Baoxie Road was a vital route connecting Hanzhong and Guanzhong.
Heading north out of Baoxie Road brought one to Mei County in Guanzhong.
This was a three-way junction: west of Mei County lay the military stronghold of Chencang, while to the east lay Chang'an.
Midway along Baoxie Road was a valley formed by the convergence of several tributaries of the upper Bao River.
The terrain here was relatively open, allowing an advance to attack or a retreat to defend. This was Ji Valley, where Zhao Yun's army was stationed.
After following Zhang He to Mei County, Xiahou Xian made no stop, marching straight south toward Xieyu Pass at Xie Valley Mouth.
This had always been the target of Zhao Yun's army. Reportedly, even while Wei State was replacing its commander on the eve of battle, Zhao Yun's army had not stopped its attacks.
Yet a garrison of just three thousand had completely halted Zhao Yun's advance.
But this only confirmed Xiahou Xian's suspicions. Zhao Yun's army was a diversionary force, and his objective was never to capture Chang'an, which was why he had conserved his strength.
Admittedly, this maneuver had indeed drawn Great Wei's main force away in the early stages, buying considerable time for Zhuge Liang's plans in Longxi.
Now, however, there was no need to keep playing hide-and-seek with the enemy.
On the pass's walls, Xiahou Xian found Zhang He after completing the handover of the defenses. Seeing Xiahou Xian approach, Zhang He spoke first.
"The Shu army only withdrew yesterday after failing to take the walls. Our army could press the advantage and pursue them straight to their main camp in Ji Valley."
Zhang He's words sounded less like an order than a question.
Although His Majesty had now appointed Xiahou Xian Colonel of Valiant Cavalry, nominally giving him command of at least three thousand soldiers, this was his first command. The soldiers did not know their general, and he had no prestige whatsoever. In practice, his authority as a colonel was greatly diminished.
Besides, the army's true commander had always been Zhang He, while Xiahou Xian served more as his military adviser.
"This subordinate believes we should do exactly that," Xiahou Xian said with a nod. "This campaign calls for an all-out defeat of Zhao Yun's army, not holding our defenses. General, please do not hesitate."
"Good." Zhang He nodded and glanced at the young man beside him.
Although they had had little contact, their few discussions had convinced him that this young man possessed considerable strategic insight.
With their agreement reached, the army soon finished assembling. Tens of thousands streamed out through the pass, their rumbling footsteps echoing through the narrow, confined mountain valley.
Zhang He and Xiahou Xian were with the central army. Advancing through the mountain valley, the troops could not possibly spread out into formation. The vanguard could comprise no more than a battalion, so once battle began, only three or four thousand men could be committed directly to the fighting.
"Adviser, do you think the Shu army might have laid an ambush in the mountains?" From horseback, Zhang He looked up at the cliffs overhead on either side, then turned to ask Xiahou Xian.
"Very likely." Xiahou Xian could not help admiring the veteran's experience. He had intended to say the same thing after examining the terrain.
"Once attacker and defender change places, their circumstances are reversed. The defending side always enjoys certain advantages." Xiahou Xian drew a rolled map from inside his robe and continued, "Look, General. If I were the enemy, I would certainly position an ambush on the cliffs near the valley mouth. And I suspect Zhao Yun will personally lead the troops guarding the entrance."
"Indeed." Zhang He nodded. "The Shu army's only chance of victory is to stop us at the valley mouth. Once our army enters the valley, the enemy will have no chance of winning."
Zhang He ordered the army to quicken its pace. Finally, after four hours, the valley entrance came into view.
"Ambush! Ambush!"
A messenger from the vanguard came sprinting back from the front. Zhang He immediately shouted for his men not to panic, while he straightened in the saddle and fixed his gaze on the battlefield ahead.
Arrows rained down from the cliffs on both sides of the valley. Although the officers and men of the vanguard all wore armor, they struggled to withstand the arrows finding every gap, and soldiers kept collapsing in pain.
But Zhang He's orders were strict. The supervising officers kept ordering the soldiers to hurry forward, while having the shield-bearers in front raise their great shields against the stray arrows flying in from every direction.
At the same time, loose stones and rolling logs kept tumbling from the mountains, scattering like flowers strewn by a celestial maiden.
The Wei army continued to accelerate. The harassment from the ambush seemed to have cost it little fighting strength.
Just then, the vanguard finally engaged the enemy.
Among the vanguard, an armored spearman had just pierced the chest of a Shu soldier before him. He tried to pull his spear from the man's body, only to find the blade lodged between his bones.
In desperation, he hurriedly picked up the long lance of a comrade lying in a bloody, mangled heap beside him and joined the fighting once more.
Did you think he did not want to catch his breath and rest?
Never mind that taking even half a step back would get him cut down by a supervising officer-even if those officers had no attention to spare, he still had to remain utterly alert, for the slightest lapse would leave him surrounded by the Shu soldiers surging forward one after another.
Ever since enlisting, he had served in Luoyang's central army, guarding the Capital. He had never imagined that one day he would come to the front lines to fight an enemy state.
Fortunately, his regular training had been reasonably rigorous, and those combat techniques really did prove useful on the battlefield.
"Haaah!" the soldier roared, raising his long lance and charging at the Shu soldier before him.
Only a little earlier, he had still been somewhat afraid, but once the killing truly began, he cast all his fear behind him.
With a mighty downward swing of his long lance, he killed another Shu soldier.
He wiped the blood from his cheek with the back of his hand, though he did not know whose it was.
Just then, he noticed dust billowing half a step ahead of him.
The dust soon dispersed, revealing a sight that left him dumbstruck.
An enemy general in silver armor, mounted on a white horse and wielding a long spear, was charging toward their ranks, with dozens of riders close behind.
The general on the white horse swept through them as though no one stood in his way, killing a soldier with every thrust, without the slightest wasted motion.
Many ordinary soldiers like him were no more than wisps of sand before that general, scattering at a touch. He could not help swallowing.
Suddenly, one of their own officers rode out, saber in hand.
He quickly recognized the man. It was their commandant.
His heart soon found some confidence, but that encouragement did not last long.
In just one exchange, the enemy general on the white horse cut the commandant from his saddle.
The general on the white horse drew closer and closer. Only when the dust cleared did he finally make out the man's features.
The general looked valiant and imposing, yet his hair and beard were white. He was actually an old veteran.
But there was no time left for astonishment. With their mounted officer slain in battle, the nearby Wei soldiers' morale collapsed, and their ranks were already falling into chaos.
Before him, a comrade dropped his weapon and came running toward him in panic, not a trace of fighting spirit left in his eyes. Just as the man reached him, an enemy general pierced him with a spear!
His comrade crumpled to his knees right before him. At that moment, whether from fear or something else, he too knelt on the ground, unable to move.
The enemy general was almost upon him. It seemed he could no longer see his own fate.
Clang!!!
A clear ring of colliding metal thundered beside his ear.
Only after recovering for a few seconds did he dare look up.
A general mounted on a black horse stood before him, long lance in hand.
Then a deep, resonant voice rang out.
"Zhao Yun, do you still recognize your old man Zhang He?"