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Legacy of the Lunar Spear	By : CPascal42 Category: +A through F > Dynasty Warriors Views: 9722 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Dynasty Warriors, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 27
- 28
- 29
Legacy of the
Lunar Spear

Chapter 27

The Rise of Wei

�What is bothering you?��
Liao asked as Ling shuffled closer to him.� ��He lifted
his cape up and wrapped it around her protectively since the night air was
crisp.�

�Every morning I wake up and think that all of this was just
a bad dream.� That my father will be
yelling at me from outside to get out of bed and get to training.� Then I open my eyes and I panic, thinking Dun
might not be there.� I can�t have
both.�� It�s only been a few months�how
can I have forgotten him?� She put her head on Liao�s shoulder and closed her
eyes.

�I doubt anyone would ever accuse you of that.�� Liao felt her shoulders slump and then added.
�You�re too much like him; you both fall in love quickly.� It�s quick�but true.� I watched him fall for Diao Chan instantly,
the whole time I begged him to see through her ploys.� He insisted that she did love him, and he
her, and I couldn�t understand it.� It
was true, what they had was genuine.�

�She didn�t�well�I guess�.�

�Help kill his father?��
Liao smiled as he finished her sentence.�
�Ling, what happened was your father�s own doing.�� He was a warrior and he knew the
consequences of failure.�

�He...protected me from so much�didn�t he?� I never saw half of what I have seen in these
last few months.� I thought war was going
to be fun, I thought he couldn�t die�I thought I was capable��

�When your baby comes, you�ll see what it�s like to want to
protect someone.� He might have done too
good a job.� Ling, don�t be angry at yourself
for loving your husband.� Your mother was
so devoted to her own father that she never let herself love anyone but
him.� She was a wife and mother just to
please him and provide him with connections.�
There was never any love in your father�s life with her, just
duty.�� Liao wondered if this was making
any sense to her.� She was more
distraught now than ever.� Injured and
pregnant, she was experiencing vulnerability and for the first time she was
panicking.�

�So he did keep the truth from me then.� To spare my feelings?�� She toyed with the cape.� �I�m a bad officer�aren�t I?�

�You need experience and an education.�� Liao said firmly.� �You need to take your oath seriously.� You swore allegiance to Cao Cao and I know
you�re still contemplating killing him.�

�It�s harder now.��
She wrapped her arms around her knees.�
�He means so much to Dun.�

�He means a lot to more than just Dun.� Liao took her
hand.� �He�s not perfect, but no one is�

Ling interrupted him.�
�He killed my father.�

�That was not the point.��
Liao snapped.� �Enough of this
revenge! It is selfish!� Your father is
dead, he will never come back.� You have
a life here and now.� You are a soldier
of Wei and the wife of a good man, soon to be a mother.� You will fight for the living and honor the
dead.� Understand?�

�Yes sir.� She avoided his eyes.�

�Stop underestimating yourself, Ling.�� Liao patted her on the back.� �Go, be with your husband.� Remember what you�re fighting for.�

She frowned.� She
wasn�t done sulking.� �Liao��

�I�m done listening to you feel sorry for yourself.�� Liao stood and whipped his cape off her
shoulders.� �Your father cast a huge
shadow over all of us.� We have to step
outside of that shadow, taking with us what was valuable and move on.� The world doesn�t need another Lu Bu.� However Wei could very much use Lu Ling Qi to
support their cause.�

�I�m a terrible officer.� She admitted.

�Only if you do nothing to change that.� Learn from the men around you.� Liao pointed
towards the palace. �Start with the man you love.�

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Cao Cao spurred his mount and galloped down the dark road
with Dian Wei at his side.� They were
moving quickly, with only a few scouts ahead of them to detect any ambush that
awaited them.� He knew this was risky,
but what wasn�t?� As much as Dun
protested, the fact of the matter was that he did need to participate in this
battle no matter what.� The odds were
against them and every man counted.� If
they lost, what did his life matter anyhow?�
They however, were not going to lose.

Dian Wei looked up at the stars as his horse struggled to
keep up with his lord�s mount.� He felt
confident, perhaps gleaning it off his king�s aura.� This night would ensure that Wei survived�he
could feel it in his soul.� He then
glanced to his right as a red stallion surged past him.� He growled, the foreboding feeling had
returned.

�My lord, allow me to accompany you.�� Guan Yu saluted with his halberd.�

�Not giving him much choice�.�� Dian Wei muttered.

�Guan Yu!�� Cao Cao
grinned cheerfully. ��We will certainly
secure a victory with you with us!�

Dian Wei fell back as the two pulled away from his burdened
war horse.� For an intelligent man, Cao
Cao could make the dumbest mistakes.�
Most of them seemed to revolve around that damned red horse.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

�Where are you going?� Ling demanded, her hand clutching the
hilt of his scimitar as she held the sheathed blade close to her body.�

Xiahou Dun wondered how long this paranoia would last.� �There�s a war going on, remember?� I have to kill people and tell others to do
the same.�

�But��

�Where the hell is the woman I married?� He growled.� �You�ve turned into a whiney child��

�Dammit!� I don�t want
you to die!�

�I can protect myself!� Dun hissed.

�I need to be by your side!��
She wanted to cry.� He was right,
she was being so weak.� Somehow her
mother�s death had rattled her, having Chen Hong ease her of her pain made her
feel helpless.� She couldn�t save anyone
so far and she wasn�t about to lose anyone else.� �DAMMIT! I will protect you with my
life!� I failed my parents and I won�t
fail you.��

�You�re hurt Ling.��
He watched her brow furrow with indignation.� He scratched his chin and thought about what
she said.� What the hell was this
about?� Getting pregnant?� Lady Chen was allegedly shallow, so maybe
something about getting fat?� Nah, only
Cao Pi was really that shallow.

�I�m fine.�

He admired her for her stubborn resolve.� He didn�t admit how much his eye was bothering
him when that happened and his wife was now doing the same.� The gash in her side was seeping blood and
she took such short breaths to avoid the pain from fully expanded lungs.� It was evident that it was affecting her.� He picked up the cup of tea that sat on the
table, a remedy from the doctor, and offered it in exchange for his
weapon.� �Drink your tea and get some
rest.� You have to protect our kid.� That is your duty for the moment.�

�Fuck the tea!� I have
to protect you!�

�I can protect myself.� Dun growled and grabbed his weapon
back.� He was sick of this shit from her.
She had made the mistake earlier of admitting she was worried because her
father was invincible and met his end.�
�Stay here and defend the damned city if that will make you happy.� Just stay in bed!�

She frowned as he handed her the cup and she drank to
appease him.�

�The more you fight this the longer it will take to heal.�
Dun squeezed her shoulder.� �You have to
heal up before we go home.� We might not
have the time to rest later.�

�Just come back to me.� She said and looked up to him and
the image of her father dangling from the gate at Xia Pi stirred in her
mind.� She knew how much it angered him
that she was worried because of what happened to her father.� He was proud�that�s why she loved him.� The fact of the matter was that Lu Bu was
invincible�and he was dead.� So she would
always worry.�

�I�ll be fine.� He snapped and left.�

She stood in the empty room looking at the closed door.� Her eyes looked down at the gown she was
wearing.� So this was what it was like to
be a typical warrior�s wife?� Watch him
leave, worry that he would ever come back and just wait?� This is what it felt like to be
helpless.� She shook her head.� No matter how hurt she was there was no way
this situation would do.� She looked
around for her armor and began to prepare for battle.� Defend the city, that was something she could
do.� At least from the city walls she
could see where he was.� Yes.� Defend the city was an option that had a lot
of potential.

So this was what it was like to follow orders.� She grinned.

Xxxxxxxxxxx

Liu Bei nudged his horse forward.� �General Zhang, I was not aware of these
reinforcements.�

�Bah!�� Zhang Fei
snorted.� �What does it matter, I�ll kill
them all.�

Liu Bei sighed, the appearance of troops meant their
surprise flanking maneuver was ruined.�
He wished his brother Guan Yu was here, he always seemed to make the
most miserable odds a bit more tolerable.�
�Send the skirmishers forward, see what Cao Ren has backing him.� We�ll attack near dawn and try to gain the
upper hand.�

�I thought we wanted to attack Xu Chang.�

�Zhang He wanted to attack Xu Chang and I thought it would
be a good place for us to gain a foothold.�
But even with my support his proposal fell on deaf ears.� Yuan Shao is quite arrogant.�

�We still can.�

�Yide, we cannot defend ourselves
against Yuan Shao.� If we disobey orders
and take Xu Chang, after the battle is over and Wei crushed, he�ll destroy
us.� We�ll play by his rules, for now.� Once our scouts are finished with their reconnaissance,
inform General Wen Chou of their findings.�

�He can scout for himself.��
Fei grumbled.

�We are the scouting unit, remember?�� Liu Bei sighed.�

�Who the hell is that?��
Zhang Fei snorted.� A warrior was
approaching them under an unfamiliar banner.

�Zhao Yun!�� Liu Bei
exclaimed.� He recognized the guidon and
quickly turned his horse to meet up with the former acquaintance.

�There go all my fangirls.��
Zhang Fei growled.� He remembered
all too well how pretty the young general was from the days when they romped
around with Gongsun Zan.��

�Lord Liu Bei!�� Zhao
Yun, the pride of Changsan, saluted smartly.�
�It has been almost a year since we parted ways, but I have recruited a
fair number of men to contribute to your cause.�
If, my lord, you allow me to serve you.�

Liu Bei grinned.� �My
old friend, I am not worthy of your dedication.�

Zhang Fei rolled his eyes.�
The formal ass-kissing was beyond his appreciation. �But we�ll take what
you got anyhow.� Welcome to our army.�

Liu Bei blushed out of embarrassment.� �Thank you Zhao Yun, I will do what I can to
be worthy of your loyalty or die trying.�

�Hey kid, you didn�t happen to see our brother around, have
you?� Big guy, long beard, red horse,
mini-version of him nipping at his heals?�
You remember him, right?�

Zhao Yun raised an eyebrow.�
Kid?� �No, can�t say I have.� I mainly have been in the North, recruiting
men from Gongsun Zan�s former army.�

�Yeah Yeah, you already bragged about that.� Wouldn�t hurt to be more humble about those
lost causes�� Zhang Fei rolled his eyes
as Liu Bei showered Zhao Yun with praise and thanks.� The two wandered off leaving the portly
general to finish the scouting mission and report the findings to the bastard
known as Wen Chou.� He scratched his
beard and moved forward, without supervision he was free to carry out his
orders in whatever manner he saw fit.

Xxxxxxxxxxxx

�STOP IT!�

Zhang Liao recognized the voice and looked over his shoulder
at the latest argument brewing between Ling Qi and Dun.� He redirected his attention to tightening the
girth on his horse�s saddle, that he had some control over.

Ling reached up to adjust Dun�s collar again only to get her
hand smacked away.� �Stop being so
stubborn and let me fix it!�

�It doesn�t matter!��
Dun growled and turned around to stare at Mao.� �Why isn�t that horse saddled?��

�Because I want you to take Fire Storm instead.��

Dun looked back at the source of the voice.� She had said it cautiously, as if it was
difficult to voice.� He knew what the
animal meant to her but he also knew it was another way for her to try and
protect him. �I don�t need your damned protection�yours or your horse�s.�

Zhang Liao shook his head.�
What an idiot.

�Stop being an asshole and ride my horse. He�s faster and a
much more aggressive warhorse than yours is.�
I don�t care if you fight on foot, you need a horse that will follow you
when you need to get back on and ride somewhere.� I thought you were supposed to be a General,
you shouldn�t have to have a meager Captain tell you something so obvious.�� Ling snapped back and smacked Dun in the head
as she descended the stairs.�

Liao swung onto the back of his own steed and smiled.� For a mere captain, she barked orders like
her father.� For an idiot, Xiahou Dun
finally figured out when to stay silent.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Xiahou Yuan nocked another arrow and selected a man in the
assault towers, then let the arrow fly.�
The enemy was certainly showing it�s more aggressive side now�and he
hoped that his cousin was well on his way to starting a damned fire.� It was little after dawn, and they had hit
them with a full assault.�

�I�m not pushing my men to advance, not in this mess.� Yu
Jin sighed.� �The men are being picked
off the damned city wall faster than we can replace them.�

�Shit.�� Yuan watched
an enemy archer fall from the tower, followed quickly by another.� He looked up to see who the lucky soldier was
that had pegged two in a row.� He raised
his eyebrows.� �My brother�s on the other
side of the river�right?�

�Yes�� Yu Jin looked up to the wall and snickered.� �Well, her daddy did put an arrow through his
halberd.� I suppose we should have
expected this.�

Yuan watched Ling Qi move for a better shot with her
crossbow.� �And Mengde thinks she�s
stupid.� The girl can find a weapon that
she can use even with her injury.�

�She is stupid.� Your
brother is going to be pissed.�� Yu Jin
warned.

�He�s the one who ordered her to defend the city.�� Yuan pointed to the bridge.� �Let�s push to the river; the only way we�ll
make progress is if we cut off their retreat.�

�It�s just us, Yuan.�
There are no reserves.�� Yu Jin
cautioned.

�Leave Ling to defend the city, she�ll be fine.��

�Yes, because that tactic worked so well at Xia Pi.�� Yu Jin sighed.� �I�m not going to leave a half crippled
pregnant child to defend our only fortified position.� I don�t care who her daddy was.�

�We have no choice.��
Yuan put his helmet back on.� �Let�s
move on the river and hope Mengde can start his bonfire soon.�

�My lords!�� A courier
raced towards them.�

�Eh.�� Yu Jin
grumbled.� �Just when we made a
decision.�

�Generals!�� The
courier dismounted and bowed.� �I bring
news from General Cao Ren.�

�Oh him?�� Yu Jin
waved his hand dismissively.� �We only
rely on the observation skills of select Caos.�
He is not one of them.� Try Cao
Pi.�

�Sir?�� The courier
asked nervously as an arrow skipped across the ground, narrowly avoiding the
two high ranking officers.� The men
before him didn�t seem to notice or care.

�Ignore him.�� Xiahou
Yuan checked his bowstring and asked. �What is it?� We have plans you know.�

�General Cao sends his regards and is asking for
support.� He has encountered Liu Bei�s
cavalry and they are trying to flank us by way of Ru Nan.�� The courier was perturbed when neither man
reacted.�

�We�re busy.� Tell him
to go take care of it himself.�� Yuan
huffed.�

�Nah�I like him better than you.� I�ll go help.�� Yu Jin stretched and smiled.� �You have your sister-in-law remember?� You don�t need me.�

�Since when do you have a cavalry unit?� Yuan asked.

�I think our lord left his Elite Cavalry here somewhere�.perhaps
I can borrow it for a bit being his favorite subordinate.� You can ask him when he gets back.�

�They�re only scouting the enemy position for weaknesses,
why do we need them?�� Yuan muttered
sarcastically.

�Exactly!� Just shoot
anything that moves from that direction.��
Yu Jin grinned� �Can you handle
that or do you want me to have your blind brother check up on you later?�
�
�I�ll tell him you said that.�� Yuan shrugged.� �In the same sentence that I tell Mengde you
stole his horses.�

Xxxxxxxx

Zhang He blinked as Chunyu Qiong babbled about an assault on
Wu Chao.� The man was a bloody mess.� He was missing his ears, nose and hands and
had been tied to a horse and sent back to his own lines that way.� He looked to his lord and ignored the pitiful
man on the ground.� �Sir, we must attack
Cao Cao now.�

�No.� It is what he
wants.� Yuan Shao snapped.

�Sir, he wanted to demoralize us and drive us from our
position by destroying our provisions. �We must attack him, he has a raiding party and
that is not enough to protect him!� Zhang He exclaimed, he couldn�t believe how
ridiculously stubborn he was being.�

�He has Guan Yu and Dian Wei to protect him, he is no
fool.�� Yuan Shao spat.

Zhang he wondered why his lord could be such an idiot when
under stress.� They outnumbered the Wei
army, and a meager raiding party would never survive if they threw a division
at them.� However, like so many men of
his time, Yuan Shao was intimidated by the mere mention of a revered warrior�s
name.� �Then I will see to it that Guan
Yu is no longer beside him to protect him.��

�What are you talking about?�

�I�ll send Wen Chou to attack him.� Then his big mouth can be of use to us when
he tells the giant Liu Bei is here.� Then
he will defect.� Perhaps then we can
attack Cao Cao and salvage what supplies are left?�� Zhang He stepped away as Chunyu Qiong begged
for some wine to ease his pain.

�No.� We don�t need
the depot!� Stay focused on the forces
near Guan Du!� And would someone please
execute this damned fool?� Worthless
drunk��

Zhang He rolled his eyes as a few lackeys jumped forward to do
their master�s bidding.� He looked away,
not all that eager to watch an execution, and looked for someone he could
trust. �He was going to do what he could
to disrupt Cao Cao, since his Lord was apparently not going to use their
massive army for what it was intended.�
He turned to his bodyguard.� �Go
to Wu Chao.� Make sure Guan Yu knows his
brother is working for us.� Redirect Wen
Chou to that area under my orders.�

The bodyguard bowed.�
�Yes, General.�

Zhang He watched his bodyguard race away to deliver the
message.� Yes it would mean that the
flanking maneuver would crumble, but the chances were good that Guan Yu would
rejoin his brother.� They could still win
this with Guan Yu on their side.� Wei
would be demoralized and their King would be behind enemy lines when it
happened.� He looked back to Yuan Shao
who was babbling about the prestige of the Yuan family.� Even though he was adapting their strategy to
meet Cao Cao�s moves, he was alone in this.�
He was more than capable of matching wits with the man, but he would
have to deceive his own king to do what he wanted.� He smiled.�
There was such beauty in deception.

Xxxxxxxx

�Cao Cao, your head is mine!�

Cao Cao smirked as the braggard Wen Chou fell in one swipe
of Guan Yu�s halberd.� What an incredible
warrior he was. ��He recalled how Guan
Yu had been the one at Shi Shui Gate to topple Hua Xiong.� This man never stopped impressing him.� He smirked as he thought about how things
would have changed if Lu Ling Qi did take Liu Bei�s life.� He pushed the thought to the back of his mind
and side passed his horse over to Red Hare and shouted, ��Well
done!�

Guan Yu turned his horse towards Cao Cao when he heard a
shout from a soldier.

�Retreat!� We must
fall back to General Liu Bei!�
Retreat!��

The giant stopped his horse and the stallion took the
opportunity to lash out a hind leg at the nearby Shadowless. �Liu Bei?�
Was his brother here?� He looked
at a soldier and watched men turn to flee.�
He looked back to Cao Cao who seemed perplexed.� �My lord, I must leave you.�

Cao Cao blinked as his fantasies vanished.� ��Excuse me?�

�My brother�he is here.�
I cannot fight my brother.��

�Perhaps it is just a ruse by the enemy.�� Cao Cao suggested.� He couldn�t lose him, not now!� The Wei lord moved his black stallion closer
to Red Hare and the animal reared as the red horse struck out at him again.� �That man looks like no ordinary soldier, he
is a bodyguard!� He was sent here to
deceive you; no bodyguard would assume command like that.� He should be thinking of his failure, not of
his own life.� Surely you see this?��

�I must find out.� Guan Yu signaled to his son.� He looked at Cao Cao and dared him to
challenge his simple request.

�Very well.� I respect
your decision.�� Cao Cao nodded knowing he
was lucky the man didn�t find out before now.�
He only hoped he didn�t suspect he withheld the information from
him.� He nodded politely, knowing the
time would come when Guan Yu would once again be without a lord.� �Thank you for your help.�

�Thank you, Lord Cao Cao.�
Your kindness will not be forgotten.� Guan Yu saluted and turned his
horse around towards Guan Yu.� Without
another word he rode off at a canter to avoid panicking anyone.� To the men, it looked as if they were merely
redirecting an attack.�

Guan Ping rode alongside his father
in silence until they were out of earshot. �Father��

�If you earn a man�s respect, he will not hold it against
you when you do what you believe is right.�

�We�re technically his prisoners.� Ping
looked to his father.�

�Some men respect you more for exceeding your
authority.�� Guan Yu pointed towards the
Northern gate of Guan Du.� �We must find
our lord�s wives.� Check the Northern
Gate and I will look for them in the palace.�
Find a carriage so that we may escort them safely home.�

�If we encounter resistance?�� Ping asked, imagining
the Wei officers would not look kindly upon them leaving.

�Tell them Lord Cao has granted us our leave.�� Guan Yu said and tapped Red Hare on the rump
with his weapon.�

�Easy for you to say.��
Guan Ping shook his head and directed his mount
to the Northern Gate.

Xxxxxxxxxx

Zhang He did his best to rally the troops.� Without supplies and coupled with the loss of
Wen Chou, they were beginning to panic.�
They still held the high ground and Liu Bei�s cavalry was in position to
flank Guan Du, but that mattered little to the men.� He cantered towards the front lines in an
attempt to lead by example.� If he could
take out a few of the enemy commanders on his own there was still a
chance.� Cao Cao was an admirable foe;
there wasn�t a single weakness he didn�t exploit.

Xiahou Dun cursed as he attacked yet another archer
unit.� He looked up as an officer
galloped towards him on a horse.� He
grinned.� Was Yuan Shao letting his wife
fight?� �I am Xiahou Dun, come if you
want to die!�

Zhang He laughed. �It is not tasteful to fight the
handicapped.�� With that he spurred his
horse and splashed mud on the general he knew to be Cao Cao�s cousin.� Let the man�s temper get the best of him, he
had already shown a tendency to fight too far ahead of his men.�

�You son of a bitch!��
Dun growled and wiped the mud from his face as the officer galloped away.� Now where the hell was that damned
horse?��

Zhang Liao watched the enemy officer approach.� They must have been desperate if this fool
was on a suicide mission to inspire his troops.�
�A duel?� Very Well��

�Let us proceed gracefully�� Zhang He saluted with his claws
and prepared for the general�s attack.

Xiahou Dun looked over his shoulder and cursed again.� He was going to have to cut that damned fairy
into pieces for that, but not until he found his stupid horse.� He finally heard the nicker that alerted him
to the animal�s whereabouts.� He ran
over, intent on mounting and racing back to the duel that was now taking
place.� The stallion pawed at the ground
and pinned his ears and Dun was about to punch him for the gesture, until he
saw who it was targeted at.� Another
familiar red stallion galloped across the battlefield carrying his rider back
to the city.� �Now why is he leaving when
we�re winning?��

Xxxxxxxx

Lu Ling Qi turned to the nearest officer.� �We need to redirect those catapults towards
the river.�

�We�ll put them in danger of enemy ballista fire.� The young
Colonel smiled apologetically, he backed up a few steps before continuing.
�Captain.�

Ling growled and watched the man wander back to encouraging
his men.� If she was healthy she�d have
thrown him over the wall and assumed command.�
However she was now reduced to leaning against the archer tower.� How damned long was this battle going to
take?

Her eyes could see the plumes of smoke rising from the
mountains, obviously the Depot that Cao Cao was after.� She saw her husband galloping back across the
bridge.� She frowned, why was he in such
a hurry?� She moved to the front of the
wall and saw Zhang Liao salute to an enemy officer before turning back to Guan
Du.� Why the hell was everyone coming
back when they were finally about to rout the enemy?

xxxxxxxxx�

Zhang He knew all was lost.�
He galloped back to his own lines determined to salvage what he could of
the army.� Just because their leader was
a fool did not mean any more men had to die.�
If he could save a few lives, it would ease his conscience.� He headed toward the main camp; there he
would find a prize that would possibly put Cao Cao in good spirits.� If he could deliver the Lunar Spear to the
warlord, perhaps it would buy a few of his best officers their lives.� He owed them that much.

xxxxx

Zhao Yun smiled brightly, his youthful face stood out amongst
the other officers.� �I will be happy to
assist, perhaps��

�Perhaps you can drop the pompous shit.�� Zhang Fei scratched at his armpit.�

�Yide!� Liu Bei plead.

�Pompous shit?� Zhao Yun asked and maneuvered his horse
around to look Zhang Fei in the eye.� He
wasn�t used to being harassed by other officers.� Well except when Gongsun
Zan had been drunk that one time, but his former lord
swore it was only because he had pretty hair and he mistook him for a woman in
his drunken stupor.�

�Yeah.� You got the
job, just relax and quit kissing ass.� My
brother used to make fucking sandals, he�s not your normal lord.� Now that Cao Cao or Yuan Shao, they�d like
that formal shit.�

�In the company of officers�yes.�� Zhao Yun looked around and noted the many
non-commissioned officers around them.�
�In the presence of the common soldier I will behave accordingly. �

�Mmm�your choice.� Zhang Fei shrugged.� �Let�s get going before the battle is
over.� Wen Chou just gave Cao Ren a hell
of a headache before running off.� I sort
of want to get into this fight before it�s over with.�

�Why is he retreating and leaving supplies?� Liu Bei asked
as they watched Cao Ren�s men begin to pull back.�

�It appears as if Wen Chou�s army is more interested in
those supplies than pursuing the enemy.� Zhao Yun frowned.� They were going to have to find better
allies. Reports stated that the commanding general, Wen Chou, had left on a
private mission to attack Cao Cao leaving his own force to do battle with only
subgenerals commanding.� �

Liu Bei looked up as he thought he heard thunder.� He blinked.�
�Cavalry!�

�Let�s go give them hell then!� You�re a cavalryman, aren�t you kid?� Zhang
Fei smiled and whooped, then galloped off to face the newly arrived opponent.

�That�s Cao Cao�s Elite Cavalry�� Liu Bei looked to Zhao Yun and then to Wen
Chou�s command.� �He�s going to be
annihilated by the charge to his rear.�
It�s a classic pincer attack.�

�Then we should do what damage we can and see if we can save
any of his men.�� Zhao Yun nodded to his
lord.� �Perhaps they are also frustrated
with Yuan Shao�s leadership as I once was.�
They will be seeking a new, more worthy lord soon.�

�So much for outnumbering them�� Liu Bei muttered as his new
officer lead a small regiment of cavalry into the fray.� �However I believe I have several warriors
worth more than a thousand men��

xxxxxxxxxxx

Guan Yu closed the door to the carriage and nodded to his
son.� �Get moving.�

Ping knew his father was growing
anxious.� He feared for the safety of the
two ladies and everything had gone too smoothly.� None of the lesser officers dared challenge
Guan Yu.� He slipped into the driver�s
seat of the carriage and clicked to the horses.�
They were quickly up to a trot and heading towards the southern gate.

�Leaving so soon?�

Guan Yu looked around to see Zhang Liao looking down at
him.� He listened to the carriage rumble
away and turned to his friend.� �I will
rejoin my brother.� Lord Cao has granted
me that request.�

�In the middle of a battle?�

�Liao, he is my brother.�
I will not fight against him.�

�You�re a prisoner.��
Liao reminded him.� �Who agreed to
assist us in our cause.�

�I will rejoin my brother.� Guan Yu mounted Red Hare.� �I�m sorry; I fear that when we meet again it
will be on opposite sides.�

Liao nodded.� �Take
care of yourself, my friend.� Next time
we meet�.we will not have the choice of both walking away.�

xxxx

Dun clenched his fists as he bent down to look at the
carriage tracks.� Of course he had to be
the �blind general� that had to get off his horse and practically put his nose
on the ground to see tracks.� He wanted
to rip off his eye patch and crush something but then Firestorm started nudging
him.� He stood up and growled, �Fine,
let�s go.�

He had to take one last look at the battle coming to a close
behind him.� Yes, everything was
progressing fine.� They had enough good
generals that could see to it that things were finished up around here.� Hell, the great and glorious Zhang Liao was
on the field so who needed anyone else?�
He ground his teeth and trotted through the gate to find the runaway prisoner.� He reached the center of town with its
worthless produce carts and had to dismount to find the tracks again.�� Once found he looked up to see Zhang Liao
sitting on his horse, conveniently blocking the path of the carriage
tracks.� �You traitor.�� Dun hissed and grabbed Firestorm�s
reins.�

�I am a man of honor.��
Zhang Liao narrowed his eyes at the General but did not move.� �He spared my life, so I spared him.� My debt is repaid.�

�Just like him.� Dun spat.�
�Changing sides just to keep your damned head attached.� You should have gone with him.�

�He�ll kill you.��
Liao warned.

�I�ll kill you
when I get back.�� Dun swung into the
saddle.� �Just like I should have done to
the War God when I saw him last.�

�Selfish asshole.��
Liao turned his back on him and walked away.� �Condemning your family to death with you.�

Dun drew his scimitar and turned the stallion towards Zhang
Liao.� No�not now.� Guan Yu was running away, Zhang Liao would be
here when he got back.� �I�ll deal with
you later.�� With that he kicked the
horse into a gallop and flew out of the gate.�

Xxxxxxxxxx

When they were in need of reserves it seemed like she
couldn�t find men anywhere.� Now that
they were clearly winning, archers were piled so deep it was impossible for her
to get down the stairs.� Perhaps reserves
did come.� Or perhaps she was panicking
because she feared for Liao and Dun.� She
spotted her adopted father leading his horse toward the East gate to return to
battle.�� She tried to hurry but found
that descending stairs was extraordinarily painful.� Each step jarred her and she couldn�t even
force herself to move any faster. �Liao!��
Ling hollered to get his attention before she had to chase him
elsewhere.� �Where�s Dun?�

Zhang Liao looked to her, and then looked at Cao Cao who
rode up from the North Gate.� �He went
after Guan Yu.�

�You let him?� She gasped.

�He�s a grown man.� If
he wants to die so bad, let him.�

Cao Cao raised an eyebrow.�
He had yet to see Zhang Liao so angry.�
�He has gone to rejoin his brother then?�

Dian Wei returned to his lord�s side after switching horses
with a bodyguard.� He missed the first
part of the conversation, but if Ling Qi was so flustered it meant her spouse
was missing.� He remained quiet, there was no tactful way to tell Cao Cao, �I told you so.�

�Yes.�

�What the hell!�� Ling
shouted.� �What�s wrong with you!�

�There is nothing wrong with honor, Lu Ling Qi.�� He glared at her.� She refused to back down, her nostrils flared
and her muscles tensed.� He knew he was
going to lose her.�

�Then give me your horse, because I�m going after him.�� She snapped back.

�That�s not honor, it�s stupidity.�

�Dun is my husband and I will be by his side no matter what
decision he has made!� She fumed.�

�How unfortunate for you and your child.� Liao sat down and
slammed his halberd into the ground beside him.�
He knew this would be her reaction, he knew her too well.�

�Fine.� Maybe you�re
content to just watch everyone die, but I sure as hell am not!� I�ll be the one to challenge fate and I�ll be
damned if I�m going to lose this time!��
Ling turned to Cao Cao. �My lord, I need to borrow a horse.�

Cao Cao shook his head.�
�I can�t let you�I owe Dun that.�

�You�re the one who ordered me to take care of him!�� She said incredulously and looked to the
faces around her.� Cao Cao just gave her a sympathetic frown, while Liao�s fury burned in his brown eyes. The only one who
looked at her with the slightest bit of understanding was Dian Wei.� She looked back to Cao Cao,
annoyed with herself for playing the part of bodyguard
so well that her lord�s lapdog could sympathize.��

Cao Cao put his hands on her arms,
figuring she was bound to take a swing at him if he didn�t.� �Ling, you already have.� Stay here and protect his child, that�s all
you can do.� He has already made up his
mind��

�Father, already moving in on her?�� Cao Pi giggled, slightly tipsy from the victory
keg of musou wine he had finished off.�
He leaned in towards his fathers shoulder and whispered loudly enough
for all of Nanman to hear,�
�Uncle Dun�s not even cold yet!�

Cao Cao winced as Ling�s fist connected with Pi�s lower
jaw.� He hadn�t anticipated the girl
having a nasty uppercut, which seemed to make his previous brilliant idea null
and void.� He released her arms and she
hit Pi again.� The young Cao dropped to
his knees and spat out some blood.� �The kid deserved it.� The notion of Dun being dead made his stomach
turn.� ��Take Shadowless, his gait is smooth; he won�t
be as unpleasant for you to ride.�

Ling looked up to him and saw the worry on his face. �Everyone thought Dun was going to die!� �Thank you.�

Cao Cao avoided Liao�s eyes as Ling tried her best to hurry
to his horse that was now being watered by a nameless aide.� �I can�t deny her request.� No more than Guan Yu could deny Diao Chan�s.�

�It�s her decision.��
Liao fumed.� �I just taught her
better.�

�Doesn�t feel like much of a victory any more, does
it?�� Cao Cao poured himself some wine
and did the same for Liao.� He looked up
as Ling struggled to mount his horse.�
She was weak and in pain, but her resolve was firm.� She paused before throwing herself into the
saddle and doing her best to retain her composure.�
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Legacy of the Lunar Spear