Yun Chang POV

I don’t know if it’s because of construction or the strong winds that blew during the great fire, but even though there were thick forests in the distance, the immediately surroundings of Luoyang were barren.

Fighting here feels like fighting in a natural sand environment, and makes it feel even more warlike. But whatever the case, wars have rules and principles.

But now that I am faced with the Yellow Turbans who neither reply nor meet me in a duel, I’m afraid no amount of reason will work.

“Yun Chang!”

“I got it!”

Wen Yuan yelled at me, and I replied as we both charged forth and led our troops at the enemy.

As we yelled, so did the other side. Naturally, our volume was less than theirs but at least my ears were filled with the shouts from my side.

If one were to look down from atop, one would probably see several green beans get engulfed by a sea of yellow beans.

— Or perhaps, eaten up.

Ka!

When I saw the scattered enemy cavalry just several dozen paces away, I raised my Green Dragon Crescent Blade and spun it before I swung it at them, sending mud, soil and sand flying out at them.

And only then did I charge at them with full speed.

“Ha!” I swung at the first row viciously and knocked them all to the ground.

Thereafter, I swung my reins, and the red chestnut horse understood my intentions and leapt past the cavalry troops on the ground, and charged at the main body of the Yellow Turbans!

The sandy wind blew past me, and made things feel cool. I swung the reins once more and s.h.i.+fted my center of gravity downwards, and charged at the Yellow Turban-infested land.

*Dongpa*

The horse’s hooves sank deeply into the ground and the surrounding people moved away, either out of fear and awe or by the shockwave.

Several people lunged forward but I swung my glaive and the current alone was enough to make them fall to the ground.

After a few seconds, the surrounding people had gathered around me but no one came forth to fight with me.

*Dong*!– *Dong*!–

Though the battlefield was very noisy, Wen Yuan’s blows could still be heard all the way here. Looks like she’s making an even bigger ruckus than I am.

It was clear that the troops here were far from elite troops. But even so, it feels like these troops are significantly stronger than the Yellow Turbans we first met. But that is to be expected after all, since they wouldn’t have made it till now if they weren’t.

When I saw that the time was right, I raised my glaive and yelled out to all the officers, “I am a citizen of the Great Han, I swear not to kill any of those who should surrender!” When I finished, I raised the blade and stuck it into the ground.

Even after I finished yelling, my words reverberated as echoes resounded, and the surrounding Yellow Turbans would s.h.i.+ver at every round.

As Sun Tzu says: A clever general avoids an army when its spirit is keen, but attacks it when it is sluggish and inclined to return. This is the art of studying moods.

The troops at the front have good morale and must not be met head on. Now that I have made it to their heart, the main body will think that I broke through the first few defensive lines alone and will be both shocked and fearful.

As I thought about this, I swept my hair back and stroked my horse’s mane calmly. Honestly, this much is all thanks to my warhorse.

Now then, I must need to deliver another threat–

*Sou*! All of a sudden, a sharp shadow appeared in the corner of my eye and flew at me,

“Wu!” I hurriedly dodged and made the horse step forward. It felt like something sharp just grazed my hair but I didn’t feel any burning sensation so there shouldn’t be any injury.

“Who dares use such hidden weapons!”

Who was that? To be able to shoot something at me from such a distance without me detecting their bloodl.u.s.t.

“Great Han, Yellow Turbans, they’re all just excuses to kill. We are only here to reduce our forced labour. Why else would we want to partic.i.p.ate in bloodshed?”

The words preceded the person. After she finished, a woman who wasn’t wearing the Yellow Turban military uniforms stepped forward from the crowd. She wore a hat with a veuk and had her hair tied in a braided ponytail that extended to her chest. Leaving aside her expression which could be either blank or fearless, her face was truly exquisite. If it weren’t for a scar that extended from below her right eye, her face would be perfect.

No matter how you looked at her, she was different from the rest. As I looked at her, I began to be interested in what kind of person she was.

“Who are you? Could you be the leader of the Yellow Turbans?”

“In short, you could say that.”

“Why aren’t you wearing the Yellow Turban garb? Do you want to stand out?”

“I have a blood feud with the Yellow Turbans and am unwilling to wear it because of my personal reasons.”

“Oh? That’s weird.”

“We are in troubled times now. Nothing seems weird anymore.”

… This fellow is clearly around my age, but her speech is like an elder. She’s probably another plain warrior general.

“You could have taken my life just now with that hidden weapon of yours. Why are you standing before me now, aren’t you afraid I might strike you down here and now?” I dug out my glaive from the ground and slashed down at the girl, parting her fringe.

She was unperturbed however, and calmly took out a red short spear from behind and got into a stance before she replied, “I go with the flow. If I should continue to live, then this won’t be my burial ground.”

… An interesting fellow.

“I am Guan Yu Guan Yun Chang, would you let me know your name?”

“I’m just an ordinary person, why do you need to know my name?” She sank into silence when she finished and only continued when she realised that I was still waiting for her reply, “… My name is Liao Hua, Liao Yuan Jian.”

Liao Hua huh? I’ll remember it.

Looks like a duel is going to happen after all.