The Battle for Hanzhong 2

Liu Bei watched the fierce battle unfolding in front of him and thought. The memory of that day, when he had faced Cao Cao not long ago, replayed in Liu Bei’s mind.

When he met Cao Cao again after so much time had passed, Liu Bei had cast off the mask of cowardice he had worn in the past to escape Cao Cao’s vigilance, and faced him with dignity.

Cao Cao was eerily calm. Seeing Cao Cao maintain his composure despite losing beloved relatives and generals, Liu Bei felt a chill down his spine.

However, when he saw Cao Cao’s eyes up close, Liu Bei realized that it was just a facade.

Cao Cao’s eyes were filled with colder resentment than ever before. The anger, too massive to be expressed outwardly and thus submerged, resembled the Cao Cao who had carried out the massacre in Xuzhou.

‘I received Miaozai’s body well.’

‘I sent Cao Hong to Wudu as well, so take him too.’

‘…What about Junye?’

‘I beheaded him.’

They didn’t return Zhang He’s body to Cao Cao, as he wasn’t a relative. Cao Cao didn’t particularly ask for Zhang He’s body to be returned. Instead, he proposed:

‘Surrender.’

‘Surrender, you say.’

‘If not, the events of the 4th year of Choping will be repeated.’

Cao Cao mentioning the Xuzhou massacre was serious. But because it was serious, Liu Bei could conversely remain composed.

‘Cao Cao, are you afraid?’

‘What?’

‘Since when did you resort to threats first? You know it too. That you can no longer defeat me.’

At that moment, Liu Bei was seized by the illusion that he was back at the place where he had dined with Cao Cao on the day he had sought refuge with him. That time when lightning struck.

‘Cao Cao, thunder is striking.’

Liu Bei said with a smile.

‘Your complexion hasn’t changed.’

§

The aspects of the battles taking place at Dingjunshan and Yangping Pass were completely opposite. At Yangping Pass, our army completely locked the gates and didn’t engage in battle, but in the direction of Dingjunshan, sporadic battles were occurring.

Though it was mainly Cao Cao attacking and our army defending, our side also boldly went on the offensive when openings appeared. It was truly a series of fierce battles where both Liu Bei and Cao Cao had poured their souls into it.

Cao Cao was Cao Cao after all. Despite our advantageous position occupying the mountain, our army struggled against his sharp attacks.

Just as in the original history where Fang Tong had died from an arrow, Liu Bei, who had encouraged his soldiers by going to the front lines within reach of arrows, once again took command fearlessly amidst the rain of arrows as if he had several lives.

Though he retreated when Fa Zheng followed and tried to stop him, both Liu Bei and Cao Cao were truly giving their all this time to that extent.

While there were minor victories for our army, such as Huang Zhong’s raid on Wei’s military supplies and Zhao Yun’s rescue of Huang Zhong,

There were also situations where the Wei army gained the upper hand, such as Xu Huang defeating Gao Xiang, and Cao Xiu-Cao Zhen breaking through the Dingjunshan defense line.

Repeating advances and retreats, the struggle between the two heroes Liu Bei and Cao Cao grew more intense with each passing day.

I too was freely active in the midst of such a battlefield.

When Liu Bei, overlooking the battle situation from the heights of Dingjunshan, found a point that seemed good for attack, he enjoyed sending me or Liu Feng for surprise attacks.

This time too, after carrying out one assault and retreating, Liu Feng was coming down from the mountain leading a force, as if launching another attack.

At the same time, as if they had been waiting for this, Wei forces immediately moving to intercept were also spotted. And the person at the vanguard of the Wei forces had features I had heard about.

“That’s…”

As soon as I witnessed Liu Feng and the Wei vanguard exchanging their first blow, I turned my horse’s head.

§

He was running out of strength. It had only been one exchange, but Liu Feng felt that Cao Zhang was stronger than him.

The finesse of martial arts, physical strength, and flashing wit. Cao Zhang was certainly an upgraded version of Liu Feng.

However, Liu Feng didn’t entertain even the slightest thought of retreating.

This was a proxy war.

Liu Bei vs Cao Cao.

Cao Cao vs Liu Bei.

It was a clash of pride between the sons of two heroes.

Although Liu Feng was an adopted son and Cao Zhang was the second son, they were the only sons who took to the battlefield alongside their fathers.

“Uwaaaaah!!”

Liu Feng exerted all his strength. He was fine with dying. But he couldn’t lose to this man at least. With such resolve, Liu Feng launched a recklessly dangerous attack, disregarding his life.

Without such resolve, Liu Feng wouldn’t have even been able to have a proper fight with Cao Zhang.

Conversely, this meant that Liu Feng’s life-risking strike was merely at a level that Cao Zhang could handle reasonably well.

“Looking at you, I can gauge the level of your big-eared father too!”

“Shut up! A child of a traitor dares not speak of him!”

Though he shouted boldly, injuries were gradually increasing on Liu Feng’s body.

Though they had only exchanged about a dozen blows, the appearance of the two was worlds apart. Liu Feng was covered in blood from spear wounds all over, while Cao Zhang was spotlessly clean.

It was clear that if they continued fighting like this, Liu Feng would be killed.

But Liu Feng’s spear was still focused solely on attacking. Even the pain rising from his body couldn’t break Liu Feng’s resolve.

Liu Feng recalled.

The Liu Bei who had adopted him as a child.

And Zhang Ran, the girl who received all sorts of praise from that Liu Bei and was acclaimed by those around her.

‘I too, like you…!’

He wanted to shout that it wasn’t just you who took up the spear to raise your father’s reputation.

He wanted to show the world that he too could achieve military merit, that he was a child worthy of his father’s name.

But the world is cruel, and no matter how much effort one puts in or how desperately one tries, it rarely grants such wishes.

Liu Feng saw his spear twisted away, and Cao Zhang’s spear thrust aimed at his heart.

Was he going to die like this?

Before his life could even flash before his eyes, another spear suddenly appeared and deflected Cao Zhang’s spear.

Beautiful spear technique. It was such delicate handling of the spear that it was moving.

Seeing the form of the spear entangling with Cao Zhang’s spear, Liu Feng was seized by the desire to look away. Because he knew the owner of the spear blade with wing decorations.

‘How pathetic…’

With the fluttering golden robe as the last thing in his view, Liu Feng’s vision turned black.

§

“So it’s you. They say you killed Uncle Ziliang?”

Ignoring Cao Zhang’s question, I handed over Liu Feng, whom I had rescued, to Bu Zhan behind me.

“Take him to the rear.”

“Yes, General.”

Cao Zhang silently watched as I sent Liu Feng away. He had good instincts. If Cao Zhang had moved carelessly, I was planning to counterattack right away, but it seems he noticed that I was maintaining an offensive posture.

After confirming by sound that Bu Zhan carrying Liu Feng had retreated to the back, I responded to Cao Zhang’s words.

“Yes. I am Zhang Ran who cut down Cao Hong.”

Even after hearing that I was Cao Hong’s nemesis, Cao Zhang remained calm.

Rather, he looked me over and even showed the leisure to nod his head.

“Indeed, you seem quite well-trained. I like it.”

What’s he trying to do?

A slimy gaze that I hadn’t often encountered since wearing a mask and making a name for myself on the battlefield.

My brow furrowed involuntarily at the look in his eyes, completely different from a warrior’s fighting spirit or the hostility of facing an enemy.

“How unpleasant.”

“You’re prickly. Well, that’s fine. Let’s first see that face said to be beautiful.”

Cao Zhang made the first move. Supreme spear technique aiming for blind spots while escaping from the range of vision in an instant. Cao Zhang’s spear became a fierce snake targeting my face.

But I am no ordinary general either. I have reached the level where my spear follows where my heart goes. Moreover, he was merely trying to knock off my mask with controlled force.

Kaaaaang!

The snake-like thrust of Cao Zhang’s spear and the lightning of my spear parrying it and counterattacking. But Cao Zhang easily avoided the spear flying at his nape and widened the distance.

Amazing horsemanship even without stirrups. Is this what it’s like facing Xiongnu cavalry? Cao Zhang’s mounted spear technique, moving freely even on horseback, truly deserved to be called peerless.

“Hahah! Excellent! Yes! That’s it! One who killed my uncle and Junye should indeed be at this level!”

“You fight with your mouth.”

“It’s a battle with a worthy opponent. Isn’t it enjoyable!”

Cao Zhang’s spear had transformed from something playful like trying to unmask me to a terrifying killing intent.

Spear strikes that don’t stop even while conversing fly at each other’s vital points. It was a dance of horse, person, and spear in harmony.

‘Faster, more splendidly.’

What was father’s spear like? Countless spear shadows embroidering the sky. It was the ultimate swift spear that one knew was coming but couldn’t block, and could only face death while entranced.

Following the spear strikes accelerating faster and faster, the undulating red shadows tease Cao Zhang’s eyes and cause optical illusions.

Though it’s hard to discern where the true impact point is with my spear that even has wing decorations, Cao Zhang was certainly outstanding.

He saw through the feint and parried my spear by striking its core.

Chwaaak!

Not content with just that, an accurate counterattack grazes below my wrist. If I hadn’t pulled my hand away by instant intuition, my right hand would have been cut off.

“You dodge that.”

It’s truly been a long time since I met a worthy opponent.

Father who sparred with me was more skilled than me, and Wang Ping or Cao Hong were clearly inferior to me.

Zhang He, who should have been a strong opponent similar to me, couldn’t exert his full strength as he had already exhausted himself facing multiple opponents alone.

It’s a bit damaging to my pride, but I somewhat understand why Cao Zhang said it was enjoyable.

Meeting an opponent of equal skill and crossing spears, I feel a sense of growth that can’t be obtained through sparring or training.

“Let’s go once more.”

“Good!”

The exchanges increase.

1 exchange soon becomes 10, and then 20. It was an instant to 30 exchanges.

Though neither of us said it first, Cao Zhang and I realized that the end of this fight was approaching moment by moment. Also the fact that the other was preparing a decisive move to settle it before then.

And our aims intersect.

Jjaeng!

My head tilts back.

Hot blood flows down my face.

The wound, shallow enough to just draw blood, was light enough not to even leave a scar, but it was my first injury in the battle for Hanzhong.

“…Impressive.”

At those words from Cao Zhang, I realized that the silver mask covering my face had been knocked off. That must have been his aim from the start.

Feeling the cool wind on my face, I checked Cao Zhang’s nape which I had aimed for.

Blood was flowing from Cao Zhang’s neck too. But like mine, the wound was very shallow, so even though his vital neck had been cut, the bleeding wasn’t severe.

Meanwhile, Cao Zhang stared blankly at my face and said:

“Truly… a beautiful face. It’s a shame to cover it.”

“You aimed for this?”

“Of course. When they say the Sichuan phoenix is so beautiful, how could I not see?”

The sound of retreat drums signaling the end of battle echoes back and forth. The sunset was falling.

Cao Zhang, seeming to have no intention of disobeying orders, began to retreat by pulling his reins.

“It was a good sight. Next time we meet, I hope to see you without the mask.”

Leaving those words, Cao Zhang turned his horse towards the Wei army camp.

When Cao Zhang’s back appeared small in the distance, I raised my hand to touch the wound on my cheek.

‘He aimed for it…’

I had intended to kill Cao Zhang.

But Cao Zhang wanted to see my face.

There was no need to consider which was more difficult.

I had already fought one battle? Cao Zhang’s horse was better than mine?

Those were all excuses. Cao Zhang had also fought with Liu Feng, and I had stirrups.

So, this fight was my defeat.

“Next time will be different.”

Ruminating on the first defeat I’d ever felt, I looked forward to the next time.