Ever since her father had told her of the upcoming battle with Wu, Zhao San had been training twice as hard. Every day by the time the sun had risen, she could be seen in the training yard. Some people thought she was becoming obsessed. But no one else could understand the burning passion that had erupted in San. She had felt for most of her life that none of the men would accept her as a warrior despite her numerous accomplishments. Now, she finally had the chance to prove that she was just as good as any of them. And there was no way that she was going to fail now.
Even her brothers and friends could not keep up with San. Zhao Tong and Zhao Guang were constantly complaining and asking their sister to slow down, while Zhang Shao and Guan Ping just refused to train with her anymore. San, however, would not let them get the best of her and took to training with the other, more experienced soldiers, who said nothing about her spirit but worked quickly and quietly. Although San enjoyed the change of pace, nothing was the same as training with her friends.
It was after one particularly hot day that Mei Li joined her children on the practice yard. Although she did not participate, she did offer some encouragement and advice where and when she could. As she watched San, she couldn't help but shake her head. "Daughter, all this training will be for naught if you die of exhaustion on the field. You need to relax a little."
"The soldiers of Wu won't be so lenient, mother." As she finished, San's leg gave way and she fell to the ground. A small laugh escaped Li as she glided over and helped her daughter up.
"Take a break and walk with me." San made to protest, but before she could say anything, Li took her arm and hauled her off. For a woman as thin as Mei Li, she had a remarkable amount of strength in her. She took San away from the training yard and to the gardens, where only a few of the noble women were wandering. All bowed as the two walked by. Li gave a slight bow back, but San was too distracted by the distant clang of weapons to make any kind of response. "Zhao San, there is more to life than fighting." Her mother's words pulled her back to reality.
"I know that. But there is something in my blood that calls me to battle. All I can think about is my training, which I really should get back to." Her mother wasn't listening. Instead, Li had taken a cherry blossom from the ground and was resting it in her hands. It fit perfectly.
"San, I know you want to impress your father."
"There is more to it than that, mother," she protested.
"I know, daughter. I know. But even your brothers do not spend all their lives thinking about war. Your father doesn't, either. Believe me when I say that he is already extremely proud of you and your accomplishments already. You will be prepared for this battle with Wu, I have no doubt. All that I ask is that you take time for yourself every once in a while. And take time for your friends. You, Zhang Shao, and Guan Ping used to love running around the village. I think some time away from training would do you good."
She had barely finished her sentence when the two boys came around the corner. "Hey, San! We're heading down to the tavern for a break. Wanna join?"
"Go, San." Both women turned to see Zhao Yun standing behind them, grinning. "Your mother is right. You really need to give yourself some time away from work." San made to say something, thought the better of it, and ran off to join the boys. Mei Li laughed as her daughter's frown turned to a grin instantly, and the three disappeared. "Well, that didn't take too much coaxing."
"You have always had a special bond with her," Li said, looping an arm through his own. "She wants you to be proud of her, more than anything."
"I am more proud of her than you can imagine."
Li laughed and kissed him on the cheek. "Oh, I think I can imagine." Zhao Yun laughed as they started to walk through the gardens, the rest of the world blurring around them as they passed.
The call to battle came about a week later. Zhao San had been training with her brothers when the trumpets began to blare. All the soldiers stopped immediately and watched as Liu Bei came towards them, surrounded by his top officers. "My warriors, the time has come. The threat of Wu has drawn too close, and we must push them away from our boarders and back to the bowels from which they came!" The people cheered as he finished and immediately began sorting themselves into their own companies. San, Guang, and Tong walked over to where the others in their group were arranging themselves. Guan Xing and Zhang Bao were talking about something and didn't even acknowledge the others as they joined them. Xing Cai managed a stiff 'hello' and nothing more.
San immediately walked over to Zhang Shao and Guan Ping, who were waiting for her. Each gave her a smile. "So the time has come at last," Ping said. San nodded in reply. "I can't wait to finally fight in a real battle. Our fathers will be so proud of us."
"It's gonna be sweet!" Shao jumped up from the ground and tightened his grip on his spear. "We'll come back to Shu as heroes!"
"If you come back at all." The group looked up as Liu Chan joined them. His smug grin, along with the way he looked down at them, was enough to make San's stomach turn. He was nice enough to her, but she could always tell that he disliked her friendship with the boys. Liu Chan had always seen women as inferior to men, and therefore couldn't understand why his father had let women like Zhao San and Xing Cai fight with the army.
Zhang Shao's grip got even tighter as he tried to control himself. "Oh, we'll come back. But we'll have battle scars to prove how awesome we were in the fight. We won't be sitting in the back like cowards."
Liu Chan smirked. "I'll be sure to mention all your battle scars to your family when we bring your body back from Wu." Shao let out a cry or rage and tried to lunge at the prince of Shu, who was laughing by this time. It was common knowledge that Liu Chan and Zhang Shao hated each other, but even San had to admit that Chan had gone too far this time. It took all of Zhao Tong's and Guan Ping's strength combined to hold back Shao. Chan waited a moment before continuing his walk towards his father, who was standing at the head of the group.
"Ooh, if I could just get my hands around his scrawny little neck. . ."
"Then you would be banished from Shu for attempted murder," Guan Ping finished. "Let it go, Shao. We all know that he'll run scared as soon as he sees the red of Wu. And us? We'll be charging right into the heart like true warriors."
Shao let up a bit but still fumed. "I just hate how he flaunts himself, like he's better than us. I hope he lives his next life as a rock."
"I agree with Ping. Let it go." San put a hand on his shoulder to try and relax him. "Chan is just jealous of all that we have accomplished and wishes that he could have our courage and bravery. He'll never be then man you are."
"Come on, kids, or we'll miss the march!" Zhao Guang's voice pulled the three back into the approaching fight, and they lined up to begin their march to Wu. San was in line between her brothers, with Guan Ping and his siblings behind them, and Zhang Shao and his siblings behind those three. They waited patiently for the trumpet call, and the companies began to march. As they made their way through the city, women came with packs and other necessities for their families. San watched Mei Li join Zhao Yun with several packs, which he tied onto his horse. He kissed her gently before mounting again.
She slowly made her way towards her children. Although she did not cry, Mei Li looked sad as her family marched into battle. With the help of several of the family servants, she procured three packs for her children. She gave the twins their things and kissed them on the foreheads. San had to giggle because they were at least a head taller than their mother, so she had to stand on her toes to do so. She stopped at last at San, who could see lines of worry in her delicate face. She knew her mother was not as concerned with her husband or her sons, who had fought in battles before. Now her daughter was going off to fight as well.
"I wish I could say something wonderful to you, my dear," Mei Li said softly. "But there are no words to diminish the fear that I have for you and the family. So I leave you with my blessing and hope that the gods return you all to me safely." She enveloped her daughter in a strong hug. "Please be safe, and do not be afraid to run should the battle take a turn for the worse."
"Mother, warriors do not run," San protested.
She smiled. "Even the bravest of soldiers must retreat at times. All it proves is that you are the smarter warrior in admitting defeat." Her smile grew bigger. "But what am I saying? I know that you will al be victorious. I have watched you practice and I believe that Wu will cower in fear at your very approach. Good luck, Zhao San. I will not sleep well until I can hold you in my arms again." With that, her mother kissed her on the cheek and was gone. San gently touched the spot where Mei Li had kissed her, then continued the march with the rest of the Shu army.
It was a long march to the borders of Shu and Wu, almost three weeks long. San had been worried about boredom on the trip, but found it to be a nice break from the normal routine back home. Because she was a part of Lord Liu Bei's company, the strict rules about staying in one's line were not followed so closely. So by the end of the first week, she had swapped places with the others so she was with Guan Ping and Zhang Shao in the back. They spent the days talking and laughing, with sparring practice in the evenings when they stopped. For a brief time, San forgot about the approaching battle and Wu.
The memory was quickly reinstated when they came across an abandoned village near the borders of Wu. The people had been evacuated just a few days prior, as Zhuge Liang had predicted that this spot would be where Wu would strike next. It sent a shiver down San's spine as she wandered through the empty streets. It was as if a sense of doom had fallen across them. Despite the favorable outcome for Shu in the coming battle, San felt a little fearful.
Lord Liu Bei stopped in the center of the village and everyone gathered around him. "My people, we have reached our destination. Since we want to surprise Sun Jian and his rabble, we will divide up into small groups and take up temporary residence in each of these houses. A lookout will be set up and each person will have a spot in the rotation. The leaders of your companies have been given instructions as to how you will be divided up. I want you all to take leave and rest, for Wu could attack at any moment."
"Zhao San, come here." San quickly ran over to her father as Lord Liu Bei headed to his own temporary house. She was soon joined by Zhao Tong and Zhao Guang. "We are going to be staying in the house closest to the borders, at the edge of the village. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei will be in the houses on either side of us. Should Wu attack, we will most likely be the first targets. If you are uncomfortable with this, than we can move you to a residence closer to the center of the village."
"Psh. You underestimate us, father," Tong said. "Of course we're going to stay. I won't be thought a coward."
"Neither will we," San and Guang echoed. Yun nodded.
"Very well. Let's go set up our camp, then." They traveled to the edge of the village. The house they were staying at was relatively small, but cozy. There was a second floor where three rooms were stacked next to each other; two held beds and one was completely empty. The twins took the room farthest down the hall while San and her father took the other. Extra gear and weapons were stowed in the empty room. Around them, they could hear the sounds of other people settling in. Uncertainty welled up in San's stomach, but she remained calm and said nothing as she unpacked.
After everyone was settled, San decided to meet Guan Ping and Zhang Shao for sparring practice. They only trained for a few hours, however. Despite the approaching battle, none of them felt like doing anything more than sitting around and watching the trees that marked the borders of Shu and Wu. The silence was hard to bear, but it was the only thing that was keeping them from flying in a million directions. As the sun began to set, the three departed and went back to their respective houses. Even among her family, San and the others said nothing as they ate. Zhao Yun, usually so strong in the face of battle, sat nervously by the window, waiting for Wu.
"Father, are you all right?" Guang asked after some time. "You've been very quiet, and it's making me nervous."
He sighed and got up to join his children. "I am sorry, my son. I always get anxious when fighting draws near. Even years of experience do not make the wait any easier."
San finally piped up. "So if we see Wu coming from the window, father, what are we going to do?"
"Since you asked, here is the plan. The watchman will come and knock on the doors when he sees Wu. That way, we won't draw suspicion when they come. Since we are the first house, they will probably sneak through and try to kill us quickly and quietly. But we won't let that happen. I will move downstairs so that I can sound a real alarm when they enter the house. However, I might have to wait for some of them to come upstairs before the right moment comes. So I want the three of you to move into each of the rooms with your weapons. San, you will be in the first room. Tong, I want you in the first bedroom, and Guang, you stay in your room. Wait until the soldiers enter your room, then sneak up on them and kill them quickly. When the alarm is sounded, join me downstairs. Everything else will be clear by then. Any questions?"
They all shook their heads, and without another word, moved upstairs to bed. As San lay on the cot and stared out the window, all she could think about was the battle. Would she be able to fight with the others? Or would she cower and run away? Worries about her abilities filled her head as she drifted into slumber.
A crack awoke San deep into the night. Across from her, her father's eyes shone from the dim light outside. He had heard it, too. Slowly, they sat up and looked out the window. Torches were illuminating the edge of the tree line as Wu began to appear. Seconds later, a soft knock came at the door downstairs. Her heart began to pound as her father crawled to the door and opened it.
"It's time," he whispered. "I'll go and wake your brothers. You get the weapons out." He disappeared out the door, and San slowly moved towards the other room. As she pulled out the weapons they had brought, the boys appeared and wordlessly took their things and left. San took a deep breath as she shut the door behind them. She heard her father creak down the stairs as she moved towards the window. She watched as soldiers began to make their way though the village, clearly expecting peasant folk and not armed soldiers. San wanted to smile, but it caught in her throat as she watched soldiers enter the houses of Guan Ping and Zhang Shao. She said a silent prayer that they would make it though this battle as well.
She heard the door downstairs open and quickly moved next to the door. She said another prayer that all would go as planned.
A creak on the stairs again forced her to put a hand over her beating heart.
Wu was here.