Scion of Madness
Chapter 3: Quan's Quandary and Misfit Shu
Sun Quan's room
Damn odd. Very damn odd. Sun Quan regarded the letter in his hands with mixed feelings. Zhuge Liang is a very intelligent individual. This sounds honest and urgent enough, but if this is true-why not consult his own clan. Why not tell Liu Bei? And why the hell was he in Wei anyway? Were he and Sima Yi planning something against us?
Sun Quan paced the room. Eight steps forward, turn, eight steps forward, turn… I can't rashly decide this. If what this is saying is true, then we are all in danger. The whole of China could be, if what he is saying gets out of hand.
His mind rolled around and chased its' own tail for some time in a similar manner. The only ultimate conclusion he could come to was that he really needed to consult somebody. But who?
But who, indeed. Leaning on an armor stand, Quan shook his head. "N' why'd he send it to me, anyway?" Thinking aloud helped at times. Perhaps this was one of them. "Hmmm…. Zhou wouldn't trust him unless there was more proof. Ce wouldn't do, because he'd ask Zhou's advice and then that's back to what I just said. I don't think he's aware of just how often Lu Meng has been deployed as strategist, and Lu Xun is just a little too much of a pyro for his taste, I'd wager. They're all, all of them, very hesitant to deal with Shu at all unless they see a really good reason to, like in Chi Bi. Hmm… that still doesn't explain anything. Does he expect me to tell father…?"
"Does who expect you to tell Pop what?" Sun Ce rumbled, barging in the door. Lu Meng trailed behind, raised eyebrow at the older Sun's entrance.
"Hmm… Your dear brother Sun Quan, that level headed soul of the family, is in a bit of a quandary." Quan looked sternly at his elder brother.
"Quan's quandary. Heheh. I made a pun. Quan…. quandary….hehehehehe." Sun Ce giggled.
Lu Meng sighed and stepped very hard on Sun Ce's foot. Sun Ce yowled and shot Lu Meng a murderous look. "What might this be about, Lord Sun Quan?"
"Heh, well…. a very interesting situation. It seems that Zhuge Liang—"
"Ack!" Sun Ce cried.
"Wha-?" Sun Quan responded in exasperation.
"You…. said that name. The one that hurts poor Zhou." Sun Ce's lower lip trembled at the mere thought of his Zhou being upset at something. Behind him, Lu Meng only shook his head and rolled his eyes skyward. Sun Quan looked ready to kill Ce single handedly.
"Wait. Forgive him, Sun Quan. I interrupted his sleep to fetch the both of you to your father." Lu Meng quickly stepped in, hoping to mollify the angry Sun.
"Feh." Sun Quan spat angrily before continuing. "Well, Zhuge Liang has been sent… or decided to go… or something… to Wei-to see Sima Yi, I take it. Apparently, Sima Yi has been a victim of circumstances and emotions that have fatally altered his mind and thinking, rendering him dangerous to the Three Kingdoms as a whole. This letter says that Sima has laid hold of dangerous magics and such that have power. The tone sounds guilty, as if Zhuge himself has played some minor role in the matter. He claims he has fled and left Jiang Wei to sort out the situation if possible while he himself goes to talk to Lord Liu Bei. He wants us to act as well. He wants to call off the summit."
"He's gotta be jerkin' our chains! Ain't no way we're fallin' for this! Even you must realize, brother, that this could well be a ploy to take our kingdom! I wouldn't trust him as far as I could toss a pony." Sun Ce stubbornly snorted.
"With no notion as to how far Sun Ce can toss poor, unfortunate equines- Does Zhuge give any real reasoning as to how Sima can cause the downfall of all three Kingdoms simultaneously?" Lu Meng interjected, trying to keep the Suns on task and away from one another's throats.
"Magic." Sun Quan simply stated. And this is the part where stubborn, unbelieving Ce refuses to see anything but the nose on his face and--
Sun Ce laughed condescendingly in Sun Quan's face. "Magic! As a preposterous suggestion as Zhuge could think of! Does he take us for dimwitted farmers!?! Are we mere commoners of no sense to him!?!" Sun Ce roared.
"No, but—" Sun Quan tried say, but Sun Ce was truly on a roll.
"At Chi Bi, Zhuge played a minor roll! It was the genius and leadership of Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu that won us that day! Zhuge was only an aggravation to Zhou!" Ce glared at Quan, daring the younger star to speak.
"Ce," Lu Meng started quietly, regarding both brothers with a gentle, almost fatherly look, "Ce… you only say these things in defense of Zhou Yu. Before you rebel against an elder's words, hear me out. Zhou himself knows that Zhuge was important at Chi Bi. There are a lot of 'ifs', as in- 'What if the wind didn't blow?'. Does that matter now? No. Have we seen examples of magic in our very sights? Yes. Now, be a rational leader like I know you have the capacity to be, and consult with your brother in a serious manner about this." Lu Meng's bright eyes bore into Sun Ce's.
And this is why I think Wu is so great. Zhuge could have said that and Jiang Wei too, but we have many talented, smart and great generals. Shu has no others to be so counseling, and Wei has only Sima and Zhange He. Not Sima now, but Xu Huang has proven his own as well… And thus Sun Quan's thoughts progressed. He sincerely lost track of what had been said until he heard his brother mutter-
".. but that still doesn't give us any ideas and Pop is having calves by now, as long as he's waited."
Sun Quan started. Oh shit! How long have we dallied? And… what about this situation!?! Ahhh-
"How… about … we … talk about it later…?" Lu Meng muttered, quite sure of the fact that Sun Jian, by now, was going to kill him.
"Lu… are you okay?" Ce asked, concerned that the older general sounded so… … … despondent.
"Oh… ah… I'm okay. But, if we are to continue this, let's do so later. I don't want my head served up on the dinner table." Lu Meng sighed as he turned for the door.
Huh … … ……that's the best we can do at the moment, but is later too late?
Sun Quan lamented as he followed Lu Meng and Sun Ce out the door. At the door jam, he glanced back at the letter once again, certain he'd loose untold amounts of sleep because of it.
Shu main camp, somewhere in some random-ish field; same time
Zhao Yun paced forwards and Zhao Yun paced back. All in all, he had been pacing for hours. And why shouldn't he? This is highly irregular, even for Zhuge. He wasn't supposed to leave in the first place. In the second place, Jiang Wei wasn't supposed to, either! Thirdly, we're supposed to leave and just what the heck is he thinking of?
In this time, the pacing did not stop. Zhao Yun, or Zhao Zilong-as many insisted on calling him-was disciplined, orderly and all around a great soldier. But Liu Bei wasn't content with this. So, naturally, neither was Zilong.
Zhuge Liang probably dragged the poor kid with him. He's just using him, I'm sure of it. Nothing cute about it. Adultery. Or something, at any rate- he can and probably has done it.
It may have been the rainy weather or it may have been the under-cooked stew, but Zhao Yun was not in a happy mood. And this is how Ma Chao found him, still pacing.
"Zhao Yun, if you do not stop that pacing, I shall tie bricks to your boots!" Ma Chao grumbled as he- quite in vain- tried to wipe the gathering drizzle off his amour.
Zilong ignored the comment and kept pacing. Ma Chao- a man of action, courage and… such things-impatiently grabbed Zhao by the shoulder.
"Why can't you pace in tents like normal people!?!" He roared, shaking a fist for emphasis.
"Because my tent is much too small for the amount of space I require for proper pacing." Zhao Yun smiled simply and innocently, trying to irritate the mighty warrior.
Ma Chao mumbled and fumed at the truth-laden sarcasm a moment, then moved on. "What do you think of the 'Zhuge' situation?"
Zhao really did stop and turned to face his friend. "I don't know. Knowing him, he has a plan or something. But why Jiang Wei too?" Confusion flitted across the young man's face as he looked to the sky, perhaps seeking answers from above.
"Maybe… they ran away? Just to be alone… or something?" Ma Chao didn't seem sure what to think either.
"No. Zhuge Liang is as committed to helping our Lord as much as I am. He would never run away. Perhaps we'll find the answer soon enough." Zhao Zilong answered, with a shrug.
The conversation wasn't meant to continue, or so Zhao Yun later thought, because at that moment Liu Bei himself walked up to the young men.
"My Lord!" Zhao Yun respectfully cried and bowed low.
"Zhao Zilong! How many times must I tell you that I do not deserve so much respect!" He sounded full of happiness as he spoke. He turned to Ma Chao. "And I see you have come to keep someone company?"
Ma Chao only raised an eyebrow at the last comment. "Bei, I only came to have a conversation with Zhao Yun. Any manufactured reasoning you think that I may be here for is completely false and utterly untrue."
"…" Liu Bei was taken aback by the now steaming Ma Chao. "Uh… yes. Quite…" He turned to Zilong. "I need to have a word with you, Zhao Yun."
"Right away, my Lord!" Zhao Yun's back straightened as he snapped a salute.
"I'll take my queue then." Ma Chao stated shortly. He sketched a salute and sauntered off to his own area.
"That man is a great general… but sometimes I wonder…" Liu Bei muttered. "Well, will you honor me by coming to my tent?"
This is either very good or very bad. Odds are……………………the latter. Damn………Zhao Yun sighed a little sigh deep in his chest and followed his lord and master in a swish of robes and a clank of weapons.
As Zhao Yun entered the main chamber of the double tent, he was almost amazed at the modest surroundings. Very little in lavish decoration or personal effects decorated the area. The whole thing was as Spartan as… As any ordinary man's tent would be. He is truly the man that I should serve. If I should die now, I would die happily-knowing that I serve such a leader. Famous last words, indeed, but there was no danger of Zilong's last moments being those.
In fact, it was a rather strange situation. He glanced at Liu Bei, who seemed to be eyeing him. This is decidedly odd. "I am here, my Lord. What is it that my insignificant presence is required for?"
Liu Bei had a glint in his eye a moment, but it died quickly. "I… … just wished for some company."
Zhao Yun couldn't have looked any more confused if he tried. "But… what of your oath brothers? I thought that maybe they would be… more appropriate and much greater entertainment for you, sir!"
"They… are not what I want right now." Liu Bei softly stated as he adjusted a lantern, lowering the light level of the room.
Oh my… Is Lord Liu Bei hitting on me!?! Does he want that kind of company from me!?! I-I must ask him. I must be imagining things. Yes, that is all. I'm just not thinking right! Zhao Yun steeled his nerves for what he was about to say. "Lord Liu Bei, do not think I am being rude or out of place, but are you… hitting on me…?"
Liu Bei looked him in the eye a moment before bursting out in peals of laughter. A-ha! I was just being silly! And with some relief, Zhao Zilong joined in the laughter. A minuet later, Liu Bei stopped and seductively muttered, "Yes."
elsewhere
Ma Chao sighed to himself. He was more than a little sure that the weather was the rightful cause of the dark mood about him. The weather, and whether or not Zhuge Liang is a traitor to the cause. He glanced up at the sky. Those men of high intelligence like him cannot always be relied on. Liu Bei relies on him so much, he could pull something if he wanted. Are none of these people of sight to see such possibilities!?!
Ma Chao snorted as he walked along and noticed his fellow generals. Zhang Fei was trading war stories and wine with a lesser general around a sheltered fire. Guan Yu and Wei Yan jovially dueled in a dirt arena. Fools.
Certainly and undeniably sour, Ma Chao walked to the edges of the camp to groom his horse. That always uplifted his mood a little, no matter how bad it was. As he curried the lovely dapple grey stallion, he heard hoof beats quickly approaching his position. He left his mount's side and ran towards the road. A white-cloaked figure perched on a laboring brown horse came into view.
"What now?" Ma Chao asked himself as he jogged down the path to intercept the oncoming visitor. As the horse skidded to a stop at the order of it's rider, Ma Chao grabbed the reigns in one hand. He wasn't surprised to see Zhuge Liang swinging out of the saddle, straightening out his robes and preparing to walk off.
Ma Chao used his free hand to put a vice-like grip on the strategist's upper arm. "What's going on and where have you been?" Ma Chao hissed.
"On business. I have great need to see our Lord. Please unhand me at once." Zhuge muttered in measured tones, coolly gazing at the general.
"No. I will personally escort you to see him. I don't trust you." Ma Chao growled.
"Well then, the favor is returned to you. I refuse to fully trust a man who cannot give Lord Liu Bei the full respect he deserves." The return fire was icy cold.
Upstart little son of a bitch! "Perhaps I should hand you over to Zhou Yu. He would certainly know what to do with such a kind gift."
"If you insist on 'escorting' me anywhere, perhaps you should hurry before I am soaked to the bone." Zhuge persisted, smiling ever so slightly.
I like the Wu general now, if only because he's one of the few other people with enough sense to dislike this man. Ma Chao said nothing aloud, but dragged Zhuge along in the most uncomfortable way imaginable. Much to his personal annoyance, Zhuge made no complaints and cheerfully asked questions that drove Ma Chao mad.
"Maybe we could move along faster if you would only let go of my arm." Zhuge kindly… stated.
"And lose the pleasure of irritating a mushroom-head like you? Not a chance." Ma Chao muttered just as kindly.
"Oh no. This is quite fun, actually." Zhuge had the nerve to smile.
Now Ma Chao really was getting angry. Oh ho ho! He wants to be cute then, does he? Let's see how he like this number! "Then you'll love this!" And Ma Chao picked up Zhuge and slung him over his shoulder like a sack of… rice. A big, lumpy, wiggling sack of rice.
"Put me down!" Zhuge cried indignantly as he beat on Ma Chao's back. Not that the action did any good, considering that Ma Chao was fully armored.
By the time the two arrived at Liu Bei's tent, Zhuge looked like he'd had sour grapes for supper and Ma Chao decided he felt a great deal better now than he did earlier. But as he put the Shu strategist down again, a muffled noise came from the Shu Lord's tent.
"Liu Bei!" Both cried at once as they rushed in to the tent. As both men entered the tent and had weapons drawn, a most awkward sight met them.
"L-L-Lord….Liu…..Bei……?" Zhuge asked, his face a mask of confusion. What was prompting all this was the fact that poor Zilong was stripped to… well, actually by now he wasn't wearing anything. Liu Bei was standing over him, an evil smile plastered to his face. It seemed as if the Shu Lord could not break the look despite the fact his cheeks colored at the fact he was caught in this… compromising position.
And Zhao Yun looked purposeful but horrified, if such a combination can exist on the visage of one individual. He broke out of the trance-like state before everybody else and quickly pulled Liu Bei's hat, the closest random thing, in front of himself to conserve what was left of his dignity.
"Is everyone losing their sanity?" Zhuge muttered to himself. Well, he thought he was, but the comment was picked up by the perceptive Ma Chao.
"Probably." He stated as he nimbly gathered up Zhao Yun's clothing and handed it back to him. Sham for a great warrior to be so disgraced. Huh, why do I care? However, Ma Chao couldn't help thinking some other thoughts as well as he noticed the sleek and muscular body of Zilong.
"Thank you." Zhao Yun mumbled as he held the bundle over himself in place of the hat.
Liu Bei was still standing there, like a bump on a log, until Ma Chao smacked 'em in the back of the head. Ma Chao did it as much to distract himself as much to bring the Lord around.
"Ow!" The Shu Lord gingerly rubbed the back of his head.
"Lord Liu Bei, I have urgent business to discuss, but this shall be straightened out first. What is going on!?!" Zhuge, for all the world, sounded like a scolding mother.
"… I am the Lord of Shu and owe no person an explanation." Liu Bei stammered.
Zhao Yun, loyal but rather pissed off, bluntly muttered, "What our Lord means, is that he shall give a very detailed explanation of these events to us later… Right?" Zilong's voice held so much authority and steel that Liu Bei muttered an affirmative like a scolded child.
"Well, I have bad news. Sima Yi is up to no good…" Zhuge began his tale.
After he finished telling what he knew, the other three were silent. Zhao Yun, fully dressed and having put the immediate past behind him, shook his head and heaved a great sigh. It seemed none of them had a real idea of what to do.
"There is one other thing…" Zhuge added, almost a guilty tone to his voice.
"What have you done now?" Ma Chao asked. Hmmmm, frying pan to the fire, it seems. How bad must this situation get before a light can be seen at the end of the dark tunnel?
"I have informed Sun Quan of much of this, in hopes that he can help things as well." Zhuge shrugged.
"That is good. He will make his father and brother understand this and will undoubtedly offer help. But I cannot honestly say any of us, at this point, has a solution. It is late. Everyone get some sleep, while I consult some others in this matter." Liu Bei nodded and dismissed his officers with a wave of his hand.
Zhao Yun exited more quickly than he usually would and Ma Chao decided to follow him….
Ja ne and Ciao!
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