Chapter 13: The Drumming of the Qin and Shu, the Astonishment of the Bow and Bird, the Battle of Ma Jia Ba and Zhao Yun

  Here is the translation:

  After Qin Huiwen King and Shu Hou were defeated by the Chu army at Han Yin, they fled in disarray for over 70 miles. When they reached Majiapeng and Gupeng, their men and horses were exhausted, especially the infantry who had been running for over 70 miles without food. Their stomachs were empty, and they couldn't move.

  Qin Huiwen King looked back and saw no Chu army pursuing them, so he ordered his troops to stop and rest. They started a fire to cook food and feed their horses while checking the military strength. A moment later, a soldier reported that there were 100,000 men left in the Qin and Shu armies combined: 50,000 from Qin (18,000 cavalry and 32,000 infantry) and 50,000 from Shu (12,000 cavalry and 38,000 infantry).

  Just as the Qin and Shu armies finished cooking their food, a messenger arrived to report that Chu Huai King's army was approaching. Zhao Xie led 50,000 cavalrymen and had already reached Xinglong Village, just three miles away from them. Qin Huiwen King and Shu Hou were shocked by this news.

  Sima Cuo advised Qin Huiwen King: "Zhao Xie's 50,000 cavalrymen have arrived first, but they will be followed by a large infantry force. Our army has just been defeated and cannot fight again. Moreover, our soldiers are all starving and cannot march far. The infantry is in no condition to retreat. Your Majesty should order the infantry to hold off Zhao Xie's 50,000 cavalrymen while the cavalry quickly finishes their meal and protects you as you flee to Hanzhong."

  Qin Huiwen King and Shu Hou ordered all the infantry (32,000 from Qin and 38,000 from Shu) to form a battle line at Gupeng to block Zhao Xie's cavalry. All the cavalrymen were given seven minutes to finish their meal.

  Five minutes later, Zhao's 50,000 light cavalry arrived at Gu'erping. The Qin and Shu armies of 70,000 infantry were still deploying their formation when they hastily shot arrows to block the advance of the Chu army's cavalry. At this time, the 30,000 horsemen of Qin and Shu quickly finished their meal, wrapped up with cloth strips, and hastily mounted their horses to protect King Huiwen of Qin and Marquis of Shu as they fled westward. King Huiwen of Qin and Marquis of Shu only cared about escaping with their lives and did not care about the life or death of their 70,000 infantrymen. Poorly, these 70,000 infantrymen had not even eaten a meal before they died. More than ten minutes passed, and the arrows of the Qin and Shu armies were almost exhausted. Zhao saw this and ordered his 50,000 iron cavalry to charge in three directions. Oh! How could the 70,000 starving infantrymen resist the impact of the 50,000 Chu army cavalry? They fell down with just one charge, with 30,000 soldiers falling. After two or three more charges, the 70,000 Qin and Shu infantrymen all fell to the ground, with only a small number of them fleeing in disarray. At this time, the 30,000 horsemen of King Huiwen of Qin and Marquis of Shu had already run out of the battlefield for more than twenty miles and reached Qixingba. Zhao led his 50,000 Chu army cavalry to pursue them closely from behind. When King Huiwen of Qin and Marquis of Shu heard that Zhao was following close behind, they did not dare to stop for a moment and fled desperately westward. At this time, the 30,000 iron cavalry and 50,000 infantrymen of King Huai of Chu had also arrived at Gu'erping.

  King Huiwen of Qin and the Marquis of Shu had 30,000 cavalrymen escape from Maja Pass. Sima Cuo saw that this place was a narrow road, which must be the route for the Chu army to pursue, so he led 3,000 cavalrymen to block the Chu army's cavalry here. Before Sima Cuo's formation was set up, Zhao Yu had already led his main force of light cavalry past Huilong Village, less than a mile away from Sima Cuo. As soon as Zhao Yu saw this, he charged forward on horseback, killing towards the Qin army's cavalry.

  Although Maja Pass is flat, the terrain is not very large, and it is difficult for a large number of people to fight, so the advantage of the Chu army's main force of cavalry cannot be exerted. It depends on who is brave and has endurance. Sima Cuo saw Zhao Yu killing him, and he rode his horse and raised his knife to fight Zhao Yu.

  The two men fought with guns and knives, fighting twenty rounds without a winner. Zhao Yu and Sima Cuo were originally evenly matched in martial arts, and it can be said that they were worthy opponents. Unfortunately, Sima Cuo had fought with King Huai of Chu before, and his palm and tiger's mouth were shattered, and his arms were injured. Although he was not injured in the chest, as long as he used too much force, his ribs would ache secretly.

  Zhao Yu saw that Sima Cuo was about to fall, and he struck with a long spear, making a loud noise! Sima Cuo raised his knife to block it, but because of his injury, he had no strength in his hand, and his body stumbled. Zhao Yu saw this and struck three times with his spear, fast as lightning. Sima Cuo couldn't resist, and he retreated with a virtual swing of his knife.

  After Sima Cuo was defeated, no one in the Qin army's cavalry could withstand Zhao Yu. They only saw Zhao Yu's long spear, left and right, striking down the Qin army's cavalrymen one by one. The Chu army's cavalry saw this and rushed forward, each holding a gun and swinging a knife, rushing to kill. The Qin army's cavalry couldn't resist Zhao Yu and the Chu army's cavalry attack, and they finally fled in defeat.

  In the Battle of Maja Pass, Zhao Yu's Chu army cavalry killed 1,000 Qin army cavalrymen under Sima Cuo.