Chapter 10 - Death (1/2)
Chapter 10 - Death
Original by Bro Got a Gun, Translated by James
“Is Zhang Liao present?!” shouted Lu Bu. He began to give orders.
“This general is here!” Zhang Liao half kneeled on the ground.
“Zhang Liao, you are to be the vanguard. Your task is open up a path for our main army!”
“Yes!” Zhang Liao accepted the order.
“Is Gao Shun present?!”
“This general is here!” Gao Shun was also half kneeling on the ground. Being their lord, Lu Bu was like their master.
“Gao Shun, your Formation Breaker will be our rear guard. Your task is to provide cover and protection for our main army!”
“Yes!” Gao Shun knew that being the rear guard, his troops would most certainly be attacked by the Cao army when they try to withdraw from Xiapi. The casualty would certainly not be small. Nevertheless, he accepted the order without any hesitation.
“Brother Liu Mang!” Lu Bu gave the last order. “You are to lead your troops and follow in the middle of the army. Your task is to protect my family!” If it wasn’t for Liu Mang, Lu Bu likely would’ve already died in Xiapi.
“Yes!” Liu Mang tried to do as the two generals did earlier and also half kneeled down. This surprised Lu Bu because for regular generals their method of accepting an order is only holding one’s fist and only familial generals would half kneel down to accept an order.
“Congratulations Fengxian on receiving another great general!” A middle aged scholar said with a laugh while rubbing his beard. This person was the person that was captured by the Cao army earlier, Chen Gong, Chen Gongtai. Although Lu Bu was unable to kill Cao Cao, he managed to save Chen Gong - an unexpected delight.
Chen Gong too admired this young man called Liu Mang. Although he was young, he was able to rescue Lu Bu and even came up with such a stratagem. This raid of the Cao army barracks, if it wasn’t for that messenger, Lu Bu might really be able to kill Cao Cao. If he did, then both the Yan Province and the Xu Province will be set to chaos, free for Lu Bu to take over!
“Hehe!” Lu Bu smiled bitterly and shook his head. He already felt that sometime was wrong with this kid named Liu Mang from the first time he met him. From his actions to his speech, everything was inharmonious with this world. Say, was he a country boy that know of nothing? To be able to a.n.a.lyze people to well and also put forward plans and ideas, how could he possibly be a country boy that knows nothing? But, for him to not know even the basic manners… it really was a miracle.
“Maybe!” Lu Bu also didn’t know what Liu Mang was thinking. Even if he wanted to have Liu Mang be one of his familial generals, he still require Liu Mang to be willing to serve him.
“All army! We are to breakthrough!” Lu Bu climbed onto a maroon colored horse. With his order, the army soon began to break out of the enclosure.
Xiapi’s East Gate was burst open. Leading in the front was Zhang Liao’s troops of less than a thousand men. Following Zhang Liao’s troops was Lu Bu and Liu Mang, they led a couple hundred troops protecting a couple horse carriages and Lu Bu’s family. Finally, following behind and still on the other side of the East Gate was the Formation Breaker. They once numbered eight hundred but there was only seven hundred left. Majority of them are also wounded. Their task is to protect the frontal and middle army’s escape. They may have to face enemies numbering tens or hundreds times more than themselves. They may even face complete annihilation. But even then, they did not have the slightest fear. For they are the Formation Breaker!
Seeing that the last of the middle army soldier have pa.s.sed through the gate, Gao Shun was ready to shut the East Gate and block it with sandbags. While doing such could delay the enemies, it also meant that the Formation Breaker would be stuck inside too. These seven hundred men was ready to fight till the death!
“Brothers! Are you afraid?!” Gao Shun, who usually never speaks, spoke.
“We are not afraid! We are not afraid!” The soldiers of the Formation Breaker replied to Gao Shun with voices full of morale.
Contrary to expectations, Gao Shun was unhappy and he even scold at them. “Bulls.h.i.+t! You are afraid, I am afraid, there’s nothing to be ashamed of! Within two hours, this gate will be completely blocked. Death? We’re all afraid of death! You don’t have to be ashamed of it! I, Gao Shun, am not an unreasonable man so If there is anyone who is afraid and regrets his decision, feel free to leave! I will not blame you for leaving!”
Not a single man uttered a sound. They were all looking at each other. On their face was expressions of struggle, reluctance and composure. They were not afraid of dying.
“Zhang Kui, step forward!” Gao Shun suddenly shouted a man’s name.
“General, I am not afraid of death! Not afraid of death!” shouted the man who Gao Shun called for.
“Did I say you are? No need to get excited!” Gao Shun laughed.
“Zhang Kui, you have followed me and been a part of the Formation Breaker ever since Bing Province!” said Gao Shun.
Zhang Kui nodded as if remembering something.
“Zhang Kui. From Jinyang County of Bing Province, the only son in the family!” Gao Shun said while looking at Zhang Kui.
“Is your mother still of good health?!” Gao Shun dragged on.
“Mother, my mother have pa.s.sed away!” Sadness filled Zhang Kui’s eyes.
“Oh!” Gao Shun saw Zhang Kui’s expression and decided to not continue asking.
“Zhang Kui, this general orders you to cross the gate, discard your supplies and catch up to our lord!” said Gao Shun.
With this speech, Zhang Kui was made anxious. “General! Zhang Kui is not afraid of death! Not afraid of death! General, please allow me to stay! Please don’t abandon me!”