Author's note: Hey, I'm Terror of Zanarkand, one of the two authors who will be writing this story from two different perspectives. The warriors of the China are about to discover what the word samurai means, and the warlords of Japan are about learn the names of Liu Bei, Cao Cao and Sun Jian. I'll be handling most of the Three Kingdoms aspect, and the great aliedcam1 will be taking care of Momoyama Period Japan. Yeah, they are completely different eras, but it'll make for an interesting story, right?
Chapter 1: Once Upon a Time in China
All was well in the land of Shu. . .
Liu Bei eased Hex Mark into a canter as he and his entourage moved past the rice fields outside Cheng Du. He waved to the peasant farmers who toiled there, smiling with genuine happiness when they returned his greeting. Behind him, Zhao Yun and Ma Chao rode in silence, and behind them marched two columns of Cheng Du's famed Peasant Guard, each twenty deep.
"Lord Liu Bei, we love you," one farmer cried out. "Lord Liu Bei, marry my daughter," called another. The ruler of Shu just smiled and waved.
"Lord Liu Bei, please make the rains come earlier this year!" Yun and Chao rolled their eyes at hearing this, but Liu Bei shook his head and laughed. "I'm afraid I have not the power to do that, my friend, but I wish good fortune to you!"
They rode on, and soon had quite a crowd following them to either side, everyone happy and cheering. The people were always happy to see the great Liu Bei, and even left their work in the fields just to greet him as he passed by. Yes, Liu Bei was a man of the people, a friend to peasant and noble alike.
Zhao Yun tried to block out the torrents of greetings, prayers, questions, wishes of long life and other irritating utterances. After a morning of riding through the countryside enduring such babble, he had developed a pounding migraine. Beside him, Ma Chao stared straight ahead, for once in complete agreement with the man whom he considered a rival. There were only so many positive messages one could stomach.
"Lord Liu Bei, I want to have your children," a woman screamed, jumping out in the middle of the road. Others ran out to drag her back off the road, and again Bei grinned and chuckled helplessly. He had to admit; it was good to be king.
"You're amazing, Lord Liu Bei!" "Lord Liu Bei, please have tea at my house!" "Heavens shine upon you, Lord Liu Bei!" "Lord Liu Bei, won't you plea- "
Zhao Yun snapped. From beneath his cloak he pulled a loaded, steel-enforced crossbow. He took aim at the nearest peasant and fired. The quarrel hit with a thud. "Gotcha."
Ma Chao barked a laugh as the man went down, then forced his face to go blank when Liu Bei turned quickly in his saddle. "What under Heaven?" He spotted the crossbow cradled in Yun's arms, and the dying man on the road. "Zhao Yun! What on earth are you doing?"
"Wei sympathizer," the Dragon of Chang Shan replied quickly. "Don't worry; I got him."
Liu Bei looked doubtful. "Did we not send Pang Tong to Jian Ye for the purpose of ending the fighting and killing for a time?" He glanced over to see the peasants screaming and hurriedly dispersing.
Zhao Yun examined his crossbow critically before responding. "Fear not, my lord- Master Pang would not have signed the papers yet. Besides, the peasant had a sword."
"I did not see a sword. . . are you sure?"
"Of course," Ma Chao chimed in. "He was definitely Cao Cao's man. He was going to kill you."
The ruler of Shu considered for a moment, then shrugged. "I suppose you two would know. Thank you for saving my life, Zhao Yun." He turned back around in the saddle and dug his heels into Hex's flanks. He pulled away from the rest of the entourage.
"Nice shot," Ma Chao murmured once Liu Bei was out of hearing distance.
Zhao Yun grinned. "Thanks for having my back with our lord. He wouldn't have understood. Those retarded peasants never know when to shut up."
"Agreed." Chao's expression hardened. "Don't think that you will get the job simply over this, however."
Yun casually tucked his crossbow away. "Lui Bei will appoint me Sheriff of Cheng Du, regardless of whether he believes that I saved his life today. I am the only one qualified to fill the position."
Ma Chao's eyes narrowed. "Not on your life, pretty boy. I am the Sword of Justice, and I will be named sheriff before we next meet Cao Cao in battle."
"I am the Sword of Justice. You're just a horse-shagging savage from the west, fit for nothing other than filling troughs and lopping of arms!" With that Zhao Yun flicked his horse's reins, urging the mare into gallop.
Ma Chao did likewise. Leaning forward in his saddle, he kissed the top of his horse's head. "Don't listen to him, darling. You know I wuvs you."
In the land of Wei, things were. . . sort of okay. . . I guess. . .
"Father, come down from there," Cao Pi called.
Cao Cao shook his head. His arms flailed slightly, but he managed to retain his balance. The king of Wei was perched pecariously on the parapets of Xu Chang Castle, standing tall above the main gate. "I'm not coming down until I'm finished. Go away!"
Cao Pi started to call out again, then sighed in frustration. He noticed Zhen Ji and Pang De crossing the main drawbridge and approaching him. With an angry glance to his father, he turned his attention to the others. He nodded to De as Ji slid an arm around his waist.
"What's going on," Pang De asked. He looked up. "Oh, not again. . . how long has he been up there?"
"Since before dawn," Pi replied bitterly. "I fear this time he may actually do it."
De shuddered, then cleared his throat. "Please, Lord Cao Cao, don't do it! Think of your family- your son and his wife do not wish to see this!"
"Please Lord Cao Cao, come down," Zhen Ji pleaded.
"No!"
"Foolish old man," Pi spat. "All right, how did we get him down last time?"
De scratched his head. "I think Xiahou Dun talked him out of it. Too bad he's not here. Cao Cao sent him to Jian Ye to finalise the Kingdoms' Truce."
"Curses," Cao Pi muttered. His thoughts drifted away from his disturbed father, focusing instead on the unprecedented truce that was to be established at the Wu capital. In just a few short weeks, Wei, Wu and Shu would cease to make war upon each other for the duration of one year. Developed by none other than Sima Yi, the proposal was of course a ploy. Many of Wei's troops were currently stationed at Xia Pi to the east, and Shang Dang to the north, due to Yi reading the map wrong at the last war council. The northern borders of Wei were now all but undefended, and reinforcements would be slow in arriving if either Liu Bei or Sun Jian decided to launch a full-scale assault. Time was needed to regroup.
Watching his father slip and almost plummet to his death, Pi's mood lifted. The suggestion of a truce between the Three Kingdoms had merely been something to briefly confuse the rulers of Shu and Wu, and have their strategists searching for deeper meaning in the all-too obvious ploy. Even if it had only bought them a few days, it was better than nothing.
Liu Bei's response to the proposed truce, resulting from council with Zhuge Liang, had been a resounding 'no', as expected. Wu's reply, however, had come as a shock. Once Zhou Yu had learned that Zhuge Liang opposed the truce, he became adamant in supporting it. After Wu agreed, for some reason, Liu Bei rescinded his refusal, and ever since diplomats and emmisaries had been flocking from each of the three kingdoms, arranging the terms of the truce and a thousand other things. Now, representatives from Shu and Wei were heading to Jian Ye, with orders to seal the deal that would ensure one year of peace between the Three Kingdoms. Cao Pi chuckled. This was more than they ever could have hoped for. For whatever reason, the fools had unexpectedly taken the bait. Zhuge Liang, Sima Yi had said, was no doubt planning something, but then what did it matter? It would not take even months, let alone a full year, to rally Wei's forces to Xu Chang, and to the Wu/Shu border. Once the men were in position, Wei could then break the truce at their leeeisure, as Sima Yi had purred earlier.
Cao Cao's giddy shouting drew Pi's attention back to the dilemma at hand. The king of Wei's deteriorating mental state had not yet, by some miracle, become common knowledge. He intended to keep it that way, and the deluded cries echoing out from above were not helping that endeavor.
Cao Pi snapped his hawkish gaze on Pang De. "Send someone up to drag him down here, or push him off- whichever!"
De's eyes widened. "He is still the king, Lord Cao Pi! I could not ever-" Cao Pi took a step forward, and De spun on his heel. "Going, sir!"
"Better." Pi looked to Zhen Ji. "I appologise in advance for if my father does anything stupid."
Ji dismissed his words with a wave. "I know you cannot help his condition, my husband. I know, too, that he was once a great man."
"Which makes this all the more embarrassing." He pulled away from her angrily. "Father, for the last time, come down here! Do not do this!"
Cao Pi heard the singing before he actually saw Zhang He. If he hadn't recognied the high-pitched voice, the lyrics were a dead give away. The man appeared to know only one song, unsuprisingly about beautiful purple butterflies that were beautiful.
In the name of the heavens, let him pass by. . . He's head poked around a corner beyond the portcullis. "Oh, Lord Cao Pi, Lady Zhen!" He immediately began prancing towards the couple. Pi sighed. Please, someone raise the drawbridge. . .
They didn't, but the feminine general, in full butterfly regalia, stopped on the bridge anyway, raising one leg and spreading his arms wide. "Hello trees! Hello sky! Hello sun! Tis I, Zhang He, your beautiful- "
A small flow of yellow water trickled down onto He from the parapets above. The warm liquid splattered against the general's head, running down his immaculate hair and into his armour, dampening his golden butterfly wings.
Cao Pi watched with disgust as Cao Cao finished reliving himself over the castle wall. The king put it back away in his pants and waved cheerily to Ji and Pi. "All done! It feels good to let it all out, doesn't it?"
Zhang He looked disbelievingly at his wet armour, letting out a despairing wail which broke into unabashed sobbing. With a knowing look to her husband, Zhen Ji ran off to console the butterfly enthusiast.
Cao Pi looked back up to the wall to see Dian Wei and Xu Zhu appear to either side of Cao Cao. He sighed in frustration. "It's too late- he's already done it!"
Cao Cao's son shook his head and clenched his fists. He headed back into the castle, storming past his wife and Zhang He. Father, you miserable old bastard. . .
Things were fine in Wu, for the most part. . .
"Tell me, why are we of Wu signing this farcical truce," Sun Jian growled, pacing the room relentlessly. He spread one arm wide. "We already know it to be a ploy, and an obvious one at that. You had better be damn sure we are not playing into that Sima Yi's hands!"
Zhou Yu steepled his hands on the oaken table in front of him. He took a few moments, positioning all of his fingers just so before looking up to the distressed, newly ordained king of Wu. "Lord Sun Jian, do you take me for a fool? I know exactly what I am doing, as I have explained before." He plastered confident smile across his face, which was shadowed by the light of two candles.
Jian leaned forward over the table to stare Yu right in the eye. "Actually, you never explained it. You just asked me to trust your judgment. Now, was I correct in doing so?"
Zhou Yu struggled to keep the smile on his face. We agreed to sign the truce because that smug bastard Zhuge Liang did not!" He frowned sharply. Then he did sign it! Smug bastard, smug bastard, smug bastard! I hate you, Liang, I hate you so. . .
"Is something wrong?"
Zhou Yu realised he was pounding his fists against the table and hastily stopped. "Of course not, Lord Sun Jian. You have my word that we will beat Zhuge Liang at his own game."
"Zhuge Liang? What does he- "
"Sima Yi, I meant Sima Yi," Zhou Yu stuttered. He then chuckled quietly. "Soon, Zhuge Liang, soon. . ."
"You just said Zhuge Liang again!"
". . . no I didn't, I said Sima Yi. Agreeing to this 'Kingdoms Truce' is all a part of my plan to destroy Wei!"
"You would run this kingdom into the ground for the sake of your childish rivalry! Everybody already believes that Zhuge Liang is a better strategist than you- I won't allow you to prove them right at the expense of the Sun Family!"
We all laugh at the expense of your family anyway. Zhou Yu rose indignantly to meet Jian's gaze, scattering the various scrolls and maps that cluttered the table. "I am smarter than that sorcerous caveman, as you all will one day see!"
Both men looked down to see a candle lying on its side amidst the papers. A small flame leapt up before Yu could smother it with his bare hand.
Sun Jian shook his head as the strategist squinted in mild pain. "Zhou Yu, if this does turn out to be nothing move than a continuation of your jealousy, Lu Meng will be more than happy to take over your posti- "
"Lu Meng? Do you want us all to die?"
"Lu Xun, then."
"He's ten years old!"
"He knows who Sima Yi is, which at this point impresses me greatly. If our signing of this truce is not part of an ingenious scheme that will benefit Wu greatly, you will be looking for employment elsewhere." Halfway to the door he turned back. "And don't think your friendship with my son will save you. I will merely tell Sun Ce you died, or something of that nature."
Zhou Yu watched Sun Jian stride out the door, slamming it shut behind him. Wu's present strategist sighed and slumped back in his chair. Who does he think he is talking to? My ideas, my strategies. . . I forged Wu! Dully, he picked up the one piece paper on the table that had been damaged by the small fire. He held it up by the light of the remaining candle. A hole had been burned right through a section of the East China Sea, all but searing the nation of Japan off the map.
Zhou Yu set it aside with a grunt. Who needed to know where Japan was, anyway?