Disclaimer: I do not own Dynasty Warriors, ROTK or any of the characters involved. Koei does. I do not plan to make money out of this.
Author's Note: The characters are the same age as the last chapter.
Legend of the Three Spearmen
Chapter 2: The Yellow Turban Rebellion, The first Alliance and Oath of Friendship
"Intolerable! This madman has betrayed the people into self-rule!" exclaimed the yellow armor man as he paced forth and back at the courtyard. Having received news that the Yellow Turbans under the lead of Zhang Jiao are causing havoc in the land. Yuan Shao could not help but felt distraught with such revolt.
"A beautiful flower...must one day shed its pedal." said a young handsome man, dressed in pink and on his shoulders were golden wings. "Much like the Han..."
"Be quiet! Don't even say such thing!" retorted Yuan Shao, the noble of He Bei.
"Then, let call it, my lord, to restore the Han is the tranquility of a loyal retainer." bowed Zhang He as he struck a pose.
"You are right... the noble blood of the Yuan Family also flowed through my veins." agreed Yuan Shao, as he nodded his head. "Then let go, we cannot stop until we destroy the Yellow Turban Rebellion!"
Yuan Shao moved his legs toward the audience hall while Zhang He was standing by the tree.
"My lord! Lady Zhen has returned! With a stranger apparently!" the messenger reported as he knelt and bowed.
"Oh? Then let us meet this stranger then." said Yuan Shao, as he and Zhang He then moved to the audience hall.
In the audience hall, Zhao Yun bowed and knelt before Yuan Shao, who was siting at his throne. Zhen Ji was by his side smiling. Zhao Yun proceeded with his formal greetings.
"Lord Yuan Shao, I would like to serve you. My spear is at your service."
"Oh, for what reason do you want to join me? I have Wen Chou and Yan Liang at my side. If you don't mind, i will arrange for a contest of might between you and my noble two warriors."
Wen Chou and Yan Liang, two bulky men with their axe and spear respectively stepped down from their places to meet Zhao Yun. Zhao Yun nodded and readied his spear.
Zhao Yun charged forth and delivered a upper slash. Wen Chou blocked it while Yan Liang tried to hack at Zhao Yun. Zhao Yun dodged and he went into the corner, and with a spin, he flew back at his opponents and deliver a single slash that made both warriors dropped their weapons. Yuan Shao immediately waved his hand to stop the fight.
"Alright, that's enough." Yuan Shao exclaimed out of worry for his precious brave two veterans. "Zhao Zilong, I hereby accept you into my ranks. We leave for Ji Province to meet the Yellow Turbans in battle before daybreak. Generals, good fortunes in battle!"
Zhao Yun, Zhang He and Zhen Ji bowed, along with Wen Chou and Yan Liang as Yuan Shao waved his hand in signal that Yuan Shao's army would be moving out to Ji Province soon.
Meanwhile...
In the training hall of Xi Liang, Ma Chao was training with Pang De. Jiang Wei stood by the side as he watched the two warriors battling each other. Jiang Wei's eyes glinted as he glanced nervously at the match. He could never predict the outcome of the battle. Ma Chao jumped and tried to slash at Pang De but Pang De just blocked the attack with his twin halberds.
Somewhere hidden in the corner, a girl by the name of Jiang Mei was standing by. She had baby looking beady eyes and a ponytail. She was no beauty compared to Diao Chan but she had a certain charm. She was to be the maid servant of Jiang Wei. She peeped at Jiang Wei's beautiful looks and was amazed with him. She yearned and hoped to be with him as his master forever.
Pang De's eyes shone brightly as he released an aura of musou rage. His body was surrounded by golden aura. He fought more ferociously until Ma Chao panted. Just when Pang De was about to strike, Jiang Wei halted Pang De's attack with his spear.
"Lord Pang De, Lord Ma Chao, I believe that's all for the day training." Jiang Wei said; his eyes facing the ground.
Pang De looked at Ma Chao and withdrew his twin halberds. Ma Chao was panting heavily. Jiang Wei helped him up and spoke to him.
"Lord Ma Chao, you are amazingly strong!"
"Thanks for the compliment, young soldier. How about you and I train for the day?"
Jiang Wei decided to accept the challenge. He readied his spear and shouted,
"Okay, here I come!" Jiang Wei exclaimed as he charged at Ma Chao, spear in his hands.
Jiang Wei dashed and gave a quick swipe at Ma Chao. However, the quick-instinct Ma Chao saw through this and jumped and then delivered an overhead slash. Jiang Wei rolled over and threw out several fire orbs. They exploded immediately which left behind a big black smoke. Ma Chao was gone from sight. Jiang Wei looked around and then he closed his eyes and concentrated. All of a sudden, Ma Chao rushed from behind and Jiang Wei blocked Chao's stab with his spear with one hand. Both men smiled at each other. Pang De sensed that there could be danger if this practice duel continued.
"Alright, gentlemen, it is time to stop!" Pang De shouted.
Jiang Wei and Ma Chao let down their weapons and shook each other hand. The three warriors returned to their room to rest for the day. Jiang Wei lay on his bed and in his mind, appeared an image of the three kingdoms number one beauty. She was dressed in purple and pink but instead of maces she held, she was holding a wicked whip... Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, which awoke Jiang Wei.
Jiang Wei reached for the door but before he could reach to open the door, he suddenly collapsed on the ground and lay unconscious...
This time, an old man wielding a deck of cards appeared in his dream. He spoke first, while shuffling his cards and then placed one of the cards on the floor.
"Lord Jiang Wei, I am Zuo Ci, an hermit of Mount E-mei. I have come today to predict your future while observing this land." Zuo Ci said before placing a card on the floor and revealed his hands. " Your cards... are Life and Death... They told me something mystical about your past... Perhaps it is a sign that you death will be upon you? Or death already is upon you and you are merely an empty shell revived by the gods..."
Jiang Wei stumbled as he suddenly recalled something... something he shouldn't knew about his past as well as the future he was going to undertake. He remembered himself as Jiang Wei, the general of Shu-Han, proud prodigy of Tian Shui, Successor of Zhuge Liang, who died in vain during the rebellion at Jian Ge.
"I...Master Zuo Ci... Is there any ways to change my destiny?" Jiang Wei asked.
"There is no way to change destiny nor the future. All things are simply guided by the hands of fate. " Zuo Ci placed 4 cards on the floor. " Draw two more cards."
Jiang Wei drew two more cards and showed them to Zuo Ci. Zuo Ci examined the cards and sighed,
"Lord Jiang Wei, the cards you have drawn represented Love and Loyalty. You will encountered the love of your current life but may be forced to abandon her somedays or even to kill her... It's really inauspicious for me to say this... But for loyalty... You will encounter two great lords of these times. You will be forced to serve one or both of them... but in the end, you will only serve one faithfully. Choose well, young prodigy. I shall take my leave now. However, should you need me, just pray in your heart, for I will continue to observe this land as its guardian."
Zuo Ci then vanished under a thick smoke.
Jiang Wei awoke on his bed while finding his servant, Jiang Mei lying on his laps while holding his hand tightly. He then found out that she was sleeping and so he removed her hands away from his hand and tried to get off bed when she woke up.
"Oh Master Jiang Wei, you have awaken! Thank goodness! You have slept for three days and three nights!" said the young servant. "Do you need anything? A cup of water? I will get it for you. Please don't get up. The doctor said he couldn't find out anything wrong with you and just said you are simply too exhausted after all that tough training Master Ma Chao been giving you."
"Jiang Mei... Is it me or do I sense that you are actually...in love with me? I heard a lot of rumors about this recently and I wish to clarify this..."
Jiang Mei dropped the cup and was shocked. She quickly cleared the broken pieces away and then smiled cheerfully at him.
"My master...Yes... I've been in love with you for a long time since your arrival. But I dare not tell you because I am afraid that you will reject me... I dare not let you marry me as your wife but please allow me to serve you forever!"
"Jiang Mei... I appreciate your concerns... But all these times, I've been treating you as my sister and nothing more! If I been letting you have the wrong idea, please forgive me."
Jiang Mei's smile soon turned into a sob as she immediately dashed out of the room, with tears dropping from her eyes.
"I know...I know... I know...Sorry for bothering you, Master Jiang Wei!" Jiang Mei said while running.
"Hey wait!" Jiang Wei said while trying to get off the bed but she already left and he collapsed on the floor.
Ma Chao entered the room to find Jiang Mei running away from the room sobbing on the way. He wondered what happened but nevertheless, he found Jiang Wei on the floor and he quickly helped him up then asked Jiang Wei about this.
"Jiang Wei, what happened? Why did the maid I assigned to you ran away crying in tears?"
"Thank you, Lord Ma Chao. Jiang Mei ran away because I rejected her..." Jiang Wei answered.
"I see. Anyways, once you are alright, we are to move out to Ji Province to battle the Yellow Turbans in this final battle between the justified Han and the unjustice of the Yellow Turbans!" Ma Chao declared.
"Yes, sir!" Jiang Wei said as he bowed. Ma Chao's army which consisted of Jiang Wei and Pang De was to move out to Ji Province as Ma Teng ordered.
Meanwhile at the Peach Garden in Lou Sang Village.
A handsome young man with no beard dressed in green armor and armed with his twin swords, called Swords of Fate, was kneeling down beside a large beard man who used a long sharp spear, called Serpent Blade and a tall long beard man armed with a large blade, called Blue Dragon. These men are the Imperial Uncle, Liu Bei, the fierce drunk brute, Zhang Fei, and the honorable warrior, Guan Yu. There, at the Peach Garden, they offered their prayers to the Heaven above and swore an oath of brotherhood.
"Though we may not be born on the same day..." said Guan Yu as he raised his Blue Dragon high up in the air.
"Let us die on the same year, same month and the very same day!" shouted Zhang Fei as he raised his Serpent Blade against Guan Yu's Blue Dragon.
"Let go! My brothers' destiny awaits!" announced Liu Bei as he brought his Swords of Fate against his brothers' weapons in the air.
After the oath was made, the three brothers were seen leaving the Peach Garden with some volunteer troops not far from behind. They were heading to Ji Province as well...
At Chang Sha,
A man dressed in red armor and armed with a sword, called Tiger Sword, was readying and rallying his troops at the barrack, with his son and daughter-in-law, Sun Ce and Da Qiao by his side.
"Let go! Let the Yellow Turbans face the might of the Tiger of Jiang Dong!" Sun Jian rallied as he raised his sword high up in the air. Sun Ce and Da Qiao bowed in respect as Sun Jian's troops cheered. Sun Jian then proceeded to lead his army to Ji Province...
Somewhere near Ji Province.
The infamous Hero of Chaos, Cao Cao, dressed in blue armor and armed with his sword, called Sword of Heaven, was seen drinking wine with Yuan Shao in the tavern on the road. Yuan Shao left his troops in command of Zhang He while he went for a drink with his old friend.
"So...Cao Cao... You are also leading the imperial army to defeat the Yellow Turbans... Unlike myself and the noble Yuan family with our noble heritage, your Cao family were eunuchs relying on the weaken Han dynasty to survive." laughed Yuan Shao.
"Hmph... Yuan Shao... You muddled fool. Family heritage has nothing to do with quelling chaos and gaining honor. You shall see your own folly soon..." thought Cao Cao in his mind.
"It was a good drink, I must say, Yuan Shao, but I must be on my way now. Farewell." Cao Cao bid farewell to his old friend and went off on his own to his troops stationed nearby.
However, on the way, Cao Cao met a fortune teller called Xi Zhi Cai, who offered to have his fortune told. Cao Cao thought that he was in no hurry so he sat down with Xi Zhi Cai, who then read his palms.
"Hmm... Cao Cao, I can see your destiny is quite interesting..." said Xi Zhi Cai, who smiled.
"Why is that so, mister?" asked Cao Cao.
"Cao Cao, you are a tyrant when there is peace but when there is chaos, you are a hero!"
" A Tyrant of Peace? A Hero of Chaos? Hahaha! Amusing!" laughed Cao Cao, who stood up and went off on his own. When he went back to his troops, who were being taken care by his fierce bodyguard, Dian Wei, he raised his Sword of Heaven in the air and made a statement,
"Let us go, my faithful servants of the Han. We shall bring glory by quelling this Chaos!"
"Yes, my lord!" said Dian Wei as he bowed in respect.
Cao Cao's army then proceeded to Ji Province two days earlier than Yuan Shao's army...
Days later...at Ji Province.
Ma Teng's Army met up with Dong Zhuo's army which consisted of Dong Zhuo himself and the fierce warrior Hua Xiong. They then met up with Yuan Shao's army, Sun Jian's army, Cao Cao's army and Liu Bei's army, all under the total leadership of General He Jin, who was ordered by Emperor Ling to lead the Imperial army to quell this Yellow Turban Rebellion. Zhao Yun was training alone outside his tent using his spear called Dragon's Spear, while Jiang Wei and Ma Chao were walking outside their tents, discussing about current affairs. The rest of the officers were discussing battle strategy against the Yellow Turbans in the commander He Jin's tent.
"Soon...the Han forces will overwhelm the Yellow Turbans with our experienced and trained troops with our superior numbers...In the end, numbers do count in victory in battle..." Jiang Wei said.
"Jiang Wei, you do not understand the true meaning of battle. Numbers do not necessarily make victory in battles!" Ma Chao replied to what Jiang Wei had said.
"Oh? Does Lord Ma Chao have another idea regarding this battle?" Jiang Wei then asked, looking quite puzzled of what Ma Chao had said.
"Honor!" Zhao Yun said out of his mouth without even realising what he had said. "What am I saying?" he thought to himself.
"Honor?" asked the curious Jiang Wei.
"Yes, honor. If our men fight for their leaders for honor and their leaders fight for the them for honor, the land will be united." Ma Chao added on to what Zhao Yun had said eariler.
"Could these young men be what I am searching for...?" Zhao Yun thought.
"Hard to imagine, I must say, Lord Ma Chao..." Jiang Wei commented about this honor.
"Won't you try it, Jiang Wei?" Ma Chao said before holding his spear, Stallion Spear high up in the air. " Ma Chao, Mengqi from Xi Liang!"
Zhao Yun put his Dragon Spear against Ma Chao's Stallion Spear and said,
"Zhao Yun, Zilong from ChangShan!"
Jiang Wei smiled to himself as he put his spear, Twlight Spear against Ma Chao and Zhao Yun's weapons in the air.
"Jiang Wei, Boyue, from Tian Shui. It is an honor to meet you all, Lord Ma Chao, Lord Zhao Yun!" said Jiang Wei.
On that day, the Three Spearmen made an oath of friendship and swore as friends united to quell the chaos and unify the land in peace one day... The battle of Yellow Turban Rebellion was about to commence at Ji Province near the Yellow Turbans' base of Ju Lu...
Author's Note: Sorry for late update. Now I am well again and able to write. Stay tuned for next chapter and please read and review! I would like to say Thank you to all my reviewers for their reviews.
Next Chapter: The Yellow Turban Rebellion, Demise of Yellow Turbans.
