Chapter Fifty-Nine: Utterly Disgraced

After a fierce charge, the Cao army, relying on their sharp weaponry and desperate determination, finally managed to break through the encirclement of Xu Rong’s forces and headed straight for Mount Bei Mang. Cao Hong, sword in hand, galloped swiftly, glancing back to see that over two thousand soldiers remained, yet still no sign of Wei Zi or his subordinates. He sighed inwardly—this skirmish had been fought in utter humiliation.

Cao Cao cursed as he rode, “Xu Rong is one of the most capable generals under that traitor Dong Zhuo. To think we’d encounter him as soon as we entered the capital’s territory—what rotten luck!”

Cao Chun replied, “He’s not so formidable. If we hadn’t been so outnumbered, we could have fought him head-on.”

Cao Hong asked, “Elder brother, do you recognize any of the generals under his command? They all seemed quite skilled!” His curiosity was piqued, especially by the one who introduced himself as Zhang Bo Luan.

Cao Cao answered, “Three of those four are captains under Dong Zhuo: Li Meng, Wang Fang, and Zhang Ji. The fourth is Zhang Ji’s kin, Zhang Xiu, notorious in Luoyang and self-styled ‘King of the Spear.’”

Zhang Xiu! So it was he who took the lives of my disciple Cao Ang and Dian Wei. With such prowess, combined with a surprise attack, the odds are surely in his favor. Cao Hong suddenly recalled Zhang Xiu’s reputation.

Dian Wei, nearby, spat, “That scoundrel—if it were a duel, I’d have him begging for mercy within fifty rounds. Had it not been for the swarm of enemy soldiers getting in my way, he’d never have been able to match my horsemanship.”

Cao Hong thought to himself, You might have another chance to face him, but it’s he who will take your life.

After about half an hour, the Cao army arrived at the foot of Mount Bei Mang. This mountain stretches hundreds of li from east to west, the remnant of the Qinling range from Guanzhong. Its terrain is vast and the forests dense, perfect for breaking into small units, hiding, and escaping.

Xu Rong’s forces seemed to have abandoned pursuit; not a sound echoed from behind. Cao Cao pointed ahead at the mountains, saying, “Once we enter Mount Bei Mang, we’ll cross the ridges, circle around Tiger Gate Pass, and return to Suanzao to regroup. These mountains are expansive—even if Xu Rong wants to chase us, he won’t know where to begin.”

Cao Hong and Cao Chun acknowledged him, sending messengers to relay orders to the commanders in the rear.

Just as the Cao army was about to enter the mountain range, a sudden series of booming sounds erupted from the ridges above—deep, continuous, and thunderous, as if the heavens themselves were rumbling. Cao Cao, Cao Chun, Cao Hong, Dian Wei, and Liao Hua all turned pale at the sound. It was the twang of bowstrings; judging by the intensity, there must be at least five thousand archers hidden in these mountains.

Once the bowstrings ceased, a dense swarm of arrows, like locusts, burst forth from the ridges and rained down upon the two thousand Cao soldiers who had broken through. None of the generals had expected Xu Rong to have such a stratagem up his sleeve. The hundreds of li of mountains had provided just the right patch of dense woods for archers to ambush them.

The battle-hardened Cao soldiers were stunned; after fighting so fiercely, they now faced a storm of arrows. None knew how many more ambushes awaited them in these mountains, nor where else they could possibly flee.

At that moment, Cao Hong, seasoned by countless battles, was the first to react. He kicked the dazed Cao Cao off his horse and shouted, “Hide beneath the horse’s belly!” He himself swiftly rolled under his own mount.

No sooner had Cao Hong concealed himself than he heard his horse cry out in agony, followed by the dull thud of arrows piercing flesh and the screams of soldiers behind him. Hooked armor could deflect long spears but was useless against a downpour of arrows. With this volley, eighty percent of the Cao troops perished.

After the first wave, Cao Hong pushed aside the horse carcass and checked on Cao Cao, finding an arrow lodged in his left calf. Liao Hua, Dian Wei, and Cao Chun were unharmed, but all their nearby soldiers lay dead.

From the west, a roar of battle erupted—a contingent of five hundred Xiliang soldiers charged straight at them. Behind, the thunderous shouts of Xu Rong’s main army drew closer; the pursuit, previously abandoned, had resumed—they had clearly been waiting for the Cao army to fall into their trap.

Seeing this, Cao Hong made a snap decision. Grabbing Cao Cao, he shouted, “Elder brother, I’ll carry you out!” With that, he charged straight toward the five hundred Xiliang soldiers.

Dian Wei, Liao Hua, and Cao Chun were momentarily stunned, unsure why Cao Hong would rush toward the enemy. Just then, a second volley of arrows rained down, forcing them to take cover beneath corpses to avoid the deadly storm. The battle cries from behind grew nearer. Cao Hong, having avoided the center of the arrow barrage, swung his Han sword to deflect those aimed at vital spots, letting the rest strike his armor.

Realizing Cao Hong’s intent to avoid the arrows, the three shouted and charged toward the five hundred enemy soldiers. The two hundred surviving Cao troops, seeing others rush west, followed suit—forward and back were blocked, and the river to the east barred escape, so their only hope was to break the western ambush.

Led by Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Cao Ren, and Yue Jin, the remaining two hundred Cao soldiers followed Cao Hong and the others into the fray. Cao Hong, carrying Cao Cao, confronted a young Xiliang officer at the head of the enemy—a youth of about eighteen, armed with a long spear and clad in elaborate armor, accompanied by a flag bearer with the character “Hu” emblazoned.

He was Hu Feng, nephew of Li Jue, a captain under Dong Zhuo, serving under Yang Ding and Yang Zheng. On the day the Cao army took Tiger Gate Pass, he fled with Yang Ding and encountered Xu Rong, who then ordered him to lie in ambush here. Xu Rong had instructed him to attack should the Cao army pass through a treacherous spot, but seeing that after the first volley only a few hundred Cao troops remained—less than his own force—and knowing Cao Cao was among them, Hu Feng could not resist the temptation to capture Cao Cao alive and claim the glory.

Being Li Jue’s nephew, he paid little heed to Xu Rong’s orders. Seeing the opportunity for great merit and with the numerical advantage, he acted on his own. As Cao Hong approached, carrying Cao Cao, Hu Feng sneered and prepared to meet them with his spear. But then Cao Hong raised his head and roared at Hu Feng’s horse—a sound as fierce as a lion or tiger, startling the mount into rearing and throwing Hu Feng off balance.

Cao Hong, a mercenary trained in survival, had mastered the art of intimidating animals with beastly cries. His shout made the horse believe a tiger was nearby, causing it to panic. Hu Feng’s skills were on par with Liao Hua’s; caught off guard, he lost his balance.

Seizing the moment, Cao Hong grabbed Hu Feng’s leg, snapping it with a twist, then pulled him off his horse. He lifted Cao Cao onto the mount and leapt up himself, plunging into the enemy ranks. Moments later, the two hundred Cao soldiers clashed with the five hundred Xiliang troops.

The surviving Cao soldiers, hardened by blood and steel, fought alongside the mightiest generals—Cao Chun, Dian Wei, Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Cao Ren, Yue Jin, Liao Hua—and managed, through desperate combat, to scatter the enemy’s five hundred men.

Cao Cao, wounded but mounted, called out in pain, “Everyone, split up and enter Mount Bei Mang. The ambush here has been sprung—there will be no more traps!”

Dian Wei said, “Let me protect the lord!”

Cao Cao replied, “With Zi Lian to guard me, that’s enough. Dian, you have no horse and cannot keep pace.”

Cao Hong shouted, “Gentlemen, we’ll meet at Suanzao!” With that, he spurred his horse, carrying Cao Cao into the depths of Mount Bei Mang. Xu Rong’s army drew nearer, forcing them to scatter and vanish into the mountains.

When Xu Rong arrived at the battlefield, he found Hu Feng clutching his broken leg and groaning amid the corpses of Xiliang soldiers. He rushed to ask what had happened.

Hu Feng, enduring the pain, explained, and Xu Rong, enraged, was about to execute him when the other generals intervened. Zhang Xiu said, “General Xu, now that the traitor Cao has fallen into an ambush and fought Hu Feng’s men, his troops must be scattered. My mount is a renowned Xiliang steed, swift as the wind. Allow me to pursue Cao and capture him alone!”

Xu Rong nodded, and Zhang Xiu galloped off in pursuit.