Chapter 98 – Lu Bu uses one of the 36 Stratagems.
(Inflict injury on oneself to win the enemy's trust)
Translated by Bloodfalcon, Edited by Krayto
Huangzhou city front door has opened, Jiangxia's army one by one flushed out of the gate. The opposite Lu Bu’s army is observing them real close.
“Hohoho, going on the offensive, eh?!” Lu Bu hits his horse to look at those 2,000 troops go out of town. “With this, I am pretty sure that Jiangxia's army has changed its commander-in-chief!” Lu Bu shows a faint smile. Jiangxia's army troops have a total of 15,000 with 10,000 infantry and 5,000 naval units.
Actually with this number, they can play a defensive battle in the city, waiting until Lu Bu’s army exhausted their grain and provisions which would result in their retreat from the frontline.
But now, Jiangxia's army broke their routine from being defensive to going on the offensive.
“Humph, a few days before, they were hiding in the city like turtles, they did not dare to fight with us. Now, they are unexpectedly becoming offensive, those soldiers are waiting for death to claim them!” Zang Ba licked his lip and then half-kneeled toward Lu Bu with one hand on his chest. “Milord!!! Zang Ba requests to join the battle! Give me 1,000 soldiers, I will make sure that Jiangxia's army will not be able to return ever again!”
Those words are said by Zang Ba, because he wanted to prove himself in front of Lu Bu again. Even though currently Zang Ba is Lu Bu’s personal bodyguard he is tired of being a mere bodyguard.
He is Zang Ba, he is one of Lu Bu’s eight great generals. So right now, he longed to have his own division back, to announce to the world that he is still a fearsome general.
“Xuangao, this time you need to stand down, it is my turn to be in action! Milord, Zhang Liao requests to join the battle!” Zhang Liao also half-knelt toward Lu Bu.
His Bing Province Heavy Cavalry are stuck because this place is littered with wetlands and rivers, so he cannot rampage like usual. Therefore he has been suppressing his bloodlust in his belly. Now there is an opportunity, how he cannot jump into battle?
“Wenyuan, you and me should not fight over who is going to be deployed. Your division is cavalry. This kind of land is not suitable for large-scale cavalry charge!” Zang Ba and Zhang Liao are staring at each other.
Only Gao Shun who kept silent all the time did not want to bicker on who is going to be deployed, he only awaited for his lord's order.
TL: Oh boy, two of eight great generals of Lu Bu’s army is bickering on who is the one should fight, shouldn't they be scared?
“Cavalry are mounted infantry, cavalry soldiers are also made from infantry! Even if my boys dismounted, they can become elite infantries!”
"But you....!"
“Knock it off!!!” Lu Bu tweaked both of his generals’ ears, to stop their quarrel “Xuangao, are you determined to do battle with them?!”
“Yes sir, Ba is willing to bring enemies severed heads to Milord!” Zang Ba’s heart is really happy, so he did not suspect anything about Lu Bu’s intention. He really thinks that Lu Bu is moved by his determination.
Using 1,000 troops to vanquish 2,000 enemy troops. This is not Zang Ba’s arrogance but his self-confidence.
On training soldiers, Huang Zhong’s ability and Zang Ba’s ability is on par.
"3000!" Lu Bu stretched out three fingers" I will give you 3000 troops! "
“No, no, Milord, 1000 troops are enough!” Said Zang Ba eagerly “If those 1000 troops cannot take those 2000 Jiangxia soldiers, please take my head!”
“I neither want your head nor do I want you to defeat these 2000 Jiangxia army!” Lu Bu shook his head and said the strangest thing in his career as a warlord. “I want you to be defeated, I want you to go back to our camp with shame!!!”
“Eh???” Zang Ba is looking at Lu Bu with a disbelief expression. From time to time, the commander-in-chief always requested his subordinates to personally lead a battle to win, never has any occasion happened where the commander-in-chief asked for his subordinate to be defeated.
1000 troops are not enough to draw troops, so you must use 3000 troops?
Does Milord want to entice the enemy so they fight to the death? Zang Ba who only had talent in battle as a senior general, suddenly he wanted to understand Lu Bu’s stratagem.
“Milord, please do not do this!” Whether it is to entice or not to entice the enemy, where a defeat is certain, no military general likes to smear his own battle record.
“Hey, you said you wanted to do it already!” Said Lu Bu.
Looking at Zang Ba’s pained face, Lu Bu’s mouth showed a weird smile “Xuangao, Xuangao, this is the first time you launch your division to battle since you surrendered to me. If I do not let you fight, it is my mistake as your lord!”
“Yes, Yes! Xuangao, this is your first battle under Milord, you better play it nicely!” Nearby Zhang Liao also encouraged Zang Ba? Earlier he is annoyed because he did not have any chance to do battle, now because of Lu Bu’s discourse, he smiled at Zang Ba’s misfortune, being a part of Lu Bu’s stratagem
“Okay then, I will go now!” Zang Ba exchanged stares with Zhang Liao. He then rode his warhorse and 3000 troops left the camp gate towards the battlefield.
“Jiangxia army, Zang Ba, Zang Xuangao of Mt. Tai is here. All of you will receive a quick death!” Exclaimed Zang Ba while swinging his broadsword toward those 2000 Jiangxia soldiers who are currently stationed under Huangzhou city.
“Zang Ba of Mt. Tai?!’ The Jiangxia general who are currently stationed at Huangzhou city is truly worried that they will bump into Lu Bu or Lu Bu’s subordinate Gao Shun or Zhang Liao. They have witnessed the terror that Lu Bu brings, and also Gao Shun and Zhang Liao. Although they have not seen those two’s skill in wushu, they command a division by themselves, thus one can see their strength.
But the one who challenged them is a nameless general! Making Jiangxia’s general really happy and relieved.
Jiangxia's general naturally did not know about Zang Ba, because since the Battle of Kaiyang, he has stayed at Lu Bu’s side as a personal bodyguard.
“Enemy general, cease your savage boast! Remember that Xu Zhi of Jiangxia, is the one who will cut your neck!” Xu Zhi then thought “Hehehe, only a nameless general, maybe I can survive this battle and also bring merit with your head!” Xu Zhi’s heart has been painted with greed.
Their warhorse speeding along in the battlefield and clashing with each other. In an instant, they have been fighting for ten bouts.
“Humph!!!” Zang Ba humphed in his heart. If it were not for Lu Bu’s order, this garbage would have already died in the first blow. Only second-class in strength yet he dares to fight with me?
However, now Zang Ba can only accompany Xu Zhi’s rhythm. Regardless of the outcome, the battle is really exciting and fierce.
“When did this Xu Zhi become this strong?!” Above the tower overlooking the city gate, Huang Zhong watches the following duel with a big doubt. Huang Zhong did not know much about Zang Ba’s strength, but he knows for certain that this Zang Ba has refined strength enough to almost enter super-class generals.
Zang Ba’s eyes focus did not waver, his breath is stable during battle, these are the basic signs that Zang Ba has almost broken through to become a super-class general.
A first-class general battle with Xu Zhi to a draw? Has Xu Zhi really become this strong? Or is Zang Ba too weak?
“Who is this person? He's really strong!” Although Huang She is also a warrior, his martial art cannot be compared with Xu Zhi, therefore he cannot see the depth of the situation. So, instead he thought that this general called Xu Zhi is very strong and can fight Lu Bu army’s senior general to a draw.
“That person is Xu Zhi of Huangzhou city! A senior general!” Nearby Huangzhou city officials reply while looking at Xu Zhi’s intense battle.
“Oh? If he managed to repel the enemy, this eldest son will heavily rewarded that person!”
While both warriors are fighting intensely suddenly there is a big movement. Zang Ba showed a big flaw intentionally, he showed his entire back to Xu Zhi.
“Good opportunity!” Xu Zhi then stabbed his spear again to pierce Zang Ba’s armor. He is truly happy that he can get a merit today.
“Clang!” Zang Ba also moved his broadsword to intercept Xu Zhi’s spear, causing sparks.
“ARGH!” Zang Ba’s helmet was hit flying by the deflected spear. His long hair was unknotted and on his cheeks, there is a scar caused by that spear.
“You are more skillful than me. Today I am tired, look forward to our next encounter!” Zang Ba quickly turned his horse to escape.
“Where do you want to go?” Xu Zhi who has already removed Zang Ba’s helmet, naturally saw his opponent head as a persimmon, so he eagerly wanted to chase Zang Ba to gain his merit.
So, he quickly hit his horse to chase him. Lu Bu’s army after seeing Zang Ba run, how can they themselves not run also?! Because they are too far from main camp, they have become food for the valiant Jiangxia army.
Their harvest is really a lot. In an instant they killed around hundreds troops. Their heart is really good.
Xu Zhi who was carried away by success, wanted to attack Lu Bu main camp when suddenly he heard a big commanding voice bellowed toward him “STOP NOW!” and he retorted “Heh, Lu Bu’s army is just a weak army!”
“Damnation!” Zang Ba who has just entered the main tent wanted to exit the main camp and kill Xu Zhi immediately but was blocked by Lu Bu.
“No joke, that man is really wild. But, this degree is good!” Lu Bu smiled. After winning a little battle he's drunk from victory and is not only heading to our main camp taunting us. Ignorant people have no fear. We will tolerate you until we break Huangzhou city.