Struggle for Existence
Chapter 1
By Yukira Tsurama
Author's Notes: ...
Disclaimer: I know, I know... Characters aren't mine. *sigh*
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Although Yue Ying was a good listener, and very polite, she found it hard to concentrate on what her husband was discussing at the current meeting. For the past few months, Zhuge Liang had been rather pensive, and stress had taken its toll on him. He also looked extremely serious all the time.
Something was definitely wrong. Zhuge Liang always told Yue Ying what he'd talk about at the next meeting, but this time, nothing. Nothing at all. This made the meeting rather serious, but Yue Ying's gaze kept scrolling around the room.
Yue Ying suddenly twitched as Zhao Yun accidentally spilled some ink on the table.
"For months, I have been observant of Wu and Wei's actions." Said Zhuge Liang. "I have traced down their movements on a map, and I have come to the conclusion that--"
He hesitated.
"Wu and Wei are forming a temporary alliance to attack our kingdom."
Yue Ying slightly grinned, despite the severity of the situation. Jiang Wei noticed a tiny smile creep onto her face, and stared blankly.
Zhuge Liang continued. "Even with reinforcements from the villages and the whole Shu army, we will not be able to stop Wu and Wei combined. Therefore, I have formulated a plan."
He unrolled a few scrolls, then spoke. "In the short amount of time that I've had to prepare for this, I've created an insecure plan that will probably take a lot of effort to enact, but it will work if everyone follows directions."
"What kind of plan would that be?" blurted out an anxious Ma Chao.
Zhuge Liang paused for a moment, to gather his thoughts, then answered. "I knew that if we all remained here, the Wu and Wei forces would crush us entirely. If all the individual officers separate and stay into hiding throughout China, then the forces will be safe. When Wu and Wei finally believe that Shu has disappeared and break up their alliance, I shall send out messengers to the individual officers and we will attack each kingdom separately."
"Lord Zhuge," said Jiang Wei. "I fear that the plan will fail. It's not secure. It's too risky. What if you were to..."
"If I were to die?" asked Zhuge Liang. "Then you shall take over the plan."
Yue Ying let out an indignant groan, but Zhuge didn't acknowledge it.
"When I feel that the time is right," continued Zhuge. "I shall inform each officer of the position that they will assume. If we are all spread out enough, then the alliance will not have a good chance of catching us all."
It was apparent that Zhao Yun had strong doubts. "Lord Zhuge Liang, I know that you are the master strategist and that you have formed brilliant strategies over the past...but...I fear that the plan is not rational in many ways."
"How so?"
"First," replied Zhao. "I believe that scattering officers throughout these vast lands will set the Shu kingdom in a period of disunion. Even if we do form a union to attack Wu and Wei, the discipline and morale of the soldiers are at risk."
"Yes," sighed Zhuge Liang. "I know that this plan is flawed, and I know that it may not work, but we have very little time. Either we carry out the plan...or be ultimately destroyed."
"I guess so." Zhao Yun sighed as well.
~*~*~*~*~
For the next two weeks, Zhuge Liang disciplined the soldiers rather harshly. He had them perform countless drills, and he even yelled at some of them.
Yue Ying feared that Zhuge was losing his mind. One night, she had asked him if she could assist in his plan, but he refused.
Zhuge Liang was also giving out the individual locations to each officer secretly. The officers weren't supposed to know each other's locations, in the event that one officer would be captured and forced to tell the other officers' locations. Another great flaw in the plan, but for security reasons.
As the days went by, Zhuge Liang's calm, sophisticated composure disintegrated, and Yue Ying found it harder to read his emotions with each passing day. Finally, she gave up on the poor bastard.
However, something dangerous was drawing near, and both Yue Ying and Zhuge Liang could sense it.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Review... No! I'm not writing for reviews, but it's nice to know that someone reads my fanfics. I think I just get reviews out of pity. T-T I write terribly...
Chapter 1
By Yukira Tsurama
Author's Notes: ...
Disclaimer: I know, I know... Characters aren't mine. *sigh*
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Although Yue Ying was a good listener, and very polite, she found it hard to concentrate on what her husband was discussing at the current meeting. For the past few months, Zhuge Liang had been rather pensive, and stress had taken its toll on him. He also looked extremely serious all the time.
Something was definitely wrong. Zhuge Liang always told Yue Ying what he'd talk about at the next meeting, but this time, nothing. Nothing at all. This made the meeting rather serious, but Yue Ying's gaze kept scrolling around the room.
Yue Ying suddenly twitched as Zhao Yun accidentally spilled some ink on the table.
"For months, I have been observant of Wu and Wei's actions." Said Zhuge Liang. "I have traced down their movements on a map, and I have come to the conclusion that--"
He hesitated.
"Wu and Wei are forming a temporary alliance to attack our kingdom."
Yue Ying slightly grinned, despite the severity of the situation. Jiang Wei noticed a tiny smile creep onto her face, and stared blankly.
Zhuge Liang continued. "Even with reinforcements from the villages and the whole Shu army, we will not be able to stop Wu and Wei combined. Therefore, I have formulated a plan."
He unrolled a few scrolls, then spoke. "In the short amount of time that I've had to prepare for this, I've created an insecure plan that will probably take a lot of effort to enact, but it will work if everyone follows directions."
"What kind of plan would that be?" blurted out an anxious Ma Chao.
Zhuge Liang paused for a moment, to gather his thoughts, then answered. "I knew that if we all remained here, the Wu and Wei forces would crush us entirely. If all the individual officers separate and stay into hiding throughout China, then the forces will be safe. When Wu and Wei finally believe that Shu has disappeared and break up their alliance, I shall send out messengers to the individual officers and we will attack each kingdom separately."
"Lord Zhuge," said Jiang Wei. "I fear that the plan will fail. It's not secure. It's too risky. What if you were to..."
"If I were to die?" asked Zhuge Liang. "Then you shall take over the plan."
Yue Ying let out an indignant groan, but Zhuge didn't acknowledge it.
"When I feel that the time is right," continued Zhuge. "I shall inform each officer of the position that they will assume. If we are all spread out enough, then the alliance will not have a good chance of catching us all."
It was apparent that Zhao Yun had strong doubts. "Lord Zhuge Liang, I know that you are the master strategist and that you have formed brilliant strategies over the past...but...I fear that the plan is not rational in many ways."
"How so?"
"First," replied Zhao. "I believe that scattering officers throughout these vast lands will set the Shu kingdom in a period of disunion. Even if we do form a union to attack Wu and Wei, the discipline and morale of the soldiers are at risk."
"Yes," sighed Zhuge Liang. "I know that this plan is flawed, and I know that it may not work, but we have very little time. Either we carry out the plan...or be ultimately destroyed."
"I guess so." Zhao Yun sighed as well.
~*~*~*~*~
For the next two weeks, Zhuge Liang disciplined the soldiers rather harshly. He had them perform countless drills, and he even yelled at some of them.
Yue Ying feared that Zhuge was losing his mind. One night, she had asked him if she could assist in his plan, but he refused.
Zhuge Liang was also giving out the individual locations to each officer secretly. The officers weren't supposed to know each other's locations, in the event that one officer would be captured and forced to tell the other officers' locations. Another great flaw in the plan, but for security reasons.
As the days went by, Zhuge Liang's calm, sophisticated composure disintegrated, and Yue Ying found it harder to read his emotions with each passing day. Finally, she gave up on the poor bastard.
However, something dangerous was drawing near, and both Yue Ying and Zhuge Liang could sense it.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Review... No! I'm not writing for reviews, but it's nice to know that someone reads my fanfics. I think I just get reviews out of pity. T-T I write terribly...