Chapter 50

Zhang He was retreating. Seeing him glance this way, I thought he might fight to the death, but he was calmer than expected.

However, I couldn’t just let him go like this.

The Wei army, which had been pushed back by reinforcements sent at the cost of Xiahou Yuan’s life, had no chance of holding out with their leadership and some troops already gone.

The advance, which had paused due to the reinforcements, began to regain momentum. Though fatigue was building, we had enough strength to break through.

And I still had the strength to defeat the enemy general blocking my way.

“Even if I told you to surrender, it would be meaningless, right?”

Biyo. The renowned general of Wei stood firmly in front of me, as if determined not to let me pass.

Biyo remained silent. I sighed and aimed my spear.

“You’ll die.”

“I’ve been prepared for death since I stepped onto the battlefield.”

Biyo already realized the gap between us. Even knowing I was stronger, he stood to stop me out of loyalty, which I respected.

But I couldn’t grant his wish. I lowered my spear. Seeing my action, Biyo’s eyes trembled.

“Shall I take care of it?”

“No, that’s unnecessary.”

Stopping Gu Bu, who was about to step forward, I turned my horse slightly. I intended to pass Biyo and head in the direction Zhang He had disappeared.

“If there’s someone else to deal with you.”

Biyo tried to follow me as I passed, but he had no choice but to stop.

“Where are you going? Play with me.”

The legendary Zhang Fei was pointing his spear at him.

“Zhang Fei…”

“If you die by my hand, you won’t be lonely on your way to the afterlife. I’ll send many companions your way.”

I exchanged a glance with my father and lightly passed Biyo.

Though the pursuit was made up of cavalry alone, catching up to Zhang He, who had left some time ago, wouldn’t be easy.

But I was at ease. Gu Bu didn’t urge me to speed up, knowing why my trusted subordinates weren’t here.

§

Not far from Zhuma Valley, Zhang He had stopped at a pass to cross the Han River.

It wasn’t by choice. Thinking of the troops left behind, Zhang He couldn’t stop. So, his stopping was clearly forced. And indeed, it was.

A group blocking the path as if waiting for Zhang He. Fully armed, with shields forming a wall, the banner of Liu fluttered above them.

It was Liu Bei’s army.

Though only about 1,000 to 2,000 strong, their goal wasn’t to annihilate the retreating Wei army but to hold them here.

Moreover, they weren’t tired. The Wei army, having fought fiercely and hastily retreated, would find it hard to break through, no matter their numbers.

While the Wei army was immersed in gloom, a general presumed to be Liu Bei’s commander spoke.

“Surrender. We will treat you as prisoners.”

His voice was monotonous, as if it didn’t matter whether they surrendered or not.

He didn’t expect the Wei army to surrender willingly.

His lord, Chang-ran, had said so, and Wang Ping himself expected the same.

“Haha, when did I, Zhang Junye, ever hear such words from an unknown minor officer?”

It was a lamentable situation.

Once called the Tiger of Hebei, now one of Cao Wei’s Five Elite Generals.

Though there were days of defeat, he always minimized losses and achieved victory and glory in countless battles across the land.

Who could have guessed his end would be like this?

“Unknown Shu general.”

But even if he were to die, he would die worthy of the name Zhang He.

“If you don’t want to die, step aside.”

“You chose your own fate.”

Wang Ping drew his sword.

“Block them. It’s not difficult.”

Zhang He also gripped his sword hilt, preparing for the final battle.

“I’ll lead the charge to break through. Create a gap, and you, Guo Huai, lead the troops to escape.”

“But, General!”

“The enemy targets me. If I try to escape, they’ll fight to the death to stop me. If I stay, they’ll be less focused on you.”

Guo Huai bit his lip until it bled, feeling powerless for the first time.

As Guo Huai hesitated, Zhang He shouted.

“Don’t you understand what’s important yet!”

Cao Cao is coming. But if Hanzhong falls completely to Liu Bei before he arrives, even Cao Cao’s mighty army will be stuck behind the Jin Ling Mountain Range, helpless.

Having already failed to stop Liu Bei, their last role was to delay Liu Bei from crossing the Han River and taking Hanzhong before Cao Cao arrived.

Zhang He handed his seal to Guo Huai and said firmly.

“This is a military order.”

As Guo Huai took the seal with trembling hands, Zhang He’s face relaxed slightly as he spurred his horse.

“Marquis Doding is wise. He can fill the void. Follow him.”

“…Understood.”

Zhang He exhaled deeply. He had done all he could. Now, he left everything to heaven.

“Let’s go!!”

True to his word, Zhang He charged first towards Liu Bei’s formation.

Bang!

The collision of horse and shield affected both sides strongly. The heavy mass bombardment caused Liu Bei’s defensive line to collapse, but under Wang Ping’s command, second and third layers of walls were quickly built.

“Get lost!!”

Zhang He was a strategist. But that didn’t mean he was weak.

He was a vanguard leading cavalry, a master of turning his plans into reality, never hesitating to use himself as a tool.

Fighting spirit. Zhang He’s final battle, prepared for death, was truly fitting of the term “fighting spirit.”

If his opponent hadn’t been Wang Ping, he might have broken through the encirclement effortlessly by now.

But his opponent wasn’t some unknown minor officer, as Zhang He had said.

Wang Ping, the strongest shield of Shu in its later years, who had led the outnumbered Shu army to annihilate Wei’s massive forces.

“Guo Huai!!”

At Zhang He’s near-desperate cry, Guo Huai clenched his eyes shut.

“…We’re going! The path the General opened! We must break through!!”

The first charge led by Zhang He crashed into Liu Bei’s army.

Then the second charge, led by Guo Huai, struck the weak point Zhang He had created.

As the precarious encirclement wavered, Wang Ping narrowed his eyes and said.

“Let them go. Open the gate and surround Zhang He. Commander Ma, guard our rear. If they abandon Zhang He and flee, pursue and attack.”

“Understood!”

They hadn’t planned to annihilate them by blocking the retreat path.

Wang Ping recalled the orders Chang-ran had given him and glared at Zhang He.

Even after falling from his horse, Zhang He, like a demon, cut through Liu Bei’s army, making one doubt if he was truly a strategist.

Moreover, the soldiers following Zhang He were also burning with the resolve to die with their commander.

As Wang Ping considered stepping forward himself, cavalry appeared in the distance.

“You’ve arrived.”

It was Chang-ran.

§

The soldiers, noticing my arrival, stepped back from Zhang He and paused the battle. The number of Wei troops remaining by Zhang He’s side seemed less than a hundred. Though thousands had retreated.

‘He stayed as bait.’

My arrival proved Zhang He’s judgment correct. Realizing this, Zhang He’s expression was bittersweet.

“No need to drag this out. Keep attacking.”

In martial arts, wheel battles are criticized as cowardly, but in war, they’re excellent tactics.

Moreover, I had no intention of watching my innocent soldiers die or get hurt any further.

With Gu Bu and elite guards, I quickly dealt with the exhausted Wei troops. Zhang He resisted desperately, but he was already worn out.

He lasted as long as he did only because I had also expended considerable stamina, but now even that was nearing its end.

Splat!

Finally, my sword pierced Zhang He’s body. Blood gushed as my blade deeply cut through him, droplets falling from the edge.

Zhang He staggered back, then knelt and collapsed.

Looking up at the dawning sky, Zhang He muttered regretfully.

“I roamed the narrow lands of Hebei and the Central Plains. From the distant Liaodong to here in Hanzhong, it was a long journey. But looking back, it was but a moment.”

Leaving a final poem, Zhang He looked straight at me and said.

“I have no regrets. Only that I vowed to repay the humiliation to you and your father, but failing to keep that vow is my only regret.”

“That bastard…!”

“Enough, Xiao Xing. Zhang He, is that all you have to say?”

Zhang He smiled bitterly. With a pained smile, he said.

“Shamefully, may I make one request?”

“Speak.”

“I’m about to die anyway. Let me face Chang’an. My lord is there.”

Foxes turn their heads towards their den when they die. For Zhang He, his hometown wasn’t Jizhou, where he was born and raised, but the side of the man who recognized him, Cao Cao.

“General, you don’t need to do it yourself. I’ll handle it.”

“Even as an enemy, he’s worthy of respect. Since I struck him down, it’s only right I see him off.”

I helped Zhang He up and turned his body towards the north where Chang’an lay. His blurred eyes cleared momentarily, taking in the scenery.

Zhang He slowly closed his eyes and murmured calmly.

“It’s done. Take my head.”

“…I’ll arrange your funeral.”

I swung my sword.

In the reflected dawn light, fresh blood scattered.

§

In the Battle of Zhengjun Mountain, though Xiahou Yuan was the commander, Emperor Lie secretly feared Zhang He and underestimated Xiahou Yuan. After Huang Zhong killed Xiahou Yuan, Emperor Lie said,

“Though I targeted Xiahou Yuan due to his high position, the true leader should have been captured. What use is capturing this man?”

This was to prevent the generals from becoming complacent in preparation for Cao Cao’s southern campaign, but it wasn’t without sincerity. Amidst this regret, when Chang-ran appeared with Zhang He’s head, Emperor Lie ran out barefoot, overjoyed, and exclaimed,

“My Huo Qubing has returned!”

《Records of Emperor Lie of the Later Han Dynasty》