The Young Conqueror

Disclaimer: I did not invent Sun Ce or any other major character in this fanfic. Konami is responsible for the general appearance and mannerisms of the characters contained herein. I drew on the game personae for the sake of variety.

Since this is a story about Sun Ce, I've changed a few events to focus more on him. After Guan Yu he's my favourite character in the game and a li'l gratuitous action for the oldest Sun boy can't be a bad thing, right?

Enjoy.

Chapter 8

Author's Note: Sorry about uplaoding this chapter again, guys, I forgot that doesn't like my chapter breaks and the wife says it read somewhat confusingly without them. Here it is again, hopefully legible. Enjoy, and don't forget to review!

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Nearly six months had passed since Sun Jian's return from the capital. Much had happened in that time and the crisis had come to a head. The emperor Ling had died and the capital was engulfed in conflict. The Exalted Ten Eunuchs and Imperial Preceptor Dong Zhuo fought for control of the Imperial City and eventually Dong Zhuo prevailed. He had the eunuchs beheaded and their followers slaughtered.

With none left to oppose him, Dong Zhuo declared himself prime minister and set a puppet emperor, Xian, on the throne. His cruelty and excesses became ever more outrageous. Fearing reprisals, he relocated the capital to Luoyang, a city he found much more to his liking and easily defendable. He had several thousand bronze statues melted down and turned into coin, which were flooded into the market and currency was in danger of becoming worthless.

Sun Jian had sent forth messengers to the other regional lords, warning them of Dong Zhuo's treachery and the need for action. Reaction had been slow, but as word of the so-called Prime Minister's blatant criminal conduct grew, the regional lords felt compelled to finally act. A great coalition had been mustered, greater than even the one formed against the Yellow Turbans.

And it was on a mighty plain that the great lords of the Han gathered, to confer and march against the hated Dong Zhuo.

Sun Ce looked around from the hill his tent was situated on- all about him, nearly as far as the eye could see, were tents and splendid banners in a variety of colours- the scarlet and gold of Jiang Dong, paraded by thousands of strong and proud warriors; the deep royal blue of Cao Cao's forces, tens of thousands strong; not far away could be seen a small encampment, the green tents of Lord Liu Bei, scion of the Han. His forces were among the smallest in terms of numbers, but his virtue had already won him renown, and his loyalty to the Han was beyond reproach. The symbol of the gold dragon fluttered on the banners of his forces.

Last, and by far the most numerous, were the gold tents of the great lord, Yuan Shao, headed of a noble family as ancient as Ce's own. Ce had heard tell that Yuan Shao's forces numbered into the hundreds of thousands, well over half of their assembled army. His brother's forces, Yuan Shu, stood nearby, a field of yellow tents like his older brother's.

Sun Jian came and stood next to his son, looking out over the mighty sea of tents. Ce nodded respectfully. "What news, father?"

"The great conference will commence soon, Ce." Sun Jian said, his eyes grim. "There is much to be decided. Not only the tactics we shall use, but who is to command this great expedition."

Ce folded his arms and looked out at the assembled armies. "Should you not command?" he said reasonably. "This coalition of the regional lords was your idea, and you are a hero of the Yellow Turban Rebellion."

Sun Jian shook his head. "It sounds glorious, Ce, but nothing on earth could convince me to take command of these legions. The regional lords might be united by a common goal, but they shall prove fractious and contrary, vying for the honour of leading an attack or questioning why any decisions are made. No, my son, my job here is to lead the troops of Jiang Dong to victory."

"Who, then, will you stand behind?" Ce asked.

Sun Jian pursed his lips and sucked his teeth. "That is a tough question. Yuan Shao is a logical choice, since his forces are by far the largest and his lineage is ancient. The problem is that he is an arrogant sod, who expects to command, simply begin he is a Yuan. Cao Cao is devious and cunning, capable of exploiting the enemy's weaknesses, but he is also likely to erode other lords' forces to bolster his own position. Liu Bei is a scion of the Han, his command would have great symbolic meaning for our cause; the problem there is that he is untested as a commander. We do not know if he has any ability in this regard."

Ce shrugged. "He led his ragged force of volunteers to victory during the Yellow Turban campaign, not to mention he commands the loyalty of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. That would seem fairly good evidence of his qualifications."

"Yes, but you and I know these men and they are as yet obscure to the other lords." Sun Jian pointed out. "I intend to nominate Liu Bei, but I do not hold much hope."

Ce folded his arms and closed his eyes, thinking. "Well, we can make the case, but that's all we can do. Other than that, we're here to fight and we do that as well as anybody."

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The host was vast, larger than any army Ce had ever seen. As he sat atop his horse in front of the army of Jiang Dong, he looked out to see how many men there were- surely such an army would give even Lu Bu and Hua Xiong pause.

It was rumoured that the army numbered close to a million troops, if not slightly more; and aside from the outrider units sent to scout ahead, they were all assembled here, on this mighty plain. Ce could see no end to their numbers, arrayed in great blocks, rank upon rank of warriors. The field glittered with a forest of spear tips.

To the center was the mighty host of Yuan Shao, the soldiers of Qixiang, Jizhou, Hebei and Bohai, resplendent in their yellow-gold battle garb. Next to this great army stood the forces of Huai, soldiers loyal to the warlord's brother, Yuan Shu, the governor of Nanyang, arrayed in the same yellow-gold gear. Together these two hosts formed nearly two thirds of the Coalition army.

Beyond Yuan Shu's forces, Ce could make out the deep blue of Cao Cao's army from Chenliu, standing silently and awaiting orders. The men Ce could see from this distance seemed grim and defiant, not unlike their master. Ce suspected that one day he would be facing these formidable men and he promised to be ready.

To Jiang Dong's immediate left were the forces of Liu Bei, arrayed in green and marching under the banner of Gonsung Zan, the governor of Beiping. Standing at the front of this host were Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, towering over all others. Ce caught Guan Yu's eye and they nodded to one another subtly, knowing the trials that were to come. Ce found the mighty warrior's presence nearly as comforting as Zhou Yu's, although he knew not why.

Other minor lords that Ce was not immediately familiar with formed the rest of the army, numbering some tens of thousands; it was a large and potent force they had assembled, but it meant nothing if the warlords displayed no unity. Dong Zhuo's forces were not a rabble of angry peasants, but well-trained and heavily-armed professionals. This war would be quite different in terms of how it was waged.

Ce turned his horse around and looked out over his own host. The army of Jiang Dong was over sixty thousand strong, much larger than that mustered against the Yellow Turbans. But with Sun Jian's appointment as governor of Wuchang district and Lingling and Guiyang, Yuan Shu, as his immediate superior, had dubbed him 'The General Who Quells Rebels' and men from all over the new territories had flocked to his banner.

The men of Jiang Dong were arrayed into six great hosts, the royal battalion commanded by Sun Jian, and the others by Sun Ce, Zhou Yu, Huang Gai, Lu Meng and Zhou Tai. Ce's sister, Shang Xiang, rode in his host, as did his beloved wife, who galloped up to him presently. Da Qiao bowed her head and then smiled, trying to seem somewhat martial.

"Lord Sun Ce, your father is still in conference with the other regional lords and the men grow weary of waiting in the heat." Her voice conveyed her concern.

Sun Ce nodded. "Well, we can't break ranks and eat or anything, it'd look bad in front of the other armies; tell the commanders to have their men take water breaks, company by company, with the lowest-born soldiers and least-trained units going first."

Da Qiao nodded and rode off to convey her husband's orders. Ce watched as the various hosts gratefully drank from the water rations. The quartermaster would have to make sure he replenished the army's water supply, since Ce had not forced the battle-groups to use their own.

He thought about the effect this sun was having on his men and how bad it must have been for the soldiers of the other warlords; after all, the men of Jiang Dong were from the south and used to such heat. He couldn't begin to imagine what discomfort the troops from the far north were enduring. However, Yuan Shao seemed not to care. His men waited, obviously parched, but unable to do anything about it.

Two hours passed and finally the figures of the great lords appeared atop the huge platform that had been built for them. Yuan Shao, followed by his brother, then Cao Cao, Liu Bei and Sun Jian; all made their way onto the podium and waited while the commander addressed the troops.

"This villain claims to serve the emperor, but in truth he only serves himself! For this he must pay, pay with his life!"

Ce watched as Yuan Shao spoke in a lordly, noble tone, the other commanders turned in toward the center to face him.

All except Cao Cao, who remained facing the front, his arms crossed and his expression unreadable.

Yuan Shao continued, his voice carrying from the platform to the troops below. "But, everybody, follow me! The Yuan family shall lead you to victory! We must reclaim the Han, and restore it to its former glory!"

A thunderous shout was his reply, the troops of Qixiang, Jizhou, Hubei and Bohai thrusting their spears in the air. The other commanders on the platform raised their fists and their own soldiery joined in the cheer.

But even as Ce led them, he was thinking about Yuan Shao's words. Sun Ce heard the words of devotion to the Han, but did not believe the commander when he said them. If Dong Zhuo was ousted, war would not, but merely take on a new form, with different alliances and enemies.

Ce wondered exactly what it would take the bring peace to the land.

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The host of Jiang Dong marched westward, following the banners of Yuan Shu. The Nanyang army was only about twice the size of Jiang Dong's, but Yuan Shu held seniority by virtue of his relationship to the Coalition commander. Several of Sun Jian's officers were not happy with this, but the lord of Wuchang merely waved it off.

"If you wish our worth to be proven, then fight hard on the battlefield and earn glory for our people," he said reasonably. "Mere words and titles mean nothing if you do not back them up with action. These lords to do not know us now, but they will all know and respect us by the time this campaign is over."

The command of the battalions during the march west had been left to junior officers while the senior officers conferred at the front of the long column. Sun Jian's royal host marched in front while Huang Gai's tough veterans brought up the rear. Sun Jian rode along, surrounded by his advisors- Sun Ce, Zhou Yu, Huang Gai, Zhou Tai, Ling Cao and Lu Meng. Riding along with them were Sun Shang Xiang, Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao, who, ever though they commanded only small units, were quite insistent on not being left out of the proceedings.

"So then," Sun Jian began, looking ahead toward the horizon. "Now that the easy part is over with, what have you all to say?"

Huang Gai grunted. "This situation does not bode well with me, my lord. I do not like the way our so-called superior Yuan Shu looks at you- there is something in his glance that I am wary of."

"He fears us," Sun Jian said, nodding. "Our lineage is as old as his, and our performance during the Yellow Turban rebellion was most impressive. We may be his allies and subordinates, but he perceives a threat. Our host, though not overly large, is strong and valiant. Such strength will give even Lu Bu pause."

Zhou Yu nodded. "I agree, my lord. We must keep an eye on our commander. To begin with, we have been given no orders as yet. We march westward, but that is the extent of what we have been told to do."

Several officers grunted in agreement.

"Yeah, at least by now during the campaign against Zhang Jiao, He Jin had explicit orders for us." Sun Ce added. "Not giving us orders is one way of keeping us from looking to good, would be my guess."

Sun Jian seemed to agree. "I believe you are right, Ce. We might also be fighting bad orders or no orders from our commanders, let alone facing a strong and determined enemy."

"It won't make a difference," Ce continued. "We'll be ready. We're here to do what we do best and that's winning. Dong Zhuo can throw everything he's got at us, he'll still be running for the desert with his tail between his fat legs…"

The commanders, even Zhou Yu, laughed at the image.

The ordering of the army was discussed, both in large-scale operations and small tactical scenarios. What role was Jiang Dong likely to play when coordinating tactics with another army, Yuan Shu's in particular? The Nanyang host was larger and carried the supplies, but its soldiers were not as well-trained, many of them little more than peasant militias pressed into service. Sun Jian's host, by comparison, was professional and skilled in most forms of conflict. Generations of life along the ocean shore and the banks of mighty rivers had made them experts in the exotic field of naval warfare. Their cavalry was tough and fast, well-armed and highly motivated. Their archers were always protected by bristling hedges of spearmen as they rained bitter iron-tipped death down on the enemy. Swordsmen, armed with bright blades and stout shields would flood through the spear formation and cut down the enemy.

Nor were the commanders content to stay behind their serried ranks and just give orders; to a man, they were all courageous and fierce in battle, Sun Jian not least. His skill with his Tiger Blade was renowned in the south.

Sun Ce was now heralded as unstoppable on the battlefield. His defeat of the Zhang Jiao, not to mention his annihilation of an army of assassins had garnered him great fame and he was praised as a hero of the people, to be emulated and admired.

Zhou Yu, the young and brilliant tactician, was held in no less esteem than his childhood friend. His gleaming sword cut straight and true, his grace was like that of a tiger on the hunt. His long, raven locks, keen grey eyes and handsome face and earned him the nickname 'Beautiful Warrior Zhou'. He blushed when he heard it used, but strangely, he didn't deny it either.

Huang Gai, the old general- tough and immovable as a mountain. He feared nothing and no one. His mighty club rested on his shoulder, always ready for action. The men worshipped him and never tired of hearing the old veteran recall tales of days gone by.

Zhou Tai was, as always, silent and calm, but in his eyes was an intensity that you could not miss. His long, curved sword was always sheathed, coming out only to strike before returning. His speed with his weapon was almost inhuman. Before he had sworn allegiance to Sun Jian, he had been a pirate, raiding up and down the coast, alongside other figures such as Jaing Qin and Gan Ning.

Ling Cao rode with his son, Ling Tong. The two were inseparable and the son guarded the father closely. Whereas the father was wise and level-headed, the son proved fiery and quick to strike. His flails struck with lightning speed and he feared no foe, however large.

Finally, the officer Lu Meng brought up the rear of the little group, solemn and pensive. He was a brawler on the battlefield, but Sun Jian saw potential for a keen tactical mind and encouraged the officer to study classic treatises on the subject, not least of which was The Art Of War, but the warlord's own ancestor. Lu Meng had done so obediently and was beginning to show great promise.

It was agreed that Huang Gai and his veterans would anchor any defense while Sun Ce and Zhou Yu would spearhead any assaults. The other battalions would act as a tactical reserve, to be committed where Sun Jian saw the most need. Shang Xiang obviously found this much to her liking, because she would not leave Da Qiao and Xiao alone after the pronouncement.

"It's wonderful!" she said to the other two almost gleefully. "We'll be in the thick of the action and we'll show them what for!"

Da and Xiao both nodded but did not seem quite so eager. They rode to war because they refused to be parted from their husbands, not because they took any joy in battle as their sister-in-law did. Shang Xiang was quite a bit taller than the two of them, and while she was quite attractive, her bearing and demeanor were very martial. Da and Xiao, trained as courtesans, were elegant and graceful, dancers and singers without equal. Shang Xiang rode and fought like a man, heedless of such dainty considerations as entertainment. The people of Jiang Dong called her the 'Bow-hipped Princess', because of her preference for riding like a man and her ferocity in battle.

Da Qiao stole a look at the chakrams that Shang Xiang wore slung across her back. They were fearsome weapons, well-worn and showing signs of constant use. Even when the people of Jiang Dong were not at war, Shang Xiang often rode out to patrol the borders or the coast, hoping to find raiders or pirates to engage.

She also commanded her own special unit, a company of amazons; one hundred ferocious warrior-women who acted as her fanatically loyal bodyguards. Even Huang Gai and Zhou Tai thought twice of insisting on an audience when these women said Lady Sun was not to be disturbed. Only one man commanded their loyalty and that was Sun Jian. Led by their captain, Fu Chin Ran, the Tiger Orchid of Zhang, they were to prove themselves formidable on the battlefield.

Fu Chin Ran and her women actually seemed to enjoy making trouble for Sun Ce and Zhou Yu, although Da Qiao suspected that this behaviour was good-natured, for the women readily obeyed the two generals' orders when it was time to fight.

Da Qiao thought about what having her own unit of warriors might be like and quickly dismissed the thought, shaking her head. What did she know of tactics or war? True, she was learning to fight, but that was mostly so that she would not be a liability to Sun Ce on the field. She could not even recall ever perusing a tactical guide, let alone studying one.

She tried to imagine herself in such a position. What did one do? What constituted a good formation? How would she know when the time arrived to change formation? How did one give such orders and have them obeyed?

Foolish! You should leave such matters to those trained to deal with them! Even were you to become literate in the military arts, you have no head for it- your knowledge of such matters would be strictly prosaic!

She recalled what Zhou Yu had said to her outside of Zhang Jiao's stronghold: "Why would Sun Ce object to having a warrior-queen for a wife?"

Da Qiao thought about this as they rode along, not really listening to Shang Xiang talking about battle or Xiao blathering about her salamander. Her life was wonderfully fulfilled in her marriage to Sun Ce, but maybe there was more to it than she might have guessed.

Perhaps being his consort is not enough. Could it be that I am meant to be the warrior-queen Zhou Yu spoke of? I know nothing of battle and I only pretend to be a warrior. Up until now I have only been lucky. I should have died several times by now.

And I am afraid…

It seemed ludicrous to her. Ever since her encounter with Fang Yu, Da Qiao refused to sleep in the dark; the braziers had to be lit and burning before she could allow herself to drift off. What sort of warrior queen was afraid of the dark?

Even Xiao Qiao was braver than her- she may have been a bubblehead, but she did not fear battle as a result. The consequences and follies of war and death rarely intruded on her younger sister's thoughts. Da Qiao feared death, most of all because she would lose Sun Ce, and that thought she could not hardly bear.

And yet that was the reason she had come along on this campaign. True, she laughingly told everyone, as Xiao did, that they were here to keep their men safe, and perhaps several people believed it, because of the sisters' performance on the battlefield; but Da Qiao knew deep down that it was a deep-rooted feat of death that compelled her to take up arms. What if, heavens forbid, Ce were to be killed? If she were sitting back in Wuchang when it happened, surely she would die of a broken heart. What if Ce were campaigning and the capital were attacked? She knew she was not skillful enough to defeat her foes and she would die, with Ce untold li away.

Here on the field of conflict, where men perished in agony, if she was to die, then it would be by her husband's side. As much as the madness of pitched battle terrified her, at least she was with her beloved- and for that, she would risk anything.

Perhaps they all saw something in her she was not aware of. She did not feel like a warrior or a tactician, but if China was to know peace, Sun Ce would have to pacify it. Da Qiao would do whatever was required to bring that about, including become something she knew she was not.

So be it.

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The host of Bohai had turned and headed north, with Yuan Shu leaving Sun Jian instructions to proceed to a plain called Luyang and secure the army's flank. The men of Jiang Dong muttered in discontent, for word had spread that Dong Zhuo's forces were north of their current position. They all saw this as an attempt to rob their ruler of a chance to prove himself a mighty leader and hero. If Sun Jian agreed he gave no indication of it. He merely ordered the troops to make camp while he consulted with his commanders.

Sun Jian was in his great red and gold tent, conferring with Huang Gai, Zhou Tai, Lu Meng and Ling Tong while Ce and Zhou Yu busied themselves with making sure the camp was in order. They walked side-by-side, accompanied by their wives. The soldiers and labourers bowed as they passed by.

"So what is troubling you?" Zhou Yu finally asked. The raven-haired warrior and the two women looked at Sun Ce curiously.

Ce chuckled. "That obvious, is it?"

"Only to myself and these two, perhaps to your father and Shang Xiang," Zhou Yu replied. "But I know that look in your eyes- outwardly, you are your normal, cheerful self, but something is occupying your mind, something you do not like."

"And how do you know that?" Ce asked, his eyebrow raised.

"Listen to yourself," Zhou Yu pointed out. "Your style of speech is not so cavalier or casual. That means that you are thinking about something and not paying attention to how you speak. Your royal breeding takes over when you are preoccupied."

Xiao giggled. "It's so true, Lord Sun Ce," she said in her squeaky soprano. "You're so much more polite when you've got something on your mind!"

Da Qiao made a wry face as she looked at her sister. "Well, we'll never have to worry about you being polite, then, will we?"

Xiao blushed and went silent, fidgeting with the strings of her blouse.

Ce sighed. "It's a ruse, you know. Dong Zhuo's troops are not going to head north. They're going to flank Yuan Shu and come right through here."

Zhou Yu nodded. "I had the same thought, in fact," he said quietly. "We must be ready. What do you suggest?"

Ce pondered. "We gotta keep the men's morale up. They're rather miffed because they think the action's gonna happen up north."

"Do we tell them, then, that their dearest wish shall be answered?" the strategist asked.

Ce shook his head. "Not yet. I want confirmation of the enemy's approached before I tell the troops. At leas then they'll be fresh and not stressed with expectation."

Zhou Yu nodded. "Maneuvers, then?"

Ce clapped his friend on the shoulder. "That'll keep 'em occupied, if nothing else. And if the enemy comes, we'll be ready for 'em. Time to try out some of those new formations you've been toying with…"

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"Sir, it is confirmed- Yuan Shu has taken the bait and is heading north, believing we will be there!" the soldier announced, saluting.

The general considered this information and nodded. "Excellent. In that case, we shall spear down through Luyang and strike at his underbelly. We shall isolate him and destroy him."

The soldier smiled. "It will be a glorious victory, sir, for Yuan Shu is the general in charge of the Coalition's supplies. If you defeat them their operational capacity will be crippled."

The general agreed. Lord Dong Zhuo would be very pleased. "I shall inform Commander Hua Xiong of our intent to take Luyang. Two days from now, the Coalition will be shattered and adrift. Send the word to the officers that we will be moving out within six hours!"

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The scout rode up hard, practically throwing himself from his horse and tumbling to kneel and bow at Sun Jian's feet. Beside the warlord stood Sun Ce and Zhou Yu, knowing already what news the man brought.

"Sire!" the messenger began, seemingly out of breath. "The vanguard of Hua Xiong's army approaches! They outnumber us at least four to one!"

Old Huang Gai cursed and stamped his boot against the ground. Sun Jian seemed unfazed, but Ce could tell he was worried.

"Do they know we are here?" he asked.

"I think they only just learned of our presence now, sire," the man replied, trying to sound certain. "Our scouting parties encountered one another and the fight was very confused before they pulled back. They must have had other units out sniffing around, as did we."

Sun Jian nodded and dismissed the scout, who ran off to join his troop. The warlord turned to his son and his strategist, fixing them both with a stare.

"I assume the odd maneuvers we find ourselves engaged in are no coincidence then, yes?" he asked, his politeness a little too formal for their liking.

Ce nodded. "We know Hua Xiong is garrisoned at Si Shui Gate and trying to force Tiger Trap Pass. He no doubt thought he could sneak under Yuan Shu and drive up into him, effectively cutting the rest of the army off from supply."

"And your pretty maneuvers are going to avert this how?" Sun Jian asked pointedly.

Ce did not reply but beckoned for his father and the others to follow. From their place on the command tent's hill, they could look out over the whole army. Ce made a gesture, encompassing the field.

"Huang Gai's troops are in the center, anchoring the force, while Zhou Tai, Lu Meng and Ling Tong's battalions are spread out and forward, like great wings. Zhou Yu and I are on the far flanks, in charge of the cavalry and your royal guard are behind Huang Gai but close enough to move up and support the line."

Sun Jian nodded. "I see it- it is like the wings of some giant crane. If they strike our center, we can attack from the flanks. If they attack our flank, we can shift support easily from one side to the other. And the whole formation can bend back on itself at need, to prevent encirclement."

Zhou Yu nodded. "More than that, the companies are arranged according to the principals of the Tao te Ching. Soft and hard units cover one another perfectly. Where the enemy is hard, we shall absorb him with softness and flexibility. Where he is soft, our battalions shall pummel him like mighty hammers."

Ce nodded. "It's like a bagua pattern. Given their larger numbers, we keep our formation tight, balanced and on the defensive. Make them come to us."

Sun Jian looked out over the horizon. Far to the west, he could make out great lines of horsemen, with countless thousands of banner and spears. His eyes hardened. If they attacked, it would be a hard fight. He hoped Zhou Yu and Sun Ce knew what they were doing.

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Yang Yan sat atop his horse, looking out towards the army of Jiang Dong. He watched as they engaged in an intricate series of maneuvers, seemingly not caring about the presence of the foe. They must have known he was here, less than two hours away, with a force several times the size of their own.

So what was this all about?

"Sir, should we not return to the army?" one of his aides asked. "It is not wise to be so far out in front of the-"

Yang Yan's blade flashed and embedded itself in the aide's throat. The man shuddered and gagged before lurching from his horse and sprawling on the ground, his eyes goggling up at an uncaring sky. Yang Yan shook his head and sheathed his long knife.

"Let any other fools in the camp know that such disrespect shall be punished with death. I am not here to listen to your opinions, I am here to defeat the Prime Minister's foes."

As soldier's dragged the body away, he looked out again toward the enemy host. Their formation was intricate and tight, with archers and crossbowmen protected by ranks of spearmen. Swordsmen stood ready to support the spears, positioned to respond to any gaps in the line. The cavalry was grouped into powerful units behind and to the flanks.

Clearly this army was prepared for anything. Yang Yan bit his lip as he wondered what to do.

"This foe is ready for us," he said, scowling. "I expected Yuan Shu's entire to have headed north. I did expect him to leave an army behind to guard Luyang.

"We have more than enough men to overwhelm them, sir," suggested a cavalry commander. "If we rout them, we can still come up under Yuan Shu and decimate him with a flank attack."

The general turned his horse around and began riding back toward his own lines, gesturing for his men to follow.

"Come! We will see what these men of the south are made of. Pretty formations mean nothing if men have no stomach for battle."

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"Well, there they are." Sun Ce said, smiling grimly. Dong Zhuo's army had finally approached, separated from the host of Jiang Dong by only a few li. The Prime Minister's army spread out in a long line, curving in at the far ends to form an arc. They did not have enough troops to completely surround Sun Jian's forces, but they didn't need to, either.

You two are sure our flank and rear can be covered?" Sun Jian asked, his hand on the hilt of his great sword. He did not wish to be outflanked and destroyed.

"The scouts will warn us if they approach from any other directions we cannot see." Zhou Yu said calmly, his hands also resting on his blade, which stood in front of him. The wind caught his raven hair and it fluttered behind him like a cloak. "The formation is designed to bend backward on itself, becoming a circle if necessary. They will not find any weak point. If they break through, it is because our numbers could not hold."

Sun Jian nodded, apparently satisfied. "It is simply a question of their next move, then. Is there anything else you plan to do?"

Zhou Yu nodded, still gazing out, his grey eyes keen. "Sire, you understand that I have no wish to usurp your authority or command, but with your leave, I would retain control of the overall formation, deploying our units as I see fit from moment to moment. A series of flags shall be employed to give commands to the battalions, while horns shall be blown with no purpose but to confuse the enemy."

Sun Jian nodded. "It's your formation, Zhou Yu, you're the expert with it. You're my strategist and I trust you with our army. Do not fail me."

The lord of Jiang Dong turned and rode of. Zhou Yu sighed and shook his head. "No pressure."

Ce laughed. "Aw, don't worry, you'll do fine. We've been in worse scrapes than this and you've pulled us out."

"That was more good luck then good management, I think, not to mention your skill with your tonfa." Zhou Yu replied.

"Hey, give yourself a little credit, pal." Ce said, looking out at the approaching foe again. "They don't know what they're in for…"

Yang Yan watched, his face creased with a scowl. For two hours now he had observed the enemy formation, wondering what made him feel so uneasy. When his subordinates asked why he had not attacked yet, he had two simple answers- first, he had no intention of initiating an assault in the heat of the afternoon, where his own troops' heavy armour would exhaust them quickly; second, the enemy had responded little to the appearance of his overwhelming force, and that meant there was more to their strength than met the eye.

His officers could not deny that logic and they left Yang Yan to his contemplations, occasionally updating him or asking for orders. It was a simple horseman in his guard who pointed out one of the things that had bothered him so much but he could not put a finger on.

"It is an interesting formation, sir. It almost looks like a crane from its shape, but it's also a bagua trigram. At least, that what it looks like to me."

Yang Yan's eyes went wide and he turned to look at the lowly horseman. "A trigram? How do you know that?"

The cavalier shrugged, a little uncomfortable under the scrutiny. "My grandfather was a priest of the Toa, he had such boards, symbols and trigrams everywhere. Hard symbols, soft symbols, all arranged to predict a certain outcome."

The general's eyes flashed back to the host of Jiang Dong. Horns blared, banners waved and units marched back and forth. In spite of the presence of a powerful enemy, the southerners kept strict discipline and perform their maneuvers perfectly. They showed no signs of anxiety or restlessness. Never had Yang Yan seen such immaculate drills.

He clenched his teeth, furious at not having seen such a simple thing. What manner of men commanded these troops? To have such an elegant and thorough knowledge of the Tao; it was rumoured that the ruling family were in fact descended from the martial sage, Sun Tzu. If they had inherited such principals of war, they would be most formidable indeed. He could see the royal tent, scarlet and gold, its banners waving lazily in the afternoon breeze.

What are they hiding? What am I missing?

He held aloft his broadsword and called out loudly. "The army will advance at half-pace! No one is to break formation on pain of death! Forward!"

Horns sounded across the great line and the army began to grind forward toward the enemy. His flanks were spread out long enough that Yang Yan had a semi-circle around the host of Jiang Dong. But such a formation, while it flanked his foes, was cumbersome and unwieldy; it would take time for orders and requests for assistance to get back and forth from the furthest troops to his command.

There is something afoot here, he thought darkly. They seem to be waiting for something or someone. Perhaps an assault before their plan comes to fruition is my only hope…

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"Here they come," Zhou Yu said quietly. He had not moved an inch, although Ce could tell his friend was worried. Da Qiao and Xiao stood by there husbands' sides, looking out over the plain toward the slowly advancing enemy. Xiao nestled herself against Zhou Yu, her tiny fingers clenching against his shirt.

Da Qiao looked out at the approaching for, her eyes wide. There were so many of them. They looked like a giant wheel that would grind the host of Jiang Dong into the dirt. She looked up at Ce, who stood tall, his arms folded, a grim smile on her face.

"Tell me what you see, Da…" he said gently.

She turned and looked again, scanning the foe for whatever he meant for her to see. "There's… a lot of them…"

Sun Ce nodded. "That there is. What else?"

Da Qiao thought hard. Her husband was getting at something, but she did not know what. "They're moving so slowly. I do not understand why they are- that's it, they're not moving to attack!"

Ce smiled, as did Zhou Yu. "Correct," they said in unison.

"They're afraid," Da Qiao almost whispered, seeing the enemy army in a new light. "They don't know why we're staying put and not doing anything. They think we've got a trap ready for them."

"We do," Zhou Yu replied, still staring out at the enemy. "The problem is that they cannot fathom what it might be."

"They're trying to force our hand and compel us to spring the trap?" Da Qiao asked.

Ce nodded again. "Yep. But we're not gonna give it to 'em."

Zhou Yu held his battle fan high in the air, signaling the troops again. The rearward units quickly but neatly rearranged themselves, taking up defensive positions elsewhere and leaving certain avenues unprotected as the enemy flanks approached. Thousands of men executed the maneuver with precision and no sense of urgency.

Da Qiao smiled, suddenly understanding what was happening. Relief flooded through her and she watched as the massive army approached slowly.

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"Sir, they've changed their formation!" an officer said.

"I can see that, you damned fool!" Yang Yan snapped angrily as they rode forward. The defenders were now less than a single li away. It would not be long before the two sides were within missile range.

But what worried him were the large gaps that we now unprotected at the enemy's flanks.

Normally he would signal a charge and close in, taking advantage of such folly- but this foe had proved both clever, patient and learned, a deadly combination for an unwary general on the attack.

A scout rode up. "Sir, there are reports that Yuan Shu's advance north has stopped!"

"What! Is he returning to the south!" Yang Yan demanded.

"There is no indication of that, sir!" replied the scout. "But many of our scouts have been captured and killed, so our information may not be very accurate!"

Yang Yan glared at the enemy formation. He could see them now, waiting calmly, almost daring him to attack, their flanks left wide open…

For reinforcements to arrive once he had committed to the attack.

Their current formation was tight enough to hold him off for a considerable length of time, in spite of his superior numbers. If they held long enough, their reserve troops could sweep in from behind now and obliterate his strung-out army.

He swept his sword into the air and called out loudly for a halt. Horns blared for many lie as they entire formation ground to a stop. He made a whirling motion with the blade, indicating that they army was to execute a withdrawal.

"Keep your face to the enemy but pull back quickly, before their reinforcements arrive!"

The horns sounded again and the army began its withdrawal, the flanks pulling back quickly to avoid being left behind and attacked by the as-yet unseen reserve units. The army of Jiang Dong watched silently, not jeering or taunting, but with a cold calm, not a one breaking ranks.

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Ce nodded and smirked while Zhou Yu finally sighed. "There ya go, buddy," Ce said happily. "You did it!"

"We did it, Ce," Zhou Yu replied. "If you hadn't been here with me, my nerve might have broke. It was my battle-plan, but you held it together."

"And that's why we're gonna conquer China together; because no one can beat us as a team." Ce said, still watching the retreating foe. He could see the commander now, a tall man in purple, who seemed to be waving angrily in an attempt to drive his men back. He turned to face the host of Jiang Dong and saluted his foe before riding off to join his troops.

Zhou Yu slung his sword back into his belt and seemed to relax. He put an arm around Xiao Qiao, who squeaked and giggled happily.

"We won, my lord!" she chirped, looking up at him with big, bright eyes. "What scared 'em off? I'll bet it was because you're so handsome!"

Zhou Yu smiled and hugged her close while Ce burst out laughing. "I'm afraid not, my dear," he said in his mellow tenor. "I wish it were that simple."

Da Qiao shook her head, wondering how the two of them could be related. "No, Xiao, we faked them out. We kept daring them to come closer and didn't react to their superior numbers. They were afraid we had reinforcements coming in that they couldn't see. The commander lost his nerve and retreated, because saving his army was more important than risking defeat. I don't think Dong Zhuo would take too kindly to that."

The sense of this argument dawned on Xiao Qiao. "Ooooooooh… we're good," she said.

Sun Ce smiled down at Da Qiao and nudged her. "You did good, Da, figuring out what we had planned and how the enemy would react to us."

Da Qiao blushed at the compliment and smiled. "It took me some time, my lord, and I was too frightened to think about it until you forced me to. But now I see it. It's like your ancestor's writings say: 'The perfect generals win battles without having to fight them.' I think that's what you and Zhou Yu are becoming… perfect generals."

Zhou Yu looked at Sun Ce, his eyebrow raised. "You've been teaching her the Sunzi bingfa?"

"Nope," Ce said, obviously pleased. "She did it all on her own…" he said, ruffling her hair. She squeaked in protest and tried to get away. She and Xiao left the boys to gloat while they mounted their horses and rode back.

"Well, that was fun!" the younger sister said happily, the tension of the past few hours obviously having fled far from her. "I learned a lot today."

"I did too," Da replied. "I have a lot of catching up to do, obviously."

Her face was bright and pleasant as she attempted to fix her hair, but inside her voice was dark.

"But if he keeps mussing my hair like that, one day I am going to knock that boy on his ass…"

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