Chapter 32: Gao Shun of the Trapping Division

As Wanyan Xieye began his assault on the city gate, Wanyan Loushi and Wanyan Yinshuke also commenced their attack. Speaking of Wanyan Loushi and Wanyan Yinshuke, these two were no ordinary figures; their achievements and abilities matched, if not surpassed, those of Wanyan Xieye. Both were among the foremost generals of the Jin dynasty.

Wanyan Loushi, styled Woli Yan, had led troops from the northeastern battlefield all the way to the northwest during the war to conquer Liao and attack Song. He roamed across much of China’s land, undefeated and victorious in countless battles, renowned throughout the world for his great wisdom and courage. He was a founding hero of the Jin dynasty and a legendary general who expanded its territory.

Wanyan Yinshuke was also a founding general of the Jin dynasty. A Jurchen by birth, with the surname Wanyan, he was also known as Yinshuge or Yinshuge. After Wanyan Aguda succeeded to power, Yinshuke was ordered to negotiate with the Liao. Upon his return, he reported to Aguda about the Liao emperor’s neglect of governance and the collapse of their regime, urging an invasion. He distinguished himself in the campaign against Liao, participating in the capture of the Tianzuo Emperor, and later achieved notable merit in the Battle of Taiyuan during the campaign against Song.

While Wanyan Xieye and Wanyan Liang focused on attacking the city gates, Wanyan Loushi and Wanyan Yinshuke led their troops to assault the city walls. These two fronts coordinated with each other but operated independently.

As the successor to Wanyan Aguda, Wanyan Wuqimai was naturally no ordinary man; otherwise, Aguda would not have passed the throne to him instead of to his own sons or brothers.

If Wanyan Aguda led the Jurchens to defeat the Liao and establish the Jin dynasty, then Wanyan Wuqimai brought the Jin to new heights. In his era, Jin armies trampled freely across Song territory.

Such accomplishments proved Wanyan Wuqimai’s military prowess. It was impossible for him to focus solely on the city gates. Gates were narrow, incapable of accommodating large forces simultaneously; concentrating all forces there would only lead to a stalemate, making it difficult to penetrate Yanmen Pass.

Attacking both the walls and gates simultaneously was different. It divided the enemy’s forces and provided more opportunities to breach the pass. Managing two battlefronts at once was a tremendous test of leadership, especially when facing formidable generals like Wanyan Loushi, Wanyan Yinshuke, and Wanyan Xieye.

Indeed, Wanyan Loushi and Wanyan Yinshuke were formidable. Their combined forces forced Meng Tian to respond with all his strength, stretched thin as he was, and he had no choice but to entrust all pressure at the gate to Gao Shun, while he himself struggled to counter the siege armies led by Wanyan Loushi and Wanyan Yinshuke.

While Meng Tian’s situation was so dire, Gao Shun’s position was comparatively easy. Though Wanyan Xieye was powerful, the forces that could be deployed at the gate were limited. In small-scale skirmishes, Gao Shun’s “Trap Formation” troop proved terrifying; under equal numbers, the Xiongnu were utterly powerless against them, slaughtered without resistance.

“Ding! Gao Shun’s Trap Formation skill activated.

Trap Formation is a unique skill of Gao Shun, commander of the Trap Formation troops. Effect one: upon activation, Force +3, Command +5. Command bonus only applies to Trap Formation troops; other units receive no command bonus.

Effect two: if the Trap Formation troop numbers are below 1,000, all soldiers in the unit receive Force +3; if below 3,000, Force +2; no bonus if above 3,000.

Effect three: as long as Gao Shun commands on the battlefield, the Trap Formation’s morale never falls, always remaining at its peak. This is a passive effect activated simply by being present.

Currently, Gao Shun’s Trap Formation has 1,000 soldiers. Force +3 from effect one and two combined. Gao Shun’s base Command is 90; with effect one, it rises to 95. His base Force is 89; with effect one (+3), effect two (+3), combined with his Phoenix Beak Black-Crow Spear (+1) and Black Pearl Warhorse (+1), his overall Force reaches 97.”

Gao Shun’s Trap Formation skill was truly terrifying. Though limited to the Trap Formation troops, the magnitude of its bonus was rare. Effect three’s morale boost guaranteed that no matter how dire the situation, the Trap Formation could always unleash its full power.

This single skill alone ensured the Trap Formation was invincible against equal numbers, earning it the title of the strongest troop of the Three Kingdoms.

Now, despite Wanyan Xieye’s forces outnumbering Gao Shun’s several times over, only a limited number could attack the city gate at once. Against the same number of Trap Formation soldiers, they were naturally defeated, utterly powerless.

Clad in heavy armor and wielding sturdy shields, the Trap Formation soldiers immediately formed tightly knit military formations under Gao Shun’s orders upon entering the battlefield.

The front line soldiers raised their large shields to the front; the second line tightly gripped steel blades, following closely behind; the last line planted long spears, which they thrust through the gaps in the shield wall.

The spearmen struck enemies at a distance, the blade bearers cut down foes nearby, and the shield bearers defended against attacks. The three ranks worked seamlessly in tandem.

After one group of Trap Formation soldiers attacked, the next group surged forward to relieve them, maintaining a continuous assault. This rotation kept their fighting at peak levels, preventing noticeable decline from fatigue.

Though the Xiongnu soldiers suffered heavy losses, they gained no ground and were helpless against the Trap Formation’s defense.

Faced with this, even though Wanyan Xieye had prepared upon seeing the Trap Formation, knowing the battle would be fierce, he still roared in frustration and cursed loudly, powerless to break their defense.

Wanyan Xieye knew that if the Trap Formation remained blocking the gate, he would fail to breach it. Yet he still ordered his soldiers to continue their assault, albeit with less intensity than before.

Seeing this, Gao Shun was momentarily puzzled but quickly deduced the reason. He had to admit the opposing general was a true master of command. Knowing he could not win, he decisively abandoned the original plan to buy time for others.

Clearly, the enemy feared the Trap Formation’s interference with the Xiongnu’s attack on the walls and was willing to sacrifice some men to stall Gao Shun, preventing his troops from aiding the Han defenders on the walls.

Gao Shun made no response. With General Meng commanding the walls, no further action was needed from him. His mission was to hold the gate and let no Xiongnu through. Since the enemy wished to stall, then let them stall.