🦁 Story 49: Zhang Fei's Might Shakes Changban Bridge

Meanwhile, Wen Ping (a general under Cao Cao) led his army in pursuit of Zhao Yun to Changban Bridge, where he saw Zhang Fei:

 

• His beard bristled (as if standing on end)

 

• His round eyes were wide open (his eyes were glaring)

 

• He held a serpent spear (he was holding a long spear)

 

• He stood on the bridge (standing on the bridge).

 

Seeing dust rising from behind the woods to the east of the bridge, Wen Ping suspected an ambush and reined in his horse, not daring to approach.

 

After a while, Cao Ren, Li Dian, Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Yue Jin, Zhang Liao, Zhang He, Xu Chu (fierce generals in Cao Cao's camp) and others arrived. Seeing Zhang Fei standing on the bridge with his eyes wide open and spear in hand, and fearing it might be a trap set by Zhuge Liang, they dared not approach. They held their ground, lined up on the west side of the bridge, and sent a messenger quickly to report to Cao Cao.

 

Upon hearing the news, Cao Cao hurriedly mounted his horse and rode from the rear of the formation. Zhang Fei, his eyes wide open, vaguely saw the approaching army with its green silk canopies and ceremonial banners (used by emperors and high officials in ancient times). He guessed that Cao Cao, suspicious, had come to investigate in person.

 

Zhang Fei then roared, "I am Zhang Yide of Yan! Who dares to fight me to the death?" His voice was as loud as thunder. Cao Cao's army trembled upon hearing this. Cao Cao hurriedly ordered his men to remove Zhang Fei's canopy and turned to his men, saying, "I once heard Guan Yu say that Zhang Fei could take the head of an enemy general from a million-strong army as easily as taking something out of a bag. We must not underestimate him today." Before he finished speaking, Zhang Fei opened his eyes wide and roared again, "Zhang Yide of Yan is here! Who dares to fight me to the death?" Seeing Zhang Fei's imposing presence, Cao Cao hesitated to retreat.

 

Seeing Cao Cao's army begin to shift its formation, Zhang Fei raised his spear and roared again, "You neither attack nor retreat, what are you trying to do!" Before the shout even finished, Xiahou Jie (one of Cao Cao's generals), standing beside Cao Cao, was so terrified that he fell from his horse. Cao Cao then turned and fled. All the army generals and commanders fled westward together.

 

It was like: a newborn chick unable to hear a thunderous roar; a sick person unable to bear the roar of a tiger or leopard.

 

In an instant, countless soldiers dropped their spears and helmets. The crowd surged like a tide, and horses trampled each other like a landslide.

 

Furthermore, Cao Cao, fearing Zhang Fei's imposing presence, fled westward on his swift horse, his hat and hairpin falling off, his hair disheveled. Zhang Liao and Xu Chu caught up and grabbed his reins. Cao Cao was in a panic. Zhang Liao said, "Prime Minister, do not be afraid. What is there to fear from a mere Zhang Fei! Now, quickly turn back and attack, and Liu Bei can be captured." Cao Cao's expression calmed down slightly, and he ordered Zhang Liao and Xu Chu to go to Changban Bridge again to gather information.

 

Meanwhile, Zhang Fei saw that Cao Cao's army had all retreated and dared not pursue. He quickly recalled the twenty-odd cavalrymen who had been following him, untied the branches tied to their horses' tails (a ruse to disguise them as a large number of cavalry), ordered the soldiers to dismantle the bridge, and then rode back to see Liu Bei, telling him about the bridge dismantling.

 

Liu Bei said, "My brother is very brave, but unfortunately, he lacks foresight." Zhang Fei asked why. Liu Bei said, "Cao Cao is cunning and unpredictable; you shouldn't have destroyed the bridge. He will definitely pursue us." Zhang Fei said, "He retreated several miles after I shouted at him; how dare he pursue us again?" Liu Bei said, "If we hadn't destroyed the bridge, he would have worried about an ambush and wouldn't have dared to advance; now that we've destroyed it, he'll realize we have no army and be afraid, so he'll definitely pursue us. He has a million soldiers; even if he encounters the Yangtze River, he can fill it with men and horses. Why would he be afraid of a single destroyed bridge?" So Liu Bei immediately got up and fled along a side path towards Hanjin (a place name), heading towards Mianyang (a place name).

 

Meanwhile, Cao Cao sent Zhang Liao and Xu Chu to scout out the situation at Changban Bridge. They reported back, "Zhang Fei has destroyed the bridge and left." Cao Cao said, "He destroyed the bridge and left because he was afraid." He then ordered ten thousand troops to quickly build three pontoon bridges so they could cross the river that very night.

 

Li Dian said, "This is probably a trick by Zhuge Liang. We should not advance rashly." Cao Cao said, "Zhang Fei is a brave but reckless fellow. How could he possibly have any tricks up his sleeve?" So he ordered his troops to advance at full speed.

049 

Zhang Fei, at Changban Bridge, stunned Cao Cao's army. Later, to prevent Cao Cao from advancing, the bridge was destroyed, which was a great pity. Because of the bridge, Cao Cao would suspect an ambush and hesitate to advance; breaking the bridge would prove there was no ambush, and with tens of thousands of men, Cao Cao could rebuild the bridge quickly.