“Intention”: War for the Han Frontier sample (Act I) -- T. P. M. Thorne
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“…What I have to put up with,” Zang Ba sighed as he turned to face Yu
Jin once again. “So like I asked already, General Yu: why are you here?”
“I am here to ask, on His Excellency’s behalf, that you increase your
agitation in Qing Province and maybe have some of your people go into eastern
Ji,” Yu Jin explained. “Nothing more.”
“Alright,” Zang Ba replied. “We’ll do as we’re asked. We’re not liaising
with ‘Flying Swallow’ Zhang, are we…?”
“No,” Yu Jin said. “The Black Mountain Bandits are not allies of ours.
Any agitating that they do in Yuan Shao’s domains is of their own volition.”
“…And that was it…?” Zang Ba asked.
“It is and was,” Yu Jin promised.
“…I have to admit, General, that you do seem to be an honest sort,” Zang
Ba said. “Chang Xi, you’re right to trust him. Could you see him out?”
Chang Xi was still transfixed on Sun Guan as he got to his feet to do as
he had been asked; Sun Guan got to his feet, walked to Chang Xi and slapped his
arm saying, “We’re old mates, Chang. Don’t let one little joke ruin that. Like
Xuangao said, and like you said, Yu Jin’s alright. It was just a joke.”
Chang Xi relaxed and nodded gratefully, saying, “I knew that. I dunno
where me sense o’ humour’s gone.”
“Wherever it went, I reckon you ought to find it,” Zang Ba said. “See
General Yu to the gates, mate.”
Chang Xi guided Yu Jin out of the command tent, and Sun Guan returned to
his seat.
“I don’t need it,” Zang Ba said. “Whatever’s wrong with Chang… and I
hope it ain’t what I think it is… he needs to get a grip.”
“…Restlessness…?” Sun Guan supposed.
“Chang’s missing the carefree life,” Yin Li guessed. “He likes the way
we lived before.”
“Yeah, well, he can’t go back to that now, none of us can,” Zang Ba
replied. “If he tried, he wouldn’t like what’d happen next.”
The anxious murmurs that filled the room told Zang Ba that the most
difficult days might be seen in the years ahead.
Yuan Shao tried to re-establish normality over the months that followed,
although his vassals were disturbed by his apparent focus on life after he was
gone; he oversaw the marriage of his second son Xi to the near-peerless beauty
Lady Zhen and brought one of his surviving uncles, Yuan Cheng, into the court
to assist his preparations for succession.
The wedding was typical for people of Yuan Shao’s status;
the guests were seated much as they would be in a meeting, with the groom’s
family sitting on one side and the bride’s guests sat on the other. The bride
and groom were both wearing red, because it symbolised happiness and prosperity
in much the same way as white represented sadness and loss; Yuan Xi wore robes
that were decorated with gold dragons and other auspicious imagery, and Lady
Zhen wore a trailing dress and a headdress that obscured her face with a row of
beads. The two knelt and faced each other, and their matchmakers - Yuan Shao’s
uncle Cheng for Yuan Xi, and a family friend for Lady Zhen - oversaw a simple
exchange of vows and a proclamation by a Taoist priest. At the conclusion of
the ceremony - which was a celebrated affair at every level of society, since
Lady Zhen was a popular, wealthy philanthropist - there were many that wanted
to ask their lord about his plans.