Novel scene
Zhao Yun Slays Five Generals 趙子龍力斬五將
About this event
"Zhao Yun Slays Five Generals" is the first scene of Chapter 92 of the Romance, whose chapter title is "Zhao Zilong Slays Five Generals by Main Force; Zhuge Liang Takes Three Cities by Wit." It covers the events from the veteran Zhao Yun, serving as vanguard in Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions, defeating the Xiliang commander Han De and his four sons at Mount Fengming, to his being trapped in Xiahou Mao's ambush and then, rescued by Zhang Bao and Guan Xing, heavily defeating the Wei army and driving Xiahou Mao into Nan'an Commandery. Romance, Ch. 92 §4–8 · 13 · 17–23
Chen Shou's text has no such scene, and Han De and his sons do not appear. The Biography of Zhao Yun records that Zhao Yun garrisoned Hanzhong with Zhuge Liang in the 5th year of Jianxing (227), and the following year, together with Deng Zhi, held off Cao Zhen's great army at the Ji Valley. Records, Shu 6 §41
In the Romance
In Chapter 92 of the Romance, Zhuge Liang, arriving at Mianyang, sacrificed at Ma Chao's tomb and heard that Cao Rui had sent his imperial son-in-law Xiahou Mao. Wei Yan said that if he went north through the Ziwu Valley with 5,000 picked troops he would reach Chang'an in under ten days and Xiahou Mao would abandon the city and flee, but Zhuge Liang, saying this was not a perfectly safe plan, said he would advance by the level main road through Longyou, and Wei Yan was displeased. When the Xiliang commander Han De came with 80,000 troops of the Western Qiang, Xiahou Mao made him his vanguard. Romance, Ch. 92 §1–4
When Han De, met at Mount Fengming, reviled the Shu army with his four sons at his side, Zhao Yun rode out and speared the eldest son Han Ying; amid the combined attack of Han Yao, Han Qiong and Han Qi, he knocked Han Qi from his horse with his spear, shot Han Qiong dead with an arrow and took Han Yao alive. When Deng Zhi swept in to attack, Han De threw away his armor and fled. When Deng Zhi praised him for slaying four commanders at the age of seventy, Zhao Yun said he had only shown what he could do because the Chancellor had been unwilling to use him on account of his age. Romance, Ch. 92 §5–11
When Xiahou Mao came in person, Han De charged to avenge his sons and died on Zhao Yun's spear. On the plan of the Army Adviser Cheng Wu, Xiahou Mao placed Dong Xi and Xue Ze in ambush on the left and right and feigned withdrawal, and Zhao Yun, pursuing deep, was surrounded. From the mountaintop Xiahou Mao directed his troops, pointing toward wherever Zhao Yun went. Romance, Ch. 92 §12–17
When Zhao Yun, having fought from the hour of chen to the hour of you without breaking out, lamented that for refusing to admit his age he would die here, Zhang Bao, who had cut down Xue Ze, and Guan Xing, who had cut down Dong Xi, came to his rescue on Zhuge Liang's orders. Under the three-pronged attack the Wei army was heavily defeated, and Xiahou Mao entered Nan'an Commandery with some hundred horsemen and shut the gates. Though Zhao Yun, Deng Zhi, Guan Xing and Zhang Bao besieged it for ten days, the city did not fall. Romance, Ch. 92 §18–24
Where the Romance differs
Wei Yan's plan: In Chapter 92 of the Romance, Wei Yan proposed reaching Chang'an within ten days through the Ziwu Valley with 5,000 picked troops, but Zhuge Liang did not use the plan. In Chen Shou's text, the Biography of Wei Yan records that on every campaign Wei Yan asked for 10,000 men to take a different road and meet at Tong Pass, but Zhuge Liang restrained him and did not permit it, and Wei Yan regarded Zhuge Liang as timid. Romance, Ch. 92 §1–4Records, Shu 10 §59
Zhao Yun's fighting: In Chapter 92 of the Romance, Zhao Yun, together with Deng Zhi, defeated Han De and his sons and Xiahou Mao's troops at Mount Fengming. In the Biography of Zhao Yun in the Records, Zhao Yun, together with Deng Zhi, held off Cao Zhen's great army in the 6th year of Jianxing (228), but with weak troops against a strong enemy he was defeated at the Ji Valley; still, he gathered his forces and held firm so that the defeat was not severe, and after the withdrawal he was demoted to General Who Guards the Army. Romance, Ch. 92 §5–13Records, Shu 6 §41Records, Shu 5 §32
Written by 3KDEX (not yet reviewed) — The tags at the end of each paragraph link to the exact passage in the Records volume or Romance chapter it is based on.