“Turmoil”: Battle for the Han Empire sample (Act I) -- T. P. M. Thorne
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“Nonsense!” Yuan Shu shrieked. “There is no popular Yellow Turban uprising
in Runan! Liu Pi has not returned to his old ways! That… that is ridiculous! He…
he would not dare!”
But Yuan Shu was worried: he relied on the support of the Black Mountain Bandits, Yufuluo and Gongsun Zan
in the northern provinces, Liu Pi and Huang Shao’s mercenaries in Yu Province and various pirates in
the southeast, and many of those self-serving associates were either reconsidering their position or finally
crumbling under the pressure that was being inflicted upon them. Yuan Shu’s dreams of greatness were,
in truth, gradually slipping away, but the more distant they became, the more tightly he clung to the idea
that he was destined to rule not just Yu Province or the Yuan clan, but all of China.
“…It is only a matter of time now,” Yuan Shu muttered as he retreated from the meeting
hall in a daze. “All I need is a sign, and then I will finally ascend…!”
*************
14
The Southern Xiongnu exile Yufuluo had retreated to his base in
Ping County in Bing Province after his last crushing defeat by Cao Cao: he would normally
lick his minor wounds and begin plans for another campaign, but this time, he would never
campaign again. Yufuluo was wounded seriously during his more recent skirmishes, and now he
was slowly dying of fatigue and despair. His brother - the Southern Xiongnu Chanyu,
Huchuquan - and his eldest son Liu Bao heard of his condition and hurried to be at his side.
“Your son will be my heir,” Huchuquan declared as he clasped Yufuluo’s hand.
“You could not be Chanyu… your son will have that which you were denied.”
Yufuluo nodded and smiled.
“…Father, you are strong, with many years left to live: why don’t you
fight it???” the brawny Liu Bao cried.
“Where… are my family…?” Yufuluo asked. “I hear… my son…”
“Here I am, Father,” Liu Bao said as he crouched next to his father. “I have
brought with me my women and my children. See here, Father, my newest, a son…!”
Liu Bao turned to a young woman that was wearing traditional Xiongnu clothing, but she was certainly not
of Xiongnu origin: she was Cai Yan, eldest daughter and only surviving child of the once-revered and now
disgraced Han official Cai Yong, whose actions were many and impressive throughout his middle career.