Outside of Yun Nan

[Mr Guan Yu]

"Halt!"

A loud booming voice could be heard in the lands a little north of Yun Nan. They weren't too long from the city, just out of eye sight for the watchmen of the walls of the city of Yun Nan. There stood one thousand horsemen, and a large ram behind one single man. The formation for the riders were that so there was probably five in a row and the covered ram was in the middle of the form.

The man in front of the troops rode on a marvelous horse, with a magnificent red coat. He looked back to the troops and two the two men on each side of him. He ran his left hand through his long beard and closed his eyes.

"Are you two prepared to meet their leaders?"

The deep voice beckoned again. The men around him spoke amongst themselves, trying to take in their surroundings using what little light they could from the rising sun. The man was recognized as the valiant officer of Shu named Guan Yu. He spoke to two others, one newly recruited general and the other an older officer of Shu, but amazingly young in his years.

[Mr Jiang Wei]

The rumors had been true. Tian Shui seemed as a frigid tomb of ice compared to the wanton humidity that permeated the Nan Zhong province. One does not breathe air here, one quaffs it The soldiers under his command marched onward, seemingly unmoved by the weather, much to his satisfaction. They would need all the discipline that could be mustered should conflict result; the Nanman were a culture of warriors and would be a considerable challenge.

Jiang Wei rode at the head, but did not turn back to watch them. He trusted in his men to follow his orders and to demonstrate the discipline that they had been taught and drilled upon time and again. The catapult as well as the supply wagons in his possession was escorted by a box of spears and his scouts fanned out on either side of the army, their hawk eyes piercing the jungle, looking for signs of ambush. The combat medics had interspersed themselves among his troops and as one fell out of step and wound up walking beside him, she offered a salute and quickly corrected her pace, returning to the lines.

She. It was something that he had great issue with, putting women at risk on the battlefield. It was not an opinion born out of malice or arrogance: Jiang Wei saw all battle as an unfortunate solution and, were he able to have his way, he would not fight another again. But the people of the land would not allow such things and that meant, unfortunately, tragic circumstances such as having women who had no desire to harm, only to save life, be put in the line of fire.

She should be married, concerned only with raising her children in peace and being loved by those who care for her... not this.

Forcing himself back to the present, Jiang Wei rode up alongside Lord Guan Yu and saluted, clasping his fist in his hand. As the tactician of the army, his obligation was to use all of his resources to both preserve and bring victory to his army, not wallow in tragedy he could do nothing to change.

"My Lord has but to lead the way, I follow."

[Liu Shan]

Guan Yu, a man of great reputation in war and one who could be seen as a God. Beside him a young battle tactician of the name Jiang Wei, the protégé of the land; though his mind still young. Quite the combination for a possible battle, however, something was missing; another warrior. Yun Nan was well fortified, thanks to the efforts by the former Yellow Turban leader, Zhang Jiao, who soon disappeared after the defeat of Dong Zhuo at Luoyang. Now in the hands of the city elders, it would be them to decide the fate of both the city itself and their people. To the right of Yu arrived a beast of a man upong a black gelding, strapped to his back were two hook swords; freshly sharped and craving for enemy blood. In the warrior's right hand, a deadly polearm that would soon be cutting down soldiers; or so the beats hoped.

This giant was Yan Liang, one of the greatest warriors from the North. With a smile on his mouth Liang nodded towards Yu and then to Wei, it had been far too long since the beast of the North had been in battle; every limb aching to rip and tear the enemy apart. As usual Liang's voice bellowed from his mouth, with growling under-tones that made him quite feared when the voice was used as a battle-cry. "Pah! They better make the right decision. Otherwise..." A short but loud laugh began to rise through his words, Liang hoped that they would make the wrong choice. "... I'm going to have me some fun today." Behind Liang were a unit of halberdiers, a mixture of well trained soldiers with those who could be considered as self-trained or bandits. Compared to the troops that Yun Nan holds they would be placed against quite a frightening foe, however, they feared Yan Liang than what was behind the walls; they knew their fate if they ran... Something not worth thinking about. Ready, Liang waited for the two others, knowing that his mouth would have to stay shut if this would work...

[Mr Guan Yu]

"Good. We shall see to this very well. Now men. To--"

"Father!"

As Guan was about to order the other two generals forward so that they could meet with the city's leaders, a young man rode up to Guan Yu one a young stallion. The young man resembled General Guan in a slight matter and stopped in front of his father with a letter in his hand.

"Xing? What are you doing here?"

Guan looked down in surprise of his son. He had not expected him to be all the way in Yun Nan, but here he was. He was delivering a message from their lord and Guan took it happily. Guan's eyes scanned over the letter and he sighed.

"This message from our lord... he asks for Jiang Wei to return to Chengdu. Jiang Wei i have a request. Leave us a group of your medics and have your scouts continue to do their searching. Liang and i will ride into Yun Nan and speak with them. Hopefully we will be able to talk the kings into coming to us as requested... Xing... you escort Lord Jiang back to Chengdu. I do not want to see you here."

"Yes father."

[Mr Jiang Wei]

It was a surprising change, but then Lord Liu Bei's word was law to them and Jiang Wei had to comply.

"Of course Lord Guan Yu, I will leave immediately. I shall entrust the units you have requested to your care. Please, I implore you to remember the deliberations of the council before we began our march. The people of Yun Nan need not be our enemy, and needless conflict will drive them to resent us. Both you and Master Yan Liang stand as two of the mightiest warriors in the land. Earn their respect though such demonstrations of prowess and might and you will win them over. I take my leave now, fight with honor," he declared, saluting.

Returning to his battalion, Jiang Wei called the various captains forward and spoke quickly.

"The scouts and one unit of the medics will remain here and assist the army with their offensive actions. I expect both units to act in accordance with the proud tradition of the warriors of Shu and obey the orders of Lord Guan Yu and Master Yan Liang. The rest of you, with me, we return to Cheng Du!"

The medics moved to merge with the others in Guan Yu's unit while the scouts hurried to the flanks of the remaining army before resuming their patrols.

Jiang Wei has begun marching back to Cheng Du. 1 Unit of Scouts and 1 Unit of Medics remains behind with the army under the command of Guan Yu

[Mr Guan Yu]

Guan nodded to Jiang Wei as he rode off with his troops and Guan's son. Guan stroked his beard and turned his head towards Yan Liang and nodded to him.

"Lieutenant. You all camp out here. Yan Liang and I shall return shortly."

Guan said as he nodded to Yan Liang and the Red Hare started off towards Yun Nan, leaving a large trail of dust from its magnificent speed.