"Hanshui… the supply line?"
The generals all caught the key point at once.
Even if they could not quite put it into words like "war is ultimately about logistics," any veteran of countless campaigns understood one thing clearly:
The best way to win a war was always to cut the enemy's supplies.
"Cao Cao was able to arrive so quickly because he must have traveled light," Guan Yu said, gesturing in the air as if tracing the terrain itself. "But transporting large quantities of provisions can only be done by water."
He continued calmly, his logic unfolding step by step.
"The supplies depart from Chang'an, travel downstream along the Bao River, then enter the Han River and move upstream into Hanzhong."
Huang Zhong narrowed his eyes, studying the imagined map, then suddenly pointed.
"In that case, the battlefield must be… Yangjia River. Backed by mountains and facing water, and a necessary route for transport. Intercepting Cao Cao's forces there would be as easy as reaching into one's sleeve."
[Lightscreen]
[Faced with Cao Cao's turtle-style defensive strategy, Liu Bei found himself with no good options and ultimately chose to split his forces to cut the supply line.
Zhao Yun took command, with Huang Zhong accompanying him. Their force marched through the mountains, moving ten li east of Dingjun Mountain, and established camp on the northern hills along the eastern bank of the Yangjia River.]
"Just as General Huang predicted," Guan Yu said, openly showing his approval.
Huang Zhong flushed slightly, both pleased and a little embarrassed, but concern quickly followed.
"Cao Cao defeated Yuan Shao at the Battle of Guandu by burning Wuchao. He is an expert at cutting supply lines. That means he will guard his own all the more carefully."
Deep down, another thought lingered unspoken.
The light screen had never mentioned what happened after he slew Xiahou Yuan… could it be…
[Lightscreen]
[Zhao Yun and Huang Zhong soon encountered Cao Cao's supply convoy at the Yangjia River. Though they could not determine the enemy's full strength, Huang Zhong still volunteered to attack.
Zhao Yun agreed but set a condition: if Huang Zhong did not return within the agreed time, he would personally lead a rescue.
Unfortunately, Cao Cao truly lived up to his reputation for overwhelming resources. The escort force was large and powerful, chasing the old general all over the hills until he exceeded the agreed time.
Concerned, Zhao Yun led several dozen light cavalry out of camp to investigate, leaving Zhang Yi behind to guard the camp.]
"Attacking without scouting the enemy first?" The generals began murmuring among themselves, most of them disapproving.
Zhang Fei, however, snorted.
"You are all thinking too safely."
He leaned forward, already fired up.
"Big Brother marched out from Chengdu, split his forces twice at Yangping Pass, and once more at Dingjun Mountain. That means Zhao Yun and General Huang cannot have many troops left!"
He slapped his thigh.
"In that situation, constant harassment is the only way. Force the enemy to spread out searching the riverbanks and mountains, then strike the supply line the moment they divide their forces. That is the only workable plan!"
Everyone fell silent for a moment.
Others were still thinking about whether it was a good idea.
Zhang Fei had already designed an entire battle plan.
"Let us see how Zilong handles it," Guan Yu said, his phoenix eyes narrowing slightly with interest.
[Lightscreen]
[Because of Huang Zhong's earlier attack, the Cao army sent out a cavalry detachment to scout the area. The two sides made contact, and Zhao Yun's group was quickly entangled. Soon after, Cao Cao's reinforcements arrived in force.
Though heavily outnumbered, Zhao Yun relied on his superior horsemanship to repeatedly cut through enemy lines. In the end, he led his men in a breakout, retreating toward camp.
However, the officer Zhang Zhu and others were wounded during the retreat and fell behind, becoming surrounded again.
Seeing this, Zhao Yun turned his horse around and charged back into the enemy formation, breaking through once more to rescue them.
Blood soaked his battle robes until even the armor beneath ran red. Seven charges, seven breakouts, who could rival him?
Although this time Zilong was not charging through with Liu Shan in his arms, his war-god presence was even more overwhelming than before!]
Is that even real?
That was the first thought that crossed everyone's mind.
Then they paused.
…Well, it was Zhao Zilong.
So actually, yes. Completely normal.
Zhang Fei slapped Zhao Yun on the shoulder, utterly baffled.
"Zilong, are you the exact opposite of the Marquis of Huaiyin?"
"…Huh?" Zhao Yun blinked, caught off guard.
"You see, the Marquis of Huaiyin commands troops like this, the more the better," Zhang Fei said seriously. "But you, both times you just charge in alone."
He leaned closer, squinting.
"If we gave you a hundred thousand troops like him… would you actually become weaker instead?"
The hall instantly erupted in laughter.
Even the servants lingering nearby grew curious, wondering what had made Liu Bei's residence so lively just before the new year.
"But could the light screen be mistaken?" Jian Yong suddenly asked. "At Changban, Liu Shan was only a few months old. How could he possibly be 'charging in and slaughtering' alongside General Zhao?"
Zhang Fei waved his hand, utterly confident.
"Sir Xianhe, you are overthinking it. What can a few-month-old baby do?"
"Cry."
"And what was Zilong doing at Changban?"
"…Killing everyone in sight."
"So if Zilong was carrying Liu Shan while doing that, then naturally…"
He spread his hands.
"Is that not 'crying and slaughtering at the same time'?"
Jian Yong fell silent.
…That logic somehow made sense.
Sun Qian, however, noticed Liu Bei's expression had dimmed and quietly spoke.
"My lord… the dead cannot return."
Liu Bei shook his head slowly.
"She had only been with me for a few years. She endured hardship and displacement, was even captured by Cao Cao, and only returned thanks to my second brother. After a few short years of peace, she was hunted again and ultimately threw herself into a well… separated forever between life and death…"
Mi Zhu's face also darkened, thinking of his sister who perished at Changban.
Zhao Yun immediately stood to apologize, but Liu Bei stopped him.
"Zilong, what fault is yours? Looking back now… it would have been better to save Lady Mi and abandon A Dou."
No one dared respond.
The words entered their ears and quietly vanished, never to leave the hall.
[Lightscreen]
[After Zhao Yun rescued his men and returned to camp, Cao Cao's forces pursued closely behind. Seeing a fortified camp ahead, they hesitated.
Zhao Yun judged that his forces were too few. Even defending the camp to the death would lead only to annihilation.
So he gave an unexpected order: open the camp gates, lower the banners, and silence the drums.
Some speculate that the Empty Fort Strategy later attributed to the Chancellor in Romance of the Three Kingdoms may have drawn inspiration from this very moment.]
The hall fell into an awkward silence.
No one quite knew how to react.
Zhang Fei finally let out a long breath.
"Zilong… you really are not afraid of dying, are you?"
Zhuge Liang frowned slightly.
So the novel version even fabricated achievements?
Was it trying to borrow his name for credit?
[Lightscreen]
[Faced with such an inexplicable situation, Cao Cao's army hesitated repeatedly before finally choosing to withdraw slowly.
The moment Zhao Yun saw them retreat, he gave a new order: beat the drums, advance, pursue!
The previously silent camp instantly erupted with light and thunderous drums. Cao Cao's forces fell into chaos, and Zhao Yun led a charge that shattered their formation. Many were trampled to death, while even more were pushed into the Han River and drowned.]
"Now that is bold," Guan Yu murmured inwardly. Impressive, but far too risky for his taste.
Huang Zhong felt a trace of guilt.
If not for his earlier misstep, Zhao Yun would not have needed to take such a gamble.
Zhang Fei, meanwhile, was practically glowing.
"I have learned another move!"
And better yet, one that Zilong had not used yet.
Guan Yu patted Zhao Yun's shoulder and sighed.
"Perhaps Third Brother is right… the more troops you command, the more your strength is restrained?"
[Lightscreen]
[It was also after this battle that Cao Cao began considering a full withdrawal from Hanzhong.
By the way, in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, this is when Yang Xiu deduced Cao Cao's intention to retreat from the password 'chicken ribs,' and was promptly executed.
In reality, Yang Xiu's death was tied to the succession struggle between Cao Pi and Cao Zhi. Cao Cao, still firmly in control at the time, used him as an example to warn the Runan faction.
Whether in history or in the novel, Yang Xiu ends up as the unfortunate chicken used to scare the monkeys. A rather tragic figure.
With that, the Hanzhong Campaign concluded in Liu Bei's victory. Holding Hanzhong, Liu Bei finally gained the qualifications to contend for the realm.
Well then, this episode ran longer than expected. Next time, we will naturally move on to the Battle of Xiangfan, which was the closest Shu Han ever came to unifying the realm… only for that chance to be destroyed by Liu Bei's own relatives. Quite ironic, really.]