Trinity
By Gingivere the Shadowreaver
Disclaimer: I do not own any character in this fanfic unless otherwise stated. Lu Xun, Gan Ning, Lü Meng, and all other characters are copyrighted to KEOI Productions and are used for fan reasons only. Please do not steal or alter this fic.
First of all, thank you for the reviews. They're really encouraging and I hope that I can keep you all happy. I too was waiting for a fic where Lü Meng isn't just shoved in as a supporting character... and I've found one or two, so they made me happy. N e ways... soon to come, some Wei and Shu introduction...
Chapter Three: The Question of Honor
Gan Ning knew Lü Meng ever since he had joined with the kingdom of Wu, and even HE was worried now. Never had he seen Lü Meng's face turn completely white, and he stood behind him, ready to catch him if he should faint. What exactly made him so upset?
Sun Quan's orders.
When the three generals walked entered the camp, they were instantly greeted by the messenger from Jian Ye, where they were given the simple orders to hold off the army until the main force arrived.
Of course, on paper it was simple, but, the mere thought of the reality of the situation was overwhelming to either of the three generals, much less for the soldiers and the clueless villagers. Word hadn't spread to the camps or the village yet, but under Lü Meng's order, the only ones who knew about this new order were the three generals and the messenger that awaited orders in the room.
Lu Xun could see the messenger's fear; he could see it clearly in his eyes. And Lu Xun could not blame him, as he probably wore the same face as well, a face that tried to cover their emotions. However, there was one thing that was working against the young ones, such as himself and the messenger; their eyes told all.
The young general did not realize how he held his breath until he looked to Gan Ning, as if to look for comfort. The pirate would show no fear, and perhaps he could borrow some of that courage from him, Lu Xun thought hopefully. Gan Ning was so odd, standing behind the oddly silent Lü Meng, hands hovering over his friend's arms and legs slightly bent, to prepare for the extra weight.
And Lü Meng...
The general was bent over the table, still staring at the letter with the orders written there in plain words. Two hands were firmly set down, to keep himself up, and his jaw had locked tightly, as if he never trusted himself to speak. It didn't take a genius to see how worried he was, and Lu Xun almost mimicked him, keeping his own jaws shut tightly, afraid to shatter the silence.
Finally, someone spoke, and the messenger kept a tight control over his voice, trying to cover his fear. "Lord Lü Meng, they expect to make it here within five or six days... and we estimate that the invading army will dock within the next two days."
"That's not enough time... Lord Zhou Yu will take this to his grave that we should have stationed a better defense down here." Lü Meng stated, finally regaining some of his old vigor and standing straight, relieving Gan Ning's suspicions. The pirate seemed eager, contrasting his friend's hesitant nature. And Lu Xun said nothing, feeling out of place. "And we haven't the troops for a proper defense."
Gan Ning finally spoke out, crossing his arms, "Perhaps not... but that doesn't mean we can't do anything! What about an offensive while they're still on the boats?"
"A fire attack would work, but the winds won't blow in our favor until winter..." Lü Meng pointed out, pulling out the maps and pointing to several places. Lu Xun watched them, observing as Lü Meng tried to come up with something. "Holding them off into the bay would seem to be the best strategy; they will run low on supplies and their morale will fall, weakening them for the main force."
"Question; how do you plan to keep them there?"
Lü Meng looked at Gan Ning, "I won't be doing all the thinking alone; we'll hold them back with anything we have. Lu Xun, your suggestion?"
Raising his head, Lu Xun seemed surprised that he was acknowledged, but he quickly offered his advise, joining with them at the map. "What exactly do we have stationed here?"
"Old, damaged naval boats, grain, fish, fodder, some kegs of gunpowder, but we don't know what condition they're in. They're probably no good for us."
The pirate shook his head, "I don't like it; we can't possibly hold the ENTIRE fleet into the bay; soon enough they'll be close to each other to walk from boat to boat, and they're pirates; what makes you think that they're afraid to get their feet wet to get on shore?"
"Then what do you suggest we do? Once they get on land, they'll swarm the village and take siege here, giving them a stable place to stay; that's the last thing we need is for them to gain the momentum." Lü Meng argued, sending his friend a look. "A bold charge forward would seem like something you would do."
"More honor in that then running away!" Gan Ning shot back. "Why not use one of the old boats, fill it with the gunpowder, and send their fleet a little flaming present, in courtesy of Wu? The boats will be so crowded that, despite the winds working against us, the flames will spread."
It seemed flawless, but it was Lu Xun who shot the idea down, "Once again, how can we be sure that the gun powder is usable? Who knows how long it's been down here, and the rain damage would cancel the flames."
"But..." Gan Ning continued. "It's the only thing we have... what if it works?"
"And what if it doesn't?"
Snorting, Gan Ning gripped his sword and slammed it down on the table, leaving a mark and seeing Lu Xun flinch made him grin slightly. "If it doesn't work, then not only do we look stupid, but we're given one less option to try, right?"
Lü Meng favored the equal use of brains and brawn, and he approved this idea, "It's definitely an option; it'll lower their morale and perhaps strike fear into the soldiers hearts to see that such a lowly force is willing to fight. But, then, after all that is done, what next? What if they get on land?"
"Then we fight to the death! They can't take this city; they will use our grain and supplies against us, and the civilian casualties will be great." Gan Ning finally withdrew the blade from the dent in the table, looking to the two and sneering at their obvious disapproval. "They're pirates; I know what they will do once they set foot on land! They're plunder and kill mercilessly, then take more!"
"They will outnumber us, and they will certainly destroy us." Lü Meng argued, shaking his head and walking slowly to the window, to look at the morning view of the sea. The sight of the distant ships ruined it, and he quickly turned, to counter his friend's next statement before it could be said. "And after we die, then who will stop them?! The peasants? The merchants? The farmers will raise their hoes, only to be cut down by swords and spears. If we are not alive, the main forces from Jian Ye will be the next victim; the more we do to hold them off now, the better chance of the main force being able to defeat the weakened invaders."
Rather Gan Ning was silent for lack of what to say or because he agreed, Lu Xun did not know, but he could clearly see the messenger's tears and Lü Meng was exhausted from his shouting. Now came another long, awkward moment of silence, and per usual, Lu Xun kept silent, waiting for either of the two generals to speak up. Neither of them did, and, the young officer opened his mouth, but his words died before lifting into the air. He lost nerve, but Gan Ning saw his mouth open, and he stood, waiting for him to speak.
"Lord Lü Meng, we all know the seriousness of the situation here." Lu Xun finally found the words, and he even agreed that they sounded so weak to his own ears. The general didn't even turn to him, but the pirate gave him his attention, urging Lu Xun to continue. "And though keeping them in the bay seems to be the best idea, there is no possible way that we can do this with our current condition. We... we must fight."
Now the general turned around, but before he could say anything, Gan Ning silenced him. "Wait... let him continue."
Oh, how nervous was Lu Xun, who stood before the two, trembling hands behind his back and throbbing heart within his small chest, pounding until it almost hurt. Yes, they could see how terrified he was, but they could also see how well he tried to cover it, to merely speak. "There's honor in fighting, but no honor in dying, or running, as many of us are bred to think. However... with the current situation, the main question that we need to answer is this. What is honor? Where is the honor in this?"
Now Gan Ning wore a look, but Lu Xun dared not look at it, knowing that if he did, he would certainly lose his nerve. He kept his golden eyes forward and straight, determined not to shed tears or even blink. "In all truth, there is no honor here. The only objective for us is to keep the forces from gaining too much land and to hold them off until the main force arrives... if we fail, then... there is no honor for us. To die here would not help Wu, but to return alive after letting the army invade our land... perhaps we shouldn't do what is honorable, but what is correct for us to do."
That was it; Lu Xun lost all nerves, and if he held a knife or a weapon, he would have slit his throat to avoid being here at this very instant. Did he just reveal his fear and despair in front of his superiors, his friends that had just went out of their way to celebrate his birthday the night before? He turned away, unable to stand their stares anymore. 'Just kill me already...'
And what made it worse was that neither of them spoke, neither of them moved, and he feared to turn to them, to see what their faces wore. He was overwhelmed with shame, until Lü Meng shattered the silence. "You're wrong... there is honor in all of this."
Still, Lu Xun did not turn, but, seeing that he wasn't going to, Lü Meng regretted that the child wouldn't see his smile before leaving the room. "The honor lies within our duties to protect Wu and the people as long as we possibly can... come life or death, we cannot allow this menace Hua Seung to take that honor away!"
Hearing the footsteps and the curtains ruffling signaled Lü Meng's departure, and soon it was only Gan Ning, Lu Xun, and the messenger left in the room. The pirate was torn between talking to Lu Xun or following his friend, but he made his choice when he cleared his throat, "So... you're going to wait until we turn you into a statue or are you going to do something?"
At first, Lu Xun didn't believe he was being addressed, until the pirate crept behind him, looking over his shoulder to reveal his impish grin. His bright red eyes dazzled with life, as he almost laughed, "Tell me truthfully; was that you speaking, or was it the alcohol?"
Lu Xun wore a depressing look, but there were no hint of tears, only relief in those golden eyes. "What do we do, general? What CAN we do?"
"Well... standing here and moping won't help! Grab the map and follow me."
Of course, Lu Xun obeyed, moving half-heartedly to roll up the map as he followed the pirate. The messenger followed as well, and they walked through the camp, seeing the soldiers who now stared at them. Did they overhear? Lu Xun said nothing, as the pirate laughed, "Get your swords and spears, and pack up the supplies! Be ready to head out when we return."
They got to work instantly, and Lu Xun asked, "Won't you even tell them why they're getting ready for war?"
"Do I really? They shouldn't be slacking in the first place."
With that, Lu Xun only nodded, and it didn't take them long before they found Lü Meng, seeing him standing at the farthest edge of the camp, looking out into the bay and the village that laid in the million man army's path. He kept his back turned to them, even as they approached him. Gan Ning shouted to him, "Hey, we still haven't got a strategy, Meng! Why'd you run off?"
The general didn't turn, but he replied, "I'm observing the terrain... seeing if there's anything we can use to our advantage."
Lu Xun was relieved, hearing no anger in that voice, but still, he was hesitant to speak until Lü Meng spoke his name, "Lu Xun..."
"Yes sir?" The young general looked up, seeing the hand that motioned him. Taking a breath, Lu Xun joined Lü Meng's side, seeing his profile now. Those dark eyes were set forward, as if to ignore him, and Lu Xun spoke up, making sure he knew he was there. "Sir?"
"I plan to use the fire attack that Gan Ning has offered, however, we're uncertain about the condition of the gun powder and the last thing we need is for that to backfire." Lü Meng stated, as now the pirate came to join him. "Hua Seung will pressed forward, regardless of the attack or not, and invade the village. You're thoughts?"
Seeing now that it was safe, Lu Xun nodded, "My own as well. Perhaps, sir, instead of burning the boats first, we should allow them into our land, deep enough to where we can send a force to cut off their retreat and supply route."
"How do you plan to do that?" Gan Ning asked.
"Well, there are three advantages we have over them right now: advantage of terrain, advantage of supplies, and knowledge of our enemy. They had two advantages over us: advantage of numbers and advantage of spirit." Lu Xun stated, catching their eyes as he tried to explain. "We know the terrain here, so we would know where to escape to and where the best spots for ambushes are, correct?"
"Aye..."
As Lü Meng's eyes narrowed, he listened carefully as Lu Xun began scheming. "We can set up ambushes, use hit and run tactics, and set traps, taking as little casualties as possible."
Finally he was stopped, as Gan Ning asked, "Wait... why only a little?"
"Gan Ning, if you held an army of a million men, wouldn't you be a little over confident?" Lü Meng questioned, grinning now as he caught on to what Lu Xun was saying. "To Hua Seung, what's the loss of a few men? He'll overlook it and just send out more forces, not realizing that he's wasting away his troops and soldiers slowly, and by the time he reaches the main force, he will not realize how much weaker his forces has become. It's using the enemy's overconfidence to our advantage."
Then it clicked for Gan Ning, as the pirate grabbed Lu Xun and practically swept him off his feet with a strong embrace. "Genius! That's something that Seung would definitely fall for; he HATES the details..."
Proud that his idea was acceptable, Lu Xun actually smiled, but he waited until the pirate put him down before continuing. "Though Hua Seung would fall for it, what about Sei Rong? Would he see through it?"
"Perhaps... but even if he did, Seung wouldn't listen to him." Gan Ning stated. "But, we should take care of that, JUST in case. He'll definitely be a threat if we keep him alive for long."
"That settles it then... we will lead them out far enough to where we can burn the boats and supplies, and pick off their troops, but not enough to catch Hua Seung's guard." Lü Meng announced for them to hear, and he turned to the messenger. "Report to Lord Sun Quan immediately! Tell him of our plans and not to worry; we will dare not fail him! Now, be quick!"
As if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, the messenger quickly bowed, "Yes sir!"
He was gone in a flash, and Lü Meng turned to Lu Xun. "Lu Xun, I'm leaving you in charge of evacuating the village. Make sure that all supplies and cattle are removed; we wouldn't want them to fall into the enemies' hands. After they are safe, return here immediately so that we can begin setting the traps."
The young officer bowed, nodding his head twice before taking his leave. That left Lü Meng and the pirate, who stood at attention and awaited orders. Seeing this, Lü Meng questioned this, "What the hell are you doing?"
"Awaiting orders, Chief Commander Lü Meng!" Gan Ning replied quickly, a grin covering his tanned face, jokingly mocking Lu Xun. This rather annoyed Lü Meng, who gave him a sour look as he began to dig into his armor. "Don't deny it, Meng! It won't be long before you get promoted!"
The general wanted to admit it, but he feared it was too prideful of him to want to say that. So he kept it mainly to himself, as he replied, "When it's my time, then yes, but right now I have other things to worry about."
The pirate only laughed, finally noticing the letter that his friend began to open. "Hey, what's that? A letter from your wife?"
"No. Worse. Lady Wu..."
"That overbearing... I mean, that sweet, nice, elderly, nose in the wrong place Empress?" Gan Ning showed his obvious disliking towards the woman, receiving another sour glance from his friend but was replaced with a grin, almost laughing at his joke. As he began reading, Gan Ning asked, "What does our lovely mother of the battle axe want?"
Scanning the letter, Lü Meng rose an eyebrow, "Hm... well, Ning, we have two orders. One of which is from our lord, and the other is from his mother."
Seeing the slight concern surface on his friend's face, he asked, "And?"
"Woman... they would schedule such things during war!" Lü Meng sighed, handing the letter to Gan Ning to read. He quoted as much as he could, as the pirate began reading it. "A little surprise for our young friend if or when we return to Jian Ye... and we should make it possible for him to return to receive his surprise."
By this time, Gan Ning had finished reading, and his face had slightly paled, "Must be a woman thing... to make our lives a bit harder. Oh well, it makes life interesting!"
"I only hope she realizes the importance of the situation down here... and will be willing to forgive us should something hap-"
He was silenced by the pirate, who grabbed his pony tail and gave it a yank. "Don't say such things! Didn't you say something to Taishi Ci about tempting fate before he met his fate at He Fei? We can handle this sidequest, Meng! It's a good surprise, one that I would like to actually see when we return to Jian Ye!"
"If... if we return."
"There you go again, always looking at the glass half empty. Think positive, and we WILL return to Jian Ye!" Gan Ning said, draping an arm over his friend's shoulder and giving him a confident smile. His friend returned it with a tired expression of his own, but that didn't falter Gan Ning's spirit, as he tugged on the pony tail again before leaving. "And I sure as hell ain't returning without you or the kid... that's not a pirate's way."
And he was gone, leaving Lü Meng to his thoughts alone. He turned back to the village, seeing Lu Xun, mounted on a horse, quickly running towards the village. His eyes never left him, and, with a sigh, Lü Meng made a quick, mental prayer that things would work out for Wu and themselves...
~*~*~*~
One thing that Sun Quan wasn't expecting was for a visit by his sister-in-law, and he quickly donned his battle armor as his attendants allowed her in. He hated to be rude to Da Qiao, but surely she would understand the importance of this matter. Thankfully to him, she did, as she found him and sat on her knees, bowing before him. "My lord, I see that you're in a hurry, so I shall be brief."
"No, please, take your time. I do wish to have a civilized conversation before rushing off into battle," Sun Quan admitted, looking at his departed brother's wife as he adjusted his chest plate. He did not like war, but it seemed there was no other option, so he might as well try to enjoy himself before setting off into battle with sword and spear ready. "Something seems to trouble you; is there anything that I can do to help you before I go?"
Da Qiao, the elder of the two Qiao sisters, was everything a woman should have been; beautiful, polite, and a friendly spirit to those around her. She often gave advise to others, hoping to spread her kindness about as her own way of fighting in the wars. So helpful; her husband was so lucky. Finally, she replied, raising her gentle face to look at him. "My lord, I first want to wish you the best of luck on your campaign against the invading army... I've heard rumors of their numbers, and I wanted to tell you in person."
To this, Sun Quan almost panicked, "How many know this?"
"The palace... but beyond that I could not tell. We're all worried, but we have faith in you and in the soldiers and generals of Wu, and though there isn't much for us to do, we will stand firmly behind you," Da Qiao answered, hoping to calm him down a bit before asking her second question.
It seemed to work, as his green eyes glistened with joy, to know that his people were behind him in the matter. This was why he was fighting, to keep his kingdom and those who lived there safe. He gave a sigh, continuing his task as he looked in the mirror to set his shoulderpads straight. "It eases my fears to know this... I thank you, Lady Qiao."
She merely smiled, as she went on to her next question, "And sir, is it true that the young general Lu Xun is stationed down there?"
"Yes, it is true... why do you ask?"
"It's come to my attention that he is of age now, and soon my daughter will be as well. I... as well as your mother... wishes to unite the families of Lu and Sun by offering my daughter to be his husband."
This silenced Sun Quan, as he slowly turned to her. He heard his mother say it before, after one of their meetings. His mother adored the boy, as if to see past the shield he wore himself in, and he remembered her words after the young general took his leave one day. 'To have a son like that would make any mother proud! I would marry him to Sun Shang Xiang, had she not been given to Liu Bei already.'
That mother of his...
Da Qiao waited for his response, and she could almost see the slight despair in his green eyes, as if he was going to refuse the ceremony. However, he covered it with a rather forced smile, to lighten her spirit. "Of course then! When we return we will begin preparations, Lady Qiao. I ask that you have your daughter ready, then, but I'm sure I don't have to tell you such things as you're always ahead of the game."
"Thank you, my lord!" Da Qiao gave another bow before she dismissed herself, and she called out as she left. "Do be careful, Lord Sun Quan... the people would be lost without you."
That was a nice note to leave off at, Sun Quan had to admit, though it only added more pressure to his already stressed soul. Something in his gut flipped over and over it flipped again, and he finished his own preparations as he went to the helmet at the head of his bed. This was his father's helmet, one that was worn by his father and brother before him on their campaigns, and now, she shall bear it. Removing his own hat to replace it with the helmet, Sun Quan looked into the mirror and sighed, mentally speaking to his father and brother now. 'You both worked hard to gain this land, and I won't lose it now... no one will... my officers, my generals, my people will never let our kingdom fall. Father... brother... watch over us.'
He could hear no response, but that did not stop him. Now, the lord of Wu, ready for battle, walked out of his rooms, hoping that this would not be the last time he looked at it's elegant design. With armor to shield his body and his razor-tipped sword to rest off his hip, Sun Quan was ready for war!
However, before he could leave, he had to make one last stop, and he wasn't too surprised to find his mother sitting outside in the garden. This was her usual spot, right next to the flowers of red tint that dangled from the stone walls, and he knew she always came here to escape. What was she trying to escape from now he did not know, and he kept his silence until she heard the clanging of his armor when he stopped. Lady Wu turned around to face him, and her crinkle-like face lit up with a smile as she looked upon her son. "Oh, there's my king! All dressed for war like the hero he was born to be. Just like your father and brother!"
Sun Quan smiled, mainly to please her if anything, and he returned the gentle hug that his mother gave to him, despite the armor. "I only defend the nation that the ones before me built, mother. I would hate to leave, but my soldiers call for me."
Lady Wu understood completely, giving his cheek a peck before turning back to the beautiful pink flowers that awaited her attention. Sun Quan was silent for the longest time, before spotting the other maidens in the garden as well. Some of his sister's sword maidens had stayed behind by request, to guard her mother, and one of which was his niece. He could clearly see her now, her black hair in two buns on the side of her head, and light, leather armor covering her light red outfit. And at her side was a sword, resting in its hilt, useless as there was no one to defend now.
His attention was drawn away from the maiden when his mother asked, "Is something bothering you, Quan?"
"Why, yes, mother..." Prying his eyes off of the maiden, who now noticed his gaze, he turned to his mother, crossing his arms to keep them busy. He rather hated this garden, for more reasons then one, but he dared not complain as he brought up the subject to his now attentive mother. "Lady Qiao has just requested that her daughter be wed to one of my generals, one who is currently away at war. I'm sure you've heard."
Slight surprise was hinted in Lady Wu's eyes, but she denied everything, "Lady Qiao? Which one?"
"The elder, Da." Sun Quan informed, as he noticed that the sword maiden's expression. It seemed that everyone knew of the plan but himself, but he did not complain as he noticed his mother's avoidance. "Mother... I heard you say it before, that if you had the chance, you would have married my sister to him."
"Well, if YOU and Zhou Yu wouldn't have married my dear daughter off to Liu Bei, then of course I would have." Lady Wu proclaimed, her anger quickly doused as she turned back to the flowers. "Then I wouldn't have met him and my daughter wouldn't have been as happy as she is now."
'Hardly the case,' Sun Quan thought as he rose his gaze towards the heavens. He was partially thankful to be rid of Sun Shang Xiang, actually... made the castle much more tolerable. However, he DARED not say this aloud to anyone, in fear of his mother finding out. "Well, as much as I would be happy to have another wedding, I want you to realize the seriousness of the situation. Ri-"
"Yes, I know of the situation, dear! News spreads quickly around here." Lady Wu found a dead flower and picked it off, sad to see something so beautiful lifeless. She could see her son's worried expression through the pond, as she did her best to soothe it. "I figured that after all the fighting that we could celebrate something besides war and politics for once, so I arranged a wedding for when general Lu Xun returns to Jian Ye."
As she continued her pruning, the lord of Wu gave a deep sigh, "Mother, no one if for sure that he will even return. It's three thousand verses a million... the chances of him even coming back to be buried is... very slim."
This news didn't seem to shatter her spirit, as she turned to her son and gave a determined look, to blanket his fears. "Must you say that louder? She does not need to have doubts, and neither should you. I believe you underestimate the abilities of the officers you speak so highly of."
"Mother-"
"Hush now, before you give my granddaughter cold feet! Besides, I am positively sure that we will win and that young Lu Xun will return for the wedding. I have sent reassurance."
To this, Sun Quan rose an eyebrow, "Reassurance, mother?"
"Of course!" With a grin, she turned back to the flowers that begged for her attention. "I know your officers as much as you do, and I know those two won't fail me."
Sun Quan would have questioned it further, however, Zhou Yu's shout caught his attention. With a weary sigh, Sun Quan turned to leave, but his mother called to him, and as he stopped, she rose and gave him one last embrace, holding her son close. "Now, I'm sure that you will make your father and brother proud, and Wu will prosper. I have faith in you."
"Thank you, mother..." He smiled, returning the hug but being careful as to not harm her with his armor. "You take care, and make sure the wedding preparations are in order for when we return."
They separated, and Sun Quan, with his armor and sword ready, left the garden, prepared for war. Lady Wu wiped a tear from her eye, just as the sword maiden approached her, speaking lowly, "They're return, grandmother."
"Oh, I know they will... I'm just worried."
"Worried?"
Turning to her granddaughter, Lady Wu replied, "He mentioned nothing about aid from the other kingdoms, and I only worry that we may be alone in this fight, even though it will affect the entire country as a whole rather than this kingdom. I only hope that the other emperors can understand this... and raise their arms to fight."
~*~*~*~
"How many?!"
The two generals could hardly believe their ears, and though Wei Yan could hardly count that high, he knew it was a bad number just by the expression on the elder's face. Huang Zhong wore a look of disbelief, and his old eyes seemed to have a glint for battle, as he questioned the soldier again. "Are you sure?!"
The messenger replied, trying not to notice the masked general that stood a few feet from the veteran. "I'm positive; Nanman troops haven't shut up about them, and they found out through travelers from the southeast. One million men, all accounted for."
News had spread throughout Wu, and through Wu, the Nanman territories and even further to the west, to the kingdom of Shu-Han, and though many could not believe of such a naval fleet existing, no one truly wanted to go venture out to make sure that these rumors were true or false.
Huang Zhong was a well seasoned veteran who had served under lord Liu Bei for a few years now, and his name was well-known throughout the ranks of many. He was known for his age, his desire to fight, and his keen eye, which came useful to his greatest skill of all, archery. There was no one greater than him, and, his comrade, could easily back up that fact. The elder was also a member of the Tiger Generals of Shu, and the elder member looked towards Wei Yan, to note his hard black eyes.
"One million men, eh? Sounds pretty unbelievable, eh, Wei Yan?"
The masked general gripped his voulge, but he said nothing, merely growling and scaring the soldier a bit as the soldier spoke to Huang Zhong, "We must report this to Lord Liu Bei, regardless if the rumor was true or not. What if it is?"
"And what if it isn't?" Huang Zhong remarked. "I've lived a long time, runt, and let me tell you. There is no such thing as an army that size! I don't care if they're from the islands far east or if they sprouted from the pits of hell itself, no such army can possibly exist!"
Still, the soldier insisted, "But sir, how can we be sure?"
When Huang Zhong was going to reply, Wei Yan made a movement, moving quickly into the bushes and leaving the other two to wonder for a second. Huang Zhong sighed, grabbing his bow and following, "Wei Yan, where the hell are you going?"
The general did not reply, disappearing through the bushes and out of Huang Zhong's sight. Sighing, the seasoned general loaded his bow, knowing that trouble couldn't be too far ahead. After a good minute, Huang Zhong heard a shout rise from Wei Yan's throat and the cry of a horse, and he shot through the bushes, getting the rider right on the arm. He missed the head on purpose, and he did not reveal himself from the bushes until he was sure that Wei Yan had everything under control.
"What do you have this time, boy?" Huang Zhong demanded, storming through the bushes as he grabbed another arrow. He spotted the problem, as Wei Yan threatened the terrified and wounded messenger. The voulge's blade barely touched the messenger's throat, and the man trembled, as Huang Zhong spared him from Wei Yan's deathly glare. "Back down; he's wounded."
The masked general gave a grunt before obeying, allowing the frightened messenger air to breathe as the veteran walked over to him, standing over him and keeping the arrow set nicely on the bow, just in case. He aimed it at the messenger's head, "State your business, before I allow him to make a chew toy out of you."
The messenger swallowed the knot in his throat, staring at Huang Zhong before finding the nerve to speak again. "I come from Wu-I have a message for your lord!"
"That's what this is all about?" Huang Zhong demanded, grabbing the messenger and helping him sit up. As he began to address the arrow wound, he noticed how Wei Yan backed off, and he merely shook his head. 'Can't control that rage of yours, can you?'
"It's urgent, sir! Lord Sun Quan requests aid for the upcoming battle!"
The messenger gave a grunt as Huang Zhong snapped the arrow in two and pushed it out as painlessly as possible. He seemed used to this, as he had grown used to addressing Wei Yan's wounds many times before. "Calm down; what battle, young one?"
Giving him such a look, the messenger responded, "The million man army, sir! They are due to dock within the next two days!"
By Gingivere the Shadowreaver
Disclaimer: I do not own any character in this fanfic unless otherwise stated. Lu Xun, Gan Ning, Lü Meng, and all other characters are copyrighted to KEOI Productions and are used for fan reasons only. Please do not steal or alter this fic.
First of all, thank you for the reviews. They're really encouraging and I hope that I can keep you all happy. I too was waiting for a fic where Lü Meng isn't just shoved in as a supporting character... and I've found one or two, so they made me happy. N e ways... soon to come, some Wei and Shu introduction...
Chapter Three: The Question of Honor
Gan Ning knew Lü Meng ever since he had joined with the kingdom of Wu, and even HE was worried now. Never had he seen Lü Meng's face turn completely white, and he stood behind him, ready to catch him if he should faint. What exactly made him so upset?
Sun Quan's orders.
When the three generals walked entered the camp, they were instantly greeted by the messenger from Jian Ye, where they were given the simple orders to hold off the army until the main force arrived.
Of course, on paper it was simple, but, the mere thought of the reality of the situation was overwhelming to either of the three generals, much less for the soldiers and the clueless villagers. Word hadn't spread to the camps or the village yet, but under Lü Meng's order, the only ones who knew about this new order were the three generals and the messenger that awaited orders in the room.
Lu Xun could see the messenger's fear; he could see it clearly in his eyes. And Lu Xun could not blame him, as he probably wore the same face as well, a face that tried to cover their emotions. However, there was one thing that was working against the young ones, such as himself and the messenger; their eyes told all.
The young general did not realize how he held his breath until he looked to Gan Ning, as if to look for comfort. The pirate would show no fear, and perhaps he could borrow some of that courage from him, Lu Xun thought hopefully. Gan Ning was so odd, standing behind the oddly silent Lü Meng, hands hovering over his friend's arms and legs slightly bent, to prepare for the extra weight.
And Lü Meng...
The general was bent over the table, still staring at the letter with the orders written there in plain words. Two hands were firmly set down, to keep himself up, and his jaw had locked tightly, as if he never trusted himself to speak. It didn't take a genius to see how worried he was, and Lu Xun almost mimicked him, keeping his own jaws shut tightly, afraid to shatter the silence.
Finally, someone spoke, and the messenger kept a tight control over his voice, trying to cover his fear. "Lord Lü Meng, they expect to make it here within five or six days... and we estimate that the invading army will dock within the next two days."
"That's not enough time... Lord Zhou Yu will take this to his grave that we should have stationed a better defense down here." Lü Meng stated, finally regaining some of his old vigor and standing straight, relieving Gan Ning's suspicions. The pirate seemed eager, contrasting his friend's hesitant nature. And Lu Xun said nothing, feeling out of place. "And we haven't the troops for a proper defense."
Gan Ning finally spoke out, crossing his arms, "Perhaps not... but that doesn't mean we can't do anything! What about an offensive while they're still on the boats?"
"A fire attack would work, but the winds won't blow in our favor until winter..." Lü Meng pointed out, pulling out the maps and pointing to several places. Lu Xun watched them, observing as Lü Meng tried to come up with something. "Holding them off into the bay would seem to be the best strategy; they will run low on supplies and their morale will fall, weakening them for the main force."
"Question; how do you plan to keep them there?"
Lü Meng looked at Gan Ning, "I won't be doing all the thinking alone; we'll hold them back with anything we have. Lu Xun, your suggestion?"
Raising his head, Lu Xun seemed surprised that he was acknowledged, but he quickly offered his advise, joining with them at the map. "What exactly do we have stationed here?"
"Old, damaged naval boats, grain, fish, fodder, some kegs of gunpowder, but we don't know what condition they're in. They're probably no good for us."
The pirate shook his head, "I don't like it; we can't possibly hold the ENTIRE fleet into the bay; soon enough they'll be close to each other to walk from boat to boat, and they're pirates; what makes you think that they're afraid to get their feet wet to get on shore?"
"Then what do you suggest we do? Once they get on land, they'll swarm the village and take siege here, giving them a stable place to stay; that's the last thing we need is for them to gain the momentum." Lü Meng argued, sending his friend a look. "A bold charge forward would seem like something you would do."
"More honor in that then running away!" Gan Ning shot back. "Why not use one of the old boats, fill it with the gunpowder, and send their fleet a little flaming present, in courtesy of Wu? The boats will be so crowded that, despite the winds working against us, the flames will spread."
It seemed flawless, but it was Lu Xun who shot the idea down, "Once again, how can we be sure that the gun powder is usable? Who knows how long it's been down here, and the rain damage would cancel the flames."
"But..." Gan Ning continued. "It's the only thing we have... what if it works?"
"And what if it doesn't?"
Snorting, Gan Ning gripped his sword and slammed it down on the table, leaving a mark and seeing Lu Xun flinch made him grin slightly. "If it doesn't work, then not only do we look stupid, but we're given one less option to try, right?"
Lü Meng favored the equal use of brains and brawn, and he approved this idea, "It's definitely an option; it'll lower their morale and perhaps strike fear into the soldiers hearts to see that such a lowly force is willing to fight. But, then, after all that is done, what next? What if they get on land?"
"Then we fight to the death! They can't take this city; they will use our grain and supplies against us, and the civilian casualties will be great." Gan Ning finally withdrew the blade from the dent in the table, looking to the two and sneering at their obvious disapproval. "They're pirates; I know what they will do once they set foot on land! They're plunder and kill mercilessly, then take more!"
"They will outnumber us, and they will certainly destroy us." Lü Meng argued, shaking his head and walking slowly to the window, to look at the morning view of the sea. The sight of the distant ships ruined it, and he quickly turned, to counter his friend's next statement before it could be said. "And after we die, then who will stop them?! The peasants? The merchants? The farmers will raise their hoes, only to be cut down by swords and spears. If we are not alive, the main forces from Jian Ye will be the next victim; the more we do to hold them off now, the better chance of the main force being able to defeat the weakened invaders."
Rather Gan Ning was silent for lack of what to say or because he agreed, Lu Xun did not know, but he could clearly see the messenger's tears and Lü Meng was exhausted from his shouting. Now came another long, awkward moment of silence, and per usual, Lu Xun kept silent, waiting for either of the two generals to speak up. Neither of them did, and, the young officer opened his mouth, but his words died before lifting into the air. He lost nerve, but Gan Ning saw his mouth open, and he stood, waiting for him to speak.
"Lord Lü Meng, we all know the seriousness of the situation here." Lu Xun finally found the words, and he even agreed that they sounded so weak to his own ears. The general didn't even turn to him, but the pirate gave him his attention, urging Lu Xun to continue. "And though keeping them in the bay seems to be the best idea, there is no possible way that we can do this with our current condition. We... we must fight."
Now the general turned around, but before he could say anything, Gan Ning silenced him. "Wait... let him continue."
Oh, how nervous was Lu Xun, who stood before the two, trembling hands behind his back and throbbing heart within his small chest, pounding until it almost hurt. Yes, they could see how terrified he was, but they could also see how well he tried to cover it, to merely speak. "There's honor in fighting, but no honor in dying, or running, as many of us are bred to think. However... with the current situation, the main question that we need to answer is this. What is honor? Where is the honor in this?"
Now Gan Ning wore a look, but Lu Xun dared not look at it, knowing that if he did, he would certainly lose his nerve. He kept his golden eyes forward and straight, determined not to shed tears or even blink. "In all truth, there is no honor here. The only objective for us is to keep the forces from gaining too much land and to hold them off until the main force arrives... if we fail, then... there is no honor for us. To die here would not help Wu, but to return alive after letting the army invade our land... perhaps we shouldn't do what is honorable, but what is correct for us to do."
That was it; Lu Xun lost all nerves, and if he held a knife or a weapon, he would have slit his throat to avoid being here at this very instant. Did he just reveal his fear and despair in front of his superiors, his friends that had just went out of their way to celebrate his birthday the night before? He turned away, unable to stand their stares anymore. 'Just kill me already...'
And what made it worse was that neither of them spoke, neither of them moved, and he feared to turn to them, to see what their faces wore. He was overwhelmed with shame, until Lü Meng shattered the silence. "You're wrong... there is honor in all of this."
Still, Lu Xun did not turn, but, seeing that he wasn't going to, Lü Meng regretted that the child wouldn't see his smile before leaving the room. "The honor lies within our duties to protect Wu and the people as long as we possibly can... come life or death, we cannot allow this menace Hua Seung to take that honor away!"
Hearing the footsteps and the curtains ruffling signaled Lü Meng's departure, and soon it was only Gan Ning, Lu Xun, and the messenger left in the room. The pirate was torn between talking to Lu Xun or following his friend, but he made his choice when he cleared his throat, "So... you're going to wait until we turn you into a statue or are you going to do something?"
At first, Lu Xun didn't believe he was being addressed, until the pirate crept behind him, looking over his shoulder to reveal his impish grin. His bright red eyes dazzled with life, as he almost laughed, "Tell me truthfully; was that you speaking, or was it the alcohol?"
Lu Xun wore a depressing look, but there were no hint of tears, only relief in those golden eyes. "What do we do, general? What CAN we do?"
"Well... standing here and moping won't help! Grab the map and follow me."
Of course, Lu Xun obeyed, moving half-heartedly to roll up the map as he followed the pirate. The messenger followed as well, and they walked through the camp, seeing the soldiers who now stared at them. Did they overhear? Lu Xun said nothing, as the pirate laughed, "Get your swords and spears, and pack up the supplies! Be ready to head out when we return."
They got to work instantly, and Lu Xun asked, "Won't you even tell them why they're getting ready for war?"
"Do I really? They shouldn't be slacking in the first place."
With that, Lu Xun only nodded, and it didn't take them long before they found Lü Meng, seeing him standing at the farthest edge of the camp, looking out into the bay and the village that laid in the million man army's path. He kept his back turned to them, even as they approached him. Gan Ning shouted to him, "Hey, we still haven't got a strategy, Meng! Why'd you run off?"
The general didn't turn, but he replied, "I'm observing the terrain... seeing if there's anything we can use to our advantage."
Lu Xun was relieved, hearing no anger in that voice, but still, he was hesitant to speak until Lü Meng spoke his name, "Lu Xun..."
"Yes sir?" The young general looked up, seeing the hand that motioned him. Taking a breath, Lu Xun joined Lü Meng's side, seeing his profile now. Those dark eyes were set forward, as if to ignore him, and Lu Xun spoke up, making sure he knew he was there. "Sir?"
"I plan to use the fire attack that Gan Ning has offered, however, we're uncertain about the condition of the gun powder and the last thing we need is for that to backfire." Lü Meng stated, as now the pirate came to join him. "Hua Seung will pressed forward, regardless of the attack or not, and invade the village. You're thoughts?"
Seeing now that it was safe, Lu Xun nodded, "My own as well. Perhaps, sir, instead of burning the boats first, we should allow them into our land, deep enough to where we can send a force to cut off their retreat and supply route."
"How do you plan to do that?" Gan Ning asked.
"Well, there are three advantages we have over them right now: advantage of terrain, advantage of supplies, and knowledge of our enemy. They had two advantages over us: advantage of numbers and advantage of spirit." Lu Xun stated, catching their eyes as he tried to explain. "We know the terrain here, so we would know where to escape to and where the best spots for ambushes are, correct?"
"Aye..."
As Lü Meng's eyes narrowed, he listened carefully as Lu Xun began scheming. "We can set up ambushes, use hit and run tactics, and set traps, taking as little casualties as possible."
Finally he was stopped, as Gan Ning asked, "Wait... why only a little?"
"Gan Ning, if you held an army of a million men, wouldn't you be a little over confident?" Lü Meng questioned, grinning now as he caught on to what Lu Xun was saying. "To Hua Seung, what's the loss of a few men? He'll overlook it and just send out more forces, not realizing that he's wasting away his troops and soldiers slowly, and by the time he reaches the main force, he will not realize how much weaker his forces has become. It's using the enemy's overconfidence to our advantage."
Then it clicked for Gan Ning, as the pirate grabbed Lu Xun and practically swept him off his feet with a strong embrace. "Genius! That's something that Seung would definitely fall for; he HATES the details..."
Proud that his idea was acceptable, Lu Xun actually smiled, but he waited until the pirate put him down before continuing. "Though Hua Seung would fall for it, what about Sei Rong? Would he see through it?"
"Perhaps... but even if he did, Seung wouldn't listen to him." Gan Ning stated. "But, we should take care of that, JUST in case. He'll definitely be a threat if we keep him alive for long."
"That settles it then... we will lead them out far enough to where we can burn the boats and supplies, and pick off their troops, but not enough to catch Hua Seung's guard." Lü Meng announced for them to hear, and he turned to the messenger. "Report to Lord Sun Quan immediately! Tell him of our plans and not to worry; we will dare not fail him! Now, be quick!"
As if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, the messenger quickly bowed, "Yes sir!"
He was gone in a flash, and Lü Meng turned to Lu Xun. "Lu Xun, I'm leaving you in charge of evacuating the village. Make sure that all supplies and cattle are removed; we wouldn't want them to fall into the enemies' hands. After they are safe, return here immediately so that we can begin setting the traps."
The young officer bowed, nodding his head twice before taking his leave. That left Lü Meng and the pirate, who stood at attention and awaited orders. Seeing this, Lü Meng questioned this, "What the hell are you doing?"
"Awaiting orders, Chief Commander Lü Meng!" Gan Ning replied quickly, a grin covering his tanned face, jokingly mocking Lu Xun. This rather annoyed Lü Meng, who gave him a sour look as he began to dig into his armor. "Don't deny it, Meng! It won't be long before you get promoted!"
The general wanted to admit it, but he feared it was too prideful of him to want to say that. So he kept it mainly to himself, as he replied, "When it's my time, then yes, but right now I have other things to worry about."
The pirate only laughed, finally noticing the letter that his friend began to open. "Hey, what's that? A letter from your wife?"
"No. Worse. Lady Wu..."
"That overbearing... I mean, that sweet, nice, elderly, nose in the wrong place Empress?" Gan Ning showed his obvious disliking towards the woman, receiving another sour glance from his friend but was replaced with a grin, almost laughing at his joke. As he began reading, Gan Ning asked, "What does our lovely mother of the battle axe want?"
Scanning the letter, Lü Meng rose an eyebrow, "Hm... well, Ning, we have two orders. One of which is from our lord, and the other is from his mother."
Seeing the slight concern surface on his friend's face, he asked, "And?"
"Woman... they would schedule such things during war!" Lü Meng sighed, handing the letter to Gan Ning to read. He quoted as much as he could, as the pirate began reading it. "A little surprise for our young friend if or when we return to Jian Ye... and we should make it possible for him to return to receive his surprise."
By this time, Gan Ning had finished reading, and his face had slightly paled, "Must be a woman thing... to make our lives a bit harder. Oh well, it makes life interesting!"
"I only hope she realizes the importance of the situation down here... and will be willing to forgive us should something hap-"
He was silenced by the pirate, who grabbed his pony tail and gave it a yank. "Don't say such things! Didn't you say something to Taishi Ci about tempting fate before he met his fate at He Fei? We can handle this sidequest, Meng! It's a good surprise, one that I would like to actually see when we return to Jian Ye!"
"If... if we return."
"There you go again, always looking at the glass half empty. Think positive, and we WILL return to Jian Ye!" Gan Ning said, draping an arm over his friend's shoulder and giving him a confident smile. His friend returned it with a tired expression of his own, but that didn't falter Gan Ning's spirit, as he tugged on the pony tail again before leaving. "And I sure as hell ain't returning without you or the kid... that's not a pirate's way."
And he was gone, leaving Lü Meng to his thoughts alone. He turned back to the village, seeing Lu Xun, mounted on a horse, quickly running towards the village. His eyes never left him, and, with a sigh, Lü Meng made a quick, mental prayer that things would work out for Wu and themselves...
~*~*~*~
One thing that Sun Quan wasn't expecting was for a visit by his sister-in-law, and he quickly donned his battle armor as his attendants allowed her in. He hated to be rude to Da Qiao, but surely she would understand the importance of this matter. Thankfully to him, she did, as she found him and sat on her knees, bowing before him. "My lord, I see that you're in a hurry, so I shall be brief."
"No, please, take your time. I do wish to have a civilized conversation before rushing off into battle," Sun Quan admitted, looking at his departed brother's wife as he adjusted his chest plate. He did not like war, but it seemed there was no other option, so he might as well try to enjoy himself before setting off into battle with sword and spear ready. "Something seems to trouble you; is there anything that I can do to help you before I go?"
Da Qiao, the elder of the two Qiao sisters, was everything a woman should have been; beautiful, polite, and a friendly spirit to those around her. She often gave advise to others, hoping to spread her kindness about as her own way of fighting in the wars. So helpful; her husband was so lucky. Finally, she replied, raising her gentle face to look at him. "My lord, I first want to wish you the best of luck on your campaign against the invading army... I've heard rumors of their numbers, and I wanted to tell you in person."
To this, Sun Quan almost panicked, "How many know this?"
"The palace... but beyond that I could not tell. We're all worried, but we have faith in you and in the soldiers and generals of Wu, and though there isn't much for us to do, we will stand firmly behind you," Da Qiao answered, hoping to calm him down a bit before asking her second question.
It seemed to work, as his green eyes glistened with joy, to know that his people were behind him in the matter. This was why he was fighting, to keep his kingdom and those who lived there safe. He gave a sigh, continuing his task as he looked in the mirror to set his shoulderpads straight. "It eases my fears to know this... I thank you, Lady Qiao."
She merely smiled, as she went on to her next question, "And sir, is it true that the young general Lu Xun is stationed down there?"
"Yes, it is true... why do you ask?"
"It's come to my attention that he is of age now, and soon my daughter will be as well. I... as well as your mother... wishes to unite the families of Lu and Sun by offering my daughter to be his husband."
This silenced Sun Quan, as he slowly turned to her. He heard his mother say it before, after one of their meetings. His mother adored the boy, as if to see past the shield he wore himself in, and he remembered her words after the young general took his leave one day. 'To have a son like that would make any mother proud! I would marry him to Sun Shang Xiang, had she not been given to Liu Bei already.'
That mother of his...
Da Qiao waited for his response, and she could almost see the slight despair in his green eyes, as if he was going to refuse the ceremony. However, he covered it with a rather forced smile, to lighten her spirit. "Of course then! When we return we will begin preparations, Lady Qiao. I ask that you have your daughter ready, then, but I'm sure I don't have to tell you such things as you're always ahead of the game."
"Thank you, my lord!" Da Qiao gave another bow before she dismissed herself, and she called out as she left. "Do be careful, Lord Sun Quan... the people would be lost without you."
That was a nice note to leave off at, Sun Quan had to admit, though it only added more pressure to his already stressed soul. Something in his gut flipped over and over it flipped again, and he finished his own preparations as he went to the helmet at the head of his bed. This was his father's helmet, one that was worn by his father and brother before him on their campaigns, and now, she shall bear it. Removing his own hat to replace it with the helmet, Sun Quan looked into the mirror and sighed, mentally speaking to his father and brother now. 'You both worked hard to gain this land, and I won't lose it now... no one will... my officers, my generals, my people will never let our kingdom fall. Father... brother... watch over us.'
He could hear no response, but that did not stop him. Now, the lord of Wu, ready for battle, walked out of his rooms, hoping that this would not be the last time he looked at it's elegant design. With armor to shield his body and his razor-tipped sword to rest off his hip, Sun Quan was ready for war!
However, before he could leave, he had to make one last stop, and he wasn't too surprised to find his mother sitting outside in the garden. This was her usual spot, right next to the flowers of red tint that dangled from the stone walls, and he knew she always came here to escape. What was she trying to escape from now he did not know, and he kept his silence until she heard the clanging of his armor when he stopped. Lady Wu turned around to face him, and her crinkle-like face lit up with a smile as she looked upon her son. "Oh, there's my king! All dressed for war like the hero he was born to be. Just like your father and brother!"
Sun Quan smiled, mainly to please her if anything, and he returned the gentle hug that his mother gave to him, despite the armor. "I only defend the nation that the ones before me built, mother. I would hate to leave, but my soldiers call for me."
Lady Wu understood completely, giving his cheek a peck before turning back to the beautiful pink flowers that awaited her attention. Sun Quan was silent for the longest time, before spotting the other maidens in the garden as well. Some of his sister's sword maidens had stayed behind by request, to guard her mother, and one of which was his niece. He could clearly see her now, her black hair in two buns on the side of her head, and light, leather armor covering her light red outfit. And at her side was a sword, resting in its hilt, useless as there was no one to defend now.
His attention was drawn away from the maiden when his mother asked, "Is something bothering you, Quan?"
"Why, yes, mother..." Prying his eyes off of the maiden, who now noticed his gaze, he turned to his mother, crossing his arms to keep them busy. He rather hated this garden, for more reasons then one, but he dared not complain as he brought up the subject to his now attentive mother. "Lady Qiao has just requested that her daughter be wed to one of my generals, one who is currently away at war. I'm sure you've heard."
Slight surprise was hinted in Lady Wu's eyes, but she denied everything, "Lady Qiao? Which one?"
"The elder, Da." Sun Quan informed, as he noticed that the sword maiden's expression. It seemed that everyone knew of the plan but himself, but he did not complain as he noticed his mother's avoidance. "Mother... I heard you say it before, that if you had the chance, you would have married my sister to him."
"Well, if YOU and Zhou Yu wouldn't have married my dear daughter off to Liu Bei, then of course I would have." Lady Wu proclaimed, her anger quickly doused as she turned back to the flowers. "Then I wouldn't have met him and my daughter wouldn't have been as happy as she is now."
'Hardly the case,' Sun Quan thought as he rose his gaze towards the heavens. He was partially thankful to be rid of Sun Shang Xiang, actually... made the castle much more tolerable. However, he DARED not say this aloud to anyone, in fear of his mother finding out. "Well, as much as I would be happy to have another wedding, I want you to realize the seriousness of the situation. Ri-"
"Yes, I know of the situation, dear! News spreads quickly around here." Lady Wu found a dead flower and picked it off, sad to see something so beautiful lifeless. She could see her son's worried expression through the pond, as she did her best to soothe it. "I figured that after all the fighting that we could celebrate something besides war and politics for once, so I arranged a wedding for when general Lu Xun returns to Jian Ye."
As she continued her pruning, the lord of Wu gave a deep sigh, "Mother, no one if for sure that he will even return. It's three thousand verses a million... the chances of him even coming back to be buried is... very slim."
This news didn't seem to shatter her spirit, as she turned to her son and gave a determined look, to blanket his fears. "Must you say that louder? She does not need to have doubts, and neither should you. I believe you underestimate the abilities of the officers you speak so highly of."
"Mother-"
"Hush now, before you give my granddaughter cold feet! Besides, I am positively sure that we will win and that young Lu Xun will return for the wedding. I have sent reassurance."
To this, Sun Quan rose an eyebrow, "Reassurance, mother?"
"Of course!" With a grin, she turned back to the flowers that begged for her attention. "I know your officers as much as you do, and I know those two won't fail me."
Sun Quan would have questioned it further, however, Zhou Yu's shout caught his attention. With a weary sigh, Sun Quan turned to leave, but his mother called to him, and as he stopped, she rose and gave him one last embrace, holding her son close. "Now, I'm sure that you will make your father and brother proud, and Wu will prosper. I have faith in you."
"Thank you, mother..." He smiled, returning the hug but being careful as to not harm her with his armor. "You take care, and make sure the wedding preparations are in order for when we return."
They separated, and Sun Quan, with his armor and sword ready, left the garden, prepared for war. Lady Wu wiped a tear from her eye, just as the sword maiden approached her, speaking lowly, "They're return, grandmother."
"Oh, I know they will... I'm just worried."
"Worried?"
Turning to her granddaughter, Lady Wu replied, "He mentioned nothing about aid from the other kingdoms, and I only worry that we may be alone in this fight, even though it will affect the entire country as a whole rather than this kingdom. I only hope that the other emperors can understand this... and raise their arms to fight."
~*~*~*~
"How many?!"
The two generals could hardly believe their ears, and though Wei Yan could hardly count that high, he knew it was a bad number just by the expression on the elder's face. Huang Zhong wore a look of disbelief, and his old eyes seemed to have a glint for battle, as he questioned the soldier again. "Are you sure?!"
The messenger replied, trying not to notice the masked general that stood a few feet from the veteran. "I'm positive; Nanman troops haven't shut up about them, and they found out through travelers from the southeast. One million men, all accounted for."
News had spread throughout Wu, and through Wu, the Nanman territories and even further to the west, to the kingdom of Shu-Han, and though many could not believe of such a naval fleet existing, no one truly wanted to go venture out to make sure that these rumors were true or false.
Huang Zhong was a well seasoned veteran who had served under lord Liu Bei for a few years now, and his name was well-known throughout the ranks of many. He was known for his age, his desire to fight, and his keen eye, which came useful to his greatest skill of all, archery. There was no one greater than him, and, his comrade, could easily back up that fact. The elder was also a member of the Tiger Generals of Shu, and the elder member looked towards Wei Yan, to note his hard black eyes.
"One million men, eh? Sounds pretty unbelievable, eh, Wei Yan?"
The masked general gripped his voulge, but he said nothing, merely growling and scaring the soldier a bit as the soldier spoke to Huang Zhong, "We must report this to Lord Liu Bei, regardless if the rumor was true or not. What if it is?"
"And what if it isn't?" Huang Zhong remarked. "I've lived a long time, runt, and let me tell you. There is no such thing as an army that size! I don't care if they're from the islands far east or if they sprouted from the pits of hell itself, no such army can possibly exist!"
Still, the soldier insisted, "But sir, how can we be sure?"
When Huang Zhong was going to reply, Wei Yan made a movement, moving quickly into the bushes and leaving the other two to wonder for a second. Huang Zhong sighed, grabbing his bow and following, "Wei Yan, where the hell are you going?"
The general did not reply, disappearing through the bushes and out of Huang Zhong's sight. Sighing, the seasoned general loaded his bow, knowing that trouble couldn't be too far ahead. After a good minute, Huang Zhong heard a shout rise from Wei Yan's throat and the cry of a horse, and he shot through the bushes, getting the rider right on the arm. He missed the head on purpose, and he did not reveal himself from the bushes until he was sure that Wei Yan had everything under control.
"What do you have this time, boy?" Huang Zhong demanded, storming through the bushes as he grabbed another arrow. He spotted the problem, as Wei Yan threatened the terrified and wounded messenger. The voulge's blade barely touched the messenger's throat, and the man trembled, as Huang Zhong spared him from Wei Yan's deathly glare. "Back down; he's wounded."
The masked general gave a grunt before obeying, allowing the frightened messenger air to breathe as the veteran walked over to him, standing over him and keeping the arrow set nicely on the bow, just in case. He aimed it at the messenger's head, "State your business, before I allow him to make a chew toy out of you."
The messenger swallowed the knot in his throat, staring at Huang Zhong before finding the nerve to speak again. "I come from Wu-I have a message for your lord!"
"That's what this is all about?" Huang Zhong demanded, grabbing the messenger and helping him sit up. As he began to address the arrow wound, he noticed how Wei Yan backed off, and he merely shook his head. 'Can't control that rage of yours, can you?'
"It's urgent, sir! Lord Sun Quan requests aid for the upcoming battle!"
The messenger gave a grunt as Huang Zhong snapped the arrow in two and pushed it out as painlessly as possible. He seemed used to this, as he had grown used to addressing Wei Yan's wounds many times before. "Calm down; what battle, young one?"
Giving him such a look, the messenger responded, "The million man army, sir! They are due to dock within the next two days!"