Battle of Luoyang 3

As Zhang Ran had expected, there was a subtle psychological warfare between Cao Pi and Sun Quan.

“Thank you for coming at my request.”

“If we must join forces against the ghosts of a bygone era, shouldn’t I naturally follow?”

While Cao Pi welcomed Sun Quan’s joining, he subtly acted as if he were the superior.

Though Sun Quan had proclaimed himself emperor borrowing somewhat from Cao Pi’s authority as the legitimate emperor who received abdication, Sun Quan was also a proud emperor in his own right.

Moreover, Sun Quan had gained considerable fame and established an independent position by successfully blocking Zhang Ran’s attack and sending him back with only minor losses.

It was natural that his troops were fewer compared to Wei considering the distance between Luoyang and Wu. Sun Quan had no reason to be treated as an inferior.

The alliance was creaking from their first meeting.

Though they had joined hands due to the common enemy of Han and Liu Bei, they had been pointing swords at each other until recently.

Even if they shook off their grudges, subtle hostility and contempt towards each other remained in their hearts.

But both Cao Pi and Sun Quan clearly recognized that fighting among themselves would do no good.

They pretended to accept the opinions of advisors restraining them from the side, stepping back to wrap things up before conflicts spread.

Above all, they had no leisure for more psychological warfare. They had to increase their speed as the Han army was rapidly approaching the hills.

Though Han had started the race, the physical distance itself was advantageous to the Wei-Wu alliance.

Successfully preempting the hills and catching their breath, they achieved some degree of harmony using this success as glue, truly killing two birds with one stone.

“According to scout reports, their army has been divided into three due to this competition for the hills. Liu Bei’s main force is about 80,000, behind that is Zhang Fei’s 20,000, and further behind are Wang Ping and Zhang Yi leading 10,000 ethnic minority troops.”

As Xin Pi, Cao Pi’s advisor, explained the situation of the Han army, Sun Quan asked:

“Hmm, I suppose their marching speed on flat ground is slow since they’re ethnic minorities who are good at climbing mountains?”

“That’s part of it, but it seems they sent Wang Ping and Zhang Yi’s ethnic minority troops as the vanguard thinking we would block them at Quyanggu. It appears their accumulated fatigue from searching for ambushes and guarding against surprise attacks was greater compared to Zhang Fei who only had to march comfortably.”

Xin Pi presented a quite plausible analysis.

A unit advancing while maintaining vigilance in all directions versus a unit that just needs to walk along the path secured by the vanguard. There was no need to think deeply about which side’s fatigue would be greater.

“It seems they planned to simultaneously secure an advantageous stronghold and safely join with their following troops by preemptively occupying the hills to block our path, but it has been revealed that this plan was too reckless.”

Wei Jin, who was accompanying as an advisor along with Xin Pi, opened his mouth. He had a talent for seeing through the enemy’s intentions and striking unexpectedly.

“However, now that the enemy’s trick has failed, side effects must inevitably follow. Their divided forces. Given that this war is generally believed to have been sparked by Liu Bei’s anger over Guan Yu’s death, if we capture Zhang Fei, Liu Bei will lose all reason and rush towards these heights.”

“Though Liu Bei would surely be enraged if Zhang Fei dies, he won’t commit the madness of charging towards the heights. Seeing how he didn’t rush in immediately when Guan Yu died, but came out after steadily preparing for a year, he seems to be someone capable of at least minimal patience for revenge.”

The one who presented a partial opposing opinion to Wei Jin’s argument came from Sun Quan’s side. It was Zhou Huan.

His fame had now spread not only in Eastern Wu but throughout the world, having successfully defended Houguan against Zhang Ran in the previous war and escorted Crown Prince Sun Deng to safely retreat until the end.

The fact that he had stopped Zhang Ran, whom no one had been able to stop until then, elevated Zhou Huan to national prominence.

Though the existence of Crown Prince Sun Deng was of undeniable importance, it was Zhou Huan who supervised the battle as Governor of Houguan.

Lu Xun, Zhou Yu, Zhou Huan. He came to be counted as one of the most excellent generals in Eastern Wu.

Therefore, Sun Quan sent Lu Xun to Jingzhou, Zhou Yu to Huainan, and had Zhou Huan accompany himself to Luoyang. It was a kind of power reduction through rotational assignments.

Anyway, while Zhou Huan rebutted Wei Jin’s claim that Liu Bei would go mad and misjudge if Zhang Fei were killed, he ultimately supported Wei Jin’s proposal.

“However, I agree with the opinion to capture Zhang Fei. Since we’ve preemptively occupied the heights, there shouldn’t be much problem with defense even if troops on the hills are reduced. If we succeed in capturing Zhang Fei by mobilizing sufficient troops, it becomes possible to encircle them and apply all-around pressure.”

Though Wei Jin and Zhou Huan presented opposing arguments about Liu Bei’s response if Zhang Fei were captured, they showed the same opinion on attacking Zhang Fei.

After some more debate and discussion, the proposal to attack Zhang Fei and defeat the enemy in detail was adopted.

“Then who should go? Considering the scale of troops, it should be at least 30,000 even at the lowest…”

As Cao Pi was speaking while looking at the faces of his generals, the answer came from right beside him.

“I will go.”

“What, you mean the Emperor of Wu will go personally?”

“Though we are allies, having two emperors on one front will only complicate the command system. As it happens, the troops I brought number 40,000, which should be an appropriate scale to defeat Zhang Fei.”

“Hmm, if you put it that way. Very well. While the Emperor of Wu defeats Zhang Fei, we of Wei will keep Liu Bei’s main force in check here. When it comes time to capture Zhang Fei and defeat Liu Bei, we of Wei will gladly take the lead.”

The next day after finishing role assignment with Sun Quan marching out.

Seeing the thick river mist, Sun Quan laughed heartily and sensed victory.

“We Wu people are accustomed to such mist, living by the sea and Yangtze River. The heavens are helping us!”

While people unfamiliar with such mist would likely lose their sense of direction, the Wu people were different. Unlike the enemy enveloped in mist unable to confirm the attack, they could approach quickly and accurately.

Sun Quan shouted, full of confidence:

“March out!”

§

Though the river mist had somewhat thinned, visibility was still poor. Zhang Fei looked beyond the hazy mist and muttered softly:

“They’re coming.”

The movement of military air that Zhang Ran had felt.

Zhang Fei was also aware of it.

“Zhang Yin, Bu Guang, Liu Yong. Prepare for battle. The enemy will soon be upon us.”

It didn’t matter who was coming.

Whoever came, it made no difference. Even if Cao Pi came leading tens of thousands from the main force, Zhang Fei would simply fulfill the role given to him.

Finally, the enemy army revealed itself, breaking through the mist. Zhang Fei quickly scanned the front and confirmed the banners. Sun and Wu. Wei’s military banner was not visible.

“Sun Quan alone?”

Zhang Fei let out a scornful laugh.

“You fear Zhang Liao, yet you’re not afraid of this lover Zhang Yide?”

For Zhang Fei, who had been thinking Xiahou Dun would come, it was an unsatisfactory enemy.

It was said that since being blocked by Zhang Liao’s 7,000 troops while leading 100,000 at Hefei, Sun Quan dared not easily mention Zhang Liao’s name.

Yet coming with just a few tens of thousands to defeat Zhang Fei himself irritated Zhang Fei’s mood.

“I’ve changed my mind.”

Zhang Fei’s given task was merely to hold out.

It was clear the enemy would deploy at least twice the troops to quickly and perfectly defeat Zhang Fei before Zhang Yi and Wang Ping, who had not yet joined up, could arrive.

Zhang Fei’s role in the most difficult battlefield was to hold the enemy in place.

Though inferiority was expected, everyone thought it would become a winnable battle if Zhang Yi and Wang Ping arrived and joined forces afterwards.

Zhang Fei thought so too. He preferred to carefully analyze the battlefield, so he thought it better to defend and intended to focus on defense.

In that aspect, Zhang Fei was different from his daughter Zhang Ran. Zhang Ran liked fierce attacks, but rather than her father Zhang Fei, that personality resembled her uncle Guan Yu.

But at this moment, it would be fine to say Zhang Ran took after her father.

“I’ll make them scatter in terror at just hearing the name Zhang.”

Mounting Leopard Moon Crow, Zhang Fei surveyed the battlefield.

The two armies clash.

The Wu army was certainly elite. Even though their surprise attack failed, they stood their ground without being pushed back against the elite troops that Zhang Fei had trained rigorously.

Basically, the Wu army was also an elite force carefully selected by Sun Quan. Add to that the morale boost from the emperor’s personal command.

The Wu army was displaying a valor that shattered the prejudice that Wu was strong in naval battles but weak in land battles.

The Han army met them with Zhang Fei, the commander, taking a step back while lieutenant Zhang Yin led the center with Bu Guang and Liu Yong shouting fiercely on the left and right wings.

In contrast, on the Wu side, Sun Quan came to the battlefield and gave direct commands.

However, thanks to already anticipating their attack, the Han army’s defense firmly blocked the Wu army. Though outnumbered, they showed no signs of collapsing.

‘The mist is clearing.’

Zhang Fei had been waiting for this moment.

No matter how great a general Zhang Fei was, it was clear he would be in a difficult situation if isolated in the mist with blocked visibility.

So he had been conserving his strength until visibility was secured and he could exert his full power.

While Zhang Fei held back, the Wu army strongly pressing the Han army had come even closer.

That also meant Sun Quan, who was encouraging soldiers and giving direct orders at the front, had come closer to Zhang Fei.

‘Sun Quan. Now I can see your face.’

Zhang Liao had missed the chance to capture Sun Quan because he didn’t know his face. He realized it was Sun Quan too late and attacked again, but by then it was too late.

But Zhang Fei remembered his face clearly.

“Cavalry, follow me! We will capture Sun Quan!!”