Chapter 6: The Horse People

Despite having joined the Shu army, Zhang Liang found life rather boring.

Instead of asking him to advise the soldiers in the front lines, the cocky Liu Bei ordered him to take care of internal affairs instead. Zhang Zifang was asked to take care of the populace and tell them that everything would be alright, and so on.

But Zhang Liang was a military strategist! Work like this was just busy work for him! People like Ma Liang, who were paid in order to have them take care of internal affairs should be the ones assigned with such tasks, not him.

The giant Chicken was devastating the Shu lines to the south, yet Liu Bei chose not to ask Zhang Liang to help. What was he thinking? Did he really want a giant chicken to destroy Han's last stronghold?

Xiang Yu grunted as he watched Gan Ning and Xiahou Yuan spar.

"To think that those crushed by pigs would have to flee to Jiangdong, and Jiangdong would shelter them! What's the world coming to?" He sighed.

"Don't talk so loud, commander, or this 'alliance' of ours will come to naught." Fan Zeng laughed as he strolled by.

"And yet you're the one laughing." Xiang Yu scoffed.

"Just wait, commander. For now, we must ally with Wei. These feral foes will give us no quarter, and with Wei's warriors on our side Jiangdong will prevail." Fan Zeng replied with a more serious face.

"I can only hope they won't betray us on the first opportunity." Xiang Yu sighed.

"Master Zifang, it seems that Dong Wu has sent an envoy. Since Prime Minister Kongming is not here, would you mind speaking to him?" Zhao Yun strolled into Zhang Liang's study and bowed.

"Wait... First of all, why is Liu Bei ordering you to do such a simple task, General?" Zhang Liang blinked.

"Because Liu Bang told him to. Said it builds character." Zhao Yun groaned. "I wonder why Xuande chooses to listen to the guy."

"I guess he thinks that age makes wisdom... But I'll talk to the man. If we ally with Wu we can counter the chicken a lot easier with their fire tactics. They probably want me to help them brainstorm for a way to take out those whales." Zhang Liang nodded.

"Brother, the humans have begun to stand together. We cannot let this happen. Once the human nations unite, their combined forces will use strategies that we have not yet predicted. We might be outwitted despite the fact that we outnumber them." Sir Snortalot neighed. (1.)

"Then stop them with everything it takes. We cannot let those humans control this beautiful land. I would rather our pig allies bomb these fields till they turn brown then let those humans desecrate them." Seabiscuit replied.

"Understood. In Hay we trust."

"Aye, in Hay we trust."

Zhang Liang and Zhuge Liang, two of China's greatest minds, were serving the same side. Yet, they found themselves in very different circumstances at the moment.

"Dammit! Where are my reinforcements?!" Kongming screamed as the Chicken ate another one of his catapults.

"I understand. Rest assured that Shu will never betray Wu. We both must defend our people from the animalistic horde... We must liberate Wei from Pig and Horse rule. Only then can we stand proudly as triumphant human beings." Zhang Liang nodded before the Wu minister.

Clearly, Liu Bei had each man performing the wrong duty. Yes, Kongming was a decent strategist. Yes, Zhang Liang was a decent politician, but, if anything, Kongming was Liu Bei's best politician, and Zhang Liang was Liu Bei's best strategist. To have them not do what they were best at was a very stupid decision.

But Liu Bei obviously didn't know that.

The Chicken, for its part, was quite happy with Xuande's decisions.

And the soldiers under Kongming only wished they had a ballista as big as an elephant... With such small-scale ranged weapons and artillery, there really wasn't much they could do against the Giant Chicken.

But after a few hours (and after having eaten every single piece of artillery in Kongming's arsenal), the Chicken mysteriously retreated, leaving Kongming and his troops holing themselves in whatever makeshift cover they could find. After all, if they left the safety of shelter, they would get eaten.

Four Li ahead: (2.)

"Cluck. Cluck squawk squawk. Sqwaaaakk..." The Chicken nodded to a hooded bump on the side of the road.

"Good. Comrade, as long as you keep the Shu forces busy, the Wei and Wu armies will be unable to strike. Remember what our purpose is, and know that we of the Horse shall never betray you. Once we crush the humans, you can have all the worms or corn or food you desire."

"Cluccckkk..." The Chicken bowed its head, and the hooded bump galloped away, towards the north. One can only wonder why Shu forces never noticed such a strange thing moving along.

"Lord Zhang Liang? Huh, I guess you were somehow revived as well." Fan Zeng spoke as Zhang Liang entered the Wu guest room.

Like Kongming before him, Zifang found that he had to personally visit Wu in order for Shu's cause to be heard, and finding an old foe like Fan Zeng was a surprise.

"Fan Zeng." Zhang Liang nodded, and smiled. "So I take it that Xiang Yu was revived too."

"Yes I was." The warrior spoke, startling Han's first Prime Minister.

"Speak of Cao Cao and he comes! Lord Xiang Yu, it's... Er... An honor to see you in person once again." Zhang Liang twitched. One wrong word and he might have his head chopped off.

To his surprise, Xiang Yu smiled cordially and returned the greeting. "The honor is mine. With you here, Jiangdong will certainly not fall before the might of those... Beasts..." Xiang Yu nodded, his teeth grinding on that last word.

Zhang Liang noted his anger. Xiang Yu was always known to be very passionate about his homeland. "Yes, those animals have destroyed Wei and are coming down to strike us. But it's a good thing that you are here. With a warrior like you in our ranks we can be sure that the enemy will not find us easy targets."

Xiang Yu smiled. "It's a pity, Lord Zifang. When we were "alive" we served as sworn foes... Only when China is at its worst can we actually be revived to fight side by side. If only we could have started out as friends."

Zhang Liang shrugged his shoulders. "Had you treated Han Xin well, we might have seen a different outcome. I know for a fact, though, that Lord Liu Bang would be enraged to see you alive and in good health... But I'll make sure he understands the necessity of our alliance. At any rate, it was nice talking to you. I'm afraid I can't stay any longer, but rest assured that I'd be more and happy to sit over a cup of tea." With that Zhang Liang smiled and left, leaving Fan Zeng and Xiang Yu staring at each other.

"Good work. He doesn't hate you now. A man with Zhang Liang's talents is a crucial ally. I'm glad that you didn't let personal grudges get in the way of a coalition." Fan Zeng nodded.

"What use is there for grudges when there are horrible things happening to our siblings? Still, I can only hope I can recruit Zhang Liang from Liu Bang's side. I hope I can find Han Xin, for then we can actually re-recruit him to our banner. With you, Zhang Liang, and Han Xin, Jiangdong will be safe forever more." Xiang Yu struck a dramatic pose with his halberd.

Han Xin shook his head.

The supposed champions of Shu Han, the last stronghold Han had in this world, were besieged by a giant Chicken. Yes, A Giant Chicken, of all things.

The only thing that could be more humiliating for his life's work was if the Emperor of Shu Han would strip naked and dance in front of Wu troops as an attempt to maintain an alliance between both states.

At any rate, it was time for him to act. And act he would.

Throughout the land, the horse people readied themselves. The humans were beginning to create a coalition, and their whale allies and the Giant Chicken could only do so much against them, without support, that is. They had to rise and save this land from being tainted further by those despicable humans! With their flying pig air support, something that the humans did not have a suitable counter for, they were certain to win if they struck now.

Gathering arms, the horse people began to make their move. Only time would tell if they, or the humans, were destined to win.

1. We're dealing with animals. Unhygienic animals that can talk. I'm not being dead serious here. :P

2. A "Li" is the ancient Chinese measure for distance.