Wind Blowing from the North 4

“Baichan. Huxian. Deshen. Xiaoying. Zijun.”

I called out the courtesy names of my subordinates one by one. Although they each showed different reactions when I called them, they all had their eyes shining brightly with resolute expressions.

“The end of this battle has come.”

Among the 3,000 soldiers following me, one-tenth had disappeared, leaving visible gaps. Some might be absent due to injuries, but in this era of poor hygiene and medical skills, how many could survive unscathed? Especially after being injured and rolling around in the mountains.

The only moral in war is a swift end. This one fight will bring the curtain down on the Battle of Tangge.

“I won’t say much. Don’t die. Let’s meet in victory.”

The thought that this might be the last battle becomes a motivation to fight with all one’s might. Just survive this battle. If you achieve merit this time, you’ll be rewarded even more greatly. With such thoughts, the soldiers will struggle desperately to survive.

What I can do for them is to stand at the very front and be the first to crush the enemy.

“I see them.”

Ma Dai, with the best eyesight, spotted the enemy.

“How many?”

“It looks like about 10,000.”

“10,000…”

Since there are still parts hidden from Ma Dai’s view, we should assume more than 10,000. Zhang He must have sent part of his army for reconnaissance or rear guard duty.

“It seems they’re retreating after all.”

I’m not sure how it was in the original history, but this time the situation wasn’t good for Zhang He. We had already preemptively occupied the Tangge area, and our talent pool had improved too much due to my involvement.

However, considering the numerical advantage, both attack and retreat would have been difficult choices. It seems Zhang He chose the latter, but.

“It’s going according to plan.”

That was our aim.

Zhang He is undoubtedly a great general. His brilliant exploits recorded in history were a disaster for Shu, and Liu Bei, recognizing his talent, lamented that he should have captured Zhang He as well as Xiahou Yuan.

However, Zhang He had shackles that he couldn’t overcome with his abilities alone. His background. His status as a surrendered general remained an inescapable constraint for him.

Zhang He can’t act independently. Even this time, it’s no different from him operating under Xiahou Yuan. His end was also the result of carrying out a reckless operation under Sima Yi, ultimately unable to overcome his inherent limitations.

‘Zhang He can’t launch a reckless attack on his own.’

Even if he wanted to risk everything on one decisive battle, Zhang He’s cold rationality would calculate the repercussions and choose a safer path.

Unlike me who knew through historical records, my father was truly a great general to have figured this out just from secondhand information and recent battles, without ever directly facing Zhang He.

“Increase the speed further.”

In this operation, my unit and I were tasked with stopping the enemy’s vanguard. Blocking the vanguard of the retreating enemy. It was becoming the anvil in the classic but excellent hammer and anvil tactic.

Zhang Fei, the world’s greatest hammer, is preparing to strike the chisel and cut off the enemy’s waist. No matter how great Zhang He’s command skills are, it would be impossible to organically operate a divided army.

Zhang He’s army was marching at a considerably fast pace despite the mountainous terrain. His skill in handling soldiers was certainly extraordinary.

‘But in the end, they can’t surpass us in mountain marching.’

Our army lightened their equipment and disregarded supplies, focusing only on this one battle. The march focused solely on speed is incomparable to Cao Cao’s army.

They were leaving while taking care of military supplies. They must be trusting the general in charge of the reconnaissance unit and rear guard. How careless.

Of course, Zhang He would have considered this too. Therefore, he would have devised a plan to retreat safely by understanding and exploiting our weaknesses.

Conversely, we made our plans believing Zhang He would retreat. Rather, Zhang He should have wedged into the weaknesses we deliberately exposed. If he had, he might have occupied our empty high ground, turned the battle into a test of strength, and won based on numerical superiority.

However, Zhang He ultimately chose the safest path. He must have thought there was no need to take risks. After all, Cao Cao probably didn’t intend to occupy Yi Province in the first place. Even just retreating safely would not be without merit.

‘Did Zhang He know that prioritizing survival would instead become his downfall?’

It was ironic. Like a Greek tragedy.

There was no divine judgment to put a nail in the coffin of the tragedy, but there was my father’s Zhanba Simo to bisect the enemy army.

“It’s begun.”

My father’s sudden attack cutting through the center of the enemy formation signals the start of the battle. The peerless might of the Man of Thousand Stratagems leading an elite unit was full of charisma that kept drawing attention, but we have our own job to do.

Now that the initiative has been taken, it’s time to disrupt the enemy’s aggro.

“Listen! The enemy army is already in confusion from our surprise attack. Look! The sight of their formation being cut in two! If we attack now, the enemy will crumble in disarray. Victory, glory, and the future await you! Fight! And seize it! I promise, even if you die, I swear on my name that I will take care of your families!”

I raise my spear. The five lieutenants assisting me also drew their weapons. Our weapons were also our command batons. The sound of soldiers adjusting their weapons and tightening their formations echoes like a symphony.

“I will protect your front. Let’s go!”

A battle cry pierces the mountaintop. We advance with the echoing sound at our backs.

Cao Cao’s army, which had been calmly dealing with the situation even after their waist was penetrated, immediately turned their heads upon discovering us appearing from the front.

I can see the soldiers’ faces. Mouths agape in shock. Their shaking pupils reflected the emotions Cao Cao’s army must be feeling.

Splat!

A blood spray announcing the start of battle dazzles the eyes. The military discipline disrupted by my father’s surprise attack. The wedge led by me is driven straight into Cao Cao’s army, which hadn’t properly formed ranks as they hadn’t expected us to come from this direction.

Cut, thrust, strike, deflect, push back. Moving freely in all directions. Wang Ping and Qu Fu standing on either side of me as if protecting my flanks are incredibly reliable. Entrusting command to Ma Chong, Ma Dai and Liu Xun form the left and right wings to create an encirclement trapping Cao Cao’s army.

Although it’s narrow compared to a plain, it’s a place where tens of thousands can march. There were some who tried to break through somehow, but it fizzled out.

Front, rear, and center. Cao Cao’s army was unable to think properly under the attacks from three directions.

The deadlock breaks. The evenly matched battle with Zhang He completely collapsed with just one battle. The moment the scales tipped in our favor. A group of cavalry from Cao Cao’s army burst through Ma Dai’s not yet completed left wing.

‘Is it Zhang He!’

Although it was someone I had never seen before, his armor and attire were those of a commander. I immediately gave orders.

“Wang Ping! Maintain the battle line as is. Qu Fu, follow me!”

They are cavalry. Although the terrain isn’t good for horses to run, they’re still faster than people. The only chance to catch them is now, before they completely escape from our formation.

“Ma Chong! Block the cavalry!!”

Almost simultaneously with my shout echoing across the battlefield, Ma Chong took action. He must have prepared even before I ordered. Ma Chong must have given orders as soon as he saw the enemy cavalry.

Pulling taut the ropes they had brought, they trip the horses’ feet. Although my shout had already given them time to prepare, it was unavoidable even knowing it was coming.

The moment one horse fell, what followed was a chain collision. The cavalry soldiers sprawling with the sorrowful cries of horses had effectively entered our encirclement of their own accord.

However, befitting Cao Cao’s elite troops, they quickly rose and took stance despite the shock of falling from their horses.

The enemy general I thought might be Zhang He was too young to be Zhang He. Zhang He is of the same generation as my father. Even looking young has its limits. I approached the enemy general and said:

“So you’re not Zhang He.”

“Haha, count yourself lucky. If it were General Ping Ji instead of this Dai Leng, your head would have been flying.”

“I suppose you have no intention of surrendering.”

“There are no generals who would be intimidated into surrender by those who follow His Excellency!”

Ignoring Dai Leng’s outburst, I first assessed the situation.

“Ma Chong, wrap up the battle situation. Qu Fu, come with me to deal with them.”

“Understood.”

Although there isn’t much difference in leadership between Ma Chong and Qu Fu, in terms of martial prowess, Ma Chong can’t match Qu Fu. Now that they are showing the intention to fight to the death, Qu Fu was better suited to play an active role than Ma Chong.

“I’ll take care of the enemy general. General, you should pursue Zhang He.”

I shook my head at Qu Fu’s words.

“He’s already gone. It’ll be difficult for us to catch him without cavalry.”

I lightly twirled my spear and approached Dai Leng.

“Your loyalty is admirable. Is there any way you’d like your funeral to be held?”

“How impudent!!”

Dai Leng lunged at me with a shout.

Perhaps due to the damage from falling off his horse, Dai Leng’s steps were somewhat unnatural. However, his spirit was not inferior at all, truly befitting a general of Cao Cao’s army.

I stared intently at the sword closing in on me. The trajectory is drawn. As if it were augmented reality, I could clearly see how Dai Leng’s sword strike would come in.

Clang!

The outcome is already decided in the seeing.

Seeing the enemy’s attack. Seeing the enemy’s defense. Seeing the enemy’s strengths and weaknesses. This is called ‘kan’ (看, seeing).

And breaking what has been seen is ‘ha’ (破, breaking). Combined, it’s kanha (看破, see through).

Unless one is at a level where they can deliver a strike that can’t be blocked even when known, the direction of the life-and-death crossroads is determined here.

My spear twisted his sword path like a painting, turning his sword. As the angle of the sword path that was extending straight twisted, Dai Leng lost his balance.

My spear pierced his heart.

Squelch!

Spreading blood. It felt as if I could feel the heartbeat stopping through the spear shaft. Shaking off the unpleasant feeling that I couldn’t get used to, I pulled out my spear.

Along with the spurting blood from the gaps in his armor, Dai Leng’s knees buckled.

“Cough…”

The moment Dai Leng’s body collapsed with a gush of blood, Qu Fu and the soldiers rushed in like lightning to demolish Cao Cao army’s resistance.

“It’s a great victory!”

Has it ended on the other side too? Ma Dai, who ran to me, shouted jubilantly. The sound of swords on the battlefield had already ceased.

It was the end of the battle.