Han Ji

The cavalry left the Guandu camp, took the official road, and galloped northeast. The five thousand riders thundered as they ran, their hooves thundering on the frozen ground.

The soil on the official road was trampled and kicked up, forming a long cloud of yellow dust that trailed far behind the procession. Farmers in the fields beside the road straightened up to look when they heard the commotion, then quickly lowered their heads again.

Guan Yu rode at the very front. His Green Dragon Crescent Blade lay across the saddle, its blade gleaming in the sunlight.

Yan Liang had already set up camp outside Baima City for four days. The camp was well-built, with thick logs driven into the ground to form a fence, and a moat dug outside, with sharpened wooden stakes inserted into the moat.

In the evening, Yan Liang was eating in his main tent. The meal was simple: dried meat, flatbread, and a bowl of wine. As he was eating, his adjutant ran in from outside.

"General, a scout reports that Guan Yu is leading cavalry from Guandu, about five thousand men. They are about twenty li from Baima."

Yan Liang put down his chopsticks. "Five thousand men? Cavalry?"

The lieutenant said, "Yes. They're all cavalry. They're fast; they'll reach Baima by noon tomorrow."

Yan Liang stood up and walked outside the tent. The sun had just set, and there was still a touch of red on the horizon, like blood had been splashed on it. He looked west; the official road led to the west, but it was getting dark and he couldn't see clearly.

"Guan Yu, he is truly fearless of death," Yan Liang said.

The lieutenant said, "General, should we attack the city tonight? Let's capture Baima before Guan Yu arrives."

Yan Liang said, "Attack the city tonight? There are three thousand defenders in the city. Although the city walls are not high, the moat is wide. You can use ladders to cross the river, and then shoot arrows down from the city walls. No matter how many people you have, you won't be able to fill the moat. No rush. Wait for Guan Yu to arrive. Isn't he said to be able to defeat ten thousand men? I want to see just how good he is."

Early the next morning, Yan Liang led his troops out of the camp and arrayed them below the city walls. The ten thousand men were arranged in five square formations, with his own central army in the middle, flanked by swordsmen, shieldmen, and archers.

He stood on horseback in front of the central army, his general's flag fluttering behind him. The flag was large, with a red background and black characters that read "Yan," which fluttered in the wind.

Yan Liang glanced up at the city wall. The guards were looking down, their faces pale. He then looked down at his armor and dusted off the dust from his breastplate.

"When will Guan Yu arrive?" he asked.

The lieutenant said, "The scout reports it will be around noon."

Yan Liang looked up at the sun. It was still in the east, had just risen, and was quite warm. It was still early. But he ordered his men to line up in formation and wait there; he was waiting for Guan Yu.

The sun slowly moved, from the east to its zenith. The soldiers stood in the field, their hands and feet frozen. Some stamped their feet, others breathed on their hands to warm them. Yan Liang rode on his horse, which was also pawing at the ground, white breath coming from its nostrils.

Noon.

The lieutenant suddenly shouted, "General, look to the west!"

Yan Liang looked west. On the western horizon, a cloud of yellow dust rose. The dust was vast, obscuring half the sky. Within the dust, a large blue flag could be faintly seen.

Guan Yu has arrived.

The dust grew thicker and thicker. Guan Yu's cavalry charged to the end of the official road and stopped on a small hill about three miles from Yan Liang's army. The cavalry were lined up in a row, five thousand men and horses panting heavily, as were the men. The horses were covered in sweat, and white foam dripped from their mouths.

Guan Yu rode on his chestnut horse, his Green Dragon Crescent Blade resting horizontally on the saddle. He squinted as he looked at Yan Liang's army formation.

"Yan Liang's banner," the adjutant beside him pointed.

Guan Yu saw it. Yan Liang's central position was very conspicuous; under the large banner, Yan Liang rode on horseback, with his personal guards standing in front of him. The banner was made of red silk, which was very eye-catching under the sun.

"He's arrayed and waiting for me," Guan Yu said. "He thinks he can win."

The lieutenant asked, "General, how should we attack?"

Guan Yu said, "You guys charge from the front and hold off his flanks. I'll lead a team to go around from the west."

He turned his horse around and galloped west. After galloping for about two miles, he circled around to the west side of Yan Liang's army formation. On the west side were swordsmen and shieldmen, their shields raised, and the tips of their spears protruding from the gaps in the shields.

Guan Yu reined in his horse and raised his Green Dragon Crescent Blade. The blade flashed in the sunlight, its blue light dazzling.

The frontal assault has begun.

His horse began to run. First a trot, then a faster pace, and finally a sprint. Its hooves kicked up dirt high into the air. Guan Yu lay prone on the horse's back, his Green Dragon Crescent Blade trailing behind him, its tip leaving a long trail on the ground.

Yan Liang's western flank of swordsmen and shieldmen spotted them. A small group charged towards them. But the direct confrontation drew their attention, and before they could react, Guan Yu had already arrived.

The shield was smashed open, and the men were sent flying. The Green Dragon Crescent Blade swept upwards in a semi-circle, cutting away the weapons of three men and knocking them down. Blood splattered all over Guan Yu and then onto the horse's head.

Guan Yu charged into the army formation. He rode his horse and rampaged through the crowd, slashing left and right with his Green Dragon Crescent Blade. The blade was so heavy that each strike whistled through the air.

The blade sliced ​​through the armor, splitting it; it sliced ​​through flesh, tearing it apart; it sliced ​​through bone, breaking it. Some screamed, some stumbled backward, some were trampled by horses, their hooves snapping on their backs with a crack.

Guan Yu charged towards Yan Liang. Hundreds of people stood between them. His blade cut through the crowd, felling one after another, until it turned red.

Yan Liang saw it. He saw Guan Yu charging towards him. Guan Yu's face, clothes, and horse were all covered in blood. The horse was panting heavily, knocking people off balance, and had already broken through his entire defensive line in one go.

Yan Liang reached out and took his large spear from his personal guard. The spear was eighteen feet long, with a steel blade and a shaft made of mulberry wood, painted black.

"Get out of the way," Yan Liang said.

The guards scattered. Yan Liang kicked the horse's belly, and the horse charged towards Guan Yu.

Guan Yu saw Yan Liang. The people between them had already parted to make way. Yan Liang charged forward on horseback, spear raised, the tip pointed at Guan Yu's chest. Guan Yu didn't rein in his horse, continuing the charge. The two horses clashed, growing ever closer.

Yan Liang struck first. His spear thrust forward, swift and ruthless, aimed straight for Guan Yu's throat. Guan Yu dodged to the side, his Green Dragon Crescent Blade slashing upwards towards Yan Liang's waist. Yan Liang parried with his spear, and with a clang, the Green Dragon Crescent Blade was deflected, sparks flying.

The two horses passed each other. Guan Yu reined in his horse and turned it around. Yan Liang also turned around. The two clashed again.

This time, Yan Liang's spear aimed at Guan Yu's horse. Guan Yu pulled on the reins, causing the horse's forelegs to fly off the ground, and the spear missed its mark. Guan Yu's Green Dragon Crescent Blade slashed down, aiming for Yan Liang's head. Yan Liang raised his spear to block, and with a clang, sparks flew again.

But Guan Yu's blade pressed down on Yan Liang's spear, causing Yan Liang to sway slightly on his horse. Guan Yu's blade slid inward along the spear shaft, the tip aimed at Yan Liang's chest. Yan Liang tried to retract his spear, but couldn't. The blade tip had already pierced Yan Liang's armor.

The armor was pierced. Then the flesh. Guan Yu flicked his wrist, the tip of his blade spun inside Yan Liang's body. Yan Liang's body stiffened, his eyes widened, and he exhaled silently. Blood began to trickle from the corner of his mouth.

Guan Yu drew his sword. Yan Liang swayed, "So fast...so heavy..." Then he fell from his horse, crashing to the ground and raising a cloud of dust. Blood gushed from his chest, soaking his armor and the ground beneath him.

The surrounding Yuan Shao soldiers were all stunned. Some dropped their weapons, some took a step back, and some turned and ran. The lieutenant general's face turned pale, and he cried out "General!" in a high-pitched and drawn-out voice.

Guan Yu dismounted and walked to Yan Liang's corpse. He bent down and beheaded Yan Liang with a single stroke. Then, grabbing Yan Liang's hair, he lifted his head and mounted his horse again.

He raised his head high and roared towards Yuan Shao's camp, "Yan Liang's head is here!"

The personal guards of the central army were terrified by him; his voice was so loud that it made Yuan Shao's soldiers' ears ring. Then there was an exchange of glances and furtive movements among the soldiers.

Some laid down their swords, some began to run. One ran, two ran, then a whole group. Yuan Shao's vanguard was utterly routed on the front lines.

On the walls of Baima City, the guards saw it. Someone shouted "General Guan!", someone else followed suit, and then everyone started shouting. The shouts were deafening, shaking the tiles on the city walls.