Reborn In The Three Kingdoms

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He reminded them of the strength and resilience of the Goguryeo people, of the countless times they had overcome impossible odds. ”Tomorrow,” he said, his voice steady and confident, ”we will show the world what it means to be soldiers of Goguryeo. We will fight not just for ourselves, but for our families, our homes, and our future. Together, we will prevail.”

Kang Saeng, too, worked tirelessly to bolster the morale of the troops. He inspected the siege engines, catapults, battering rams, and ladders, that had been constructed the day before, ensuring that they were in perfect condition.

He spoke to the engineers and craftsmen, praising their hard work and dedication. ”These machines,” he said, gesturing to the towering catapults, ”will be the key to our victory. With them, we will breach the walls of Xiangping and bring this campaign to an end.”

As the night wore on, the atmosphere in the camp began to shift. The soldiers, once demoralized and weary, now stood a little taller, their eyes filled with a renewed sense of purpose.

The meal, the words of encouragement, and the sight of the siege engines being prepared had reignited their fighting spirit. They knew that the battle ahead would be fierce, but they also knew that they were not alone. They had each other, and they had their leaders, Yeon Gaesomun, Choi Minho, and Kang Saeng, to guide them.

At dawn, the army began its march toward Xiangping. The sun rose slowly over the horizon, casting a golden light on the sea of soldiers as they moved in disciplined formation.

Yeon Gaesomun rode at the front, his presence a symbol of defiance and determination. Behind him, the siege engines loomed large, their massive frames a testament to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the Goguryeo army.

As they approached Xiangping, the sight of the city’s towering walls came into view. The fortress was a formidable sight, its stone walls reinforced with wooden barricades and manned by tens of thousands of soldiers. The defenders had been preparing for this moment, and they were ready.

On the walls of Xiangping, Gongsun Gong stood alongside Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong, their eyes fixed on the approaching army. Gongsun Gong, stood on the forefront on the wall with a commanding presence.

His face was calm, but his eyes betrayed the tension he felt. Beside him stood Zhuge Liang, his fan resting lightly in his hand, his expression one of quiet confidence. Pang Tong, shorter and stockier, stood on his other side, his sharp eyes scanning the enemy forces with a calculating gaze.

”They’ve come,” Gongsun Gong said, his voice steady but tinged with apprehension. ”Just as Master Sima Yi have informed us.”

Zhuge Liang nodded, his gaze never leaving the approaching army. ”Yeon Gaesomun is a formidable general,” he said, his tone measured. ”But he is also predictable. He will try to overwhelm us with sheer numbers, but we will use the terrain and our defenses to our advantage.”

Pang Tong smirked, his voice filled with quiet confidence. ”Let them come. We’ve prepared for this. The Hwacha and ballista are ready, and the soldiers are in position. We’ll make them regret ever setting foot in Lie Fan’s territory.”

Gongsun Gong turned to his commanders, his voice firm. ”Prepare the defenses. Ensure that every man is in position and ready to fight. We cannot afford any mistakes.”

The commanders saluted and moved to carry out his orders. The soldiers on the walls stood ready, their hands gripping their weapons tightly.

The Hwacha, devastating rocket launchers capable of firing dozens of arrows at once, were positioned at key points along the walls, their operators standing by for the order to fire. Ballista, massive crossbows capable of launching heavy bolts with deadly accuracy, were also in place, their operators adjusting the tension on the strings.

As the Goguryeo army drew closer, the tension on the walls of Xiangping grew palpable. The defenders watched in silence as the enemy forces began their preparations for the siege. Catapults were positioned, battering rams were readied, and ladders were brought forward. The air was thick with anticipation, the calm before the storm.

Yeon Gaesomun raised his hand, signaling for the army to halt. He surveyed the defenses of Xiangping, his expression one of grim determination. ”This is it,” he said, his voice low but steady. ”The final battle. We will breach those walls and show the world the strength of Goguryeo.”

Choi Minho and Kang Saeng stood beside him, their faces reflecting the same resolve but with different objective, Choi Minho survival and Kang Saeng loyalty to Goguryeo. ”The men are ready,” Kang Saeng said, his voice firm. ”They will not falter.”

Choi Minho nodded, his eyes scanning the walls of Xiangping. ”The defenses are strong,” he said, his tone measured. ”But we should have the numbers. If we can maintain our momentum, we will break through.”

Yeon Gaesomun turned to his commanders, his voice filled with quiet determination. ”Prepare the catapults. We will soften their defenses before we advance.”

The order was relayed, and the catapults were loaded with heavy stones and barrels of flaming pitch. The operators adjusted the tension on the ropes, their movements precise and practiced.

With a series of loud cracks, the catapults launched their payloads, sending the stones and flaming barrels arcing through the air toward the walls of Xiangping.

The defenders watched as the projectiles soared toward them, their eyes wide with fear. But Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong had anticipated this. ”Take cover!” Gongsun Gong shouted, his voice carrying over the noise of the incoming barrage.

The stones and flaming barrels crashed into the walls, sending shards of stone and splinters of wood flying in all directions. But the defenses held, the reinforced walls absorbing the impact. The Hwacha and ballista operators remained in position, their eyes fixed on the enemy forces.

”Hold your fire,” Zhuge Liang said, his voice calm but firm. ”Wait for my signal.”

The Goguryeo army began to advance, their shields raised and their weapons at the ready. The battering rams were pushed forward, their operators protected by a phalanx of soldiers. The ladders were carried by teams of men, their eyes fixed on the walls of Xiangping.

As the enemy forces drew closer, Zhuge Liang raised his hand. ”Fire,” he said, his voice steady.

The Hwacha operators pulled the triggers, sending dozens of arrows streaking through the air toward the advancing army. The ballista fired their heavy bolts, each one finding its mark with deadly accuracy. The Goguryeo soldiers screamed as the arrows and bolts tore through their ranks, their shields offering little protection against the devastating firepower.

Yeon Gaesomun watched in horror as his men fell, their bodies littering the ground. ”Push forward!” he shouted, his voice filled with desperation. ”We cannot stop now!”

But the defenders of Xiangping were relentless. The Hwacha and ballista continued to fire, their operators working with mechanical precision. The catapults on the walls launched their own payloads, sending heavy stones and barrels of flaming pitch crashing into the enemy forces.

The battle raged on, the air filled with the sounds of screams, the clash of steel, and the roar of flames. The Goguryeo army fought with desperation, and their numbers slowly dwindling as the defenders of Xiangping held their ground.

Yeon Gaesomun stood at his command post, his eyes fixed on the battlefield before him. The sight was one of utter devastation. The once proud Goguryeo army, 150,000 strong, dwindled to 120,000 strong on their way to Xiagping, and was diwdnled even further now a shadow of its former self.

The relentless barrage of arrows, bolts, and flaming projectiles from Xiangping’s walls had taken a heavy toll. The ground was littered with the bodies of fallen soldiers, their shields and armor offering little protection against the deadly precision of the defenders. The air was thick with the acrid smell of smoke and burning pitch, the cries of the wounded echoing across the battlefield.

Yeon Gaesomun’s face was a mask of grim determination, but beneath the surface, his mind was a storm of frustration and despair. He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms as he watched his men fall. ”How many projectiles do they have?” he muttered under his breath, his voice tinged with anger. ”How can they keep this up? Do they endless supplies of it?”

Choi Minho, standing beside him, sensed the growing unease in his commander. He knew that if Yeon Gaesomun’s resolve wavered, the entire campaign could collapse. The Oriole agents had tasked him with ensuring that Yeon Gaesomun pressed the attack, no matter the cost. He couldn’t afford to let doubt take root.

”General,” Choi Minho said, his voice calm but firm, ”their supply of projectiles cannot last forever. They’ve been firing continuously for hours. No matter how well prepared they are, they must be running low by now. If we push forward, we can break through before they have a chance to replenish.”

Kang Saeng, standing to the side, raised an eyebrow at Choi Minho’s confidence. ”How can you be so sure?” he asked, his tone skeptical. ”We’ve been underestimating them at every turn. What makes you think they’ll run out of arrows and bolts now?”

Before Choi Minho could respond, Yeon Gaesomun turned to Kang Saeng, his expression stern but not unkind. ”Kang Saeng,” he said, his voice gentle but firm, ”you should trust your brother in arms. Choi Minho has more experience than you, and he may have insights into the enemy’s condition that we do not. Do not question his judgment lightly.”

Kang Saeng’s face flushed with embarrassment, and he quickly bowed his head. ”My apologies, General. I spoke out of turn. Choi Minho, I meant no disrespect.”

Choi Minho waved off the apology, though inwardly he felt a pang of guilt. He knew his confidence was not born of genuine insight but of the need to keep Yeon Gaesomun committed to the attack. ”It’s fine,” he said, his tone reassuring. ”We’re all under pressure. But we must stay focused. The battle is far from over.”

Before the conversation could continue, a soldier came running toward them, his face pale and his breath ragged. He dropped to one knee before Yeon Gaesomun, his voice trembling as he delivered his report. ”General! We’ve spotted an enemy force approaching from the rear. They number around 30,000 men and are advancing quickly. If we don’t act, they’ll catch us off guard.”

Yeon Gaesomun’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t let panic overtake him. He had faced impossible odds before, and he knew that hesitation would only lead to disaster. ”Kang Saeng,” he said, his voice steady, ”take command of the rear. Organize a defensive line and hold them off. Do not let them break through.”

Kang Saeng saluted, his expression one of grim determination. ”Understood, General. I won’t let you down.” He turned and hurried away, shouting orders as he went.

As Kang Saeng left, Yeon Gaesomun turned his attention back to the battlefield. The situation was dire, but he refused to give up. ”Choi Minho,” he said, his voice low, ”we need to push forward. If we can breach the walls before their reinforcements arrive, we still have a chance.”

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Name: Lie Fan

Title: Overlord Of The Central Plains

Age: 33 (200 AD)

Level: 16

Next Level: 462,000

Renown: 1325

Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)

SP: 1,121,700

ATTRIBUTE POINTS

STR: 951 (+20)

VIT: 613 (+20)

AGI: 598 (+10)

INT: 617

CHR: 96

WIS: 519

WILL: 407

ATR Points: 0