Chapter 2: Discipline Was the Path to Victory
"Thieves! Bandits! Foolhardy men that know no shame! Come back here and meet your death with honor!"
Zhao Yun rode among the trees, chasing the sound of galloping hooves ahead of him. They had kidnapped the children of a village he had passed through, east of Cheng Du, on his way to Ba Zhou, and he had spent the day searching for them among the woods. Once he had found their camp among a clearing they had taken off, leaving the children behind. The group of men that he had taken with him from the village were left behind to reclaim their sons and daughters as the chase began. Lord Zhao's steed was of much better breeding than the horses of the bandits, and soon their rear guard was in sight, riding backwards in his saddle, bow in hand. Zhao Yun raised his spear with one hand in challenge, the other gripping the reins of his horse. He cut a large branch from where it would have whacked him across the face and continued to ride, moving steadily closer to the bandit. The bandit took an arrow from its quiver, drew, took aim, and let it fly. Zhao Yun moved his spear an inch to the left. The arrow zinged off its blade and disappeared into the foliage. The bandit notched another, drew, and let it whistle past Zhao Yun's left ear. As Zhao Yun moved closer, the man became more nervous, his hand visibly shaking as he let another one pass over Zhao Yun's head. He raised his spear and struck the bandit across the side of the head with the broad point just below the blade. The man's eyes rolled back into his head as he fell from his horse, unconscious. He could see the remainder of the group, now, fleeing into the woods. There were four of them. One was falling behind, a great heavyset man on a horse that was too small to carry him, his weapon still sheathed. He didn't notice Lord Zhao's approach, and was soon sent flopping along in the dirt just like his fellow. The three remaining slid into a triangular formation. Zhao kicked his horse. One of them looked back over his shoulder with wild fear in his eyes and urged his own horse forward with a loud 'hya!'. They broke into a clearing, a short plain of grass separated by a broad stream. Lord Zhao was sure that he could jump it, but what the thieves would do he could not guess. Two of them did attempt to jump it, the third stopping sharply and reaching for his sword. He never drew it. Lacking the time to focus on a non-lethal attack, Zhao Yun slew him in passing. The second man had fallen short of the far bank, and he was stuck in the mud at the bottom of the creek. The final thief, presumably their leader, continued to ride, turning, and then stopping. Zhao Yun stopped as well, and the two faced each other on the field. The thief reached to the sheath hanging from his saddle and drew his sword. Simultaneously, they moved to pass each other. The bandit leader's attack was slow and off balance. Within moments, the man's head was rolling in the dirt. Zhao Yun turned his horse to the final bandit, still stuck in the mud. The man looked up at Lord Zhao and dropped to his knees, begging for his life to be spared. Yun raised his spear and lowered the butt to within reach of the filthy bandit. He gripped it, and Lord Zhao helped him out of the riverbed.
"I left two of your fellows unconscious on the other side of the river. Gather them up and carry one of them. The village will try you for your crimes.
And so Lord Zhao rode back to the village, the only bandit capable of it walking, leading their dead captain's horse, the two others that still breathed slung across the back of it. As he drew closer, he spied an unususal bustle in the area, villagers rushing from one place to another, men that he had not seen there before. As he looked closer, he saw that they wore military uniform. Odd. No patrols ran through this village... Red military uniform.
"Wu."
He gripped his spear and turned to the bandits.
"Run away and I'll cut your ears off."
Before he kicked his horse to a gallop, bearing down on the nearest Wu soldier. The man panicked at the sight, falling to his knees.
"Please forgive! I no fight!"
This man was hardly even literate. Lord Zhao stopped his horse above him and lifted his face to look up with the butt of his spear.
"Who commands your detachment?"
"That would be me. Are you looking for a fight?"
Zhao Yun's head snapped to the left. He knew that voice. Gan Ning sat atop a nearby roof, his bells jangling as his hands rested on the hilt of his sword.
"Easy, Ning. Lord Zhao Yun. It is a pleasure to meet you on friendly terms once again."
Zhao Yun raised his spear to the new challenger, approaching on horseback. It lowered a bit as he recognized the face.
"Lord Sun Quan? What do you mean friendly terms? If this is the trickery of the Sun family..."
"I'm shocked to see that your regard for my family has diminished so much over these long years. Come, there is no need for a drawn weapon here."
Sun Quan's eyes darted to Gan Ning as he said this.
"Please, lower your spear."
Ning 'humph'-ed and disappeared over the far side of the roof.
"He hasn't changed." Zhao Yun laughed to himself.
"Would you expect him to?" Quan laughed as well.
"I suppose not. Come, you must tell me of this new peace between our nations."
"Lady Sun?"
"Yes, Lady Sun is set to be wed to your lord."
They had retired to the Wu encampment on the village's edge for dinner and tea, and the four officers were seated around a campfire, bowls of soup and chopsticks in hand. This was only a small detachment of Wu troops, maybe a hundred men with only enough supplies to last them for a brief journey. The fact that three of Wu's greatest assets guarded Lady Sun belied the importance of their task, however, and now Zhao Yun had pledged his own aid to their journey.
"I see. I'm pleased that they may be the binding force of our alliance. It is always wonderful to see love..."
Gan Ning coughed, Sun Quan and Zhou Yu shooting him a glare. Zhao Yun stopped and looked at them both, the hint sinking in. He nodded and folded his arms.
"Now I understand. Lady Sun did not consent..."
"She is marrying your liege of her own free will." Sun Quan's voice was firm, drowning out any ideas in the minds of the other two officers at his side to say otherwise.
"I do not think..."
"Lord Zhao Yun, it is not your place to think anything of this. This matter was decided by the men both you and I serve, and it is not for us to judge their decisions. You will do or think nothing but accompany us to Cheng Du. Otherwise, I release you from this endeavor and will report this insulting conduct to Sun Jian."
"I will not be threatened by any Wu dog!"
Zhao Yun set his bowl aside and leapt to his feet.
"Pig of a Han loyalist!" Quan rose to his own feet. A pair of hands on each man's shoulders sent them both tumbling to the ground, Gan Ning and Zhou Yu separating them. Zhou Yu held Quan pinned to the ground, berating the struggling officer.
"Lord Quan! Would you seek to undermine our alliance even before the dear cost can be paid? Hold your tongue, my friend!"
Zhao Yun held back, Gan Ning whispering a brief 'Take it easy' and watching him closely. Sun Quan ceased struggling, and Zhou Yu helped him to his feet. Sun Quan wiped a smear of dirt from his cheek.
"Well, it seems that there was something in the wine."
Zhao Yun nodded.
"Yes, something in the wine."
"Maybe we all ought to head off to bed..." Gan Ning mumbled.
Each man nodded.
"I will see you all in the morning." Zhao Yun bowed.
"We ride at sunup. Don't be late." Sun Quan bowed in return.
As Zhao Yun slept that night, he thought he heard voices. The voice of the mystic, saying he would betray his lord. The voice of Guan Yu.
"Zhao Yun! Come and meet your death!"
Zhuge Liang.
"Please, Lord Zhao, control yourself! Wait, what are you... Guards! Guards!"
His liege.
"Zilong, you traitor! If no one will slay such a dog, I shall! Stand and fight me!"
He was falling, falling through a ghostly stream of accusations, threats on his life by his friends.
Zilong, traitor.
Zhao Yun, murderer.
"Never!"
He thought he'd screamed as he sat up in bed, sweat running in rivulets down his face, matting his hair. His bedroll was soaked in it. His pulse lowered to a normal rate as he realized where he was. He was among friends. His loyalty to Liu Bei was unquestionable and everlasting, and...
Was that singing he heard?
'His lady rode to the river,
Here laid Quanyi,
She wept by his side,
His foe's spear had pierced his side,
His lifeblood ran to the sea,
She wept by his side for her life,
His dying words,
My Lady, Xu Shi...'
He knew that song, that ballad. What voice was that that could be singing? He pulled on a light tunic and tied a belt around his waist before stepping out into the warm night air.
A beautiful woman, red-brown hair surrounding a bright face. Yet her eyes seemed sad and distant. He watched her silently for a moment before he moved to approach. His foot loudly snapped a twig, and she whirled around to face him.
"Excuse me?"
"Someone such as you should not be singing such sad songs."
"And why not, may I ask?"
"The style of your beauty asks for a tune that is more lively."
"Zhou Yu's flute might give us such a tune."
"But Zhou Yu is asleep, and he would find it hard to play in the waking world while his mind dreams."
She laughed and he smiled, stepping into the small clearing framed by a handful of tents. The troops were asleep, the watchmen were on the edges of the camp, and the only light cast on the two was that of the waxing moon, the grass beneath their feet wet with dew.
"Do you know any dances?"
"A few."
Zhao Yun thought for a moment of the proper song for this girl.
"Do you know River of China's Peace?"
She nodded. Zhao Yun took her hand and sang. She danced with him, a lively tune that he had sung to himself before riding into battle, on occasion, but this maiden didn't need to know that.
"You might not want to consider breaking your marriage vows so easily."
Jingling bells. Gan Ning was awake and prowling. He crept out of a shadow, laughing to himself. Zhao Yun looked at her closer, puzzled.
"Marriage vows?"
She bore an uncanny resemblance to Sun Quan.
"You idiot! Do you have any idea whose dress you were just trying to get under? This is Lady Sun!"
He approached her and playfully rested his hands on her shoulders. She swatted at him and pulled away.
"Gan Ning, why do you always ruin everything?"
Gan Ning ignored her complaints, scolding her in a mockery of an angry parent. "And you, what did you think you were doing, out at this hour? I should tell Sun Quan that you were dancing with a Shu officer."
"An officer of Shu?"
"You're both fools! This is Zhao Yun! He fought for Gongsun Zan once! He nearly slew Huang Gai!"
Zhao Yun remembered that fight. Huang Gai had been lucky to escape with his life, and several dozen of his soldiers' lives had been forfeit for that.
"This is Zhao Yun? The great Zilong?"
"One and the same."
Sun Shang Xiang bowed.
"It's an honor to meet you."
Zhao Yun, close as he'd come to it, had never slain anyone of any importance to Wu. So he supposed that she couldn't harbor too many hard feelings against him. He bowed.
"It is an honor to have danced with so fair a maiden, Lady Sun."
"Go to bed! Both of you!" Gan Ning grabbed Sun Shang Xiang by the arm and dragged her away, his bells jangling as loudly as ever. Zhao Yun thought he caught a fleeting smile from the girl before she disappeared into the camp again.
Zhao Yun returned to bed, his dreams calm once more.
"Thieves! Bandits! Foolhardy men that know no shame! Come back here and meet your death with honor!"
Zhao Yun rode among the trees, chasing the sound of galloping hooves ahead of him. They had kidnapped the children of a village he had passed through, east of Cheng Du, on his way to Ba Zhou, and he had spent the day searching for them among the woods. Once he had found their camp among a clearing they had taken off, leaving the children behind. The group of men that he had taken with him from the village were left behind to reclaim their sons and daughters as the chase began. Lord Zhao's steed was of much better breeding than the horses of the bandits, and soon their rear guard was in sight, riding backwards in his saddle, bow in hand. Zhao Yun raised his spear with one hand in challenge, the other gripping the reins of his horse. He cut a large branch from where it would have whacked him across the face and continued to ride, moving steadily closer to the bandit. The bandit took an arrow from its quiver, drew, took aim, and let it fly. Zhao Yun moved his spear an inch to the left. The arrow zinged off its blade and disappeared into the foliage. The bandit notched another, drew, and let it whistle past Zhao Yun's left ear. As Zhao Yun moved closer, the man became more nervous, his hand visibly shaking as he let another one pass over Zhao Yun's head. He raised his spear and struck the bandit across the side of the head with the broad point just below the blade. The man's eyes rolled back into his head as he fell from his horse, unconscious. He could see the remainder of the group, now, fleeing into the woods. There were four of them. One was falling behind, a great heavyset man on a horse that was too small to carry him, his weapon still sheathed. He didn't notice Lord Zhao's approach, and was soon sent flopping along in the dirt just like his fellow. The three remaining slid into a triangular formation. Zhao kicked his horse. One of them looked back over his shoulder with wild fear in his eyes and urged his own horse forward with a loud 'hya!'. They broke into a clearing, a short plain of grass separated by a broad stream. Lord Zhao was sure that he could jump it, but what the thieves would do he could not guess. Two of them did attempt to jump it, the third stopping sharply and reaching for his sword. He never drew it. Lacking the time to focus on a non-lethal attack, Zhao Yun slew him in passing. The second man had fallen short of the far bank, and he was stuck in the mud at the bottom of the creek. The final thief, presumably their leader, continued to ride, turning, and then stopping. Zhao Yun stopped as well, and the two faced each other on the field. The thief reached to the sheath hanging from his saddle and drew his sword. Simultaneously, they moved to pass each other. The bandit leader's attack was slow and off balance. Within moments, the man's head was rolling in the dirt. Zhao Yun turned his horse to the final bandit, still stuck in the mud. The man looked up at Lord Zhao and dropped to his knees, begging for his life to be spared. Yun raised his spear and lowered the butt to within reach of the filthy bandit. He gripped it, and Lord Zhao helped him out of the riverbed.
"I left two of your fellows unconscious on the other side of the river. Gather them up and carry one of them. The village will try you for your crimes.
And so Lord Zhao rode back to the village, the only bandit capable of it walking, leading their dead captain's horse, the two others that still breathed slung across the back of it. As he drew closer, he spied an unususal bustle in the area, villagers rushing from one place to another, men that he had not seen there before. As he looked closer, he saw that they wore military uniform. Odd. No patrols ran through this village... Red military uniform.
"Wu."
He gripped his spear and turned to the bandits.
"Run away and I'll cut your ears off."
Before he kicked his horse to a gallop, bearing down on the nearest Wu soldier. The man panicked at the sight, falling to his knees.
"Please forgive! I no fight!"
This man was hardly even literate. Lord Zhao stopped his horse above him and lifted his face to look up with the butt of his spear.
"Who commands your detachment?"
"That would be me. Are you looking for a fight?"
Zhao Yun's head snapped to the left. He knew that voice. Gan Ning sat atop a nearby roof, his bells jangling as his hands rested on the hilt of his sword.
"Easy, Ning. Lord Zhao Yun. It is a pleasure to meet you on friendly terms once again."
Zhao Yun raised his spear to the new challenger, approaching on horseback. It lowered a bit as he recognized the face.
"Lord Sun Quan? What do you mean friendly terms? If this is the trickery of the Sun family..."
"I'm shocked to see that your regard for my family has diminished so much over these long years. Come, there is no need for a drawn weapon here."
Sun Quan's eyes darted to Gan Ning as he said this.
"Please, lower your spear."
Ning 'humph'-ed and disappeared over the far side of the roof.
"He hasn't changed." Zhao Yun laughed to himself.
"Would you expect him to?" Quan laughed as well.
"I suppose not. Come, you must tell me of this new peace between our nations."
"Lady Sun?"
"Yes, Lady Sun is set to be wed to your lord."
They had retired to the Wu encampment on the village's edge for dinner and tea, and the four officers were seated around a campfire, bowls of soup and chopsticks in hand. This was only a small detachment of Wu troops, maybe a hundred men with only enough supplies to last them for a brief journey. The fact that three of Wu's greatest assets guarded Lady Sun belied the importance of their task, however, and now Zhao Yun had pledged his own aid to their journey.
"I see. I'm pleased that they may be the binding force of our alliance. It is always wonderful to see love..."
Gan Ning coughed, Sun Quan and Zhou Yu shooting him a glare. Zhao Yun stopped and looked at them both, the hint sinking in. He nodded and folded his arms.
"Now I understand. Lady Sun did not consent..."
"She is marrying your liege of her own free will." Sun Quan's voice was firm, drowning out any ideas in the minds of the other two officers at his side to say otherwise.
"I do not think..."
"Lord Zhao Yun, it is not your place to think anything of this. This matter was decided by the men both you and I serve, and it is not for us to judge their decisions. You will do or think nothing but accompany us to Cheng Du. Otherwise, I release you from this endeavor and will report this insulting conduct to Sun Jian."
"I will not be threatened by any Wu dog!"
Zhao Yun set his bowl aside and leapt to his feet.
"Pig of a Han loyalist!" Quan rose to his own feet. A pair of hands on each man's shoulders sent them both tumbling to the ground, Gan Ning and Zhou Yu separating them. Zhou Yu held Quan pinned to the ground, berating the struggling officer.
"Lord Quan! Would you seek to undermine our alliance even before the dear cost can be paid? Hold your tongue, my friend!"
Zhao Yun held back, Gan Ning whispering a brief 'Take it easy' and watching him closely. Sun Quan ceased struggling, and Zhou Yu helped him to his feet. Sun Quan wiped a smear of dirt from his cheek.
"Well, it seems that there was something in the wine."
Zhao Yun nodded.
"Yes, something in the wine."
"Maybe we all ought to head off to bed..." Gan Ning mumbled.
Each man nodded.
"I will see you all in the morning." Zhao Yun bowed.
"We ride at sunup. Don't be late." Sun Quan bowed in return.
As Zhao Yun slept that night, he thought he heard voices. The voice of the mystic, saying he would betray his lord. The voice of Guan Yu.
"Zhao Yun! Come and meet your death!"
Zhuge Liang.
"Please, Lord Zhao, control yourself! Wait, what are you... Guards! Guards!"
His liege.
"Zilong, you traitor! If no one will slay such a dog, I shall! Stand and fight me!"
He was falling, falling through a ghostly stream of accusations, threats on his life by his friends.
Zilong, traitor.
Zhao Yun, murderer.
"Never!"
He thought he'd screamed as he sat up in bed, sweat running in rivulets down his face, matting his hair. His bedroll was soaked in it. His pulse lowered to a normal rate as he realized where he was. He was among friends. His loyalty to Liu Bei was unquestionable and everlasting, and...
Was that singing he heard?
'His lady rode to the river,
Here laid Quanyi,
She wept by his side,
His foe's spear had pierced his side,
His lifeblood ran to the sea,
She wept by his side for her life,
His dying words,
My Lady, Xu Shi...'
He knew that song, that ballad. What voice was that that could be singing? He pulled on a light tunic and tied a belt around his waist before stepping out into the warm night air.
A beautiful woman, red-brown hair surrounding a bright face. Yet her eyes seemed sad and distant. He watched her silently for a moment before he moved to approach. His foot loudly snapped a twig, and she whirled around to face him.
"Excuse me?"
"Someone such as you should not be singing such sad songs."
"And why not, may I ask?"
"The style of your beauty asks for a tune that is more lively."
"Zhou Yu's flute might give us such a tune."
"But Zhou Yu is asleep, and he would find it hard to play in the waking world while his mind dreams."
She laughed and he smiled, stepping into the small clearing framed by a handful of tents. The troops were asleep, the watchmen were on the edges of the camp, and the only light cast on the two was that of the waxing moon, the grass beneath their feet wet with dew.
"Do you know any dances?"
"A few."
Zhao Yun thought for a moment of the proper song for this girl.
"Do you know River of China's Peace?"
She nodded. Zhao Yun took her hand and sang. She danced with him, a lively tune that he had sung to himself before riding into battle, on occasion, but this maiden didn't need to know that.
"You might not want to consider breaking your marriage vows so easily."
Jingling bells. Gan Ning was awake and prowling. He crept out of a shadow, laughing to himself. Zhao Yun looked at her closer, puzzled.
"Marriage vows?"
She bore an uncanny resemblance to Sun Quan.
"You idiot! Do you have any idea whose dress you were just trying to get under? This is Lady Sun!"
He approached her and playfully rested his hands on her shoulders. She swatted at him and pulled away.
"Gan Ning, why do you always ruin everything?"
Gan Ning ignored her complaints, scolding her in a mockery of an angry parent. "And you, what did you think you were doing, out at this hour? I should tell Sun Quan that you were dancing with a Shu officer."
"An officer of Shu?"
"You're both fools! This is Zhao Yun! He fought for Gongsun Zan once! He nearly slew Huang Gai!"
Zhao Yun remembered that fight. Huang Gai had been lucky to escape with his life, and several dozen of his soldiers' lives had been forfeit for that.
"This is Zhao Yun? The great Zilong?"
"One and the same."
Sun Shang Xiang bowed.
"It's an honor to meet you."
Zhao Yun, close as he'd come to it, had never slain anyone of any importance to Wu. So he supposed that she couldn't harbor too many hard feelings against him. He bowed.
"It is an honor to have danced with so fair a maiden, Lady Sun."
"Go to bed! Both of you!" Gan Ning grabbed Sun Shang Xiang by the arm and dragged her away, his bells jangling as loudly as ever. Zhao Yun thought he caught a fleeting smile from the girl before she disappeared into the camp again.
Zhao Yun returned to bed, his dreams calm once more.