Ambush on the Night March
The allies had finished sorting the supplies. They took only six-tenths of them, leaving the remaining four-tenths behind. Before starting the march, I spoke from my position at the rear.
"Don't march in a loose line—maintain formation as you go."
I couldn't fathom why they hadn't ambushed the vanguard of Jojo's army up ahead. Was it because of the scouts we'd sent out all along the way? Or were they planning to cut off the main force's waist? 'Whatever the reason, it doesn't matter right now.' What was certain was that the enemy was somewhere nearby. Marching in a long, stretched-out line in such conditions was asking for disaster. Joining up would be delayed, but advancing slowly in formation was the right call.
"True, there's no guarantee we won't get ambushed ourselves."
"We have to assume an ambush when we turn back."
Fortunately, Jojo and the other generals accepted my opinion. Now we needed to think about deployment to counter a surprise attack.
"First, place the wagons on the outer flanks to use as barricades if needed."
The wagons themselves made excellent obstacles. Right now, linking up took priority over the supplies. It was a decision made with the resolve to abandon them.
"And deploy all five hundred escort troops on both sides."
"All of them?" Jojo asked, as if questioning whether that was necessary.
But only then could I feel somewhat at ease.
"If the enemy attacks, they'll definitely target the flanks."
We'd have plenty of time to respond if they came from the front or rear. The enemy wouldn't squander the advantage of surprise like that.
"At least the escort troops have the experience to react."
What if we put regular soldiers on the flanks instead? A single ambush could shatter them completely. To prevent that, someone would have to risk their lives.
"If they strike, the escort will fall first."
"We selected only those prepared for death."
When I picked the five hundred, I chose rootless men who had steeled themselves for it. Of course, that didn't mean none would run. Still, they were far more reliable than the others.
Jojo accepted all my proposals.
"Advance."
The creeping darkness silently swallowed the column. A damp wind from the thickets nearby brushed their cheeks. Footsteps sank into the muddy ground with wet squelches, and the soldiers' heavy breaths filled the night air.
Jojo suddenly turned to me, as if struck by a thought.
"Somyeong, shouldn't we send out more scouts?"
"I oppose it. It'd be pointless now."
We'd been sending scouts nonstop until then, but at this moment, it was a bad move.
"The enemy is already around us. Sending scouts now won't bring back any useful intel."
"But if a scout screams, at least we'd know where the enemy is, right?"
In simple terms, it was proposing to use scouts as canaries in a coal mine. There was logic to it, so I pondered before rejecting it.
"If the enemy fakes a scream, we'll suffer even greater losses."
Later, when Gongsun Zan faced Yuan Shao at Jieqiao, this exact thing happened. They launched a flanking raid with a detachment, but Yuan Shao's forces caught on and staged a false commotion. Gongsun Zan's army fell for it and took heavy casualties.
"Even if a scout screams for real, it's only a small gain—but if the enemy exploits it, the damage will be huge."
Dong Zhuo's men hadn't been spotted by our scouts so far. They might have stayed back because of them. But I couldn't risk major losses for a minor advantage.
"Besides, will the scouts even scout properly?"
They knew the enemy was lurking nearby too. How many would risk certain death to recon? They'd glance around superficially and report back "all clear." We'd march on blindly and get slaughtered in the ambush.
"Understood. It's a relief having you here, Somyeong."
Jojo couldn't refute my reasoning.
"Argh!"
The eerie silence shattered with a single scream.
"Strike down those rebel dogs!"
The forest gaped open like a massive maw, spewing black shadows in all directions. Xu Rong's troops, ambushed in the left woods, poured out and stabbed at the column's side.
"Raise shields! Don't retreat a single step!"
Wang Jun bellowed at the top of his lungs to steady the escorts. But the gap between militia and elites exceeded my expectations. Dong Zhuo's men thrust their weapons without hesitation, prying at shield gaps. I'd thought our militia had toughened up, but they were helpless against these foes.
"You bastard!"
Xiahou Yuan flashed his spear, cutting down a charging soldier. Blood sprayed every time the long shaft gleamed. Dong Zhuo's troops hesitated at the sudden general.
"Enemy on the left flank! Form up!"
Jojo in the center swiftly commanded the troops. Thanks to the time bought with escort lives, the main body gained precious moments. Panicked soldiers heard the voice, returned to positions, and gripped their weapons.
"Fall back behind the wagons!"
Once ready, I ordered the escorts. They slipped through our weapon lines and sheltered behind the wagons. Jojo's army and Dong Zhuo's faced off across the wagon barricade.
"Attack over the wagons!"
At the enemy general's order, Dong Zhuo's men vaulted them immediately. Their superior skill sought gaps to crack us open. Still, the wagons hindered their movement, if only briefly. We clung to that slight edge and held tenaciously.
- Ping
"Gahk!"
I aimed ordinary arrows at enemy soldiers and officers. At this close range, regular arrows were better. They had plenty of lethality and were far easier to handle than the repeating crossbow.
- Ping
Targeting those climbing wagons tripped up those behind them.
"Come on over if you dare!"
Xiahou Dun, who'd been on the right, had shifted left to cleave Dong Zhuo's men. Cao Ren and Cao Hong, holding front and rear, fended off the press. More of ours fell than theirs, but we weren't collapsing outright.
"The left is about to break. Send two hundred men."
Jojo calmly assessed the field and plugged the gaps. With central control, the generals could focus on fighting.
'Their assault is weakening.'
The corpses along the barricade snagged advancing feet. The pile worked against the attackers. We leaned on half-ruined wagons and bodies to hold.
'The escorts are all down.'
The five hundred were reduced to traces. Survivors stood atop comrades' corpses, enduring. The lives I'd thrown bought a cold clarity of mind.
'I won't let their sacrifice be in vain.'
Only if we returned did it gain meaning. I had to imbue value into those lost lives. No time for grief or despair now.
"The enemy is holding better than expected," Xu Rong noted, his eyes confirming it.
Jojo's army had advanced in formation, accepting delayed reinforcements. The initial surprise failed to sow chaos. Their soldiers fought well, inflicting heavy casualties on us—but it wasn't enough.
"No choice. The midangjang (Lu Bu) said he was retreating, right?"
"Yes."
"Having to borrow that bastard's hand..."
Three days prior, Lu Bu had seized command from Xu Rong, who despised him for it. But lingering meant risking Jojo's main force regrouping. Failing the ambush would leave Xu Rong with no merits, just defeat.
"Send word to the midangjang. Ask for five hundred fresh troops to hit Jojo's army on the right."
Xu Rong spat the order. Lu Bu would claim more glory, but no alternatives remained. He couldn't return empty-handed.
"And reduce flank assaults—increase troops to front and rear."
The roars from the left woods gradually faded. Fewer Dong Zhuo soldiers desperately tried vaulting the wagon barricade. Flank guards heaved ragged breaths, regripping bloodied spearhafts. The onslaught hadn't stopped, but we could catch our breath briefly.
'What is it? Are they retreating?'
I dared imagine a hopeful outcome. The slackening assault gave grounds for it. But my optimism crumbled fast.
"The dowi (Cao Ren) requests support."
"The ajang (Cao Hong) calls for aid—they're being overwhelmed."
If one flank was blocked, hitting front and rear made sense. Our formation was solid, but front/rear troops were inferior to flanks. If Dong Zhuo tore in there, it'd collapse worse.
'But we lack reserves.'
The issue: not enough reinforcements for both. One side, yes—but not both.
Jojo scowled in the same dilemma before ordering.
"Miaozhai (Xiahou Yuan)! Reinforce the rear!"
He pulled Xiahou Yuan from the stalemated flank to Cao Hong. Calculation: Xiahou Dun alone could hold the side.
"Yes!"
Xiahou Yuan swept through enemies en route rearward. With Cao Hong and him, they'd butcher the assault.
"Send five hundred reserves to the dowi."
Jojo issued the next order as Xiahou Yuan departed. Cao Ren was second to none in command; he'd hold.
"Don't break formation!"
I screamed myself hoarse, rallying the crumbling morale. Stamina long gone from nonstop fighting, but no choice. Resting now was begging the enemy to kill us.
"Hold!"
Gazing left, I kept loosing arrows—oblivious to the right.
- Thud thud thud thud
Vibrations swelled from the right. Hoping allies, I looked—and saw a general charging on a red horse, halberd raised. No mistaking Lu Bu.
'He was supposed to hit the vanguard...'
Mind froze at the impossibility, but body reacted. Fingers nocked an arrow, loosing straight at Lu Bu. He casually deflected it, snapping me alert.
"Enemy on the right! Thrust spears and hold position!"
Right flank held the remaining escorts after pulling a hundred left. I ordered them to form a spear wall before Lu Bu.
If we stalled him somehow, infantry behind could be blocked by wagons.
"Hahu Sima (Xiahou Dun)! Lu Fengxian comes from the right! We must stop him."
I called to Xiahou Dun fighting left—nearest general to counter Lu Bu.
"Go to the rear and fetch the byeolbusama. Tell him Lu Fengxian is here and needs blocking."
I even dispatched a soldier to recall Xiahou Yuan from rear support. Now, buy time to keep Lu Bu away.
'Let's see if you can block a short arrow too.'
I loaded a regular arrow first, drew the repeating crossbow. Close range forgave shaky aim. Instinct said normal arrows wouldn't pierce—but short ones might.
- Thud thud thud thud
As I readied, Lu Bu reached our lines. He spurred over a wagon, crashing down on soldiers.
- Boom!
Two halberd swings cleared them. Absurd martial prowess.
- Ping
I struck as he recovered the halberd—with a short arrow.
- Ting!
"Who dares?!"
Absurd indeed. Spotting my bow, Lu Bu slotted the halberd into the arrow's path, deflecting it. The world's best could swat unseen shots like flies.
"You dare strike me? You won't die easy!"
He hadn't fully deflected; Lu Bu yanked an arrow from his shoulder. Not deep, but a wound nonetheless. Mission accomplished.
"Lu Bu! This old Yuan rang will face you!"
As Lu Bu pulled the arrow, Xiahou Dun arrived.