“Turmoil”: Battle for the Han Empire sample (Act I) -- T. P. M. Thorne

-

JavaScript is off/unavailable on your browser. You will not be able to experience this website as it was intended without JavaScript enabled.

“…We arrange a meeting with Lü Bu and Chen Gong and try to negotiate a defence pact,” Chen Qun continued. “In exchange for supplying his might to strengthen our western and southern borders, we provide any supplies that he might need and do our best to placate Yuan Shao.”
“Why would Yuan Shao agree to us helping Lü Bu?” Zhang Fei asked cuttingly.
“I think I understand,” Liu Bei said. “We would tell Yuan Shao that in exchange for Cao Cao restricting his actions to empty threats, we will place Bu on our southern border to fight his treasonous brother, which ‘tames a wild tiger and puts it to use’.”
“Yuan Shao will quickly realise that the alternatives to accepting that are having a reinvigorated and hungry Lü Bu sitting on a border with Qing, Ji or Yan, or our losing the province to his brother or Bu while he pontificates and procrastinates as usual,” Chen Qun proposed. “He might follow up his agreement with a request that we kill Bu at a later date, or let Cao Cao attack us, but… that will be then. Right now, we have to do what we can achieve right now.”
“…And plan for other, better choices while we play this unfortunate game,” Liu Bei said thoughtfully. “…Alright, we’ll talk to Lü Bu.”
Zhang Fei groaned miserably.
“Of course, we’ll have to consult the wider court,” Mi Zhu said.
Sod what Cao Bao thinks!” Zhang Fei barked. “If he’s got a problem with it, then he should get off of his fat, pampered bottom, get a sword and go and-!
Yide!” Liu Bei cried. “Please! There are others besides Cao Bao that must have their say! What of Chen Gui and Chen Deng, for example…? Their financial and moral support is as essential as that of the Mi clan!”

Mi Fang sighed audibly, which angered his elder brother Zhu and led to his eyeing Fang disappointedly.
“…The Chens are not here,” Mi Fang whispered as Liu Bei and his friends continued to discuss the matter in their own way. “We both know why.”
Mi Zhu relaxed his gaze and grunted apologetically: Mi Fang was right to note that Chen Gui and Chen Deng - who had once approved of inviting Liu Bei to Xu Province - had excused themselves from the meeting and were otherwise putting distance between themselves and their new governor in many ways. Liu Bei was seen by many as a disappointment at best, and that left Mi Zhu with the worry that some might be seeking an alternative ruler for Xu Province yet again.

*************

<< Main Product Page

<< Previous Page

Next Page >>