Chapter Twelve: The Deal

"That's the general idea."

With fifteen minutes remaining before battle, Wang Luo invited Zhou Yingxiong and Yang Wentian into his tent and revealed his intentions and subsequent plans to them.

"We coordinated well in the previous engagement, so this time, I'm willing to trust you both and share my aims and preliminary plans."

"So what exactly do you intend to do?" Yang Wentian asked.

"Soon, the Han army will mount their next assault. Our primary task is to ensure our own survival. Beyond that, we must keep as many of our men alive as possible."

"Then, just like this morning, we'll use my forging skills to turn all the iron ingots into equipment. The leader here is a greedy fool, obsessed with seizing his subordinates' spoils."

"So, I'll trade the equipment I create for food with the other camps. If Guo Da demands their armor as well, and conflict breaks out, we can find a way to intensify the discord. Perhaps we can identify a few hotheaded ones who can't swallow their pride and have them kill Guo Da."

"At that point, we'll leverage our advantage to control and command this unit as much as possible. If we succeed, we'll have a greater edge on the battlefield, and our mission will be much easier to complete."

Yang Wentian neither understood nor cared about the distant concepts Wang Luo mentioned—obscure knowledge, tangled conflicts, different eras and classes.

However, he immediately grasped the advantage of Wang Luo's rare command points, which meant he didn't have to fight personally but could instead command soldiers within the story, and he quickly considered the potential benefits.

After Wang Luo's lengthy explanation, his intent to seize leadership of the entire force piqued Yang Wentian's interest. "And if they refuse to cooperate?"

"Then we withdraw. The grain we get from trading forged gear will sustain us on the march for some time."

"Guo Da sending people to confiscate spoils—maybe the soldiers can still tolerate that. But demanding the armor they made themselves is too much. I believe the soldiers and officers in the other camps aren't happy with him either. But if they're all cowed and no one dares protest, we'll take our two hundred men and leave."

"We'll seek materials and fully arm our troops. When the opportunity arises, we'll expand our ranks. That way, we'll still have the strength to fight."

"Well thought out," Yang Wentian nodded. "It's a good plan. What do you need me to do?"

"Reconnaissance," Wang Luo said, frowning deeply. "I feel nearly blind right now—there's a lack of information, all sorts of intelligence. About the leader here, the officers, supplies, our next destination, everything about the Han army... I know nothing. You're the best suited for this task."

Of course, if not me, who? That fool with two shields?

"Understood," Yang Wentian nodded.

"But I can't handle it alone. Can I command these soldiers?"

"Not sure. Once this battle is over, I'll arrange for a few men to try it out. What we need most now is time—if only we could avoid this fight altogether."

"Um..." Zhou Yingxiong raised his right hand. "I can make it so they don't come..."

"Hmm?" Both turned to look at him. Zhou Yingxiong awkwardly pulled an item from his chest.

Shattered Crystal (Untradeable, Unsellable)

Uses: 3

Causes your or your team's next quest to be nullified. The quest will not appear, and you or your team will not be penalized for incompletion, but you will also not receive the reward.

The next quest you or your team accept in this scenario will have both its difficulty and rewards doubled.

"This was given in the last scenario," Zhou Yingxiong explained. "Since you said we need time, let's use it."

"That... is excellent," Wang Luo said earnestly. "Having you in our team is truly our fortune."

Around one in the afternoon, white clouds veiled the sun. A breeze swept down the hillside, bringing a refreshing coolness to the Yellow Turban soldiers in the camp after lunch.

In Wang Luo's camp, after every soldier finished his meager lunch (a bowl of thin porridge and a piece of dry bread), they assembled to begin forging the next batch of equipment.

This time, the soldiers lined up more quickly.

Their chant was mostly the same as before, but Wang Luo had also prepared some passages from the Art of War. The three of them led the soldiers in reciting together.

"Bend and you will be whole; curve and you will be straight; hollow and you will be filled!"

"Those who cannot be defeated defend; those who can defeat attack!"

"When worn, be renewed; when few, gain; when many, be confused!"

"Those skilled in defense hide beneath the nine earths; those skilled in attack move above the nine heavens!"

These calls attracted some Yellow Turban soldiers from other camps—there were even a few officers from other units who came to watch.

This time, Wang Luo did not choose to make individual pieces of equipment but instead made full sets.

In terms of iron ingot consumption: armor required ten, short swords ten, shields eight, greaves and helmets five each, and boots six.

In other words, forty-one iron ingots could fully arm one soldier, increasing his defense by thirteen points and attack by three. Considering the original Yellow Turban bandits had defense two and attack three—even against defense five, attack seven Yellow Turban soldiers, it was a significant boost.

After finishing twenty sets, Wang Luo ordered the soldiers to rest. He then sent Yang Wentian to invite an officer named Su Si, who had been watching from outside the camp, to his tent for a discussion.

"You mean you want to give these to me?" Su Si looked shocked.

"Not give," Wang Luo explained sincerely. "You trade grain for them. Ten bags of grain for one set."

"Two bags for one set." Su Si blinked his shrewd little eyes. "You can't keep them anyway—they'll end up with the leader."

"I could give them to the leader," Wang Luo stared into his eyes. "And while I'm at it, ask him for grain—he'll give it."

"Five bags," Su Si said, putting on a pained face. "There isn’t much grain in my camp. Even if the leader gives you some, it won’t be more than that."

"But the leader won't give you the armor. You're outside the main camp, which is why I came to you. Otherwise, I'd go to General Bai or General Zhang."

Wang Luo made a show of leaving, and Su Si hurriedly stopped him, smiling ingratiatingly. "There really isn’t much grain left in my camp. I can give you six bags at most. But there are still dozens of carts of iron ore—if you want them, they’re yours. How about that?"

Iron ore, of course, was very valuable. "How many men do you have in your camp?"

"A bit over five hundred. Sigh, if I give you so much grain, I don’t know what I’ll do..."

"How about this—raise it to seven bags per set. I can allow your soldiers to come here and join my men in reciting the classics. What do you think of that?"