Lu Xun awoke suddenly to his master poking his ribs.
"Wake up!" Zhou Yu snarled, jabbing the horsewhip into his apprentice's flank.
Xun rolled over and opened his sticky eyes. He groaned softly and sat up.
"What is it?" Xun yawned.
"Sun Quan has called council and you have to be there." Zhou Yu grumbled.
Xun shook his head and grabbed for his hat. Unable to reach he tumbled over onto the floor.
Zhou shook his head in frustration as Xun scrambled to his feet, snatching his hat up.
"Come on, you're going to make me late." Zhou said turning and gliding across the room to Jiang Wei, who lay asleep, breathing softly. Zhou growled at the little pest. How could he sleep so soundly when he was in the centre of the enemy's main camp?
Frustrated by the boy's cool exterior, he struck the sleeping child's face with the horsewhip. He woke up suddenly, eyes narrowed and growled at Zhou Yu, "That's right, the kid is sleeping so what do you do? Physical contact! Is this your revenge for your hand?"
"No, this is far from my revenge, I'm going to make you suffer for this!" Zhou growled raising his bandaged hand to Jiang's face. Xun was done getting ready and headed out of the tent. Zhou Yu turned his nose up at Jiang and walked out and as he reached the door Jiang shouted after him, "You bring one hand to strike me and I'll make you regret it, you hear me? I'll do it again!"
Zhou paced angrily to the main tent, Lu Xun desperately trying to keep up. Zhou took his seat in front of Sun Quan and Lu Xun obediently knelt by his side, like a little dog following it's master.
Ling Tong stood beside Sun Quan with a grim look on his face.
"Zhou Yu, the negotiations with Shu failed because they found out that you were the one who took Jiang Wei! They are threatening military action if we don't return him now!" Sun Quan growled, banging both fists on the table. "This is all your fault Zhou Yu! If we hadn't listened to you we would be safe from Cao Cao's onslaught, now we are being attacked from both sides! I hope you have a plan to get us out of this!" Quan spat.
"Of course I do." Zhou grinned. He had finally thought of a way to get adequate revenge upon that little Shu rat!
---
It had been near a whole day since Ling tong had scurried off home and still there had been no news of Jiang Wei. Zhuge was starting to doubt that the boy was still alive but he held on to Zhao Yun's words. He went to Liu Bei and stood before his lord.
"It has been long enough, tonight we raid Wu's main camp. Prepare the largest force we can spare." Zhuge said. Liu Bei nodded. He understood how Zhuge felt, his boy Liu Chan had been snatched away from him at Chang Ban but thanks to Zhao Yun's heroic efforts the boy was now set to carry on his legacy. It must feel the same for Zhuge.
"Of course, the men are already taking up arms, we'll be ready to march in an hour. We'll reach Wu's main camp by sunset if we don't carry provisions. We can buy food from local farmers." Liu Bei said. Zhuge smiled.
"You are still wise." Zhuge sighed.
---
"Hurry up, are you coming or not?" Zhang Liao shouted, hurriedly pulling on his boot.
"Coming where?" Zhang He said halting his graceful pivot to look at the man below, rushing to get ready.
"Cao Cao has appointed us his bodyguards for his trip to the Wu main camp." Zhang Liao muttered searching for his other boot.
"Wu camp? Why would we want to go there? Are we not attacking Wu now?" Zhang He asked puzzled.
"Zhou Yu of Wu has offered a partnership with Cao Cao, if Wei spares the lands of Wu, they will present Cao Cao the Shu strategist, Jiang Wei as a gift." Liao said, fishing his other boot out from under the couch.
"So many things to remember, this is very confusing!" Zhang He sighed.
"Get ready and I'll explain on the way now hurry up, Lord Cao Cao is waiting!" Zhang Liao said, turning to rush out of the room but Zhang He halted him calling:
"Don't forget your hat!"