“Intention”: War for the Han Frontier sample (Act I) -- T. P. M. Thorne
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Hè Yan - whose grandfather was Imperial Commander-in-Chief Hè Jin -
smiled and bowed silently; Qin Lang bowed and replied, “Thank you, Father.”
“All of you are wonderful,” Cao Cao said as he turned his gaze to the
8-year-old Cao Zhi. “Now then, Zhi, my boy: have you any poems for me…?”
“Poems…?” Cao Zhang scoffed.
“You’re a husband now, Zhang, and soon a father,” Cao Cao retorted.
“Outside of war, my dear Yellow-beard, where your thoughts reside at all times,
there is a beautiful world that is expressed most appropriately through the
seamless, structured grace of poetry. Please, Zhi’er, continue.”
Cao Zhi laughed haughtily and said, “When blossoms show upon the tree,
the spring is truly here; the fruit shows summer’s come to be, but autumn’s
drawing near.”
“Mm,” Cao Cao mused. “Then winter’s grip, so dark and cold, but fleeting
as before…”
“And spring returns, a fact foretold, the circle turned once more,” Cao
Zhi concluded.
“Warmth and happiness, then sadness and cold… so never become too happy
in summer, because winter will come soon.”
All eyes turned to the 4-year old Cao Chong, who added, “But then more
warmth and happiness. So never get sad when it’s cold, because summer will come
soon.”
Cao Cao laughed, applauded his young son and said, “Four! He is only four,
and he already thinks more profoundly than my smartest enemies!”
Cao Pi and Cao Zhi laughed at the suggestion; their mother Lady Bian,
Qin Lang’s mother Lady Du, Hè Yan’s mother Lady Yin and Cao Chong’s mother,
Lady Huan, giggled and enjoyed the praise that the patriarch was lavishing upon
their sons.
“Indeed, we face a harsh winter at present, a long and painful winter
that has chilled and harmed us all, but the weather will soon change,” Cao Cao
said. “Already the worst snows have melted, and spring is within our sights!”
Cao Zhang scoffed quietly and retreated to his quarters.
“…I see that Yellow-beard has left us,” Cao Cao sighed. “His disinterest
in the arts is unfortunate. States are not governed with swords: they are won
with them, yes, and guarded by them, yes, but is that his only ambition…?”
“We’re all different,” Cao Pi noted. “Zhi is a gifted poet; Chong is a
genius; Qin Lang and Hè Yan bring inherited talent from without; Zhang is a
future hero that will win battles…”
“…And you, Pi, are as talented as any of your brothers,” Cao Cao
insisted. “You embrace the importance of all of the disciplines, and it is
balance that maintains order.”
Cao Cao’s cousin Xiu entered the room in full military uniform and said,
“Lord and Excellency, I-!”
“No need to be formal at home, Wenlie,” Cao Cao insisted. “I did not
invite you to this house of mine and have you share quarters with Pi so that
you could call me ‘Excellency’ outside of the court!”
Cao Xiu laughed awkwardly and said, “Of course, Cousin Mengde.”
“Now what did you want to tell A’Man that could not wait?” Cao Cao asked
as he flicked the 6-year-old Cao Xiong’s turban and made the boy laugh.