Chapter VIII
Ambition
Kori is right…I am too protective…I just don't take loss easily, and I don't see her as the fighting type…not that she can't fight, she's excellent with a sword…but…what if she died? What if she confronted someone like Lu Bu¸ or Xiahou Dun?
The people, they think I'm fearless…but are any of us without fear? I would think even Lu Bu would have this fear of loss…but what if I died? Would Shiro or Kori feel as disheart as I?
"Lord Liu Bei," said Zhuge Liang. "Cao Cao will not be distant for long."
Liu Bei, agreeing to this, wrote a letter and gave it to Guan Yu and Sun Qian. Zhang Fei and White Lightning were then put in command of the rear, while Zhao Yun and Blue Fox were told to guard Liu Bei's family. The others were put in command of the marching peasants. Blue Fox had Ice Wind put in the front where there would be protection.
The train moves for three or four miles a day, with frequent halts. Meanwhile, Cao Cao was at Fancheng sending troops towards Xiangyang.
Cao Cao was a great swordsman, and wore blue and gold robes. He had black hair, and a black mustache, connecting to a small beard.
Cao Cao summoned Liu Zong, who was too afraid to answer. Nobody could persaude him to go to Cao Cao.
"Lord Liu Zong, if you are wise you can overcome Cao Cao right now." Said a man named Wang Wei. "You've announced surrender and Liu Bei is gone! Cao Cao's caution will disappear, and you can attack him while his guard is down! Send a prepared but unexpected attack force to ambush him in a commanding point, and you have won. If you took Cao Cao prisoner, your fame would infinitely run throughout our empire, and you would dominate the land. You would forever regret not doing this."
However, Liu Zong consulted Cai Mao, who called Wang Wei an evil counseler, and spoke harshly of him.
"You are insane! You know nothing you diluted fool! Do you not understand our destiny?!" said Cai Mao.
"Cai Mao is the betrayer of the country! I wish him dead! Eaten alive!" retorted the angry Wang Wei.
The fight continued, and Cai Mao wanted to slaughter Wang Wei, but eventually peace was restored by Kuai Yue. Cai Mao and Zhang Yun left for Fancheng, to see Cao Cao.
Cai Mao was instinctivly misleading and flattering, and when Cao Cao asked him about the recourses of Jingzhou, he replied, "There are fifty thousand of horse, one hundred fifty thousand of foot, and eighty thousand of marines. Most of the money and grain are at Jianglang, the rest is stored in various places. There are sufficient supplies for a year!"
"How many war vessels are there, and who is commanding them?" asked Cao Cao.
"The ships, of all sizes, number seven thousand, and we two are commanding."
Cao Cao was very pleased with this, and Cai Mao was then named Lord of the South, and Supreme Admiral of the Naval force, while Zhang Yun was the Vice-Admiral, with the title, Lord of Obedience.
Eventually, Liu Zong gave his province to Cao Cao. He was offered a rank, however he was too frightened to accept.
"Cao Cao, I have no wish to be an official." Said Liu Zong. "I would rather remain with my mother and my father."
In vain Liu Zong declined and left to his home, taking his mother with him. Only Wang Wei accompanied him, and his late officers escorted him to the river, and left them.
"Yu Jin," said Cao Cao. "I want you to kill Liu Zong and his mother. Then our worries will be vanquished."
Yu Jin nodded and rode to Liu Zong's small group.
"Under orders of Cao Cao, you and your mother must be executed. I suggest submitting quietly and ending this quickly."
Wang Wei attempted to save them, but was taken down quickly, as were Liu Zong and his mother. Yu Jin returned and was richly rewarded.
Cao Cao attempted to do the same to Zhuge Liang's family, but they were hidden away.
Spies reported in to Cao Cao.
"My lord," begun a spy. "Liu Bei's forces are slowed by his followers. He can only travel a mere three to four miles a day!"
"Excellent." Said Cao Cao, with a narrow grin. "Send five thousand horsement after Liu Bei. Have them, travel a night and day, and our main force shall follow!"
"There is still no news from Jiangxia, I ponder on what is stalling Guan Yu." Said Zhuge Liang.
"You should have gone yourself, Liu Qi would remember your kindness." Said Liu Bei.
"Very well, I will take Liu Feng and an escort of five hundred." Said Zhuge Liang, and he did so.
The Tragedy of Chang Ban
After a few days, Liu Bei, while marching with Jian Yong, Mi Zhu, and Mi Fang, saw a whirlwind ascend, and a rather large column of dust shot into the air and hid the sun.
"Whats going on?!" asked Shiro.
"Must be a storm!" said Blue Fox.
"This is a sign, lord." Jian Yong begun. "We must abandon the people!"
"I cannot do such a thing." Said Liu Bei.
"If you allow this pity to cloud your judgement, there will be great misfortune."
Blue Fox rode to Liu Bei.
"Theres a province near us, Dangyang. Close to it is a mountain, we can stay there!" said Blue Fox. Liu Bei nodded and headed towards the Prospect Mountain.
It was almost winter, and the frozen wind shot through the very torso of the peasents. The sun had fallen, and groans of the people came from every side of hearing. Two hours after midnight, a strong rumbling could be heard. Liu Bei rode to the head of his guard of two thousand, ready to meet whatever stood in his way.
He saw a fierce amount of Cao Cao's men, and defense would be impossible. Blue Fox and Shiro rode up along with Zhang Fei, and rescued Liu Bei from a close attack.
"We must charge down the Chang Jiang River!" said Blue Fox.
"Aoi, have you lost your mind? We'll never make it!"
Mi Fang rode to Liu Bei and said, "My lord, Zhao Yun has defected to Cao Cao!"
Liu Bei narrowed his eyes at Mi Fang, and said "Zhao Yun is one of my oldest of friends, he would never do such a thing!"
"But perhaps he has, maybe he sees the loss in us, and the riches in Cao Cao." Said Zhang Fei.
"Zhao Yun followed me faithfully through all misfortune, and no riches, nor honors, would move him to Cao Cao."
"I saw him move northwest, my lord." Said Mi Fang.
"But if I see him, I'll kill him!" said Zhang Fei.
"If Zhao Yun is absent, it is with good reason." Said Liu Bei. A mounted soldier then rode to Liu Bei.
"Sir, Liu Shan is back in the northwest castle!" said the soldier. Liu Shan was the infant son of Liu Bei.
"I will find him, Lord Liu Bei." Said Blue Fox. He turned Shadow around and rode back to Shiro. "Shiro, please…take care of Kori…"
"What are you talking about?" said Shiro.
Blue Fox replied with a serious face expression, and rode off.
"I still won't believe Zhao Yun is with us." Said Zhang Fei. And he also rode back. He brought a small platoon and rode to Long Slope Bridge. He saw wood near the bridge, and formulated an idea. He had his men cut branches from the trees and tied them to the tails of the horses. He had them ride to and fro and had them make a lot of dust, as though soldiers were hiding in the wood. He took up his station on the bridge, and got in a battle position, facing west. Then kept watch.
Zhao Yun had fought till daylight, but he had no sight of his lord, and worse, lost his lords family. He thought bitterly upon himself.
"I have failed, him. How can I ever show my face to Lord Liu Bei?" said Zhao Yun.
Blue Fox saw the pitiful warrior, stopped Shadow next to him, and dismounted.
"Zhao Yun, what are you doing?" said Blue Fox.
"I've lost Liu Shan. I've failed my duty."
"Liu Shan is back in the last castle…it is not too late, we can still rescue him."
Zhao Yun had short black hair, usually covered by a golden helmet. His armor was the color of a beautiful field of grass, and he had a long spear, named Dragon's Blade. He stood up, and looked at Blue Fox.
"Let us proceed, then." Said Zhao Yun. They both mounted their steeds and rode quickly towards the castle, with fourty men. A mounted swordsman attacked Zhao Yun, but was slaughtered by the Dragon's Blade.
This fallen officer was no other than Xiahou En, Cao Cao's sword-bearer. And the sword on Xiahou En's back was his master's. Cao Cao had two swords, one called "Trust of God" and the other "Blue Blade". Trust of God was the weapon Cao Cao usually wore at his side, the other being carried by his sword-bearer. The Blue Blade would cut clean through iron as though it were mud, and no sword had so keen an edge.
Zhao Yun took posession of the Blue Blade, and the other blade was given to Blue Fox, which he sheathed next to The Reaper.
Blue Fox took a look behind them, and nobody was left.
"Zhao Yun, we should hurry! Our followers have fallen, they'll find us as well!" said Blue Fox, and Zhao Yun nodded in recognition.
Zhao Yun sighted a man who said beyond the corner, there was a dying young woman, who had managed to protect Liu Shan. They rode to the woman to gave a weak smile to Zhao Yun.
"Please…deliver…him to…Liu Bei…" she said, as her last words. Zhao Yun lifted the child into his arms, and remounted his horse. They looked in front of them, and a squad of atleast fifty to a hundred had appeared, and ran towards the two warriors.
"Zhao Yun, take Liu Shan to our lord, quickly!" said Blue Fox.
"You won't survive!" said Zhao Yun.
"I know! Now just go!" said Blue Fox hastily.
"It was an honor…" said Zhao Yun, as he rode away.
Blue Fox, still mounted on his horse, kept backing Shadow, and repeatedly shot down soldier after soldier. He took five more arrows, with dark auras, and shot down five men. A swordsman managed to get close to him, so he purposely fell off Shadow to dodge the attack. He unsheathed The Reaper with his right hand, and with his left he unsheathed his new blade, Trust in Heaven. Two swordsman attacked from both sides. Both of his swords had grown a dark aura. Blue Fox hit the right swordsman's attack away, and stepped forward, spinning around and severed the head of the other attacker. The right swordsman attacked again, and using Trust in Heaven, was able to break the enemy's sword. He used The Reaper to make the killing blow. But his defenses could not last forever, he would be taken down soon enough.
Zhao Yun rode away However, Cao Cao's men caught up to Zhao Yun. Zhao Yun grabbed two spears, and fought off several of the men. However he was soon wasted no time retreating in his blood-soaked battle clothing.
Soon on his way, he met another two bodies of troops, the brothers Zhong Jin and Zhong Shen. Jin wieled a large axe, while Shen a halberd.
Zhao Yun rode quickly to the Long Slope Bridge.
"Zhang Fei, help me!" said Zhao Yun, as he passed the bridge.
Zhang Fei nodded, and shouted at the pursuers, "Come if you dare!" said Zhang Fei, readying his spear, the Viper Blade. "Come on! I dare you!"
The Wei pursuers suspected it to be a trap, and retreated. Zhao Yun made it to Liu Bei, and handed him the child.
"Zhao Yun…" said Liu Bei, strucken with surprise and joy. "I cannot believe you went to such lengths to save my son."
"Lord Aoi Kitsune did not make it, however…had it not been for him, I would have surely failed you."
Liu Bei nodded in sorrow. A soldier then raced to Liu Bei.
"Sir, Guan Yu and Zhuge Liang have appeared at the end of the Chang Jiang River! They have brought us ships to escape on!"
"Very well, all forces, charge!" said Liu Bei.
Several generals, such as Cao Ren, Xiahou Dun, Yu Jin, Li Dian, Yue Jing, Zhang Liao, Xu Chu, and Zhang He, had appeared, but none would dare pass Zhang Fei, who had a fierce, confident look upon him. They feared another ruse of Zhuge Liang.
"I AM ZHANG FEI, OF YAN! WHO DARES FACE ME?" roared Zhang Fei, which struck fear into the enemy. "Come! You do not fight, nor do you retreat? Cowards!"
Cao Cao was panick-stricken, beyond self control.
"Do not back down!" said Zhang Liao. "Zhang Fei is not one to fear! If you will only return and attack, you will capture your enemy."
The enemy fled, but Zhang Fei would not pursue. Instead, he destroyed the bridge, rejoined Liu Bei.
"Brave as you are brother," said Liu Bei. "You are no strategist."
"What do you mean, brother?" questioned Zhang Fei.
"Destroying the bridge has shown there was no ambush, and Cao Cao will surely pursue."
And so Cao Cao did realize this, and ordered his men to hasten and eliminate Liu Bei.
They soon met up with Guan Yu. His long beard shining, along with his pike, the Green-Dragon saber. He wore green robing, a dragonic helmet, that showed his black hair on his head. He was mounted upon the mighty Red Hare, once in posession of Lu Bu, but taken by Guan Yu at Xia Pi. Guan Yu and Zhao Yun intercepted the pursuit with fierce power.
Cao Cao stopped, along with his officers, and said, "Another trick of that damned Zhuge Liang!" With this, they retreated. Guan Yu and Zhao Yun and their men pursued for three miles, and turned back. They all boarded Liu Qi's ships.
"Are you alright, Liu Bei?" said Liu Qi.
"Yes, thankyou."
Zhuge Liang approached Liu Bei, to report what he had done, saying, "When I reached Jiangxia, I sent Guan Yu to Hanjin with reinforcements. I feared Cao Cao's pursuit from Cao Cao, and that road you would take instead of Jiangling. I prayed your nephew to meet you, while I went to Xiakou to bring as many soldiers as possible. Xiakou would be a very good main camp. My lord, I would ask you to make it one. Your nephew can go to Jiangxia to get the fleet in order and prepare our weapons. We can create a two-pronged attack. If we all return to Jiangxia, the position will be weakened."
"Very well, however let us rest for a while." Said Liu Bei.
Zhao Yun walked into the feasting hall, where Kori and Shiro, who had heard the news of Zhao Yun and Blue Fox saving Liu Shan by themselves, had presently been. The two ran to Zhao Yun.
"Lord Zhao Yun," said Ice Wind. "Where is Aoi?"
Zhao Yun lowered his head slowly, and replied, "I'm sorry…he didn't make it…he held off and forced me to save the child…"
Ice Wind froze, her eyes wide as tears dropped to the floor. She turned and hid her face into Shiro's chest, hugging him in sorrow. Shiro hugged back slowly, staring at the ground.
"I'll take care of you…I gave him my word…"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thus ends Season 1, and Chapter 8.
Please leave comments in the review section
If you are reading this from fanfiction.net please submit your reviews.
Want to see season 2? It'll prolly come in a week or two. I might take a break, but I'm going to kick season two off with 3 or 4 chapters. I hope you've enjoyed season 1 of The Lost Chronicles!
Got comments? Got AIM? You can msg me at BlueFoxXT. Thanks again!