Warlords: Three Kingdoms

Xiang Zhuang wrote:Turning back to Han Guang, he continued. "My original intention in my visit was to get a gauge of your desires, to see how far they matched ours. I believe that, in our cores, that is the case. I cannot offer you anything from my lord--nor would I--until I know what your immediate intentions are. I am the head of the military in my master's force; I have the ability to discuss certain matters that may be to the benefit of us both. Know that I have come in peace, and with the desire to work toward whatever shared goals we might have."

"And what might those motivations be? Why should we believe what you say, Sir Fang?" said the weary man standing behind Han Guang, his grip on the handle of his sword remaining tight. "My Master once trusted the Hegemonic King . . . and willingly marched from Wei at the helm of an army to bring Yan into the fold and to pay homage to Chu. For My Master's troubles and because of My Master's lineage ties to the Yan royal family, he was made by the people of the northernmost province to be the King of Yan . . . My Master expected that the Hegemonic King would acknowledge his contributions . . . but instead, my Master was betrayed and was forced become a vagabond to wander through these lands."

Cao Chao wrote:"And what might those motivations be? Why should we believe what you say, Sir Fang?" said the weary man standing behind Han Guang, his grip on the handle of his sword remaining tight. "My Master once trusted the Hegemonic King . . . and willingly marched from Wei at the helm of an army to bring Yan into the fold and to pay homage to Chu. For My Master's troubles and because of My Master's lineage ties to the Yan royal family, he was made by the people of the northernmost province to be the King of Yan . . . My Master expected that the Hegemonic King would acknowledge his contributions . . . but instead, my Master was betrayed and was forced become a vagabond to wander through these lands."

He looked over to the other person, who seemed to be excessively annoyed by his presence for reasons that eluded him. He turned to him and said, "You must not have read the letter I sent, then. We are both men wronged by Chu, although the methods were quite different. I was never a King; in fact, I hold higher rank than I did before. What I lost cannot be replaced. My mother, my father, my wife, my son... everything has been taken from me. I was bred to be a champion of Qi; to revive our fallen state. Nothing has changed. I am here for that reason."

Facing Han Guang again, he said, "I doubt you care either way about Qi; I could care less if you do. I know you as a leader: the great general of Wei, the rightful King of Yan, and also, a man disaffected with Xiang Yu; the same as I. Neither of us is enough to take on Xiang Yu alone. China is not enough now. I am here to see how we might strengthen one another so that someday our land might be."

Xiang Zhuang wrote:He looked over to the other person, who seemed to be excessively annoyed by his presence for reasons that eluded him. He turned to him and said, "You must not have read the letter I sent, then. We are both men wronged by Chu, although the methods were quite different. I was never a King; in fact, I hold higher rank than I did before. What I lost cannot be replaced. My mother, my father, my wife, my son... everything has been taken from me. I was bred to be a champion of Qi; to revive our fallen state. Nothing has changed. I am here for that reason."

Facing Han Guang again, he said, "I doubt you care either way about Qi; I could care less if you do. I know you as a leader: the great general of Wei, the rightful King of Yan, and also, a man disaffected with Xiang Yu; the same as I. Neither of us is enough to take on Xiang Yu alone. China is not enough now. I am here to see how we might strengthen one another so that someday our land might be."

"It is not my place to read My Master's correspondence," replied the burly man, regarding Fang Ai with his steely gaze, "But it is my place to worry about My Master's safety and security. My Master has already been betrayed once by one who attempted to use My Master's strength and abilities for his own gain . . . What guarantee do we have that you will not do the same?"

"Furthermore, you are not the master of your own fate," stated the man, flicking a quick look at Han Guang before turning his attention back to Fang Ai, "being as you are a vassal to the newly established Lord Shi of Jiaodong. Do your words represent that of Lord Shi? Or perhaps . . . are your words those of your own?"

Cao Chao wrote:"It is not my place to read My Master's correspondence," replied the burly man, regarding Fang Ai with his steely gaze, "But it is my place to worry about My Master's safety and security. My Master has already been betrayed once by one who attempted to use My Master's strength and abilities for his own gain . . . What guarantee do we have that you will not do the same?"

"Furthermore, you are not the master of your own fate," stated the man, flicking a quick look at Han Guang before turning his attention back to Fang Ai, "being as you are a vassal to the newly established Lord Shi of Jiaodong. Do your words represent that of Lord Shi? Or perhaps . . . are your words those of your own?"

"I speak for myself," he said, "but as the head of the military in Jiaodong. I have only offered my help; I cannot guarantee anything from Lord Shi. I believe he would listen to whatever counsel I might have for him, though."

He nodded to the man. "And despite what you say," he said, his lips forming into a frown, "I am as much a master of my own destiny as any other man. I have pledged loyalty to a cause; one of my own choosing. There is no greater form of freedom than this."

Looking back to Han Guang, he added, "I do not know what I could do to convince you of my sincerity. Your man is wary, and perhaps rightfully so. I do not know that I am asking that much, though."

Liao Zun approached Donga for the second time in two months. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself as he thought this second trip was going to be at the head of an angry mob. Gi Hai had to go but apparently this Shi Tong beat him to it. Seeing a guard at the gate, Zun announced himself, "I am Liao Zun. I received this invitation to come meet with Shi Tong. Is he available or have I arrived early?"

Jablis wrote:Liao Zun approached Donga for the second time in two months. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself as he thought this second trip was going to be at the head of an angry mob. Gi Hai had to go but apparently this Shi Tong beat him to it. Seeing a guard at the gate, Zun announced himself, "I am Liao Zun. I received this invitation to come meet with Shi Tong. Is he available or have I arrived early?"

The newly posted guards at Donga were from the original invasion force of the city so they were a little on the edge. The arrival of their master, Shi Tong, and his declaration that several of the land-holders of the province would be arriving in the city, further increased the agitation on the guards. However, they still had a job to perform. The captain of the guard for the arrival contingent stepped forward and bowed to the land-holder.

"The Prefect made his arrival in the early morning hours. You are the first of the Jibei landholders to arrive to the city, however. If I may procure your invitation, we will escort you to a waiting area where refreshments will be served for today's guests."

Zun gave the man his invitation and followed his escort. "I do hope this waiting area has a nice garden. If I'm going to be slain by a knife in my back I'd at least like my blood to water the flowers."

The guard accepted the man's invitation and gave it a quick look over. Seeing that everything was in order, the guard motioned for the man to follow him to the veranda selected for the conference. As they walked to the location, the guard listened to the visitors words and in response, laughed.

"Master Liao, I do not know what sort of banquets you have attended in the past, but I do not think you have to fear for your life with my master. Truly, if he wanted you dead, why waste the time to invite you here and kill you, sullying his name in the process, when he could just order men like myself to take your territory by force, and claim it to be the will of the Heavens to do so?"

The guard gave out another laugh before he continued.

"Truly, some interesting banquets you must have attended..."

At midday, three riders appeared in the outskirts of Donga. They quickly approached the city gates, and upon arrival, their lead rider dismounted to address the gate guards.

"I am Cao Cao, from Pengcheng. General Fang Ai invited me to speak with him. Please direct me to him."

From his satchel he withdrew a bamboo scroll bearing the signature of the general.

Ran had only just acquired a village to call his own and already he was asked to attend a banquet with the most important people in Jibei. He couldn't believe how quick he was rising in the ranks of fame and renown.

He approached the location in Donga that the letter originated from and tapped a guard on the shoulder. "My name is Fi Ran, I have an invitation for a banquet from Lord Shi Tong".