Chapter Three
A Misunderstanding
"Father... perhaps if we use the forest outside of the castle to our advantage? We can place ambushes all through the forest and catch them by suprise!" Suggested an officer, who is also the son of Liu Zhang, Liu Xun. He was quite tall but no taller than Zhang himself. Xun had a beard that well covered his jaw line and his eyes were round that they looked like glass marbles. Speaking more of using the trees as cover against Liu Bei, it would provide them a decent advantage. As the two conversed and swapped ideas, Zhang Ren, accompanied by Chao Yan, walked in bearing apologies.
"My lord... here is the man, Chao Yan." Zhang Ren bowed and stepped off to the side.
"Aah. So this is the one Zhang Ren has been going on about. Please have a seat and tell me your name and where you have come from?" Liu Zhang stared at the moment long and deeply, almost as if his eyes pierced through his very skin observing his soul. This made Chao Yan very uncomfortable yet he adjusted himself and cleared his throat before speaking.
"My name is Chao Yan, son of Chao Xuan, from AnDang. I am sure you know why I am here?" Chao Yan spoke with his voice clear as the bright blue sky. Not once did he stutter nor did he hesitate. Liu Zhang nodded to him and leaned back into the seat lacing his fingers with one another. It was then Liu Zhang spoke after a moment of silence...
"Yes. I know why you are here Chao Yan. And everything will be fine. As we know it, you will save the lives of many and will keep doing so...
"Of course..."
Off to the side, Zhang Ren was trying to clear his mind. Trying to think of something to get Chao Yan out of the predicament before it was to late. What made him suprised is that everything Liu Zhang referred to had to deal with the military but Chao Yan has been taking it as a compliment on saving the villagers. Ren could feel the tension building. On one of the council seats, one of the officers, Deng Xian, noticed that Zhang Ren was off in the corner. Smiling, Xian pulled up a seat and called towards him, "Zhang Ren! Come have a seat and share with us your ideas!"
"No! No.. I am fine Deng Xian. Please do not worry about." Feeling somewhat faint, Zhang Ren turned and left without word. Xian watched him with his eyes narrowing with suspicion. However his thoughts were interrupted when Liu Zhang spoke again...
"Very well then Lord Chao Yan. I know you have many questions involving this kingdom and its military strengths but im afraid that it will have to wait. As we speak an army marches amongst us and wishes to take the palace for their own rule. We cannot allow them to do this!"
Chao Yan's eyes suddenly widened at his words. "What do you mean... 'We'?" A new tone mixed with Yan's previous making it turn into a more serious tone. Liu Zhang raised an eyebrow slightly towards this reaction and then explained to Chao Yan of the circumstances. "You do not understand... I have not come to join your ranks as a soldier, I have come to ask for you to take care of the people that I have brought in after suffering an attack from bandits! I did not tell Zhang Ren nothing about ..." Chao Yan silenced. Whipping around towards Zhang Ren, eyes filled with angered, he noticed that he was no longer standing there. Thinking to himself That little snake! How could he! I thought he could've been trustworthy but goes and turns his back on me just so I can help this man protect himself from another ruler!
"Chao Yan... now that I know the real reason of you coming here, I will now leave those homeless peoples lives in your hands. And here are your options... You will either join the ranks of my army and help push back these invaders. Or the people of your village will be banished from the city of Cheng Du and forced to survive without any supplies..."
"What!" Chao Yan turned back towards the man who no longer seemed like the gentle man he once seemed. "You dog! How dare you decide these men and women's fate all due to a misunderstanding!"
"And all you have to do to save them... is to just say that you will join my army. What will you do Chao Yan?"
Growling lowly, Chao Yan had nothing left to do but join. Not wanting to endanger the life of those he loved, he would place his own life before them as long as they would live a life without violence. Slightly, his head bowed, his eyes closed, and the his lips moving but nothing emitting. Liu Zhang suddenly smirked and asked him what it was he said. Chao Yan then spoke louder, "My strength is yours to command..."
"Hehe.. good. Deng Xian! Wu Lan! Bring our new recruit to the blacksmith and have him make a weapon for Lord Chao Yan." Liu Zhang bowed his head as the two called upon officers did the same. They took much pride in obeying Liu Zhang that they took Chao Yan by the arms and dragged him out, as he did not want to leave. His eyes stared hatefully back at Liu Zhang, threatening him with his own fiery orbs.
Later however, Zhang Ren was sitting outside of the palace with his chin resting in the palm of his hand. Thinking about that right about now, Chao Yan would find out what has happened and will try and get to him. Not knowing what to do, Zhang Ren could only think of turning towards Yan's son, Pei. Somewhere in Cheng Du, Chao Pei was up and about and Ren needed to speak with him. "Only he could calm his father down once he hears of the news. Who knows what unearthly strength he posesses once under the powers of rage and hate. But how am I to find him? There are so many people and so little time before the enemy army gets here and Chao Yan is off into the battlefield." Thinking negatively, only lessened his hopes.
"Zhang Ren?" a voice came from behind him. "What troubles you?" This man was Leng Bao. He was kind of short and had a white piece of cloth wrapped around his forehead. He was quite built and he a strong jawline. Many could consider him more of a domestic affairs officer than a military officer. But, this was what he wanted to be.
"Oh... Good evening Leng Bao. Just thinking." Zhang Ren spoke with much disappointment that it even made Bao frown. "I have recently been introduced to a man and his son all because of bandits raiding his village and left no homes for them to stay in. So they came here in search of good hospitality. In the process of me trying to get him a meeting with our lord, I accidentally got him drafted. Oh, his family shall forever curse me!"
"Do not think like that! It was not your fault! Even though we cannot get him out of the service, since I came from the council and saw the situation unfold..."
"Really? What had happened?"
"Well... Chao Yan was forced against his will to join. He did not seem to happy and is now currently down at the blacksmith getting a weapon. He wont be coming outside for awhile." Leng Bao sighed as he manuevered beside Zhang Ren and sat beside him. The two were close friends and had nearly been through alot as children. It wasnt long though before Leng Bao said something. "Why dont you just stay away from him? Wait until after the war with Liu Bei?"
"Why would I do that? Chao Yan could die in battle and forever shall his death be my burden!"
"No... I have a feeling that a man such as he will not die so easily. His anger will practically make him invicible and it will make him fight like a tiger that would even put the mighty Lu Bu to shame." Leng Bao, who chuckled at the end of his sentence, looked at Zhang Ren who hopefully caught his sarcasm.
"Yes... you are right. I should not worry much for it will be the death of me." Zhang Ren laughed. "Besides... I do not think that anyone in Liu Zhang's entire army can match the strength of Lu Bu."
"You kidding?" Leng Bao brought up both of his arms and flexed, showing his rock hard arms. A joke between the two sent them both cackling and howling. As the two laughed, a young man walked up the stairs with a smile on his face. Politely he said hello and bowed to them with much respect. The two trying to regain their composure, they stood and returned bows and asked what they could do.
"I was wondering if you had seen my father?" a question parted with the young man's lips. It was then Zhang Ren noticed who it was. It was the son of Chao Yan, Chao Pei. The young man smiled widely as his eyes shifted from one man to the other awaiting an answer. Leng Bao coughed as he brought up a hand to cover his mouth. Zhang Ren lifted a hand and rubbed the back of his neck. It was hard to speak knowing that you were the one who is sending their father to their death if he goes and fight. "Im sorry... perhaps I should go and ask someone else?"
"I am sorry Chao Pei." Zhang Ren apologized suddenly. This caught Pei by suprise. As Zhang Ren continued to speak about his father's wherabouts and the situations doned upon him, Chao Pei's happy childish sparkle disappeared. Pei didnt know what he would've done if his father had died before realizing his dream... it was then Pei had an idea. If his father would die in battle; he would too. "Chao Pei! Do not speak like that! You are still young and have much to accomplish before your time is to come! Please rethink this!"
"No! I wish to be by my father's side till the very end! We made a promise years ago that we would withstand the hard experiences through life together, through thick and thin! I cannot abandon him now when I know he wouldnt of abandoned me!" Those words forcefully bursted through Chao Pei's lips as Leng Bao and Zhang Ren listened through his pleads.
"Very well then..." Zhang Ren finally said beneath his breathe. "If you so wish to join your father in this battle. Leng Bao and I shall take you to see Lord Liu Zhang."
"Thank you..." Pei said with his childish smile coming to his face. Leng Bao sighed as he turned and lead the two back towards the palace doors. However, the young man could feel his legs shaking as he stepped through those two huge doors. The atmosphere changed and the surroundings grew quite dimmer. Light hardly made its way into the main hall until they reached the hallways leading to the throne room. Walking along that hallway, Chao Pei looked outside and noticed his father walking along two men. He was dressed in armor with a helmet with designs on the side plates. Yan had a long piece of cloth tied around his waist as it waved in the wind. Soon they reached the hall where the view towards the outside was not visible anymore.
"Chao Pei... please go inside with Lord Leng Bao and discuss your reasons for joining to Lord Liu Zhang. I am other business to attend to. Forgive me..." Zhang Ren spoke softly, sounding as if he was about to cry for some odd reason.
"Yes. Do not worry about me if that is what you are thinking." Chao Pei smiled trying to cheer Ren up. However Zhang Ren did not respond and only walked away with great haste. Turning his head, Leng Bao could be seen with his head bowed and his hand on the giant rope attached to the door. This must've been how the door was opened.
"Just enter and bow your head. After that await an answer and continue with your explanation. I shall be here with you so do not fret..."
"Alright..."
Opening the doors, Chao Pei could feel sudden eyes dart towards him and scanned his body. His body froze and he couldnt feel his feet as he tried to take a step forward. Leng Bao placed a hand on Pei's shoulder suddenly that made him relax. Nervously, he stepped in and slowly the door closed behind him. Straring off into the room, he could see Liu Zhang staring right back. Their eyes met and a slight tension could be felt between the two. What words to say to such a man of great respect and responsibility?
"Lord Liu Zhang. I have come to join the ranks of your army under the circumstances that I may be positioned with my father, Chao Yan." Closing his eyes tightly, his head lurched forward, bowing, and his hands went up; fist in palm. "Please... I beg of you to let me join so that I may be with my father. He is all I have left..."
Liu Zhang watched the young man oh so carefully. Standing up, he slowly made his way around the table and walked towards the man who was now trembling with fright. It was easy to tell he was nervous and shy and wasnt good around crowds of people unless they were known to him and his father. This made him smile devishly. Another warrior to send out onto the battle field? Yes and no. Yes, this young man can make another great addition to his army; No, because he looks as if he lacks military skills and the skill to wield a sword. "Young child... My answer to such a request will need to take some time as I consult with the other members of this council, for I think, as well as everyone else here, think you are too young to march out onto the battlefield..."
"Lord Liu Zhang, please! I beg of you! I cannot leave my father to die on his own without knowing that he left his son and village people the knowledge he has always given us! No man alive can provide us with such compassion and love for the people! And if you do not recruit me, I shall find another way of going to battle along side my father! Either way I shall be by his side to the very end!" Chao Pei said loudly, as he could feel hot streaming tears running down his cheek. Leng Bao stared at him as he went on. "Lord Liu Zhang... please..."
