Legend of Mir 2: Seeking the Truth in Marfa

Dangyang, Changbanpo.

Brooke Bayin landed on a military road at a Wei military stronghold.

"Everyone, gather quickly! Listen up! Liu Bei's fleeing army is five miles ahead. Prime Minister Cao has ordered us to catch up to Liu Bei today! Whoever can bring Liu Bei's head will be rewarded with a thousand gold coins and ten thousand households!"

Following the shouts of the stronghold captain, the soldiers who had just arrived at the battlefield were very excited.

This kind of scene of soldiers gathering, the captain encouraging them, and assigning tasks was something they had seen many times before. Brook and the other two were too lazy to pay attention to it. While no one was paying attention, they teleported directly to a distant mountain with a whoosh.

A large road at the foot of the mountain was filled with people fleeing, carrying bags, bamboo baskets, and driving ox carts. Civilians with their families mixed with many soldiers holding spears, swords, and halberds, escorting baggage and food.

In the distance, smoke and dust billowed as a group of elite Wei cavalry arrived and began fighting with the Shu soldiers at the rear.

"We found Zhao Yun! Look, he is still in front of the team." Bayin said, pointing to a Shu general wearing a silver helmet and riding a white horse in front of the team.

"Yeah, I see. He hasn't awakened yet, so we have to wait patiently. It's still early, let's take a rest first." Brook sat down cross-legged.

Although Zuo Ci claimed Zhao Yun possessed the Blue Dragon Gall, he didn't mention it was there from the start. As far as they knew, the renowned Qingguang Sword, Zhao Yun's sword, was captured after defeating Xiahou En at Changbanpo. The Blue Dragon Gall likely only appeared after some event, much like the Xuanwu Secret Stone wielded by Huang Gai during the Battle of Red Cliffs. If they rushed in now and killed Zhao Yun outright, they would likely gain nothing.

Originally, Brook was planning to choose the Shu Kingdom camp. This would make it easier for him to investigate the situation, and he could even follow Zhao Yun directly, waiting to confirm that Zhao Yun had the Green Dragon Gallbladder before taking it away.

However, the elders of Wushuang City had said that if they killed their own generals, the quartermaster would refuse service. With so many people at Changbanpo, it would be difficult to teleport Zhao Yun away in public. They had no choice but to settle for the next best option, Wei.

"It's really chaotic down there. If Liu Bei wanted to escape, why did he take so many civilians with him?" Brooke asked in confusion as he watched Liu Bei's team trying desperately to escape but moving slowly.

"It's not that Liu Bei wants to take them away, it's that these people voluntarily follow Liu Bei." Bayin has read many books and knows more clearly.

"Oh? Liu Bei is so popular. But I still can't understand. Since Liu Bei is so popular among the military and civilians, and he has Zhuge Liang as his literary advisor, and Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun as his military advisor, why did he end up like this and flee in such a miserable state?" Brooke was puzzled.

"This isn't Liu Bei or Zhuge Liang's fault. This is Liu Cong's fault."

“Liu Cong?”

"Liu Biao of Jingzhou died of illness, and his second son Liu Cong succeeded him. It just so happened that Cao Cao unified the north at this time and gathered his army to march south. Liu Cong used all sorts of tricks to seize the throne, but unexpectedly, he was intimidated by Cao Cao and surrendered without a fight, handing over Jingzhou directly. He surrendered without notifying Liu Bei in Fancheng. By the time Liu Bei got the news, Cao Cao's army was already at the gates of the city. Liu Bei was unprepared, and with insufficient troops, he could only lead more than 1000 soldiers to abandon the city and flee. When passing through Xiangyang, hundreds of thousands of Xiangyang people volunteered to follow him. Liu Bei couldn't bear to abandon them and agreed. As a result, the team's march slowed down. Cao Cao knew that Liu Bei was not an easy man, so he personally led more than 5000 elite cavalrymen on a 300-li night march to catch up. It is said that among them were the world's most powerful Tiger and Leopard Cavalry."

"I see. Alas, why can't I see Guan Yu?" Brooke searched through the detection necklace, but couldn't find Guan Yu.

"Guan Yu was not at Changbanpo at the time. He had been ordered to go to Jiangxia to seek aid from Liu Biao's eldest son, Liu Qi."

“Oh, you know so much…”

Brook and Bayin sat on the top of the mountain, resting and chatting, observing the situation on the battlefield, quietly waiting for the opportunity to come.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

Liu Bei's army and civilians were numerous, but few were armored. After a chaotic battle, they were quickly defeated by the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry. Liu Bei led only a handful of men across the Changban Bridge, the front line. Just three more miles would have completely freed them from Changbanpo. But they stopped.

Brooke was curious and put on an invisibility ring to fly over to find out the news.

"I have led my men back and searched for four or five miles, asking the people along the way, but there is still no news of Madam Gan, Madam Mi, the young master, and the two young ladies! If we go any further, we will encounter Cao's army... Damn this subordinate!"

"...It's none of your business... Get up, thank you for your hard work."

"Report~My lord! General Zhao Yun is missing." Another lieutenant came to report.

“Zilong? Where did he go?”

"Someone saw General Zhao Yun riding the Jade Lion of the Night towards Cao Cao's army! Perhaps... General Zhao was about to surrender to Cao Cao."

"Stop talking nonsense! Zilong is a loyal and courageous man. He would never abandon me at this moment!" Liu Bei was furious. He drew his double-edged sword and pointed it at the lieutenant, shouting, "If you dare to spread rumors again, I will chop you down with my sword!"

"Yes, yes! I dare not talk nonsense!"

"Alas! The baggage is lost, the people are lost, my sister-in-law and nephews and nieces are lost, and now even Zilong is lost! Brother, what should we do now?" Zhang Fei sighed on the side.

"Zilong will definitely come back... Cao Cao is pursuing us very quickly, and I'm afraid he has guessed our marching route. Kong Ming has personally led people to explore the way ahead. The original plan to go to Jiangling will change, and we may have to go to Jiangxia instead. There is no other strategic place to defend here, only that long plank bridge. Third brother, you go and hold the bridge and try to buy time for our army."

"Yes, big brother!" Zhang Fei mounted his warhorse, turned around and galloped towards the long plank bridge behind him.

Brook flew back to the top of the mountain and told Bayin the situation.

"It turns out that the snow-white horse with a faint silver glow under Zhao Yun's steed is called Zhaoye Jade Lion. What a good name." Bayin praised.

"Yes. Zhao Yun must have gone to look for Liu Bei's wife and children. Let me search. Madam Gan and Madam Mi, I found them. They weren't together. They got separated. And Adou... Why can't I find Adou?"

"Search his full name, Liu Chan." Bayin reminded.

"Found it! With Madam Mi. Alas, you told me before that Adou was Madam Gan's son, so how come he is with Madam Mi now?" Brooke asked.

"Because Madam Mi is Liu Bei's wife, and Madam Gan is just a concubine. Liu Bei has only this one son, and he loves him very much. Madam Mi comes from a family of officials and has better conditions in all aspects, so Liu Bei sent his son to be raised with her." Bayin speculated.

“Oh, that makes sense! You know so much…”

The two chatted casually as they watched Zhao Yun, riding the Jade Lion of the Night, fight his way in and out of Cao's army, searching the main roads, the various side roads, and even the villages along the way. Brooke and Bayin watched with sympathy, wishing they could use their teleportation rings to fly down and tell him the exact location of the two ladies.

The battlefield was in chaos. The pursuing Cao army, the fleeing Liu army, and the countless civilians who were fleeing. Some fled, some rose up in resistance, some took up arms, some killed, some looted, and some had already escorted important prisoners back to the camp to claim credit... The situation was chaotic, and the Cao army's advance slowed considerably.

Zhao Yun is still some distance away from Madam Gan and Madam Mi, and he has not yet achieved his unparalleled awakening.

"Hey, Cao Cao actually ran to the opposite side of us." Brook discovered Cao Cao on the opposite side through the third-level detection necklace.

“Where?”

"It's on the hillside of the mountain opposite us. Cao Cao, Cao Ren, Xu Huang, and Zhang Liao are all there. Oh, well, they're too far away, so you probably can't see them."

"The third-level detection necklace can only see but not hear?" Bayin asked.

"Um... okay, I'll go and listen to what they say." Brook put on the invisibility ring and flew over.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

On a flat spot on the opposite mountainside, Cao Cao and dozens of his personal guards quietly watched the scene below. Soon, Cao Cao noticed Zhao Yun, who was riding a white horse, charging left and right among Cao's troops, his spear spurting out like a dragon.

"Who is that?" Cao Cao asked his attendants.

"My lord, this man is Zhao Zilong from Changshan. He was originally under the command of Gongsun Zan. However, Gongsun Zan was suspicious of Zhao Zilong because Changshan was under the influence of Yuan Shao, and did not entrust him with important tasks. Therefore, not many people know about him. After Gongsun Zan was defeated, Zhao Zilong followed Liu Bei." Zhang Liao said.

"Really? Gongsun Zan had such a brave general but didn't use him, so he deserved to be defeated... The one wielding the three-pointed sword was Yan Ming, right? He is no match for Zhao Zilong in three rounds!" Cao Cao exclaimed.

"It's Yan Ming," Cao Ren said calmly. Although Yan Ming was a lieutenant general in Cao's army, he was a subordinate of Cao Hong and had nothing to do with him.

"Yang Ming is here, ouch! Just one shot!!" Cao Cao said excitedly.

"......." Everyone was speechless. The dead ones were their own generals and your own men. Why were you so excited?

"Move the chairs here, and bring the dried fruits and candied fruits as well. I want to take a good look at this Zhao Zilong and see how many people he can knock down!" Cao Cao looked at Zhao Zilong from afar, and liked him more and more.

.........

Everyone watched as Zhao Yun killed Chunyu Dao and released Mi Zhu and other captives who were captured by Chunyu Dao.

Then, Zhao Yun was seen slaying Xiahou En, Cao Cao's sword bearer. The Qingguang sword he carried was snatched away by Zhao Yun. That was a peerless sword! It could rip hair and slice through iron like mud. Even the calm Cao Ren couldn't bear to watch and wanted to personally retrieve the Qingguang sword. But Cao Cao simply smiled and waved his hand, telling everyone to continue watching.

Next came Zhong Jin, who was wielding a large axe. He chased Zhao Yun from behind, but before he could fully raise his axe, Zhao Yun stabbed him to the ground.

Then came Zhong Shen, wielding a halberd, who arrived to avenge his brother's death. While Zhao Yun was entangled by Cao's troops, his silver spear tangled with the weapons of others, Zhong Shen seized the opportunity to charge forward and thrust fiercely. Zhao Yun's left hand grasped his waist, and with a flash of azure light, Zhong Shen's halberd was severed in two. Zhong Shen continued to charge forward, but with another flash of azure light, his attempt to steal the chicken failed, and the Qinghong Sword obliterated half of his skull.

The people watching the battle on the mountainside were all horrified. But then they heard Cao Cao clapping his hands and cheering:

"What a fierce general! Pass the order, no arrows allowed, make sure to capture him alive!"

"My lord, I'm afraid that Zhao Yun will be like Guan Yu. He cannot be conquered by rewards." Zhang Liao reminded him. He had a certain understanding of Zhao Yun.

"Am I really that inferior to Liu Bei? This Zhao Zilong's martial arts are truly unparalleled. Since the death of Lu Bu, there has been no such a fierce general in the world. I love him to death! Even if he is as good as Guan Yu, I still want to give him a try. Zhang Liao stays here, Cao Ren and Xu Huang, you two go down in person, prepare more fishing nets and set up more tripwires. Pass on my order, make sure to capture him alive; anyone who dares to hurt Zhao Zilong will be killed without mercy!"

"Yes, my lord!"