Zhang Liao's Advance - 3: The Cavalry Onslaught
Deployment was imminent.
Zhang Liao spurred his horse forward.
"Let's go!"
They descended the hilly terrain.
To conserve the horses' stamina for the breakthrough, he advanced the troops slowly.
Zhao Yun commanded the left flank.
His spearwork was superb, and with his unyielding integrity, even if leadership wasn't his forte, he'd carry out his assigned role without fail.
Cheonma, in charge of the right flank, was a stark contrast. The man was a giant in every sense.
I later heard he'd carried me around on his back like a backpack.
He wielded an axe as his primary weapon—even if I squared off against him, I wouldn't bet on victory.
He'd proclaimed himself Chen Soyoung's father.
How the hell did a daughter like that come from a dad like him... though their personalities do match in some ways. ...Enough stray thoughts.
"Zhao Yun, Cheonma—deploy 300 cavalry each on the left and right flanks! I'll drive deep with my 400, so cover the rear!"
Wei Yan strode boldly into the command tent. How could he be so nonchalant when the situation was so precarious?
"My lord! Jiangling is right before us, and General Huang awaits only your command! We must cross at once and seize it!"
"Eek! You put that old fart up front?"
Han Xuan could hardly stand dealing with Huang Zhong.
The man was far his senior, and worst of all, he'd been assigned under him by imperial decree—he couldn't just lop him off.
And now the geezer had volunteered for the vanguard.
"Who the hell said that old coot could lead the van?!"
Han Xuan was seething. He hadn't issued any such order—Huang Zhong had taken it upon himself.
That bastard's desperate for glory, no doubt.
Our army was massive.
In an obvious rout like this, the weasel was slinking in to snatch the credit—such scheming opportunism.
"But my lord! General Huang is the perfect choice!"
Han Xuan wasn't even listening to Wei Yan.
"That old man perfect? Even stray dogs would laugh! Swap him out now!"
Yi Yin was there too, eyeing Han Xuan's tantrum with clear distaste.
"Enough, my lord. What if the troops overhear and panic?"
"Yi Yin! You'd just walk past this injustice?"
"...Injustice?"
"If this isn't injustice, what is? Our massive host against Liu Bei's empty seats—their troops are just garrison trash wasting time in the castle! Huang Zhong's hogging the sure-thing front line."
Even Yi Yin was left speechless by Han Xuan's twisted logic.
But he couldn't stoke the man's rage. Han Xuan commanded nearly 10,000—despite some support from Yi Yin, his stake was huge, so Yi Yin held his tongue.
"Then is there someone more capable to replace Huang Zhong?"
Yi Yin offered a conciliatory nod, and Han Xuan bellowed in agreement.
"Ha! You get it perfectly!"
Wei Yan watched, fury boiling inside.
How... how can he be this incompetent?
But he kept it bottled. One wrong word to Han Xuan, and it'd be treason—executions weren't rare.
Worthless to remonstrate with such a brute.
"Give it to Han Ho! Vanguard's Han Ho! Wei Yan—go tell the old man!"
"Understood."
Wei Yan replied curtly and stepped out.
Grind—!
He gnashed his teeth.
How can he botch military affairs for personal grudges!
Wei Yan calmed himself and headed for Huang Zhong.
The soldiers he passed were ragged, huddled in groups around fires—discipline was in shambles. But with battle imminent, he let it slide.
Soon, Huang Zhong appeared, readying for departure.
"General. The lord says the vanguard goes to Han Ho."
"If that's his will, I have no choice but to obey."
Wei Yan admired Huang Zhong inwardly.
The veteran was seasoned beyond measure; his age was no hindrance—peerless in both civil and martial arts.
His archery was legendary—even at 200 paces, he could nail a spear shaft. Wei Yan marveled at the training behind such skill.
He was convinced Huang Zhong's mistreatment stemmed from Han Xuan's incompetence.
"Then what are your plans, General?"
"I'll ask the lord what he needs of me."
Wei Yan envied that ironclad loyalty—not a peep of protest against even absurd orders.
Which was why he couldn't urge rebellion.
"But Wei Yan—what will you do?"
Huang Zhong eyed him pointedly, glancing at the troops.
"These are folk who should be tilling fields, people to protect—yet they're toying at war with spears and swords. Someone must shield them. Think Han Ho can handle that?"
"Han Ho's loyal. He volunteered to stay despite Hahudon's overtures—he knows how to care for the people, as you say."
"...I'll take your word for it."
Huang Zhong voiced no complaint and headed for the command tent.
"My lord has named Han Ho vanguard, so I'll comply. What task for this old frame?"
Face-to-face with Huang Zhong, Han Xuan couldn't hide his discomfort.
He'd braced for an outburst, but this meekness dredged up his pettiness—guilt gnawed.
"How about resting up? Stay in Jiangxia and command the garrison. That work?"
"As you command."
"Go on ahead. I'll wrap up here and join you for admin."
Huang Zhong left without a word.
Han Xuan felt queasy.
These greenhorns haven't seen real war—a few nights' drill won't make 'em killers. I'll hold Jiangxia for their sake, come hell or high water.
Huang Zhong knew Jiangxia needed a reliable hand.
Prefect Qiao Fan hadn't joined the coalition—surely up to no good.
When he'd reported Qiao Fan raising troops, the lord dismissed it.
Our numbers dwarfed his—no fear, and Liu Biao wouldn't forgive treason.
But now Liu Biao's dead.
The burden weighed heavy on Huang Zhong's shoulders.
The enemy weren't idiots—why were they still dawdling?
If they crossed first and struck preemptively...
Won't happen.
Trusting Han Ho, Huang Zhong turned toward Jiangxia.
"Advance! Cross the river swiftly and seize Huayong County!"
Huayong was a small county right on Jiangling's riverbank.
The river marked the border—finally, invading Liu Bei's turf.
"General! The enemy has camped along the riverbank!"
"What?!"
Impossible.
Prefect Mi Zhu had gone campaigning with Liu Bei; his brother and deputy Mi Fang should've headed to Yangyang for internal security.
Jiangling should be wide open—a perfect bridgehead to swing toward Jiangxia.
"Did Liu Bei shift troops?"
"N-no, sir! Banners show Jiangxia's entire garrison assembled!"
...Jiangxia? Their garrison?
No panic needed—garrison troops were few.
"Find a bypass. Order advance to the west."
No need to force guarded paths.
East mountains too steep for troops; west river's current mild—slower, but safe crossing.
Seize Jiangling after.
"Problem is... enemies on the west bank too."
"...What?!"
Han Ho gathered his wits.
"Then how many by the river?"
"Not even 500."
"Hahaha!!!"
Han Ho scoffed.
500? Against our 10,000.
Once we take Jiangling, Prefect Jin Xian will sortie too—Jingzhou ours in a flash.
500's a joke—we'll smash through. They might even flee at the sight.
"Fine. Press on as is."
"Yes, sir!"
Everything falling into place.
Sorry, General Huang—but this merit's mine...
Rumble—!
The ground shook.
"Alaruum!!! Enemy attack!!! Enemy raid!!!"
Boom—! Boom—! Boom—!
Drums thundered.
"What is it?! What the hell's happening?!"
Han Ho scanned wildly, spotting the source—earthquake from the east hills.
"Enemy cavalry charging full tilt at our main camp!!!"
"Hurry! Form square—brace for the charge!!!"
From the eastern hills.
Vast dust clouds billowed.
Enemy horse closing in.
Straight at them...!
"Whole army—defensive formation! What are you doing?! Plant those spears and prepare to hold, like I ordered!"
"B-but...!"
"But what? Speak!"
"The men aren't obeying!"
Han Ho's peasant levies were pale, milling in chaos.
"This... what do we do?!"
"What? Run to where there're no horses, if you wanna live!!!"
Panic infected the ranks.
Every shout spread terror like plague.
Han Ho felt inexplicable dread.
"Deserters get executed! Spears up—face the enemy head-on!!!"
His yells barely registered; troops shuddered at the cavalry. As Han Ho drew his sword, a captain prostrated.
"General! Not just front!!! Three sides—enemy horse closing on the camp!!!"
"Three sides?!"
Han Ho peered out—sure enough, enemy banners swarmed everywhere.
"Prepare!!!"
He bellowed instinctively.
Cavalry poured into the camp.
"Gaaahhh!"
"Help! Save meee!!!"
"Ghosts... ghosts!"
Gurgling screams.
Han Ho swallowed hard.
"Whole army!!! Want to live? Spears up! Follow your drills—you'll survive!"
Some snapped to, moving at last.
From the screams' heart, a red-turbaned vanguard roared.
"Liao! Charge!!!"
The swift cavalry swept the lines.
No time for spear walls—men crumpled. Han Ho's head throbbed.
How... how charge us with such a force mismatch?
Shaking it off, Han Ho barked textbook orders.
"Hold! Buy time till their horses tire! Lock the square—spears out!"
Desperate survivors huddled, spears slanted low, trembling.
Cavalry flashed past Han Ho's encircled eyes.
Good. This wall holds.
"General! Flanks and rear too!"
"Drain their stamina! Hold firm!"
As Han Ho sensed momentum, the enemy horse leapt—whoosh!
Neighhh—!
"Gaaahhh!!!"
Zhang Liao plunged from the air, spear shattering the wall.
One thrust—gap born.
"That's the breach! Follow me!!!"
"Follow the general!!!"