Chapter Twenty-One: The Raid

The two Yellow Turban camps were about twenty li apart. Their own objective was closer, while the commander’s team had the farther target. They would reach their destination half an hour before the commander did.

Moronov was not on horseback but walked alongside the column.

Yet, there was no way to provide support. Once their objective was achieved, they could no longer send this unit into action.

When the Wuzhou team had captured a camp earlier, the immediate universal points gained weren’t many—around ten thousand. However, the large seizure of iron ore, its handover to the Han army, and the act of occupying the camp itself all seemed to be highly weighted actions in the post-battle summary.

Calculations like these gave Moronov headaches. It was good that the commander had recruited that logistics-minded woman to handle such matters.

Those two brothers liked to joke with her, but she never seemed to mind. She was a rather gentle person.

The team had spent so much money on props this time that the matter of shields would likely have to wait until another scenario. However, if shields appeared as exchange options in this settlement, there would be no need to face the auction house and its profiteers.

Then, many battles would become much easier. Recruiting would also be simpler, and they wouldn’t be mocked as they had been in recent scenarios...

He glanced at the Han army-issue shield beside him and sighed.

———

“What should we exchange for when the time comes?”

Garivel was troubled by a list just delivered by a Han army courier.

Standard equipment was all available for exchange: ring-pommel sabers, Han military crossbows, Han iron shields, Han halberds, Han armor… These ordinary items could be brought out of the scenario after exchange.

They didn’t look like much, but Wuzhou’s people had made special notes: all standard equipment exchanged could have random additional properties and random permission upgrades.

That changed everything. The base attributes of a Han army iron shield were ordinary—just an extra eight points of defense. But the affixes—whether sturdy, robust, honorable, steadfast, durable, or unyielding—would greatly increase its value. And if permissions were upgraded, the profit could be dozens or even hundreds of times greater.

The fixed items in the exchange list below were even more valuable.

The most expensive was the “Tiger Tally,” costing three hundred thousand merit points.

Tiger Tally: When carried, it allows a contractor without command ability to lead armies in the scenario; if the contractor already possesses command ability, command value increases by thirty points; if the bearer is a team leader, the team gains an additional skill.

Next was the “Governor’s Seal” for two hundred and fifty thousand merit points. Its effect: when carried, production speed for professional skills increases by thirty percent, and the chance of attribute enhancement increases by ten percent; if the carrier is a team leader, the maximum team size increases by thirty.

No need to equip, with superior special effects—these were items that could fetch millions in the auction house after returning to the Space. But Garivel only looked at them, not expecting to ever have the chance to exchange for one. The item that truly interested him was further down the list:

Amnesty Decree (priced at five thousand merit points): If used within three hours of accepting a mission, allows the mission to be immediately marked as completed, ignoring all other requirements, and automatically proceeds to the next mission.

This item binds on pickup.

This was the perfect item for teams like his. When faced with particularly awkward missions, it was the best solution. Even if it couldn’t be resold, it was among the most valuable equipment in the exchange area.

Excitement welled in Garivel’s heart. For a moment, anticipation and joy for the future filled his mind.

He wanted to arm Moronov properly—whether it was purchasing the tower shield, “Guardian’s Wall,” which he’d been eyeing, or using merit to exchange for a suitable one. Then, his own bone-based spells needed to be strengthened too; currently, under scenario suppression, they were weaker than the Han army’s crossbows... and the team skills also needed upgrading. That way, they could recruit more members.

The squad was entering a mountain path. Beyond it, after a few more li, lay their objective.

Defeat them, and keep moving forward. Perhaps one day, Shadow would grow into a behemoth of a team, like “Wuzhou,” “Paradise,” or “Dragon’s Lair.” Then, when collaboration meetings were held, he would sit alongside those people as equals.

No longer would he be relegated to listening on the sidelines, waiting for orders, unable even to speak. Yes, things would get better.

He remembered what he was like when he’d first entered the Space: timid, confused, at a loss... Back then, survival itself was a struggle. He’d never imagined he would come this far, or achieve such success. Some people, if they knew what he had become, would surely regret treating him so roughly in the past!

Thinking of the bright future, he couldn’t help but smile. Then he closed his eyes, raised his right hand, and clenched it tightly, as if he could seize happiness itself in his grasp.

A sudden crash! A huge boulder rolled down the slope beside them, crushing several Han soldiers on the right.

What happened? Many soldiers panicked, grabbing their weapons.

A second, a third—soon, a dozen logs and massive stones tumbled down the hillside. Soldiers trying to dodge soon realized that ahead and behind them, many Yellow Turban soldiers were shouting, forming ranks, and advancing step by step.

All at once, the narrow path was filled with the tumult of battle.

———

Wang Luo had considered splitting his forces—dividing the three-thousand-strong unit into two, with himself and Su Si each leading one to ambush the two approaching Han armies. But after much thought, he decided instead to focus on defeating one here first.

Perhaps he was being overly cautious. But Wang Luo would not allow his first command to be marred by any unforeseen mishap—though everything appeared to be going smoothly, the opposing contractor likely hadn’t anticipated an ambush when leading the Han soldiers out.

On the battlefield, one should always concentrate maximum force whenever possible, attacking scattered and vulnerable enemies first.

Wang Luo barely remembered the details of the military books he’d once read, but this principle was etched into his mind like a brand.

Three thousand against five hundred, a surprise attack, the ideal terrain—the enemy, once inside the encirclement, was attacked from front and rear, while both flanks were ready with rolling logs and rocks to break their formation—a combat with no suspense.

Even if many of his own men still wielded their old, crude weapons and could not maintain formation, only charging forward blindly, the outcome would not change.

For the enemy was already in chaos. In an unexpected place, struck by a sudden blow, most armies in the world would be thrown into panic—only the very best troops could remain calm under such circumstances.

Meanwhile, his own side would be emboldened by the advantage—confidence being the thing most lacking among this army of untrained, oft-defeated commoners.

As their formation closed in on the Han soldiers, Wang Luo instructed the officers beside him—Zhou Yingxiong, Zhang Xiong, Iron Pillar, Liu An, and Bai Erjin—“Tell them: those who surrender will not be killed.”

Moments later, the cry of “Surrender and you will not be killed!” echoed through the valley.

The last vestiges of fighting spirit among the Han soldiers collapsed.

———

From heaven to hell is but an instant.

What was happening? How could this be? The operation had been completely safe, guaranteed to succeed—how had they ended up surrounded by the enemy?

This must be a dream. Yes, it had to be a dream. Garivel closed his eyes, pinched himself, and reopened them.

Nothing had changed.

Not a dream... Not a dream? The soldiers around him seemed panicked too, huddling together unconsciously. Mei Xiaosheng was running toward him, about to burst into tears... What on earth was happening?