AN: Sorry this update has come so late. I'm trying to finish my other story. Thanks for the reviews and please leave some more. I won't be able to update though unless I get some more reviews. Please enjoy.

Chapter 3 "The Red Armor Falls"

"Have you guys tried this soup? It's incredible!" said Sun Shang Xiang, as she raised the bowl to her mouth, shoveling in as much as she could.

The Qiao sisters watched in horror, as Shang Xiang lowered an empty bowl and gulped down a mouthful of soup. Some o the broth was still dripping down the side of her mouth, she wiped it off with her arm, and belched as she patted her stomach contently.

Da turned to her sister, "That was the most horrible thing I've ever seen."

"I know, it may be harder to find her a husband than we thought." Answered Xiao, as Shang Xiang glared at the two.

The main door opened, and a tired Sun Jian came walking in.

"Hey pops, how's the paperwork coming?" Sun Ce said, comfortably leaning back in his chair.

Sun Jian looked at him and grunted, "You should really be at least helping me with this stuff."

Ce went for his drink and effectively got himself out of the conversation.

A smiling Shang Xiang stood up and handed her father a bowl, "Don't worry about it now dad, have some of the soup."

Sun Jian smiled to his daughter, as he accepted the bowl, but his face fell again, looking down into a large empty pot.

"And that would be your charming little daughter." Zhou Yu remarked quietly.

Sun Shang Xiang backed away with a nervous smile and, as someone else walked in through the door, she found a new subject to talk about. "Hey Tong, how's the studies going?"

Ling Tong shrieked as he heard that question.

Zhou Yu looked deviously at him, "Yes, Ling Tong. How goes your studies? You must be doing much on your own, considering me and Lu Xun waited for you all last night."

Ling Tong nervously sat down as far from Zhou Yu as he could, "Well, you know...I had to...you know...ummm..."

"Oh, just stop this already. Ling Tong you'd better start going to lessons again or you'll just end up a stupid brute!" Yelled a frustrated Sun Jian. Everyone sat down, and silence ensued, until finally Sun Jian spoke again. "By the way, where is your father?"

"I think he went down to the blacksmith. There was a problem with his armor."

Before Sun Jian could answer, a soldier came running into the room.

"My lord, we have a situation."

(Outside the city)

Gan Ning was staring angrily at the city. He had not bothered to line up his men, so they stood behind him in an unorganized mass. Red flags were flying over the city and he was certain, the general, he was looking for, was in there. With his sword at his side and a bow in his hand, he slowly started to move his horse forward. Xia Fen moved forward to speak but then backed away. Ning moved out 30 paces in front of his small force, within bow shot of the city.

He looked over the walls a few times and took long deep breathes. He could see many soldiers dotting the wall staring down at him. He took one last deep breath, and with all the force in his body he yelled, "SUN JIAN!"

Waiting a few seconds ago, he yelled again. "SUN JIAN!"

(Back inside the city)

As Sun Jian, Zhou Yu, Sun Ce, Da Qiao, Xiao Qiao, Sun Shang Xiang, and Ling Tong walked up the steps, they could hear the loud booming voice even through the thick walls. They made it to the top of the wall and looked down upon the field to observe what was going on. What they saw surprised them. A small unorganized group, of what seemed like river pirates, numbering, they guessed, about 500. The source of the loud voice was a man, who seemed like the leader, standing out in front of the troop. He was a scantly armored man, muscular but not so large that he would look terrifying. But even from where they were, they could see the large, imposing sword at his side.

"SUN JIAN!" The man screamed again.

"Who is he?" Sun Jian asked.

"We don't know, we thought you would." The soldier answered.

"SUN JIAN!" He screamed again.

Sun Jian turned to Zhou Yu. "What do you think?"

"Are you certain you don't know this man?" Sun Jian nodded. "Then this could be a trap? Someone could be using this man to lure you out."

"SUN JIAN YOU COWARD! COME OUT AND FIGHT ME!"

Sun Jian and all his officers took a minute to look over the whole battlefield. The man continued to yell out insults and challenges. Sun Jian turned to his officers, but before he could talk he heard a different man's voice yell out. He turned around to see Ling Cao, astride a horse, charging out through the gate.

Wielding his long halberd, he yelled out, "Stand down you brigand! You will not insult my lord anymore!"

Gan Ning, believing it was Sun Jian, smiled wickedly to himself. But as the man got closer he could see the worn, brown leather armor the man wore. Looking at him, Ning realized this couldn't be a man of rank. It was not Sun Jian. His rage exploded.

"YOUR NOT WHO I WANT!"

He fitted an arrow, and pulled back on the bow with all his strength. He released the arrow and flew straight through the air, striking Ling Cao in his upper right chest. The force of the arrow knocked him completely of his horse and he lost consciousness.

Back up on the wall, the generals watched in horror, as Ling Cao went down. Before any of them could even react, Ling Tong was already gone. Grabbing a horse, he charged out onto the field, heading straight for the body.

Gan Ning fitted another arrow and took aim again, but Xia Fen called out to his to stop. He allowed the young boy to retrieve the body and carry it back inside. Looking up on the wall, a flicker of light caught his eye. He squinted and saw a man wearing red armor. He eyed him with all the fury in his heart.

Sun Jian made sure that Ling Cao was attended to, then went back up on the wall. Walking forward, he leaned out over the battlements, his officers all standing back waiting for him to speak..

"Alright so chances are he isn't just some undisciplined barbarian, he has some martial might. What should we do?"

"We should wait and see what happens. If he charges the city or shows any other form of aggression then he is just a brigand and there is no trap. But if he remains or leaves, that will show it was a trap. We can then send out some cavalry to reconnoiter around the area and try and find who's planning this." Zhou Yu proposed.

"Sounds good."

Sun Jian turned around, rubbing his temples. He looked reassuringly at his family behind him. Suddenly he was jolted forward. He remained standing, but his face became stiff. His mouth open and his eyes looked of into the distance. He fell first to his knees, then fell flat on his face. An arrow protruded from the center of his back.