Battle of Jieqiao (2)
Modern readers probably wouldn't feel much about the Battle of Jieqiao. They already knew Yuan Shao was the victor, and Yuan Shao himself got downplayed in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, so most folks just skim past it thinking, "Yeah, Gongsun Zan just got wrecked."
But in reality, it was a battle that showcased Yuan Shao's boldness.
Gongsun Zan's side had twice the troops. If you narrowed it down to cavalry—the heavy hitters—it was closer to three times the advantage. A massive strategic edge.
In that overwhelming disadvantage, Yuan Shao threw down a massive gamble. The enemy would've gone for a pinpoint breakthrough with their smaller force or hunkered down defending Ji Province. But Yuan Shao attacked aggressively instead.
He handed troops to his allied warlords like Yan Liang, Wen Chou, Xun You, and the newly joined Guo Tu, expanding the front lines.
Simultaneously raising armies across a wide area—Julu, Xin Du, Jieqiao—and pressuring Gongsun Zan to advance. That was his play.
Yeah. Yuan Shao was a beast back then. His later years sucked, that's all.
And in Julu, Xun You was pushing forward with overwhelming momentum.
Julu. The place I'd seen during the Yellow Turban Rebellion last time. Full of memories.
"Uwaaaah!!"
"Charge!!!"
Soldiers in yellow armor from Yuan Shao's army were hammering Julu Castle like madmen.
Gongsun Zan's forces, who had sortied outside, had vanished. Pushed back by the momentum, they were holed up inside the crumbling castle, defending desperately.
Our Liu Bei army numbered about a thousand. More than last time, but still far fewer than Xun You's troops.
In the end, all we could do was a flanking maneuver. Swing around Xun You's side and link up with Gongsun Zan's boys inside.
"Then let's go!!!"
Liu Bei gripped his personal sword from horseback and charged down the slope like a maniac.
I used to dismount the moment battle started and run like hell, but not this time.
Clop clop!!
After dismounting Bu Yong-hwa, I wrestled my crazy horse into control, drew my sword, and bolted forward.
Shing.
My beloved sword, Nam Un Geom, gleaming with its blue blade. Drawing it from horseback looked pretty badass.
Why could I ride so well? Courtesy of Lady Yeo Po's training, no doubt….
Three bouts with her on horseback had skyrocketed my swordsmanship and riding proficiency. Mounted combat was now viable.
"Kim!! Don't charge ahead!!"
Guan Yu stuck right by my side.
"Haat!!! Been too long since a real fight!!! My body's itching!! No real grudge against Yuan Shao's goons, but they'll make fine drinking snacks to kill my boredom!!"
Zhang Fei clutched his Zhangba Snake Spear, swinging it wildly as he kept pace. With Liu Bei up front, it felt solid.
"What the hell are those guys!!"
"It's Liu Bei's army from the plains!!"
"Those bastards are tough!!"
Yuan Shao's troops turned their attention our way.
Liu Bei's army had some rep, quietly. From the Yellow Turbans to the anti-Dong Zhuo coalition, we were known as guys who could throw down.
"Kkkiyaaaak!!!"
I let out my most unhinged battle cry, syncing with my crazy horse.
This moment. Me and the horse—we were one!
Clop clop!!
As the horse thundered down the slope at max speed, I twisted my body sideways and swung Nam Un Geom with everything I had.
Shing.
The blue blade flashed. An enemy infantryman thrust his halberd to hook me off my horse.
Spluuurt!!
But my sword struck first.
"Gaaargh!!!"
One clean hit—sheared the Yuan Shao soldier's waist right off.
Horse speed plus the blade's cutting power. Insane damage.
Yeah. Three Kingdoms world—mounted combat had to exist!
"Hiihiihiiing!!"
From the bucking horse, I swung my sword, cleaving enemies and carving a path.
"Khek!!"
"Ugh!!"
While slicing through Yuan Shao infantry, our comrades blasted forward too, pressuring the enemy.
A thousand troops, but our firepower punched way above weight.
"Tch…."
Deep in the enemy lines, a hulking general with a massive sword clicked his tongue.
Looked like a potbellied uncle you'd see on the subway—armor didn't help the vibe.
This was Xun You, Yuan Shao's ace.
His doofy looks and the Romance nerf made people underestimate him, but Xun You was seriously strong. Rush in clueless, and you'd get wrecked.
"Shields up! Block the path!!"
At Xun You's sharp command, spearmen with shields swarmed, encircling the charging cavalry.
Cut off the charge angle, and cavalry power tanks.
Knowing that, I hopped off clean.
Whooosh!
Hovered a beat on horseback, then leaped high with sword raised.
Splurt!!
Landed sword-first into a shieldbearer's shoulder.
"Come at me!!"
All around—easy Yuan Shao grunts. Perfect XP farm.
"Chun Seol!! Gwang Yeom!! Old Man Buk!! Form a circle—back to back!!"
I shouted to the incoming Kim Squad members.
"And Gu Ryok-geo!! Stick with me!!"
Called my squad's top brute, Gu Ryok-geo.
"Mm!!! For you, I'll swing my axe!!"
Gu Ryok-geo nodded, hefting his double-headed battle axe. We just camp and hold here.
Xun You… no need to tangle now.
Considering the game's system.
In war, killing mooks barely dinged affinity. But offing a named enemy general? Big drop in faction rep. With Yuan Shao dominating Hebei soon, souring ties would make quests there awkward.
Liu Bei knew it too—stuck by Zhang Fei, whispering something.
"Eh? Go easy? Aww. Not my style, but gotcha, bro."
Liu Bei'd told Zhang Fei no kills, looks like.
"Hey!!! You fatass!! Fight me!!"
Zhang Fei twisted his spear through shields, challenging Xun You to a duel.
"Ha!! Says the other fatass!!"
Xun You jiggled his cheeks, charging with his broadsword.
Zhang Fei vs. Xun You duel.
Zhang Fei wins for sure, so I focused on farming around.
"Hrut!!"
Gwang Yeom had leveled up nicely. Bald, in his undies—freaky look, but swinging that wooden sword with gusto, dropping Yuan Shao grunts left and right.
"Hup. Huhup."
Old Man Buk covered details with weird dance-like dodges.
"Hng…."
Chun Seol poked mid-range with her spear, backing Buk's tiring breaths. Decent sync for three. Barely rolling, but hey.
"Gu Ryok-geo!! Watch my back!!"
I ordered him casually and went to town with my blade.
Clanggg-!
Parried a head strike, whipped the sword down to his waist. High-level Geomdo tech—head block to waist counter.
Spluuurt!!
Sliced clean through the Yuan Shao grunt's armor.
"Hrut!"
Gu Ryok-geo cleaved a path with Wuhuan fury axe swings.
Not too tough, just right for grinding. But endless numbers. Yuan Shao mobs—perfect noob fodder.
Status Update
Swordsmanship:59 (Proficiency nearing 60)
Stamina:51 | Strength:52 | Agility:41
Hard swings plus sprinting jacked my base stats too. Solid combat build now. Kim Squad kids probably same.
"Hyaa?!"
Chun Seol whiffed her spear thrust—a Yuan Shao sword grunt slipped into our circle, swinging.
"Kkiyot!!!"
I spotted it, beheaded the bastard to shield my squad. Invested time raising these kids. Waste to lose 'em.
"Th-thanks…."
Chun Seol flustered, thanked me.
"Get it together."
I nodded to my winded squad.
"Ah… yeah. I'll focus…. Fight hard…."
Chun Seol nodded, weird phrasing.
Fight hard? Did she mishear?
Shiver from her eyes—fleeting.
Pig vs. Pig bout nearing end.
Clanggg-!! Clang!! Ching-!! Claaang-!!
Zhang Fei's spear flurry slowed Xun You's broadsword barrage.
"Ngh…!!"
Xun You a warrior too, but Zhang Fei had the edge.
"Uhhahat!! That all you got!!"
Zhang Fei wound up big for the spearhead—aimed at the horse, looked like.
"Tch…!!"
Xun You wheeled his mount without hesitation, retreating.
"Ha!! Running away!!"
Zhang Fei bellowed triumphantly, flexing.
"…!!!"
Xun You's pullback sapped Yuan Shao momentum.
Bwoooooh!!
Julu Castle's Gongsun Zan troops sensed the shift, blew horns, flung gates open, and linked up.
"Retreat!!!!"
Xun You pulled his men back sharp. Smart—no pointless morale clash once momentum flipped.
Our Liu Bei force wasn't chasing in this forced scrap. Gongsun Zan, half-dead, same. We'd breached Julu's siege. Mission accomplished.
Aw. Grind over. After Lu Bu farm, this was meh flavor, but still helpful.
"Lord Xuande!! Thank heavens you came!"
One of Julu's generals greeted us, catching breath.
"Ah! General Tian!!"
Liu Bei bowed.
Tian Kai. Gongsun Zan's favorite. Qing Province governor—peer to Liu Bei rank-wise.
Gongsun Zan treated Liu Bei like Tian Kai's aide openly, cementing it.
Uncomfortable for Liu Bei. Tian Kai tagging along had other reasons.
Gongsun Zan planted him to watch us. Yeah. Big part.
Post-Wuhuan mess, Gongsun Zan eyed Liu Bei funny. Stuck cronies on him. Tian Yu was original, but total Liu Bei stan, so swapped to Tian Kai. Backstory.
"Perfect timing. Almost toast without you."
Tian Kai grinned, welcoming Liu Bei.
"For Brother Gongsun, of course we'd rush."
Liu Bei poker-faced, chuckled humbly.
"I'd love to celebrate victory and commend you all… but Jieqiao's dire. Let's go save the Lord."
Tian Kai wiped blood from his face, urged Liu Bei.
"Mm. Naturally. Raising troops quick is key."
Liu Bei army winded, but bailing risked Tian Kai's report. Had to follow.
"To Jieqiao, now!!"
Tian Kai rallied Julu's scant horses, led to Jieqiao. We trailed.
Destiny Point farm incoming. Nab one clean here, big XP at Jieqiao, link with surprise Zhao Yun—early-mid Liu Bei arc farming done.
Escape senses sharp. Already dancing at freedom. Open-world life's best as a ronin.
That thought—someone grabbed my hand sudden.
Yong-hwa? Nope. Liu Bei, gripping tight.
"Tough fight ahead, but with you, Kim Gong, I rest easy."
Sudden warm tone from Liu Bei.
…. Dude. Don't make me soft.
"Kim. Charging ahead again. Next time, fight from behind nu-na. Got it?"
Guan Yu grabbed my other hand, leaning in.
Spear-swinger hands this soft…? Nah—cleavage from the lean. Epic. Stared blank.
Pale skin, huge tits, faint blue veins…! Veins hit my kink—couldn't look away.
"…Same old boob-obsessed perv. You're fine."
Guan Yu caught it, giggled, shook head.
"Kim's such a perv."
Guan Yu tittered.
"…Don't tell Yong-hwa."
Had to say it.
"Hmhm. We'll see~."
Guan Yu poked my cheek from horseback, smirking.
My issue now: Everyone here weakening my escape itch.
Meanwhile. A beauty rode across the path.
"…Lost, huh."
Seeking a worthy lord, she'd hit the road. Endless plains left Zhao Yun flustered.
Looked empty, but nearby battle stench wafted. War brewing close.
Somewhere in the realm, conflict raged. Sure bet.
Check it out. Might find her man amid the chaos. Zhao Yun spurred her weary horse onward, convinced.