Dynasty Warriors: The Rise of Sun
Chapter 14 of my Dynasty Warriors story, enjoy.
Reviews:
Wolfgirl2013: Yeah, things are suddenly changing.
Now onto the story.
Disclaimer: I don't own Dynasty Warriors or its characters.
A Dangerous Journey Home
Despite being spooked by the strange encounter with Gan Ji, Sun Jian kept the Imperial Seal, he kept it hidden and knew right away what he had to do, especially as he could still hear bickering from several members of the coalition, not to mention Cao-Cao's attempted pursuit had failed and he had been forced to return in defeat.
"This coalition is not going to last much longer." He told his retainers and son. "I also know I cannot let any of them touch the Imperial Seal, or even see it, they're making their ambitions clear. None of them can be allowed to keep it."
"So what will you do, My Lord?" Huang Gai asked.
Sun Jian sighed. "I'll have to protect it, keep it hidden until it can safely be returned to Emperor Xian. So, we'll have to leave at once, get packing, I'll go and make excuses to Yuan Shao."
They all nodded and got to work doing so while Sun Jian made his way to Yuan Shao who was sitting with a gathering of some of the few coalition leaders who weren't bickering. They looked up at Sun Jian as he entered and bowed.
"Sun Jian, things aren't looking so good, there must be something-" Yuan Shao began.
Sun Jian spoke quickly. "I am sorry My Lord, there is nothing I can suggest. I also fear I cannot stay here much longer, I must return to Changsha."
Yuan Shao stood up, eyes narrowed. "What is this, Sun Jian. We have a sacred duty here, you know that. We must take down Dong Zhuo."
"We missed our chance to do so, Cao-Cao was right." Sun Jian explained. "But now we've let him get settled in Changan, so now we are back to square one...even if that were not the case, I'd have to leave."
Yuan Shao observed him with suspicion.
Finally he shook his head.
"This is rather sudden Sun Jian...what are you hiding?"
Sun Jian quirked an eyebrow. "Hiding, My Lord? I am hiding nothing, I have simply received word that my wife is ill back home and wish to go and be by her side."
Yuan Shao said nothing but continued to glare, so Sun Jian bowed and took his leave, he was sure of it, Yuan Shao didn't believe him and even if he didn't know Sun Jian had the Imperial Seal, he at least suspected it. So when he reached his now dismantled camp, he gave a quick word to the others and they were soon all ready and heading back home. They rode in silence, all still dwelling on the failure of the coalition and the state they'd left them in. Those that weren't thinking about that were thinking about the Imperial Seal and of Gan Ji.
Trying to break the silence, Han Dang spoke up. "So um...What do you think will happen with the coalition now?"
"They won't last much longer, they'll splinter apart and go back to their own lands." Cheng Pu remarked. "I imagine things will get worse soon...war between all the various regional lords, grabbing land and trying to declare themselves the most powerful in the land."
That left the others feeling wary, worried, but then things began to change and Sun Jian being rather anxious as he noticed it.
Their journey had been peaceful, quiet, with no danger of problems but now they were in Jing Province and on their way to Changsha, almost home. But they soon saw that the path ahead was blocked by a reasonably sized force, bearing the banners of Liu Biao, the lord of most of Northern Jing Province. They were all on guard as they reached the blockade and saw that Liu Biao himself was present.
"Sun Jian, I see you've arrived, we've been expecting you." He remarked.
Sun Jian quirked an eyebrow. "Oh really, for what exactly?"
Liu Biao shook his head. "I received a message from Yuan Shao...accusing you of stealing Imperial Property."
"And you believe him?" Sun Jian fired back. "I appreciate that you are allies with him but, you know full well how...self-important he is and how he exaggerates."
Liu Biao glared. "I would be wary of accusing Lord Yuan Shao of lying. After all, you're the one who left the coalition so 'suddenly'."
"At least I care enough about our land to actually join, instead of sitting around doing nothing." Sun Jian fired back.
"How dare you!" Liu Biao snapped. "I must insist you let me search your belongings to find what you have stolen!"
Sun Jian drew his sword suddenly, startling everyone. "How dare you, falsely accuse me. Now get out of my way!"
With that Liu Biao immediately gave the order and all hell broke loose as the attack began.
The confusing melee and sudden archer attacks caused so much chaos and terror but finally, to Sun Jian's great relief, he and his army broke through and quickly fled, managing to finally reach Changsha but things were not good, his forces had been cut in half, Cheng Pu and Sun Ce were injured and now things were in a desperate state as his people saw all this and began to panic, feeling that something terrible had gone wrong.
"It's all okay." Sun Jian announced as he dismounted. "Things haven't gone quite as planned, but we'll be okay. Someone take Ce and Cheng Pu for treatment, get word out that we're back and things will be okay."
There was a flurry of activity and before long things were calming down, the injured being treated while word went out and those in his army who had been forced to scatter managed to return home, new recruits also came in through the following days while Sun Jian nursed his fury at Liu Biao and swearing revenge.
End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.
