The Trap Springs Shut
Twenty-five thousand Yellow Turbans filled the plain, advancing slowly. From a distance, with their yellow headscarves, they looked like the barren earth itself was moving. It seemed imposing at first glance, but a closer look revealed how pitiful they truly were. Only eight hundred rode horses, and a mere three hundred carried bows. The remaining twenty-odd thousand were all close-quarters infantry—a grotesquely unbalanced force. Even fewer wore proper armor, and many clutched rusty farming tools instead of real weapons.
In stark contrast, the six thousand suppression troops boasted eleven hundred cavalry—seven hundred light and four hundred heavy—while every infantryman was skilled with a bow. Their equipment was simply in another league. Of course the Yellow Turbans had their excuses. Most had spent their lives farming; how many chances had they ever had to ride? It was only because Youzhou had decent pastureland that eight hundred could mount up at all. Had they been from Yangzhou, where half the land was jungle, even a hundred horsemen would have been impossible.
The same logic explained their paltry three hundred archers. A farmer might occasionally ride a horse without training, but a bow? What use would that be to him? So it was only natural that archers were fewer than cavalry. Still, they had numbers—several times more than the enemy. That ought to be enough. The government troops might have done nothing but eat and drill in Luoyang, but the Yellow Turbans had gained real experience fighting provincial forces in Youzhou. What was there to fear?
Besides, their commander had spent the entire night devising a formation specifically to counter cavalry. With that in mind, the Yellow Turbans marched forward brimming with confidence to the steady beat of drums.
Dong. Dong. Dong. Dong.
Keeping the mountain range on their left, they advanced in tight formation. Yet their formation was peculiar. Every infantryman except the five-thousand-man reserve had been committed, the left wing thrust far forward while the right fell progressively farther back. All three hundred archers were massed behind the left, while the cavalry waited at the front of the right. This was the plan Deng Mao had agonized over all night.
“Kuhuhuhu! Did you fools think I challenged you without a plan? The only terrain where cavalry can truly shine here is on the right. While our horsemen tie down theirs, our infantry will slaughter them. On the left we’ll simply overwhelm them with numbers!”
“As expected of Lord Deng Mao! A brilliant scheme none of us could have conceived!”
“Hihit! Those government dogs will be stunned senseless!”
His lieutenants fawned with oily voices, already acting as though victory were assured. It was obvious flattery, yet Deng Mao laughed heartily. The praise of stinking men was nothing compared to a woman’s coy whispers, but victory and the accolades that followed were still sweet. And once those two government bitches were in his hands tonight…
Even before the battle began, Deng Mao was already imagining ravishing them.
“C-Commander! Look! The enemy cavalry are all leaving the field and riding hard to the right!”
“What?! What did you say?!”
Deng Mao’s carefully laid plan began unraveling from the very first move.
For a moment Deng Mao stared in shock at the cavalry wheeling wide to the right. Then he burst into scornful laughter.
“Hahahaha! Idiots… They’re trying to strike our rear, but at this rate they won’t even be able to protect their own infantry! Don’t panic. Those foolish women have only played a shallow trick.”
“B-But the situation has changed. Shouldn’t we issue new orders?”
“Hmm…”
Still sneering, Deng Mao forced down his unease and issued fresh commands.
“Signal our cavalry to fall back! Beat the drums faster! While our horsemen hold them off, we’ll encircle and annihilate the enemy infantry!”
“Yes, sir! What are you waiting for?! Pull the cavalry banners back and send the signal! Advance all four infantry banners and beat the drums rapidly!”
Piiiiiiiiii!
At the piercing signal, the Yellow Turban officers looked back to see the cavalry banners retreating while infantry banners surged forward. The drumbeats quickened.
Dong-dong-dong-dong-dong-dong!
Seasoned by several battles, the officers relayed orders swiftly.
“Cavalry! Charge the enemy horsemen striking our rear!”
“Infantry! Forward! The enemy numbers only three thousand! They’ll drown in our piss alone! While the leftmost unit pins them down, the rest will encircle and destroy them! Charge!!!”
Despite the disrupted plan, the Yellow Turbans moved with disciplined speed—an impressive display that explained how they had swallowed Youzhou despite their wretched equipment. None of them entertained the thought of defeat. They knew from experience that numbers always triumphed in the end. While their cavalry held the rear, their infantry would crush the enemy with sheer mass. They believed it utterly—until they actually clashed with the government infantry.
“Just as Deputy Commandant Cao predicted… Lady Yuan really ought to recruit talent like this instead of antagonizing him if she hopes to defeat that fake Yuan. But now isn’t the time for such thoughts.”
Ji Ling, commanding the three thousand infantry at the front, sighed quietly before raising his voice.
“First unit! Ground spears, take up bows! Loose at the enemy on the left the moment you’re loaded! Second unit! When the enemy closes within forty paces, throw javelins and protect the first! Third unit! While they hesitate under arrow fire, shift left and form square! Fourth unit! Move left with the third and stand ready behind them!”
The infantry executed the orders with flawless coordination.
“First unit! Loose!”
Shhhhhhhk!
“Graaah!”
“Ugh…!”
Arrows rained down on the leftmost Yellow Turbans attempting encirclement. Lacking armor, most fell dead or gravely wounded the instant they were hit. While the enemy faltered, the third and fourth units shifted left and formed a square, foiling the encirclement attempt. As the first unit continued shooting leftward, any Yellow Turbans who reached them were met by a storm of javelins from the second unit behind.
Thwock!
“Aaaagh!”
“Kurk… Kahak!”
“F-Fuck…! Aaaagh!!”
Yellow Turbans struck by javelins collapsed, most dying instantly or being trampled by their own charging comrades while screaming.
“First unit! Spears up, charge! Fourth unit! Javelins to the left and right of the third! Second unit, recover javelins and stand ready!”
The first unit surged forward while the second retrieved javelins. The third maintained a solid square with interlocked shields, and the fourth hurled javelins at any enemy trying to flank. The Yellow Turbans began to feel the first stirrings of unease at this unfamiliar style of fighting.
Watching the second unit hurl javelins and charge, Cao Cao murmured in admiration.
“Magnificent! Don’t you agree, Wonyang? I thought only Benchu attracted talent, yet even Gonglu still has such people… Indeed, the name of Runan’s Yuan clan cannot be ignored~”
“Hmph… Well, they’re competent enough. But Aman, shouldn’t we join the fight soon?”
“…You’re right. At this range we can break them before their infantry arrives. Wonyang, charge!”
“Light cavalry, follow me!!!”
Dududududu!
The light cavalry that had been threatening the enemy archers from the rear wheeled about and charged the Yellow Turban horsemen. Both sides spurred their mounts faster, bracing for impact.
“We’re colliding! Brace your thighs and hold on!”
“Anyone who falls is dead! Don’t fall off!!”
Kwaaaang!
Some died instantly without a sound. Others were thrown and trampled. Still others were crushed beneath their own fallen horses and slowly suffocated. Countless mounts lay broken and dying. Though both forces were only light cavalry, the carnage was horrific.
Once the two light cavalry forces slowed and began trading spear thrusts, Cao Cao gave the signal.
“Now’s the time… Heavy cavalry!”
“Now! Charge!!”
Cao Cao’s heavy cavalry thundered into the rear of the stalled enemy horsemen. The Yellow Turban cavalry tried to flee but were pinned by Xiahou Dun’s light cavalry and could not escape.
Kwaaaang!!!!
With a crash far louder than the earlier collision, the Yellow Turban cavalry shattered under devastating losses.
Ji Ling held firm against the far more numerous enemy infantry. Xiahou Dun darted between enemy archers and cavalry, sowing chaos. Cao Cao smashed the enemy horsemen and now drove into their infantry’s rear. And Yuan Shu… simply sipped honeyed water from the rear.
Thanks to the four commanders’ efforts, the Youzhou Yellow Turbans were slowly collapsing.
“Elder Sister! Now’s our chance! They’re wavering—let’s finish them!”
From the troops hidden in the rear, Zhang Fei shouted.
“…”
“Sister! What are you doing?! Let’s go already!”
When Liu Bei remained still, Zhang Fei urged her impatiently.
“…Very well. Yunchang, Yide—follow me and take the enemy commander’s head. As for Bangyeol… wait with the infantry at the escape route toward Jizhou.”
“What?! That doesn’t make sense! I should charge with the Dontou Village men while you stay with the infantry, Lady Hyeondeok!”
“Sister, Bangyeol is right. It’s too dangerous.”
“I agree, Elder Sister. Besides, the Dontou Village heavy cavalry were originally under Bangyeol’s command…”
“Enough!”
Liu Bei’s shout silenced everyone.
“Yunchang! Yide! Obey my orders. And Bangyeol… please follow my words as well.”
“…If that is your wish, then so be it.”
“Well, fine! I got it!”
“…”
Why give such an order? Merely blocking the escape route wouldn’t bring him any glory. This way he couldn’t even leave Liu Bei’s army. Should he just collect loot and desert later, even if it earned him curses?
What should he do now?
“…Yeol? Bangyeol!”
“…Yes?”
When he came to his senses, Liu Bei was holding both his hands, speaking earnestly.
“I’m dull and slow-witted, so I don’t fully understand what grievances you hold… but I do know you intend to leave me.”
She knew? But how? Did she realize he planned to claim the loot as his own property and distribute it to the people before departing? Surely she couldn’t have guessed that much… No—if anyone could read motives, it was Liu Bei. The moment she sensed his desire to leave, she might have deduced the rest as well.
A chill ran down his spine. He tried to pull his hands free, but Liu Bei only gripped tighter.
“But for now—at least until I meet Master Nosik—please stay with me. Master Nosik will surely help me obtain a high office. If you remain under me, you’ll receive rewards far greater than mere loot. So please… don’t leave.”
She really did know everything! Rendered speechless, he could only nod.
. . .
Eventually they reached the road leading to Jizhou. While half-heartedly detaining fleeing stragglers, his mind raced. What now? Should he run straight to Nosik and offer a bribe? No—Nosik wasn’t the sort to listen to anyone, let alone a stranger he’d never met. He’d probably just curse him out. Besides, by the time Liu Bei’s forces reached Jizhou they would already be under escort. That meant Nosik was already being brought in under guard.
Did that mean he had to keep traveling with Liu Bei? But the name Bangyeol had never existed in history; it surely meant he would die in one of Liu Bei’s many defeats. Absolutely not.
Damn it. If Liu Bei’s side missed the enemy commander, an opportunity might arise, but there was no way that would…
“You bastards!!!! Did you think Lord Deng Mao would go down like this?! Even if I die, I’ll drag those two bitches sipping tea in the rear with me!!! …And who the hell are you?!”
“A-Ah, young lady!!! It’s dangerous!!!!”
…Huh? Why was that guy coming this way?