Chapter 2 (Flying General)

## Chapter Chronology

**Piercing the Halberd** is the 2nd chapter of the "*The Legend of Lü Bu*" manga series.

## Summary

The era of the Three Kingdoms lasted for 4,000 years and it was the bloodiest period that China had ever seen. Because of a confusion when attempting to unite the Three Kingdoms of Wu, Shu and Wei, a very turbulent period was created. During this period, rivalries of power were very common but even the best warriors claimed a certain man was the strongest: Lü Bu Fengxian. He had reached the top, leaving many behind, becoming a part of the Seven Legends. In 196DC, in Xuzhou, the strategist for Lü Bu's army, Chen Gong, along with two others, flee on horses. Chen Gong exclaims this is very bad and decides he has to hurry back. One of the two says that someone may have concealed this fact when they did their inspection but Chen Gong asserts they have to hurry back to Castle Xapi to inform their lord immediately. Looking back, Chen Gong questions where that army came from. Following after the three was an army of 30,000. With heavy breathing, advanced armor and full of anger, the invaders have come. Chen Gong notices the flag they're marching under is Yuan Shu's before questioning who the general is.

Leading the army while riding on a tiger was the Captain General for Yuan Shu's army, Ji Ling. The tyrant Yuan Shu, who called himself the "Emperor of the Sengoku World", tried to seize Xuzhou and ordered Ji Ling to go finish off Lü Bu's army. Surprised that Yuan Shu has decided to take over their territory now, the man to Chen Gong's right insists they must formulate a strategy of defense as soon as they get back to Castle Xapi. Chen Gong agrees but prioritises getting out of here alive first. As Chen Gong grits his teeth and thinks about his lord, Ji Ling gives a look to the soldier riding a horse to his right. The soldier understands and draws back an arrow. Ready. Aim. Hold. Pierce. The bow was a long-ranged weapon that comprised of these four actions. At most, a Human's force can could send an arrow up to 400 meters. But that all depends on who is firing it. The soldier fires and kills the man to Chen Gong's left. Chen Gong briefly stops but the other man tells him to leave him. As Chen Gong and the man continue, Ji Ling orders the soldier to not shoot again as he wants the other two to remember the fact that this is the place they lost their friend.

Ji Ling then vows to take Xuzhou from Lü Bu and Liu Bei. At Castle Xapi, Lü Bu's base, Chen Gong paces around his room and questions what kind of strategy he can come up with to use against an army like that. As Chen Gong slaps and yells at himself to think, Lü Bu appears behind him and asks why he's worried. Kneeling, Chen Gong explains to Lü Bu that right now, Xapi is surrounded by 3,000 of Liu Bei's soldiers along with Ji Ling's 30,000 soldiers. If Xapi were to fall, the enemy army would invade their territory. With only 8,000 men, they can't possibly hope to defeat Ji Ling's army and trying to capture a camp to get to Ji Ling would be impossible. Thinking about it, Lü Bu tells Chen Gong to leave it to him. Surprised, Chen Gong tells Lü Bu that to defeat Ji Ling's army of 30,000, he would need at least 10,000 or 20,000 men. He says they cannot defeat them with their military force but Lü Bu clarifies that he'll do it alone. Chen Gong points out that Lü Bu would be facing 30,000 men by himself and asserts that's impossible, even for him. As Chen Gong covers his mouth, realising what he just said, Lü Bu emits an aura as he repeats the fact that Chen Gong said it was impossible.

In awe, Chen Gong has a feeling something incredible is going to happen. At Xiaopei, where Liu Bei's army is situated, Liu Bei rests on the castle walls as he looks at Ji Ling's army in front of him. He calls this unexpected before saying the person next to him drinks too much. Downing an entire barrel, Zhang Fei is willing to fight Ji Ling, declaring his blood is boiling out of excitement. Zhang Fei asks his "Big Brother" if he agrees and Guan Yu simply states the only purpose he serves is to protect Xuande's life. Getting up, Liu Bei notes they can either fight and die with pride or they can give up and live the rest of their lives miserably, wondering which is better. As Ji Ling's army is on standby, one soldier tells another that he got a tattoo on his right arm of Ji Ling's tiger. However, it is crudely drawn, prompting the one being told to say it looks like a cat. Suddenly, they see someone approaching from the smoke. Initially not believing there's anything there, the soldier lifts his spear and decides to kill whatever is coming, only to see what it really is. Lü Bu emerges from the smoke, riding Red Hare and carrying a large mast with his flag on it.

Running away, the soldiers exclaim it's Lü Bu and Liu Bei is intrigued to see that the entire army is being split in half as they move away to avoid Lü Bu. Behind him, Chen Gong says they still have time to turn back. As Red Hare stops, Lü Bu takes in a big breath before shouting that he's Lü Bu Fengxian. Raising the mast up to let his flag fly, Lü Bu declares this battle to be over. As Chen Gong gets scared, Ji Ling approaches on his tiger. As Ji Ling and Lü Bu face off, the former asks if the latter thinks he can stop his army of 30,000 with just himself and his horse. Lü Bu confirms he does think so, causing Ji Ling to laugh. He then offers a bet. On a hill far from them, there is a halberd. Ji Ling tells Lü Bu that if he can somehow shoot down the halberd from this far, then this battle will come to an end. But if Lü Bu fails, Ji Ling swears to take his life. Falling off Red Hare, Chen Gong tells Lü Bu that Ji Ling is trying to provoke him by placing a one-sided bet and insists hitting a target from this distance is impossible. Upon hearing Chen Gong say it's impossible, Lü Bu gets excited and drops the mast on the ground. Dismounting Red Hare, Lü Bu accepts Ji Ling's bet. Calling him a fool, Ji Ling orders someone to bring a bow and arrow.

Smirking, Ji Ling thinks about how, if Lü Bu's arrow manages to reach the halberd by chance, they have a secret plan. A soldier offers Lü Bu a bow and arrow but Lü Bu doesn't take it. Lü Bu tells Chen Gong to bring him the flag and Chen Gong struggles to pick up the mast, questioning how Lü Bu could carry this with one arm. Taking the mast, Lü Bu says this is all he needs. Lü Bu readies to shoot the flag. Ready, aim, hold and pierce. The flag was a long-ranged weapon that was comprised of these four simple actions. Taking a step forward, Lü Bu readies, aims, and holds. As he holds, Lü Bu's muscles slightly expand. On the hill is a soldier of Ji Ling's, whose plan was to smack down the arrow with a spiked club if it were to reach. Smiling, Lü Bu finally throws the mast. The flag flew through the air as if it were a dragon. Seeing the projectile coming, the soldier prepares to smack it down, only to realise what is actually coming at him. As he questions what this is, the mast pierces through the soldier's head and destroys the halberd. The mast then firmly plants itself into the ground, to the surprise of everyone as Chen Gong bursts into tears. Before the 30,000 eyes of Yuan Shu's army, the strange event that occurred, caused them to lose their will to fight. The war on Xuzhou ended with a single shot. Looking back at Chen Gong, Lü Bu asks what he thinks of that. Later on, back at Xapi, Chen Gong raves about Lü Bu did.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

* Lü Bu
* Red Hare
* Chen Gong
* Ji Ling
* Liu Bei
* Zhang Fei
* Guan Yu