Chapter 21: CH 21

Following Denel’s death, the savage army’s collapse was guaranteed as forty people fled in panic, leaving Anderson’s thirty all alone to face the enemy.

Zhong Yu called his remaining 40 soldiers and made them form a slow circle around the enemy. While both groups were somewhat balanced in terms of men, their morale was a different story.

An army’s effectiveness wasn’t measured by numbers, not even with the advanced weaponry they wielded. ‘Morale is everything, even more so before the invention of firearms.’ 

Why were Japan’s harassment tactics in World War II so effective? Its attacks on the Russians, British and Americans left them confused. To say nothing of the fear the kamikaze tactics spread.

The soldiers with a higher morale surrounded the crestfallen savages, waiting on Zhong Yu.

Zhong Yu began, “Surrender. What I need most is men. Give in and I promise your lives will be spared.”

His speech struck a chord in many savages, but instead of replying they turned to the one they were defending, Anderson. 

Being the target of so many stares, Anderson felt cornered. He knew the slightest dip in his head would have his savages lay down arms.

The yellow skins’ killings had them scared, their spirits crushed. The only reason these terrified men stayed instead of fleeing was because of loyalty and prestige. 

It would be all too easy to just lower his head but he just didn’t want to. The dignity and honor as chieftain stopped him.

He chose to struggle to the end, to meet his ancestral spirit along with his people. For the honor of the savages, or more precise, to not cross the Underworld River alone.

As the second leader in this battle, he knew full well anyone could surrender but him, not when there were so many losses. Or only his suicide would quell the rage of so many lives lost in this battle.

Not to mention Anderson had been a chieftain for decades now and his position was stable. 

As enough time passed for the fear and horror to go away, the tribe would rise up in a call to action based on their respect for him. Hundreds of his tribesmen would march on and fight the yellow skins, as they were a serious threat to their way of living. 

So Anderson refused to surrender. He knew there was no escape this time, only death. He also realized that fleeing back to his tribe when he had the chance would allow him to assemble his people to resist the yellow skins’ invasion.

‘What’s the point?’ The yellow skins would just gather a larger army his tribe had no way of offsetting, ending up dead just the same.

The ruthless yellow skins would cut them down to the last. So it was better to fight to the bitter end with his warriors, taking down as many enemies he could. 

‘It may even work to make them see that if we’re pushed, we push back. We may even drive fear into them, giving my tribe better circumstances.’

Anderson’s resistance didn’t last long. With his men’s morale hitting rock bottom, they crumbled when half ended up killed.

While Anderson made peace with his failure by taking otu a dagger and plunging it in his heart.

With his fall, the surviving savages gave up, letting the enemy blades take their lives. He was an honorable and worthy chieftain to have such loyal warriors. 

There were still a dozen around the battlefield picking themselves up and fleeing. Zhong Yu ordered his remaining men to chase them down, but only for 3 km. 

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After an hour, they returned, bringing back ten heads. Each of the soldiers’ faces was painted with the thrill of vengeance, overjoyed at their victory and the gratitude of being alive. 

But the contrast of tears and a smile made an odd picture. Were they crying or laughing?

These people who never saw such a bloody battle before, were being subjected to trauma and fear words failed to unravel.

Those fights with a dozen or two savages were mere scuffles. The real battle, no war, was going through the cruelty of fighting a hundred people.

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Zhong Yu took stock of his troops, only 24. There were six Yellow Turban soldiers left; the heavily wounded didn’t count. 

They weren’t worth saving since no recuperation was complete, ending up crippled. They were just a waste of food and manpower to take care of them around the clock. No one would accept this job, finding it a waste of their very lives.

129 came and only 24 left. The loss of a hundred men crippled him.

But what mattered was his foundation. With only 6 Yellow Turban soldiers from the original 39, keeping the refugees and savages in place was impossible.

Though his authority worked in quelling any revolt for a while, when his weakness came out. Those that hated his guts, the savages that wanted to feast on his flesh and chew on his bones would, without a doubt, capitalize on it.

Thus Zhong Yu put on a kind face and placated them with promises. The slaves were freed, becoming servants, while the surviving Yellow Turban Army found themselves nobles. 

In short, he cooled down their keyed up nerves the cruel battle brought on before taking them back home.

On their way, Zhong Yu came face to face with the harsh reality. That even Yellow Turban soldiers glared at him with hatred. The savages noticed and it was their turn to increase their hostilities towards him.

They gave the restless Zhong Yu a reason to sweat. He had to work hard and put a straight face.

The calm look inspired confidence and that he was reliable and deterred.

In this manner Zhong Yu returned with his nerves stretched taut.

Back in his domain, Zhong Yu had a 100 of his 300 recruits go back and scavenge the battlefield while designated the rest as guards to keep his city safe, including himself.

The added protection helped ease his worries. ‘That was too dangerous, coming back among those unbalanced survivors.’

He was in constant worry they might send his head flying right there, in the wilderness, with no witnesses. 

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February 20th, New Era, year 1. Lost Plains. The Ender Alliance, due to barren lands, waged war for supremacy with Zhong Yu. The outcome was Zhong Yu the winner, Edson tribe and Monla tribe the defeated. Both chieftains were killed in action. 

Note: It is barren because the savages have no agriculture, living off hunting game. While Zhong Yu’s domain has no salt or other particular resources. Other than that, his lands were fertile, a great place to grow crops.

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