Chapter 128

“Zhao Chang… his determination is truly remarkable.”

“Honestly speaking, I might have underestimated Zhao Chang.”

“In the original history, Zhao Chang exited the stage too early after Cao Pi ascended the throne, leaving little trace. Based on the original history, I had underestimated him.”

“I acknowledge that he was an incredibly brave and decisive general.”

“From my actual experience fighting him, he possessed a strength that naturally made one understand his relation to Zhao Yun, a heaven-sent warrior.”

“However, having great personal martial prowess doesn’t necessarily make one an outstanding military commander.”

“Of course, before military science advanced and firearms dominated the battlefield, strong martial skills were indeed a form of tactics.”

“Xiang Yu, Huo Qubing, Alexander, Richard the Lionheart…”

“Setting aside their exceptional tactical minds, their martial prowess, which supported their tactics, was also an undeniable element of their strategy.”

“But martial prowess and tactical ability are not entirely the same.”

“While I highly valued Zhao Chang’s martial skills, I conversely undervalued his other aspects.”

“The charge Zhao Chang is showing now has changed my evaluation of him.”

“Amidst the crumbling army, he thrust forward a chance to overturn the defeat.”

“Whether this is a divine move to achieve a great reversal or the worst move that could completely ruin a battle that could have ended with minimal losses remains to be seen.”

“A gamble. An all-in bet on the direction of victory or defeat with this single charge.”

“The evaluation will be determined by who wins this one decisive battle.”

“Narrowing the formation to block… it’s already too late.”

“It seems it was impossible to perfectly defend against Zhao Chang with the still incomplete Yuhua Formation.”

“Baek Cheom, stay here and take on the role of the reserve force.”

“Huh? Are you planning to step forward yourself, General? Please don’t. It would be better to hold out until the front is secured and the Left General and the Xianbei tribe return.”

“What about Bi Mun-wi and Guo Xiao-xian?”

“That’s…”

“If I give up support and solidify the defense, the formations led by Bi Yi and Guo Yi in the rear will be left unattended. That would be throwing away the advantages of the Yuhua Formation.”

“The combination of the square and circular formations in the Yuhua Formation.”

“Heaven is round, and the earth is square. According to this principle, the central circular formation continuously rotates to support each part, while the outer square formation holds its position based on the discipline of the infantry.”

“Heaven, earth, and man. Just as humans exist between heaven and earth, the military formations are neatly connected to embody the principles of change.”

“Li Jing, the founder, explained his Yuhua Formation to Emperor Taizong of Tang like this.”

“If the circular formation survives by abandoning the square formation, the flower of the Yuhua Formation will wither.”

“And above all, they are all talents too precious to perish here.”

“Trust me.”

“Such words… when have I ever said I didn’t trust you? Despite appearances, I have been by your side longer than anyone else. Go ahead. I will guard well so that the flower of Yuhua does not wither.”

“Come to think of it, my bond with Ma Dai has been a long one. While others left one by one, Ma Dai always remained by my side.”

“There were many who wanted to stay by my side, but they left one by one.”

“Liu Bei personally promoted them to independence, or I sent them to greater waters.”

“Ma Dai is the only original member who has been with me since the formation of the Lanling Army.”

“Perhaps more than my family, Ma Dai, who has seen me more than anyone else, erases even a hint of self-doubt in his farewell.”

“With a mindset of unwavering trust, I stroked the neck of the Gold-Spirit Phoenix. The intelligent horse, understanding its owner’s resolve, neighed as if aware of the importance of this moment.”

“Lanling Army! The battle situation is urgent, so I’ll be brief!”

“Amidst the noise of the battlefield from all directions, the Gold-Spirit Phoenix raised its front hooves high, focusing attention. The more I looked, the more I realized how clever this creature was.”

“There is no defeat ahead of us! Let’s go!!”

“With the shout, the Lanling Army’s cheers erupted like thunder.”

“Half of the rear circular formation immediately became the charging force and rushed forward.”

“The sound of horseshoes striking the ground shook the earth, and the shouts pierced the heavens.”

“Commanders from both sides charged head-on, a rare sight in history, each side squeezing out every ounce of strength.”

“The relatively less intense battles on the flanks now turned into bloody fights with the determination to definitely defeat the enemy.”

“The resolve to win and help their comrades, especially the commanders, was palpable.”

“Amidst it all, Zhao Chang and I finally reached each other and thrust our spears at the enemy before us.”

“One strike. No words were exchanged. Two spears aimed at each other’s vital points. A silent exchange, contrasting with the conversation we had during the Hanzhong campaign.”

“Abandoning any petty thoughts of subduing me, Zhao Chang projected deep malice. If the fighting spirit in his spear had a color, it would be a vivid red.”

“Despite being a clash of cavalry, the area around Zhao Chang and me was as calm as the eye of a storm.”

“Like the calm eye of a storm, unaware of the chaos outside, it felt as if only Zhao Chang and I existed in a separate world.”

“The second clash. Zhao Chang pressed on relentlessly.”

“The blood-stained red spear tip flew towards my heart. I skillfully parried, drawing a circle with my spear.”

“I deflected the fierce spear strike with a sweeping motion. Following the spear’s swing, the red tassel spread out magnificently, catching the flying blood droplets.”

“Even though I deflected it with a sweeping technique, the force behind Zhao Chang’s spear resonated strongly, shaking my bones.”

“But it’s not unbearable. I can endure. This won’t make me drop my spear.”

“The spears tangled, and each red tassel left swirling red trails in the air.”

“If Zhao Chang’s spear pursued speed for power, my spear embraced the brilliance that comes from speed.”

“A clash of speed and speed. Yet within it, there was a confrontation of strength and fluidity.”

“Blood splattered. Skin split, muscles tore, and blood vessels burst, scattering blood droplets.”

“The red blood excited. The speed increased. The force in the spear grew stronger, but before I could even feel it, the next clash of impacts came repeatedly.”

“Antagonism.”

“The unresolved battle continued as if it would never end.”

“But everything has an end.”

“Zhao Chang was the first to show a gap. It wasn’t due to reaching a limit. Nor was it a mistake.”

“Just an unfortunate coincidence.”

“The red tassel, meant to prevent blood from obstructing vision, failed to block a blood droplet that covered his sight, causing a slight misalignment.”

“I thrust my spear towards that spot.”

“A full-force spear thrust.”

“A soul-piercing strike.”

“As the cold spear tip pierced his heart, I realized I had even forgotten to breathe.”

“…Unfortunately, luck wasn’t on your side.”

“Zhao Chang’s spear, aimed at my neck, grazed my nape and stopped futilely.”

“The wound on the neck. The same as the one I inflicted on Zhao Chang in Hanzhong.”

“The scar still on Zhao Chang’s neck suddenly caught my eye. Zhao Chang, who left the same scar on me. The memory of him will last until the day I die.”

“I see. A pity.”

“Zhao Chang, with his heart pierced, spoke with desolation, not curses or hatred.”

“The confident voice, always full of strength, no longer carried any power.”

“If you have any last words, I’ll convey them.”

“Ha… last words. A man should live for the world. What words should I leave? Only, I feel sorry for my father.”

“Those were Zhao Chang’s last words.”

“Dropping the spear he held, Zhao Chang bowed his head deeply, using my spear as a support.”

“Both in the original history and in this twisted place, it was the death of a stormy hero who couldn’t fully realize his ambitions.”

“I will hold a funeral for you.”

“That was the last courtesy I could offer him.”

“When I pulled the spear from his body, the momentarily paused world began to move again.”

“All troops! Annihilate the Zhao remnants!!”

“General, the cleanup and aftermath of the battlefield are all done.”

“Despite not being tired, Kang Yu swiftly took charge of the post-battle arrangements.”

“Promoted from Rear General to Commander Wei, Kang Yu’s ambition was remarkable.”

“His eagerness for promotion was considerable. Seeing him volunteer for the most dangerous heavy cavalry bait last time showed his enthusiasm for achieving merit.”

“Similarly, Bi Yi, in charge of military affairs, was half-conscious, still reeling from the battle’s aftermath.”

“Though not his first battle, the front line Bi Yi and Guo Yi were on was exceptionally fierce, so it was understandable.”

“Anyway, Kang Yu’s efforts are a good thing for me.”

“How is it?”

“Excluding the ethnic minorities, the casualties among the Han army are around 10,000. Of these, 4,000 are lightly wounded, and 1,000 are seriously wounded. The enemy’s losses are likely three times that.”

“Considering that in the future, a 20% loss is considered annihilation, and less than 50% is considered a rout, our losses are quite significant.”

“‘Unlike the future, where the value of ordinary soldiers is low, and morale is determined more by victory or defeat and commanders than by casualties, applying such standards to ancient times has its difficulties.'”

“Still, it’s not something to take lightly.”

“Even with a favorable exchange rate, the numbers are still heavy to be immersed in the joy of a great victory.”

“What about the ethnic minorities?”

“That side is a bit difficult for me to assess. It’s just a guess, but their losses are probably around 10,000 as well.”

“Using Du Bin as bait caused significant losses to the Xianbei tribe.”

“For us, it’s a good thing that the ethnic minorities outside our control are weakened, but it’s not exactly joyful that those who fought alongside us, even briefly, have died.”

“‘I drove them to their deaths, yet here I am shedding crocodile tears.'”

“Since the Xianbei ethnic consciousness hasn’t formed, other Xianbei tribes seem to accept it as is. It feels more like the death of a close neighbor than family.”

“Of course, if they heard my thoughts directly, it might be different.”

“And it’s fine if some notice. With Takbal Yeokmi and Dobbapilgo, who rose rapidly in this battle, bowing their heads to me, they have no choice but to keep their mouths shut.”

“Good job.”

“Not at all. It’s all thanks to you, General, for defeating Zhao Chang.”

“Flattery. Everyone must be tired, but once the spoils are secured, let’s move aside even if it takes effort. There’s nothing good about staying near the corpses.”

“Yes. I’ll convey the message to the other generals.”

“Just endure a little longer.”

“Despite wanting to lie down and sleep immediately, I urged the exhausted soldiers to move the camp.”

“But even then, I couldn’t give them complete rest. Only after Ma Dai returned from the pursuit did I select a few with remaining stamina to set up shifts and order the soldiers to rest.”

“Most soldiers fell asleep immediately after eating, but the generals couldn’t.”

“Generals must always prepare for tomorrow. The battle may be won, but the war isn’t over yet.”

“First, I thank you all for your hard work in this battle. I know you want to rest, but thank you for gathering.”

“Not at all, General.”

“With such humility after achieving an unparalleled feat, the restoration of the Han dynasty is not far off.”

“These words came from Bang Deok, representing the Han generals, and Takbal Yeokmi, elected as the Xianbei representative. Their personalities showing through made me smile.”

“I called you here to discuss our future direction, as you know.”

“After a victory, the following discussions are easier.”

“Since we lack the capacity to manage Hatu, acknowledging the Xianbei tribe’s ownership as a reward for fighting alongside us and leaving is enough.”

“Given that it was part of the Later Han’s Bingzhou territory, we might manage it directly later, but not now.”

“Considering that even during the Later Han, they half-accepted ethnic minorities for indirect rule, and Cao Wei’s subjugation of the Southern Xiongnu and Wuhuan, armed conflict is unlikely.”

“Above all, Takbal Yeokmi and Dobbapilgo, the Xianbei chieftains dividing Hatu, are both favorable to me.”

“‘The future is uncertain, but for now, that’s how it is.'”

“But leaving the Xianbei to fully occupy Hatu is also concerning, so I allowed the Qiang tribe, who fought alongside us and achieved merit, to reside in Hatu.”

“Since the Qimu tribe’s base is large in Xiliang, it was decided that Tangjie would move from Longxi to around Hatu. With the Han court’s support, Tangjie gladly accepted the proposal.”

“With this, the ethnic minority issue is resolved.”

“Now comes the main point.”

“The soldiers may want to rest, but I believe we must return to Guanzhong as quickly as possible.”

“I agree.”

“Even if we move quickly, passing Xiao Pass and returning to Guanzhong will take considerable time.”

“Thus, I plan to separate the wounded onto carts and have infantry escort them separately from the main force.”

“With the Wei army retreated and the ethnic minorities cooperating with us, there should be no ambushes.”

“Taking only minimal rest, we’ll march with only cavalry. Even if we can’t match the Mongol army’s 150 km daily march, we should achieve at least half.”

“And we won’t return to Xiao Pass.”

“I placed my finger on the map spread in the center of the tent and drew a straight line.”

“A route was drawn on the map. A straight line from near the center of Hatu, where we are stationed, to Chang’an, the center of Guanzhong.”

“We’ll take the Qin Straight Road.”