Translated by Bloodfalcon, Edited by Krayto
“I lost!!! I lost!!!!” Zhou Tai
now collapsed to the ground in denial. His serpent spear is split into two, his
hands are missing and his Achilles tendon was severed by Huang Zhong. A moment
ago, he could still fight with his hands and serpent spear, but now, Zhou Tai's
four appendages are no longer useful.
“Who, who the hell are you!!!! At least tell me your name!!!!” Zhou Tai yelled still in disbelief.
In Sun Ce army, only Taishi Ci and Sun Ce can be compared
with Zhou Tai. Once Zhou Tai has gone berserk, Taishi Ci and Sun Ce are not a
match for him
Now, that same person was easily defeated by a veteran. Although when fighting Lu Lingqi and Huang Xu, Zhou Tai had already been exhausted; a loss is still loss. When fighting in the forest, nobody will give you any opportunity to even take a breath. Once you show your weakness, you are done for.
“My name is Huang Zhong, Huang
Hansheng!!!” Huang Zhou said while putting aside his longbow and his gold
curved dao, continuing to dress his wound.
It seems that his earlier decision was quite wrong, letting
Zhou Tai get a clean blow him, he thought “Hmm, maybe I should not have been
too confident earlier, his blows really are painful and are able to make me
wounded like this!”.
“Huang Zhong, Huang Hansheng? Huang Zhong, Huang Hansheng?!” Zhou Tai just repeated Huang Zhong's name.
“Cough, cough!!!” Liu Mang's body had many dislocations, he is suffering from a big ache.
“Little lord!!!” Huang Zhong did not attended his son, but instead hurriedly went to help Liu Mang. Huang Zhong saw that although Huang Xu is injured, it was not a serious injury. Presently, the Urban Army's casualties is more than 200 men including those 100 troops who were sent earlier to the Administration Office. Those who survived are only less than 30 people and these 30 people also lost their battle prowess.
Luckily Huang Zhong arrived on time, if not Liu Mang may be among Urban Army's corpses.
“Old man Huang, thank you very much!!!” Liu Mang was struggling to sit, his face was pale. He was considered very lucky this time. His other brothers-in-arms either died or were severely wounded. Although his bone is also injured, it was not severe at all.
“Old man Huang. Speak now, say that I am not cursed!!!” Suddenly Liu Mang asked this strange question while looking at his comrade’s corpses.
“Eh? Little lord, what do you mean?!” Huang Zhong really did not understand why Liu Mang asked that question.
“You see, this morning they were all still standing; still living. They called me general, they call me little lord. But now, now!!!” Liu Mang's eyes cannot hold his tears. His comrades, brothers-in-arms, all 200 troops died like trash. Even those 30 troops who managed to survive, are severely wounded and will not live through the day.
“After Battle of Mt. Bagong, I thought after I practiced martial arts and become strong, I can change their fate, but now? Nothing has changed, nothing!!!! I AM A GARBAGE BEYOND ANY RECOGNITION!!!” Liu Mang exclaimed loudly while sobbing. He no longer care about his dislocated bones his wounds.
“General, we would never blame you!!!” An Urban Army soldier opened his mouth. His chest already broken; his intestines spreading on the floor. His complexion is pale holding down a lot of pain. He knew that he would never see another morning.
“General, let me tell you this! You brought dignity to us, only you recognized us as humans!!! It is you who made us understand that being a soldier is not just to fill ones belly!!! You created many brothers for me, you created many family members for me. You made each one of us valuable in your division!!! That alone makes us very happy!!!!” Said that man while suppressing his pain.
That man is an ex-supply troop from Battle of Mt. Bagong.
Afterwards he was drafted into Urban Army. In the supply troops, he only knows
that being a soldier is to fill ones belly with warm food in order to survive.
But after being in the Urban Army, he realized that there is more being a
soldier than just filling one's belly.
In the cold weapons era, casualties to an elite unit was
divided into three parts. After suffering 30% casualties the elite unit must
fight to the death. After suffering 40% - 50% casualties it can be considered a
defeat. After suffering 60% casualties and beyond, it can be considered as the
unit being annihilated. Those are the three classifications of elite casualties
in the cold weapon era.
Regarding Liu Mang's Urban Army, the current Urban Army really cannot be compared against other elite units in regards to battle efficiency. They definitely cannot be compared with Danyang soldiers, the Bing Province Heavy Cavalry, the Formation Breaker, of the Ferocious Cavalry.
Even The Urban Army cannot be compared with the noble's
private soldiers if they fought one-on-one. Every single troops of those elite
squad are very strong in wushu and was also led by a general who was very
strong in wushu too, therefore their battle efficiencies are very strong. The
Urban Army currently are only able to fight together, no one-on-one bouts.
However, regarding morale. The Urban Army is unmatched by any of these elites. Although in the battlefield, the commander was always ordering them to protect each other, but usually soldiers just goes in their own pace. Ignoring comrades who had been mortally wounded and only wanted to watch out for their brothers, fathers and sons.
But in the Urban Army, Liu Mang always emphasized the
importance of being a team, they are family. A team are people who work
together as one, back-to-back with their fellow brothers. So, when one member
is in distressful situation, they will quickly move to help them. That is how a
family should be, there is trust in the team; they were truly brothers-in-arms.
They would complete their task no matter what. They were
even satisfied on laying down their life for their General and elder brother,
Liu Mang; they became his weapons and his shields.
These 200 troops, even if they are dying, they will stay strong for Liu Mang. Earlier they had resolved to die in order to stop Zhou Tai. Even if their body was destroyed in the process, even if their body was split into two, they will endure the pain in order to help Liu Mang. This is the embodiment of their motto, “Together we live or die; Together we share riches and honor” that Liu Mang taught them, the spirit of his division.
“General, I am sorry that I cannot be with you again! I will go to netherworld with my other brothers!!!” His face already pale and his body convulsing painfully, but on his dying face there was a smile of satisfaction.
“General, what he said is right. We would never blame you! Please go on living, for us!!!” Another Urban Army solder responded to Liu Mang’s question.
His hand is holding a sword to his neck. He is unable to
bear the pain, so he might as well kill himself to ease the pain. With that,
another brother disappeared from this world.
“YOU!!!! WHAT ARE ALL OF YOU DOING? I FORBID YOU TO DIE!!!!
YOU HEAR ME!!! THAT’S AN ORDER!!!!”
But they will not comply with Liu Mang’s order. They knew
that they will not be able to live any longer. They just choose death in order
to alleviate the pain, but all of them are smiling towards Liu Mang without any
resentment, similar to Xu Cheng.
“NO, NO!!!!” Liu Mang struggled to stand up to stop them. But he cannot move because of his bones being dislocated, so after standing he just sat back down again.
“Little lord, let them go!!!”Huang Zhong refused to obey Liu Mang’s order. He also saw that these soldiers’ wounds are untreatable, so it is much better, for them to pass away quietly.
“AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!” Liu Mang held his head and screamed “MY TRAINING ONLY AMOUNTED TO NOTHING, NOTHING HAS CHANGED, NOTHING!!!!”
From 200 Urban Army troops who were dispatched to Administration Office only 3 were left! Those 27 troops chose to commit suicide. Before, they were still screaming the Urban Army’s slogan in order to protect their eldest brother, Liu Mang!!!
Now with enemy being defeated, their adrenaline also
loosened their heightened concentration. After that they discovered that they
are already un-savable, so they might as well bid their goodbyes to their
general and to the remaining brothers who managed to survive this battle.
After that, more and more Urban Army soldiers that were split in order to quell the rebellion started gathering in Administration Office’s West Wing. They had pacified the rebellion in Wancheng city. The remaining prisoners were given to Liu Kai and Liu Neng to handle. No one beside them are the most appropriate to handle this matter.
When the rest of Urban Army entered West Wing, the vision was truly tragic, that some of Urban Army troops unable were unable to hold their tears. 200 brother-in-arms, only left 3 people!!! 3 PEOPLE FROM 200 TROOPS!!!
“AAAAHHHHHH!!!!” Several Urban Army soldiers were screaming in rage and wanted to strangle the mastermind of this massacre, Zhou Tai. But they were prevented by other people. Although they are angry and sad, without Liu Mang’s order, nobody dared to make a move on Zhou Tai.
"Huang Zhong? Huang Hansheng? Huang Zhong? Huang Hansheng!" Zhou Tai had been repeating this name for a while and suddenly he chuckled "Ha-ha, Milord Sun Ce, this general failed to complete the mission! Please forgive me!" Blood dropped from Zhou Tai’s mouth. Zhou Tai’s eyes started to lose its light, he bite his tongue to commit suicide.
He then yelled “SOMEONE, BEHEAD ZHOU TAI NOW!!!! COOK HIS
BODY INTO MEATLOAF AND SEND IT TO SUN CE!!!” Liu Mang’s eyes are red, his body was
emitting a thick aura of killing intent.
He thought “Ooohhh,
Sun Ce, your blood debt is now no longer just my Honorable Father-In-Laws!!!! I
will be your opponent now!!! I WANT EVERY DROP OF YOUR BLOOD SPILLED FOR MY
BROTHERS WHO DIED HERE!!!!”
“Reporting to the general, Wancheng city’s rebellion has been quelled!!! 32 nobles who participated in this rebellion was surrounded in their own mansion with their private soldiers!!! Liu Neng is awaiting for yours instruction on how to deal with them. In addition, the head of the He clan and the head of the Lin clan are outside of the Administration Office” Cheng Yu reported to Liu Mang.
Cheng Yu did not know how to comfort Liu Mang, so he can
only report the current situation and hoped that it will easy his emotions.
Deal with them? They will need to wait for Lu Bu to come back to deal with them. That is his right as lord. Other people cannot make this decision for themselves, because it will be a breach on his authority and at the same time, it is questioning Lu Bu’s authority as lord.
However Liu Mang had decided to make the decision himself and glared at Cheng Yu “DO I NEED TO TELL YOU HOW TO HANDLE THEM, CHENG YU?!” Liu Mang’s eyes are bloodshot, Cheng Yu noticed the killing intent he was emitting making him really afraid. If Cheng Yu was not on the same side, perhaps he would have been swallowed alive by Liu Mang.
“SPARE NO ONE?!” Although their heads and private soldiers are involved but their families are not involved in this rebellion. Even some branch families did not know that main family was plotting rebellion let alone those servants in noble’s mansion. Their connection at most was just serving the nobles!
“KILL THEM ALL, SPARE NO ONE, I WANT THEIR SURNAME TO BE LOST IN THIS WORLD!!! KILL THEM ALL, INCLUDING THE SERVANTS AND PRIVATE SOLDIERS!!!!” Liu Mang said with determination and anger.
There is no good in sparing those nobles. He truly
discovered that by sparing them, he only invited more trouble for himself. If
it were not for these nobles, would the rebellion have occurred until Wancheng
city become ruined like this? Would the Administration Office become a place of
massacre?
If he had taken a few steps of precaution before!!! But now,
since they dared to rebel, they must suffer the consequences.
“Hanyang, most of them are innocent!!!”Lu Lingqi who just heard Liu Mang’s order suddenly protested. The crime committed by the clan heads cannot be burdened with their wives and daughters. If only exterminating the noble’s clan heads, Lu Lingqi will not object to Liu Mang’s order. But now Liu Mang’s order was to slay them all of them including the private soldiers and servants! They probably didn’t even know that their own family members was a part of Wancheng city’s rebellion.
“Huh, innocent? Do you want to
argue with me about innocence Ling’er? The gate defenders and those 200 Urban
Army troops protecting you, they were innocent people caught in this war! Have
you see Wancheng city clearly? Those commoners who got swept in this chaos,
they are also innocent!!! You still wanted to argue with me about innocence? Those
who take up the knife, must know the consequences when they die!!! Those Urban
Army soldiers died, those gate defenders died, those commoners died. Yes, they
died, but their family suffers because of their death!!!! Now, those nobles are
the ones who took their lives, KILL THEM ALL, SPARE NO ONE!!!!”
“Little lord, it is prudent to wait for Milord to come back!!!” Huang Zhong also warned Liu Mang. Although Liu Mang is Lu Bu’s son-in-law and Lu Bu’s army little lord, he is not Lu Bu’s son. Overstepping the lord’s authority is one of the heaviest sins in this day and age as they are still maintaining a feudal caste and can be considered as murdering the lord in order to get authority.
Usually in a warlord’s family, if the youngest child wanted to grasp authority then he must kill his father and brothers to obtain it. That is why in royalty, there is no brotherhood.
“I WILL BEAR ALL OF THE CONSEQUENCES!!!” Liu Mang also knew that rule, but he cannot make these soldiers and those commoners die in vain. He definitely cannot make them scream for revenge beneath hell.
“YES SIR!!!!” The entire Wancheng city that had just calmed down, was again plunged into terror, but this time, it was in the noble’s mansions.
After Liu Mang dispensed his orders and asked Cheng Yu to put
his mother-in-laws and his wives-to-be in his mansion, he got out from
Administration Office.
Liu Kai, Liu Neng and with prisoners He Shuo and Lin Feng, were
all there. Liu Kai and Liu Neng were really frightened by the way Liu Mang looked,
so they kept their mouths shut and asked him for orders later.
He Shuo and Lin Feng who were tied up, suddenly kowtowed
toward Liu Mang and said “Please Your Highness Prince of Shu, spare us and our
family. We swore to leave this Wancheng city and never to return again!!!”
Liu Mang retorted coldly “Oh, leaving Wancheng city, so you
can provoke others like Cao Cao to attack me, huh? Keep dreaming!!!”
He Shuo burst out “Liu Mang, Liu Hanyang, you are not afraid
of sins? Are you not afraid that all of the nobles will turn against you and
your father-in-law?!”
Liu Mang took a glance at Liu Kai and Liu Neng and they
nodded in turn. “Afraid? Did you really think that this nation only has the He
clan and Lin clan as the noble’s spokesperson? I have the Liu clan who will tell
the truth about this Wancheng city rebellion!!! They will serve as me and my
Honorable father-in-law’s main supporters after all of you die!!!”
Lin Feng screamed because he did not see any other means to
persuade the Prince of Shu to spare them “LIU MANG, LIU HANYANG. THINK ABOUT
THE REPERCUSSIONS YOU WILL HAVE WHEN MILORD SUN CE ARRIVES IN WANCHING CITY!!!
REMEMBER… PSSHT!!!!” Lin Feng had not yet finished his sentence when was stabbed
by Liu Mang who said coldly “Your words mean nothing to me!!!!” and spat towards
Lin Feng’s face in disbelief.
Soon enough, He Shuo joined Lin Feng in the underworld, he
was beheaded by Liu Neng.
In Wancheng city, screams of helplessness still were heard
inside the noble’s mansions. “Help!!!”, “SPARE US!!!”, “HAVE MERCY!!!!”
However, no Urban Army soldiers paid heed to their plea, for they, themselves
considered these nobles, servants, and these noble private soldiers as a
punching bag and sacrifice to their banners.
Blood flowed endlessly on the city streets, blood flowed
until the moat looked like the crimson sea.
Thank you everyone for the support! We had a good end of year, 2016 should be even better!
ReplyDeleteWhat a way to end the year, huh? Complete bloodbath...
DeleteLOL!
DeleteChapter to finish the year. Getting a Translator and editor for the series for the last 3 months.
I'm not really bloodthirsty or anything, but this chapter made me smile. If I was in Liu Mang's place, I would've done the same.
ReplyDeletesame
DeleteI was tearing up. Dang emotional chapter.
ReplyDeleteI was tearing up at the suicides. Damn good men...
DeleteKill~~~~~~~all of themmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....
ReplyDeleteYeah, emotinal indeed. Thx for the chaptef
ReplyDeleteI say, cut their legs and throw them out the gates.
ReplyDeletehe is worse than those nobles :v
ReplyDeleteBefore we reach this chapter, I have once speak with James and Tchu (Paul) on this matter.
DeleteWe concluded that this particular event is the same like Game Of Thrones, when Queen Leviathan (if I am not wrong) conquered one land and sparing all of the nobles inside it. It backfires on her real good until she was expelled or dead (if I am not wrong)
That is why, this is the exact same scenario happened. Better kill them all, in order to pacify the whole place
I have to refuse in that case since this is only providing other country with legitimate way to declare war on you and make the people inside distrust you (they may rejoice and praise you at first but as time go on, none will like it having a brutal ruler).The problem will be solved if the conqueror can manage the land he conquered.If not it only mean that he isnt good enough as a conqueror and excessive bloodshed is the last thing you should do .You can just take away their status and fortune or even turn them into labor slave while kill all influenced people in that family and that will be enough.
DeleteKilling the whole family is most of time done as way to scare other or to satisfy the public thirst for revenge but most of time they only do it to 1 most influenced family that lead the rebellion.Mass killing serve no other meaning than to satisfy one's wish for revenge.The soldier fight for their own master and the family are just you know,family who only live normally in their land ,they will share the blame but Liu Mang should know better than direct his hatred to them.Really i never understand the thought process of Chinese author, they seem to love the kill the whole family, spare not even dog and chicken (literally translated) even while the other party no longer hold any threat to the MC or there are much more peaceful and easier way to deal with it.
I agree with you to a certain degree, but honestly it is not as black and white as you might think. There is no right or wrong answer
DeleteIn real world Joseph Stalin was the most successful ruler in Soviet history and he killed everyone even his most trusted generals and their families. He would kill you even if he had a slight doubt or based on a rumor truly a man of caution.
Lu Bu already killed Chen clan. But it did not stop the rebellion.
DeleteSo might as well kill them all, as a warning to other nobles in the nation not to fuck with them
I'm not questioning Liu Mang's decision from the moral department. Yes, he may kill all the nobles and their family. But what about their private army? Right now, Liu Mang need men, and there are ten of thousands of them there. Maybe they have bad morale, but at least, they can act as a shield meat for his urban army when Sun Ce come with his 30.000 elites.
DeleteBlack and White, no i know that the world is gray long ago so dont worry about me being a softy .I dont mind killing if it has any meaning, but meaningless killing is just stupid. If it is a show off their cold judgement and warning, the Chen clan annihilation is enough.If it is to show off their might, the overwhelming victory against the army at least 3 time their number is enough.
DeletePolitically, it is better to show mercy to the rebelled family and do like i mention above. While the other warlord will attack Lu Bu whether he show mercy or not, the support from other noble is a different story since they are scheming and wont let themselves in situation with no retreat (meaning they wont use all resource in the war to fight Lu Bu and even secretly give some small support so that even if the warlord they choose lose, they wont extinct).But since Lu Bu kill all noble, he show that he is noble enemy, not just kill the rebel and that agitate them to kill him as fast as possible.
Morally, there is nothing good in killing the weak family (the old, young, sick and weak), it doesnt give you justification just because the rebel did the same.
Militarily, it is a stupid move to kill all the good prisoner of war that may be good as threat, source of information or even exchange prisoner later, and not to mention, he do something that exceed his authority without consulting with the strategist and those who hold enough authority.
hid a sek, I quite know your sentiment for this. But from the very start, these nobles only have ill intent toward Lu Bu and co. They are not cooperative at all and even rebelled when Chen clan has been made as an example. For me, at that point of time, all negotiation has been useless. So, better clean up those nobles in order to stabilize the situation. Better yet, there are still Lu clan (Lu Xun's clan), Han clan, Xu clan and Liu clan. The numbers of their private soldiers will be enough to withstand Sun Ce. And don't forget, there is still a weapon in Liu Mang's hand.
DeleteWell i guess i just expect too much and the mass killing is the easiest way to stabilize the situation.After i go through the calculation (using tactical game as base value), i realize the amount of work will be quite huge and time/man-consuming which they cant afford since there is still more battle awaiting. Got to see more of Liu Mang development to be sure if this novel isnt heading to the violence and bloodshed path like the ones i have read so far. At least now he still keep his core personality.
DeleteI'm conflicted on one side I agree with Liu Mang but on the other side you have possibly infants and bystanders getting killed. From the moral codes stand point it is wrong. But from that time periods point of view it is correct. One can argue that by killing them he is saving the lives of countless others in the future. Can't wait for the next chapter. It would be interesting to see Lu Bu's point of view on this.
ReplyDeletethe difficulty to see it in our era point of view eh, yeah its like what you says from our view who live in peaceful place what Liu mang did kinda excessive but if you see from that era where war and live no better than garbage killing them until root can be said right choice
DeleteThe problem is, Liu Mang came from our time. He should has our standard morale value. But I get it. He's still young. And maybe got influenced by Lu Bu or other people of that time.
DeleteI'm curious. What happen if Liu Mang accidently kill his great-great-great-great... err.. I mean his ancestor. Lol. It will be very interesting time paradox event.
If i was liu mang i would have used their flesh to fertile the lands surrounding the city, used their blood to put out the fire and their bones to strengthen my weapons...
ReplyDeleteu in Sparta writing this?
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
Deletedamn just hope his father in law wont be pissed and it would have been better to capture them all and have them publicly executed in front of the common people who suffered so that they may find relief.
ReplyDeletejust wondering what happened to James. Haven't seen him lately
ReplyDeleteIm impressed that he manage to hold out his sanity(well this is a fiction after all). If this was me i would ve gone crazy for about 70 chapters ago lol :D
ReplyDelete