The ships sailed toward Xiapi with the group on board as Bayarjargal saw for the first time the sea as Yun picks her up so she could see the horizon as they needed to enter the open sea for a moment before following a river back to Xiapi.
Once back Yun gathered the Generals which were disposable leaving the others to defend their territories while summoning all of the strategists back.
He told them about the plan making many brows rise when Lu Bu asks, "You sure that they will attack Xiaopei with their full force?"
"They might if I show myself there with a small army," says Yun looking at the map when Lu Bu sees his piece being moved toward Puyang wide behind the enemy line when he notices Huang Xu's piece on Xuchang with Taishi Ci attacking Pingyuan.
"You went completely crazy with your plan this time. You know that we will lose the war if they anticipate our moves beforehand!" shouts Lu Bu thinking at Yun went crazy after meeting the Xiongnu.
"You won't attack until I give the signal. Everyone will be able to see it even from far away," says Yun looking at the map.
"So you are planning to use that," says Yang who was resting against a wall.
He wouldn't be participating in this war since his father wants him to enter the Murim but he knew the moment Yun said that they would be able to see the signal even miles apart.
"Yes, it is after all a technique I taught you before just that this time I won't be holding back. This time I will take care of Cao Cao before riding toward Xiangyang to cripple Liu Bei as well. I need to make sure that nobody can stand against Sun Quan once this war is over," says Yun as they thought that Yun went crazy.
"You are thinking of making the impossible. I know that you proved it over and over again but this time you might die from biting on something too big," says Taishi Ci worried as Yun looks at Huang Zhong who was only as advisor there.
"What are your thoughts, old man?" asks Yun as Huang Zhong could see the fire in Yun's eyes.
"I trust you since you have always thought it through," says Huang Zhong seriously since he could feel Yun's determination.
"Are you all crazy!" shouts Lu Bu when they all look at him again.
"It seems the craziest of us all turned into a coward over the years. Am I talking to Lu Bu, the man once called the God of War or the Flying General," says Yun trying to get the old Lu Bu to resurface.
He needed the Lu Bu who recklessly charged at the enemy trusting his instincts instead of careful planning as he was at the moment. They looked at Lu Bu waiting for his response when they see him covered in Qi as he splits the table in two or at least he tried if the table wasn't covered in Yun's Qi protecting it.
"It seems he returned," says Yun looking at Lu Bu.
"He was always there," says Lu Bu asks he now had a smirk on his face when he says, "But this is still suicide."
"It won't if you wait for the signal," says Yun as they all looked at him again.
"And the signal is?" asks Hua whi trusted his brother completely.
"Do you remember how I scared Mother and Father once when we were younger," says Yun not saying much when Hua's eyes grew bigger.
"I thought you never went further," says Hua taking everyone's attention.
"What are you two talking about?" asks Gan Ning as Dian Wei sighs.
"The last time I saw my lord perform it he created twenty of them just to demonstrate it to the young master Yang," says Dian Wei seriously knowing about what they are talking about while everyone was now thrilled to learn about it.
"Huang Zhong, are you ready to serve one more time in my army?" asks Yun not wanting to elaborate more into this conversation since they were there to discuss the strategy for the upcoming war.
"My skills with the glaive might have dulled over the years but my skills with the bow are greater than ever. My bow is yours, my lord," says Huang Zhong surprising everyone even his son.
"Father, you ca-" says Huang Xu when Huang Zhong interrupts him.
"I can and will. I will follow my lord even if I have to die following him since I owe him not only my life but also the lives of everyone coming after me," says Huang Zhong remembering that it was Yun who saved his line from dying out with him.
"Then it is decided. Huang Zhong, Dian Wei, Zhang He, Tang Shi, and Pang Tong will accompany me to Xiaopei with a small army consisting of five thousand men," says Yun seriously as Huang Zhong nods trusting Yun's capabilities to pull through this war.
"The rest will rest in those places," says Yun circling some spots in the wilderness near the cities they were supposed to attack on his signal.
They all nods as they leave the room with only Hua and Yun staying behind alone when Hua says, "You are planning to die in this war."
"I am," says Yun seriously as he sighs before adding, "I am only still breathing because of my Qi. I gave up fifteen of my years so Lin could life of forty-five years. Fang is the future of my line and will be taught by Dian Wei and Zhang He once he is old enough."
"What about me?" asks Hua seriously as Yun smiles at him.
"You will have enough hands just to train your own successor. I can't take you away from your own children just so you can train Fang. Yang will also be there to teach his nephew if we don't survive Xiaopei," says Yun seriously as he walks over to a commode and takes something covered in cloths out.
"That is?" asks Hua looking at the object which made him question his brother seeing that thing.
"It is a weapon which I will use to kill Cao Cao. I only have one-shot at it since it can only be used once," says Yun seriously as he sighs revealing some wood and metal forged together but Hua couldn't made head or feet with it.
They then hear someone knock against the door frame before a feminine voice entered the room, "Could I have a moment with my husband."
"Of course we were done anyway," says Hua as he passes Zhen Luo who only had a pitiful smile on her face.
"This war will be over sooner than planned," says Yun to Zhen Luo who didn't smile any longer.
"Yes, but the price you will pay for it is the highest of them all, your life," says Zhen Luo as Yun smiles at her sadly.
"It could be," says Yun as he looks at her before adding, "But I could still return and spend the rest of my life with you and the children before going in my sleep."
"I hope that is the end goal," says Zhen Luo seriously as she hugs Yun wanting to feel his warmth.
"I just want all those wars to end before our girls grow up. I know that you will raise them into fine ladies even without me here but I will try to return from the battlefield even if I have to drag a bruised and tattered body back just to see you three one more time," says Yun as he kisses Zhen Luo knowing that it could be the last time in this life.
"Just don't return as a corpse," says Zhen Luo holding her tears back as Yun caressed her cheek with his own.
They stayed like that for some moments until Zhen Luo composed herself again and she let go of Yun when she says, "I hope the Gods return you to me safe and sound."
"I hope so too," says Yun as Zhen Luo leaves Yun alone behind.
Yun removed the cloths from the thing when he looks down a barrel and he hears, "So this is the weapon you made Yueying build you."
"Yes, it is a modified musket. I destroyed the blueprint of this weapon since it is too dangerous for people to use it yet," says Yun seriously seeing Zhuge Liang under the doorframe.
He enters and sits down before saying, "I failed again."
"You didnt fail," says Yun as Zhuge Liang looked at Yun seriously.
"Why?" asks Zhuge Liang making Yun look at him confused.
"Why, what?" asks Yun back knowing the question but he didn't answer him immediately.
"Why have you recruited me when you haven't used me the properly?" asks Zhuge Liang seriously as Yun only smiled at him.
"Didn't I use you wisely by teaching my children and giving them advice in their time of need. I wanted you to help Zheng in the future but plans change over time," says Yun looking at Zhuge Liang as he sits down.
"Sima Yi was supposed to guide my son Fang while my grandson would be guided by Lu Xun who is already his teacher. You were supposed to help Zheng but this changed when Zheng lost his spirit for war.
So I put you under Wei Yan, my brother-in-law, you helped him a lot even if both couldn't always meet eye to eye but you made it work. The Wei Clan is also a branch of the Zhao Clan since my little sister married into it. Wei Kang is my precious nephew even if many believe that I ignore that side of the family you know that I don't since I always send help when Wei Yan or my sister asked for help.
So tell me, what did you expect when you joined me. That I would place Pang Tong to the side so you could shine or replace Sima Yi with you? No, I had different plans in mind with you.
You are a mastermind just like Sima Yi, Pang Tong, Guo Jia, and Lu Xun. But I had different plans for you from the beginning just like with Sima Yi," says Yun with a smirk on his face.
"And that would be?" asks Zhuge Liang not able to follow what Yun was talking about at the end.
"I want to offer you a place to serve me even after death. Sima Yi, Lu Bu, Gan Ning, as well as my wife, Zhen Luo have already agreed to it. You would be the second strategist which I can recruit," says Yun as Zhuge Liang looked at Yun confused at first when he took it seriously.
"And why should I join you? Just to rot away again," says Zhuge Liang a bit bitter.
"You would have shown like the rest of the strategists I have listed up if I hadn't appeared in this era. You wouldn't even be under me but under Liu Bei to tell you the truth but fate is a strange mistress which can change everything including bringing me here.
I will need you in the future battles I will be thrown in which won't be as monotonous as those we are fighting right now. You will shine just as bright as the others are at the moment," says Yun as he stretches his hand out toward Zhuge Liang who looked at Yun's hand.
"What about Pang Tong?" asks Zhuge Liang as Yun sighs.
"I wanted to grant Pang Tong a peaceful afterlife not having to deal with my wimps any longer since he served me loyally until the end," says Yun seriously as he looks at Zhuge Liang and adds, "Are you going to accept or not?"
Zhuge Liang closed his eyes Yun could see that he was going over it carefully in his mind thinking about accepting or declining when he opens his eyes and he takes Yun's hand.
Yun touches with his free hand on the display filling the second spot for his strategist when a light shots out and marks Zhuge Liang at the neck as it did before with the others showing a Valknut which only Yun could see with Zhuge Liang holding his neck now as the mark burned itself into his skin.
"That hurts like hell," says Zhuge Liang as Yun only smirks.
"That is true even Lu Bu felt a sting when he was marked," says Yun as he looks at Zhuge Liang seriously now, "I will put my faith in you from now on Zhuge Liang and I want you to do the same."
"I will trust that you will use me better in your future battles," says Zhuge Liang seriously hoping that he made the right choice as they all made preparations to leave Xiapi which was going to be defended by fifty thousand men led by Wei Yan and Zhuge Liang.