the strong can be decided in a single exchange.”

Xu Huang spoke, recalling a battle between Zhang Liao and Guan Yu he had once seen.

Unlike himself who had engaged in battles lasting dozens of exchanges, Zhang Liao and Guan Yu had watched each other for a long time, exchanged only a single blow, and then Zhang Liao had admitted defeat.

He didn’t understand it at the time, but now that he had reached a more mature state, he knew why they had decided the outcome with just one exchange, and why they accepted it. Xu Huang’s level had now risen to the same rank as theirs. So how could he lose to Zhang Ran?

But Zhao Yan’s words weren’t wrong either.

If by chance Xu Huang himself were to be captured by Zhang Ran, the Wei army would be annihilated right there. And if Xu Huang falls, the Wei reinforcements currently gathering in various places would meet the same doom.

“We shouldn’t have left Wan from the start.”

“General…”

“Yilang’s words are right. We’ll retreat. Tell Lu Zhao and Feng Hai as well.”

Xu Huang couldn’t bring himself to gamble on the entire Jingzhou theater. He was not a ruler, but a defending general who received orders from the ruler to protect the territory.

It’s also a virtue of a general not to fight if victory cannot be assured. Xu Huang ultimately set aside his personal desire for victory and competitive spirit, and chose the greater national interest.

“Next time, it won’t end like this.”

§

The clash between Zhang Ran and Xu Huang that erupted in Zhaoyang ended with Zhang Ran’s victory.

Of the over 10,000 soldiers in Xu Huang’s army, less than half made it back to Wancheng alive, and the losses were significant, including the deaths of lieutenants Zhou Ling and Lu Zhao.

Even this was barely preserved through the desperate struggle of Xu Huang and Zhao Yan. Wang Ping accurately cut off Xu Huang’s retreat route, but Zhen Yi was one step above Wang Ping.

Zhang Ran did pursue Xu Huang, but it was merely a formality. The Luanling Army, tired from the forced march followed by battle without rest, needed recovery.

Thanks to Zhang Ran’s abandonment of pursuit in favor of recovery and Zhen Yi’s cooperation, Xu Huang was able to return to Wancheng.

However, the inside story that Xu Huang had mostly new recruits while Zhang Ran led the Luanling Army that had long worked together, or how amazing it was to succeed in retreating under such adverse conditions, wasn’t important.

Only the rumor that Zhang Ran had defeated Xu Huang spread, growing in size.

Following Guan Yu’s earth-shaking victory that swept through Fancheng and Nanyang Commandery, came Zhang Ran’s soaring. Wei, allowing consecutive runs, effectively lost its influence over Jingzhou south of Wancheng.

Moreover, Zhang Ran and the Luanling Army, who had given up pursuit in favor of recovering their strength, immediately began to stir up the Nanyang Commandery area.

By consecutively defeating Xu Shang and Yu Jian who were leading additional reinforcements, Zhang Ran achieved her tactical objectives as planned.

Nevertheless, Cao Cao and the Wei army silently concentrated on preparing for the next battle by gathering troops and horses. The reason they were sticking to war rather than negotiation, even though the fate of Cao Ren and Pang De trapped in Fancheng hung by a thread, was because they too had gained something to believe in.

That was the secret alliance with Sun Quan.

On the very day he met with Sima Yi, who had come as an envoy, Sun Quan accepted the secret agreement.

Coincidentally, an incident occurred where Guan Yu invaded Xiangkou without permission to take military provisions due to lack of food, and using that as a pretext, Sun Quan raised his army.

Lu Meng was cunning.

At this time, he not only had the unknown Lu Xun send a flattering letter to Guan Yu to lower his guard, but also disguised warships as merchant ships to enter Jingzhou.

This was to deceive the observation posts that Guan Yu had set up along the river out of concern for Sun Quan’s betrayal.

However, their plan had been exposed from the very beginning.

On a high ground overlooking the river. There, a man was watching the observation post fall to Lu Meng.

‘Mingxing, indeed your and my judgment was correct.’

His name was Pang Tong.

Pang Tong had always thought. If there was to be a fall for Liu Bei, it would undoubtedly be by Sun Quan, not Cao Wei.

And that thought was clearly concretized through conversations with Zhang Ran.

‘Zhou Yu, Lu Su, Lu Meng. They were by no means inferior to me or Kongming.’

Among them, Pang Tong paid particular attention to Lu Meng.

Zhou Yu was truly a heaven-sent prodigy but short-lived, and Lu Su’s character was as lofty as his ability, not one to betray the righteousness of an alliance.

But Lu Meng was different.

‘He’s like a wolf. A very fierce wolf, enough to bite and kill a stumbling tiger.’

Some might criticize Sun Quan’s betrayal as foolish self-harm forgetting the principle of “when the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold,” but Pang Tong saw this as inevitable.

It’s not simply because Lu Meng, who favored an offensive strategy, had taken military authority. From Sun Quan’s perspective, Liu Bei’s endless growth was perhaps an even more fatal threat than Wei.

It was already difficult to rely on the Yangtze River, and now Guan Yu had even developed a navy. Given the characteristics of Jiangnan weak in land battles, Liu Bei’s forces, which had defeated the Wei army head-on, were a real crisis.

‘Moreover, Sun Quan knows Zhou Yu’s plan to divide the world in two.’

For Sun Quan, who would remember Zhou Yu’s grand strategy of dividing the world into north and south, occupying the south and aiming for a northern expedition, the growth of neighboring Liu Bei was not something that could be ignored.

He must have felt the need to twist the current flowing to Liu Bei at least once.

“But it’s too late. If they were going to move, they should have moved when we were fighting in Hanzhong.”

All arrangements had already been completed.

Pang Tong was confident.

This was a grand plan devised by him, Pang Tong himself, and Zhang Ran putting their heads together. Even if there were errors, success would be unchanged.

“This Jingzhou will become the trap to catch you all.”