Zhang He's revenge.
A (very nearly) true story by Samura Sheikah (Lung Ch'u)
Sorry if I get anything wrong, this is my first crack at historical fiction and I don't have my notes on me! Most is based on the novel; some of the characters based on the game so keep on your toes!
For The story of Zhang He's Revenge to be fully understood, we must go back thousands of years to a town Called Mao in Jizhou, China in the year 163. This year a boy was born to the Zhang family and named He.
For the first Twenty-one years of his life he worked on his fathers farm, trained in fencing and martial arts until there was a call to arms from emperor He Jin to crush a rising band of rebels known as the yellow turbans.
In 184, Zhang joined the volunteer army under the present governor of Jizhou, Han Fu. As expected, the rebellion was quickly quelled and many returned to their homes but Zhang He didn't. As with most young men at the time, he believed he had an obligation to remain at Han Fu's side to help stop the chaos.
When Dong Zhuo rose to try to take the land, Zhang He's units fought against him, but to no avail. This would be the only time Zhang He would see Lu Bu, Who, along with Zhang Liao, cut down four score troops before his eyes but this wouldn't be the last time he saw Zhang Liao.
So, most mortals daring to venture close to Dong's residence being cut down by Lu, Threw the neighbouring warlords into turmoil, waging campaigns against each other in a desperate struggle to get a foothold and make names for themselves. One such warlord was Gongsun Zan, Han Fu's rival. Gongsun Zan, stationed in Youzhou had acquired many able men and threatened Han Fu with military action. So, in fear of being invaded, Han turned over control of Yizhou to his ally, Yuan Shao, and with it, Zhang He.
Now under Yuan Shao, Zhang He was a high-ranking commanding post and charged with defending the borders against Gongsun Zan's men. With new rank came new honours and Zhang he was given command of a host of new troops.
One man now under Zhang He was Gao Lan. Gao was a tall man but still lacked a few inches on Zhang He and has a cheerful, quite rounded face with a small moustache and beard that stretched up the sides of his face, meeting his hair. He had long flowing dark hair, which he wore in battle tied below his shoulders so it hung down in a sheet cradled close to the end.
After many battles alongside this man, Zhang he knew him to be an honest, upright man of great strength. A few years Zhang's senior, Gao was wise beyond his years and managed to impress Zhang with his understanding of tactics on many occasions. They quickly became good friends and behaved as would sworn brothers, battling, planning, and eating together. Often they even fell asleep on the same couch after talking until late of the lands.
Zhang He, being raised on a farm by poor parents, had never learnt to read or write and so was often left confused in situations discussing strategy. Gao Lan on the other hand had learned to write from a young age and helped Zhang He learn the names of towns, castles, regions of china, as well as other useful words and phrases. One day while walking together in the gardens of Yuan Shao's castle, Zhang commented on the beauty of the peach tree's blossoms. So, Gao Lan taught him to write the word 'Beauty' and it quickly became a running joke.
Now we must digress back to the battlefield. Many times in battle, Zhang He saw a warrior he knew by reputation to be Zhao Yun. A man of normal height, a smooth, refined face, unruly black hair in a loose ponytail, a green bandana, and a disturbingly calm demeanour in battle. Zhang knew that this was no ordinary warrior and bade his men be careful when Zhao was around.
The lands quickly pulled further and further apart, plunging all within into irreparable chaos. Some lords fought for Virtue, some for Justice, some for Family, some for their own personal gain and some to restore the Han dynasty. As far a Zhang He was concerned, the Han was dead and a new era would have to rise to bring an end to the chaos and restore order to the land.
So, a few years later in 199, Yuan Shao's men crushed Gongsun Zan's forces at the battle of Yijing. This is where we digress to Liangzhou, where news of Gongsun Zan's death dispersed his troops to join other armies. Zhao Yun, quite alone, sought out one who he had met a few years before. A man of great virtue, honour and loyalty to his people. So, Zhao Yun set out to find Liu Bei and Join his ranks.
It was in this same year that Yuan Shao turned his military attention to Yanzhou, where a warlord by the name of Cao Cao was gaining power. So, he made preparations to attack Cao Cao and in the autumn of the year 200, the two forces fought at Guan Du.
Yuan Shao's food supply was stored at Wuchao, guarded by Chunyu Qiong. Zhang He advised that Yuan Shao should reinforce the defences but Yuan Shao ignored him. Under the cover of night Cao Cao led a light force to attack Wuchao. When Yuan Shao's advisor, Guo Tu heard of this, he advised that Zhang he and Gao Lan should attack Cao Cao's main camp and that Zhiang Chi should try to salvage the supplies. This was contrary to Zhang He's opinion, he believed that He himself and Gao Lan should try to save the supplies as Cao Cao's main base would surely be heavily guarded and going to attack it would be suicide. Yuan Shao again passed over Zhang He for the advise of Guo Tu and Zhang He and Gao Lan were sent to attack Cao Cao's main camp.
Just as Zhang He had predicted, Zhiang Chi was unable to save the grain supplies and Cao Pi (Cao Cao's son) and Xiahou Dun had laid an ambush at the base, devastating the invading troops and cutting off their retreat. The only people who managed to escape alive were Zhang He, Gao Lan and a few soldiers.
When news reached Guo Tu that his plan had failed, he knew that he would be severely punished. So, to escape blame he slandered Zhang He and Gao Lan, saying that they had been working for Cao Cao and had planned the whole series of events.
Although Yuan Shao questioned Guo Tu's words, news quickly spread to the defeated Zhang He and Gao Lan, travelling back to camp with their few soldiers. The news shocked the two and Zhang He feared greatly that they would be put to death. Gao Lan suggested that, to escape their fate at Yuan Shao's hands, they should return to Cao Cao's base and surrender. Perhaps if Cao Cao had heard of their work he would allow them to defect. This was an Opinion shared by Zhang He, who had for some time wished to Cao Cao's side.
So the two weary warriors headed back to Cao Cao's camp and turned themselves over. In His lord's absence, Xiahou Dun was in command of the base and knew of Zhang He from his reputation as a fierce fighter in the battle of Yijing. Confused at such a powerful man's surrender arose suspicions of treachery and so took the two as prisoners.
Upon Cao Cao's return, Xiahou Dun presented the two prisoners to Cao Cao. Cao Cao also knew of Zhang's ability and quickly loosened their bonds, apologising for his subordinate's inapt actions. Cao Cao happily accepted the two into his army, giving them the title of marquis and showering them with gifts.
Zhang He and Gao Lan asked to stay together, thus arousing even more suspicion for Xiahou Dun, who publicly slandered them at every opportunity. Cao Cao grew angry at Xiahou Dun's inability to accept Zhang He for the warrior he was, and so ordered, as Zhang and Gao's First mission together, to ambush Yuan Shao. The ambush indeed was successful and led to the fall of Yuan Shao's army.
In this battle, Zhang He met a warrior he never thought He'd see again, Zhang Liao. The two, quite weary of each other to start, quickly became friends and Zhang Liao offered the two lodgings with him. For a time things were good…
To be continued! The closing chapter will be ready soon!