Volume 1, Chapter 499 – Battle Merit

The two of them set out immediately. Before leaving, Shi Lan also received a great many healing pills from Yan Yun.

Although she did not lack such things, Yan Yun insisted, so it was hard for her to refuse. In the end, she could only accept them for the time being.

Yulan’s attitude was as nasty as ever, her hostility deep and obvious.

After spending some time together, Shi Lan gradually began to see the reason. This dragon steed was female, and the source of her inexplicable hostility was actually very simple. It was only because Shi Lan was a woman.

Perhaps because, compared to ordinary women, her appearance was somewhat more outstanding, Yulan’s hostility toward her was even greater.

Once she figured that out, Shi Lan understood much more. The fact that Zhao Yun was still alone to this day was very likely due in no small part to this dragon steed.

…

In little more than half a day, Shi Lan had already appeared near Zhuo Commandery. Zhao Yun had not come with her. Gongsun Zan had already marched out and was not in Zhuo Commandery at this moment.

Before she had even approached Zhuo Commandery, she could already see a vast expanse of yellow dust in the distance.

“The Blue Heaven is dead! The Yellow Heaven shall rise! The year is Jiazi; all under Heaven shall prosper!”

Within the endless yellow sands, voices like thunder echoed layer upon layer. Countless tall figures with yellow turbans tied around their heads flashed about. A few soldiers were wrapped in rune seals and stood more than ten zhang high, like golden-armored war gods, surrounding Zhuo Commandery so tightly that not even water could get through.

Shi Lan observed from outside the city for quite a while, and she quickly reached a conclusion. These Yellow Turban troops were no match at all for Liu Bei and the others. The present situation was clearly one of casting a long line to catch a big fish, or else waiting for the right moment.

With the city now under siege, if she forced her way straight through, she would undoubtedly alert the enemy. The only thing she could do was wait and watch.

…

Atop the city wall, Liu Bei stood clad in armor, with two long swords hanging at his waist. The hilts were covered in relief carvings of phoenix feathers and dragon scales. Though the blades had not left their sheaths, the bloody aura of slaughter already shot into the heavens.

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He quietly gazed at the several hundred thousand Yellow Turban troops below the city, his expression not changing in the slightest.

“These crooked and heretical methods are not entirely worthless. Every one of these Yellow Turban Strongmen has the valor to fight a thousand men. They barely count as third-rate in this world. Combined with military formations, they can just about be put to use.”

Zhang Fei stood nearby with his arms folded, looking at the formation below the city and clicking his tongue in amazement.

“Hmph. Mere clay chickens and pottery dogs. Give me two thousand elite troops, and breaking their formation would be as easy as taking something from a bag.”

At the side, a tall woman in light armor gave a disdainful laugh.

Not far from her stood a red-faced giant of nine chi, silent and motionless. His phoenix eyes were half narrowed, his expression calm as still water.

“What Yinping says is true. These scattered rabble are indeed not worth fearing. Let them make trouble for now. The longer they make trouble, the more time it gives us to develop. If we can hook a few big fish in the process, so much the better.”

After saying that, Liu Bei shook his head slightly.

“Once Emperor Ling reacts, this farce will be over in at most two months. The real issue is how to reap more battle merit.”

“Big Brother is absolutely right.”

Zhang Fei nodded slightly and looked at the red-faced giant nearby.

“Second Brother, how are things outside?”

“The Yuan clan of Runan, the Xun clan of Yingchuan, the Ma clan of Fufeng, the Zhang clan of Feng County, and the Xiahou clan of Qiao County. All of these great clans have made their moves and entered the field.”

At this point, Guan Yu raised his eyelids slightly, a trace of puzzlement in his eyes.

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“But the Sima clan of Wen County and the Zhuge clan of Langya have still shown no sign of movement.”

“Perhaps they look down on gains this small.”

Hearing that, Liu Bei could not help sighing.

“Compared with these great clans and aristocratic houses, the foundation of us three brothers is still far too shallow.”

Even though Liu Bei had prepared long in advance, he still had only ten thousand elite troops in hand. Any more than that, and once the Han’s national fortune detected it, he could hardly avoid being branded with the crime of treason.

Yet among those great clans, each had at least several hundred thousand private troops, and many martial generals besides. Once they raised their banners, they could gather millions, even tens of millions, of troops fit for battle in an extremely short time.

Among them, the Sima clan were descendants of Zhurong. With the Eight Dragons now lying coiled within the clan, aside from the imperial house, they were almost the most powerful great clan in the world today.

The Langya Zhuge clan also descended from a former Han Colonel Director of Retainers. At present, outstanding young talents were emerging in endless numbers within the clan. Among them, Zhuge Kongming had already become famous throughout the Nine Provinces at a very young age, proficient in astronomy and geography, star divination and hexagram reading, troop movement and battle formations alike.

‘If I could gain the aid of even one of them, perhaps the great undertaking could succeed…’

As he pondered, a thought quietly arose in the depths of Liu Bei’s heart.

Roar.

A sonorous dragon’s roar swept across the sky. A crimson dragon wheeled through the vault of heaven, and the void rumbled loudly.

“Report!”

A soldier in light armor strode two steps to Liu Bei’s side, dropped to one knee, and presented a jade slip.

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“A command from the capital!”

Liu Bei took it and swept it with a glance. After putting the jade slip away, he looked toward Zhang Fei and Guan Yu, excitement flashing in his eyes.

“The court has already reorganized its forces and divided them into three armies, with Huangfu Song, Lu Zhi, and Zhu Jun as the commanding generals, to march against Zhang Jiao. At the same time, it has issued a proclamation ordering all under Heaven to prepare their defenses in every region. Our moment has arrived!”

From this moment onward, they could recruit troops and buy horses openly and honorably, expanding their military strength without being treated as rebels.

“Send out the troops at once. Execute the ringleaders first. Those who surrender will not be killed!”

Liu Bei no longer wished to wait. He raised a hand and gave the order. These Yellow Turban troops were an extremely important source of soldiers. With only slight reorganization, they could be put to use. They were the best springboard for him to expand his power rapidly.

“Yinping is willing to serve as the vanguard!”

Guan Yinping immediately volunteered, her face full of excitement.

“I am giving you three thousand elite troops. Within half an hour, rout the enemy army and cut off the enemy commander’s head.”

Liu Bei’s expression turned cold and severe as he barked:

“The first battle must end in victory. There are no jokes between military formations. If you fail to carry out this order, military law will be enforced!”

“Understood!”

…

“Kill!”

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The gates of Zhuo Commandery flew open, and a cavalry force roared out. Their blood and qi rolled skyward like rising wolf smoke, filling the horizon as they charged toward the grand formation of yellow sands.

The cries of battle suddenly erupted. Outside the city, Shi Lan, who had been lying in wait within a forest in the distance, felt her spirits stir. She extended her divine sense toward the battlefield.

A crimson battle flag with the character Liu on it fluttered within the battlefield, strikingly conspicuous.

The moment she saw that battle flag, Shi Lan immediately rose to her feet and drew the Scarlet Crow War Halberd out of the void.

After observing for half the day, she had already seen through some of the traces of the formation. Though she did not know how to break it properly, she could still locate the formation eye.

Slash.

Her speed far surpassed the cavalry led by Guan Yinping. Though she started later, she arrived first, stepping into the grand formation ahead of them. The black war halberd carried a dazzling layer of blood-red light, like a flood dragon tearing through the sky. It ripped apart layer after layer of formations and shattered the formation eye in an instant.

A figure emerged from within the formation, guarded by nearly a hundred Yellow Turban Strongmen. He looked around forty, with hair hanging loose and a yellow cloth tied across his brow, his expression filled with horror.

At the sight of Shi Lan, not one of the nearly hundred Yellow Turban Strongmen retreated. They each took out a bowl of murky talisman water and drank it down. The earth-yellow rune seals around their bodies blazed with light as they charged forward without fear of death.

“The Heavenly Lord protects us! Kill!”

Looking at the Yellow Turban Strongmen before her, who had already completely lost their reason, Shi Lan fell silent. The rhythm of her breathing abruptly slowed once more, and she swung her halberd again.

A brilliant halberd light descended from the nine heavens and fell among the clustered figures. In an instant, the Yellow Turban Strongmen, together with the loose-haired middle-aged man, drenched the yellow sands in blood.

A crimson light suddenly rose and poured into Shi Lan’s body.

“This is… battle merit?”