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.

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 52- Battle Lines Are Drawn

Sun Ce sat on his throne, pondering the reports that had come to him from around the realm, most of it not to his liking- Cao Cao Mengde, the Prime Minister of the Han, was continuing to make great strides forward with unifying the northern reaches of the empire under his banner, including the populous central plains. Most lords had dutifully capitulated to him while those who resisted were being inexorably ground into nothing under his iron boot. Even the sage Kong Rong had submitted to him while what was left of Yuan Shao's lands and armies were being swallowed up relentlessly.

Yuan Shao, though Ce had not liked the man or agreed with his policy for rule, had been the north's last and best chance to stand against the Prime Minister; and amongst the scrolls he had just read, Ce now knew that the eldest Yuan was dying, devoid of the will to live because of his humiliating defeats at the hands of the upstart usurper Cao Cao. Nothing now could stand against the man who was touted as the 'Hero of Chaos'.

Many warriors and generals of renown were flocking to Cao Cao's banner, men such as Xu Huang and Zhang He, to name but two. Additionally, he was supported by his kinsmen- the ruthless Xiahou Dun, cunning Xiahou Yuan, the steadfast Cao Ren and his own son, Pi, who was famed as a man of arrogance but also brilliant and ambitious, like his father, the Prime Minister.

About the only good news Ce had read from the north was that Guan Yu, who he personally held to be one of the five mightiest warriors in the entire realm, had left Cao Cao's service after the Guan Du campaign and was now searching for his sworn brothers, Liu Bei and Zhang Fei. Guan Yu had slain several of Cao Cao's generals in his bid to flee the north and the Prime Minister did not take the loss of these men lightly. He pursued Liu Bei now, hunting him like a wild animal. He clearly perceived a threat in the Scion of the Han, who was beloved by the common people anywhere he went.

True, Cao Cao also saw the threat of Sun Ce, but was not ready or able to take on the Southlands just yet, not without horrendous casualties he could not readily recover from if anyone else chose to rise against him. Liu Bei was an easier target, fleeing from place to place, to whichever lord would shelter him.

Ce saw in Liu Bei an ally, someone who opposed Cao Cao and could be relied upon to fight against any odds in the name of his beliefs. Liu Bei lacked the means to accomplish this, however, since he could never stay in one place long enough to plant himself and let his armies and ideals flourish. But the man called Xuande was not without hope, for men were even now flocking to him in spite of the increasing odds, men of virtue and valour, renowned for their skill in arms. Alongside Guan Yu and Zhang Fei stood now men such as Zhao Yun, a fearless warrior called the 'Dragon of Changshan'; a wizened commander and general named Huang Zhong, who skill with a bow and tenacity in battle was legendary, and another named Wei Yan, a terrifying berserker whose ferocity could fell even the stoutest enemy.

There was also rumour of another entering Liu Bei's service, though it was only rumour- conjecture about a sage who had come from his recluse in the remotest of hilly lands, drawn to Liu Bei with his clarion call to virtue. This sage was said to know great truths, to be so subtle of intellect and hand that immortals envied him and lauded his actions. His name was Zhuge Liang.

Sun Ce hoped it would be enough.

Zhou Yu the other commanders examined the vast map that lay before them now, examining the various icons arranged around the image of the Middle Kingdom, representing army groups, centers of industry and farming, fortifications and academies. They pondered the disparity in the icons designated as Cao Cao's forces, which were blue, compared to their own, shaded red, along with various other lords, who were imperial yellow or white.

There were so many blue icons.

Huang Gai sighed. "At least we maintain clear naval superiority," he said, tapping on the map's coast, which clearly indicated more red than blue pieces. "Even if, Heavens forbid, Cao Cao began to build up a massive fleet and outnumbered us, we would still triumph because of our superlative skill."

"We cannot rely on that to be a defensive edge forever, though," Zhou Yu said softly, still pondering the map. "If our fleets are to mean anything, we must use them aggressively, doing everything we can to upset Cao Cao's stranglehold on the north and its industry."

"What worries me is the Southwest, my lord," Ling Tong said, pointing to the lands beyond the river that delineated his own. "If Cao Cao somehow manages to seize the Riverlands around Chengdu and Sichuan, he will have access to the enormous foodstuffs the region is capable of producing, not to mention he will have us hemmed in from the north and west."

"I know," Zhou Yu murmured, acutely aware of the dangers presented by the Riverlands. "I do not think we can yet take or hold them, we are still spread too thin. Maybe in a few years were could, assuming that our plans for production and growth move forward unhindered, but not now."

"Fortunately Cao Cao does not yet have the military strength to hold it either," Lu Xun noted. "He is wasting his time chasing Liu Bei, finishing off the Yuans and any other lords who oppose him and the Xiongnu continue their incursions across the Great Wall, forcing him to turn some of his forces to his northern borders."

"Lu Xun is correct in his assessment," Lu Meng said, nodding. "We may feel cornered, but the truth of the matter is that Cao Cao is surrounded by enemies, even if his forces are the largest. We have secured all our borders, including the south, where Lady Shang Xiang has forced the capitulation of the Shanyue and even persuaded them to trade with us."

Zhou Yu agreed. "We must not think in terms of defending ourselves but taking the fight to Cao Cao, besieging him from all sides. If we can bring these disparate elements together, with the common goal of the Prime Minister's obliteration, we can do this. But we must not shirk from our resolve to see this through. It will not be easy and it will come at great cost of lives and materiel."

Huang Gai snorted and scowled at the map. "Since when does a warrior of the Southlands shirk from the spectre of death or the promise of combat? We are the mightiest warriors in the land, Cao Cao's numbers be damned."

The assembly bowed as Sun Ce entered the room. He stood at the table they were gathered around and he examined it, taking in all the details swiftly and with an understanding that only Zhou Yu could as yet match. In spite of the odds he grinned at them all.

"Looks like we've got our work cut out for us, eh?" he quipped and they all chuckled, heartened by his cheerful acceptance of the challenge that lay before them now. He set his hands on his hips and nodded.

"Alright," he began, getting down to business. "Zhou Yu, how are our plans coming along for increasing production of food, weapons and warships?"

Zhou Yu bowed his head. "Not as quickly as I would like, but we are ahead of the schedule you and I set. I am expecting an overall increase in foodstuffs of just over thirteen percent by year's end, along with a quadrupling of iron production, leading to a doubling in steel output. Concerning ships, we have thirty-eight capital ships slated for completion by the end of this season, approximately three hundred and sixty escort vessels, most of which have a shallow enough draft to make their way along the inland rivers and canals."

"That's a good start, we'd better get to usin' 'em," Ce said, pleased with the report. "What about the iron and steel?"

"With the new steel we can outfit another heavy cavalry regiment, two infantry regiments, seven archer brigades and six chariot companies." Lu Meng reported. "The intent, of course, is to deploy the new troops along the north in the new fortifications we are reinforcing our borders with. We still have three corps in reserve, my lord, those being General Huang Gai's, Lord Zhou Yu's and your own."

"We can hold our borders but we're not attackin' yet..." Ce muttered, examining the map. Zhou Yu saw his lord's eyes stray to the Riverlands before he looked up at Elryk and grinned.

"Think you could hold that territory on your own, big guy?"

The giant Teutonic warrior grimaced and refused to answer, staring instead at the tiny dot that represented his home of Erli-tou.

Taishi Ci folded his arms and scowled. "If we intend to diminish the Prime Minister, we have to start taking his lands from him. What can we realistically do about that?"

Ce and Zhou Yu both saw the answer immediately and pointed to it.

"He Fei," the strategist said in his soft tenor. "We must take it from Cao Cao before long, since he has just wrested control of it from the Yuans. If we were to conquer it, we could use it as a stable staging area for our campaigns into the north, since the people who live there are related to the Southlands by virtue of culture and dialect. They even speak a branch of the Wu tongue. They will no doubt see Sun Ce as a liberator and kinsman."

"Yeah, now all we need is to figure out how to take Hanzhong from Cao Cao," Ce observed, looking at the map's western regions, bordering the Barrier Mountains. "If He Fei and Hanzhong were held against him, we could pincer him from his east and west."

"But Hanzhong is too far away for us to take," Ling Tong pointed out. "We cannot adequately hold the Riverlands, so Hanzhong is certainly outside our reach at this moment."

"Isn't the Imperial Family originally from Hanzhong?" Elryk asked.

Everyone looked at the German chieftain in astonishment. He coughed and blushed a little.

"Lap and Khun have been teaching me about the history of your realm."

Ce laughed. "Zhou Yu, do we know anyone whose family might have come from Hanzhong?"

Zhou Yu smiled. "Oddly enough, I just might have someone in mind..."

They rode through the night as quickly as they could, word having been sent ahead to the farthest borders of the Southlands realm that fresh horses would be necessary on a moment's notice. They were not many but the urgency of the mission would brook no delay. Three hundred fleet steeds carried the warriors into the night, carrying banners that clearly indicated they were not to be stopped under any circumstances.

"Ce, I really think you should not have come along," Zhou Yu called out as he kept pace with his sworn brother. "Do you consider your presence necessary?"

"Hell yes!" Ce said emphatically, snapping the reins of the horse. "If we're gonna convince Liu Bei to act with our plan, I'm willin' to bet that I'm the only person who can do it. Assumin' he really is related to the Imperial Ancestor, I should be the one to spring this on him!"

"And if he is not?" Zhou Yu queried.

"Then it wouldn't be the first time I've had tea with a sandal weaver!" Ce replied. "This has gotta work, no matter what!"

"On that we both agree." Zhou Yu concurred.

They were racing northwest as quickly as their horses could carry them, changing off at relay posts interspersed along the highway system they had developed. Sun Ce had received intelligence that Liu Bei was fleeing for his life, followed by an army of no less than a million of Cao Cao's troops. The Prime Minister was determined to finish the Scion of the Han off once and for all, before he slipped through his grasp again. The problem was that Liu Bei kept gathering people to his banner, tens of thousands of peasants who revered him and would not leave his side. They slowed his flight down immensely and he would not abandon them to their fate at the hands of the Prime Minister's merciless troops.

More than that, Cao Cao himself was apparently heading the effort to apprehend Liu Bei as he fled south. If Ce could help Liu Bei escape against those odds, it also stood to reason that he might be able to defeat and kill the Prime Minister, ending the threat of Cao Cao once and for all.

He just had to get there on time.

Sun Ce rode now with Zhou Yu, Lu Xun and a few squads each of the Night Tigers, Swordwind and Warhawks. There was no need for many of them, just enough to assist Liu Bei in his escape and convince him to join their cause and plan of action. They had been riding almost non-stop for days now, desperate to reach Lord Liu before Cao Cao did.

"Word is that Liu Bei has entered Fancheng and is catching his breath there before continuing on his road," Zhou Yu said loud enough for Ce to hear him. "He is being followed by nearly a hundred thousand common folk and they are hindering him rather severely. If my calculations are correct, Cao Cao should catch him by the time Liu Bei has crossed to Xiangyang."

"He's heading for Jiangling from the sounds of it!" Ce replied, urging his mount to ride harder. "Close enough to our holdings in Jing that maybe we can convince him to stay there and help us against Mengde."

"I must admit I still share Lord Zhou Yu's ambivalence about this possibility, sire," Lu Xun said respectfully, somehow finding the time to clasp his fist and bow while at a full gallop. "Assuming he agrees to join us at all, he is not exactly a stellar general, yes? True, he has men such as Guan Yu and Zhang Fei at his side, but even with all their assembled troops they would form little more than another corps."

"I know," Ce agreed, pursing his lips and considering alternatives. "Liu Bei's strength is his vision and nurturing habit. He could grow a realm very quickly if he were to have a place to stay in peace."

"But therein is the quandary, sire," Lu Xun continued. "We do not necessarily want yet another powerful lord to contend with once Cao Cao is defeated, even one as benevolent as Liu Bei."

"It ain't an issue if Cao Cao catches his and puts his head in a box," Ce pointed out. "Whatever else we may decide on, he's gotta survive to see the next moon and that ain't gonna happen if we don't hurry!"

"On that we agree," Zhou Yu said. "I have ordered Lu Meng to move across the Great River and threaten Cao Cao's forces in He Fei while your brother Quan has agreed to use our naval forces on the coast to also divide his attention."

"Tell them not to get too greedy," Ce called. "The idea is to distract Cao Cao while we find Liu Bei, not to cost ourselves men in a pitched fight, not yet! Who is holding He Fei?"

"Our sources say it is Cao Ren." Lu Xun declared, confident of his information.

"He won't commit to a battle if Lu Meng is just skirting him," Ce reckoned. "He's too cautious and prefers to fight defensively. Send word to Lu Meng to try and cause enough of a fuss that Cao Ren feels the need to call for reinforcements, maybe we can draw some of Cao Cao's army off of Liu Bei."

Ce thought about the jeopardy they would find themselves in once they left Jing- true, Lu Meng had taken over twenty thousand men with him to harass the Prime Minister's forces in He Fei and Ce did not doubt that his most stalwart general could cause enough of a ruckus to make it seem like a hundred thousand men had come, but even if Cao Cao sent a like number away from his main force and marched them east to help Cao Ren, that still left possibly as many as nine hundred thousand men to contend with once they found Liu Bei. The odds wouldn't really have changed all that much.

They weren't here to fight, they were on a mission to assist Liu Bei in escaping from the clutches of the Prime Minister. Perhaps if disaster were not so close at hand and if he had been given the luxury of time to organize such an expedition, Ce might have been able to march in force and perhaps fight a pitched battle against the northern hordes, but this was not the case. He had maybe fifty thousand men in their territories in Jing, but he could not spare these troops to save Liu Bei. No, this would have to be accomplished through speed and the blessings of Heaven.

A outrider pulled in alongside the force, speaking with Zhou Yu before peeling off again into the night. Zhou Yu looked grim as he spoke.

"It sounds like Lord Liu Bei's forces are getting spread out," he commented. Apparently Zhang Fei and Zhou Yun are holding the rear of a rather long and ragged column, keeping Cao Cao at bay while Guan Yu had taken a fleet down the Han River and is planning to meet Liu Bei at Hanjin, allowing him to cross safely."

Ce considered the geography of the area the Scion of the Han was now negotiating and what their best course of action might be. The area was threaded with rivers, meaning that if Liu Bei could hold the bridges while his forces crossed...

"Changban!" he shouted triumphantly, anticipating what Liu Bei would do. "If he heads for Changban, there is only one major bridge that he needs to defend. After that, he can meet up with Guan Yu anywhere along the river and head for Hanjin!"

"Ce, I know where you're going with this, but do you really think we should divide our little force so readily?" Zhou Yu questioned.

"Not much of a choice, pal, this isn't about numbers." Ce concluded, playing out in his mind what needed to be done. "Lu Xun, you're gonna take the Thunderhawks and assist Liu Bei's rearguard however you can! We want to make sure the commoners following him are kept safe as possible! Zhou Yu, go to Hanjin and make sure they're waiting for him! I'm headin' to find Liu Bei! Go!"

No matter how much they might have wanted to protest, both Lu Xun and Zhou Yu knew there was no point in arguing, Sun Ce's mind was made up. They had trusted to his intuition before and he had never led them astray. They both bowed and lead their battle groups away, speeding toward their targets.

"It's now'r never!" Ce called out to the Night tigers following him. "Liu Bei needs our help an' the Sun family never lets down a friend! Let's go!"

His men shouted into the night and spurred their horses to keep up.

Despair tugged at his heart. When would all this running end? How many trials would he have to endure in order to prove the worthiness of his cause? Was virtue not self-evident? Should any who tried to maintain such a creed not be given the support of the Heavens?

He would not falter. Behind him, strung out for many li, he could sense the common folk who were counting on him, who believed in him and his vision of a future that saw them all shaped by conscientious thought and a love of virtue. This dream of a land that worshipped the words of the Great Sage of All Time would only become reality if he endured all hardships and stuck to his path. He must not relent.

His muscles ached from the endless riding and fleeing, the constant skirmishing and counter-attacking against the troops that harried them. Less than a day ago he had been thrashed soundly at a salient he attempted to hold but found himself driven back by Xiahou Dun, Cao Cao cousin, a man rumoured to be without humour or mercy. Not only had Liu Bei lost over three hundred good soldiers, thousands of common people had died when they were overtaken by Xiahou Dun, who killed them for daring to support Liu Bei. Enraged but unable to help, Liu Bei had fled the battle, meeting up with his new advisor, Zhuge Liang, who had shown him little known paths through the countryside, allowing the Scion of the Han to once again evade capture.

He was reasonably certain they had shaken off immediate pursuit, at least for now, and he walked his weary mount at a casual pace, allowing those in his train to slacken their march somewhat and catch their breath. The murmur of hundreds, the sing-song accents of the peasantry, along with the groan and creak of countless rickety cards filled the air. He blocked the noise from his mind and breathed deeply, envisioning his perfect kingdom, bright and glorious as the sun. Surely all who embraced reason would see the reason and logic in his ambitions and support him once he had established himself?

The squalling of a cranky child dragged him back to reality and he sighed. He pulled forth one of the twin blades he wielded and noted with dissatisfaction that the blade was notched. If they reached Xiakou as planned, he would need to get that repaired.

He scowled as he considered the condition of his blade- it was made from the same great lump of iron and steel that Guan Yu's Green Dragon and Zhang Fei's Viper Spear were made from. So why was it that his brothers' weapons, which saw infinitely more combat than his swords, always emerged from battle with nary a scratch but his blades were always in need of attention? What was fair about that?

Horns sounded suddenly and people cried in fright. Though weary and hardly recovered from his last engagement, Liu Bei wheeled about and charged toward the clarion call, beckoning any available soldiers to come with him. He stampeded past peasants who were grabbing their belongings and surging forward, desperate to escape the troops that were poised to attack.

Cao Cao's cavaliers had barely broken from the tree line before Liu Bei and his men were on them, attacking savagely. The Scion of the Han's blades whirled and struck as he pressed into the fray, determined to give the peasants time to flee the scene. Surprised by his assault the northern troops were stayed momentarily, attempting to push out into the plains that the refugees were marching through. Their commander was at the back of the formation and had yet to engage.

Liu Bei's heart pounded as he heard the shouts of peasant men, charging into the battle with their pitchforks and wood-cutting axes, determined to help their lord and desperate to protect their families. However valiant the act, they would certainly be slaughtered if they stayed.

"No!" he shouted angrily as he fought with a spearman, his blades tangled up with the long lance of his foe. "You must get away! Run! Don't you understand that if you do not escape than everything I am fighting for is lost?"

The men did not heed his warning if they heard it and predictably they died in droves. Tears burned his eyes as he slew his foe and then set upon another. He was thrown as his mount was struck from beneath him but he surged up quickly and attacked again, knowing that Cao Cao would try to capture him and that he could not run as long as his foes remained mounted. He dodged a spear thrust and grabbed hold of the long lance shaft, throwing the rider from his steed before whirling about to plunge the spearhead through the breastplate of another foe. He yanked the weapon back violently and spun it about in a wide arc, making sure that the enemy trying to surround him kept their distance.

A horn sounded and the commander of the enemy force arrived, riding hard, bearing down on Liu Bei. The Han lord flung the spear as hard as he could, causing his intended target to duck wildly and giving him long enough to once again brandish his twin swords. He struck at the legs of the commander's horse as it passed, severing the right front limb just above the knee and sending the man hurtling out of his saddle to land in a crumpled heap, his neck snapped by the impact.

The enemy surged in again, now that Liu Bei was deprived of his long spear. He fought like a madman, ignoring the screaming of his muscles and the dreadful pounding of his heart as he fought to stay alive. He whirled the blades abut in a complex pattern before himself, tangling up the blades of several foes before shouting loudly and bursting through the ring, knocking several men back. He had opened a window of respite for himself and he knew to take it. Countless hours of sparring with Guan Yu had taught him that much.

He barely dodged the strike of a foe on horseback as the man galloped by, but the steed's great flank struck him and sent him sprawling. Stunned for a moment, he scrabbled for his weapons, his vision somewhat blurry and the noises around him indistinct. He resisted the urge to vomit...

"Lord Liu!" shouted a familiar voice and he turned his head to see who was calling to him- he was relieved to see that help had arrived, in the form of his god children, Guan Ping and Xing Xai, son of Guan Yu and daughter of Zhang Fei. Ping charged into the fray, swinging his huge Young Dragon blade in great, scything arcs, falling men and horses alike, anyone unfortunate enough to come within range of the massive blade. Xing Cai, holding her shield in front of herself and carrying her two-tined war fork, dashed in toward the closest foe and ducked, skidding beneath his strike and smashing into him, flipping the man over her shiled and dumping him on his skull. She then whirled gracefully and spear another foe through the throat with her keen-tipped pike.

The young warriors had brought troops with them, maybe fifty or so and the defenders, still mostly on horseback, found themselves hard-pressed by determined infantry and they had never managed to effectively clear the trees. Liu Bei lurched back to his feet, found his weapons and pressed the attack, heartened by the appearance of reinforcements. Horns sounded soon after and the remaining northerners retreated hastily back into the forest.

Liu Bei leant panting on his sword while Guan Ping and Xing Cai approached him, both bowing hastily and escorting him for the trees wilfully.

"Please sire, you must be more careful,' Ping chided. "Our hopes, prayers and dreams are all pinned on your continued survival!"

"What does it matter if I cannot defend my people?" Liu Bei said angrily. "Must I always rely on the puissance of others to make sure my ambitions are fulfilled?"

"Lord Liu Bei, you needn't be the greatest warrior in the land, that is not what the people desire," Xing Cai said in her lilting voice. "What they need is your vision and your leadership, your willingness to see the hard times through and bring about your land of virtue."

Liu Bei swatted at the grass with one of his blades, obviously frustrated. "How can the people look up to a men who cannot protect them?"

"Who says you did not?" Guan Ping pointed out. "You think they were not heartened and inspired to see you charge in to attack a numerically superior foe just now, with no thought to your own safety? Do you think they will judge you because you cannot rout Cao Cao's forces entirely on your own?"

Liu Bei sat down wearily and rubbed his temples, clearly needing a moment to compose himself. "It is always like this..." he sighed. "Always on the run, always disorganized. We never have time to rest and plan and regroup. Even now we are spread out in a ragged caravan, Heavens only knows how many li long and I have no idea where my son Shan, my two daughters and my wife Lady Mi are. It is said that Cao Cao has already overtaken them and they are now his prisoners."

Guan Ping's eyes flashed and he knelt before Liu Bei, bowing his head. "Say the word, my lord, and I shall smash right through the Prime Minister's army and retrieve them for you. Nothing shall stay my blade!"

"Ping, do not be rash," Xing Cai said hastily. "We cannot-"

"What good is the life of a warrior and servant if he is of no use to his lord?" Ping replied, cutting her off. "Do you think these numbers would stay my father or yours from performing such a duty if it was assigned to them?"

"It would not," answered a soft voice coming up from the road. "But you, my dear boy, are not your father, any more than Xing Cai is Zhang Fei."

Liu Bei, Guan Ping and Xing Cai all looked as Zhuge Liang, the hidden scholar known as Kongming approached, holding his characteristic white-feathered fan in front of himself, his serene eyes betraying nothing. Ping and Cai both nodded in respect while Liu Bei rose, eager for counsel.

"It is true, maybe Lord Guan or General Zhang could pierce through such a mighty army and rescue lord Liu's wife and child, but they are not here. General Yide is already guarding the rear, holding off the Prime Minister while Yunchang is sailing the fleet to meet us. We must not lament about what cannot be."

He put a gentle hand on Liu Bei's shoulder and nodded slowly. "Trust to your servants to do what they can and trust to the Heavens for what is right. That being said, all that remains is for you, my lord, to do what comes naturally to you and lead us all on your path, for no one else can."

Liu Bei nodded in response and the glint of determination returned to his eyes.

"Fear not, Lord Liu," Kongming said in an assuring tone. "Help will arrive, aid we do not even look for. We move to Liu Biao's family in northern Jing and they have agreed to succour us against the tyranny of Cao Cao while we rest and regroup."

"But Jing and Liu Biao are hardly up to the challenge," Liu Bei muttered. "The war with the Sun family decimated their army and cut their lands by nearly two thirds. What hope do they have of staving off an army of a million?"

"They are your kin, descendants of the King of Hanzhong, like yourself." Kongming replied easily. "Blood is thicker than Cao Cao's treachery and deeper than the endless ranks of his army. The Great Sage taught us that filial piety is the greatest strength one can rely on... like you and your sworn brothers."

Liu Bei nodded and summoned a servant. The man approached hastily and bowed.

"There is a three thousand man detachment near the front of the army, good, sturdy men from Yan," he instructed. "I want them moved to the middle of the column to help protect the refugees while my five hundred men and I will move to the front to set the pace the army must move at. Go!"

The man ran off and Kongming nodded in approval. "The people cannot see you lead if you are not at the front."

"Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun hold the rear, that will keep Cao Cao busy," Liu Bei agreed. "I want Huang Zhong here in the center, he is gruff but kindly and afraid of nothing. Any further surprise attacks would not faze him. Ping and Xing Cai, you will come with Kongming and I to the front of the column. I will have need of you there."

"There is just one more thing, my lord," Kongming interjected, fluttering his fan. "It would appear that Zhao Yun is no longer at the rear of the column. He seems to have gone missing."

Liu Bei's eyes widened. "What? Zhao Yun is gone? Captured? Killed?"

"We know not," Kongming admitted. "He is simply not with us."

"Did he surrender? Is he a traitor to us?" Ping asked, his eyes blazing wrathfully.

"It is a possibility to consider, but it seems unlike the young general," Zhuge Liang postulated. "For now, he is just... missing."

"Well this is just a day for unexpected delights and happenings, isn't it?" Liu Bei said, scowling.

"Changban Bridge." Lu Xun said quietly, from his concealed position nearby on a hill covered in trees. He gestured for his men to remain hidden while they observed the area below. The road came to a single, sturdy stone bridge, which passed over a great gorge at the bottom of which was a tributary of the river Han. The bridge was wide enough for five chariots to cross side-by-side and strong enough to support the weight of an army. If it was true that Cao Cao's army was coming here, it would not take them long to cross, in spite of their dizzying numbers.

What would hold them up, however, was the man waiting in the center of the span, a long figure who stood defiantly facing north, his eyes flashing and his huge Viper Spear held easily in one massive hand.

"That is General Zhang Fei, shi?" one of Lu Xun's soldiers whispered as they watched. The twenty man rearguard Yide seemed to command waited patiently on the southern side of the bridge. Apparently they knew better than to get in his way.

"That it is," Lu Xun replied, nodding. "And it would appear that he is preparing to deal with Cao Cao's army himself."

"That is suicide," the men said incredulously. "Who could hope to do such a thing?"

"Not you or I, perhaps," Lu Xun agreed. "But what of Lord Sun Ce?"

"That is different..." the man said somewhat humbly, cowed at the mention of the mighty warlord's name. "Could there possibly be men of the same mettle here in the world at the same time?"

"Lord Sun believes so," the young officer said almost absently, noticing the unmistakeable tremor in the ground of a large army approaching. "We are certainly about to find out."

"Should we not aid the general?" asked another. "He would make a formidable ally."

"Stay put for now, Lu Xun warned. "He might not appreciate the interference."

They watched and before long, Cao Cao's army had appeared. The land did not favour them, being all gorges, defiles, ravines and hills, meaning that the army's movement was hemmed along the road.

Be that as it may, there were still a lot of them. Countless soldiers and their banners were approaching. The forward officers in the army saw the bridge and blared their horns, ordering the charge. In order to catch Liu Bei, the bridge had to be taken intact. It would take too long to go around, Liu Bei would be long gone by then.

On charged the vanguard infantry, determined to run over the lone man standing in the middle of the bridge.

Lu Xun watched in fascination. Zhang Fei barely seemed to move but he could see the massive warrior's body tensing, his eyes flashing with an unreal ferocity, his knuckles whitening on the grip of his spear...

Zhang Fei let forth a terrible warcry, one that pierced Liu Xun to his core and echoed through the endless hills. So loud and frightening was the shout that an officer leading the charge turned pale and collapsed from off his horse, even as the creature carried him forward. He was dead before he touched the bridge.

Zhang Fei sprang forward and swiped his titanic spear in a great arc before himself, sending men flying backwards from the sheer force of the blow or bisecting them instantly. The general's eyes were wild as he leapt on the northerners like a predator, keen on his prey. Using his body's great mass, he bulled his way through the closest troops, whirling about, his spear cutting down any unfortunate enough to be within reach.

Restricted by the confines of the bridge, hundreds of men fell swiftly and Zhang Fei pressed forward, undeterred by their numbers. His inhuman strength was too much for them and they died in droves beneath his wide-bladed spear. He pinned one man to the end of his weapon with a vicious thrust and spun in a circle, holding the weapon out and battering away all within reach. With a savage fling he sent the skewered man sailing into his comrades, knocking down several more.

A spearman tried to race by him and gain the other side of the bridge. Zhang Fei punched him so hard that he sailed over the sides of the bridge and plummeted into the gorge below. His scream of terror echoed along the walls as the Han took him.

Standing now at the northern edge of the span, surrounded by endless corpses, Zhang Fei planted his feet and slammed the butt of his spear against the ground, his murderous glare sweeping over the massive army that opposed him. Those remaining dared not approach, seeing what had happened to the vanguard. They stood their ground, weapons levelled, but came no closer.

"Come on, if you're ready to meet your death!" Zhang Fei bellowed, spinning his spear about himself. Cao Cao's troops were terrified by what they saw- every muscle and tendon in the huge warrior's body was tensed, the veins in his neck bulging and his eyes shining with a dreadful battle lust. His spear and his armour were covered in blood. The bodies of those he had come to blows with left no doubt as to what would happen if any approached, for there were no wounded to be seen. Only the dead.

"Come on!" he raged, barely able to restrain himself. "Zhang Fei of Yan welcomes you to taste his blade!"

From a small hill somewhere back of the action, a small group of regally-dressed and armoured horsemen observed what transpired at the bridge. Cao Cao frowned as he considered what was happening.

"I understand, Prime minister, that it is General Zhang Fei," an officer protested. "But even so, he is just one man. Even someone such as he cannot stand forever against the strength of our entire army. And time is of the essence, we must take this bridge."

"Do not underestimate Zhang Fei," Cao Cao said in his grim tone. "He is a warrior with few equals and he has the strength of ten thousand. I would be hesitant to trust even my own bodyguard Xu Zhu to deal with him, and there are none stronger than that."

"Let us move our crossbowmen forward then," the officer urged. "Even Zhang Fei cannot survive the hail of darts we will pierce him with. We will darken the sky with our arrows. Please, sire!"

Cao Cao was silent as he surveyed the scene. His entire army was being held up by one man. Was this even possible? Could Zhang Fei be so absurdly overconfident as to try and hold the bridge alone against a million men?

What is it that I am missing here?

He grimaced as another regiment of his swordsmen surged forward, determined to overrun the lone warrior and capture the bridge. He turned away in disgust as they all died, their cries of pain and terror echoing loudly and sweeping fear through his army.

"We cannot gain this bridge," he announced firmly. "What we see here is just a ploy, to lure us into disaster. One man cannot hold a bridge and that means there are more troops here than we know of. We must find another way around. Keep a detachment here to watch the bridge but the rest of the army must move with all speed toward Hanjin. That is where Liu Bei will alter his course and make for now, to link up with Liu Biao. Go!"

"But sire!" protested the officer. "We must-"

Cao Cao's blade flashed through the air and the man's head flew from his body. The other officers all sat still on their mounts while Cao Cao glared at them. "Let us not have any disagreement, disagreement will only lead to disaster, understood? Now move out!"

There officers hastened to their posts without further demur.

"General Zhang Fei, I am Lu Xun, commander of the Warhawks regiment and officer of Lord Sun Ce of the Southlands," Lu Xun said, clasping his fist in his hand and bowing his head. "At Lord Sun's behest we are come to aid you."

"Aid me?" Zhang Fei asked, his eyebrow raised. "You only brought a hundred horsemen and you're a little late."

"Your stand against Cao Cao was magnificent, general, and it will no doubt be sung of for ages to come, but that is for another day to discuss." Lu Xun said deferentially. "This bridge must be destroyed."

Zhang Fei snorted. "Best of luck to you, because I have nothing with which to do that."

"Perhaps my Firehawks and I can help," suggested the commander. Next to Zhang Fei's great bulk, he looked like a stunted sapling, but he did not let this fact intimidate him. He gestured for ten of his warriors to come forward. They wore the standard uniform of any Warhawks company but their tunics were emblazoned with stylised flames and subtle prayers to the god of fire. With them they brought dozens of small crates or boxes, along with lengths of hemp rope.

Zhang Fei and his cavaliers watched in fascination as Lu Xun and his warriors prepared the incendiary devices, which he had learned to make from old general Huang Gai. They carefully attached the rice paper fuses to the satchels and made sure they explosive material was ready.

"There we go," Lu Xun said with satisfaction, examining their work. "Ten ought to do it."

"You made thirty." Zhang Fei pointed out.

"True, general, but some may fail and I need at least ten to disable the bridge in any meaningful capacity. This technology is from foreign lands, albeit the delivery method is known to use thanks to General Huang Gai."

Lu Xun directed his men to plant the charges along the underside of the bridge at various points, urging haste but not at the cost of diligence or accuracy. Zhang Fei, knowing they were still being observed, took up his position on the northern side of the bridge, daring anyone watching to come closer. His men were waiting wither their crossbows at the ready.

Less than an hour later, Lu Xun and the Firehawks came out from beneath the bridge and beckoned Zhang Fei back to the southern side of the span. The rest of the group stood back while Lu Xun affixed a long twine of flammable material to the linked bombs beneath the bridge. Once like, he scuttled away and mounted his horse, instructing everyone back another thirty paces.

"If the enemy charges the bridge now and those damn things don't go off, we'll have lost everything we fought for." Zhang Fei growled.

"They will go off, general," Lu Xun said simply. "And Cao Cao's army is already trying to head around to Hanjin, what remains of his army here is merely to observe us. Once the bridge is gone, they will leave too."

Seconds later there was a thunderous noise and the bridge disappeared in a great plume of fire. They men turned and raced backward as bits of masonry and even entire blocks of stone rained down in the vicinity. When the fire and smoke had cleared, the proud and beautiful bridge was no more. Zhang Fein grunted in satisfaction.

"Not bad, kid," he said, nodding. "Now I can catch up with brother Bei and tell him that the rear is secure. Can't believe I lost track of Zhao Yun, though. Wonder where that little twerp got off to."

"My men and I will search for General Zhao Yun, you return to Lord Liu Bei," Lu xun said. "Cao Cao's army is still a terrible threat and he will no doubt construct pontoon bridges to try and cross the Han, cutting off your lord. If General Guan's fleet does not get there on time, it-"

"How the hell do you know so much about what we're doing, kid?" Zhang Fei demanded, looking at Lu Xun pointedly.

"Sun Ce has kept a close eye on Lord Liu, general, and we do not know anything Cao Cao already doesn't." Lu Xun pointed out. "We are here to help, because only our two lords stand between Cao Cao and his domination of the entire realm. Please consider my words, general, time is of the essence."

Zhang Fei scowled but nodded. "Alright kid. Find Zhao Yun in one piece or you've got me to answer to. We'll see you in Hanjin!"

And with that, the mighty warrior galloped off. Lu Xun sighed and shook his head. "Come," he said finally. "We will rest and then head around west before moving toward Fancheng. If Zhao Yun has done what I think he has, he will be deep in the heart of the enemy army. Let us pray we are on time."

They rode off to the cover of trees, looking forward to some respite before another day's hard riding.

Zhou Yu's ride of Hanjin had been swift, with his heralds and outriders having barely enough time to approach the city and announce him before he arrived. Liu Cong, son of the ailing Liu Biao, welcomed the renowned southern strategist and diplomat hastily, knowing that they were all feeling the press of time with Cao Cao bearing down on Jing.

Zhou Yu remained unflappable and calm while the palace about him, if the place could really be called a palace, was abuzz with activity. Liu cong looked somewhat concerned at the appearance of Zhou Yu and his entourage.

"You come to speak of defending ourselves against the invaders from the north but you bring only a hundred men?" he queried. "I admire the martial spirit of the Wu territories, lord, but surely your soldiers are not so good that a hundred may fend off a million."

"If that were true, then Cao Cao's threat and even that of Dong Zhuo would never have come to the fore." Zhou Yu pointed out. "No, my lord, we are here as messengers and guides, not to repel the Prime Minister's armies by ourselves."

"You will pardon my brusqueness if I infer that my people would find keen spears brandished on their behalf more consoling than sweet words right now." Liu Cong said tersely.

"The Southlands already is moving against Cao Cao in the east, distracting his forces there and dividing his attention." Zhou Yu replied. "We must get Lord Liu to safety here in Jing, where you can succour him while he plans his next move. I know our people have been at war recently, but your own father called for peace and alliance between us. We of Baifu are honouring that pledge as quickly and best we may."

"Forgive my words, lord, I spoke too harshly," Liu Cong said, knowing it was hardly the time to antagonize the mighty nation to his south. "These are somewhat tense times for us, since it is well known that harbouring Liu Bei will make us a target of the Prime Minister."

"Doubtless, but whether you surrender now or later, you will still be his lapdogs unless you fight," Zhou Yu intoned in a conciliatory voice. "Those would wish to stand against him must unite, no other petty quarrels must divide us or we will all fall, one by one, and nothing will have been gained."

"But to stand against the Imperial Court..." the acting lord of Jing murmured.

"This is a stand against the tyranny of one of his offices, not the Imperial Liu family," Zhou Yu pointed out. "By virtue of that logic, Cao Cao should not raise his hand against Liu Bei, who is an official Scion of the house by decree of the Son of Heaven himself. No, this is a fight against Cao Cao, no whatever what seal or stamp he chooses to wield in the name of his ambitions. He can be defeated, Lord Liu, but we must take courage and stand fast."

"And Sun Ce will, without question, stand beside us if we oppose Mengde?" Liu cong asked warily.

Zhou Yu smiled. "Have you ever heard of the man called the Young Conqueror to turn down a fight, no matter what the odds?"

"Fair enough." Liu cong said, slapping his thighs. "Then Jing will stand with you. What must we do?"

"I would see to your borders," the Grand Strategist suggested. "Strengthen them, put your garrisons on alert and wait for Liu Bei. Ready foodstocks and supplies for the refugees that follow him, show them good will. Once he is within Jing it will be much more difficult for Cao Cao to act as he would. With our threat in his east, he might ever be compelled to back off, at least for a while."

"Should we not head out to find him?" Liu Cong queried.

"No," Zhou Yu said, shaking his head. "Let him come to Jing. If Liu Bei is meant to survive, then he will make it here by the will of the Heavens. Do not risk your own men in a fight with Cao Cao's massive army, you cannot win under such conditions."

"But what chance does Liu Bei have, then?" asked the lord of Jing.

"Fear not, the Wu territories are already doing what they can to aid him in safe flight..." Zhou Yu said softly, his eyes distant as he guessed at what would be happening right now.

"Yet another ambush! Cao Cao's troops are endless!" Guan Ping snarled as he whirled his massive blade about and then rested it on his shoulder, crouched in a low stance while making the bridge sign with his free hand. Nearly two full squads of spearmen opposed him now and they were determined to break through and into the heart of Liu Bei's vanguard, where the target of all this carnage could be found.

"That is war, we must fight hard!" Xing Cai replied as she deftly skipped over the strike of a swordsman before piercing his breast with her war-fork and then retreating back several steps while a large man carrying a halberd surged in. He swung the weapon and she deflected the blow with her shield before felling him.

"I hate halberdiers," she hissed as she moved back toward Ping so they could cover one another.

"I'll trade with you, then..." Ping said as he spun around her and lunged at the men who had been facing her while she charged into the surprised spearmen. The savage battle lasted not more than a minute before Cao Cao's troops retreated in panic, shocked by the determination of two young warriors. They surveyed the scene carefully before they moved back toward the van, checking to see how Liu Bei was faring.

To their relief the fighting had not reached his position, but they found him alert and vigilant as he rode, surrounded by his guards and accompanied by Zhuge Liang. He smiled when he saw them return.

"I thought I had heard fighting up ahead. Foiled another ambush, did you?" he asked.

"At least two more squads, maybe as much as a company, although they're probably retreating by now." Ping grumbled. "We cannot let y]our guard down for even a moment."

"A pity, because then your hair might actually relax." Xing Cai said, smirking and poking at Ping's short, spiky hair. The young warrior scowled and ignored her.

"I am pleased, but make sure you are careful, I cannot afford to lose two such talented warriors as yourself." Liu Bei said firmly. "Do not get in over your head. We are making good time and Cao Cao's men cannot keep appearing ahead of us."

"Are we heading for Hanjin, sire?" Cai asked.

"Yes, and the protection of Liu Biao, my distant cousin." Liu Bei said confidently, nodding. "Despite Cao Cao's threats, I am certain that filial piety will compel him succour us in this hour of need. It is the right and honourable thing to do."

"Please remember, my lord, that not all men are as eager to respond to the clarion call of virtue as yourself," Kongming interjected softly, riding alongside his liege. "Liu Biao, or more to the point, his son Liu Cong, will do what they can, but most men will bow before matters of expedience and practicality before pursuing a road known for its difficulties and intangible rewards."

"Liu Biao was one of the Jian An Seven, a scholar renowned for his love of virtue," Liu Bei replied emphatically. "He would most certainly have distilled into his sons the same devotion to what is right and proper. If a man cannot place his trust in fellow followers of the Great Sage, then who can be trusted?"

Xing Cai remained silent as she rode, but she failed to mention that her thoughts had turned to the eunuchs of the Imperial Court, all of whom had been thoroughly trained in the ways of Confucius before causing the downfall of the Han for the sake of their own ambitions and greed. She was wondering if Zhuge Liang was thinking the same thing.

Drums boomed and a cry went up as more of Cao Cao's troops poured out of the woods. There we hundreds of them and they charged straight at Liu Bei. His guards drew up in a tight circle about them while Guan Ping and Xing Cai ordered the counter-attack to fend them off. On Kongming's orders, they kept pressing forward, even though they ended up getting cut off from the rest of their caravan. Predictably, the Prime minister's troops ignored those left behind in favour of attacking Liu Bei relentlessly. The little band of fifty warriors fought desperately as they marched, heeding the strategist's orders.

The reason for the strange instructions became clear as an almost feral cry filled the air and several squads of Liu Bei's troops burst out of hiding and savagely attacked Cao Cao's men. Led by a hulking man wearing armour that seemed to be made out of bone and wearing the skull of some fell beast as a helmet, they tore into the northerners with a fury that was frightening to watch. The berserker general at their head wielded a double-headed glaive and his warcries chilled all who heard it while he slew.

Wei Yan pressed deep into the enemy host, heedless of danger as he attacked his lord's enemies. His strange weapon was a blur of motion, ribbons of blood flying from it as he tore through any unfortunate enough to be in his way.

More enemy troops appeared, determined to reach Liu Bei. Led by a tall officer who exhorted them tirelessly from his mount, they pressed closer and closer. The attack faltered, though, when an arrow wedged itself in the commander's eye and threw him from his horse. His troops all gaped in the direction of the missile and espied a gruff and grim old warrior, hair white as snow and with skin as tough as saddle leather, glaring at them as he rode up at a full gallop, knocking yet another arrow.

"Huang Zhong..." Liu Bei breathed in relief.

The old warrior rode past a man and shot him point blank before whipping his venerable blade off his belt and laying into the troops nearby. His sword glinted balefully in the afternoon light as he cut down his foes and none could stay him. When his steed crashed into a solid wall of men and could go no further, the veteran leapt nimbly from its back and continued his assault on foot. Liu Bei watched in fascination as the old man fought- his sinews were as tough as ship's cables and his muscles knew the strength of heroes of a bygone age. Men turned to attacked him and soon the lone warrior found himself sorely pressed.

"There's still life in me yet!" Huang Zhong howled and he burst through the throng with savage blows, felling nearly a dozen. He was about to come to blows with a swordsman when his foe's head tumbled away from its body, sheared clean off courtesy of Wei Yan's glaive. The old warrior nodded to the berserker and they looked around to survey the scene...

Cao Cao's troops, what remained of them, had melted back into the woods and hills. The vast majority of those who had assaulted Liu Bei lay dead or dying. The attack had been determined and had even reached his position. Liu Bei's eyes flared and his blades dripped with blood. His troops formed a protective circle around him and they waited while the rest of the column caught up.

"Thank you, all of you," he said gratefully. "My vision is reliant on all of your skills and your strengths. Without you, I would accomplish nothing. You are all heroes without equal."

"I follow Liu Bei." Wei Yan growled, his eyes still scanning the area for foes. "No other."

"This old man welcomes your challenge to make a difference and thanks you, lord." Huang Zhong said in his gruff but caring voice. "A worthy cause and a chance to prove myself is all I ask."

"There will be many such chances ahead for everyone," Liu Bei said, nodding. "The road is fraught with peril and our enemies will be relentless."

"That is why you will be our shining beacon, lord," Kongming agreed. "There must be one to show the way through the darkness and the rest of us must strive to follow that example."

"Let us keep moving." Liu Bei declared once the army had caught up. "I wish to put more distance between myself and Cao Cao by nightfall, even if we intend to march on. Come."

They rode on, weary and worn, for they had been attacked at least three times in the past two days since the crushing defeat at Changban. His little army had been overwhelmed and he had retreated south in disarray. Originally aiming for Jiangling, Liu Bei realized he could not outrun Cao Cao for that distance and he had been turning east slowly, now that word had reached him of Zhang Fei's heroic stand and the destruction of Changban Bridge. What puzzled him, though, was reports he heard of troops assisting his sworn brother, troops that did not belong to him and that he had not called for...

Zhao Yun rode hard, holding the infant inside his breastplate while he galloped ahead of his pursuers. His heart ached at the loss of Lady Mi, knowing that Lord Liu Bei's wife had drowned herself so as to not be a burden to Zhao Yun while he escaped with Liu Shan, her husband's heir.

Arrows whipped and struck the ground around him and he kept his head low while he surveyed the land ahead- while going along the roads would have proven faster, they were also held in strength by Cao Cao's army, so he had pulled off from them and now galloped over the wide fields, relying on the cover of the tall grass, reeds and wheat to shield them from those behind.

Lady Gan rode alongside him now, determined to keep up. She was performing admirably for a lady of the court, keeping in mind that her life was in peril. Zhao Yun somehow doubted Cao Cao's troops would have mercy on her if they captured her a second time.

Liu Shan, named Ah-Dou, squalled and cried within the confines of Zhao Yun's armour, but the young general ignored the infant, remembering only his devotion to his liege. He still felt like he had failed Lord Liu, as Lady mi would not rejoin with them, nor could he locate and retrieve Liu Bei's daughters either. But his heir and principal wife were both with him and he would see that they arrived safely.

They had plunged into the tall grass and he could hear their pursuers getting farther behind as he jinked and altered his course, confusing them and throwing them off. He looked at Lady Gan and good see she was flagging and in need of a rest. The brought them to a large depression near a tributary and they waited silently while the enemy surged by. Even Ah-Dou was silent as they waited.

"We do not have long, my lady," he said quietly. "They know we cannot outrun them forever and they will double back to find us. We have maybe five minutes to rest and catch our breath before we must go on."

Lady Gan nodded and lay back against the earthen bank, closing her eyes and sighing wearily. She said nothing and just breathed deep, clearing her mind for the ride ahead. Zhao Yun allowed her fifteen minutes instead of five before helping her back into her saddle and leading her away. The sun was setting and soon it would be nightfall. Under cover of darkness they might find safety and a clear path.

They rode cautiously, avoiding any telltale signs of activity nearby. In need of water after nearly two hours of traversing the uneven terrain, Zhou Yun stopped and allowed her to drink, leaving Liu Shan with her while he scouted ahead. Not far away, he came across an enemy encampment, maybe fifty warriors, all bearing the banners of the Prime Minister's office, Cao Cao's personal troops. They were led by a young officer who bore a distinct family resemblance and on his hip he bore a most regal-looking sword.

Qinggang, the Blue Blade.

The banner the officer stood beneath indicated that Zhao Yun was facing none other than Xiahou En, one of Cao Cao's personal courtiers and a bearer of one of his swords. This encampment was almost too close for them to ride past and if Liu Shan made even a sound, it would be too late. Zhao Yun had to deal with this threat before it could hamper their journey, and quickly.

He was on them like a tiger, having crept up swiftly through the tall grass and felling one man with his spear before the rest even knew he was there. A confused melee broke out as they attempted to contain Zhao Yun but also were looking for the troops that surely had accompanied him. His silver armour flashing in the rising moonlight, the warrior styled the 'Dragon of Changshan' threw himself bodily into the fray, heedless of the enemy's numbers. Every one of his attacks led into another, every parry turned into a counter-attack. His keen spear whirled and danced in the moonlight.

Xiahou En gasped as the Dragon Spike pierced his heart and he collapsed to the earth, his eyes wide and sightless. Zhao Yun had swept up the Qinggang and now wielded it along with his spear as he fought his way out of the camp. Less than ten foes remained and they fled before his wrath, convinced a demon had come to slay them.

As he sprinted back, he came across Lady Gan, holding Ah-Dou and leading the horses toward the sight of the battle. She looked relieved.

"I heard the ring of weapons and I thought I should make my way closer so that you might escape, general."

Zhao Yun nodded approvingly and mounted his horse, taking Liu Shan while she clambered onto her mount. "My apologies about the delay, Lady Gan, but I had to clear the path ahead for us. We must be swift now, for the battle is sure to attract others, but I am reasonably certain that what has befallen will give more than a few pause and we shall have a window in which to escape. Let us go!"

They rode on now through the night, avoiding the uneven land in favour of more flat terrain, even if this meant a greater risk of being spotted, for time was now off the essence. Liu Shan was quiet and they made their way for several li before Zhao Yun sensed something was amiss.

Dimly he became aware of distant silhouettes on either side of them, keeping pace and slowly closing in. They were being followed and flanked. Worse, the foe moved at great speed, meaning they were fresh.

Zhao Yun raised his spear suddenly and blocked a terribly blow while Lady Gan cried out in fright. Zhao Yun shoved back at his attacker, giving himself some space and then speeding forward to keep up with and protect Lady Gan.

"Yes, run, rebel!" called out a voice behind. "Run, though it will not help. I, Zhang He, enjoy a good hunt! I will make your death a thing of beauty!"

Zhang He had found them. He was widely believed to be one of the finest commanders in the land and certainly one of the best in Cao Cao's army. Even the mighty Xu Huang held him in awe. This was a test that Zhao Yun didn't need right now. One part of him desired nothing more than to turn around and test his mettle against this renowned warrior and commander, but Lady Gan needed him and there were other enemies close by to be dealt with.

He put his heels to his horse, urging it onward, knowing Zhang Liao was close behind. He caught sight of Lady Gan and dashed in, spearing a man off his horse when he got too close. He slashed with the Qinggang and sheared the arm off another. He felt Zhang He close behind and parried almost blindly, barely deflecting a blow of his halberd.

Unwilling to take his prey from behind, Zhang He now pulled up alongside Zhao Yun and struck again. They tussled and traded blows, Zhao Yun knowing he was being slowed down and separated from the woman he had sworn to protect. With a ferocious push he knocked Zhang He away momentarily and dashed off again.

Zhao Yun looked backward over his shoulder and caught sight of Zhang He. His handsome features were accentuated by the radiant moonlight and his dark hair flowed behind him almost like a shroud. He laughed and he chased, a calculated gesture that took into account every aspect of the environment around him for an enchanting effect- the angle of the moon on his delicate features, the rush of the wind and the beating of the hooves... even Zhao Yun's own heartbeat seemed to be a part of the symphony.

All for the sake of a laugh.

He threw himself forward again and slew another foe who got too close to Lady Gan, but then he saw her try to stay her horse before sliding into a ditch they had not anticipated. She was thrown but collapsed safely and Zhao Yun leapt in after her, sliding off his horse to help her recover. He was acutely aware that his pursuers were now gathering about the ditch and they were surrounded.

He glared up at Zhang he, who smiled back down at him, seemingly composing an ode to the moment.

"Fear not, my brave and lovely rebel, I will make sure that all hear of the tragic beauty of your death. But for the crime of slaying Xiahou En and removing his grace from the world, I am afraid you must die..."

Bows were knocked and ready to be fired when a man cried out in sudden pain, a flaming arrow bursting through his chest. Others began to land around Zhang He's troops, felling dozens before they knew what was happening. Unprepared for this counter-assault, Zhang He wheeled about and called for his remaining men to retreat.

Zhao Yun made sure they were gone before leaping up from the ditch and assisting Lady Gan. He watched as warriors came out of the darkness, their commander leading two fresh horses. He was a diminutive man, short but wiry in frame and his eyes glinted with a keen intellect.

"General Zhao Yun, I am Lu Xun and I believe these fresh mounts are exactly what you need right now."

"I am grateful," Zhao Yun said. "But who are you?"

"I am an ally, sent by Lord Sun Ce of Wu, general. I am here to tell you than Lord Liu Bei is across the Changban and for now safe from Cao Cao. He seeks to meet general Guan at the Han River and to cross."

"Then I must go east," Zhao Yun declared.

"Be cautious, general," Lu Xun warned. "Between you and Liu Bei is still the greater part of Cao Cao's army. The Prime Minister has anticipated Lord Liu's move and will attempt to intercept him before he reaches the river. This mean s that he will be in your way. You must skirt his army and catch up from the south."

"We do not have that kind of time!" Zhao Yun insisted. "And I do not fear Cao Cao's army."

"That much is obvious, general, and I do not doubt your skill as it surpasses my own," Lu Xun said calmly. "But you were just now almost overwhelmed and outmatched by General Zhang He and a hundred of his men. What do you think of the half-million that still await you if you pursue your intended course?"

Zhao Yun relented, unable to deny the young warrior's logic. "As you say."

"Come," Lu Xun said, mounting his own horse. "My men and I can retrace the path we used to find you, Cao Cao's troops are few and we can guide you to safety and at speed. We have horses to spare and you have inspired us all with your valour. I daresay even my Lord Sun Ce would be impressed."

Zhao Yun looked at Lady Gan, who nodded, indicating that clearly she believed it would be best to follow Lu Xun's directions. With little more to say, they headed into the night. Liu Bei and freedom awaited them.

Liu Bei led the host, knowing they were all exhausted and weary. Two more battles had been fought, two more enemy forces repulsed, but at the cost of lives that made his heart ache. How many innocents would have to die before peace was achieved? How much blood was needed to pave the way to a land of virtue?

The sun was now up and people were somehow heartened by its appearance, even though they knew it meant that Cao Cao's forces would be attacking again. They had drawn up in tightly ordered companies, spread throughout the column to protect the peasants, with Liu Bei at the van, Huang Zhong in the middle and Wei Yan guarding the rear.

Liu Bei came to a halt as he stared down the road in front of him, looking at the summit of a hill. Atop the hill, a line of men on horses awaited, silhouetted by the sun. There was maybe a hundred of them and they waited silently. The banner over the one in the middle could not be read yet but indicated him as the commander.

They did not attack, they just waited. Were they taunting him?

His eyes flashed angrily but then he sensed something familiar about the commander. The hair, flowing in ponytail, the broad shoulders and casual, confident ease with which the warrior presented himself.

The commander held aloft his muscular arm, holding within it one of a pair of tonfas.

Sun Ce.

Heartened, Liu Bei snapped his reins and cantered forward towards the Lord of the Southlands, followed by his vanguard. He smiled and bowed his head as he approached.

"Out for a stroll, my lord?" he asked. "A little far from Baifu, aren't we?"

"You're a difficult man to find, pal," Ce said cheerfully. "You look like you've seen easier days."

"As you say, but the road worth travelling is by necessity not easy." Liu Bei replied. "I somehow doubt you come to obstruct my path at the Prime Minister's behest, so I will assume you are here to aid us?"

"Yep." Ce said simply. "There was about five thousand of Cao Cao's troops waiting for you about three li south of here."

"Splendid, another battle," Liu Bei muttered. "And I am already weary."

"I said there were," Ce corrected. "My Night Tigers an' I handled 'em for you."

Liu Bei frowned and looked at Ce's host. "So, where are the rest of your troops with which you defeated them?"

Ce shrugged. "You're lookin' at 'em. To be fair, they weren't really ready for us."

Liu Bei sighed, not doubting Sun Ce's cocky statement one bit. "You Southlanders are a breed of warrior the likes of which I have never seen. Does this mean the road south is clear?"

"Yeah, it's clear, but I doubt you wanna head that way any further." Ce said, shrugging. "Guan's Yu's almost parallel with you on the Han, so now's as good a time as any to turn east. Ol' Cao Cao's creating pontoon bridges to try and cut you off, but if you hurry you can make it before he intercepts you. If you make it to Liu Biao in Hanjin, Cao Cao's gonna have to back off and probably just content himself with marching on Jiangling. Either way, he'll be off your ass, for now."

Liu Bei nodded. "I know Liu Biao will welcome us. Allow me, Lord of the Southlands, to introduce my comrades..."

Ce dismounted and walked with Liu Bei, meeting each person.

"This is Guan Ping, son of General Guan Yu." Liu Bei said, gesturing to the young warrior. Guan Ping stared for a moment before clasping his fist in his hand and bowing his head.

"I am honoured to meet one whom my father holds in such high esteem, not to mention the man who bested Lu Bu."

"Nice to meet you too, kid," Ce said easily. The stopped now in front of Xing Cai and she blushed furiously and looked away while Ce smiled at her.

"Xing Cai, daughter of Zhang Fei." Liu Bei said.

Ce raised an eyebrow. "What? Ol' Fuzzy is the father of her? Who did he marry, a river goddess?"

Ce stopped torturing the girl and moved on, greeting Zhuge Liang and then nodded to Huang Zhong and Wei Yan, both of whom observed him intently.

"You'll have to excuse Wei Yan, lord, he doesn't speak much and that usually for the best." Liu Bei said almost apologetically.

"Don't worry about it," Ce said dismissively. "It's probably easier than dealing with Elryk and his crew."

"Ah yes, the so-called Bailangren," Liu Bei agreed. "I am fascinated by your continued tolerance of them, but I must admit that it will have to wait, we seem to have more pressing issues at hand."

"Yeah, my thoughts exactly. I already sent Zhou Yu on ahead to meet with Liu Cong, he'll be waitin' for you." Ce said.

"One question, though, if I may, my lord." Liu Bei interjected. "How is your sister, Shang Xiang?"

"Same as ever, I guess," Ce said in a non-committal tone. She has defeated the Shanyue in our south and now controls the region for me, but I think I'm gonna need her back up north again to help against Cao Cao before long."

"She is not with you?" Liu Bei said, somewhat crestfallen.

Ce laughed. "I'm sure ol' Cao Cao's had a hard enough time of it recently without inflicting my sister on him. There's only so much a man can take, you know."

"True, true..." Liu Bei said absently, lost in thought about something. Ce gave Zhuge Liang a somewhat puzzled look and the strategist turned and addressed those assembled.

"We are thankful for the assistance of our allies, but the time now comes for our final push toward the safety of Jing. To guide the way, there shall be signals that none can mistake and we will follow closely. Stay on the course and we shall find freedom."

He turned and faced east, slowly holding his great white fan in the air. A series of flares or beacons began to light up, stretching out many li, showing the path that would lead them to Jing.

"Good choice," Ce commented, watching the beacons. "Secret and hard to find paths, it's the way my men an' I took to get here and meet you."

Zhuge Liang nodded but said nothing, though Ce sensed he was somewhat irked by the warlord's revelation. Whatever, Ce didn't have time for egos.

"My men'll spread out into groups on either flank and scout ahead," Ce declared. "If the enemy gets too close, we'll put 'em in their place. We'll see you at the fords of the Han River!"

And with that, he and the Night Tigers dashed off.

"A most remarkable young man," Kongming said quietly as he watched Sun Ce disappear. "Few of his like remain in the world."

"Is this a bad thing in your estimation?" Liu Bei asked, looking at his inscrutable strategist.

"It is hard to say," Zhuge Liang replied. "Such men are free of the bounds that constrain mortal men and they can do both much good or much evil, depending on their desires."

"Men such as Lu Bu." Liu Bei suggested.

"No, nothing as simple as that," Kongming said flatly. "Lu Bu's mind was infinitely inferior to his body and his ego and desires were common, though far-reaching in nature. The same is true of your brother, Yide- his might is astounding, but he will always need your direction to guide him, lest he become a raging bull that smashes everything it sees."

"What of Yunchang"? the Scion of the Han asked, testing his strategist's tact.

"Lord Guan is also of unparalleled physical prowess and his intellect is admirable. His sense of honour is so deep as to be dangerous to us one day. Yet he is utterly devoted to you and sublimates everything he might be to your vision and your will."

He looked at the sky, seeing traces of the stars behind the light of the sun. "The Lord of the Southlands, however, is beholden to no one and acts as he sees fit. We are blessed that he has the heart of a sage and means people no harm, but in him I sense an ever greater threat than the Prime Minister."

"Really? Why?" Liu Bei asked somewhat incredulously.

"Because when the land is divided into three kingdoms, as I promised you, Cao Cao will be conquered and his realm subjugated. But I do not know if we will ever be able to convince Sun Ce to bend his knee to you..."

The boats were loaded and merriment had ensued. Tens of thousands of peasants had been evacuated into Hanjin, with Liu Bei's army forming a rearguard, strengthened by ten thousand men brought by Guan Yu. Battles on the shores of the Han had raged and in spite of their overwhelming numbers, the northern troops were constantly repulsed.

Sun Ce had stood side by side with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, the three of them holding the line against swarms of troops while the boats were loaded and shuttling across the river. Swift and terrible were their counter-attacks, with the night Tigers reaping foes like demons with scythes. Cao Cao's troops would break in terror and it was eventually the appearance of the Prime Minister himself that rallied the troops and allowed then to make one final assault.

It was to no avail. Sheer terror of Zhang Fei kept them from approaching and all the troops were in awe of guan Yu, who had once been their mightiest general. Even Xiahou Dun and Zhang Liao could not compel them to approach the three legendary warriors. The final insult was when Zhao Yun burst through Cao Cao's lines from behind, accompanied by Lady Gan, Lu Xun and his Warhawks. Lady Gan and the Warhawks arrived first, making sure she was safely aboard. The last of the boats was just pulling away when Zhao Zilong and Lu Xun sped up onto the docks, fighting desperately with Cao Cao's elite cavaliers, the Wildcat Riders. They jumped from their horses and sped up onto the docks, still being pursued. Hundreds called for them to jump the distance between the docks and the boat, yelling words of encouragement.

They committed their souls to the Heavens and jumped...

Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei all grabbed onto Zhao Yun's arm as he slammed ungracefully face-first into the side of the boat and hauled him in. Lu Xun fared little better, smashing his ribs into the gunwale and winding himself before Ce pulled him into safety. He lay on the deck alongside Zhao Yun, catching their breath while those around cheered their valour.

Lady Gan was now brought before Liu Bei and she presented his heir Shan to him. Liu Bei's hands trembled as he took the child and stared down at him.

"For the sake of a suckling like you, I was nearly cost a valiant general..." he murmured. "You had best turn into a great man for what you have nearly cost us, little one..."

Lady Gan took her son back and went below to the quarters. The merriment continued, everyone exultant after their escape. Everyone praised Zhang Fei for his stand at the bridge while all were amazed at the trials undergone by Zhao Yun, who had charged through Cao Cao's army no less than seven times to rescue Lady Gan and then escape, not to mention bringing back one of Cao Cao's own personal swords.

Zhang Fei called for wine to be heated and the celebrations lasted until the far shore of the Han was reached. Sun Ce and his little army stayed apart, allowing the refugees time and space to rejoice in escaping yet again.

To be honest, Ce didn't feel much like celebrating, since they were still far from safe and another matter was growing in his mind, that being Liu Bei's rise to prominence and how he would be dealt with, if the matter ever arose...

"Are you sure you will not stay, lord?" Liu Cong asked as Ce and his party readied themselves to leave. Ce smiled genially but shook his head.

"Nah, you guys seem to have things under control here. Cao Cao's headed to Jiangling and then he's gonna go home to regroup. I gotta get back to Baifu and make sure that my diversionary attacks were successful, not to mention make sure my wife and her sister haven't blown the city up."

Ce, Zhou Yu and Lu Xun shared a final jar of wine with Liu Bei and his brothers and spoke solemn words.

"I'm glad you, safe, Lord Liu, but things're gonna get tougher from here," he said, his voice uncharacteristically grim. "Cao Cao's a sore loser and he ain't gonna let this slide. He'll be back, pressing harder than ever and with more men than ever, best believe it."

"Amidst our elation, I will admit that you are distressingly correct," Liu Bei said. "We can no longer have these close calls, it is not wise to test the Heavens. We must somehow take the fight to Cao Cao."

"We're gonna have to talk about an alliance, not just for our mutual benefit, but to show the other lords of the realm we mean business. Maybe a few of 'em will suddenly find the courage to stand up against the Prime minister if we take the initiative."

"That'd be nice," Zhang Fei groused, slurping his wine. "I'm tired of doing all the work while you lot sit on your asses all day."

He scowled at Liu Bei and Guan Yu. "While you two were either traipsing around the countryside or take a lazy cruise down a river, pool old Fei was fighting over a stupid bridge against Cao Cao's men."

Liu Bei and Guan Yu looked at one another, clearly used to Zhang Fei's semi-inebriated rants.

"And you guys..." Zhang Fei slurred, pointing at Sun Ce and sloshing his cup. "You guys're sooooo content behind your river. You're such good marines, while poor ol' Fei has to get drunk for a river crossing because he gets seasick..."

"Well I think I've learned a little too much about the Zhang clan today..." Ce said, rising from the small fire they were sitting around. "Like I said, we gotta get back."

Zhang Fei let out a long, loud, rolling belch that sounded like it was torn from the depths of hell itself.

"Wow, remind me to never let him drink with Glandyth." Sun Ce mused as they mounted their horses. He clasped his hand and bowed his head to Liu Bei, a gesture the Scion of the Han returned. He then nodded respectfully to Guan Yu.

"Oh, and General Zhang..." he said, pausing his horse as he trotted off after the others. He waited for Zhang Fei, who was leaning on guan Yu, to look up at him quizzically, his eyes all blurry and unfocused.

"Yesh?"

Ce grinned evilly. "Your daughter, Cai?" He whistled. "Wow, just... wow..."

Zhang Fei's eyes, still glazed over, now blazed with unreal fury. "Why you! I'll... I'll..."

Ce laughed and rode away while Zhang Fei began looking for things to throw. He grabbed the wine jar and threw it in entirely the wrong direction. He took hold of one of the guards nearby and tossed the man into a tree. Roaring like a deranged bull, he then tried to uproot said tree, straining with all his might until he fell over, unconscious and snoring heavily.

"Was that really necessary?" Zhou Yu asked as they cantered down the road toward Fankou, the quickest road to Baifu. "He may never forgive you, even if you were teasing."

"He won't remember," Ce said cheerfully. "Yunchang told me earlier that his brother almost never remembers anything when he's that drunk. Besides, even if he did remember, he'd never let it show, because then he'd have to admit to being afraid of boats and getting seasick."

"A dangerous ploy at best." Zhou Yu chided. "Still, we must consider this alliance, i believe it is our best answer to the problem of Cao Cao, even if it presents its own difficulties later."

"Yeah," Ce agreed. "But for now, let's just get back to Baifu."

"Do you really think the girls could wreak that much havoc in our absence?" Zhou Yu asked.

"I dunno," Ce admitted. "They're both pregnant, which means they're crazy, so who knows what they're getting up to..."

Da Qiao lay on her back, looking at the ceiling silently. Xiao was laying snuggled to her, her head on the crux of Da's shoulder, also staring up at the ceiling. The two of them were saying nothing.

And then for no particular reason, Xiao turned her head and bit Da on the soft skin of the shoulder. The older girl cried out in shock and pain before falling off the narrow couch they were on, dragging Xiao off and beginning to pummel her.

"Why you little... ahhhh!"

Servants from all over the palace came running to the pavilion, wondering what all the shrieking was about. They all sincerely hoped that Sun Ce was having an easier time of it in Changban...

Author's Notes: A somewhat unusual chapter in that I concentrated to a great degree on some of the Shu heroes, but you can probably all have guessed after fifty four chapters that I despise two-dimensional characters, even secondary ones. That being said, even peripherals like Zhao Yun and Huang Zhong are going to get some depth to them. The events related in this chapter are, to my mind, important enough to warrant detailing for the sake of background and context, but at the same time this is a fic about Sun Ce and Wu, so I felt the need to give them some contributions without detracting from the heroism and valour displayed by the Shu protagonists. It was a little strange to write, but I hope I kept it coherent and worthwhile. Your opinions are always welcome.

I plan to make Wei Yan's speech patterns not quite so ridiculous. Yes, you can still imagine him sounding like Cookie monster, but I am replacing his Cro-Magnon syllabus with a taciturn unwillingness to talk (let's face it, if you sounded like a muppet with an eating disorder, you'd be reticent about opening your mouth too).

Those of you who have a hate on for Lame Bei and the rest of the Crew of Shu (not to be confused with Disney's House of Mouse, although the mistake is understandable), please be tolerant, I need my 3D filler characters. Believe it or not, even Zhang He will be rounded out. The big battles are coming and Chi Bi is just around the corner, so I need to get everything ready.

I decided against any interactions between Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang just yet, because that would get very in depth and the damn chapter ended up being 15,000 words as is. I am worrying that I may be losing the ability to write short chapters. Guess I never have to worry about writing for NaNoReMo, eh?

The scene referencing Ce, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei fighting side by side on the beach almost had me tempted to write a quick omake about Liu Bei's Angels, but then I slammed my head against a pointy corner of my computer table until the blood infected by this idea had oozed out of my brain and erased it. Thank you notes are always welcome.

I have some side projects in the works, such as three Warhammer fanfics (two of which are crossovers, the other is canon Blood Angels), a retelling of the first season of the classic anime Uchuu Senkan Yamato, and a crossover of two of my silly favourite shows, Psych and Supernatural (no good can come of this). They will be getting posted under my profile and I encourage you to read them if you are into that sort of thing.

Fear not, TYC will be going forward as planned, now that we are into the nitty-gritty of the story. I am looking forward to the next few chapters and I hope you are as well.

PS- Dec 1st 2010 will see the release in Japan of the live-action version of the classic anime Uchuu Senkan Yamato (Space Battleship Yamato). The trailers on Youtube look rather interesting, although I admit I died a little inside to see that Susumu Kodai was being played by a member of the iconic J-pop boyband SMAP. I shall nonetheless dutifully pirate it and then buy it when it comes available on DVD. USY had a profound impact on me as a kid in the 70's, but then again, so did the Warner Bros cartoon 'The Solid Tin Coyote', so there may not be much more to say. I just felt like stating that I believe Yamato is the original space opera and I might point out it predates Star Wars by a few years. The animation is low-tech by today's standards and the sci-fi technobabble is goofy in a way even the Star Trek original series would admire, but it emotes better than anything we would tote today as meaningful. I am just saying give it a chance. Even the painful English dub 'Star Blazers' has its moments, even if it lacks the fanservice of the original.

Enough babbling and shilling. My best to all of you.

Management