Now, Cao Cao raised an army for his western campaign, dividing his forces into three columns. The vanguard was led by Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He; Cao Cao himself commanded the center with his generals; the rear, under Cao Ren and Xiahou Dun, was tasked with transporting supplies. Scouts had already reported this to Hanzhong. Zhang Lu and his younger brother, Zhang Wei, discussed their defensive strategy. Zhang Wei said: "The most treacherous pass in Hanzhong is Yangping Pass. We should establish over a dozen stockades along the mountains and forests to its left and right to meet the Cao army. You, brother, should remain in Hannin and dispatch ample grain and supplies." Zhang Lu agreed and sent his generals Yang Ang and Yang Ren to depart with his brother that very day. When the army reached Yangping Pass and had established their camps, Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He's vanguard arrived. Learning that Yangping Pass was already prepared, they set up their own camp fifteen li away. That night, the soldiers, exhausted from the march, rested. Suddenly, a fire broke out behind the camp, and Yang Ang and Yang Ren attacked with two forces to raid the camp. Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He barely managed to mount their horses as enemy troops swarmed in from all sides, and Cao's army suffered a great defeat. They retreated to report to Cao Cao. Cao Cao raged: "You two have campaigned for years—how could you not know that an army weary from a long march must guard against night raids? Why did you make no preparations?" He wanted to execute them to enforce military law, but the other officials pleaded for their lives, and he relented.
The next day, Cao Cao personally led the front line. Seeing the treacherous mountain terrain, dense forests, and unknown paths, he feared an ambush and led his army back to camp. He said to his generals Xu Chu and Xu Huang: "Had I known this place was so perilous, I would never have raised an army to come here." Xu Chu replied: "Since we have come this far, my lord, you must not shrink from hardship." The following day, Cao Cao mounted his horse, taking only Xu Chu and Xu Huang with him to inspect Zhang Wei's stockades. The three horsemen rounded a slope and soon saw Zhang Wei's fortifications. Cao Cao pointed with his whip and said to the two generals: "Such strong defenses—we cannot take them quickly!" Before he finished speaking, a shout arose behind them, and arrows flew like rain. Yang Ang and Yang Ren attacked from two sides. Cao Cao was terrified. Xu Chu shouted: "I will hold off the enemy! Xu Gongming, protect our lord well!" With that, he brandished his blade, spurred his horse forward, and fought both enemy generals single-handedly. Yang Ang and Yang Ren could not withstand Xu Chu's ferocity and turned their horses to retreat, while the rest dared not advance. Xu Huang escorted Cao Cao over the slope, where another force appeared before them. It was Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He, who, hearing the battle cries, had come to their aid. Together, they drove back Yang Ang and Yang Ren and rescued Cao Cao, returning him to camp. Cao Cao richly rewarded the four generals.
From then on, the two sides faced each other for over fifty days without engaging in battle. Cao Cao then ordered a retreat. Jia Xu asked: "We have yet to see the enemy's true strength or weakness—why retreat, my lord?" Cao Cao replied: "I judge that the enemy is on full alert every day, making a quick victory difficult. By feigning a retreat, I will make them slacken their guard. Then, I will send light cavalry to strike their rear, and we will surely defeat them." Jia Xu said: "The Chancellor's divine strategy is unfathomable." Cao Cao then ordered Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He to each take three thousand light cavalry and take a small road to outflank Yangping Pass from the rear. Meanwhile, Cao Cao himself struck camp and moved the main army forward. When Yang Ang heard that Cao's army was retreating, he summoned Yang Ren to discuss pursuing them. Yang Ren said: "Cao Cao is full of cunning tricks. We don't know the truth of this retreat—do not pursue." Yang Ang retorted: "If you won't go, I will go myself." Yang Ren pleaded against it, but Yang Ang would not listen. He took all the troops from five stockades and advanced, leaving only a few soldiers to guard the camps.
That day, a thick fog descended, so dense that men could not see each other face to face. Yang Ang's army halted halfway, unable to proceed, and camped temporarily. Meanwhile, Xiahou Yuan's force had circled behind the mountain. Hearing the sound of men and horses in the heavy fog, he feared an ambush and urged his men forward. In the mist, they mistakenly approached Yang Ang's camp. The guards, hearing hoofbeats, assumed it was Yang Ang returning and opened the gates to let them in. Cao's army surged inside, found the camp nearly empty, and set it ablaze. The soldiers from the five stockades all abandoned their posts and fled. By the time the fog lifted, Yang Ren had come to their rescue with his troops. He fought Xiahou Yuan for only a few exchanges before Zhang He's force arrived from behind. Yang Ren cut a bloody path and fled back to Nanzheng. When Yang Ang tried to return, Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He had already seized his stockades. Cao Cao's main army then arrived from behind, attacking from both sides. With no escape route, Yang Ang tried to break through the enemy lines but collided with Zhang He. They fought, and Zhang He cut him down. The defeated soldiers fled back to Yangping Pass to report to Zhang Wei. Zhang Wei, learning that the two generals had been routed and all camps lost, abandoned the pass in the middle of the night and fled. Thus, Cao Cao took Yangping Pass and all its stockades.
Zhang Wei and Yang Ren returned to report to Zhang Lu. Zhang Wei said that the two generals had lost the strategic point, making the pass indefensible. Zhang Lu was furious and wanted to execute Yang Ren. Yang Ren said: "I advised Yang Ang not to pursue Cao's army. He refused to listen, which led to this defeat. I beg for another army to go and challenge the enemy. I will surely kill Cao Cao. If I fail, I accept the military penalty." Zhang Lu took a written pledge of this from him. Yang Ren mounted his horse and led twenty thousand men to set up camp outside Nanzheng. As Cao Cao prepared to advance, he first sent Xiahou Yuan with five thousand men to scout the road to Nanzheng. They met Yang Ren's army and drew up their lines. Yang Ren sent his lieutenant, Chang Qi, to challenge Xiahou Yuan. They fought, but within three exchanges, Xiahou Yuan cut Chang Qi down with a single stroke. Yang Ren then took his spear and rode out himself. He fought Xiahou Yuan for over thirty exchanges without either gaining the upper hand. Xiahou Yuan feigned defeat and fled, with Yang Ren in hot pursuit. Xiahou Yuan then used his "dragging blade" technique, turning mid-stride to cut Yang Ren from his horse. The enemy soldiers were utterly defeated. Learning that Xiahou Yuan had slain Yang Ren, Cao Cao immediately advanced and set up camp directly outside Nanzheng. Zhang Lu hastily gathered his civil and military officials to discuss the crisis. Yan Pu said: "I recommend one man who can match any of Cao Cao's generals." Zhang Lu asked who this was. Yan Pu replied: "Pang De of Nan'an, who formerly followed Ma Chao to serve you. Later, when Ma Chao went to Xichuan, Pang De was ill and could not go. He has been nourished by your grace. Why not send him?"
Zhang Lu was overjoyed and immediately summoned Pang De, bestowing rich rewards upon him. He gave him ten thousand troops and ordered him to march. Pang De set up camp over ten li from the city and rode out to challenge the enemy. Cao Cao, who had witnessed Pang De's valor at the Wei River Bridge, instructed his generals: "Pang De is a fierce warrior from Xiliang, formerly under Ma Chao. Though he now serves Zhang Lu, his heart is not in it. I want to recruit this man. You must all fight him slowly, tiring him out, and then capture him." Zhang He was the first to engage, but after a few exchanges, he withdrew. Xiahou Yuan also fought a few rounds and then retreated. Xu Huang fought for three or five exchanges and then fell back. Finally, Xu Chu fought over fifty exchanges before retreating. Pang De fought all four generals without any sign of fear. Each general praised Pang De's martial skill to Cao Cao. Cao Cao was delighted and asked his advisors: "How can we make this man surrender?" Jia Xu said: "I know that Zhang Lu has a strategist named Yang Song, who is extremely greedy for bribes. We can secretly send him gold and silk, asking him to slander Pang De to Zhang Lu. Then we can make our move." Cao Cao asked: "How can we get a man into Nanzheng?" Jia Xu replied: "During tomorrow's battle, we feign defeat and abandon our camp. Let Pang De occupy it. Then, in the dead of night, we raid our own camp. Pang De will be forced to retreat into the city. We can then select a persuasive soldier, disguise him as one of their troops, mix him into the chaos, and he will enter the city." Cao Cao agreed. He selected a clever junior officer, rewarded him generously, gave him a golden breastplate to wear against his skin, and had him put on a Hanzhong soldier's uniform. The officer was sent to wait in ambush along the road.
The next day, Cao Cao first sent Xiahou Yuan and Zhang He with their troops to lie in ambush at a distance. He then ordered Xu Huang to challenge the enemy. After a few exchanges, Xu Huang feigned defeat and fled. Pang De led his men in pursuit, and Cao's entire army retreated. Pang De then seized Cao Cao's camp. Seeing the vast stores of grain within, he was overjoyed and immediately reported this to Zhang Lu. He then held a celebratory feast in the camp. That night, at the second watch, fires suddenly erupted from three directions: in the center, Xu Chu and Xu Huang; on the left, Zhang He; on the right, Xiahou Yuan. All three forces simultaneously raided the camp. Caught off guard, Pang De could only mount his horse, fight his way out, and flee toward the city. The three enemy forces pursued him. Pang De urgently called for the city gates to be opened and led his men in a desperate rush inside.
By this time, the disguised spy had already mingled with the crowd and made his way to Yang Song's residence. He requested an audience and said: "The Duke of Wei, Lord Cao, has long heard of your great virtue and has sent me to present this golden armor as a token of his esteem. He also has a secret letter for you." Yang Song was delighted. After reading the letter's contents, he said to the spy: "Tell the Duke of Wei that he need not worry. I have a fine plan to repay his kindness." He sent the messenger back and then went to see Zhang Lu that very night, reporting that Pang De had accepted a bribe from Cao Cao and had deliberately lost the battle. Zhang Lu was furious. He summoned Pang De, berated him, and wanted to have him executed. Yan Pu pleaded strongly on Pang De's behalf. Zhang Lu said: "If you go out to battle tomorrow and do not win, you will certainly be executed!" Pang De left, burning with resentment. The next day, as Cao's army attacked the city, Pang De led his troops out to meet them. Cao Cao ordered Xu Chu to engage him. Xu Chu feigned defeat, and Pang De pursued. Cao Cao himself rode to the top of a slope and called out: "Pang Lingming, why not surrender now?" Pang De thought to himself: "If I capture Cao Cao, he will be worth a thousand top generals!" He then spurred his horse up the slope. Suddenly, a great shout rang out, the ground seemed to collapse, and both man and horse fell into a concealed pit. Hooks and ropes reached out from all sides, and Pang De was captured alive. He was dragged up the slope. Cao Cao dismounted, ordered the soldiers to stand back, personally loosened Pang De's bonds, and asked him if he would surrender. Pang De, thinking of Zhang Lu's injustice, willingly knelt and surrendered. Cao Cao helped him back onto his horse, and they rode side by side back to the main camp, deliberately letting the men on the city walls see them. When this was reported to Zhang Lu, and he heard that Pang De was riding alongside Cao Cao, he became even more convinced that Yang Song's words were true.
The next day, Cao Cao erected siege towers on three sides and bombarded the city with flying stones. Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Zhang Lu discussed the matter with his brother Zhang Wei. Zhang Wei said: "Set fire to the granaries and treasuries, and flee through the southern gate to take refuge in Bazhong." Yang Song said: "Why not just open the gates and surrender?" Zhang Lu was indecisive. Zhang Wei insisted: "Just burn everything and go." Zhang Lu said: "I have long wished to pledge my allegiance to the Han court, but my intentions never reached them. Now, forced to flee, these granaries and treasuries belong to the state. They must not be destroyed." He then sealed them all. That night, at the second watch, Zhang Lu led his entire family out through the southern gate in a desperate breakout. Cao Cao ordered his men not to pursue. He entered Nanzheng and, seeing that Zhang Lu had sealed the storehouses, was deeply moved by this gesture. He sent an envoy to Bazhong to persuade Zhang Lu to surrender. Zhang Lu was inclined to surrender, but Zhang Wei refused. Yang Song secretly sent a message to Cao Cao, urging him to advance and promising to act as an inside agent. Cao Cao received the letter and personally led his army to Bazhong. Zhang Lu sent his brother Zhang Wei to meet the enemy. Zhang Wei fought Xu Chu and was cut down from his horse. The defeated soldiers returned to report to Zhang Lu, who wanted to hold the city. Yang Song said: "If we stay put now, we will only wait for death. Let me guard the city while you go out and fight to the death." Zhang Lu agreed. Yan Pu advised Zhang Lu not to go, but he refused to listen and led his army out. Before they could even engage, the rear ranks fled. Zhang Lu hastily retreated, but Cao's army was in hot pursuit. When he reached the city walls, Yang Song had closed the gates and would not let him in. With no way out, and Cao Cao approaching from behind, shouting, "Why not surrender now!" Zhang Lu dismounted and knelt in submission. Cao Cao was overjoyed. Mindful of Zhang Lu's act of sealing the storehouses, he treated him with great courtesy, appointing him General Who Pacifies the South. Yan Pu and others were all enfeoffed as marquises. Thus, all of Hanzhong was pacified. Cao Cao issued orders to establish Grand Administrators in each commandery and appoint Chief Commandants, generously rewarding his soldiers. Only Yang Song, who had betrayed his lord for personal gain, was publicly executed in the market.
A poet of the time lamented: "He obstructed the worthy and sold his lord to achieve a monstrous feat, piling up gold and silver only to find it all in vain. His family never saw glory, and he himself was put to death, leaving a name to be laughed at for a thousand years—Yang Song!"
With the eastern region of Hanzhong secured, the Registrar Sima Yi advised Cao Cao: "Liu Bei used deceit and force to seize Yi Province from Liu Zhang, and the people of Shu have not yet given him their hearts. Now that you have taken Hanzhong, Yi Province is shaken. You should advance swiftly and attack. Their resistance will surely crumble. The wise value seizing the moment—do not let this opportunity slip away." Cao Cao sighed and said: "Men are ever troubled by discontent. Having gained Long, they covet Shu." Liu Ye added: "Sima Zhongda's words are correct. If we delay even a little, Zhuge Liang, who is brilliant at governing, will serve as Chancellor, and Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, whose courage is unmatched, will serve as generals. Once the people of Shu are settled and they fortify their passes, they will be impossible to attack." Cao Cao replied: "The soldiers have endured a long and arduous campaign. They need rest." He thus halted his advance and did not move.
Meanwhile, the people of Xichuan, hearing that Cao Cao had taken the eastern part of Hanzhong, feared he would surely come for their land. Panic spread several times a day. Xuande summoned his military strategist to discuss the matter. Kongming said: "I have a plan that will make Cao Cao retreat on his own." Xuande asked what it was. Kongming replied: "Cao Cao has stationed troops at Hefei because he fears Sun Quan. If we now return the three commanderies of Jiangxia, Changsha, and Guiyang to Wu and send an eloquent envoy to explain the strategic situation, we can persuade Wu to attack Hefei. This will disrupt Cao Cao's momentum, and he will be forced to turn his army south." Xuande asked: "Who can be the envoy?" Yi Ji said: "I am willing to go." Xuande was delighted. He wrote a letter, prepared gifts, and ordered Yi Ji to first go to Jing Province to inform Yunchang, and then proceed to Wu.
Yi Ji arrived at Moling and sought an audience with Sun Quan. After announcing his name, Sun Quan summoned him. Yi Ji paid his respects, and Sun Quan asked: "Why have you come here?" Yi Ji replied: "Previously, when your brother, Zhuge Ziyu, came to claim the three commanderies of Changsha and others, our military strategist was absent, and the transfer was not completed. I have now brought a letter to formally return them. As for the commanderies of Nanjun and Lingling in Jing Province, we originally intended to return them as well. But Cao Cao's surprise attack on the eastern part of Hanzhong has left General Guan Yu with no secure foothold. Now, Hefei is vulnerable. I hope you will raise an army to attack it, forcing Cao Cao to withdraw his troops south. If my lord can then take the eastern part of Hanzhong, he will return the entire territory of Jing Province." Sun Quan said: "Go to the guest house for now. I will discuss this with my advisors." After Yi Ji left, Sun Quan asked his strategists for their opinion. Zhang Zhao said: "This is a scheme by Liu Bei, who fears Cao Cao will take Xichuan. Even so, since Cao Cao is in Hanzhong, taking advantage of this to seize Hefei is also a wise move." Sun Quan agreed. He sent Yi Ji back to Shu and then began to plan his campaign against Cao Cao. He ordered Lu Su to take command of Changsha, Jiangxia, and Guiyang and station his troops at Lukou. He recalled Lu Meng and Gan Ning, and also summoned Ling Tong from Yuhang.
Within a few days, Lu Meng and Gan Ning arrived. Lu Meng proposed: "Cao Cao has appointed Zhu Guang as the Grand Administrator of Lujiang, and he is stationed at Wan City. He has opened vast rice paddies to supply Hefei with grain. We should first take Wan City, and then attack Hefei." Sun Quan said: "This plan suits me perfectly." He ordered Lu Meng and Gan Ning to lead the vanguard, with Jiang Qin and Pan Zhang in the rear. Sun Quan himself commanded the center, with Zhou Tai, Chen Wu, Dong Xi, and Xu Sheng. Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, and Han Dang were all stationed elsewhere and did not join this campaign.
The army crossed the Yangtze, took Hezhou, and marched directly to Wan City. The Grand Administrator of Wan City, Zhu Guang, sent a messenger to Hefei for reinforcements while he fortified the city and refused to come out and fight. Sun Quan personally approached the city walls to observe, but arrows rained down like a storm, one striking the canopy over his own head. He returned to camp and asked his generals: "How can we take Wan City?" Dong Xi said: "We should have the soldiers build earthen mounds to attack it." Xu Sheng said: "We can erect siege towers and build flying bridges to observe the city from above and attack." Lu Meng said: "These methods will take days and months, and by the time Hefei's relief force arrives, it will be too late. Our army has just arrived, and our morale is at its peak. We should attack with all our strength. Let us advance at dawn tomorrow and take the city by noon." Sun Quan agreed. The next day, after eating at the fifth watch, the entire army advanced. Arrows and stones rained down from the walls. Gan Ning, wielding an iron chain, charged up the walls through the storm of projectiles. Zhu Guang ordered his archers to fire in unison, but Gan Ning knocked aside the arrows and struck Zhu Guang down with his chain. Lu Meng personally beat the war drums. The soldiers surged forward in a mass, cutting down Zhu Guang with a flurry of blades. The remaining defenders surrendered, and Wan City was taken—it was only the hour of the dragon. Zhang Liao, who had been leading a relief force from Hefei, received word from his scouts that Wan City had fallen. He immediately turned his army back to Hefei.
Sun Quan entered Wan City, and Ling Tong also arrived with his troops. After rewarding his men, Sun Quan held a grand feast to celebrate the victory, heavily rewarding Lu Meng, Gan Ning, and the other generals. Lu Meng yielded the seat of honor to Gan Ning, praising his great achievements. As the wine flowed freely, Ling Tong, remembering the old grievance of Gan Ning having killed his father, grew angry at seeing Lu Meng lavish praise on him. He glared at Gan Ning for a long time, then suddenly drew a sword from one of the attendants and stood up, saying: "There is no entertainment at this feast—let me perform a sword dance." Gan Ning understood his intent. He pushed aside the table of fruits, stood up, took two halberds in hand, and stepped forward, saying: "Let me show you a halberd dance." Seeing the hostility between the two, Lu Meng grabbed a shield in one hand and a sword in the other, stepping between them. "Both of you are skilled," he said, "but neither can match my cleverness." He then began to dance with his sword and shield, separating the two men. Someone quickly reported this to Sun Quan. Sun Quan hastily mounted his horse and rode to the feast. Seeing their lord, the men finally put down their weapons. Sun Quan said: "I have often told you to forget your old grudges. Why are you at it again today?" Ling Tong knelt and wept. Sun Quan repeatedly urged them to make peace. The next day, he raised his army and advanced to attack Hefei, with all three divisions marching out.
Zhang Liao, troubled by the loss of Wan City, returned to Hefei in a gloomy mood. Suddenly, a messenger from Cao Cao, Xue Ti, arrived bearing a wooden box sealed with Cao Cao's mark. On the side was written: "Open when the enemy comes." That day, word arrived that Sun Quan was leading 100,000 men to attack Hefei. Zhang Liao opened the box. Inside was a directive: "If Sun Quan comes, Generals Zhang and Li are to go out and fight; General Le is to guard the city." Zhang Liao showed the order to Li Dian and Le Jin. Le Jin asked: "What do you think, General?" Zhang Liao replied: "Our lord is away on a distant campaign. The Wu army believes they can surely defeat us. We must go out and meet them, fighting with all our might to blunt their spearhead and steady our men's hearts. Then we can hold the city." Li Dian had long been on bad terms with Zhang Liao, and upon hearing this, he remained silent. Le Jin, seeing Li Dian's silence, said: "The enemy is numerous and we are few. It will be difficult to fight them in the open. It is better to hold the city." Zhang Liao said: "You are both thinking of private matters and forgetting the public good. I will go out and meet the enemy myself, and fight to the death." He ordered his attendants to prepare his horse. Li Dian then rose with a determined look and said: "If you are so resolved, General, how can I let a private grudge blind me to my public duty? I am willing to follow your command." Zhang Liao was overjoyed. "Since Mancheng is willing to help," he said, "lead a force tomorrow to lie in ambush north of Xiaoyao Ford. When the Wu army comes, first cut the Small Bridge. I will attack them with Lewenqian." Li Dian accepted the order and went to prepare his troops for the ambush.
Sun Quan ordered Lu Meng and Gan Ning to lead the vanguard, while he and Ling Tong commanded the center. The other generals advanced in sequence toward Hefei. Lu Meng and Gan Ning's vanguard met Le Jin's forces. Gan Ning rode out to duel Le Jin. After only a few exchanges, Le Jin feigned defeat and fled. Gan Ning called for Lu Meng to join him in the pursuit. Sun Quan, in the second wave, heard that the vanguard had won and urged his troops forward. As they reached the north bank of Xiaoyao Ford, a series of signal bombs exploded. Zhang Liao's force attacked from the left, and Li Dian's from the right. Sun Quan was terrified. He urgently summoned Lu Meng and Gan Ning to return, but Zhang Liao's troops were already upon them. Ling Tong had only three hundred cavalry under his command, and they could not withstand the overwhelming tide of Cao's army. Ling Tong shouted: "My lord, cross the Small Bridge quickly!" Before he finished speaking, Zhang Liao himself led over two thousand cavalry to the front. Ling Tong turned and fought desperately. Sun Quan spurred his horse onto the bridge, but the southern end had been broken off, leaving a gap of over a zhang with no planks. Sun Quan was paralyzed with panic. The colonel Gu Li shouted: "My lord, rein your horse back, then spur it forward to leap across the gap!" Sun Quan pulled his horse back over thirty feet, then gave it the whip. The horse leaped and flew across the gap to the southern bank.
A poet of the time wrote: "In days past, the Dilu horse leaped the Tanxi River; now we see the Lord of Wu defeated at Hefei. Reining back, then lashing his steed, on Xiaoyao Ford the jade dragon flew."
After Sun Quan had crossed to the southern bank, Xu Sheng and Dong Xi came to meet him in a boat. Ling Tong and Gu Li held off Zhang Liao. Gan Ning and Lu Meng led their troops back to the rescue, but Le Jin attacked from the rear, and Li Dian blocked their path. The Wu army lost more than half its men. All of Ling Tong's three hundred cavalry were killed. Ling Tong himself, wounded by several spears, fought his way to the bridge, only to find it destroyed. He fled along the riverbank. Sun Quan, seeing this from the boat, ordered Dong Xi to row over and pick him up, and Ling Tong was rescued. Lu Meng and Gan Ning both barely managed to escape across the river. This battle struck such terror into the hearts of the people south of the Yangtze that even children dared not cry at night upon hearing the name of Zhang Liao. The generals escorted Sun Quan back to camp. He heavily rewarded Ling Tong and Gu Li, then withdrew his army to Ruxu, where he began to reorganize his fleet and discuss a combined land and water advance. He also sent men back across the river to raise more troops for reinforcements.
Zhang Liao, hearing that Sun Quan was preparing to advance from Ruxu and fearing that his own forces at Hefei were too few to hold out, urgently dispatched Xue Ti to ride day and night to Hanzhong to inform Cao Cao and request reinforcements. Cao Cao discussed the matter with his officials. "Can we take Xichuan now?" he asked. Liu Ye replied: "Shu is now somewhat stabilized and on guard. We cannot attack. It would be better to withdraw our army to relieve the crisis at Hefei and then move south." Cao Cao then left Xiahou Yuan to guard the strategic pass at Dingjun Mountain in Hanzhong, and Zhang He to guard the passes at Mengtouyan. He then struck the rest of the camp and marched his entire army toward the fortress at Ruxu.
Truly, the iron cavalry had barely pacified the lands west of Long, when the banners once again pointed toward the south of the Yangtze. Whether this campaign would end in victory or defeat remains to be seen in the next chapter.