Chapter 47: The Fierce Warrior of Wan City (1/3)

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The sixth day of the first month in the second year of Jian’an dawned with radiant sunshine.

The early spring sun was warm and soothing. With the passing of the harsh winter and the coming of spring, people shed their heavy coats, stepped outdoors, and breathed in the scent of spring that filled the air. Many citizens of Wancheng strolled through the city with relaxed smiles, laughing and chatting.

Spring had come, and the war was over!

What in this world could be more worthy of celebration than that?

Yet outside the city, in the main camp of the Cao army, a burly man stood lazily in an open space, basking in the spring sunlight. He was nine feet tall, with broad shoulders and a sturdy waist, dressed in a crimson short tunic and a black-blue robe with a slanted collar. Around his waist was a wide belt, from which hung ten oddly shaped small halberds. Two attendants followed close behind: one carried a seven-foot Dragon-Sparrow weapon, the other bore a pair of heavy, black iron halberds. Each halberd was about 140 centimeters long, sheathed in a tiger-skin bag, with only the thirty-centimeter crescent-shaped handles exposed. In the sunlight, the handles gleamed coldly, and the blades shimmered with a chill light.

The man’s face was swarthy, with round eyes, thick brows, a flat nose, and a large mouth. A bristling short beard on his chin gave him a fierce appearance, so much so that, apart from the two close guards, no one dared approach him.

“Brother Dian, why are you sighing so much today?” one of the attendants asked casually, clearly on intimate terms with the big man.

The man let out a sigh. “I heard that Zhang Xiu calls himself the Spear King of the North, second only to Lu Bu among the Xiliang troops. I finally snatched this assignment from Old Tiger Xu, thinking I’d have a good fight. Who would’ve thought it’d turn out like this? Damn that Zhang Boluan, the spineless coward—he surrendered before a single blow was struck! Now I owe Old Tiger Xu a favor, and my bones are itching from lack of action.”

The attendant burst out laughing. Likely, only this man in the entire camp would feel displeased at this turn of events. Everyone else, even Yu Jin and Cao Hong, was secretly relieved. After all, battle means death—what’s there to be happy about?

But this man was a born fighter. Since his debut, he’d never stopped seeking out rivals. He’d fought the fierce tiger Lu Bu to a draw and crossed swords with Lu Bu’s eight elite generals, coming out on top more often than not. He’d even faced Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, the finest warriors under Liu Bei, and had bested or matched them. Even his own camp’s top generals—Old Tiger Xu Chu, the newly recruited Xu Huang, and others—had been pestered by him endlessly. Not to mention the two famous Xiahou generals, Xiahou Yuan and Xiahou Dun, both closely tied to Cao’s family, and even Cao Ren, Cao’s own kin—all had tried to avoid his relentless challenges.

Yet Cao Cao trusted him deeply, appointing him as Captain of Martial Valor and bodyguard to his central command—essentially making him Cao Cao’s personal protector. Thus, most generals in the camp tried to steer clear, lest he latch onto them for a spar.

He had hoped for a grand battle at Wancheng, but Zhang Xiu surrendered without a fight. How could the Captain of Martial Valor not feel frustrated?

“Brother Dian, stop grumbling, or the lord will hear and scold you again. Besides, why would someone like Zhang Xiu be worth your personal attention? His conduct shows he’s not worthy. No battle is fine—you’ll get to spar with Old Tiger Xu when we return to Xudu. Even if he won’t, there are plenty of others—surely you’ll find someone to give you a good fight.”

The big man nodded approvingly. “San, your words make sense. Zhang Boluan’s nothing but a gutless rat, unworthy of my regard.”

This man’s name was Dian Wei, a trusted and beloved general of Cao Cao. Originally from Jiwu in Chenliu, he was bold and chivalrous. In his youth, he avenged a friend by killing the magistrate Li Yong of Fuchun and won the admiration of many heroes. During the Chuping era, Zhang Miao raised troops and recruited Dian Wei, who served under Sima Zhao Chong. Once, when the army’s gate banner—a large and heavy standard—fell, none could lift it except Dian Wei, who set it upright single-handed, earning great respect. Later, he served under Xiahou Dun, where he distinguished himself with numerous beheadings and was promoted to Sima in the army.

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In the first year of Xingping, Cao Cao campaigned against Lu Bu.

At that time, Lu Bu had stationed a separate force fifty li west of Puyang. Cao Cao launched a night raid, but before he could return, Lu Bu personally led reinforcements, and a fierce battle ensued. Cao Cao called for volunteers to break through the enemy lines, and once again, Dian Wei was the first to step up. Leading dozens of men in heavy armor, shieldless, he charged straight into the fray. He fought Lu Bu for over a hundred rounds until Cao Cao’s reinforcements arrived, forcing Lu Bu to withdraw.

Lu Bu was famed as the Fierce Tiger, with the saying: “Among men, Lu Bu; among horses, Red Hare.” Mounted on the wind-chasing Red Hare and wielding the Sky-Piercer halberd, he struck terror into the lords of the east. Though people scorned his character, all acknowledged his martial prowess. That Dian Wei could hold his own against Lu Bu in a hundred rounds, losing only slightly, spoke volumes of his valor. From then on, Dian Wei won Cao Cao’s special favor. Honest and straightforward, never engaging in factionalism, he earned Cao Cao’s deep trust, was appointed Captain, kept at his side, and commanded several hundred bodyguards patrolling the central tent.

In the first year of Jian’an, Cao Cao promoted Dian Wei again, making him Captain of Martial Valor and personally bestowing the courtesy name Junming, praising, “Dian Junming is the ancient E Lai reborn!”

In the army, it was said: “With Dian Jun at his side, Lord Cao sleeps peacefully at night.”

In other words, only with Dian Wei present could Cao Cao rest easy.

When Cao Cao campaigned against Nanyang and accepted Wancheng’s surrender, he held a banquet, inviting Zhang Xiu and others to feast and drink. As Cao Cao offered drinks, Dian Wei stood behind him, wielding a great axe with a blade nearly forty centimeters wide, cold light flashing. Whenever Cao Cao faced his guests, Dian Wei glared from behind and they obediently drank. By the banquet’s end, Zhang Xiu and his men dared not meet his gaze.

In Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Dian Wei is depicted as even more fearsome. Later, in Peking opera, he became the iconic yellow-faced giant known to all.

Today was the day Zhang Xiu handed over command to Cao Cao. To avoid provoking Zhang Xiu, Cao Cao had ordered Dian Wei to remain in camp, out of sight.

As a result, Dian Wei found himself with nothing to do. Wandering around the tents with his two guards, he alternated between cursing Zhang Xiu’s cowardice and complaining about Cao Cao’s unfairness in not letting him accompany him.

The two guards grinned and bared their teeth at Dian Wei’s grumbling. In all Cao’s army, only Dian Wei dared speak of Cao Cao this way.

“Go and check whether Zhang Xiu has left the city yet.”

“Brother Dian, didn’t you already have me check? Zhang Xiu has left, and the troops in the city have assembled.”

“Go again, see if that coward’s gone yet!”

Dian Wei’s round eyes bulged as he cursed, “Dragging his feet like an old woman—over an hour and he’s still not gone?”

The two attendants exchanged glances and smiled wryly. Clearly, Captain Dian truly looked down on Zhang Xiu.

“San, you go have a look.”

“Alright!”

San agreed and hurried out of the camp.

“Brother Dian, you seem a bit tense today.”

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The remaining guard couldn’t help but ask quietly, “The lord’s troops are in order, and Zhang Xiu can’t pull any tricks. Why worry?”

“Me, worried? You think I’m worried?” Dian Wei seemed to find this hilarious and laughed up at the sky. But as his laughter faded, his expression turned grave. He sighed, “Alright, I admit I am a bit worried... but not about Zhang Xiu. I’m worried about the lord—and someone else.”

“Worried about the lord?”

Dian Wei nodded solemnly. “The lord seems less cautious this time, not as steady as when facing battle before. It feels like he’s too relaxed.”

The attendant knew that, despite his burly appearance, Dian Wei was thoughtful and intelligent. Sometimes even Cao Cao would seek his opinion in passing.

“Who else are you worried about, brother?”

“Remember that man standing behind Zhang Boluan when we first arrived?”

The attendant hesitated, then shook his head. “I don’t recall.”

“That fellow’s name was...” Dian Wei tapped his forehead, then exclaimed, “Jia Xu! That was it—Jia Xu, Zhang Xiu’s strategist. At that banquet, he said nothing the whole time. When I glared at others, only he was unafraid. When the lord invited him to drink, he remained calm and collected... I think someone like him is far more dangerous than Zhang Boluan.”

“I think I remember him now!”

Dian Wei rubbed his face vigorously. “Maybe I’m just overthinking things... Forget it. Damn that Zhang Boluan, why’s he taking so long to withdraw? And San’s been gone ages too. Wu, you go check.”

Wu hesitated, feeling it unnecessary, but bowed and obeyed.

He hadn’t gone far when a sudden commotion erupted outside the camp—shouts, neighing horses, and a thunderous din of battle cries.

“Don’t let Cao the Traitor escape! Stop Cao the Traitor!”

Dian Wei had been about to return to his tent, but the battle cries made him pause. His face changed instantly, and in three quick strides he was at Wu’s side. “Wu, did you hear that?”

Wu looked flustered and nodded repeatedly, “It seems to be coming from the main road!”

“This is bad!”

With a shout, Dian Wei snatched the tiger-skin bag from Wu, slung it over his shoulder, and dashed toward the camp gate.

Before he reached the entrance, San came running back in panic.

“San, what’s happening outside?”

San’s face was ashen. He stammered, “Brother Dian, it’s... it’s terrible... Zhang Xiu—Zhang Xiu has turned against us!”