Chapter 2: Into the Mountains
During the Later Han Dynasty in the mountains surrounding China, there was an infamous band of bandits, who seemed to be impossible to stop, due to their mountain homes. It was widely believed that they all bowed to one man, who had his headquarters in Mount Tai. This man was hunted by every warlord in the land from The Tiger of Jiang Dong, Sun Jian, to Yuan Shao, leader of the Coalition against Dong Zhou; however, the identity of this man remained an enigma.
It was shortly after the fall of Chang'an that the bandits got word of a great warrior passing though the mountain, who had a price on his head from the self proclaimed "Liberators of Chang'an". The orders to each bandit chieftain were passed down through many messengers and leaders to avoid anything linking them to the Bandit King. These orders were to block the roads and mountain passes to capture this warrior, to receive a great reward, not being informed of the risks the bandits began blocking roads.
The first bandits to set up camp and block the road from Chang'an into the south side of the mountains. These bandits had experience fighting peasants over food, but no real experience with fighting wars, however their leader was blinded by the promise of reward and with disregard for his men's safety set up camp near the road. The area was mostly flat farmland, the worst place for an ambush.
It was close to the two o'clock, the patrols had had a quiet night. The last thing they saw was a seven foot high horse jumping into their camp. By three o'clock there was no trace of the bandits left.
The road to Mount Tai was one of great spiritual significance for the people of China, due to it's great natural beauty and peacefulness. "Bu, isn't this place just beautiful?" Diao Chan said
"Yes, Diao Chan, it is and is a great pity it is infested with these bandits." replied Lu Bu.
"These mountains are a strategist's nightmare, we could be ambushed at any moment, do not let your guard down because of their beauty, my lord" Zhang Liao stated coldly.
"You're always so uptight Liao, why not relax, we are perfectly safe here, there are so many passes, they can't be guarding each one and even if they are my brave Lord Bu will defeat them before they know what's happening around them, just like those bandits outside Chang'an." Diao Chan said, almost singing the words.
"There is a plateau ahead and it is getting late, why not set up camp there and continue this conversation around a campfire." Chen Gong said as he rushed ahead.
"A good plan, as always, Gong." exclaimed Lu Bu.
The camp was set up within the hour. As Chen Gong prepared the food, Diao Chan and Zhang Liao continued to argue over wither or not they should be cautious. Lu Bu laughed at the argument and watched the pass to the plateau, until the food had been prepared when he said, "If the bandits are stupid enough to come against us then we will show them the strength of Lu Bu and Zhang Liao!"
The fires raged through the sky, Diao ran from... from... from something she couldn't see, or hear, but she knew it was there and it wasn't happy. Then she ran to a familiar face, one she knew and trusted. As she ran to embrace her father he was cut down, in front of her eyes. She continued running, with no escape, no way out, she screamed.
"Diao Chan, are you alright?" Lu Bu said running to her.
"It's alright, Bu, it was only a nightmare." Diao replied, as she walked over to the edge of the plateau, which was on top of a cliff, overlooking all of China, "Isn't it beautiful, Bu. It all looks so nice and pure from here, you would never tell that people like Li Jue and Guo Sui came from somewhere as lovely as that."
"Yes, but there are many good people there too, there are more of them than there might seem. There is the general Liu Bei, who has the respect of the people, for example." Bu said, calmly, as he marvelled at the sight in front of him.
"This Yuan Shu, is he truly loyal to the Han?"
"Yes, my love, he is. Why do you ask?"
"That was what my father always wanted; he wanted to preserve the Han. Now, that is what I want, too."
"Then, I, Lu Bu, vow to fight for you and your dream. Where ever you go, I will be there to protect you."
"Would you do that for me?"
"I am yours to command, my lady, Diao Chan"
"And I will also fight for you, my lady." Zhang Liao said.
"Of course you will need excellent planning to get through this, so, I too, well help" said Chen Gong.
"Then, on to Mount Tai, where we will gain the help of these bandits and give them a chance to repent and serve the Han"
With those words a new warlord came into power and the beautiful dancer, Diao Chan, and the courageous warrior, Lu Bu, set out to start their quest, Lu Bu, to prove his love to Diao Chan and Diao Chan to avenge her fathers death.
