Chapter 56
Chapter 56. Prologue
Chen Gong and Sima Yi’s strategies were completed in an instant.
The two spent the entire day in the inner chamber, adjusting and refining each other’s ideas.
Thus, our coalition forces followed their commands:
Supreme Commander: Cao Cao.
Supply Officer: Zhang Yang.
Vanguards: Zhao Yun, Xiahou Dun, Zuo Yin, Cao Hong, and Xu Chu.
Rear Guards: Chen Gong, Sima Yi.
And in ambush: me, Unsam, and Baekrang.
I ran my hand over my old, worn-out blade. It seemed it was about time to replace it.
After this war, I’d need to either sharpen it or get a new one.
“Form ranks.”
Cao Cao spoke.
She moved her command baton, wearing a blue cape.
With a graceful motion, she raised the baton slightly, and the bugler nearby blew his horn.
Before long, the left and right wings split, forming a formation with wings on either side.
As directions changed—left, right—the bugle or drums were struck to signal the changes, and formations were reorganized in an instant.
“Amazing. The movement is fast. And the precision… there’s no need to even mention it.”
Zhao Yun, who stood beside me, spoke with pure admiration.
I also nodded quietly in agreement.
Cao Cao had swiftly taken control of the center of the army, even with new troops.
It was no easy feat.
With those thoughts in mind, I mounted my horse.
“The view’s something, isn’t it?”
At my remark, Sima Yi, holding a fan, gave a faint smile.
Then, thwack!
The girl covered her mouth with a small fan, using it as a makeshift command baton.
Our army, much smaller than Cao Cao’s, was under the overall command of Sima Yi.
“Take a good look. That Guanzhong Plain will eventually be our final battleground.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, once you set up the ambush on that western hill, join in as soon as I signal.”
“Alright. I’m counting on you.”
“…Hmph, of course. I’ll personally handle Dong Zhuo’s forces. So, you make sure to deliver the victory news.”
“Isn’t that obvious? I’ll twist those bastards’ heads off like chicken necks.”
As I smirked, Sima Yi’s violet eyes gleamed brightly.
“It’s a promise.”
“Yes, it’s a promise.”
Time passed.
The sun, which had been boiling the earth, disappeared, and a faint crescent moon with a silvery glow emerged.
It was the dead of night. Unlike the daytime when the sun was up, the forest was utterly dark.
The only light came from the moon, but even that was of little help due to the dense trees.
Cao Cao shouted.
“Bugler!”
—Wooooo!
A deafening noise shook the heavens and the earth. A bizarre sound echoed, and the soldiers clashed their spears and shields as they rallied.
“Sound the drums!”
—Doom! Doom! Doom!
“Unryong, be careful.”
Even amidst the noise, Zhang Yang’s voice rang clear.
“I believe you’ll bring us victory.”
I nodded.
It felt like promises were piling up with every conversation.
To keep them all, I’d need to put in some effort.
The blue banner soon appeared. Under the direction of Sima Yi and Cao Cao’s forces, even the fires were lit.
White smoke rose.
Cao Cao’s blue banner was raised, followed by Zhang Yang’s, and finally, our army’s flag.
“Advance, all troops.”
With Cao Cao’s command, we began to move forward.
***
The Guanzhong Plain stretched endlessly before Hangu Pass.
There, the booming sounds began to echo.
The people in Chang’an hurriedly hid in their homes, and the news quickly spread, reaching the fortress where Dong Zhuo was staying.
“What! A raid?”
Dong Zhuo shot up, startled.
“How! Are you saying the coalition forces have regrouped?”
“It doesn’t seem so.”
Li Ru replied.
“The warlords are indeed scattered. Even if remnants have gathered, their numbers are far smaller than before.”
“Damn it! Determine the enemy’s exact size!”
Dong Zhuo shoved away the women clinging to him and gulped down a cup of wine placed in front of him.
As time passed, his anxiety grew.
The drumbeats continued, and the bugle blasts pounded in his ears.
“S-Sire!”
A soldier who had completed his reconnaissance rushed in.
“Speak.”
At Li Ru’s urging, the soldier quickly knelt.
“We have identified three banners: Cao Cao’s forces, Zhang Yang’s forces, and Unryong’s forces!”
“Unryong?”
A familiar name made Dong Zhuo rise to his feet.
“That bastard again… Did he join hands with that fox?”
The fox who had tried to assassinate him despite his favor.
And the mad dog who had let a legendary sword rust and now pointed a blade at his throat.
“Those beasts…”
Dong Zhuo clenched his fist.
The soldier spoke again.
“H-However, we cannot easily gauge the size of their army!”
“What did you say?”
Li Ru stepped forward.
“They’ve set fire to the mountain! Judging by the shadows, their numbers seem overwhelming…”
“Such a devious trick…!”
Li Ru growled in anger.
And then, quietly listening by the Emperor’s side, was a man.
“It’s nothing but psychological warfare.”
Wearing armor, he slowly held his helmet in his hand and stood up.
“Eek!”
The young Emperor flinched.
Ignoring him, the man moved forward.
“Lieutenant General.”
Lieutenant General, Xu Rong.
Clad in black armor, he caressed his sword hilt.
“Hangu Pass is indeed a difficult stronghold to capture, but setting fires and making noise while showing only shadows is an artificial tactic.”
“What do you propose?”
“The answer is obvious.”
He was one of the fierce generals who, under Li Ru’s command, had swiftly defeated Cao Cao’s forces.
His instincts were almost miraculous.
With those instincts, he had crushed Cao Cao and achieved countless victories.
Thus, his status was comparable even to Lü Bu.
Especially on battlefields involving cavalry, he was often rated a notch above Lü Bu.
Both Li Ru and Dong Zhuo had no choice but to heed his words.
Finally, Xu Rong spoke.
“They will likely use archers to draw us outside the pass. It will turn into a war of attrition. However, since it might be a large force, it’s best to send out the vanguard first to understand the enemy’s intentions.”
“Stop beating around the bush.”
Dong Zhuo leaned back against his throne, propping his chin up.
“What is it that you want to say?”
“My lord.”
Xu Rong drew his sword.
“Inform the generals. I, Xu Rong, will take the vanguard.”
“I also agree. With the Lieutenant General leading, there’s nothing to fear. On the contrary, the enemy has made a grave mistake. In the rough mountains, it’s like General Xu Rong’s playground.”
“I appreciate the praise.”
Xu Rong quietly shifted his gaze at Li Ru’s words.
His black eyes made Li Ru’s breath hitch.
“I’ll hear the rest after the victory.”
***
“They say he’s here.”
At Zhang Liao’s words, the red-haired woman opened her eyes wide.
“Is that so, sister?”
“Yes, indeed.”
Lü Bu bared her fierce teeth and laughed.
“I told you, Zhang Liao. He was bound to come back.”
“So, what will you do?”
“What else?”
Lü Bu slowly stood up, using her knee for support.
“The vanguard has been taken by that Lieutenant General?”
“Yes. Unless it’s open plains, the Lieutenant General’s forces hold the advantage. Even Cao Cao couldn’t stand up to him.”
“Well, he’s decent enough.”
“Will you provide support?”
“That would only get in the way.”
Though Lü Bu’s excitement was evident, she remained calm.
Only in this moment did she truly regain her composure.
Thus, she assessed the situation coolly.
“The terrain is too disadvantageous to lead a large force. It would only waste supplies. So, we wait until they reach the front of Hangu Pass.”
“Indeed, that’s reasonable.”
Finally, a woman who had been standing beside Zhang Liao opened her mouth.
“Is he really that great?”
“He’s not so great. But he is strong.”
The woman twirled her long braided hair, replying.
“It doesn’t quite suit you to speak like that. Zhang Liao, what do you think of this Unryong?”
“One thing’s certain—he’s no ordinary man.”
“I see.”
The woman, nodding with genuine admiration, was Gao Shun, one of Lü Bu’s core generals alongside Zhang Liao.
“Enough chatter. Get your troops ready.”
“Well, if it’s the lord’s order.”
Gao Shun’s demeanor was lax, but when it came to Lü Bu’s commands, she was capable of accomplishing anything.
Thus, Gao Shun quickly turned her back.
“That woman is the same as always. Swift like a rookie.”
“You too, brat.”
“Ouch! Sister, don’t hit me! If you hit, my bones might actually break!”
“Shut up and move.”
“Alright! Alright, I’m moving!”
As Gao Shun and Zhang Liao hurriedly prepared, Lü Bu also slung her Fangtian Huaji over her shoulder and moved forward.
“This time, I won’t go easy.”
A man who walked a path completely opposite to hers.
Where would the end of this man, who would not waver in the face of temptation and saw his will through to the end, ultimately lead?
No one knew.
But one thing was certain.
In the end, the one who survives is the one who’s right.
“Stand before me, Unryong.”
The war had begun.
