Romance of the Four Kingdoms

Chapter 44

From the moment the battle was initiated Mitsuko's forces gained the upper hand. While the yellow turbans had more numbers, they did not have the requisite training to match up against Mitsuko's comparatively elite force. As a result they cleaved through the inexperienced peasants like butter. The turbans could only amass one or two kills before they're promptly cut down in vengeance. The sudden attack and exhausting march took their toll on them. Especially as Zhang Rao blends in to the turban forces entrenching himself deep within the ranks. He knew if he retreated his forces now there would be nowhere for him and his brothers to go to. No base for the survivors to continue the battle against the Han. As such he retreats deeper in the ranks in the hopes that his forces will eventually overwhelm his enemy with sheer numbers. When he thinks he's safe he stops and turns towards the enemy and gives the order for his exhausted men to charge. Though they didn't retain their zealousness compared to when the grandmaster Zhang Jiao was still alive.

They attempt to surround Mitsuko's forces however they formed a semi-circle like formation in front of the castle gates. With the centre expanding forwards towards the enemy ranks with the edges being thinner but no less than two ranks. Due to the centre of the formation advancing with their victories the yellow turbans don't really have that much of a chance to envelop the rear of the formation. In the centre of the formation Mitsuko and her officers are in the fray, cleaving their way through turban after turban each on different parts of the battle. Zang Ba and Wu Zi were located on the flanks of the centre and Mitsuko and LingQi were at the forefront.

Zang Ba stabbed one of his enemies with his glaive right in the gut. He removed it and suddenly strikes the turban next to him diagonally upwards across the chest. The enemy staggers backwards before falling before Zang Ba swings his glaive to intercept a sword just in time as the blade hovered inches over his face. Using his strength Zang Ba pushed the sword away along with his enemy as he twists with the momentum. Zang Ba quickly twisted his glaive and wildly swings in the opposite direction. Slashing the enemy's chest as the corpse flies away from the battle. He blocked another attack, this time overhead against a spear. Zang Ba easily pushed it away and thrusts his spear in the enemy's gut. His spear broke in half as he attempts to block the thrust with the polearm. He lifted up the yellow turban high in the air and throws him behind the formation where a warrior quickly finishes him off.

Zang Ba quickly charges forward with his glaive in front and stabs another enemy in the chest and used the momentum to make him crash to the ground. He thrusts into the enemy two more times before making a wild swing, taking out several enemy soldiers.

'Come, face the power of Zang Ba, warlord of the serpent!' He boasts proudly as he pounded his chest once and plants his polearm on the ground. But readies his weapon again as more yellow turbans dare to approach him.

Wu Zi deflected attack from another sword user and quickly slashes upwards. His enemy staggers back slightly before falling. He spots an enemy emerging from his left side raising his sword high. He sidestepped to the left side of the enemy and stabs him in the stomach. He puts his hand on the enemy's face and pushed him away, the corpse staining the blade with its blood as it slides off. He pushes away a spear that is thrust towards him from the right and slide up the sword to meet the neck. Promptly decapitating his enemy as the body slumped to the side. He quickly strikes down two enemies in quick succession as he slashed them in the torso one after the other. As one comes at him raising his sword overhead Wu Zi quickly sprints past him, as the enemy yellow turban strikes downwards he sliced through his right torso easily. He quickly flips his blade behind him and stabs him in the gut from behind. He keeps the blade planted in his chest before he falls on his knees as the corpse naturally slides off the blade and landed face first onto the ground. He quickly attacks upwards to deflect an oncoming sword attack from the side. The enemy had their arm pushed away. Wu Zi let go of his blades handle briefly using the momentum to let the blade flip right side up, as it did he catches it again and strikes downwards at his exposed enemy.