Jian Shun: (digging the ground madly with a shovel) I know you are still in
there you son of a *****! You can't give up now!
After a few hours...
Jian Shun: (pulling up something from the ground) Eureka! Found you!
A/N: (wrinkles and dirt all over) Hehehe...precioussssssss.
Jian Shun: How long have you been in there and ignore us all!? You shit!
A/N: Must protect..precioussssss. Hehehehehe.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Chapter 15: A Simple Plan
The Imperial court of Cheng Du stood as silent as before. Outside the court, birds were chirping happily among one another and fishes swim gracefully around the palace pools. The pavilion there in the center of the gardens was normally used to the company of the ruler of Cheng Du, but now it stood empty. Sounds of nature's happiness fill the air.
Within the court however, a dark silent still remain and spreads through the atmosphere. Ministers stood with one another whispering on deciding what is the next action to take while soldiers and generals remaining standing without uttering a single word. One man on the throne sat quietly, eyes filled with disappointment. All the eyes in the court turned to one single individual, kneeling and bowing low.
"Imperial Uncle, please once again I humbly beg for your forgiveness," Jian Shun filled the quiet surrounding with his voice yet again. His head still touches the stone floor.
Apart from Jian Shun's reply, silent still fills the air.
"That's the fifth time," said a voice behind the throne within the red long curtains. Zhuge Liang, as witty as ever, walked out from his hiding and stands next to the throne.
"I know," came reply from the man sitting on the throne. "It pains me to punish one of such skill, but the military regulations must be maintained,"
"I understand my lord. But perhaps if he can make up for his punishment, maybe we could get upon the source of the problem," Zhuge Liang answered, eyes never lose sight of Jian Shun, still bowing low.
"Brother" a huge proud general with a long beard stood out. "I have seen this lieutenant's talents and I am quite satisfied. Perhaps reconsidering Master Liang's suggestion..."
"My lord" Zhuge Liang cut in the conversation. "Please recall the incidents during Wei's last strike against our supply depots in Wu Xiang. It was successfully defended due to Jian Shun's bravery. Had it been lost, our army in Han Zhong will not march for another two weeks"
The man on the throne fiddles his beard and deep in thought.
"I see truth in both your words, Master Liang and Guan Yu. But the failure to maintain Xie Gu and the pass due to his over confidence saddens me deeply. The people of Xie Gu died because of his failure"
"According to reports, Jian Shun has fallen in for Wei's ploy and most of his men deserted the ranks. He has no other option but to flee and abandon the pass" Zhuge Liang said, shifting his eyes from Jian Shun to the Imperial Uncle.
"But that's against all priority!" the Imperial Uncle replied. "Jian Shun, what is your say upon this matter?"
Jian Shun, still bowed low answered the Imperial Uncle. "My lord, I knew who is the mastermind behind the enemy ploy. He is agile and cunning. Allow me to dispose him from Wei!"
"Who can that mastermind be? Could it be Guo Jia?" the Imperial Uncle asked.
"No, my lord. He is from the Pei prefecture and comes under name of Qiu Huan" Jian Shun said.
"Ah, yes" Zhuge Liang interrupted as a thought came into his mind. "Pang Tong recently returned from Cai and also mention of a menace which bears the same name. This Qiu Huan is reported to be seen in Shu activities to the east and disrupting them"
"If what you say is true, then this Wei officer must be eliminated immediately!" the Imperial Uncle retorted angrily.
"My lord, I have plan for this problem. If Jian Shun is able to apply it successfully, maybe his punishment can be reconsidered. What do you think my lord?"
The proud general Guan Yu stood out before the crowd. "Brother, I have indeed received such reports of the same matter. If Jian Shun may remove this menace, it will be our advantage to strike from the west and reclaim the north slowly"
"Yes, indeed well spoken. What say you my lord?" Zhuge Liang turned his eyes from Guan Yu to the Imperial Uncle.
Again fiddling his beard, the Imperial Uncle was deep in thought. It was true that Jian Shun was a capable soldier in the field. Trained under one of his five tiger generals, Zhao Yun have indeed picked a fine soldier. But deep inside, he just couldn't bear the cost of failing to protect innocent civilians. Cao Cao's wrath is just too cruel to the people of the northern provinces, but still all leaving no choice, yield to the tyrant.
"Hmm.." after a long moment of silent, the Imperial Uncle spoke. "This man from Wei as we speak of, pose a threat to us all. Our mission to restore the Han may falter in this man's hands" the Imperial Uncle turned his serious eyes to Jian Shun. "Jian Shun, you have indeed showed your skills and bravery in the field. For that, I am honored. But I could not bear the loss of innocent people dying due to some internal mishap. If you, Jian Shun could clear this menace by any means, I will then forgo your punishment. What say you?"
With a single tear of hope, Jian Shun bowed again. "A million thanks my lord! It would be a great honor to serve Shu again. My lord, I give you my word for I will not fail again! I gladly accept the task"
Jian Shun stood up and bowed again. He turned and leave the court, never looked back. His smile symbolizes that he had been given another chance by Liu Bei, ruler of Cheng Du. It is a smile a hope, but within that smile, lurked a small interest of revenge to set upon the mastermind that have cause his failure.
Zhuge Liang looked at Jian Shun one last time before the court's double doors closes. "That Jian Shun, his image reminds me so much like Zhao Yun, but his actions however may sometimes be compared to the stalwart Ma Chao. Don't you all agree?"
Others within the court said nothing but nodded their heads.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
No regrets. R&R please!
After a few hours...
Jian Shun: (pulling up something from the ground) Eureka! Found you!
A/N: (wrinkles and dirt all over) Hehehe...precioussssssss.
Jian Shun: How long have you been in there and ignore us all!? You shit!
A/N: Must protect..precioussssss. Hehehehehe.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Chapter 15: A Simple Plan
The Imperial court of Cheng Du stood as silent as before. Outside the court, birds were chirping happily among one another and fishes swim gracefully around the palace pools. The pavilion there in the center of the gardens was normally used to the company of the ruler of Cheng Du, but now it stood empty. Sounds of nature's happiness fill the air.
Within the court however, a dark silent still remain and spreads through the atmosphere. Ministers stood with one another whispering on deciding what is the next action to take while soldiers and generals remaining standing without uttering a single word. One man on the throne sat quietly, eyes filled with disappointment. All the eyes in the court turned to one single individual, kneeling and bowing low.
"Imperial Uncle, please once again I humbly beg for your forgiveness," Jian Shun filled the quiet surrounding with his voice yet again. His head still touches the stone floor.
Apart from Jian Shun's reply, silent still fills the air.
"That's the fifth time," said a voice behind the throne within the red long curtains. Zhuge Liang, as witty as ever, walked out from his hiding and stands next to the throne.
"I know," came reply from the man sitting on the throne. "It pains me to punish one of such skill, but the military regulations must be maintained,"
"I understand my lord. But perhaps if he can make up for his punishment, maybe we could get upon the source of the problem," Zhuge Liang answered, eyes never lose sight of Jian Shun, still bowing low.
"Brother" a huge proud general with a long beard stood out. "I have seen this lieutenant's talents and I am quite satisfied. Perhaps reconsidering Master Liang's suggestion..."
"My lord" Zhuge Liang cut in the conversation. "Please recall the incidents during Wei's last strike against our supply depots in Wu Xiang. It was successfully defended due to Jian Shun's bravery. Had it been lost, our army in Han Zhong will not march for another two weeks"
The man on the throne fiddles his beard and deep in thought.
"I see truth in both your words, Master Liang and Guan Yu. But the failure to maintain Xie Gu and the pass due to his over confidence saddens me deeply. The people of Xie Gu died because of his failure"
"According to reports, Jian Shun has fallen in for Wei's ploy and most of his men deserted the ranks. He has no other option but to flee and abandon the pass" Zhuge Liang said, shifting his eyes from Jian Shun to the Imperial Uncle.
"But that's against all priority!" the Imperial Uncle replied. "Jian Shun, what is your say upon this matter?"
Jian Shun, still bowed low answered the Imperial Uncle. "My lord, I knew who is the mastermind behind the enemy ploy. He is agile and cunning. Allow me to dispose him from Wei!"
"Who can that mastermind be? Could it be Guo Jia?" the Imperial Uncle asked.
"No, my lord. He is from the Pei prefecture and comes under name of Qiu Huan" Jian Shun said.
"Ah, yes" Zhuge Liang interrupted as a thought came into his mind. "Pang Tong recently returned from Cai and also mention of a menace which bears the same name. This Qiu Huan is reported to be seen in Shu activities to the east and disrupting them"
"If what you say is true, then this Wei officer must be eliminated immediately!" the Imperial Uncle retorted angrily.
"My lord, I have plan for this problem. If Jian Shun is able to apply it successfully, maybe his punishment can be reconsidered. What do you think my lord?"
The proud general Guan Yu stood out before the crowd. "Brother, I have indeed received such reports of the same matter. If Jian Shun may remove this menace, it will be our advantage to strike from the west and reclaim the north slowly"
"Yes, indeed well spoken. What say you my lord?" Zhuge Liang turned his eyes from Guan Yu to the Imperial Uncle.
Again fiddling his beard, the Imperial Uncle was deep in thought. It was true that Jian Shun was a capable soldier in the field. Trained under one of his five tiger generals, Zhao Yun have indeed picked a fine soldier. But deep inside, he just couldn't bear the cost of failing to protect innocent civilians. Cao Cao's wrath is just too cruel to the people of the northern provinces, but still all leaving no choice, yield to the tyrant.
"Hmm.." after a long moment of silent, the Imperial Uncle spoke. "This man from Wei as we speak of, pose a threat to us all. Our mission to restore the Han may falter in this man's hands" the Imperial Uncle turned his serious eyes to Jian Shun. "Jian Shun, you have indeed showed your skills and bravery in the field. For that, I am honored. But I could not bear the loss of innocent people dying due to some internal mishap. If you, Jian Shun could clear this menace by any means, I will then forgo your punishment. What say you?"
With a single tear of hope, Jian Shun bowed again. "A million thanks my lord! It would be a great honor to serve Shu again. My lord, I give you my word for I will not fail again! I gladly accept the task"
Jian Shun stood up and bowed again. He turned and leave the court, never looked back. His smile symbolizes that he had been given another chance by Liu Bei, ruler of Cheng Du. It is a smile a hope, but within that smile, lurked a small interest of revenge to set upon the mastermind that have cause his failure.
Zhuge Liang looked at Jian Shun one last time before the court's double doors closes. "That Jian Shun, his image reminds me so much like Zhao Yun, but his actions however may sometimes be compared to the stalwart Ma Chao. Don't you all agree?"
Others within the court said nothing but nodded their heads.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
No regrets. R&R please!