Defense of Xiaopei (1)
Thanks to Chun Seol's swift report, we managed to form a defensive line and line up along the walls of Xiaopei Castle.
'No way. They're actually coming.'
For now, Xiaopei was firmly held by Yeo Po's forces and ours, so there was no worry there.
'The problem is Hefei.'
Hefei Castle was where Liu Bei trained his second and third army members. It was also where he sent generals from the faction led by Do Gyeom, whose loyalty to Liu Bei from Xuzhou was ambiguous. The overall commander was Mi Fang.
'Ah. Mi Fang isn't completely incompetent.'
He wasn't incompetent, but he was the perfect type for a staff officer role. Honestly, not exactly reassuring.
Within Yuan Shu's army, split into two divisions, what personnel choices he would make was a real concern.
For now, the most efficient force Yuan Shu could deploy was Ji Ling's. She was a fierce general too good for Yuan Shu. The rest weren't worth worrying about.
If the army led by Ji Ling attacked Mi Fang, he would be in crisis.
Zhang Bai's plan was for Ji Ling's army to confront us here at Xiaopei. It was a 1st army vs. 1st army matchup.
But Yuan Shu wasn't a complete fool. Even if Ji Ling's army fought Xiaopei's members, we'd have the advantage; even against Yuan Shu's personally led army, we'd still hold the edge. The talent pool aside, fighting from behind castle walls gave us the upper hand.
If neither side could claim superiority against Xiaopei, he might judge it better for Ji Ling's main force to quickly seize the relatively easier Hefei and pinch Xiaopei from both sides.
Discernment
At that moment, a message popped up in the Status Window.
Insight. The most basic stratagem, the foundation of all schemes. A technique boosted by Intelligence, where the side succeeding in the Intelligence roll could glimpse the enemy's plans. Higher Intelligence or more stratagems known allowed peeking at more cards.
If activated by Zhuge Liang or Sima Yi, or used by a character heavily invested in Intelligence, it was practically omnipotent. You could discern almost all of the enemy's schemes. Felt like using map hacks.
Intelligence Stat: 60
Intelligence Roll: Success
With the Status Window's dry messages, Yuan Shu's intentions began to reveal themselves.
A vision arose in my mind like a bird soaring high in the sky: Yuan Shu's split armies charging madly. Ji Ling's main force toward Hefei, and the army commanded by Yuan Shu himself heading straight for Xiaopei.
"Everyone!! Hefei is in danger!"
I immediately shouted to the soldiers and generals.
"Ji Ling's army will definitely take Hefei first and then pressure Xiaopei!!"
After saying that, I glanced at Jin Gung.
It was just a regular success, not a critical one, so the details might differ.
'What if it's a fluke and we fall for enemy deception.'
If it was a feint, the discerned enemy movement seen through Insight turns into a bluff. We'd get spectacularly tricked.
That's why I decided to reference Jin Gung, who had the highest Intelligence here.
"Hm. Probably. Xiaopei isn't easy to breach anyway, so the army led by Yuan Shu will tie us down here while dragging out time. Once Yuan Shu's forces surround Xiaopei, sending reinforcements will be tough. We need to dispatch troops to support Hefei right now."
Jin Gung's words rang true.
'Jin Gung... Intelligence stat over 90.'
When such a top-notch strategist speaks, you trust it.
"Then, Bong Seon. Mun Won-gong. And General Go!! Take the Xiliang troops and aid Hefei!!"
I immediately assigned personnel.
"Got it! Just kill 'em all, right?"
Yeo Po followed my words obediently, so the decision was roughly set. Watching that, Jin Gung sighed.
"How about General Kim goes and takes Ji Ling's head? If we just get Ji Ling's head..."
Jin Gung suggested an alternative to me, as if struck by an idea.
"No. I want to entrust this crucial task to Bong Seon."
I immediately blocked Jin Gung's ulterior motive.
'Who the hell do I trust enough to empty Xiaopei.'
Us leaving Xiaopei empty was basically begging Yeo Po and Jin Gung to stab us in the back. Jin Gung was probably aiming for that deep down.
'This guy's only thinking about screwing over Cao Cao.'
For that, he was mad enough to betray even Liu Bei without batting an eye.
"Ah. As you wish."
Jin Gung stared at me blankly, his expression a bit ambiguous.
"Then let's go!!"
Fortunately, Yeo Po listened well. She immediately prepared to lead the Xiliang troops out.
Yeo Po herself started deploying her 1st army squad casually.
"Go Sun!! Mobilize the Hamjin Battalion."
Yeo Po shed her usual icy demeanor and commanded Go Sun sharply. Her presence was definitely imposing when giving orders.
Hamjin Battalion. The elite Xiliang troops personally led by Go Sun. A force said to have never had its lines broken. Even among the near-bandit-like Xiliang soldiers, Go Sun ran things like a full manual, so they were sharply disciplined. Yeo Po's most trusted detachment.
Plus Yeo Po and Jang Liao were there. An unbeatable lineup.
Clatter!! Clatter!!
The gates opened suddenly, and Yeo Po's army launched an immediate advance.
Since Yuan Shu's forces hadn't formed their encirclement yet, the rescue force's path was smooth.
Discernment
And I activated Insight once more. To predict allied movements.
The movements of Liu Bei's Xuzhou army. I needed to know that.
'In this game, you can't predict allies' actions if they're too far away.'
This realism was annoyingly detailed.
Allies had to send messengers explaining the situation for predicted positions to show up. Their status didn't just pop up on the map automatically.
Intelligence: 60
Intelligence Roll: Success
No critical success. This shows only a brief status update.
Clatter!! Clatter!!
A vision floated up: Liu Bei and Zhang Fei defending the castle, Zhao Yun leading troops toward Hefei.
Liu Bei himself had sent reinforcements to Hefei out of worry. That much trust in Xiaopei. Okay. Not bad.
"Wooaaargh!!" "Uwaaaah!!"
Over the forest, Yuan Shu's soldiers were charging madly toward Xiaopei.
They'd been utterly crushed last time, but their momentum was ferocious.
Rumble.
They came equipped with battering rams, cloud ladders, and even catapults. Clearly, they'd scraped together everything.
"Sh-should we... siege them...?"
Guan He, spooked by the sight, suggested to me.
As expected of a bandit leader specialist. When a big battle loomed, he got a bit jittery.
"No. The only siege gear we have worth using are bows and crossbows."
The enemy had brought catapults and all sorts of stuff—an all-in commitment. Even if we rained arrows wildly, once those catapults started hurling rocks, we'd all be smashed meat.
"You wanna end up like Gong Sun-chan?"
I invoked the infamous counterexample from siege warfare.
"Kkkiyaaaak...!!" "Th-that was a bad move!" "Let's counterattack!"
Everyone snapped to attention.
"Nu-na. We two need to lead the vanguard and scatter their formation."
I said it straight to the crew.
"Mm! Kim! Been waiting for that!"
Guan Yu grinned. So pretty.
"First, we'll punch through at one point and neutralize their siege gear!!"
In this game, siege equipment was just the strongest.
Especially catapults. No matter how well you leveled a character, a direct hit from a flying rock meant instant death.
"Everyone!! Infantry, grab torches!!"
Still, siege gear was made of wood. Pre-oiled for easy use. Fire would do the trick.
Clatter!!
Too late once Yuan Shu's soldiers fully reached the walls.
"Everyone! Don't charge out yet!!"
I decided to homage the strategy the famous general Jang Liao once used against Sun Quan: keep the gates barred tight, bide your time. Make the enemy think you're desperately preparing for a siege.
Rumble.
Beyond the gates, Yuan Shu's soldiers eagerly activated their siege gear with glee. Convinced we'd committed to a defensive siege, they moved their equipment right away. Half their troops now tied up operating it. War was exploiting these tiny gaps.
One. Two. Three.
"Now's the moment(只今利膩)!!!!"
A self-made idiom meaning "the perfect, juicy opportunity is here right now"!!! Just coined it!!
At my signal, the soldiers lined up on both sides of the gate flung it wide open.
Boooom!!
As the gates burst open, the cavalry vanguard at the front charged like mad.
"Wha...?"
If the enemy were seasoned warriors who knew war well, they'd react to the sudden gate opening and calmly reform ranks. But the foe was resource-poor Yuan Shu.
Busy fiddling with siege gear, his entire army panicked when we struck first.
"Yuan Shu!!! Come out!!"
Drawing the Seven Star Blade from my waist, I spurred my horse into a frenzy.
"Block them!!" "Block!!"
As the soldiers floundered...
Whoosh!!
Still mounted, I aimed the Seven Star Blade at the catapults.
Whoooosh!!
Then swung with all my might at the wooden catapult's bulk.
"...!"
Everyone sensed the surprise at this unexpected move—not slashing a person. But no hesitation.
Clang!!
And cleanly severed the catapult.
The Seven Star Blade's cutting power, able to slice anything with enough durability, fully unleashed—the catapult split neatly.
One catapult neutralized for starters.
Clatter!!!
Driving my horse, weaving through enemy lines, I sought the next target.