Disclaimer: I don't own Dynasy Warriors. Koei doesn't own the history of Three Kingdoms either but their games.
A/N: If anyone interest in one of my created scenarios for DW 8 Empires, please check them out whenever I upload one of them. It sucks that I can only upload one at a time.
Zhao Yun/Lu Bu AD 197
Battle of Chang Shan Part 1
Chang Shan at night…
In the year 193 AD, the aftermath of Jie Qiao singled the beginning of the troubled times after Dong Zhuo's demise at the hands of Wang Yun and Lu Bu. Region lords are now willing to take complete authority over the people with little to no respect for the Emperor's plight. Li Jue and Guo Si's goons run the ruined central government, but the real government lies within these region lords. One such lord, Yuan Shao, the Governor of Nan Pi took Ji Zhou from Han Fu in a scandalous plot and cause discontent between Gongsun Zan and Liu Yu.
"Damn it, Yuan Shao! I thought I did what the Emperor wanted, to remove Liu Yu from threaten to replace him and now the people turn against me along with the lords of You Province," Gongsun Zan anger terrified his son and his officers in the encampment at Mountain Shan.
"Father, control yourself please…we knew tricked you into doing it and you're ranting about it over and over. We get it and now we have an opportunity to rid Yuan Shao from all these bad rumors plaguing us," Gongsun Xu said with a worried look.
His father gave him a threaten look that's so menacing, Zhao Yun appears unannounced and the soldiers turn to see their only most talented officer among the White Riders.
"My lord, I come with the grave news. Lu Bu has joined Yuan Shao's forces," Zhao Yun informed.
The whole camp turned into a ghostly aura. Their forces are decimating due to the bad rumors, Yan Rou and the Wuwan raiders turn against them, and now Zhang Yan is bailing them out into his mess. They can't handle the coming of the strongest warrior under Heaven, Lu Bu.
"Lu Bu, heaven help us…." Guan Jing shook his head.
"I'm willing to repay the debt you own me at Jie Qiao, my lord. Please let me lead your forces…" Zhao Yun pledged.
Gongsun Zan anguish behavior changes after Zhao Yun's request. This boy who aids him 2 years ago and told him what happened to Yue has not left him since that time. Why is he still serving him when he got nothing to give back in return? Everything a mess, Gongsun Zan loss the people's faith, his obsession with revenge spoiled it and the execution of Liu Yu only made the situation worse. An alliance with Zhang Yan of the Black Mountain Bandits could have disappointed in this boy as Zilong and Zhang Yan are not in good terms with each other.
"Zhao Yun why are you still here? You should abandon me like the people did…" Gongsun Zan sighed.
"The people didn't know about the envoy being intercepted. I'm not that ignorant to such deceptions Yuan Shao wields," Zhao Yun said.
"It's my fault for undermining him at Jie Qiao…" Tian Kai sadly thought.
"Zhao Yun, we don't have the man power to stop Lu Bu. This may be our final battle. No one willing to support us on the fight against Yuan Shao," Guan Jing warned Zhao Yun into draggin himself in certain doom.
To the majority of Gongsun Zan's forces, it has nothing to do with Zhao Yun. To Zhao Yun, it has a lot to do with him and the people of his hometown still on his side and besides he is the childhood hometown hero.
Zhao Yun shook his head, "I still support this fight and it was my fault for everything that happened after I helped Liu Bei at Xu. You all have my gratitude into allowing me in your services. I will hold Lu Bu's forces while you aide Zhang Yan against Yuan Shao,"
A brief moment of silent consumes the tent. Gongsun Zan thought about everything that happened after the coalition, his enmity with Liu Yu, his distrust in Wang Meng, and his poor fathering with Xu. He had became so petty, he's not worthy of Zhao Yun's talents and yet, he's still here devoted to pay him back after saving him from Wen Chou.
"Very well, you shall lead the forces against Lu Bu. The main army will meet up with Yuan Shao's forces in the front lines. I'm giving you enough control over the entire army as 2nd in command," Gongsun Zan accepted Zhao Yun's request and the remaining officers dare not to protest.
"Thank you, my lord. You will not regret giving me this generous opportunity. I will prove my valor against Lu Bu's might," Zhao Yun said thankfully.
"Many tried at the coalition and failed. Lu Bu is a raging tiger in the battlefield," Guan Jing scoffed.
"But, is he even killable?" Gongsun Fan shot the question that made be a stupid one to the common mind.
"I'm no expertise on stratagems, but to my understanding of the schism between Dong Zhuo and Lu Bu, Lu Bu lacks the loyalty and honor to his superiors. If we're lucky, we can drive a wedge between the two. I don't know if it'll work…" Guan Jing began to think deeper into Lu Bu's weakness. The officers continue to stare at him in desperation. Guan Jing is no Tian Feng.
"I suppose my presence with Lu Bu can be a start," Zhao Yun nodded.
"It's your funeral, boy," Tian Kai shrugged.
"We don't joke in the army, Yun. No one can stop Lu Bu," Tian Yu sighed.
"I'm not stopping him. I'm going to commit my valor to Lu Bu. That will lead to a schism between Feng Xian and Benchu," Zhao Yun gripes his spear tightly and bowed to the officers.
"I'm coming with you," Shan Jing called out.
"Alright, we march to Yuan Shao's army till dawn. White Riders, we won't risk dragging this war into Bei Ping as we already loss our foothold. It's going to take a miracle to turn this war around to our favor. I ask every one of you….die well and never forget our past success as the Bai Ma Cavalry of Hei Bei!" Gongsun Zan shouted.
Gongsun Zan's forces rallied out of the tent and prepare for war. Dawn is coming and the harsh winter draws near. They think about nothing, but their incoming deaths, few hoped to live through the chaos while others stand firm to their loyalty to the White Riders no matter what people think of Gongsun Zan right now. Zhao Yun went to his own unit and for the first time he is in command of the entire army 2nd to Gongsun Zan. It isn't much, but the numbers of his unit is 15000 compare to Gongsun Zan's larger comparison. If only he could get the volunteers from his home again, now that they're on Yuan Shao's side.
"Numbers don't matter. It's Lu Bu we're facing, Zhao Yun," Shan Jing said as he galloped on his white horse while Zhao Yun mount on his with the bow and arrows equipped. His spear is sheath on his back.
"I'm not one to expect too much," Zhao Yun face to his comrade and continued, "Our situation is dire and there's no honor in a coward's victory if we're the ones with a massive army."
"Indeed, this is the type of challenge from the heavens to test our resolve!" Shan Jing nodded gladly.
"You all know I'm against allying with Zhang Yan. But, there's something smug about it and I can't see Zhang Yan remaining to stick to his vow. He'll turn against us with the Black Mountain remnants," Zhao Yun said.
His suspicion is rhetorical. They know the Black Mountain Bandits are the original remnants of the Yellow Turbans and were ridiculed by the nobles and commoners. Zhang Yan joined only because there aren't any personnel that would join Liu Yu's murder and pledge to Yuan Shao the more heroic lord.
"If Zhang Yan betrays us now…" Shan Jing raised his eyebrow.
"….then our army will be completely decimated. He has a large army to give us an edge over Yuan Shao, but I don't trust him. Not after what happened years ago…," Zhao Yun grunted.
He kicked his horse and rode to his unit awaiting his orders. He had longed to command his own army for the glory of the Han. Orders and perimeters had be his job from time to time as the higher ups have not yet fully utilize his true talents. He values patient above rank which is rarity to the military.
His unit is rather looking nervous as the Gongsun Zan army facing their greatest crisis yet. Lu Bu and Yuan Shao teaming up like fire and brimstone. Their talent level sucks and Zilong knows this very well.
"Men, we march to Taihang south of Changshan. We can't allow Yuan Shao to take west Ji from us," Zhao Yun rallied.
"It's Lu Bu… we don't want to put ourselves into Zhang Yan's mess!" a wimpy soldier protested.
"We'll get castrated by that demon from Dong Zhuo!" the other soldier jeered.
Shan Jing became upset with the army's morale. They have to maintain stability within their force besides trying to come up a miracle win.
"I've never seen a bunch of demoralizing imbeciles who sworn to live and die for the White Riders because our enemy has Lu Bu joining the ranks!" said an angered Shan Jing.
But, Zhao Yun held Shan Jing back from scolding the soldiers. They're in a very bad situation right now and it's not about Lu Bu and Yuan Shao.
"It's alright; they've been going through a lot with the peasant riots and the famine within Ji zhou. They don't have any hope left on our side so I'm going to change that," Zhao Yun shook his head.
Before his unit continues to spun disorder among the ranks. He used his bow and shoots at the training dummy on his horse. The soldiers stop agitating and turn their attention to their leader.
"This is my family's inheritance. The horsebow cavalry invented since the State of Zhao was found. Every day, I thought about how my ancestors gone through the troubled times opposing Qin's first emperor and almost wiped out my clan. Tomorrow, I'm willing to lead this cavalry and commit my ancestry against my foes. If you don't believe in me, then you don't believe in my talents. Gongsun Zan has an order and you must obey him to obey my commands. I won't force you all. You can stay here and await Zan's harsh punishment or you can follow me and witness my commitment," Zhao Yun stated.
The soldiers murmur and exchange glances at each other before they return their attention to their unit leader. He gave them a determination look and it's not him pretending to be brave, but oh yes, he is brave, perhaps the bravest of all.
"Will we live through this battle?" a third soldier asked.
"I won't guarantee your survival, but I'll make sure some of you will make it through this crisis alive," Zhao Yun happily replied.
The soldiers agreed to fight and the morale has been replenished. But, deep down, they are astonished of the different between Zhao Yun and Gongsun Zan in the chain of command. Zilong is still willing bring hope into the army while Boqui leash out at them for their cowardice.
"Well said, Zhao Yun," Shan Jing commented.
He nodded and they prepare to march south and meet Lu Bu and Yuan Shao's forces. If they lose, the army is doom to fall and the fortress of Yi Jing is next.
Meanwhile at Yuan Shao's camp south of Changshan..
Tomorrow they await their rival forces arrival to the north. Yuan Shao held a council with his men to decide on Zhang Yan's fate. Tian Feng advise allowing Zhang Yan to surrender to him and give him a rank high rank, since Zhang Yan sought profit for attention. Ju Shou argued that such a lowly criminal don't deserve a higher rank. Feng Ji wanted to agree with Tian Feng, but stick to the neutrality. Guo Tu just stares at them bickering.
Yuan Shao hates this part of his job. Men like Tian Feng give bogus advice and he already dislikes him more and more. All of his strategists are very wise, but neither of them are giving Yuan Shao a consist decision.
Suddenly a scout hurried inside Yuan Shao's tent brings him the shocking news, "Lord Yuan Shao, I bring you the unexpected news."
The men stop their arguing and pay attention to the scout. Tian Feng is most interest in hearing the news.
"Lu Bu and Zhang Yan fought into a stalemate!" the scout informed.
"What?!" Yuan Shao expression became a look of shock.
The advisors chattered among themselves seeing this unexpected outcome. Zhang Yan may indeed be a fierce warrior, but to put Lu Bu in a stalemate is unheard of.
"You should send an envoy to Zhang Yan and wish for him to join our forces and reward him generously," Tian Feng advised.
Yuan Shao slowly felt to his chair displeased with the outcome. What in blaze is Lu Bu doing?! He thought out loud to himself.
"He's just a lowly bandit, how could the mightiest warrior end up in a stalemate with that scoundrel…?" Ju Shou gave a look of disgust.
"It's Lu Bu, he probably not taking any strategy to lead men to ambush Zhang Yan…" Guo Tu scoffed.
Feng Ji snickered. They know Lu Bu is not known for wisdom, but Might. Just mere brute force and they still have the advantage in talent, just not feeling the need to use Lu Bu tactically….
"Lu Bu…heaven made him so strong, but he's not doing what I want…" Yuan Shao sighed.
"Lord Yuan Shao, I believe the best course of action is to reward Zhang Yan and convince him to ally with us," Tian Feng said.
Knowing Tian Feng is getting awfully persistent to his advices; Yuan Shao got up off his chair and walked away. He's escaping this nonsense in his council.
Tomorrow is going to be the big scrimmage against Gongsun Zan, but what is he going to do with Lu Bu now that Lu Bu had a stalemate with Zhang Yan?
At Lu Bu's camp…
"I didn't expect Changshan to have such fighters like Zhang Yan of the Heishan!" Lu Bu said bewilded.
"He's no ordinary bandit. Zhang Jiao seems to have most of his victories with a guy like him on his ranks," Zhang Liao nodded.
"And his two buddies Sui Gu and Bian Xi, they are totally committed to him," Gao Shun added.
Lu Bu spends a couple of months wandering back in Bing Zhou to reunite and apologize to Ding Yuan's former allies for murdering him. He's trying to resolve his own choices and leaving Diao Chan with Wang Yun, he begin to think about Diao Chan and her words before they parted.
"Lu Bu, I will see you again,"
"She's so mysterious every time I saw her…was she just using me back then because of her father or does she truly have feelings for me?" Lu Bu thought.
"Lord Lu Bu, this is none of my business, but you seem very cautious about your family. We don't have a place to operate and shelter your daughter," Zhang Liao's words brought Lu Bu back into reality.
"That's what I'm waiting for. I did my task and Yuan Shao owns me a place to stay and serve him," Lu Bu stopped and turns to his two sworn brothers. Lu Bu doesn't take kindly to broken promises. Yuan Shao should be giving him something worth his time and…money.
"We don't have the funds to pay these guys either," Gao Shun pointed at the troops that followed them.
"Hrmp..!" Lu Bu waved.
Next Chapter: Battle of Chang Shan part 2
NOTES: The war between Gongsun Zan and Yuan Shao is the most confusing out of the battles during the Rival Warlords and most ignored due to the more influential conflicts between Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Yuan Shu, Sun Ce, and Lu Bu. I always wanted to study and figure out more of Zhao Yun's lowest points in his youth… Zhang Yan and Lu Bu fought in a stalemate historically.