“Turmoil”: Battle for the Han Empire sample (Act I) -- T. P. M. Thorne
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“…Odd,” Jia Xu murmured. “Still: until he arrives, perhaps we should
discuss what I was-”
“Mister Li… Mister Jia,” Guo Si said as he walked into the spacious
chancellery audience hall and advanced towards the other two men: he was visibly armed.
“I thought we agreed that we wouldn’t needlessly carry swords anymore!”
Li Jue barked. “After all the fights that we used to have, we-!”
“I feel safer with it,” Guo Si retorted as he sat opposite Li Jue.
“…Suit yourself,” Li Jue replied uneasily. “I suppose that I shall have
to start wearing one again, then.”
“Ayah; only if you want me to retire again!” Jia Xu said angrily.
“…Alright then, I won’t,” Li Jue conceded. “But why are you wearing
one, Guo Si? Why are you acting so strangely? Is this because of this dog that died? Was it a burglar?”
Guo Si glared at Li Jue, looking for a trace of guilt: he found no sign of insincerity, and so he smiled
awkwardly and said, “I… I fear that I’ve been made a fool of by my wife.”
“Again…?” Li Jue cackled. “Surely, Guo Si, you have the most evil
woman as your principal spouse! She poisoned your dog? Why…?”
“…Forget about it,” Guo Si pleaded.
“Alright then, I shall!” Li Jue replied. “Well, we’re not waiting for anyone
else: Mister Jia, you can talk now.”
Jia Xu was wondering if there was more to the poisoned dog story, but he decided not to press the matter
further: he coughed deliberately and said, “We are really making progress. The Yuans are no longer
fighting openly, and I think that means that we can consider inviting them both to meet and declare a truce.”
“…And Cao Cao…?” Guo Si prompted.
“That awful mess appears to have resolved itself,” Jia Xu replied.
“We’ve had
a petition from Liu Bei, asking that his own position as Governor of Xu be ratified by His Majesty - to
silence critics loyal to Tao Qian’s sons, no doubt - and recommending Kong Rong as
Governor of Qing Province.”
“Why not?” Li Jue chuckled. “Liu Bei and Kong Rong are no threat. Oh, yes… speaking
of meetings, I’m holding a banquet in a few days; you’re both invited as honoured guests.”
“Hey, why would I say no?” Guo Si replied. “You have some of the finest wine outside the
imperial store: I haven’t got drunk properly since… well, I can’t remember!”
“You wouldn’t do, you were drunk,” Li Jue joked. “Alright then! I think we’re
owed a bit of a frolic, what with all the serious work we’ve been doing… something that isn’t
just a reward for a battle victory or whatever… just a banquet, so we can all relax for once.”
“Normally, I’d say ‘No’, but I accept,” Jia Xu said politely. “Shall we
return to business now…?”
“Oh, right, yes!” Li Jue chuckled. “We discussed Liu Bei and Kong Rong last… so
who’s next…?”
The two regents were reconciled, despite neither knowing nor bothering to find out why they were on the
verge of feuding again. Li Jue’s banquet was uneventful, which convinced Guo Si that his wife had
been wrong, or even manipulative; many banquets followed, and all thought of betrayal was quashed. Minister
Yang Biao was unfazed, because he was certain that the peace could not endure: others were not so optimistic.