he night's still heavy, the crescent moon like a gray blade slicing through the mud-slick path.
Horses splashing through the muck, their whinnies echoing in the valley.
Dong Zhuo's pursuers hang behind like ghosts, every shout of "kill" feeling like it's gonna pierce right through our chests.
Cao Cao rides on, stone-faced, eyes sharp. Chen Gong's got his sword drawn, alert as hell—ready to throw down at any second.
I'm squeezing my fists tight, but secretly relieved I'm not chickening out right now. At least I've got some survival knowledge from the modern world that might come in handy.
We keep going for miles. The valley's narrow, terrain tricky. I speak up: "Lord Cao, maybe we use the terrain to set an ambush—lead the pursuers into a trap."
Cao Cao glances back, sizing me up: "Hit me with your plan."
I squat to check the dirt and trees: "Block the path with branches, hide our troops on both sides. The valley's tight, so they can't spread out. I'll handle the forward scouts—if we can mislead them, they'll walk right into it."
Chen Gong's eyebrows pinch: "You're just some random civilian—you think that'll work?"
I grit my teeth: "If we don't try, they're all gonna die."
Cao Cao goes quiet for a while, then finally dismounts, the thud of his boot loud: "You've got the guts to say it—let's try."
We get moving. Under cover of night, we pile up branches, mud barricades, and even dig some simple traps along the path.
Sure enough, the pursuers walk right into the narrow pass, stuck in the mud and debris, panicking. Cao Cao's troops charge in—swords clashing, enemies scattering.
When it's over, all you hear is horses and heavy breathing. I wipe sweat off my forehead, half-nervous, half-pumped—my strategy just worked in this era.
Cao Cao's on horseback, looking me over. There's a flicker of approval in his eyes: "You've got fire in your eyes… and ideas."
After shaking the pursuers, we enter Chenliu territory. Cao Cao's thinking aloud: "I'm after something big, but I've got no troops. If we can't raise an army, we'll just keep running."
I get this sudden spark: "Lord Cao—how about starting with local volunteers? Recruit commoners, not just the big shots. Pick folks from Chenliu and nearby who're up for it, train them into a solid force. Small wins add up, build from there."
Chen Gong frowns: "Recruiting civilians? You think they're reliable?"
I push back: "Battle isn't just about numbers—it's about morale and unity. If we rally people with a cause, they'll follow. Train them right, and they can handle local strongmen and bandits."
Cao Cao pauses, then nods slightly: "Right—hearts and minds. Misaki, you take charge of the recruitment and training plan."
My heart skips—this is the biggest test of my knowledge from the other side.
In days, we iron out the details with Cao Cao and Chen Gong:
1. Recruitment: Focus on willing volunteers—strong, trustworthy folks.
2. Training: Start with basic sword drills, work up to formations.
3. Messaging: Rally under "Against Dong Zhuo, Protect the People"—spread by word of mouth.
4. Logistics: Cao Cao holds the food and weapons; volunteers train under military discipline.
5. Security: Set up lookouts to guard against Dong Zhuo's stragglers.
Just outside Chenliu, I'm drilling the volunteers for the first time.
Swords glinting in the morning light, the crowd's eyes wary but hopeful. I'm coaching them while thinking:
—If this works, not only do I help Cao Cao, but I secure my place in this chaos.
Cao Cao stands in the middle, surveying the rows of new recruits, a small smile on his face: "Not bad, Misaki—you've got some strategy."
Chen Gong cracks a rare smile: "From now on, Misaki isn't just any random."
Recruitment goes on for weeks—the volunteers grow, training sharpens. Cao Cao pitches the first small raid on nearby Dong Zhuo holdouts.
I handle the battle plan: night attack, terrain, signals. We hit in waves, overwhelming their posts.
It works—they scatter, dozens surrender, the rest run.
Cao Cao grins: "Lin Yao's plan was better than I expected!"
I know it's just the start. Even a small force, used smartly, can grow into something real. When the big fights come—like at Guandu—this could matter.
Late at night, in the tent, firelight glows on Cao Cao's face. He looks almost soft, expectant.
He says: "What we've done today—most people can't. In Chenliu, you stay with me, train the volunteers, build our strebuild our strength. If we win hearts, the whole country's ours."
I meet his gaze—trust and ambition in his eyes. A new sense of purpose hits me.
—From now on, I'm not just a time-traveler. I'm part of Cao Cao's strategy, the guy who helped start the Chenliu uprising.
In this chaos, life's uncertain—but I'm ready to build our own era, side by side.