Chapter 018: Storming Jincheng

“General, I request your permission to enlist the aid of one of your men.”

Long Tian did not let arrogance cloud his judgment. 

While it was true he possessed martial prowess unmatched within the three armies, waging war was not the work of a single man, command remained paramount.

“Oh? Who might that be? Speak freely.”

Dong Zhuo replied, slightly surprised. He was curious, what exactly was this kid planning?

Although Long Tian’s sudden rise to prominence had surprised him, it wasn’t yet enough to warrant utmost importance.

“Xu Rong!”

“Granted!”

Dong Zhuo agreed instantly.

With the permission secured, Long Tian took the command token and sought out Xu Rong to share his plan.

The latter was surprised but nodded in agreement. To Xu Rong, the risk involved in this maneuver was negligible.

Once preparations were complete, Long Tian began the assault on the city.

Ahead of them, Li Jue’s unit was retreating in disgrace, their faces covered in soot and dust.

Failing to take the wall was a stinging humiliation for Li Jue.

“Beat the drums! Advance!”

Long Tian waved his hand, ordering the men to charge once more.

Instead of watching from the rear, he led the vanguard himself, shouldering a massive ladder and charging straight toward the walls.

The ladder, weighing over two hundred pounds, felt as light as a feather in his hands.

Beneath him, his heavenly horse skillfully dodged corpses and debris on the battlefield.

“Hah!”

Long Tian reached the base of the wall and slammed the ladder into the earth, burying its base three inches deep.

As an enemy soldier leaned over to push the ladder back, Long Tian took out a pre-prepared stone and hurled it upward.

The soldier froze, the stone completely shattered his arm, leaving it dangling by nothing but a flap of skin. It was a grotesque sight.

“Ahhhhhhhhh…! My hand!”

Seizing the opening, Long Tian scaled the ladder in a few strides.

He ignored the thrusting spears and swung his great sword with a roar, sending the five surrounding soldiers flying.

“I am Long Tian of Tao County! Who dares face me in single combat?”

That thunderous shout paralyzed the nearby rebels.

A rebel who looked like a commander roared back, swinging a blade at him.

“You dare raise your voice in front of this daddy? Who the hell do you think you are… Agh!“

Before he could finish his sentence, he was cleaved in half from head to toe.

Blood sprayed everywhere.

Long Tian let out a cruel, savage laugh as he began his slaughter.

Any rebel in his path was either hacked to death or swept off the wall by his monstrous strength, falling to a messy end on the ground below.

Even those who survived the fall were left crippled, wailing endlessly at the base of the wall.

The cries of agony, combined with Long Tian’s fearsome display, struck fear into the hearts of the rebels, causing their morale to plummet.

Xu Rong keenly grasped the opportunity and commanded the troops to attack the city.

Under the cover of Long Tian’s rampage, more and more soldiers ascended the wall, suppressing the enemy forces.

Thud!

Finally the city gate bridge was lowered.

The army waiting outside for a long time brandished their weapons, ready to rush in and loot the place.

“Excellent!”

Dong Zhuo clapped his hands fiercely.

Indeed, his nephew was trustworthy. This boy had not deceived him.

He was truly a man who could be entrusted with heavy responsibilities.

<<<•>>>

With the gates open, the battle shifted to the city streets.

Without the protection of high walls, the rebels’ defeat was only a matter of time.

Taking Jincheng meant capturing the families of the rebel leaders like Bian Zhang, which would cause the morale of the rebel armies in the field to collapse.

Using the lives of their families as leverage to divide the rebels before finally eliminating Bian Zhang.

Victory was within easy reach.

The decision to attack Jincheng against conventional wisdom wasn’t just about drawing reinforcements away from the main encirclement.

It was about absolute leverage.

When Xu Rong explained this to Long Tian, he finally realized the truth. It turned out there was such calculation involved.

Long Tian looked at Xu Rong with newfound respect, he hadn’t expected the man to grasp such intricate tactics.

“Many thanks to the General for the insight.”

Long Tian said, looking at the fires spreading through the city.

“Does the General wish to go forward and supervise the battle?”

“No. I am responsible for logistics. You may go if you wish, Captain.”

Xu Rong shook his head. He had no interest in “supervising” which was really just a polite term for seizing spoils of war.

Conquering territories was a chance for the men to vent.

Looting the city for coin and women was the standard way to vent after a siege.

Thus, the fall of a city often brought disaster to its residents.

Long Tian didn’t stand on ceremony.

He too needed a release, so he smiled and departed.

“Captain, these soldiers will follow you to ensure your safety. From now on, they are your men. Serve him well.”

Xu Rong said to a squad behind him, then whispered to Long Tian.

“This is the General’s order.”

This was the foundation for Long Tian’s rise. His own personal guards. These were battle-hardened veterans he could rely on.

[Ding! 50 soldiers have joined your party. Unit Formation complete.]

[Formation complete. Auto-assigning classes… Assignment finished.]

Long Tian checked his panel. He had a mix of every unit type, including two military medics.

Their class was Prayer Master, but instead of using the “Life Healing” spell, they could heal through normal methods.

A bit different from his class.

The unit included Light Guards, Sword-Shield Warrior, Spearmen, Archers, Axe Warriors, and Hammer Warriors.

These soldiers would have higher base stats and growth potential than ordinary troops. As cavalry or heavy infantry, their combat prowess would be formidable.

Leading his fifty new guards, Long Tian charged into the city.

Bian Zhang’s manor had already been breached by Hua Xiong.

In these situations, it was “first come, first served,” but Hua Xiong invited Long Tian to share the spoils.

Hua Xiong stood in the courtyard, his blade dripping with fresh blood.

At his feet lay a man with eyes wide open in shock, a wealthy noble slain in his own home.

“Captain Long, pick some beauties for yourself first! Our lord said you should have the first pick!”

“General, you are too kind. Just call me Little Tian. I won’t be polite then! I’ll treat you to a drink once the campaign is over.”

Long Tian laughed heartily. He hadn’t had a woman in a while, and in this era, allowing the troops to plunder was the primary way to maintain morale.

If he couldn’t change the world yet, he would play by its rules.

Stepping into the inner courtyard, Long Tian immediately grabbed a pair of women, a mother and her daughter.

Seeing their hair pinned up in the style of married women, he knew they were the prizes of the household.

He ordered his men to guard the entrance while he dragged the pair into a room, a lecherous grin spreading across his face.

They struggled briefly, but after he dealt two sharp slaps to their faces, they ceased their resistance, becoming docile and trembling.

<<<•>>>

Fa Chen-shi and her Daughter –See Image–

Click the link above or visit here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/147799411