“Intention”: War for the Han Frontier sample (Act I) -- T. P. M. Thorne
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The advisers looked at one-another but said nothing.
“Ah… so now you are silent!” Yuan Shao sniggered. “But at least I can
think for myself when you are silent. I will go to Cangting and reinforce the
place personally.”
“As… as you wish,” Guo Tu said uneasily.
“No,” Cui Yan said. “Lord Yuan, you must remain here and personally
oversee restoration of order: let Ju Hu, Lü Kuang and Lü Xiang defend
Cangting!”
“How can I not be at Cangting if
Cao Cao is there???” Yuan Shao cried.
“Cao will not fight personally; neither will you,” Cui Yan countered.
“Two men that never meet on the battlefield are neither of them ‘there’,
regardless of the exact distance from it. Remain where you are needed, Lord
Yuan… don’t save a remote base and lose your home in the process.”
Yuan Shao pondered the words for a moment and said, “I will compromise
and camp at Li County. Others will defend Cangting… and we must pray that they
are enough.”
*************
10
Cao Cao’s preparations for another encounter with Yuan Shao took him
away from his family home for more time than he would have liked; he retired at
the end of the third day and had his older sons - Pi, Zhang, Zhi, Xiong and
Chong - and two of his adopted sons - Qin Lang and Hè Yan - gather in the
living quarters.
“My, my… what a proud father I am!” Cao Cao said as he looked at the
14-year-old Cao Pi, who was now his eldest living son and likely heir. “What
fine features and proud countenance! Indeed, you could now join me in battle…
were that my wish.”
Cao Pi’s mother, Lady Bian, stifled a horrified gasp.
“…But it is not,” Cao Cao continued. “I have already lost Ang and Shuo.
The netherworld has had enough of my sons for now.”
“I would gladly fight for you, Father,” Cao Pi insisted.
“And so would I,” Cao’s second son, Cao Zhang, insisted. “I want you to
be truly proud of me.”
“I am,” Cao Cao said. “I am proud of you all… and I include my fine
adopted sons when I say that! Yan’er, you are slowly becoming the image of your
grandfather, whose heroism saved the nation from the Yellow Turbans and almost
rid us of the ‘Ten’… and Lang, you do your true father, Qin Yilu, and me proud
with your studies and your good nature.”