Battle of Han River 漢水之戰

In Chapter 71 of the Romance, Cao Cao, having lost Xiahou Yuan, comes in person with a great army to avenge him, and Zhang He moves the grain and fodder of Mount Micang to the foot of the Northern Hill by the Han River. Huang Zhong, who has declared before Liu Bei that he will behead Zhang He, draws lots with Zhao Yun to go first, and they agree that if he has not returned by the hour of wu (noon) Zhao Yun will come to his rescue. Huang Zhong, who crosses the Han River at night intending to set fire to the provisions below the Northern Hill, is surrounded by Zhang He and Xu Huang. Romance, Ch. 71 §31–39

When Huang Zhong has not returned by the hour of wu, Zhao Yun advances with 3,000 troops, spears to death Murong Lie, a subordinate general of Wen Pin, and the Wei general Jiao Bing, breaks through the layered encirclement and rescues Huang Zhong and Zhang Zhu. Cao Cao, watching from high ground, orders that the hero of Changban at Dangyang, still as formidable as ever, not be taken lightly. Romance, Ch. 71 §40–44

As the pursuers draw near, Zhao Yun rebukes Zhang Yi, who wants to shut the stockade gate, hides archers and crossbowmen in the moat, lays down the flags and spears, and stands alone outside the camp gate. Zhang He and Xu Huang, arriving in pursuit at dusk, dare not advance, and when Cao Cao urges them on in person and the troops reach the front of the stockade, Zhao Yun waves his spear and has the bows and crossbows shoot all at once. Cao Cao's troops trample one another as they are driven toward the Han River, and countless men fall into the water and drown, while Liu Feng and Meng Da come in by the Mount Micang road and set fire to the provisions. Liu Bei, coming to the Han River and surveying the battlefield, says that Zilong is courage through and through. Romance, Ch. 71 §44–48

When Cao Cao comes again to take the Han River, Xu Huang, saying he will follow Han Xin and draw up his formation with his back to the water, ignores Wang Ping's protest and crosses the Han River. In Chapter 72 Xu Huang is heavily defeated by the pincer attack of Huang Zhong and Zhao Yun and his troops are driven into the Han River and die, and Wang Ping, who quarreled with Xu Huang, sets fire to the camp, surrenders to Zhao Yun and tells him the lay of the land around the Han River. When Cao Cao comes in person to attack the Han River stockade, Zhao Yun withdraws to the west of the Han River, and Zhuge Liang has Zhao Yun, lying in ambush below an earthen hill, sound drums and horns every night, making Cao Cao fall back 30 li. Romance, Ch. 71 §50–52Romance, Ch. 72 §1–7