Mythical Version of Three Kingdom

As these thoughts crossed Meng Dai’s mind, he gestured to his personal guards. They quickly relayed the orders to the soldiers transporting the grain, preparing them to execute the secondary plan. After witnessing the weakness of the Yellow Turbans, Meng Dai had considered implementing Feng Ji’s plan, and he had made the necessary arrangements just in case.

When Guan Hai noticed the cold smirk on Meng Dai’s face, he was initially taken aback. Then, he quietly heightened his vigilance.

”Brothers, be careful. Yuan Benchu might not have good intentions. This guy is up to something!” Before Guan Hai could say anything, Liao Hua’s voice echoed in the ears of the Yellow Turban leaders.

”Yuanjian speaks sense. Everyone, stay alert. If they make a move, show no mercy,” Guan Hai’s voice followed, and unlike Liao Hua’s warning that required a moment of consideration, the leaders immediately smiled and quietly prepared for a potential fight.

These Yellow Turban leaders had never had the opportunity to access proper martial training, but those who had risen to leadership positions had all survived countless battles. Their natural talents often surpassed those of most warriors at the same level, but for various reasons, they could not advance further.

For example, Guan Hai, despite struggling to find enough food, had managed to cultivate his Qi to the peak of ”Refined Qi into Steel,” just one step away from reaching the pinnacle of martial arts, ”Internal Energy Released.”

This demonstrated Guan Hai’s extraordinary talent. Unfortunately, due to his humble background, he never had access to advanced martial techniques, and he had missed the best time to train. Although Zhang Jiao had provided some methods, they were merely adequate.

”You must be Guan Dashi,” Meng Dai said, a slight smile playing on his lips. ”My lord, Yuan Gong, sympathizes with the plight of the Yellow Turbans and wishes to lend you ten thousand shi of grain.”

”Yuan Gong is truly benevolent,” Guan Hai thought to himself with a cold laugh, but outwardly he put on a look of deep gratitude. ”General Meng, please, come this way.”

”Hahaha, no need, no need. I’m just here to deliver the grain. I can’t stay long, so please, inspect the goods first,” Meng Dai said with a courteous gesture. Guan Hai, still smiling, walked over to the supply convoy.Meng Dai lowered his head, laughing inwardly, oblivious to the cold gleam in Guan Hai’s eyes.

The Yellow Turban leaders followed Guan Hai, wiping their hands clean and resting them on the hilts of their weapons, joking and laughing as they went. There was no fear of battle. These were men who had fought for food countless times, so much so that warfare had become a part of their daily lives.

Guan Hai casually opened a sack, grabbed a handful of rice, and began chewing on it. After a long pause, he finally spoke. ”Good stuff. Thank Yuan Gong for me!”

”Hahaha, you’re joking, Dashi. How could we deceive you with inferior rice? Bring the rest of the grain for Dashi to inspect!” Meng Dai laughed, and with that, a thousand of Yuan Shao’s soldiers gathered, surrounding Guan Hai and the others.

”Not bad, not bad. It’s all good rice,” Guan Hai said after tasting a few more handfuls. He then walked over to Meng Dai.

”Is Dashi satisfied?” Meng Dai asked with a fawning smile.

”Very satisfied,” Guan Hai said as he slowly moved closer to Meng Dai, signaling the other Yellow Turban leaders to prepare themselves.

”If you’re satisfied, then it’s time to go! Take them down!” Meng Dai shouted. The grain had been sent to an area with fewer Yellow Turbans, and now that Guan Hai and his men were surrounded, he had no more qualms.

”I knew this guy was up to no good!” Yellow Turban leader Du Yuan shouted as he pulled a brick from his robe and hurled it at Meng Dai’s face, leaving him bloody and battered. Du Yuan then drew a dagger and swiftly struck down several soldiers, breaking through the still-forming battle lines.

”You think I’m easy to deal with?” Guan Cheng, a gaunt Yellow Turban pirate, drew his fork and attacked the soldiers around him, stabbing and slashing his way through.

”Looking for death!” Huang Shao, wielding a sword he had stolen from a scholar, performed a swift roll to evade the enemy’s attack, then leaped up and decapitated several soldiers with a single strike.

Jiang Gong, Qu Gong, Li Tiao, Sima Ju, and the others all drew their weapons and began fighting the soldiers. Although they were somewhat suppressed by the formation, each of them could easily take on ten opponents.

These Yellow Turban leaders had all survived the harshest environments and the bloodiest battlefields. The strongest among them, like Guan Hai and Zhou Cang, were just one step away from reaching the level of ”Internal Energy Released.” Those who were slightly weaker, like Liao Hua, Guan Cheng, and Du Yuan, were nearly at the peak of ”Refined Qi into Steel.” Even the lower-ranked leaders like Pei Yuanshao and Huang Shao had reached ”Refined Qi into Steel.”

Meng Dai’s thousand soldiers were attacking roughly twenty well-known Yellow Turban leaders, along with another forty or so lesser-known leaders. In other words, a thousand soldiers, most of whom couldn’t even harness internal energy, were trying to take on seventy experts at the level of ”Refined Qi into Steel.” Did they think they were led by Ju Yi’s elite assault troops?

In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Du Yuan retrieved his half-brick, dragged the barely-breathing Meng Dai over by his collar, and threw him at the unscathed Guan Hai. Then, he tucked his half-brick back into his robe.

”How... how can you be so strong...” Meng Dai gasped.

”Hahaha...” Sima Ju laughed so hard he almost cried as he pointed at Meng Dai. ”Are you stupid? Do you even know what kind of life we Yellow Turbans have lived? Without strength, we’d have been wiped out long ago. We Yellow Turbans have at least seventy leaders at the ’Refined Qi into Steel’ level. Even your lord, Yuan Benchu, who has hundreds of warriors under his command, doesn’t have more experts at our level!”

”We’re the survivors of the most brutal battlefields, the harshest conditions!” Sima Ju’s words resonated with the other Yellow Turban leaders, who all wore somber expressions. Their lives had been so harsh that they yearned for the comfort of Taishan.

As Sima Ju spoke, Guan Hai couldn’t help but feel a pang of inner turmoil. He thought of the peaceful life in Taishan that Liao Hua had described.

”Dashi, you’re spacing out again,” one of the more observant Yellow Turban leaders remarked.

”It’s nothing. There’s so much grain! Let everyone feast today!” Guan Hai shouted, shaking off his thoughts. The entire camp erupted in cheers, and the Yellow Turbans besieging Beihai joined in the celebration when they heard the news, leaving Kong Rong, already weakened in spirit, even more terrified.