Reincarnation in the Three Kingdoms Era with a System

Ambushing and annihilating the majority while leaving a small force alive isn’t about nurturing a band of enemies for future gain, but rather about preventing them from losing all hope. When all hope is lost, their fighting power is astonishing.

While it might not necessarily reverse the situation, it will certainly increase casualties.

The same principle applies to besieging a city, leaving one side open. It’s about giving them hope, leaving them a way out, preventing a complete collapse.

Lu Ming also needed someone to guide him; he had already decided to take Goguryeo.

While the Korean Peninsula is resource-poor, it’s not without resources. Coal and steel are available, and since land transport is unsuitable, developing maritime transport is the solution.

Once maritime transport conditions are met, costs can be significantly reduced, and speed can be greatly increased.

For the same goods, water transport has a clear advantage over road transport.

“Good, let’s seize this opportunity to take down Goguryeo. This will pacify Liaodong in one fell swoop. Wen Yuan, you make the arrangements. No need to report to me. I only need the battle report; I won’t inquire about the process.”

Lu Ming nodded in agreement, delegating authority.

Although the enemy had 15,000 men and their side only had 5,000, this was not a problem.

They were used to fighting with fewer troops and had adopted an elite force strategy; they weren’t afraid of anything.

Would 5,000 tigers be afraid of 15,000 sheep?

Besides, in his eyes, these Goguryeo troops weren’t even sheep!

“Your subordinate obeys.”

Zhang Liao was somewhat excited. No wonder every general longed to serve under Lu Ming; such delegation of authority was rare and also a test. However, not being constrained was definitely the most comfortable.

On the other side, the Goguryeo army had already entered Wild Rabbit Ridge without even basic reconnaissance.

They lacked not only modern military skills but also the most basic military discipline. The ranks were disorganized, making it difficult for officers to find their soldiers and for soldiers to find their leaders.

On the slopes on either side, Zhang Liao stared intently down below. As soon as the enemy entered the ambush, he immediately ordered, “Fire!”

“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!”

Hundreds of flaming arrows flew out, tracing arcs through the air before landing in the dry grass that had been concealed.

Dry wood ignited a raging fire; hundreds of arrows together instantly set the fire ablaze. Starting from the center, the fire spread rapidly and fiercely, faster than anyone could react.

“Enemy attack! Enemy attack!”

An officer shouted, only to be pierced in the throat by an arrow a second later!

The officers capable of command reacted immediately, shouting, but their actions were spotted by the Qin army’s sharpshooters.

These sharpshooters, honed through countless battles, were invaluable assets in every legion, as assassinating officers and disabling command was a tried-and-true method.

To keep the lower-ranking soldiers under control, corporals and squad leaders were essential.

In a modern army, this would be equivalent to platoon leaders, squad leaders, and company commanders. Without command, the army is in complete disarray. Orders from above fail to reach the ranks, and the lower ranks have no idea what to do.

Gao Ju’s ranks were already quite disorganized, and after being attacked, they stood frozen for several minutes before scattering. This was something Zhang Liao hadn’t anticipated; they encountered no decent resistance whatsoever.

Gao Ju’s men fled in all directions—some ran uphill, some ran backward, and some charged forward—disorganized and undisciplined!

However, this initial shock was brief; he quickly ordered the encirclement to continue.

“Father, an ambush!”

Yeon Gaesomun shouted, terrified by the raging flames and the clattering of flags and drums.

Yeon Gaesomun was also stunned.

However, being king, he pushed his son aside and ordered the captain of the guards to charge forward with all their might!

“Those who want to live, follow me!”

This old man was cunning, placing his soldiers in front while he hid in the middle.

The canyon had slopes on both sides; although it was possible to climb, it would be extremely difficult, so charging forward was the best option.

If he could escape this section, he could return to Goguryeo and rise again.

However, the Qin army was the Qin army, defeating many feudal lords without resistance, not only because of the individual soldiers’ skill but also because of their superior troop deployment and strategy.

Yeon Gaesomun led a remnant army, finally breaking through the spear-blocked pass, only to be ambushed by a hail of arrows shortly afterward. Helpless, they could only continue their retreat, bombarded by volleys of arrows almost every five hundred meters.

After fleeing for over ten miles, the intense fear and instinct for survival had drained their strength. Having run for so long, the remnants of the Goguryeo army had stretched their battle lines.

Li Kui, leading his guards, began to reap the rewards: those who surrendered were bound, and those who resisted were killed.

Yeon Gaesomun dared not rest, but continued to ride forward, accompanied only by a dozen or so guards and his eldest son.

He knew his army was doomed. Up to this point, he didn’t even know who had ambushed him.

It certainly wasn’t Gongsun Du, because Gongsun Du had fought him several times and hadn’t shown this level of skill.

Although Gongsun Du had overpowered him, there was no difference in skill. Against Gongsun Du, he could at least exchange a couple of blows. But against his current opponent, he hadn’t even had a chance to retaliate.

Ahead, a man in armor stood in the middle of the road, holding a long spear. As they approached, he suddenly raised his head and thrust the spear forward with deadly force.

Wu Song leaped up, using his skillful strength to knock one cavalryman away, and then unhorsed another.

He then attacked the cavalrymen from above and slashed at the horses’ legs, single-handedly stopping more than ten men.

Yeon Gaesomun rolled to the side, his face covered in blood, crawling frantically.

Wu Song, with a single thrust of his spear, knocked each man unconscious with the butt of his spear.

He didn’t kill them; he chose to capture them alive!

Yeon Gaesomun, unconscious, didn’t know how much time had passed before a basin of cold water was poured over him, instantly reviving him.

“Who are you? Tell me yourselves.”

Wu Song knew he had caught a big fish, but he didn’t know who it was.

“I am Yeon Gaesomun, King of Goguryeo! I am a king paying tribute to the Han court! Who are you?! The Han Dynasty will not let you get away with this!”

Yeon Gaesomun was oblivious to reality, still invoking the authority of the Eastern Han Dynasty.

To be fair, the Han Dynasty was indeed one of the four great powers.

The Han Dynasty, Kushan, Parthia, and Rome—the four great empires—this combination certainly intimidates many.