Chapter 5: A New Enemy

A shadowy figure dressed in black stood in the throne room at Jung Yi. Underneath the hood that covered her head, an evil grin spread across her face, "Perfect, Zhou Yu and Zhang He have been exiled. Faking the letter of Sun Ce was the best idea I have had so far." A soldier was on one knee behind her, "My Lady, what do we do about Sun Ce." She stepped into the moonlight, "Nothing, leave evidence that Shu was the one who attacked him. Dress you men in green armor and wake him up. Have a little fun but he must stay alive. That would make my job a whole lot easier." He got up and left.

In walked two generals Zhang Liao of Wei and Zhang Fei of Shu. They are brothers and betrayers. "My lady," Zhang Fei spoke in a gruff voice, "Why don't we just attack Cao Cao." She turned around, "because, my lord Zhang Fei, you don't attack Shu, Wu and Wei. You make them attack each other." She smiled wickedly, "ready my horse then go back to your lords. I want to pay a visit to Sun Jian." Zhang Fei bowed and left.

"I don't know how you can use him. Can't I just kill him now?" Zhang Liao asked walking closer to the woman. "Be patient we need him, who else will kill without asking questions?" "You are right, My Lady." She took her hood off revealing sapphire eyes and long dark hair. She looked at him, "What is with the formalities?" he smiled and walked closer to her.

He put his arm around her waist and kissed her hard, and then he started to kiss her neck. He stank of wine; she hated him. She couldn't wait until this was over, soon they would all be dead and she would control the three kingdoms. For now she would have to endure his pathetic attempts to please her but only one man could do that and Zhang Liao's efforts were futile.

The sun rose colouring the earth with reds, blues, pinks and purples. Lu Bu quickly went to spy on the city to see what's happening. An hour later he came back, he respectfully bowed, "There are no signs of the black soldiers, they must have left in the night." Zhou Yu frowned and looked at Lu Xun, "This is not good. They must have taken the forest path, but only Wei knows about that path." Zhang He stood up, "Wu knows as well but they only know about it they have never travelled it before." Sun Shang Xiang looked at the forest, "I feel we are missing something. Things don't want to add up." Zhou Yu thought out loud, "Ok our enemy knows about the forest path, that path leads either to Shu or Wei so which one did they take?"

Zhang He looked up, "None. A long time ago Cao Cao's great, great grandfather owned this land, but the journey to Wu up the mountain and down the other side took too long. So he built a secrete cave going beneath the mountain. He died before he could tell his son about it and the location was lost. There is said to be a small path on the side of the cliff, so small that only one man can walk it and not even with his weapons."

Zhou Yu watched the sun rise a little further, "I have a plan. Zhang He see if you can find that cave, Sun Shang Xiang go with him. The rest of us will go to the city and find Sun Ce." "Zhou Yu," Lu Bu spoke, "Don't you think we should warn the three kingdoms." Zhou Yu shook his head, "no, we wait to see what happens next. I want to try and figure out our new enemy's plan." They mounted their horses and went their separate ways, Zhang He and Lady Sun went down to the forest while Zhou Yu, Lu Bu, Lu Xun and Aven Yu went to the city of Jung Yi.

Zhou Yu rode down to the city of Jung Yi with Aven Yu, Lu Bu and Lu Xun. The city was buzzing with activity but no soldiers could be seen. The people immediately recognized the generals. They have heard stories of these men over and over again and now they were here. The people watched as they rode in and one villager came to them and knelt down, "My Lords, what can I do for you." "Take us to the dungeon." Lu Bu spoke in a stern voice. The villager ran ahead as the generals followed. They arrived at a little archway that went down to the ground, "Down there, my lords." They dismounted and ducked under the archway. Aven Yu was about to follow when Lu Bu stopped her, "My Lady, I don not think that is a wise idea." Smelling the stench that emerged from the prison she nodded and stayed with the horses.

Zhou Yu found Sun Ce, he had been beaten badly but he was still alive. "Sun Ce! It's Zhou Yu we'll get you out." While Zhou Yu looked for the keys to open the gate, Lu Xun drew his two golden short swords and cut the bolt. Zhou Yu looked up, "That could work." He walked inside and helped his friend to his feet. "Get a physician, hurry." Lu Bu helped Zhou Yu carry Sun Ce to the castle and laid him on a bed. While they were doing this, Lu Xun found all the guards in the prison and released them.

Zhang He and Sun Shang Xiang shinned along the ting path on the edge of the wall. They moved slowly, the ledge was so small that one false footing could send them into the sea below. The path had not been used in three generations and was overgrown with moss. At certain parts roots of tree stuck out making it difficult to pass.

Sun Shang Xiang spoke, "Can you see anything yet?" He shook his head, "no nothing yet. I hope this path leads there." "Well it has to go somewhere." Zhang He just looked forward keeping a straight face. They continued along in silence. His metal talons scraped along the cliff. Then a rumbling noise could be heard, they looked at each other and then looked up.

Boulders came rolling down the cliffs' edge, "Move!" he shouted above the noise. They moved as fast as they could but could not escape the deadly boulders. Zhang He pushed Sun Shang Xiang closer to the wall and covered her with his body as debris fell all around them. When it had stopped he looked up, just to see the last piece of earth coming his way. It hit him on the shoulder and he went over the edge. All Sun Shang Xiang could do was watch him disappear.

Zhen Ji exited the cave and made her way to Sun Jian. A rider came along and stopped by her. "It is done, my lady. One went over the edge thanks to the avalanche." "Well done, you didn't perhaps see who they are, did you?" "No My lady, I'm sorry." She sighed, "That's alright, what of the young prince?" "He was found by his friends earlier this afternoon." "Good, good. You may go." He sped away, things we going just as she planned. Sun Ce would blame Liu Bei; Sun Jian would take Aven Yu prisoner. Whoever was in Shu that didn't belong there would be arrested or even executed and very soon things will get worse, a lot worse. She smiled perfect, total and utter chaos. War would breakout all over and from the ashes of the destroyed dynasties the yellow turbans will rise to take control of china.

At Jung Yi, Sun Ce started regaining consciousness. His wound were tended and dressed by the physician. Zhou Yu sat by his friend, "Sun Ce, how are you feeling?" Sun Ce looked up at him, "I've had better days." He even managed a smile. "Do you know who did this?" his friend nodded, "Liu Bei."

Everyone was shocked, "Are you sure, Sun Ce?" Sun Ce looked at him blankly, "You doubt me, Zhou Yu, Why?" then Lu Bu walked in. Sun Ce looked at his friend in horror, "Where's my sword?" he asked harshly. Lu Xun walked over to him, "Calm down, Sun Ce. Do you have proof?" Sun Ce sat up, "Aren't these wounds proof enough? The men who nearly beat me to death were wearing green armor." He spat. "Now lets all put our heads together and think who wears green armor…oh yes, Liu Bei's forces!" he shouted sarcastically. The physician tried to calm him down as the generals left the room.

"It can't have been Liu Bei, all the generals were there when I left." Lu Bu told Zhou Yu as they walked down the marble corridor. "What if Liu Bei used an unknown force?" Lu Xun inquired, "It wouldn't make any sense, that they wear the green armor. If he did that he would want to use a force that cannot be linked to him." Zhou Yu told them. "I think someone employed that tactic to accuse Liu Bei." Lu Xun said as they met with Aven Yu.

"Zhou Yu, do you think it could be Wei trying to implicate Shu." Zhou Yu looked at him, "I think it is a possibility, but this has been planned and Cao Cao was too upset at the loss of Aven Yu," he nodded towards her, "I don't think this was his plan." "Lu Bu, I think that anyone could have planned this." Lu Xun said sitting down at the table. Lu Bu nodded, "You're right we can't trust anyone but each other. I think we must let Sun Ce think Liu Bei did this so that we can see what happens. That way our enemy won't know that we know."