Chapter 51
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: The King's Demise
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Beigong Baiyu returned to the Zhangjiao army with 50,000 cavalry, grinding his teeth at the sight of the burned-out villages.
But at the same time, his mind was racing.
'Should I pursue and annihilate them, or help the scattered tribes first?'
Beigong Baiyu's dilemma didn't last long. A scout came galloping up in a panic and reported.
"Your Highness! Th-there... enemy troops have appeared ahead!"
At the scout's words, Beigong Baiyu looked up and stared into the distance.
Across the vast plain, 10,000 cavalry appeared. And at their forefront, a fluttering banner bore the bold character "Lu."
Beigong Baiyu's eyes narrowed.
"Lu...? That bastard Lu Bu!"
Only then did Beigong Baiyu realize the identity of the man who had broken through their defenses and turned the Zhangjiao army into a sea of fire. His face hardened. But soon, he laughed ferociously.
"Kuhahaha! You fool! You've come right to your own grave!"
This was an open plain—their front yard. Beigong Baiyu leisurely devised his tactics.
Disrupt with archer cavalry, then overwhelm with heavy cavalry. A perfect plan. But Beigong Baiyu's plan went awry before it even began.
One of his guards shouted urgently.
"Y-Your Highness! The enemies... the enemies are charging straight at us!"
"What? The enemy numbers only 10,000—what nonsense—"
Before Beigong Baiyu could finish, the ground-shaking roar of battle cries closed in instantly.
Indeed, 10,000 cavalry were charging head-on at the 50,000 horsemen. Beigong Baiyu shouted in panic.
"Are they mad?! What are you doing? Archer cavalry, loose your arrows! Heavy cavalry, prepare to strike the flanks!"
"Orders from His Highness—fire!"
—Fwhoosh!
Thousands of arrows blotted out the sky, raining down on Lu Bu's forces. But Lu Bu, riding at the vanguard on his crimson steed, showed no fear. He spun the spear in his hands like a whirlwind, batting away every arrow flying at him.
As the arrow barrage ended, the two cavalry forces finally collided head-on.
—Kwaaaang!
Beigong Baiyu had no doubt in his numerical superiority and the might of his horsemen, whom he believed to be the finest under heaven.
No matter how valiant Lu Bu was, he figured his own cavalry would seize the advantage everywhere Lu Bu wasn't.
But that prediction shattered in an instant.
"Wh-what in the world is this...!!"
Not only was the vanguard led by Lu Bu smashing through their lines, but the entire front—left and right flanks included—was buckling simultaneously.
"Kwaaaak!"
"Hiiiik! B-block them! Block them!"
"Gaaack!"
The allies' cheers turned to screams, and the finest cavalry under heaven offered no proper resistance as they were pushed back.
Beigong Baiyu could only stare blankly at the scene, doubting his own eyes.
Beigong Baiyu's main force came into view. But we didn't stop. I simply issued the order to charge the entire army.
"Waaaaah!!"
As we roared and charged, the panicked enemy finally began to respond.
Their archer cavalry nocked arrows in unison, aiming at us. Soon, the sky filled with black dots.
"Fear not! Don't lower your heads! Raise your shields!"
I swung my spear like a massive pinwheel against the incoming arrows.
—Clang! Clang-clang!
The clash of metal rang out without cease.
Arrows struck by my spear lost their momentum, snapping or ricocheting wildly. I let not a single one through, piercing the deadly rain.
The arrow storm ceased.
"Uoooooo!"
"Eurahhh!"
Now their heavy cavalry roared and countercharged toward us.
The enemy planned to crush us head-on with their mobility. But it was a pipe dream.
"Now! All units, form up for the pursuit! Crush right through them!"
At my command, our forces shifted into a wedge formation. From afar in the enemy ranks came mocking laughter.
"Uhahaha, what the hell are those idiots doing?"
"Think they can break us?"
Fewer in number, they'd abandoned defense for pure penetration. To them, we must look like we were thrashing in a death throes.
'Let's see how long you keep laughing.'
The officers following me moved in perfect unison. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei took positions at my sides.
Behind them, Sun Jian, Ma Teng, Li Jue, and Guo Si took the points of the wedge.
Zhang Liao, Gao Shun, Wei Sok, Cheng Lian, and Wei Yue spread out to anchor the center, forming a massive wedge in moments.
I could clearly see the sneers and mockery on the enemy soldiers' faces.
They were already certain of victory. Finally, the two vast armies hurtling toward each other smashed together in the middle of the plain.
—Kwaaaaaang!
Red Hare surged forward at full gallop.
The eyes of the enemy soldier charging straight at me with his spear met my spear tip—and filled with terror.
His spear grazed my armor, but it was too late. My spear tip pierced his throat.
—Puk!
I twisted the spear protruding from his neck, snapping his vertebrae, then swung it sideways. The corpse impaled on my spear tip flew toward the neighboring horsemen.
—Hiiiing!
The horses reared in fright, disrupting their ranks.
Red Hare exploited the gap, driving deeper, as I swung my spear without pause.
Toward the foes ahead, toward those charging from the sides—
—Slash!
Screams erupted wherever my spear passed.
"Kwaaaaaak!"
"Guh!"
Those thrown from their horses were trampled into oblivion by our following hooves.
—Crunch! Thud! Kwajik!
The enemy lines split open.
Behind me, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei swept left and right like twin blades. The path widened steadily, and before long, our 10,000 had pierced deep into the 50,000.
"Flank them! Hit them from the sides!"
"They have fewer numbers—surround and kill them!"
The enemy desperately tried to hold.
"Kuhahaha! Where do you think you're going? I'll play with you!"
Zhang Fei's mad laughter echoed across the battlefield.
Every swing of his serpent halberd claimed heads. Guan Yu said nothing, but his Green Dragon Crescent Blade flashed like lightning, bisecting foes.
"The enemy is a rabble! Follow me!"
"Follow the Cavalry Commander!"
"Uwaaaaa!!!"
Our momentum never slowed.
After breaking 100 paces, the enemy gritted their teeth and charged.
After 200 paces, they began to falter.
And after 300 paces, their cheers turned to cries.
"Uwaaak!"
"We can't stop them!"
"Th-that thing isn't human—gahk!"
Terror spread.
Riding at full speed, the enemy couldn't flee; they could only tremble like aspen leaves, grips loosening on reins and spears.
Some turned to seek escape. But it was far too late.
We were already upon them.
"Huff... huff..."
My armor was drenched crimson. Blood splattered my face; licking my lips brought the taste of iron.
My spear was slick, but I gripped it tighter.
"Th-those madmen! They won't stop!"
"Kwaaaak!"
The field was hell, yet the king's banner was nowhere. I raised my bloodied spear high and bellowed across the battlefield.
"Beigong Baiyu! Where are you?! Has your king tucked tail and fled?!"
My shout halted the frenzied enemy for a moment. They glanced around, searching for their king.
"Your king has fled! Why block the way?!"
"Shut up—!"
—Slaaash!
Some charged in denial, but one clash sufficed. I taunted and cut, pressing forward.
As my body heated with enemy blood, the scattered foes suddenly parted. From the path's end came a voice thick with rage.
"You insolent colt! You've dared come to your death!"
There stood Beigong Baiyu, face twisted in fury. At last, he appeared before me.
I bared my teeth white at him.
"Good. Did you wash your neck clean?"
"You insolent cur!"
Beigong Baiyu glared and charged with his spear, hooves thundering.
—Whoosh!
'Ho, faster than I thought.'
Startled by the speed beyond expectation, I quickly parried.
—Kagang!
Sparks flew as spears clashed.
Beigong Baiyu spun immediately for my side, but I twisted away effortlessly.
"To dare call yourself king, you have some skill!"
"Shut up! I'll take your head and deliver it to the harmed tribes!"
"Uhahaha! My neck's tough—you won't cut it easily!"
Beigong Baiyu wheeled and charged again, spear thrusts raining down.
—Kagang! Kagang!
Shocks jolted my arms with each clash.
"Hm, seems weaker than at first?"
"Shut up!"
Beigong Baiyu's spear hammered relentlessly. But it slowed bit by bit, his breaths growing ragged.
"Huff... huff..."
As I parried the onslaught, his spear tip wavered. His grip was weakening.
"Is that all?"
"Save His Highness!"
Then his guards charged, shouting.
"Don't interfere."
Guan Yu's voice rang out.
—Slaaash!
The Green Dragon Crescent Blade drew a streak of light. Three guards fell, bisected at the waist.
"Kuhahaha! Where you going, scum? I'll play!"
—Kwaaang!
Zhang Fei's serpent halberd swept the rest. Helmets shattered with skulls; the guards crumpled lifelessly.
The guards trying to save Beigong Baiyu perished in seconds.
Staring incredulously, Beigong Baiyu ground his teeth and tightened his grip.
"Not yet!"
With a scream, he spurred his horse and thrust with all his might.
'Damn, still this strong—'
I couldn't block head-on. Twisting aside disrupted the thrust, but not fully.
—Slash!
The tip grazed my cheek, hot pain blooming. Instinctively touching it, my palm came away red.
Seeing the blood, I laughed.
"...Ho, not bad."
"Shut up! We haven't even started!"
Hope flickered in Beigong Baiyu's eyes at my wound, but it was futile.
"No more mercy."
Red Hare closed the gap in a flash. I swung my spear wide sideways.
—Kwaaaang!
Beigong Baiyu's spear flew from his hand, stabbing into the ground.
"Th-this can't be..."
He muttered in despair.
"Traitor or not, you fought well. Any last words?"
"...."
Beigong Baiyu only glared. All I could offer was a warrior's painless end.
—Puk!
The spear tip pierced his throat and out the other side. A dull crack of breaking vertebrae.
—Drop!
His eyes widened, mouth agape, blood spilling from his lips.
To ease his pain, I withdrew the spear.
—Splaash!
Blood fountained from his throat. He clutched it, but the flow wouldn't stop.
His trembling body lost balance atop the horse and tilted.
—Thud!
Beigong Baiyu fell, convulsing on the ground before going still.
Blood still poured from his neck, staining the earth red.
"H-His Highness...!"
"His Highness is dead!"
"Flee!"
The surrounding enemies screamed and scattered.
An army without its king was no army—just fleeing rabble.
I raised my bloodied spear to the sky.
"Your king is dead! Drop your weapons and surrender!"
Some in the enemy ranks threw down arms and bowed low, but most wheeled their horses and fled across the vast steppe.