“Intention”: War for the Han Frontier sample (Act I) -- T. P. M. Thorne
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“I had friends then,” Yuan Shao said. “I had respect, I had aspirations
and dreams; now, Uncle, I have the land and power that I hungered for, but
nothing else. I have sons, yes, but what do they inherit…? This façade, this
vision of stability that I have created here today, where people laugh and joke
and drink and dance and pretend that there isn’t a vicious, hankering tyrant -
a man that I once called ‘friend’ - not more than a month’s march away from
here that wants me dead, aided by men that I once called ‘friends’, and… and…!”
Yuan Shao’s head fell forward, and he exhaled noisily.
“…Aiee… what can I say that
could help…?” Yuan Cheng admitted.
“I’ve fought so hard to retain this power,” Yuan Shao whimpered.
“Chieftain of the Yuans of Ru County…! Commander of the Eastern Pass
Coalition…! Commander-in-Chief of-! …Oh, yes, of course, I forget… Cao Cao
demoted me to ‘General of Chariots and Cavalry’, didn’t he, as a warning to me
that I have wronged, as a false indication that there is a way to ‘return to
the light’, namely by capitulating to him…
and, of course, as a label and a curse, because I inherit the role from Dong Cheng…!”
Yuan Shao covered his face with his hands.
“You will attract attention,” Yuan Cheng warned.
Yuan Shao lowered his hands and said, “Yes, of course… I must sustain
the impression that I am strong, mustn’t I…? I must celebrate my son’s good
fortune… and sustain the illusion…”
Yuan Xi and Lady Zhen had noticed that Yuan Shao was behaving strangely
and approached the host seat; Xi bowed slightly and said, “Father, are you
alright…?”
“I am overwhelmed by emotion,” Yuan Shao replied; he then turned to Lady
Zhen and sighed, saying, “My, you are truly a creature doubly blessed by
Heaven, dear daughter-in-law! You are an even more magnificent beauty than I
realised, now that I see you up close!”
Lady Zhen smiled meekly and said, “I am grateful for your compliments,
Father-in-law, but I hope to be remembered for the beauty of my actions.”
Yuan Shao laughed strangely and replied, “Well, that’s… that’s
admirable. Yes, very admirable.”
“Your actions elevate you to a hero and a magnanimous statesman,” Lady
Zhen continued. “You protected the intelligentsia and then His Majesty from the
evil ‘Ten’, confronted Dong Zhuo, and even now you strive to restore light to
the darkness. I have simply tried to do what I can.”
“…You are a good-hearted young woman,” Yuan Shao said hoarsely. “I hope
that fate doesn’t drive it from you as it has me.”
Yuan Xi and Lady Zhen exchanged uncomfortable glances, bowed respectfully
and retreated.
“Why did you say that?” Yuan Cheng asked.
“I… don’t know,” Yuan Shao admitted. “I… just want it to be over.”
Yuan Cheng sighed woefully, got to his feet and left Yuan Shao to his
thoughts; he noticed that Yuan Xi and Lady Zhen had separated and that Yuan Xi
had been approached by Lady Liu and two of Yuan Shao’s advisers.
“What are you schemers up to…?” Yuan Cheng wondered as he approached the
group.