Chapter 3, Achievements

After the night raid, it was already dawn. Xu Cheng secretly felt relieved, especially upon seeing the casualties from the night raid, a chill rose in his heart. However, before he could finish his reflections, someone came to summon him to the central tent of Huangfu Song. Xu Cheng was taken aback; the esteemed General of Chariots and Cavalry, likely equivalent to the Minister of Defense, actually wanted to see a mere soldier like him. Not knowing what had happened, he could only guess and ponder aimlessly as he made his way to the central tent.

"No, no, no, my lord, this young man is talking nonsense, please do not take it to heart!" said the older soldier. After speaking to Xu Cheng, he began to reprimand another, "Xiao Pei, what are you babbling about? Hurry up and apologize to my lord!"

Since Xu Cheng successfully killed his first enemy, three days have passed. During this time, nothing significant has occurred, yet Xu Cheng still feels as if he is dreaming

Indeed, many generals who were displeased with Dong Zhuo immediately supported Sun Jian's proposal, resulting in a heated argument with Dong Zhuo's subordinates. Even the main commander, Huangfu Song, closed his eyes and stroked his beard, showing a considerable agreement.

Xu Cheng's tragic cries awakened many soldiers in the silent night, and soon, more voices began to rise.

"I apologize, I was just joking with you earlier," Xu Cheng finally spoke, "If you two brothers do not mind, would you be willing to chat with me for a while?" Xu Laoda was eager to make friends, and the two little soldiers had no way to escape. Thus, after a few exchanges, they even shared details about their ancestors for three generations.

"What does it matter if we talk?" said the first soldier, "Do you have the ability to kill me?"

No one expected that this young soldier was unwilling to take an official position, and for a moment everyone was stunned. Once they regained their composure, the generals on Dong Zhuo's side expressed their admiration for this young soldier, secretly thinking, "This kid is quite perceptive!" Li Ru immediately seized the opportunity and said, "General Cheqi, this young soldier is right. Although he has made great contributions, that is part of his duty. Moreover, he is merely a personal guard, and a rapid promotion might not be accepted by the public. Therefore, I believe it would be better to grant him the position of a lieutenant as a reward."

Due to his meritorious service in quelling the rebellion, along with his filial piety, Dong Zhuo was promoted after the war to the title of Marquis of Ao Township and appointed as General of the West. Sun Jian was also granted the title of Marquis of Wucheng and returned to his hometown to serve as the Governor of Changsha. However, the commander-in-chief of this rebellion suppression, Huangfu Song, not only received no rewards but was instead demoted to serve as a local official in Youzhou.

What are you all doing? Xu Cheng walked over. He is now a personal guard, holding a higher status than ordinary soldiers, so those soldiers cannot do anything to him, unless they no longer wish to stay in the army

Huangfu Song did not wish to entangle himself in this matter; he was handling it in an official capacity, so he stated, "In that case, let him be appointed to the position of a school lieutenant, under the command of Governor Dong." Thus, the matter was settled. Xu Cheng still wanted to speak, but upon seeing Dong Zhuo's clearly pleased expression, he dared not provoke trouble, especially since there was no opportunity for him to speak up here. He could only express his gratitude and leave, preparing to risk his life on the battlefield. After exiting the main tent, he once again raised his middle finger to the sky.

Sir, there is no need for you to ask. This kid does not appreciate kindness. I... The soldier pretended to kick Xiao Pei, but Xu Cheng stopped him, saying, "I have no intention of doing anything. Why are you in such a hurry?"

That night, the rope he threw tripped the enemy general's horse, causing the general to fall off and, unfortunately, tumble towards him. In response, he swiftly drew his knife and ended the general's life. However, he never anticipated that upon the general's death, the Qiang soldiers would suddenly appear as if bewitched, standing there in a daze until a loud shout rang out, "Young General!" Immediately after, a Qiang soldier leader charged over like a madman, brandishing a large knife high above, with the momentum suggesting he would not rest until he had cleaved Xu Cheng in two. But Xu, not being a fool, did not stand there to be struck. Instead, he quickly slipped away, moving in a zigzag pattern to lead the assailant towards a more crowded area. After that, he waved his hand and made his escape, leaving the furious leader shouting in frustration, yet he could only stare helplessly.

On that night, the moon was bright and the stars sparse. Coupled with the fact that Dong Zhuo's military orders were generally lax, Xu Cheng had no intention of properly fulfilling his duties. After dark, he probably conducted a brief inspection and then went to rest at the rear camp. Upon arriving at the rear camp, he had just found a place to relieve himself when he felt the ground shaking. "An earthquake? No way!" Xu Cheng muttered to himself. Suddenly, he noticed a row of dark figures swiftly charging towards the rear camp. Thanks to the bright moonlight, Xu Cheng could see clearly, "The Qiang soldiers are coming!" With a loud shout, Xu Cheng bolted towards the front camp.

After Huangfu Song finished speaking, Sun Jian, who was standing beside him, spoke up, "This man has slain Ma Chao, instilling great fear in the Qiang soldiers, significantly boosting the morale of our army, and is extremely beneficial for the court in quelling the rebellion. Therefore, I believe it would not be excessive to grant him the position of general."

On the second day, the two armies began to engage in battle. Although Ma Teng was suffering from the pain of losing his son, the fighting was extremely fierce. However, the Qiang army was not solely his, and coupled with their fatigue from the long journey, the renowned general Huangfu Song ultimately led the imperial forces to overcome the Qiang troops, who had no choice but to retreat to Anding for temporary defense. Furthermore, divisions began to emerge within the Qiang forces. Han Sui, in order to preserve his own power, requested a withdrawal of troops, but after being denied, he took his subordinates away without further discussion. Upon receiving this news, Huangfu Song immediately seized the opportunity to launch an attack, resulting in the death of Beigong Boyu, the defeat of Ma Teng, and the suppression of the rebellion of the Iron Qiang Alliance.

... ... '', Xu Cheng turned around and discovered two soldiers dressed in leather armor chatting nearby, but their eyes occasionally glanced in his direction, clearly talking about him

In this war, Xu Cheng, lacking subordinates and being a lone commander, naturally continued to fulfill his duties as a personal guard, staying close to Dong Zhuo and seizing the opportunity to slay a few minor soldiers. Since Dong Zhuo witnessed this firsthand, it further solidified his position as a captain. Although Dong Zhuo was lacking in many respects, he treated those he considered his own well. Despite looking down on Xu Cheng's background, he still allocated three thousand captured Qiang soldiers to him after the battle. This delighted Xu Cheng immensely, prompting him to offer a few words of praise that held little value, which also benefited the various generals around Dong Zhuo, making them feel that this young man was worth utilizing.

However, it is not so easy to run past a military camp of tens of thousands of people. Xu Cheng was running forward when he suddenly felt a chill behind him. Unable to resist, he turned around to take a look. Goodness, who is that kid? He saw a man dressed as a Qiang soldier's leader riding a horse and chasing after him, holding a spear with the tip slightly pointed downwards, in a perfect cavalry charging posture, without a hint of flaw, except for one thing that felt a bit off: the spear tip was aimed directly at him.

At this moment, our esteemed leader Xu is desperately fleeing to the camp of Dong Zhuo with a hard-won iron knife in hand, running while feeling fortunate for his luck. Indeed, if it were not for his good fortune, he might have been the first victim of the Qiang soldiers.

In an instant, the gleam of blades and severed heads soared together, and the blood stained the sky a uniform color. Due to the inability to organize an effective defense, Dong Zhuo's army found itself in a state of massacre. Furthermore, the Qiang soldiers set fire to the surroundings, causing Dong Zhuo's army to quickly descend into chaos

"I respectfully report to the General of the Chariots, I merely achieved success by chance, and moreover, it is the duty of a soldier to fight against the enemy in battle, therefore, I dare not accept any rewards!" Xu Cheng knelt in the center of the military tent, having long been pent up with frustration. He certainly understood what these people were thinking. Although he desired to become a general, he was not a fool. A current position is not as good as a future one. If he were to be promoted to general today, he feared that he would not have good days ahead. There was no need for Dong Zhuo to make things difficult for him later; his subordinates alone would be enough to ruin him. Furthermore, being a personal guard only required following the general from behind. If he became an officer, he would have to go to the battlefield tomorrow to attack the Qiang people. If the old Ma family found out, they would think he had killed their eldest son, and they would not hesitate to make his life miserable. Therefore, he was determined not to give up his position as a personal guard.

Coward..." a low voice came through

"We didn't do anything!" a soldier in his early twenties said with his head held high

"Oh? Is it he who killed Ma Chao?" Huangfu Song inquired

At this point, Dong Zhuo could no longer sit still; he was at a loss as to what to do. He cast a glance at Li Ru, signaling him to step forward and speak. Li Ru organized his words and was just about to open his mouth when an unexpected person spoke up.

Dong Zhuo listened and immediately said, "Indeed, I also think so." After all, he had been in the officialdom for many years, how could he not understand the meaning of his son-in-law, which was essentially to provoke Sun Jian! Weren't you a cavalry commander? You are on the same level as a mere soldier like us

However, after hearing this, Xu Cheng was left speechless, his mouth agape, almost unable to utter a word. Is this a mistake? No wonder he has such a bad temper. Pompey was a Roman consul who lived during the same era as Caesar

Xu Cheng smiled at him again and said, "My name is Xu Cheng, may I ask your esteemed surname?" After arriving here, Xu Cheng discovered that at this time, people could not tolerate disrespect, especially among those of similar status, except for the arrogant ones

"What, are you done talking and don't want to admit it?" Xu Cheng said somewhat displeased

Hehe! Xu Cheng laughed, "You little rascal have some guts, what is your name?"

As soon as he entered the tent, Xu Chengjiu discovered that it was filled with generals. He felt a shiver run down his spine and quickly knelt down to pay his respects. At that moment, he heard Dong Zhuo speaking, "General Huangfu, this is my personal soldier who has made great contributions."

The troops in Dong Zhuo's rear camp belonged to his son-in-law, Niu Fu. The discipline was poor, and the training was inadequate, making it impossible to stop the well-prepared Qiang soldiers, especially since they were cavalry. Once discovered, the Qiang soldiers swiftly charged into the camp and began the slaughter

What! ? '' Xu Cheng bit his lip, startled. Was it a joke that he had killed Ma Chao? Was today April Fool's Day? Before raising the army, he had inquired about the more formidable figures among the Qiang soldiers. Although young, Ma Chao had already earned the title of "Divine Might Heavenly General" a few years ago, firmly establishing himself as the foremost valiant general of Xiliang. Could he really have been killed by himself? But soon, he realized, could it be that Qiang general he had killed? Indeed, wasn't that person referred to as "Young General"? Could it really be Ma Chao, the son of Ma Teng? His mind became chaotic again, and he didn't even hear Dong Zhuo's response to Huangfu Song.

In the left-wing military camp, Dong Zhuo led the generals to the central tent of Huangfu Song to discuss military affairs. Although Xu Cheng was also a personal guard, he did not accompany them this time. After all, he was not yet part of the inner circle and could not stay by the side of the commander. Therefore, he could only remain in the left-wing military camp.

Since the uprising against the rebellion began, due to Dong Zhuo's excessive arrogance, many, including Huangfu Song and his subordinates, have expressed their dissatisfaction. However, Dong Zhuo is a local tyrant, making it difficult to maintain overly strained relations. Only Sun Jian could not tolerate him and constantly sought to create trouble for him. This time, Dong Zhuo's Xiliang army suffered the heaviest losses, and Sun Jian initially thought he could teach him a lesson and suppress his arrogance. Unexpectedly, Dong Zhuo managed to evade him again, which is why Sun Jian proposed this suggestion that would put Dong Zhuo in a difficult position.

After finishing the conversation with the two, Xu Cheng returned to his post. As he walked, he pondered how to make Yang and Pang give up on following him, after all, he had no intention of dying alongside Dong Zhuo

"You are saying that I am a coward!" Xu Cheng said leisurely.

Although the two are merely foot soldiers, Xu Cheng has always been accustomed to being the leader, and it is only natural to have a few subordinates. It is impossible to find them in the personal guard camp; it would be fortunate if those rascals do not cause trouble. Thus, he has no choice but to look for foot soldiers outside, and Yang Er and Pang Pei are just right. However, he feels somewhat dissatisfied with Pang Pei, not because of Pang Pei himself, but rather due to the name. Nevertheless, since Pang Pei is just a transliteration, it is close enough, haha

"Isn't it just the personal guards? What's so impressive about that? I'm no worse than you guys. If you have the guts, let's compare and see who's stronger!" The soldier named 'Xiao Pei' clearly expressed his discontent.

After Dong Zhuo finished discussing with Huangfu Song in the central military tent, the sun had already set. During this time, people went to bed early. Therefore, Dong Zhuo ordered the entire army to rest, planning to attack the rebel forces the next day. However, our leader Xu Cheng, who could have rested, was assigned to stand guard at night in order to please his superior, the same Qi who had received the first kick from the new recruits.

After Sun Jian finished speaking, a wave of discussion immediately erupted in the big tent, with some in favor and others against. Clearly, no one was a fool; it was evident that Sun Jian was trying to pick a fight with Dong Zhuo! In fact, it was entirely impossible to promote a nameless soldier to the high rank of general based solely on this one achievement. Let us not forget that Sun Jian himself was merely a captain. If Dong Zhuo agreed, it would undoubtedly provoke dissatisfaction among his subordinates. Conversely, if he refused, it would also be unreasonable, as he was using Xu Cheng's merit to offset his own faults. In fact, it was entirely impossible to promote a nameless soldier to the high rank of general based solely on this one achievement. Let us not forget that Sun Jian himself was merely a captain. If Dong Zhuo agreed, it would undoubtedly provoke dissatisfaction among his subordinates. Conversely, if he refused, it would also be unreasonable, as he was using Xu Cheng's merit to offset his own faults.

Ah! Xu Cheng sighed, taking advantage of not being on duty. Just now, he stood high at the gate and looked at the enemy camp, which truly seemed endless, with 200,000 troops! Moreover, the Qiang people are renowned for their fighting prowess. After coming down, he felt his legs a bit weak.

The distance was too close; a person's two legs could not outrun a horse. Therefore, Xu Cheng immediately stopped, drew his iron knife with one hand, and with the other hand took out his long-prepared secret weapon specifically designed to deal with cavalry: a rope with a stone tied to each end, named the entangling rope. He swung it and threw it out.

"My lord, we did not say such a thing! Did you perhaps mishear?" Another soldier, who was clearly older, said somewhat obsequiously. After all, Xu Cheng was a personal guard, and judging by his attire, he seemed to be a personal guard of the governor. It would not do to offend him!

"You are too polite, sir. I am Yang Er, and this is my fellow townsman, Pang Pei," Xu Chengyi set aside his airs, and the two became rather embarrassed. Yang Jian obediently responded, while Pang Pei lowered his head.

Upon saying this, the two felt somewhat embarrassed. They intended to apologize to Xu Cheng, but were stopped by him. Of course, he had to intervene, as he was indeed frightened. In life, one must always be truthful, right? Unable to apologize successfully, the two had no choice but to give up. However, they left a statement that in the future, should there be any matters where they could be of assistance, they should feel free to speak up, completely unaware that Xu Laoda had already interpreted this statement as their bond of servitude.

Neither of the two individuals were from Xiliang; rather, they hailed from the distant region of Yuzhou. Their families were embroiled in the Yellow Turban Rebellion, prompting them to flee to Xiliang, where they joined the Xiliang army along with several fellow townsmen. They fought in a few battles, and Pang Pei even achieved merit, but as he was a commoner, his accolades were claimed by Shangguan, leaving him to remain a low-ranking soldier. Consequently, the two harbored no fondness for officials. Xu Cheng, being a personal guard, was also affected by this sentiment. Earlier, when the two saw him sighing, they assumed he was afraid, which led them to say a few words, not realizing he had overheard them.

By the time he came to his senses, Huangfu Song was speaking, "In that case, even if Lord Dong's merits and faults balance each other out, it is this young soldier who has achieved such a great feat and should rightly be rewarded."