Dynasty Warriors: Ambition and Temperance
Chapter 1 of the final part of my Dynasty Warriors Wei trilogy, hope you enjoy it.
Disclaimer: Dynasty Warriors and its characters belong to Koei.
To End The Yuan
It was a time of conflict. Following the Battle of Guandu and his slow recovery from the death of Bianshi, Cao-Cao had consolidated his power within his lands. With the death of Yuan Shao, the territory to the North of the Yellow River, which had been under his control, had fallen into disarray as his eldest son, Yuan Tan quarrelled with his youngest brother, Yuan Shang, his father's favourite, over the succession.
Cao-Cao had tried to take advantage of this turmoil, but quickly pulled back. For it soon became clear that if he attacked, the brothers would put their war with each other aside to aid each other against the true threat. Despite insistence from Yuan Xi, the middle brother and their cousin Gao Gan that they stop fighting and focus on Cao-Cao, the moment he had pulled back, the two had started up again.
'For all his faults, Yuan Shao was still a good warrior...he at least proved worthy of his nobility, at the start.' Cao-Cao reflected. 'Where did it all go wrong, for him, for his sons…?'
While letting the Yuans fight, Cao-Cao had tried to reduce the power of Liu Biao in Jing, who was sheltering the one man Cao-Cao feared, Liu Bei. But they had been beaten back and were yet to make another attempt.
Although Cao-Cao had been able to force Liu Bei's strategist Xu Shu to join him.
Overpowered by his brother, Yuan Tan surrendered to Cao-Cao and together they had attacked, only for Yuan Tan to try and betray Cao-Cao. This led to the man's death, as well as the death of many loyal to Yuan Shang. Only a handful of his usual soldiers and his brother Yuan Xi remained with him.
Gao Gan had perished when Cao-Cao's forces claimed Bing Province.
Now Cao-Cao called his officers to a war council. He stood at the head of the room, observing those around him. He began to speak.
"The land has changed, we now possess nearly all the land Yuan Shao conquered, but the land that is still within their grasp...They have fled north, to the mountains..."
There were murmurs at this, for the passage North was known to be inhospitable and dangerous.
Cao-Cao continued. "They attempting to gather their forces for a revenge attempt, at Mt. Bailang...they've rallied the Wuhan tribes to their side. If we do not stop them, we will be attacked."
Xiahou Dun was the one to voice the problem. "We would be at a disadvantage, the Wuhan know the land and we are far from home...in treacherous desert where death and disease, not to mention wild animals stalk unchecked."
But then Guo Jia spoke. "But Lord Cao-Cao is right. This will be our chance to finish the Yuans and take one step closer to unification of the land...to-"
He was cut off as he suddenly began coughing. At once those nearest him tried to help him. Cao-Cao even began to move down towards him. Guo Jia had recently developed an illness and there were concerns from many, Cao-Cao especially, that being on this long campaign wasn't helping in the slightest.
Still, Guo Jia waved everybody back, still smiling his usual wistful smile as he recovered.
"One step closer to peace." He continued. "Lord Cao-Cao, allow me to...lead the attack."
There were gasps at that and Cao-Cao tensed.
"Guo Jia, you..."
The man shook his head. "I can...I must do this..."
Cao-Cao stepped back, the fire in Guo Jia's eyes said it all; there would be no convincing him otherwise. With a heavy sigh he nodded.
"Very well, Guo Jia will lead the attack, I will lead the main unit with Jia Xu and Cheng Yu...Zhang Liao, you will aid Guo Jia."
These men all bowed and Cao-Cao began naming others to fight in the battle too, including his son Cao Pi and Cao Pi's new wife, Zhenji, the former wife of Yuan Xi, before she happily left him for the Cao heir.
Also coming along to fight would be Cai Wenji; a woman for whom Cao-Cao had found himself strangely drawn too for some time. They all bowed and left the hall, ready to prepare for their march. This would be it, the final battle against the Yuans, then the North would be united under their banner.
Before they began to prepare, Cao-Cao met Cai Wenji privately.
"My Lady..."
She turned, a little startled. "Lord Cao-Cao, is there…?"
He smiled. "I wanted to thank you...your kindness and faith in me have helped me through some difficult times."
"I...Thank you, My Lord." She muttered, feeling her face heat up.
When Bianshi died, Cai Wenji was the only one who never lost faith in Cao-Cao recovering and had done her best to help him since then.
"I must ask a favour of you." He said, his voice indicating he was worried. "Guo Jia is...I need you to help him, keep an eye on him in this battle."
Cai Wenji knew about the strategists illness and nodded. "I will, Lord Cao-Cao, you can rely on me."
Smiling he thanked her and, feeling calmer about things now, he left. They soon got their preparations underway, ready to begin their march to Mt. Bailang. Also known as the White Wolf Mountain.
End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.