“Intention”: War for the Han Frontier sample (Act I) -- T. P. M. Thorne

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His ‘advice and orders’ killed your heir!” Xiahou Dun bellowed. “He-!
He-! ...He, Mister Jia Xu, ordered a decisive repulsion of an enemy force, as ordered to by his lord,” Cao Cao insisted as he tried to keep his gaze diverted from Jia Xu, who was visibly uncomfortable. “How many sons, fathers and goodness else knows who have I thoughtlessly given orders to slay...? Did I care what happened to Mengzhuo- I-I mean Zhang Miao’s family...? No, I did not, because... because it had to be done, it was necessity, just as our first conversation about the fate of Consort Dong and her unborn child had highlighted. Bear him no malice, Yuanrang, for he did what was asked of him, just as you did what was asked of you by me on every campaign that you have fought in... including Xu Province.”
Xiahou Dun snorted angrily, turned to Jia Xu and bowed slightly, saying, “I will speak no more of it.”
“I understand your anger and grief, Mister Xiahou, and can only hope to atone for my many, many bad choices and poor advice,” Jia Xu replied meekly.
“...If we might return to discussing Liu Bei,” Cao Cao said as he finally turned to look at Jia Xu. “Mister Jia, you were saying...?”
“Y-yes,” Jia Xu replied. “Liu Bei... Liu Bei is a survivor; that much we can all agree on. He’ll do whatever it takes to live until he gets to a safe place, at which point he’ll start trying to build an army and seize a base of some kind. Preventing him getting to Jing Province might now be impossible, but leaving him to thrive in Jing would be, as many others have suggested, most unwise.”
“What, exactly, might he achieve...?” Xiahou Dun asked.
A short, portly man in ostentatious robes laughed haughtily and said, “A lot more than Yuan Shao, I’d imagine, even though he has nothing!”

Many men turned to look at the latest contributor, Xu Yòu, who was an old friend of Cao Cao and Yuan Shao; he had a seat next to Cao Cao’s, less because of his lifelong friendship and more because his defection from Yuan Shao to Cao Cao during the Battle of Guandu - and the vital military information that he had brought with him - had handed the Han forces their unexpected early victory.
“So you were impressed with Bei when you met him?” Cheng Yu asked gruffly.
“Not really, but he outwitted Yuan with ease,” Xu Yòu replied. “That said, Yuan was mostly drunk, even at meetings, so-”
“We know that Yuan’s a drunk,” Xiahou Dun said through gritted teeth. “What about Liu Bei...?”
“Oh, yes,” Xu Yòu chuckled as he turned to face Cao Cao. “Well, he has a few real champions, but it’s his way with words, which everyone here knows well enough. I mean, you had Guan Yu for a while, Mengde, and know how good he was; you also know what a way with words Bei has, since he even made a complete fool of you when he-”
WHAT???” Xiahou Dun screamed.
“Well he did, didn’t he!” Xu Yòu said fearlessly. “Stop being so uppity, Yuanrang.”
“Who said you can call me that?” Xiahou Dun complained. “Mengde, he-!”

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