Disclaimer: I don't own jack, check the previous one for the disclaimer.
A/N: Boy I totally messed up the first interview and edit it. Here's the second one live on Yuan Shao's deathbed. It's shorter with some subplots for those Zhao Yun x Zhen Ji lovers out there.
And out of the three Xu You, Tian Feng, and Ju shou…Ju Shou was the one Yuan Shao should have listened. He's one of the people who gave Ji Zhou to Yuan Shao with host of a few partners in that scheme. I have a surprise character in this story from my time playing Red Cliff online.
Yuan Shao's Noble Interview: Directors Cut
After Guan Du
At Ye…..
"Cao Cao….you magnificent bastard…..oh that magnificent bastard….," Yuan Shao whimpered.
"My dear…" Lady Liu stroked her husband's hair sharing the depression.
"Father, I ordered the entire army to make preparations for the counterattack if Cao Cao advances to Ji zhou. Please be in good health and stay by my side!" Yuan Shang joined along with his mother near Yuan Shao's bed.
"Why heavens!? Why allow Cao Cao to reign terror in my territory!?" Yuan Shao continues whining. His frustration and depression grew deeper and when his subjects beg him to restrain, he only raise his incite behavior further.
"We executed Tian Feng if that makes you feel better my lord," Guo Tu snapped his fingers at the attendants to bring Tian Feng's beheaded presence in the room.
"My lord behold the traitor who taunted you, he also sig his last words before he died," The soldier offered the presence of Tian Feng's head.
"……."
"And what were his last words?" Yuan Shang glared at the soldier.
"He..he said, 'Told you so numbskull'…." The soldier shudders when he answered.
" 'Told you so!?" Told me what?! To assist Liu Bei by attacking Cao Cao behind his back?! I'm not taking responsibility with that attention whore!! And then he told me not to attack when I've decided to attack Cao Cao at the right time!" Yuan Shao furiously stood up and kicked the head of Tian Feng like a football out of the room then slowly returned to his bed feeling worst.
"The kick is good, my lord! I'm sick of his stubborn antics, didn't we all told you that he'll betray us!" Shen Pei praised.
"The hell did that guy serve me for?! Oh wait; he's one of Han Fu's former officers after all! Damn it, damn Tian Feng, damn Cao Cao…." Yuan Shao grumbled on his bed cussing so many times at Tian Feng's name.
"Please burn that miserable traitor's head to the furnace. There will be no proper burial given to Tian Feng," Yuan Shang ordered.
"Y…yes sir….!" The Soldier quickly recovered what's left of Tian Feng and left.
The Interviewer show up by passing the soldier.
"You guys obviously don't like Tian Feng…..he's the guy with the highest intelligent in your force," The interviewer sighed.
"Bull!!" Guo Tu and Shen Pei unison.
"Yan Liang….Wen Chou….I missed my brothers so much! Damn that Guan Yu!" Yuan Shao tears shear heavily. He lost everything, his two boys, his advantage, and the lands he took from Cao Cao.
"You know, even Liu Bei's death is as humiliating as this…." The Interviewer thought.
"Be quick interviewer or you'll be joining Tian Feng," Yuan Shang warned.
"Of course, you're going to be the heir right?" The Interviewer assumed.
"Yes and it's official. Yuan Tan hardly coming here right now because he acts like he already got followers while commanding the military force at Qing zhou. He may revolt any second to put shame in my father's sorrows. I don't care if he's promoted General, I am my father's favorite son," Yuan Shang nodded.
"You're the favorite son? What about Yuan Xi? He's good at both, what's wrong with that?" The Interviewer asked.
"Xi is soft and my father couldn't stand that. Because of Xi's behavior, he's been given to Lady Zhen. I'm glad I didn't marry her because she's not an ambitious woman compare to the wife I'll be taking from Cao Cao's family as soon as we make success in the counterattack. Yuan Xi is my biological brother from my mother's side though while Tan the ungrateful greedy snob of a step brother I never cared!" Yuan Shang scoffed after his remark on Yuan Tan.
"Shang, please don't entice your brother. You must work together with him…." Yuan Shao begged.
"He's right, the respect of elderly is the key," Guo Tu nodded.
"You mean the respect of an incompetent lord?!" Shen Pei look shocked at Guo Tu's statement.
"It's still the law of the family that the elder must take responsibility of the family while serving," Guo Tu said.
"Then what if you're trying to get Yuan Tan to succeed?!" Yuan Shang snarled.
"Please stop it you fools!! This is another plot Cao Cao's trying to bring us. We all must unite. It doesn't matter if Tan or Shang succeeds, we must prosper together and unite!" Yuan Shao scolded.
"Yes father…." Yuan Shang muttered.
"As you wish my lord," Guo Tu and Shen Pei bowed.
"Did somebody called me?" Yuan Tan surprisingly showed up.
"No idiot, get back to Bei Hai where you're being ordered General!" Yuan Shang demanded.
"Who are you calling idiot you brat?! Show respect to your oldest!" Yuan Tan enticed.
"You mean my inferior! You're nothing, but a washed up general who has too much free time with luxury! I didn't even see you do anything to attack Cao Cao from ambushing Wu Chao!" Yuan Shang urged.
"As I recall, my forces were defending Bai Ma Ferry where our father had retreated back here…." Yuan Tan informed.
"Right....beginner's luck. Now get back to your post and keep Cao Cao in check!" Yuan Shang ordered.
"Why are you telling me what to do you brat? You should be the one taking responsibility for the defenses of Qing Zhou. Everybody else should forficate the lower plains near the yellow river, that is my command as the eldest," Yuan Tan gave a reversal command leaving Yuan Shang short of acknowledgement as the chosen heir.
"Erm, who should we listen to, the youngest or the oldest?" The soldier asked.
"I don't know, but the law of elderly still remains…." The other soldier said.
"I am the law here and both of you stop fighting and work together! Argh!!" Yuan Shao coughed up heavily.
"Please hold back your temper my love!" Lady Liu begged.
"My lord, Ju Shou was executed by Cao Cao and here's his head," Feng Ji presented Ju Shou's head.
"Well there goes the death of another former officer of Han Fu…." The Interviewer thought while watching the Yuans chatter.
"Ju Shou…." Xun Chen wept.
"I'll forgive Ju Shou's protest. I should have listened to him…." Yuan Shao sighed.
"When Cao Cao offered him to join, Ju Shou just run away, but was killed," Feng Ji placed Ju Shou's head on the table next to Yuan Shao.
"I've wasted a great deal of talent….!" Yuan Shao wept.
"Big time…" The interviewer nodded.
"At least, Ju Shou died for us father," Yuan Shang complimented.
"He gave Ji Zhou to us…." Yuan Tan nodded.
"Give him a proper burial," Feng Ji ordered the soldier.
"Yes sir," The soldier bowed and takes Ju Shou's head.
"Damn it, everything Cao Cao is doing…I'm sick to death of his taunting. Making my soldiers turn against me!" Yuan Shao threw the pillow out.
"Zhang He and Gao Lan will get severe punishment if we capture them. Don't worry about it too much father and recover yourself," Yuan Shang assured.
"They were going to turn against us at the start….." Guo Tu shrugged.
"Because you slandered them and now they turned us!" Shen Pei urged.
"I'll second that…" Feng Ji glared at Guo Tu.
"Zhang He…Gao Lan…son of a….damn…damn it all…because I didn't listen to Ju Shou!" Yuan Shao can't help but blame himself for that.
"So, Yuan Shao…do you have any final thoughts on the Battle of Guan Du?" The interviewer asked.
"It's a whole freakin nightmare that should never come true….." Yuan Shao sighed.
"This is what it's like when Zhao Yun did not reemploy himself into your side," The interviewer said.
"Zhao Yun, Zhao Yun!! Where the hell is Zhao Yun now?! Here I am, Yuan Shao at my most fated hour, the hour I need a savior to save my family's reputation and restore my fame!" Zhao Yun's name annoyed Yuan Shao to no end. The Chang Shan Dragon never gave Yuan Shao a second chance.
"Zilong too chicken to help us prove his empty talents in our state, father. Forget about that nobody and I too am sick to death of him and the Cao family," Yuan Shang scoffed.
"But, we should find a way to get Zhao Yun back. Last time he was on our side it was when we took Ji Zhou from Han Fu," Yuan Tan suggested.
"I don't want him back. Does anybody else want that bum back?" Yuan Shang brought up the petition and the officers around Yuan Shao's room murmured.
"No."
"Not a chance, even if he's most respected at the northern suburbs of the province!"
"He's just a show off. Did you see how he handles Wen Chou when he defected?"
"It's like bringing a wounded soul back to instigate his plight. He reap what he sow for joining Gongsun Zan."
"What does Zhao Yun wants the most? That attention whore Liu Bei or his own acknowledgement? Someday, I will continue to question that bum's motivation…" Yuan Shang wondered.
"Dear, I think it's best we recall Zhao Yun to replenish our army morale," Lady Liu suggested
Yuan Shao groaned for even his wife having second thoughts on the bum.
"When I played Rot3k 11 and Dynasty Warriors 6 Empires, insert Zilong after Guan Du and it makes things worse for Cao Cao's surrounding position. Liu Bei would have a better chance assisting Liu Biao while your forces will succeed in defending He Bei from Cao Cao," The Interviewer said.
"If we can combine Zhao Yun's assistance, Liu Bei and Liu Biao's rear advantage, and Ma Teng's distraction then Cao Cao's victory at Guan Du would mean little to recover from his provisional state," Feng Ji commented.
"That means giving the credit of our victory to Zhao Yun and not my father's pledge of thanks. Hmph…" Yuan Shang heard enough.
"Zhao Yun wants nothing more than to make people happy, make the forces of good succeed, and make the Han Emperor renewal his responsibilities for state affairs from the Cao family," Feng Ji said.
The interviewer nodded.
"No, No! Forget it! He's too ambitious to be recall! 10x worse than Liu Bei!! No, we will have to do this the Yuan way, not that bum's way!" Yuan Shao made up his mind.
"You heard my father and that is his command. So no more bring Zhao Yun back to Yuan fraction. Denied and final," Yuan Shang gave a speech like he's already granted the successor.
"You sound like you're already the successor, brat…." Yuan Tan shook his head.
Somewhere near Ye…
"Zhao Yun, are you sure about this?" Xia Houlan was Zhao Yun's childhood friend and a scholar. He never pursue a career in governmental merits, but spend days on social affairs with the folks.
"Yes, there's no other person I could put my trust in than the imperial uncle. If I went back to Yuan Shao, would he stab me in the back again?" Zhao Yun along with thousands of volunteers in Yuan Shao's army had finished the preparations to march with Liu Bei to Jing.
"But…what would happen to you if…." Before Zhen Ji could finish, Zhao Yun reminded her of his motivation in life.
"We've grown to become adults in this era, my lady. I wanted to restore the Han dynasty using my responsibility and trust in Liu Bei which I could have done with Gongsun Zan if Zhang Yan's folly didn't cause a scene with me and the distrust with Gongsun Zan and his officers," Zhao Yun glance into Zhen Ji's sad face recognizing her presence as a symbol of innocence.
"I wish you share that determination with me for I am just….a girl… stuck within the presence of corruption and distortion…." Zhen Ji thought.
"Zilong, this is a very difficult task. Liu Bei is weak and he no longer governs Xu Zhou. Among other things, the Imperial Uncle a wanted man to the law," Xia Houlan reminded.
"I know that's why I'm taking the risk by exchanging my life for his acknowledgement as a relative to the Imperial family. He's a wanted man by Cao Cao's law, not the law of the Imperial family of Liu. The Prime Minister does not have the right to put his sword against a Liu inheritance and my friend had just met the Emperor which all the more reasons I will help him with his cause. We have the same cause. Also, the Prime Minister title wasn't a legitimate Han title seriously," Zhao Yun straightens his waistband and places his spear behind his back with a sheath.
"Vigilantism…." Xia Houlan sighed.
"I don't care if something happens to me. As long I'm alive, Liu Bei will succeed. We'll do whatever it takes by gathering talent and with Liu Biao's assistance," Zhao Yun couldn't delay the march so he kicked his horse and prepare to rendezvous with Liu Bei.
"Lord Zhao Yun, wait!" Zhen Ji rushed to the white rider forcing him to halt the private force.
"There's no time Luoshen….don't distract me," Zhao Yun rebuked.
"I know and I always understand your pursue for duty. At least…at least…please take this with good care. You're so willing to accomplish your goal that you share me your righteous trend by this keep sake of remembrance," Zhen Ji pull out her earrings and place them on Zilong's left hand with both of her hands and embrace them.
"Why are you giving me what doesn't below to me? You know people will think I'm stealing from a noble woman," Zhao Yun tried to refuse the gift by retreating to modesty.
"I'm giving you this because….I love you…," Zhen Ji looked down face her and Zilong's hands not saying the three words to his dashing eyes.
"Why do you want to be in love with a lowly, uninfluential man with a frighten age different my lady? You have Yuan Xi…" Zhao Yun tried not to sound paranoia as he honored her marriage to Yuan Xi.
"Yuan Xi and I do not have the kind of love the fireflies at Taoyuan and the fallen blossoms scattered through the nightly garden. I have no affection, nor admiration with him despite his merit and ability. But, I know you are the better man," Zhen Ji held her hands tight not to allow Zhao Yun to deny the gift.
"Zhen Ji, thank you…." That was all he said and dragged his hand slowly as his horse move on. The soldiers resume their march following Zhao Yun to the ferry.
"I will wait, no matter what happens to me. I will wait for you to return my love with my precious gift," the earrings were left in Zhao Yun's possession leaving her hands empty as pale dust blew. The white rider leaves his old, broken life to reborn a new one.
Back in Yuan Shao's deathbed…
"Where is my daughter in law?" Yuan Shao asked.
Everyone finds it strange of their lord mentioning the wife of his son Yuan Xi. Since she's hardly attached with the Yuan fraction and it was three years since her marriage and the wedding couple haven't inmate yet.
"She's been giving an eye on the poor at the suburbs. That young woman should know how dangerous it is for her to be out there alone as a noble woman. It isn't proper…" Lady Liu said.
"My lord...our troops, some thousands of them were being volunteered by an anonymous person to join him with Liu Bei at Jing!" the soldier reported.
"What?! Who would dare try to deploy my troops unauthorized?!" Yuan Shao strangled the poor soldier whose job was just to inform his lord.
"Ack…lord…Yuan Shao…Zhao..Zhao Yun….!" The soldier couldn't breathe making it hard to understand what he was saying.
"What in blaze is Zhao Yun up to right now father?" Yuan Shang gave the same alerted look as his father.
"Zhao Yun, he deployed about a thousand of volunteers from our ranks to join Liu Bei's on his escort to Jing!" The soldier informed.
"What right does he have to pillaging our resources to that attention whore!? Father, we must stop him!" Yuan Shang urged.
"This is a need to add insult to injury my lord…." Guo Tu glared at Yuan Shao.
"Zhao Yun is mocking us!!" Shen Pei scowled.
"This is the kind of guy he is…. It can't be helped…" Feng Ji shook his head disappointed.
"Where is that bum now? He couldn't have left the city yet with those many troops!" Yuan Shao demanded.
"He..he already left Ye earlier this morning. He will not make any delay as they went into the south suburbs heading to the ferry," the Soldier said.
"Damn it all!!" Yuan Shao enraged.
"Please husband, restrain yourself! You have to recover for us!" Lady Liu begged him.
"Zhao Yun you have infuriated me for the last time with your petty gain for acknowledgment in this empty dynasty!! Stealing my troops without authorization you son of a …aa…aaaahhH!!!" Yuan Shao trembles to his bed shaking out of control by the heart beating so irregularly.
"Father!" Yuan Shang shouted.
"Pa!" Yuan Tan followed.
"My lord!" The officers did the same as they watch their lord's illness reach the terminal stage.
"Get the physician now!" Lady Liu ordered.
The officers wasted no time to find the physician.
"Zhao Yun….You…you must stop that bastard and kill him before he gets to Liu Bei….Shang….Shang do you hear what I'm saying…! These are my last wishes…and kill Cao Cao!!" Yuan Shao struggled to utter the words of his will and testimony.
"Father, you have to see me do it as proof of my succession!" Yuan Shang tears begin to fall.
"Father, there's still much to be done. Without you, we'll be powerless!" Yuan Tan whimpered.
"Please my lord, save your strength?" Shen Pei begged.
"Zhao Yun…..Cao Cao….Zhao Yun…Cao……!!" Yuan Shao spoke in low tone. His voice gets softer and softer as his health is about to fail him.
"Father!!"
"My lord!"
"Why has heaven created such men as them….oh…father…uncle….how have I failed to honor the name of the Yuan family….. " With Yuan Shao's last breath, he fainted. After a minute, his body never responds.
"Well, your sins will be forgiving in due time. That's the consequence to being a selfish and irresponsible leader. He brought himself apart by those he cared little for and they died for the price of fame. They believed the liar, but the liar only believes in himself. Oh well, this interview is officially over. May you rest in peace, Yuan Shao," the Interviewer leaves the room as the entire Yuan fraction wailed at their fallen leader.
The End
