Drinking with Cao Ren and Guan Yu

Cao Cao continued giving everyone a different role in this war against Lu Bu skipping Liu Bei over and over again until Liu Bei demanded to lead the Vanguard himself only for Cao Cao the sly fox to give him another offer.

"Liu Bei, you once served under Yun if I am correct," says Cao Cao making Yun, as well as Liu Bei, become pale.

"Lord Cao, I don't think Liu Bei and I are compatible with each other. He fights a different way than I do," says Yun trying to think of a reason before he looks at Guan Yu who seemed excited since he would spend more time with Yun this way.

Yun gave up after seeing Guan Yu's excitement since it could be beneficial for him even if he has to put up with Liu Bei.

"Alright, but I hope that he can follow my orders," says Yun while looking at Liu Bei trying to remind him of what happened in Fanyang.

Liu Bei only flinches for a moment remembering that he lost many men back then because he couldn't follow Yun's command back then when Cao Cao stands up while looking at Liu Bei before looking towards Yun.

"I hope you both will be the spearhead that will charge at the enemy," says Cao Cao having confidence in Yun's skill.

"I won't disappoint," says Yun as the Generals all stand up knowing that this gathering was over.

Yun then looks at Cao Ren who was forming his hand into the gesture someone normally would do when they hold a cup of wine in their hands and Yun nods since he said that he would join him and Guan Yu for a drink after this was over.

Their group leaves as they waited for Guan Yu to meet them outside when Cao Ren sighs when he says, "You know, I wanted to lead the Vanguard as I did last time against Tao Qian."

"And I wanted to spend time with my children but we don't get always what we want, do we," says Yun half-joking about their situation as Guan Yu joined them.

"Have you waited long?" asks Guan Yu as Cao Ren and Yun shake their heads.

"Nah, we were just talking about our current desires," says Yun as Guan Yu looked at him confused when Yun just laughs before saying, "You need to learn to relax for a bit and not take everything seriously like Cao Ren over here. He understood me right away."

"Sarcasm can be quite an art coming from you General Zhao," says Cao Ren as he didn't mind that Yun made fun of what he said before since Yun mixed truth in his sarcasm.

"Now how about we get something to drink," says Yun as Guan Yu nods guiding them towards an inn where they could drink.

They drink and talk bonding with each other when Guan Yu asks Yun, "Why am I not progressing with my training?"

"It is quite simple," says Yun before he empties his cup and continues, "You like to control the flow of your Qi like every other human being. We don't like it when things get out of our hands."

"We mortal beings like to have full control over everything we do and don't want to feel insecure because we can't control it," says Yun while filling his cup when he drinks the wine in his cup again.

"What do you want to say with that?" asks Cao Ren curiously since Guan Yu was listening attentively to what Yun was saying.

"What I am saying is that we can't control Qi even if we wanted to. We can only suppress it in an attempt to control it but our Qi would never increase to its fullest potential," says Yun as he puts his cup on the table.

He stands up and tells them to follow him for a moment outside. Cao Ren and Guan Yu follow him outside when Yun takes a small breath confusing the two.

"The air is just like Qi," says Yun to them when he breathes in and continues, "You can breath it in and suppress it in your lungs but it will leave your body sooner or later."

Yun then begins to use Tai Chi while saying, "Qi flows everywhere and in everything. We can't control it but direct it in the direction we want it to go. Lu Bu and Hua are great examples of it since they use their Qi instinctually making perfect use of it as it keeps growing around them and inside of them."

Qi was beginning to surround Yun before it spikes for a moment then it stopped and dissipated again and Yun looks at them while saying, "I hope you learned something from this cryptic message since it won't help you if I point out the obvious. It would only hinder you in the future since you relied on me to grow stronger."

"Thank you for the guidance, I will think over the words you have told us," says Guan Yu giving a slight bow as did Cao Ren since it wasn't every day that someone tells him how to improve his Qi.

They returned to drinking inside the inn until it was time to split up with Yun and Cao Ren leaving the city together while Guan Yu returned to his brother's side. Yun was helping Cao Ren get to his camp as he couldn't walk straight.

Once he handed Cao Ren over to Cao Chun, Yun left for his camp where Pang Tong was already waiting for him.

"So we are leading the Vanguard while securing the rivers. I think that Cao Cao can't count how many Zhao Yuns we really have," says Pang Tong complaining as Yun sighs and uses his Qi to cleanse his body of the alcohol inside him.

"We both know that Cao Cao needs my presence in the Vanguard to hold Lu Bu back. If I am not there Lu Bu won't be fearful and attack without fear, decimating Cao Cao and his forces before they can lay siege on Xiapi," says Yun seriously as Pang Tong sighs knowing that Yun was spelling the truth.

Cao Cao had never won over Lu Bu, for now, making the confidence of Lu Bu quite high against Cao Cao. If Yun wouldn't stand with the Vanguard Lu Bu would attack without knowing fear because Cao Cao couldn't instill fear in Lu Bu.

"So how will this go? Dian Wei and Guo Jia informed us that you will be taking two Generals with you as well as two strategists," says Pang Tong curious about who Yun has in mind to take with him.

"I will be taking Gan Ning and Dian Wei with me as Generals. My strategists will be you and Xu Shu. I wanted to take Guang Jia but it could lead to problems with Xiahou Dun's men not following her command because she is a woman," says Yun surprising Pang Tong that he chose Guang Jia over the others.

"Why not Guo Jia?" asks Pang Tong curiously as Guo Jia seemed more flexible when it came to strategies since he could change them on the spot.

"Guo Jia will be leading the other strategists in your absence since it was his idea to use the rivers to flood Xiapi. Tang Shi will be in-charge until our return with Huang Zhong being his second-in-command," says Yun seriously to Pang Tong who smirks at him.

"Not Hua, I am surprised," says Pang Tong sarcastically as Yun smirks as well.

"Hua can lead a cavalry but not the whole army. Tang Shi has more experience in that because he is one of the oldest members of my army," says Yun explaining his decision.

"And Huang Zhong has the experience that Tang Shi could lack. You thought it through this time but still why Xu Shu out of all the other strategists?" asks Pang Tong curiously about it.

"Xu Shu seems to adapt rapidly to his current situation just like Guang Jia making him a better choice than the others," says Yun having high expectations for Xu Shu.

"It also helps that he can wield a sword compared to the others since they won't be surrounded by our soldiers this time making him be in constant danger," says Pang Tong which makes Yun laugh out loud.

"When are we not in danger in this dog-eat-dog world. We are lucky to still be around after everything we already went through," says Yun after calming down.

"Anyway, it will be a long war against Lu Bu and we will be losing a lot of men since I won't be leading my own men into battle," says Yun knowing that he will be losing more people than in all his previous battles together.

"Well it will be a carnage that I am sure about it but let us try to keep as many soldiers as we can alive to not draw unnecessary attention towards us," says Pang Tong as Yun only sighs after hearing that because he knew what Pang Tong was going to suggest.

"I will be leading the troops into battle instead of standing in the backline, am I right?" asks Yun worried about what Pang Tong would say next.

"Definitely what I wanted to propose to lower our casualties. You will need to lead the charge in every single battle in this war," says Pang Tong smirking at Yun as he was planning a trap for Lu Bu in his mind to win the war.

"Well, you are one of the most intelligent people I know. You must be already planning our strategies against Lu Bu," says Yun seeing Pang Tong's expression.

"You know me the best after all," says Pang Tong making Yun sigh before they part for the day since Yun felt exhausted from all the pressure on his shoulders.

Yun sat down on the ground before he began to write a letter for his wife and children. He was worried about Diao Chan and their unborn child as he finished the letter when he leaves his tent and whistled calling Shadow.

Shadow arrived after a while and Yun places the letter around one of her legs before saying, "Take it back home and come find me after doing so."

Shadow nods before taking off flying westward while Yun returns into his tent to sleep the rest of the night or what still remained of it.