Disclaimer: None of them belong to me.
Author's Note: This is a what if Dong Zhou won as well as my attempt for writing darker. ^_^ ~Nat
***
Dong Zhou placed the head of Zhuge Liang on a stake beside Sun Jian's. He smiled as he took a step back to admire his work. Sure, they smelled and were beginning to collect flies, but what did one expect from the dead? Both faces had looks of horror etched on them, but each was slightly different. There was a look of open hostility in the eyes of Sun Jian's, while Zhuge Liang's face held a calm resolve.
Dong Zhou patted each head then turned to his adopted son. "Lu Bu, have the women been added to my harem yet?"
The tall warrior bowed. "Yes sir. As we speak Diao Chan is explaining what is expected of them." The man paused. "There is a rather plain one that you might want to reconsider keeping."
Dong Zhou gave a laugh. "You speak of Zhuge Liang's woman?"
His general nodded. "She's no where near the quality of the rest. I see no reason to keep her. She'll be nothing but an added expense."
Dong Zhou patted his adopted son on the back. "My boy, you miss the fun in all this. Zhuge Liang will roll over in his grave each time I bed his widow."
A blush crept up Lu Bu's face as looked down at the floor. "Is it wise to trust such a woman in your bed? They all seem to be as bad as Zhu Rong when she first came here."
"Son, part of the fun of defeating your enemies is destroying ever single thing that they might have treasured. You have not learned that part of the art of war."
Lu Bu shrugged. "I still see no reason to risk your life when you can have a woman such as Diao Chan in your bed at night."
Was there a tone of wistfulness in his son's voice? No, perhaps he had just heard what he expected to hear from others. He considered his next words carefully. "Look at it this way. Why have one beautiful woman when I can have all of them?"
His son nodded. "Still, I suggest searching Sun Jian's daughter each night."
"Any word on her husband?" It was really nothing to loss too much sleep over. After all, had he not defeated Wei and Wu? Had he not destroyed or taken Shu except for a few officers?
"None. He seems to have disappeared for now."
"Find him and eliminate him. He is the last figurehead that the people might follow. With him gone, I will not have to worry about any assassination attempts.."
"Even now our men search the land of Shu for him. Perhaps he died from a wound received in battle?"
Was his adopted son really that dim? "I doubt that. Zhuge Liang dove in front of your Sky Scorcher. Next time, try to aim for the Liu Bei and not a strategist."
Lu Bu arched one eyebrow in a manner that would send a normal man screaming for the hills. Luckily, the great Dong Zhou was not easily intimidated.
It was the man who was claimed to be the best warrior among men who looked away first. "You were right about the older Qiao, father. She acts as though dead since her husband's head was delivered to her along with her breakfast."
"Break them then mold them. That's what the game is all about." He rubbed his hands together. Which should he try out first? There were so many choices. The fierceness of Lady Sun, the intellect of Yue Ying. Perhaps the beauty of both the Qiao's? "Did you remember to capture Zhou Yu alive?"
Pheasant feathers bobbed up and down in the air. "Yes."
"Good. The younger of the Qiao's will give herself freely as long as her husband is still breathing. Make sure he is comfortable, but that he lives - barely."
Lu Bu turned to go. "Did any of the generals decide to join us?"
The taller man did not even turn around. "Less than a handful. I expected more. A few did escape-"
"Do not worry about them. Alone they can do nothing." A smile caused the wart on his face to seem to dance among the pounds of fat. "But find me Zhen Ji. That beautiful butterfly must not be allowed to escape."
Lu Bu sighed. "Yes sir."
"Good." He pulled at his beard. "For now, keep the enemy generals alive until I decide how they are to die. And Lu Bu, send in Zhu Rong. I'm feeling the need for a little.. entertainment."
Author's Note: This is a what if Dong Zhou won as well as my attempt for writing darker. ^_^ ~Nat
***
Dong Zhou placed the head of Zhuge Liang on a stake beside Sun Jian's. He smiled as he took a step back to admire his work. Sure, they smelled and were beginning to collect flies, but what did one expect from the dead? Both faces had looks of horror etched on them, but each was slightly different. There was a look of open hostility in the eyes of Sun Jian's, while Zhuge Liang's face held a calm resolve.
Dong Zhou patted each head then turned to his adopted son. "Lu Bu, have the women been added to my harem yet?"
The tall warrior bowed. "Yes sir. As we speak Diao Chan is explaining what is expected of them." The man paused. "There is a rather plain one that you might want to reconsider keeping."
Dong Zhou gave a laugh. "You speak of Zhuge Liang's woman?"
His general nodded. "She's no where near the quality of the rest. I see no reason to keep her. She'll be nothing but an added expense."
Dong Zhou patted his adopted son on the back. "My boy, you miss the fun in all this. Zhuge Liang will roll over in his grave each time I bed his widow."
A blush crept up Lu Bu's face as looked down at the floor. "Is it wise to trust such a woman in your bed? They all seem to be as bad as Zhu Rong when she first came here."
"Son, part of the fun of defeating your enemies is destroying ever single thing that they might have treasured. You have not learned that part of the art of war."
Lu Bu shrugged. "I still see no reason to risk your life when you can have a woman such as Diao Chan in your bed at night."
Was there a tone of wistfulness in his son's voice? No, perhaps he had just heard what he expected to hear from others. He considered his next words carefully. "Look at it this way. Why have one beautiful woman when I can have all of them?"
His son nodded. "Still, I suggest searching Sun Jian's daughter each night."
"Any word on her husband?" It was really nothing to loss too much sleep over. After all, had he not defeated Wei and Wu? Had he not destroyed or taken Shu except for a few officers?
"None. He seems to have disappeared for now."
"Find him and eliminate him. He is the last figurehead that the people might follow. With him gone, I will not have to worry about any assassination attempts.."
"Even now our men search the land of Shu for him. Perhaps he died from a wound received in battle?"
Was his adopted son really that dim? "I doubt that. Zhuge Liang dove in front of your Sky Scorcher. Next time, try to aim for the Liu Bei and not a strategist."
Lu Bu arched one eyebrow in a manner that would send a normal man screaming for the hills. Luckily, the great Dong Zhou was not easily intimidated.
It was the man who was claimed to be the best warrior among men who looked away first. "You were right about the older Qiao, father. She acts as though dead since her husband's head was delivered to her along with her breakfast."
"Break them then mold them. That's what the game is all about." He rubbed his hands together. Which should he try out first? There were so many choices. The fierceness of Lady Sun, the intellect of Yue Ying. Perhaps the beauty of both the Qiao's? "Did you remember to capture Zhou Yu alive?"
Pheasant feathers bobbed up and down in the air. "Yes."
"Good. The younger of the Qiao's will give herself freely as long as her husband is still breathing. Make sure he is comfortable, but that he lives - barely."
Lu Bu turned to go. "Did any of the generals decide to join us?"
The taller man did not even turn around. "Less than a handful. I expected more. A few did escape-"
"Do not worry about them. Alone they can do nothing." A smile caused the wart on his face to seem to dance among the pounds of fat. "But find me Zhen Ji. That beautiful butterfly must not be allowed to escape."
Lu Bu sighed. "Yes sir."
"Good." He pulled at his beard. "For now, keep the enemy generals alive until I decide how they are to die. And Lu Bu, send in Zhu Rong. I'm feeling the need for a little.. entertainment."