Spiteful Nunchucks
The Story of Ling Tong
Chapter Six: The Worry of the Little Flower
It was a cool winter night. Not cold: it was almost never cold in the Southlands. But it was cool enough to bring calming relief from the hot day. However, in the clear sky, the sparkle of stars seemed almost like the glitter of spears and swords. It was a bad feeling, and I didn't like it.
I was on my way to report to Zhou Yu, for the word had come down that Cao Cao was planning an attack, and after a long time of debating, the decision had finaly been made to unite with Liu Bei and fight against Cao Cao at Chi Bi. Hurray.
I was nearing the Wu Encampment where Zhou Yu was awaiting my arrival, when suddenly I tripped over something and fell flat on my face. After a mental thanks that no one was around to see that, I stood up, brushed myself off, and checked to see what it was I had tripped over. It was a pair of boots that belonged to someone I knew I was familiar with. Xiao Qiao...
Deciding that Zhou Yu could wait a few minutes more, I changed my direction and went which way the boots were pointing. It lead down to the beachy bank of the river, where it was easy to follow the bare foot prints right out to the dock. A look down at the edge of it confirmed my suspicions. Xiao Qiao was there.
Now, before you say anything about me, I just want to inform you that my relationship with Xiao Qiao is strictly platonic. I mean, she's married to Zhou Yu of all people. It never ceases to amaze me how she goes together so well with Zhou Yu's strict, by the book mentality. Xiao Qiao was always playful, eager, and pretty much wore an eternal smile. Even I had trouble not being happy around her.
However, something was different about her today. For one thing, she wasn't smiling. That was my first cue that something was major league wrong. Cue number two was how idly she was stirring the water with her feet. Usually, she'd be splashing wildly, or quite literally, in defiance to all things womanly, swimming in it and begging anyone around to join her in splash or chicken fights.
However, today, she was as quiet as the water, which meant bad news, at least from my vantage point. I decided to see what was up, and walked out to the edge of the dock. She heard my approach and looked up at me. "Mind if I sit?"
She put on an attempted smile. "Sure. I don't mind." With that invitation delivered, I sat down on the dock next to her, close enough to be friendly, but not too close that any onlooker would be suspicious. She just sighed and looked across the water.
"You're not yourself today." I braved to state. "Care to share what's up?"
In response, she lifted a hand, and pointed across the water. I followed her point...and I swear, my heart stopped for at least 10 seconds when I saw what was on the other side of the river.
Hundreds...nay...THOUSANDS of boats were floating on the other side of the great river. Every single one had an all too familiar flag with an even more familiar letter written on it. "The Wei Fleet," I stated more than asked.
Xiao Qiao didn't bother to confirm the obvious. Everybody in Wu has heard the rumors of Cao Cao's million-man armada. And few of them were convinced that we stood a chance against a navy of that sized. I spouted a bitter laugh. "Well, I suppose if Zhou Yu's so willing to fight them, Liu Bei had better come up big time."
"That's what concerns me." was Xiao Qiao's suprising response.
I glanced over at her. "What do you mean?"
"Well...Zhouie's been...different lately. Ever since he was visited by Zhuge Liang and Lu Su, he's become obsessed with killing Cao Cao. Any time I try to ask him why, he just blows me off, telling me not to worry about it, that he'll never let anything happen to me. But I don't understand..."
So apparently, Zhuge Liang had said something to spite Zhou Yu into agreeing to fight. Clue number 2 was Zhou Yu saying something about not letting anything happen to Xiao Qiao. Two plus two equals...
"Do you suppose Zhuge Liang suggested to send you and your sister over to Cao Cao?"
Xiao Qiao gasped. "That must be it! There can't be any other reason why Zhou Yu would suddenly be so obsessed with protecting me and killing Cao Cao! But if that's true...does that mean Zhuge Liang is manipulating this battle to his own advantage or the advantage of Liu Bei?"
"Based on what I heard about Zhuge Liang, I wouldn't doubt that could be the case. But think about it, right now, we've got two of the smartest men in China on our side. What chance could Cao Cao possibly have? I'll bet even as we speak, they're coming up with a plan that will absolutely wipe Cao Cao off the map."
A legitimate smile formed on Xiao Qiao's face. "You're right! With Zhuge Liang and Zhouie, there's no way that meany Cao Cao will win! And when we defeat him, there'll be a big party to celebrate! Right?"
Seeing her smile made all the difference in the world. "You know it, girl! That armada may be huge, but by tomorrow, every single one of those boats will be laying on the bottom of the river in pieces! Now, I have to go report to Zhou Yu. You stay here and keep lookout!"
She gave me a joke salute. "Aye-aye, captain!"
I stood up and made my way back to the encampment, and headed towards Zhou Yu's tent. When I got there, he and Huang Gai were with someone in a white robe and with a feather fan in one of his hands. Must be Zhuge Liang. Strangely, they were looking at each other's hands and laughing.
"What's going on?" I asked.
Zhou Yu's answer: "We have our strategy." They both faced their hands my way, and on each hand was written the same word: fire. I grinned.
"So we wipe out their boats with a fire attack? That's a stroke of brilliance! Except there's one small problem...the wind's kinda blowing the wrong way."
Zhou Yu's smile turned to a look of horror. "You're right! If we launched a fire attack now, we'd end up destroying our own fleet!"
Zhuge Liang, however, was surprisingly calm.
"Leave the wind problem to me. I've already had my men set up an alter on the southwest bank. With enough time, I will be able to make the southeast wind blow."
I, of course, scoffed at the notion, but Zhou Yu calmed himself right away. "Very well, then. We have our strategy. I will call a meeting shortly."
Before long, most of the major Wu officers were in the tent with Zhou Yu. Lu Xun, Gan Ning, Huang Gai, Lu Meng, (who was standing between me and Gan Ning) Cheng Pu, and many of the others were there. Zhuge Liang and another man, dressed in a helmet and a face wrap, was there as well.
Zhou Yu then began his orders.
"Pang Tong, (who I assumed was the other guy with Zhuge Liang) you shall go over to Wei's side and convince Cao Cao to chain his ships together. Zhuge Liang, you shall pray for the southeast wind. Ling Tong, your job will be to hold the west bank and protect the altar."
"Huang Gai, you are to proceed to the central ship. A boat will be waiting there for you. Load it up with straw, then, when the wind blows, take it across the river and set Cao Cao's fleet on fire. Gan Ning, Lu Meng, you are to head north and prepare an ambush to cut off Cao Cao's retreat. The rest of you, take up a position and hold off the enemy until we can launch the fire attack!"
The meeting was suddenly interrupted when Xiao Qiao ran in! "Zhouie! Zhouie!"
Zhou Yu groaned: both at being called "Zhouie" in front of everyone, and for noticing the same thing I did: Xiao Qiao had just ran into the tent barefoot. She must have forgotten her boots, or was in too big a hurry to get them. I assumed it was the latter.
Zhou Yu finally calmed himself again. "Xiao Qiao, ignoring your unladylikeness for the moment, what's going on?"
She finally managed to scream, "Cao Cao's ships are moving!"
The stage is now set for the biggest naval battle in Three Kingdoms History. And I'm trying to build a Ling Tong/Xiao Qiao dynamic by bouncing Ling Tong's love of sarcasm and pranks (according to Dynasty Warriors) with Xiao Qiao's childish unladylikeness. Do you think it works, or should I try it another way? Anyways, in the next chapter, the Battle of Chi Bi...and this time, the ACTUAL battle. See you there!