The Battle of Dingjunshan 3

Even if you wring a rooster’s neck, dawn still comes, and even if you stop the clock’s hands, time still flows.

The day of execution. The moment of the final act to end the battle of Dingjunshan had arrived.

The morning began quietly. Only a handful knew of today’s operation, and they weren’t so weak as to give themselves away by acting nervously.

Perhaps due to the aftermath of yesterday’s offensive and retreat, the Wei army was also quiet. Engaging in fierce battles two days in a row requires tremendous stamina. Especially for the attacking side, the fatigue goes without saying.

Generals of Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He’s caliber wouldn’t fail to consider a counterattack, and they would naturally think today was a time to catch their breath.

Sure enough, the Wei army camp remained quiet until the sun passed its zenith, scattered twilight, and disappeared behind the mountains. Not knowing what was about to befall them. Unaware that this moment of peace was the calm before the storm.

And finally, when darkness settled on the earth.

The movement began.

Wrapping themselves in the curtain of night to hide their forms, they wrapped cloth around the feet of men and horses to muffle the sound. The process of descending Dingjunshan was carried out with chilling silence.

To enhance secrecy, the 15,000 soldiers were divided into 15 units of 1,000 each for movement. The Luanling Army too was split into five, with Wang Ping, Zhang Yi, Ma Chong, Ma Dai, and myself.

Following my arrival first, each unit joined in succession.

“Prepare the fire arrows.”

As soon as I confirmed the arrival of the last of the rear units, I began preparations to deploy fire tactics as previously discussed with my father.

Flames rose up here and there around the dimly lit Zhumagu. Though Zhang He’s scouts frantically began ringing bells and shouting upon discovering this, it was already too late.

“Fire.”

Flames crossed the night sky. The fired arrows ignited everything they struck, be it Green Pavilions, tents, or vegetation, covering the cloudless, dark clear sky with smoke.

As if hiding heaven’s eyes in shame at the imminent tragedy, a thunderous shout echoed through the valley, shaking it amidst the thick smoke that obscured even the starlight.

“All-out attack──!!”

At my father’s order, the soldiers rushed out in unison.

I too signaled to those accompanying me.

“Xiaoxing, we’re going too.”

The iron cavalry led by Gou Bo. And my personal guard following me. The unit composed entirely of cavalry began a fierce charge.

The target was Zhang He. I gripped my spear more sincerely than ever before.

“Out of my way!!”

The Wei army lived up to its elite status. Despite the unexpected night raid, they quickly armed themselves and moved to respond amidst the flames. Not just outstanding commanders like Zhang He, Guo Hui, and Han Hao, but the soldiers too were well-trained, making this counterattack possible.

Deflecting a spear aiming for my flank, I immediately plunged my spear tip into the enemy soldier’s neck. The spear made by Pangwon bent flexibly as it swept through the enemy soldiers.

It wasn’t just me that the enemy soldiers clung to. A Wei soldier who hadn’t even properly donned his armor tripped an allied cavalryman, while our iron cavalry mercilessly trampled enemy soldiers as they advanced.

The battlefield was dominated by a desperation where neither side would yield their fighting spirit, as if the word “fierce” had been made reality.

Despite the surprise attack under cover of night, Zhang He’s troops were only thrown into confusion at first, regaining their composure before we could even spot Zhang He.

The forces trying to capture the enemy general and the forces trying to protect their commander.

The evenly balanced struggle between both sides was finally tipping in our favor.

Timing, terrain, and unity.

Of the three elements determining victory that my father had taught, they only had terrain, so even with the reversed situation from Tangge, the advantage leaned towards our army.

No matter how prepared they were for a night raid, we had poured everything into this, betting the fate of the battle. There was no way they could stop us.

“Don’t fall back! I’ll take the lead! Follow me!”

Swords and spears danced in the burning red Wei army camp.

No matter how the enemies tried to block us, our steps did not falter. We cut down enemies and advanced forward, cutting them down again and again. Treading a path of corpses, walking on a carpet of blood, we crossed through the midst of a hell where fire demons ran wild.

Judging that it was impossible to block our army’s unstoppable advance from the outside, the Wei army abandoned the outer soldiers who had been caught unprepared by our surprise attack and gathered inwards.

While the outer soldiers bought time with their lives, the heavily armed elite Wei troops formed a defensive formation using Green Pavilions and palisades, preventing our army from rashly breaking through their defensive line.

“Now I see him.”

The enemy general directly encouraging his soldiers and issuing orders on the other side came into view. It was Zhang He.

Under him, lieutenants were busily moving among the soldiers, shouting to raise morale.

‘Guo Hui, Bi Yao, Han Hao…’

Each one was formidable. Their leadership succeeded in raising the flag of resistance even amidst the assault led by my father.

Though it was barely raised for now, if Xiahou Yuan’s reinforcements arrived, that would become a beacon of counterattack.

‘I’ll break it before then.’

“We’ll break through in one go. Is anyone afraid of death? If so, you may retreat.”

“There are none!”

“We will go with you, General!”

“Good! Then let’s go!”

Duduuduu─!!

The sound of hooves striking the earth swallowed the battlefield’s loud voices as we charged.

And collision.

Kwajak! Kwajijik!!

The iron cavalry clad in horse armor smashed through the Green Pavilions and charged fiercely.

Without slowing down, the spears of our cavalry reaped the lives of the enemies without error.

Brilliant mounted combat that would be nearly impossible for ordinary iron cavalry of this era. Supported by stirrups, the fierce charge of the iron cavalry using both hands freely was truly like living chariots, moving disasters.

It seemed like an unstoppable, reckless rampage, but the sound of war drums heard from behind acted as an invisible force to stop it.

“Have they come.”

The sound of drums announcing the arrival of enemy reinforcements echoed through Zhumagu.

With this, Xiahou Yuan’s death was decided. Unable to ignore the critical danger Zhang He faced, Xiahou Yuan finally accepted the crisis that had befallen him.

“General, I will stop them!”

“Dexin.”

Ma Chong, who had been following close behind me among the cavalry, looked at me with eyes urging for orders to be given quickly.

A pressing situation. Every minute and second was urgent.

“Take Bu Zhan with you.”

“Understood!”

We divided the army into three.

My unit breaking through the front, accompanied by Gou Bo and Yu Ye.

And the unit led by Zhang Yi and Wang Si, mainly infantry, following behind us to expand the battle line.

This time, the unit led by Ma Chong along with Bu Zhan to block the enemy reinforcements that had split off.

“From now on, we absolutely do not stop. No matter what happens to the rear, don’t look back! Either we break through, or we die here! There are only these two options!!”

§

“Tenacious bastards…!”

Seeing the Liu Bei army stubbornly advancing while blocking the reinforcements with a small number of troops, Zhang He burst out with rage boiling up from deep in his gut.

How could a woman’s body do such things?

Watching Zhang Ran’s imposing manner as she sent soldiers clinging desperately flying like scattered flies, Zhang He expressed his amazement mixed with indignation.

As if Zhang Fei on the other side wasn’t a chilling enough threat, now his daughter was rampaging madly too, so Zhang He’s insides couldn’t help but burn.

The nightmare of Tangge was replaying in Zhang He’s mind. It was like this then too. With Zhang Fei cutting off his retreat and Zhang Ran blocking his front, Zhang He had to flee pathetically, abandoning even his horse to take a side road.

But this time was different. The enemy would pay the price for their reckless strategy.

‘The reinforcements have arrived too. We can definitely win.’

Zhang Fei and Zhang Ran were generals that made one’s skin crawl. What made it worse was that they weren’t just mindlessly strong.

But if surrounded by greater numbers, even they would be in trouble. At best, they’d only be able to escape the encirclement with all their might.

‘This will be your graves.’

Zhang He actively announced the arrival of reinforcements and continuously encouraged his soldiers to squeeze out every last bit of strength.

However, the boost to the Wei army’s morale was short-lived, as the shock that followed drove that soaring morale straight down.

“Xiahou Yuan is dead! The Great Han’s General of the Flying Army Huang Zhong has beheaded the Wei general Xiahou Yuan!!”

At the Liu Bei army’s chorus, as shocking as a bolt from the blue, Zhang He was struck dumb with astonishment.

“What, is this…”

Zhang He barely regained his reason. He was the commander. No matter what unexpected situation arose, he had a duty to respond calmly and coolly.

Barely holding onto his senses that were growing distant, Zhang He denied the Liu Bei army’s words. There was neither time nor reason to ascertain the truth. It had to be a lie. It must be.

“General! Something terrible has happened!”

Bi Yao, who had been fighting on the front lines, rushed urgently to Zhang He. From his pale expression, Zhang He inwardly lamented.

Xiahou Yuan’s death was true.

“Don’t act rashly. The soldiers are watching.”

“General, this is no time for that! They say the General Who Steadies the West truly fell for the enemy’s ploy!”

At Bi Yao’s desperate cry, Guo Hui, who had been listening beside Zhang He, also spoke to Zhang He with a miserable face.

“We must retreat quickly. Soon the ones who attacked the General Who Steadies the West will come. If you fall too, General, we’re truly finished!!”

“…”

Zhang He’s Adam’s apple bobbed. The order to counterattack and at least take down Zhang Fei or Zhang Ran in a mutual demise rose to the tip of his tongue and retreated.

A grinding sound escaped through his tightly clenched teeth.

“Again…”

In the end, Zhang He failed to maintain his reason.

“You’re telling me to tuck tail and run again?!”

Zhang He’s unparalleled humiliation. The Battle of Tangge.

That nightmare was now being reenacted before his eyes once more.

“General! You must make a decision!”

“Uwaaaaah!! We’re retreating!”

As soon as Zhang He’s order fell, Bi Yao and Guo Hui moved swiftly as if they had rehearsed it beforehand.

Guo Hui assisted Zhang He in organizing the retreating troops, while Bi Yao rushed back to the front to establish a final line of defense.

As he painfully lifted his feet that didn’t want to move, supported by Guo Hui, Zhang He cried out:

“Grr, Zhang Fei… Zhang Ran… I will never forget this day’s humiliation. I will surely repay you… surely!!”