Chapter 29
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Battle of Julu (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Julu Plains in broad daylight were filled with scorching sunlight and swirling dust winds.
"Charge! Hit them and pull back before they can even gather their wits!"
With Wei Sok's shout, two thousand Bing Province cavalrymen kicked up a massive dust storm as they crashed into the Yellow Turbans' flimsy rear guard.
The sudden raid sent the Yellow Turbans into utter panic.
"E-enemies! It's the imperial army!"
"Where the hell did they come from?!"
Wei Sok galloped at the forefront, slashing, smashing, and setting fire to everything in his path.
The unit he led had no specific target. Their sole purpose was to ignite chaos by setting fires all throughout the rear.
"Kahaha! How do you like that, you bastards? This is the might of Bing Province cavalry! Burn it all down!"
"Wei Sok, a messenger's heading to their main camp! Reinforcements will be here soon!"
Cheng Lian shouted urgently.
"Doesn't matter! By the time they arrive, we'll be long gone! Entire unit, change direction! Over there this time!"
Wei Sok's unit left the burning encampments behind and vanished once more into the distance, stirring up another enormous dust cloud on the opposite side of the plains.
At that very moment, Zhang Liao seized the opening created by the chaos.
The hundred elite cavalry under Zhang Liao's command all had their horses muzzled and were advancing low to the ground.
The Yellow Turbans, distracted by the flames rising in various spots, failed to notice Zhang Liao's cavalry slipping by.
"Captain, Yellow Turbans ahead! Shouldn't we go around?"
"No, they're too focused on Wei Sok to pay us any mind. No room for that. Full speed ahead—break through."
"There's a risk of detection!"
"They're like dogs chasing their own tails right now. They won't even notice us brushing past. Let's go."
At Zhang Liao's signal, the hundred riders thundered forward, leaving the dazed Yellow Turbans in their dust.
After circling the enemy rear for some time, they finally spotted their mark.
A Yellow Turban granary ringed by wooden barricades.
Mounds of grain sacks towered like mountains. The guards were vigilant, but their eyes were fixed on the direction of Wei Sok's commotion.
"—Found it."
Zhang Liao murmured in a low, confident voice.
"Should we send the signal?"
"Not yet. We wait until Wei Sok draws their eyes even further."
Time crawled by in suffocating silence.
The distant clamor of shouts and sporadic plumes of smoke were the only hints of the battlefield's fury.
No one spoke.
The only sounds were the horses snorting restlessly and the faint rustle of armor against sweat-soaked bodies.
"...Lord Commandant, it's too quiet."
Gao Shun whispered from nearby.
"It'll get noisy soon enough. Just a bit longer."
As he replied, eyes locked on the horizon, a black speck appeared against the blue sky.
It was a fire arrow soaring high into the air.
The flaming tip traced a black tail in a perfect arc. Moments later, two more fire arrows joined it.
—Three in total. The agreed signal.
"The signal's up, Lord Commandant."
Gao Shun's low, excited voice reached him. Gripping his spear tighter, he spoke.
"Time to move."
Without hesitation, he spurred his horse forward.
"Entire unit, remove the muzzles! Follow me! We'll gut their granary clean!"
"Waaaaah!"
A thousand elite cavalry surged onto the plains like a burst dam. There was no need to hide their noise anymore.
Racing to the signal, a massive granary came into view. The wooden barricades had seemed daunting at first glance, but up close, it was clear they posed no threat.
'What the hell gives these bastards the confidence to leave it like this?'
Gaps riddled the unfinished barricades, and the sentries atop them stared toward the smoke billowing from the main camp rather than the approaching force.
"Wh-what's that?!"
"Enemies! It's the enemy!"
They felt the ground shaking as we closed in and began to panic. But it was far too late.
"Gao Shun! Take the right flank!"
"Yes, Lord Commandant!"
"Their barricades are full of holes! No one's too stupid to squeeze through, right?"
"Hahaha! You think Bing Province men can't slip through a damn hole?!"
Amid the soldiers' roars, he charged straight for one of the gaps in the barricade.
The enemy's resistance was negligible.
"B-block them! They're inside!"
"Where'd these guys come from?! Damn it, hold them off!"
The Yellow Turbans inside fumbled for their spears, but it was too late.
—Slash!
The spear tip transmitted the crunch of bone and flesh. Those blocking the way didn't even scream as they crumpled into bloody heaps.
"Secure the entrance! Sweep away any resistance!"
Gao Shun commanded flawlessly, and the Bing Province cavalry moved as one, smashing the Yellow Turbans one by one.
"Kahaha! As expected of the Lord Commandant!"
"Kill them all!!"
The soldiers around me cheered and rampaged wildly.
'Good. Now then...'
With the meager resistance crushed, he issued the next order without delay.
"That's enough! Ignore the small fry! Set the granary ablaze! Burn every last bit!"
"Waaaaah!"
The soldiers whooped as they hurled torches onto the grain piles everywhere.
—Whoosh!
Dry straw and grain heaps erupted into an inferno, devouring everything in crimson flames. Towering pillars of black smoke rose to choke the sky.
"We've set the fire—now withdraw—"
Mid-sentence, a massive tremor shook from the rear.
"The rebels against Heaven's will are right there! Let not a single one escape!"
Turning, he saw tens of thousands of Yellow Turbans filling the horizon, encircling us beyond the burning barricade entrance.
Leading them was Earth General Zhang Bo, his face flushed beet-red with rage, glaring daggers at us.
Behind, the blaze consumed all; ahead, tens of thousands of spears gleamed.
Fierce flames cast bloody shadows, and soaring black smoke seemed to swallow the heavens.
For the first time, terror and despair flickered across the soldiers' faces.
Harsh breaths came with trembling hands on spears. Even Gao Shun's face was rigid, awaiting orders.
"L-Lord Commandant! We're surrounded! We're all dead!"
One soldier screamed in a voice like tearing cloth.
"Th-there's too many..."
Murmurs spread, eyes filling with fear. Some had already gone limp, spears drooping in resignation.
"Hah, die here? They're just peasant rebels! You're Bing Province men, my subordinates—Lu Bu's men! You gonna piss yourselves?!"
He bellowed deliberately, laughing heartily.
My laughter pierced the roaring flames and the Yellow Turbans' murmurs, embedding in the soldiers' ears.
"Gao Shun! Reform the lines!"
"Yes, Lord Commandant!"
Gao Shun nodded and steadied the ranks. At that moment, Zhang Bo, lost to fury, ordered a full assault.
"Slaughter these imperial dogs! Leave none alive!"
"Waaaaah!! Death to the Azure Heaven!"
"Azure Heaven perishes! Yellow Heaven rises!"
Tens of thousands charged, howling as they closed in.
"Gao Shun! While I buy time, break through the weakest spot in that barricade and secure our retreat!"
I pointed to the eastern barricade where the flames were thinnest.
"As you command, Lord Commandant!"
Gao Shun led the men without hesitation.
To buy him time, I spurred my horse alone toward the Yellow Turbans head-on.
"You bastards! I am Lu Bu!"
"Gaaaaah!"
Each mighty swing of my spear sent five or six of the front line tumbling in sprays of blood.
"Wh-what?!"
"Block him!"
Shields trying to parry my spear shattered like paper, their yellow turbans staining red as they hit the dirt.
"Is this the Yellow Heaven you lot preached?!"
—Hiiiing!
Redmane reared, trampling oncoming Yellow Turbans, and with each spear flash, the path cleared as they toppled like dominoes.
"If you don't wanna die, get out of my way!"
"What the hell is that guy?!"
"He's breaking through! The lines are breaking!"
Terror-stricken Yellow Turbans screamed and fell back.
Witnessing the surreal scene, Zhang Bo recoiled in shock, feeling true fear for the first time. Realizing his men might annihilate, he tried slipping to the rear with his guards.
But I didn't miss it. I couldn't let that bastard escape my sight.
"Hya!"
Kicking Redmane's flanks, it accelerated into a dust storm, hurtling toward Zhang Bo.
"You've come to die by your own choice—why turn back now?!"
Hearing my shout and seeing the speed, Zhang Bo knew he was done, wheeling his horse around.
Terror filled his face, but with his men watching, he masked it with rage.
"You dare! This Earth General shall show you Heaven's will!"
"Heaven's will? It's your head rolling at my feet!"
"Shut your mouth!"
His sword clashed with my spear, sparks flying.
—Clang clang clang!
After a few exchanges, Zhang Bo, forgetting his fear, deluded himself into thinking he had a chance and pressed aggressively.
"Kahaha! You're not even half the man the rumors claim!"
Zhang Bo swung wildly, shouting. I deliberately heaved ragged breaths while parrying.
"Urk— not bad! You thieving scum!"
"What?! If we're thieves, aren't you the tyrant exploiting the people?!"
Zhang Bo unleashed a furious barrage.
'...Hm, just need to stall until Gao Shun opens the path.'
The surrounding Yellow Turbans dared not intervene in our "fierce" duel, merely cheering from afar.
"The Earth General's pushing him back!!"
"Take his head!"
"Azure Heaven perishes! Yellow Heaven rises!!"
Buoyed by their cheers, Zhang Bo swung relentlessly.
His strikes grew wilder, riddled with openings.
Then, from behind at the barricade, Gao Shun's booming voice rang out.
"Lord Commandant! Path's clear!!"
No more need for pretense. A cold smile curled my lips.
"Wh-what...!"
Zhang Bo faltered at the sudden shift.
In that instant, I swung my spear with full power—unmatched speed and weight.
—Whoosh!
Zhang Bo couldn't even react; the clash snapped his wrist like a twig, sending his sword flying.
"Huh?"
His eyes went blank. To the oblivious fool, I delivered the final words.
"Playtime's over. Die."
"Gurk!"
The spear thrust like lightning, piercing his throat and severing his head.
I impaled the airborne head mid-fall, skewering it onto the spear shaft.
Raising the trophy high, I roared.
"I've taken Enemy General Zhang Bo's head! All who block my path will die!"
"Hiiiik!"
"Wh-what, in ju-just two exchanges?!"
The Yellow Turbans, seeing their commander's severed head, parted in terror. None dared charge at the spear bearing it.
I stood firm at the barricade entrance, spear aloft.
Tens of thousands glared from afar, but none stepped forward.
My eyes blazed, piercing each of theirs.
"Where do you think you're running?!"
Any fool who charged without reading the room met my unmoving spear, their head rolling.
"Guh...!"
After several repeats, the Yellow Turbans kept their distance, murmuring from afar, not daring to approach the barricade.
"Lord Commandant! Everyone's out!"
Gao Shun's voice came. I nodded faintly. No reason to linger.
One last sweep over the tens of thousands. Their eyes mixed fear and rage, but none had the guts to stop me.