"Greatness is not forged in peace.
It is tested—when blood first stains the soil."
🌲 A Storm in the Trees
Two weeks had passed since Lü Bu liberated Zhaoling.
In that time, the Iron Core had grown. The villagers trained daily. The blacksmith's forge now rang from dawn to dusk. The fields were beginning to feed the people again.
Peace—however brief—had returned.
But peace was never meant to last.
One cold morning, a scout returned, bloodied and breathless.
"They're coming," he said. "Forty, maybe fifty riders. No flags. No uniforms."
"Mercenaries," Wei Yun growled.
"Sent by who?" Da Ren asked from the walls.
Wei Yun looked to Lü Bu.
But Lü Bu already knew.
Lady Mei of the Crimson Fang.
💀 The Mercenary Threat
These weren't ordinary bandits.
They were paid killers—well-armed, well-fed, veterans of war.
They had no cause, no honor—only silver.
"They're probing us," Lü Bu said as he reviewed the scout's map. "They won't fight like soldiers. They'll attack at night. Burn food. Break morale."
"Then what do we do?" someone asked.
"We show them this town is not prey."
🛡️ Preparing for the Siege
Every citizen was called to action.
The forge worked nonstop to reinforce shields and weapons.
The townsfolk dug trenches and sharpened stakes along the roads.
The Iron Core trained in two rotating shifts—day and night.
Liang Mu, the healer, prepared herbal poultices for wounds that hadn't yet bled.
Lü Bu personally walked the streets, speaking to the people, not as a king…
…but as one of them.
"They will not break us," he said. "Because they think we are just villagers. But you—you are iron."
He looked every man and woman in the eye.
"Tonight, the wolves come.
Tomorrow, the wolves will fear fire."
🌒 Night Falls
The mercenaries came just past midnight.
No horns. No war cries. Just the silence of killers, blades drawn, torches in hand.
But they did not find a sleeping town.
They found walls lined with archers.
They found streets reinforced with blockades and burning oil traps.
And they found Lü Bu waiting for them—at the front gate.
⚔️ Battle: The First Defense of Zhaoling
The mercenaries struck hard.
Their leader, a cruel man with jagged armor and a spear longer than most horses, led the charge.
He didn't expect discipline.
He didn't expect trained footmen holding ranks in the street.
He didn't expect Lü Bu.
"Open the gate," Lü Bu ordered.
The wooden gates opened—and then slammed shut the moment the enemy crossed.
Now they were inside.
Trapped.
Lü Bu charged with a roar that echoed across rooftops.
His halberd met the enemy leader's spear in a thunderous clash. Sparks flew. Screams echoed.
All around him, the Iron Core held their formation.
No fear.
No retreat.
Only purpose.
The townspeople fought beside them—throwing rocks, oil, and arrows from the roofs. They defended their homes like warriors.
🔥 Victory in the Streets
By sunrise, it was over.
Of the fifty mercenaries, none escaped.
The Iron Core lost seven.
The town lost four.
But they had stood their ground.
The people wept not just for the dead—but for something they never thought they'd feel again:
Safety.
Aftermath
[SYSTEM NOTICE – Event Complete: "First Defense of Zhaoling"]
🏅 Rewards:
Troop Morale +25
Zhaoling Loyalty: 58% → 76%
Unlock: Basic Training Camp (Can now train new recruits)
Reputation Title: Defender of the People
Notoriety Gained: Nearby warlords have taken notice.
⚠️ Hidden Threat Detected: Lady Mei will retaliate.
Closing Scene: The Ash of War
Later that evening, Lü Bu stood on the edge of town, watching the smoke rise from the battlefield.
Wei Yun stepped beside him.
"You did it."
Lü Bu shook his head.
"We did it. But this was just the first."
"And the next?"
"Will be worse."
Wei Yun smirked.
"Then we train harder. And we build stronger."
Lü Bu turned back toward Zhaoling.
Children were playing in the street again.
The forge was already hammering the next blade.
"Let them come," he said.
"We are the Iron Core. And we do not bend."