East of the River: Home of the Sun Clan sample (Act I) -- T. P. M. Thorne
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“But we might have died,” Wu Jing suggested. “This way, the rebels had
the most casualties. It may be ‘dishonourable’, Brother-in-law… but it’s also
pragmatic.”
“…Yes,” Sun Jian sighed.
“And now, it’s on to Xihua, I suppose,” Zu Mao prompted.
“That’s… up to Zhu Jun,” Sun Jian said as he watched his commander and
patron’s continued pursuit of the ambush survivors. The entire outcome had left
Sun Jian feeling very uncomfortable and praying for a swift end to a campaign
that had already gone on for far too long.
*************
6
Huangfu Song’s ambush had left the Yellow Turbans of Yu Province without
a local leader, and the end of that part of the rebellion was apparently within
sight. Tens of thousands of demoralised Yellow Turbans gathered at Xihua and
prepared to face the Han coalition army that was marching on their position.
Huangfu Song and Zhu Jun were at the front of the army this time and ensured
that the rebels could plainly see what they were up against. Platoons of
archers and crossbowmen readied their weapons, and hordes of infantry and
cavalry impatiently awaited the order to charge. Sun Jian’s militia was with
the attacking force, this time in a vanguard role.
“What d’you think, Mister Cheng
Pu?” Zu Mao asked.
“Once again, I see weak points,”
Cheng Pu replied with amusement. “In
fact, the whole of their army is just one big giant weak point now… no leader,
no organisation, no morale, and no energy. One big push will break them.”
The senior Yellow Turban officers, Liu Pi and Huang Shao, rode to the
front of their disorganised army of peasant infantry and issued a flat,
resigned order to charge; minutes later, the two forces met, and the organised
Han loyalist forces ripped into what was left of the enemy.
“Everyone, forward!” Zhu Jun
ordered with surprising discomfort.
Huangfu Song joined his colleague and shouted, “Scatter them, quickly, before they are reinforced!”