Crossing Spears - Chapter 2
By: Yeu
Comment: I seriously was not thinking about continuing the story, but... everybody seems to assume there's a chapter 2. So I guess I gotta write it no? A word of warning; I had plotted out the rest of the story to the end that I hope everyone would like. But after this chapter, things will get a little spicier. Yaoi is definitely involved (Guess everyone can see that coming ) and so are some angst and other violent acts. Viewer/Reader discretion is advised.
And as everyone knows that Zilong is another one of Zhao Yun's names; Boyue is another name that Jiang Wei goes by. Again, the characters are not my creation but real people that have passed on a long time ago. Dynasty Warriors is made possible by Koei and Omega-Force, go them.
Jiang Wei felt alive, as he always do before a battle. He has spent the days before the departure to prepare his gear and those of his company. Thank the Golden Emperor that it was not the right hand that his sparring partner had injured; otherwise he is going to have one hell of a time filling out all the necessary paper works for the equipment and supplies. In addition to that, he has to make sure his aged mother has people to care for her while he is away. The night before the march, as he was going thought the final reports, there was a faint knock on his room door, a ratty looking man-servant hurried in and whispered in his ear.
"General Zhao Yun request an audience with you, master." The servant said urgently in a low tone.
"Now?" The young man was surprised, it is late, according to the moon's position high in the sky; it is well pass midnight. "What it is he wish to talk about?"
"I do not know master," The servant said, "but I shall go ask."
"Never mind, send him in." The young strategist told the servant. "And nobody comes near unless I call for one."
The man bowed and scurried away. A few moments later, another faint knock rang on the door.
"Come in."
Zhao Zilong entered with quietness of a cat, yet with the presence of a tiger. He seems to be uneasy as to why he is here. The spear general is dressed in a light gray robe tailored similar to those of his work out robe, but this one is lighter in material and much thinner.
"What great honor to have you come visit me." The young apprentice said genuinely, avoiding his eyes so he would not stare at the refined muscles under the thin garb. "What can I do for you?"
"My apologies for calling at such an late hour." Zhao Yun said formally. "But I need to make sure that you know what you are doing."
"What is it you mean?"
"I trust that you have read the instructions?" The general nodded toward the half opened bamboo scroll on the youth's desk.
"Word by word."
"Then I suggest you read it again since you apparently didn't notice some important details." Zhao Yun said plainly, "Although I had promised the Prime Minister that I shall ensure your safety, but by the plans that we were handed, it is nearly quite impossible for me to be at two places at once. If you have need of help, it is quite possible that the call will go unanswered."
Alarmed, the young man immediately pour over his maps again, this time in a different light. Jiang Wei hadn't noticed those particular facts before, so anxious about the battle was he. But now that he studied the plans and the maps again, he saw the great danger that he is to face and wondered what his teacher's purpose is to set him at such a position. Cold sweats pour from his forehead as he realizes what he faces; his isolated company is open to the enemies at 3 sides with his route of retreat a small mountain path that is easily ambushed. If being a mountain range away from the rest of the forces is not enough, scout reports that Lu Bu's camp is in almost the same vicinity. On the other hand, Zhao Yun has been named the Commander of this particular campaign, setting him at the center of the main camp. Between his responsibilities as the Commander and his location, the spear general would have to be a god to be able to come to his aid if he shall need it.
Still, despite the uneven odds he faced, he still has no wish to be left out of this march. Since it shall be the first one since the fateful day that he joined the Shu, he also has no great desire to stay in a place that is filled with those who resent him for being accepted by both the Emperor and the Prime Minister even though he had sided with the enemy only weeks before.
"I hope the purpose of this visit is not to deter me from this campaign." Jiang Wei asked in a pained voice.
"That was my intent." Zhao Yun admitted truthfully.
Panic start to settle into his systems, the ex-Wei general clenched his hands into fists. "And if I refuse to yield, will you be commanding me to withdraw?"
"No." Zhao Yun shook his head, "I don't believe in forcing people to do what they don't want to do."
"I will not be left behind." Jiang Wei said with all the determination he could gather.
"Even if you are practically a sitting duck? A bait to hook a bigger fish?"
"I will not stay, it is more dangerous for me here in the Capital than out in the battlefield."
"What about your mother? She is old and you are her only child. If anything was to happen to you, who will care for her?" To that Jiang Wei had no answer.
They glared at each other for what seem forever, but Jiang Wei eventually looked away. The pressure from the other's glare is almost too much for him to handle, and he thought that his cause was lost. So he was quite surprised when the other speaks again.
"Fine. Since I can not persuade you to drop the thought, I brought something that might help." The tiger general reached behind his back and drew a sheathed sword that he had tied to his belt and stuffed the weapon to the astonished youth's free hand.
It is a universal knowledge that Zhao Zilong's weapon of choice is the Dragon Spear, and he owns no other weapons in any shapes or form, except for one. A memoir from Chang Ban, where he rode through 800 thousand Wei soldiers alone with a newborn babe strapped to his breast. He slew half a hundred of Cao Cao's generals, including Xiahou En, and from the body of the dead sword carrier he took the Blue Blade. The sword with edges that can slice through armor and flesh like hot knife through butter, which helped a great deal in his struggle at the now famous plains. It is that sword that Zhao Yun now placed in the hands of Jiang Wei, who recognized the weapon immediately, being Cao Cao's former subordinate.
The youth could only gasp at the wondrous blade that has been given into his care. Though he had forgotten about the sword, the exquisite sheath it rests in cannot be mistaken for any other.
"This. is a thing of too great of value." Jiang Wei stuttered, face pale from shock. "I cannot accept such expensive gift."
"It is not a gift."
"Huh?"
"I'm merely loaning you the sword." Zhao Yun explained. "A sword is much easier to use with one hand than a spear. You will not find another sword that is superior to this in the armory. I will be wanting it back after this campaign, and I will expect you to hand it back to me personally." An extra emphasis was put on the last word.
"I'm not worthy to be entrusted with such a treasure." The youth objected, handing the weapon back to its owner who refuses to accept it.
Zhao Yun sighed, he knew this was going to happen, good thing he has a better way than to go through the traditional way of arguing back and forth.
"General Jiang Wei, stand ready to receive orders." He said suddenly with such force that the youth almost cowered back. "I will be your superior until we return to the Capital again. I'm loaning you the sword, Blue Blade, until the end of this march. At the end of the trip you shall return the blade to me, personally, don't make me say it a third time."
The apprentice strategist could only shrink under the intense glare, and only with much resentment did he kneel down. "Order received."
"Good, now go to sleep, we will be leaving at the first sign of dawn." The general turned and started to leave, but he paused at the door. "I do not mean to offend you, Boyue, but I do wish that you will not meet with any harm." He added and left.
Zhao Yun left so fast that he did not notice a reddish color creeping upon the youth's cheeks. Jiang Wei was left wondering why he has such strange reaction whenever the other man shows him acts of kindness that are common among comrades. Even when he has finally retired for the night, the thought still bothered him nonetheless.
To Be Continued...
I hope everyone like it, and that I didn't disappoint anyone with my bad writing. Anyway, the campaign starts next chapter. Currently I have no idea how long the story will be, probably until I get everything out I suppose.