Strategists Interview

He looks at number two who was a young man around Pang Tong's age. He had long fair hair which reached almost the end of his back and brown eyes which were shrouded in mystery. He was holding a five-feathered fan and white scholar clothes.

"Kong Ming, you are next," says Yun calling him forward.

Kong Ming walked forward and sat down as did Sima Yi before when Yun looks at the calm face Kong Ming was having when Yun smiles at him.

"I can see that almost everyone is using their courtesy name to enter this examination," says Yun which surprised Kong Ming but he didn't show it on his face until Yun says, "Aren't I right, Zhuge Liang."

"How did you know?" asks Zhuge Liang after a moment of silence.

"I know the names of people that could become my future enemies or friends. If I wasn't informed I wouldn't be in the position I am in right now," says Yun looking through him.

"You even brought your wife with you. I hope that Pang Tong didn't praise you too much since you will be going through the same hellish training as him. If you can't survive the training you will be expulsed and you will have another chance next time I will hold this examination," says Yun as he looked at the list and crossed the next name from the list just to replace it with another name.

"You can return to your position," says Yun as Zhuge Liang gave a slight bow before returning to his position when Yun says, "Next is Huang Yueying."

"Yes, my Lord," says Yueying which was a bronze-skinned maiden with green eyes and brown hair.

"Your roots must be from the land where the sun goes down," says Yun hinting that she came from India.

"You can remove the vial. No one will dare to touch you while being here. We have strict rules that every soldier has to follow which also includes me. If one were to break those rules they would be punished for breaking them," says Yun as he looked her in the eyes.

"What are the punishments that you are talking about?" asks Yueying curious about them.

"It depends on the rule you break," says Yun as he smiles at her warmly.

"If it was a simple rule which didn't harm anyone it would be extra training but if you break the most important rule you could be executed by military law. I have already killed ten of my men because they broke the most important rule," says Yun as his voice turned cold.

"But you all don't have to worry about breaking the rules since you aren't in my army yet but you should expect that you are getting disqualified for breaking them," says Yun as he looked past Yueying to everyone in the room.

"Pang Tong will be telling you about the rules you will be following after this interview. But for now return to your place, Huang Yueying," says Yun sending her back.

This went on as Yun asked to bring some clothes for the women that posed as men so they could be more comfortable while changing outside while Yun continued with the men and women that were still inside the room.

The women soon returned and Yun talked to them when he looks at number fourteen. He is a man which looked like he never did any exercise in his life he was wearing white scholar clothes like Zhuge Liang.

Yun looked at the name on the list and was a bit surprised when he says, "Feng Xian, come forward."

Feng Xian did so and sat down in front of Yun. Feng Xian has short black hair and dark brown eyes and Yun knew very well who was sitting across from him.

"How was your encounter with Yuan Shao?" asks Yun which surprised Feng Xian for a moment before he recovered rapidly.

"It wasn't much to my pleasing since Yuan Shao wants to imitate Duke of Zhou but doesn't know how to tap into their abilities," says Feng Xian calmly as Yun smiles.

"I know what you mean. I had to deal with his older half-brother. They can be quite narrow-minded," says Yun joking about it before he turned serious, "But Guo Jia, why come to Zhending after meeting Yuan Shao. You could look like a spy sent by him."

"I am not," says Guo Jia not surprised that Yun knew his name since he knew about him meeting Yuan Shao.

"I hope so for your own good," says Yun warning him and everyone else in the room at the same time.

"You can return to your spot," says Yun as he removes another name and puts the real name under it.

Then he looked at number eighteen which was another young man with short black hair which seemed a bit wild and dark brown eyes which seemed scared.

Yun was confused why number eighteen was scared now and not before until Yun read the name on the list and he smiles before saying, "Xu Shu, come forward."

Xu Shu was wearing a green and white scholar outfit as he approaches Yun slowly while being nervous. He reached the seat across from Yun and sat down looking him into the eyes.

"Are you trying to get yourself expulsed from the exam?" asks Yun seriously as he looked at Xu Shu who shakes his head.

"No, of course not, I am just a bit nervous because of something else," says Xu Shu as he tried to remain calm.

"You have quite the fit body for a scholar I must say," says Yun complimenting Xu Shu before he pulled the trigger and says, "But I shouldn't be surprised about that since you are a wanted murderer. Aren't I right, Shan Fu?"

Xu Shu's nightmare came true when Yun said his real name. He didn't know what to do when Yun says, "Don't be nervous about your past. We all are murderers in a way."

"Anyway, how should I call you by your real name or the one you have written down?" asks Yun out of Xu Shu who thought for a moment.

"Xu Shu is my name," says Xu Shu with confidence as Yun smiles and looks at the list.

"Then I won't stop you return to the formation," says Yun as he looked at the last name on the list.

He looks up and looks at a young man with excitement since he knew very well that he must be a spy sent by Cao Cao.

"Wen Ruo, come forward," says Yun as Wen Ruo walked forward.

He has dark short black hair and black eyes while wearing a black and dark blue scholar outfit which suited him. He sat down across from Yun who only smiled at him.

"How is Cao Cao doing? It must be quite dire to send his only strategist to spy on me," says Yun as Wen Ruo flinched for a moment.

"He is doing fine but he is looking for an excuse to attack Tao Qian which he received last year with the death of his father but he can't move since his flank would be wide-open for the enemy to strike at him while he is gone," says Wen Ruo as Yun smiles at him.

"Well, well, it seems you didn't come for the exam but to recruit me instead, am I right, Xun Yu," says Yun looking through him.

"I was sent to negotiate but I wanted to see how many talented people would participate in this exam," says Xun Yu showing part of his hand to Yun.

"The other thing must be to assess my true strength and if I could be a threat to Cao Cao," says Yun revealing the rest of Xun Yu's hand.

"It seems that many people are underestimating your intelligence," says Xun Yu as Yun only smirks at him.

"If you are here to negotiate I will remove your name from the list. Also if Cao Cao wants to have me by his side he must give me Puyang and pay me with gold and rations," says Yun as Xun Yu looked at Yun confused.

"Puyang? Why Puyang, it isn't even a big city like Juancheng?" asks Xun Yu which seemed unreasonable in his mind.

"It's because it isn't a big city that I want Puyang," says Yun as he wasn't revealing why he wanted Puyang.

"Also, Cao Cao would never give me a big city just to have me by his side. I rather get paid and live in a small city than in a big city and feel hunger. I will await his answer by next month," says Yun as he removes the name from the list.

He hands the list over to Pang Tong and says, "Pang Tong take them to the barracks. You know what to do from then on."

"Yes, my Lord," says Pang Tong as he looks at everyone and says, "Follow me, I will take you to your new home for the next month."

Pang Tong then leads everyone out of the room and Xun Yu was still sitting across from Yun when he says, "So you want Puyang as well as rations and gold."

"That's right. Puyang will be an excellent starting point for me and my army to serve Cao Cao. Also, I will never attack Zhending even if Cao Cao commands it of me," says Yun giving Xun Yu his conditions.

"Is that all?" asks Xun Yu as Yun smiles at him.

"That would be all for now. I will inform him of my other conditions once I meet him face to face," says Yun as he stands up and Xun Yu stands up as well.

"I will inform him about everything. I hope to meet you again," says Xun Yu as they leave the room.

Yun accompanied Xun Yu him through the manor when Snowflake came walking towards Yun carrying the youngest of the Zhao household. Zhao Zheng was clenching onto Snowflake while smiling when Xun Yu became nervous because of Snowflake.

"Don't worry, the tigers don't attack if not provoked," says Yun as he put his hand on Snowflake's head before crawling him under it.

"Do you want to try it?" asks Yun as Xun Yu was scared when Yun chuckles for a moment.

"You and Pang Tong are really the same. You can't stand near a Tiger," says Yun as he looks at Snowflake and says, "Go and take the little one for a walk while I take my guest out."

Snowflake continues on his way as Xun Yu was stiff as the Tiger passed him while facing it when Yun takes him by surprise when he puts his hand on Xun Yu's shoulder.

"Wow, calm down, you are worse than Pang Tong when it comes to them it seems," says Yun as he felt Xun Yu make a slight jump when he touched his shoulder.

They walked for a bit more before they reached the entrance to the mansion and Yun leaves Xun Yu at the gate and sees a man waiting there for him it seems.

Yun looked at the man and smiles before saying, "It's nice to meet you again, Xiahou Dun. I hope to meet you again soon."

Yun then turned around and entered the mansion again before Xiahou Dun could say anything.