Battle of Luoyang 5

The troops Liu Bei and Pang Tong took with them were more than half of the forces here.

It was an all-out effort from the very start.

While generals like Shang Cong, Zhao Lu, Bu Rong, and Zhao Rong led their respective units on the front lines, Liu Bei and Pang Tong became the overall coordinators handling the entire battle line.

The slope of the hills was low. The Wei army met with manpower in a state where not even a wooden fence, let alone a few deer antlers, had been prepared.

“Xiahou Shang’s reinforcements have arrived!”

“The Commander of the Central Army has defeated the enemy general Yu Qian!”

“There’s a report that Separate Commander Zhao Rong has retreated after being attacked by Wen Xun!”

News about the battle situation was being relayed to me in real-time.

If Liu Bei and Pang Tong were the coordinators of the battle line, I was the manager of the entire battlefield.

Sitting in the position of supreme commander that originally should have been held by Emperor Liu Bei, I was the final destination for all information coming up from each battle line.

In my mind was laid out a wide-ranging war map encompassing not just the central battle line attacking the hills, but also the northern battle line where our left wing and the enemy’s right wing were clashing, and the southern battle line where Father would be holding down the enemy forces.

‘The side we attacked is the center where Zhang He was. If Cao Pi sent Xiahou Shang as reinforcements from the rear, Wei has the numerical advantage. Zhang He held out well until support arrived.’

Seeing no Wu military banners, it seems Sun Quan was the one who went to face Father.

With Wu pulling out, Wei’s troop deployment remaining on the hills had the same left wing-center-right wing structure as us.

However, as Liu Bei attacked Wei’s left wing led by Zhang He, the troop deployment diagram changed. Xiahou Shang led a large force from the center where Cao Pi was to support the left wing, making the left wing essentially become the center.

‘Cao Pi retreated to the rear and became the reserve force. Now it’s become Xiahou Dun’s right wing, Zhang He and Xiahou Shang’s center, and Sun Quan’s left wing.’

Our formation is Liu Bei and Pang Tong’s center, Father’s right wing, Wu Yi leading the left wing, and me with the reserve force.

“What about the report from Governor Wu? How is the situation on the left wing?”

The general facing Wei’s right wing on our side is Governor of Guanzhong Wu Yi. Though relatively inferior in personnel compared to the center and right wing, Wu Yi is also quite an excellent general.

However, Wu Yi’s fame pales before the name of his opponent. The enemy general commanding Wei’s right wing is none other than Xiahou Dun, the last of the Five Tiger Generals.

‘Of course, it’s not just Wu Yi, Guan Ping has joined with half of the General-in-Chief’s Office, but still it’s not enough before Xiahou Dun.’

Apart from troop numbers, looking just at the danger of the enemy general, Xiahou Dun’s right wing was undoubtedly the worst battle line.

“Despite being outnumbered, they are maintaining the battle line!”

“They say it’s thanks to the brilliant performance of the General Who Pacifies the South who took the vanguard.”

“The General Who Pacifies the South…! Indeed worthy of the General-in-Chief’s bloodline.”

A revenge battle to repay his father’s grudge.

Guan Ping’s fighting spirit is surely the greatest on this entire battlefield.

However, there are things in this world that cannot be overcome by human will alone. An enemy like Xiahou Dun was too much to overcome with just fighting spirit or determination.

Therefore, I focused more on the situation of the left wing than the center.

‘The role of the left wing is not much different from the right wing. To hold down the enemy’s right wing.’

Under adverse conditions of being outnumbered on both left and right wings, they tie down the enemy’s wings. As a result, the enemy forces the center has to face are reduced.

The center was the only place where the troop difference was not much. Though Wei had a few thousand more, that level could be ignored in a battlefield where tens of thousands of troops were fighting.

With Liu Bei personally taking the field to maximize morale, and several capable generals commanding the front lines under Pang Tong’s direct command, the center was the core of our army.

However, for the center to fulfill its core role, it was essential for both wings to do their part first. The true key to victory in this battle was not the center, but the wings.

‘If troop numbers are equal, the outcome of the battle ultimately depends on quality. The center will surely climb the hills. Zhang He and Xiahou Shang can’t stop them.’

Xiahou Dun, aware of this battlefield balance, would not sit still. He will surely try to devour our left wing and in turn pressure the center.

‘Since breaking through an army in defensive formation by force would incur considerable losses, the method Xiahou Dun will choose is… anvil and hammer through cavalry outflanking.’

Looking towards the north where Xiahou Dun and Wu Yi were locked in fierce combat, I opened my mouth.

“Bai Zhan, Bai Yue.”

At my voice calling for Ma Dai and Jiang Wei, answers immediately came from behind.

“Please give your orders.”

“Bai Zhan, take the Luanling light cavalry and support the left wing’s flank. Bai Yue, lead the Luanling infantry and push back Xiahou Dun together with the Governor of Guanzhong.”

I abandon the Liuhua Formation for this battle. With so many of our troops and enemy troops entangled in a limited battlefield, deploying the Liuhua Formation with just the Luanling Army would be inefficient.

‘Unless the entire Han army had learned the Liuhua Formation, that is.’

Now it was better to assign the Luanling Army to each lieutenant and deploy them where support was needed.

‘Support of 15,000 Luanling troops. With Jiang Wei and Wu Yi working together, it should be possible to push back Xiahou Dun.’

The center climbs the hills and secures a foothold, while the left wing pushes back Xiahou Dun and assists the center.

Then Cao Pi will surely mobilize the last card he’s holding.

His personal guard that retreated to the rear after sending Xiahou Shang. Wei’s final reserve force.

§

North of the battlefield.

The battle between Han’s left wing led by Wu Yi and Wei’s right wing led by Xiahou Dun was a tense contest of strength between the offensive Wei army and the Han army focused on defense.

Despite being outnumbered, the Han army was showing a fairly good resistance in the face of Xiahou Dun’s fierce attacks.

Guan Ping at the vanguard, encouraging the soldiers and boosting morale.

Wu Yi in the rear, showing solid defense with appropriate military operations.

The combination of these two produced surprisingly significant synergy in supporting the Han army.

“Guan Yu’s son is quite fierce. Our vanguard General Cao Tai is being pushed back.”

The general at the vanguard of the Wei army was Cao Tai, Cao Ren’s son. Though not intentional, interestingly, both sides had sons of former top military figures as vanguards.

In this situation, the one showing more outstanding performance and raising prestige was Guan Ping.

Xiahou Dun nodded at the assessment of Yin Shu, who was serving as his lieutenant.

“As expected of that Guan Yunchang’s son. However…”

Xiahou Dun swallowed his words as he looked at Guan Ping sweeping across the battlefield.

‘That level is disappointing. As the son of Yunchang’s younger brother, he should be able to match Zhang Ran.’

In that aspect, Cao Ren’s son Cao Tai was even more disappointing. As the son of Cao Ren who was called a heaven-sent general, he should never have been like that.

“I suppose there are no sons who surpass their fathers.”

“Aren’t there daughters?”

“These days it seems daughters are better than sons. I heard that the daughter of Minister Xin who came along this time is so intelligent, His Majesty was even going to give her an official position citing Zhang Ran’s example. Her name was… I think her courtesy name was Xianying…”

Cutting off Yin Shu’s words as he tried to move on to talking about Xin Pi’s daughter, Xiahou Dun said curtly:

“Enough idle talk. It’s about time to end this.”

Though Xiahou Dun’s expression and tone changed in an instant, Yin Shu seemed used to it and likewise took on a serious attitude.

“Please give your orders.”

“Lead the cavalry to outflank and strike the enemy’s rear flank.”

Xiahou Dun had been waiting for their defense of the rear flank to weaken as the battle intensified. Guan Ping’s performance was good, but it caused too much focus on the front.

If their rear flank is attacked at this moment, the Han army will surely crumble.

Yin Shu had participated in the wars with Cao Cao and the Xiliang warlords, and had achieved the military exploit of pursuing and completely defeating the Qiang people to Xinping County in Yong Province.

If he had won against the Qiang in cavalry battles, breaking through Han’s battle formation should not be difficult.

“Leave it to me.”

After sending off Yin Shu, Xiahou Dun pondered which direction to advance after crushing Han’s left wing.

‘Should I attack the center? Or should I strike the enemy’s rear army to prevent any contingencies?’

Xiahou Dun soon reached an answer. The center could easily maintain the situation anyway once Cao Pi sent the reserve force from the rear. Now the correct move was to strike the enemy’s rear to annihilate the reserve force and prevent any contingencies in advance.

However, Xiahou Dun’s deliberation was unnecessary.

“That’s…”

Xiahou Dun saw the Luan banner coming from the other side.

One step ahead of Xiahou Dun finishing off the left wing, the Luanling Army’s support had arrived.

And Yin Shu, whom Xiahou Dun had sent out, was also witnessing a group of cavalry charging towards him.

Though surprised by the sudden appearance of the Luanling Army, Yin Shu quickly collected his emotions and shouted:

“Don’t be afraid! Have you forgotten that we even defeated the Qiang? We’ll break through just like this!!”

The one leading the Luanling cavalry charging from the opposite side of Yin Shu was Ma Dai. And Ma Dai, with sharp eyes befitting someone from Xiliang, confirmed the face of Yin Shu leading the Wei cavalry even before the collision.

“That bastard…!”

The young Ma Dai had also joined the war against Cao Cao, following Ma Chao. And Ma Dai clearly remembered the face of the general who pursued them after their crushing defeat.

Though changed with the passage of time, the general before his eyes had the same features as back then.

Ma Dai gritted his teeth and drew out a sound from deep in his abdomen.

“I’ve got you now!!”