127 Blood as the Catalyst

Emerging from the camp gates, Taishi Ci led a night raid with his cavalry, moving cautiously along a narrow path toward the southern edge of the rebel stronghold, horses carrying grass in their mouths as a makeshift disguise. Along the way, they encountered a scouting party of three rebel riders. Fortunately, Taishi Ci spotted them in advance; with a swift motion, he drew his bow and released three arrows in quick succession, each arrow felling a rider and their horse. This prevented their presence from being exposed.

At midnight, the raiding force arrived silently at the dense forest outside the rebel camp, waiting patiently.

After half an hour, a towering blaze erupted to the west of the enemy encampment. The stillness shattered as voices and horse neighs filled the air. Torches were lit one by one, gathering into groups and moving westward, gradually fading into the distance.

It was precisely at this moment that Guan Yu led two thousand soldiers of the Divine Skill Battalion to ignite over a thousand bonfires, nearly ten thousand torches, two miles west of the rebel camp’s main gate.

The rebels, mistaking this for a large-scale assault by the Church forces, scrambled for reinforcements. Bolstered by the commotion, Bo Cai assembled his troops and charged out of the camp toward the Divine Skill Battalion.

However, when the rebel vanguard of five thousand emerged from the west gate and reached the area ablaze with torches, they immediately saw through the Church’s ruse—there was no massive army, only a vast array of fake flames. They prepared to turn back to report to Bo Cai, aiming to prevent him from dispatching the entire force for an assault.

Yet, just as they were about to retreat, a deep drumbeat rose from the nearby ranks of the Church soldiers. Suddenly, they were charged upon.

At the forefront of the Church’s Holy Warrior Battalion stood Guan Yu, his long black beard fluttering in the wind. His face revealed no emotion, but within burned an unshakable conviction. He must buy Taishi Ci more time and create a better opportunity. The first step was to hold off the rebel vanguard before him.

What followed was a stunning scene outside Changshe City under the cover of darkness. The two thousand Divine Skill Guards strode forth resolutely, charging headlong into the vastly outnumbering rebel forces. The five thousand-strong rebel vanguard collided with them, and a fierce melee erupted.

Guan Yu wielded his mighty Green Dragon Crescent Blade, leading his trusted warriors as they moved back and forth, plugging breaches in the Divine Skill formation. His sharp, narrow phoenix eyes constantly scanned the battlefield. Though outnumbered, the Divine Skill Guards held their ground, prompting him to nod with satisfaction.

These two thousand warriors were personally trained by him, each embodying his tireless dedication. They had earned countless honors in relentless battles, all formidable fighters. Compared to them, the crude Yellow Turban rebels were insignificant. Indeed, in mere moments, they had slain hundreds of rebels. The enemy formation was shattered; defeat was only a matter of time.

Yet Guan Yu knew he must finish swiftly. Only by swiftly annihilating this force could he draw Bo Cai’s full attention and compel him to send more troops, thus creating a chance for Taishi Ci to break into Changshe.

With this resolve, his phoenix eyes narrowed to slits, scanning like searchlights through the rebel ranks. At last, under the torchlight, he spotted the central army’s banner slightly west of their position. Stroking his beard, he bellowed, “Follow me!” and spurred his horse forward fiercely.

The warhorse, sensitive to pain, surged ahead like a charging chariot. Mounted high, Guan Yu swung the Green Dragon Blade left and right, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake.

Behind him, a hundred loyal warriors, each courageous and fierce, bore the blood-red cross gleaming under the moonlight. Their faith was unwavering; they believed the Virgin Mother protected them even in mortal peril. Should they fall in battle, it was a summons to join the divine realm and enjoy eternal bliss. Thus, they cast aside fear of death, for such fearless resolve was often the key to survival—more calm and valiant than any others.

Blood led the way, forging a path of forced passage. Guan Yu cut through the rebels, crashing into their central banner with a mighty shout, “Come and die!” The rebel general before him was struck with terror.

Having witnessed Guan Yu’s valor firsthand, the rebel commander knew he stood no chance. He spurred his horse and fled. Yet fate was cruel—the inferior warhorse faltered, and Guan Yu’s yellow-maned steed leapt forward. With a single sweep, the blade pierced from the rebel’s left shoulder through to his right waist, cleaving him in two.

The rebel forces, seeing their leader slain and banner fallen, scattered like leaves in a storm, retreating in all directions.

Guan Yu did not pursue. He ordered his officers and troops to hold their positions and regroup.

Meanwhile, Bo Cai, having received news that the Church’s forces were merely a small detachment feigning strength, prepared to recall his troops. But upon learning of the vanguard’s defeat and the death of their commander, he dispatched another ten thousand soldiers to confront Guan Yu, then led his main army back to camp.

Within half an hour, before the rear troops could even re-enter the camp, another report arrived: the newly sent forces had also been routed.

Furious, Bo Cai seized the retreating commander and roared, “Useless! Ten thousand troops defeated by two thousand? What use are you? Seize him!”

The commander begged desperately, “Commander, spare me! It is true we were defeated, but it was four thousand against two thousand, not ten thousand!”

“Four thousand?” Bo Cai was momentarily stunned. He distinctly recalled the initial report stating Luan Yi had only sent two thousand. “Explain how you lost!”

It turned out that when Bo Cai’s reinforcements arrived at the Divine Skill Battalion’s position, the Church soldiers had already turned away without engaging. Mistaking this for fear, the rebel troops pursued for less than half a mile before the Church soldiers suddenly halted and formed ranks to confront them.

Confident in their numbers, the rebels charged. As they closed in, a sudden thunderous drumbeat sounded from the southern woods.

From the forest burst a unit led by a towering, dark, and stalwart general wielding a long snake spear and riding a glossy black steed. It was Zhang Fei, who commanded the Divine Rock Battalion, long hidden in ambush.

The Divine Rock Battalion was an elite force, heavily armed and armored to the teeth. Their sudden appearance caught the rebels unprepared, especially after their vanguard’s defeat had shattered morale. Panic spread even before the battle began.

Guan Yu pressed the advantage, joining with Zhang Fei in a pincer attack like two wolves among sheep. The rebel forces broke instantly, fleeing in disarray. Fewer than a third escaped, many slain or captured, others deserting and disappearing.

Upon hearing this, Bo Cai’s fury burned hotter; he denied the commander any chance to explain. “Cowardice in the face of battle merits death by military law!”

Without hesitation, two fierce warriors seized the commander, dragged him aside, and beheaded him with a single blow.

With his forces depleted, Bo Cai grew wary of the small Church detachment outside the west gate, fearing they might threaten his western camp. He dispatched a sizable force of over twenty thousand under Peng Tuo to encircle and crush them.

Yet when Peng Tuo reached the battlefield, it was deserted. Not a single Church soldier, nor even a corpse, remained.

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, their mission accomplished, had already withdrawn to their camp.

Peng Tuo returned empty-handed, hesitant to launch a night attack on Luan Yi’s main camp, and reported back to Bo Cai.

“Are you saying Luan Yi’s troops have all retreated?”

“Not a single one remains,” Peng Tuo confirmed.

“Damn it! We’ve fallen into Luan Yi’s trap and lost many good men!” Bo Cai slammed the table in frustration.

Peng Tuo bowed slightly and added, “Commander, I have a faint feeling that Luan Yi’s actions tonight conceal a deeper scheme.”

Bo Cai frowned. “Explain.”

“I cannot say for certain, but I sense his intentions are far from simple.”

Before Peng Tuo could finish, a messenger arrived breathlessly. “Commander, bad news! A mounted force has broken into the southern camp and is charging toward Changshe!”

“What?” Bo Cai’s head spun as if struck by lightning. “Stop them at once!”

“Commander, our troops have been on the move all night. The southern camp has not fully redeployed, leaving many vulnerabilities. The cavalry exploited these gaps and are too fierce to hold off!” the messenger replied, panic evident in his voice.

“Useless, utterly useless!” Bo Cai raged.

Just as the messenger spoke, while the rebels were distracted fighting Guan Yu, Taishi Ci gave the order. A hundred Holy Knights burst forth from the forest, charging into the enemy camp like a storm.

The few remaining rebels swarmed to block them, but the charging horses were unstoppable. With a neigh, several rebels were thrown from their mounts, bones cracking sharply as they fell, cries of agony piercing the night.

Taishi Ci thrust his spear relentlessly, weaving a deadly dance of phantom-like strikes, dazzling the enemy. Each moment saw another life extinguished, another body turned cold and lifeless.

The Holy Knights pressed forward, stepping over fallen foes. When faced with impassable points, they swiftly changed course, circumventing obstacles. The Yellow Turban camp was vast, and with most troops drawn away, many tents stood empty. Seizing this opportunity, the knights bypassed the rebel forces attempting to block them and struck directly at the heart of the rebel camp like steel needles.

Deeper within the rebel stronghold, the enemy numbers thickened. Bo Cai had returned to the central camp, brandishing his greatsword and shouting orders to organize a counterattack.

Yet rebel warriors on horseback followed relentlessly. Hundreds of archers nocked arrows and rained sharp bolts upon the Holy Knights.

Thanks to their sturdy armor, the knights pressed on despite the hail of crossbow fire, though not without cost: several knights were unseated, their bodies left behind beneath Changshe’s walls.