Chapter 204

The troops led by Liu Bei and Pang Tong now exceed half of the forces present here.

From the very beginning, it was an all-out effort.

Generals like Shang Chong, Zhao Lu, Bu Yong, and Zhao Yong lead their respective armies on the front lines, while Liu Bei and Pang Tong coordinate the entire army, managing the entire front.

The slope of the hill was gentle. Without even wooden fences or a few antlers prepared, the Wei army also faced them with manpower.

“Xiahou Sang’s reinforcements have arrived!”

“General Lanling has defeated the enemy general Yue Jin!”

“Reports say Zhao Yong’s deputy was attacked by Wen Qin and has retreated!”

The battle updates were being relayed to me in real-time.

If Liu Bei and Pang Tong are the coordinators of the front lines, then I am the manager of the entire battlefield.

Originally, it should have been Emperor Liu Bei who took the position of supreme commander, but now I am the endpoint for all information coming from the front lines.

In my mind, not only the central front attacking the hill but also the northern front where our left wing and the enemy’s right wing are clashing, and the southern front where my father is holding the enemy forces, all form a vast strategic map.

‘We attacked the center where Zhang Pei was. If Cao Biao sent Xiahou Sang as reinforcements, then Wei has the numerical advantage. Zhang Pei held out well until reinforcements arrived.’

Given that the Wu army’s flags are nowhere to be seen, it seems Sun Quan is the one dealing with my father.

The military deployment of Wei remaining on the hill is similar to ours, with a left wing-central army-right wing structure.

However, as Liu Bei attacked Zhang Pei leading Wei’s left wing, the troop deployment changed. Xiahou Sang led a large force from the central army to support the left wing, making the left wing effectively the central army.

‘Cao Biao retreated to the rear, becoming the reserve. Now, Xu Huang’s right wing, Zhang Pei and Xiahou Sang’s central army, and Sun Quan’s left wing are in place.’

Our forces consist of Liu Bei and Pang Tong’s central army, my father’s right wing, O Yi’s left wing, and the reserve where I am stationed.

“What’s the report from General O? How is the situation on the left wing?”

The general facing Wei’s right wing is O Yi, the governor of Guanzhong. Although the personnel is relatively weaker compared to the central and right wings, O Yi is also a quite capable general.

However, in front of the enemy’s reputation, O Yi’s fame pales. The enemy general commanding Wei’s right wing is none other than Xu Huang, the last of the Five Elite Generals.

‘Of course, it’s not just O Yi; Guan Ping has joined with half of the Supreme General’s forces, but it’s still not enough against Xu Huang.’

Regardless of the number of troops, in terms of the danger posed by the enemy general, Xu Huang’s right wing is undoubtedly the worst front.

“Despite the numerical disadvantage, the front is being maintained!”

“Thanks to the brilliant performance of General Pingnan who took the vanguard.”

“General Pingnan…! Truly worthy of the Supreme General’s bloodline.”

A battle of revenge to avenge my father.

Guan Ping’s fighting spirit is undoubtedly the strongest on this battlefield.

However, there are things in this world that cannot be overcome by sheer will and determination. Xu Huang is an opponent too formidable to be overcome by mere resolve.

Therefore, I paid even more attention to the situation on the left wing than the central army.

‘The role of the left wing is not much different from the right wing. It’s to hold down the enemy’s right wing.’

Despite the numerical disadvantage on the left and right wings, they tie down the enemy’s flanks. As a result, the central army faces fewer enemy forces.

The only place where the difference in troop numbers is negligible is the central army. Although Wei might have a slight advantage of a few thousand, in a battlefield of tens of thousands, that difference is negligible.

With Liu Bei personally leading to maximize morale and capable generals under Pang Tong’s command leading the front lines, the central army is the core of our forces.

However, for the central army to play its key role, the flanks must first do their part. The true decider of this battle’s outcome lies not in the central army but in the flanks.

‘If the numbers are equal, the outcome of the battle ultimately depends on quality. The central army will definitely ascend the hill. Zhang Pei and Xiahou Sang cannot stop them.’

Knowing the balance of the battlefield, Xu Huang would not sit idly by. He would surely try to crush our left wing and then pressure the central army.

‘Breaking through a defensive formation with sheer force would incur significant losses, so Xu Huang’s method would likely be… a flanking maneuver with cavalry.’

I looked towards the north where Xu Huang and O Yi were locked in fierce combat and spoke.

“Baek Cheom, Baek Yak.”

At my call, Ma Dai and Kang Yu immediately responded from behind.

“At your command.”

“Baek Cheom, take the Lanling Army’s light cavalry and support the left wing’s flank. Baek Yak, lead the Lanling Army’s infantry and push back Xu Huang with Governor O Yi.”

In this battle, we abandon the Yuhua Formation. With so many of our and enemy troops entangled in a limited battlefield, deploying the Yuhua Formation only among the Lanling Army would be inefficient.

‘If the entire Han army had mastered the Yuhua Formation, it might be different.’

Now, it’s better to assign the Lanling Army to various generals and deploy them where support is needed.

‘With 15,000 Lanling Army reinforcements, Kang Yu and O Yi’s collaboration might be able to push back Xu Huang.’

The central army ascends the hill to secure a stronghold, and the left wing pushes back Xu Huang to assist the central army.

Then, Cao Biao will surely mobilize his last card.

The personal guard he sent Xiahou Sang with and retreated to the rear with. Wei’s final reserve.

§

On the northern battlefield.

The battle between the Han left wing led by O Yi and the Wei right wing led by Xu Huang was a tense tug-of-war, with Wei on the offensive and Han focused on defense.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Han army was holding up well against Xu Huang’s fierce attacks.

Guan Ping, at the vanguard, was boosting morale and leading the charge.

O Yi, in the rear, was managing the troops effectively to maintain a solid defense.

The combination of the two was surprisingly effective in sustaining the Han army.

“Guan Yu’s son is quite fierce. Our vanguard General Zhao is being pushed back.”

The general leading Wei’s vanguard was Zhao Tai, son of Zhao Yun. Coincidentally, both sides had the sons of former top generals leading the charge.

In this situation, Guan Ping was the one showing more impressive performance and gaining momentum.

Xu Huang, hearing his deputy Yin Xu’s comment, shook his head.

“He’s Guan Yu’s son, after all. But…”

Xu Huang looked at Guan Ping, who was stirring up the battlefield, and swallowed his next words.

‘At this level, it’s disappointing. As the son of Guan Yu, he should at least be on par with Zhang Lan.’

In that regard, Zhao Tai, Zhao Yun’s son, was even more disappointing. The son of a general once called a divine general should not be like this.

“Perhaps no son surpasses his father.”

“Unless it’s a daughter.”

“These days, daughters seem to be more valued than sons. I heard the daughter of the new attendant Shen is quite intelligent, and His Majesty even considered granting her an official position, citing Zhang Lan as an example. Her name… I think it was Xianying…”

Xu Huang cut off Yin Xu’s digression about Shen Yi’s daughter.

“Enough of this nonsense. It’s time to end this.”

Xu Huang’s expression and tone changed in an instant, but Yin Xu, accustomed to it, maintained a serious demeanor.

“Just give the order.”

“Take the cavalry and flank their rear.”

Xu Huang had been waiting for the battle to intensify, hoping their rear defenses would weaken. Guan Ping’s performance was good, but it drew too much focus to the front.

If their rear was attacked now, the Han army would collapse.

Yin Xu, who had fought in wars against Cao Cao and the Liang warlords, even pursued and annihilated the Qiang tribes in Yongzhou’s Xinping County.

Having defeated the Qiang in cavalry battles, breaking through the Han formation wouldn’t be difficult for him.

“Leave it to me.”

After sending Yin Xu, Xu Huang pondered where to advance after crushing the Han left wing.

‘Should I attack the central army? Or should I strike their rear to prevent any contingencies?’

Xu Huang quickly decided. The central army could be easily held if Cao Biao sent the rear reserves. Now, it was crucial to strike their rear and eliminate their reserves to prevent any contingencies.

However, Xu Huang’s worries were unnecessary.

“What’s that…”

Xu Huang saw the approaching banners of the Lanling Army.

Before Xu Huang could finish dealing with the left wing, the Lanling Army’s reinforcements had arrived.

And Yin Xu, whom Xu Huang had sent out, also saw a group of cavalry charging towards him.

Though startled by the sudden appearance of the Lanling Army, Yin Xu quickly composed himself and shouted.

“Don’t be afraid! Have you forgotten we even defeated the Qiang? We’ll crush them!!”

Leading the Lanling Army cavalry charging towards Yin Xu was Ma Dai. And true to his Liang origins, Ma Dai, with sharp eyes, recognized Yin Xu’s face before the clash.

“That guy…!”

Ma Dai, who had followed Ma Chao in wars against Cao Cao in his youth, clearly remembered the face of the general who had pursued them after their defeat.

Though time had changed the general’s appearance, his features remained the same.

Ma Dai gritted his teeth and let out a roar from deep within.

“Good to see you!!”