Huang Wen quickly went to Yuan Ge village to meet the other. He had to wait for hours before Zhang Tian Yi, Chen Wu Xuang, Ma Heng, Liu Wang Yun and Tian Zhong returned from scouting the area around Yuan Ge village. Fortunately since Xia Bao and Chen Fang stayed at Yuan Ge village, as soon as Huang Wen arrived and met with them, they could began to prepare for their journey to Nanping.

When the rest returned, they planned which road they were going to take, based on their previous surveillance, they could came up with the best route within short time.

They rested for a day and a night at Yuan Ge village, to give a good rest for the children and the elderly. Early in the next day, they began their march to Nanping.

----- o -----

At Zhanghu Town, 18,000 men was drilled into organized army. They had another 3,500 men as a police force, with less military training but more focused on create public safety and kept the order within the town. At the beginning Chen Jun recruited 2,000 men but after a while, after asking permission from Zhang Hu, he recruited another 500.

As people began to have certain job, it strained their food supplies even more but of course they were not stopping at gathering food supplies.

The fact that tens of millions or perhaps even close to hundred millions people died during the changes, they could expect abundant food supplies for some period of time. That was why, all they needed to do for now, was to gather food supplies from various source in abandoned towns and villages. For how long though, it was hard to say, that was why Zhang Hu and the other leaders, were anxious to secure Nanping as soon as possible.

Once they could hold a strong and secured base, they could began to plan on farming and other necessities production.

Whenever Zhang Hu remembered his base at  Fuzhou, he secretly boiled in anger. Secretly he swore that after he claimed Nanping, he would set his power to reclaim Fuzhou.

Yue Guang's fairies returned after spending one night and one day, as soon as they returned to Zhanghu Town, Yue Guang held a meeting with Zhang Hu and Fan Zheng. They didn't know the situation at Fuzhou and believed that they only had less than a week. That was why, the pressure could be felt within the room as they discussed about Feng Jin's action at Nanping.

"Survivors in Nanping were scattered in small groups, even the biggest group consisted of less than one hundred people. Feng Jin easily took control over the city. No one dared to oppose him. Within days, he already set up a defense line around Nanping.", Yue Guang reported the situation at Nanping.

"Did he secured the whole city from zombies and demons?", Zhang Hu asked.

"No, he took over some of the most prosperous part of the city and set up defense at all the entrance to Nanping from Fuzhou. It seemed his focus is to stop us from entering Nanping while gathering supplies of food and ammunition at the same time.", Yue Guang answered.

"How does he treat the survivors in Nanping?", Zhanghu asked.

Yue Guang replied, "Fengjin didn't put much faith on them, whenever he found survivors group, he will forcefully disarm them and then put them at labor works."

Zhang Hu and Fan Zheng was looking at each other smug expression.

"Hmm... he belittle the power of people, he will regret it soon.", said Fan Zheng smirking.

Zhang Hu nodded, "When we were at Fuzhou, at most we would be able to gather 5000 to 6000 armed men. Probably he think that with the city wall and his artillery he will be able to defend Nanping long enough for us to be wiped out from behind by the demons from Fuzhou."

"We have bigger army, let's divided them into several units. The first one consisted of 8000 men would attack them from the front and then we split the other 10,000 into 10 units of 1,000 men, who will attack them from the mountains behind them.", said Zhang Hu.

"We need to draw their attention with the first unit, while those 10 units slipped into Nanping quietly.", Fan Zheng nodded his head.

Fan Zheng sighed and said, "Thousands of our men will die in this battle... we must admit that they have more firepower with them than us."

Zhang Hu didn't say anything for a long time, "What could we do? Last report, we finally gathered enough guns to arm up to 4,500 men but our ammo still lacking compared to Feng Jin. The first unit will be well armed since we will use them to draw Feng Jin's attention. Snipers will be included on the second 10 units of 1000 men, but aside from those who have good marksmanship, the rest would be armed with swords and pikes."

"The mountainous area won't be easy too.", said Fan Zheng.

"We should send them now then, they must leave Zhanghu Town tonight and reach the border of Nanping before the sun rise tomorrow. Let's call Yue Rang and discuss the detail with him.", replied Zhang Hu.

Fan Zheng nodded and left the room.

Zhang Hu turned to Yue Guang and asked, "Brother, I have some idea that might reduce our casualties, but I will need your help and your people."

Yue Guang nodded, "Of course, we would be happy to help. Why don't you tell me your idea?"

Zhang Hu said, "Brother, is it possible for you and your people to herd the zombies from all area in Nanping toward Feng Jin's men's position?"

Yue Guang answered, "We can't control the zombies though, but we could frightened them the way we clear Fuzhou back then and directed them toward Feng Jin's men but if there are people who know how to use their aura to drive away Zombies then those zombies wouldn't dare to harm them."

Zhang Hu nodded his head, "That would be enough. First we march our men to challenge them, but stay beyond their firing range. Then we'll herd zombies to their direction, secretly behind those zombies we'll place our men. When they busy with zombies, we'll move our men at front to attack. When their attention occupied on both front and the zombies number dwindled, the 10 units of 1,000 men should join the fray."

Yue Guang nodded his head, "Hmmm... I'm afraid I'm not familiar with human battle. So I can't give you any good suggestions, but we'll help you as much as we could."

Zhang Hu said, "Since I accepted the knowledge from your father, I know that your tribe was bound by oath, not to harm human. Is there other fairies tribe in this land? Do they bound by the same oath?"

Yue Guang answered, "Yes, as far as I know, there are several other fairies tribe. Most of the time, they live around temple or in the wilderness of mountains and forest where no human live. I know some who are bound with similar oath, some only swear not to harm certain family lines and many who are not bound by oath at all."

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Zhang Hu asked, "Could you contacted them and bring them to help us here?"

Yue Guang shook his head, "I'm afraid not. Most of the time, we don't want to be entangled with human's conflict among themselves. Human are known for their cruelty and greed. Some of us even hate human for destroying nature, but we admit that among human there are good people too. There are many story in the past though, how unpredictable human are. Good man might turn to evil or evil man repent and turn into good person. That's why our attitude toward human is rather indifferent."

"Toward demons though, we know evil is their nature. You might not be able to ask our help to fight your fellow human but if you ask our help to fight against the demon, I believe they will come.", Yue Guang concluded.

Zhang Hu smiled and nodded his head, "Yes, even in the knowledge that was given by your father, it doesn't contain any battle or fighting skill. Rather it contain healing skill, protection spell and various saying of ancient  wise men."

Yue Guang laughed, "Well, brother, my father put a lot of hope in you. I hope you won't be blinded by power in your later days."

Zhang Hu frowned and said, "It was something that secretly creep into your heart, sneaking like a thief. I hope I can fulfill your father wish but I don't have much confidence about it."

Yue Guang nodded his head, "I understand."

They were chatting about the psat of Yue Guang's tribe when Yue Rang and Fan Zheng entered the room.

"Master Zhang Hu, Master Yue Guang.", Yue Rang greeted them politely.

"Ah, Colonel Yue Rang, please sit down. We need your expertise here.", said Zhang Hu while Yue Guang simply nodded his head and smiled.

After Yue Rang sat, Zhang Hu explained his plan, Yue Rang listened attentively, once and a while he nodded his head.

"Hmm... it won't be easy to moved that 10 units of 1,000 men undetected. It will take quite a long time and once they successfully infiltrated Nanping, they'll need time to rest. Fortunately based on Master Yue Guang's information, Feng Jin is too careless and focus his attention at the front. Thus, it is possible to execute this plan and reduce the casualties on our side.", Yue Rang gave his opinion.

Yue Rang then sighed and said, "Master Zhang Hu, since most of the casualties will be happened from the 8,000 men who attack from the front, may I suggest that my military trained men should be assigned as group leaders of the 10 units who attack from behind?"

Zhang Hu nodded, "Yes, I understand the reason behind it. It is unavoidable but I hope you could think a way to reduce the casualties as much as possible."

Yue Rang then replied, "Of that, once we form mechanical team, I had asked our mechanical team to build some sort of shield using large sheet of iron plate and put it on two wheels. Its nothing complicated, just plate of iron, wheels and handles for people to push it from behind."

Zhang Hu was pleased, "Good, have they made them?"

Yue Rang answered, "So far we only have 6 of them, we could put as many as 40 men. Not much but I guess, it would help our front line felt better and as long as we stay out of their firing range until they spent most of their ammo to kill the zombies then we'll be fine."

Fan Zheng got up and said, "I'll ask our mechanical team to made as many as they could for our battle tomorrow. Cao Bei could gather more people to help our mechanical team, we'll work all day and night."

Zhang Hu nodded, "Good, let's hope that we got few more by the morning. Aside from that, Cao Bei should prepare the food supplies for the army too and Chen Jun must tightened our security."

"I got it.", said Fan Zheng before he left the room

Yue Rang nodded his head, "That's sound great. If Master Zhang Hu doesn't have any more instruction, then by your permission, I'll start assigned my men into those units and then discuss the routes with the leaders of the 10 units of 1,000 men. So they can move as early as possible. While the 8,000 men could rest for tomorrow."

Zhang Hu nodded, "Well, may heaven bless you and your men."

Yue Rang slightly bowed and joined Fan Zheng leaving the room. Zhang Hu got up and accompany him to the door.

Before Yue Rang left the room, Zhang Hu patted his shoulder, "I trusted their lives in your hand."

Yue Rang nodded his head, "I'll save as many as I could."

Zhang Hu nodded, "Thanks...."

Zhang Hu then turned and sat on his seat, quietly he closed his eyes, preparing himself for the battle to come. There was a change in him after he receive the knowledge from the Grand Elder. As he said to Yue Guang, it contained no battle skill or fighting skill. It contained life saving skills, various knowledge of nature and also records of people's lives. The Grand Elder had lived for more than 500 years, within all those years there were men and women whose life were interesting for him.

The Grand Elder took the memories of each one of them and gave it to Zhang Hu. Their struggle, their tragedy, their happiness and their achievement be it small or big. Within the memories also contains the Grand Elder's sincere compassion toward each of them.

Zhang Hu thought about all the lives that might ceased to exist when the next battle happened and sighed. If there was a way to bring Feng Jin to surrender peacefully or at least sign a peace treaty. Unfortunately he could see Feng Jin's true nature and knew that such thing would only bring even greater disaster in the future.

So there he was sitting and sighing. Yue Guang silently accompanied him.

Outside, Zhanghu town was bustling with activity, young men would anticipated the battle in excitement with naive romance fantasy of wars and battles. The older men, specially those who had families of their own, anticipated it in different manners. Parents and wives, prayed sincerely for their safety, children ran around the barracks, watching the activity. Some other played battle of their own, no one want to play as Feng Jin though and it didn't took long before they battle the right to play as Zhang Hu's army.