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

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“…He wants to broker peace with Han Sui,” Zhao Ang guessed.
“Precisely,” Wei Kang said. “But we’re both early grey heads of hair that know what that might mean…”
“…That two reconciled barbarian kings that vied for Chang’an and eventual control of the entire province on more than one occasion might do so again,” Zhao Ang supposed.
“We are of the same mind,” Wei Kang said. “But I have no choice but to accept the offer; His Excellency Cao Cao needs them to aid his campaign against Yuan Shao.”
“That’s more important,” Zhao Ang noted. “Peace in the east increases the chance that His Excellency can finally send a proper army to rid us of the ‘three Qiang kings’ at a later date. But we’d need to have a ready army.”
“And that, Mister Zhao, is a role that I would like you to take up,” Wei Kang revealed. “As you know, I am looking for the ablest men to assist my administration: I have already recruited Yang Fu, styled ‘Yishan’, as my senior assistant… I wanted him to meet you here today but he had to manage a judicial case.”
“I know of Yang Yishan,” Zhao Ang said. “He supposedly predicted the outcome of the Cao-Yuan confrontation at Guandu when all else expected the opposite.”
“And did so with such remarkable reason and cogency that he is at the very least a brilliant politician,” Wei Kang replied. “Anyhow, Yishan is but one of the many talented men that I must have in my administration and you are another. I want you, your remarkable lady wife and the rest of your family to move here to Ji City, where you will serve as a - the - military consultant to Liang Province’s army. I’ve heard about your work in Qiangdao, and I can see no better candidate.”
Zhao Ang bowed slightly and said, “I will serve the Han in any way that I can. I do not believe that I am the best candidate, but if it is your wish then I shall serve as loyally as a dog and as tirelessly as a horse.”

“Very good!” Wei Kang exclaimed. “I look forward to our work, rebuilding order in Liang, bearing fruit as it undoubtedly will.”

At around the same time, Ma Teng’s forces were on the way to securing a rare victory against Han Sui; the reason for the success was the commander in that battle, Ma Teng’s heir Ma Chao. The part-Qiang, part-Han Chinese Ma Chao had unique features and a slim, toned physique that he had trained to its limits as an athlete, cavalryman, martial artist and warrior; his armour was a superior combination of Qiang battle dress and Han general’s equipment, and his helmet was decorated with feathers, horns or whatever would make him appear to be more fearsome. Many compared Ma Chao to the prodigy Lü Bu, though his character was considered to be less impulsive and self-serving; events during the following years would challenge that last theory, but there was no denying that Ma Chao was a minor ‘hero’ of the age as he charged about the battlefield on his well-bred Arab steed, tearing into Han Sui’s infantry and cavalrymen alike with his decorated spear.

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