Rebuilding

Yun and his men were stationed on the west gate while the rest was either around the south or east gate making Taishi Ci furious as it was them to capture the east gate.

"Why do we have to rebuild the burned building while the rest is only watching us," says Taishi Ci furiously as he was carrying wood.

"The Commander asked for the west gate. Colonel Zou Jing wanted to give him command over the south gate but our commander thought of rebuilding the city as a training for our group," says Tang Shi who was carrying more wood than Taishi Ci.

"You need to train more Squad Captain or someone might take your place soon," says Tang Shi as he passed Taishi Ci leaving him behind.

Yun was hammering nails into the wood using his fingers as an exercise while the others only could use their fists. He was seeing this not only as an exercise but also for team building as everyone had to work together to finish rebuilding the building they burned down.

Yun didn't even know what was coming towards him when the messenger arrived at Guangyang. He had four letters and all were imperial decrees.

At first, the messenger walked into Colonel Zou Jing's tent and told him that he was promoted to Governor of You until his Highness found a better person to lead the Province.

Then he went to meet Commander You telling him that he was promoted to a Commander of 2000 men. You Xin was quite happy that he was rewarded for his and his men's efforts.

And once the messenger reached Yun who was hammering nails with his finger into the wood the messenger says, "Zhao 'Zilong' Yun, by the authority giv⅞en to me by the Emperor. You are being promoted to General of 5000 men for your merits in helping the middle plains and the north."

"You are also awarded the title 'The General who Pacified the North'. His Highness also sent more stones of rice towards Zhending as well as some smiths to help to maintain your armors and weapons," says the messenger as Yun wasn't showing emotions on his face but inside he only sighs to himself.

'I should have lost against Lu Bu. That way I wouldn't be in the eyes of the Emperor and He Jin. It will be now harder to decline to fight against the Eunuch Fraction in some years. At least my name will spread much faster than expected,' thinks Yun as he accepted everything by taking the Imperial Decree.

He wanted to continue working when the messenger says, "Sir, I still have another Imperial Decree that involves you and Liu 'Xuande' Bei."

"Do I have to be present for that?" asks Yun as he was busy and the messenger could see that he wasn't lying about that.

"It's just for a moment, sir. You can return to rebuilding the house after I have done my part," says the messenger as Yun walked towards the messenger who seemed scared for a moment until he felt Yun's hand on his shoulder.

"Then let us go. The faster we get this behind us the faster I can concentrate on building the houses," says Yun as he passed the messenger who sighed in relief.

"Tang Shi, you are in command until I return," says Yun as Tang Shi nods before he continued carrying wood.

Yun and the messenger left to look for Liu Bei who is most likely near the north gate. The voluntary army was stationed there just in case the Mongols want to raid the city.

Yun arrived at the north gate and he spotted Liu Bei right away as he was sitting with his brothers. He seemed absent-minded as he didn't notice Yun and the messenger approaching him.

His brothers, on the other hand, saw Yun approach them. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei stood up while grabbing for their weapon when Liu Bei saw Yun come towards them he stood up as well but he didn't go for his weapon.

"What do you want here? Don't you have already cause enough trouble for my oldest brother," says Zhang Fei as Yun looked him into the eyes showing no emotions at all making Zhang Fei nervous since he doesn't know how to deal with Yun.

"Trust me, if it was me I would rather be building a house right now instead of drinking and sitting around," says Yun as he already saw the gourd with wine on the table.

"Are you Liu Bei?" asks the messenger beside Yun to Zhang Fei when Yun shakes his head.

"Liu Bei is the man protected by those two. Liu Bei, you shouldn't hide and come forwards. I still have work to do," says Yun as he didn't like to stay near Liu Bei and the other two.

Liu Bei walked forwards and the messenger looked at him and asks, "You are Liu Bei?"

"Indeed, what can I do for you, my friend?" asks Liu Bei as the messenger took the last decree out of his bag.

"Liu 'Xuande' Bei, by the power bestowed upon me by the Emperor and his decree. I'm here to inform you that you are under investigation for portraying yourself as a person related to the Emperor," says the messenger as Yun looked at the messenger.

"Why did you need me here if I am not even mentioned in it?" asks Yun dangerously as he has better things to do than playing bodyguard.

"I haven't finished yet," says the messenger nervous.

"Until the investigation is over and it is proven that imperial blood flows in your veins you will be placed under General Zhao 'Zilong' Yun until this investigation is over," says the messenger when Yun was now not angry but furious as he broke the table the trio was drinking with his fist scaring the messenger.

"You have to be kidding me," says Yun looking at the messenger who hides behind the decree.

"Are you going against the Emperor's words and orders," says the messenger nervous as Yun approached him.

Yun took the decree from the messenger and continues reading, "If it is proven that you are part of the Imperial Family you will receive a title recognizing you as royalty. Shouldn't it be proven you will be called to Luoyang to receive your punishment for portraying royalty."

"Which means death by whatever the Emperor decides even your family will be killed off until no one in your line is alive," says Yun adding more information to what could happen.

"You should have known that throwing your name around like that would one day pick the attention of someone big. In your case it was the Emperor," says Yun as he threw the decree at Liu Bei.

"Since the Emperor wants me to overwatch you. I want you and your men on the east gate after reporting to Colonel Zou Jing that you were put under my command. The men should join the others and that counts for you three as well," says Yun as he leaves them while saying, "You have two hours to accomplish what I said right now. If you haven't finished by then I will send a letter to Luoyang asking for allowance to discipline you harshly."

'Now I also have to be a babysitter for the Emperor. At least I have a reason not to join the fight against the Eunuch Fraction with me having to keep an eye on Liu Bei,' thinks Yun as he walked back to his camp.

'Now I will have to recruit more men and build a cavalry and archers squads under the lead of some people I trust,' thinks Yun when he sees Tang Shi working hard.

"Commander," says Tang Shi as he looked at Yun.

"It's General now," says Yun informing Tang Shi about his new position before continuing, "And you are my second-in-command as always, but I will have to make three people into my commanders."

"Who do you have in mind?" asks Tang Shi knowing that Yun already had some people in mind.

"My brother will be leading the cavalry division once we have the money to buy the horses. Taishi Ci will be leading the archery division. He is a gifted Archer and should have no problem with leading men into battle," says Yun as Tang Shi could see what Yun doesn't have anyone in mind for the Infantry Division.

"So who is going to be the commander for the Infantry?" asks Tang Shi curious about this matter.

"I still don't know who I will put in charge. Maybe we recruit someone interesting like Taishi Ci," says Yun as he looked at his men working when the voluntary army joined his men.

Liu Bei and his brothers joined Yun and Tang Shi when Liu Bei asks, "What do we have to do?"

"First, you help us rebuild the houses. After we finished with it we will begin the real training," says Yun as he walked back to his working place.

Yun began to work again while thinking, 'I hope to row another Legend or two into my troops with the next recruitment. Most of them are still without affiliation making it easy for me to recruit them.'

Yun was hitting the nail into the wood when suddenly a face of an old man appeared in his mind.

Flashback Athena teaching Arthur

"There are just too many important people in the Three Kingdoms and I won't be able to recruit them all and even if I do I have to be careful that they don't betray me," says Arthur as he had his head on his desk.

"Then start with people that can be won over easily," says Athena as she opened a book showing the face of an old man with white hair and beard.

"Huang Zhong?" asks Yun as Athena nods.

"Indeed, Huang Zhong is someone that could be loyal to you easily. You just have to do one thing," says Athena as she points her finger at the paragraph beside the picture.

Arthur reads it and says, "You want me to use his son."

"Exactly, you can use your Light Qi to heal him from his illness. He will be bound to you for saving his son and future generations since Huang Xu is his only son," says Athena as she looked at Arthur.

"So I save his son and I will have a great general by my side," says Arthur when Athena shakes her head.

"Not a 'Great General' but a 'Great Man'. There are more you can tie to your chariot but you still have to earn their respect and loyalty. Just saving his son's life won't make him loyal to you," says Athena as she turned some pages and she stopped at another person.

"He can be useful to you too. It depends if you are faster than Cao Cao," says Athena as the portrayed man was bald but had a fierce aura around him.

"Dian Wei," says Arthur as Athena nods.

"You should start with those two. The others will come with the reputation you build in that world," says Athena advising Arthur who to recruit first if he can.

Flashback ends

'I should look for those two while I recruit the new troops. I can use Huang Zhong as my Infantry Commander since he already has the experience,' thinks Yun as he continued working but had a smile on his face.