Other Fan Fiction ❯ The Young Conqueror ❯ Stowaways ( Chapter 2 )

The Young Conqueror

 

 

Disclaimer: I did not invent Sun Ce or any other major character in this fanfic. Konami is responsible for the general appearance and mannerisms of the characters contained herein. I drew on the game personae for the sake of variety.

Since this is a story about sun Ce, I've changed a few events to focus more on him. After Guan Yu he's my favourite character in the game and a li'l gratuitous action for the old Sun boy can't be a bad thing, right?

Enjoy.

 

Chapter 1

 

The march had been a long one for the host of Jion Dong- but the emperor had called for all loyal citizens of the Han to march against the menace of the Yellow Turbans, and the Sun family was known for its loyalty. The Yellow Turbans were to be defeated. Led by three brothers, the eldest of whom was Zhang Jiao, these rebels were fomenting discontent wherever they appeared.

Zhang Jiao claimed to be a prophet of heaven and an agent of the Way of Peace, and yet, in spite of this seemingly noble calling, violence and bloodshed erupted wherever the yellow Turbans made their presence felt.

Peasants across the land, incensed by Zhang Jiao and his brothers, rebelled against the Han, daring to don the imperial yellow and fight to overthrow the emperor. This threat to stability of realm had to be ended. Zhang Jiao would die, and his followers showed the error of the ways.

“Do you believe what they say, pop?” asked Ce as he rode alongside Sun Jian. “Do you think this guy Zhang Jiao is really a master of sorcery and the dark arts?”

“I don't know, Ce...” replied the Sun family patriarch, shaking his head. “It could be lies spread by the Yellow Turbans to discourage resistance and intimidate us; it could be rumours spread by the imperial court to frighten the populace and make them fear the rebels.”

“Yeah, but what if it's true?” Ce pressed, always intent on getting to the heart of any matter.

Sun Jian drew a breath as he considered. “I don't know. I have never faced, fought or even seen a sorcerer, my son. I find the court astrologers and Tao priests strange enough- but a full-blown sorcerer, that's another thing entirely.”

Ce nodded. “Maybe. But a stiff blow across the head from one of these'll take the wind outta Zhang Jiao's sails.” He patted the haft of one of his ornate tonfas.

“Do not be rash, Ce. We do not know what to expect. If Zhang Jiao truly knows the dark arts, then the heavens alone can guess what he is capable of. We must not rush headlong into battle against this foe. The risks are too great.”

Ce laughed. “Y'know, pop, I heard a legend about a great warrior-king from the lands beyond the western mountains. The dark-skinned Vedics called him “Iskander” or something. Anyway, the legend says that he always rode into the thick of any battle at the head of his elite warriors. He was a brilliant tactician and strategist, but he led from the front. Better yet, in all his years of campaigning, he never lost a single engagement. It seems that he conquered the entire outside world. What do you think?”

Sun Jian looked pensive. “I too have heard this legend. Perhaps that's all it is, a legend.”

“I don't believe it.” Quan said, scowling. “No one can conquer the world, much less some barbarian chieftain from beyond the barrier mountains could certainly never do so. Only a realm as civilized as the Han could attempt ever such a thing.”

Ce smirked at his younger brother. “Always the skeptic, eh, bro? I'm just sayin' that if this Iskander guy could do it, maybe I can too, right?”

Sun Jian rolled his eyes. “So you know the legends of foreign kings by wrote, but can I compel you to study poetry or master the abacus? Certainly not.”

Shang Xiang snickered. Sun Jian shot her a look. “Oh, let's not forget who cannot recite the first verse of the Spring And Autumn Annals, shall we?”

Shang Xiang cleared her throat and returned her attention to the road.

“We will reach Grand Commander He Jin's encampment by sunset.” Sun Jian stated, bringing their attention back to the present issue. This man is a great general, appointed by the emperor himself to quell this rebellion. Please acquit yourselves accordingly. Ce, try a little formality. Quan, speak once in a while. And Shang Xiang, please remember, women warriors are rare- do not pick a fight with people just because they stare at you.”

“In other words, everyone behave like Zhou Yu.” Ce quipped.

Zhou Yu, riding just behind the Sun family, sighed and shook his head.

Silence ensued for a while, much to Sun Jian's satisfaction. Ce contemplated the battles ahead and the new wife he had left behind. He wouldn't show it, but his heart ached for Da Qiao.

How long will these Yellow Turbans keep us apart?! Da Qiao was right, this wasn't fair, they had only just married! To hell with doing this for the Han, I'm doing this to get back to my wife! Zhang Jiao's going down and China's gonna know the Sun family by the time this is over…

***

 

He Jin sat in the pavilion his troops had constructed, facing his numerous sub-commanders. They were men of talent and ambition, some already renowned, others yet to be recognized. But they had come from far and wide, bringing their armies, which meant the devotion to the Han could not be questioned. The variety of troops they provided lent great operational strength to He Jin's army. But that same versatility was also a kind of weakness- the regional lords were fiercely independent and could not necessarily be counted on to work together. The Yellow Turban armies, though comprised mainly of peasants, were bound by a shared fanaticism and hatred of the enemy and a common methodology of tactics- they simply swarmed over their foe, wave after wave of men howling for Han blood.

He Jin was a loyal servant of the imperial house, but he could not help feeling some sympathy for these rebels. Peasants, condemned to poverty as their birthright, destined to break their backs with hard labour and being taxed to death to keep the privileged few in a life of comfort. What crime had they committed, aside from not being fortunate enough to receive the teachings of the Tao or the wisdom of Lao Tzu? Was this outpouring of resentment and rage not inevitable?

And then one day a man appeared, offering them freedom from the yoke of four centuries of Han tyranny and oppression; freedom at last from the petty wars of ambitious, uncaring regional lords. Wherever Zhang Jiao appeared, the anger of the masses exploded in an orgy of violence and destruction.

But however much he felt for the plight of the peasants, this rebellion had to be quashed, right away. If the imperial house fell, the lords of China would bleed themselves to death in brutal wars to dominate the land. And once they had destroyed each other, who would be left to protect China from the savage Jurchens and the murderous steppe nomads?

For the sake of Mother China, Zhang Jiao and his Yellow Turbans would be completely and utterly destroyed.

He Jin assessed his commanders. Foremost among them were Cao Cao and Sun Jian. The former was a man of burning ambition and incredible talent. While He Jin fully appreciated his abilities, he feared what kind of power Cao Cao could seize with them given the opportunity.

Sun Jian sat quietly, accompanied by his eldest child, Ce. Sun Jian was famous as a remarkable warrior, a descendant of the martial sage Sun Tzu and called the `Tiger of Jiang Dong'. One of the great noble families of China, their lineage pre-dated even the Han.

But it was the son that held He Jin's attention. Behind the aloof and careless confidence, he sensed a keen mind and deep sense of justice. The eyes glinted with intelligence and passion. Despite his years, had this young man guessed the great secret of the Tao?

Great would be the future of the Sun family when Ce finally came to power.

He Jin then explained the situation to those assembled and assigned them each a theatre of operations. Several bodies of Yellow Turban troops had been sighted in the region, plenty to go around. Rather than remain as a single, large force that would waste time and manpower tracking down these individual rebel groups, He Jin would gamble on superior discipline and quality of arms- he divided his forces up and sent the generals out in different directions. They were to find the enemy commanders and kill them. Left leaderless, it was his hope that the Yellow Turban troops would simply surrender or melt away. The sooner local resistance collapsed, the swifter they could move against Zhang Jiao.

He Jin stood tall and bowed. “You have your assignments. Move out and crush these enemies of the Han! Report back to me when your regions are pacified and your missions accomplished! Dismissed!”

The commanders kow-towed and exited the pavilion. There was much work to be done.

***

 

Sun Jian and Zhou Yu sat around the fire inside the command tent with Shang Xiang. With all the patience of a good father, Jian soothed his irritated daughter and explained yet again.

“There is no great difficulty in this mystery, Shang Xiang…” he said softly. “It will one day suddenly make sense to you, but only if you are diligent in practicing.”

“What place has the Tao on the battlefield anyway?” she huffed, slapping her hands against her thighs in frustration. Am I not already a match for just about any man in Jiang Dong?”

“Our common soldiers, yes,” Sun Jian said readily, knowing the truth of it. “But until you master the inner forces and tame the tiger that drives you, `several of our commanders will always exceed your abilities. Are you willing to settle for that?”

Shang Xiang did not answer but scowled at the fire.

“Discipline, Shang Xiang. True mastery of arms is achieved not only through constant practice of form and strength of body, but steeling the mind and listening to the harmony within. Quan works hard to achieve this, though he has yet to feel it.”

“What about Ce?” she snapped. “He is reckless and undisciplined, more so than anyone! I don't see you riding him like this and he's your heir!”

“Do not be so sure, Shang Xiang…” Zhou Yu said quietly, just loud enough for her and Jian to hear. He was, perhaps, the only person outside of their family who was allowed to address her so informally. It was a right he had earned many times over in the course of his life as the Sun family's most loyal vassal and friend.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

Zhou Yu looked at her steadily. “Do not be so sure that Ce is undisciplined. His incredible talent alone would not carry him as far as he has gotten. He portrays whatever image he thinks will serve him best. You own ancestor, the great sage Tzu, said that being unknowable is true invulnerability. Do not take your brother at face value. He has studied and worked hard as long as I have known him, and that is my whole life. Answer this question for me- have you ever truly come close to beating him in a sparring match?”

Shang Xiang shifted uncomfortably, not wanting to answer. “No…”

“That is the first step you have taken towards your mastery, daughter.” Sun Jian said, letting his pride in her admission show through. “You and Quan both have your brother's physical talent for battle and his ambition. What you need now is to understand how to master yourselves. Ce is quite comfortable with who he is… when will you be?”
Shang Xiang sighed. “Not until I know myself.”

“Exactly. Shall we resume?”

“Yes, father.”
“Excellent. Now follow Zhou Yu's instructions. Don't worry, understanding will come when Heaven ordains. For now, just do the work.”

Shang Xiang faced Zhou Yu again and relaxed, her hands resting in her lap. The young commander nodded to her.

“The Nine Levels of Power are manifested through a circle of energy in our body. We knot our hands in various positions to regulate that flow as we meditate.”

He held up his hands and linked his fingers together in a lock that represented strength. “This is called `Chu'.”

Shang Xiang imitated him. “Chu.”

Zhou Yu made another gesture, fingers entwined. “This is the direction of energy, `Shen'.”

Shang Xiang nodded and did likewise. “Shen.”

“This represents `Tai', or harmony.”

“Tai.”

“The mystic, alchemical healing of the body, known as `Sha'.”

“Sha.”

“One can sense danger through a sense of `Kai'. Threats are revealed.”

“Kai.”

“To be truly invincible, you must know the thoughts of others. `Jen'.”

“Knowing the thoughts of others. Jen.”

“This one is really deep, but control of oneself is impossible without the mastery of time and space. `Tung'.”

“Tung.”

“In mastering oneself, one learns to master the elements and forces of nature within our body. `Hua'.”

“Hua.”

“And finally, when all of the previous eight levels of power have been mastered, one becomes unassailable, because you have achieved the Tao, enlightenment.”

“Tao.”

Zhou Yu smiled and placed his hands on his lap. “Deep meditation, coupled with practicing how to direct the flow of energy with these gestures, will one day allow you to transcend the limitations of today. How do you feel?”

Shang Xiang smiled. “My hands hurt.”

Zhou Yu laughed. “That is a good sign.”

Standing nearby at the entrance to the tent, a rather small soldier stood guard. Nobody seemed to notice the person watching the proceedings intently and mimicking what she saw with her small, delicate hands…

***

 

Ce was kneeling in the middle of his own tent, in front of a shrine to the fire god, fingers knotted in a bond of harmony. His eyes were squeezed shut as he pushed away all external stimuli and focused deep within.

“You are very close, Ce, I can feel it,” said a clear, ringing tenor from the tent flap. “You practice in front of no one, not even your father or myself. But you're very close, aren't you? You're about to break the barrier that ties men down. I envy you.”

Ce paused in his meditation and took a deep, cleansing breath. He turned and smiled at Zhou Yu. “You wish. Whatever it is, it's million years beyond me. How's sis doing?”

“Today was a big day.” Zhou Yu replied, his satisfaction obvious. “She admitted that she had some growing up to do and just about broke her fingers into a thousand pieces practicing.”

“She an' Quan are the future of this clan, you know?” Ce said plainly. “You and I, well, we're gonna pave the way for them, but they're the ones who'll make the Sun family great.”

“Thanks, but I'm not ready to hand over the reins just yet…” Zhou Yu mused, kneeling next to Ce and genuflecting to the shrine. Their families held the same deity as patron.

“Well, maybe…” Ce mused quietly. “For now, I just wanna get back to Da Qiao.”

Zhou Yu laughed. “Miss her that much already, do you? What happened to the young man who lived only for adventure and glory?”

Ce smiled evilly. “She's a demon in bed.”

Zhou Yu nodded. “That bodes well for my wedding to Xiao, I suppose.”

“Yeah, that'd be my guess.”

They both meditated silently in front of the shrine for several minutes. They were the best of friends and did not need words to fill dead air. Sometimes words were a nuisance.

They were the two most revered men in Jiang Dong. Young, strong, intelligent and charismatic, they were determined to lead the people to a bright and glorious future.

Ce was good-natured, strong and amiable, a natural leader who feared no challenge. Zhou Yu was refined, cultured and stoic, a perfect foil for his best friend and liege lord. Ce went nowhere that Zhou Yu wasn't beside him, doling out wisdom and advice in good measure.

“Are you worried about the outcome of this campaign?” Zhou Yu asked.

“Nah…” Sun Ce said with his characteristic cockiness. But Zhou Yu knew this was not bravado. If Ce said he wasn't worried, then he wasn't worried.

“Not even for Quan or Shang Xiang?”

“They can handle themselves, even if they're a little undisciplined,” Ce explained, smiling at how ironic that sounded coming from him. “Zhou Tai'll be around Quan and Shang Xiang'll never manage to ditch Huang Gai. If I didn't know better I'd say the old fella had a crush on her.”

“Thank you for that lovely image.” Zhou Yu said dryly.

“My pleasure, buddy. Like I said, I'm not worried about those two.”

“Your father, then?”

Ce made a wry face. “I dunno… maybe a little, but I don't know why. He's more than capable of handling himself, even if this Zhang Jiao turns out to be a sorcerer. Maybe I'm just feeling his age. Y'don't like to think about your folks being mortal, yanno?”

Zhou Yu shook his head. “There are times I cannot wait for mine to die, Ce. You are singularly blessed with a great and loving family, even if Quan cannot always express it.”

Ce laughed. “I've wanted your old man dead too on occasion. But that's not what you came to discuss, is it?”

Zhou Yu raised an eyebrow. “Oh? And what is it I have come to discuss?”

Ce looked at his friend levelly. “The impending Yellow Turban attack.”

Zhou Yu's eyes went wide.

“Yeah, they're comin'…” Ce said, looking into the small fire, a grim light in his eyes. “I don't know how I know, but they're coming soon and they're coming hard.”
“It is bad for us, then, that you chose to make camp in this valley.” Zhou Yu said, his voice grave.

“No, that's it, I don't think so…” replied Ce. “I know it's hard to explain, but… He Jin said to get this done as quickly as possible. Instead of chasing these guys down, they're coming to us now. All of `em. They see us in this valley and think we're sitting ducks.”

“We are sitting ducks, Ce.” Zhou Yu stated. “We could be surrounded as we speak.”

“Yeah, I'm counting on it. Here's what you're gonna do…”

***

 

Kong Su watched as dozens of campfires were extinguished in the camp below. Obviously these men of Jion Dong did not fear attack, so soon after arriving in the region.

“The fools…” he said quietly to the man standing beside him, looking down over the invader's position. “We will make them pay for their arrogance. They shall feel the wrath of the Yellow Turbans and any we allow to survive shall carry the message back to their homelands- the Han will fall, and the Era of Peace shall begin.”

The soldier bowed his head.

Kong Su took up his bow and knocked an arrow. He pulled back on the string and released the missile high into the air. The hollow wooden head of the arrow shrieked as it passed over the camp, clearly heard throughout the valley. Wild cries sprang up from the slopes surrounding the camp. Torches flared as thousands of Yellow Turban soldiers poured down towards the unsuspecting men of Jion Dong. ..

***

 

Da Qiao awoke with a start, hearing the blare of horns and the wild shouts of men. She shook her head for a moment, trying to make sure she wasn't asleep. The noise grew louder. Something inside her turned to ice as she realized the camp was under attack.

She looked down at her sister, who was curled up on her side, sleeping happily. She began nudging her with increasing urgency.

“Xiao! Xiao! Get up! We're being attacked! Get up!”

The younger girl merely murmured and shifted position. “Mmmmmmmmmmm, no more, Zhou Yu…”

Da Qiao sighed in exasperation. “Get up, you little twit! We're going to die!”

No response.

Da Qiao shook her head and leaned in to whisper in her sister's ear. “Zhou Yu loves only Sun Ce…”

Xiao awoke with a start, bolting upright on the mattress, eyes wide. She snapped her head around to look at her sister, obviously angry.

“Not funny, Da!”

“That may be, but you wouldn't wake up and we're under attack!”

Xiao paused and then let the cacophony of sound around them filter through. She looked up at her sister, seemingly confused.

“Oh… does this mean we have to fight?”

“Yes, o great sage, we must fight.”

“Oh… okay!” said the younger girl, rising from her straw mattress. She didn't seem at all bothered by this notion. She smiled down at her sister and nodded. “I'll just jump into my soldier disguise and we'll take it to `em, okay?

The flap of the tent was ripped wide by a blade and in burst a burly soldier wearing yellow. He roared as he shoved Xiao out of the way and lunged straight at Da Qiao. Not yet on her feet, the older sister scrambled backwards on all fours, her eyes wide.

The Yellow Turban soldier slashed at her, a savage, clumsy stroke. She rolled out of the way, putting a table between herself and the crazed man. He slashed at her again and she ducked. Her heart was pounding in her ears, she could barely think, she was so terrified.

Ce! Where are you?!

The man kicked the table out of the way and lunged at her again. He stood over her, sword held high for the decisive strike…

There was a loud ringing sound and a bellow of rage. Da Qiao saw that Xiao had snuck up behind the soldier and slammed him across the back of the head with a bronze water basin. He whirled around on her and advanced. Xiao stepped backward, looking very meek. Hoping not to grab his attention, Da Qiao's hands fumbled for a weapon, anything…

The man towered over Xiao Qiao. With his sword he knocked the basin from her hands and pulled back the blade for a strike. Xiao winced and squeezed her eyes shut…

There was a sickening “thunk!” and the enemy soldier when rigid. Xiao opened her eyes and saw the man staring blankly ahead, eyes wide. Blood was trickling from the corner of his mouth and he dropped his sword. Slowly he turned and goggled down at Da Qiao, who was holding one of the large, ornate fans their mother had given them. The edges were red with blood.

The soldier's knees collapsed and he grappled on to Da Qiao's shoulders, attempting to hold himself up. She tried to back away, revolted by his body pressed to her. As the life seeped from him, he slipped slowly to the ground, his blood smearing the front of her clothes. He crumpled to the floor and was still.

Da Qiao, trembling with nervous energy and fear, looked at her younger sister. She then gazed at the bloody fan she was holding and dropped it. “Ew.”

Xiao blinked and walked over to her sister. Da Qiao swept her into her arms and hugged her. They held each other tight, letting the terror of the moment pass. Xiao let go of her sister finally and looked down at the discarded fan. She picked it up and examined it.

“Wow. I always thought mom was kidding about these things being more valuable than we could imagine.”

“I can't believe I killed him.” Da Qiao whispered to no one in particular.

“Yeah… with a fan.” Xiao added.

Da Qiao gave her sister a wry look. “Thanks for pointing that out. And here I thought maybe your sharp wit had done it.”

“Nope!” said the younger sister happily, the effects of their ordeal obviously wearing off.

Da Qiao sighed as the chaos outside the tent reached her again. “We're still being attacked.”

“Yeah, we should go out and help, right? I mean, isn't that what we came to do?” Xiao asked.

Da Qiao bit her lip. “I… maybe we should stay here, Xiao. We might just get in the way. Let's face it- neither of us really knows anything at all about fighting.”

“That's not true!” Xiao protested, taking her sister's hands. “Mother made us take martial arts for years! She said it would be good to know in case our homes were ever attacked by bandits or something!”

“It was probably more of a formality in her mind, Xiao. It rounded off our courtesan training, after all. And mother may have been an accomplished martial artist, but she was taller and stronger than you and I. Remember how you complained the whole way here about how heavy your sword and bow were?”

“We don't need a sword and bow anymore, Da!” squeaked the girl, running over to a corner and rummaging for something. When she stood up she was holding to more of the great fans like the one Da Qiao had killed their assailant with. She opened them with a flourish and whirled about, sweeping them in front of her with great, dramatic strokes.

“We've got these! They're light, they obviously punch through leather armour, and they'd be a lot of fun to use!”

“You are out of your mind!” Da Qiao said, trying to sound authoritative. “We will stay here and hide until our husbands come to get us!”

“They don't know we're here, remember?” Xiao countered. “We came in disguise, so that we could be near and fight alongside our men! Well, what if they need our help?”

Da Qiao smiled at the notion of either Zhou Yu or Sun Ce needing help on the battlefield.

“I don't know, Xiao. I just think that-“

“Are you two gonna hide in here all night and miss the fun?” came a clear, lyrical voice from the tent entrance. The two sisters looked over and gaped as Sun Shang Xiang winked at them. Already she was a tattered mess, with the front of her blouse ripped and her chakrams dripping gore.

“How… how did you know we were here, my lady?” Da Qiao asked, bewildered, her voice little more than a whisper.

Shang Xiang laughed. “Oh please. No warriors in Jiang Dong are that short. And somehow the two midget soldiers I couldn't identify always found a way to be near Sun Ce or Zhou Yu, pulling guard duty when none was required. What am I, an idiot?”

“So… why didn't you tell on us or send us home?”

Shang Xiang shrugged. “Why should I be the only woman here? And who says women have to be weak and stay at home? I don't but it. Now let's go save the men already!”

Da Qiao sighed. “Could I at least put some clothes on first?”

***

 

Ce's plan was working. The Yellow Turbans had been tricked into thinking that the Sun camp was completely unprepared for an attack. True, Ce would have preferred to do the attacking, on grounds of his own choice, but given how close the enemy had been this seemed like the best option.

He allowed the enemy to think that a minimal guard was posted while the rest of the army slept for the following day, which promised gruelling fighting. The Yellow Turbans had descended en masse, intent on wiping out the Jiang Dong army in one blow.

But as soon as Ce had heard the whistling of the signal arrow, he rushed fully-armed and prepared troops holding back in the dark of the camp to the perimeter. When the peasant soldiers burst into the camp, the Sun warriors fell on them like wolves.

Ce had let only a quarter of the soldiers know of the impending attack and his plan. The others really had been sent to rest. Zhou Yu had instantly understood this logic and implemented the orders. There was no way every soldier in the camp could keep this ruse a secret, their actions would tip off any Yellow Turban spies in the area that the camp was on alert and the attack would not materialize.

Ce had informed only the most elite and disciplined units know. They could be counted on to keep the camp from being overrun while the rest of the troops awoke and made ready.

Already the rebels to the camp's south were put to flight, Sun Quan having struck down their leader in a furious exchange. They were ordered not to pursue too far, lest they fall into a trap themselves. Hopefully these peasant soldiers, stunned by the total defeat, would simply slink home and not return.

Sun Jian was fighting in the east, where a large body of Yellow Turbans had attacked. From what Ce could see, the soldiers of Jiang Dong had things well in hand as reinforcements raced to relieve the defenders.

Shang Xiang was fighting at the western gate, the appearance of a beautiful woman warrior no doubt taking many of the enemy by surprise.

That left Ce here at the north gate, and he had no doubt that the enemy would appear before long. He gazed into the night, his keen eyes searching for signs of the Yellow Turbans.

“But what if they use fire?” Zhou Yu had asked. “Even if we beat them in pitched battle, will our camp not be destroyed? We could not continue to campaign then.”

Ce just laughed. “They won't use fire. They're a big army made up of peasants. They'll wanna loot everything they can. First, they can't be well-supplied, so anything they can get their hands on is a bonus for them. Second, they're takin' out all this anger on the Han nobility that's kept `em oppressed all these years. So they'll want trophies to show the world.”

“Well, you're gonna have to get through me if you want any trophies, guys. And I don't think you can.” Ce said to the night that stretched out beyond the camp.

Silence answered him.

Ce had positioned soldiers nearby, in case there were too many foes for him to deal with at once and they slipped past. Visible at the gate were only ten guards and himself.

“Remember what I said”, Ce whispered to his men. “They'll attack in an overwhelming wave, trying to get by us. Just stand your ground and let `em go. Defend yourself and each other first. Remember, once they get inside they're not getting' out anyway, so don't worry.”

The men nodded silently.

Not more than thirty seconds later, the hair on the back of Ce's neck rose.

Kai, the premonition of danger! They're coming!

There was a hissing whistle in the darkness.

“Shields up!” he yelled, as arrows came speeding towards their position. The soldiers all hunkered down behind their stout shields, dozens of arrows embedding themselves in the metal-bound wood.

Ce leapt aside, his tonfa whirling as he deflected any arrows that threatened to harm him.

There was a chorus of loud shouts from the darkness and the enemy swarmed forward. There were hundreds of them, howling and waving their blades in the air. Some carried shields and Ce recognized on many them emblems and devices of regions and provinces that had been overrun by the Yellow turbans.

“You won't be going home with any from Jiang Dong...” he thought to himself as they approached.

Seconds later the Yellow Turbans were on them. They swarmed over the gate, hacking madly and almost randomly at anything within reach.

“Keep your formation!” yelled Sun Ce as he struck and parried with his tonfa. “If they want by, let `em by! Fight the ones who wanna mix it up!”

A large peasant with glazed eyes and carrying a wood-chopping axe hurled himself at Ce, swinging for all he was worth in a great arc. Ce deftly avoided the strike, ducked and lunged in, burying the iron haft of his tonfa in the man's sternum. There was a sickening crack and the man exhaled violently before crashing to the ground, dead.

Another soldier thrust at Ce, this time a spear, pointed at the young lord's head. Ce parried with crossed tonfas, catching the spear shaft and thrusting the weapon upwards, leaving his opponent wide open. Ce pivoted on his hips and kicked the man in the head, snapping his neck backward and sending him sprawling. Without pausing, Ce whirled and swept low with his foot, ducking another strike and throwing a man carrying a sword to the ground. Ce slammed the butt of his tonfa into the man's face, silencing him. He sprang up and met another assault, dispatching the attacker with ease.

A wild shout from Ce's left indicated another foe. The sword swung at Ce's neck, intent of separating his head from his shoulders. With practiced ease, Ce raised his tonfa and stopped the blade dead. The sword rang as it encountered the iron bar and snapped. Ce shoulder-blocked his stunned opponent while he thrust the other tonfa forward into the midriff of another man.

As many Yellow Scarves as were staying to fight, more still were pouring through the gate and into the camp. Ce hoped this plan would work.

Finally, a man more ornately dressed than the common peasant soldiers charged in. His battle dress was ornate and bright, obviously new, a reward, no doubt for distinguished service to Zhang Jiao. He carried a keen blade in each hand. He flew right at Ce, no trace of fear in his gaze.

Ce met the man head-on. The Yellow Turban swung both blades down in a lethal arc. Ce caught the swords on his own weapons and the two strained against each other, vying for dominance. The Yellow Turban commander's eyes were wild.

“I, Kong Su, shall destroy you in the name of heaven!” he snarled.

Ce smirked. “Yeah? Well my name is Sun Ce and I don't think so.”

Ce gathered himself and surged up and out, his body almost blazing with concentrated energy. He felt fire coursing through himself as he began a whirling dance of destruction, his body consumed by what amounted to a battle frenzy. Kong Su, whose weapons had spun out of his grip, seemed almost to melt away before Ce's furious assault, so total and inevitable was his death.

Time seemed to stop for the young warlord of Jiang Dong. Everyone else's movement were painfully slow. He avoided strikes with ridiculous ease, weaving between the weapons of his foes, slaying with each strike he made. So powerful were his blows that in several cases, more than one enemy went down to a single attack.

He could see his own men surrounded, their flanks exposed. He leapt, high into the air, spinning and twisting over the confused melee. He no longer needed to think, he was merely doing. And whatever it was he was doing, it was pretty darn good.

He landed next to his men and began exterminating their assailants. Most of the Yellow Turbans had died before Ce's men even realized he was there.

And then it was over.

There were no foes left at the gate. They were all dead or inside the camp. The next phase was to begin.

Reality came swimming back around Ce. He stood unsteadily for a moment and shook his head to clear it. The screeching cacophony of battle, so blurred and indistinct moments ago, seemed piercing and unnatural. Gone too were the bright colours and the crisp distinct outlines of everything around him. Just the confused blurred shapes on combatants struggling in near total dark.

Ce leapt up onto the wall by the gate and grabbed a horn.

“NOW!!! CLOSE THE GATES!!!” he shouted at the top of his lungs. He let go a blast on the horn, signalling the gates of the camp to shut, trapping the enemy inside.

The wooden doors all groaned on their hinges as they slammed shut. Archers lined the palisades, ready to repel any new forces as the foot soldiers turned in to annihilate the trapped invaders.

Ce watched as Zhou Yu led the final wave of reinforcements into the enemy. He marvelled at his best friend's graceful, precise and fluid style of combat, his blade cutting down anyone it touched. Truly, Zhou Yu was poetry in motion.

Ce leapt down and charged into the fray, not interested in being left out. He struck left and hammered right, battering his enemies into submission. When possible, he left them alive, but didn't think too much about it, since victory preceded clemency in his estimation. If he could kill or spare a foe with equal ease, he would spare them. That was enough for now.

A knot of enemy soldiers barred his, path. They were packed tight in a defensive formation and levelled their spears, pitchforks and polearms at him.

Confronted by a foe he could not readily break apart by sheer force of arms, Ce felt the energy within him welling up. With a great cry he raised his tonfa and struck a mighty blow on the ground, his eyes flashing at the foe. The earth shook as gouts of fire sprang from the ground at their feet. The men cried out in terror, their cohesion lost. Ce was on them instantly, dispatching them before they could raise their weapons to defend themselves.

The enemy vanquished, he stood tall and looked around. He spied Zhou Yu and his father Jian staring at him, their faces incredulous. He came back to himself and frowned.

“What? Do I have something on my face?”

Sun Jian shook his head and ran off toward another cluster of Yellow Turbans. Zhou Yu bowed and waited for his friend to approach.

“So what was all that about?” Ce asked.

“I wish I could describe it, Ce…” Zhou Yu said in his mellow tenor. “But you fight like no one or nothing I have seen before. You move inhumanly fast and cause fire to spill from the earth to attack your foes. That's not exactly normal, is it?”

Ce thought about this and looked at the bodies he had left strewn on the ground.

“Oh yeah…” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I guess it ain't exactly normal, huh? Well, go figure.”

Zhou Yu pinched his eyes. “Come, I ear some fighting off to the west still. Let's wrap this up.”

The two friends raced off towards the west gate. As expected, they saw Shang Xiang in the thick of the fray, whirling about with her chakrams, slicing her foes to ribbons.

Ce made a wry face. “I feel sorry for the chump we trick into marrying her.”

“Let her be, she's having fun.” Zhou Yu chided.

“Hey, I'm not stoppin' her…” Ce replied, his tone making it obvious he had no intention of interrupting his sister.

He then heard a cry that sounded out of place- a woman's voice and definitely not his sister's.

“Wha?” He looked around, trying to pinpoint the source.

What he saw made his jaw drop. He gazed in a stupor as he watched Da Qiao, wearing a short, diaphanous court dress, rushing about the battle, clashing with the Yellow Turbans and striking them down with a pair of ridiculously large, sturdy fans.

“Well there's something you don't see every day.” Zhou Yu said, smirking.

Ce grimaced at him. “Then eyes left, pal.”

Zhou Yu looked left and spied Xiao Qiao, fighting in the same manner as her sister, but occasionally tripping and falling. She would squeak, get up and rush the enemy again.

“Oh, you can't be serious…” he said, obviously annoyed.

“Ho-kay, this ends now.” Ce growled as he stomped off in the direction of his blood-streaked bride.

***

 

Da Qiao spun around her opponent's strike and slammed her fan down on the man's wrist. He howled in pain as the bones broke and dropped his sword. He swung wildly with his fist, trying to connect with her head. She ducked and kicked, slamming the heel of her foot into his jaw. Dazed, the man staggered backward. Da Qiao leapt at him and with two swift strokes of her fans he fell.

Da Qiao landed lightly on her feet and pirouetted, holding the fans in front of herself coquettishly. “That's gotta hurt!” she quipped as she looked at her defeated foe.

“What… the… hell?” demanded a familiar voice from behind her.

Da Qiao froze for a moment, going pale. Meekly she turned her head and looked behind her. Ce stood there, tonfas resting at his side, his foot tapping as he awaited her explanation.

Da Qiao tried to smile. This seemed to have no effect on her husband.

Damn… she thought to herself.

“Well? I'm waiting…” Ce said.

A Yellow Turban soldier went darting by Ce, who slammed his weapon intro the man's face as he tried to pass and laying him out flat on the ground. Paying no heed to his newest victim, Ce looked at his wife intently.

Oooooh! The young bride fretted. What I'd give for a good distraction right about now…

A shriek peeled through the area and another enemy soldier raced by, the panic obvious on his face.

“Get her off me! Get her off me!” he wailed as he ran for his life.

Right on his heels, a cackling Xiao Qiao sped after him, swinging her fans in great arcs as she tried to overtake him.

She turned her head and beamed a smile at the group as she flashed by. “Hi, Zhou Yu-darling!” she squeaked. Realization dawned on her half-a second after, but not soon enough to keep her from running straight into the side of a tent, collapsing it on herself.

Zhou Yu sighed and shook his head. “I'll get her…” he mumbled, wandering over to the squealing and thrashing mass of felt and silk.

There was the sound of another impact and an enemy soldier landed in their midst. Standing nearby was Shang Xiang, her leg still in the air from the expertly placed kick.

“I think that's all of `em!” she announced happily as she trotted up to Da Qiao. She put a friendly hand on the girl's shoulder. “I've gotta say, Da, you really took it to `em. I was so impressed when you jumped into that knot of soldiers and-“

Shang Xiang paused as she saw Ce standing there looking at her, eyebrow raised. She bit her lip and stared at the ground for a moment before turning to face Da Qiao in feigned shock. “Da Qiao! What, by the goddess, are you doing here?! You were not authorized to come along! I am shocked and appalled!”

Ce and Da Qiao both rolled their eyes.

“Beat it, sis, you're not helping.” Ce said in an unusually serious voice that left no room for argument. Shang Xiang nodded and loped off.

Da Qiao faced Ce, red with embarrassment. She held the fans behind her back and twisted her toe against the ground.

It's… good to see you, my lord?” she said quietly.

Ce threw back his head and laughed. “Ahhh, who am I kidding? I can't stay mad at you, Da Qiao...”

Da Qiao sighed in relief and ran to her husband's arms. She buried herself against his chest and snuggled in tight.

“I'm sorry…” she whispered, feeling tears of relief and joy stream down her face. “I just hated the thought of being apart from you and so we disguised ourselves as soldiers and then we got attacked and I nearly got myself killed and… oh, Ce! I'm so happy to see you…”

Ce smiled as he hugged his wife gently. “I'm happy to see you too, Da Qiao. And although it's dangerous here, it's kinda nice to know that even war can't keep us apart.”

She looked up at him and sniffled. “Really?”

He nodded as he looked down at her. “Really.”

She buried her face against his chest again, her heart fit to burst with joy. In spite of the carnage surrounding them and several brushes with death during the battle, everything at that very moment seemed just fine.

***