The Battle of Wei River 5

Before Guo Huai could finish speaking, iron arrows rained down on the heads of men and horses.

Kwagwagwagwagwagwak!!

“Ugh!”

“Aaaaargh!!”

“My arm, my arm!”

“Kuhek!”

Though some only suffered minor wounds from grazing arrows, far more were screaming with arrows lodged in their arms and legs. Many also died instantly from hits to vital points.

If it’s like that for small humans, how could horses with much larger surface areas be safe? The horses’ cries drowning out the screams of the Wei army echoed across the battlefield.

Armor was no help against the iron rain. The iron arrows shot by the Yuan Rong pierced through armor and dug into flesh.

Horses following behind tripped over fallen horses hit by arrows and rolled on the ground, and those who turned to avoid them collided with each other, entangling the formation. It was utter chaos.

“Calm down! Calm down and form ranks! If they shoot multiple arrows at once, rapid fire is impossible! It will take time until the next attack!”

As Guo Huai analyzed. Since the Yuan Rong shot 10 arrows at once, the time required for reloading was also several times longer than normal bows.

How to use this time. Guo Huai stood at another crossroads of choice.

Both options were burdensome. He wanted to continue the attack if he could. He had suffered too much to just retreat after taking only losses.

However, looking at it rationally and setting aside emotions, the situation was not easy.

Not only was it difficult to break through infantry who had built a formation with light cavalry, but if they failed to break the formation, they could end up caught between Wu Yi’s army that had crossed the Wei River.

Emotion said to attack, but reason demanded retreat.

‘What should I do…’

Because neither side had a clear absolute advantage, unlike until now, Guo Huai fell into contemplation.

However, the contemplation did not continue for long. It could not continue. It was impossible to.

“The Rear General has beheaded the enemy commander Liu Biao!!”

With that cry, thunderous cheers erupted from the Nanling Army.

Hearing that, Guo Huai also let out a shrill shout.

“Liu Biao, you fool! How could you give up your head without even lasting an hour!!”

He felt like vomiting blood. Now the comparative advantage between attack and retreat disappeared. Only the absolute advantage of retreat remained.

Though they hadn’t lost numerical superiority yet, it would be difficult to guarantee even that once the Xiongnu’s 10,000 troops were gone. It was clear as day that if they kept fighting like this, they would suffer a major defeat when Zhang Ran’s cavalry and the infantry across the Wei River came pouring in.

Retreat was certain. Next was to determine the retreat route.

This decision was relatively easy.

Xue Xiao, whom Guo Huai had left behind in Chang’an, was a trustworthy talent. It wasn’t for nothing that Guo Huai deliberately left him in Chang’an.

No matter how great Zhang Ran is, a siege is an orthodox test of strength. If they rely on Chang’an’s high walls to resist, even Zhang Ran would have no special moves.

Xue Xiao would surely be able to endure Zhang Ran’s fierce attacks with resolute will.

‘I placed Xue Xiao in Chang’an. Xue Xiao will protect Chang’an.’

But if Jieting is blocked, Cao Zhang fighting in Liangzhou will truly reach an unmanageable state.

Since Guo Huai himself failed to stop Zhang Ran. The only hope left was for Xue Xiao in Chang’an to hold out until Cao Zhang returned from Yongzhou and reinforcements arrived from Luoyang.

Even if they abandoned Cao Zhang and protected Chang’an, there would be no answer if Zhang Ran’s large army, after joining with Ma Chao, dominated the Guanzhong region and tried to strangle them.

The best would be for Cao Zhang to defeat Ma Chao and return, but the possibility was low. It was far more reasonable to leave a suicide squad at Jieting to prevent them from entering Guanzhong while turning Cao Zhang’s army towards Guanzhong.

In that case, Yong and Liang provinces without Cao Zhang would fall into Shu Han’s hands, but it couldn’t be helped. If they somehow managed to protect Chang’an and Guanzhong, opportunities to reclaim Yong and Liang provinces would surely come.

“Retreat! Tell General Cao too! Retreat to Beiyuan!!”

§

Holding Liu Biao’s freshly taken head in one hand, I blankly watched the sight of Guo Huai’s Wei army fleeing westward.

After the escapees had all fled and the cleanup of the Xiongnu remnants who had fallen from their horses or were blocked by our cavalry and unable to escape was finished, Jiang Wei approached me.

“Shall we pursue?”

“No need. Looking at their speed, we won’t be able to catch up. Focus on cleaning up the aftermath. And be careful in identifying and managing the casualties. Also pick out a few messengers to send to the General of the Left. Going down the Wei River will be faster.”

After issuing post-battle measures, I closed my eyes tightly seeing the corpses of our soldiers that caught my eye in the middle of the battlefield strewn with corpses.

It was a great victory.

It was a victory that may have determined the course of this Northern Expedition.

Liu Biao’s Xiongnu cavalry, which numbered 10,000, were practically annihilated, and the Wei cavalry must have suffered some losses as well.

On the other hand, our casualties were minuscule compared to theirs. The infantry suffered almost no casualties except for a few during the river crossing, and my and Ma Dai’s light cavalry also had few losses.

However, the situation was different for the heavy cavalry who had to play the role of bait, and later even serve as both anvil and hammer.

Despite wearing horse armor and thick armor, they were exposed to the enemy too severely. Even at a glance, one could tell their numbers had clearly decreased.

Unable to fully enjoy the joy of great victory because of knowing their sacrifice. Knowing what their feelings were, willingly jumping in despite knowing it was a death mission.

“Now there’s not much space left…”

My mouth tasted bitter. The emotion felt every time I see places I hoped wouldn’t be filled turning black doesn’t become familiar.

No matter how much stronger I become, or grow into a great general who employs more perfect tactics, as long as battles occur, there will inevitably be casualties.

In the end, all I could do was remember their dedication and keep it in my memory for life.

“When the Northern Expedition is over, I’ll erect a monument to their military achievements.”

Words that won’t be heard by them. I send off my self-promise carried on the wind. Hoping it reaches the ears of those who may still be in the mid-sky.

“General, the cleanup is finished. As a result of tallying our casualties and enemy casualties, our side’s casualties were around 2,000, while the enemy’s casualties are estimated to exceed 10,000.”

How long has it been since the battle ended, yet Fei Yi had already organized the post-battle report.

An exchange ratio of 1 to 5. Though it didn’t reach the exchange ratio of the Battle of Yiling, it was an unbelievable level compared to Alexander’s Battle of Jaxartes, which was the tactical motif for this battle.

Of course, the enemy casualties Fei Yi mentions are mostly Xiongnu. The actual Wei troop casualties probably don’t even reach half of the Xiongnu’s.

However, what’s seen externally is different.

We lost 2,000 while over 10,000 of the enemy died or were wounded? And that’s with the enemy having greater numbers? The level of morale becomes different from then on.

Moreover, the value of this battle wasn’t just that.

A battle where Guo Huai, the commander of the Wei army guarding Guanzhong, clashed with Zhang Ran, the commander of Shu Han’s Guanzhong expedition army.

The fact that Guo Huai came with tens of thousands of troops and was defeated, and retreated to Jieting rather than Chang’an with his defeated troops, would greatly weaken the will to resist throughout the Guanzhong region.

Once the looting of spoils was finished, I moved to a place slightly away from the battlefield and let the soldiers rest. It was unreasonable to march while bearing the fatigue of battle. The fatigue was already great from fighting at a numerical disadvantage while crossing the river.

But there were still some who were fine.

“Governor Wu, take Liu Biao’s head and go to Wugong County. If they don’t surrender, attack and capture it.”

I handed over Liu Biao’s head and gave orders to Wu Yi.

The Wugong County I mentioned was located halfway on the road leading to Chang’an. Located in a mountainous area, if this place was blocked, it could more effectively cut off entry from the west to Chang’an.

While facing the enemy, Yangshui on the way to Wugong County was important, but with no more enemies to block us, it was no man’s land up to Wugong County.

Perhaps feeling regretful about not participating in the Battle of Wei River himself, Wu Yi rather happily accepted Liu Biao’s head.

“I won’t disappoint you.”

“I’ll see you at Wugong County.”

“I’ll go ahead and wait inside the city.”

Wu Yi made up for the military achievements he couldn’t gain by participating in the Battle of Wei River at Wugong County.

When the main force, which started late after taking a rest, arrived at Wugong County, the city gates were wide open. And Wu Yi personally came out in front of the city gate to welcome our army.

“I have completed the order.”

“Well done. But didn’t you say you’d wait inside the city?”

“Hahaha, dinner is waiting inside the city, so let’s go together.”

Though it wasn’t a grand banquet, I gathered the leadership and belatedly shared the joy of victory.

And the very next day.

“Governor Wu, stay here at Wugong County like this and block Guo Huai from returning.”

Though I don’t think it’s likely, human affairs are unpredictable. Who can guarantee that situations like Guo Huai going crazy and attacking our rear, or Ma Chao and Pang Tong having already been defeated by Cao Zhang long ago, won’t occur?

“But won’t the troops attacking Chang’an be too few?”

To Wu Yi’s worried question, I answered as if it was no big deal.

“Don’t worry. Reinforcements will come.”

Right after speaking, I realized the need to correct myself and changed my words.

“No. Perhaps we might be going as reinforcements.”

Before we arrive at Chang’an.

The area around Chang’an might turn into a battlefield.