Chapter 130

The Xingnan front collapsed, and the most dangerous place was undoubtedly Yangfan, which was under the joint attack of Wei and Wu. But was Dongguan doing any better? Not at all. The troops defending Dongguan numbered only 20,000. Even if the Han Dynasty scraped together all its local forces for security, it couldn’t exceed 200,000. This was already a much higher conscription rate compared to Wei or Wu. In such a situation, having to defend Hatu, Xiliang, Dongguan, Wuguan, Yangfan, Xingnan, and Nanjing meant that the number of troops allocated to each front was inevitably small. Originally, Ma Chao’s Xiliang Army and Chang-ran’s Lanling Army were also supposed to be mobilized for Guanzhong or Xiang Province. However, Wei’s invasion strategy through Hatu forced the deployment of all reserve troops in the rear. Since Chang-ran was sent with a large army, it was only natural that the other fronts suffered from a lack of manpower. Wuguan, with its narrow paths, could be defended with just a few thousand elite soldiers and a determined general. Thus, Liu Bei sent Jin Dou and the Baiyi troops to achieve extreme efficiency with a small force. This strategy hit the mark perfectly, as Jin Dou easily held off the Wei army with minimal troops. However, compared to Wuguan, Dongguan had relatively wider paths, almost fifty to a hundred paces wide. The real issue wasn’t the width of the paths but the presence of detours. To prepare for a detour across the Yellow River, a defensive line had to be set up at Pofan, which meant the Dongguan front was struggling with troop shortages. “General, we have a request for reinforcements from General Zhan at Pofan!” “Hmm… we’re at our limit here too.” Zhang Fei, the overall commander of the Dongguan front, sighed. Although the Yellow River served as a natural barrier instead of city walls, defending it was even more challenging, so more troops were allocated to Pofan. The general defending Pofan was Zhao Yun, a seasoned veteran with bravery and experience comparable to Zhang Fei. Zhang Fei believed that with the Yellow River and Zhao Yun, they could hold off the enemy. And Zhao Yun had been doing an excellent job so far. But one day, the Wei army’s attacks became fiercer. Their morale, which had been dampened by continuous defensive failures, was now higher than ever. Only after hearing that Feng Shu of Xingnan had fallen to Lu Xun did Zhang Fei understand why their morale had soared. The belief in victory can easily overshadow current difficulties. If there is hope for the future, humans can summon the strength to overcome present hardships. “General Zhang.” The General Zhang Zhang Fei called was not himself but Zhang Jin. Originally under Liu Zhang, he was captured in the Fallen City battle but refused to surrender and tried to maintain his integrity. In the original history, he was executed due to misfortunes like Pang Tong’s death, but in this world where Pang Tong survived, he lived on and joined Liu Bei’s forces after Liu Zhang surrendered. Seeing Liu Bei treat Liu Zhang and his relatives well despite moving them to Xiang Province, Zhang Jin sincerely served in Liu Bei’s army and rose to the position of Zhang Fei’s deputy. Of course, Zhang Fei had a hand in this, valuing Zhang Jin’s integrity and hearing praise from his daughter. “You will take charge of Dongguan’s defense.” “Are you planning to personally lead reinforcements, General?” “Don’t worry. I won’t take any troops with me.” Dongguan’s defense was as important as Pofan’s. Taking more troops from here would shake Dongguan’s defense. Conversely, if Pofan were breached, it would be the same. Thus, Zhang Fei decided to lead the reinforcements himself. “Then…” “I alone am enough for reinforcements.” Zhang Fei, the renowned general, would be the reinforcement. “No, General. You are a symbol. If something happens to you, problems will arise elsewhere. Take more soldiers with you. I will definitely hold Dongguan.” “I will follow your advice. I’ll take a hundred soldiers.” Zhang Jin wanted to suggest a thousand, but Zhang Fei made it clear that this was the compromise. Zhang Fei left Dongguan and crossed the Wei River. Compared to the Yellow River, the Wei River was like a stream, easily crossed without much preparation. Upon reaching Pofan, he saw that the situation was indeed dire, as Zhao Yun had said. The floating bridge was complete, and the Wei army had already established a foothold across the Yellow River. Zhao Yun’s fierce fighting barely held them back, but it seemed only a matter of time before they broke through. Zhang Fei quickly assessed the situation and charged forward. “You Wei scoundrels! General Zhang Yide has arrived! Offer your necks!!” Zhang Fei’s arrival greatly boosted the Han army’s morale. The combined effect of Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei, two fierce generals, shook the Wei army. However, the enemy general was Xu Huang, a renowned Wei general on par with Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei. “Don’t falter! Their reinforcements are just a few dozen! Push forward, and victory is ours! I’ll handle Zhang Fei! Maintain formation and advance!!” Xu Huang held off Zhang Fei, while Zhao Yun dealt with Yan Xing. With the fierce generals tied down, the battle depended entirely on the soldiers. Both armies had elite troops, and their equipment was nearly equal. Thus, the fight boiled down to numbers. ‘Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, no matter how skilled you are, this is as far as you go.’ The battle was essentially decided once the floating bridge was laid and the crossing wasn’t stopped. Xu Huang was confident that this was the perfect opportunity to wash away the shame from Xiang Province and reclaim Wei’s dominance. If not for the cavalry that appeared with earth-shaking thunder, Xu Huang’s prediction would have come true. But the cavalry, trailing dust and appearing like shooting stars, shattered Xu Huang’s assumptions. “What is that?” Xu Huang quickly racked his brains. Even if Liu Bei’s direct troops numbered around 10,000, they couldn’t have come here, having been sent to defend Yangfan. But judging by the dust cloud and the sound, it was clearly a force exceeding 10,000. “Where did such cavalry come from!!” Xu Huang’s eyes caught the banner they carried. Uniquely, it bore a name, not a surname. There was only one such army in the Three Kingdoms. Lan. Chang-ran’s Lanling Army. Xu Huang wasn’t the only one who saw it. The Han army, struggling despite Zhang Fei’s arrival, also saw it clearly. “Commander Wei has arrived!!” This announcement was as good as saying the battle at Hatu had ended in a complete victory for Han. Victory. For the Han army, thirsting for victory, this arrival brought hope and joy. Despite being pushed back moments ago, the Han army displayed astonishing strength and switched to the offensive. But Xu Huang’s response was even quicker. Seeing Chang-ran’s arrival, he sensed that further fighting would only increase losses and immediately ordered a retreat. The Wei army’s orderly retreat across the Yellow River via the floating bridge was too disciplined to disrupt. By the time Chang-ran set foot on the battlefield, the retreat was almost complete. Except for a few remaining suicide squads ensuring a safe retreat, most of the Wei army had crossed back. By the time the suicide squads were dealt with, the Wei army had cut the bridge to prevent further crossing, and the battle at Pofan ended. The battle concluded in an instant. Zhang Fei, riding a golden steed rivaling Biao Yue, watched his daughter tidy up the battlefield with a mix of pride and melancholy. Just over a decade ago, he had saved her from Niu Jin, Zhao Yun’s deputy, who nearly took her life. Now, his grown daughter had fully left his embrace and was soaring high. A bittersweet murmur escaped Zhang Fei’s lips. “Haha… the day has come when I am saved by my daughter.” “It must be a generational shift.” “Zilong.” As Zhao Yun approached, Zhang Fei awkwardly changed the subject. “What about Yan Xing?” “He fled. I wounded him, but not deeply.” “I see. You’re getting old too.” “Haha, who doesn’t age? That’s why we have children, to carry on our legacy.” Knowing Zhang Fei was deliberately changing the subject, Zhao Yun playfully brought it back. “In that regard, General, you’ve succeeded. You have such a splendid daughter.” “Splendid? You’re talking about your sons, not my daughter.” “My sons are still lacking. It’s my fault. But Commander Wei is splendid, no less than a great man.” Zhang Fei felt both pleased and uncomfortable. Splendid was a good word, but it didn’t sit well when applied to his daughter. “Enough. If you’re lacking, then all the great men in the world are dead.” “I’m better at fighting directly than commanding troops.” “Where’s the Zhao Yun who excelled during the invasion of Shu? Stop with the weak talk. Pofan wasn’t breached, so stop blaming yourself.” Zhang Fei patted Zhao Yun’s shoulder, worried he might feel down. “Let’s go. We should welcome the reinforcements.” “Of course. But should I intrude on your family reunion?” “Stop teasing me.” Zhang Fei subtly raised his spear. Zhao Yun quickly replied, “Yes.”