Chapter 271 End of Second Round, Third Round Begins! (2/2)
'Tong brat, your Heavenly mission ruins too much of our plans, and I don't think I can wipe your ass forever. You'd better finish your battle soon.'
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March 6th.
A scout of Yuan Shao Army who had been sent to monitor the battles at Ji returned with a relayed message. Zou Jing was defeated and holed inside the city while Tong bombarded him with fire barrels.
Tian Feng smiled, ”My Lord, it is as you have predicted. Zhang Tong Army got stuck at Ji while Liu Yan was busy attacking Zhongshan. Once we reinforce Liu Yan, we can snatch Zhongshan from the Liu Clan and use it as a chokepoint to attack Julu.”
Yuan Shao laughed, ”Of course! I've studied a lot in the Capital. While we are at it, we will take Ji City from Liu Yan as well. They should be crippled after facing that monster Zhang Tong.”
Although the struggle at Anping was not part of Yuan Shao's plan, he had manipulated Sun Jian and Liu Yan into fighting with the Yellow Turban, so they could kill each other and weaken their armies.
At first, Yuan Shao wanted to grab Julu, then he could backstab Liu Yan and take the Ji City of the Liu Clan. However, the fortresses gave his army a lot of troubles. They had to avoid it and hasten their initial plans.
The mobilizing order had been declared, which all soldiers were busying disassembled their tents and camps for the entire morning.
Another scout rushed in with a paled face. He stumbled and knelt on the ground, bowing his head to Yuan Shao and his officers.
”Report! The Yellow Turban has deployed their forces! They have come out of the fortresses!”
Yuan Shao and Tian Feng raised their eyebrows. They did not bother speaking but rushing toward the watchtower.
As they got up on top of a watchtower, they could see the dust of a massive army.
Tian Feng voiced his estimation, ”That's not dust from an army of 10,000 men. I think they deployed all of their troops.”
”Ah, you go and get our men ready. Since they want to contest us in an open field, we will satisfy them! HAHAHA!”
…
100,000 Combined force of Julu and Jinyang soldiers gathered in front of their fortresses, forming lines and arrays. Each side of the formations, 20,000 heavy cavalries covered their flanks.
Lu Bu marched along with the men as he rode at the center in front of all formations.
Xu Huang led the right flank 20,000 cavalries, while Gao Shun led the left heavy cavalries.
Lu Zhi and Zhou Cang guided the 50,000 infantries, which carried repeating crossbows, shields, and spears. All of the footmen could perform any role they were given.
500 Trebuchets and ballistae were being pushed forward by 5,000 crew members to support the front troopers as well.
Jia Xu, who was the grand commander and the leading strategist of this battle, stood on top of the watchtower to monitor the changes.
However, two officers and 13,000 soldiers did not present on this battlefield. Li Feihong and Zhang Liao were not here. Yet, Jia Xu told the soldiers of the center formation to carry [Li] and [Zhang] flags with them.
With a serious face, Jia Xu watched Yuan Shao Army which was marching toward them on the horizon.
'Li Feihong, you'd better complete your task, or we're doomed!'
Noon.
Yuan Shao's 160,000 soldiers stood in rectangular formations. Each consisted of 1,000 men, lining in rows and columns.
The crowd of soldiers covered the entire field, which could intimidate all defenders and warlords of any city.
Like Jia Xu had prepared, they also brought their archer towers and trebuchets, trying to compete in their weaponry with Jia Xu Army.
Yan Liang and Wen Chou rode in front of their center formations, glaring at Lu Bu. They were assigned by Tian Feng to keep Lu Bu in check.
Gao Lan led their right-wing cavalries while Qu Yi led the left troops. Meanwhile, Te Langpu, He Jin, and other strategists got stuck with the main force as they were non-combatants.
Yuan Shao and Tian Feng stood together on their watchtower as they would lead their main force together.
Seeing the weapons and the number of their opposite force, Yuan Shao grinned.
”This Jia Xu is a moron. Instead of hiding in those forts, he chose to come out,” Mocked Yuan Shao.
On the other hand, Tian Feng darted his eyes around to check the Yellow Turban Army's placement. Counting and accounting all the flags, Tian Feng sighed.
'It must have been my imagination. For a second there, I thought some of Jia Xu soldiers are missing. Well, since all of their officers are here, they shouldn't be any detached force around our back.'
Tian Feng turned to his aide and gave out his order.
”Have the wings probe their strengths. Cavalries, move out!”
Jia Xu on the other side noticed the movements on the wings, he also sent his order.
”Intercept them with our horse units! Move our infantries to both sides to cover the flanks! Lu Bu, go and provoke the enemies!”