Chapter 207: Battle of Luoyang 8
by AfuhfuihgsBattle of Luoyang 8
The clash between Cao Zhen’s Imperial Guards and Zhang Ran’s Luanling Army. Shortly after, seeing Cao Zhen unable to withstand Zhang Ran and running away with his tail between his legs, Xiahou Shang sensed the end of this battle.
Cao Zhen, knowing he couldn’t win in a direct confrontation, used the gamble of shooting backwards, but it only resulted in the collapse of the Imperial Guards more quickly.
And the collapse of the Imperial Guards meant they could no longer block Han’s support, which in turn would lead to the chain collapse of the barely holding Wei center.
‘If it’s Zhang Ran, she’ll aim for His Majesty. When it comes to exploiting weaknesses, there’s no one in the world like Zhang Ran!’
This is Zhang Ran who doesn’t miss even the slightest imbalance created by Yang Xiu. She wouldn’t leave Cao Pi alone when his guard has so obviously weakened.
‘This battle is lost… At this point, I must at least save His Majesty.’
Xiahou Shang began calculating not how to win the battle, but how much could be discarded and how much could be saved.
‘The Shu rebels intend to divide our army and annihilate each part through encirclement. At this rate, the center will collapse first, then the left wing. They plan to use the Luanling Army as a wall to block interference from the right wing and swallow us one by one.’
The Luanling Army was not only outstanding in offensive power led by Zhang Ran, but their defensive strength was also well-known throughout the world.
It wasn’t for nothing that the Luanling Army pushed back Xiahou Dun’s right wing and struck the flank of the Wei center. The Han army was trying to split the Wei army using the Luanling Army as a boundary line.
‘Escaping before their encirclement is complete and joining up with General Xiahou Dun’s right wing. That’s the only way to survive. And… only His Majesty and I, who are relatively close to the right wing, can do that.’
Sun Quan who went to the left wing, Xiahou Yu who led reinforcements down the hills, Zhang He leading the center south of the hills.
If they rashly tried to break out of the encirclement, they would rather be stabbed in the back and annihilated more quickly.
Since he hadn’t yet fully grasped how the battle between the Luanling Army and Imperial Guards was progressing, Zhang He was fighting with all his might, but soon he too would realize the battle situation had almost completely turned.
At that time, would Zhang He resolve to fight to the death and hold out? Or would he flee south to save himself? Xiahou Shang couldn’t deny that he leaned more towards the latter possibility.
If Zhang He abandoned resistance and fled south, their only open path, there was a high possibility the Han army would open the way for them.
Relatively speaking, Zhang He’s value was low. Because in this war, the three people Liu Bei had personally named as targets and declared he would behead were Cao Pi, Xiahou Shang, and Sima Yi.
With two of them here, it was all too obvious they would prioritize the side with Cao Pi, the emperor.
‘It can’t be helped. Saving His Majesty is the greater cause… Preserving even half is the path for the future rather than all dying.’
Time was of the essence. Once resolved, one must immediately put it into action.
Xiahou Shang began to quietly withdraw, leading the reserve troops in the rear while pretending to send support to the lieutenants remaining at the front.
This was immediately exposed to the Han army, especially Jiang Wei who had been watching his every move closely. But paradoxically, the Wei troops who were concentrating all their nerves on the fight did not know of this betrayal by their own side.
Xiahou Shang’s ploy of slipping away while using Zhang He and half the center as a shield for buying time was carried out more or less successfully.
Though the situation was urgent, Xiahou Shang was not a fool who would ruin everything by acting rashly. If he withdrew troops recklessly, it was clear as day the Han army would try to break the battle lines by telling the Wei troops at the front that their general was abandoning them and fleeing.
So Xiahou Shang deliberately went forward to show his face and encourage the soldiers before taking full-scale action.
‘Anyway, Cao Zhen is taking care of the vanguard. It’s better for me to lead the rear guard and finish things properly.’
Though he retreated after withstanding only a few exchanges against Zhang Ran, Cao Zhen is among the top fierce generals of the second generation. In terms of pure martial prowess, he’s clearly ahead of Xiahou Shang.
Cao Zhen was more efficient than Xiahou Shang as the vanguard that needed to break through. Conversely, Xiahou Shang himself was more suitable than Cao Zhen for the following troops that required delicate military operations.
Xiahou Shang’s various efforts bore fruit. At this rate, he could smoothly withdraw with the center, and though they would suffer great losses, they could somehow return with enough troops to defend Luoyang Castle.
They could no longer stop Liu Bei from performing the jiao sacrifice, but on their side they could just climb Mount Tai and perform the feng and shan ceremony to counter it.
‘For the time being, we must curl up like a tortoise and focus thoroughly on internal stability.’
Xiahou Shang’s eyes could already see them. The rebellions that would be sparked by Liu Bei’s jiao sacrifice crying out for Han’s revival.
In the past, when Cao Cao was enthroned as King of Wei, there were numerous rebellions and plots, but Cao Cao had suppressed them with an iron fist. Even now, Xiahou Shang believed that if they endured Han’s cries while dealing with internal troubles, an opportunity would come again someday.
‘I hope the General of Chariots and Cavalry does well.’
If Sima Yi were to be defeated by Ma Chao in Bingzhou after losing in Luoyang as well, it might be impossible to even withstand external invasions.
As Xiahou Shang was assuming the worst-case scenario, that voice rang out like a bolt from the blue.
“Xiahou Shang! Where are you going?!”
Xiahou Shang realized who the owner of that clear, high voice rarely heard on the battlefield was, even before seeing them.
Just by hearing the voice and realizing who it was, Xiahou Shang turned his head to look at where his name had been called from. It was a surreal sight. The one rushing straight towards Xiahou Shang himself.
As if to say mere soldiers blocking the way couldn’t stop her, she was fiercely approaching him.
‘What speed…’
Too fast. As if she had been aiming for Xiahou Shang from the start, Zhang Ran rushed at Xiahou Shang with the Luanling cavalry.
“Ha… Was it about surviving right now rather than worrying about the future?”
Now there was nowhere left to run. No units available to support either. The only thing he could rely on was the vanguard led by Cao Zhen returning to attack the Luanling Army’s flank…
But as Xiahou Shang himself admitted, the probability of them coming to rescue, leaving behind Cao Pi who had the highest importance on this battlefield, was extremely low.
If one intended to abandon someone, they should have been prepared to be abandoned themselves. Xiahou Shang accepted his situation. However, that didn’t mean he would humbly accept death.
Thinking of his beloved concubine remaining in Luoyang, Xiahou Shang steeled his resolve to survive here no matter what.
“Don’t be afraid! We have greater numbers! We just need to stop them once! There’s nothing to fear from weakened cavalry’s breakthrough power! Form a battle formation by putting shields in front and extending spears!!”
Xiahou Shang did not give up resistance until the end. But no matter how excellent Xiahou Shang’s leadership was, building a solid battle formation capable of withstanding the Luanling Army’s charge in such a short time was a far-fetched idea in this state.
Such a haphazardly formed battle formation didn’t even serve as a small obstacle to Zhang Ran’s advance.
“Good… come! If it’s the nemesis born of the Xiahou family, it’s right that the Xiahou family’s hands should reap it!”
Acknowledging it was impossible to stop Zhang Ran, Xiahou Shang firmly faced Zhang Ran charging with spear in hand.
However, this was Zhang Ran, whom even Cao Zhen stronger than Xiahou Shang couldn’t exchange more than a few blows with. It was unreasonable from the start for Xiahou Shang to have a victory, draw, or even just a defensive exchange against Zhang Ran.
As Zhang Ran’s spear pierced his heart, Xiahou Shang belatedly realized. That the spear Zhang Ran was holding was Guan Yu’s, who had met his death due to Xiahou Shang’s arrow.
Coughing up blood, Xiahou Shang smiled bitterly and murmured.
“Haha… has revenge come around to me?”
Xiahou Shang squeezed out his last strength before dying to grasp the spear shaft with his blood-covered hand. Hoping the chain of revenge would continue through that blood.
“Next is you. My son will destroy you…”
Though his son was not even twenty yet, Xiahou Shang believed in his son’s intelligence.
With those last words, Xiahou Shang dropped his head, let go of the spear, and stopped breathing.
Zhang Ran, who had quietly listened to his last words, pulled her spear out of his heart and uttered an indifferent remark.
“What revenge. It’ll be fortunate if he doesn’t die by Sima Yi’s hands.”
Ruminating on the fact that Xiahou Shang’s son would become Xiahou Huan, the last loyal subject of Cao Wei, Zhang Ran beheaded Xiahou Shang.
The Wei army, having lost their commander, crumbled like a sand castle. The Luanling Army tore through the gaps, making the Wei army’s great escape only half successful.
Zhang Ran had no intention of stopping there. Xiahou Shang’s death was a major event signifying that the battle between the centers on the hills had ended in Han’s complete victory.
That influence would spread across the entire battlefield, carried on the cheers of the Han army.
A situation with a thick pall of defeat inevitably destroys soldiers’ discipline and morale. Zhang Ran intended to advance like this and kill Cao Pi too. And Zhang Ran believed it was possible.
Until one man blocked her path.
“Right. I wondered why you weren’t coming out.”
8 chi tall. A man of great strength born with divine power, weighing 500 jin.
The final barrier of the Wei Emperor who had saved Cao Cao’s life several times, including the Battle of Guandu and the Battle for Hanzhong.
It was Xu Chu.
0 Comments