Rematch
Clang!
The first clash as the two horses crossed paths rang out with a crisp, ringing note.
To an ordinary observer, it would have looked like nothing more than a single exchange.
But Yu Eun, who had cultivated a fair measure of martial skill, could tell with certainty. In that single crossing, each had launched an attack meant to take the other's life.
And he also knew that he himself would never have withstood Cao Zhang's strike — that by now he would be lying on the ground, bleeding. Even if he had somehow endured that first exchange, he would almost certainly have lost his life on the next.
His superior had fought Cao Zhang to a draw through one exchange, two, and on through dozens more.
In their first single combat, Cao Zhang had held a slight edge, until Jin Cheong's technique had turned the tables.
He had wondered whether that same technique might work again, but the close-quarters fight unfolding now was, without question, an even match. Anyone who didn't know better might have thought the two had rehearsed together beforehand — so fluid and natural was their duel.
With every heavy ring of steel, Yu Eun felt a quiet pride that following Jin Cheong had been a decision that could shape the course of his life.
Clang!
After dozens of exchanges, the two pulled back a short distance to catch their breath. As Jin Cheong lowered her spear and soothed her horse, Cao Zhang spoke.
"Your spear work is impressive. Has your skill grown since last time?"
"Who can say? Perhaps your wounds simply haven't fully healed."
"I won't deny that — but your skill has clearly improved."
Cao Zhang meant every word. The lingering aftereffects of the injury she had dealt him still remained, but even accounting for that, her ability had risen a full step beyond what he had seen before.
These were the eyes of a warrior who had held a spear since childhood. Even without the lingering injury, he could no longer be certain of victory.
"I appreciate the compliment."
Her voice was calm, without a trace of mockery. Beads of sweat stood on her brow, and her breathing had grown somewhat rough.
She had fought without rest — first the single combat with Zang Ba, then the battle against the Qingzhou Soldiers, and now the duel with Cao Zhang.
Her stamina was somewhat depleted, but her eyes remained calm and sharp. It was something Cao Zhang, having met Jin Cheong only twice, could not fully grasp — but it was the same look that had astonished her lieutenant, Yu Eun.
That gaze, which stirred a warrior's instincts, Cao Zhang answered with movement. She answered in kind. The two horses kicked off the ground, and once more they collided.
Clash-clash-clang!
The same scene as before played out again. The two spear strikes scattered brilliant sprays of light between them.
At this rate, it seemed neither would ever decide the contest. Before that savage yet beautiful spectacle, neither Yu Eun, Jin Cheong's lieutenant, nor the Qingzhou Soldiers dared even think of intervening.
What stopped their duel was Zhang Fei's unit. Zhang Fei, who had circled far around to strike the enemy from behind, had joined the fray.
"Zhang Fei's forces are crushing in from the rear!"
Damn. I've been outmaneuvered.
He had come to rescue the Qingzhou Soldiers, only to find himself about to be caught instead. Had she been waiting for this all along, prolonging the duel?
"We'll settle this another time."
"Running away? Have you no thought of avenging what I did to you?"
"You're a general who rides the battlefield yourself. We'll meet again soon enough."
Cao Zhang was a warrior, but he was also a commander who led an army. He was not so foolish as to abandon the troops under his charge for the sake of a duel between generals.
"Qingzhou Soldiers, follow me! We withdraw from here in good order!"
Though he had taken some losses, he extracted the Qingzhou Soldiers and his personal retainers from the field before they could be fully surrounded — displaying brilliance not only in martial skill but in command as well.
"Are you all right, General?"
As we headed back after the battle, Yu Eun asked me.
"Ah, I'm fine. You did well too, Yu Eun — all of you did. Zheng Sui handled a big job excellently."
I was relieved that neither Yu Eun nor Zheng Sui had been hurt. Still, part of me regretted letting Cao Zhang slip away again. Like Xiahou Yuan, Cao Zhang was a formidable threat to our army, which only deepened the disappointment.
Failing to kill Xiahou Yuan at Mount Dingjun had also been weighing on my mind. Overall, the strategic situation was gradually tipping in our favor — but what further changes might these alterations bring later on…
"General Jin? I heard you clashed with Cao Zhang again. Are you all right this time?"
Zhang Fei, who had struck the enemy rear and rejoined us, asked.
"Yes. I'm perfectly fine, so please don't worry."
"I heard it was a perfect draw. Your skill seems to grow by the day. Next time you'll take his head clean off!"
The regret of letting Cao Zhang escape, and the satisfaction of my own improvement. The intersection of those two feelings — that was what this battle had left me with.
"And you dealt with Zang Ba as well, so you've splendidly achieved the objective. That fellow was a real nuisance. Elder Brother will be pleased."
Zhang Fei was thoroughly delighted that I had distinguished myself. Seeing him so happy loosened something that had been tight in my chest.
This was, after all, the greatest merit I had earned so far in the Hanzhong campaign. The Qingzhou Soldiers' momentum would also be expected to take a significant hit.
Historically, Zang Ba had lived and remained active all the way into Cao Rui's era. He had been grinding his teeth at me since the Red Cliffs — could he have predicted an end like this? A man who should have died long ago was still alive and well, while others were already dead.
Who would live and who would die next. But what mattered was that we had to win this Hanzhong campaign. Only then could we move on to what came next.
Returning to camp with Zhang Fei, I encouraged the soldiers and took some rest.
There was one thing that bothered me while in camp, though — Zhang Fei and the soldiers.
I had felt it during the Tangqu battle as well: the soldiers feared Zhang Fei a great deal, and he treated them quite harshly.
Knowing Zhang Fei's historical end and the butterfly effects that would follow, I had been working tirelessly to temper that temper of his.
At least with me mediating between Zhang Fei and the soldiers, things had seemed a little better lately…
"You bastards! Who the hell handled this like this?! The ones responsible, get out here right now!!!"
Just when I thought he'd been quiet for a while, there he went again…
I pressed a hand to my forehead, sighed, and stepped out of the tent. How was I supposed to talk him down this time?
Around sunset.
In our camp, something that wasn't quite a feast was underway in the lull.
Liu Bei, delighted by the great merit we had earned, had sent wine and meat. It was probably supplies Zhuge Liang had arranged from Chengdu. Even in a war mobilizing large forces, Zhuge Liang's thorough provisioning was genuinely impressive.
Within the bounds of not compromising military discipline or security, eating wine and meat inside the camp was permitted.
It was one of the few comforting scenes on a hard, exhausting battlefield. I left control of the soldiers to my lieutenant Yu Eun and let them eat and drink.
Slipping quietly out of the tent, I lit a small fire in a corner of the camp. Then I poured a cup of wine, set it before the fire, and bowed my head.
Crude as it was, it was the best tribute I could offer the fallen here. Ling Tong had done something similar during the Nanjun campaign, back then.
I had been there for some time when a deep, rough voice came from behind me.
"You offer wine you don't even drink to the dead."
"Ah, General Zhang Fei."
"I know well that you do this after every day of battle. The way you care for the soldiers, too. Is there some reason you always do this?"
The fire I had lit crackled and flickered before me.
"I'm only doing the small thing I can for those who have died. I may not be able to cultivate the virtue of a Wu Qi of old, but I want to observe my own form of respect."
Wu Qi was a military strategist of China's Warring States period, also known as the Master Wu. He was renowned as a virtuous commander — there was even a story that he had personally sucked the pus from a soldier's boil. When that soldier's mother heard the news, she wept bitterly.
When someone asked, "The general himself tended to your son's wound — why do you weep so?" the mother replied,
"That boy's father did the same, and gave his life fighting on the battlefield. How can I not weep, fearing my son will do the same?"
The story was famous, and still appeared without fail whenever people discussed virtuous commanders.
Han Feizi had dismissed it as a calculated act to win the soldiers' loyalty, but at the very least, it was a tale that had struck me deeply.
I didn't know what kind of virtue I would cultivate among my soldiers, but at least performing even this small rite put my heart at ease.
"I know the story of Wu Qi. It's not that I don't understand your heart — but casualties are inevitable on the battlefield. Doing this won't bring the dead back."
"Yes. I know that. But isn't it because of those who left us that we are still alive? And thanks to them, we can achieve our lord's great enterprise as well. At the very least, as the general who led them, I want to remember them."
"…"
Zhang Fei said nothing more. He simply picked up the wine jug before him. And he gently poured a thin stream of wine into the cup I had set out.
With a soft trickle, the cup filled to the brim.