A Perfect Day to Die
“Is it possible?”
“My lord, building catapults requires skilled carpenters and blacksmiths. Furthermore, if we want them mounted on mobile carts, we’ll need an engineer capable of designing them on the spot.”
“Don’t we have artisans in Guandu right now repairing the walls and forging weapons?”
“Even so, to produce the carts and wheels needed for mobile Bal-seok-cha, we would require iron and wheels brought up from Hudu.”
As Xun You offered his advice one point at a time, Liu Ye raised his hand beside him.
“Everything that has been said is possible. However, the consequences would be fatal.”
“Hoo, Ziyang, let’s hear it.”
“For the wheels to support the mobile catapults, we can simply strip them from the supply wagons. As for the designs, local officials normally keep blueprints for siege ladders, ballistae, and catapults in preparation for enemy invasions. We can adapt those and attach them to the wagon wheels.”
“Ziyang! If we do that…”
“Yes, I understand what Master Gongda is getting at. If we dismantle the supply wagons we brought from Hudu and Fuyang, strip them for parts, and use up all the iron and timber we transported, our next resupply window will suffer a catastrophic delay. After all, we would have torn apart every cart needed to haul fresh grain.”
It was possible, but the price would be surrendering every supply wagon here, making logistics brutally difficult.
“Even so, I believe destroying those enemy watchtowers with siege engines is a strategy worth attempting.”
“You all heard that? Our military advisors have spoken. So what should the generals do?”
Cao Cao’s voice rang with absolute certainty. The commanders immediately claimed their roles.
“Then I shall transport the timber and iron and secure a site for building those weapons—somewhere beyond arrow range.”
“Correct, Wanyang.”
“Since General Huojun has returned to Fuyang after the last resupply, Xu Huang and I will hold the forward defense.”
Zhang Liao and Xu Huang raised their shields in the familiar gesture, securing the battlefield perimeter.
“What about me, then?”
“Dian Wei and Xu Chu will obviously guard me. I’ll be moving all over the place from now on, so keep those shields high and make sure no arrows find me.”
“Understood.”
With that, preparations for the counterattack were complete. Cao Cao was the type to use any tactic the moment it flashed into his mind, and Liu Ye was tasked with overseeing the construction of the Bal-seok-cha.
And me? I had my own role.
“I will prepare the cavalry. We’ll gather the horses in one place so they don’t panic, then the moment the Bal-seok-cha are finished and the enemy watchtowers collapse, we’ll open the gates and charge.”
“Do so.”
The operation began at once. Liu Ye summoned every renowned artisan, ordered the complete dismantling of the supply wagons, and commanded them to be rebuilt into Bal-seok-cha using the timber and iron. Meanwhile, Xiahou Dun and Xu Huang’s troops gathered stones from the rubble of the collapsed walls to serve as ammunition and prepared for a massive barrage.
And under the supreme commander’s will, everything was built with astonishing speed.
BOOOOM— BOOM— KABOOOOOOM!
“Performance looks excellent!”
“Hey, Zayul! What kind of battle did I walk into the moment I arrived? And what the hell are those monstrous catapults?”
Cao Ang, who had returned to Guandu after swapping shifts with Xiahou Yuan, stared in astonishment at the enormous boulders hurtling from inside the fortress toward the enemy watchtowers outside the walls.
“They’re Bal-seok-cha.”
“You put wheels on catapults to make them mobile? That actually works?”
“Uncle came up with it on the spot while playing Go. He saw the chariot and the catapult pieces and wondered what would happen if you combined them.”
“A fascinating weapon. But its effectiveness is undeniable.”
“I’ll leave the rear to you. The plan is to open the gates and charge with the cavalry the moment those watchtowers come down.”
“Got it!”
“This is a perfect day to die.”
At that moment Cao Ang turned to look at me.
“The Yuan Shao army’s—”
“…May fortune be with you!”
I accepted Cao Ang’s greeting and mounted my horse. After the death of the descendant of the peerless steed that had once been mine, this was one of the horses I had brought from Hudu. It had been a gift from Xiahou Dun during his diplomatic mission to Hebei over the “Grand Marshal” title dispute with Yuan Shao. Even at eight years old, the fiery warhorse still yearned for the battlefield.
Dian Wei was already waiting at the eastern gate and Zhang Liao at the western. When the fierce barrage from the catapults finally shattered the watchtowers and archer platforms that had been tormenting us, the gates finally swung open.
CREEEEEEAK—
“Charge!!”
The Tiger and Leopard Cavalry had endured the enemy’s relentless assault without being able to mount a proper counterattack, forced to hide or desperately block arrows. Their accumulated fury transformed them into beasts worth a hundred men each as they thundered toward the enemy lines.
SWWWWISH—
The power of their rage-fueled spears was overwhelming. Ever since my return to Hudu, my body had been in perfect condition. Without the slightest discomfort, I could swing my spear to my heart’s content—slashing, thrusting, smashing the shaft down to shatter bones. I fought in a trance.
Yes. This was when I felt most alive. Meeting strong opponents on the battlefield was the greatest thrill. The ecstasy of sweeping away enemies with overwhelming force and piling up military achievements was the dopamine of this chaotic age.
“Jungrangjang! Look over there!”
“A cavalry unit is charging across the ruins of the watchtower!”
“!?”
A massive cloud of dust rose as a cavalry force burst from within Yuan Shao’s vast army. They split into three directions. I could see generals moving to engage Dian Wei and Zhang Liao on the flanks. The unit heading straight for me wore unfamiliar armor and helmets—like some kind of special forces.
“We’re taking that one down. Everyone prepare!”
The watchtowers had already collapsed. The Yuan Shao troops stumbling around on the shattered platforms would be mopped up by our infantry once the wooden barriers came down. It was far better to meet the enemy’s prepared vanguard head-on.
I gripped my spear tightly and wheeled my horse away from the ruined towers, turning toward open ground to face them. Among the oncoming cavalry, one rider in particular wore a black helmet pulled low, obscuring his face. Yet an overwhelming, murderous aura radiated from him. This was the presence of a truly powerful warrior. The moment we clashed—
KABOOOOOM!
…Huh?
The destructive power of the first exchange exceeded my expectations and I was momentarily pushed back. The instant I turned my head, a spear tip filled my vision.
“Kh!”
I barely twisted aside to avoid the dangerously precise strike. I had to block the follow-up attack almost purely on instinct.
CLANG— CLANG— CLIIING—
This guy was strong!
Unlike the enemies I had fought before, he targeted only vital points, pressing in relentlessly. Any hesitation would result in a fatal wound. I wanted to see the eyes behind that deeply pulled black helmet.
CLANG! CLANG! CLAAANG!
When our spearheads struck and sparks flew, I poured strength into the shaft and shoved him away.
“Hah!”
“!”
The moment I drove him back with raw power and swung my spear, he reacted like a machine, blocking with the shaft.
“…”
“You’re good.”
“……!”
The black-helmeted general attacked again without answering. I blocked strikes aimed at the neck strap between armor and helmet, the gaps in the lamellar at the forearms, and the flanks. When I struck back with force, he deflected it as if he had anticipated the move. I nearly lost my balance but planted both feet firmly in the stirrups, steadying myself on horseback, then ducked to avoid the strike coming from behind.
“!?”
“Did you think I wouldn’t anticipate that!”
The technique of twisting my body to evade an incoming spear while regaining balance was one Lu Bu had often used. I had picked it up during our sparring sessions. And when I counterattacked, his spearmanship was magnificent—deflecting every blow while continuously targeting my throat.
No doubt about it. This man was stronger than Wen Chou, whom I had faced before.
While he kept me occupied, the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry and Yuan Shao’s horsemen were locked in a chaotic melee so evenly matched it was impossible to tell who held the advantage. He wasn’t just strong. This bastard… was ridiculously strong!
Damn Yuan Shao. Does he have a soldier factory running somewhere? How can he still have so many elite units in a situation like this?
CLIIING—
Fine. Come at me all you want. If I keep killing their generals, no matter how elite the troops are, they’ll fall apart without anyone to command them!
With that goal in mind, I gripped my spear even tighter. I pressed the attack with fierce aggression. Unlike the beginning, I was now on the offensive and he was forced onto the defensive. I knocked his spear aside with brute force, and the instant a gap appeared, I thrust straight at his chest.
“This ends—!”
CLACK—
“?!”
He grabbed my spear shaft and slipped sideways. Wh-what?
As he reached for the sword at his waist, I released my spear first. The enemy general lost his balance for the first time, and I finally saw the eyes beneath the helmet. They were sharp as a well-forged blade and carried a chilling, cold-blooded aura that seemed capable of freezing anything it touched.
While he staggered with sword drawn, I drew my own blade and struck his aside.
KAAAANG!
“…”
Once he regained his balance, he stared at my spear for a moment before tossing it back to me. I caught it easily. He sheathed his sword, apparently wanting to settle this spear against spear.
“Throwing the spear to create an opening and then drawing the sword… I used that exact move to kill Yuan Tan. So there’s someone else who fights the same way?”
“…”
At that moment, the black-helmeted general turned his head slightly to look at the ruined watchtower. Huh? After the Bal-seok-cha had brought down the tower, the archer unit that had been stationed there was nowhere to be seen. They must have descended at some point and fled back to the main army in haste. When he realized I had noticed, he spoke.
“…Fortunately, they all evacuated. Then we’re done here.”
“So you were just buying time to let the archers escape? In that case, if I capture you here and render that cavalry useless, it’s over!”
I charged, thrusting my spear at him, but to my shock he immediately turned his horse and fled.
“Wh-what?!”
“Reckless single combat between generals ends here.”
He raised his spear shaft horizontally, forming the character “一.” As if it were a signal, the black-helmeted Yuan Shao cavalry swiftly disengaged and began retreating.
“What is your name?”
“…”
“I need to know so I can come find you next time, don’t I?”
“Zhang He. Courtesy name Junyi.”
“!!!”
“…That is all the introduction you need.”
With those words, he abandoned any pretense of warrior’s honor and fled the moment his mission was complete. We had driven the enemy cavalry back in direct combat, but I couldn’t let it end like this.
“All troops, prepare to pursue th—”
BOOM BOOM BOOM— BOOM BOOM BOOM— BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM—
“…Retreat?”
The urgent retreat drums sounded from inside Guandu fortress. Not only me, but Dian Wei and Zhang Liao’s units at the eastern and western gates, who had been fighting to their hearts’ content, also began withdrawing at the signal.
“No helping it.”
It had been a victorious battle. The Tiger and Leopard Cavalry had slaughtered tens of thousands of enemies, and we had taken quite a few low-ranking officers and commanders as well. The only regret was that we hadn’t been able to finish off Zhang He and his cavalry after they tied up our feet at the end.