Cavalry Battle in Xuzhou
The cavalry battle that unfolded in Xuzhou. We reached the walls of Xiaopei, established our camp, and pinned Gao Shun in place. Reinforcements arrived shortly after.
“Lord Ziyue, it has been a long time.”
“Zhongkang, you came?”
The commander leading the relief force was none other than Xu Chu.
“Let’s step inside and speak properly.”
I brought Xu Chu into the command tent so we could talk. Outside, Xiahou Dun was rinsing his armor after the fight, hanging it to dry, and sharpening his spear.
“General Xiahou, congratulations on your victory.”
“Mm. Thank you. So what does Aman intend to do next?”
Xiahou Dun was the only general who could address Cao Cao by his childhood name, Aman, and everyone accepted it as perfectly natural. All reports went straight to him, the de facto second-in-command of the army.
“Our lord is marching from Hudu at the head of fifty thousand men. In the meantime, your first army will hold Xiaopei while General Zixiao’s second army strikes Pengcheng and stations itself there.”
“That’s it? Not very exciting, is it?”
Rather than pressing an aggressive assault on Xiaopei, the order was simply to keep Gao Shun bottled up inside.
“That is because we must also watch how Lu Bu chooses to move, not merely Gao Shun.”
“Ah, Lord Xun!”
“Master Gongda!”
The man who slipped quietly into the tent was Xun You. Having taken part in the fighting himself, he wore both a sword at his hip and a breastplate as he took his seat.
“General Xiahou, I was delayed inspecting the camp. My apologies.”
“Not at all. I’m truly grateful you’re here.”
Xiahou Dun, as one of Cao Cao’s closest aides, knew Xun Yu, Xun You, Cheng Yu, and Guo Jia well. He showed these staff officers the proper respect and stood ready to listen carefully to whatever they had to say. Xun You wasted no time giving him the answer he sought.
“Our lord is leading the main army of fifty thousand out of Hudu even now. While he marches, General Xiahou’s first army will secure Xiaopei, and General Yilang’s second army will capture Pengcheng and remain there.”
“Then where exactly is Aman headed?”
“Wherever Lu Bu does not appear.”
“Hmm?”
When Xiahou Dun looked confused, Xun You pointed straight at me.
“Lord Ziyue, I believe you understand the meaning.”
“Hmmm.”
Since he wanted a clear explanation, I gave one.
“We are striking both Xiaopei and Pengcheng at the same time. Lu Bu will have no choice but to come out. That is when Uncle will make his move.”
“How so?”
“If Lu Bu heads for Xiaopei, Uncle will go to Pengcheng. If Lu Bu heads for Pengcheng, Uncle will come here, seize Xiaopei, and greet him from inside its walls.”
“Ah. So that’s what you meant.”
Xiahou Dun nodded, finally grasping the full picture.
“In short, until our lord’s main force arrives, we simply hold position in front of Xiaopei and make sure the enemy cannot sally forth.”
“Exactly. Now I understand.”
Xun You smiled at my explanation, clearly satisfied that I had read the situation correctly.
And so we settled into camp outside Xiaopei without attempting a siege. The enemy had already lost a great many of their famed elite soldiers in the opening clash; they would not dare venture out again anytime soon. Both Gao Shun inside the city and ourselves in our camp would simply rest and wait for the main army to arrive.
“I have heard that Gao Shun is a general as keen as a freshly honed blade,” Xun You remarked. “He never acts rashly. He values strict discipline and orderly ranks above all else, so he will not overextend himself foolishly.”
Just as Xun You predicted. All we had to do was stretch our legs, keep an eye on the enemy walls, and rest.
“Report! Urgent news!”
We had been resting and reorganizing for some time when a messenger came galloping in.
“What is it? Speak clearly.”
“Lu Bu has marched out of Xuzhou City with fifty thousand men!”
“Direction?”
“He is heading straight for Pengcheng.”
So Lu Bu had chosen Pengcheng rather than Xiaopei. That meant Cao Cao would now advance on Xiaopei, and from there he could direct a proper offensive. Of course, Cao Ren’s army would first have to hold its ground at Pengcheng.
“Our lord’s main force will reach us soon. Before then, someone must ride to Pengcheng and reinforce General Yilang.”
“I will go.”
In this situation I naturally raised my hand. I would have another chance to face Lu Bu and settle our old score. This entire war could only end once Lu Bu was captured, so I volunteered without hesitation to be the one to strike him.
“Ziyue, you’re eager for another round with Lu Bu, I see.”
“Four years have passed since Puyang, yet I still cannot forget what happened there.”
“Of course you can’t. Neither can I.”
Xiahou Dun had saved me from one of Lu Bu’s blows and taken a heavy strike to the head in the process, losing an eye. Many in this Xuzhou campaign carried personal grudges against Lu Bu.
“Uncle, please permit me. Once the main force arrives, the siege will begin. You will not need many cavalry here, will you?”
“Hmmm. If you’re that determined… very well! I will give you three thousand horsemen. Ride for Pengcheng.”
“Thank you, Uncle!”
“One of your lieutenants was wounded and evacuated. Will you not need another capable officer?”
“Yue Jin alone will be enough.”
It was a shame to lose Yi Zheng, but Yue Jin and I would manage somehow. Having Dian Wei would have been ideal, yet he had become a dedicated bodyguard who never left Cao Cao’s side.
“From Xiaopei to Pengcheng is three days’ hard ride. General Yilang’s defenses are solid; even Lu Bu will need at least half a month to break them.”
“So there is enough time. We should depart at once.”
Xun You smiled and spoke again.
“Lord Ziyue. Three days.”
“Yes, within three days.”
“Three days.”
What was that? Xun You kept repeating that the journey from Xiaopei to Pengcheng took three days. Was he warning me that I must arrive within three days, or hinting that something would happen along the way and I would be delayed by battle? One thing was certain: when Xun You spoke like that, it was always a signal.
I kept his words in mind as we set out. Would someone intercept us? Who was still in the field? Could it be Lu Bu’s daughter riding at the head of a cavalry column like some princess-knight from a fantasy tale? If so, I would capture her on the spot, drag her before Lu Bu, and negotiate.
“Deputy Yue.”
“Yes, Colonel.”
“Let’s finish this fight quickly and return to Qiao County where you can take up a proper post.”
“Understood, Colonel.”
Once this battle was over, I would see that Yue Jin received an official rank and became a true pillar of Cao Cao’s army. Provided, of course, that we won decisively, took Xuzhou, and ended the campaign.
With the three thousand horsemen Xiahou Dun had given me, I raced toward Pengcheng where Lu Bu was said to be. The road was straight and flat; once in the saddle we could gallop freely. Even with rest stops and meals, three days would see us there.
We camped one night, rode two full days, and on the third evening, as we were about to arrive—
“Colonel! Enemy sighted! Enemy ahead!”
“!”
A column was charging toward our flank. Their numbers were not large, but the dust cloud told me they were cavalry.
“Their strength appears roughly equal to ours.”
“So this is what Master Gongda was warning me about. We were supposed to arrive within three days, yet here is an enemy in our path.”
Since they had already appeared, there was no avoiding a fight.
“Deputy Yue, we smash them and continue on to Pengcheng.”
“Very good. I’ll prepare for battle at once.”
Cavalry against cavalry. If one side broke, the blow would be devastating. The enemy had initiated the attack; there was no choice but to answer.
I lifted my spear, searched for the enemy commander, and leveled my weapon at the man charging at the center of their formation.
“Warriors of the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry, bearing the fury of tigers and leopards! The enemy dares charge without knowing who we are! Crush these fools who came here to die!”
At my shout the Tiger and Leopard horsemen wheeled neatly and prepared to intercept the oncoming foe. The two cavalry forces thundered toward each other. The collision was cataclysmic.
In the chaos I looked for the enemy’s banner. Before I could find it, a crescent halberd came slicing toward my neck.
Clang!
“Tch…”
Had my spear shaft not been iron, that single blow might have cut me in two. The enemy commander was a bearded man in his mid-thirties, clearly a veteran. He was at least stronger than Cao Xing; I would not end it in one strike.
“Not bad. You blocked the first blow.”
Clang!
The fact that he had charged straight for the opposing commander showed he was a hot-blooded fighter as well.
“How about this?”
“!?”
Boom!
Insane. The sensation was exactly like the one I had felt against Lu Bu years ago. He simply raised the halberd high and brought it down with raw power. Even though I blocked with the shaft, the force drove the wood toward my own throat. He was openly mocking me, telegraphing every strike. His strength was monstrous. Among all the enemy commanders I had faced recently, this man was the strongest.
I countered with full power, aiming for his neck. He deflected it with the blade of his halberd and immediately swung back at my waist. The technique was intimately familiar. It was the very spear art I had faced four years earlier, one I could never forget. Since then I had trained under Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, especially Guan Yu, learning through both body and mind how to fight halberd and polearm users who favored sweeping cuts.
He was strong, but I would not lose.
I twisted aside, avoided the halberd, and thrust the butt of my spear at his helmet. He turned his head and parried, so I regained my balance and retreated. When he closed again I kept distance, stabbing repeatedly to prevent him from advancing. Against a man who liked wide swings, the correct method was to maintain range, target vital points with thrusts, and deny him the chance to use his power.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
“You damned wasp! Are you trying to sting me to death?”
Because I kept stabbing only at vital points, the enemy commander could no longer swing with the same wide, crushing power. Once I had restricted his movement, the next step was to kill his horse and unseat him—
Kaang!
The clash of spearhead against halberd edge sent sparks flying with terrifying force.
“Aiming for my horse instead of my neck? You’re quite skilled!”
This man was genuinely strong. We continued to trade blows, each of us aiming for the other’s life or mount. Meanwhile the melee raged on. It was an even clash between two cavalry forces; neither side held a clear advantage. Yue Jin swung his huge iron staff with savage force, yet the outcome of this battle would be decided by which commander fell first.
“Yaaah!”
One of my Tiger and Leopard riders tried to help me, but the enemy commander lightly sidestepped and cut the man down with a single stroke. At the same moment another enemy horseman charged me. I ran him through the stomach, yanked the spear free, and left him vomiting blood as he collapsed.
“I’m going to need eyes in the back of my head at this rate.”
Once more I faced the commander. I parried his relentless attacks and waited for the slightest opening to drive my spear through him. Just then, drums sounded.
Thump-thump-thump— Thump-thump-thump—
“!?”
“Reinforcements?”
When I glanced over, I saw friendly troops approaching. The giant figure with the long beard and crescent halberd was unmistakable even from afar. It was Guan Yu.
“Uncle Yunchang has come to help again.”
“Uncle Yunchang? You know Guan Yu, boy?”
“He is my spear instructor.”
At that moment the enemy commander laughed loudly even as he swung his halberd down again. I parried. As our weapons locked in a contest of strength, he looked at me and roared with laughter.
“This is amusing. So you are Guan Yunchang’s disciple?”
“You still haven’t given your own name. Since Uncle Yunchang’s reinforcements have arrived, you’ll have to withdraw soon. At least let me know who I fought.”
“Hah—”
Clang!
Just as I expected, the enemy commander immediately pulled his halberd back and retreated. He had never intended a reckless frontal assault; he had only meant to pin me down and buy time.
“That is enough. All units, prepare to withdraw!”
At his shout his men swiftly regrouped around him even in the midst of the melee and readied to disengage.
“Your name! Tell me your name before you go!”
“Zhang Liao of Bing Province, courtesy name Wenyuan.”
Zhang Liao! So this was the mightiest warrior in Lu Bu’s army.
“This greeting is sufficient. Lord Pengcheng will soon crush the remnants of Cao Cao’s army. Prepare to receive us!”
At Zhang Liao’s command the cavalry broke off at once. Guan Yu’s troops came thundering up behind them.
“Military Colonel, are you unharmed?”
“I’m fine, Deputy Yue. What are our casualties?”
“Not many dead or wounded, but we have lost a great deal of time. It feels as though they deliberately delayed us.”
We should have reached Pengcheng by evening. Instead we had been forced to fight, reorganize, and tend to the injured. Two more days had been consumed.
“Damn it… so that was their aim?”
I stared at the dust trail left by Zhang Liao’s retreating force and thrust my spear forward in frustration.