East of the River: Home of the Sun Clan sample (Act I) -- T. P. M. Thorne
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“Zu Mao did his part,” Sun Jian insisted.
“Nobody cares about me,” Zu Mao joked as his left arm was being examined
by the doctor. “Who’ll even know who Zu Mao is in a hundred years’ time, Mister
Sun Jian…? …But they’ll know who you are, that’s for sure.”
“A cheer for Major Sun!” one
Han captain suggested. “A cheer for the
man that has shortened this campaign by half a year and guaranteed our success!
Now our families will quickly know us again!”
The soldiers cheered repeatedly, and Sun Jian lowered his head to hide
his expression.
The fall of Wan City ended the effective resistance posed by the western contingent of Yellow Turban rebels. The Han forces were able to use the city as a base to finish their work, and within weeks, the rebellion was as good as over. Once the last of the small groups were eliminated, the emperor declared an end to the rebellion, and Sun Jian’s men began the long journey home.
“Husband…!” Lady Wu said as a
battered but proud Sun Jian entered his home one night with Wu Jing and Zu Mao on
either side of him.
“He needs a bath and a soft bed, milady,” Zu Mao chuckled. “Look after
him… he’s the finest man in the world.”
Lady Wu followed Zu Mao’s example of ignoring etiquette as she wrapped
her arms around Sun Jian and said, “What have you been up to now…?”
“Later,” Sun Jian pleaded. “For now, I want some quiet time with my
family.”
“My cue to leave!” Zu Mao said with a laugh. “But one more thing, Mister
Sun Jian; you saved my life twice over, and more besides, I think… to me,
you’re family.”
Zu Mao departed, and Wu Jing smiled thoughtfully.
“…I’ve missed you all,” Sun Jian whispered as the embrace ended.
“You’d better have,” Lady Wu
replied as she examined her husband from head to foot. “Were you hurt badly…?
Brother, what did he do…?”
“What he always does; I cannot and will not criticise,” Wu Jing
insisted. “You’ll hear about it soon enough, my sister; it’ll be the talk of
the country.”
Lady Wu laughed, shook her head, and said, “You’re a handful.”
“Yes, well, I’d rather not talk about it anymore,” Sun Jian pleaded. “I
want to rest.”
“FATHER!” Sun Ce shrieked as
he finally entered the room.
“No play-fighting tonight,” Sun Jian implored. “I’m very bruised all
over; one fight after another, and all the-”
“Enough,” Lady Wu insisted. “Ce, Go to bed.”
Sun Ce exhaled noisily and went back to his sleeping quarters.
“I shall leave now,” Wu Jing suggested. “Good night.”
“Yes… good night, dear brother,” Lady Wu replied, and Wu Jing departed.
“…I do not know if I shall receive rewards, because people of our level
don’t get invited to the capital for rewards from the emperor unless it’s
really something special that you’ve done,” Sun Jian admitted after a short
silence. “I am a mid-ranking military officer, technically, but the court ordered the disbanding of all militias,
so I’m back to being a junior official until another war breaks out.”
“That suits me fine,” Lady Wu said as she hugged her husband again. But
after a long silence, Lady Wu frowned, and without releasing her husband from
her embrace, she said, “‘Until’…?”
“It’s inevitable, my lady,” Sun Jian said with a newfound understanding.
“It’s just a matter of time.”