CHAPTER VII
Unparalleled Genious
Zhuge Liang…perhaps…perhaps he is a mastermind. His plan worked out perfectly without flaw. I didn't think it possible, but perhaps this man is as they say. However, this is not the end of Cao Cao…he will strike back. Cao Cao is not one to falter so easily as losing one battle. His ambition for his own kingdom, to rule China…I doubt he'll stop his barrage of attacks until Liu Bei is dead…
Liu Bei's marched toward the Jing Province, home of the ruling Liu family. He and Zhuge Liang were on horseback, and Liu Bei was reluctant to take over the Jing province, however. Recently, he had fought off Cao Cao's forces, which had formed the Wei kingdom, along side his family.
"You are certain we must do this?" asked Liu Bei.
"Liu Biao and Liu Zhang will not long this land. We must obtain it before Wu or Wei." Said Zhuge Liang. "From then we can found a new kingdom, and a new era will form."
"But Liu Biao has done us much good, and shown much generousity. I cannot do this to him."
"If you do not, you will forever regret it."
"I would rather expire, than to do such betrayal."
"Listen, Xinye is a small city and unfitted for our lengthy occupation. Liu Biao is ill, he will die soon, so this is the time to take his region as a new base where we may be safe against Cao Cao. If we do not take it now, Cao Cao will keep it."
"Very well, what do we do?"
Zhuge Liang called another assembly, the soldiers payed closer attention due to the immediate victory of Bo Wan Po.
"Guan Yu is to go to the upper of the White River with one thousand troops." Begun Zhuge Liang. "His men are to carry bags to fill with sand and soil to dam the river till the enemy shall be heard, about the third watch next day. The waters are to be unleashed, thus drowning one of the armies. Guan Yu is then to march down river."
"Zhang Fei, you will prepare an ambush of one thousand men at the Boling Ferry. The current is slow there. When Guan Yu unleashes his flood, Cao Cao's men will attempt to get over the ferry, where you will ambush them."
"Zhao Yun, you are to divide three thousand troops into four parties. One will be for the east gate. This party will be led by Aoi Kitsune. The other three will be led by Shiro Inazuma. They will be for the other three gates. The roofs of the houses within the city walls are piled with sulfur, saltpeter, and other combustibles. Shiro Inazuma, Cao Cao's troops will try to retreat into the homes for shelter. There will be a strong breeze next day in the evening which will fan the flames. When this wind begins to blow, have your archers shoot fire arrows into the city from all sides. When the flames are high, there is to be a great shouting outside to add to the general terror. The east gate is to be left free for escape, but the fleeing men are to be smitten after passing the gate."
Blue Fox and White Lightning nodded in recognition.
"Excellent. Now, Mi Fang and Liu Feng are to have two thousand troops. One half will have red flags and one with blue. They are to go to the Magpie Tail Hill, which should be ten miles away from both the city and camp. When they see Cao Cao's army coming, the red flags move left, and blue to the right. This will confuse the enemy so that they will be afraid to advance. An ambush is to be laid to smite the enemy when the fire in Xinye starts, after which Mi fan and Liu Feng will meet us at the river."
"After the battle, everyone go to Fancheng." Finished Zhuge Liang.
Xu Chu, with three thousand troops, led Cao Ren and Cao Hong, who had one hundred-thousand troops, marched to Xinye. At noon they reached Magpie Tail Hill, and saw a large army with many blue and red flags. Xu Chu still advanced, but as he neared the flags moved from side to side and made him think.
"It could be an ambush…All forces retreat!" said Xu Chu. He rode back to Cao Ren.
"Idiot! It's a trick! They want you to think its an ambush! Troops, advance!" said Cao Ren.
Xu Chu nodded and again advanced. But when he returned to the wood where he saw the flags, there was no one there. Then, it was late in the afternoon and he still moved on. But he heard musical instruments from the hills. He wondered what it was and looking up, there were two umbrellas surrounded by many banners, where on the hill top Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang were quietly drinking.
"Fools! You dare mock us?!" said Xu Chu, getting annoyed by their coolness. Xu Chu sought for a way up, but logs of wood and great stones were thrown down, so he pulled back. Cao Ren and Cao Hong arrived and ordered an attack on Xinye that he might have a place to rest in. They marched to the walls and found the gates wide open. They entered and found a deserted city. No one was visible.
"An abandoned city?" wondered Cao Hong. "Hah! Cowards must have run off. We can rest here!" All of the soldiers were of great fatigue and hunger. They entered the city and ran into the homes, wasting no time as they made food from the deserted kitchens."
Blue Fox's soldiers covered the east gate as a strong wind begun blowing. He shot a fire arrow into the air, as a flare. Shiro saw the flare.
"NOW! FIRE!" shouted Shiro. Just then, two hundred archers shot fire arrows into the city, showing a fire far more deadly than the one expierienced at Xiahou Dun.
"This is not done by natural cause…it's a trap! All forces evacuate the city!" said Cao Ren. But as the soldiers retreated, they found themselves being taken down by White Lightning and Zhao Yun.
"The east gate is empty! Escape through there!" said Cao Hong.
The soldiers raced down to the east gate, only to be ambushed by Blue Fox and his men.
"Scatter the enemy! Slaughter every one of them!" shotued Blue Fox. He used his blade to slash down soldier after soldier, allowing as little escape as possible. They did not even try to defend themselves, but fleed for their lives. Liu Feng and Mi Fang appeared and helped take down more survivors.
"Head towards the White River! We can escape there!" said Cao Ren. His army, or what was left of it, followed. They made it to the river, and took drinks.
Guan Yu, who was far upstream, had dammed the river with the sandbags, just as planned. That evening, he saw the red glare of the burning city of Xianye. During fourth watch, he looked downstream and saw soldiers and horses resting upon the river.
"It is time!" said Guan Yu. "Unleash the water!"
Down by the river, a soldier heard some sort of wssssh noise, and looked upstream.
"Hey, what's that?" said the soldier.
Everyone looked, and the water rushed down in a torrent, overwhelming the men in the bed of the river. Many were swept away and drowned. Those who escaped made their way to where the stream ran gently and got away.
Cao Ren and his troops reached the Boling Ferry. Where they expected safety, they saw disaster. The road was barred off from escape.
Zhang Fei appeared, and shouted, "SEND CAO CAO MY REGUARDS!"
All of Zhang Fei's men charged and ambushed the Cao Ren and his men, but Xu Chu appeared and took on Zhang Fei.
"This isn't my kind of fight!" said Xu Chu. "Retreat!" Zhang Fei pursued Xu Chu, but he met up with Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang.
"Follow me." Said Zhuge Liang. They rode upstream, and found boats Liu Feng and Mi Fang. They rode the boats to Fancheng. When they arrived, he had the boats and rafts burned.
Cao Ren escaped and camped at Xinye, and Cao Hong told Cao Cao of their horrible defeat.
"WHAT?! How dare that Zhuge Liang!" said Cao Cao.
"That is it! We will destroy them immediately!"
Cao Cao sent a very large army to camp near Fancheng and gave orders for enourmous work on the city, such as leveling hills and turning rivers. They would then attack from all sides.
"This will be the end of Zhuge Liang!" said Cao Cao.
Liu Ye ran to Cao Cao, and said, "Lord, you are new to this land. It is best you win the people's hearts over, as Liu Bei did. He easily moved everyone from Xianye to Fancheng, and if you win their hearts, you can prevent another disaster, we can take Fancheng without fighting!"
Cao Cao agreed, and asked who to send. Liu Ye suggested Xu Shu, a close friend of Liu Bei.
"What if he doesn't come back?" asked Cao Cao.
"Then he will be the laughingstock of China, I assure you he will return." Replied Liu Ye.
Xu Shu was sent for, and Cao Cao said, "My first intention was to level Fancheng with the ground. But out of pity for its people, you may carry an offer to Liu Bei that if he will surrender, he will not only not be punished but he shall be given rank. But if he holds on his present misguided course, the whole of his followers shall be destroyed. Now you are an honest man and so I confide this mission to you, and I trust you will not disappoint me."
Xu Shu agreed and left to the city. He had an enjoyable conversation with Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang, talking about old times and such.
"Lord Cao Cao has sent me to ask you to surrender, thereby making a bid for popularity." Said Xu Shu. "But you should also to know that he plans to attack the city from all sides, and he is damming up the White River's waters to be sent against you, and I fear you will not be able to hold the city. You ought to prepare."
"Xu Shu, why not join us?" asked Liu Bei.
"Liu Bei, I am sorry, but it is impossible. All the world would ridicule me if I stayed. Though my body is with Cao Cao, I swear not to form any plans for him. You have the Sleeping Dragon with you, you do not need me. I'm sorry, but I must go."
Xu Shu returned to Cao Cao, and reported Liu Bei would not yield to the likes of him. This angered Cao Cao.
"Very well, Liu Bei." Said Cao Cao. "I will send you an early grave. All units, begin the siege!"
Cao Cao's men advanced towards Fancheng.
Liu Bei anxiously asked Zhuge Liang what they would do.
"Simple, we will abandon Fancheng and obtain Xiangyang." Replied Zhuge Liang.
"But what of the people who followed us? What is their fate? We cannot abandon them for Cao Cao's slaughter!" said Liu Bei.
"Have them do as they will, they can pursue or remain here." Said Zhuge Liang. "Guan Yu, prepare boats. Sun Qian, tell the people Cao Cao is coming, and we cannot fend him off. Those who wish to follow may cross the river with the army."
The people cried, "We will follow Liu Bei till the day we die!"
After everyone was off the boats, eventually they sighted Xiangyang. They saw many flags flying on the walls the moat was protected by barbed barriers. Liu Bei checked his horse, Hex Mark, and called out, "Liu Zong, my good nephew! Please, I beg of you, open the gates! I wish only to save these innocent people, and nothing more!"
Liu Zong, however, did not appear due to fear. Cai Mao and Zhang Yun appeared at a fighting tower and ordered soldiers to fire arrows down on Liu Bei and the men with him. The people gazed at the towers and wept aloud. Then a general appeared, with a man, who cried out "Cai Mao and Zhang Yun are the traitors! The prince Liu Bei is a most upright man and has come here to protect his people! Why do turn him away?"
All the people looked at the man, who was about eight-span of height, with a dark brown face. He was from Yiyang, his name was Wei Yan. At that moment he looked very terrible, whirling around his sword as if about to kill the gate guards, and they lost no time in opening the gates.
"Lord Liu Bei! Please come in!" shouted Wei Yan.
As Liu Bei entered, he saw a general approach.
"Wei Yan! You stupid bastard! How dare you create such trouble! Do you not know of me? General Wen Ping?!"
Wei Yan turned angrily, set his spear, and galloped forward to attack the general. The soldiers joined in the fray and the noise of battle rose to the skies.
"I do not wish to enter your city, if it means harming these people." Said Liu Bei.
"Jiangling is an important point. We will first take that as a place to dwell in," said Zhuge Liang.
Liu Bei nodded in recognition. Wei Yan continued fighting Wen Ping for four or five watches, through the middle of the day, and nearly all the combatants fell. Then Wei Yan got away. As he could not find Liu Bei, he rode off to Changsha and sought an asylum with Governor Han Xuan.
Liu Bei left Xiangyang, and headed towards Jiangling. As he passed Liu Biao's tomb, he turned sideways to bow.
He mourned, saying, "Shameful is thy brother, lacking both in virtue and in talents. I refused to bear the burden you wished to lay upon me, wherein I was wrong. But the people committed no sin. I pray your glorious spirit descend and rescue these people."
He left the grave, and continued onward. Soon there was a report that Cao Cao had occupied Fancheng, and was readying the rafts to cross the river.
Generals approached Liu Bei and told him, "Jiangling is a defensible shelter, but with this crowd we can only advance very slowly, and when can we reach the city? If Cao Cao pursues, we shall be in a terrible state. Our counsel is to leave the people to their fate for a time and press on to Jiangling."
"And how can I abandon these people who have sacrificed so much to join me?" asked Liu Bei. The progress of the train of people was very slow.
Zhuge Liang rode to Liu Bei, and said, "The pursuers will be upon us quickly, we will send Guan Yu to Jiangxia for help. Liu Qi should be told to bring soldiers and prepare boats for us at Jiangling."
Liu Bei agreed to this and wrote a letter which he sent by the hands of Guan Yu and Sun Qian and five hundred troops. Zhang Fei was put in command of the rear guard. Zhao Yun was told to guard Liu Bei's family, while the others ordered the march of the people.
Blue Fox and White Lightning rode next to eachother on horseback.
"There is much trouble ahead…I can feel it." Said Blue Fox.
"As do I, Aoi. But Zhuge Liang has not failed us yet."
"But we do not know how long he can keep this up. Perhaps we are putting too much pressure on him, he is only human, afterall."
"Nonsense, he's doing fine, I know it."
Just then, someone rode quickly on horseback up to them. Blue Fox saw the figure coming in, he could not believe it. His heart stopped at the surprise of his sight. Ice Wind, or Kori Kaze, rode up to them.
"Miss me?" she asked.
"What are you doing here?!" said Blue Fox. "It is not safe to be with us right now, Cao Cao is catching up."
"Relax, I'm fine, you're way overprotective of me. I am perfectly capable of handling myself, okay?" she then looked at Shiro. "Shiro! I haven't seen you in years! So you two aren't enemies anymore?"
"Just like old times Kori…" said Shiro. "Just like old times…"