⚔️ Story 18: Cao Hong vs. He Man

⚔️ Story 18: Cao Hong vs. He Man

1. Cao Hong's Duel with He Man

The next day, Huang Shao, a general of the Yellow Turban rebels, personally led his troops to challenge them. In the center of the two armies, a general stepped forward on foot to meet them. He wore a yellow turban, a green battle robe, and carried an iron rod, shouting, "I am He Man, the Heaven-Slaying Demon! Who dares to fight me?"

Cao Hong, a general on Cao Cao's side, roared, jumped off his horse, and also stepped forward on foot with his sword. The two began to fight on the battlefield, battling for forty or fifty rounds without a clear victor.

2. Cao Hong's "Dragging Sword Tactic"

Cao Hong pretended to lose and turned to run. He Man, without thinking, quickly gave chase.

Cao Hong seized the opportunity and used a "dragging sword back slash" move (dragging the sword behind his back and suddenly turning to slash). He turned and leaped, striking He Man with his sword, then finished him off with a final blow.

3. Li Dian Captures Huang Shao

General Li Dian seized the opportunity, charging into the Yellow Turban rebel camp on horseback. Caught off guard, Huang Shao was captured alive by Li Dian.

Cao Cao's soldiers pursued the Yellow Turban rebels, seizing much gold, silver, and grain.

4. Xu Chu Subdues He Yi

At this time, another Yellow Turban general, He Yi, having lost several hundred cavalry, fled towards Gebei.

On their escape, a troop of soldiers suddenly appeared from behind the mountain. The leader, a burly man eight feet tall with a large waist (extremely strong), wielded a large sword and blocked their path.

He Yi charged out with his spear to meet the attack, but after less than a round, he was captured and held captive by the burly man. The remaining Yellow Turban rebels, seeing their leader captured, were terrified and dismounted to surrender, being led into Gebei's camp by the brave warriors.

1. Why did He Man fail?

2. What was Li Dian's most important role in this battle?

3. Why did He Yi's troops lose their fighting spirit after their commander was captured?

1. Why did He Man fail?

Because he saw the enemy retreating and immediately pursued them, neither mentally nor physically considering the possibility that their defeat was feigned.

If he had anticipated this and had drawn his weapon to defend himself, he would have had a good chance of saving his life.

2. What was Li Dian's most important role in this battle?

Li Dian's most important role in this battle was not brute force, but mastery of timing.

He charged in when the enemy's formation showed weaknesses and morale was low, catching the enemy's deputy general off guard;

and thus, he captured the enemy's deputy general in one fell swoop.

A good military team needs not only powerful, offensive generals but also capable commanders who can seize opportunities.

In this scenario, the offensive general is Cao Hong, and the commander who can seize opportunities is Li Dian.

3. Why did He Yi's troops lose their fighting spirit after their commander was captured?

Because of both major past reasons and minor, immediate ones. The major past reason was that the Yellow Turban Army lacked systematic military training, a clear hierarchical structure, and proper officer guidance. Therefore, if a leader was captured, there was no replacement officer.

The minor, immediate reason was that the capture of the commander led to disarray within the army. However, this could be remedied through military training—training the entire force, from officers to soldiers, to understand that even if a commander is captured, a subordinate commander will take his place. Furthermore, if the troops were scattered, they should regroup into smaller units and continue to resist step by step; they should not descend into a state of disarray and scattering like a house of cards.