Chapter Fifty-One: The Battle of Rang City

In the third year of Xingping, the era name had not yet changed to Jian'an. By the end of January, Zhang Ji resolved to march south from Wuguan and raid Nanyang.

There was simply no more grain. The Guanzhong region had suffered both drought and locust plagues for two consecutive years. The common people, burdened with their families, fled en masse toward Yizhou or Jingzhou, leading to a massive loss of population.

Now, the Guanzhong basin was truly deserted, nearly every household gone.

Those with the means to escape had done so; those without were essentially dead upon that land.

Such loss of population meant no one was left to cultivate the fields. The greater the shortage of grain and the ensuing famine, the more desperately people fled elsewhere. This vicious cycle left Guanzhong with only empty land and no inhabitants.

Besides, strength had become another pressing issue.

At the end of last year, Zhang Ji had quarreled with Yang Feng and Dong Cheng, who had accompanied him in escorting Liu Xie eastward. The dispute escalated into a fierce conflict.

Although he later joined forces with Li Jue and Guo Si to defeat Yang Feng and Dong Cheng, Zhang Ji's losses were substantial.

His army was critically short of supplies, and his troops had been severely reduced.

Li Jue and Guo Si now eyed him hungrily; surrounded by wolves and beset by disasters, Zhang Ji had no choice but to flee this land of turmoil.

Going east was out of the question; the region was saturated with warlords—Yuan Shao, Gongsun Zan, Cao Cao—none of whom were to be trifled with.

Zhang Ji's forces had dwindled to fewer than ten thousand; even if he managed the long trek east, it would only be to meet his death.

Heading south toward Yizhou meant confronting Zhang Lu, who guarded the gateway of Hanzhong, and the treacherous terrain of Shu made an assault impossible. This option was as suicidal as going east.

Thus, the only viable direction was from Wuguan to Nanyang, to trouble Liu Biao of Jingzhou.

It wasn’t that Zhang Ji underestimated Liu Biao, but simply that his options were few. Guanzhong was already impoverished; he certainly couldn’t venture to the even more barren Xiliang.

Han Sui and Ma Teng were stronger than he. Xiliang, Yizhou, the east—there was no place for him. Only Nanyang remained.

First, the Nanyang basin was nearly as large as Guanzhong and had not suffered large-scale destruction; grain would not be an issue.

Second, Liu Biao’s main forces were stationed in Xiangyang. Nanyang was only guarded by Wen Pin and a few men.

Thus, Zhang Ji ultimately came to Nanyang.

Of course, this move was not without Jia Xu’s suggestion.

As predicted, Liu Biao had not anticipated an attack; the defenses at Wuguan were lax, and under Zhang Ji’s fierce assault, Wuguan swiftly fell, the army pressing on to Dan River.

On the fourth day of February, before dawn, Zhang Yun summoned Gan Ning, Lou Fa, Shen Mi, and several other subordinate captains and advisers to discuss affairs.

The news of Wuguan’s fall had arrived seven or eight days prior. The latest reports said Zhang Ji had seized Dan River, Nanxiang, Shunyang, and was now fiercely attacking Rang City. Liu Biao’s forces there were few; fearing they might not hold, Zhang Yun was considering sending reinforcements with Deng Ji.

In the grand hall of the government residence in Fancheng, Zhang Yun sat high in the main seat, surrounded by trusted officers. Gan Ning, Lou Fa, and Shen Mi, who had surrendered from Yizhou, sat in the lowest positions, far from Zhang Yun.

Surveying the room, Zhang Yun spoke gravely, “All of you know that Zhang Ji of Xiliang has invaded Jingzhou. Wen Pin has already led troops to defend Rang City, but our forces in Nanyang are few. My uncle has asked me to select soldiers for reinforcements. Who among you is willing to fight?”

Captains Liu Wei, Zhou Jian, Wang Jie, advisers Huo Du, Wu Shuo, Han Hu, Zhao Jun, Li Ying, Gan Ning, Lou Fa, Shen Mi—they all stood at once and declared, “We are willing to go!”

For military officers, promotion depended solely on merit.

There were few battles in Jingzhou; for those of humble birth, there was no path upward. Now that Zhang Ji was attacking with minimal forces, everyone desired to seize this opportunity.

Seeing the eagerness, Zhang Yun thought for a moment and said, “Liu Wei, Wang Jie, take Wu Shuo, Han Hu, Zhao Jun, Li Ying—four units, eight thousand men, and go.”

Gan Ning grew anxious, saying, “I wish to go as well!”

Zhang Yun frowned, “The Xiliang army is small; why send so many men? Fancheng still needs to be guarded. Obey orders.”

He ignored Gan Ning and left.

“General…”

Gan Ning called out unwillingly.

But Zhang Yun pretended not to hear, flinging his sleeves and striding away.

The rest of Zhang Yun’s confidants looked on with mocking faces, restrained only by Gan Ning’s fierce reputation from provoking him openly, yet their derision was plain.

Witnessing this, Gan Ning, Lou Fa, and Shen Mi exchanged angry glances.

Ultimately, they were merely surrendered officers.

Not only did Zhang Yun dismiss them, even Liu Biao ignored them, leaving them stationed in Nanyang as if forgotten, left to fend for themselves.

It was partly because of Zhang Yun and Liu Biao’s disdain that Gan Ning later sought to join Sun Quan in Jiangdong.

They had always known Zhang Yun did not welcome them, but now, denied even the chance to fight, Gan Ning realized that for Zhang Yun, there was no future, no hope of rising.

---

Shen Chen was right.

Liu Biao was uninterested in military affairs; no matter how capable, one could not rise under him.

Perhaps I should seek a new path, Gan Ning mused.

...

...

Outside Rang City, the Xiliang army gathered in dense masses, like ants.

Since breaking through Wuguan, Zhang Ji had seized several cities and acquired the necessary military supplies.

But his aim was not merely to steal grain and depart; he intended to seize Nanyang as a base.

Thus, even with ample provisions, he did not plan to withdraw.

Now, he sat atop his warhorse, directing soldiers to form orderly ranks. After a full meal, their morale had revived considerably.

Zhang Xiu, in his thirties, stood beside his uncle, gazing at the distant city, worried. He said, “Uncle, Wen Pin is not easily dealt with. Last time we probed, we were repelled. A frontal assault may not succeed.”

Zhang Ji replied, “I too would prefer not to attack, but there’s no other way. If we do not quickly seize Wan City while Nanyang’s forces are few, and take better fortresses and more grain, once Liu Biao’s reinforcements arrive, we will have nowhere to hold out and face annihilation.”

“I understand, Uncle. Let me lead the charge,” Zhang Xiu volunteered.

Zhang Ji looked at his nephew and laughed, “Ah Xiu has always been valiant, but this time I must lead from the front myself, or the soldiers will not give their all.”

Zhang Xiu glanced at the surrounding troops.

If the Xiliang army entering Nanyang from Wuguan had been tigers before, now they were more like wolves.

They had fought desperately for food, breaking several cities and seizing grain, but now, after eating their fill, though their morale was restored, they would no longer risk their lives so recklessly.

Upon the city wall, Wen Pin stood at the parapet, observing the distant Xiliang army.

From the north, the rushing waters of the Funiu Mountains flowed ceaselessly. On the western horizon of Rang County, the dark mass of the Xiliang army had assembled, advancing toward the city like a rolling river.

A subordinate hurried in, “General, Generals Zhang and Deng have sent reinforcements. They’ll arrive at Rang City by afternoon at the latest.”

“Good.” Wen Pin nodded. “Inform the troops to boost morale.”

“Yes, sir.”

The subordinate departed.

The city walls were packed with Liu Biao’s soldiers.

Looking out, the Xiliang army outside was as fierce as wolves and tigers; Liu Biao’s men were not without fear, glancing at each other, hesitant.

Only when news of the reinforcements arrived did their morale steady.

Their fear stemmed from two causes.

First, Jingzhou had been peaceful for years, with little warfare except a battle with Liu Zhang. Most soldiers had only fought Yellow Turban rebels in the Funiu or Dabie Mountains, or merely trained, never killed. Compared to the battle-hardened Xiliang troops, they lacked confidence.

Second, and most critical, was insufficient numbers.

Liu Biao’s forces in Jingzhou were divided into three main groups.

One was the Jiangxia navy, led by Huang Zu, whose main aim was to contest Yuzhang and Jiangdong with Yuan Shu. Now, it numbered around ten to twenty thousand, and in a few years, with Sun Ce and Sun Quan rising, it would be reinforced to thirty or forty thousand.

The second was the main force under Cai Mao, governor of Nan Commandery, and the Yangtze fleet, stationed in Xiangyang, Wu County, Zigui, Yiling, Linju, etc. This group was largest, over forty thousand strong. By AD 200, after Liu Biao absorbed Zhang Xian, it would reach seventy to eighty thousand, mainly to guard against Liu Zhang invading Jingzhou from the Yangtze.

This force was the most elite, having fought large-scale wars with Liu Zhang and Zhang Xian, and was far more battle-tested.

The third was in Nanyang, with fewer than ten thousand. Wen Pin had several thousand in Wan City; Deng Ji was stationed in Huyang and Xinye, also with several thousand.

Although Zhang Yun was in Fancheng with about fifteen or sixteen thousand, Fancheng was at the southern edge of Nanyang, separated from Xiangyang by the Han River—so it was more the penultimate line of defense for Xiangyang than Nanyang.

Thus, the real Nanyang defenders were only Wen Pin and Deng Ji’s troops, with scattered units in other counties, but these were negligible.

Having few battle-hardened troops and being outnumbered, Nanyang’s defenders naturally feared the enemy.

---

Fortunately, Wen Pin was no ordinary man. Though outnumbered, he excelled at boosting morale and was skilled in defense. Not only were arrows and equipment amply prepared, but he used news of incoming reinforcements to steady the troops.

On the vast earth, the Xiliang army was assembled; northern waters surged, and the countryside outside the city had long since seen villagers fleeing with their families. The dark mass of Xiliang troops threatened to engulf Rang City, the third largest in Nanyang after Wan and Fancheng.

The horns blared!

The vanguard of Xiliang’s bravest warriors hoisted ladders and advanced toward the city.

Behind them marched soldiers in tight formations.

Without armor, most bore only small round wooden shields, left hand holding the shield, right hand gripping a ring-hilted sword—the famed Han Dynasty infantry sword-and-shield men.

They moved forward in neat ranks, led by Zhang Ji, drawing steadily closer, now within half a mile.

“Archers ready!” Wen Pin shouted, seeing the enemy attack unfold.

The archers atop Rang City’s walls bent their bows, leaned out over the parapet, and began to aim.

Typically, attackers charging toward a city wall must endure three volleys.

The first volley was at maximum effective range—about one hundred twenty meters.

The second was as they closed in—about fifty or sixty paces.

The third was at the base of the wall.

Zhang Ji personally supervised, and at his command, the vanguard surged forward, howling.

A black torrent swept toward the city.

As they reached the range of the first volley, Wen Pin gave the order.

“Loose!”

The sky was filled with the whistling of arrows.

Arrows soared in dazzling arcs, then rained down upon the Xiliang ranks.

The sounds of arrows tearing into flesh echoed, cries of pain rising, bodies falling in droves.

Yet as those in front fell, those behind pressed on, wave after wave, unrelenting.

Zhang Ji himself rode in the charge, shouting, “Attack! Attack! If you don’t want to return to Guanzhong, charge on!”

“Attack! Attack!” The Xiliang army roared.

Wen Pin swung his sword, commanding, “Loose, loose, loose!”

The rain of arrows never ceased.

Even so, Xiliang’s troops broke through the barrage and reached the city wall.

After all, Wen Pin had only about four or five thousand men; with the need to defend the west gate and other gates, his front-line strength was barely three thousand, with only seven or eight hundred archers.

No matter how they shot, the first wave of Xiliang’s assault was two or three thousand strong; it was impossible to kill them all in three volleys.

When Zhang Ji’s assault reached the base of the wall, they had lost only a few hundred men. Ladders were raised, and the assault began.

Seeing this, Wen Pin knew close combat was imminent, and had to personally lead his troops in fierce battle.

Stones, logs, lime, and other defensive implements were hurled down like there was no cost.

Zhang Ji had not brought many ladders; several were destroyed by the rolling stones and logs, stalling the attack and making it hard to scale the walls.

With no other choice, they withdrew.

The clang of the withdrawal gong sounded; the first Xiliang assault was repelled, leaving hundreds of corpses behind as they retreated like a tide.

Wen Pin, atop the city wall, panted heavily, having just slain seven or eight Xiliang soldiers. Their ferocity exceeded his expectations.

This time, luck was on his side; he destroyed many enemy ladders, so although the enemy reached the wall, they could not scale it. The city was spared.

Next time, if Zhang Ji brings enough ladders, such luck might not hold.