==============================================================================
Today there were no clouds in sight and the warm rays of the sun embraced the soldiers of Aurora as they returned to the capital. Lu Xun and Gan Ning along with one hundred thousand men had set off to pursue the fleeing Heavenly Sword Army.
Upon arriving atop a hill where the gates and walls of Aurora City were visible, Zhang noticed something odd despite having hundreds of banners atop the city walls it seemed as if the city lacked manpower because thanks to his good eyesight he was able to see that standing atop the city walls were not soldiers but thousands of scarecrows. There should be roughly one hundred and ten thousand soldiers within the city but from the looks of things Zhang could guess that something must have happened.
“Foster father you stay here and I’ll go see that status of the city.” Zhang said to Jian Wei
“Take this with you.” Jian Wei said as he tossed a jade emblem at Zhang.
The emblem was nearly identical to the emblem that Zhang had been given earlier and would allow him to command the soldiers of Aurora at will. This these emblems would allow him to order the city guards to open the gates without having to go through all the hassles and formalities that it would take without the emblem.
Originally Zhang had an emblem of his own but he had loaned it to Sima Yi before their forces split up and headed different directions. Once Zhang was a fairly close distance from the city gates he shouted up at the men atop the walls.
“Open the city gates!” Zhang said once he arrived at the front of the gate while holding up the Aurora Emblem that Jian Wei had tossed to him earlier. The emblem once struck by sunlight emitted ray of opalescent of colors.
Upon seeing this emblem in Zhang’s hands and the ray of colors it emitted the soldiers atop the walls hurriedly began signaling for the city gates to be opened without a moment's hesitation. The crystal that made these emblems could only be found in Aurora and the method of refining them so they could emit the ray of light was only known by a few people within Aurora City. This process was passed from generation to generation within some very important clans within the province which meant that it was next to impossible to obtain an emblem without being granted one. Of course there was still the possibility of the emblem being stolen, but this was prevented by a seal placed upon the emblem by its makers.
If the emblem were to leave its bounded owner without permission, then it would crumble to dust. Meaning the Lord of Aurora, Jian Wei could grant the emblems and also destroy them at will.
After a short wait the city gates slowly crept open revealing dozens of soldiers clad in white armor. The moment they saw Zhang these men instantly saluted him respectfully. Be it they knew that Zhang was the next lord of Aurora or not everyone who possessed an emblem was someone with lots of influence in the province.
“What's the situation in the city? How come the walls look is filled with scarecrows?” He asked quickly trying to figure out what was the situation.
“My lord most of the able soldiers in the city which numbered roughly one hundred thousand had departed many days ago with lord Sima Yi.” A soldier replied while clasping his hands together.
“Depart? Where did they go?” Zhang asked as a storm of questions had brewed in his mind. Of this was only natural because where could Sima Yi possibly have gone with one hundred thousand soldiers? He headed for the Beast’s Gorge then Zhang would have run into him but that obviously was not the case.
“Lord Sima Yi said that the battle at the Beast’s Gorge would definitely end in our victory so there was no point in heading there. As for where Lord Sima Yi went he did not say. But he did mention that once he completes his task he will send word back to Aurora City.” The same soldier replied to Zhang.
“Okay I will look into this later myself but for now make preparations for lord Jian Wei’s arrival.” Zhang said before riding away from the city and back to the army.
Jian Wei was currently atop a fine war steed and slowly making his way back to Aurora City while Zhang had ridden ahead.
“How great it feels to be back here alive.” Jian Wei thought with a cheerful smile present on his face.
Despite Gan Ning’s successful raids against the enemy when they were trapped in the gorge, Jian Wei had always thought that perhaps the gorge would become his burial place.
Although the gorge’s abundant resources were able to support their entire army it was only a matter of time before overconsumption played its part. His army would have dwindled until the enemy was able to easily overtake them and then his life would have ended or so he thought.
“Right away my lord I will have someone send a correspondence to Aurora. Also may I ask if you would like an escort readied for you?” The soldier said.
“Yes ready me a small group of guards I’ll be paying the various clans and powers in the city visits tonight.” Sima Yi said with a sign, tonight would be a long night because he had to visit every clan and every influential family in the city and obtain their support or to suppress them.