158 The Battle for Nanpi part 1
The five days passed in a flash, Yun and his army were ready to leave again for their next destination which was Nanpi for him and part of his army. They marched and Yun called for Fang and Zheng who were accompanied by Sima Yi and Lu Xun.
"You called for us," say Fang and Zheng at the same time standing before Yun who was holding a bowl with rice in it.
"Yes, it was to inform you both that you will be standing at the front to earn some prestige which will allow me to promote you to a higher rank. If I were to just promote you for doing nothing, people will think that I am showing preference toward my sons instead of promoting people who accomplished something like Lu Meng," says Yun telling his sons that he won't promote them to any higher except they achieve to gain some glory on the battlefield.
"Who will be leading the attack?" asks Fang curious since his father won't be standing at the front this time.
"Huang Zhong will be the General to lead the front this time. We won't be expecting many soldiers in Nanpi just like in Pingyuan the most must have gone to help Ye," says Yun informing them of a possibility that wasn't confirmed yet.
"So we aren't sure about that?" asks Sima Yi trying to get as much information as possible to help Fang navigate his troops to success.
"That is right, we don't have any proof of that yet until we stand before the city and see how many people are stationed on the walls. But a scout told us about the city being too tranquil to be hosting a large army on the inside," says Yun informing them again.
"This is all I have to say. You both can leave for now. I and Pang Tong want to talk to your strategists before sending them back to you," says Yun dismissing his sons while keeping Sima Yi and Lu Xun there.
"Do you know why I have kept you here?" asks Yun the two standing before him.
"To see if we are ready for this task?" asks Lu Xun as Yun looks at him.
"Is that a question or your answer?" asks Yun showing no emotions on his face.
"The answer," says Lu Xun with conviction in his voice when Yun just grins.
"The wrong answer but you were close to it. I wanted to ask you a question about what you were thinking Is the meaning behind me stationing you two with my sons?" asks Yun out of them.
"Because they are important to you," says Sima Yi trying his luck since this was a trick question in his opinion.
"Because one day my sons will be leading this army and they will need someone they can trust in just like I do with Pang Tong and Tang Shi. We all know that Fang will be the next head which will make Sima Yi take Pang Tong's place once he retires. Lu Xun will take care of it once Sima Yi retires as well. We all have a day when we won't be standing on the same earth and when that day comes I want to be sure to have left everything in capable hands," says Yun telling them in an honest and warm tone that he is seeing the future while looking at Sima Yi and Lu Xun helping his sons.
"What about Zhuge Liang?" asks Pang Tong worried since Zhuge Liang and he studied once together.
"He will be a pillar as well. But for the Wei and not Zhao. The Wei Clan has been part of the Zhao Clan since my younger sister married Wei Yan. If both of them could just see past each other's differences they would have been able to achieve a lot more. He would fo a great service to me and my family," says Yun as he could feel someone listening to their conversation from outside the tent.
Yun thought that it must be Zhuge Liang since Pang Tong mentioned his colleague not even a moment ago. Pang Tong was smiling from ear to ear showing his teeth and birthmark which could scare some people but this only confirmed it to Yun that Zhuge Liang was outside the tent listening to what Yun just said.
Yun could feel Zhuge Liang leaving the area when he looked at Pang Tong and he says, "The next time you want to make someone feel better inform me beforehand. Anyway, you two are dismissed. Return to my sons and prepare for the Battle for Nanpi."
Lu Xun and Sima Yi leave the tent and Yun begins to eat again his rice while Dian Wei is a bit worried since Yun is sending Fang and Zheng out to fight with their lives on the line.
"My Lord, are you sure about sending both of your sons to fight in this battle? What if they suffer a grave injury or they die?" asks Dian Wei worried as Pang Tong had the same thoughts in his head but he didn't show it on his face.
"I need to begin to trust in them and believe that they will return with good news since I can't hold their hands forever," says Yun also worried but he knows that he can't protect them forever.
They will need to climb out of his shadow and make their own legacy instead of staying in his and his brother's shadows forever. This was just a stepping stone to make it possible in Yun's eyes.
They soon arrived at the outskirts of Nanpi and they opened camp while Yun was looking toward the city and told Pang Tong to order the troops to rest and prepare for the upcoming battle.
The very next day, Yun was sitting on Thunder while looking over his army who was ready to attack Nanpi when a second army appeared from the east of the city.
The army has similar banners to those on the city wall making Yun just curse, "Fuck!"
'I should have left Pingyuan earlier to avoid this situation,' thinks Yun angry with himself since he wanted to avoid Yuan Tan and his army because Cao Cao could order him to dispose of Yuan Tan.
Pang Tong looked towards Yun and waited for the decision Yun was going to take when he saw Yun take a long and deep breath in before infusing Qi into his vocal cords.
"Take the city! Everyone charges together!" shouts Yun while pointing his spear at Nanpi.
Everyone nearby heard Yun's voice thanks to the Qi which made many believe that an immortal was about to attack the city going by the force behind the voice.
The soldiers marched toward the city with Huang Zhong leading the troops at the front toward Nanpi Zheng was leading his hundred men near the middle following Lu Xun's advice while Fang was in the left wing with his men as Sima Yi advised him.
"You are sure that this will work?" asks Fang since he was working the first time with a strategist together as they charged Nanpi.
"This way we will be able to get faster to the north or west gate and take it while fighting our way through," says Sima Yi showing his wits as he planned ahead since taking one of the gates will gain them some recognition.
On the other hand, Zheng who was quite nervous just like Lu Xun tried to be more aggressive in their way to get some recognition by joining Huang Zhong in taking the south gate before moving to the north or east gate.
It was Zheng's first battle in which he was standing in the front row instead of the backline as he did last time. He would find out soon if he is made for this life or not when he kills his first enemy.
Lu Xun was the same trying to calm down as they roared at the enemy trying to fuel themselves with courage while rushing at the enemy. Yun was seeing everything from the distance with Pang Tong and Tang Shi.
"What do you think Zheng's reaction will be after the battle is done?" asks Yun as it sounded almost like he wanted to gamble on Zheng's reaction.
"He won't be happy when he finds out," says Pang Tong as Yun grins at him.
"He will never find out," says Yun seeing the troops almost at the gate.
"Then I bet on him vomiting everything that he still has in the stomach out the same goes for Lu Xun," says Tang Shi going first while betting on the obvious choice since he did the same the first time he killed someone as did Yun as well.
"I bet that Lu Xun will be the only one to vomit everything out once the battle is over," says Pang Tong not believing in his student keeping it inside of him.
"I think that neither of them will vomit. But this might be Zheng's first and last campaign," says Yun sounding ominous as both, Pang Tong and Tang Shi, looked at him worried.
"Are you proclaiming that your son won't be seeing the next morning," says Pang Tong angry with Yun.
"I didn't imply on his death. I said that this will be most likely his first and last campaign which will make him overthink standing on the battlefield," says Yun explaining that he wasn't talking about his son's demise but him retiring from being a soldier.
That's what Yun was thinking when he suddenly saw green flames break the south gate like he did before with his Lightning Qi and he says, "I think I have lost my bet."
"Who was that?" asks Tang Shi while Yun was holding his forehead.
"That was Zheng," says Yun surprised by Zheng's strength and not the green flames as the army rapidly stormed into the city.
Yun walked toward Thunder and jumped on the saddle before saying, "We should get closer to the action since we will be dealing with Yuan Tan once Nanpi has fallen."
Tang Shi and Pang Tong nod in agreement as they joined Yun who rode out first followed by Dian Wei and Zhang He.
