Chapter Fifty-Four: The Surprise Attack on Tiger Gate Pass-Grand Chancellor Cao Hong(Lord He applies powder to his face.)

One day later, as dusk settled, Cao Cao summoned the generals to his own tent and revealed his plan to launch a surprise attack on Hulao Pass. He also mentioned that they had an insider within the central region and invited Xun You to attend, as proof of this claim. Apart from Cao Chun and Cao Hong, who had already been informed, the other generals were visibly excited; Yue Jin and Xiahou Yuan even volunteered to lead the vanguard.

But Cao Cao laughed and said, "Last night, Zilian’s troops slew over eighteen hundred men and have seen blood. It is fitting to let this ferocity lead the charge. I am determined to personally lead five hundred of my elite guards for the surprise assault. The rest of you shall commence your march half an hour after our departure. By the time you reach Hulao Pass, we will surely be engaged with the enemy, and you can then sweep in and finish the kill."

The generals now realized that Cao Cao had long since chosen his raiders—Cao Chun and Cao Hong, both his kinsmen, would lead the elite guards. Their close rapport with the other generals left no room for dissent, and all promptly voiced their assent.

Once they had agreed, Cao Cao said, "Let your soldiers have a hearty meal. My elite guards will set out at midnight. As we must infiltrate the central region, it is unwise to ride. Yuan Rang, entrust the few warhorses of the guard to your command; once the pass is broken, return them to us."

Xiahou Dun responded, "Yes!"

Cao Cao continued, "Aside from the elite guards, the other five thousand soldiers will also march at midnight. Ensure swift movement and no delays."

Wei Zi, Yue Jin, Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, and Cao Ren all replied in unison.

Then Cao Cao turned to Xun You and said, "Gongda, I must trouble you to guide us tonight."

Xun You smiled, "I only ask for a suit of armor."

Cao Cao agreed with a laugh, then dismissed the generals to attend to their duties.

After leaving Cao Cao’s tent, Cao Hong returned to his own camp and said to Pan Zhang with a smile, "You were quite ruthless last night—ordering the officers to drive the soldiers to kill, killing those who disobeyed. Primitive, but effective."

Pan Zhang replied, "Without such measures, the commanders would struggle. Slaughtering civilians truly grieves heaven’s will."

Cao Hong’s expression darkened at this, and he slapped Pan Zhang. Staring coldly at the stunned Pan Zhang, he said, "The world is in chaos—beware the mercy of women! Don’t speak of heaven’s will. Wen Gui, you are a soldier; you must obey orders, not bring personal sentiment. Benevolence and morality are not yours to consider. To be a great general, you need only think of one thing: how to win!"

When Cao Hong underwent mercenary training, his instructor had said, "Once in the game, think of only one thing: win!" Now he tweaked those words and imparted them to Pan Zhang.

Pan Zhang answered loudly, "Yes! Wen Gui accepts the lesson!"

Cao Hong nodded, "Bring the two battalion leaders, four squad leaders, twenty decury leaders, and forty file leaders to stand before my tent. Also, have all soldiers clear out of the elite guard’s camp for half an hour!"

Pan Zhang obeyed and departed. After the time it takes for incense to burn, Cao Hong’s elite guard camp was deserted, except for sixty-six officers standing before his tent, from battalion to file leaders.

Cao Hong stood before them and said coldly, "Brothers, last night, the overseer knows you slaughtered refugees—some even killed disobedient comrades. It is hard to stomach, but you need not reproach yourselves. When you don armor, remember only four words: 'Obey orders!' Only then will you have salary, women, and rewards! Cast aside your ridiculous mercy, do not ponder whether those you kill have parents, wives, or children. In such chaos, if you do not kill him, another will; if another does not, he will starve, freeze, or die of plague. Only the strong survive!"

Pan Zhang raised his arm and shouted, "Only the strong survive!"

Such words are common in modern pre-battle addresses, yet in ancient times their power was astonishing—they made soldiers shed their burdens and guilt. As a mercenary, Cao Hong had heard such talks many times.

Sure enough, all sixty-six officers shouted, "Only the strong survive!"

"Only the strong survive!"

Once he saw their faces flushed from shouting, Cao Hong ordered them to stop and continued, "So, when you see a subordinate hesitate and cease to kill, kill him at once, for he is weak."

"Yes!" the officers answered in unison.

Cao Hong nodded to Pan Zhang and returned to his tent. Pan Zhang called, "Dismissed! Let your soldiers remember the overseer's lesson!"

At the same time, other generals were also raising their troops’ morale in various ways, though whether any matched Cao Hong’s extremity was unknown.

That night, one hundred and ninety-three soldiers of the right elite guard, two hundred of the left, and one hundred in Cao Cao’s personal guard, led by Cao Hong, Cao Chun, Dian Wei, and Liao Hua, followed Cao Cao and Xun You into the night, leaving Chenggao for Hulao Pass.

Cao Hong wore bright armor, bearing only the "Nameless" sword on his back, no other weapons. Cao Chun had a ring-hilted sword at his waist and a short metal halberd, about a meter twenty in length, on his back. Dian Wei carried two short halberds of the same length, and a belt at his waist holding twelve small halberds fifty centimeters long. Liao Hua wore a ring-hilted sword and wielded a spear.

Cao Cao’s gear matched Cao Chun’s. Xun You wore lamellar armor, carrying only a hooked mace, no weapons—clearly not intending to risk his life.

The column hurried through the night, reaching the base of a hill two li from Hulao Pass within half an hour. The hill conveniently blocked the sentries’ view, and those hidden there could peer through the woods at the city gate’s defenses.

At that moment, Hulao Pass was shrouded in darkness; firelight filtered from the windows of the gatehouse, but the distance made it impossible to see if soldiers patrolled.

Xun You said to Cao Cao, "Brother Gongye has not yet acted, so no torches are lit outside the gatehouse."

Cao Cao gazed at Hulao Pass and sighed, "Though there is no moat, such a mighty pass is truly a place where one can hold off a hundred foes!"

Cao Hong and his soldiers were at Cao Cao’s side, with Cao Chun’s men close behind. Cao Hong said to Pan Zhang, clad in lamellar armor, "Wen Gui, stay close to me. Your armor is not sturdy—you could easily be wounded."

Pan Zhang was deeply moved by these words and nodded solemnly. After a while, a fire appeared atop the gatehouse, then vanished behind the parapet. This happened three times; finally, the torch remained atop the wall, clearly fixed there.

Xun You exclaimed excitedly, "Gongye has succeeded!"

Cao Cao nodded to Cao Hong, who drew the Nameless sword—the sound of steel rang out, the moonlight glinting on the blade. With a sweeping gesture, five hundred soldiers surged forward, charging toward Hulao Pass.

In the darkness, the troops remained silent as they advanced.