“To shoot the rider, first shoot the horse?”
Dian Wei licked his lips when he heard that.
“My lord is really willing to part with it.”
“That’s a one-in-ten-thousand steed—something you couldn’t buy even if you had the money.”
“If Lü Bu loses Red Hare, I’m confident I won’t be defeated.”
In this era, a warhorse was comparable to a luxury automobile in modern times.
A horse like Red Hare belonged to the absolute pinnacle— the equivalent of a top-tier supercar.
Moreover, in warfare there was no saying like “shoot the horse before the rider.”
Warhorses were simply too valuable.
Even the famed White Horse General, Gongsun Zan, had suffered a disastrous setback against Qu Yi largely because of cavalry-related tactics.
“I naturally have faith in General Dian.”
Guo Jia looked at Dian Wei.
Seeing the latter so full of confidence, he offered no objection.
Whether Dian Wei could actually defeat Lü Bu, he didn’t know.
But he was certainly among the tiny handful of the greatest warriors under heaven.
………..
As darkness gradually fell…
“Staff Officer Guo.”
Guan Hai hurried over.
“The brothers stationed atop the city walls have sent word.”
“Lü Bu has entered the city.”
“Good.”
Guo Jia’s expression immediately turned serious.
“Tell the men to remain well concealed.”
“At the Hour of Zi (around midnight), send scouts out again to confirm the situation.”
“Understood!”
Guan Hai took a deep breath and saluted respectfully.
Though Guo Jia was younger than he was, his abilities were on an entirely different level.
Only a few days ago,
Guo Jia had predicted that Lü Bu would enter Dongwuyang.
And now…he actually had.
Guan Hai knew he himself could never have made such a prediction.
“So, General Dian?”
Guo Jia turned toward Dian Wei with a smile.
“Staff Officer, you’re incredible!”
Dian Wei was visibly excited.
He knew that before long, he would finally cross weapons with the man hailed as the greatest warrior under heaven— Lü Bu.
It was a battle he had long dreamed of.
……….
After entering the city, Lü Bu’s army conducted only a cursory inspection.
Satisfied that nothing seemed amiss, they shut the city gates and began cooking their evening meal, behaving as though they had returned to their own homes.
On the city wall…
“What a fine city.”
Looking at the moat outside the walls,
Lü Bu’s face filled with resentment.
“It’s a pity those bandits carried off all the people.”
“Otherwise, this place wouldn’t have ended up like this.”
Ever since he had been appointed Governor of Yan Province, Lü Bu had naturally regarded the province as his own territory.
Everything Zhang Jing had done in Yan Province therefore infuriated him all the more.
“My lord, there’s no need to be angry.”
Zhang Liao spoke up.
“Once we reach Chenliu, Yuan Shu certainly won’t avoid battle the way the Yellow Turbans have.”
“After we defeat Yuan Shu’s forces, we’ll finally have a place to establish ourselves.”
“Then we can think about reclaiming the territory we’ve lost.”
Heaven knew how badly Zhang Liao wanted somewhere to settle.
Ever since leaving Chang’an, that had been his greatest wish.
After wandering for more than a year, he finally saw a glimmer of hope.
Unlike Lü Bu, he wasn’t someone who thought only about fighting while ignoring the bigger picture.
“Wenyuan is absolutely right!”
Lü Bu’s mood immediately brightened.
Patting Zhang Liao on the shoulder, he laughed.
“So long as you continue following me, Lü Bu…”
“…one day you’ll all rise to greatness.”
“And enjoy endless wealth and glory.”
“We believe in you, my lord!”
The generals all saluted in unison.
The reason they followed Lü Bu wasn’t merely because they all hailed from Bing Province.
An even greater reason was Lü Bu’s unparalleled martial prowess.
Following a man like him, they believed, couldn’t possibly lead them astray.
“Hahaha! Come on—let’s drink!”
Lü Bu waved his hand grandly.
“I said I’d reward the troops.”
“And I never go back on my word.”
With that, he strode toward the city.
“We thank you, my lord!”
The generals were overjoyed and eagerly followed after him.
“My lo—”
“Wenyuan.”
Seeing Zhang Liao about to speak again, Wei Yue quickly grabbed his arm and whispered, “It’s rare for the lord to reward everyone like this.”
“Don’t upset him again.”
“What, do you really think there could still be danger inside this city?”
Ever since leaving Liaocheng, they had rested in several cities along the way.
Nothing had ever happened.
The entire northern bank of Dong Commandery was devoid of living people except for occasional Yellow Turban scouts.
With the way they had been marching, if the Yellow Turbans—or anyone else—had intended to ambush them, they would have been attacked hundreds of times already.
“…Very well.”
Zhang Liao sighed and shook his head.
“Then I’ll just drink a little less.”
“Haha, that’s more like it!”
Wei Yue threw an arm around Zhang Liao’s shoulders.
“With the reputation of our Bing Province Wolf Cavalry and the Eight Hundred Camp Crusher, what Yellow Turbans would dare throw their lives away attacking us?”
“Once we’ve rested and recovered our strength, our real priority is marching to Chenliu and defeating Yuan Shu’s army.”
…..
After a hearty meal and plenty to drink, Lü Bu’s army settled down for the night.
Some lay sleeping beside the main road.
Others slept atop the city walls.
Still others rested behind the city gates.
Each man kept his weapon close at hand as he drifted off to sleep.
“Bo Ping.”
Before turning in for the night, Zhang Liao found Gao Shun and said, “The lord drank too much tonight.”
“Keep an eye on him.”
“Wenyuan, there’s no need to remind me.”
Gao Shun replied with his usual stern expression.
“I’ll have the brothers of the Camp Crusher take turns guarding the lord.”
“Haha, then I spoke unnecessarily.”
Zhang Liao laughed and slapped his forehead.
“With you, Gao Bo Ping, around, there’s no need for me to say another word.”
“I must’ve drunk too much.”
“Go and get some rest, Wenyuan.”
Gao Shun remained as expressionless as ever.
…………
The Hour of Zi (around midnight), west of Dongwuyang
“Ziyi, what did you find?”
The moment Taishi Ci returned, Guo Jia hurried over to ask.
“Staff Officer, I’ve completed a rough reconnaissance.”
Taishi Ci quickly walked over to the map of Dongwuyang and pointed to a location.
“Unless something unexpected has happened, Lü Bu’s main camp is here.”
“The fires in this area are the brightest.”
“Excellent.”
Guo Jia nodded.
“Now that we know the location of the main camp, we can begin.”
“When the signal fire is raised,”
“General Pan Zhang will lead the Forlorn Hope Battalion.”
“After setting the fires, charge directly into the enemy’s central camp.”
“General Ziyi, lead one thousand infantry and cavalry to locate the stables as quickly as possible.”
“Throw in the firebrands, and cut down any of Lü Bu’s soldiers who try to extinguish the flames.”
“Generals Dian Wei and Guan Hai— lead the remaining troops with me.”
“We will surround the central camp.”
“No matter what, capture or kill Lü Bu.”
“We obey!”
The generals solemnly saluted in acknowledgment.
………….
Three-quarters through the Hour of Zi (around 12:45 a.m.)
West of Dongwuyang
Ranks upon ranks of soldiers in gleaming armor silently emerged from every direction, gradually forming into battle formations.
Taishi Ci sat astride his warhorse, whose hooves had been wrapped to muffle their sound.
His battle halberd rested in his hand.
Behind him followed more than one hundred armored cavalry and nine hundred infantry.
His gaze remained fixed toward the north.
About another quarter of an hour passed.
A blaze suddenly lit up the northern sky.
Taishi Ci gently urged his horse forward, the troops following close behind.
After advancing another three li, they finally saw the source of the flames ahead— the area where Lü Bu’s army was encamped.
With less than six hundred paces remaining, Taishi Ci increased the pace.
Elsewhere, Guo Jia and the others quietly advanced toward Lü Bu’s central camp.
Concealed by the darkness, they managed to close to within three hundred paces without being detected.
“General Guan Hai.”
Guo Jia lowered his voice.
“Have the men light the fires.”
“Understood.”
Guan Hai nodded firmly.
Moments later, Pan Zhang led the Forlorn Hope Battalion onto the main street.
Each soldier carried a burning torch in his left hand and a spear in his right.
They charged straight toward Lü Bu’s central camp.
Immediately afterward, Dian Wei, Guo Jia, and Guan Hai split into two groups, moving to encircle the enemy headquarters from both sides.
“…?”
One soldier of the Camp Crusher noticed flames surging up from the western side.
At first, he thought his eyes were playing tricks on him.
But once he saw clearly, he immediately let out a deafening roar:
“Enemy attack!!”
— The end of the Chapter–
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