Dynasty Warriors: The Rise of Sun
Next chapter of my Dynasty Warriors story, enjoy.
Reviews:
Wolfgirl2013: Yeah, also concerning, for example, the missing Imperial Seal?
Now onto the story.
Disclaimer: I don't own Dynasty Warriors or its characters.
Gan Ji Strikes
It was the year 200 AD, Yuan Shu's death allowed Cao-Cao to claim his lands, finally controlling the entirety of Yan and Yu Provinces, as well as Xu Province and Wan Castle in Northern Jing Province. With Yuan Shao having united the four Provinces north of the Yellow River, it was clear that conflict between the two would be inevitable, especially after Liu Bei failed in his attempted rebellion in Xu and had to flee, his allies scattering and Guan Yu being forced to serve Cao-Cao until felling Yan Liang and Wen Chou of Yuan Shao's army. Apparently he heard from Liu Bei after this and left to join him, along with Liu Bei's other officers. None of the other regional Lords were making any big moves, so it seemed everyone was waiting to see what the outcome of the upcoming conflict between Yuan Shao and Cao-Cao would be. Everyone that is, except Sun Ce.
After having to execute Xu Gong who had been caught trying to betray Sun Ce and have him assassinated, Sun Ce was now holding a council to discuss his latest plan. Messengers had arrived from Cao-Cao and Yuan Shao, each offering an alliance with Sun Ce. Sun Ce had already made up his mind to ally with Yuan Shao and called the council to discuss an attack on Xuchang.
"This is not advisable, My Lord." Zhang Zhao warned. "Cao-Cao is a devious man, with many cunning strategists. Even with his greater military might, we cannot guarantee Yuan Shao will win. Is it wise to ally ourselves to such uncertainty."
Sun Ce shook his head. "It was Cao-Cao who induced Xu Gong to betray me, you saw the correspondence between them. Even without Yuan Shao's offer I was going to attack Xuchang."
"Have a care, My Lord. It was an attitude like that which led to your father's death." Huang Gai admonished.
"Believe me, I remember, but I cannot let this go unpunished, not when Cao-Cao has the audacity to offer an alliance, like he didn't just try to have me killed." Sun Ce replied.
"Zhang Zhao does have a point." Zhou Yu interceded. "Cao-Cao is devious, even when he takes his army to fight Yuan Shao, you can be sure he won't leave Xuchang undefended. This will not be easy, especially since we Xu Gong had friends, who have vanished since his death."
An sense of unease filtered into the room.
Sun Ce shook his head.
"The only reason they would have to hide is if they were colluding with him to kill me."
"Or maybe because like Xu Gong, they know what a power hungry tyrant you are and would kill them simply for being friends with him." A cold sharp voiced echoed around the room.
"Who-?"
The figure then appeared, as if from nowhere, in the middle of the hall. Sun Ce instantly recognised the old man from Luoyang, the warning he had given to his father.
"You're...Gan Ji." He snarled.
"Correct." The old man smirked. "I have come to see what is taken the curse so long. The power hungry Sun family must be destroyed after all."
Sun Ce snarled. "How dare you. I fight for my people, my family-"
"That is a lie, you fight for power and nothing else. Why else would you murder Xu Gong, for simply being in your way." Gan Ji interrupted him.
By this point everyone else had grabbed their weapons but Gan Ji simply laughed and waved his hand and soon everyone but Gan Ji and Sun Ce had vanished into a thick mist.
Sun Ce grasped his own weapon, enraged.
"What have you done with them!?"
Gan Ji shrugged. "They are trapped in my illusions now and cannot interrupt us. As if you even care about them, Little Conqueror."
Sun Ce seethed. "Of course I care about them, they're my family!"
"Your pawns you mean. No matter you will soon be judged." Gan Ji snapped. "Here are some familiar faces."
It was then the mist cleared and Sun Ce found himself now in the courtyard of Jianye. He wasn't alone either for there, armed and glaring at him, were Xu Gong's loyalists.
"Sun Ce!" One yelled. "Now we have you!"
Another roared. "Murderer, you will pay for killing Xu Gong!"
Sun Ce stepped back, shocked. "W-wait a minute."
Gan Ji laughed that sharp cold laugh again. "We're just getting started."
With that he snapped his fingers and drew his own weapon. This conjured up multiple phantom doubles of Gan Ji and the three Xu Gong loyalists which surrounded Sun Ce. He was now trapped in an extremely dire situation.
End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.