Battle of Jieqiao (3)
As we marched steadily toward Jieqiao, all I could do was take in the devastation of You Province.
This is a real age of chaos.
The cityscape laid bare before us was so systematically destroyed that the Yellow Turban Rebellion felt like child's play in comparison.
While Yuan Shao's forces and Gongsun Zan's army flexed their might against each other, the common folk around them had been caught in the crossfire.
No matter where I looked, corpses and charred buildings filled my view.
Soldiers in any era didn't just fight wars. Plunder disguised as requisitions and rapine always followed in war's wake.
This is a truly insane era.
If there were anarchists in the real world, I'd love to show them this scene. Disorder was no match for true order.
The tragedy was that all this slaughter stemmed from nothing more than a pissing contest between Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shao.
"Hurry!! Our lord is in danger!"
Tian Kai shouted curtly toward Liu Bei. Like his superior Gongsun Zan, he had a subtle habit of talking down to us.
"…."
Should I just bash this guy's head in and report he died in the chaos of battle? The violent thought flashed through my mind for a moment.
But with so many eyes around, I held back.
In any case, we arrived smoothly near Jieqiao.
At this vital bridge spanning the border between Ji Province and You Province, two armies were clashing fiercely.
"Everyone!!! Raise your shields!!!"
A general up front was commanding the shield soldiers.
Ju Yi….
One of the unsung heroes of the Three Kingdoms, surprisingly overlooked by many. Originally a subordinate of Han Fu, he'd switched to Yuan Shao and built his fame as Gongsun Zan's nightmare.
Clatter!!!
Gongsun Zan's cavalry were desperately trying to break through those shield soldiers.
"Everyone!!!! Loose arrows!!!"
As they entered effective range, Ju Yi swung his sword like a baton and bellowed.
Clank.
The archers behind the shields instantly thrust their bows through the gaps and fired.
Fwoosh!!!
A storm of arrows flew madly toward Gongsun Zan's cavalry.
Thud!! Thwack!!
The lead riders screamed and dropped dead in unison. This was Ju Yi's signature tactic—the one that broke Gongsun Zan's back. By coordinating shields and archers to blunt a cavalry charge, then counterpressing.
"Well done!! Ju Yi!!! Charge!!!!"
Yuan Shao himself led from the front, swinging his sword as he targeted the opposite flank. With their lord drawing his blade, the soldiers surged forward with frenzied momentum.
"Ngh…."
Mounted Gongsun Zan gripped his sword with a dazed expression.
It was just a scene of forces crumbling, but Gongsun Zan was so handsome that even it looked picturesque.
"Ngh!! My lord!!"
Tian Kai shed tears of loyalty, drew his spear, and charged.
"Everyone!!! We must buy time for the retreat!"
Yeah. Winning was impossible; the priority was extracting the surrounded Gongsun Zan somehow.
"Argh!! My lord!! I'll hold them off!!"
A general beside Gongsun Zan had pulled himself together.
"Yan Gang is here!! Ju Yi or whatever, come fight me!!"
Yan Gang roared in fury.
"Ha!!! Good spirit!!"
Ju Yi shouted confidently, drew his sword, and charged.
"Yaaah!!!"
Yan Gang spurred his horse as well.
For reference, Ju Yi's level on my Status Window was 25. Yan Gang's was 17. The outcome was obvious.
Shing.
Ju Yi's sword flashed.
Splurt!!!
The blade cleanly severed Yan Gang's neck. His spear sliced empty air.
"…Yan."
Yan Gang let out a final gasp and slumped over his horse. Yan.
"Gongsun Zan!!!! You next!!"
Buoyed by his kill, Ju Yi swung toward Gongsun Zan.
"Ngh…!"
Gongsun Zan fumbled in panic and drew his sword.
Clang! Clang!
Gongsun Zan held his own pretty well. After all, he'd been a fierce northern warlord before becoming a ruler.
But there was no way he could stop Ju Yi at his peak.
"My brother is in danger!! Break through!!"
Our Liu Bei forces hurried into action too, but we faced Yuan Shao's main body.
Me? I wasn't scared.
Because Zhao Yun shows up right about now. Yep. This was a mandatory event—as long as Gongsun Zan or Ju Yi didn't die, it was scripted to happen.
Clatter!!!
And sure enough. A general charged into the heart of the battlefield on horseback.
Silver armor, black hair flowing beyond it, wielding a spear with tassels like a lion's mane—stylishly.
Zhao Yun.
She's a woman too. A cool beauty with black hair.
Whoosh!!
A strike so fast it made Ju Yi and Gongsun Zan's duel look sluggish.
Clang.
With one spear thrust, Zhao Yun dismantled their fight.
"You…."
Gongsun Zan stared wide-eyed at Zhao Yun.
"…."
Zhao Yun quietly assessed them both, then spoke.
"Which side is in the right?"
She asked with a sudden blank, dog-like expression.
"Hm?" "Huh?"
Everyone tilted their heads at the sudden peaceful question.
"I am a warrior. I must swing my blade for the righteous side."
Zhao Yun stated flatly, showing no intent to intervene until she heard the answer.
That's Zhao Yun for you. Kind of my-pace, in a subtly service-oriented way. That's why raising affinity was easy—just do the right thing.
But putting that aside.
"Argh!! A few bugs won't make a difference!!!"
Yuan Shao's main force loomed before us.
Beyond Yuan Shao in his golden armor, his aides Yan Liang and Wen Chou charged.
"Yide!! Yun Chang!! And Kim Gong!!! Hold Yan Liang on the left and Wen Chou on the right!! I'll stop Yuan Shao!!"
Liu Bei shouted decisively, drew his twin swords, and charged.
Clang-!!
Liu Bei immediately clashed blades with Yuan Shao. His first proper duel in ages. Maybe from all that recent foot volleyball—his body was itching for action.
"Hey!! You pig over there!!! Fight me!!!"
Zhang Fei bellowed at Yan Liang. They say pigs see only pigs… but saying that to Zhang Fei would get me punched.
"Pig?!! You calling me a pig?!!"
Yan Liang seemed outraged.
"Yeah. I am a pig!! Always getting teased by Wen Chou…."
And suddenly Yan Liang started rambling about something no one asked.
"I am a pig…! Think that hurts my feelings? You're wrong!! But!!!"
Yan Liang raised his spear and charged madly.
"I won't stand being called a pig!!!"
Yan Liang thrust his spear after that contradictory line.
"Wait!! You said it doesn't bother you!!!"
Zhang Fei retorted as their spears clashed.
It was a fight Zhang Fei would win anyway. Guan Yu and I were up against Wen Chou.
"W-Wait…. Guan Yun Chang and…. Ghost Kim?! I have to face both alone?!"
Wen Chou muttered in slight panic, drawing his spear.
He recognized us—my name and Guan Yu's were getting around. A god game where in-game fame reflects in NPC dialogue…!
"Kim!! Let's go!!"
Guan Yu spurred her horse with relish and thrust her spear.
Clang!!
Wen Chou blocked Guan Yu's strike despite its wailing edge. A fitting reputation as Hebei's top general.
"Kkkiyaaaak!!"
Yeah. With Guan Yu here, what was there to fear? I drew my Namun Sword and thrust with all my might.
Clang!!!!
My sword neatly sliced through Wen Chou's chest armor.
"Ngh…!"
Wen Chou looked shocked as his armor shattered.
He twisted to dodge a waist cut. That's why only the chest plate was hit. Wen Chou was seriously strong.
"You lowly scum…!"
Things weren't looking good for Yuan Shao's side either, now locked in a duel with Liu Bei.
Liu Bei wielded his twin blades like extensions of his arms, pressing Yuan Shao hard. No way the street fighter from Takhyeon would lose to some prim Yuan kid.
The duel stalled Yuan Shao's advance just a bit. Yan Liang, Wen Chou, and Yuan Shao wheeled their horses and began retreating. That created a brief opening.
"Kim?!! Which side is that Kim Gong on?!"
Suddenly Zhao Yun's eyes lit up as she shouted. She'd overheard "Kim" from over there.
"Ah. He's with us."
Gongsun Zan answered dazedly.
"A hero who wandered the Central Plains avenging his parents, finally slaying his foe, and quelled the Yellow Turban chaos with a single blade… If that's the side he's on, it can't be all bad."
Zhao Zilong suddenly spouted some weird line.
"Hm. Then I'll fight for you for now."
Zhao Yun aimed her spear at Ju Yi.
"You wench…. Listening to you makes me feel belittled…!"
Ju Yi angrily swung to behead Zhao Yun.
Whoosh!!
As if anticipating it, Zhao Yun ducked and evaded effortlessly.
Clang!!!
Her spear shattered Ju Yi's shoulder armor completely.
"Gah!!!"
Ju Yi grimaced in pain, swaying on his horse.
Thrust!!
Zhao Yun's follow-up neatly pierced his left arm.
"Argh!!"
Ju Yi bled profusely and hastily turned his horse.
With that, Yuan Shao's army began withdrawing from Jieqiao.
We'd bought Gongsun Zan time to retreat.
"Everyone!! Pull back the troops!!"
At Tian Kai's order, Gongsun Zan's forces sighed in relief and fell back.
Somehow making it back to You Province.
Unable to endure the forced march any longer, everyone collapsed in an open field to rest.
Gongsun Zan sat on a rock, utterly lost.
"…I'm the protagonist of this world…. These setbacks…. I'll just overcome them. I haven't lost. This is all part of the plan."
He was muttering rapid-fire rap to himself face-down. It was scary.
"Brother. For now, let's consider Ji Province lost…. And focus on winning hearts in You Province."
Liu Bei finally advised him.
"Liu Bei, you're saying the same as that Liu Yu bastard. You think I'm fighting needless wars?"
Gongsun Zan looked up at Liu Bei.
"Well, same Liu clan means you came from the same hole."
As Gongsun Zan tried some pad lip.
"Brother."
Liu Bei fixed him with a slightly sharp glare.
"…Sorry. Xuan De."
Gongsun Zan finally apologized. Liu Bei could be scary when angry.
"No. The war isn't over. Yuan Shao's army will push to Beihai where I am soon. We'll turn all of You Province into forward bases. Lure them in and grind them down."
Gongsun Zan stood decisively.
"Brother…! What about the common folk…."
As Liu Bei exclaimed in shock, Gongsun Zan clapped his shoulder.
"Fret over trifles and you're just a commoner. Heroes and paragons always reach for the stars."
Gongsun Zan spoke with a faintly mad glint, ignoring Liu Bei as he began reorganizing the troops.
"…."
Liu Bei stared at him like he was crazy.
I felt the same standing beside him. Gongsun Zan. The kid had lost it.