Chapter 91 – The Precipice of Battle; Enter Huang Zhong
Translated by Bloodfalcon, Edited by Krayto
Sponsored by Suood K. of UAE
Inside Huangzhou city's main camp.
“Any activities from Lu Bu’s army?!” Su Fei asked the scout. The news saying that Lu Bu’s army is approaching really made Su Fei restless.
He has not battled with Lu Bu’s army, but he had heard about his prowess making Cao Cao lose disgracefully back in Kaiyang, which made his restlessness even worse.
Moreover, there is something on his mind bothering him all the time. Su Fei always heard about the phrase “Among men, Lu Bu, among horses, Red Hare!”If Lu Bu is said to be the number one warrior who is also riding the number one warhorse, how can Lu Bu form an alliance with Sun Ce??
Jiangdong's Little Conqueror and god-of-war Lu Bu, they are both arrogant and domineering characters. If they form an alliance, there must be one person who will be the leader of the alliance. Will Lu Bu want to submit under another person again?
If Lu Bu is the leader, can Sun Ce relinquish his Jiangdong to be under Lu Bu's rule?!
Therefore Su Fei has been waiting from the beginning. Waiting for the opportune time to negotiate with Lu Bu’s army. Too bad, all of his efforts have been in vain. Lu Bu’s army, not only did they not explain their actions but directly prepared for battle with them. Is it true that Sun Ce and Lu Bu formed an alliance?!
“Did they send messengers to us?!” Su Fei is a master in naval warfare, but he is also good in land warfare. But currently they only have 10,000 soldiers. It is not sufficient to defend against Lu Bu’s army who currently has soldiers and cavalry as far as the eye can see, making Su Fei's heart quiver in fear.
“They did send a messenger!” Suddenly there is a veteran general coming inside the main tent.
“General Huang!” Su Fei promptly held his fist respectfully toward the veteran.
Su Fei held profound feelings toward this veteran Huang Zhong. Not a disdain and contempt feeling like he had toward Huang She, nor suspicion like toward Huang Zu. Only admiration in his heart.
This veteran general looks old in appearance, but his skill with a curved broadsword made Su Fei deeply admire this general.
Moreover, Huang Zhong is a master in archery. One who can command troops and become a general is definitely a skilled person.
Working your way up the chain of command, you look up at generals wanting to be one. Once one becomes a general, they would then only admire other generals who have skill.
Su Fei had long admired Huang Zhong, let alone now when Huang Zhong has become a commander.
“Hmph!” Huang Zhong's mood is really bad now. So he just nodded when Su Fei paid his respect and goes on to sit at the commander's seat. Suddenly Huang Zhong threw down a letter on his hand to the ground then cursed “SHIT!!!!”
TL: Original curse word is disgraceful, but I changed it to give more emotion
“What happened, General Huang?!” Su Fei is really confused why Huang Zhong angry, but he soon discovered the reason when he picked up the letter.
“Oh no… Why did this event happen?” Su Fei's brow also wrinkled.
“HUMPH, Lu Bu’s army has obviously sent a messenger, but that shitty Huang She killed him. Completely offending Lu Bu!”
Huang Zhong is angry from the bottom of his heart. Huang Zu, a fierce tiger, and father gave birth to such a pig-headed son. Huang Zhong understood his eagerness to contribute, but not like this, not this stupid action.
Earlier when Lu Bu sent out a messenger, we did not know whether he wanted to fight, pass through or send a war declaration, at the very least, we could have asked the messenger.
But that damned young master did not think far ahead and killed the messenger personally, leaving no room to maneuver.
Huang Zhong clearly saw Lu Bu’s army strength. 5,000 cavalry troops, 3,000 troops of Formation Breaker, 3,000 people in the Urban Army, more than 10,000 foot soldiers, and about 5,000 bowmen. The total is approximately 26,000 troops.
And Huang Zhong's army, although the amount is 30,000 troops, his potential is only 15,000 troops with another 5,000 from his 15,000 is naval units. Actually, Huang Zhong also wanted to test this god-of-war Lu Bu's fierceness.
After all, they also have a navy to help resist Lu Bu’s army, so Huang Zu’s army can also force a standstill with Lu Bu. But this Huang She is a type of person who withheld any information for his own glory, an act that irritated Huang Zhong greatly.
“Grain and provisions! The eldest son needs to send a lot of grain and provisions!” What Su Fei was really worried is this. Huang Zu had made Huang She responsible for logistics,
If Huang She misplaced priorities then it will exhaust their grain and provisions at an alarming rate.
“He wouldn't dare allocate an insufficient amount grain and provisions for us!” Huang Zhong said in low voice.
Although Huang She really didn't have any skill at all, he wasn't stupid. He knows that an army who is going to go battle will need grain and provisions. If he sent Huang Zhong less supplies, Huang Zhong will be defeated and at that time, the eldest son will not escape the consequences.
“Grain and provisions is good now!” Su Fei sighed in relief. “So, General Huang, how do we fight this battle?!” Su Fei actually had opinions but he respected Huang Zhong's choice, moreover Su Fei needed to learn Huang Zhong's art of war and martial arts.
“Duel!” Said Huang Zhong while clenching his fist. “Duel?!” Su Fei was really stunned. Although they received the order to fight, they needed to take advantage of their naval units, so they can attack them using the pincer method.
But the naval units had not arrived, and even though he had 10,000 foot soldiers, the enemy had cavalry troops, how can they possibly win?
“We leave main camp and confront them directly!” Huang Zhong said it in cold tone. “But!” Su Fei wanted to voice his opinions, but he was stopped by Huang Zhong fierce glare. “If we are to be afraid before doing battle, we have already lost one point from them. If this continues, then how we can fight a battle in the future? Therefore we must strike first, in order to secure momentum!”
The news of Sun Ce and Lu Bu’s army having made alliance made every Jiangxia soldiers lose their heart. If they refuse to do battle and only maintain a defensive stance, the heart of these soldiers will be crushed losing all their will to fight.
Moreover, Huang Zhong also wanted to see the Marquis of Wen Lu Bu's prowess, while thinking that, Huang Zhong rub the hilt of his curved dao.
“Good! Then we go to war!” The Vice commander's responsibility is to assist in performing the commander-in-chief's order.
So, once the commander-in-chief had made a decision, the vice commander must fully cooperate with him. So Su Fei immediately nodded.
“Bump, bump, bump!” From the direction of Huangzhou city, there is a huge amount of noise caused by the war drums. At the same time, Huangzhou city's front gate opened and Jiangxia soldiers poured out one after another and are now facing Lu Bu’s army directly.
“HMMM, INTERESTING, VERY INTERESTING!” Said Lu Bu while looking at Jiangxia's soldiers pouring out one after another. Originally Lu Bu thought that Jiangxia's army will just defend with Huangzhou city as its front and the river as its flank, so they can perform horn-shaped defense maneuver. But he really didn't think that Jiangxia's army would actually come out to attack Lu Bu’s army directly.
“This army is truly insane!” Liu Mang looks at the opposite army. 10,000 infantry versus Lu Bu's Bing Province Heavy Cavalry in direct confrontation??? If that's not crazy then what is this?
“They are not insane!” Said Chen Gong who is standing nearby. He can see Jiangxia soldiers from here. From their terrified looks and slow movement, one can see that these soldiers are very restless.
This restless mood can be felt from all of Jiangxia's soldiers. Those soldiers are afraid of Lu Bu’s army. Currently their morale is at the lowest point.
If the commanding general refused battle again, perhaps their morale will be gone and their afraidness will become fear and restlessness will become their defeat.
If the soldiers are already afraid since the beginning, you might as well we drag them into battle. This is the bet.
If they won, then their morale will rise, and their afraidness will be gone.
If they are defeated, there is also merit, those who die will arouse the bloodlust from those who survived. Those who survived will be free of fear and restlessness and will regain the ability to fight.
“Huang Zhong of Jiangxia is here, who among Lu Bu’s army dares to duel with me!!!” That veteran hit his horse and pointing his curved dao toward Lu Bu’s army.
On his horseback, there is a long bow hanging. Because, Huang She has killed Lu Bu’s army messenger, it can be said he had clawed Lu Bu's face, and the result can only be one. BATTLE!!!
“Huang Zhong?!” Chen Gong froze for a moment, they're really betting everything on this battle.
For the commander-in-chief to go out directly.
“Eh, Huang Zhong?!” Liu Mang was stunned. Which Huang Zhong?! When Lu Bu and Chen Gong were discussing earlier, he did not come inside the main camp. He was busy sorting out his mind about the He sisters who turned out to be the Qiao sisters. And now he heard this name, he was stunned once again.
Huang Zhong of Jiangxia? Liu Mang started to sort out his history lesson. Huang Zhong is a native of Nanyang who later became a general in Changsha's commandery.
How can he become a general in Jiangxia commandery? Is he that Shu Country, Old Huang Zhong? Who is that old guy?
While Liu Mang was still pondering, Lu Bu has hit his horse to confront Huang Zhong.
Being challenged by the other army, how can Lu Bu’s army not send a respond? Plus, the one who placed the challenge is the commander-in-chief, so definitely Lu Bu will not send anyone else but him. So he himself begun riding toward the enemy's commander.
“Lu Bu, Lu Fengxian is here. Huang Zhong, you will receive a quick death!”
While the first reason that Lu Bu went out was because the enemy who challenged him is the commander-in-chief, the second reason is that Lu Bu felt that Huang Zhong is very strong, another pinnacle of the super-class generals!!!
And then, his Poseidon halberd and Huang Zhong's curved dao collided immediately!!!
