Chapter 481: Resting on Knees to Sleep (Part Two)

Just as Gongsun Xun, with near-paranoid resolve, made a decision that no one could yet tell was right or wrong, Cao Cao, utterly exhausted after his long trek to Guandu, also made a decision that no one could yet tell was wrong or right!

The commander of the Central Plains coalition, who had been Grand Minister of Works of the Great Han for less than half a year, hesitated briefly, then ordered his forces split in two. Half, led by his Central Protector of the Army Shi Huan, entered the main camp to secure its defense; the other half, led by Cao Cao himself, charged straight for the forward camp in an attempt to rescue Lu Dai, who was surrounded by the Hebei cavalry on the eastern side of the camp.

And almost at the same moment, Gongsun Xun's White Horse Volunteers also moved!

It must be said, after Cao Mengde met Cao Chun's messenger at noon, he dispatched all his cavalry, leaving the main force to race to Guandu's aid — specifically, over thirteen thousand riders. But along the way, nearly two thousand had fallen behind, leaving just over eleven thousand, which he then split in two. About five thousand entered the camp, while at this moment Cao Cao led over six thousand riders straight at Tian Yu's already disordered unit... Six thousand iron horsemen, galloping with a thunderous rumble, surged toward the chaotic battlefield like a torrent of steel, carrying an aura that seemed capable of sweeping everything away — truly terrifying!

Yet, as Cao Cao personally led the six thousand iron riders charging due west, he suddenly fell into a daze halfway there, staring toward the northwest... The three thousand White Horse Volunteers were all mounted on pure white horses, and under the glow of the golden setting sun, they took on an unthinkable hue. Coupled with the shuddering, jolting sensation of a cavalry charge, for a moment Cao Cao, charging blankly ahead on his horse, did not even realize what was happening.

A moment later, when he realized that the White Horse Volunteers, clustered around that White Horse Banner, were heading straight for him, he was nearly frightened to death!

After all, this unit was far too famous, and the significance of them launching a charge was simply too immense, striking terror into Cao Cao's heart... He could scarcely believe that a unit of such enormous political weight — where any random member sent out would start as a Squad Leader or County Commandant — could still charge into battle!

Gongsun Xun was actually willing to risk them?!

And that White Horse Banner... Gongsun Xun himself, who already held half the realm, actually dared to personally come to the front line and launch a charge?!

In truth, the soldiers of the White Horse Volunteers were also blank-minded, because even they had never believed Gongsun Xun would order this charge. Many had received the command in utter bewilderment; only when they saw Gongsun Xun himself galloping forward beneath that White Horse Banner could they not help but spur their horses on with all their might.

Yet all thoughts were merely thoughts. As the saying goes, the setting sun lit the white horses, their swift hooves like shooting stars! No matter what Cao Cao thought, no matter how shaken he was, no matter how unexpected Gongsun Xun was, no matter how roused the White Horse Volunteers were — two cavalry forces charging at full speed, at such a short distance, had absolutely no room to maneuver!

In a near-trance, the two cavalry forces collided almost head-on! And then the entire world fell into a cacophony of muted noise!

One force of six thousand, one of three thousand; one launched first, the other arrived later — they met abruptly... And then, just like Gongsun Xun's now-clichéd analogy, it was like two clay jars filled with water crashing together with all their might, the silver vase suddenly cracking, water bursting forth — life and death, impermanent in an instant!

Only, in this charge, it was utterly impossible and far too late to judge who would win or lose!

Because in the very next moment, Cao Cao, shielded tightly by layers of personal guards, suddenly understood — on the entire eastern side of the Guandu main camp, the Yan Army cavalry, which had already lost its formation and command, went mad, turning toward him from distances too short to launch a charge, or rather, coming toward him following that White Horse Banner!

This was not three thousand charging six thousand; this was using these three thousand White Horse riders as a clarion call, commanding twenty thousand to charge ten thousand!

Dense masses of Yan Army riders abandoned the remnants of the enemy, which had been like meat already in their mouths, and surged eastward like a tide under the setting sun, instantly engulfing the vanguard of the Cao Army cavalry.

Even Shi Huan's five thousand riders were cut off in the middle by Cheng Lian's unit, which swarmed around and, heedless of all else, headed toward Cao Cao or Gongsun Xun in the northeast... Not only that, on the western side of the main camp, Zhang Liao, Yang Kai, Yuwen Heita, and Xubu Jucì, having vaguely noticed the blurry movements and shouts, all abandoned their original battlefields, ignored the battle merits already in hand and the original strategic objective of the main camp, and detoured straight toward the east.

Of the eleven thousand riders, only half of the five thousand led by Shi Huan — fewer than three thousand riders — managed to preserve their formation by charging straight into the main camp. The remaining roughly eight thousand riders were almost instantly caught in a semi-encirclement by the Yan Army... By this point, Cao Cao was completely stupefied. Only, his subordinate cavalry had already launched their charge, so even without his orders, they were locked in a life-and-death tangle with the Yan Army.

"My lord!" In this situation, the first to react was none other than the leader of Cao Cao's personal guard, the Tiger Fool Xu Chu, who had worn out three horses just to keep up on the journey. He positioned his just-switched fourth warhorse sideways in front of Cao Cao, shielding him with his body. "You must not linger in battle — quickly retreat behind us!"

Cao Cao was dazed for a moment, his mind still in chaos, then turned his head, pointed at the White Horse Banner only a hundred-odd paces away, and forced a laugh: "Gongsun Wenqi can come to the battlefield himself — does Zhongkang think I dare not face him?!"

Xu Chu looked back in the direction Cao Cao pointed and saw, a hundred-odd paces ahead, that group of white-horse riders forming a continuous line, merging with the mixed-colored horses of the Cao Army like a wave of white surging forward, advancing every moment. Moreover, because so many Yan Army riders had come up on the flanks, it was as if a black tide edged with white was rolling toward them. Not only that, along that white-edged front line, several squads of Volunteers clearly had capable officers serving as arrowheads, their forward thrust unstoppable. Looking around in all four directions, north and south, there were still Yan Army riders straining to come from afar...

Turning back, Xu Chu, already drenched in sweat, urged with all his might: "My lord, how can we still fight at this moment? Even if you wish to fight, you must withdraw a little first!"

Cao Cao's hands trembled slightly as he forced himself to reply: "If I retreat, the entire army cannot escape!"

"That is not so!" At these words, the second person to urge Cao Cao to retreat appeared — it was Xu Si, a Clerk of the Minister of Works traveling with the army, who stepped forward in alarm. "My lord, look at the setting sun. At this moment, Lord Yan personally charges at the front, the northern army's morale is soaring and hard to restrain — even metal and iron could hardly withstand it. If you forcibly remain here to meet the enemy, I fear we will instead suffer grievous losses. But if you withdraw slightly, once it grows dark, the enemy's attack will become difficult. Moreover, once this surge of momentum dissipates, they will be just as utterly exhausted. At that time, our army knows the terrain, while the enemy does not, so even if our army is scattered, we can calmly enter the camp. The enemy, scattered and confused, can only retreat... In short, a temporary retreat now is precisely the right course..."

Xu Chu found this reasoning sound and looked expectantly at Cao Cao, who was facing the setting sun.

Yet Cao Mengde still remained silent.

Just then, Xu Chu glanced at the white wave growing ever closer behind them, and even the ferocious faces of the White Horse Volunteers' vanguard officers could be faintly seen in the distance. He then looked down and saw his lord's hands gripping the reins trembling uncontrollably — and suddenly understood!

Immediately, without further thought, he lashed his whip straight at the head of the other man's horse. Cao Cao's mount, Claw Yellow Flying Lightning, stung by the pain, turned and bolted away.

Once the horse had turned, Cao Mengde still made no move, simply letting his mount carry him eastward. Xu Si, Xu Chu, and the others immediately led Cao Cao's personal guard and accompanying staff, protecting the great banner, in desperate pursuit.

But just as Cao Cao himself had argued, once he retreated, the surrounding Cao Army soldiers, after charging forward with their horses' momentum and fighting fiercely for a brief moment, turned their heads and saw their commander's banner moving east. Their will to fight vanished entirely, and then, within a quarter of an hour, the entire line collapsed and fled eastward!

Under the setting sun, the Cao Army reinforcements, the moment they arrived, were defeated like a mountain crumbling.

One can only say, the might of a single charge was this formidable! Ten thousand riders in full gallop, and victory and defeat were utterly decided within a quarter of an hour after the horses crossed!

The battlefield was even more chaotic. The routed Cao Army cavalry scattered and fled in all directions, while pursuers filled the sky and covered the earth, everywhere... The formations of both armies were almost entirely shattered, yet every man was in a state of frenzied, life-or-death combat.

Amidst this, none were more devastated than the remnants of the Central Plains coalition who had just caught their breath.

They had already despaired, casting thoughts of life and death aside, resolved only to fight dutifully to the end — to live if they could until dark, to die if they could not. Then suddenly they saw the ten thousand Cao Army riders arrive, and saw Cao Cao, heedless of his own life, personally charging to save them. But abruptly, the situation reversed, the reinforcements also instantly collapsed, and Cao Cao turned and fled. This left them, after such great joy and great sorrow, utterly unable to control their state of mind!

"I was but a minor clerk from Guangling. Had I not met an enlightened lord, how could I have leapt to a post of two thousand shi?" Under the setting sun, Lu Dai, who had resisted all afternoon and was already wounded in many places, leaned on his sword and rose. Looking around, he was completely disheartened, his resolve to resist utterly gone. He simply gave a few brief instructions to the surrounding Liu Army soldiers: "Today's matter, I cannot fulfill. I was entrusted by another but have failed them... You may surrender, flee, or fight. I only ask that someone can return to Huainan and, on my behalf, tell my lord that I, Lu Dai, am of limited ability, but I truly gave my all."

Having said this, Lu Dai mustered his strength with difficulty. Though he clearly had a chance to slip into the camp and save his life, he instead drew his sword and cut his own throat before the camp. The soldiers around him, having fought the entire day, were now all utterly blank, showing no reaction even as their commander took his own life...

To put it plainly, like Lu Dai, their spirits had simply collapsed. Even though, rationally speaking, escape was possible at this moment, and there was room to maneuver — far better than the total encirclement of the afternoon — they no longer wished to think or take any voluntary action... Because the unprecedented mass cavalry charge that had just unfolded before them had completely stripped them of some indescribable spirit.

Returning to the other side, although Cao Cao had been pushed into flight by Xu Chu, he still could not escape danger. For one, the summer sunset was far longer than imagined, stubbornly refusing to arrive. For another, countless White Horse Volunteers and Yan Army soldiers had shifted their target onto him, and then, bringing nearly the entire Yan Army with them, came charging solely at him!

Though he had fled in time earlier, the peril had not left him for a single moment!

He fled for several li, with most of the pursuers behind him intercepted, passively or actively, by his own cavalry... But looking back, several groups of pursuers still followed, and Gongsun Xun's White Horse Banner was also faintly visible not far behind, with an unstoppable squad of white-horse riders in front of it pursuing relentlessly.

"My lord, quickly enter the forest!" Arriving at a fork in the road divided by a patch of woods, Xu Chu saw the dire situation and felt his warhorse slowing again due to his weight. He let out a long breath, lashed his whip once more at Cao Cao's mount, and then immediately turned. "I will hold off the enemy!"

Cao Cao had no time to speak before his mount, Claw Yellow Flying Lightning, carried him into the woods beside the road. The several hundred Cao Army riders accompanying him, all led by core officers of Cao Cao's personal command, also unhesitatingly split in two, with a full hundred riders following Xu Chu back to block the enemy.

"Xu Chu of Pei is here!" Xu Zhongkang took a large shield rimmed with iron from a guard at his side with his left hand, and brandished a long spear single-handedly with his right, charging straight back west, heading directly for that squad of white-horse riders that had been at the forefront of the charge.

"Your family's Grandpa Ma has been high ministers for generations — since when did he recognize a local tyrant from the Central Plains like you?!" The commander of that vanguard squad of White Horse Volunteers was none other than Ma Chao, Ma Mengqi. How could he not know Xu Chu's reputation?

Yet, hearing the other announce his name, he merely gave a cold laugh, brandished his steel spear, over ten feet long, and met him head-on — he too was someone who had roamed from Xiliang to Hebei and then to the Central Plains. Since he had been made vanguard for this battle, how could he not know that to capture Cao Cao, he would inevitably have to face Xu Chu?

He had simply never taken it to heart.

However, when the two crossed horses and clashed with all their might, after parrying the other's spear and shield, Ma Chao felt his arms go numb from the two successive impacts, and his heart was filled with shock!

It must be said, Ma Chao had always prided himself on his martial valor, and being at the age when a young man's strength is at its peak, he had always considered himself invincible under heaven. Figures like Lu Bu, Zhang Fei, Xu Chu, Sun Ce, and Huang Zhong — though their names were well known in Yecheng — he held none of them in regard. He had only crossed hands with Zhang Liao, Zhao Yun, and Taishi Ci in the Yecheng training grounds, and felt these three were barely worthy opponents, but because they could not fight to the death, he thought little of it, only slightly wary of Taishi Ci's archery!

Even Guan Yu and Pang De, because of their seniority, were inconvenient to spar with, and in his heart, he secretly looked down on their skills, believing them to be nothing but empty names and false reputations.

By the same token, although Xu Chu was not an arrogant man, the fact that he was peerless within the Cao Army was simply the truth. After his battle in Chang'an with that Fierce Tiger of the Age, Lu Fengxian — one bout on horseback, one on foot, each winning one — his reputation for unmatched divine strength was firmly established. In fact, when facing enemies on horseback, he usually used this technique: first thrust his spear to parry, then smash his large shield against the opponent's weapon. Nine times out of ten, the opponent's hand would split open and their weapon would fly from their grasp. But this time, as he clashed with all his might, this unknown young officer of the White Horse Volunteers had calmly received the blow, which also set off great alarm in his heart!

Thus, the two crossed horses in one pass, separated by several dozen paces, then turned to face each other again at the crossroads outside the woods, each summoning their strength... Ma Mengqi was thoroughly shaken, and his fighting spirit rose of its own accord; Xu Zhongkang, facing peril to protect his lord, was resolved to fight to the death!

And so, the two sides immediately launched another charge, fighting fiercely right there at the crossroads, back and forth, kicking up ceaseless clouds of dust. Under the setting sun, they fought for over ten bouts without a clear victor.

However, the battlefield was no place for a martial exhibition. After just over ten bouts, other White Horse riders from the Yan Army caught up from behind. The leader of the foremost squad of Volunteers was Wang Ling, nephew of Wang Yun and a scion of the Taiyuan Wang clan!

It must be said, although Gongsun Xun had not pursued the Wang clan over Wang Yun's affairs — and Wang Ze, the head of the other branch of the two Taiyuan Wang lineages, still held high office, while the Wang clan's in-laws, the Linghu clan, also enjoyed smooth careers — Wang Ling, in his position, was in a somewhat awkward spot after all. Thus, he was naturally eager for merit. He clearly had no intention of interfering in the duel between the two generals, but instead prepared to take advantage of the moment the Cao Army rearguard was tied down to charge straight into the woods!

However, while Wang Ling had no intention of using numbers to overwhelm a single foe, Xu Chu, duty-bound to protect his lord, could not possibly allow him to cross the crossroads. In that instant, Xu Zhongkang's eyes nearly burst from their sockets. After parrying a blow from Ma Chao, he actually abandoned Ma Chao and lunged straight for Wang Ling!

Although Wang Ling had long known of Xu Chu's fearsome reputation, seeing Ma Chao in hot pursuit right behind Xu Chu, how could he be afraid? Besides, by this point in the battle, everyone on both sides had seen red — even without Ma Chao, Wang Yanyun would already have been enraged... Thus, in his fury, he simply reined in his horse and turned to face him!

But after the head-on collision, with just one clash of spears and one bash of the shield, Wang Yanyun's hand spurted blood, his weapon flew from his grasp, and he tumbled from his horse. Fortunately, Ma Chao swept past and re-engaged Xu Chu, allowing Wang Ling's subordinates to seize the moment and drag their squad leader away from the ground.

Wang Ling barely survived, but his blood and qi were in turmoil, his chest tight and breath short — he could not even speak clearly. He could only lean against a mound of earth by the roadside and wave his hand to issue orders, signaling his entire unit to quickly cut down all the Cao Army attendants around Xu Chu.

On the other side, Xu Chu crippled Wang Ling in a single exchange, then turned back to continue his tangled fight with Ma Chao, his offensive momentum undiminished. Seeing his own soldiers at a disadvantage, outnumbered and repeatedly cut down by the White Horse Volunteers, he did not hesitate for a moment — he galloped swiftly back and forth, going to the aid of his own cavalry!

With nearly every strike, he had to turn back and face Ma Chao, so he was gradually being suppressed by Ma Chao. Yet nearly every strike also sent a White Horse Volunteer tumbling from the saddle, dead or wounded — a sight that left onlookers dumbstruck.

What was more, when another squad of White Horse Volunteers galloped up, their squad leader Linghu Jun — Wang Ling’s elder sister’s son, nephew of Xihe Governor Linghu Shao, only twenty years old, just transferred from the Imperial Academy into the Volunteers as an officer, fighting his first battle in life and brimming with excitement — was caught completely off guard as Xu Chu rode alone right up to him and skewered him with one thrust of his spear, killing him on horseback as easily as slaughtering a chicken!

At this, Wang Ling spewed a mouthful of blood and instantly fainted dead away!

Nor was that all. Moments later, Ma Chao’s second brother, Volunteer squad leader and Ma Teng’s legitimate son Ma Xiu, was also spotted by Xu Chu at an opening and smashed dead on the battlefield with his shield. Now Ma Mengqi, unable to restrain his opponent, saw his eyes turn bloodshot with rage.

However, as squad after squad of White Horse Volunteers arrived from the rear, Xu Chu, though he fought furiously to support both flanks, striking down and wounding Yan troops one after another, could not prevent the hundred-odd riders beside him who had come to block the enemy from gradually dwindling away.

Later on, one squad of White Horse cavalry even bypassed Xu Chu entirely and continued the pursuit — only they chased in the wrong direction, following the road outside the tree line instead.

Seeing this, Xu Chu finally grew frantic.

And just then, beneath the setting sun about to sink away, the rumble of hooves suddenly swelled. Xu Zhongkang fought hard to force Ma Chao aside and looked up — only to see that very White Horse banner, the one that had mobilized twenty thousand riders to smash Cao Cao’s entire army, now right before him. And on the road to the west, as far as the eye could see, it was dense with white horses!

Beneath the central White Horse banner, visible even from afar, was a general draped in a brocade cloak, steel helmet and steel armor, his long spear hanging unused as he gripped only a strange blade in his hand… it could be none other than that Duke of Yan!

At this sight, Xu Chu was instead overjoyed. He charged at Ma Chao once more with all his might, forced him aside, then drove straight westward — clearly intent on taking the life of the man beneath that banner!

Gongsun Xun saw this scene from afar. Far from anger, he was pleased. Though he reined in his horse and halted as the situation demanded, that did not stop him from laughing aloud on the battlefield. Raising his broken blade, still dripping blood, he called out from horseback: “Is that Tiger Fool before me?!”

Xu Chu clenched his teeth and said nothing, only spurring his horse forward with all his strength! Behind him, Ma Chao, growing ever more furious and alarmed, pursued relentlessly. And from Gongsun Xun’s side, no fewer than several dozen officers surged forth almost instantly, charging straight ahead… The general at their head, gripping a long spear and riding a mottled, ugly white horse — its mouth gaping to show teeth, its coat not yet fully shed of its dark foal hair — yet galloping the fastest, was unmistakably Pang De! Close behind him was Ma Chao’s cousin Ma Dai, who had recently won Gongsun Xun’s favor and was kept at his side.

The two sides crossed horses. Xu Chu barely managed to fend off Pang De, inwardly startled. Just as he was about to rally again, he suddenly felt the saddle give way beneath him, and his whole body tumbled to the ground, rolling once before he could plant his shield and rise… It turned out that the fourth mount he had switched to that day could hold out no longer either, collapsing from sheer exhaustion right there on the battlefield. Even his long spear had snapped when he fell.

At this moment, Xu Zhongkang turned his head to look and realized that his tumble with the horse’s momentum had not only let him evade the interception of Ma Dai and several brave Volunteers, but had also brought him no more than twenty or thirty paces from Gongsun Xun. Instead of trying to seize a horse, he let out a great roar, eyes glaring wide with fury, picked up half a broken spear from the ground, and charged forward brandishing his shield!

Yet at this moment, before anyone else could arrive or turn around, Ma Chao, who had been following right behind Xu Chu, caught up with all his might. His spear was a full zhang long; he thrust straight forward and pierced Xu Chu’s left rib!

But Xu Chu paid it no heed whatsoever, like a man possessed. Instead, he swung his shield backhanded at Ma Chao, smashing the overjoyed latter straight off his horse, and continued his forward charge!

Yet Xu Zhongkang had advanced no more than four or five paces when Pang De, whose mount was exceptionally vigorous, had already forcibly wheeled around and arrived behind him. From over ten paces away, Pang De hurled his spear — the long spear flew like an arrow and plunged straight into the back of Xu Chu, who had already lost his shield. This time, Xu Zhongkang truly felt the agony and could advance no further!

Had he himself forgotten to hurl a spear?!

Xu Zhongkang, struck with a mortal wound, still thought only of how to kill Gongsun Xun and save Cao Cao. He tried to raise the spear and throw it from the ground, but could no longer lift his arm.

In the next instant, Ma Chao leaped up, Pang De switched to his blade, and Ma Dai caught up. The three of them, with long spears and short blades, hacked down in quick succession…

At this, Xu Chu knew full well he could not escape. He simply let the three generals behind him strike down in frantic haste, forcing himself to lift his head for one last look at that so-called Duke of Yan — the one who had refused his guards’ protection and instead met his gaze with a dazed expression. A strange thought surfaced in his heart: This man must be just like my lord was earlier — scared silly but still putting on a show of composure!

In the next instant, Xu Chu’s vision went black, and he pitched forward to the ground — in his daze, he could not tell whether the darkness Cao’s army had so desperately waited for had finally arrived!

“A true Tiger Marquis!” Gongsun Xun let out a long breath, then suddenly his expression turned stern. He looked around at those beside him and shouted fiercely: “Cao Mengde must have entered the forest! Set fire to the woods for me!”

The riders to his left and right all shivered with awe!

————I am the dividing line that fights for its life————

“Awe-inspiring might that awed the Nine Provinces,

In those years Xu Chu fought at Guandu.

Only because he appeared before the Yan army

Did the realm henceforth spread the name Tiger Marquis.” — From “Annotated Records of Late Han Heroes, No. 28” — Luo Guanzhong

PS1: Thanks again to the two Alliance Masters, Little Tree and King of Home-Switching — the latter must be the fourth sprout…

PS2: Routine continued offerings of new books — “Life Exchange Game” by Chijian Yinghuo; “I Really Have No Interest in Money” by Ni Baifo… two very popular books lately.

PS3: Sorry again — it’s really my fault that the leave notice didn’t go out this morning; I didn’t check before falling asleep.

(End of Chapter)