Mythical Three Kingdoms

”They’re nothing but rabble!” Li Tiao said with a grim face as he already spotted many Yellow Turban Commanders who, like him, no longer wished to soldier and wanted to return home to farm.

”Those who have refined their Qi to Gang, follow me! Let’s first protect Lord Xuande inside the city!” After killing more than a dozen soldiers, Li Tiao saw a growing number of familiar faces and immediately took up the commanding presence of a Channel Commander, roaring angrily.

With Li Tiao’s call, over a dozen citizens who had refined their Qi to Gang quickly followed him, heading towards the city’s heart.

Most of the people from Fenggao had been penniless - either Bandits of Mount Tai or Yellow Turbans - and now, having finally obtained clothing, shelter, and food, all these citizens took up their former weapons and fought against Yuan Shao’s Army and the Aristocratic Family Private Soldiers when they learned someone wanted to strip them of everything again.

It must be said that the Yellow Turbans, fighting for their beliefs, were no less formidable than ordinary elite troops, especially since many of Fenggao’s Yellow Turbans were commanders tired of war.

But for their homeland, they took up their weapons again—their combat power remained incredibly high, and it didn’t take much time before they had nearly cleared out the entire street.

Normally, the Fenggao citizens were Obedient People, but looking into their pasts revealed that few of them were decent folks; they had all either been Mountain Bandits or members of the Yellow Turban Army.

After years of nurturing and temperance, they appeared as Obedient People. But now, upon learning that someone wanted to take from them what they had, they grabbed weapons and charged out to fight. In an era where anything could be nurtured into a weapon, who didn’t keep some sort of sword, blade, spear, or pike at home?

The entire population of 300,000 in Fenggao City erupted with over 100,000 capable fighters, instantly transforming the famously prosperous Fenggao into a massive war camp, laying bare the concept of fierce local customs.

In such circumstances, the forces of Aristocratic Family Private Soldiers led by Hann Xun and Yuan Shao’s united armies instantly became a joke. They could not compete with the city management forces in terms of high-end capability, nor could they match the vast sea of civilians in numbers.

What was even more ludicrous was that they could not rival the civilians from within Mount Tai; there were seventy to eighty Yellow Turban Commanders, each one having refined their Qi to Gang. When they were integrated before, one-third of them didn’t want to become soldiers and opted to go back home to farm. And these high-risk citizens were certainly to be managed by Chen Xi.

Now, those who had returned home to farm were discreetly living as ordinary people in Mount Tai, much like how Li Damu had no idea Li Tiao had refined his Qi to Gang.

”Brother Li, I’ve seen someone directing these rebels,” a man wearing a Yellow Turban casually patrolled and unintentionally caught sight of Hann Xun. Recalling his own days commanding the Yellow Turbans, he realized what the other was doing.

”Commanding?” Li Tiao cracked a smile. ”Where? Brothers, grab your weapons and take him down, whether he is or not.”

”Whoosh!” A group of Yellow Turban Commanders all suddenly raised their weapons - swords, spears, and even Great Hammers were already expected, but there were also bricks, cudgels, sacks, forks, sickles, hoes, rakes...

About a dozen Yellow Turban Commanders who had refined their Qi to Gang leapt on top of the rooftops, cautiously approaching from the shadows. Upon getting right above Hann Xun, they all leapt down in unison, bricks, sacks, cudgels, and various other weapons raining down.

Poor Hann Xun, whose Martial Arts were probably no weaker than an average Qi Refining to Gang, was abruptly ambushed by a dozen shameless peers of equal standing. He didn’t even have a chance to ask who they were before he was enveloped in a sack and knocked unconscious.

As for the dozens of trusted aides guarding Hann Xun, they were completely taken by surprise by the sudden assault and were swiftly cut down by this ruthless group.

”Can’t be mistaken, we’ve got a big fish here, and all these guys around him are wearing inner armor.” Li Tiao said with a big grin, then reached out and started stripping the inner armor off the bodies of Yuan Shao’s Army, showcasing habits perfected over more than a decade.

”Tighten up, shout for help!” After snatching a few pieces of inner armor, Yuan Shao’s Army, which had lost its Chief General, finally reacted and charged at the dozen or so assassins.

After a fierce skirmish, the dozen or so Yellow Turban Commanders emerged from the encirclement with minor injuries and sacks of loot. Without anyone to lead them, the disorganized troops fought chaotically, with the suppression from the Cloud Qi weakening considerably.

”Halt, who goes there!” A group of about a dozen people shouted as they brandished their weapons, killing anyone they saw not wearing a yellow turban or belonging to the Aristocratic Family Private Soldier, and headed straight for the center of Fenggao City, wherein they collided head-on with the city management troops.

”These seem to be the guys who patrol all day.” Xue Prefecture, wielding two sickles, collided with the city management troops. He immediately flipped over and retreated, staring at the opposing infantryman clad in silver armor and wielding a heavy shield.

”It does seem to be them.” Chen Hong, wielding a rake, also retreated after a collision.

All dozen or so men stepped back, weapons poised, facing off against their opponents.

”Who are you people? I don’t recall our troops having such martial arts skills, and your weapons...” Qin Qi, leading about a hundred city management troops, confronted Li Tiao and his group of Yellow Turban Commanders.

”That guy seems like Qin Qi, I saw him a couple of days ago while selling vegetables.” Zhang Du, carrying a hoe, took a look at Qin Qi and whispered to Li Tiao.

Whereas the city management troops were well-organized, Li Tiao’s group was nothing short of chaotic, using an assortment of weapons, including farm tools like rakes and sickles. When the Yellow Turbans rose up years ago, these men used whatever was at hand. After a decade, even a hoe was as formidable as a Divine Weapon, so they never switched out. However, all these men were truly adept at Qi Refining to Gang.

”The guy in charge is a city resident, the one with the hoe is old Zhang who sells vegetables, the one with the sickle is Boss Xue from the tea house, and the one in front with the spear seems like Brother Li who does construction around the streets.” The city management troops, familiar with their daily patrols, quickly recognized these people as city residents.

”Hey, old Qin, I want to ask you something. Is Lord Xuande all right?” Li Tiao knew it was no use just standing there. After someone at the back confirmed that the other party was indeed the city management troops, he asked.

”He’s fine, we’re currently quelling the rebellion. And you?” Qin Qi asked Li Tiao, cutting to the chase.

”Anyone who dared to rebel against Lord Xuande has been killed by us! Ni Ying, throw over that guy you’ve got in your sack.” Li Tiao called out to the guy behind him carrying a sack and wielding a bludgeon.

”Rattle rattle.” Fann Zhe did not hesitate and directly threw over his sack, which he had nurtured for many years.

”What’s this?” Qin Qi inquired.

”A commander from the enemy forces,” Li Tiao said unflinchingly.

”To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.”)