Hey guys, I'm sorry for not updating in so long, but I had no idea where this story was going, but now I think I do. Now I'm focusing on getting all the armies together and sending them all into battle. It might be a while before the next update, but hopefully not as long as you had to wait for this one, what is it, 2 months?? And I was hoping to get this chapter out by october 13th!! Anyways, hope you enjoy, and don't forget to review!!
"Jiang Wei, you've been in here for three days now. You haven't eaten or slept. Have you not finished those plans yet?" Zhao Yun was watching his lover looking at various maps, muttering to himself and making notes.
"I have only just started with these plans." Jiang Wei said, turning to see worried green eyes on him. "These need to be done as soon as possible. And there's something not quite right about the plans Zhang He brought back."
"And what would that be?" Zhao Yun asked, walking over to look at the maps and notes on the huge oak table.
"Well, firstly, there is an ambush party here," Jiang Wei explained, pointing out on the map, "then there's another one here, and two more there and there. Now, they want to attack from here, and then surround us. But I've studied Zhou Yu's and Sima Yi's strategy styles, and this is done by neither of them."
"Then who is it done by?" asked Zhao Yun.
"I don't know." The young strategist said wearily. The sleepless nights were taking their toll on him. He had huge black rings around his bloodshot eyes; wrinkles marred his normally flawless forehead. To be totally honest, he looked like death warmed up.
"Why don't you do the obvious thing?" Jiang Wei and Zhao Yun turned to the entrance to the tent, and the owner of the voice.
"Of course, how could I have been so totally stupid?" Jiang Wei chided himself. "Who formulated this strategy Lu Xun?"
"I did." Lu Xun walked up to the table and picked up Jiang Wei's brush.
"What are you doing?" Jiang Wei peered over Lu Xun's shoulder as he worked. When he had finished he looked down in awe.
"I have been studying this plan for three days, yet you have countered it in three minutes! And it's so obvious now that I feel like such a fool!"
"You're just tired Boyue, you need to rest." Zhao Yun put his arm around Jiang Wei's shoulders and walked out of the tent. Lu Xun turned to study the maps some more, to make sure the plan was perfect.
"Those maps look a lot like the ones that we ruined two years ago." Lu Xun jumped slightly and turned to face his lover.
"Don't do that to me Xingba!" Lu Xun walked over to embrace Gan Ning.
"Did I scare you?" Gan Ning's smile grew even wider as Lu Xun gave him a dirty look and turned his back to his lover.
"Aww, come on. I'm sorry." Gan Ning's arms slipped round Lu Xun's waist, and Lu Xun closed his eyes, relishing the close contact.
"I've been thinking, and I've had a great idea." Gan Ning whispered into his lover's ear.
"And what would that be?"
"Do you want to go into the woods with me?" Gan Ning kissed Lu Xun's neck as he asked.
"As long as you make sure I get back in one piece." Lu Xun giggled.
"That I can promise you, now let's get going!" and with that he scooped his young lover into his arms and carried him off.
"Is it true?" Zhang He's patience was fading fast, anger and boredom taking over.
"Is what true?" Ma Chao asked with the amount of anger and boredom.
"You know damn well what! Did Lu Xun have an affair with Sima Yi?" Zhang He had pulled Ma Chao into his tent and proceeded to interrogate him about the rumours that had been flying round the camp.
"Zhang He, if you tell a soul what I am about to tell you I will rip out all that beautiful hair, gouge out those beautiful eyes and peel the skin off that beautiful body, and then I'll roll you in salt until you scream for mercy. Then I'll rip out your voice box and continue to roll you around."
"Okay, okay, I get it, don't tell a soul." Zhang He said flippantly. "Now, tell all."
"Well, what happened was Sima Yi made advances, and Gan Ning walked in on them in a compromising situation."
"What were they doing?" Zhang He asked eagerly.
"They were kissing, but it isn't so much what they were doing as where their hands were. And it was their anniversary."
"Sima Yi's and Lu Xun's?" Zhang He was a little confused.
"No, Gan Ning and Lu Xun's. Can I go now?" Ma Chao didn't wait for a reply; he simply got up and exited the tent, leaving Zhang He deep in thought. This he could definitely use to his advantage.
"I need the key to one of the cells please."
"I need to have written permission before I let anyone have any of the keys. Do you have written permission, my lady?" The guard asked politely.
"Written permission? Who from?"
"Either from lord Dong Zhuo, or lord Lu Bu." The guard was beginning to get a little cocky, and the enchantress rolled her eyes. This was going to be harder than she thought.
"Written permission!" She scoffed, "next you'll be saying you have to stay in the room with me whilst I interrogate the prisoner!"
"Without written permission, the keys are staying right here. Sorry my lady."
"But I need to talk to one of the spies. If I don't all hope of winning the battle at Hu Lao Gate is lost!" She let the tiniest hint of a whine enter her voice, but it was no good. Switching strategies, she leaned over the desk, her ample bosom showing a little. With a sexy, seductive smile she said; "if you give me the key I'll make it worth your while, if you know what I mean."
The key was in her hand in a flash. Giggling, she beckoned the guard closer. She moved her hands to cup his face… and chopped his neck, rendering him unconscious.
"Men!" The enchantress giggled.
"Why me?" Screamed the cowardly spy.
"Because," she answered, pulling out her maces, ready to kill the unarmed spy, "you got caught."
"But I don't want to die!!" He screamed, not caring how pathetic he sounded to her.
"Hey, don't feel bad, everyone dies sometime. And don't worry, we'll meet again. In hell!" And with that she pounced on the poor man, beating him to a pulp with her maces.
She was totally amazed. How she did it even she was not sure. She had dragged the lifeless body of the spy out of the dungeons and up what seemed like an endless amount of stairs, and dumped his body in the vacant room next to lord Dong Zhuo's. Her plan was running smoothly, but could she carry it out? That was the question she would soon have the answer to.
"I can't believe I'm doing this." Her voice was little more than a whisper as she hurried down the huge hallways of the castle. She stopped outside a grand oak door. "Just breathe. And remember, it is for the good of my father." Although now she was having doubts. Was she really doing this for her father, of for herself?
Taking in a huge breath, she lifted a hand and knocked at the door. She was surprised at how steady it was. No matter how worried or nervous she got, her hands would never shake.
"Who is it?" Was the voice from within.
"It is I, Diao Chan, you sent for me."
"Enter."
Diao Chan took in another huge breath, and entered.