Palace Clash (4)
Grand General He Jin had never expected a mere granddaughter from a eunuch family to suppress the rebellion of Jian Shi and the Western Garden Army. He had assigned her the task solely to save Yuan Shao's face, with no intention of giving Cao Cao any real opportunity. In fact, He Jin secretly hoped she would fail the suppression effort. Up until now, he had only kept her name on the Grand General's staff roster—a lowly position—to demonstrate his benevolence and tolerance toward even a eunuch family. The moment an opening arose, he planned to boot her from the Grand General's headquarters.
"What can a wench from a eunuch clan possibly do? It'll be fortunate if she doesn't join the rebels. My lord Grand General, anything tied to eunuch factions can't be trusted."
A young man sidled up to He Jin, speaking with utter confidence that Cao Cao, who was leading the suppression, would fail. Tiger Prestige Colonel Yuan Shu. Unlike Yuan Shao—the illegitimate daughter born to a slave mother—Yuan Shu was the legitimate son of Imperial Secretary Yuan Feng, born to a noblewoman. He Jin favored both Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu heavily. It was a conciliatory ploy to pull the Yuan clan of Runan, which backed the Ten Attendants, to his side.
"Gonglu, have the soldiers been fully mustered?"
"Of course, my lord. The moment your command comes down, the valiant forces of the Grand General's headquarters will crush the Western Garden Army and drag Jian Shi back alive."
"Once Jian Shi is dead, the Ten Attendants won't make much fuss. The Crown Prince will soon ascend the throne, and until then, I intend to break their power."
When news of Jian Shi's rebellion first reached him, He Jin had feigned shock. Now, however, he welcomed it. To him, Upper Army Colonel Jian Shi was the most troublesome figure among the Ten Attendants' clique. A seasoned eunuch who had long commanded the Gold Army, his military prowess was exceptional. Now came the perfect pretext to eliminate him. The bastard had dared to depose the Crown Prince and elevate the son of Lady Wang. For a mere eunuch to meddle in the Han imperial house and bandy the throne about to his liking was a treasonous crime deserving of being torn limb from limb.
He Jin planned to exploit it: slaughter Jian Shi and purge the Ten Attendants' influence.
Before the Crown Prince ascends as the new emperor, I meant to smash those eunuchs as hard as possible... but now fortune delivers them gift-wrapped. Heaven itself must be aiding His Highness.
While his staff trembled at Jian Shi's rebellion, He Jin alone wore a satisfied smile.
"Jian Shi's treason is clear as day. No one will dare challenge the Grand General's decision."
"Who in their right mind would obstruct the Grand General, who holds the mandate of heaven? Opposing you means defending a traitor—they should be punished as traitors themselves."
"Your words ring perfectly true."
He Jin nodded at Yuan Shu's flattery, harboring ambitions to eradicate the Ten Attendants who had monopolized Han wealth and power for over twenty years. But first, the rebellion had to be crushed. Thus, he awaited reports from Cao Cao and Yuan Shao, whom he had deployed. If they failed, he—the Grand General—would step in personally, smash Jian Shi, and emerge a hero who saved the Han court.
By hunkering down in the iron-walled inner palace and waiting, the palace guards loyal to the Ten Attendants would eventually defect, paving the way for success. No matter how mighty the Grand General's forces with their iron grip on military authority, it was the Ten Attendants' formidable prestige that had propped up the thirteen-year-old emperor, dominating the imperial palace and grounds. Most officers commanding palace troops had risen by borrowing the eunuchs' clout; virtually no influential figure in the palace lacked ties to them.
Thus, Jian Shi and the Western Garden Army were convinced that once Ten Attendants leader Zhang Rang moved, all palace forces linked to their faction would betray the Grand General and join them.
"Something's flying in!"
"Raise shields!"
Dark objects sailed over the walls encircled by Grand General troops. They shattered with a crash, splintering everywhere. The projectiles arcing into the tightly guarded inner palace were jars. Fragile earthenware that broke on impact, they exploded with a deafening racket when hurled with force.
"Cough! What the hell is this?!"
"The jars are full of water—no, wait! It's oil!!"
"The Grand General's dogs are dousing us in oil!"
The soldiers, baffled by the sudden barrage, soon realized the jars contained oil and cried out in alarm. Laden jars smashed down. Veteran Western Garden troops knew what that meant: the enemy was prepping a fire attack. "Prepare for fire!" they shouted. But before countermeasures could form, flaming arrows streaked in mercilessly, glowing red-hot.
"Fire arrows!"
"Don't let them hit the oil!"
The Western Garden soldiers, who had crammed themselves into the confined space, watched hell unfold before their eyes. Ignition was instantaneous where arrows met oil-soaked ground. Oil met sparks, birthing roaring infernos in a blink.
"Aaaargh!!"
"Fire! It's spreading!!"
Flaming arrows plunged into oil-slick floors, unleashing a ferocious sea of fire. Soldiers screamed in terror. With flames stealing their footing, they broke ranks. How many could calmly hold their posts amid the searing blaze? Even the Gold Army's elite Western Garden troops wavered as crimson tongues licked forward.
"The enemy is scaling the walls!!"
An officer bellowed sharply. As Western Garden ranks faltered in chaos, troops under Vanguard Colonel Lee Seong-hwi used ladders or comrades' aid to crest the walls.
"Ugh, aaaargh!!"
A Western Garden soldier engulfed in flames thrashed and rolled on the ground. The rest fared no better. The abrupt fire scheme threw everyone into pandemonium. Flames licked the inner palace halls; thick black smoke choked visibility. The oil everywhere amplified the blaze.
"Gah!"
A Western Garden soldier blocking Grand General troops who had vaulted the walls with spears and swords crumpled. Those guarding behind him fell to Lee Seong-hwi, who led the vanguard over the wall into the inner palace.
Lee Seong-hwi was first over, setting foot in the enemy stronghold. He cleaved through obstructing foes and guided follow-up troops, tilting the battle in their favor.
"Slaughter every defender and open the palace gates."
"Yes, sir!"
The troops breaching the walls had one role: fling open the stubbornly shut gates. Scaling had limits; gates had to open fast to let encirclement forces flood in. That's why Cao Cao assigned Lee Seong-hwi this pivotal task. As the first button must fit perfectly for success, seizing the palace gates was key to overrunning the rebel-held halls. Controlling the gates decided victory or defeat.
"Urk!"
"Y-You bastard..."
Officers who had sneered at Grand General rabble, swollen with Western Garden pride, groaned. Fire had shattered their formation; they fell like dominoes to the wall-scaling raiders. Already a dozen had perished to what seemed a Grand General officer.
"Ngh!"
Bathed head to toe in gore, Lee Seong-hwi hurled a dropped spear, finishing the Western Garden officer overseeing from afar with troops in front. And with every sword swing, charging soldiers dropped lifeless. Drenched in crimson, he charged countless foes without hesitation—stabbing guts, severing necks, showing no mercy. Soldiers witnessing the slaughter quailed in horror.
"...A monster."
A Western Garden officer muttered at Lee Seong-hwi, voicing the troops' dread, legs trembling. Blood and flesh clung to him; around lay corpses drained dry.
"Open the gates, now!"
"Every second counts! Breach the gates!"
While Lee Seong-hwi single-handedly pinned the enemy, Vanguard Colonel troops smashed gate defenders. Soldiers swarmed, wrenching the heavy portals wide to admit waiting forces outside.
"Huhu, hahahahaha!!!"
Gates barely ajar, a mounted woman burst in, curved sword flashing to carve through blocking Western Garden troops. Red hair whipping, sharp eyes gleaming, she bellowed laughter while swinging.
"I am Xiahou Dun, descendant of Han founding hero Xiahou Ying and Pei Guo's champion! Which limp-dicked man dares face me!!"
Officers charged with spears and swords at her bold cry. None prevailed. Proving "vanquished in one exchange" no empty boast, none could halt her rampage.
"The vanguard seizes the inner palace and captures traitor Jian Shi! Let not a single conspirator escape!"
Following Xiahou Dun, Cao Hong stormed in with troops. Thus erupted clashes between Grand General and inner palace forces—fellow Han servants now thrusting blades at each other in brutal melee.
"G-Good work."
Cao Hong's voice quavered at Lee Seong-hwi, drenched in blood from head to toe, standing atop enemy corpses. She tried nonchalance, but his gore-smeared sword dangling, glaring at foes, briefly cowed her.
"Where's Jian Shi? Headquarters ordered live capture..."
"Probably seeking escape routes. We must nab him fast—external support might be coming."
Wiping blood-masked face with arm, Lee Seong-hwi replied. Body slick with gore, his fearsome sight made Cao Hong hiccup. She'd seen him bloodied quelling Yellow Turbans provincially, but this ragged-armored, toe-dripping slaughterer haunted like a nightmare for a Cao lady.
"I'll lead the elites to pursue. Spotted some Western Garden officers slipping away. They haven't escaped yet—chase hard, and we'll get them."
"Huh? You're covered in blood—rest a bit. Leave it to other officers."
"Let Jian Shi slip, and it's all for naught. Lady Jiam, stay and command the troops here. I'll bring him in."
Overwhelmed by his urgency, Cao Hong nodded without retort. Armored rags, blood to his boots, yet undaunted and mission-focused— she could only admire. Though flames blocked the way, Lee Seong-hwi dashed with select troops toward Jian Shi's presumed flight path.