Chapter 5: Uniting for the Han
Xu Huang was inside the hut Zhao Yun was staying. They were drinking tea as they were talking about small things, like how they became how they were, family, and the weather as well.
After Zhao Yun explained his story from Chang-san to his fight with Lu Bu, Xu Huang said, "I know about your fight with Lu Bu. Some of Cao Cao's soldiers saw you and called you Lu Bu's equal. You also seem to be the cause of a few deaths from villages, who died from some explosion.
Zhao Yun lowered his head and said, "I'm terribly sorry for that mishap."
Xu Huang laughed and said, "No, no, not at all. I'm sure it was because of the fight. You probably didn't mean to do it."
They laughed and talked about some other things, but Xu Huang started talking about his past. Xu Huang came from Ha Dong, a small village by the river, about a month's walk from Wan. He grew up with the Guan Yu, the god of War there and they learned from the same teacher and they had been friends until Guan Yu went east to start selling salt for a living. However, that didn't go to well for him so Guan Yu went to Liu Bei. Meanwhile. Xu Huang himself had been under someone else until his lord decided to stick with Dong Zhou. So he was on his way to Cao Cao to serve him.
"So Zhao Yun, I've heard of everything you did in the Yellow Turban rebellion and your fight with Lu Bu made me decide that I want to fight against you."
Sun Ce, who had been listening while pretending to wash the dishes with Diao Chan. After hearing, Sun Ce's eyes turned bigger as he stopped cleaning his plate to hear Zhao Yun's answer.
"Xu Huang, it'd be a pleasure. But don't think I'll go easy on you."
"I wasn't expecting you to. Let's go."
Twenty minutes later, there were a few hundred of Xu Huang's soldiers getting ready to watch the fight. Xu Huang held up his axe as Zhao Yun lifted his spear gently.
Sun Ce stomped on the ground, making the ground shudder. This marked the start of the fight, so Xu Huang took the first move with a huge slash with axe and even though Zhao Yun blocked it off, Xu Huang was very strong. Zhao Yun felt that if he carried this fight on too long, he had a chance of losing.
Xu Huang took another strike through the bottom. Taken by surprised, Zhao Yun jumped up high to dodge Xu Huang's axe. While in mid-air, Zhao Yun took things to his advantage and did a flip and struck his spear onto the ground, starting a slight earthquake and that took Xu Huang off his foot. Zhao Yun decided to let Xu Huang get to his foot again. Xu Huang seemed to have been shocked by Zhao Yun's power and Xu Huang swung his axe anywhere around him, creating power waves that knocked Zhao Yun off his foot.
Zhao Yun then went into his real attacks and started swinging at Xu Huang like crazy. Xu Huang was just barely blocking off the attacks, but Xu Huang suddenly had this blue aura around him. Then he started swinging like crazy like Zhao Yun and Zhao Yun could feel cold win from the blue aura that surrounded Xu Huang and his axe. When Zhao Yun and Xu Huang's weapon collided, Zhao Yun's weapon froze up. Before Zhao Yun froze up as well, Zhao Yun pulled back his weapon which was as heavy as a block of ice.
Then Zhao Yun felt tired, but felt another small wave of power flow inside him. Then he saw his frozen body starting to melt and his weapon started melting as well. It started getting hotter and hotter as Zhao Yun and his weapon was on fire. With the strength of fire, he started attacking Xu Huang and he was far better off this time. He saw Xu Huang having trouble holding his axe that was getting hotter by the moment. Zhao Yun figured that his weapon would've burned away to ashes by now, but it just looked for shiny and stronger. Then Zhao Yun took one final slash sent Xu Huang flying to the ground and it destroyed Xu Huang's weapon into pieces. Xu Huang was lying down on the ground without a weapon, so Zhao Yun stopped attacking and helped Xu Huang up to his feet.
"You were great."
Xu Huang still looked shocked and he stared at Zhao Yun as if he had just walked down from the sky. Then getting to his knees, he said, "Lord Zhao Yun, allow me to serve you!"
Zhao Yun had hoped for a general like Xu Huang, so he said, "Welcome to the team, Xu Huang."
Zhao Yun took Xu Huang along with Sun Ce and Diao Chan. Then they headed back towards their land of Wu to gain power again. On their way, Xu Huang and Zhao Yun talked to each other a lot and they became very good friends. Xu Huang let Zhao Yun on the latest news. Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Bei were oath brothers and they had started a small castle of their own at Ping Won. Then there was Sun Jian way down at Jiang Dong. Dong Zhou was making his land bigger and bigger. So Cao Cao was planning on starting a united force against Dong Zhou.
"I think I'll have to be a part of the forces as well. He's taking control of the emperor and doing as he pleases."
It took them a little over a month arrive at Wu again. Zhou Chang, Liu Buk, Zhao Mi, and 100,000 soldiers waiting for them in front of Wu castle.
"Lord, we're glad you've arrived safely."
Zhao Yun nodded and said, "Xu Huang, get ready for a fight against Dong Zhou. Cao Cao's messenger should arrive any day. Get more men to become soldiers from the castle."
"Yes, my lord."
"Sun Ce, help Xu Huang. Liu Buk, Zhou Chang, you two prepare weapons, armors, and food for the soldiers."
Sun Ce nodded and Liu Buk and Zhou Chang said, "As you wish, my lord."
Zhao Mi, you draw a map of the castle Dong Zhou has and get strategies ready. Here's a list of the generals under Dong Zhou. Read about them and see how we can get them off guard, their good and bad points, and you know the rest. Diao Chan, follow me and I'll take you two your room."
Diao Chan looked happy, following Zhao Yun inside the palace. Zhao Yun led Diao Chan into one of the biggest rooms in the castle. It wasn't as big as the one in Nak Yang, but Diao Chan was pleased.
"Diao Chan, sorry if the room is not as good as the one in Nak Yang. The palace isn't as big as the one back there, but if you just give me some time here at Wu, I'll make the palace just as big."
Diao Chan stared at him with her beautiful eyes that shined like the moon.
"Zhao Yun, you know very well I don't mind about the size of the palace. I just mind if Zhao Yun's with me or not."
Zhao Yun blushed and scratched his head. Then he said the first thing that came to his mind to leave the room.
"Uh. . . I better help Sun Ce and Xu Huang recruit soldiers. We'll have to get ready to fight.
Diao Chan looked a little sad, but she said, "Sure. Go ahead."
Leaving the room, Zhao Yun thought it was a good start. Then very high in spirit, Zhao Yun walked down the palace to where Sun Ce and Xu Huang were shouting their lungs out, recruiting soldiers.
Three weeks passed and it was the first day of August. It was starting to get so hot that the soldier's spirits were half dead. Zhao Yun, Sun Ce, and Xu Huang recruited about 20000 soldiers, giving them 120000 soldiers. Zhao Yun started the first day of August, waking up around 10 in the morning. He saw that he was the first one up in the palace other than the servants. After a good meal, he met with Cao Cao's messenger, who arrived late last night.
"Lord Zhao Yun, I have brought a message from Lord Cao Cao."
"Very well. Read it to me."
The messenger stood up and read with his clear, loud voice.
"The emperor and the Han is being controlled under Dong Zhou's power. Dong Zhou is using the emperor as a tool of power. As people of Han, we can't allow such a thing to happen. Dong Zhou is no different to Zhang Jiao, trying to take Han instead of saving it. I send this to every lord in Han. Let us unite and be one until we see the end of Dong Zhou's forces!"
Zhao Yun just knew this would happen, so Zhao Yun said, "Tell Cao Cao that I'll go as soon as possible."
The messenger gave a bow to Zhao Yun and left. Zhao Yun sat at the meeting room for another 30 minutes, thinking about what would happen in the future. Then Zhao Yun left the room to go to Sun Ce's room.
From the smell of whiskey, Sun Ce must've drank last night. Then he also saw one of the palace servant girls sleeping naked next to Sun Ce.
Zhao Yun kind of figured out what must've happened last night and just gave a heavy sigh. Sun Ce was good at fighting, but he was dull at times. He left the room and decided to talk about attacking Dong Zhou.
Xu Huang wasn't at his room, but Zhao Yun found him shirtless meditating under one of the waterfalls Zhao Yun enjoyed meditating as well.
"Xu Huang, I see you've found my meditation waterfall."
Xu Huang jumped from the waterfall and bowed to Zhao Yun.
"Lord, I must be killed for my sin, using my lord's meditation fall."
"Xu Huang, is it a sin to use nature together? In nature, there is no someone's something. Everybody is free to use nature as long as we give it care."
Zhao Yun also took off his palace robes and meditated with Xu Huang.
It was afternoon when he called all his generals for a meeting. When everybody came, Zhao Yun told everyone of the messenger.
"So, Liu Buk and Zhou Chang. . .is all the weapons and armor ready?"
Liu Buk nodded and said, "All ready to go, sir."
Zhao Yun looked at Zhao Mi and asked, "Zhao Mi, are you done with our strategy maps and everything?"
Zhao Mi smiled and said, "Almost. I can do the rest on the way there."
"Excellent. Oh, and Diao Chan. . ."
Not having given Diao Chan a job to do, Diao Chan was taken by surprise and said, "Uh. . . yes?"
Zhao smiled and said, "How's your room?"
Diao Chan smiled again, making Zhao Yun just stare at her.
"Great. Just great."
The next day, Zhao Yun took Xu Huang, Sun Ce, Zhao Mi, and Diao Chan with him and he left Liu Buk and Zhou Chang at Wu. Zhao Yun had planned to leave Diao Chan at Wu and Xu Huang as well to protect her, but she grabbed on the Zhao Yun and wouldn't let go until he allowed her to go along.
The soldiers spirits were pretty low, but Zhao Yun was hoping to raise their spirits after their victory against Dong Zhou. Zhao Yun took 60,000 soldiers and left the other 60,000 soldiers back at Wu.
It took them a long time to get to Jin Liu where Cao Cao's castle was. It took them a long two months to bring the 60000 soldiers. Zhao Yun was the fourth to arrive. Yuan Shao, Liu Bei and Gongson Zan had already arrived. 13 other lords had decided to come as well.
While waiting for the other lords to arrive, Zhao Yun took the chance to raise his soldiers morale by increasing their food, since they had enough to last a year. It took another month for all the lords to arrive.
Cao Cao stood at the center and said, "I have called all these heroes around Han, because we must stop Dong Zhou before he goes any farther. Now let's pick a leader above the lords. Personally, I think Lord Yuan Shao should become our leader. He has 200,000 soldiers at his side along with many generals."
Most of the lords agreed to this and they all lifted a cup of rice wine and drank to defeating Dong Zhou.
Sun Ce wasn't a lord, but he begged the lords for the rice wine, so Sun Ce drank as well as the other lords ate and talked to each other, smiling and laughing.
A week later, they were at Si Shui Gate, nobody smiling. Yuan Shao was back at camp and there was lord Sun Jian, Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Zhao Yun himself. Zhao Yun's soldiers were at the back, because Zhao didn't get a chance to prove to Yuan Shao that their forces were strong enough to fight against Dong Zhou's forces. He looked from a hill and saw Hua Xiong fighting with Sun Jian's troops. It was night and it seemed Hua Xiong gave a surprise attack at Sun Jian's troops, making them retreat. It was Sun Jian's fault that he didn't ask Zhao Yun for food supplies. Instead, he asked Yuan Shao's brother, Yuan Shul. Yuan Shul was jealous of Sun Jian, so he didn't sent food supplies, making Sun Jian lose in starvation.
Cao Cao called for Liu Bei and Zhao Yun to accompany him in the front lines. Cao Cao sent Xiahou Dun to Hua Xiong, but Xiahou Dun lost forcing the united forces to retreat about 5 miles. Zhao Yun decided to go see Cao Cao for a chance to do something.
Cao Cao was alone in the tent and Zhao Yun entered as Cao Cao looked up.
"Ah, lord Zhao Yun. I wanted to have a talk with you."
Zhao Yun sat down as Cao Cao gave him some tea. After pouring a helping for him, Cao Cao started talking.
"I'm a little worried that there will be trouble with Hua Xiong. Even my trusted general and friend Xiahou Dun lost to him. If we don't beet Hua Xiong quickly, we're sure to lose."
Seeing Cao Cao's serious face, Zhao Yun couldn't help admire him.
"Lord Cao Cao, I was unhappy when Yuan Shao didn't put me in the front lines to fight against Hua Xiong. My men and my generals can stay behind the lines, but I can defeat Hua Xiong alone."
Cao Cao hesitated and looked as if thinking about the best descision. If they even lost the better tomorrow, it'd be beyond repair to win. Cao Cao surely had heard of Zhao Yun defeating the Yellow Turbans. He had sent all the generals he could, but they had all lost. Cao Cao closed his eyes and said, " Lord Zhao Yun, be prepared at the front lines tomorrow at noon."
Zhao Yun tried to hide his glee and bid Cao Cao good night.
The next morning, Zhao Yun woke up half excited and half nervous. He quickly got his armor and spear ready. Then with his Red Hare, he practiced fighting on horseback and on foot. Then at noon, the united force and Dong Zhou's forces looked at each other as the hot sun shined on the soldiers, but noone looked tired, because this was the battle that would change the future, change life and death, and change Han's fate. Hua Xiong stood in front of Dong Zhou's forces and waited for his next challenger.
"I see you idiots haven't retreated yet! Well, I'll make you regret it!"
Hua Xiong rode on his horse and went for the soldiers, but he saw a long spear block his slash. Confused, he looked around and he saw a handsome man on Lu Bu's Red Hare. He dumbly stared at Zhao Yun and said, "Seeing the Red Hare, you must be Zhao Yun!"
Zhao Yun stared Hua Xiong down and said, "What if I am?"
"YOU! I shall defeat the one who didn't lose to Lu Bu and I will be equal with Lu Bu myself by killing you!"
Hua Xiong didn't even give a warning and took a slash aiming right at Zhao Yun's neck. Zhao Yun ducked and poked Hua Xiong during the slash. Hua Xiong looked shocked as he coughed some blood. Pulling back, he said, "I see you're as strong as I've heard. You're the first man other than Lu Bu to give me a wound. However, I won't have anyone alive wound me! DIE!"
Hua Xiong's body was covered with fire and he slashed madly, killing all the soldiers within 5 meters of Zhao Yun. Zhao Yun blocked off the fire and as soon as Hua Xiong finished his combination of slashes, Zhao Yun aimed for another poke in the stomach making Hua Xiong fall off his horse. Hua Xiong looked shocked and then turned mad trying to slash anything in his path, including Zhao Yun's Red Hare.
Sensing danger, Zhao Yun got off his Red Hare and took a great, wide slash cutting Hua Xiong's spear in half. Hua Xiong sounded a little scared and said, "Let's fight like a man! Fist to fist!"
Zhao Yun heard a few voices behind him saying, "You got him! All you have to do is kill him now!" After hesitating, Zhao Yun gave his weapon to a soldier behind him. Hua Xiong's scared face suddenly turned into a malicious face and he gave a punch with power in it. The punch hit Zhao Yun's chest and Zhao Yun fell over, coughing up blood. Then he felt Hua Xiong pin Zhao Yun down with his knees. Then he continued punching repeatedly at Zhao Yun's face. Zhao Yun felt unlimited pain as he could only see red, since his eyes were covered with blood all over. Then Zhao Yun could feel something in his chest glow and it was giving him power everywhere. The first thing Zhao Yun did was block Hua Xiong's two hands with one of his hand and whomped Hua Xiong on the cheekbone, making a cracking sound that echoed around the battlefield. Getting up, he waited for Hua Xiong to get up. He felt his body getting hotter and hotter and the blood on his body was boiling, too, Then when Hua Xiong Zhao Yun hit him with about five punches in the face, followed up with a kick down the middle, finishing off with jumping and putting his elbow down hard on his face, connecting with the nerve cells. Hua Xiong never got up again.
Cao Cao took the chance and sent his men to chase Dong Zhou's forces. Zhao Yun was so hyped up that he followed the chase, killing men with his bare fists. Then Dong Zhou's forces left Si Shui Gate and Cao Cao happily put up the United Han flag that proudly waved on top of the Si Shui Gate.
That night, Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Zhao Yun's generals ate and drank at Si Shui Gate.
Cao Cao laughed and said, "Thanks to lord Zhao Yun, we have gotten rid of Hua Xiong! HAHAHAHAHA!"
They all had a toast and started drinking. Zhao Yun went to the tallest watch tower in the area and he stared at the faint outline of Hu Lao Gate.
Then he saw Liu Bei come up behind him. Zhao Yun bowed and said, "Lord Liu Bei, what brings you here?"
Liu Bei smiled and said, "I wanted to take a look at our next destination." He stared at Hu Lao Gate and sighed.
"Lord Zhao Yun, I had only heard of your tremendous skills. I didn't believe any of it until today."
"Lord Liu Bei, I think you speak too highly of me. All this time, I'm only guessing that I've had a lot of luck."
"Even luck determines the outcome of a battle, life and death, and also the fate of the Han. Lord Zhao Yun, do you not have any thoughts on joining me?"
Zhao Yun stayed quiet. He looked calm on the outside, but he panicked inside.
"Lord Liu Bei, I have an army, a home, a castle, and a few faithful generals just like you Lord Liu Bei. The heavens gave me all this to save the Han."
Liu Bei just stared out into the sky and said, "But aren't the countries in the Han United all want to save the Han? Our goals are the same."
"Yes, that's true. However, the heavens will give Han to one of the many lords. I will stay as a lord until I lose everything I have, knowing that the heavens have thrown me away."
Liu Bei looked a little shocked and said, "Lord Zhao Yun you speak the right and so well that I guess I don't have anything to say except that I do hope the heavens will throw you away and send you to me."
With those words, Liu Bei left the watch tower, leaving Zhao Yun with very confused thoughts.
Zhao Yun stayed at the watch tower, looking at Hu Lao Gate until midnight. Then he came down and he walked towards Si Shui Gate. When he was a few hundred yards away, Zhao Yun could feel something follow him. Then he walked a little slower, keeping his ears alert. He could hear very light footsteps a few meters away from him. He looked around him and he was in a plain, except for an old oak tree next to him. Zhao Yun knew what was to happen as he saw a cloaked figure come down at him with a sword. Zhao Yun grabbed the hilt of the sword and rolled around with the figure fighting for the sword. Then the figure kneed him in Zhao Yun's private spot, making him let go of the hilt. Then the figure stood up and put the sword down on the ground, where Zhao Yun's head had been a few moments ago. Zhao Yun rolled and kept on rolling until he found a good spot to get up. He surprised his attacker by getting up without using his hands. Then he dodged the coming sword again and gave it a double kick on the face. His attacker fell and Zhao Yun quickly took his sword. Then as his attacker, who was wearing all black got up, Zhao Yun put the sword on its neck.
The person was in frozen position when he saw it do a backward flip five times. Then it took something that looked out black pointy stars. His attacker took five of those out and threw them one by one in incredible speed. Zhao Yun somehow blocked out four of them with the sword. Then the last one hit his right arm, putting Zhao down. His attacker fled as Zhao Yun tried to get back up. He saw the long, curved sword he had taken from his attacker. It looked pretty strong, so he took that and the five stars that the attacker threw at him. Then he slowly got up and saw the last of his attacker running away, almost jumping from tree to tree and then disappearing under the full moon.