While the marked soldiers returned to their respective parts of the camp, Yuan Shao made his way towards the group of Shu officers. Zhang Jiao's head had been replaced with a sword in his right hand, and he gave a concerned look around the small group.
"How many men did you lose in Zhang Jiao's attack?
Liu Bei thought a moment. "No major or minor officers were lost. I believe it was just soldiers and peasants who lost their lives. We were saved by the rebel army just in time."
"They did indeed come just in time," Yuan Shao said, turning towards the small group of rebel soldiers who were unpacking their horses. "The spell was just reaching us when they got there, so I and Yuan Shu escaped the effects of the spell. But they pushed the Yellow Turbans back alongside the rest of the soldiers, and we finally made it to Zhang Jiao." Yuan Shao paused for a moment. "It was odd, fighting with Zhang Jiao. By the time I reached him, he was fighting with the young woman leading the rebels. By the time I fought with him, it seemed that he was under the effect of his own spell. Killing him was relatively easy."
"That is because we forced his magic back on him," a voice answered from behind. All turned to see the young woman standing there, a large jug in her hand. "When you know how his magic works, then you can counter it. He got what was coming to him, that's all."
Yuan Shao nodded and left to see to the others in the camp. The woman knelt next to Ma Chao in the circle and passed the jug around. "You must all drink this water," she told them. "There is a special herb in it that will dissipate the effects of Zhang Jiao's spell. The taste is bad, but the effect is immediate."
"Is there another way to get rid of the spell?" Ma Chao asked, sniffing the jug and puckering his face up.
She laughed at the look on his face. "The only other way to get rid of it is to rest, but on its own, the spell takes two months to get rid of. Trust me; the bad taste is worth it. And you don't have to drink that much. Just a swallow." Shrugging, Ma Chao put the jug to his lips and took a sip. It burned like fire all the way down, but he swallowed it as quickly as possible. But as soon as he did, the taste went away and his strength returned.
Seeing his quick recovery, the rest of the group drank without question. After everyone had taken a sip, she gave the jug to another black and white clad soldier to give to another group. The woman turned her attention then back to the group.
"I apologize for my rudeness on the battlefield," she said. "I do not think you weak for returning to camp. But it was the only way to spare your lives during the attack."
"Think nothing of it," Liu Bei said, and the young woman bowed at his response. "However, there is one question I have."
The woman smiled. "I fear that our presence has left you with many questions, my lord. I shall answer as best I can. However, Yuan Shao has requested an audience with the eight leaders of our army in front of the leaders of the Allied Forces. Many questions will be answered there as well."
"But there is one thing I would like to know now," he responded. "How did you know how to counter Zhang Jiao's magic?"
"Zhang Jiao first came through my village when I was eleven. After, my father insisted on everyone learning magic in case he returned and used it against us." she paused for a moment, and her eyes dropped. "I...have this ability to sense when Zhang Jiao is using magic, as do several of the other leaders. We can tell what spell he is using by the aura it releases. That's how we knew that he was taking your strength and giving it to his soldiers. We placed a strengthening spell on our own soldiers to help drive them back."
Jiang Wei thought a moment. "How exactly did you receive this ability to sense magic?"
The woman gave him a saddened look. "That, I'm afraid, is information I cannot tell you. Please don't think bad of me," she said, noticing the faces of the others in the circle. "It just recalls a very painful memory. I may tell you later, at this meeting, but for now I must keep that memory buried."
One of the other soldiers came over and asked for the woman to help them with another soldier. She nodded and stood. "If you need anything else, my lords, please don't hesitate to ask me." She then followed the soldier to a tent where the injured were being kept, disappearing from sight.
It was much later that evening when the Allied and rebel leaders met in Yuan Shao's tent. On a raised platform sat Yuan Shao himself. To his right sat Cao Cao and Dian Wei. Sun Jian and Huang Gai sat on his left, and next to them sat Liu Bei and his brothers. Sitting on the floor opposite them were the eight rebel leaders. Most of them looked like battle hardened warriors in their late twenties and early thirties. There were two, however, that were much younger looking; the young woman sat in the middle of the group, while the blonde haired young man sat nearby. But all bowed respectfully to the Allied leaders to signal the beginning of the meeting.
"My friends, I thank you all for coming," Yuan Shao began. "Were it not for you and your army, this battle might have had a far different ending. But I would like to know who you are and where you have come from, so that I may personally thank you for your efforts." Each leader nodded, and the one farthest to the left began.
"Deng Liao, leader of Jiang Ta."
"Ling Mao, leader of Jiang Tong."
"Man Zhu, son of Man Ba and leader of Jiang De."
"Zhang Rui, leader of Jiang Po."
"Yang Xing, daughter of Yang Shui and leader of Jiang Si."
"Huang Su, leader of Jiang Lao."
"Pang Qui, leader of Jiang Yi."
"Zhang Quan, leader of Jiang San."
There were a few murmurs among the Allied leaders. Liu Bei looked at the two youngest of the group. So Man Zhu was the one that had saved them, and the young woman was Yang Xing. Good, now he would have to remember them both.
"Ah, the leaders from the Jiang Provinces," Yuan Shao said after they had finished introductions. "I had heard that they had been cleared out by Zhang Jiao years ago."
"Most of it was cleared out by him," Huang Su replied. "But we here managed to survive and gather together. All of the black and white soldiers outside of your camp are also survivors of Zhang Jiao's magic, though not all are of the Jiang provinces. We have been training in both martial arts and magic for the past eight years, waiting for the day that we could stand up against and defeat him."
"Why did you not join with the Allied Forces then?" Yuan Shao asked.
"We did not want to draw attention to ourselves," Man Zhu answered. "We had been living in the remains of Jiang Si, the closest to Zhang Jiao's main base. When you called up an army against him, we decided to follow and watch from a distance. If you succeeded in defeating him, then we would all return to Jiang and begin rebuilding. But if you required our assistance, then we would be there to provide it."
The leaders all nodded. Yuan Shao continued. "Well then, I would next like to know how you countered Zhang Jiao's magic.
"We have been studying magic for several years," Ling Mao said. "Don't get me wrong; we do not practice the black magic of Zhang Jiao. We learned only what we needed to know in order to be able to counter anything that might come our way."
"And now that Zhang Jiao has been defeated, what do you plan to do with this magical knowledge?"
"We know what is called 'white magic'," Yang Xing answered. "It is magic done only for the good of others. When you use it against black magic, it is considered to be good. Now that Zhang Jiao is dead, we plan to use what we know for good. Giving your men the herb water to counter the spell was our first step towards the use of that knowledge when it is needed. We do not plan on using it to take over kingdoms or win needless battles. We plan to return home and use it to rebuild our lives."
There was a general murmur among the group, and Yang Xing noticed a frown burrow in Cao Cao's face. He glared at her but said nothing. Yuan Shao did not notice and continued. "Well, such a powerful and noble group should not be wandering around aimlessly in the wilderness. Therefore, I will give you the opportunity now to join our army and help with the restoration of the Han. What say you, my lords?"
"Forgive me, my lord," Ling Mao said, "but we leave it to our people to decide where they want to go. We shall have to ask them if that is their wish."
"Humph," Cao Cao grunted. "You let your people decide your fates? You rule over them. You are the ones who make the decisions, not common riffraff."
Yang Xing cleared her throat. "They may be common riffraff, Lord Cao Cao, but they are the backbone of society and we treasure what they bring to our kingdom. Therefore we let them have a say in what goes on. Besides, they, like us, have been through much already, and it would be unfair of all of us to force them to move again when they don't want to." Cao Cao continued to glare at her but said nothing.
"Then let you people decide," Yuan Shao said. "Let us know at the feast tomorrow what your intentions are." The eight leaders bowed at his answer and got up. When they had left the tent and were out of hearing range, they all looked at each other with concern. No words needed to be said. They all felt the worry that despite his words, Yuan Shao had enough influence to force them to join his army. And there was not one man or woman there that wanted to go back to war again.
It was just outside the main camp where the rebel army had set themselves up. They were a very large army when all together. Besides that, they had lost none of their men in the battle. Most of it was because of the counter magic that they used, but they had the fighting spirit of any major army. They had finally won the fight against Zhang Jiao, the man that had destroyed their lives in his 'quest for peace'. But now he was dead, and there was no way for him to come back. That in itself gave the people peace.
The army gave a cheer as their leaders marched into camp a few hours later. They were the most respected people there, and each member of the army felt a special connection when they were around their leaders. Therefore, when they came into camp with concerned faces, the army quickly gathered to hear the news.
Zhang Rui was the first to speak. "My people, we come from the Allied camp with bittersweet feelings. Our efforts have been praised by the Allied leaders, and they have admitted that our help turned the battle in their favor to insure a victory. However, Lord Yuan Shao has made a request for us to join his army. We fear that his influence may turn this request into a demand. Therefore, we ask you what you wish to do. Now that Zhang Jiao has been defeated, you are free to do as you please. If some of you wish to join with him, then feel free to do so. But I am confident in saying that your eight leaders will not, and will be returning home to Jiang Si to start over again. I, for one, shall be ruled over by no man."
"I will only follow you!" came a voice in the back. The army turned to see one of the older soldiers speaking, one who had been with the army since it had started. "I know that under your leadership, my lords, my life will be one of peace and happiness. I will not follow this Yuan Shao unless you do." The army erupted in cheers and yelled comments.
"Hear hear!"
"I will only fight for you!"
"Take us back to Jiang Si!"
Man Zhu nodded as they surveyed the army. "Well, I guess that settles it. At the feast tomorrow we shall tell them that we will return to Jiang. Our army will be there. Yuan Shao cannot dispute the entire army speaking the same intention." The others nodded and headed towards their own tents. Although a slight burden had been lifted off their shoulders, most of it would remain until they had made it all the way back to Jiang Si.