Meanwhile, Over There 2

With the collapse of the Xingnan front, the most dangerous place was undoubtedly Yangping, which was under joint attack from Wei and Wu.

However, was Tong Pass faring any better? That wasn’t the case either.

The force defending Tong Pass was only 20,000 strong. Currently, even if Han scraped together local forces responsible for public order, their army couldn’t exceed 200,000. This was already a much higher conscription rate compared to Wei or Wu.

In this situation, having to defend Hetao, Xiliang, Tong Pass, Wu Pass, Yangping, Xingnan, Nanzhong, and others, the number of troops that could be deployed to each area was inevitably small.

Originally, Ma Chao’s Xiliang Army and Zhang Ran’s Luanling Army were also forces to be mobilized to Guanzhong or Jingzhou.

However, Wei’s invasion plan through Hetao forced the commitment of all rear reserve forces.

As a large army was entrusted to Zhang Ran and sent off, it was natural that other areas would suffer from manpower shortages.

At the narrow Wu Pass, even with just a few thousand, if the soldiers are elite and the general has determination, it can be defended indefinitely. So Liu Bei sent Zhen Du and Bai Yibing to aim for extreme efficiency with a small number of troops.

This intention hit the mark perfectly, with Zhen Du easily blocking the Wei army even with a small force.

But compared to Wu Pass, Tong Pass was relatively wider. Though it was almost the same level, it was still wider.

The most problematic point wasn’t the width of such a passageway. It was the presence of detour routes.

As they had to spread defenses to Pofang Fortress in preparation for bypassing across the Yellow River, the Tong Pass area was suffering from fluctuations in troop numbers.

“General, a request for support from the Front General at Pofang Fortress!”

“Hmm… we’re at our limit here too.”

Zhang Fei, the overall commander of the Tong Pass front, said with a sigh.

Although there was the natural wall of the Yellow River instead of city walls, thinking it would be more difficult to defend, he had assigned more troops to Pofang Fortress.

And the general guarding Pofang Fortress was Zhao Yun, a veteran general with bravery no less than Zhang Fei’s and years of war experience.

Though less than half compared to Wei, Zhang Fei believed that with the combination of the Yellow River and Zhao Yun, they would somehow be able to hold. And Zhao Yun had been holding very well so far.

But from some point, Wei’s attacks became stronger than before. Their morale, which had been dampened by constantly being blocked in defense, was also much higher than at first.

Only after hearing the news that Feng Xi of Xingnan had fallen to Lu Xun did Zhang Fei understand why they were so high-spirited.

The thought that they can win covers even immediate difficulties.

If there is hope for the future, humans are creatures that can squeeze out the strength to overcome present hardships.

“General Zhang.”

The “General Zhang” Zhang Fei was calling was not himself, but Zhang Yi.

Originally under Liu Zhang, he was captured at the Battle of Luo Castle but refused to surrender and tried to keep his integrity.

In the original history, he was executed due to setbacks like the death of Fang Tong, but here where Fang Tong didn’t die, he survived and then bent his will to enter Liu Bei’s army when Liu Zhang surrendered.

Seeing Liu Bei, who moved Liu Zhang and his relatives to Jingzhou but didn’t neglect their treatment, he sincerely served as part of Liu Bei’s army and had risen to the position of Zhang Fei’s lieutenant.

Of course, it was also partly due to Zhang Fei’s direct intervention, highly valuing his attempt to keep his integrity and conviction, and hearing praise from his daughter, but anyway.

“You take charge of the defense here at Tong Pass.”

“Are you thinking of going to support personally, General?”

“Don’t worry. I won’t take separate troops with me.”

The defense of Tong Pass is no less important than Pofang Fortress. If more troops were drawn from here, the defense of Tong Pass would also be shaken.

Conversely, it would be the same if Pofang Fortress were breached.

Therefore, Zhang Fei decided to provide support.

“Then…”

“I alone am enough for support.”

The support of Zhang Fei, worth ten thousand men.

“That won’t do. General, you are a symbol. If something happens to you, there will surely be problems somewhere. Please take more soldiers with you. I will definitely hold Tong Pass.”

“I will follow the general’s words. I’ll take a hundred soldiers with me.”

Zhang Yi inwardly wanted to say take a thousand, but Zhang Fei strongly indicated that this was the compromise line.

Zhang Fei left Tong Pass and crossed the Wei River. The Wei River, which was like a stream compared to the Yellow River, could be crossed without special preparation.

And when he reached Pofang Fortress on horseback, the battle situation was indeed difficult as Zhao Yun had said.

The pontoon bridge was completed, and the Wei army that had already crossed the Yellow River had established a foothold.

Though Zhao Yun’s fierce fight was barely preventing its spread, it seemed only a matter of time before it would be breached.

Zhang Fei finished assessing the situation at a glance and charged right in.

“Cao thieves! The Marquis of Yan, Zhang Yide has come! Offer your necks!!”

With Zhang Fei’s joining, the morale of the Han army greatly recovered. The synergy created by Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei greatly shook the Wei army.

However, the enemy commander was Xiahou Yuan, a famous Wei general no less than Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei.

“Don’t waver! The enemy reinforcement is just a few tens! If we push on like this, victory is ours! I’ll take on Zhang Fei myself! All forces maintain formation and advance!!”

Xiahou Yuan blocks Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun is blocked by sending Yan Xing.

With the feet of fierce generals who could twist the flow of battle tied, the rest is entirely up to the soldiers.

Both armies were elite troops, and the level of weapons and equipment was almost similar. Then what remains is ultimately a battle of numbers.

‘Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun. No matter how great you are, this is as far as you go.’

The battle was essentially decided when the pontoon bridge was laid and they couldn’t prevent the river crossing.

Xiahou Yuan was convinced that this was the perfect opportunity to wash away the disgrace from Jingzhou last time and reclaim Wei’s hegemony.

It would have certainly flowed as Xiahou Yuan expected, if not for the group of cavalry that appeared with earth-shaking sounds from the other side.

However, the presence of those who appeared like shooting stars, trailing dust behind them, shattered Xiahou Yuan’s premise from the ground up.

“What, is that.”

Was there a force left in Shu that could send more reinforcements? Xiahou Yuan quickly turned his thoughts.

Even Liu Bei’s personal troops would be only about 10,000, and even those wouldn’t come here, having left to prevent the crisis at Yangping.

However, judging by the size of that dust cloud, and the sound hitting their bodies, it was clearly tens of thousands of troops, well over 10,000.

“Where did such cavalry come from!!”

The flags those troops were carrying entered Xiahou Yuan’s eyes as he shouted.

Uniquely, an army that had a name rather than a surname on its main banner.

There was only one such army in the Three Kingdoms.

Luan (鸞).

It was Zhang Ran’s Luanling Army.

It wasn’t only Xiahou Yuan who saw this.

It was also clearly visible to the Han army, which hadn’t been able to reverse the defensive situation despite Zhang Fei’s joining.

“The General of the Guards has come!!”

That word was as good as saying the battle at Hetao had ended in Han’s complete victory.

Victory. It was an appearance that aroused not just hope but ecstasy in the Han army, which had been thirsting for it.

As if it wasn’t true that they had been pushed back until just now, the Han army showed surprising strength and switched to the offensive.

However, Xiahou Yuan’s response was even swifter. As soon as he saw Zhang Ran’s appearance, he instinctively felt that further fighting would only increase losses and immediately showed a retreating maneuver.

The Wei army’s retreat, crossing the Yellow River again via the pontoon bridge in an orderly manner, had such discipline that it couldn’t be easily interfered with.

By the time Zhang Ran set foot on the battlefield, the retreat was practically over.

Except for the suicide squad left behind to ensure a safe retreat, almost all of the Wei army had returned to the other side of the Yellow River.

By the time the suicide squad was dealt with, the Wei side had cut the pontoon bridge themselves to prevent crossing, and so the battle of Pofang Fortress came to an end.

The battle ended in an instant. Zhang Fei, riding a white-gold steed no less than Chitu that he had acquired at some point, watched with satisfaction as his daughter cleaned up the battlefield, immersed in emotion.

Just over 10 years ago, he had saved her when she almost lost her life to Cao Ren’s lieutenant Niu Jin.

Now time had passed and his grown daughter had completely left her father’s embrace and was flying high, giving a feeling that was both moving and somewhat melancholic.

A murmur filled with mixed feelings flowed from Zhang Fei’s mouth.

“Haha… the day has come when I’m rescued by my daughter.”

“You must feel the passage of time keenly.”

“Zilong.”

When Zhao Yun approached and spoke, Zhang Fei changed the subject as if embarrassed.

“What about Yan Xing?”

“He escaped. I had wounded him, but it seems it wasn’t deep enough.”

“I see. You’ve grown old too.”

“Haha, who doesn’t age? That’s why we have children. To carry on our will.”

Though knowing Zhang Fei was intentionally changing the subject, Zhao Yun slyly brought it back.

“In that respect, General, you’ve succeeded. You have such a worthy daughter.”

“Worthy, my friend, is for your sons. Not my daughter.”

“My sons are still lacking. It’s because I’m lacking. And the General of the Guards is worthy. No less than any male hero.”

Zhang Fei felt something happy yet uncomfortable. Worthy, it’s a good expression, but why doesn’t it feel quite right when used for his daughter?

“Enough. If you’re lacking, then all the great men in the world are dead.”

“I’m more suited to fighting directly than commanding armies.”

“Where did the Zilong who was active during the entry to Shu go, to speak such weak words now. Enough. Pofang Fortress wasn’t breached, so stop blaming yourself.”

Zhang Fei patted Zhao Yun’s shoulder, worried he might become unnecessarily discouraged.

“Let’s go now. We should greet her, since she came to support us.”

“We should indeed. But is it alright for me to intrude on the moment of father-daughter reunion?”

“Stop teasing.”

As Zhang Fei slowly raised his spear, Zhao Yun quickly replied.

“Yes.”