Chapter 104: Absorbing Zhao Yun

Although they did not know exactly what abilities Zhuge Liang possessed that would lead Liu Xie to treat him with such regard, they would certainly listen since Liu Xie had spoken. This stemmed entirely from their trust in Liu Xie; since Liu Xie believed in Zhuge Liang, they chose to give it a try.

"From this moment on, General Lu, you shall lead your fifty thousand cavalry as reinforcements," Zhuge Liang said, assigning the first task to Lu Bu. "Because your men are all cavalry, and cavalry possesses the greatest mobility. When necessary, you must provide the fastest support with the greatest speed."

"Lu Bu accepts the order!" Lu Bu replied loudly.

"Very well. Now, Uncle Liu, lead Guan Yu and Zhang Fei to command fifty thousand troops and establish a camp on our left flank. Await my orders before taking action."

"Liu Bei accepts the order!" Liu Bei also responded with a shout.

"Huang Zhong, Wei Yan, you two shall also command fifty thousand men and camp on our right flank. Like Uncle Liu, be ready to act only upon my command!"

"Huang Zhong and Wei Yan accept the order!"

"Zhao Yun, you shall remain with the central army to command the remaining forces alongside the Emperor and myself. Is that understood?"

"Understood!"

Zhuge Liang had laid out all the arrangements in one breath. The men responded in unison before withdrawing to make their preparations. Watching Liu Bei depart, Liu Xie felt a desire to laugh. In history, Zhuge Liang belonged to Liu Bei, helping him to conquer the world. But now, Liu Bei and his two brothers had become his subordinates, and Zhuge Liang was fighting for his cause.

None of that mattered anymore; his only goal now was the restoration of the Han Dynasty. To achieve this, he had to deal with the warlords of the era: Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, Sun Ce, and Ma Teng of Xiliang. These were the men Liu Xie had to confront, and he would begin with Cao Cao. Even so, Liu Xie did not forget why he had mobilized his troops: to rescue the palace maids held within the palace in Xuchang. As for everything else, he did not intend to fully engage Cao Cao and Yuan Shao just yet, for it was unlikely he could eliminate them in one stroke. History proved that Cao Cao and Yuan Shao had achieved great things, which was proof enough of their considerable capabilities. Therefore, Liu Xie remained extremely cautious when dealing with these major warlords; they were not like Zhang Xiu, Zhang Lu, or Liu Zhang.

"Kongming, now that everything is arranged, when do you think it is best to move?" Liu Xie asked after everyone had left.

"Your Majesty, both sides currently possess high morale. Aside from us, I believe the morale on Cao Cao’s side is equally strong. They are prepared for a bloody battle, especially since their strength is on par with ours. Therefore, their army is confident in their ability to defeat us. If we strike now, it would be like two raging fires colliding. The casualties on both sides would be immense. Thus, attacking now would not be a wise choice."

Zhuge Liang explained his reasoning, and Liu Xie nodded with satisfaction. It seemed Zhuge Liang’s considerations were comprehensive.

"Very well. Everything is in your hands. Do whatever you deem appropriate."

Liu Xie granted him immense authority. It could be said that within his camp, Zhuge Liang was now second only to the Emperor himself.

Liu Xie then turned his gaze to Zhao Yun, observing him closely. He was well aware of Zhao Yun’s prowess. Previously, Zhao Yun had always been by Liu Bei’s side, but now, Liu Xie began to set his sights on him.

"Zilong, do you know that I have another unit?" Liu Xie said softly.

Zhao Yun hurriedly bowed and clasped his hands. "Your Majesty, I do not."

Liu Xie looked at him with a faint smile. "In truth, beyond these forces, I have another group. This unit was originally my personal guard, my inner circle of protectors. They are called the Wolf Shadow Guards. They are not here; they are currently lurking within the city of Xuchang. Perhaps you are unaware of their accomplishments, Zilong. Let me tell you."

"These men have done many things. For instance, when Zhang Xiu of Wancheng was besieged in Xuchang, it was they who rescued him. And there is another matter I believe you witnessed: the events in Xuzhou. When Lu Bu was captured by Cao Cao and about to be executed, it was these men who appeared and saved him. How is it, Zilong? Do you understand the power of this unit now?"

Liu Xie made no effort to hide the accomplishments of the Wolf Shadow Guards, recounting their glorious deeds. Upon hearing this, one could clearly see the shock on Zhao Yun’s face. He was indeed aware of the events in Xuzhou, having followed Liu Bei to provide aid during that crisis. Yet, he never imagined that the legendary unit was the one Liu Xie now spoke of. What he found even more incredible was that this unit was currently inside Xuchang. He knew that Liu Xie had sent them into the city to coordinate with the army outside, and the level of danger involved was unimaginable.

"Zilong, having said all that, do you understand my intent?" Liu Xie asked, looking at him earnestly.

Zhao Yun shook his head gently. "I am dull-witted, Your Majesty; I do not understand."

"It is quite simple. I wish for you to join this unit and become one of their commanders. Currently, this unit is led solely by General Gao Shun. I want you to join and lead this force of eight hundred men alongside him."

This had been Liu Xie’s goal all along. Zhao Yun was taken aback. "Your Majesty, what virtue do I possess to lead such a formidable force? In truth, I feel I am not as strong as their ordinary soldiers."

The allure of the Wolf Shadow Guards was indeed great. Every soldier and general wished to join a powerful unit, but this one was so strong that it shook his confidence.

Liu Xie smiled slightly. "Zilong, as long as you are willing, I will let you join. I believe in you; you need not feel such pressure. Just perform as you normally would, and all will be well."

These words from Liu Xie gave him great confidence. Zhao Yun fell into a thoughtful silence.

"Your Majesty, may I truly join the Wolf Shadow Guards?"

It was clear the temptation was significant. As Liu Xie had predicted, every warrior yearned for such an elite unit.

"Yes. As long as you are willing, you may join at any time. I believe in you," Liu Xie reiterated.

Zhao Yun’s expression firmed. "Very well, Your Majesty, I am willing to join!"

As he agreed, Liu Xie felt a sense of relief. With a great general like Zhao Yun, his path to restoring the Han Dynasty would be much easier.

"Good. Go for now; from this moment on, you are a member of the Wolf Shadow Guards."

Zhao Yun departed. A moment later, Zhuge Liang took a deep breath and approached. "It seems Your Majesty truly favors Zilong. And indeed, the Wolf Shadow Guards are formidable; they will become our most powerful asset when the time is right."

Zhuge Liang had seen through Liu Xie’s intentions.

"Indeed. I trained the Wolf Shadow Guards myself. Although the Trapping Battalion joined later, they are excellent soldiers as well. The Wolf Shadow Guards are a disciplined unit, and I require disciplined men to lead them. First, General Gao Shun—his character is known to all. He does not drink, is honorable, and is absolutely loyal. Such qualities are rare. As for Zilong, he is just as serious as General Gao. With their strength and my personal oversight, I believe the Wolf Shadow Guards will face no issues."

Liu Xie held great hopes for Gao Shun and Zhao Yun. It was no exaggeration to say that among all the generals of this era, they were his favorites—not just for their skill, but for their character and unwavering loyalty.

"Now, we have a great battle to fight. I leave the rest to you, Kongming. I grant you full authority."

Everything was settled. Liu Xie said no more and intended to intervene no further. Faced with such a battlefield, it was beyond his control. Since he had entrusted everything to Zhuge Liang, he would let him handle it.

"Your Majesty may rest assured; I will handle everything. The great battle will begin soon," Zhuge Liang said, full of confidence and poise.

Liu Xie nodded with great satisfaction. "Good. I trust you. Act with a free hand."

Liu Xie left. In the days to come, he would basically manage nothing else. He only managed the people he needed to. After all, he was no longer acting as a mere general.