dancing-dolly : Okay, here's the main story kicking in. Here you go!
Chapter Forty-Seven : No Choice
"I had already foreseen this. I had already guessed that Shu would betray their alliance with Wu – they can talk about their petty honour and virtue for all they'd like, but in the end, it all comes down to kill or be killed."
Sima Yi was doing one of his 'I-had-foreseen-all-of-this-before-you-even-gave-thought-about-it-you-imbeciles' speeches again and I was getting extremely bored. The only reason I was withstanding his painful speech was because he did keep his side of the bargain. This morning, the medic had hurried into my tent to tell me that Cao Pi was looking much better than last night. I went to have a look, and it was true. His breathing was much more even now and some colour had returned to his face. But that wasn't enough to bring him back fully, I knew.
When torn between your duty and your heart, of course you got to choose your duty – for doing your duty is for the greater good than choosing your heart, which is from selfish individual desires. I have too much on my shoulders to only think about myself. I'm in command now – both my father and my brother are, at the moment, incapable of taking the lead. Therefore, it's all up to me – both to save them and to save our kingdom.
"So, do you have anything planned, since you've… foreseen this?" Zhang He asked loftily, casting a rather spiteful look towards the master strategist who was standing up. Sima Yi sneered; well, of course he would've prepared something, what were you thinking, Zhang He?
"Wu knows that it is not strong enough to fight against both Shu and Wei. Therefore, it is my prediction that they'd try to strike a bargain with us. I say, when they do, we accept it – for our loss isn't insignificant. Knowing Zhou Yu, he'd probably go to face Shu himself, angered by his hatred towards Zhuge Liang–" I coughed deliberately, earning a look from Zhang He who was scrunching his face up in an effort not to laugh, "–and even if Shu did win, they'd have suffered considerable losses. We should then attack Shu, recovering Tian Shui and the first defence line that had fallen in the process."
There were mutters of agreement amongst the generals and the officers in the tent. Eventually, all eyes were focused on me, and I realised that they were waiting for my approval for the master strategist's plan. What choice did I have? He did say he had a plan to help me on my task, no matter how much I didn't want to do it. I just nodded once stiffly, and apparently that was all that was needed. The meeting dissolved and soon, I was left with Sima Yi lingering in the tent.
As I raised a questioning eyebrow at him silently, he leaned forward on the table, looking darkly amused. "Well, I suppose imbeciles will always be imbeciles, no?" he asked mockingly, straightening up and slowly walking to the chair where I was sitting. I remained still, refusing to be intimidated by his frightening aura. But I could feel it. I could feel the fear creeping into my limbs once again.
"As I had promised, I have a plan to help you on your mission." A look of pure glee flashed across his unreadable eyes. "The plan that I had just spoken – that is what the others will know. You, on the other hand, should know better." He paused for a moment, and I knew that he was standing right behind me. "When the envoy arrives, you should tell him that you cannot trust peace treaties from Wu unless they were done face-to-face with the commander." I felt his freezing fingers untying my hair, letting them fall freely around my face and shoulders. "They will probably be desperate enough to listen to anything you say. As Zhou Yu would probably go to Jian Ye himself, it's very likely that it would be that boy who would take the role of the commander." His hand was on my chin now, slowly tilting my face up. "You'll be generous enough to accept their proposal then, but suggest that you meet at a neutral area to sign the treaty off. Say each bring... one companion?" His cold breath numbed my cheek. "You know the rest." I stared blankly ahead as I felt something cold brush against my lips. Even when it was removed, I refused to move my body, only staring unseeingly forwards.
"He is no fool – he would expect that kind of childish trick," I said, simply stating the truth. But Sima Yi's low chuckle warned me of the worst.
"Yes, princess, he would, if anyone else suggested the location. But of course, why would he suspect you? He'd only be too happy to oblige your request, now, wouldn't he?" he smiled cruelly. "And if he isn't… Well, I'm sure you'd be able to find a way to convince him, my love."
Inside the He Fei Castle, the master strategist of Wu jumped on his horse and looked down upon his student. "Now listen, Lu Xun. I'm leaving everything under your command. You have proven your worth in Yi Ling against Shu. Do not lose He Fei at all cost."
"Yes, sir. I will do my best. May luck go with you."
"And you also," Zhou Yu replied, before kicking his horse into action. Two thousand cavalry followed Zhou Yu, all dressed lightly, carrying only one sword each. It was the entire cavalry unit left in the castle, and it was uncertain whether or not they'd return at all.
The young strategist of Wu returned to the fortress to the meeting room. It was deserted except for thousands of scrolls thrown carelessly over the table. He sat down in the centre of the table and drew a blank paper towards him as well as the writing equipments. Then he dipped the brush into the ink bottle and began to write.
I watched blankly as Sima Yi received the letter from the Wu's newly appointed commander. His sneering eyes quickly darted through the letter and once he was finished – and only then – he passed the letter to me. The familiar neat handwriting waved at me from the letter but I ignored them and just skimmed through. When I lifted my eyes from the words, Sima Yi was watching me meaningfully, as if to say, 'Just as I planned.' I fought the urge to roll my eyes and throw my hidden dagger right through his black heart. Instead, I turned my eyes towards the Wu envoy kneeling in front of me, and cleared my throat.
"Very well, we do see that your commander has a point. Winter is approaching and there is no point in fighting in the season of death. However, it would not do for us to just retreat."
"Princess, if I may speak?" Sima Yi asked, although it was more like a demand than a favour.
"Please." Go and jump off the cliff.
"Thank you," he bowed mockingly, knowing full well what I was thinking. "It would be shameful for our kingdom if we were to strike a peace treaty without any gain. After all, it is Wei who is protecting the Han emperor. I say that we need further negotiation. We do have a reputation to keep, after all."
Yeah, reputation to keep, alright. "Go back and tell this to your commander. I, the Ice Princess of Wei, the temporary commander of Wei army, demands a meeting with the new Wu commander in a neutral area – at the village of Di Luo. One companion only. No-one else."
I had no emotions speaking those words, although I knew I was drawing him to his eventual death. Perhaps my heart was dead after all? Or perhaps the reality hadn't hit me yet. I knew that I would soon have to catch up with reality. Very soon.
Once the envoy had returned, Sima Yi clapped his hands softly. "Well done, princess. You were perfect. The envoy suspected nothing."
"Of course. Who do you think you are speaking to? Now, just get out," I almost snapped, waving my hand in a dismissive gesture. It was such a pity that the world needed this evil villain. Nothing would please me more than to force poison down his throat. Sima Yi once again bowed mockingly and was about to leave when suddenly, voices began to shout.
"Fire! There's fire within the camp!"
"Watch out! Stop those horses! They're running away!"
"Fire! Everyone evacuate!"
"Help! It's spreading!"
Sima Yi rushed out of the meeting tent and I sighed in relief. That fire had been a lifesaver.
Zhang He walked impatiently outside the meeting tent entrance. The audience with the Wu envoy was going to be long. He had already heard from the princess what Sima Yi was planning. The fact that Hua managed to tell him that without a single emotion on her face was worrying him far more than Sima Yi's plan. After a moment of thoughtful expression, Zhang He suddenly bounded towards the area where the horses were freed to graze. Because of the cold weather indicative of winter, the grass was all dead yellow. Horses were feeding on dried hay and barley spread around the spacious field. Zhang He walked towards the very centre of them, grabbing a piece of wood from a nearby campfire. The feeble flames began to slowly die out in the cold wind.
When he arrived at the centre of the horse field, he dropped the dying flame on a heap of dried hay. After few seconds of smoking, fire sprang to life and began to hungrily devour the helpless straws.
"Oops," Zhang He mumbled to himself in a light tone, "it looks like I've been careless."
In a matter of minutes, the entire Wei camp was in chaos. The smoke and the burning flame frightened the horses and they stampeded through the Wei camp, causing soldiers to shout in confusion. The smoke from fire also added to the jeopardy, spreading quickly through the dried hay and barley. Even the master strategist came out to see what was causing all the commotion. He was too focused on snarling flames that he didn't even notice the butterfly general sweeping past him without a sound.
Zhang He knew he didn't have much time. The fire would only burn on until the supply of hay and barley was depleted. And that wasn't going to be long. The horses would eventually calm down and would be captured by the soldiers one by one. He only had couple of moments at the most.
Even the guards of Sima Yi had all gone to find out what was happening and had deserted their posts. Without hesitation, Zhang He slipped through the entrance, making sure that no-one was paying any attention to him. That wasn't so hard with so much going on.
The master strategist's lodging was unique. If it hadn't been for the time limit, Zhang He might've actually enjoyed looking through the interior and the objects. However, he went straight towards the table standing in the far corner. He was looking for a vial. Anything that might prove Sima Yi's guilt. However, when he approached the table, he was disappointed to find dozens of glass vials of various shapes and sizes. Cunning bastard, he thought, knowing that Sima Yi did this on purpose, in case someone searched his room unexpectedly. Zhang He looked around carefully. The vials were filled with different coloured liquids – well, almost all of them. Zhang He didn't want to know what was in those vials. One of them looked suspiciously like blood, with its rich crimson red colour. The blood had to be fresh to be that colour. He thought he was going to be sick.
"Okay, if I was him, where would I place the antidote…?" he whispered, his fingers just skimming off the top of the vials. Perhaps the centre, where it's mostly surrounded by decoys? Or perhaps that thought was what Sima Yi was aiming at. It could be anything of the two dozen liquids – no, wait, two dozen minus one, he thought, looking at the empty vial. At least that makes the matter slightly easier.
It was then that he thought he heard voices nearing Sima Yi's lodging. It was probably the guards returning. Panicking, Zhang He thought wildly, wondering which one he ought to take. Maybe he should just take them all? But that would clearly look suspicious and Sima Yi would demand an explanation for stealing his possessions. Just before Zhang He decided to give up and escape, a thought flashed across his mind. Without thinking twice, he grabbed one of the vials and escaped, right before the guards came around from another tent nearby. He walked away naturally, tightly clasping the empty vial in his hand.
dancing-dolly : So Lady Grasshopper, if you're still reading (although I wouldn't be surprised if you aren't because it's been so long), thank you for your idea! Her idea was that Hua become like the prime minister so that she would have rivalry against Zhuge Liang and Lu Xun, but instead I came up with the idea of negotiation, but a dangerous one. Thanks, Lady Grasshopper! :D
