Broken Hourglass
Chapter 14
" I heard that Sun Ce barely escaped you during that raid. You did a good job." These words came from the figure who appeared at the entrance of the dark room.
" No, Guo Jia. I am not finished yet." The warrior who was inside answered, without turning to look at the him. His long hair hid his face.
" Don't think to return to the battlefield so fast. The wound you received from that arrow is serious and it should be your first priority to treat it."
" I saw him... It was Zhou Yu who stopped my foray."
" Their strategist? I thought so."
The listener raised his head and waited to hear more. Guo Jia stepped inside the room and continued," This man isn't very well-known, but I believe he has great potential. I sense there's an infernal aspect in his character. If he becomes aware of it and learn how to master it, he will be a really worthy opponent. The problem is that I cannot make our lord see that he has overestimated Sun Ce and ignores his strategist. I just hope to be able guide lord Cao Cao wisely, in case he confronts Zhou Yu in a critical battle. Even if I grew very ill..."
" You tend to have these kind of thoughts when something troubles you. What is wrong?"
" I could tell that you already know but you await to hear it from me. Our battle with Wu isn't going too well. We planned to stop them as far from the capital as we could, but the enemy has advanced deeper into our territory than we expected. Xiahou Yuan and Han Hao were forced to retreat and it will take them a while to regroup. Sun Ce hasn't divided his army into smaller units as we thought, but keeps his forces together. They are immune from vulnerability as a rockslide."
The other man smirked, " Even the most vehement rockslide cannot cause much destruction if it is not well-timed or in the wrong place. It is a chaotic tactic, the kind that its results cannot be controlled. If Sun Ce's power is also like that, then one mistake could cost him a lot."
" Perhaps our lord was thinking the same thing when he decided to face Sun Ce personally, together with his cousin Xiahou Dun. I wish I could be there but I was asked to stay in Xu Chang until I get further orders."
The warrior finally directed his gaze at Guo Jia who noticed immediately the signs of sleeplessness on the other's face, it seemed the pain from the wound had kept him up. " If Sun Ce gives his all in this effort and dies, Wu will fall. Is it not?"
" We cannot know the answer, Zhang He. The seemingly unimportant, fortuitous events decide for either one's demise or triumph."
" Hmm..." Zhang He stood up with some difficulty and held the arrow tightly in his hand. " It is quite dark here."
Guo Jia went to check the lantern light but he was stopped by his companion's voice, " There's no need! It's almost dawn..."
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" No. You won't hear me say that we are going through this because Xu Gong failed in his task. Now, Sun Ce wants and awaits me to feel weak but he doesn't know that when I am cornered, the more I crave to crush those in front of me."
" It pleases me that you know how to keep your composure, Cao Cao. The truth is I was startled when I witnessed a large army a few miles away from the gates of this city."
" Scheming is the best antidote to panic. Come, let's see what we can do about it."
Xiahou Dun followed his cousin inside the tent where Cheng Yu, a general who had studied strategy, was waiting.
" Cheng Yu, I imagined a plan about how to deal with the enemy, but I am not sure to what extend it can be realized. I want you to tell me."
" Of course, my lord."
" First, we shall view again our current state. Our adversary is outside this small city which is the closest to the capital's central gate. As we speak, we still have no information of Sun Ce's maximum power as we don't know if he hides reinforcement units. The biggest problem is that we aren't fully certain of how they will act. For the moment, they seem to be taking their time to rest."
" To rest? How infuriating!!" Xiahou Dun yelled, " Do they think they don't need to feel uneasy?! This makes me want to go out there and raid their camp by myself."
" No, this is the reaction of anger they are expecting from us. Let us not be predictable." Cheng Yu said. Cao Cao approved with a nod.
" Now I will tell you the plan I thought. As you might know, an experienced martial artist combines his moves in such a way so he can simultaneously attack and protect his vital areas, to defend himself that is. Also, by using defence he can cunningly move to the offencive. I was thinking that since we don't know their plans, we could divide our forces into two units. One will attack, while the other shall remain behind, securing the single central road that leads to the capital. The novelty which I propose is that the roles of the two units shall be interchanged but a perfect timing will be needed for this, to avoid being attacked from the rear. These units must cooperate like limbs of the same body."
Cheng Yu smiled and shook his head, " It can be realized. The change of roles can happen if we have a team that will guide the movements of the army through the signals of drums and banners."
" What if they have backup forces?" Xiahou Dun asked.
Cao Cao started pacing without saying anything for a few minutes. " I don't care. Besides we are also waiting for reinforcements, the ones whom I sent to deal with the last remnants of Yuan Shao's army. I asked them to come where I am, once they finish. But I won't lay my hopes for victory there. We can win with what we already have. And there is one thing that I want more than anything else right now... never let Sun Ce have the pleasure of stepping into Xu Chang."
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When Sun Ce opened his eyes and while still being in a state between sleep and being awake, he got a strange feeling.
Although it didn't last long, he felt like he was back in Jiang Dong, at the beginning of his conquest with the troops that his patron Yuan Shu had given him.
He smiled and told this to Zhou Yu who was at his side, " I have also experienced the same thing. Some memories are so vivid that they resist the flow of time. Still, you have to admit it's been too long since those days."
" Yes. And you, haven't changed at all." Sun Ce laughed as his partner gave him a questioning glance and leaned close to kiss him lovingly. " But I really think that our efforts and deeds are all connected like a chain and each one determinate the next, it is an unstoppable continuation."
Zhou Yu listened closely whereas he didn't appear very convinced, " Is that always right?"
" What do you mean?"
" I will tell you later." He answered somewhat languidly.
" It looks like you haven't rested enough."
" I didn't sleep. I wanted to remain awake to look at you and reminisce some of our good moments like the night of the feast. It relaxes me more and eases the tension of the battles."
" Ah, Zhou Yu... I guess it wouldn't work if we were both awake, isn't it?"
Zhou Yu nodded and kissed Sun Ce fully on the lips. After a while he left his embrace and began to dress himself.
" It is early, where are you going?"
" I need to check something before the council. Moreover, staying too long in the commander's tent might make others think that I have your favour."
" I don't believe your stay here would bother them. After all, we have all worked together to come this far. Anyway, we will talk later."
Once the first light of the day began to grow stronger, Sun Ce mounted his horse and roamed outside the camp, close to a verdant hill. He noted that the sense of the morning breeze felt different from his homeland's. It was piercing, scented with the fragrance of trees and not heavy with the warm humidity coming from the southern sea.
" Xu Chang is near. I am close to fulfil my purpose." The lord of Wu reflected on his army's courageous effort to penetrate into the heart of the hostile ground. However, he couldn't calculate the exact time they would return back to Jian Ye...
He found Zhou Yu standing nearby and gazing towards the opposite direction from the camp. " It worries me a little when you wander around by yourself." The warrior said once he felt his lord's presence, " I came here with caution, as you see I carried my sword. This land isn't safe."
" Yes, the calmness fooled me."
" It's okay. They probably wouldn't attempt a surprise attack in daylight."
" Is something here, Zhou Yu?" The other warrior asked with interest. His comrade indicated a point towards a large elevation. " I see castle walls... it must be Xu Chang." The lord observed.
" Yes, it is where you aimed to go. But tell me, do you see anything beyond that point?"
Sun Ce frowned as he sensed that his partner was trying to convey some hidden meaning through this question. " I like you better when you speak freely."
" I apologise, I simply wasn't sure how to discuss this. Sun Ce, you said something a while ago about the endless coherence of battles... I believe this one ends once we inflict a critical strike to Wei."
"...Not exactly. I haven't told anyone yet, so you will be the first to know. It's true I wanted to break the power of our strongest and most fearsome adversary and I also managed to strengthen the faith of our men in their fighting skill. They no longer think they are inferior in battle and feel good about themselves as soldiers. Now, there is something more I ask from this battle... to release the Emperor from Cao Cao's custody."
"... he has also set a second goal, to liberate the young Emperor..." Zhou Yu remembered Lu Su's words, his assumption proved right.
" One would think that it is a good opportunity but... I don't know if it's worth spending our energy to fight for a person who has lost his power and influence over China a long time ago. He is like the sun which rays can no longer reach and warm the living."
" And you think it's better to let Cao Cao continue to use the Emperor as a cover for his own cruelty?"
" The ruler of Wei would keep the same policy even if you freed the Emperor."
Sun Ce grimaced with discontent and looked away. His gaze aligned with the castle of Xu Chang.
The warrior approached him and looked like he was able to understand his lord's thoughts, " Sun Ce... I want all people, no matter what region they are from, to acknowledge your worth and respect you for your deeds. I admire you and I want you to distinguish yourself. What I am trying to tell you is that I have no intentions to deprive you of good fame and fortune by asking you to withdraw earlier from this battle than you plan."
" I could never think something so awful about you." His lord asserted and stretched out his hand to help the warrior mount the horse. " We should get back now. We might have news from my sister and others whom I sent to check on the enemy's position." Before they arrive at the camp, he added, " If the next battle goes well, I will act according to my will. If not, then I will do what you said."
" And I will take whatever action is needed to give you my best support."
The scouts had returned and reported there was a general activity in Wei's camp. Sun Shang Xiang also managed to make a rough draft of the army's current deployment. " You can give this to Zhou Yu. I am sure it will help him." Her brother suggested.
" Hmm..." Sun Shang Xiang seemed a little embarrassed as she moved towards the strategist and gave him an intense look but it wasn't a glare. "Take it." She said sharply as she handed the scroll with the information and left. Zhou Yu studied it for a few minutes, trying to make a first interpretation, " It's not clear. It seems like a ring formation but it isn't. The position of the rear units is suspicious and maybe they prepare to switch to charm formation. Its execution is difficult and that's why we haven't encountered it in many battles."
" It has a funny name."
" The way it works justifies it; this formation can lure the troops in by giving them a false impression of having the advantage and ultimately trap them from all sides."
" I see. It is a tricky one."
Zhou Yu stopped looking at the sketch and told his leader, " It would be a risk to decide too fast a complete tactic while we still aren't sure if this is going to be their final deployment. But I will try to predict now their move and see what is needed to be done. Please give me some time."
" Of course. I am sure you will have no particular problem to solve this."
Zhou Yu returned to his tent to begin preparations for the strategy and Sun Ce went to inspect the camp. A bit later, Taishi Ci came to him hurriedly. "What news do we have from lady Sun and her team, my lord?" The warrior sounded very anxious.
Sun Ce smirked, " Good ones. It finally appears Cao Cao has decided to take us seriously." He noticed that Taishi Ci didn't share the same enthusiasm and he looked quite upset, " Come on, someone with your skill in battle has no reason to feel displeased."
" It isn't that, lord." He explained, " Messengers from Jian Ye came to my post yesterday and they requested me earnestly to convey this message to you myself."
" What did they tell you? Is my brother alright?"
" Your brother is fine, he watches over the capital but he might need to face a problem. There was another uprising, which probably started in Jing and they have been reports that a large number of people are heading to our territory and specifically to Baqiu fortress with hostile intentions. It is also said that perhaps Liu Biao is behind this and sees your absence as a good opportunity to attack."
" This is bad..." Sun Ce muttered to himself, " Quan should not leave the capital or spread the troops. I am going to send someone from my army here to intercept them..."
" It might be difficult but I believe this crisis can also be seen as challenge to test the mettle of this army." Taishi Ci commented. Sun Ce sighed and shook his head without knowing what to say for a few moments. "... It cannot be avoided. I will be the one to inform the others later, during the council."
Sun Ce entered his tent, so his soldiers wouldn't see him troubled, and started pacing up and down " like a caged tiger without food for days" as his father would say, thinking what to do. He didn't want to disturb Zhou Yu who was looking to the strategy in the meantime.
" I have to choose someone to fight against another enemy." It was most important to Sun Ce to keep his whole force together but now he had to detach a part of it. For an instant, he thought to go and face the rebels himself and give the leadership of this army to Zhou Yu temporarily, but it was impossible, he couldn't leave his troops...
" If only I could know, with some good instinct, who must go."
A strangely sudden uneasiness infiltrated Sun Ce's focus on the situation, that he didn't notice Zhou Yu's presence.
" I am here, Sun Ce."