The veteran general Huang Zhong had slain Xiahou Yuan and seized Dingjun Mountain, causing Cao Cao to lose one of his finest commanders. Furious, Cao Cao personally led 200,000 troops to Dingjun Mountain to avenge Xiahou Yuan.
In the main tent, Zhuge Liang declared, "If we can burn Cao Cao's grain supplies and seize his military equipment, we can break the enemy's spirit." Huang Zhong stepped forward, volunteering for the mission, and Zhuge Liang agreed, assigning Zhao Yun to provide backup.
That night, Huang Zhong and his deputy Zhang Zhu led troops secretly across the Han River, intending to set fire to Cao Cao's grain supplies, but were surrounded by Cao generals Zhang He and Xu Huang, unable to break free.
Zhao Yun waited anxiously in camp for Huang Zhong's return, then swiftly donned his armor and charged into battle, cutting down two Cao officers blocking his path. He plunged into the enemy ranks, slashing left and right as if no one could stand against him. His silver spear whirled like pear blossoms in the wind, scattering snowflakes in all directions—so fierce was his onslaught that Zhang He and Xu Huang dared not engage, fleeing in panic. From a high vantage point, Cao Cao watched the spectacle and, upon learning this warrior was none other than Zhao Zilong of Changshan—the same hero who had once wrought havoc at Changban Slope—he gasped in admiration and urgently issued the order: "Wherever he goes, do not underestimate him."
Zhao Yun charged through the enemy lines without resistance, rescued Huang Zhong, then rescued Zhang Zhu, and fought his way back to camp. His subordinate Zhang Yi saw dust rising in the distance and knew Cao's troops were pursuing, so he suggested to Zhao Yun, "General, the pursuers are drawing near. Should we order the soldiers to close the camp gates and take defensive positions on the watchtower?"
Zhao Yun shouted, "Don't close the gate! Have you forgotten how I faced 830,000 Cao troops alone at Changban, treating them like mere weeds? Now we have soldiers and generals—what are you afraid of?"
Zhao Yun ordered his archers to hide in the trenches outside the camp, had the banners lowered and war drums silenced, then rode out alone on his horse, spear in hand, and stood calmly before the camp gate.
Zhang He and Xu Huang led their troops in pursuit of the Shu camp, but upon seeing the situation, they dared not advance rashly. Cao Cao arrived shortly after and urged his forces forward. Zhao Yun paid them no heed, not even moving an inch. The Cao troops, struck with terror, turned and fled. Zhao Yun raised his spear, and from the trenches, ten thousand crossbows fired simultaneously. In the darkening sky, the Cao army heard shouts of battle rising from all sides, unsure of the Shu forces' numbers. Cao Cao wheeled his horse and fled, throwing his army into chaos as they trampled each other. Crowding toward the Han River, countless soldiers drowned. Zhao Yun seized Cao's camp, Huang Zhong captured the grain supplies and the river, and they took countless weapons and armor.
Afterwards, Liu Bei inspected the steep paths before and behind the mountain, imagining Zhao Yun's fearless actions at the time, and said happily to Zhuge Liang, "Zilong is all courage!" Later, the idiom "all courage" came to describe someone extremely brave.
Source: *Records of the Three Kingdoms*, "Biography of Zhao Yun" in the Shu Records
Meaning of the Idiom: Later, the Chinese idiom "一身是胆" came to describe how someone extremely brave.