Spiteful Nunchucks

The Story of Ling Tong

Chapter Nine: The Road to He Fei

Things have not been good for us since Chi Bi ended. A strike north from us against Cao Cao ended in failure, and in the meantime, Liu Bei took the Jing Province, and Zhou Yu became obsessed with getting it back. His obsession led to him passing away due to a wound he suffered in the Battle at Nanjun, leaving poor Xiao Qiao and their three children all alone. War is indeed hell, but why must the bystanders suffer worse than the soldiers?

Meanwhile, Liu Bei had pushed west and taken the Yi Province, and Cao Cao had crushed Ma Chao and Zhang Lu and taken Xi Liang and Han Zhong. All the while, I was just keeping myself busy with my mother and my training in Yuhang, but I had a feeling that I would soon be out in the battlefield.

I didn't have long to wait, as soon a letter arrived, telling me to mobilize my troops and march to He Fei. It seems that Sun Quan still hasn't given up trying to take that place. Nonetheless, this time, with me around, it should be a piece of cake.

I quickly got my troops mobilized and headed north. When I arrived, however, it was to another party. Quickly choking down a bad sense of deja vu, I asked a soldier what was going on.

"Our strike against Huancheng Castle was a complete success, and we now have a base from which to attack He Fei!"

I smiled for a moment. At least that was good news. "How did it happen?"

"Oh, you should have seen it! Gan Ning took a chain, climbed the wall, and..." The soldier suddenly cut himself off, seeing in my eyes that I looked ready to tear him limb from limb if he kept praising Gan Ning. What a scum that pirate is! It's bad enough that he's almost faking this loyalty to Sun Quan, but now he's making it worse by taking all the credit for these battles!

"Where is Ning now?"

"Um...he's...in...the main tent...over there...please don't hurt me!" The soldier pleaded as he scrambled for his life. Letting him go, I strode over to the tent, in which I quickly saw a banquet was going on. But what else I saw caused my jaw to drop a mile.

Gan Ning...HE...was sitting in the place of honor! I couldn't believe it! It seems everyone loves this pirate! Needless to say, I was immediately seeing red and dead.

Whipping out my nunchucks, I shouted, "There is no entertainment at this banquet. I shall give a weaponmastery display to entertain all of you!" And so you can watch as I take this so-called hero down, I added as an afterthought.

Of course, saying that was like walking into a market and saying I was going to steal. Gan Ning was quickly on his feet, sword in hand. I charged, he braced...but neither of us hit the other, for Lu Meng had...once again...gotten in between us. I was shouting, nay, howling for vengeance, and everyone else wanted Lu Meng to move so the fight could occur, but then one voice silenced all.

"Ling Tong! What is the meaning of this!"

Everyone, including myself, quickly made our obesience to Sun Quan, who had just entered. However, even I could see the death glare on his face...aimed at me. He strode right up to me.

"I ordered you to abandon this malicious intent of yours. Vengeance for your father is a private matter, but I will not allow you to harm the intentions of the state for the sake of revenge! Now drop it, or I will have you executed!"

I promised obedience, but stormed out, furious. When will I finally be able to put this to rest? Either Gan Ning or myself has to go. I swore we both wouldn't live under the same sky, and I vowed that not even this land of chaos could hide Gan Ning from my vengeance. But the orders of Sun Quan were not to be ignored. I just decided to wait.

"I understand your anger, but right now, the defeat of Wei is more important."

I looked up to see Lu Meng was standing beside me. When did he get here? "What do you want?"

"I need you to come to a strategy meeting. We're going to plan our attack on He Fei."

Later that night, it was Lu Meng, Gan Ning, and I in a meeting to discuss the attack strategy. Lu Meng had filled me in on the reasons why we were attacking He Fei. I couldn't believe it. Why were we helping Shu?

"Don't look so down, Ling Tong. In this battle, we have the advantage." Lu Meng mentioned as we entered the strategy tent, while I flung the tent flap back and smacked Gan Ning, who was behind me, in the face.

"We're attacking Wei at Shu's request?" I still couldn't believe it. "Why should we help them?" The three of us settled at the table, on which a map of the area was laid out. Gan Ning, in typical fashion, propped his legs on the table. What a jerk!

"But...for our sake as well, we must defeat Cao Cao and take He Fei!" With that said, Lu Meng picked up a marker he had placed on the map earlier, then looked at Gan Ning. "Gan Ning, you are the key to this battle. Got it?" he asked, while flinging the marker at Ning.

Gan Ning quickly dropped his legs of the table, caught the marker, and pounded his fist on the table. "Right! Leave it to me!"

I just leaned back in my chair. "Tch...are you sure your ship can handle the weight of your thick skull?" I cracked.

Lu Meng stared. Gan Ning glared. Little did any of us know what the battle tomorrow would hold...