East of the River: Home of the Sun Clan sample (Act I) -- T. P. M. Thorne
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“…We could have done better or worse,” Sun Jian replied carefully.
“Certainly, we might have done even better had General Dong Zhuo actually taken
part in the battle! He didn’t move until a minute or two before it ended! Was
that part of some greater strategy that I was not made aware of…?”
“…No,” Zhang Wen said with embarrassment. “I cannot explain why General
Dong played such an unenthusiastic role.”
“I think that I can,” Sun Jian
declared. “Commander, Dong Zhuo is corrupt.”
Zhang Wen looked at Zhou Shen, who said nothing.
“Dong Zhuo has obvious ties with the Qiang,” Sun Jian continued. “He has
lived in this region without harassment while other Han officials have been put
to the sword and taken as hostages! I acknowledge that his base beneath the Wei
River makes him a harder target than some, but with things as they are, only a
corrupt man or an invisible one could be as aloof from the troubles here as he
has been!”
“Those are serious accusations that you make,” Zhang Wen suggested.
“General Dong is now very highly decorated, and he is your superior by many
ranks.”
“Yes, which means that I cannot directly challenge him; that’s why I’m
here, Commander,” Sun Jian protested. “Eventually, he’ll either abandon you or
double-cross you; I suggest that you have him removed before he can do that.”
Zhou Shen started smiling quietly at Sun Jian’s bold frankness.
“…That is not some easy feat, Mister Sun Jian,” Zhang Wen retorted.
“Dong Zhuo is influential in Liang, you’re right; think, then, what might happen if I were to petition the court to
have him stripped of office. He might become an even greater threat, then, than
you propose him to be.”
“Ayah… he’s a menace!” Sun Jian pleaded. “Execute him now, or suffer later!”
“Execute him?!” Zhou Shen
exclaimed.
“He is guilty of insubordination, misconduct in a public office and
military negligence, at the very least,” Sun Jian suggested.
“His behaviour in
that battle led to an increased number of casualties due to the prolonged
exchange and reduced numbers; how can that not be considered a form of treason?”
“I… I cannot act as you suggest,” Zhang Wen said sorrowfully. “General
Dong is too well respected, and he will have good reasons for his actions.”
“I should like to hear them,” Sun Jian retorted.
“And I’m sure that you will,”
Zhang Wen said with a sigh. “Now please, Mister Sun, I have manoeuvres to plan;
as do you, with the man that you are
assigned to as an adviser.”
Zhou Shen took the statement as a cue and said, “Mister Sun, let us
withdraw to my command tent and plan the rearrangement of our forces.”
“…Yes, General Zhou,” Sun Jian
replied with resignation.
Once Zhou Shen and Sun Jian were within the confines of the former’s
command tent, the latter said, “General, before we discuss ‘manoeuvres’, I-”
“We should sit down before we begin,” Zhou Shen interrupted.
“…Alright,” Sun Jian sighed.
Zhou allowed Sun Jian to sit before he said, “Now, before you proffer
advice to me, Mister Sun, I should like to make a suggestion to you.”
“…Of course, General,” Sun Jian replied.
“I would not try and slander your superiors anymore, Mister Sun,” Zhou
Shen continued. “General Dong has an illustrious history: he fought alongside
the famous general Zhang Huan many years ago, and he has a strong following
here in Liang.”