Xinya's Cat (3)
"Teacher!"
"It's been a while, General Hwang."
"Truly too long! Haha!"
It had been about three months since I'd last seen Huang Zu. Even with his duties as Governor of Gangha keeping him busy, he often made trips to Yangyang at Liu Biao's summons, stopping by Xinya on the way back to meet me before heading home. That happened roughly once every three months. And right now was right around the time for one of those visits.
"I've been appointed overall commander for the campaign against Yuan Shu. Was that your recommendation, Teacher?"
"Even if I hadn't recommended you, you'd have been the right man for the job."
"Haha, still, it makes a difference. Being pushed into it versus being trusted and given the role."
Huang Zu's face brimmed with confidence.
"So, what ingenious stratagem will topple Yuan Shu this time?"
"We don't need to topple him. All we require is a single victory."
I didn't want a siege war. Our goal—no, precisely Sukyung Academy's ultimate aim—was to ensure Yuan Shu never dared plunder Xinya again.
"They say even when the rich fall, they last three years. But Yuan Shu won't even make it two."
"Then this is about holding out those two years! Like a cat baring its fangs!"
"Something like that."
We'd give Yuan Shu—or any stragglers fleeing him—a wake-up call through military maneuvers. Make sure no one even thought, 'Shall I head to Jingzhou?'
"Sorry to drag you out here for this."
"Hahaha, drag me out? Sitting idle in Gangha was driving me mad with boredom. When else do I get to command so many troops?"
Huang Zu was thrilled with his assignment.
"Tell me the plan. I'm overall commander, but you'll be handling the coordination."
"If you insist, General."
"Insist? Haha, relax. Who in all the realm trusts you more than I do?"
"I'm grateful for that."
There was one other who did, actually.
"This way, please. Allow me to introduce you. This is Prefect Mun Bing of Xinya, who also commands the northern Jingzhou garrison."
"Mun Jung-eop here. I've heard plenty about you from General Hwang."
"Ugh... pleased to meet you."
Huang Zu grimaced as he shook Mun Bing's hand. He'd instinctively sensed a stronger warrior than himself.
"The northern Xinya garrison numbers five thousand at present. We'll follow General Hwang's orders."
Huang Zu was still overall commander, after all.
"But with two General Hwangs..."
"Huh?"
"Fair point. Hwang isn't exactly a common surname. Haha, Teacher, mind if we call you Geum Taeyang this time? Folks keep mixing us up!"
"General Hwang is Huang Zu. Am I a general?"
Huang Zu and Mun Bing nodded.
"Advisors can be generals too."
"Indeed. You've already proven your general's stature. We'll call you General Geum. Hahaha!"
"If it helps repel Yuan Shu, I'll accept. From you two seniors."
I hadn't sought the title of general. But since I'd donned the helmet, mounted a warhorse, and led soldiers into the field, I had to become one.
"Combining all forces gives us twelve thousand. I'll reorganize by troop type, keeping Gangha and northern garrison units as separate as possible."
I quickly sorted the rosters they'd given me.
"Gangha cavalry: two thousand. Spearmen: five thousand. Jingzhou garrison shock troops: four thousand. Archers: one thousand."
"How should we form them up?"
"The generals leading each unit will know the best weapons for their men."
From the moment we'd set the board to strike Yuan Shu, I'd already planned how to use them. I'd preserve command structures as much as possible, but Gangha and the northern garrison were tightly knit with their officers anyway. Just organize as it looked best.
"General Mun Bing, take the four thousand shock troops for the left flank."
"Understood."
"General Hwang, where's General Gan Ning?"
"You called?"
"Gah?!"
Ding-a-ling.
The voice from behind made me think my head would roll for real.
"Hahaha! Scaredy-cat, you who turned Sun Jian into a ghost!"
"Anyone would jump if you sneak up like that."
"Heh, my feet are quick. So, Teacher Geum, where do I fit?"
"Five thousand spearmen. Right flank."
"Five thousand! ...Well, better than cavalry for me anyway."
Gan Ning looked disappointed but satisfied. With so few cavalry, he was content leading more spearmen.
And the problem was...
"Wait. Teacher Geum, so I get the archers?"
Huang Zu. Sword, spear, halberd, cavalry, bow—even naval combat—he was middling at all. His one strength: likable personality. Normally I'd joke and dump anything on him, but with Yuan Shu's decisive battle looming, I couldn't hand this jack-of-all-trades just anything.
"General Hwang, you take the two thousand cavalry."
"Uh..."
Huang Zu paled. Mun Bing and Gan Ning's faces soured too. They couldn't say it, but they'd handle cavalry better themselves. And they could—better than Huang Zu.
But what if someone who outdid even Mun Bing and Gan Ning at cavalry commanded alongside Huang Zu?
"I'll assign you a deputy."
"Deputy?"
"Yes. Jungdal!"
"Here."
Gan Ning and Mun Bing stared at Sima Yi, clad not in her usual flowing skirt but battle-ready light armor.
"Y-You're my deputy?"
"Yes. No issue."
Sima Yi pointed to the sword at her waist and smiled boldly.
"Your only weakness is that hair. I'll cut it if needed."
"N-No, don't!"
Huang Zu waved her off in horror.
"A woman cutting her hair in the Central Plains? That's terrifying. Haven't you heard of Cao Cao? Cut her hair, razed Xuzhou; cut it again, sent Yuan Shu's two hundred thousand to the afterlife!"
"Then all the more reason to cut it, no?"
"No! Don't. Whew..."
Huang Zu clutched his chest and turned to me.
"Teacher Geum, you really trust her?"
"Of course. General Mun knows her sword skills well."
"Exceptional, yes, but..."
"Enough complications."
Gan Ning stepped up to Sima Yi.
"Can you kill on the battlefield?"
"I've already killed thousands in my head."
"Not with your head."
"General Gan, Sima Yi devised the plan that routed Zhang Ji's army."
Gan Ning's eyes widened.
"Wasn't that you, Teacher Geum?"
"I took credit so no one would react like this."
"Whoa. So... the lady's basically our staff officer?"
"I'm a cavalry commander. Call me Lord Sima, not 'lady.'"
Gan Ning blinked at her poise, then nodded. Even he had to yield to Sima Yi.
"General Hwang's cavalry will form the center. I'll assist him in maneuvering them."
"And I'll back the center with crossbowmen, split in half."
"Split the thousand again? Who's commanding each half?"
"Seo Seo will."
"Ugh..."
Huang Zu groaned as Seo Seo appeared behind me. Mun Bing and Gan Ning exchanged glances, pointing at Huang Zu, Sima Yi, and Seo Seo, nodding.
—Huang Zu won't lose, right?
—Sima Yi maybe not, but against Seo Seo, it'd be paper-thin one-on-one.
—Huang Zu's slightly stronger, but those two use brains over brawn.
—They match my martial prowess in intellect. Don't bruise his pride. He's stuffy but not bad.
I could guess their wordless exchange.
"First joint command—let's make it count."
Center: Huang Zu, Sima Yi. Cavalry: two thousand. Geum Taeyang, Seo Seo. Crossbowmen: five hundred each.
Left flank: Mun Bing. Shock troops: four thousand.
Right flank: Gan Ning. Spearmen: five thousand.
No choice but to succeed.
"Still, Teacher Geum, cavalry feels too few..."
"Don't worry about that."
Cavalry could be reinforced elsewhere.
"The board's already set."
* * *
"General Noh. You think this makes sense?"
"Indeed, General Jin."
Noh Paek. Jin Ran. The two surviving Yuan Shu generals sighed like madmen.
"With Grand General and Supreme General, why us?"
"Exactly. Liu Biao attacks with just ten thousand? Hahaha."
Noh Paek and Jin Ran each led seven thousand from Yeonam toward Xinya.
"All because His Majesty lacks virtue. Descendant of virtuous kings? The Han's mandate ended? Even so, the Emperor lacks the prestige for a new heaven."
"Just prestige? Haha, lacks a lot."
Noh Paek and Jin Ran chuckled as they spurred their horses.
"Lacks plenty. Generals... died aplenty."
"Ak-chu, I-pung, Gyo-yu, Yang-gang... Good men all."
Yuan Shu had fled Shouchun first. The generals left fighting Cao Cao's army there had mostly been beheaded. Few remained.
"General Noh, if this Zhong kingdom goes south later..."
"Same thought?"
The two generals grinned slyly.
"Heh, as if. A kingdom by noble Yuan clan."
"Exactly. Crush Liu Biao quick, plunder Xinya, rejoin the main force at Wan..."
Suddenly.
Noh Paek and Jin Ran shuddered at the distant cavalry encampment.
"...What the hell are those guys?"
The fluttering banner far off bore "Zhang."
* * *
"Advisor Jia Xu. We're really fighting alone? With Liu Biao's army, right?"
"Worry not. I've calculated everything thoroughly."
"Whew, insane. Hogwa, guard Advisor Mun."
"Hogwa!"
"Ha..."
The general sighed, eyes turning south.
"There—they're coming."
With the wind, soldiers appeared, banners flapping "Hwang."
"In these chaotic times, even we join hands. With blood enemies, no less. Heh, I don't know anymore."
The general smirked, drawing his spear.
"Charge! Like Cao Cao, we'll crush the rebel Yuan Shu!!"
General Zhang leads five thousand cavalry to join Liu Biao's army.
Right army: Zhang Su, Jia Xu, Hogwa. Cavalry: five thousand.