CHAPTER VI

The Sleeping Dragon

Déjà vu all over again…well, sort of…Shiro and I fighting side by side, again ya know? But I was right you know. About the war growing and all? Cao Cao and the Sun family have both formed an army, and so must Liu Bei. However, we've recruited a new man, goes by the name of Zhuge Liang. People talk of Zhuge Liang, call him a master-mind, and a devil. Some even called him a god of trickery. Exaggerated nonsense, in my opinion. No man can be so great, no one. They used to call me something like that, you know. But that does not make it true, does it?

We are going to battle with Cao Cao soon, I know it. As of now, we are sharing the Jing Province with Liu Bei's family around Xian Ye, building our army…

"Zhuge Liang? He is nothing!" said Xiahou Dun.

"That is not true! Zhuge Liang is not one to mess with. He is a devious man!" replied Xu Chu.

"Lord, we must form an all-out attack and destroy Liu Bei before he becomes a threat. He cannot hold us forever!"

Xu Chu was a very powerful warrior, with very impressive physical strength. He carried a longsword, and was renowned throughout Huai, Ru, Chen and Liang.

"Liu Bei's army is growing, and he must be destroyed before he becomes a threat to us!" said Xiahou Dun.

Cao Cao comtemplated very hard.

"We will take refuge inside the castle, with the supplies. Dun, you, Han Hao, and Yu Jin will attack outside the castle, then we will send reinforcements and overwhelm Liu Bei."

"You really expect this guy to win a battle for us?!" said Zhang Fei. "Look at him! He's puny!"

Zhuge Liang was not a powerful man in strength, but in mind. He wore a tall white hat, and wore white robes. He had a black mustache leading to a rather long beard. He also had long black hair.

"I agree with Zhang Fei. This man cannot stand up to the likes of Cao Cao. Brother, I forbid this!" said Guan Yu.

Blue Fox was simply leaning on a wall. He was quiet to the extent of near invisibility, had it not been day. He simply watched the argument.

"We have no choice. Would you rather fail and be slave to Cao Cao?" asked Liu Bei.

Guan Yu sighed.

"Very well. However if it does not work, I will take the matters into my own hands" he said.

Zhang Fei and Guan Yu left the room. Zhuge Liang looked at Liu Bei.

"I fear in battle, your brothers will not listen." Begun Zhuge Liang. "However, if I am to direct your army, I will need the authority."

Liu Bei handed him a sword and seal, giving him lead of the campaign. Zhuge Liang called an assembly.

In the assembly Zhuge Liang spoke, saying, "On the left of Bowang are Yushan Hills. On the right is Anlin Forest. There we will prepare an ambush. Guan Yu will go to Yushan Hills with one thousand soldiers. He is to remain there quiescent till the enemy has passed; but when he sees a flame in the south, that will be the signal to attack. Shiro Inazuma, you will create the diversion, lead the enemy to Guan Yu's location, however assure the enemy does not detect Guan Yu. Guan Yu, you will first burn their baggage train. Zhang Fei will go to a valley behind Anlin Forest. When he sees the signal, he is to go to the old stores depot at Bowang and burn that. Liu Feng and Guan Ping will take five hundred soldiers each to the south, prepare combustibles and be ready with them beyond Bowang Slope. Aoi Kitsune, you will create another diversion, bring him to Liu Feng. Liu Feng will attack head-on, and Guan Ping from behind. The enemy will arrive about dusk, and then the two generals can start the blare. Zhao Zilong, now recalled from Fancheng, is to lead the attack, but he is to lose and not win. And our lord is to command the reserve. See that each one obeys these orders and let there be no mistakes."

"Interesting, however what will you be doing?" asked Guan Yu.

"I will guard the city, along with Mi Zhu and Mi Fang." Replied Zhuge Liang.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Fei exploded with laughter.

"So we fight a battle while you sit comfortably at home?!" said Zhang Fei. "How absurd!"

Zhuge Liang narrowed his eyes, he slammed his seal onto the table.

"This is my authority , should you disobey my command, you will be executed. There cannot be any mistakes!"

"Zhang Fei! Do not disobey Lord Zhuge Liang! His plans ensure success! Do not disobey the command!" said Liu Bei.

Zhang Fei narrowed his eyes, but nodded.

"You are all dismissed." Said Zhuge Liang.

The soldiers left with confusion, however they would obey orders.

"Zhuge Liang…he better know what he's doing." Said Blue Fox.

"I think the plan is good." Said White Lightning.

"We'll see…" said Blue Fox.

The battle was starting, Liu Bei's forces were all in position. The cool breeze of the eve's brisk wind blew across the forest trees. Cao Cao's men were in the castle, aside from the ones ordered outside. Xiahou Dun smirked seeing what seemed to be a thousand or two troops, againts Cao Cao's hundred thousand. Xiahou Dun laughed and Han Hao and Yu Jin in position. They asked why he was laughing

"This is pathetic." Said Xiahou Dun. " Xu Chu praised Zhuge Liang so much, and I had bragged about capturing Zhuge Liang and making him my prisoner. But seeing this…I think I will make good of my boast."

Blue Fox road out to Xiahou Dun.

"Ah, my first victim! You may have escaped me before, but it all ends now!"

Blue Fox smirked at this, and retreated into the woods, with Xiahou Dun behind him.

"Running away?! COWARD!" said Xiahou Dun.

Soldiers followed Xiahou Dun as Dun tailed Blue Fox, who smirked as he closed into the ambush point. He stopped and smirked at Xiahou Dun.

Arrows fell from the sky and shot down half of Xiahou Dun's men. Liu Feng's and Guan Ping's forces surrounded the remaining soldiers.

"Damn! We've been tricked!" said Xiahou Dun. "No matter! You will all perish!"

Xiahou Dun slaughtered soldier after soldier. Blue Fox stepped in and managed to get a small hit on Dun's hip. Xiahou Dun quickly spun around and slashed at Blue Fox's head. Blue Fox ducked and tried to stab his stomache, but he dodged and kicked Blue Fox over.

Blue Fox rolled over to dodge an attack, and managed to get himself back up on his feet. A barrage of clashes went off.

The road was too narrow, Xiahou Dun's soldiers were slowly dying, and it wouldn't be long until he died. He had to escape, but it was so difficult.

"I WILL NOT BE DEFEATED!" roared Xiahou Dun.

Guan Ping and Liu Feng were taking Xiahou Dun's men down, he had to escape. He was also injured, he had to retreat. He remounted his horse and trampled the soldiers in front of him, Blue Fox was going to pursue. Liu Feng ran to him.

"Lord Zhuge Liang says not to pursue!" said Liu Feng.

"But I can kill him!" replied Blue Fox.

"Orders are orders!"

It was White Lightning's turn to strike. He struck down some of Han Hao's men.

"You! You will not escape!" said Han Hao.

Shiro retreated, and Yu Jin caught up to Han Hao. "It's too dangerous! There could be another ambush!"

"I'm not afraid of Zhuge Liang! Nor am I of any man!" said Han Hao, and he dashed off.

He chased Shiro down to another narrow path, and stopped.

"This road…retreat!" he ordered, but it was too late, Guan Yu appeared and easily took Han Hao down.

Yu Jin suspected a fire attack on the baggage train, and raced to stop the train. But Guan Yu beat him to the train, and set fire to it, while Zhang Fei appeared and set fire to the supply depot. He then met up with Guan Yu. Yu Jin retreated, and Liu Bei called an all-out attack.

"I admit…Zhuge Liang is a talented strategist." Said Zhang Fei.

"I agree." Replied Guan Yu.

"Damn! We've failed!" said Cao Cao.

"I believe it is apparent that Zhuge Liang is a dangerous man to deal with." Said Xu Chu.

It wasn't long before Liu Bei's forces took the Wei forces down. Cao Cao ordered a retreat, but he would return soon enough…