Disclaimer: I do not own Dynasty Warriors. Dynasty Warriors is owned by their respective owners.
The Wu Zhang Plains. An enormous plain just below the Wei river, located between the city of Tian Shui and the city of Chang'an. On the high cliffs on the east side were well-built fortresses in the many, easily holding out against a week-long siege. Hills were located to the west, with a few well-defended bases here and there. But the bases represented perfectly what the battle had been in the past: An all-out offense against an immovable defense.
In the west base on top of a cliff just before the plains, one of those well-defended bases was located. It was also the middle point of Brian's forces where most officers and the commander himself had gathered for the upcoming war council.
There was a startling wind pushing from the east as Brian stood on the cliff, watching over the plains all the way to the enemy's main fortress. Enormous stoned walls stood in his way of victory, and he knew they would not fall easily. Azeil sat next to him, the tiger feeling the seriousness of his master as it did not even make a single sound.
Brian let out a sigh as he thought, This is going to become difficult. Both Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi are on the battlefield, and I doubt Yue Ying and Zhang Chunhua are just gonna sit still. And why do I have a bad feeling about this Xin Xiangying?
A few soldiers who were sitting from afar looked at their commander as one whispered, ''Is he doing the thing again?''
Another soldier whispered, ''I am not certain. He doesn't look spaced out. He looks rather worried.''
''How can you tell?'' Another soldier asked worriedly.
''Look at the tiger. It is said you can see how Lord Brian is feeling from how the tiger is acting. So far, it has never been wrong,'' The soldier answered.
Just as the other soldiers thought that was ridiculous, Shangxiang walked towards their commander. A few words later, and the tiger's tail wagged so quickly some believed he would take off. As their lord's eyes sparkled as well, none of them doubted those rumors any longer.
~In the council tent.~
Officers in the plenty had gathered in the specially designed tent. Warriors of the red, green, yellow, and purple stood together under the same banner, waiting for their commander to start the council.
''Ggrrr!'' A tiger's roar echoed loudly as the entrance opened up, alerting all officers to pay attention. Brian stepped in with Azeil and Shangxiang at his side as he gave one look around the room, and said, ''Everyone is here. Good. Master Lu Su, Master Li Ru, please start the meeting.''
''Very well, my lord.'' both strategists responded before Lu Su continued, ''Our enemies are the famous strategists Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi.''
''Rumor has it Zhuge Liang handles the offensive in their battle and Sima Yi will handle the defensive,'' Li Ru added. ''Further, the enemy has taken control of cliffs on the north and south, and rumor has it there is a large group prepared to attack us from those fortresses.''
''If this is true, our frontline will be quickly pushed back, and we will be put on a defensive,'' Lu Su continued calmly. ''However, if we fake a retreat and lure them towards the bases to the Northwest and west, we can ambush them from the cliffs and our bases.''
''As their frontline is distracted, we will push from the middle and take control of the central plains.'' Li Ru added. ''From there on out, the enemy will retreat and strengthen their defensive. That's the moment we'll use the catapults and the ram and break through their defense.'' Almost all officers seemed to understand and agree to the plan. However, three men could not seem to agree to it and it was quickly noticed by the others.
No one spoke a word as they saw their commander in his famous state, the light in his eyes giving away he was not looking where his eyes pointed to. It was the famous space-out before another brilliant idea would arise to the surface.
The light in his eyes returned after a few seconds, his poker face revealing nothing to the curious eyes of his followers. He kept them a little longer in the dark as he turned his eyes on the slick-back strategist and asked, ''What do you think, Master Fa Zheng? Could this plan work against the Sleeping Dragon, or are we playing right in his hands?''
Fa Zheng unfolded his arms as he stopped leaning against the tent's foundations and answered, ''To most enemies, this plan would have worked perfectly. Give them a moment of security and attack when they expect it the least. It is a fatal mistake to underestimate your enemy and charge forward recklessly. That's is why they will not fail for the bait.''
''So what do you advise, master Fa Zheng?'' Xing Cai asked.
Fa Zheng looked difficult as he answered'' The cliffs on both the north and south are perfect defensive positions that are extremely hard to breakthrough. With Balistaes or archers on those cliffs, they can easily hold back any attempts we try to capture both the cliffs and the central plains. If the Sleeping Dragon is taking the offensive role, it means Lady Yue Ying must be as well, thus her juggernauts will be there as well. Any normal offensive is going to become a useless sacrifice against those.''
Brian looked understandable before he turned his attention to Jiang Wei and asked the former protegé, ''Master Jiang Wei, what do you think?''
Jiang Wei looked difficult as he answered, ''I am not certain, my lord. We can't defeat them if they stay defensively, nor if we go on the offensive. At the same time, they are free to attack us from the central plains with those juggernauts. If we only could take down their offensive.''
It seems we need a bit of an impulsive strategy. Brian thought as he said, ''In that case, I'll take care of the offensive and defeat their offense. Lady Lian Shi, Lady Sun, master Sun Quan, please pressure the enemy fortress in the north with a barrage of fire arrows. It will force them to respond. The remaining officers will focus on any attacks from the south. From there on out, I'll be counting on you, my strategists.''
''Very well, my lord! Leave it to us!'' The strategists responded in unison.
Brian thought everything was spoken and discussed at the council, but just as he wanted to call it a night, an unexpected officer waited for his arrival at his tent. ''Master Fa Zheng. What can I help you with?'' He asked confused.
The slick-back officer grinned before he asked, ''How much do you dare to trust an evil man like me?''
It was a grey day, to say the least as clouds had darkened the sky dark-gray on this morning. Rainfall was very common in the Wu Zhang Plains, and it wouldn't surprise Sima Yi anything if today would be another rainy day. Although it meant a fire would not cause a problem to his defense, he wondered how effective Yue Ying's juggernauts would be.
"My lord, we are ready to begin,'' A soldier reported on one knee, waiting for an order to be dismissed.
''Very well. Inform Master Zhuge Liang he can start the attack. Inform Qin Lang and Xin Pi to be ready for an enemy assault,'' Sima Yi ordered calmly. ''Dismissed.''
''Yes sir!'' The soldier responded before he made his way to the front gates.
Sima Yi sighed as he mumbled to himself, ''Another imbecile thinks he can just conquer the land with nothing but brute strength. When are they going to learn you need more than muscle to rule a land?''
''Don't get too carried away, my dear. As long as the enemy stands, they are a threat to our plans. If you underestimate them, you might come to regret it,'' A terrifyingly calm voice responded, Sima Yi's changing to a nervous one.
''Ye...Yes. Of course, my dear,'' Sima Yi responded nervously before he saw the horse that was walking behind his wife. He didn't have to ask anything, and neither was he planning to do so. He knew his wife was a control freak, and personally wanted to make certain their allies wouldn't mess up in their offensive duties.
''Rest assured, my dear. This will not take long,'' Zhang Chunhua said before riding forward on her horse towards the gates. That was the last thing he was worried about, for he suddenly felt sorry for the poor soldiers who had to face her. He shook his head to get rid of that useless sympathy, looked forward as he raised his horsehair whip up, and ordered, ''Let this battle begin!''
~The central area of the Wu Zhang Plains.~
''Continue formation! Juggernaut squad, I am counting on you to intercept the enemy!'' A long brown-red-haired female officer commanded while wielding her long Dagger Axe.
''Yes, lady Yue Ying!'' the men inside the moveable lion cannons responded while pushing forward, the tubes and oil already prepared to be used.
*Whoosh**Clang!* A collision of two metals suddenly rang through the air as an iron spear was sticking out of the opening of one of the juggernauts. Zhuge Liang did not have to question if the machine was still operable, for the hit had caused the machine to leak and a silent fire spread under it.
''Enemy assault!'' A soldier shouted as a warning.
''Where are they coming from?'' Another soldier asked in a slight panic.
''There! There is an enemy coming from the front!'' Another soldier warned.
''How many?''
''Just one horseman! And he is quickly approaching!'' The lookout informed. ''Wait, what is he...?''
Just as Zhuge Liang and Yue Ying wondered what was going to happen, another loud crash echoed in the air, and another Juggernaut caught fire as a spear was sticking out of the small opening. ''He is aiming for the Juggernauts! Protect them at all costs!'' the wife of the Sleeping Dragon commanded.
''Make a defensive line. Archers, prepare to fire,'' Zhuge Liang commanded with the same calmness he was used to. Although he did not expect the unearthly aim of his attacker, especially considering the heavy armor he was carrying, he was certain it was the enemy commander who attacked them head-on.
Even before there were any rumors about this battle, Zhuge Liang had investigated the uprising officer. His research started with the battle against Sun Quan, where an unheard lord suddenly defeated a well-known warlord of Wu. His legacy continued when even his former prodigy and Fa Zheng fell to his strength. And this very moment, he was charging the main enemy as he was known for; a lord willing to risk his life for his subordinates.
''Fire!'' Yue Ying commanded, the archers unleashing a barrage of arrows aimed to kill.
Arrows moved at incredible speed. For the average eye, it is impossible to follow their trajectory, let alone dodge them consistently. Zhuge Liang had trained his eyesight to do at least the former, and what he saw made him feel uneasy.
Even spinning a weapon to use it as a spinning shield would not be enough to deflect all the arrows, but the enemy commander did not even feel like blocking them. Four arrows struck their target but did nothing as the commander quickly approached their location.
''Spear unit, intercept him!'' Yue Ying ordered, twelve armed men to answer her orders as they moved in to intercept the charging commander. A smooth and impressive move and the enemy commander jumped over the spearmen as his horse stopped just in time. Just too late, both strategists realized their enemy was not aiming for their defense. He was aiming for their juggernauts.
A two-handed sword pierced through the opening of the Juggernaut, instantly killing its driver and making it useless. Brian jumped up to the broken juggernauts, grabbed his two cross-blade voulges, and jumped towards the next juggernaut. ''No, you don't!'' The female strategist shouted as she had quickly deduced what his next target would be.
*Clang!* her dagger axe clashed with his cross blades, Yue Ying's movement instantly put on a hold. What?! How he is stopping my attack so easily?
With immense strength, he sent Yue Ying flying back, forcing a painful cry out of her before he prepared his weapon and moved in to take out another juggernaut. Then, out of nowhere, his body stopped. ''It seems the rumors about you are true. You are a monster on the battlefield. But even a monster is defenseless if he is immobile.'' A terrifyingly calm voice commented. The enemy commander looked at the source, where Zhang Chunhua stood. ''That was a fatal mistake, boy.''
''Fire!'' Yue Ying ordered, both archers and juggernauts doing exactly that. In just mere seconds, the enemy commander was engulfed in flames and arrows, and although the fire burned Zhang Chunhua's wires, the damage was done.
Jumping out of the fire and away from danger, he whistled once, and before any other attacks could follow, retreated on his entrusted horse. Zhuge Liang looked at the ground where his enemy had landed, where a small bit of red liquid was slowly been taken away by the grass. ''He is wounded,'' he said intrigued before he added, ''Although this sounds like a perfect opportunity, why does this feel too good to be true?''
''That is an excellent observation, master Zhuge Liang. Do not worry. We will know soon enough,'' Zhang Chunhua responded with a terrifying smile on her face.
~North side.~
''My lord, we can't keep the arbalests protected with all these fire arrows!'' A soldier reported as another arbalest caught fire.
''We have no choice but to push them inside!'' Xin Pi responded before he added, ''Wait for these arrows to stop, and move them back into position.''
A female officer came running just then, her long black hair dancing elegantly to the startling wind. ''Father, I have news!''
''Ah, Xin Xianging. What do you have to report?'' The senior officer asked.
''The enemy commander has just been wounded by Lady Zhang Chunhau's group and he was forced to retreat!'' The young girl reported.
''I see. Lady Zhang Chunhua's plan was a success. Xianging, we have to hold this position until we can push forward!'' Xin Pi ordered.
''Leave it to me, father,'' The young lady responded in full morale as she returned to her post, her two-handed axe always ready to cleave through the enemy force.
~Sima Yi's main base.~
A soldier was nervously looking at the ground, waiting for an order to be dismissed or just one to pass on to the other officers. Instead, Sima Yi had turned around, no visible response of happiness on his face noticeable. ''Bring me my horse. We'll sweep them in one overwhelming assault.''
''Yes, Sir!'' the soldier replied before quickly spreading the message.
Sima Yi couldn't care less as he thought, So you were really just another imbecile. Is it that difficult to understand you need strategy and tactic to win a battle, and not just brute force and luck? And here I thought someone would provide me with a decent challenge.
Normally, he would have been more fanatic about his victories, yet he was not in the mood for that now. It meant little to crush insects, for those insects meant nothing for the land. Stepping on his horse, he rode forward, ordered the doors open, and charged forward on the retreating enemy.
Apart from his men marching towards the enemy camp, the central plains were peaceful. It would have been the perfect place to find inner peace if it wasn't for the constant agitation in Sima Yi's mind. The turmoil of the land; his ambition; his demand for a mind that could rival his and many more things continued to disturb him.
Although his wife had a brilliant mind, it was not the same as the one he was looking for. He was not looking for a person who would stand next to him. He was waiting for the one that would call him an imbecile and would be in the right as well. He had hoped the new lord Brian Miller would have been that after all the research he had done on him, but that was just a thought in vain.
Then, his ears picked up a faint whistle. A whistling sound that slowly became louder, as if something was approaching them. His soldiers picked up on it as well, and before one could shout a warning, it was already too late.
''Enemy attack! They are launching rocks at us!'' A soldier reported as rocks crushed a group of soldiers next to him.
A thousand questions suddenly rose up in Sima Yi's mind. Where did they get and hide the catapults? How are those rocks striking his charging forces so effectively? Why are they fighting back despite their commander being mortally wounded? Realizing they had catapults and realizing he had marched a long way forward, he eventually realized he had overextended. ''We have to destroy those catapults! Everyone, charge in!''
If we can seize those catapults, we can retreat to the castle. We have to move quickly. Just as he had adjusted his strategy, a messenger rode towards him, quickly stepped off his horse, and reported, ''My lord! Master Qin Lang and Liu Ye were ambushed and defeated! The bases to the south have fallen to the enemy!''
''What?! Where were the recon units?!'' Sima Yi asked shocked.
''The enemy had ambushed them and had changed their gear to infiltrate the bases,'' The soldier responded, fearing he would be punished for an act he did not commit. ''The officers Zhao Yun and Xing Cai are moving in on our castle from the southeast.''
Dammit! We played right into the enemy's hands! ''Where are our offensive troops?'' Sima Yi asked, his voice hinting a panic he was not aware of.
Just then, another messager came running, stopped in front of his lord, and reported, ''My lord, Master Zhuge Liang and lady Zhang Chunhau have just been captured by the enemy! We lost contact with the rest of the assault group!''
What's going on? They could not have been captured that easily. ''What happened to the juggernauts?'' He asked.
''The enemy used rocks to render them incapable, my lord!'' How did I not foresee this?
Just as he thought it would be all over, another messager hurried his way towards him, landed on a knee, and reported, ''The bases to the north have been captured by the enemy commander! Master Xin Pi and Lady Xin Xianging are captured!''
It was that moment Sima Yi realized he had been bested. With nothing more to command or to say, he dropped his horsehair whip, turned to his men, and responded, ''Tell our men to stand down. We have lost this battle.''
The soldier looked shocked, but did not dare to say anything else as he bowed and responded, ''Understood, my lord.''
It was the moment he gave in to that surrender, he smiled. His mind was momentarily blank except for one thing. He had been bested by a greater mind. He raised his head and laughed as tears of an emotion unknown strolled down his face.
~The night before the battle.~
''I may have a plan to turn the tide of this battle into our favor. However, for it to work, it requires a noteworthy risk. Would you listen to my plan, my lord?'' the slick-back officer asked.
Brian smiled as he answered, ''We wouldn't be sitting here if I wouldn't. Tell me what you need, master Fa Zheng.''
''Very well. Firstly, I'll have Yan Zhang and Bo Zhang infiltrate the enemy bases in the south. When the time is right, I'll have them attack the enemy from within while lady Xing Cai and master Zhao Yun confront the base head-on. Before we can attack the south, we need to give them the feeling of security.''
Brian asked nothing as his eyes remained focused on his strategist, following every step in the back of his mind. ''That's where you come in, my lord. Knowing master Zhuge Liang, he must be certain you will charge in them head-on. Although I am certain you could beat them, it would prolong this battle for way too long. Thus, we have to create the idea their weapons are as effective as they appear to be.''
''You want me to take damage, or at least fake it. How are you going to convince them I am truly hurt?'' Brian asked curiously.
The slick-back strategist grabbed something from inside his robe, and answered, ''If you drop this blood just after you have been attacked, they are certain about their effectiveness. Following this tactic with a fake rumor should be more than enough to draw the enemy out. And when the main force has made their way on the central plains, we will bomb them with our catapults. At the same time, we will launch a triple assault against the south, north, and the attack force. If we continue to pressure the North with fire arrows, they will not dare to put any traps upfront. Thus, that leaves an opening for you to move in, my lord. Master Lu Su, Master Jiang Wei, master Sun Quan, and lady Lian Shi will take care of the attack force, together with a boulder unit to render the juggernauts immobile.''
''Very well. I will be counting on you, master Fa Zheng.''
~The following morning.~
Brian rode forward wearing full armor, a bag of blood hidden under the armor on his chest and the clothes underneath wettened as a precaution against the juggernauts' fire attacks. On the map in his HUD, he saw the enemy force slowly approaching. Thus, with the request from Fa Zheng he had to destroy some of the juggernauts, he grabbed one of Lu Lingqi's signature blades and threw it precisely in the driver's seat. A second throw finished off the second of the six juggernauts. Thanks to his armor, the arrows did little damage. Thank you +10 defense skill.
Of course, he had seen Zhang Chunhua on his map, yet he was still surprised when he was stopped in his tracks. The fire blast and arrows did little damage thanks to his armor and the water, but he also noticed his clothes had become quickly dry. He spilled the blood while whistling for his horse, and retreat with his mission successfully concluded.
At the bases of the north, Sun Shang Xiang took over Lian Shi and Sun Quan's groups and continued the rain of suppressing arrows.
When the false message skill was completed, Sima Yi moved in as planned, and the officers moved into position. The catapults landed perfectly on Sima Yi's army as the distance was calculated by Li Ru. The south bases fell to Yan Zheng, Bo Zhang, Xing Cai, and Zhao Yun's teamwork. The north bases were overrun by Brian, Zhang Jun, and Sun Shang Xiang's teamwork, and even the ballistas on the east north cliff could not respond in time. Xin Xianging could hold Brian off for a few seconds, but in the end, she too could do nothing against his strength. It did not help Azeil shredded every enemy officer to shreds, instantly lowering the morale of any who dared to attack him or his master.
From the cliffs, Fa Zheng had an excellent view over the battlefield and he enjoyed every single second of it. ''In the name of my lord Brian Miller, I claim victory in this battle! Time to enjoy those anguish faces of those who despise me.''
~That evening.~
A white robe was all he wore as he sat at the table, four of his prisoners sitting across from him under the supervision of his trustworthy bodyguards. Azeil lay comfortably in the corner, not minding the rest after the fine dinings of the evening.
Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi sat in similar clothing on the floor while their wives sat beside them, all wearing simple white clothing. Their minds tried to figure out what to make of the situation. Brian did not give them the time as he turned to Sima Yi and started, ''Before we start, I like to ask you a question. Why did you surrender?''
Sima Yi looked confused, yet did not question the question as he answered, ''In battle, there are five possible operations to follow. If you can fight, you fight. If you can not fight, you defend. If you cannot defend yourself, you flee. If you can not flee, you surrender. And if you cannot surrender, you die.'' Zhang Chunhae look sort of proud by that statement, even if it was barely visible on her visage.
I see. A rational decision even in the heat of battle. Brian thought. Looking content with the answer, he turned to Zhuge Liang and asked, ''Why didn't you decide to continue the attack immediately?''
''I predicted you would come and engage us head-on. The juggernauts were just a diversion to make certain you would take the offensive. However, for a man of such amazing rumors to fall for a trap that easily sounded just too good to be true,'' Zhuge Liang answered. Yue Ying smiled at her husband's answer as a proud woman. Another rational decision. Perfect.
''Rational decisions even in the heat of battle. As they say, there is no greater weapon than a prepared mind,'' Brian responded, surprising all four strategists. ''I expect nothing less from the Sleeping Dragon and the strategist who sees the future. Two strong strategists, one fighting for benevolence while the other one fights for his ambition,'' Brian smiled as he added, ''Join me in my quest to unite the land under one banner, and I will help you in your quests for benevolence and ambition.''
It was Sima Yi who answered his request with a laugh as if he had heard the funniest joke of all time. ''Imbecile! You know all that, and you still request for me to work under you? Has the victory gone to your head?'' Zhang Chunhae looked curious at Brian as if she wasn't certain how to judge him.
Brian turned to Zhuge Liang in the hope the Sleeping Dragon was a bit more cooperative and to his pleasant surprise, the Sleeping Dragon replied, ''You have bested us in battle, and treated us well despite there being no such requirement for you to do so. Our lives lie in your hands, and if you wish for our cooperation in your future endeavors in the search of a country of benevolence, we will join your side,'' Zhuge Liang spoke calmly as he bowed. As expected, Yue Ying bowed as well.
Sima Yi looked shocked as well, not expecting his rival to immediately join the enemy side. Why do I get the feeling you are a bit of tsundere? Brian thought as he decided to play a little mind game. ''I see. Well, I preferred a total collaboration, but I believe I got the best one out of this deal. Master Fa Zheng, prepare the men for a public execution.'' Standing up, he added, ''It is shame not to realize your ambition due to pride and arrogance, Sima Yi. Are you really that short-minded that you cannot see that? And you call me an imbecile.''
Brian's voice was calm, as one eye focused on Sima Yi's bright red face from anger, while the other focused on Zhang Chunhae's curious expression. Unlike her husband, she had seen right through his act. He was about to leave when Sima Yi's face turned red from anger, yet he could hold his composure under control as he responded, ''You dare to belittle me, and then you just walk away? You are going to regret killing the greatest mind of this era!''
Brian turned around, chuckled, and responded, ''Confidence is not a characteristic you lack, but understanding the world around you is. Do you really think your mind is the greatest if you can't even defeat me in battle?'' Brian turned completely around as he added, ''You focus on war while the answer to peace lies before you. You dare to speak that you are the greatest mind in the world, but yet you keep all that knowledge to yourself. If you were smart, you share it with others; teach the world not only that you are genius in war but a master who tries to raise humanity to a level beyond imbeciles. If your ambition lies only in war, then what good are you in an era of peace?''
Sima Yi looked flabbergasted for a moment before he realized where he had gone wrong. Feeling defeated, he smiled as he answered, ''I see. Very well, I will lend you my services in the search for my new ambition. If peace is truly something we can grasp, then I'll guide you to the road to achieve it.'' Zhang Chunhae smiled as she politely bowed her head to her new lord.
The sun barely sat on the horizon as not even the roosters had awoken yet in this late night or early morning, depending on who you asked. The air was cool as the rain continued to fall down from the sky. In the tents, it turned into a soft easing rhythmic background.
So calming. Brian thought as his ears continued to be gently caressed by the soft tappings of water droplets. Coming together with the soft touch of a woman's hand on his naked chest, he couldn't picture a more blessed moment than this one.
Shangxiang's fingers traced the scar that went from his left shoulder to his right abdomen, the scar resembling a memory of the battle between him and her brother. ''Does it hurt?'' She whispery asked as two fresh wounds had joined his previous collection.
''No, it doesn't,'' He answered in a whisper, his left arm getting used to being used a cushion for his lover's head as he caressed her naked back in return.
Shangxiang showed a satisfied smile as she responded, ''I am glad to hear that. I am glad master Fa Zheng's plan worked, but I can not help thinking what would have happened if it had failed.'' Her smile turned a bit more serious as she added, ''It is strange. Although I am used to fighting in battles such as these, I do not look forward to joining them as I used to. I am not really certain why.''
Brian smiled as he responded, ''Isn't it obvious? It means you have something better than the thrill of battle to look forward to.''
Shangxiang looked a bit dumbfounded into his eyes before she smiled, lay her head on his chest, and whispered, ''Perhaps that is the reason. I must admit there isn't a day that I am not looking forward to what is going to happen with you around. Ever since I joined your side, every day became a day to look forward to. I am very grateful for that, dummy.''
There was a hint of playfulness in her voice, and by where her fingers were going to, he realized it was more than just an innocent playfulness. She raised his body above his, one hand on his trembling junior while the other one was supporting her weight. Leaning to his ear, she whispered, ''Let me show you how grateful I am,'' before she continued where they left off the evening before.
~One hour later.~
The rain had settled as the morning sun broke through the clouds, bringing a bit of warmth on this cold autumn day. A calming breeze blew from the north, welcoming Brian as he exited his tent, Lian Shi and Sun Shang Xiang following right behind him with both satisfied smiles on their faces. Can't you girls have a bit of a poker face? Your expressions speak bookmarks. Brian thought embarrassingly as he tried to ignore most stares, some of his soldiers giving him a manly grin of approval.
''Good morning, my lord. Did you have a good night rest?'' Lu Su asked as the former wu strategist was the first officer Brian walked into on his way to the dining tent.
''It was excellent, master Lu Su,'' Brian answered as he returned the strategist's gaze, Lu Su's eyes not even showing a single trace of fatigue. ''It seems your night rest was as splendid as ever. You really got to tell me how you do it.''
Lu Su smiled as he responded, ''It is mostly thanks to the tea, my lord. It can set your mind at ease even in the direst of situations. When we return, please let us share a tea together in the teahouse.''
''If only tea could do something about the turmoil and chaos of this land,'' Brian said. ''It would make it a lot easier for me to relax.''
Lu Su continued to smile as he responded, ''Then don't be afraid to rely on me in these times of chaos and turmoil.'' Seeing the questionable gaze of his lord, Lu Su added, ''It feels as if we've known each other for a long time. This world of chaos is nothing to fear, so long as we stand together. Just as my loyalty, our friendship shall never falter.'' Maximum friendship reached! Lu Su gained the support skill Rouse Protect.
It had been three months since the arrival of the Emporer. The former student had already been in twenty-seven battles, and each time, new officers would join his side. He had fought alongside them; he traveled with them; he shared his ideas with them and vice versa; and most importantly, he had known pain alongside them. Whenever it was physical or mental, they had shared it together. The stress of battle; the fear of chaos; the guilty of not being able to hold the Sun family together. Perhaps it was only a little more than two months for them, he indeed had a build a great friendship with Lu Su.
Brian smiled as he answered, ''Those are words worth drinking for. When we return, I will hold you onto that promise, Master Lu Su.''
The next officers he met were his oldest ones. A former bandit family and a righteous knight back in the time became best friends, their former roles a memory of the past as they were now respectful officers in his ranks. ''Good morning, Lord Brian, lady Sun, and lady Lian Shi. I am glad to see you all smile on this day as well.'' Zhang Jun responded. ''Would you join us in breakfast?''
''The townsfolk of the surroundings towns brought some tributes for bringing peace onto their lands, so we have enough to start another feast.'' Yan Zheng added.
''Do they have enough themselves? I get they are thankful for us, but we don't want them to starve.'' Bo Zhang asked. To think you were a bandit just three months ago. The character development is real. Brian thought satisfied as Zhang Jun answered they made sure they asked beforehand before they accepted the tributes.
The group reached the dining tent after five minutes, and they were greeted by a large group of acquaintances. ''Lord Brian, please come sit with us!'', ''Finally awake ha. I hope you are ready to receive the debt that I owe you today.'' and ''Good morning, Lord Brian. Please come and listen to my new strategies.'' and more could be heard simultaneously.
With a smile, Brian joined the table of loud and happy officers and joined in on the conversations while preparing himself for what today would bring.
Author notes:
That was it for chapter 8. This was the battle of the Wu Zhang Plains with Zhuge Liang, Sima Yi, Zhang Chunhua, Yue Ying, and the Dynasty Warriors 9 exclusive character Xin Xianging. All the playable characters from the first duel have now a max bond with the OC. I tried to flesh out the course of their relationship with the OC, but that takes too much time and there are other plenty of things to write about.
Anyway, the next chapter will be a couple of battles and another duel in Chang'an, where we will pick up on the remaining color that has yet to join. Feel free to review or just private message me; I enjoy every message, compliment, feedback or just review I get. This was it for chapter 8 and I see you legends in the next one. Beyor out!