The Plains of Wu Zhang

Everyone in Xu Chang was delighted to hear of the birth of Cao Pi's son, but none were more joyous than Zhen Ji and Cao Pi were. Cao Pi made sure that his council meetings didn't last as long and spent as much time as he could with her and Rui as he could.

Rui was a quiet baby who was very fond of being held. He slept through the night well and only cried when he was hungry. She made sure to feed him whenever he wanted so that he could grow to be a tall man like his father was.

She made sure that Lady Bian could also send a large amount of time with Rui. It seemed to do her good to spend time with her grandson.

"He gets that from his father." Lady Bian would say whenever something Cao Rui did would remind her of Cao Pi. "I'm so glad that I've lived long enough to see my grandson."

They had grown found of taking Cao Rui to the northern courtyard where they could let him watch the fish swimming in the pond and the birds nesting in the trees whose leaves were beginning to turn to a bright gold color.

"The trees are so pretty this time of year." She stated.

"They are." Bian agreed.

Cao Rui was resting quietly in his grandmother's arms. His eyes were droopy from watching the fish for so long.

She turned and saw Cao Pi coming with a scroll in his hands.

"Zhen, can I speak with you?"

She nodded and left Rui with Lady Bian. Cao Pi lead her back into the castle and stopped in one of the dark corners that overlooked the courtyard.

"What is it?" She asked.

"I'm leaving for the Wu Zhang plains. Sima Yi and I are going to do battle with Zhuge Liang."

She looked down at her feet.

"When do you leave?"

"At first light."

She looked up at him.

"First light." She whispered.

He didn't look any happier than she was. She looked over at Lady Bian who was still holding Cao Rui.

"I'm coming with you."

"Zhen…"

"Rui can stay with Lady Bian. There's no one else I would trust him to more than her. Listen Cao, you're going to need someone you can trust against Zhuge Liang. Without Cao Cao and Cao Zhi, you'll be short handed. You know that I can fight."

Cao Pi sighed and threw his head back.

"Why can't you be content in staying in the castle and caring for our son like a regular house wife would?" He asked.

"Because I'm not a regular house wife," She answered with a small grin. "but you knew that about me since the day we first met."

"I did." He admitted.

"I'll tell Lady Bian that she's in charge of caring for Cao Rui."

x

They left for the plains of Wu Zhang at first light after saying their good-byes. It was more painful than she could have imagined to bid her son farewell knowing that someone might not return. She tried not to think of her son on the long and lonely ride to the plains of Wu Zhang. Rui was safe with Lady Bian and Shao Len. Shu would throw everything into this battle and Wu was still trying to recover from the battle at Yi Ling. Xu Chang wouldn't be attacked.

Cao Pi's camp was set up north of Shu, at the base of the foothills on the other side of the river. There were four of Wei bases set between the camp and the foothills. That's where Wei will launch the attack from.

The plains of Wu Zhang were only a few miles away from Zhongshan. If she could keep Cao Pi in a good mood, then he might agree to giving her family a visit.

She was waiting in Cao Pi's chambers for him to return. The war council was making their final preparations before advancing on Shu. The door opened. Cao Pi came in and approached the trunk next to the chair she was sitting on. She stepped in front of him and asked;

"How did it go?"

She flipped the top of the trunk open and pulled out one of his bracers. She strapped it around his wrist. He watched as her fingers worked the armor.

"We're going to leave the camp within the hour and march from the bases by sundown."

She tied on his other bracer then she pulled out his breastplate and clipped it into place.

"What's our strategy?"

"Shu's in a hurry and there are rumors that Zhuge Liang is close to death. We'll wait them out and attack when they aren't ready."

"What do you want me to do?"

"You and I'll attack from the east fort and work our way south over the foothills. Then we'll swing west and move towards their main camp."

"It sounds like a good plan."

x

This battle was Shu's last desperate attempt to conquer Wei, and it showed in their tactics. The commanders charged eagerly into battle, making the foot soldiers more hesitant, hence, they were easy to kill and it was easier to gain more ground. They fell into ambushes. They dug themselves deeper into the ranks of Wei and were dispensed in their own blood. Shu soldiers fled and deserted their commanders. Zhuge Liang had died and Shu was in shambles. A few of his pupils were trying to turn the tides around, but it proved to be hopeless.

This would be a battle for the textbooks. Wei was on the verge of a perfect victory. They only lost two generals and minimal soldiers. Their supply lines were still intact and they didn't lose any bases. Surely future generations would study this battle and reflect on what they did this day.

Zhen and Cao both sat on their horses in the middle of the skirmish. Zhen used her bow to shot approaching enemies while Cao used his sword to cut down the ones next to them.

They stormed Shu's main camp. Thanks to Zhang He's charge, a path had already been opened to them. His death brought about the fall of the camp. He died with honor.

"This belongs to me." Cao narrated.

Zhen smiled and looked around. Green and blue uniforms were stained with crimson. Arrows were scatted everywhere. The faces of the live soldiers were sweaty and dirty. Those of Shu were murky. Those of Wei were content and joyful.

"Let's look for survivors." She suggested.

Cao nodded. They split up. They would look for Wei survivors first, then they would look for those from Shu, who would be given the choice to defect or die.

She flipped over a few bodies, her hands were already dripping red. She wandered out of the camp and continued her search on the plains.

"Look around, you are alone, you know what that means do you not?"

She turned around. Yue Ying was standing before her with her dagger in hand. Tears ran down from her puffy eyes. Her nose flared with ever breath.

"I pity you as well, having such a weak husband must leave you …unfulfilled I imagine."

"There are none who can match with my lord's wisdom and integrity, not that you or our lord would know what that is."

Without emotion, Zhen reached in her belt and pulled out her flute, which she kept there for good luck. Ying came at her with her short sword coming at her head. Zhen raised her flute and blocked it. Ying came at her again in the same way, so Zhen blocked it the same way. Ying spun around and used the speed to swing her blade at Zhen's neck. Zhen ducked under the sword and stepped back. This time, Zhen attacked first. She slashed her flute at Ying's face. Ying jumped out of the way. Zhen spun around and kicked Ying in the stomach. Ying fell back and dropped her sword. Zhen bent down to pick the blade up and held it at the ready. Ying was winded.

"I was prepared for this possibility." She managed to say as she choked on her tears.

Zhen's hand began to tremble in rage, but in that moment, she saw a small piece of herself in Yue Ying. They both had a son to raise, only she would have Cao with her, Ying wouldn't. She threw the sword at Ying's side.

"Go, and raise your son, but never attack Wei again, or I will kill you without a second thought."

She turned and walked away. Shu was defeated, their ranks were no more, so there was no point in killing a woman with a son whose kingdom had fallen. She may be a hard woman, but she was no savage. She was the civil and diligent empress, and she wasn't called that for no reason.

Zhen went back up the Shu's main camp.

"Any survivors?" Sima Yi asked her.

"No." She answered.

She was glad she came to Sima Yi first and not Cao Pi, or else she may have had to lie to him about Ying. At the very least, she would have had to explain herself.

This was her first chance to really get a look at Master Sima Yi. He had intriguing dark brown eyes and long straight hair under his tall hat. He wore traditional purple strategist robes with long flowing sleeves. He carried himself tall with his pride and his shoulders square.

She looked away just on time to see Cao Pi coming toward them.

"Lord Cao Pi."

Master Sima Yi made his hand into fist and held it with the other as he bowed. Then he stood straight again.

"Our victory is complete. Shu has fallen before our might, and now only Wu remains." He finished.

"You know that Wu will try and attack before we have a chance to regroup." She told Cao.

"Sima Yi, go back to Xu Chang. Make sure the men are ready for anything."

Sima Yi bowed once again and left. Cao turned to face her.

"Shall we go back to our camp?"

She didn't have to look around at the corpses surrounding her to make up her mind.

"Yes."

x

He held up a letter with a playful smile on his face that made her burn with curiosity. What was the letter?

"It's from Zhangshan." He told her with a smile.

She snatched it from his hands and opened it. It read;

'My dearest Zhen,

Times have been hard lately and father's health seems to be on the rise. We're sorry it has been so long, but postage had been next to impossible. We've all sent word to you, but don't know if you'll received any. We've received one about your marriage to Lord Cao Pi. We would like to visit. Wang Bo is going on a trip to Xu Chang in a few weeks, but that may be a matter of days by the time you receive this. Talk with him about when we can visit.

Zhen Yan'

Yan had sent this, the middle brother.

Zhen sat down on the bed as she tried to think. She held her mother's necklace between her tumb and first two fingers. She held the parchment in the other which rested on her lap. Cao asked to see, she handed him the letter and watched his face as he read it.

Why was this the first letter she got from them? They made it sound like they sent dozens of letters. Even in a time of war, she should have received more than one. They couldn't all have gotten lost. What if they did? Then where were they?

What did the letter mean that father's health was on the rise? He had been sick when she was married to Yuan Xi. Had he gotten better? Had be gotten worse before he got better? Did the doctor finally figure out what was wrong with? This letter made more questions in her mind than it could answer.

"Who's Wang Bo?" He asked.

He snapped her from her thoughts.

"My sister's husband."

He looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Why would he come to Xu Chang?"

"I'm not sure."

"Well, aren't you glad to receive word?"

That's when she realized that she hadn't reacted at all. She let a smile escape her lips.

"I guess that I excepted that I wasn't going to see them again, and now… It's just very much unexpected. I should be glad, but it will be easier to be glad once we're back home."

Cao sat next to her and let out a sigh.

"I'm afraid Xu Chang's not going to be the same."

She gave him a look.

"Why not?"

"With Wu attacking He Fei, I've had no choice but to evacuate all members of the court to Xu Chang… That includes Lady Guo."

"Are they at Xu Chang now?"

"Not yet, I was hoping to beat them there."

"When did you send orders of evacuation?"

"A few hours ago."

She looked away. So, she was finally going to meet Lady Guo, there was one woman that she wouldn't mind killing.