Chapter 27
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Northern Central General Lu Zhi
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Bing Province, Jinyang.
A heavy silence hung over Bing Province Governor Ding Yuan's office.
Ding Yuan glared at the map spread out on his desk, impatiently drumming his fingers on the table.
News should have arrived from Jingsa by now about Lu Bu, whom he had dispatched there, but there had been no word at all.
Just then, the door opened, and one of his close aides entered.
"My lord! A messenger has arrived from Jingsa!"
"Oh! Finally!"
Soon after, a dust-covered messenger rushed in breathlessly.
The aide standing beside Ding Yuan hurriedly unrolled the bamboo slips the messenger had brought and began reading them aloud.
The aide's face grew increasingly grim as he read on.
"My lord... The news from Jingsa. Lu Bu has been appointed Colonel and assigned to Northern Central General Lu Zhi's army."
The aide's voice was subdued. It was as good as handing over the blade they had carefully forged to the Ten Attendants.
Naturally, everyone expected Ding Yuan to explode in rage. But his reaction was the complete opposite.
Ding Yuan shot up from his seat, slapped his knee with a resounding thwack, and shouted with evident delight.
"Perfect! Now we're getting somewhere!"
"My lord? Why are you so pleased? If Lu Bu racks up achievements, won't they all go solely to him and the Ten Attendants?"
The aide asked with a baffled expression. Ding Yuan clicked his tongue at the man in pity.
"Tsk tsk... You're still so naive."
"Pardon?"
"Even if Lu Bu's become a Colonel, where do you think he'll get soldiers to command?"
".........Ah!"
Enlightenment dawned on the aide's face at last. Without missing a beat, Ding Yuan bellowed.
"Someone! Summon a messenger to ride to Luoyang at once!"
Ding Yuan seized his brush and dashed off a letter without hesitation.
"Deliver this to Chief Attendant Zhang Gong in Jingsa and the court! 'Bing Province will dispatch three thousand elite cavalry to aid Colonel Lu Bu!' They must ride without rest, day and night!"
"Yes, my lord!"
"You, relay orders to the generals to prepare the cavalry!"
"Yes, my lord!"
The messenger and aide hurried out upon receiving their orders. Left alone in the office, Ding Yuan rose with a satisfied smile and paced about.
"Kuhaha! Zhengpo, my son. Every merit you earn will ultimately return to this father of yours. I won't let this opportunity slip away!"
I headed to the Northern Army's campgrounds after receiving orders to join Northern Central General Lu Zhi.
During the march, Wei Sok fidgeted restlessly, constantly glancing around. Unable to hold back any longer, he spurred his horse up beside mine and started grumbling.
"Brother, I hear there are over a hundred thousand rebels in Jizhou. Is fifteen thousand men really enough? Isn't that way too few?"
Zhang Liao, riding alongside, shook his head at Wei Sok's worried words.
"It's not just about numbers. The Northern Army consists of five elite camps: the Regular Cavalry, Elite Cavalry, Infantry, Changshui Cavalry from the north, and the archer crossbow units. And most of them are cavalry."
"Wen Yuan's right. Wei Sok, did we in Bing Province ever fight by sheer numbers?"
"No, but... To reclaim Jizhou's cities, we'll need sieges, right? Fifteen thousand seems..."
I clicked my tongue pityingly at Wei Sok, who was still fixated on the numbers.
"Tsk tsk... Why would we lay siege?"
"...??"
Wei Sok tilted his head, unable to grasp the point of my question, and glanced toward Cheng Lian and Wei Yue for help.
The two avoided his gaze and cleared their throats awkwardly.
"Ahem... Wei Sok. Haven't you heard that fools should keep their mouths shut to seem half as wise?"
Wei Sok pouted at Cheng Lian's jab.
"Wei Sok, try to take after even half of Cheng Lian and Wei Yue. Sigh... Even if the enemy numbers are vast, they're just a rabble of scraped-together peasants. How much food could they have stockpiled in those cities?"
"Ah..."
"Our job isn't to pound on walls. Cut their supply lines and squeeze their throats. Starving rats come scurrying out on their own."
"Aha! Still, for the central army, shouldn't they have more troops..."
Before Wei Sok could finish his complaint, we crested the hilltop. The sight that unfolded before us left everyone speechless.
The Northern Army was arrayed in perfect formation, without a single misalignment.
Soldiers moved with crisp discipline along the straight paths between the neatly pitched tents, while thousands of cavalry tended to their horses' harnesses in their designated areas.
Armor, spears, and swords gleamed in the sunlight, and massive Han banners fluttered in the wind.
Overwhelmed by the sheer majesty, Wei Sok muttered in a daze.
"Whoa... So that's why they call it the central army."
'Hah... So this is the central army.'
Bing Province's troops were strong, but these were on another level entirely.
From head to toe, they were perfectly equipped and adhered to ironclad discipline. They looked ready to march against any foe under heaven at a moment's notice.
Before such might, Wei Sok's whining about troop numbers vanished without a trace.
The tent of Northern Central General Lu Zhi, reached under escort, seemed to perfectly reflect its owner's character.
No ornate decorations—just a massive military map, piles of documents, and a single finely honed sword.
The interior was starkly austere and practical to the point of severity.
In the center stood a towering figure poring over the map. Even his back exuded an extraordinary aura of intimidation.
"Colonel Lu Bu reporting for assignment to General Lu Zhi's command!"
My voice echoed through the quiet tent.
Only then did the man slowly turn. The moment I faced him fully, I swallowed involuntarily.
I stood at least eight chi tall—over 185 cm—yet he loomed a full head taller, easily 190 cm or more. Unlike the rough northern barbarians, he radiated an air of scholarly refinement from every pore.
Lu Zhi eyed me up and down in silence for a moment. His gaze was sharp as a blade.
"......Colonel, I've heard plenty of your 'reputation' from Jingsa. But this is no political arena—it's an army camp."
His low voice carried a chill like frost on the wind.
"I understand, General."
"My army's discipline is absolute. I need not brave warriors, but subordinates who obey orders. You are my sword. Do not even think of leaving its sheath until I command you to strike. Understood?"
He meant to instill discipline from the start, given my ties to the Ten Attendants. But I had no intention of backing down.
I met Lu Zhi's eyes squarely.
"If I may be bold, a sword exists to sever enemies' necks—not to rust away in its scabbard, General."
"........."
Tension crackled through the tent. Lu Zhi's eyes narrowed. Just then—
"General! May this lowly officer enter?"
A gruff voice called from outside, laced with an accent rougher than standard Han speech.
The man who entered shortly after bore the unmistakable features of a non-Han barbarian.
'Barbarian scum.'
Killing intent surged from me instinctively—the bone-deep enmity etched from my northern days.
"—The Wuhuan Zhonglang General,"
Lu Zhi murmured, glancing at me. I hastily reined in my aura at those words.
'Damn... Reflex...'
I quickly withdrew the killing intent and bowed my head in apology.
"My rudeness, General."
"Kuhahaha! I've heard you had a wild time in Bing Province! I'm Wuhuan Zhonglang General Zong Yuan. A true man needs that kind of spirit! No need to mind it!"
Zong Yuan brushed off the apology and turned to Lu Zhi with a question.
"General, what unit do you plan to assign the new Colonel?"
I looked to Lu Zhi as well. I had the title of Colonel, but no troops assigned yet.
"The Northern Army is all central forces. Each camp will remain under its existing Commandants."
Lu Zhi replied flatly. Absurdity forced me to speak up.
"General, does that mean I'm to fight with just the hundred cavalry I brought from Bing Province?"
"Your father is sending troops."
'Your father is sending an army.'"
Just how far ahead was that sly old fox calculating?
Not content with figuring I'd attach to the Ten Attendants, now he was sending troops to claim a share of my merits.
'Whoa... So this is how politics works.'
As I admired Ding Yuan's move, Zong Yuan clapped his hands with a booming laugh, unable to contain his amusement.
"Kuhahaha! A son whose father sends an army after him! This'll be worth watching. Looks like Bing Province's Governor dotes on his Colonel!"
"......."
Dotes? No, he's just sticking his spoon in.
"Your forces will camp outside the main base. They won't mix with the main army, so bear that in mind. You'll learn the details when they arrive. Dismissed."
Ignoring Zong Yuan, Lu Zhi informed me curtly.
"......Understood."
There was nothing more to say.
I bowed and exited the tent. Behind me echoed Zong Yuan's jovial laughter and Lu Zhi's icy gaze.
Four days later.
We had set up a temporary camp in a barren wasteland away from the main base, per Lu Zhi's orders.
A massive dust cloud rose on the distant horizon. The thunder of hooves grew louder, shaking the heart.
At last, three thousand Bing Province cavalry came into view.
Their appearance was the polar opposite of the central army. Worn armor, faces hardened by northern sandstorms, banners flapping wildly. But their eyes gleamed with the feral savagery and killing intent of survivors from brutal battlefields.
"Woooah! Look at that! Our Bing Province boys are here!"
"Ooooh!"
Wei Sok and the hundred riders cheered and galloped out to meet their fellow provincials.
"Hahaha! How's Jingsa's water treating you?"
"Bah, Bing Province water's the best!"
In moments, the wasteland turned into a raucous marketplace of curses and laughter. Nearby Northern Army sentries furrowed their brows at the commotion.
Amid the uproar, one man rode steadily toward us without a twitch, guiding his horse with calm precision.
His face, visible beneath his helmet, was stern and impassive.
Reaching me, he dismounted and bowed deeply with perfect propriety.
"Bing Province Commandant Gao Shun, at your service, Colonel."
Gao Shun promptly produced Ding Yuan's letter from his bosom.
It was a perfunctory wish for "my son Zhengpo's martial fortune," granting me command of the army while stating supplies would be handled directly by Bing Province.
"Hm, the Governor's generosity is most appreciated."
I had too many investors staking on me.
'...Tempted to eat their dividends raw.'