The Flying General
The northern mountains of Taishan were holding their breath. Not a single breeze stirred, and the winter chill had settled in. Yet this place burned with such fierce heat that the cold couldn't touch it at all.
I gripped the reins tightly amid that heat, leading the troops forward. Six thousand five hundred men. Scraped together from the south, west, and east—every last bastard I'd clawed out of Taishan's corners. Some were worthless shitters, others had survived real combat. But what my eyes saw now was something else entirely. A chaotic mess, yes, but a force with the power to seize all of Taishan.
"Boss."
Yu Byeok spoke from beside me.
"The scouts have returned."
I didn't even turn my head.
"How many showed up?"
"Word must have spread. Both groups came, and they say the enemy numbers exceed ten thousand."
I let out a small snort.
Fucking hell, that's a lot.
These were the bastards who'd swollen their ranks by looting while the Yellow Turbans rampaged along the Yellow River and in Qing Province. They might be more professional at pillaging and thieving than us. But—
"In the end, they're nothing but housebreakers who only prey on those weaker than themselves."
I jerked my chin while still mounted.
"Trash or not, today we plow through every last one of them."
"Just give the order," Yu Byeok replied curtly.
The clash of freezing cold and scorching heat created a hazy mist. Clouds descended as we drew closer to the sky, and the ground trembled. Countless shadows emerged from the front not far ahead. Far from smaller than ours, those shadows proudly raised their banners, announcing their presence.
As we drew closer, the hazy mist vanished, revealing the enemy's full form. They had already formed ranks and taken position. With ten thousand men, they were fully prepared for battle.
"Good."
I curled one corner of my mouth upward.
"Form a single line. Shields in the front rank. Men with swords and clubs in the second, all spearmen in the third."
"What about the archers?"
"Not yet. Hold."
I gripped the reins and stared straight ahead.
"Cavalry, remain on standby. It's not time to use them yet."
Yu Byeok nodded.
"We test their strength and look for an opening."
I muttered under my breath.
"Time to hunt some beasts."
The wind that had stopped began to blow again, like a bell signaling the start of battle. Soon this place would be filled with the stench of blood and iron.
I drew my sword and thrust it toward the sky.
"Charge!!"
"Waaaaaaaaah!!!"
The 6,500 troops roared as one, shaking the earth as they surged forward. Taut tension blanketed the mountainside. The men in the front line gripped their precious shields and ran. Behind them, those armed with daggers and clubs followed with gritted teeth. The spearmen in the third rank advanced with short, shuffling steps, ready to stab anyone who breached the front line.
I watched the battlefield from the rear. The bandits were still rough and sloppy, but they'd learned something from conquering the west and east.
Even trash can be used in their own way.
When our 6,500 slammed into them, the enemy moved as well. Ten thousand. In raw numbers, we were outnumbered. They raised their shields and bellowed wildly. They weren't experienced, but they charged relying on their numbers.
"Uwaaaaaah!!"
Beast-like roars spread across northern Taishan. Shields crashed together as both sides tried to break each other's lines. Spears, swords, and clubs stabbed, slashed, and crushed human flesh.
-Clang!
-Thud!
-Thump thump!
Short, sharp screams erupted. The metallic stench of blood filled the air.
I frowned.
If we lose the momentum, we're fucked.
When we took the west and east, we'd had superior numbers and crushed them easily. This time was different. I gripped the hilt of my sword tightly.
"Yu Byeok."
"Yes!"
"If the shield line breaks, replenish it immediately."
"Understood!"
Yu Byeok nodded and raced off like an arrow. I seized the reins again and glared at the battlefield. The section where our front line was being pierced and pushed back.
There.
I thrust my hand upward.
"Second rank! Straight into the gap ahead of them!"
The messenger ran forward, shouting the order. Men with daggers and clubs rushed to fill the holes in the crumbling front line. Those who had broken through became prey for the blades and clubs.
"Aaaargh!!"
"Uwaaaaaagh!!"
The breach was sealed in an instant. But this was only overcoming a small hurdle. We were the ones being pushed back. The enemy had more men. If we couldn't break their momentum significantly, we'd eventually be overrun.
I narrowed my eyes, focusing on the enemy's center.
The heads.
They had two leaders. Even if they moved together, it was a hasty alliance—their coordination was off. With two heads, if we took even one, half would flee. And once half fled, the remaining half couldn't mount a proper resistance.
I turned my head slightly toward another messenger.
"You."
"Yes!"
"Those bastards waving their banner over there. Tell the archers to focus fire on that one alone."
"Understood!"
At my command, the archers waiting nearby began nocking arrows. These were the same men who couldn't shoot properly when we first set out. Now they'd grown somewhat accustomed. Though still slow, they drew their bowstrings taut.
A hundred arrows flew toward the banner I'd pointed out.
-Thwip thwip thwip!
The accuracy was poor. Still, quite a few found throats, shoulders, or torsos, leaving men staggering. Honestly, with ten thousand clustered together, it would have been strange not to hit anything.
Watching the frantic movement around the banner after the volley, I muttered to myself.
That's the spot. Right there.
The enemy's confused center. The banner wavered as the man who appeared to be their commander flailed about, barking desperate orders. Perfect.
I gripped the reins and glanced behind me. Fifty cavalrymen. Men desperately calming their mounts. But these riders had already followed me into battle several times.
"Cavalry, forward."
A short command. The hooves of fifty horses left prints in the mud. I lightly raised my spear.
"Today, we take their head."
I yanked the reins hard and hurled myself forward.
"Follow me!!"
"Waaaaaaaaah!!!"
With me at the center, the cavalry surged forward like lightning. They were mediocre horses, but today they became spears piercing through Taishan itself.
We charged down the mountain slope. Mud and snow flew. The thunder of hooves roared like beasts. The enemy finally noticed us from afar.
"Flank! The flank!! It's cavalry!!"
"Stop them!! Stop them!!"
Screams and stumbling. They frantically turned their shields and leveled their spears. But it was already too late.
"Uwaaaaaagh!!"
I tore through their front line first. The spear tip shot forward, punching straight through one man's shield. The impact of the cavalry charge split the shield in two. The man flew backward and impaled himself on his own allies' spears.
-Thud!!
The sound of meat skewering on a spit.
"Get the fuck out of my way, you bastards!!"
I drove deeper into their formation. Drawing my sword, I charged forward, slashing at their openings. The blade sliced through torsos as smoothly as cutting chunks of meat. I took off the head of one fleeing bastard with a single stroke.
-Slash!
Blood sprayed. Hot crimson scattered across the cold winter wind. But I didn't stop. I kept my sword low, moving my body freely. An enemy spear cut through empty air. I dodged the missed thrust and sliced open the fool's flank.
-Shuk!
"Aaaaaargh!!"
The man collapsed with a scream. A path opened before me.
"Keep going!! Don't fall behind!!"
The cavalry followed me, tearing their lines wider. The scattered enemy couldn't even think of regrouping. I looked straight ahead. The banner still stood, a little further away.
Just a little more.
I swung my sword savagely. From now on, my body was the spear splitting their ranks. The winter air tore at my lungs, but my entire body burned with heat.
Fuck. I'm not getting tired at all.
I laughed.
"Get out of my way, you bastards!!"
Deeper. More brutally. Faster. I tore into the enemy lines. Anyone blocking my path was cut down, dodged, or ripped apart. Behind me, the cavalry widened the hole even further. The weak ones were immediately pushed aside. Even those who tried to hold their ground were helpless.
"Uwaaaaaagh!!"
"Move!! Get out of the way!!!"
Inside the enemy formation, screams erupted continuously. The enemy was torn apart like sheets of paper, opening path after path. I lowered my body while gripping the horse's reins. Dodging a spear tip, I immediately twisted and sliced across a chest.
-Slaaash!
A fountain of blood erupted, but I paid it no mind and simply pressed forward. In the distance, the large banner wavered. The men clustered around it finally began to feel real danger.
"What the hell is that bastard...!"
"Fuck! Stop him!! Stop him now!!"
The enemy's screams were desperate. But their voices were already soaked in terror.
That was when it happened.
"The boss is insanely fast!!"
"He's breaking right through them!!"
Our troops' shouts came from behind. Cavalry widened the gap I'd created as infantry poured through in waves. At the sight, I smiled.
Good. Let's end this right now.
I gripped the reins even tighter. Lowering my body then springing up, I cut down enemies as I passed.
"Uwaaaagh!!"
"Stop him!! Stop him!!"
But no one could. I was a hawk. A red hawk crossing Taishan, piercing through thick blood stench, beastly roars, chaos, and screams. Everyone—both allies and enemies—looked at me. No one spoke, but in that moment, every one of them burned the name into their hearts.
Flying General.
The legend of the hawk that soars above Taishan
His name begins to spread across the entire mountain.
My heart pounded fiercely. Above the frozen Taishan, I soared like a single hawk. The banner drew near. I pulled the reins and lowered my body. A spear tip cut through the air, but I twisted lightly and dodged it.
-Whoosh.
Then I tore open the spearman's chest with a single slash.
-Slash!
Thick blood sprayed again, soaking the ground. The horse never slowed, charging straight ahead.
"Stop him!! Protect the main banner!!!"
The enemy scrambled to intercept, but their morale was already half-shattered. My horse slipped past an incoming spear as if brushing against it. I drove my blade into the opening.
-Stab!
The man's eyes rolled back as he collapsed to the ground. In that gap, the cavalry followed me in. Dozens of iron hooves pounded the mud. The area around the main banner became a sea of blood in an instant.
I raised my sword high. Then I hurled myself toward the enemy's main banner.
"Graaagh!!"
One of the banner guards threw himself forward to block me, but I took his head in a single stroke.
-Slaaash!
His head flew through the air and fell limply to the ground. Before my eyes stood the massive banner. Their symbol fluttering in the wind. The symbol of their leader.
I took a deep breath. Every vein in my body felt like it was on fire. I raised my sword and brought it down hard on the banner pole.
-Thud!!
The pole snapped. The banner tumbled to the ground. For a moment, the battlefield froze.
"...!!"
"The m-main banner...!"
The enemy's voices wavered. No one could shout immediately. A brief silence. Then—
"The enemy leader is dead!!"
Our troops' roar erupted.
"Waaaaaaaaah!!!"
"The boss took the enemy's head!!"
"Fuck them!! Break through everything!!"
Our army's morale exploded. The screams that had sounded like desperation transformed into true victory roars. I laughed as I trampled the fallen banner underfoot.
Not yet.
I pulled the reins again.
Fuck. Where did the real head bastard run off to?
I scanned the surroundings while stepping on the broken banner. Something felt off.
"...Hm."
The real leader wasn't near this banner. I narrowed my eyes. Among the scattering enemy, one man was fleeing madly, showing his back.
That's the one.
I yanked the reins.
"A few of you cavalry, follow me!!"
After the short shout, I wheeled my horse around. Hooves kicked up mud as we surged forward. The man had thrown away his shield and even stripped off his armor to run faster.
"Boss, that bastard...!"
The cavalry following me shouted, but I didn't answer and simply raced ahead. Before my eyes was the back of his head. The smell of terror pouring from the nape of his neck stung my nose.
-Clatter clatter clatter!
The distance was closing. The fleeing man staggered but ran desperately. I curled my lips.
"You're dead, you bastard."
I raised my sword high. Lowering my waist, I sprang forward from the horse like a pouncing predator.
-Shaaak!
The sword tip touched his back. He twisted his body in one last desperate struggle, but—
-Slaaash!
The blade cut through the air and sank into his neck.
"Gr...aaagh...!"
Blood sprayed like a fountain. Clutching his severed neck, he staggered and collapsed to the ground.
I lightly dismounted. Grabbing the enemy leader's hair, I sliced through his neck with a single stroke of my blood-soaked blade.
-Thud.
The headless torso slammed into the dirt. I seized the dripping head, remounted my horse, and turned the reins toward the battlefield.
"Your leader is dead!!!"
I roared until my throat felt like it would burst. When I raised the severed head high, the screams filling the battlefield from the enemy forces wavered.
"Uwaaaagh!!"
"The boss is dead!!"
"Fuck! The boss is dead!!"
The enemy fell into panic. Their orderly formation collapsed completely. Our troops charged with screams.
"Fuck them!!!"
"Kill them all!!!"
Our 6,500 men now trampled over the ten thousand with unstoppable momentum, tearing through the enemy camp. At the sight, I laughed.
It'll be over soon.
Still holding the severed head high, I seized the reins once more. The battlefield was already collapsing.
"Uwaaaaaagh!!"
"Run!!"
"Spare me!!"
Those who had seen their leader die became a chaotic mess, scattering in every direction. Those who had maintained formation broke immediately. They trampled each other in their desperate flight.
I raised my sword high again.
"Kill them! Kill them all!!"
"Uoooooooh!!"
With a roar, the 6,500 moved as one body. They chased down those who had turned their backs to flee, piercing them with spears and cutting their throats with daggers.
"Spare me!!"
"I'll surrender! Please spare me!!"
Some threw down their weapons and screamed for mercy.
"Tie them up! Bind them and gather them all!!"
Jang Yeon's troops mercilessly bound the panting surrenderers while cutting down those who continued to flee without hesitation. Shouts, screams, and wails. The entire mountain of Taishan was covered in blood.
With a blood-soaked face, I held the reins and slowly surveyed the ruined battlefield. Almost no enemies remained. Those who had fled had already scattered beyond Taishan. The captured men knelt with heads bowed, trembling violently.
"Boss!"
Yu Byeok came running.
"Cleanup is complete! Approximately two thousand prisoners! More escaped than died."
I nodded leisurely.
"Kill those who must be killed. Keep those who can be used."
"Understood!"
Yu Byeok shouted orders once more. I thrust my sword deep into the ground. The winter sky. Gray clouds flowed past as cold wind brushed against my neck. But this Taishan was no longer cold.
I straightened my back, looked at the ruined enemy camp, and grinned. Inside, I muttered.
Now Taishan lies beneath my feet.
At that moment, the torn banner fluttered in the wind, and the name Flying General began to echo across the entire mountain of Taishan.