Whose whole body is valor。
For his services Liu Bei gave Zhao Yun the title of General Who Possesses Tiger Prowess。 And the soldiers of his army were rewarded; and there was banqueting to a late hour。
Soon it was reported: 〃Cao Cao is ing again down through the Xie Valley to try to capture River Han。〃
But Liu Bei laughed; saying; 〃He will not succeed; for I think that we shall gain mand of the river。〃
Then Liu Bei led his army west of the river to oppose Cao Cao。 When Cao Cao drew near; he sent out Xu Huang to lead the van and open the battle。
A General named Wang Ping said; 〃I know the country well; and I wish to help General Xu Huang to destroy the army of Shu。〃
Wang Ping was sent as second in mand。
Cao Cao camped on the north of Dingjun Mountain; and his advanced guard marched away making for River Han。 And when they reached the bank; Xu Huang gave orders to cross to the other side。
〃To cross the river is well;〃 said Wang Ping; 〃but what if you have to retreat?〃
'e' Han Xin was a general of Liu Bang。 Before serving Han; Han Xin had been an officer under Xiang Yu。 Disappointed because his plans were rejected; Han Xin left Xiang Yu and joined Liu Bangs camp; where he was made mander…in…Chief by remendations of Xiao He and Zhang Liang。 Enobled as King of Qi; then King of Chu。 。。。。。
〃Of old; when Han Xin* made his array with a river in his rear; he said that out of the place of death one could return to life。〃
〃You are mistaken now。 The cases are not the same; for then Han Xin knew his opponents were unskillful。 Have you reckoned upon the skill of our opponents; Zhao Yun and Huang Zhong?〃
〃You may lead the footmen to hold the enemy while I destroy them with the horsemen;〃 said Xu Huang。
Then bridges were built and the army crossed。
A man of Wei wildly quoted Han Xin;
A minister of Shu would be another Zhang Liang?
Who won the victory will next be revealed。
Main Next to Chapter 72 》》
Romance of Three Kingdoms … by Luo Guanzhong … Chapter 72
Chapter 72
Zhuge Liangs Wit Takes Hanzhong;
Cao Caos Army Retires To The Ye Valley。
In spite of the most earnest dissuasion; Xu Huang crossed the river and camped。 Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun asked to be allowed to go against the host of Cao Cao; and Liu Bei gave his consent。
Then said Huang Zhong; 〃Xu Huang has been bold enough to e。 We will not go out against him till evening; when his soldiers are fatigued。 Then we will fall upon him one on either side。〃
Zhao Yun consented; and each retired to a stockade。 Xu Huang appeared and for a long time tried to draw them into a fight; but they refused to go forth。 Then Xu Huang ordered his bowmen to begin to shoot straight before them; and the arrows and bolts fell in the Shu camp。
Huang Zhong said; 〃He must be thinking of retreat; or he would not shoot thus。 Now is our time to smite him。〃
Then the scouts reported that the rearmost bodies of the enemy had begun to retreat。 The drums of Shu rolled a deafening peal; and Huang Zhongs army from the left and Zhao Yuns army from the right came to the attack; and the double fight began。 Xu Huang was badly defeated; and the flying soldiers were forced to River Han; where many were drowned。 But Xu Huang escaped after fighting desperately; and when he got back to camp; he blamed his colleague Wang Ping for not having e to his aid。
〃Had I done so; these camps would have been left unguarded;〃 said Wang Ping。 〃I tried to dissuade you from going; but you would not hear me; and you brought about this reverse yourself。〃
Xu Huang in his wrath tried to slay Wang Ping; but Wang Ping escaped to his own camp。 In the night; Wang Ping set fire on both camps; and great confusion reigned in the lines。 Xu Huang ran away; but Wang Ping crossed the river and surrendered to Zhao Yun; who led him to Liu Bei。 Wang Ping told Liu Bei all about River Han and the country near by。
〃I shall surely capture Hanzhong now that you are here to help me; friend Wang Ping;〃 said Liu Bei。
Liu Bei made Wang Ping General and Army Guide。
Xu Huang reported Wang Pings defection; which made Cao Cao very angry。 Cao Cao placed himself at the head of a force and tried to retake the bank of the river。
Zhao Yun; thinking his troops too few; retired to the west side; and the two armies lay on opposite sides of the stream。 Liu Bei and his adviser came down to view the position。 Zhuge Liang saw in the upper course of the stream a hill which might well screen a thousand soldiers。
So Zhuge Li