The Dang Yang Campaign

(Da zhan Dang Yang)

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This play is adapted from historical events which took place just before the Three Kingdoms Period (A.D. 220-265). In A.D. 208, Liu Bei, later ruler of the Shu Kingdom, withdraws his forces from Cao Cao's sphere of influence, bringing along inhabitants from Xinye, where he was previously stationed. The army's retreat is slowed by the larger number of civilians and, in Dang Yang, Cao Cao's pursuing army catches up with Liu Bei's retreating populace. The battle of Dang Yang becomes a famous campaign in Chinese history and two generals from Liu Bei's army, Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei, have remained popular heroes for generations.

The Chang Ban Slope is virtually synonymous with Zhao Yun. This is the battlefield that made Zhao Yun famous, due in part to his extraordinary ability to break through enemy lines to rescue the baby son of his master Liu Bei, fighting his way out of a heavy encirclement of Cao Cao's troops.

His abililty to escape unscathed with an infant beneath his chest armour while galloping, fighting and killing anyone who stands in his way, gains the respect of his enemies. After handing the baby over to Liu Bei, he rides back into the enemy's position and rescues Liu Bei's wife by himself, avoiding capture by several of Cao Cao's top generals.

Another important location is the Chang Ban Bridge, behind which Zhang Fei, another general in Liu Bei's army, feigns an ambush in the woods while standing guard alone on horseback. Liu Bei's troops are fleeing Cao Cao's great army. Zhang Fei commands twenty horsemen as a rearguard. He positions himself alone on the bridge and instructs his men to use branches to kick up dust, thereby obscuring the enemy's view from across the river. Cao Cao's commanders are thus unable to determine the number of Liu Bei's troops and are, furthermore, afraid of a possible trap. Zhang Fei, renowned for his strength and fighting skills, lets out a battle cry challenging Cao Cao's forces to attack him. Cao Cao's army stands in awe of Zhang Fei at that moment. His shouts, along with their fears of being ambushed in the woods, prevent Cao Cao's 20,000 troops from advancing across the bridge, thus giving Liu Bei and his followers a much-needed respite from Cao Cao's pursuing army.