Chapter 28 - Battle of Kaiyang (1) (1/2)
Chapter 28 - Battle of Kaiyang (1)
Original by Bro Got a Gun, Translated by James, Proofread by Cartesian
“Dong Dong Dong Dong!” Early in the morning, the war drums had already begun to sound. Lu Bu knew that the Cao army was about to attack again. There’s not a lot of soldiers left inside the city now, they might not be able to last for the whole day!
“Sha!” The white clothed Cao soldiers, with the helps of ladders, was swarming over like an army of ants. This time, the vanguards were Xu Huang’s troops.
Xu Huang was a famous Cao general in the Three Kingdoms period. He was originally a cavalry officer under Yang Feng. After Yang Feng was defeated by Cao Cao, he switched loyalties to Cao Cao. Although he hadn’t been a Cao general for a long time, Cao Cao treated him generously and gave him a whole battalion of troops to lead. Thus, Xu Huang wanted to express his worth to his lord even more and show Cao Cao that he had chosen the right person.
“Brothers! Attack! The Lu Bu army is on its last breath! The prime minister has given the order! Those who ascend the walls of Kaiyang shall be rewarded ten gold! Those who kill a single Lu Bu soldier shall be rewarded a field of land! Those who kill ten Lu Bu soldiers shall be rewarded jewels and precious stones! Those who kill a hundred Lu Bu soldiers shall be given an official position and have his military rank increased! Brothers, this is the perfect opportunity to achieve something for yourselves! Kill them all!” Xu Huang’s speech was very captivating. His soldiers’ morale had increased significantly and they started to dauntlessly advance in wave upon wave - attacking the city walls.
Xu Huang didn’t shout what he usually told his soldiers. He didn’t tell the soldiers to kill the head of the enemy. This was because he was aware of Lu Bu’s prowess. Yesterday, he climbed up to the city walls and was seen by Lu Bu. Had it not been for Lao Cao dispatching Xu Chu and his own personal guards, then Xu Huang would likely have been unable to leave the city walls!
Even with this, there were still no less than ten deaths amongst the guards. Only then did Xu Huang know of the might of the number one general under heaven.
A single tiger wasn’t scary. What’s scary was a tiger commanding a group of wolves!
Lu Bu was the tiger and the Lu Bu army was the wolves!
“We must persist! We must persist! Once the Cao army breaks through the city walls, they will kill every one of us! To surrender is to die! To resist is also to die! In that case, men, let’s risk it all!” Originally Chen Gong feared that the Chen family soldiers would revolt. However, ever since he mentioned that Cao Cao might ma.s.sacre everyone after capturing the city, every one of the Chen family soldiers went insane, blocking the Cao army’s advance. The effects of his words were very good!
Although the Chen family soldiers were personal soldiers of Chen Deng’s family, they were all Xu Province folks before they enlisted. Cao Cao’s attack on Xu Province had killed a great amount of people. Many of these Xu Province soldiers’ relatives might even be amongst those killed by Cao Cao.
“Sha! Sha! Sha!” Xu Province was a place of abundance and the folks were all of gentle temperament, however even gentle folks could get angry! And Cao Cao, he had caused these folks’ b.l.o.o.d.y temperament to arise. They have fought back wave after wave of Cao troops.
“Lu Bu! Lu Bu!” Cao Cao started at the golden armored general on the wall. He had a very complicated expression as he looked at Lu Bu.
He so desired to kill that man because that man had almost killed him! Moreover, that man had immense charisma and excellent capabilities in leading troops! These Xu Province soldiers were originally weak and feeble; when they were in the hands of Tao Gongzu, Tao Qian, they had no military prowess at all. They were soldiers that could not win a single battle and would flee at the sight of the enemy! Even the elites amongst them, the Danyang soldiers, still amounted to nothing in the battle against Cao Cao’s army. However, these same Xu Province soldiers were now fighting back the offense of his elite troops as if they had gone berserk!
[TL: Gongzu = Tao Qian’s courtesy name]
Xu Huang was already on the level of a first-rate general, his soldiers no worse than those of Yu Jin and Xiahou Yuan. However, he was still unable to take over the city walls!
“If only he surrendered to me!” Cao Cao sighed. When he was outside of Xiapi, he once thought of reconciling with Lu Bu and turning him into his ally. If he were to give all his military forces to Lu Bu and have him command them while he himself took care of internal affairs, then, with such a combination, they would certainly be able to sweep the world in a short amount of time!
But all of this was ruined by Chen Gong, that arrow almost cost him his life!
[TL: Lu Bu considered Cao Cao’s offer for surrender but Chen Gong was like, f.u.c.k you bro, let me shoot teh arrow at yo head!]
After half a day of fierce fighting, blood once again stained the walls. Finally, there was a Cao troop that managed to board the wall.
“The reward! The reward is mine!” This Cao solder was very happy. He was the first to board the wall and thus the reward of ten gold for boarding the wall was his!
However, before he could even celebrate…
“Poof!” From the mouth of the Cao soldier came a spray of blood. On his chest appeared a sword. This was a masterpiece caused by a Xu Province soldier.
“Re-reward!” Even till he lost his breath and fell down the walls, the Cao soldier was still thinking of his reward.
To have one meant that there would be a second. Although the Lu Bu army fought bravely, they were way too tired. Slowly white clothed Cao soldiers began to appear on the city walls. First they occupied a small corner. Then they slowly turned the single corner into two corners, then three corners.
“It’s time!” Cao Cao looked at the increasing number of white dressed soldiers and waved his hand. “Xu Huang, Li Dian, join the fray!” Although none of the generals could match Lu Bu alone, they could fight him together! Even if Lu Bu was the G.o.d of War, he was still human! Humans will always grow tired!
“Yes, Prime Minister!” Li Dian and Xu Huang glanced at each other. Both of their eyes were blazing with desire. They knew of Lu Bu’s prowess. The more they knew of Lu Bu’s prowess the stronger their desire was to kill him and obtain the merit for killing him. Killing Lu Bu was the same as telling the world they were stronger than the strongest!