Chapter 1102: Zhang He Blends Into Cao’s Army

Whether it was the Xiliang Iron Cavalry or the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry, both were among the most elite forces. Likewise, both Zhang Xiu and Zhang He were peerless generals, in addition to being excellent cavalry commanders.

Once the two sides clashed, the Xianbei had barely any time to resist before being routed. After a swift breakthrough, Zhang He quickly noticed that the battlefield crushed by the Xiliang Iron Cavalry was perfectly suited for the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry to exploit their combat power.

Speaking of the Iron Cavalry, Wolf Cavalry, and Baima (White Horse), these forces were inherently complementary. The Iron Cavalry would crush through enemy lines, the Wolf Cavalry would scatter them, and the Baima would then sweep in to finish off any remaining opposition. This was the most efficient combat strategy.

However, elite units were always competitive, each believing themselves to be the best. Who would willingly play a supporting role? While there had been speculation about how the three forces might work together tactically, no one had ever seen it happen on the battlefield.

For the Xianbei, this was their first time experiencing the crushing might of the Iron Cavalry breaking through their lines, followed by the Wolf Cavalry scattering them. Before they even knew what was happening, they were already in full retreat.

Zhang He had come with the intent of reaping some easy rewards, so naturally, he preferred to minimize his own losses. He had no desire to steal credit and was content to follow Zhang Xiu's lead.

Seeing Zhang He actively helping to scatter the Xianbei cavalry without vying for glory, Zhang Xiu felt a great sense of appreciation and said nothing more about it.

The two generals soon joined forces and swallowed the entire Xianbei force, with half of them fleeing, while the rest were captured.

“Zhang Boyuan of Wuwei greets the general,” Zhang Xiu said as he dismounted, approaching Zhang He with respect. Though they had never met, Zhang Xiu could tell from Zhang He’s attire that he was part of the Han army, so he came forward to offer greetings after the battle.

“Zhang Junyi of Hejian greets General Zhang,” Zhang He replied as he rode forward. Since the other had extended kindness, Zhang He naturally wasn’t foolish and greeted him in return.

“Haha, it seems we’re both from the Zhang family! Perhaps five hundred years ago, we were brothers!” Zhang Xiu laughed heartily. “Thanks for your help earlier. If it had been just me, we might have won, but many of my brothers would have been lost.”

Zhang Xiu tactfully avoided mentioning why Zhang He, a general under Yuan Tan, was here, instead laughing to build camaraderie. He had already sensed that Zhang He’s ability, if lesser than his own, wasn’t far off.

“Haha, as generals of the Han army, it’s our duty to fight foreign invaders. How could it be considered assistance? I saw your forces were strong and could have won even without help,” Zhang He laughed. “I heard that General Lü to the east has already secured victory, so I rushed here to offer my assistance.”

“Well said, well said,” Zhang Xiu nodded, feeling a bit flattered by Zhang He’s praise. “Since we worked together to defeat this Xianbei force, we should split the spoils equally. These Xianbei horses are of little use to me, so feel free to take your share.”

In the border regions of Xiliang, horses were both the most valuable and the most plentiful commodity. Zhang Xiu, feeling a strong connection with this fellow Zhang family member and liking his attitude, offered to split the spoils without hesitation.

“In that case, I won’t refuse,” Zhang He said with a bow. He desperately needed horses. If he was to seek revenge and complete the tasks left to him by Shen Pei, he needed a truly elite force.

“Good, with this Xianbei force defeated, I doubt they’ll send another large army. I’ll leave a hundred men to escort the prisoners. General, would you be willing to join me in heading north to battle the main Xianbei forces?” Zhang Xiu asked, eager to avoid staying behind in a support role.

Zhang He thought for a moment. After parting ways with Yuan Tan’s forces, Shen Pei had only given him one instruction: to act in his own best interest. Essentially, Zhang He had complete authority to make any decision he felt would aid in their ultimate goal of revenge.

This gave Zhang He immense freedom, and though he was unaware of all the details, he was deeply grateful to Yuan Tan and was willing to give everything for their cause.

“Very well, but will General Cao allow an outsider like me to fight alongside his forces?” Zhang He asked after some thought. His funds were running low, and he needed a quick way to grow his strength. Taking advantage of this opportunity seemed like the best option, especially since he had brought 3,000 elite cavalry that could prove useful.

“We’re all part of the Han army. Why wouldn’t he? When it comes to external threats, we stand united. We can deal with internal matters later, but no one will hold back against foreign enemies,” Zhang Xiu said with a wave of his hand, echoing one of the key lessons Zhang Ji had imparted to him before his death.

Zhang Ji had given Zhang Xiu three key pieces of advice before his passing: first, if things didn’t work out with Cao Cao, he should join Hua Xiong. Second, in Cao Cao’s camp, he should listen to Zhong Yao. And third, never deal a fatal blow during internal conflicts. If an external threat arises, prioritize it—even if someone stabs you in the back, don’t retaliate until the external threat is resolved.

This advice had been Zhang Ji’s lifetime of wisdom. Hua Xiong had been a close brother-in-arms, and Zhang Ji had even provided him with gifts along the way, to the extent that even Liu Bei remembered his generosity.

In essence, if Zhang Xiu couldn’t get by under Cao Cao, he could always join Liu Bei and continue his career as a general, no matter who unified the land. The second piece of advice was Zhang Xiu’s safeguard for staying within Cao Cao’s faction.

The third piece of advice was the key to ensuring Zhang Ji’s legacy would survive once the empire was unified. Nothing shields one's reputation better than aligning with the nation’s greater good.

Zhang He nodded. “In that case, General, you go ahead. I’ll follow shortly. It wouldn’t be appropriate for us to arrive together; it might reflect poorly on your standing.”

Zhang Xiu paused, then nodded in understanding before turning his horse and riding off. He understood Zhang He’s meaning—though Cao Cao valued him highly, it was important to maintain his own dignity as an outsider general.

Thus, half a day after Zhang Xiu arrived, Zhang He led his troops to join the main force. His arrival shocked the Cao army, leaving them momentarily unsure how to react. Fortunately, Cheng Yu quickly grasped the situation and sent men to greet Zhang He.

After all, Zhang He’s arrival with his troops was a political statement—an act of cooperation between Yuan and Cao’s forces. This was a critical moment for strengthening their alliance. Moreover, Zhang He’s presence demonstrated trust in Cao’s forces, as suspicion between allies was the greatest threat to their union.

Cao Cao’s intelligence network hadn’t fully developed yet, so Cheng Yu and others still regarded Zhang He as one of Hebei’s Four Court Pillars and the finest general Hebei had to offer. His arrival greatly bolstered the bond between Yuan and Cao.

Naturally, Cao Ren dared not show any disrespect. Even though Zhang He had brought only 3,000 men, it was similar to when Liu Bei arrived with 1,000 men at Hulao Pass and was treated with great honor once his royal lineage was confirmed. This was a matter of legitimacy and righteousness.

Thus, Zhang He easily integrated into Cao’s army. With his solid skills and excellent command of his troops, he quickly befriended the Cao army's high-ranking officers, participating in low-intensity training and living comfortably among them.

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