Battle of Wancheng (3): Crushing the Ambush
After pulling Cao Ang and Cao Anmin's main Cao Cao forces out of the burning Wancheng, we finally turned our full attention to dealing with General Zhang Su's ambush troops.
"Kgh…."
The archers, realizing the fight had devolved into close-quarters melee, immediately drew their swords to fight back.
Pssshaaaak!!!
I cleaved through every visible enemy in my path, carving open a route.
"That's all their ambush has got!!! Don't chicken out!!"
The fact that they'd abandoned the castle just to set up this kind of trap meant they were out of options too. If we pushed back here, victory was ours.
They might've outsmarted us with strategy, but our troops' quality was superior.
Proof of that? Lü Bu's Xiliang cavalry was already unilaterally massacring the other ambush groups.
"Krrgh…!! Retreat!!"
A command echoed from afar. A man in ornate iron armor, gripping a massive sword, was bellowing orders.
That was Zhang Su, their general.
"Zhang Su! Stand your ground!!!"
Capture the enemy commander, and surrenders would follow naturally.
I immediately whistled to summon Jiralma.
"Hiiihiin!!"
Jiralma came galloping up energetically. Despite rolling through the fiery inferno of Wancheng just moments ago, the horse looked in surprisingly good shape. Temperamental beast, but it had to be on par with Red Hare or Claret Hare—a legendary steed.
Anyway, I mounted up and charged.
One target: Zhang Su.
"Zhang Su!!! Surrender quietly!!!"
"Kgh…."
Zhang Su's face twisted in shock at my approach, hurtling toward him at breakneck speed.
"Stop him!! Block him by any means!!"
Zhang Su barked orders at the surrounding Xiliang soldiers.
Stab!! Stab!! Staaab!!
A few Xiliang cavalry charged at me, weapons raised, but I lightly slashed them aside with Namun Sword, breaking through the enemy lines.
The Namun Sword, reinforced with fragments from the Sword of Catastrophe, dealt absolutely devastating damage. It one-shot these mooks clean.
Of course, later in the late game, level scaling would kick in and this kind of output wouldn't happen—but right now, at this stage, it was endgame-tier gear pulling its weight.
After rampaging freely through the enemy ranks, I planted myself right in front of Zhang Su.
"Krrgh!!! Come at me!! Blockhead!!"
Zhang Su gave up on fleeing and swung his blade at me.
Chiiiing!!!
Our swords clashed as we traded blows in a high-speed mounted skirmish.
Zhang Su was no slouch—a solid general, strong as befitted a leader of human weapons like the Xiliang troops.
But back when I was a total scrub, I'd taken down Seo Yeong, an elite among Xiliang soldiers. Against me now, grown through all sorts of events, he was easy prey.
Whoooosh!!!
I could clearly see the arc of Zhang Su's swinging sword.
Tiiiing!!
I deflected his thrust, throwing the saddle-mounted Zhang Su's stance way off balance.
"Urgh!!!!"
The instant after, I swung my sword with all my might at his waist.
Pssshaaaaak!!!!
The blade sliced deep through the gap in his waist armor, carving into his gut.
"Guh… hrrk…."
Zhang Su's waist buckled hard, and he tumbled from his horse, spilling his guts in a spectacular spray.
'Ah.'
Honestly, a guy like Zhang Su would've been worth recruiting if I could've bagged him alive… but I'd gotten caught up in the momentum and killed him without thinking.
'Eh, killing him won't cause any real problems.'
With that half-assed rationalization, I raised my blood-slicked sword and bellowed.
"I've felled the enemy commander!!!"
At my shout, the Xiliang soldiers locked in desperate combat lost all will to fight.
Clunk. Clang.
They dropped their weapons one after another and surrendered. Our victory.
Once the tide turned, everything else fell into place smoothly.
As we moved to mop up the soldiers left in the woods, a silver-haired beauty arrived leading a band of sturdy men.
"I am Jia Xu, strategist under General Zhang Su."
She introduced herself in a languid tone.
'Oh. A woman?'
Having seen so many genderbent Three Kingdoms generals, I just shrugged it off.
The remnants in the woods numbered about a hundred—the last of Zhang Su's forces, she said.
'They really went all-in on that desperate ambush.'
After setting Wancheng ablaze, they'd planned to turn it into Cao Ang's grave.
If we hadn't split our army just in case… we'd all have been trapped in the burning Wancheng and roasted alive, just like Jia Xu schemed. Jia Xu, scary woman…!
That aside, Jia Xu was stunning.
"…."
Her beauty and allure were enough to mesmerize any man just by looking—every male soldier's gaze locked onto the silver-haired stunner.
"We surrender."
She stated it plainly and immediately bowed low.
Her prostrated posture revealed the deep cleavage spilling from her robe. No red-blooded man could look away.
"Shameless. Surrendering now that the tide's turned?"
Cao Ang glared at Jia Xu, seething.
Fair enough from his perspective.
'Half his beard got singed off.'
He'd literally crawled out of hell in Wancheng.
"It's for the lives of us civilians and soldiers. While Wancheng burned, I evacuated the civilians to the village below the woods. That was our lord's order. Traitor though he was, he treated Wancheng's people well and valued his soldiers' lives."
Jia Xu suddenly started whitewashing Zhang Su.
"Please respect the heart of enemies who admit defeat and surrender humbly."
Her implication was crystal clear.
Wancheng was Cao Ang's now anyway—no need for more bloodshed.
"…."
In moments like this, Cao Ang was every bit his father's son. With victory assured, personal grudges faded, replaced by talent lust.
"The plan to station troops in the rear, wary of ambushes outside Wancheng… was that your scheme?"
Cao Ang asked.
"I've loved reading military texts since childhood, so I have some talent for clever ploys."
Jia Xu smiled faintly.
"Hmph. Enemy or not, that's impressive talent."
Cao Ang seemed genuinely admiring.
"I'll put in a good word with Father—your skills will serve him well!"
Cao Ang declared flatly.
'….'
Hmm. So she's heading to the Cao side after all?
'I want her on our team.'
That was my selfish desire.
Our primary goal was escaping Liu Bei’s army, but I planned to stick around there for a while—Jia Xu would be invaluable.
Liu Bei's faction had no proper strategists. Guys like Sun Qian or Mi Zhu were talented, sure, but more as administrative bureaucrats than big-picture schemers.
Liu Bei would snag talents like Zhuge Liang or Pang Tong later, probably—but looking at the current roster, it was a straight-up Suicide Squad. Without a brainiac, they'd just get wiped.
"If fate allows…."
But Jia Xu trailed off.
"…."
Her coy words hardened Cao Ang's expression. She was playing hard to get when he held her life in his hands—not a good look.
"My lord is cautious about choosing sides, having failed and earned infamy several times before."
Jia Xu drawled slowly, staring straight at Cao Ang.
'Damn. Defiant for a surrendering strategist.'
Cao Ang seemed to realize drawing his sword now would tarnish his image. It'd spark debates about his character.
Rulers in this era had to at least pretend to be benevolent Confucian gentlemen. Society was built on that.
"Mm. I, Cao Ang, respect exceptional talent. Please consider my offer later."
Cao Ang schooled his face to stern dignity and offered a fist salute.
'Whoa. Proper Cao Ang move.'
Fledglings of phoenixes are phoenixes too. Definitely his father's son.
"That aside… may I ask one impertinent question?"
Then Jia Xu smiled brightly, surveying the group.
"Ah, ask away."
Cao Ang urged her with a grin.
"Who was it that suggested stationing troops in the rear to guard against ambushes outside Wancheng?"
Jia Xu asked.
"Ah…."
Everyone's eyes turned my way.
"It was this hero here, General Kim, who proposed it just in case."
Cao Ang said.
"Ah…. Kim Gong. I've heard the name. A general famed for his prowess—and now, sharp wits too."
Jia Xu's gaze on me shifted dramatically.
Her signature amber eyes slid over me appraisingly.
That scheming, sinister look sent a chill down my spine—like she was plotting something.
"I've always wanted to meet you."
Jia Xu suddenly grabbed my hand and smiled.
"Ah…. Sure."
Seemed like Jia Xu had taken a real interest in me.
[Jia Xu feels affinity toward you.]
Snagging Jia Xu right here would've been ideal for me, but thinking about her plots and machinations filled me with dread on multiple levels.
"Hehe. You're wary, I see."
Jia Xu saw right through me, flashing a seductive smile.
"Let's find time later for a nice, long chat."
With that, she withdrew.
She glided away with swan-like grace, her voluptuous figure on full display. I couldn't help swallowing hard, my eyes tracking her. No helping it—man's nature.
That's when Lü Bu cut in.
"Jia Xu. That woman's always rubbed me the wrong way…."
Lü Bu shook her head with a scowl.
"Kim. She's a snake of a woman. Out to prey on innocent guys like you."
Lü Bu fiddled with my blocky hair, venting her hostility toward Jia Xu.
As the mood grew a bit awkward with Jia Xu's exit, Cao Ang cleared his throat and spoke up.
"We've won, everyone!! Time to raise a cup in celebration!!"
Cao Ang promptly suggested a victory feast to boost morale, general-style.
"Ooooh!!!"
"Food and drinks?!!"
The soldiers roared in excitement, cheering wildly.
Yeah. A feast first. Eat, drink… enjoy while we can.