He charged from the gates, his Phoenix trident pointed towards the battle lines, the wind whipped his loose hair around, the sun reflecting from his pure white armor, his Steed's muscles working underneath him. Lu Zhaon watched as Dian Wei and Ma Chao rode fore from their armies and clashed together, both fighting for supremacy. Dian Wei was armed with a great Axe and Ma Chao wielded a spear superbly. The two warrior's weapons clashed and went for 15 passes, neither one triumphing over the other. The shouts from both camps shook the earth. As his powerful white horse covered the ground towards the two combatants he whispered a silent prayer. Then, he was upon them, galloping passed the battle lines, their attention so riveted upon the two other combatants they didn't even notice his arrival.

He let out a mighty cry of rage as his horse moved between Ma Chao and Dian Wei. His trident flashed in the sun as he blocked each of their thrusts at him. Dian Wei swung a mighty blow towards his leg, which he blocked with the lower end of his trident, while he caught Ma Chaos spear between two of his blades. He exchanged 20 passes with both of them, as he turned in defeat, his trident trailing after him. The two warriors ignored their earlier fight, and chased after this infidel.

Zhang Yan watched as Lord Zhaon expertly parried the strikes from the two great warriors. He had every confidence in his lord. He even allowed himself a smile as he saw his master perform a Trailing swords technique on the two well known warriors, and even laughed when they fell for it and gave chase. He watched as Lou Zhaon grabbed up his bow in his trident hand, and fitted two arrows to it, he then turned around and fired an arrow into each warrior's chest, knocking them to the ground.

"Now we strike! Fight as if you're fighting your way from hell!"

Their entire force charged out from the town in a mounted flood. He spun his spear around with a flourish and charged onto the field of battle.

Pang Tong watched as the flood of cavalry smashed against the armies of both Wei and Shu as a torrent of water strikes sandstone. Lu's force was far smaller then the two armies put together, but they were far better trained then the simple drafted peasants that they had. The peasants showed how well suited for battle they were as they fled as a rabbit flees from a tiger. He turned to Zhao Yun.

"I'm sounding the retreat; I want you to protect the flank."

"But lord strategist, what about Ma Chao? Are we just going to abandon him?"

"Leave him!"

Pang Tong glanced out towards where Ma Chao was attempting to fight his way from the Zhaoyan troops.

"Let's see how well his courage suits him!"

He nodded to a group of men and they sounded the gong of retreat. He turned his horse and rode back to his camp.

Xiahou Dun cut two Zhaoyan troops from their saddles as they rode at him. He turned to a soldier.

"As soon as Xu Huang gets back with Dian Wei sound the retreat! It would be futile to continue this. Besides, Pang Tong might try and strike us from our flank."

"Yes my lord!"

Xu Huang galloped through the mounted troops with Dian Wei behind him. He worked his pole axe as the plowed through a group of Shu troops. The Zhaoyan cavalry rode back and forth as if they were ridding through air.

"These troops are well trained, don't you think Walking Evil?"

"You know I hate that insufferable name, but yes, they are. This is no mere militia."

Xu Huang laughed at the look at Dian Wei's face. He saw a flash of white to the side, and noticed the warrior who had struck out at the beginning, riding back and forth, leaving a path of destruction and blood in his wake. His trident flashed like liquid gold in the bright sun and he had no small talent with his weapon. Xu Huang made a slight adjustment to bring him as far as possible from the amazing warrior.

"Come Xu Huang; let us go back to camp. This rout is as good as over."

Xu Huang nodded and swung his mighty pole ax, knocking away some Zhaoyan troops.

"Worthless carrion out of my way!"

Lu Zhaon stood atop the wall of his city and looked out at the two large groups of camps, the camp fires like fireflies upon the plain. They had lost two hundred men in the fighting. All things considered, that wasn't all that bad. Still, that is two hundred men that he didn't have. Of the cursed River Landers, Ma chaos unit had suffered the most damage; with a total lose of five hundred men. All of the enemy units had lost men, and their moral was low. Of course his spies in the enemy camps talking of his god-like qualities probably didn't help. He smirked to himself as the banner near his head flapped in the wind.

He looked down into the city to see his men feasting and celebrating their victory. This town, which he had renamed Zhao Yan after his father, Lu Zhao, was the only defendable stronghold in the whole province. If these men fell, the province was lost. So, he broke out the meat and the wine and the grain. It would help the moral of his troops, which could very well determine victory for them. Just then, a messenger ran up the stairs leading to him. He bowed in the traditional style, his fist in his hand and on one knee.

"Lord Lu, a report from the scouts!"

"Yes, what is it?"

"Sir, the Wei has reinforcements marching double time to get here! There are approximately 15,000 troops with them!"

"So, they must be done scrapping with Wu at Hei Fei."

He thought for a minute. Then he turned to the scout.

"Go to the Shu encampment, and get captured. Resist for a while, and then tell them what you told me."

"Yes my lord. I do as I am commanded!"

The scout bowed his head and ran off. Lu Zhaon turned back to watch the camps. He knew that Pang Tong would not believe the scout. He would think that it was a trick so that they would attack the Wei camp, and then while that happened, we would attack they're flank, catching them in a pincer movement. Odds are, he would stay camped, and not be prepared for the raid on their camp that was sure to come from Wei. He thought about raiding Wei's camp, but decided against it. Xiahou Dun was no fool. He would probably leave Dian Wei behind to guard his camp, and he was no small force to reckon with. After all they would be expecting a raid with the victory they achieved tonight. While the forces of Wei and Shu clashed, his army would be getting some well needed rest.

Xiahou Dun stood in the Wei command tent, overseeing the preparations for the raid. Now this was upsetting. Cao Cao had sent him over to enforce the province of Zhaoyan from a Shu attack, but it seems that Zhao's insolent whelp was not told about this. As he was pondering this disturbing turn of events, Zhang He entered his tent.

"The reinforcements have arrived! I also have a message from our Lord."

He handed a scroll to Xiahou Dun.

Dun, you are to enoff Lu Zhaon as Protector of Zhao Yan, and allow him to choose a governor to run the province, even amongst his own people, if he so wishes. Also, bestow upon him the title of General who calms the rebels, and give him the command of the 1,500 cavalry that is with General He. As soon as you crush the rebels, bring him to Xu Cheng, where we can make his appointment official.

"Right, General Huang and I will strike at the Shu Encampment. You will appoint a commander to take control of the main part of your force, while you will take the 1,500 horsemen as your guard, and deliver the news to Lu Zhaon. General Wei will stay behind to guard the camp."

He turned to another officer.

"Instruct everyone to wear the color of mourning, and have some soldiers carry banners depicting Lu Zhao's name. Have them bring an ox and a horse to sacrifice at Lu Zhao's alter."

He nodded.

"Everyone, prepare for battle!"

Ma Chao walked out of Pang Tong's tent muttering to himself. He was going to get demoted once they returned to the capitol.

"Damn! I have served Lord Liu loyally and affectively, and now this old fool thinks he can...

Suddenly he heard a commotion from the other side of the camp. He ran over towards it and saw Wei soldiers running into the camp and lighting the tents on fire. The set fire to the grains and attacked the unprepared troops.

"There's a raid! We're under attack! Everyone, to arms! To arms!"

Ma Chao looked up onto a slight hill, and from the light of the flames he saw a figure amongst a strong group of men with a piece of cloth over his left eye. He sat astride a black horse and a banner over his head read "General who quells the south, Xiahou Dun"

"I am Xiahou Dun! Who dares to fight me?"

Lu Zhaon looked out onto the flames coming from the Shu camp and permitted himself a smile. It was so easy to turn these fools on each other. The smile left his face. How could Cao Cao turn on his father like this? They were allies during the Yellow Turban rebellion, and in the fight against the traitor Dong Zhuo. He even sent troops to assist Cao Cao in fighting his Clansmen Lu Bu. But now, even before his father is cold in the ground, He is bickering with Liu Bei over who gets this land. How could he stand this treachery! A shout from below the castle wall broke him from his thoughts."Open up! I have a message from the Prime Minister Cao Cao!"

"Guards! Allow him entrance."

He motioned to his mounted force and they grabbed up their weapons and prepared to charge out in case it was a trap. You can never be too careful. Especially when dealing with these treacherous villains. He walked down the steps to greet the messenger. The man was tall, and compact with long hair in a sort of pony tail that nearly touched the ground. His face was white as snow and his lips like dabs of blood. His features where soft and feminine and he radiated a sort of grace. Yet there was a confidence to him despite his week appearance.

"Surely the message must be important if The Emperor sends one of his head generals to deliver, don't you think, General Zhang?

"Bravo! You've seen through my clever disguise!"

"Clearly."

Zhang He handed the message to Lu Zhaon, and he opened it.

I, the Emperor Cao Cao, to reinstate the province of Lu Zhaoyan into the Wei Emperor, and give the Mighty General Lu Zhaon command of the new light cavalry division, and allow him to choose who governs this new province. His first order of business is to crush the rebels from Shu, and to assist in driving them back to whence they came.

He read over the decree and smiled. So Cao Cao hadn't forsaken his father. It was fortunate that he had held back from raiding the Wei camp.

"Zhang Yan, you are now the Imperial Governor of Lu Zhaoyan. Men, mount up! We have work to do!

He rode with Zhang He to towards the camp, and looked on as 1,500 men joined his group, rounding off at 3,300. Zhang He attached his claws to his arms and gestured towards the flames in the camp. He smiled and flung his hair back

"Come, we have work to do!"

"Yes, and let us do it well!"

Lu Zhaon swung his spear around with a flourish, allowing it to trail behind him as they charged toward the Shu camp, the night hair whipping his hair around.