Sending Back the Runaway Girl (1)
"Wait there!! Drive the enemies that way!!!"
Under Jeon Ye's command, the 5,000 suicide squad under Gong Son-chan's command began herding the Wuhuan tribal rabble near Nanpi.
They had formed a formation with shields and spears raised to offset the cavalry charge, neutralizing the impact of the Wuhuan horsemen.
The destination the 5,000 soldiers were driving them toward was near Nanpi Castle, where it was hard to maneuver cavalry. Even on horseback, the castle walls blocked the way.
Puuk! Pubuk!!
The imperial troops who had been defending Nanpi Castle somehow caught on to the shift in momentum and immediately responded by shooting arrows from atop the walls.
The Wuhuan cavalry, scattered and nowhere to go, instantly lost their momentum and began to disperse.
And in the meantime, it was our Liu Bei Army's turn to clean up the dishes.
"Now!! Everyone, charge!!"
Liu Bei took the lead, mounting his horse and drawing his Zayong Sword as he galloped forward.
"Wooaaah!!!"
Liu Bei's elites madly stabbed and advanced through the enemies.
In the midst of that, I was leading the newly formed Kim Squad.
"Everyone!! Stick together and move!!"
They were trash-tier, but as commander, it was my fate to drag them along somehow.
'Having soldiers under me gives generals a bonus.' That was the fate of the general class.
Because of the Command trait, I only got stat bonuses if I had soldiers or warriors under me.
When subordinate soldiers or warriors are nearby, gain +5 to all stats.
It was an overpowered trait that boosted every stat by exactly 5. Later, if I got generals under me, the bonus would increase even more. So for now, I had to drag these guys along.
'And even if they become ronin later, it'll be good to keep them around.' I wasn't the strongest in the world or anything. There was no way I'd survive solo in this insane late Han apocalypse world. I needed comrades for mercenary work.
'Recruiting others is tough.' Maybe because I'd focused too much on combat so far. My Recruitment and Charisma stats were average. Sure, there were ways to raise them, but it was hard right now.
With these crappy Recruitment and Charisma stats, anyone I recruited wouldn't exceed the level of these guys anyway.
'Let's raise 'em up.' Training soldiers was secretly fun content. It was enjoyable if you immersed yourself in director mode for a hopeless seventh-division team with no future.
"Hoh... A battle after so long. Feels like my strength's surging."
The old man trembled all over like a leaf in the wind as he gripped his rusty sword.
"F-Fight... Scary... But I have a purpose, so..."
The somewhat gloomy beauty gripped her spear, her hands shaking.
"Yeah!! I'll follow Kim Gong!!"
The bald, half-naked guy grinned and pulled out his club. At least he had some enthusiasm... but the fact that he had no armor at all was unsettling.
A good warrior has an eye for spotting reliable comrades to watch his back. Briefly view an ally's overall stats.
It was a trait I'd gained upon class-changing to general, so I roughly checked my squad's stats.
Of course, I didn't have the leisure to leisurely check the status window.
"Uhaaa!! Fight!! Fight!! Clear the way!! Stay here and we're all dead!!"
A Wuhuan soldier came charging madly, foam at his mouth.
But he wasn't a tough opponent.
Yellow Turbans, Wuhuan, Black Mountain Bandits—they were basically palette-swapped mobs. Same overall patterns.
Chaeeeaang-!!!!
I perfectly parried the attack with my flow, then struck at the gap, swinging my sword toward his shoulder tendon.
Puuk!!!
The blade sank into the Wuhuan soldier's shoulder tendon.
Kuduk!!
I used my body weight to press down on the half-embedded sword, slicing right through the Wuhuan soldier's shoulder.
Thud!!
Then I lightly kicked the enemy in front of me to reset my stance.
"Urgh!!"
The bald guy fought decently enough. He had the strength to bravely bash Wuhuan grunts with his club. But that was it. When more Wuhuan rushed in, he panicked outright. He could barely handle one-on-one; one-on-many was impossible.
And thanks to his iron allergy, he had zero defense with no armor. Even a graze was fatal.
"Hiya... D-Don't come closer...!"
The gloomy beauty swung her spear wildly to fend off approaching enemies.
Jiggle.
She was trying her best, but her breasts jiggled massively through her armor. Who knew my eyes would go there mid-battle. Men are tragic creatures in so many ways. I felt a poignant sadness about it.
"Hoh... If I were 5 years younger..."
The old man swung his sword wildly too, but surprisingly skillfully. He positioned himself to protect allies, stepping precisely. His strikes lacked power, but he landed effective hits with veteran finesse.
"You there!!"
I'd almost called him Baldy, but held back thinking it'd hurt his feelings, and shouted at him instead.
"Ah!! Kim Gong!!"
I slashed a Wuhuan grunt charging at the blood-soaked guy, then quickly issued orders.
"Don't charge out alone—stick with the allies!!"
I shouted the command and surveyed the battlefield.
The tide had turned so hard that our Liu Bei troops were unilaterally massacring the enemies.
I'd finally secured a moment to check the status window. I immediately inspected my soldiers' stats.
Combat: 5
Mental: 3
Intellect: 1
Standard abbreviated stats for a basic soldier. 1 is lowest, 10 highest.
Combat was (barely) okay, but brainpower was low, as expected. You could tell from how he charged without checking surroundings.
Yeah. This trait was trash-tier. Couldn't equip any metal gear, so pure physical reliance. But okay. Name: Gwang Yeom. Noted.
Combat: 1
Mental: 1
Intellect: 7
The gloomy beauty's side was abysmal in combat. But high Intellect.
'Makes sense, she understands formations.' At least she held her spear and guarded with allies basically. Opposite of Baldy. Still, both trash-tier. Combat 1 made me dizzy.
Some dizzying explanation came with it.
Combat: 5
Mental: 5
Intellect: 6
Surprisingly, the most balanced stats belonged to the doddering old man. Everything average. Made the others seem impressive by comparison.
And he had a god-tier trait for a soldier. Wait, what was this old man's deal?
North Elder lived by the sword as a mercenary from youth. Retired to peaceful plains in old age, but secretly missed the battlefield. When chaos came, he grabbed his blade without hesitation, vowing to dance his final dance in your army.
Old man, why here of all places for your last dance? I wanted to retort, but swallowed it.
'Okay. Let's raise 'em.' For this three-man special unit Liu Bei assigned, I had exclusive authority. Grind careers in the Liu Bei Army, raise 'em, then bail.
'Just need to snag one decent aide.' Not Zhao Yun quality—no way. Those are rare. I knew info on aides easy for my level.
Right now, Guan He was the best aide to recruit.
A fairly strong general from Yellow Turbans. Easiest to get.
'Battle of Jieqiao's coming soon anyway.' After Zhang Jiao and Zhang Chun's rebellion, anti-Dong Zhuo coalition, then Jieqiao. When Gong You SOSes Liu Bei, snag Guan He then. Win the fight, enforce discipline—no persuasion needed, he joins easy.
Seemed roped into Liu Bei Army by accident, but I had plans.
Anyway, I supported the rampaging squad with insane backing, clearing frontal enemies. Less fighting together, more them clinging to my pant leg—but unavoidable. What I had to endure now.
Strength: 32
Agility: 33
Swordsmanship: 32
My combat stats I'd focused on had risen solidly. A month grinding with Jeon Ye's army against Wuhuan—good gains.
Level 12 solid. Maxed XP farmable at this stage. Avoid strong generals, stick to trash mobs—enough strength to protect myself.
Anyway, this cleared Wuhuan from central Youzhou around Jie and Nanpi, securing public order.
Nanpi.
Now I had business here.
"Alright, Bu So-jeo. Time to see your folks."
I immediately dragged Bu Yong-hwa along.
Nanpi. Bu Yong-hwa's family home. Gotta send the runaway girl back. Bit bittersweet parting... but duty calls.
"W-Wait... I'm already married, so I'm from another family now..."
Bu Yong-hwa flailed, trying to escape my arms.
"Hey now."
I picked her up like luggage and headed into Nanpi Castle with her.
"Ahh!! H-Hubby! Listen to me...!"
I restrained her cat-like flailing limbs and headed for the gates.
Send Bu Yong-hwa home here, then hunt Wuhuan worry-free—optimal.
Grind real combat XP with Gong Son-chan till he calls—suck up all farmable XP.
Not everything went perfectly to plan, but back on track.
"Phew... Finally sending Bu So-jeo home. In these rough times, a woman alone getting dragged into danger worried me."
Guan Yu smiled as she spoke.
Oh. Guan Yu. Lots of rivalry with Bu Yong-hwa, but seemed genuinely concerned.
But... Guan Yu's smile looked like one thorn in her side was gone. Nah, imagination?
