Chapter
173 – Choice For Liu Mang
Translated by Bloodfalcon
A
half day after Liu Mang destroyed noble’s private soldiers, an event
similar to Wancheng city wall also happened in Sun Ce army as there
is also a slaughterfest. The extermination of Wu clan were led by
Taishi Ci and Danyang soldiers while Sun Ce just pretend to be
ignorant. With his clan being slaughtered, Wu clan rep quickly asked
Sun Ce for reason, but never in his wildest imagination, he would
have expected that Sun Ce stabbed him in the heart and kick him while
saying these words in cold tone while removing his sword “Wu clan
have offended military law twice, therefore it is my right as lord to
impose martial law by execution toward all of you.” Wu clan rep
then died in disbelief, disbelief that his own nephew would kill him.
Sun
Ce then screamed his order while cleaning bloodstain on his armor
“Zijing, is everything ready?”
“Milord,
all soldiers are ready!!!” Lu Su holds his fist and reported to Sun
Ce. Lu Su is started to dedicate his whole being toward him, there is
also an idolizing feeling as well as fear.
Today,
Sun Ce killed his own blood in order to absorb their private
soldiers. Tomorrow, perhaps Lu Su’s life will be claimed by him.
This person is really ambitious and has lofty aspiration, worthy of
being one of the greatest heroes of this nation. However, as great as
Sun Ce is, he is not Lu Zijing’s wise lord. After this Battle of
Lujiang ended, Lu Su will quickly returned to Hueiji in order to be
on Sun Quan’s confidante, he needs him.
“Then
start the assault!!!!” Sun Ce quickly stand up. He put on his hard
helmet from his own soldier and pick up his Conqueror Spear to do
battle again.
Taishi
Ci then voiced his concern “Milord, what about your injury?!”
Taishi Ci is a general so he naturally will know how deep is one’s
injury. Sun Ce’s wound in this battle can be considered as severely
wounded. Although his body already become hyper-class, but the degree
of this injury is too severe for 1 day to heal.
“Ziyi,
it is OK, I am all right!!!” Sun Ce waved his hand. He knows that
his injury at least fractured 3 pieces of his ribs. He also want to
rest, but time is not an option. Today he must break Wancheng city,
otherwise he will not returned his army unscathed, let alone
executing revenge.
Looking
at Taishi Ci’s concerned face, Sun Ce’s heart began to soften up
and said “Ziyi, I have already given a third thought. I need to
join this battle, if not, there will be no chance for us to seize
victory. Ziyi, I as your lord, has not yet dominate this land, how
can I permit myself to die in battle?!” Sun Ce really determined to
fight in this battle. He must use his newly-found hyper-class to
decide this battle as soon as possible.
“I
understand, Milord!” Taishi Ci then put his fist on the other hand
after saying that. Taishi Ci is no Lu Su whose job is to think
strategy and worry about other things than battle. He is a combat
general whose task is to break through enemy lines. He liked Sun Ce
because he is the one who make him surrender by prowess alone,
impressing him to no end and also Sun Ce is a person whose principle
to let bygones be bygones. With that principle alone, even if Sun Ce
killed as many people as Liu Mang did, Taishi Ci will never betray
him.
“BUMP,
BUMP, BUMP!!!!” Battle drum has resounding again and this time is
Sun Ce core army with addition of noble clan’s remaining armies are
charging toward them. 5,000 Danyang soldiers again unleashed, along
with 10,000 regular soldiers, all are awaiting orders. In their hands
are scaling ladder and sword has been unsheathed. Behind them, there
are battering rams to destroy Wancheng city’s outer wall gates.
Yesterday, he did not use them because he believed that nobles will
take over the city, but now, he must use it in order to win this
battle.
“FUCK!!!!
BATTERING RAMS!!!!” Cursed Liu Mang while observing with his
telescope. Liu Mang has not yet recovered from his murderous rampage
earlier, so right now, he will not join the battlefield directly,
and all battle is to be left for his generals. He saw at least 2 rams
are assigned to each gates. “Sun Ce really desperate to enter the
city by today!!!” Thought Liu Mang. Liu Mang also sees that all of
battering rams are in mint condition, and all of them are teakwood
logs reinforced with steel. One strike can damage the city gate
severely.
Sun
Ce then raised his Conqueror Spear and pointing toward Wancheng city
while screaming “BEAT THE DRUM!!!! WE MARCH!!!!
ATTTTTAAAAACCCCCKKKKKKK!!!!!” He must break this Wancheng city by
today or else he will be destroyed by Bing Province Heavy Cavalry.
“SHAAAAAA!!!!!!”
5,000 Danyang soldiers quickly brandished their weapon and sprints
toward Wancheng city wall. Majority of scaling ladders had been given
to Danyang soldiers by Sun Ce as they are the most fastest troops in
the remaining Sun Ce army elites. Leading them is Taishi Ci whose
strength has reached superclass and brandishing twin halberds which
can strike fear in enemy’s heart.
Liu
Mang then began counting down “"1000 steps, 800 steps, 700
steps, 600 steps, 400 steps, 300 steps!" The moat of Wancheng
city is already filled with corpses of those noble private soldiers
and will not able to stop Sun Ce core army advances.
“VOLLEY
NOW!!!!” Liu Mang said with fierce voice. All of Lu Bu army’s
soldiers quickly shot volley. This time, it is impossible to use the
same scheme like yesterday as Sun Ce already knew the existence of
heavy infantry. Therefore today he uses divide and conquer tactics in
order for Liu Mang’s 3000 troops of heavy infantry also get tired
and unable to fight them all.
“WHIZ
WHIZ WHIZ!!!!” The entire city wall shot volley endlessly under Liu
Mang’s order. In Wancheng city, arrows are very numerous. So
numerous that you only need your stamina in order to draw the bow.
Soon,
pitiful screams were heard everywhere but strangely, all those
screams majority belonged to regular soldiers. The Danyang soldiers
have been hiding those arrows by hiding behind the regular soldiers.
Those regular soldiers really have badluck, being a meat shield for
Danyang soldiers. Liu Mang’s first wave of assault actually managed
to take down 2,000 soldiers.
2,000
soldiers’ casualties is just like a scratch toward Sun Ce. Sun Ce
needed them to be weeded out, in order to separate between trash and
elites. Sun Ce hoped by battling Liu Mang and Lu Bu army, half of
them to survive this war because once they survive, they will all
become elites and having elites is like winning one-third of the
battle in this time of chaos.
“CLIMB!!!!”
Screamed one battalion of regular soldiers who managed to reach the
wall. They are nobles private soldiers. Yesterday, they are still
partying in their own respective camps and on standby to wait for
their master’s victorious news. Also without the order of their
masters, they will not move. Those soldiers are also glad that they
did not need to die in the battlefield. But right now, they were all
dispatched as Sun Ce core army as Sun Ce had told them all that their
masters are all dead on the city wall. They all now belonged to
Jiangdong Army and as thus, they must do siege today.
All
of them are brandishing their own weapons like forks, shovels, swords
and quickly placed scaling ladders on the city wall. Right now the
scenery is just like ants climbing the wall.
Danyang
soldiers then asked the leader “Uncle, advise us what to do!!!”
Those Chu division has been putting show by climbing all of the
scaling ladders and quickly descended back.
“What
to do?! Just keep pretending to climb the city wall!!!” Lin Danda /
Chu Zhongtian exclaimed while gritting his teeth. They are the
remaining Danyang soldiers that Sun Ce had. They also occupy as one
of Jiangdong Army elites, if they kept acting like this, it is not
good. Lin Danda and Er Gouzi are all wearing white cloth on their
left shoulders as per Liu Mang and Chu Jie’s instructions
yesterday. Their numbers right now also being divided into two, so
Zuo Renjie could lead again.
“Yes,
it is not good, it is too obvious!!!” Er Gouzi also agreed. Danyang
soldiers is the one who reached the city wall first, but later on,
they ordered all of regular soldiers to climb first. From their
position, Sun Ce, Lu Su and Taishi Ci can easily see them and maybe
execute them all for insubordination.
“THEN
WHAT TO DO NOW?!” Chu Zhongtian yelled and continued “DO YOU
REALLY WANT TO BATTLE THIRD GRANDMASTER?!” Chu Zhongtian really
worried about Chu Jie. When he almost threw Liu Mang two days ago, he
knows that Wancheng city defenders are too little in numbers. Also
when Sun Ce, Chen Wu and Dong Xi are raiding Wancheng city, made Chu
Zhongtian’s heart sank as Chu Jie will be killed.
After
Wancheng city has been defended, Chu Zhongtian catch a glimpse of Chu
Jie still alive and breathing, he breathed relief sigh. Who knows
after that two days, they must confront Third Grandmaster again.
“Lin
Danda, not good!!! We must go up!!! Look at Strategist Lu’s face
now!!!” Er Gouzi notified Chu Zhongtian again. These 5,000 Danyang
soldiers troops already wearing white clothes slowly revealed
themselves as more and more regular soldiers are climbing to city
wall.
“Hrm?!”
Chu Zhongtian throw his sight to Lu Su. Lu Su’s face is frowning
badly. Lu Su has been having bad feelings toward them since first day
of siege. Lu Su really surprised that the formidable Chu division not
long after climbed the wall, suddenly they descended again the
scaling ladders. Lu Su thought that maybe the enemy on Chu division’s
side is too fierce and they were repelled as the other sides are
making progress. Lu Su initially concluded that maybe Chu division
has met with a mighty division.
In
the aftermath of the initial battle yesterday when Lu Su are
rechecking all of the soldiers, he found out that these 5,000 Chu
division only have less than 1,000 casualties, even no deceased while
Zuo division all decimated, this is not normal, not at all.
Zuo
Renjie also reported what he saw on the scene, he said that all of
Chu division were kneeling toward a youngster of Lu Bu army. This is
really strange, they are Sun Ce army’s elites, they should be
kneeling toward Sun Ce, not enemy. First time, Lu Su just dismissed
his report, thinking that this must be Zuo Renjie’s plot so Zuo
clan can kill Chu clan legitimately by Sun Ce’s orders, since they
are sworn enemies.
But
seeing the scene up ahead, made Lu Su rethink Zuo Renjie’s words.
He thought “What the hell these Chu soldiers are doing? Does they
want to attack or just acting as per Zuo Renjie’s report?”
Just
as Lu Su want to report this to Sun Ce, all of Danyang Chu soldiers
moved and started to scale the city wall.
“Oh?
They already climb? Good then! Maybe I’m overthinking it!!!”
Thought Lu Su as he is calming himself down. Lu Su then just
dismissed Danyang Chu division acting just now as maybe there are too
many former noble soldiers are trying to climb into the city wall, as
long as they climb, they will be able to take Wancheng city today.
“SHAAAAA!!!!!”
War cry are screaming from both sides. Although Sun Ce army managed
to climb the wall, but their advance still impeded by Lu Bu army
which resisted with all their might.
Their
advance impeded by the remaining Urban Army soldiers and 3,000 Black
Flag soldiers who has removed their heavy armor an hour ago as
ordered by Liu Mang. Black Flag cannot again be unleashed as heavy
infantry as it will deteriorate their stamina and will go down in
less than half of an hour. So right now some of them are wearing
Urban Army equipment and some of them using commoner’s clothing.
But
even though heavy infantry has removed their equipment, an elite
soldier is still an elite soldier and their prowess is higher than
those of regular soldiers. Black Flag army’s current prowess is so
high that Danyang soldiers cannot even touch them, their speed
multiplied now that there is no armor burdening their body and their
sword are dancing as their sword drink blood. [TL: Reminds of Musou
mode. Hold O button, people]
“QUICK,
GET BATTERING RAMS INTO POSITION!!!!” Sun Ce bellowed his orders
and then turn his sights toward city wall. He is in utter disbelief
that Danyang soldiers and his newly mixed soldiers have been halted
by an unknown force. More reinforcements for Prince of Shu? What
kind of army he unleashed again? Thought Sun Ce.
Sun
Ce has seen Urban Army which was created by Prince of Shu, Liu Mang.
They are well equipped and very strong when attacking together. 3,000
Urban Army soldiers together with 8,000 private soldiers are able to
withstood 10,000 Danyang soldiers assault.
But
right now, although they are wearing Urban Army’s equipment, Sun Ce
knows that they are not Urban Army. They are fighting individually
not in union like Urban Army. The reason why Danyang soldiers able to
succeed in the initial assault is their ability is to disrupt a force
that is used to fight together and vice versa, Danyang soldiers is
unable to be used to fight like Urban Army.
But
these soldiers, these mysterious soldiers, able to fight with his
Danyang soldiers individually and one soldier can kill 2-3 Danyang
soldiers before being dispatched themselves.
Sun
Ce shook his head endlessly trying to figure out who are these
mysterious soldiers. Are these soldiers, the infamous Formation
Breaker? Thought Sun Ce.
Sun
Ce began his self-investigation “No, if they are Formation
Breaker, their boss Gao Shun must be present to lead them. Even
though, I haven’t seen Gao Shun’s face but since
that damned Liu Mang is that damned Lu Bu’s son-in-law, he
will never leave Liu Mang’s side and it will be impossible for Liu
Mang to hurt badly when Chen Wu and Dong Xi’s assault yesterday.”
Sun
Ce continued his thought while trembling inside his heart “Lu
Bu’s army’s Formation Breaker and Bing Province Heavy Cavalry is
already too much for any warlord to battle. And now, he is still
hiding strong squad to be unleashed against me? Monster, monster, the
lot of you!!!!!”
Ho
ho, if only Sun Ce knew that these soldiers were prepared to join his
elites and were cultivated personally by Zhou clan, he will vomit
blood endlessly. 3,000 elites that was prepared to join him, was
subjugated by Liu Mang to fight against him. How ironic.
Battering
rams moved quickly, followed by 5,000 mixed soldiers. With that event
transpired, the battle in Wancheng city turned into big chaos
stalemate with Black Flag halted by mix soldiers and Danyang soldiers
stopped their advance. Similar view also can be seen with battering
rams which unable to advance due to arrow volleys. But even though
halted with much difficulty like that, first wave of battering rams
managed to arrive at the gate and started their duty.
“Boom!!!!”
The sound of battering rams hitting the main gates, signalling the
first wave of offense. Two battering rams as if announcing their
might which made from a millennium age teakwood reinforced with iron
sheet.
And
true enough to the sound it make, the main gate start to show it
damage.
Huang
Zhong whose hearing is better than Liu Mang, this kind of sound
alerted him “Dammit, main gate is being breached by battering
rams!!! If this persists, then we will die trapped inside our own
fort” Huang Zhong quickly
notify Liu Mang “Little lord, let Zhong led a squad to assault the
battering rams!!!”
Huang
Zhong makes this decision based on the current condition, currently
Sun Ce’s army and Lu Bu’s army are at stalemate with neither side
can advance or pushed back. With the destruction of the battering
rams, they can boost the morale needed in order to push back Sun Ce
army.
“Heh”
Sun Ce sneered. Sun Ce’s really proud with his stratagem this time.
Since he knew that Wancheng city’s defenders is too few, he send
Danyang soldiers to attack first to pressurized him. Then he send
battering rams to Wancheng city’s main gate, making Liu Mang truly
difficult to allocate his already dwindling resources. As Sun Tzu
said in his book chapter Disposition of the Army, the chapter said to
create opportunities to yourself and not creating opportunities to
your opponent, this stratagem of Sun Ce is the true embodiment of
that chapter.
“Oh
Liu Mang, Liu Hanyang, I want you to choose one side and quickly
die!!!!” Thought Sun Ce smiling maliciously while looking at
that golden-framed figure who was forced doing battle again above
Wancheng city wall.
“Choose,
eh?” Liu Mang also thought a respond as if responding to Sun Ce’s
overbearing and arrogant thoughts. The two military commanders once
again locked eyes in rage.
No comments:
Post a Comment