The Young Conqueror

Disclaimer: I did not invent Sun Ce or any other major character in this fanfic. Koei is responsible for the general appearance and mannerisms of the characters contained herein. I drew on the game personae for the sake of variety. Please note that most characterizations contained herein are based on the of the Dynasty Warriors 5 personalities, with the occasional reference to DW6 or an earlier incarnation of the game.

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!

The Young Conqueror, Chapter 50- Against The Shanyue

Sun Shang Xiang was considering her new command as she rode south atop her tall, white horse. Her chakrams were strapped to her back while her bow rested in its quiver on her leather-bound saddle. Behind her came her corps, nearly twenty-thousand troops and auxiliaries.

"Our assignment with present some new challenges, shi?" Fu Chin Ran commented casually as she rode beside her commanding officer and lover. "I understand that the troops currently occupying our southern borders have had quite a time of it, suffering mightily both at the hands of the Shanyue and the heat."

Shang Xiang nodded. "They are from Jiang Dong and obviously not used to such intense humidity. Our corps, composed mainly of Southlanders, should bear the heat a little more easily."

She was proud of her new position as corps commander and her new title, "General Who Suppresses Barbarians". The wars in the farthest south would require an unconventional frame of mind, and Shang Xiang was convinced she was just the person to do it. This would no longer be a backward territory or minor theatre.

There were five military theatres to the realm ruled by the Sun family, as laid out by Zhou Yu- the Northern Theatre, centered on Changsha and commanded by Lu Meng. These troops guarded the crossings of the great river, looking out over the central plains, controlled by mighty warlords such as Yuan Shao and Cao Cao.

The Western Theatre was centered on Han Shou, which sat on the shores of Lake Dong Ting, and commanded by General Ling Tong, who had inherited the commandery form his father, Cao. The wide Riverlands, just over the great bridge were sparsely populated, but they still required a watchful eye. After all, Lord Elryk and the Bailangren had appeared out of the mountains in the farthest west, so anything was possible.

The Eastern or Seaboard Theatre was commanded by Sun Quan and centered out of Wuchang. Under the crumbling Han dynasty, the shores of China had been plagued by pirates for decades, except the lands of Jiang Dong. Now, strong flotillas of Wu ships patrolled the waters of the south, led by men such as Zhou Tai and Gan Ning, former corsairs themselves, and the pirates were forced to find different victims in other waters.

The Central Theatre was centered on Baifu and Huang Gai was the commander. The Central Theatre was, of course, pretty much free from strife, which suited the old general just fine. It gave him time to make sure the new troops that were raised were tough as nails and ready for their new posts, especially those being sent to the north under Lu Meng.

The Southern Theatre had been entrusted to Shang Xiang. The borders were contested by the Shanyue and the Nanman, savage tribes that presented unique tactical challenges, both in terms of their style of warfare and the terrain from which they hailed- steaming, endless jungles that were going to be difficult to defend and even more difficult to penetrate.

Until now the Southern Theatre had been a somewhat haphazard operation, not due to disorganization but because activity in other theatres had demanded the resources available and more troops; when the Wu territory had been splintered amongst the various petty warlords and thugs, the Shanyue had mostly confined themselves to minor raiding, since there was little of value to be found in the local, impoverished settlements. But with the arrival of Sun Ce, the Shanyue chieftains sensed a grave shift in the power balance and were making concerted efforts to drive the Southlands forces back by whatever means necessary.

The general in charge of the ersatz Southern Theatre, a young man named Zhu Ran, had made the most of what he was given, namely a hodgepodge of companies, battalions and regiments that formed an understrength corps charged with fending off the Shanyue.

Shang Xiang intended to show the barbarians what it meant to challenge the Sun family.


The weather grew more humid the farther south they traveled, until even the Wu natives were sweating and finding the heat uncomfortable. Shang Xiang resolutely wore her standard campaigning gear and if she looked a little more flushed and sweaty than normal, no one dared to say anything, except maybe Fu Chin Ran.

The amazon regiment's commander herself was also obviously bothered by the heat- her long, glossy black hair, normally worn in a braid down her back, was tied up in a messy ponytail atop her head to keep it off her neck. Sweat glistened around her hairline as she wiped her brow.

"Cursed humidity," she muttered. "It's unladylike to sweat."

"Like that's ever been a concern of yours," Shang Xiang pointed out. "Besides, you're just annoyed that something aside form me is making you sweat."

To this, Fu had no answer.

"Anyway, there are advantages to being sent to the south." Shang Xiang added. "We will be removed from the constant scrutiny of Baifu. We can form our own strategies and plan for victory over these barbarians. I am looking forward to the challenge."

To the south, the main Wu camp could now be seen. The palisade that surrounded the camp was shoddy and poorly maintained. Indeed, it showed signs of breaching at certain points. Fu Chin Ran kissed her teeth as she assessed the site and realized exactly how much work they had ahead of them. She was thankful that Shang Xiang was the most tenacious of the Sun children.

Horns sounded as Shang Xiang's forward units and command company were sighted. The garrison units began to assemble hastily on the lush, emerald grass that surrounded the makeshift fort. General Zhu Ran bowed low as Shang Xiang rode up and dismounted.

"Welcome, Lady Sun," he intoned. "We are most glad for reinforcements, because the enemy is strange and fearsome."

"Yes, that is my understanding," Shang Xiang commented as she returned the bow with a nod. "You will be pleased to know that I have brought some twenty-thousand fresh troops with me to see to the Shanyue once and for all."

The garrison troops cheered as more and more battalions marched onto the wide, verdant plain. Zhu Ran looked delighted. "This is most excellent news, Lady Sun!"

"I like to think so," Shang Xiang agreed as she looked around, her hands on her hips. "How many troops are you waging this campaign with, general?"

The general bowed again. "We began with some seventy-five hundred troops, my lady."

"And now?"

"Maybe five-thousand, slightly less, I believe." Zhu Ran said.

Shang Xiang raised an eyebrow. "A full third of your men have perished at the hands of the Shanyue, general?"

"Oh, no, my lady," Zhu Ran said hastily. "Just over a thousand have fallen to these savages. The rest have been claimed by the merciless heat and sickness. These climes are deadly and disease can run unchecked."

Shang Xiang sighed. "Very well, general. The Lord of the Southlands is aware of the challenges you have faced and he is pleased with the efforts you have made in his name. Once you have assisted me in getting my corps acclimated, you and your men will be redeployed to Baifu."

Zhu Ran faltered slightly. "Recalled, my lady? Do I do something to displease your brother?"

"Not at all, general," she said in an assuring tone. "We all know that the Southern Theatre was undermanned, underequipped and underfunded for this operation. You and your men are being pulled back for a rest and refitting. The east, west and north know peace, at least for now, whereas you and your corps have known constant conflict. After you have been rested and your corps rebuilt, you will be reassigned to the Northern Theatre under the command of General Lu Meng."

Zhu Ran bowed gratefully.

"Now then," Shang Xiang said. "Escort me to your office and we shall begin this transition."


Zhu Ran's 'office' was simply three large tents pinned together with the resulting inner walls mostly removed. While no doubt inexpensive to maintain and easy to break down, it could hardly have been called stately or efficient, especially for a corps commander. Zhu Ran slept in one corner of the chamber, ate in another and the vast majority of the tent was devoted to a large, rickety table, spread across which were maps, troop dispersions and medical documentation. One other corner had weapons, armour and equipment piled in it, apparently trophies from engagements with the Shanyue. The general tried not to blush as he noticed Shang Xiang's assessment of his quarters.

"Not a lick of vermilion or gold to be seen," she muttered. "Well, that'll be changing. Now, general, the Grand Strategist and I have gone over your reports and I have a plan I intend to put into effect as soon as I am able. I require all the information you can give me first, though."

"Of course, my lady." Zhu Ran replied.

"Tell me of your operations. I have no intention of assigning blame and I do not need excuses. Just give me a frank and detailed description of the campaign to this date, if you will."

Zhu Ran drew a deep breath. "Once we had arrived, I decided to establish this as my primary base of operations. Though the Shanyue were further south, I deemed this to be the most logical place to campaign from."

"Reasonable enough," Shang Xiang said. "Continue."

"I established some forward bases in the jungle, trying to use them to penetrate into Shanyue territory and see if we could push them back."

Shang Xiang nodded. "Risky and daring, general. What came of your plan?"

"I have rotated my troops from the forward bases every month if at all possible, since most of the fighting takes place in the jungle and I wanted all my troops to have such experience. But logistically it has become difficult for several reasons. First, the enemy knows how to fight in the jungle, whereas we are just learning. Second, our men fall victim to the excessive heat and also to disease. The Shanyue will take our wounded and slain and then keep the bodies for days before launching them back into our camps, to spread illness."

Shang Xiang listened quietly.

"They have also begun to skirt around the forward bases and attack us here on the plains. The locals barely have enough food to feed themselves, so what little gold we still have left is of little enticement to them. The Shanyue, who are growing more daring, are now ravaging settlements that trade with us, so the people are understandably reticent to deal with my troops. We have begun growing our own rice, pulling troops to do so, but these vital crops must be every bit as vigorously defended as our military installations or we will starve."

"Have you lost men to starvation yet, general?" Shang Xiang asked.

"Thankfully, no." Zhu Ran said heavily. "Our prayers to Shen Nong have sustained us, certainly. Huang Di, however, does not appear to have been so responsive- the Shanyue have even grown so bold as to attack this, our principal base, less than three weeks ago. We repulsed the savages, but not before they breached our palisade briefly. As you can see, the camp is still a mess."

"And the disease you have encountered?"

"In and of itself, nothing terrible, my lady," Zhu Ran said encouragingly. "We are just ill-equipped to deal with its ravages. What healers we did have assigned to us have all be claimed by death, either in battle or by the disease itself. I have lost more troops in the past three months than I have in the entire campaign prior to this."

Shang Xiang folded her arms and nodded. "Very well, general. We will be altering our methods because our strategic objective is officially changing. "You are to dismantle your forward bases and bring your remaining troops back here forthwith, understood?"

Zhu Ran seemed to want to protest, but only for a moment. He bowed dutifully. "As you say, my lady. It shall be done."

Shang Xiang gazed down at a large regional map that was spread across the table. She tapped a certain marking with her finger.

"Here are the ruins of the ancient town of Fujian, long ago abandoned by our ancestors."

Zhu Ran nodded. "It lays maybe one hundred and fifty li to the east of our current position."

"Excellent," Shang Xiang declared. "We intend to make Fujian the center of the Southern Theatre. Three months from now, over a quarter of a million people from the Baifu region will be migrating to this area- farmers, healers, artisans, entertainers, priests, traders… they shall bring civilization to these parts."

The general's eyes widened. "But Fujian… would become a target of constant attack."

"That is why my corps and I have come, general." Shang Xiang replied simply. "We will guard the citizens and force the Shanyue to submit, if they will not leave."

She pointed again at the map. "We shall no longer set bases in the jungles. I shall be placing battalions at various strategic points, cutting off Shanyue access into the plains. We shall be building fortifications atop hills and encouraging what people do live in the region to come live within its walls. They can farm and help provide a staging base for our operations."

"That will probably discourage the Shanyue from further raids," Zhu Ran agreed. "But what will you do about fighting them in the jungles?"

Shang Xiang's eyes flashed. "I do not intend to contest them for the jungles, but I do plan to give them a little of their own medicine. My corps will operate in a normal manner, making exceptions for the rather fearsome climate, but one regiment, that led by Fu Chin Ran, shall be trained to fight and raid in the jungles. She and her girls will conduct lightning raids into Shanyue strongholds and make their lives so miserable that they'll be suing for peace in no time."

Zhu Ran nodded. "I too have wished to be able to do so, but I lacked the resources and manpower necessary to do anything of the sort."

Shang Xiang thumped her fist into her palm. "I will harry them until they grow enraged and commit to a big battle. You and your men have proven that they can be bested in pitched combat, and I shall inflict such a defeat on them that they shall be cowed. Then, when they see what benefits we bring with our artisans and tradesmen, they shall think twice about their policies and begin asking for trade rights instead."

The scope of the campaign down on Zhu Ran and his eyes were wide with wonder. This war would be won culturally. It was a brilliant stroke.

"Fear not, general, we are committed to winning this fight," Shang Xiang said, her eyes leaving no room for doubt. "The Southern Theatre is our principal focus now that Jing is subdued. The east, north and west are stable, only the south remains. I have brought an entire army, my coffers are very full and we are bringing our culture with us. The question isn't if we can win this war, but how quickly. The sooner we turn it into a non-war, the sooner the Shanyue will have nothing. They will either sue for peace or slip into the jungles, never to bother us again."

Fu Chin Ran entered the tent and bowed. "Forgive the intrusion, my lady. The troops have all arrived and the camps are being set up. What are your orders?"

Shang Xiang pondered the question. "General Zhu Ran's camp is to be strengthened and rebuilt immediately, since I still have need of him. Bring tents worthy of a corps commander of the Southlands."

Fu Chin Ran bowed and left. Shang Xiang turned to Zhu Ran.

"Your corps is to be broken up into companies, each of which shall be assigned to one of my regiments. Your commanders will make sure mine are well-versed in the geography of this land and how to deal with this treacherous heat. Bring all your sick men to my healers at once. That is our first order of business."

Zhu Ran did so happily, relieved that he could now look after his men properly. He sent the orders and then returned his attentions to the Bow-Hipped Princess, who was nearly a legend amongst his men, renowned for her beauty, tenacity and skill in battle.

"I want your men to immediately relinquish all duties to my corps and begin resting, I shall have need of them soon enough. My men already know they'll be taking over as soon as possible to allow this. Pits are currently being dug to allow for the healing wells."

She looked around. "General, while I obviously will not continue to use this makeshift shelter of yours as my residence, it has no doubt been the site of much effort and spirit and I would honour it as such if you chose to keep using it for the duration of your stay."

Zhu Ran bowed. "This tent has been renovated and rebuilt many times, my lady, it is of no particular value to us. To be honest, I look forward to merely sleeping in a smaller tent like my troops and following your orders, temporarily free of these monumental decisions."

Shang Xiang nodded and led him out of the tent while Zhu Ran gave orders to have his notes, maps and battle trophies removed to another locale. Shang Xiang scaled a ladder of the makeshift palisade and gazed around, surveying the land.

"There," she said, pointing just to the south and east. "That rise over there shall be the site of our new fortress. My command tent shall stand at the summit. The walls shall be strong and imposing. We shall improve the defenses here and use this camp to tend our sick. It is close enough to the new site to be ably defended. Fu Chin-Ran shall over see the new construction, general; aid her and see to it that your men are ready."

Zhu Ran bowed low and hurried off.

Shang Xiang leapt down from the wall and began striding around, issuing orders and assessing the camp and what needed to be done. She found out where the diseased corpses the Shanyue had been throwing into the camp were buried and ordered the spot covered in lime. She would worry about having priests bless the deceased later- she had to protect the living for now.

It was truly remarkable what Zhu Ran had accomplished, given the limitations of his resources and command. He was clever, persistent and resourceful and she would make sure he was put to good use when he returned to the north. Such generals were invaluable and worth their weight in gems.

Various battalions were setting up camps in a complex and in-depth formation around her position, akin to a sacred bagua, incorporating both hard and soft elements. Those new arrivals not immediately put to work on the defences were aiding the established garrison, treating them like heroes and praising them highly for their efforts. They offered them fresh food and delicacies, even heated wine.

The corps was arriving swiftly and moving out to encompass a larger area around the princess and make their strength known. Messengers were sent to all nearby settlements, letting them know that Sun Shang Xiang had arrived and her protection was open to all who desired it, but they would need to come to her and leave their ramshackle huts behind. She expected many to respond eagerly.

Swift cavalry had come with her, an entire regiment whose purpose would be to expedite communications between the fortresses and eventually Fujian, which would be her capital once it was ready. Battalions of archers she had also brought, armed with bows, crossbows and repeating crossbows. Experts with their weapons, they would blacken the sky with their missiles and rain death on the enemy.

She had also brought a unit borrowed from General Huang Gai, a platoon of his much-feared Thunderbombers- these men were trained in the use of the fuse bombs the old warrior seemed so fond of and they could hurl them with lethal efficiency. No matter what the Shanyue brought to the field, Shang Xiang was certain they would have no counter to this threat.

The last unit of the corps had arrived and it was the one that drew the most attention from the extant garrison. Lord Elryk of the Bailangren had graciously agreed to allow twenty of his ferocious Teutonic warriors to accompany her to the south, where they would learn to fight in the sweltering heat and bring this valuable knowledge back to him, since these eastern lands were now their home.

Shang Xiang made sure she was present when the Germans arrived, since they more than anyone were unused to the heat and she had no doubt the barbarian warriors would be irritable and not in the mood to be stared at. They were led by a warrior named Valamir, one of Elryk's dreaded comitatus bodyguards but an able commander in his own right who had the respect of all his men. He was accompanied by doughty warriors named Theodahad, Athanaric, Witiges, Tulga, Suinthila, Eraric, Athaulf, Sigeric, Totila, Aligern, Euric, Liuvigild, Scipuar, Widin, Illdibad, Baduela, Wallia, Thorismund, Theudisgisel and Gibal, all of whom wore many golden gifts from their great chieftain for their acts of heroism; they were indeed a sight to behold as they trudged into the camp. They were accompanied by a young girl named Amalasuntha and a boy named Teiam, who had proven adept in learning the language of the Han, speaking it fluently and would act as their translators. Amalasuntha would report to Shang Xiang while Teiam would assist Valamir with making himself understood. Both the Germans and the warriors of the Middle Kingdom understood that if either child were ever in danger or even remotely abused, the offender would answer to Shang Xiang with their life, no questions asked.

"Valamir, I want you to secure the rise to our southeast," Shang Xiang instructed through Teiam. "It is there that I shall make my first fortress and if the Shanyue are spying on us, I would like them to contend with the notion of you and your men as their first enemies. In spite of the heat, stay as active as you can, please."

The hulking blond warrior saluted after the manner of his kindred and then bowed, just to be thorough. "Is shall be as you command, my lady. The savages will flee in fear at the sight of us, I assure you."

Shang Xiang smirked at the notion of the German referring to the Shanyue as 'savages', since the Shanyue were merely uncivilized whereas the People of the White Wolf fit the profile of barbarians no matter where they lived.

She had to admit, though, that the Bailangren had made remarkable strides in adapting to the ways of the Middle Kingdom where necessary. Many of them knew key words or even sentences so they could convey simple thoughts or desires. They had taken to cleansing themselves daily and even grooming, though they artfully retained their barbaric splendour with the assistance of aestheticians of the region granted to them. They even wore silk when available, though they went through it quickly, due to their rather rough lifestyle.

She watched as the supply train arrived, hundreds of oxen and horses hauling their goods, foodstuff and munitions, not to mention the money she would use to establish stability in the region, nearly three million strings of newly-minted copper coins. They had also bought all the tools they would need to begin irrigation and terracing, allowing for the production of bean curd and rice in plentiful supply, enough to feed their armies and the civilians who would be arriving.

She stopped and closed her eyes, picturing in her head what they were here to accomplish and what priority the various elements would need to be accomplished in. Her men were already setting up a small shrine to the god of fire, patron deity of the Sun family and also the god of war. This venture would be properly blessed and consecrated since she had brought priests of both the Tao and the Great Wheel of the Buddha.

"The men are eager to begin, I have never seen them so eagerly set to tasks as menial as setting up camps before." Fu Chin-Ran observed as she strolled up beside Shang Xiang. "The girls have agreed to scout the region, especially to the east where Valamir and his men are headed."

Shang Xiang smiled. "There is no small wonder in the rather strange relationship between our ladies and those yellow-haired horrors. Do the girls feel the Bailangren need protection or is it something else?"

"Well, they claim it is for the protection of the White Wolves in these hostile climes, but I believe there is more to it than that," the amazon admitted. "Not all our girls eschew the notion of marriage and many are dangerously open-minded."

"And the White Wolves are certainly representative of new ideas." Shang Xiang agreed. "How would you rate yourself against them in battle or a duel?"

Fu Chin-Ran thought about the question for several moments before answering. "I could best the vast majority of them, excepting maybe Valamir and I have no wish to test myself against Theudis or Glandyth."

"And Elryk?" Shang Xiang queried.

"I doubt even your brother or Taishi Ci would treat that task lightly."

Shang Xiang nodded. "We have seen them fight and they are terrifying because of that berserk fury they go into. They are almost impossible to stop once they get going and they care not for wounds until their bodies simply shut down. They are large and powerful and can literally burst a formation open with sheer force, but a disciplined army could match them if they kept their nerve, for the Westerners know little of tactics beyond an immediate scale. They rely on speed, strength and their battle-frenzies to carry the day. I am sure that when they triumph the victory is immense, but when they are defeated then their losses are grave indeed. Surely they can afford next to none since their numbers here are so few to begin with."

I remember sparring with one of them, Valaric," Fu Chin-Ran recalled. "They get themselves so worked up that they seem to not feel pain. I almost had to cripple him before he finally submitted and it was too close for my liking since the blows he managed to land on me were terrible."

"Due to our training with the arts, we learn the use of our bodies a certain way and how not to over-extend ourselves," Shang Xiang mused. "But if a strike or a counter misses, we are sometimes at a loss, whereas the Wolves simply keep swinging until they hit. There is little science to it, but there is no denying its effectiveness if you do not know what to expect from them."

Fu Chin-Ran looked to the south, to see if she could espy the jungles from which the enemy would emerge.

"These lands are unsuited for the sort of warfare we typically engage in. Our infantry is too heavily armoured and the cavalry would be at a severe disadvantage in the trees."

"That is why you, the girls and I will be learning to fight them on their own terms," Shang Xiang said grimly. "We will conduct punitive raids against their bases and settlements before melting back into the jungle. We will hit them until they are enraged and commit to a decisive battle here on the open plains."

"Do you think they will bring the xiang again?" the amazon commander asked, referring to the war elephants prevalent amongst the southern tribes.

"And tigers, I would surmise." Shang Xiang concluded, nodding. "We must defeat them utterly when they use these weapons so that they despair of such tactics. I want our strategists working on it."

"My lady," a brigade commander said as he walked up and bowed low. "We have discovered several rivers within fifty li of this position and they all flow south, through the jungles. It has been suggested that this campaign could be ended quickly if we were to poison the waters, depopulating the Shanyue regions rapidly and forcing their capitulation."

Shang Xiang considered the information and its impact on their goals- possibly thousands of her soldiers' lives could be saved easily if she followed this advice. The results would be devastating and rapidly conclude the campaign.

What would her father or Ce do?

"No," she said finally. "I will not allow this."

"But, my lady," the man protested. "We are here to subdue the Shanyue and we have heard from your brother himself that we should always take the necessary steps to minimize our own casualties."

"And this would certainly do it, I agree." Shang Xiang replied. "But in our service to our nation and my brother we have as soldiers agreed to fight and die if necessary and I hold you to that. What you propose will not only slay the men we stand to fight, but the women and children as well, who are innocent in all of this. I will not stand before the Celestials and be judged for their murder."

"But they are only savages, general," the man insisted. "They are not worthy of-"

Shang Xiang struck him across the face so hard she sent the man sprawling. She glared at him, her eyes blazing wrathfully.

"How dare you take so cavalier a tone with me?" she shouted. "If you ever address me as a mere general again I will have you head mounted on a pike in my tent! I am the daughter of Sun Jian, cur! Do not seek to account to me of the worth of another's life, just because they happen to not be one of us! Perhaps you would care to take the matter of with Valimar?"

The man was laying on his side, looking up at her in pale-faced terror.

"Get this man out of here!" she barked loudly. "I want him lashed and sent back to Sun Ce in Baifu immediately! Tell my brother I am requesting an annual stipend for his family for having the misfortune of being led by such a fool!"

The man was led away by two of Fu Chin-Ran's amazons to receive his punishment. Everyone else in the vicinity watched silently, knowing better than to move without their fiery princess' permission.

"Now then," Shang Xiang growled. "There is to be no further talk of such strategies. We would accuse men such as Dong Zhuo or Cao Cao of resorting to these measures and I will not have our name tarnished by such an association. We will fight if necessary, but when my ancestor Sunzi said to win without fighting was the greatest victory I am pretty damned sure he did not mean cowardice and murder. Now get back to work!"

Shang Xiang and Fu Chin Ran watched as everyone scurried about their tasks and the Sun daughter sighed heavily.

"I wish that tactic didn't make so much practical sense," she muttered. "It is reasonable, it is logical and it is justifiable."

"True, but that doesn't make it right, my love," Fu replied. "You were right about the judgement of the Heavens in this case. We all remember the horrors Dong Zhuo inflicted on the capital when he razed it and pillaged the citizens mercilessly."

"This is why the common folk need the guidance of the superior man," Shang Xiang concluded. "Left to their own devices, they will stray from the path. Had I not quashed this, they might have done it before asking and then the gods would surely be angry with us. Fighting the enemy is supposed to be the hard part of war."

Fu raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Clearly you have never commanded the women of your battalion."

Shang Xiang laughed. It would be good to take to the field again and meet the foe with steel.


The stout wooden fortress was going up quickly, a rather unusual but impressive mixture of soft and pliant local woods along with the strong and dense lumber brought from farther north. Centered around a tall hill, the fortress actually was modelled on the concept of the steading used by Elryk and the Bailangren. Concentric rings of defence would make the locale next to impossible to take as long as the garrison manned the walls.

The first layer of defence was a moat, fifty spans wide and nearly thirty deep- only a xiang could cross it readily and even that great beast would be easy prey for arrows and rocks hurled from the walls. Against the moat's inside edge stood a stout palisade, seventy spans tall and with a reinforced platform running around its length, allowing archers a commanding view of any foe assaulting the stronghold. The diameter of the outer palisade was nearly a full li and a full regiment each of archers and swordsmen, their barracks wooden buildings rather than tents.

The inner fortress was defended by a strong palisade, twice the thickness of the outer wall. The tall hill was crowned by Shang Xiang's hall, which had a commanding view of the fortress and the plains beyond. Compared to the fortresses of the north it was very small, but here in the sparsely populated far south, it was impressive enough.

She was not satisfied, though, until the settlements and fortresses of the south were a match for anything the north could boast, she had no intention of letting these lands remain a poor and underpopulated cousin to other districts. She was no scientist but she eagerly awaited news of Zhou Yu's research and findings about the uses of the Roman substance called 'concrete', an ersatz liquid concoction made of lime, volcanic ash and small stones that could be hardened and moulded into structures of extraordinary strength. It did not need to be painstakingly carved and transported as stones did, it could be created 'on-site', wherever a structure was to be erected, one just needed the raw materials. True, the closest volcano that could provide the ash was Honggeertushan, but transporting ash south via the new canals was certainly infinitely easier than a comparable amount of stone.

She envisioned massive wooden molds and frames that would be filled with tamped concrete and allowed to harden and form walls of incredible strength and just about any shape or length. Fortresses, buildings or linings for canals, anything might be possible with this tool.

That day would come, but for now she would make do with what these wild southern hinterlands offered her. Her enemies certainly had no knowledge of concrete and were prone to using stone weapons, so he still held a technological edge.

She returned to a large table on which was laid out the schematics of her great hall- an armoury for the garrison, several storage rooms dug into the hill itself, a tactical room, a shrine to the sun god and her personal quarters, complete with reading chambers, a bedchamber and a bath. The lands may have been savage but she had no intention of emulating its personality. She was bringing civilization south with her and it would begin in her private quarters.

Already fields were being set aside and prepared for irrigation and terracing, allowing the growth of rice and soybeans. Rivers were being diverted to accommodate this ambitious plan and scouts and surveyors sent forth to find the land's natural resources, seeking out gold, silver, jade or gem deposits, anything that could enhance trade and bring economic viability.

One resource was already abundantly certain, that being tea- infinite varieties of trees and bushes were everywhere and she would make these lands the center of trade for this precious commodity. Green and white teas were abundant from here to the coast and the locals had a delightful culture of using monkeys to pick the most tender leaves from the very tops of the trees, resulting in teas of exquisite quality.

She was sitting in her tent and drinking a white tea when Fu Chin Ran entered the tent, accompanied by a scout. Shang Xiang looked up from her deliberations, knowing that the general would not interrupt without news she considered important.

"My apologies for intruding, princess," the amazon warrior began, using the formality they had agreed to when their troops were around. "The Shanyue have been spotted, observing us from the edges of their jungle. Clearly they are concerned but they have yet to make any move. Do you have any orders for us?"

Shang Xiang nodded. "I see no point in making them wait, nor letting them prepare. I want your women ready to stage the first raids tonight. Zhu Ran has provided us with the locales of their closest bases and settlements, so have your commanders study the maps and pick their targets."

Fu Chin Ran nodded. "I assume you will be joining us?" she asked with a sly smile.

Shang Xiang grinned. "Would you have it any other way?"


Through the blackness they sprinted, penetrating deep into the dense and dreadful barrier of the steaming jungle. They numbered some five hundreds but they were swift and silent, intent on their targets. Lightly armed and armoured so speed and stealth, the amazon warriors made their way far into the frightful rainforest, bypassing some smaller enemy camps in favour of striking them at locales that would make a resounding statement.

Shang Xiang had divided the battalion up into five groups of one hundred and made their objectives abundantly clear- hit the enemy fast and hard and then retreat. These strikes were meant to shock the enemy and let them know that they were not safe, no matter how far back into the jungle they hid.

"Slay the men and women who oppose you," she had declared. "Harm no children under any circumstances and do not slay those women or elderly who raise no hand against you. With their men dead, they will need to look elsewhere for support and succour. And our towns and cities will be waiting."

Shang Xiang, ever the acrobat and grand performer, had leapt into the trees and now sprinted through the canopy, moving from branch to branch effortlessly and without sound. Only the most nimble warriors of her strike group could keep up with her, the rest keeping pace below, making their way through the dense undergrowth. She had split off from the main body of her troops, taking her hundred warriors slightly east, where there was supposed to be an encampment, possibly guarded by xiang and their riders. As she was the only warrior known to have defeated these dreadful beasts in direct combat, she was taking no chances with the lives of her women. Fu Chin Ran would see to the rest.

When she was within two li of the enemy position she halted her troops and gathered them close. She stood on the remains of some ancient, crumbling column and addressed them quietly.

"Remember, they use poisoned weapons, so guard yourself well since we must withdraw quickly. Kill quickly, do not get into protracted and lengthly duels, that will only hinder our objectives. Avoid the xiang if possible, do what you can to terrify them if necessary. Squads One through Four will move forward now and assume their positions in the trees, ready to shoot. Five through Ten will remain with me and be ready to strike on my order. Glory to the Sun family. Go!"

The squads designated as archers moved out swiftly and silently, melting into the blackness of the night. Shang Xiang addressed the remaining troops briefly.

"Those of you who did not fight the southern savages at Hu Lao Gate during the campaign against Dong Zhuo will need to understand that these warriors have some mystical form of protection. They wear ornate tattoos that they believe make them invulnerable. It may be true, but the strength of their belief in this absurd principle seems to be the source of it. Shock them and hurt them, make them doubt and make them fear."

One girl laughed. "We shall, my lady. I doubt even your mighty brother could scare these barbarians as badly as we will."

Shang Xiang raised an eyebrow. "Just keep in mind that while we fought the Nanman mercenaries and their war-elephants, my brother was single-handedly taking on Lu Bu, something I never could have done. We are more than enough, there is no need to resort to overkill by having Sun Ce fight these savages."

Chastised, the girl nodded humbly.

Without another word, Sun Shang Xiang knelt and folded her hands in prayer, seeking the blessing of the god of fire and the Celestial Tiger, commander of the armies of Heaven. Her warriors silently did the same, knowing that battle was close and the time for talk was over. All that remained was duty, orders and death.

Shang Xiang rose and looked south, knowing that the girls she had sent forward would be in position and waiting patiently. She nodded and broke into a run, heading towards the camp. Like herself, her warriors ran on the balls of their feet, minimizing the noise they made as they closed with the enemy- the heavy footfalls of the massive German warriors could be heard for many li, but this mission required a stealth only the amazon warriors of the Bow-Hipped Princess could claim mastery of.

The light of campfires was now evident not far ahead and the area grew thick with ruins. This area had once been a temple to some alien god at one time. A sentry stood lazily on top of a small dais and his eyes widened for only a moment before Shang Xiang had raced by him, striking him across the throat with her knife and silencing him. His tattoos had been no shield for him, killed in the night by a foe he had never seen.

Troops were evident now, along with at least three of the massive xiang, their massive grey forms dwarfing everything except the largest of the ruins. Her eyes flashed with deadly intent as she raced forward, her chakrams now drawn. Not more than two seconds before she burst into the temple clearing, dozens of arrows streaked into the unsuspecting foe from the boughs of the trees. Men cried out in pain and panic at this unsuspected assault, but they were quite shocked when Shang Xiang and her warriors leapt into the encampment, like demons from some nightmare.

The elephants trumpeted in alarm, trying to move but bound to mighty stakes that kept them from running amok. Strong cages held almost a dozen tigers that roared and snarled at the intrusion. The tattooed barbarians were caught completely off-guard and ran about, trying to organize a defence, but the women warriors had overrun the encampment before any coherent action was possible.

Shang Xiang leapt on one large warrior, bearing him to the ground. He was dead before he had hit the stone of the dais and she had sprung onto another man instantly. Her chakram cleaved the haft of his spear in two half a second before the other one sent his head spinning into the air. She spun low and swept the legs out from beneath another Shanyue warrior and the dull thud of his landing with punctuated by the loud cracking of his sternum as she stamped her heel onto his chest.

Arrows continued to rain into the encampment, causing endless panic among the defenders. Shang Xiang kicked over a huge bronze pot of boiling liquid onto the main fire, extinguishing it and plunging the camp into a darkness that the smaller fires could not banish. Her warriors slew in the dark, knowing that any advantage they could give themselves was welcome.

One of the xiang pulled free of its restraints and began rampaging about, trumpeting loudly and sending the other beasts into a panic. Shang Xiang pulled out her horn and blew three sharp and short blasts on it, signifying the retreat. Her warriors immediately broke off from whatever they were doing and sprinted back into the jungle from whence they came, leaving pandemonium reigning inside the enemy camp.

As her warriors fell into line with her, Shang Xiang laughed- the strike had gone off without a hitch, exactly as planned. Not all future ones would, but they had an excellent start to their endeavour. She ran them hard, all the way back to the edge of the jungle, never stopping in case they were pursued. The safety of the open plains and their fortifications awaited them.

One hell of a good start.


Over the next two weeks, the wide lands were fortified and secured, with areas demarcated for use in agriculture and future industry. Shang Xiang had sent forth parts of her force to announce her presence to the local villages and let them now that they would enjoy her protection and that of the Lord of the Southlands if they would come to her. And they did, in their thousands. Entire settlements were abandoned but Shang Xiang promised the people that if they so chose, they would be returned to their homes as soon as the Shanyue were dealt with and the lands were safe.

The raids against the barbarians continued, wreaking havoc and causing confusion. Shang Xiang began targeting chieftains and capable leaders in order to weaken what command structure there might be amongst the enemy. She had personally engaged in a savage battle with and slain with a chieftain who had a formidable reputation amongst the Shanyue tribes, throwing him from his battle-elephant and crushing him beneath its mighty feet.

When possible, she absconded with their war beasts, elephants, tigers and so on. To her regret she had been forced to kill a salamander during one raid, not unlike Xiao's. It had been trained as a war beast and she had nearly perished when she entered a pen that enclosed it, for it belched great gouts of roiling, stinking flame at her. She severed its head and the caustic blood flowed forth, scorching the earth and causing the water the salamander was lying in to smoke and bubble wildly.

The Wu army had no particular use for the animals they captured, but they served as battle trophies and a reminder to the Shanyue that Sun Shang Xiang was now the ruler of these lands and she took what she wanted if they would not submit.

Some Shanyue forces had made punitive raids into the plains, attacking positions that were not so prepared but they were repulsed with little loss to the Wu army. They seemed to be testing the resolve of the invaders. One time they attacked a small fort and they had brought five elephants and after fierce fighting they retreated because of archers using fire arrows.

Settlements that had not come to Shang Xiang or refused her entreaties began to be raided and several were razed, the villages and townspeople slaughtered, often gruesomely. Some of her commanders suggested that they spare some of their troops and move to protect the remaining settlements, but Shang Xiang refused, though it pained her to do so. She was not willing to endanger her strategic vision for the sake of stubborn villagers who refused to assist her with making their lands safe.

Those who had come to her were given shelter and put into compounds behind the network of fortresses, their lodgings protected by strong palisades. They were employed quickly, creating the agricultural fields and providing the unskilled labour that would help build the wide Roman-style roads that would allow for commerce and the swift movement of people and armies.

Surveyors began to draw plans and designs for two canals that would flow south from the Baifu region and allow for bulk transport to reach the region quickly and efficiently. Foodstuffs, building supplies, weapons, barges could efficiently carry ten times the cargo of a baggage train at greater speed.

It would not be long before the momentum of the war had turned against the Shanyue and the Sun family would prevail.


Fu Chin Ran reached up and caressed her lover's face as she felt the firm but gentle touch of Shang Xiang's hands on her body. Only the princess was a match for her strength but she also embodied a feminine quality that the general was enthralled by and revelled in.

The soft light of flickering oil braziers played over the two of them as they moved and undulated against one another, moaning and whispering each other's names. Trembling as they fought to maintain control but make the other climax, Shang Xiang knotted her fingers into Fu's and pinned her hands beside her head. The general's eyes flashed and she smiled hungrily, thrilled by the princess' vigour. They had been lovers for many years now and it never ceased to be divine.

The room was dark except for the soft light of the braziers, the women's tangled shadows playing over the wall. Shang Xiang had brought much of her furniture and decorations from Baifu and the room they now made love in was an exquisite approximation of her bedchambers in the capital.

"Not tonight, my love..." Fu purred, pushing back against Shang Xiang. "You will not win tonight's contest. You have been resting from combat these past few days, whereas I am just back from a raid and am stirred to great heights of desire."

"That didn't save you last time, did it?" Shang Xiang replied the princess as she arched her back, hooked her ankles beneath Fu's knees and pressed down, squirming rhythmically. "I may not have been fighting but my body is rested and ready for your challenge."

Fu Chin Ran flexed her powerful shoulders, moving her hands off the bed, wrestling Shang Xiang for control of their loveplay. Gripping one another's hands, they vied for leverage. Shang Xiang, smiled wickedly, lowered her torso until her breasts were grazing gently over Fu's. The general shivered and hissed in delight.

"Not fair..." she moaned.

They wrestled, groaned and writhed but in the end, neither could overcome the other and their climax was mutually blissful. They lay wrapped in one another's arms, smothering one another in kisses before silence crept over them, just content to be together. Shang Xiang sighed and traced a fingernail over her general's cheek.

"Not long now..." she murmured, loving the feel of Fu's strong body against hers. Fu Chin Ran was shorter than her, but more muscular of frame. She was not stronger than the princess, but perhaps more physically imposing.

"Do you suspect that the Shanyue are readying to attack?" Fu asked.

"They will need to before long," Shang Xiang confirmed, nodding. "They cannot allow us to continue to humiliate them like this. You have lost seven of our girls to injury and only three have been slain, whereas their losses must number in the hundreds. If they leave us alone much longer, we will be too well-prepared for them and beyond their ability to assault."

"I will welcome pitched battle," the general murmured, stroking Shang Xiang's waist. "We need to force a large, pitched battle in order to establish our superiority. We can bring the full force of our corps against them and show them that they cannot defy us."

They were silent for some time before Shang Xiang pulled herself up to rest on her side, her head propped up on her hand. "That still may take time, though. I have heard rumours that they are bringing forward a renowned warrior and general from farther south where they face the savage Nanman tribes. Apparently we are a bigger threat now."

"They are dangerous when roused," Fu added. "And I suspect that we have yet to see anything resembling their true strength."

"My thought as well." Shang Xiang agreed. "I wish to force their hand, inflict a heavy defeat on them here on the plains, perhaps anger them to attacking rashly."

"I know that look," Fu said slyly, examining her lover's eyes. "You have a plan already, don't you?"

"A dangerous one," Shang Xiang admitted. "One that would take nerves of steel."

"I volunteer, then." General Fu Chin Ran said readily.


The village she now stood in was a study of barbaric splendour, built on the ruins of earlier civilizations, overgrown with jungle vegetation but the buildings were strangely ornate, made of tumbled stones and exotic woods. The large, round building was an audience hall and had a convex roof, the smoke of the great central hearth billowing up through a hole in the apex.

Fu Chin Ran stood proudly, flanked by two of her amazon warriors, who stood with their hands on the slender swords they kept on their hips. On a wood and wicker throne, encrusted with rare gems, sat a dark-skinned and imposing warrior, wearing the skins of many animals and the feathers of bright birds. His tattoos covered him from head to toe and his eyes were a vivid yellow. In his hand he held a great club made of some black stone. He regarded the women levelly.

"I welcome you, but unless your envoy is one of capitulation, I am afraid you mission will be in vain," the warrior said in a thick accent that made his Han Chinese almost impossible to understand. "The lands you and your people now occupy to not belong to you and most certainly the jungles are to have remained inviolate. You are not welcome here, northerners."

Fu Chin Ran stood her ground. "Our people have lived on the plains for generations untold; I somehow doubt that Lord Sun Ce feels your claims of suzerainty are valid."

The warrior laughed. "Yes, Lord Sun Ce, I have heard of this man. If these lands are so valuable, why does he not come fight me for them himself?"

"I am not sure I would wish that on you," Fu replied. "Lord Sun Ce entrusted this mission to his sister and she intends to see it done. She is offering the chance for you to make peace with us and begin to engage in trade. The other choice is for us to defeat you utterly until your survivors must sue for peace."

Many of the warriors around the hallway muttered in shock and outrage at the warrior-woman's bold statement. The man on the throne thumped his hand against the wicker arm and glared at her.

"You dare?" he shouted. "You dare come into my lands, my very palace and try to dictate terms to me? I should have you killed and impaled on stakes for this impudence, your corpse left to fester and rot in the sun!"

"You could do that," Fu said evenly. "But if I do not return, then Lady Sun will know that you have refused her more-than-generous offer, slain me and she will come against you with the full might of her army and destroy everything your people have ever accomplished. She will slay your men, bring your women back to the north in chains to serve us and she will see to it that your children are raised to forget who they are and despise your name."

The warrior-chieftain roared angrily, stood and smashed his club against a pillar, causing it to tremble perilously. His guards levelled their spears, ready to slay the arrogant envoys at his command. Fu Chin Ran was not fazed.

"I would have you know that there were tacticians amongst us who proposed poisoning the rivers that flowed south, exterminating every man, women and child in these jungles, but Lady Shang Xiang fight men, she does not murder innocents. If you will not capitulate, then you will face us in open battle, if you dare." she continued. "I assure you, these jungles will not hide you forever. My warriors and I have already proven that we can face and defeat you on equal terms in these surroundings, I do not envy your chances against us in the open plains, no matter how many war beasts you bring."

The warrior began to step down from the dais, brandishing his club and making to kill Fu Chin Ran himself when two explosions shook the building from outside. Without a moment's pause, the amazon general and her guards sprinted past the surprised guards at the door, Fu Chin Ran literally shoulder-blocking through one and sending him flying backward as they exited the hall.

Outside, warriors were running around in a panic as a third explosion went off. Fu leapt onto the back of her horse, followed by her two guards and the warriors who had planted the thunderbombs as a distraction. They used the confusion to fly headlong for the gates of the great village, slaying any who stood in their way. The wooden and bamboo palisade was already open when they reached it and they shot out into the forest, heading north.

"Well, if that doesn't provoke them into a rash assault, nothing will." Fu announced to her cohorts as they sped back to the plains. Behind them they could hear the blare of horns and the rattle of drums. Elephants called and tigers snarled. Clearly the chase was on. There was no time to rest now, to slow down even a little would mean certain and gruesome death. When they had been escorted into the village, they had passed several huts where the mystical tattoos of these superstitious folk were created and Fu was more than a little certain she smelled human flesh being rendered as some of the pigments...

Without looking back they fled north, exhorting their mounts until the animals were foaming at the mouths and sweat streamed from their flanks. One girl's horse began to bleed from its nose because of the exertion and it stumbled and fell. Luckily, Fu Chin Ran swept her out of the air as the animal fell and deposited her safely onto the back of her own saddle, making sure her horse did not slow. They could afford no delays but she was determined that none of her girls would be left behind.

They seemed to have finally outpaced their pursuers but Fu did not let them slow down- far behind, the wail of horns and the rolling of drums could still be heard. She heard calls she would normally associate with exotic wild birds, but these were different, ordered and precise. These were calls to war, not the banter of jungle avians.

The thick tangle of trees and vines began to give way, clearing out slowly until the lush green plains could be seen. Distantly, the watchtowers of the fortresses and outposts they had been building could be seen. They burst forth from the jungle, rejoicing for the open air and escaping the oppressive wetness and heat of the rain forest. They sped onward toward a small relay station where fresh mounts awaited them. Wasting no time, Fu sprang from her horse and leapt into the saddle of the next, her girls doing the same.

"Looks like you've made an enemy for yourself, general," commented one man, handling her fresh horse.

"Why should Gan Ning have all the fun?" she countered before slapping her horse's flank and sending it galloping off toward the main fortress. Less than half an hour later, she had arrived. She dismounted before her horse had even stopped and strode toward Shang Xiang's audience hall. She bowed as she approached the dais, the Bow-hipped Princess awaiting her report.

"I think it is safe to say I angered them, my lady," Fu said before rising. "We heard their war drums and clarion calls as we were leaving the jungle."

"So did we." Shang Xiang confirmed. "You might have done your job a little too well, in fact..."

She led her general outside and up the ladder of the loftiest watchtower in the fortress, one attached to her hall. From here, nearly a hundred feet above the crown of the hill, they had a majestic view of the wide plains and could survey whatever an enemy might bring.

They were still distant, but somehow that was not comforting- the massive Shanyue host could be seen even at this range, crawling forward toward the network of fortresses and outposts that now opposed them. Their horns, drums and elephants could be heard.

"There's a lot of them," Fu Chin Ran said quietly. "Much larger than our corps."

"I agree," Shang Xiang murmured, nodding. "Our scouts are not getting too close but they are estimating as many as seventy-thousand soldiers and up to fifty xiang. We must stay focused and fight hard."

Fu Chin Ran took her lover's hand and gave it a squeeze. She never felt more alive than when they fought side by side.


Shang Xiang had taken her army out to meet the Shanyue on ground she had previously chosen for several advantages it gave her- first, it sat on rolling hills, allowing her to utilize height in her defensive formations while making movement difficult for the enemy's xiang; second, it was close to the series of forts in case they suffered a setback and she had to retreat to a more guarded location; third but not least, the ground had been prepared for pits, traps and other surprises, so she was very pleased when the barbarians were so enraged that they used their superior numbers to march boldly into the plain.

She stood now on a high hill, watching the enemy's approach, the westering sun glinting on the gold and brass fastening of her ornate armature and turning the vermillion of her outfit to the colour of blood. Her hair flowed gently in the breeze while her green eyes glinted like emerald stars.

"This will be over by nightfall," she said quietly. "No mercy."

Beside her, Fu Chin Ran drew her sword and held it aloft. "No mercy!" she shouted loudly.

"No mercy!" roared the thousands of voices in the assembled corps.

The center of the formation was held by line troops, seasoned veterans who had been exposed to the xiang that had been captured and their officers devising ways to defeat them. Spearmen formed the front rank, protected by their shields and rows of sharpened stakes that even the war elephants could not easily surmount, forcing them into narrow gaps between. Behind the spears were ranks of fleet archers ready with flaming arrows, along with the crossbows. Companies of swordsmen strengthened the line, ready for counterattacks.

The right flank was anchored by Shang Xiang's cavalry, brave warriors atop swift horses, armed with lances, short swords and bows. They were deployed opposite hordes of infantry armed with spears or clubs and poisoned javelins. They would harry the foe before closing, their charge bursting open the enemy flank and turning it. They did not carry shields but their strong scale armour was bright and could turn all but the heaviest blow. Faster than any of the Shanyue troops, she was relying on them to keep the enemy from outflanking her army, no small task, given the foe's numerical advantage.

The left flank was held by Fu Chin Ran's amazons and Valamir's ferocious Teutonic warriors. Shang Xiang was relying on them to lead a savage counter-charge when the moment was right. The timing of this stroke had to be perfect if they were to prevail. Even now, the Germans were bashing their shields with their weapons and chanting in their guttural alien tones while the ululating war cry of Fu Chin Ran's women was like the whooping of cranes. Opposed by this strange sight, the Shanyue right flank had slowed its advance, falling slightly behind the main force as it rushed on.

Shang Xiang observed the enemy's approach impassively. They came on in a titanic mob, no particular order to their assault evident. The war elephants and battle tigers rushed forward, eager to close with the Southlander forces, while the hordes of infantry ran behind, trying to keep up. Shang Xiang was pleased to see that the xiang riders were grouped together in the center, their ranks close as they thundered onward. They were an unstoppable force on their own but had they been spread out, they might have been more difficult to manage.

She calmly drew her bow from her back, knocking her favoured arrow, a wicked missile more than three spans long, the iron head a dull black and with blood-red feathers. She had fired this dart countless time and had always recovered it, blessed as it was by the god of fire. Her eyes swept over the field, taking no note of the overwhelming size of the enemy force but looking for the target she desired most...

There he was.

The Shanyue chieftain, that massive and fearsome warrior, was riding atop a great tiger, a terrible beast wearing scale armour and a brazen face mask made to look like a demon of ancient legend. The warrior carried his dreaded club and magnificent plumes trailed from his helm.

Horns sounded across the Shanyue line and the great battle cat sprang forward, its rider now leading the barbarian charge. The tigers roared and the xiang bellowed as the closed in.

Shang Xiang released the arrow, watching the dart as it make its way toward the target, already knowing what was going to happen.

The arrow struck the huge tiger in the right eye and it screamed as it tumbled to the earth, throwing its rider from his saddle and harness. The warrior scrambled to his feet to avoid being trampled by the onrushing troops, bellowing in rage at his disgrace. He joined in the charge, determined to attack, even if he must submit to fighting on foot.

"You might just as easily have shot the chieftain, my lady," observed one of her heralds. "Why does he yet live when you are the deadliest archer in the Southlands?"

"I'm not letting him off that easily." Shang Xiang replied, drawing another arrow from her quiver. She watched as the man blew a loud note on a horn and hundreds of archers released their missiles into the air, a rain of steel death on the enemy.

"He is incensed and enraged, prone to rash actions and mistakes now, why would I deprive myself of such an advantage?" she pointed out. "If I killed him, another commander of more level and clear-headed disposition might take over and this battle could become protracted. The death of their chieftain will not break these warriors, only resounding defeat can."

She knocked the arrow, aimed at another target and fired- this time the arrow buried itself in the chest of a man guiding one of the charging xiang and the beast screeched in pain as the rider fell to one side, pulling on the hooks that were piercing the beast's ear and being used to guide it. It began staggering sideways and smashed into the rear legs of another elephant before stomping through a panicked throng of infantry.

The hilly terrain she had chosen for her line now slowed the advance of the Shanyue war beasts, even as the infantry struggled to catch up. They found themselves now hampered by sharpened stakes, concealed pits and flaming tar pools. A tiger screamed as it and its handler were engulfed in flames, wreaking havoc amongst their allies as they turned and bolted back the way they had come.

They came yet closer and noticed concealed Southland scouts scurrying away from concealed positions, moments before the dreaded thunderbombs went off, frightening the animals, even as flaming arrows began to pelt them.

Eighteen of the fifty xiang would contact the Southlander center while less than two dozen tigers survived the traps and deadly arrow fire. For all their causalties, though, their assault was terrible- the smashed through the first lines of spearmen, heedless of injury and caused untold carnage. Men scattered before them if they could not hold, but they made the Shanyue pay dearly. The archers retreated quickly, peppering their foes with arrows, aiming for the beast's eyes or the men guiding them from the wooden platforms atop their back. Lithe and fearless swordsmen dashed about them, slashing at their exposed skin while the spearmen shouted, pushing hard with their deadly lances.

The tigers flanked the war elephants and wear no less deadly in their assault. Men fell to their hideous claws and teeth, the earth running red with blood, both man and animal. Men brandishing torches harried the tigers, keeping them at bay while the troops rallied, knowing that the Shanyue infantry was close behind and the line needed to be held. Officers bellowed for men to be brave, letting them now that safety and salvation did not await those who fled, only certain and ignominious death.

The Bow-Hipped Princess watch calmly from her hill behind the center line; she gave no orders, simply watching the flow of the battle. Everyone already knew their part, all she could do now was wait and pray.

The center was collapsing inward, pushed back by the sheer weight of numbers as the Shanyue infantry joined the assault. The warrior-chieftain leading the barbarians was exhorting them to feats of valour and reckless bravery, hewing men down with every swing of his club. The mystic tattoos they wore seemed to allow them to shrug off the most fearsome strike without injury.

The Southland troops pulled back, fighting bravely for every bit of ground, making the enemy pay in blood, but they could not stop their advance. Shanyue soldiers advanced relentlessly over the bodies of their foe and their own men, no matter how entangled the ground became with corpses.

Shang Xiang dropped her bow and pulled her chakrams from their sheathes on her back. At this silent signal, her final surprise rolled over the crest of the hill that her reserve troops waited on- ten ballistae trundled into position and selected their targets, the giant grey beasts tearing holes in their line.

"Fire." Shang Xiang said in a voice soft as silk but hard and merciless as iron.

Great bolts each the length of a man lanced through the air and buried themselves with deadly accuracy into the targeted xiang. Even the thick hides of these monsters could not resist the keen iron heads and they roared terribly as they fell, or began to rampage amongst their own troops, mortally wounded and blinded by pain and rage.

Her center had suffered terribly for it, but the Shanyue commander had made a fatal mistake- eager to press his advantage and unschooled in the true art of war, his entire army had begun to press into the middle, following in the wake of the war beasts. The spearhead never resulted in a breach of Shang Xiang's line and in spite of the weight of his troops, the warrior-chieftain's numerical superiority counted for less now that they were all pressed together. Fighting as they were in the hills now, with prepared defensive positions to retreat to, Shang Xiang's troops now stood their ground and faced the enemy, determined to hold the line.

The flanks of the Southlands army now pulled around and closed in on the Shanyue from the rear, cutting off all avenues of retreat. Even though they were still outnumbered, the Wu troops now had the advantage of striking the enemy from the rear. The fleet cavalry spread out to ensure none would escape while Fu Chin Ran and Valamir's troops drove into the Shanyue from behind.

The Shanyue warriors were stunned by the unearthly savagery of the Germans and the fluid, merciless grace of the amazons. Both groups seemed to take no note of the tattoos their gods protected them with. Even if the strike of a wild yellow-haired warrior's axe did not draw blood, the sheer force of the blow could throw a man to the earth, leaving him vulnerable to further assault. Fu Chin Ran's women-warriors rarely contested strength with their foe but would overrun them or would seek to destroy their weapons, shearing the head off a spear or the haft of an axe, leaving a warrior defenceless.

It was in this chaos that Sun Shang Xiang, warrior-maiden of the Sun family and champion of the Southlands, finally uttered her piercing war cry and lunged into battle, heading straight for the enemy general...


Side by side now, Fu Chin Ran and Valamir fought fiercely to secure the rear, knowing that if the enemy gained their balance and turned to attack, not only would they escape, but all of the Germans and amazons would perish in the process. Blood flew from Valamir's axe while Fu Chin Ran's sword ran crimson. She ducked the swipe of a club, flicked blood from her blade into her foe's eyes to distract them and then liberated his head from his body with a clean blow across the neck. In the moment where she was clear of targets she turned to observe Valamir roar with a terrible fury and cleave a foe in half from head to toe with his bearded axe. Men ran from him in terror. Panting as the battle frenzy left him, his cold blue eyes turned to look at her.

"You fight well," she said, struggling to use the German's cumbersome and unlovely tongue. "For a man."

Valamir laughed. "If my louts fought like your women, we would have the Han empire pacified for Lord Sun Ce within a month, and about god-rotting time, too."

Fu nodded in response, mostly clear on what the massive barbarian had said and then led another charge into the enemy. She would not stop until she met her beloved Shang Xiang in the middle of the field...


Shang Xiang ducked a deadly blow, spun about in a lithe counterattack and then locked her weapons with her opponent's the two of them straining at the battle raged on around them. The chieftain fought with a savage abandon, heedless of injury because of his belief in the power of his mystical armours. He fought as if no force could harm him and she was hard-pressed to change his mind. Though she considered herself the superior warrior, there was something to be said for his unconquerable faith and reckless offense.

They wrestled for leverage, each determined to get the better of the other. Infuriated and baffled by his female foe's brawn, the chieftain broke the deadlock and swung at her again, his wide strike leaving him open. Shang Xiang slashed both her blades across his middle but was dismayed when he simply laughed, remaining unharmed. Her eyes darkened as she considered another tactic but he was on her again, determined to crush the upstart woman for her impunity.

She twirled around a strike and slashed across the back of his headdress, the colourful plumes flying away from their resting place. He roared in indignation, infuriated at the violation of his badge of rank amongst his people. He attacked again and again, growing frustrated with the way she eluded his blows and simply refused to die. Shang Xiang pursed her lips, her mind racing to find a way to triumph over her foe.

"You have beat these savages before, have you not?" asked a kindly but stern and wise voice inside her mind.

"Yes, father, but this one is so strong," she replied. "His belief in these stupid tattoos is unwavering and it keeps him safe from all harm."

"Maybe, maybe not," Sun Jian allowed. "But how is that any different from when I faced Hua Xiong, your brother facing Lu Bu or even Ou Xing, the Demon Prince?"

"By the time you two were done with them, they did not believe in themselves, you had dispelled their myths they had come to believe about themselves."

"Like you with Zhang Liao," the patriarch pointed out. "Seems pretty simply how you need to resolve this situation. You are my peerless daughter, the most beautiful and fiery blossom of the Sun family. Our might is not so easily subdued or quenched. Remind the world now of what it means to contest the will of our clan, daughter."

"Yes, father!" she said, her eyes flashing with resolve. She realized now that as long as her foe was convinced that he was invincible, he would take longer to defeat than was warranted. She would break his faith and then she would break his body and his army.

Her foe lunged in, swinging his club in a deadly but cumbersome arc. Shang Xiang dodged it easily enough and thrust out a powerful side kick, driving the bottom of her foot straight into his face. His nose held but blood spurted everywhere. The warrior-chieftain laughed loudly and with contempt at her efforts, his features slicked ruby red.

Shang Xiang warded off his next attack and slammed her fist across his nose, feeling the bones and cartilage bend sickeningly under the blow. Her opponent roared in annoyance at her persistence, but he could not seem to hit the princess any more than she could harm him significantly. She dodged again and another blow from her foot tagged him across the bridge of the nose. This time he winced slightly and she was aware of a vague look of apprehension entering his gaze. She fought the urge to go in for the kill, determined to make sure he was finished before she committed herself.

She remained on the defensive, using his anger to her advantage, redirecting his blows before landing her own, always to his nose. Although he had not slowed down, his face had almost dissolved in a welter of blood and ruined flesh. The bone at the bridge of his nose was visible through the mess and his eyes were watering and beginning to squeeze shut from the swelling.

The chieftain bellowed in rage and began swinging wildly; Shang Xiang's men had retreated before his fury, letting their beloved princess handle the beast. The Shanyue warrior's men, however, were not so lucky and several were crippled or killed inadvertently by his savage attacks. Even blinded, he was still extraordinarily dangerous, so Shang Xiang began to concentrate on some other target- she spun low and slashed her chakrams across his forward knee. Against all odds, she did not sever the joint or even draw blood, but she heard him grunt in pain form the impact. Unwilling to retreat, the Shanyue warrior advanced on her again, slamming his club down at her head; Shang Xiang moved deftly to one side and kicked across the knee she had targeted, causing her foe to stumble a little. She dodged once more and hammered on the knee again, giving the man no time to recover.

Enraged by her refusal to die, the chieftain bulled forward suddenly, almost knocking Shang Xiang to the ground in his frenzy. Raining blow after blow at the infuriating woman, he sought to destroy his foe utterly, to pound her into the earth and let his elephants trample her bones.

Shang Xiang, however, had had enough. Her chakrams flashed through the air and sheared the mighty club into three pieces. The chieftain gaped in shock at the destruction of his weapon and then staggered backward as her keen blades swiped across his throat. He gurgled and thrashed as the crimson blood spurted from the gaping wound. She took no chances as she severed one arm at the elbow, then the other just below the shoulder. With a low spin and an upward sweep, she removed his leg and he fell to the ground, thrashing in desperation. The triumphant princess glared down at him before raising her circular blades to each side above her head and then slashing them in a sweep across her foe...

The chieftain's head tumbled across the trampled and tortured earth, his sightless eyes still wide in disbelief.

Shang Xiang had only a moment to breathe before she threw herself aside, evading a rampaging elephant which trampled the Shanyue chieftain's headless body into the ground. Before the rider could react, she had grabbed onto the beast's harness and scaled nimbly up its side, attacking the barbarian warriors riding in the housing above furiously. Caught unawares by this unexpected move, they were no match for her in such close quarters and they died quickly. Shang Xiang took hold of the reins and with an ululating war cry, turned the beast around, somehow managing to wheel it back into its own formation. The beast keened in pain as she pulled roughly on its ears, sending it surging into the Shanyue, who scattered in panic, knowing full well that even the most elaborate tattoos would not save them from death if the monster stepped on them.

From her new position atop the xiang, she took a moment to survey the scene- the battle still raged back and forth, but the enemy was hemmed in and surrounded. They still had the advantage of superior numbers and were trying to organize an impromptu defence, but Shang Xiang could feel it in her soul- the day was hers.

She let out another war cry and her troops surged forward, determined to make the foe pay for their impunity and for raising their hand against the Sun family.


By nightfall, the battle was ended. Though the moans and wails of the dying and wounded could still be heard, Shang Xiang had turned her mind to other matters, allowing the healers to see to those in need of aid. She stood now atop the elephant she had commandeered, the beast waiting placidly for its new mistress to direct it- through the twilight she gazed south, watching as her swiftest troops pursued the remains of the Shanyue army. She would not know the tally for several days, but she was given good reason to believe that not more than ten thousand of the enemy had survived the clash. Fu Chin Ran was leading the effort to sweep the foe from the plains, accompanied by the cavalry and the Germans, whose great, loping strides and tireless bodies carried them great distances swiftly.

As she climbed down from the back of the elephant, a healer approached her and bowed.

"Please, my lady," he said quietly. "I would have you come with me now."

Shang Xiang nodded and followed the man to a wide tent and stepped inside. Lit by braziers and kept warm, a series of pillows were arrayed atop a palanquin in the middle of the space. Laying in the pillows was Valamir, his skin pale as alabaster and his body shivering and covered in sweat. Great and terrible wounds adorned his body, not the least of which was the goring of a bronze-tusked xiang, whose attack has finally felled the German, tearing away a great deal of his side.

His eyelids fluttered as Shang Xiang approached and he nodded wearily to her, a gesture she returned. She spoke quietly but her admiration was evident.

"I have been told you acquitted yourself well, Valamir," she began, her words being translated by the boy Teiam while Amalasuntha waited nearby. "You apparently slew seven tigers, even though they mauled you, and when the xiang attacked, you drove it off, heedless of the terrible injuries it inflicted upon you. Though you lie stricken, I must admit I wish I had seen it. Surely the gods themselves would have been awed."

In spite of his pain, Valamir tried to laugh but ended up coughing and sputtering, blood-flecked spittle coming from his mouth. Her forced back the pain and addressed the princess.

"These Shanyue... are just lucky... that Glandyth was not come. They had only to deal... with me..."

"Doubtless a shock to them, I daresay," Shang Xiang agreed, keeping him occupied while the healers worked frantically to save the valiant officer of the comitatus. They did not seem to hold out much hope, though, as they kept muttering and shaking their heads, praying that he not be judged harshly for the colour of his skin or reeking of beer.

"I know you are in pain, Valamir, and that you long for release," Shang Xiang said softly but sternly. "But this boon I do not grant you, not yet. I still have need of you and four of your men lie dead already. I will not have you adding to that tally just because you're feeling a little tired."

Valamir squeezed his eyes shut and took a breath, trying to compose himself. "My men... I could not save them. I had not the strength."

"That is war, foreigner," Shang Xiang said simply. "Fight for glory, fight for plunder, fight in my brother's name, whatever pleases you. But you are not done fighting and I have every expectation of you to recover. Do not contest me on this, for if you disobey me then you will invoke my wrath, and even your god of night will not be able to save you from me."

The German nodded and slowly turned his head to look back at the ceiling, trying to rest. Shang Xiang left the tent and went to find a quiet, secluded spot in the darkness. Once there, she rested her forehead on her knees and just let it all fall away. The battle was over, but in many ways the hardest part was still to come...


Four days had passed and Shang Xiang sat now in her audience hall, flanked by Fu Chin Ran and Valamir, who had apparently decided that the afterlife was not worth risking the princess' displeasure. He looked weary and feeble, but he was standing. Kneeling before the throne, scribes and messengers were bowed, waiting for permission to begin their reports.

"We have suffered much in this conflict and we can only hope that the sacrifice of those who perished in the name of our realm and the Sun family died not in vain," she began. "We were victorious, but even now I am not certain if this was enough. What news have you of the casualties?"

One man stood and read from a scroll. "Concerning the enemy and their disposition after the battle, we have counted some sixty-two thousand dead, not including war beasts, such as the tigers, salamanders and xiang, none of which survived, except for the one you captured, my lady."

Shang Xiang nodded. "Proceed."

"Our own forces paid a significant price in terms of both dead and wounded," the man continued. "We count just over seven thousands dead, mostly from the spear and sword companies charged with holding the line against the Shanyue war beasts and nearly ten thousands injured to various degrees not considered mortal."

Shang Xiang's heart was heavy and she weighed the costs of this battle. Men always died in war, she understood this, but this battle would become the stuff of legend, where her severely outnumbered forces triumphed against a terrible foe, decimating their army. She was in no mood to consider the songs that would be sung or the poems written. They would wait.

There were casualties that were dear to her heart as well- some twenty eight of Fu Chin Ran's amazons, women who had been under Shang Xiang's command before she took control of her own corps, were slain and another eighty wounded. Four of the German had perished and nearly all the rest were injured to one degree or another, their reckless fighting style carrying them deep into the enemy host and getting them surrounded. Only their alien berserker rages, sheer ferocity and the fear they instilled allowed them to not be slain to a man, something that would have happened to any other unit.

Shang Xiang listened absently to the tally that the scribes iterated, her mind already wondering what their next move was. The healers and apothecaries would be busy for weeks, mending those who could still fight, making them whole and ensuring that they would be ready to take on the enemy, should the Shanyue still not be convinced of her hegemony.

"My corps is greatly reduced in strength, what will I do if the enemy comes again? Can I possibly fend them off?"

She looked over at the head of the Shanyue chieftain, propped on a spear, the magical herbs and salves of the healers preserving it as a grisly trophy for her. His dreadful club had been mended and now adorned one of the walls, another prize to honour her victory.

"Over sixty thousand of the Shanyue perished, they must be crippled. If they are not, I would need another corps along with my own to wage this war and achieve victory. In spite of my glorious victory, I would have failed."

The litany continued, but she was paying little attention, she would read it all later. The night before, she had dreamt of dark-skinned women with daemonic yellow eyes, wild and murderous, carrying yellow silk scarves with which they strangled and murdered, extinguishing the people of the world. Invincible in battle, terrible to look upon and without mercy, the image of them touched on something deep inside that she did not like and she locked it away. There were enemies to confront, not fears.


Leading five thousand troops, mostly cavalry, Shang Xiang rode south now, investigating news of strange activities on the plains just beyond the borders of the jungle. No reports of fighting, but the Shanyue were behaving in a most unusual fashion, or so the report went.

Accompanied by some locals, she came within a li of the deadly, foreboding canopy of trees and observed what she had been told about. Clear of the jungle but close enough to duck into the lush barrier if necessary, hundreds of Shanyue warriors were making bizarre, almost ritual dancers and motions, all the while chanting in their strange tongue. Shang Xiang looked at her local guide quizzically.

"They are chanting in a traditional style," he elaborated. "They are calling out about their admiration for their foe, who bested them and fought with a valour that even their gods cannot readily fathom."

Shang Xiang watched intently, fascinated by the ritual.

"They are saying that they will keep to themselves and no longer will they contest you for these plains," continued the guide. They retreat now to their jungle and will no longer come in force against you. You have won and they will keep their word, my lady. As far as I am concerned, they will trouble you no more."

"I am relieved to hear it," Shang Xiang murmured. She stood now in her saddle and held one of her chakrams aloft, the keen steel glinting brightly in the midday sun, like a silvery star. Upon seeing this acknowledgement, the Shanyue melted back into the jungle, leaving the little army alone on the plains.

"Let's go home..." she said finally.


Three months had passed and no further incidents had occurred with the Shanyue. Oddly and perhaps somewhat worryingly, there had been no contact with them at all. The troops remained vigilant, but Shang Xiang was beginning to believe that the unusual barbarians were beings of their word.

As had been promised, over a quarter of a million citizens from the Baifu region had come south, ready to make new lives and face new challenges in these lands. Accompanied by another ten thousand troops, they were dispersed across the plains, occupying villages and towns that were constructed near resources, while the largest portion moved onward to Fujian on the coast, to erect a new center for trade, culture and commerce. Shang Xiang led this contingent east, looking forward to restoring the ancient and glorious city of legend. Masons and engineers had already identified the remains of the royal palace and were quickly reconstructing it for the princess' use. The military host charged with guarding the city was under the command of Fu Chin Ran, Shang Xiang's most able commander.

The work continued ahead of schedule, the city being masterfully laid out and requiring little alteration or overhaul, except for the actual buildings. The palace was reconstructed within two weeks of her arrival and was ablaze in vermillion and gold banners, the unmistakeable mark of the Sun family's suzerainty. She sat now in the wide hall, marvelling on how quickly and exquisitely the engineers and craftsmen had completed this grand task.

She was authorizing the building of a Buddhist temple when heralds announced unexpected visitors- she put aside her wax seal and her eyes went wide as the guests entered, none other than emissaries from the Shanyue, wearing the full ceremonial regalia of their people, covered in magnificent plumes of birds Shang Xiang had only ever considered a myth.

"Great lady," began the chief emissary humbly, bowing low. "We come now not as enemies but as friends, seeking the establishment of mutually beneficial trade between our peoples. You have much we desire, such as paper, ceramics, agriculture and bright iron, while we have resources you consider exotic and seem to desire..."

He gestured to some porters who brought up two chests of dark wood, which he opened and even the most self-possessed people in the room gasped in awe- the boxes were filled with rubies, emeralds and pearls of a quality she had rarely seen.

"This is our gift to you, great lady, and a token of our intent to trade fairly and without dissembly," continued the emissary. Though the details of trade remain, along with a fair rate of exchange, barter and allowable traffic, would you agree on your mighty brother's behalf to allow this endeavour to continue?"

Shang Xiang smiled and nodded, sighing in satisfaction. The Southlands were now safe, east to west and north to south.

The great dream was starting to come true.


Author's Notes: Another long chapter, not just painted red with gore but hopefully character and plot development. I ultimately decided to allow Valamir to live, if for no other reason than tragic deaths are plentiful in this type of fanfiction and I might have use for him down the road, an unusual tool to work with if the situation warranted.

Yes, Shang Xiang and Fu Chin Ran had sex in this chapter, just like Da and Ce did just two chapters ago. Per the request of many people, some through private message and others in their reviews, I have added a little more spice to the fic, although I have no intention whatsoever of lemonizing it. If you want lemons, you can go read my work on , that should keep you going.

Shang Xiang continues to be a fascinating character to develop, because she can kick so much butt and yet I never have to worry about her being too strong, like Ce was starting to be. In many senses she is much more manageable, without requiring the effort of making her interesting, like Quan.

And while I did hint at Fu Chin Ran's girls being somewhat taken with their yellow-haired barbarian counterparts, I have no real intention of pursuing that particular avenue; I have enough plots going on as it is. I am just this side of a Gore Verbinsky film for plots, minus the computer effects and sexually ambiguous pirates.

Well, the next chapter won't write itself, so I must away. Have yourselves a pleasant day.

I'm a poet and I don't know it.

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