Chapter 6: Tong Gate

So today is the real battle and the point in which we are her; to kill Cao Cao and avenge dad.

Hey what's this? Tong Gate? Arghh, another hinder, thought we could go ahead and kill Cao Cao. Damn coward, so defensive.

They'd been hurling insults but Tong Gate wouldn't' budge.

"This isn't' going anywhere," said Han Sui who was rather worried. Ma Chao pondered for a while.

"What if we lure them out?" suggested Yun Lu. Ma Chao brightened.

"Let's leave some soldiers to act as the bait while the rest of us goes down that slope and hide in the trees," said Ma Chao.

"...What?" asked Ma Dai. No one really understood.

"So, what I'm saying is, we leave the 'bait' in front of the gate. They can act as if they're slacking off. The enemy will see this and charge out. The bait will then flee, run down the slope and lure them into the ambush area. We should also hide a company of soldiers around the trees near Tong Gate. Once it opens, charge in," explained Ma Chao.

"I'll do that," said Han Sui.

"Ok, Uncle can rush in when the gate opens. Yun Lu and Ma Dai, you be the bait, take a few soldiers with you. Pang De and I can ambush them. Once we've finished, we'll reinforce you Uncle. Got it?"

"Understood!" they said. Han Sui gathered up his troops and headed up to the trees. Ma Chao and Pang De disappeared down the slope. Yun Lu and Ma Dai continued to yell at the people manning the gates. Finally they decided to act exhausted and lay on the grass.

"Reckon they'll come out anytime soon?" asked Yun Lu.

"Hopefully. I've heard there's a man called Cao Hong who's rather impatient. He might fall victim to our plan," replied Ma Dai.

No sooner had he said that when the gates opened.

"I Cao Hong will not let you say such things to us!" screamed the man named Cao Hong as he charged down towards the bait followed by his soldiers. Yun Lu and Ma Dai picked up their weapons, quickly mounted and fled with their soldiers.

"Cao Hong! Get back here!" called out a man wielding a long axe.

"I cannot let these fools live Xu Huang!" Cao Hong continued to charge. Xu Huang urged his horse to follow. Yun Lu glanced behind her. Zhong Yao was next to Cao Hong.

I get to kill you this time, Zhong Yao.

Down the slope they went, the Wei army hot on their heels. Soon, Cao Hong's expression turned from confidence to horror as the ambush parties surrounded them. The bait turned around and attacked them.

"Zhong Yao's mine!" screamed Yun Lu. She flung herself at him, spears outstretched. But the man saw her coming and blocked the charge with his sword. They deadlocked.

"What are you doing here in the battlefield? A beautiful girl like you go to waste as a casualty of war," said Zhong Yao. He motioned to stroke Yun Lu's face. Before he could do so, Yun Lu broke the lock and jumped backwards.

"You disgusting…" Yun Lu charged again. "Creep!" She attacked Zhong Yao with a flurry of swipes but he blocked and dodged each attack. Yun Lu then feinted an attack to the left which Zhong Yao made to block. Yun Lu smiled as he fel to the trick.

"Farewell creep." She swiftly swivelled right around and stabbed the man's hip, ending his life. The enemy soldiers around her charged but she finished them with quick stabs and spins. The enemy's morale was growing thin with Zhong Yao's death and the ambush units were taking a great toll on them. Cao Hong could see there was no hope.

"Fall back!" he cried. Xu Huang who was duelling with Ma Chao retreated back before turning his horse and galloping back towards the pass.

"I'll look forward to a rematch some day!" yelled Xu Huang. "Look at what you did Cao Hong!" he said through gritted teeth at the young man who caused their loss.

"Get them!" roared Ma Chao. Yun Lu got back on her horse, Chalk.

"So you killed Zhong Yao?" asked Ma Dai who caught up with her.

"Yes. He's such a creep! He wanted to touch me!" said Yun Lu and shuddered at the thought. Ma Dai laughed but quickly shut up fearing his cousin's temper.

"Well, you can't do much about it when you're pretty. Feel good for it, some people in this world are really ugly and would die to hear that just once."

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When they arrived at the pass, Han Sui had pretty much secured it. The arrival of Ma Chao's main force made the remaining surrender.

"Where's Xu Huang and Cao Hong?" asked Pang De.

"They got past but our forces took out another half of their troops," said Han Sui, a little disappointed that he didn't get hold of the two generals.

"It' alright Uncle. You've done a lot while most of us were somewhere else," said Yun Lu. She changed the subject. "So are we finally gonna battle Cao Cao face to face?"

"We'll be going after a short while. Are you ready?" asked Ma Chao.

"Of course!" replied Yun Lu, twirling her spears. Han Sui and Ma Chao made to get ready for the battle ahead. Seeing Pang De, Yun Lu walked up to him.

"Pumped?" she asked simply. Pang De smiled.

"Yes. …You know, your father was a good friend of mine."

"Sometimes I just want these battles to stop. Even if it is for dad."

"That's never going to happen. Well, maybe for a short while, but never forever. War and conflict is always going to linger in this world, even if it doesn't consist of weapons." Pang De gently patted Yun Lu's head. "It's good to have thoughts like that. But your brother…seems to like battle a bit too much." He picked up his halberds. "Come on Yun Lu, I think were going now."

Yun Lu stared at him for a bit, before picking up her own weapons and followed Pang De.

What did he mean by that? He doesn't seem very fond of Mengqi… Is he just helping us because of his friendship with dad? Will he betray us? It would be such a loss if that happened. A good fighter and strategist.

Am I right to think of him this way?

Yep, that's for now. In fact I've actually written 12 chapters, just haven't typed them up yet, sorry. Sorry if there are typos, I don't check that much

Thanks for reading, R&R please!