Battle of Luoyang 7

I enter the hills along the path created by Liu Bei and Pang Tong’s center.

The battlefield revealed as we climb to higher ground. What I see before me is the sight of my precious Luanling Army engaged in battle with the enemy cavalry.

“Look! Our comrades are shedding blood ahead! It’s time to exact payment in blood!!”

Though the tight camaraderie forged on the battlefield, protecting each other and sharing lives, applies to all armies, the Luanling Army had an especially strong bond.

The lotus of Luanling engraved not just on their golden threads but in their very souls.

The tragic sight of comrades-in-arms dying, more than just fellow soldiers, instilled an intensely strong desire for revenge in the hearts of all Luanling soldiers.

And I was no exception.

‘I’ll kill them all.’

Over the sense of duty to defeat the enemy for achieving tactical objectives towards victory in battle, a layer of hostility was added towards the villains who dared make the Luanling Army bleed.

The numbers of Cao Pi’s personal cavalry led by Cao Zhen and the Luanling cavalry following me were almost equal.

Just before the collision of the two cavalry forces, the Luanling infantry who confirmed the support of their comrades quickly constructed a battle formation centered on Jiang Wei’s orders.

Though there were no Pian Shang Ju, the series of processes of forming a battle formation with shields and spears to drive away the Wei cavalry was carried out skillfully.

Towards Cao Zhen’s cavalry thus pushed back, we collided head-on.

Neigh! Neigh!

Boom!

Thud!

Swords and spears crossed, and a dull collision sound rang out as the horses’ massive bodies tangled.

Riders falling from horses while bleeding. Many of them were wearing Wei cavalry uniforms, but there were rare ones with Luanling engraved on them.

Seeing comrades who had been advancing together fall beside them again triggered the desire for revenge, forming a cycle of fighting spirit. Melee. The clash of the elite troops that both sides had saved until the last was a bloody battle of strength against strength without any tactics or anything else.

Those who realized the fate of this war depended on them.

Those who had witnessed the deaths of their comrades more than anyone else.

Even their own deaths could not stop the fight between them.

I cut down, stabbed, and struck down enemies who threw their lives at me, piling up corpses around me.

Meanwhile, I constantly scanned the battlefield.

‘Is that him?’

What I was looking for was the enemy commander, Cao Zhen.

Though not sweeping through the enemy lines as outstandingly as me, Cao Zhen was also displaying his might as a fierce general of Wei. He was calmly dealing with several Luanling cavalry soldiers who rushed at him all at once.

Even at the moment I confirmed Cao Zhen’s position, a new victim fell to his spear. I gritted my teeth and pulled on Golden Pavilion Yellow’s reins.

“Cao Zhen!”

I call out Cao Zhen’s name in a loud voice. It was to make my presence known.

To our troops, it meant I would deal with Cao Zhen so block the enemies trying to stop me, and to Cao Zhen, it was a threat saying I’m coming for you soon so stop fighting pathetically with the soldiers.

As intended, Cao Zhen, realizing I was targeting him, focused on preparing for my attack rather than taking down the soldiers surrounding him.

The development of tactics, specialization of state systems, improvement of army proficiency… As the chaotic era prolonged, the position of fierce generals in war gradually narrowed.

Situations where a single fierce general dominated the battlefield and turned the tide of battle gradually disappeared.

However, in a situation like now, where thousands of evenly matched armies are clashing head-on without any clever strategies, it was possible to reverse the battle situation through the exploits of a fierce general.

Cao Zhen must be aiming for that too.

If the battle between Han and Wei has narrowed to Luanling Army versus Imperial Guards, Cao Zhen also realizes it has been further reduced to a duel between me and him.

Though it was a head-on match between generals, usually soldiers would guard around them and look for chances to help their general, but not now.

As the Luanling Army believing in my victory focused on preventing interference from enemies rather than helping me, the Wei cavalry also had no leisure to look elsewhere.

In that arena created for just the two of us, Cao Zhen and I were great warriors on horseback, each bearing tens of thousands of lives.

One exchange made in the weight entrusted to us.

At that moment, though Cao Zhen and I did not exchange any words, we shared one thought.

‘I will win.’

Strength, skill, even the weapon held and the horse ridden.

In all aspects, I was ahead of Cao Zhen.

Realizing this, Cao Zhen’s spear changed form. From aggressive spear techniques aiming for my neck, Cao Zhen changed to focusing on defense first while looking for opportunities. In contrast, I pressed Cao Zhen even more strongly, thrusting out my spear.

The battle situation clearly showing who had the upper hand. Like dropping ink in water, it spread around affecting morale.

The Wei Imperial Guards were already having a difficult fight sandwiched between the Luanling infantry and cavalry, and seeing even their leader being pushed back by me, they became even more dispirited and unable to attempt any proper counterattack.

And conversely, the situation of surrounding allies was affecting the duel. When allies are pushed back, mental energy is inevitably dispersed as you don’t know when enemy troops might intervene. It was a chain reaction of vicious cycles.

But even in these extremely unfavorable adverse conditions, Cao Zhen’s composure did not waver.

‘So he’s become a veteran general now.’

Maintaining unwavering composure. Cao Zhen has now reached the mature stage of emotional control, which can be called an essential condition for a great general.

Amid my fierce attacks where even the slightest mistake would lead to a fatal wound, Cao Zhen was holding out with extreme precision. It was like drifting on a small boat atop raging waves, not capsizing thanks to amazing oar skills.

‘The impatient one is you.’

As Cao Zhen and the Imperial Guards faltered, the flow of the battlefield was again turning towards Han.

Though momentarily pushed back by the momentum of the enemy reinforcements, the commander leading the Han army was none other than Pang Tong. It was a simple matter for him to use my and the Luanling Army’s joining to plot a reversal of the atmosphere.

When I deliberately attacked with bigger movements, Cao Zhen seized the gap to launch a counterattack.

‘As expected.’

To fall for it so easily when I only showed a slight opening.

I quickly withdrew my spear as planned beforehand, intending to use Cao Zhen’s counterattack against him. The plan was to deflect Cao Zhen’s attack here and take his neck.

However, my plan crumbled helplessly with Cao Zhen’s next action.

‘He throws away his spear?’

Cao Zhen threw away his spear almost simultaneously as I withdrew mine, and immediately turned his horse’s head to start fleeing.

Though momentarily flustered by Cao Zhen’s completely unexpected action, I quickly regained my composure.

‘How foolish. Did he forget the difference in horses?’

Though the horse Cao Zhen is riding is also quite a fine steed, it’s no match for Golden Pavilion Yellow. Even if he can put some distance with a head start, he’ll soon be caught up to before Golden Pavilion Yellow’s acceleration.

‘The moment I catch up to you is when you die.’

Without me needing to give an order, Golden Pavilion Yellow immediately began pursuit.

Though Cao Zhen’s horse started first, Golden Pavilion Yellow surpassed its speed in an instant.

At this rate, easily attacking Cao Zhen from behind and achieving victory was the expected course.

However, Cao Zhen once again exceeded my expectations.

‘Shooting while facing backwards?’

Cao Zhen pulled out a short bow from his saddle and immediately turned his body to draw the bowstring towards me. From grabbing the bow to nocking the arrow and sharply twisting his waist, it all happened in one breath.

“Kuh!”

I had to move my body forcefully to block the arrow shot from close range.

To support me whose posture had collapsed, Golden Pavilion Yellow also lowered its speed to focus on balancing, and naturally the distance from Cao Zhen widened further.

As if the backwards shot had been somewhat of a trump card, Cao Zhen shot another arrow at me even though it was an already failed method. This time I was prepared and easily deflected his arrow.

Atop Golden Pavilion Yellow which had come to a complete stop, I pondered for a moment. Whether to continue following Cao Zhen to settle this life-and-death match, or to take advantage of Cao Zhen’s absence to decisively settle the situation here.

My answer was the latter.

‘There will be plenty of opportunities to capture Cao Zhen in the future. It’s right to look at the bigger picture.’

Though constantly conscious of this side, Cao Zhen was hesitant to approach while keeping an eye on me.

‘A small fry like Cao Zhen doesn’t matter either way. What I need to aim for are the bigger fish.’

It’s not the point over ten years later when Cao Zhen becomes the supreme commander of the anti-Shu front, and Cao Zhen’s value in this great battle isn’t that great.

With Cao Zhen fleeing from me, the Luanling Army was already overwhelming the Wei Imperial Guards and clearing the battlefield. Support the center while completing the division of the enemy army, and aim for the rear left defenseless by sending out the Imperial Guards.

‘First, bring about victory in the war.’

While periodically checking if Cao Zhen was coming, I returned to the Luanling Army and focused on finishing off the resisting Wei troops.

At the point when the Imperial Guards had essentially collapsed, I approached Jiang Wei.

“Bai Yue, you follow the original plan and support the center.”

“The enemy has already noticed our army’s strategy. They’re withdrawing their troops.”

“I know.”

Seeing the Imperial Guards sent by Cao Pi crumble, it seemed Xiahou Shang intended to join up with Cao Pi first to secure a retreat route before we completely divided the enemy.

If they gather on their own, we have no reason to object.

“Aim for Xiahou Shang and Cao Pi at once.”