Becoming a Squad Leader in Cao Cao's Army
I was the very last in line, so I didn't get a chance to pick anyone. All the able-bodied men had been perfectly divided up. But luckily, I managed to snag a named soldier with a purple name floating over his head under my command.
"I'm Wenqian, Squad Leader!"
"Yeah, nice to work with you."
Le Jin clasped his fists and bowed to me. An SR-rank general was way higher than those captains up on the platform. The reason he hadn't been picked? He was much shorter than the others. And ugly to boot. In a world like Misan8 where looks were part of ability, he must've seemed worthless.
The rest were all peasant soldiers, each clutching crude hand halberds.
"Orders have come down— all squad leaders, assemble!"
Xiahou Dun, now up on the platform, bellowed. Me and the other squad leaders gathered.
"Listen up, you fresh squad leaders! You'll follow my adjutant to Dongmuyang, the command post of the Eastern Army. There, you'll get basic training and be assigned as regular troops to fight the Heishan bandits invading Yanzhou. Steel yourselves!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
The new squad leaders shouted back with grim faces, fists clasped. Everyone was tense for their first battle.
"Squad Leader Lee An!"
"Yes?"
"You don't look tense at all."
Xiahou Dun's favorability has slightly increased.
Xiahou Dun's favorability has reached 20!
Acquired 50 Yuanbao.
Oh. Nice!
"What's there to be tense about?"
'The tutorial's over and the field is open now.'
"Haha!! You've got some guts! Good! You head out first!"
Xiahou Dun tossed me a wooden tally.
"Dongmuyang is seven days north from here. I'll give you ten days—get there within the time limit and hand this tally to the Bingcaoyuan."
First Trial
📍 Description: Deliver Xiahou Dun's wooden tally to the Bingcaoyuan in Dongmuyang. Heishan bandit remnants invading Yanzhou lurk along the way—stay vigilant.
🎁 Objective: Deliver Xiahou Dun's wooden tally to the Bingcaoyuan
🎁 Rewards: 100 Yuanbao, 200 Merit, Xi Zhicai's favorability
⏰ Deadline: 10 days
'Seven days away, and they give me double the time?'
I'd figure it out once I got going.
"I'll obey and arrive in Dongmuyang within fourteen days!"
"Ten days, you idiot! There are still plenty of Heishan bandit remnants in Yanzhou—watch yourself. Someone would be very sad if you died."
Xiahou Dun laughed heartily and waved me off. Time to go.
I turned to my men.
"You guys hear that? We're heading out ahead of the main force as a detached unit. Grab your gear and let's move."
One peasant stammered, "S-Squad Leader! Just the five of us going first? If we run into bandits, we're dead meat!"
"Right! How can peasants like us stand up to battle-hardened Heishan bandits...?"
The peasants trembled in fear. Le Jin bellowed beside them.
"The commander's strict orders are given—why all this backtalk? If you're scared, drop your weapons and go home!"
The peasants shut up instantly. Le Jin came over and saluted me. Named soldiers were different, alright. I could leave troop management to him.
"Don't worry, Squad Leader! We're only five strong, but if bandits show, we'll protect you with our lives!"
"I'm fine—just don't die. Gear up and meet back here in an hour."
"Yes, Squad Leader!"
I slipped away to a secluded spot. Not for anything else—for a 10-pull gacha!
Gacha was always best in secret.
"Better pull gear this time than generals...?"
Like it or not, these guys were my companions for at least a week. I didn't want to watch them drop.
Le Jin was fine as a named soldier, but I wanted to kit out the peasants with the best gear possible. Good armor and weapons would make them pull their weight.
"Time for the 10-pull!"
I pressed my finger into the air, and the familiar system window popped up.
Current Yuanbao: 2880
From favorability, achievements, and various rewards, I had 2,880 Yuanbao total. Misan8's gacha was 160 per pull, 1,600 for a 10-pull. I could only afford one—slim odds for what I wanted.
But I had an ace. I swiped down like scrolling.
Sure enough, a shiny banner awaited.
"20% off newbie pack—total classic."
Four 10-pulls guaranteed an SSR. Perfect.
I pulled gear without hesitation. Flashy effects, then results.
...and so on.
"A 20-pull and only one SR?"
Insane odds, but three leather armors for the peasants? Solid. And the SR armor for Le Jin.
With the gear I wanted, I headed back lightly.
"Squad Leader! You're here!"
Le Jin and the three peasants saluted urgently. Instead of words, I dropped the armor and weapons on the ground.
"Supplies. You three, change into these leather armors. Keep your old stuff if you want, or swap for these weapons I brought."
"H-Huh?! These are supplies?"
"Never seen leather armor before!"
"Truth is, I know some high-up and got top-grade stuff."
'Can't exactly say gacha...'
The peasants excitedly donned the armor.
"Wenqian, you take this."
"Whoa!"
Le Jin's eyes widened as he took it unconsciously.
"Ahh... this cool, heavy feel..."
I drew my ring-pommel sword from my belt and handed it over.
"What is this black blade...?!!"
Le Jin unsheathed it, stroking the smooth blade in awe.
"Got an extra weapon. It's good—use it well."
"You'd give something this precious to me...?"
"Why not? I look after my own."
Just squad welfare.
Le Jin's favorability has greatly increased.
Le Jin's favorability has reached 20!
Acquired 30 Yuanbao.
Male generals give less Yuanbao. Noted.
"Move out once you're changed. Let's hustle to Dongmuyang."
"Yes, Squad Leader!"
Half a day in the direction Xiahou Dun indicated, bandits in yellow turbans appeared over the hills.
"O-Oh, Squad Leader... lots of enemies. We good?"
First time facing twenty, but...
"They don't look like regulars from their gear. We can handle it."
"This Le Wenqian trusts in his martial prowess—I'll lead and clear the path!"
Le Jin gripped the ring-pommel sword and charged the bandits.
—Slash!
Bandits dropped three or four at a swing.
1. Kill enemies. 50/50 (Achieved)
Acquired 200 Yuanbao.
Acquired Merit! +20
Huh? I paused mid-draw. Le Jin sliced the lead bandit, and the quest popped—merit gained.
'Auto-hunt is OP...'
"Raaagh! Blocking the Squad Leader's path? I'll carve you!!"
Le Jin dove into the fray like a fish to water, slashing bandits mercilessly.
—Clang!
—Kaching!
"Damn... what is this armor...?!"
"Swords, spears—nothing penetrates!!"
The bandits' crude weapons bounced off Le Jin's Dujeong Pigap. But his ring-pommel sword shredded them. The remnants fled in panic, only to get rounded up and wiped out.
"Squad Leader. Enemies annihilated."
Le Jin, blood-soaked, reported grimly.
"Good work. Wash up at the stream?"
"Without your gifted armor and sword, it wouldn't have been this easy!"
Le Jin's favorability has reached 80!
Acquired 90 Yuanbao.
Auto-hunt and Yuanbao? I smiled, praising Le Jin's merit.
"Keep leading and slicing them up."
"As you command, Squad Leader!"
His eyes burned with loyalty. I nodded, satisfied, and glanced back.
"Huh? What're you guys doing?"
The peasants were working on corpses.
"Collecting trophies to prove our merit."
One held something grotesque from a body.
"...Ugh."
A grisly sight. Humming, they looted the dead. Absurd. I looked at Le Jin—he was joining in, blade to a head.
—Slash.
"Chaotic times... truly chaotic."
I averted my eyes and swallowed hard.