Battle of Fan Castle 219 AD
At Hanzhong, Cao Cao seemed almost too calm and collected. Zhuge Liang could not help but feel uneasy. With Hanzhong under its control, Shu had stabilized as a country and was gaining momentum. As if in celebration of their good fortune, Guan Yu marched north from Jing and attacked Wei at Fan Castle.
If they could bring down Fan Castle, there would be nothing left standing between them and the capital of Xuchang. With everything going so well, there was no reason to expect that their Wu allies would betray them. However, no matte what Zhuge Liang did, his worries could not be eased. Then, as the stage switched to the east of Hanzhong at Fan Castle in Jing. Waves of emotion flooded over Guan Yu as he gazed upon Fan Castle, where Cao Ren lay in wait.
For finally, the dream that Liu Bei had pursued for so many years, was about to become a reality. To forge a path to that virtue, Guan Yu and his sons would fight to the bitter end. The God of War's battle plan was flawless… That is, until the surprise attack came…
In camp near Fan Castle, Guan Yu looks to his sons, Guan Ping, Guan Xing, and Guan Suo in pride. He knew that they would all become great officers in later years and he was confident that they would win Fan Castle easily.
"Father, the preparations for the flood attack are complete." Guan Ping said to his father.
"Our units are also in position around the enemy position. Guan Suo adds to his father.
"Most impressive, my sons. Come! We must capture Fan Castle for the sake of our Lord." Guan Yu said as he leads his sons out to battle along with other officers, one being Liu Feng.
"First we will secure Xiangyang, and then we will divert the water from Hanshui into Fan Castle.
"My first battle… Finally, this is my chance to observe the way my father fights." Guan Suo muttered to himself as he was in awe of his father.
What's the matter, father? It's not like you to be lost in thought in battle." Guan Ping questions him worriedly.
"Looking at you and your brother reminds me of my own sworn brothers. I haven't seen them in so long." Guan Yu said as he thought of his allies and brothers that he hasn't seen is years now.
Getting back into the battle, Xiahou Cun, and Zhai Yuan come to attack them to prevent them from capturing Xiangyang.
The two warriors didn't stand a chance against the extremely determined Guan Yu and his three sons in battle and were quickly beaten back.
The gates of Xiangyang open after defeating the two enemy officers in front of the garrison.
As they enter they spot anther enemy officer, who was in charge of guarding the area. He is Lu Chang and he quickly attempts to repel the enemy officers.
He didn't last long at all…
Guan Yu is one of the greatest Shu warriors that they had along with his three powerful young sons, Lu Chang couldn't do much of anything. The sons of Guan Yu quickly beat down the defense captains and chose their own to defend the area.
"The western bank is under attack. Aid is required at once." Spoke up a messenger to Guan Yu and the others.
"The western bank is integral to our flood attack. We cannot lose it." Guan Ping said as the family headed there while Guan Xing stayed in the garrison as a guard.
To the west was Liu Feng, along with Zhou Cang who had just been attacked by enemy reinforcements. They are outnumbered as they are fighting Xiahou Shang, Cheng He, and Wen Pin.
They were battling as hard as they could but they were still losing ground. Liu Feng was fairing better than Zhou Cang but still not by much. He had wounded Wen Pin and Cheng He but the last officer was proving difficult.
It was at their darkest hour, when Guan Yu and the others arrived to help them in their battle.
Guan Suo and Guan Ping teamed up with Zhou Cang and defeated Xiahou Shang together.
Guan Yu helped out Liu Feng with the other two officers and sent them retreating quite fast.
"Father, please give the order to open the floodgates. You should have the honor of finishing off Fan Castle." Guan Ping spoke to his father after they defeated the enemy reinforcements at the western bank.
"Thank you for coming to our aid Lord Guan Yu." Liu Feng spoke to the man gratefully as he patched up his wounds as best he could.
"Of course, you're the son of my Lord and son in law to my good friend after all." Guan Yu said to him getting a smile from the younger man.
Liu Feng was honored to be the son in law to Nao Yun and he loved his wife Diao Yue and his daughter Diao Xing more than anything.
Guan Yu then opened the floodgates and together, they all watched as the water flowed quickly and violently towards Fan Castle.
"Roar, water dragon! Swallow Fan Castle and Wei's ambition whole." Guan Yu called out above the roaring of the waves.
"The Wei army has suffered major casualties from the flood attack. Their morale has been seriously lowered." A messenger told them confidently.
"Excellent, into the Castle." Guan Yu spoke to the man and his troops getting a big cheer from them.
"Father, the ships are ready. It's time to go." Guan Ping said as the crew lowered the plank to let them on. Once they were all on board they quickly set sail towards Fan's Outer Castle.
"Such a grand vision… I don't know if I will ever be able to match my father." Guan Suo said sadly as they sailed towards the castle which Guan Yu heard.
"There is no need for you to follow my path, my son. You must forge your own style." Guan Yu told his youngest son to cheer him up.
They then stop the ship outside the castle and put the same plank up to the top of the wall and together, they jump down into Fan's outer castle.
"Now! Strike the enemy down before they even know what hit them." He called out loudly as his sons and him charge forward and attack.
The two guards inside the Outer Castle are really afraid right about now as their morale plummeted and they have Guan Yu and his sons attacking.
Cao Tai and Niu Jin just didn't have the confidence or enough men to beat back the officers of Shu and quickly decide to retreat.
"The castle is all but ours, father. Only the commander Cao Ren remains." Guan Ping told his father and brother happily bit it was quickly dashed when a messenger appear and gave them bad news.
"Terrible news! The Wu army has invaded our territory! Gong'an and Jiangling have already fallen." The man spoke up sadly shocking the Shu officers.
"No… Wu are our allies… Have they betrayed us?" Guan Ping asks himself sadly.
"My Lord! It's an emergency! The Wei army is amassing outside of the castle! Their numbers are immense." Spoke up a scared private as Guan Yu, Guan Ping, and Guan Suo went to the top of the castle walls to see the enemy numbers for themselves.
"The enemy numbers are far greater than we had imagined" Guan Suo spoke up worriedly, breaking the silence.
"Father," Guan Ping speaks determinedly to him "you must withdraw."
"Ping, what about you?" Guan Yu asks his adopted son.
"I will stay here in the castle and keep the enemy occupied." He spoke confidently as he then looks to Guan Suo. 'Brother, you must keep father safe."
"O-Of course." Guan Suo spoke up hesitantly.
Guan Yu says nothing to his adopted son, as he decides to respect his decision and nods to him in acceptance. He then turns to walk away leaving Guan Suo to look at his brother one last time before he followed his father.
"We must break through Mai Castle, and to brother! You must stay alive men!" Guan Yu spoke as he passed by his officers Liu Feng and his other son Guan Xing.
As they leave the castle gates and get on the bridge to the main land archers are in position waiting for them.
"Fire." Spoke the lead archer as he shot Guan Yu along with the others.
"Uargh." Guan Yu grunts in pain but continues moving to kill the archers with his son.
"Father!" Guan Suo yells in fright after beating down the officers with his Nunchaku.
"Come, my son! This is but a flesh wound." Guan Yu spoke up hiding his pain expertly so he didn't worry his son.
"Dong Zhao is leading more Wei reinforcements form the northeast." Spoke another messenger to Guan Yu making the whole situation seem grimmer.
He then spots Lu Meng and Yu Fan, both from Wu. "Why has Wu betrayed us?" Guan Yu questions them.
"Because it suited us to do so. Surrender now, and face death like a man." Lu Meng spoke to the man as they began to fight.
"You would turn you back on honor for personal gain?! That is unacceptable." Guan Yu yelled at the man as they began to battle it out.
Lu Meng, though appeared to be sick and could not fight properly. He was soon beaten and he fell to the ground, dead but not before giving his final words, "I can go no further… Lu Xun, I leave the rest to you."
Guan Suo in the meantime had fought of the other officer, Yu Fan. Guan Suo soon showed that he was very skilled, as he was the God of War's son. He single handedly beat down Yu Fan and sent him retreating.
"Lord Guan Yu's movements are so slow. I fear his injuries are serious." Spoke another of their officers who was nearby, he was Zhao Lei.
Guan Yu and Guan Suo then continued on their way, leaving most of the fighting for the others.
On the way they were ambushed by more of Wu's troops under the command of Zhou Tai.
"Prepare yourself." Was all the black armored man said to Guan Yu and Guan Suo as he attacked them.
Guan Yu just laughed at them a bit, "I have not seen such a pathetic attempt at a surprise attack in quite some time." He spoke trying to get a reaction from Zhou Tai but he doesn't
Guan Suo leaves Zhou Tai for his father as he attacks another Wu officer named Han Dang.
Knowing they are in a hurry, the two Shu officers quickly beat back the two Wu officers and continue to move, but are surprised to see a Wei officer in front of them.
"I have great respect for you as a warrior, but you are an enemy of Wei." Spoke Xu Huang in a somewhat sad tone as he really did like Guan Yu.
"I do not need your respect, or you flattery. Cross blades with me instead." Guan Yu told the man getting a smile from him and a respectful nod.
"Very well, Lord Guan Yu." He said calmly and then charged at Guan Yu.
Guan Suo, knew that he couldn't get in the way of such a fight so he fought off the troops surrounding him and his father's battle.
After a bit of time Guan Yu defeats Xu Huang and the man retreats quickly as he didn't want to be the one to kill Guan Yu anyway.
"I am still but a child. I need to learn so much from you." Guan Suo spoke sadly after watching his father's battle.
"Yes, there is much you can still learn but you will be a great man – the future of Shu rests on your shoulder." Guan Yu said happily to his son, once again hiding his pain.
They soon run into another enemy officer, Jiang Qin. "Mi Fang and Fu Shiren have already surrendered to us. Do not waste our time." Jiang Qin said arrogantly as he charged the two officers.
"So it's true, Jiangling has fallen. My brother's dreams have been dashed." Guan Yu spoke in a devastated tone as they had worked so hard and traveled so far for that dream for it to be crushed now.
Shaking off those depressing thoughts, he quickly defeats Jiang Qin and moves on to the shallow water to the other side of the land.
There, he runs into the two traitors, Mi Fang and Fu Shiren.
"You never treated me with the proper respect, Guan Yu! Now you will pay for it." Mi Fang spoke up angrily.
"I never liked you, you know. You were an arrogant, pig-headed fool." Fu Shiren added in as they charged Guan Yu in an attempt to kill him.
Their battle was just beginning but Guan Ping's had been going on for a long time. He and Liu Feng were fighting back to back inside Fan Castle against Cao Ren and many other officers.
Cao Ren had closed all the exits of the castle and surrounded the two officers of Shu. Both Liu Feng and Guan Ping knew that they stood no chance, but they fought on to the death anyway.
In the end, both were killed in battle of Fan Castle.
Guan Yu and Guan Suo had finally defeated the two traitors when the messenger approached them with a sad look on his face.
"My Lord! It's Guan Ping and Liu Feng, they…they've been killed." The man spoke getting horrified looks from the two Shu officers. "Guan Xing has managed to escape the castle though."
"Our allies have fallen… I won't allow that to happen anymore." Guan Yu said to himself determinedly.
"I finally get to fight with you, and now this… But I must fight on, to honor your name." Guan Suo says to his father as they continue on.
They move towards the path and are surprised by Xu Sheng, an officer from Wu. "Just as Lu Xun said! Prepare to die!" The man called to them as he charged.
"The Wu army still has some men with a head for strategy." Guan Yu spoke grimly as he began fighting the man.
Soon, another officer, Pan Jun came to help out Xu Sheng. Guan Suo quickly engaged him in battle and together with his father the two officers were defeated.
After their victory, the began to move up the stoned stairs to the entrance of Mai Castle not knowing that another enemy was waiting for them.
Ding Feng is waiting for them at the top and he sees them just finishing their journey up the stairs. "I knew you'd come here. I will be your opponent." He said to them as he adjusted his battle gloves and charged them.
Ding Feng proved to be quite a strong officer of Wu, but once again the father-son tag team prevailed and sent the man into a retreat.
The Mai Castle gates then opened to reveal a young man with wearing red and holding some twin swords.
"Now! Close the exits to Mai Castle." Lu Xun called out to the troops who did what they were told, blocking Guan Yu and Guan Suo in the castle.
"You're out of luck Guan Yu." Spoke Pan Zheng, an officer who accompanied Lu Xun.
Guan Yu doesn't say anything, hoping to make the man get angry. The two opposing forces then meet in what Guan Yu was hoping to be the final clash.
Lu Xun, the Wu strategist proved to be a decent fighter but he was too young to do much against Guan Yu and Pan Zheng fought Guan Suo.
The enemy was soon defeated and Guan Yu and Guan Suo reach their destination safely. However, they are on the cliff side with the flowing water below them.
"My son, you must stay alive. Live, and support your brother." Guan Yu said getting Guan Suo's attention as he looks at what his father is looking at. He sees many Wu troops slowing making their way to Guan Yu.
"Give my Lord and Zhang Fei a message for me. Tell them, I'm sorry I broke my oath." Guan Yu said calmly and seriously.
"What are yo-" Guan Suo begins but is cut off as his father hits him with the butt of his pike sending him into the waters below.
"Father!" Guan Suo calls as he is carried away down the river.
Guan Yu ignored his young son's cries as he looked ahead of him, when just as he thought they would strike someone stopped them.
"That's enough; we'll take it from here."
Guan Yu looked over to see Nao Feng of all people and he was with two others, a man and a woman.
The man wore a dark red and white one shoulder vest that covered his chest except for the right shoulder. On top of his left shoulder was a single leather guard. He wore black pants that were covered by metal boots that reached his thighs. He had a red sash that held his pants up with a black leather belt around it. The man held a chain and sickle that looked extremely deadly. (Sun Ce from the wiki page wielding a chain and sickle from Dynasty Warriors 7)
He had black hair that was spiky and he had brown eyes. This was Nao Ling of Wu and a nephew of Nao Yun.
The woman, wore a white blouse that was opened quite a bit in the front and it was tied up like a bow at the top under her chin. The coat had two red stripes going down the front on either side with connected to a black belt and a long red piece of fabric that went down her right leg. On her legs was a set of black leather with red markings on it that went to her knees and boots that were the same colors that went to the same spot. The girl wielded two metal hoops that also looked very sharp. (Think Lian Shi from the wiki page with Sun Shang Xiang's hoops)
She had long, dark blond hair in a pony tail and she had dark blue eyes. This was Sun Dao of Wu and a niece of Nao Yun.
"You're Guan Yu, it looks like your hurt too badly to even fight." Sun Dao said sadly, as she really didn't want to attack a friend of her Uncle.
"This is the end of the road for you Guan Yu." Nao Ling said also sounding sad as he and his sister met Nao Yun at the battle of Chibi and they truly like him quite a bit. And to participate in this battle hurt them immensely, but they had to do it.
"That's enough talk, let's just finish him off, cousins." Nao Feng said to them as he stared at Guan Yu.
The brother and sister of Wu looked to one another sadly as they wanted to be mad at their cousin Nao Feng, but they knew they fought for different sides.
It was hard for them, but it had to be done.
Due to the treachery of his supposed ally Wu, Guan Yu was slain in battle. And in an instant the bonds so carefully formed between Shu and Wu through Sun Shang Xiang's were torn apart. Meanwhile, the tides of change were swelling within the Wei camp as well. Cao Cao, the hero of Chaos, died and was succeeded by his son, Cao Pi.
Following in his father's footsteps of conquest, Cao Pi demanded the Han Emperor abdicate the thrown and declared himself the Emperor of Wei. In response, Zhuge Liang advised Liu Bei to stake his own claim to the throne. He reminded Liu Bei that he was an actual descendant of the Han bloodline, that it was his birthright.
By doing so, he could label Cao Pi a traitor to the country for having deposed the Han Emperor. However, Liu Bei remained undecided for he was still haunted by death of Guan Yu.
Sitting on his imperial throne was Liu Bei, along with his wife Sun Shang Xiang, Nao Yun, Zhao Yun, and Zhuge Liang.
Their spirits were as low as they have ever been as Liu Bei lost his brother Guan Yu and his adopted son.
Nao Yun was extremely sad for the loss of Liu Feng as his daughter was heartbroken over his death. She was now forced to raise their daughter Diao Xing alone, although he would of course help.
It took her weeks to return to somewhat normal, as she was still enraged by Wu's treachery, something that Nao Yun agreed with on some level.
Nao Hong was also very sad about the loss of Guan Yu and the loss of Guan Ping as he was a good friend of his.
He was also heartbroken for Liu Bei as he had also cared for Guan Yu but he knew it hit Liu Bei harder than even him.
The others were sad as well, but Zhao Yun wasn't as close to Guan Yu as the others were. He was the closest to Nao Yun. He was still very sad though.
"We must defeat Wu." Liu Bei spoke up, breaking everyone from their thoughts.
Zhao Yun looked confused and spoke out against that, "but Cao Pi is the true threat. What is the point of attacking Wu?" He asked more forcefully that Nao Yun thought was necessary.
Liu Bei stands up angrily at that, "What point? You… How dare you say that? Avenge Guan Yu's death! What other reason do we need?" Liu Bei spoke angrily as he then looked to Zhuge Liang.
Just then a messenger came in yelling about some important news, getting everyone's attention.
"I bring news! General… General Zhang Fei… He has been killed by his own men!" The man spoke up almost in tears, breaking Liu Bei's world apart.
Zhao Yun lowers his head in sadness and Nao Yun does the same, while clenching his fists.
"The traitors have taken his head, and fled to Wu." The messenger finished as Liu Bei's legs then began to shake from sadness.
"Zhang Fei… Zhang Fei is dead…" Liu Bei muttered on the brink of insanity as then draws his sword and turns around and slashes the left half of his chair to pieces with a roar of anguish.
Sun Shang Xiang falls to her knees in sadness, that Guan Yu and Zhang Fei are gone because of her brother.
Nao Yun - 54 years old.
Diao Chan 43 years old.
Nao Hong and Diao Yue - 21 years old. (Nao Yun and Diao Chan's kids, cousins of Nao Ling, Sun Dao, and Nao Feng)
Nao Ding - 13 years old. (Nao Yun and Diao Chan's youngest son, cousin of Nao Ling, Sun Dao, and Nao Feng)
Ming Fong - 21 years old (Nao Hong's wife)
Nao Shu - 3 years old. (Nao Hong and Ming Fong's son, Nao Yun and Diao Chan's grandson, and cousin of Diao Xing)
Nao Shuang - 1 year old. (Nao Hong and Ming Fong's younger son, Nao Yun and Diao Chan's second grandson, and cousin of Diao Xing)
Liu Feng - 27 years old. (Liu Bei's adopted son, Diao Yue's husband, and Nao Yun and Diao Chan's son in law) - Deceased
Diao Xing - 3 years old. (Liu Feng and Diao Yue's daughter, Nao Yun and Diao Chan's granddaughter, and cousin of Nao Shu and Nao Shuang)
Liu Bei - 58 years old.
Liu Shan - 13 years old. (Liu Bei's son)
Guan Yu - 57 years old. - Deceased
Guan Ping - 25 years old (Guan Yu's adopted son) - Deceased
Guan Xing - 19 years old. (Guan Yu's son)
Guan Suo - 14 years old. (Guan Yu's younger son)
Zhang Fei - 56 years old. - Deceased
Zhang Bao - 19 years old. (Zhang Fei's son)
Xing Cai - 13 years old. (Zhang Fei's daughter)
Nao Ren - 37 years old. (Nao Yun and Nao Tang's older brother) - Deceased
Nao Feng - 29 years old. (Nao Ren's son, cousin to Nao Hong, Diao Yue, Nao Ding, Nao Ling, and Sun Dao)
Nao Tang - 45 years old. (Nao Yun's older brother and Nao Ren's younger brother) - Deceased
Nao Ling -25 years old. (Nao Tang's son, cousin to Nao Hong, Diao Yue, Nao Ding, and Nao Feng)
Sun Dao - 22 yeas old. (Nao Tan's daughter, cousin to Nao Hong, Diao Yue, Nao Ding, and Nao Feng)
