Chapter Nine: Crushing Pressure
I must not dwell on it any longer.
How the Han army chooses to act is their concern. It is right to consider matters from multiple angles during planning, but when it comes time to execute, doing so again crosses the line from “cautious prudence” into “indecisive hesitation.”
If our fighting strength is lacking, then we must attack psychologically: threaten them, intimidate them, apply pressure, and force them into mistakes.
I am well aware of the combat capabilities of the soldiers behind me. The Han generals opposite us likely know as well. But the Han soldiers themselves may not.
Fighting the enemy head-on is entirely different from being surrounded—even if the encirclement is by a group with little actual fighting strength. Psychologically, the pressure is much greater, and a sense of impending defeat creeps in. The heavier the mental burden, the easier it is to tire, make mistakes, and see one’s combat effectiveness decline.
On the slope at the flank of the battle line, Wang Luo reined in his horse, waiting for the soldiers behind him, while also giving the Han army a chance to see and react.
About a minute later, the soldiers caught up; it was time to act, yet the two armies were still locked in combat.
The Han army showed no signs of retreat.
Perhaps their general has seen through our weakness. Perhaps he has other reinforcements to rely on. Perhaps...
But the moment for assault has come. No matter the outcome, it is better than standing still. “Drag your weapons on the ground!” Wang Luo ordered. “Spread out! Kick up dust! Follow me!”
Wang Luo still couldn’t fully control his horse. The only reason he hadn’t fallen so far was that he’d been moving slowly. If he had to fight and spur the horse to run, he had no confidence he could stay mounted.
Charging toward the enemy could well mean charging toward death. Wang Luo felt the surge of fear deep within him, gritted his teeth, contorted his face into a fierce snarl, and rode toward the rear of the Han army.
If, after blocking the Han army’s retreat, they turned and attacked, the Yellow Turban forces might win, but he himself would be finished. Creating the impression—soldiers, dust...
Ah, and sound!
After advancing several hundred paces and nearing the Han army’s escape route, Wang Luo dismounted, expelling every last breath from his lungs in a roar: “Reinforcements have arrived! The Han army is defeated!”
“Shout with me!”
“Reinforcements have arrived! The Han army is defeated!” The surrounding soldiers, hearing the order, began to shout.
On a chaotic battlefield, truth and falsehood are hard to distinguish.
Once these words were shouted, first around Wang Luo, then throughout his whole unit, finally even the Yellow Turban and Han soldiers fighting heard them. Some Yellow Turbans even joined the cry.
In that moment, Wang Luo could clearly sense the Han army wavering and the Yellow Turban morale surging. If his soldiers were elite—or even just ordinary troops—they could have seized overwhelming victory by charging now. But as it was, he had to rely on the enemy’s frailty.
At last, the Han army moved. First they launched a fierce attack, pushing back the Yellow Turbans before them. Then the vanguard became the rear guard, and they began to withdraw.
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On the front lines, the Yellow Turbans’ wings began pursuit, but the center remained still. The Han army’s formation was tight as they retreated, and the exhausted Yellow Turban soldiers failed to inflict any casualties.
Wang Luo remained motionless.
As he exerted pressure on the enemy, he himself was nearly crushed by it. The digitized body did not change the unprecedented exhaustion he felt.
During battle, he had suppressed this fatigue with all his might, but now, it burst forth unchecked.
Still, they hadn’t lost; the enemy withdrew.
Once the Han forces had fled far away, he led his men back to the camp where they’d set out.
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That night
“To victory!”
Wang Luo and Zhou Yingxiong were invited by the Yellow Turban commander to attend the evening celebration banquet. Yang Wentian was permitted to join them.
“Well done, brother! You’ve earned merit—those men in that battalion will be under your command from now on!”
Amidst the clinking of cups, Wang Luo received a mission prompt:
“Unexpected Mission: Han Army Attack (1), completed.”
“Base reward: 1000 general points”
“Combat reward: 0”
“Because you possess the Leadership attribute and demonstrated it in battle, you receive an extra reward: Promotion—Yellow Turban Captain.”
“Yellow Turban Captain (title): Upon use, all attributes +1”
“After use, you cannot use another title for 12 hours.”
“Notice: Due to chaotic management among the Yellow Turbans, the number of troops this position commands is uncertain. Regardless, you are no longer a solitary commander on this battlefield.”
“Notice: Because of your prior performance, your current subordinates number: 284 (total). You may acquire more through various means.”
This reward... was excellent, and Wang Luo was quite pleased. He raised his cup to toast the Yellow Turban leader, and surreptitiously attempted to view the man’s attributes.
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To his surprise, he succeeded.
Target: Guo Da
Target’s role: Yellow Turban Chieftain
Yellow Turban Chieftain: An important leader within the Yellow Turban army.
Status: Inspired
Attributes: Strength 20 | Agility 15 | Endurance 40 | Intelligence 8 | Spirit 10 (+5)
Skills: Thrust LV4
E-rank skill Thrust—LV4 effect: Consumes 1 point of energy, allows the wielder to stab forward with a spear seven times in succession, inflicting weapon damage on the enemy.
Skill: Charge—LV4 effect: Consumes 1 point of energy, dashes forward a certain distance, inflicting 40 points of damage on the first enemy encountered.
Skill: XXX (Unable to detect)
Equipment: Yellow Turban (Unlike the common headbands worn by regular soldiers, only chieftains are eligible for this one, personally blessed by Zhang Jiao. Wearing it increases life recovery rate by 5% and attracts unaffiliated Yellow Turban soldiers.)
Morale: Ordinary (This chieftain was once a village head; later, due to certain family connections, he became a leader of the Yellow Turban army.)
The attributes were decent, but surprisingly, there were no Leadership points?
Wang Luo intended to probe a few more individuals. Just then, he received a prompt:
After repeated setbacks, Yellow Turban forces from all regions are converging on the core led by Zhang Jiao and Zhang Liang. In response, the Han army is concentrating its strength here, preparing for the final decisive battle...
Han Army Attack (2) will begin in 16 hours. More soldiers will assault this camp. Please be ready.
(Yellow Turban Captain exclusive notice: This battle is of little consequence. You may persuade other officers to leave together, or lead your own men and withdraw from this camp.)
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