Chapter 44
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: The Battle of Wuyi (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Tens of thousands of soldiers roared as they chased after Lu Bu's army heading east.
The entire force seemed swept up in rage, but Beigong Boyu's face—the one who should have been truly furious—showed no flicker of emotion.
Beigong Boyu quietly addressed Li Wenhou, the grand general who followed him.
"Grand General, what do you make of this? That Han rat dared to provoke me."
"He's luring us in to force a pitched battle. Your Highness, this is clearly a baiting tactic."
Beigong Boyu nodded faintly in satisfaction at Li Wenhou's response. His gaze fixed on the five thousand cavalry kicking up dust in the distance as they fled.
"Hm, not bad horsemanship for riffraff from the Central Plains and the Wuhuan. And that one on the red horse stands out even more. He's not just bold enough to insult me—he's got the skills to back it up."
Beigong Boyu glanced around before continuing.
"Still, I didn't drag the whole army out just to catch them. Right now, only half—fifty thousand—are following us. And of those, my true loyal troops number just ten thousand."
"......."
As Li Wenhou fell silent, Beigong Boyu grinned and asked,
"Not a bad turn of events, is it, Grand General?"
"Hm... But Your Highness, did we really need to play along with their scheme? We're already winning a war of attrition."
Beigong Boyu's eyes gleamed coldly at the question.
He pointed toward the banners of the other tribes charging ahead at the forefront of the pursuit.
"Look at them, Grand General. The moment I take a little insult, they rush forward like this, vying to outdo each other. These are the same ones who usually question my every order."
"Your Highness... don't tell me...?"
Li Wenhou trailed off as realization dawned. Beigong Boyu met his gaze with a chilling smile.
"Too many kneel at my feet while harboring other thoughts in their hearts. Sure, it wouldn't be bad if they just weeded themselves out... but since the blades are drawn, shouldn't I carve out some 'positions' and 'spoils' for those who offer true loyalty?"
Li Wenhou felt a chill run down his spine at Beigong Boyu's words and clamped his mouth shut.
—The trap Lu Bu had set.
Beigong Boyu planned to use it as a tool for purging those whose loyalties opposed his own.
"...Your Highness's wisdom runs deep indeed."
Li Wenhou finally bowed his head.
Beigong Boyu said no more, watching his 'expendables' charge ahead with cold, detached eyes.
I rode east like a madman.
Behind us, Beigong Boyu's main force clung stubbornly to our trail. As we left the plains, gentle hills came into view.
The planned spot.
I didn't slow my horse, charging straight up the slope.
The five thousand cavalry followed in perfect formation. The rebel scum chasing us climbed after without a hint of suspicion.
Finally, Zhang Fei burst out.
"Argh! Brother! We're on the hill now—let's smash their skulls! I'm itching to go!"
"Yide, calm yourself. It's almost time. Wait for the Commandant-in-Waiting's signal."
Guan Yu soothed him steadily.
'They took the bait, you idiots.'
Cavalry speed dropped noticeably on the hill. The rebels chasing us fared no better.
As we crested the summit, a massive army waiting there revealed itself.
—Left General Lu Zhi's main force.
Our main body erupted in earth-shaking cheers, as if they'd been holding their breath.
"Waaaaah!!"
"The enemy is climbing!!"
But even amid the roars, the rebels pressed on toward us.
The first thing they saw atop the hill: thousands of spears forming a dense forest.
"Th-these bastards! It's the Han main force!"
"A trap! We've fallen into a trap!"
"Spear wall formation! Fall back!"
Facing the massive spear wall after slowing on the ascent, the rebels panicked in chaos.
But the rebels were primarily nomadic horsemen.
"Turn direction!"
"Loose arrows, everyone!!"
Blocked from a frontal charge, they wheeled sharply, creating distance before unleashing a frenzy of arrows at us.
—Shuuuuush!
A black cloud of arrows rained down on the spearmen.
"Ugh! Arrow storm!"
"Hiiiik!"
The spearmen, armed only with long spears and no shields, flinched in terror. Lu Zhi's voice cut through the battlefield.
"Don't lower your spears! Hold formation! Shields, move as trained!"
At his command, shieldbearers slipped between the spearmen.
The shields rose high, blocking the arrows overhead. Those that slipped through bounced off the upright spear shafts.
'Impressive. His command is flawless.'
Lu Zhi's leadership was perfect. The rebels' archery was neutralized.
With arrows proving futile and advance halted by the spear wall, the rebel cavalry ground to a halt midway up the hill.
I grinned at the sight, then wheeled my fleeing horse around. Raising my spear, I pointed at the foes below.
"About face! About face! Smash them now!"
"Waaaaah!!"
The five thousand cavalry wheeled as one. The trapped foes below were plain to see.
"Charge. Crush them utterly!"
"Follow the Commandant-in-Waiting!!"
My shout was the signal.
—Dududududu!
Five thousand riders thundered down the hill. Gaining downhill momentum, their hoofbeats shook heaven and earth.
"Th-they're coming down!"
"Evade! Wheel around!"
"Get out! Get out!!"
Trapped midway, they flailed to escape, but the spear wall blocked their front.
The downhill cavalry charge's impact defied imagination. I hit their lines first.
—Kwaduk!
My spear tip impaled three torsos at once.
"Guhhh..."
"Khek..."
"Ughhh..."
I lifted the spear with them skewered, hoisting the three effortlessly from their saddles. I hurled them into the others.
"The enemy is a rabble! Kill them all!"
Roaring, I plunged into their center.
"Kaaaaak!"
Blood sprayed with screams wherever my spear struck. As I tore their ranks apart, our cavalry wedged in behind.
"It's Lu Bu! The red horse—Lu Bu!"
"Can't hold! Run!"
My breakthrough ripped a huge gap. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei charged in from the flanks.
"The Commandant cleared the path! What are you waiting for? In!"
"Woooo!!"
Guan Yu and Zhang Fei's units slammed into the enemy's left flank.
"What the hell are these guys?!"
"Guhk!"
Amid central chaos, fresh cavalry hit the left. The enemy began crumbling.
"Center's breached!"
"L-left flank!!"
As our riders kept smashing with mobility, a hearty laugh tickled my ears.
"These Qiang dogs ain't much! Taste Wuhuan steel!"
Zhong Yuan's Wuhuan cavalry differed from our heavy-armored troops. Lightly equipped, they swept toward the enemy like wind.
But they didn't force breaks.
Instead, they flashed past, shooting arrows to sow chaos, then wheeled to slice throats lightly before withdrawing.
As melees erupted across the field, Wei Sok, Cheng Lian, and Wei Yue struck the right flank.
"Kahaha! See that? With me, Wei Sok, here, how dare you hold! Cheng Lian! Wei Yue! Crush their heads!"
Wei Sok, with Cheng Lian and Wei Yue, successfully pushed the right.
'Hm, at this rate, easy victory.'
As the battle flowed smoothly—crush here, then charge the main enemy—I spotted massive dust far off from their main body. Thousands—no, near ten thousand—fresh troops. But—
'These bastards...'
The new rebels weren't heading for my center or Guan Yu and Zhang Fei's rampage.
They aimed straight for Wei Sok's right flank.
Hansu silently watched our vanguard getting unilaterally smashed. Nearby, Byeon Jang muttered, pale-faced.
"Th-those guys! What if our whole force gets wiped out?"
But Hansu pointed to one spot on the field.
Not where Lu Bu, Guan Yu, or Zhang Fei raged, but the relatively milder right flank.
Wei Sok was haughtily pushing there. Hansu snapped at the dazed Byeon Jang.
"Pull yourself together! Can't you see what's unfolding?"
Hansu pierced Beigong Boyu's intent—driving rivals to slaughter while the court army fought desperately—and explained to Byeon Jang.
"If the imperial suppression army wins overwhelmingly, surrenderers like us get no mercy—heads roll. If Beigong Boyu purges opposition and crowns himself perfectly, no place for us turncoats either. Our only path: both sides tear each other to balance."
"B-but... doesn't that mean leading our men out? If we take heavy losses..."
"Better to seize this chance and expand our standing, even losing some. Saving a few chieftains there is profit. Profit!"
Hansu hated losing his men but couldn't let the balance tip, so he committed to joining.
He turned to his sturdy bodyguard nearby—Yeom Haeng.
"Yeom Haeng! Save our right flank! Charge!"
"Yes, my lord!"
Yeom Haeng bolted like lightning, reins in hand.
His cavalry sliced through the field, straight for Wei Sok.
Seeing Yeom Haeng charging amid dust, Wei Sok bellowed heartily.
"Ha, that fool's suicidal! I'll lop his head myself!"
"No, Wei Sok! That guy's momentum is off! Dangerous to go alone!"
Cheng Lian and Wei Yue shouted urgently, but blood-boiled Wei Sok ignored them, charging for single combat.
As Wei Sok went ahead, Hansu and Byeon Jang's unit hit Cheng Lian and Wei Yue's, pinning them from aiding.
Wei Sok confidently closed, batting aside Yeom Haeng's sword.
—Chaeng!
But clashing blades, Wei Sok inwardly recoiled.
'Fuck, this is bad.'
Yeom Haeng's strength exceeded imagination. Wei Sok spat curses casually.
"You brute, strong as an ox cub!"
"Ha, let's see how long you yap!"
Yeom Haeng replied coldly, pressing fiercely.
—Chaeng chaeng chaeng!
Wei Sok desperately parried, but past ten clashes, power gap showed.
"Krut...!"
Finally, Wei Sok's sword flew. Yeom Haeng's blade arced mercilessly for his neck.
That instant.
—Kagang!
A flash and thunderclap—Yeom Haeng's sword deflected aside.
Wei Sok dazedly looked up to see blood-soaked Lu Bu glaring down.
"B-brother...!"