Zhao Yun departed with his Cavalry, a total of seven hundred of his men, a mix of his Lancers, Swordsmen, with a large contingent of the prized Horse Archers. He hadn't had the opportunity to use the Horse Archers in battle himself, but he had seen them demolish his own units and was excited to see them used against his own enemies. They had soon left the thickness of the Red Woods, there camp on the southern edges of it, and began passing through the large expanse of the Infinity Plains.

Hua Rong rode far away at the front, leading a detachment of fast horses to scout ahead and get a lay of the battlefield. More scout reports had come in whilst they travelled, explaining that there were ships anchored off shore and that the camp was rousing from their sleep. Their numbers were confirmed to be around one thousand that were on the shore, a number that was all infantry and did not have the flexibility of his own units. There was no confirmation if more enemies were on the ships, but Zhao Yun mentally prepared for the worst case situation.

"I hope that word reaches General Subutai." Zhao Yun said to himself, knowing that whilst he could clear these enemies when he reached them, he was still out numbered and an allies support would be crucial. He was also worried about if there were other units that had landed, and where these foes had come from.

He had left Sun Shangxiang back at the camp, with his infantry and the support of the Elite Villagers Thucydides, an ex Hoplite in his own time before retiring and becoming a historian, and Zenodotus, the librarian who had a wealth of knowledge in his mind. Whilst the two may not be the best on a front line, he hoped that with their knowledge and the Centurions he had left her with, they could mount a defence of the camp if the situation arose where they were needed.

"What are those creatures?" Zhao Yun asked one of the Warriors in his guard, a towering Batavi Emperors Guard that had been assigned to his personal protection.

"Antelope, General." The Guard replied, a man of few words normally, but he could see that Zhao Yun wanted more information. "An extremely fast animal that are hunted by Lions and other carnivores. I once saw them at the Colosseum when I was in Rome."

"Are these the creatures that General Liao Hua has been hunting with the San people of the west?" Zhao Yun asked as they continued to travel across the Infinity Plains.

"I believe so General." The Guard responded, having seen a similar set of Antlers having been transported to Riverside as a prize.

"Interesting, I will have to join them for a hunt some time." Zhao Yun replied with interest as a figure approached them on one of Zhao Yun's white horses.

"General, word from Hua Rong." A Scout exclaimed as he approached, his white horse covered in a thick line of dust from the quick sprint back from the junior General who was much further ahead.

"Go ahead." Zhao Yun replied, his entourage also listening in as they slowed the pace slightly, the rest of the forces continuing to travel past.

"To the east there is another enemy camp, numbers have not been confirmed." The Scout replied, clear excitement in his voice at the opportunity to battle and prove themselves in their new home.

"What did Hua Rong advise?" Zhao Yun asked, trusting in his new assistant who was highly praised by Subutai and Dom. He had heard the stories of how he had been a key part of the daring fire ambush at Tongpai Town.

"We hit them fast and pull out before reinforcements can be called for." The Scout replied honestly, catching the glint of excitement in his own General's eye. "By then, hopefully allies from one of our flanks will be within support distance."

"Sounds like a good plan to me." Zhao Yun smiled, seeing those around him with similar expressions. Unlike the Female Horse Archers and Lancers that were attached to his unit, the rest were all fresh from either his own force or that of Cheng Pu with a want to prove themselves. "How far until we reach there?"

"Half an hour at a fast pace." The Scout explained as Zhao Yun tapped the side of his horse and charged forwards, the seven hundred Cavalry following their General with excitement.

...

"They are going to see us coming down this hill and have plenty of time to prepare." Tomoe moaned to Subutai as the two of them sat atop their horses, the rest of their forces in tight formation behind them. Before them lay a descent from the hill and then the endless flatlands of the infinity plains where the enemy had camped, it would take them at least an hour to reach them, but the sun would clearly show their arrival.

"It won't be an ambush then, but a field battle." Subutai replied, a smile on his face at the opportunity to see the Legionaries in formation. He just wished he had kept more cavalry with him for a quick and easy victory.

"How do we want to position the men?" Tomoe asked, knowing her own ideas but Subutai was her superior.

"Lucius will love this land when we have it claimed, he will have farms as far as the eye can see." Subutai replied, his mind elsewhere for a moment, as if the battle had already been decided from the moment he lay eyes on the enemies. "Three Centuries wide, three Centuries deep. Our limited Cavalry on the right flank, the sea on the left. Put the experienced Centuries in the centre with the newer Legionary Centuries at each side, it will be a good opportunity to see if the training has paid off."

"I'll take the Infantry and you take the Cavalry?" Tomoe asked, already knowing that this would be Subutai's plan. He looked at her with a grin and nodded, knowing that regardless where the two of them would be, blood would flow.

"General! A Trireme has appeared from behind us." One of their Entourage exclaimed, pointing to the Serene Sea to the south of them.

"It's showing Gan Ning's flag, it must be part of the Serene Sea Fleet!" Tomoe replied quickly, as she signalled one of her flag bearers over to send a message.

"Message for reinforcements, if they can bring some of Gan Ning's fleet, they can probably capture the enemy transport ships and make this even easier." Subutai explained to the flag bearer as they arrived.

"They'll be outnumbered, but they shouldn't struggle with the Bellona and it's entourage." Tomoe agreed as the Flag Bearer began shaking his flag in the air, different colours being raised to pass on different messages.

"Hopefully they see the message." Subutai said out loud, knowing that they definitely should see it from their position, but knowing that nothing was guaranteed.

...

Liao Hua sat atop of his towering Red Hare Horse, with Huang Xin beside him on his own and the San Elder Kabbo on a smaller mare that was part of their scout networks. The San themselves didn't have horses and he sat uncomfortable in the saddle with pride on his face. Liao Hua looked behind him, a Cohort and a half, mixed with Hoplite and Legionaries, all stood in gleaming armour. Behind them was around two hundred and fifty Han Archers. He also had Three Centuries of Cavalry, mainly Lancers and Horse Archers from the Female Horse Archer Warriors Hall, as well as a half Century of Batavi Cavalry and fifty Sabre Tooth Tiger Cavalry.

Beside his unit, was around eight hundred San Warriors, loosely dressed in animal skins that barely covered them and offered little defensive protection, thin wooden shields and short throwing javelins. Some held long bows that whilst not as powerful as the composite bows of the Horse Archers, were still deadly and had a terrifying range. Whilst they seemed unequipped compared to his own forces, Liao Hua could tell that they would be a deadly skirmishing force and he was already thinking up plans on how to use them. A tall dark skinned Warrior stood at the front of them, his head bald and his face aged.

"Our Chief will fight with our men to defend out lands." Kabbo exclaimed with some pride, but Liao Hua could tell that Kabbo had the intentions to be the Chief if anything happened to him.

They had travelled south from his fort at the Red Hare Valley and met with the hastily formed Hunters and Warriors of the San that formed their forces. Some clashes had happened in the early morning as the enemies had tried to infiltrate some of the smaller San Camps on the edges of their land, with losses on both sides.

"We will get your people back." Huang Xin said from beside Liao Hua to Kabbo. During their journey, they had learnt about the skirmishes and that some women and young healthy men had been captured and taken prisoner by the arrivals.

"I do not doubt it, we will wipe them from our lands and through this battle, cement our alliance further." Kabbo replied sternly, fierceness in the elderly warriors eyes.

"Then let's depart!" Liao Hua ordered, raising his spear high and pointing it forwards so his men began to march, the enemy camp supposedly less than an hour away from them. The San Chief followed his match and his men also began marching, walking on either flank of the Lazarus Kingdom forces. "Today we fight, and tonight we feast."

...

"Lady Sun, Lady Sun!" An excited Zenodotus exclaimed, the Librarian thick with dirt that would not normally be seen on his usually immaculate toga. Beside him was the elderly Thucydides, his muscles bulging whilst he held a sword bare in his hand.

"What have you found Zenodotus?" Sun Shangxiang asked, currently sat in the tent with Centurion Decimus and her two Batavi Emperors Guards.

"A tunnel." Thucydides replied in Zenodotus's place, the Librarian trying to catch his breath after the very short sprint from the nearby abandoned town. "It leads deep and has symbols similar to those that are at the Underground Ancient City."

"It is lit with stones similar to Noctus and whilst it is old, it seems clear." Zenodotus continued, his breath now caught and the excitement on his face.

"Lady, we should send the warriors down and check the area." Decimus explained as he stood up, "If this tunnel leads to an underground city, then this could lead towards the Cove."

"Or anywhere for that matter." Sun Shangxiang replied in agreement, "Have the Legionaries prepared, we will head inside immediately. Thucydides and Zenodotus, you are to come with me, but have the rest of the excavation teams stay behind."

"Of course Lady Sun!" Zenodotus exclaimed in excitement, whilst Thucydides has a look of worry on his face.

"Do not worry Thucydides, we will keep you safe." Sun Shangxiang laughed at him, whilst the older man looked at her with the worried face still on him.

"It's not my safety I worry about Lady Sun, if we are ambushed or their are enemies below such as those at Nakbe and Noctus, I am not sure we can guarantee your safety." he replied seriously, having not known the woman long, but he was loyal to Da Qiao and Sun Shangxiang was her sister in law, as well as his new Lord's wife.

"We'll be fine!" She grinned at him, pulling the Harpe from her waist, the sword that Thucydides had given to Dom when they had first met. He looked at the blade and smiled, feeling some warmth from the legendary weapons presence.

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