章 168: Marching to War

Yun and Dian Wei returned to the camp once it was dusk since Yun didn't want to stay in Xuchang but rather with his army for self-protection since Cao Cao could still plot behind his back.

Cao Cao, on the other hand, was pleased with Yun following his orders for now as both know they aren't in each other favours at the moment. But at least they could work together.

Yun and his army stayed near Xuchang for three months before finally the order to march south arrived. They now knew that Liu Biao must be near death's door as Cao Cao moved out himself with Xu Chu and Lian Qian by his side.

Two weeks passed, and Yun was sitting at a campfire surrounded by some of his generals when he was approached by Fang, who asks, "What will we be awaiting in the south?"

Yun looked at his son when he saw Pang Tong and the others looking at him with curiosity in their eyes.

"It won't be something benevolent, to say the least. Be prepared to see horrible things that are worse than you have ever seen before on a battlefield. This goes to everyone else who heard me. I won't be the one calling the shots after all," says Yun, warning them all, knowing that many people will die because of the decision taken by Cao Cao and Liu Bei.

"That bad," says Hua as he looks at Yun seriously while Yun looks at the campfire.

"Yes, this war will be the biggest we will be participating in, maybe," says Yun, not knowing what the future was holding for them.

Huang Zhong could see pain in Yun's eyes, which some didn't even notice since they were either too young and ignorant to it, but he could see it clearly.

He also knows that Yun would only make those eyes if civilians were involved, so he asks, "Many civilians will be killed in this war?"

"Yes, Liu Bei and Cao Cao will be killing a lot of civilians because of their decisions in this war. I am just pains me that we might have to kill them ourselves to keep advancing," says Yun not saying much of what was coming their way but enough to make them all feel a bit guilty because of what they will maybe do.

"It is war. We can't change what will happen but only move forward, so don't feel guilty when you kill them. Just try to kill as little as possible," says Huang Zhong, sad about what they were going to do since the Jing Province was his home before joining Yun.

"Will we be fighting Liu Biao?" asks Huang Zhong before he sees Yun shake his head.

"I don't think so. He should be with one foot in his grave or Cao Cao wouldn't have moved to the border himself to use the chaos which will follow to his advantage since Liu Biao has two legal heirs in Liu Cong and Liu Qi.

Liu Qi is the older one between the two but is exiled in Jiangxia Commandery while Liu Cong is supported by the Cai Family and Liu Biao's wife, Lady Cai. Liu Cong will inherit his father position," says Yun coldly, showing once again that he hates sibling rivalries since they break a family instead of strengthening it.

"Cao Cao will use the chaos to take the Jing Commandery in one clean swoop as he did with the north," says Huang Zhong feeling a bit bitter since he knows both of Liu Biao's sons and the politics behind the scene.

"That's right, he really didn't needed us since Jing is less populated compared to Ji but he wants to be sure to take Jing fast so he can focus on Yang and Sun Quan afterward," says Yun seriously before standing up.

"I will go to my tent and try to sleep. Tomorrow will be another long day of marching," says Yun, leaving the other behind while returning to his tent.

Yun felt mentally exhausted just from thinking of what he needed to do the next few week as Liu Bei would rally up the civilians to follow him so they would stand between him and Cao Cao.

'Liu Shan and Lady Gan will most likely die in Liu Bei's escape since the Zhao Yun that should safe Liu Shan won't appear out of thin air,' thinks Yun as he removed his armor.

'So you won't save them like last time?' asks Ysmrgra, remembering that Yun kept Lady Gan safe for a while before.

'I could, but I would jeopardise my future plot since Cao Cao will trust me even less than now if I safe Lady Gan and Liu Shan. It might even kill me and my army and they are far more important than a man that really knows benevolence from his heart,' says Yun to Ysmrgra while sitting down on a rock inside his tent looking at his armor.

'But I could save only the boy saying that he is the son of a civilian that we slaughtered by accident,' says Yun as his gaze intensified on the armour.

'I see the desire is there to save people but your hands are tied so you try to at least safe one of the two,' says Ysmrgra thinking that Yun was taking the easy way out since he wanted to surprise Cao Cao with his betrayal at the battle of the Red Cliffs.

'Well, I am not a hero after all,' says Yun back as black smoke seemed to leak out of the armour, manifesting as a dragon's head, which looked at Yun.

'What about Zhan? You saved all those people alone from the Xiongnu. Isn't that what a hero does to you? Or am I going crazy,' says Ysmrgra with his head floating before Yun.

'That was something completely different. My wife was in Zhan when I went to fight the Xiongnu. I saved the city to protect my wife,' says Yun, angry at the Dragon who only smirks at him.

'You can lie to me, but not yourself. I have seen you trying to kill as little as possible while keeping the civilians out of the war. But now you want to look another way because it will be difficult to revolt against someone. Don't bullshit me,' says Ysmrgra seriously as Yun didn't waver.

'Well, don't blame me if something terrible happens,' says Ysmrgra while his head turns to smoke and enters Yun's armour again.

"What should even happen with me and my army at the rear," says Yun in a defeated tone before looking away.

The next few days they continued marching when Yun heard rumors that Liu Qi was preparing an army to strike at Liu Cong. Liu Cong followed Lady Cai's advice and asked for help from Cao Cao which pleased Cao Cao.

And with this action Jing was split in two the north belonged to Liu Cong while the south belonged to Liu Qi. Cao Cao continued marching south now that northern Jing was his ally while Liu Bei had to flee to the south.

The news traveled that Liu Bei took every civilian that wanted to find refuge in the south with him promising them a better future than under Cao Cao by telling them false stories about how Cao Cao treated his people while making himself the hero.

Most of the civilian joined him out of fear of the treatment they would receive under Cao Cao because of the stories they heard which made Cao Cao furious when he heard about it.

He looked at his people trying to find an answer to change the opinion of the people following Liu Bei but no one could help him in this since the people of Jing only know rumors surrounding him while Liu Bei's image was sparkling clean in Jing for defending the north the whole time against Cao Cao for Liu Biao.

Yun was watching Cao Cao fuming from the sideline since he was only attending this meeting to receive his new orders when he hears, "If they want to see me like that then we will be like that. If the civilians don't abandon Liu Bei then we will have to slaughter them to get to him."

This didn't feel well for many of the people in the tent when Xun Yu asks, "My Lord, are you sure you want to do that?"

"If they leave us with no other opportunities than this we will have to use it to show them Liu Bei's real face," says Cao Cao furious as he didn't want to kill the civilians but they leave him no choice in this matter since Liu Bei involved them in this war.

"Cousin, think again. We can't slaughter the innocent. You know how much I hate Liu Bei as well as his ugly younger brother but this would only bring them to fear you more than they already do," says Xiahou Yuan trying to calm Cao Cao down bringing his own personal matter into this since Zhang Fei kidnapped his niece and married her afterward.

"I would rather be feared by the civilians than have no one to work the fields! Kill as many as necessary to make them run away from Liu Bei and return to their villages!" shouts Cao Cao at Xiahou Yuan disregarding his opinion and advice.

'Cao Cao has become mad because of what Liu Bei did. This will end badly for everyone,' thinks Yun when he sees Cao Cao glaring at him.

"Now I know who will be leading the vanguard. The person everyone fears on a battlefield, our God of War," says Cao Cao sounding a bit sarcastically in Yun's ears who wasn't happy about his new task since he used to be the rear guard making sure that Liu Bei didn't set an ambush for them while marching forward.

"General Zhao will now lead the Vanguard and deal with this situation. Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan will be put in the rear," says Cao Cao which made Yun angry for a moment before a laugh escaped his mouth.

"Fine, I will do it but be prepared for the consequences this will bring you," says Yun coldly as he made a face which only a madman would have before leaving the tent on his own.

'Now I might have a small window to save both without Cao Cao knowing about it and get closer to Guan Yu,' thinks Yun radiating a mad aura which intimidated Cao Cao's soldiers on his way back to his camp to inform the others about their new task.