The Romance of the Three Kingdoms
§ A Man's Romance §
All about him, the sordid stench of dead bodies and filth rose like a phoenix. Encircling him, and taking hold of his lungs like a cold fist. Stifling his breathing, as well as his sanity and will to go on. He had been tossed aside for dead, along with the rest of his people. His family and friends, laying about him in heaps of death and sorrow, although no sorrow burned more tragic than his, for though his life remained, his left eye did not.
He was one K'iang Tsu Ko, Tsu-te by common name. He belonged to a legion of rebels known as the White Phoenix. They opposed Tung Cho to a great extent, fighting at every moon, and praying to whatever celestial being they could to give them strength. Though, sadly, they were few in number and able officers, so they were nothing more than a nuisance to Tung Cho. Who, upon the construction of Meiwu, slaughtered or tortured the White Phoenix rebels who, despite Tsu-te's protests, surrendered hoping for forgiveness.
So now he lay, diminished in pride as a light drizzle took up, washing away the blood and mud from his face. Washing his very soul as the drops ran down his face, forming the tears he soon would make on his own. For as he crawled from the pile of filth and death, he wept openly, as he treaded upon both family in friend, grasping hold of a halberd as he went, not once looking back now. Making way south, he continued to weep, chanting in a verse at one moment:
Oh, the deft screams of a shackledman,
Who weeps openly for the comrades who no longer stand?
The rain only worsened, mocking his sadness ever so cruelly, as he staggered across the muddy path. His path was unknown, as well as what lay before him, but as the halberd became a third leg to him, he could only continue to weep from his single eye. Though his tears, nor the road, slowed him up as much as gazing upon the white banner in the distance, jerking wildly in convulsions against the clouded thundering sky.
The name of the noble Huang Xun whipped about in black spelling upon the soaking banner. The name of the Prefect of Pingyan, a noble man who was known for three things by all: The large extravagant helmet he wore, his kindness, and his hatred for Tung Cho. It was this very hatred that fueled the ever-burning crimson flames in Tsu-te's heart.
"Sir, I beg you move aside so that I may offer peace to Tung Cho," spoke the Prefect.
Said Tsu-te, "Why make peace with that renegade when a feud is what has driven you thus far?"
"Tung Cho is a fine leader, it is proven in the power he holds in the court. I offer him my daughter in marriage, in hopes that family ties will save my district."
Speaking with a laugh, K'iang said, "You offer a bride?""Why do you laugh at something that will save my people?"
"A daughter is something you do not have, everyone within the bordering districts knows this. You only have sons, so I ask how that young girl is your daughter," spoke K'iang once again, pointing to the young girl, who had only recently reached womanhood, sitting silently in the drawn carriage the two legions of armed men were obviously escorting.
Such accusations, that as truthful as they were, brought anger to Huang Xun's eyes, his face turning a deep shade of red, as his thick brown eyebrows furrowed fiercely. Such ferocity that it even seemed to envelope his men, who begged to be allowed to go out and meet the man in battle. Though only one was chosen. A one Hsu Chin, whose prowess in battles was rewarded and praised many times and over again, as was his skill with a pair of swords, which clanked at his sides as he dismounted his horse, and walked out to meet his opponent.
They fought bout upon bout, advantage taking to neither side, even after one hundred bouts without rest. The two blades clashed violently upon the fine wooden shaft, and cracked axe head of the halberd as the two fought as a pair of tigers. Each thinking new ways to disgruntle and perhaps defeat their opponent, though nothing seemed to work. Even as another soldier noted in the art of the war axe, joined Hsu Chin to dispose of Tsu-te, no advantage was won.
Such a spectacle it is said was put on that day, as K'iang Tsu Ko fought well over two hundred bouts with little rest in between each bout, his two opponents alternating from time to time, so that the other may rest. It was not until the bouts came about to near three hundred did the tide turn, though not as the many awe stricken soldiers who looked on would have expected. In a moment of the two officers switching off, Hsu Chin stumbled in the mud, allowing K'iang to stab him in the throat, ending his life. As such and opening was set by the surprised comrade, which took a shot to the temple with the butt of the halberd, falling dead instantly at the blow.
It is said that Huang Xun even went to the length to dismount his own steed, merely to offer forgiveness to K'iang. Bowing his head low, and removing his helmet as he did such, offering manners to resolve the matter peacefully. Such a peace, that he even went to the lengths as to offer K'iang service within his army, though of course at a rank high enough to compliment his skill. K'iang accepted in good will, offering a bow in return, to show forgiveness had been given to him.
A fine steed was offered to K'iang, and upon mounting it, they took to the Northern road. Traveling for only some forty li before coming upon a small village that Huang Xun and the lot of his soldiers took a liking too. It reminded them all of their homes and families, so they decided upon staying here, many of the villagers even offering up their own houses so that the soldiers may stay in comfort.
Though a delay had come about since the duel between Tsu-te and the two officers, Huang made excellent time, and soon learned he was not expected for days to come. As such the soldiers and villagers lived alongside each other in peace and harmony for two days before it was announced they would leave the next morning.
On that night, beneath a cloudless sky and a full circle moon, Tsu-te finally set easy eyes upon the maiden who was being offered as a bride to the monster, Tung Cho. She sat beneath a peach tree, seeming to weep before the heavens, almost praying for a way out of her fate. Such beauty, Tsu-te though to himself, even though tears trickled down her fair face, her beauty never faded. But it was not long before the maiden, her expression turning from one of sadness, to one of hate and contempt, a thing that was of great obscurityto Tsu-te, discovered him.
"So a mere soldier is not even allowed a moment of the time from a young girl posing as a Prefect's daughter?" spoke K'iang Tsu Ko mockingly as he stepped closer to her, now beneath the peach tree himself.
"Your not a soldier," said she in hatred, "You are a White Phoenix rebel, I can tell by the tattoo on your arm. You are a man who would kill and entire surrendered army, or defile and entire village of maidens, just to appease your horrid lust!"
"Ah, but if such things were true," spoke K'iang softly, "Then you would either be dead, or no longer a virgin."
Her face softened, her true beauty glowing beneath the moon as peach blossoms adorned her in a graceful ballet of the sort. Her mind was set only but a moment ago, but not it was sent into a peaceful dissonance as she thought of what he had said.
"I am Kou Sun Ji," spoke the maiden of the moon, now seeming to finally allow him to taste her trust.
To forsake a man,
Before his mind is allow.
Is to plucking a flower,
That nature could not even sew.
A smooth air set upon them lightly as the maiden and the rebel conversed in merry beneath the peach tree and stars. Speaking as equals of the same journey, both servants to the same lord, and both forever caught in the turmoil of the crumbling Han dynasty. But such thoughts as war, power, and riches did not cross their lips, or minds as the sun slowly cracked over the horizon.
"I must go," spoke Kou softly as she gathered herself and left Tsu-te to himself and his thoughts.
The day came in good tidings, as a blue sky blanketed itself above, white clouds drifting in fine form across the canvas. Such fine tidings, that Huang Xun bore a smile the whole time the escort was prepared. Such an ecstatic mood was set upon to pair of legions, that even as they bid farewell to those who gave up their huts, they could not shed a tear, taking to the road in joy. Huang Xun and K'iang Tsu Ko taking the head, with the carriage holding Kou Sun Ji right behind them, guarded on all sides.
They reached the outer Meiwu gates by midday, the sun lingering over-head, as they came upon soldiers almost ready to give fight. Though once a messenger was sent from the ranks of Huang's legions, and the situation was explained, the soldiers lowered arms and allowed only four to pass, by orders of Tung Cho. At this, the burning desire of rebellion and revenge glowed brighter than ever within Tsu-te's heart.
Spoke Huang Xun as he stood before Tung Cho, "O! Honorable Tung, please except my fair daughter's hand in marriage. So that our families may join as one, and forever create a bond that not even the Heavens could shatter!" He bowed his head, removing the fine helmet once again as he spoke.
The grip upon Tsu-te's halberd grew ever tighter as Tung Cho's voice drifted off into nothing but a mere whisper. For his mind was preoccupied with the thoughts and desire of revenge. His feet shook uneasily as he held himself back, the cringing of his teeth almost making his gums bleed as he held himself all the more. Such a moment is set into verse by an unknown poet it went as such:
Oh, anger burned so heavily in heart,
So much that it fuel him to the end from the start.
The fire burned so fiercely that it could not be contained any longer. For as Tung Cho stepped from the large throne that he had crafted for himself, K'iang Tsu Ko leapt from his place at Huang Xun's side, bringing the axe head of his halberd down to finish in a single stroke. But Lu Pu, considered the greatest warrior of the time and the world, was fleet of foot and hand, so the attempt upon Tung Cho's life was shattered, much as the axe head of the halberd. K'iang Tsu Ko falling down to the ground, caught off guard at the speed and anger of Lu Pu, as Tung Cho stepped back in disbelief, calling upon his guards to kill the four that stood before him.
Huang Xun was caught in shock as he tried to explain it was not his doing to Tung Cho, but even his pleas could barely even sprinkle upon the anger of Tung Cho, who drew his sword, smiting Huang Xun personally. The other officer, who had accompanied Huang in, though as skilled as he was in the sword, did not last long against the many guards that swarmed about him, hacking him to pieces. The maiden, Kou Sun Ji, was spared at the order of Tung Cho. As for K'iang Tsu Ko, he was forced to fight through many waves of guards, even being able to hold Lu Pu at bay long enough to mount up and ride out of the city gates, slaying any whom he passed.
Though Lu Pu was not only fleet of foot and hand, his horse, the Hare, was known as a thousand mile a day horse. Said to be able to scale the mountainous trails as though they were plains, and able to outrun any horse that may dare to race. No a single hair upon the horse was anything but the incendiaryred coat that is was known for. The Hare, galloping at a pace no man could imagine, caught sight of K'iang in a matter of moments, who, in turn, knotted and arrow as he saw whom his pursuer was. Letting fly the shaft, he wounded, not Lu Pu, but the Hare itself, striking it in the left fore leg, causing it to stumble to the ground, unable to carry on any longer.
"That pathetic elf!" Lu Pu shouted as he stood, letting fly his own arrow that whistled past K'iang Tsu Ko's ear, only making him force the horse on all the more.
For eight days Tsu-te traveled at any extent he could, the horse dieing upon the second day, unable to bare the strenuous pace, as well as the rocky hills. It was not until the eighth day that Tsu-te came to a walk, falling to his knees along the path, seeing no banners to any direction, he allowed himself to fall of the exhaustion. A verse speaks of his hard-ships on this eight day run:
Oh, for eight days the Phoenix runs,
Never gazing back in fear.
Without horse and without reason to follow the sun,
The soldier feels his end may be near.
He had accepted death it seemed, he was exhausted, and he knew he would die without fulfilling his quest for revenge. Such a sad fate for a man who fought against the odds of life and death, and who braved even to face the mighty Lu Pu, all to complete his goal. So sad as it was, he felt it was his purpose now, to die a nameless assassin in history, for that was all he was now, a nameless assassin who died on his first attempt.
But a sound rang clear and true to his ears, as he stirred from his slumber of defeat. Opening his single eye slowly, the brown orb gazing about slowly. Coming upon a strange man, a large hat set atop his head, and a veil of the sort, brought across the lower half of his face. He was playing a small flute, playing a tune that seemed to lift Tsu-te's very spirit as he stood up slowly, using the halberd as a third leg once again. The man with the flute lowered it from his veiled mouth saying in a calm voice, "Oh, so you've chosen to wake up have you?"
"Who are you?" questioned K'iang Tsu Ko, still playing that beautiful serenade to life itself over in his head.
"P'an Tung is what they call me. What may I call you, my neurotic young friend?"
"I am not neurotic," snapped K'iang in a harsh tone, yelling many insults and curses the way of the odd man. Though he quickly stopped, lowering his head in anger, finding he had become rather anxious.
"Ho ho, it seems that you are. But don't worry, I know where you have come from." P'an Tung spoke as he stepped from the rock in a rather clumsy way, showing himself to be shorter than even K'iang Tsu Ko.
"How?"
P'an Tung spoke very calmly, even as the soldier took a look of terror, "Because, news travels faster than the foot. You are the one who made an attempt at Tung Cho's life. But do not worry, I share in your hatred."
K'iang was taken aback by such a bold statement by a man who hardly seemed that of the fighting type. In fact, the man seemed much older than he was in truth, hunching over and his voice having a slight hoarse to it as he walked circles about K'iang.
"I know of a man, who can help you," P'an continued in the same tone, "He is a man from the east, from the Ryukyu Islands."
"Where?" Tsu-te began to question as he followed the odd fellow with his eyes.
"The Ryukyu Islands, they are to the east," P'an Tung continued, doing nothing more than restating himself, "He is greatly skilled, and only seeks to fight those worthy of his skill. If you tell him of Lu Pu, he will surely join you for as long as it takes to defeat him. And for someone such as yourself, after Lu Pu is out of the way, it should be no trouble to take on your task."
"Where can I find him?" K'iang Tsu Ko asked sharply and quickly, the fire of revenge rekindled in his heart, the will to live having grown much stronger now.
"Over there," P'an finished, pointing up the road to the West.
Surely as it was said, a shadowed figure made way down the path a slow pace. A tall and muscular man, an odd sort of blade set upon his shoulder in a decorated scabbard. His hair was long and untied; falling past his chin and collar bone. He had a rugged beard, not as proud or dignifying as that of Kuan Yu. Nor was his armor, or cloths, openly shone, for they hid beneath a tattered cloak.
The End of Pt. 1