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

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“…Ayah… really, I thought I was dead,” Xu Yòu mumbled as he turned to enter the mansion; the guards parted and the doors opened.
“See you later, Wenruo!” Cao Cao chuckled as he started to follow Xu Yòu with the protective Dian Wei at his side; the guards stared at Dian Wei and silently prayed that they would not have to confront him at any point in their lives.
“…Yes, Lord Cao,” Xun Wenruo murmured inaudibly.
Brother!
“…Aiee… not him,” Xun Wenruo muttered as he turned to face his fresh-faced younger brother, Xun Chen.
I’d heard that you’d returned to us!” Xun Chen cried as he finished his swift approach; he was accompanied by a slimmer, older man that Xun Wenruo was even less glad to see.
“…I think you know - both of you - that I am here with my lord Cao Cao,” Xun Wenruo retorted. “Still, I am glad to be cordial as the vassal of your lord’s most trusted and closest friend… greetings, brother Youruo, and Mister Guo Gongze.”
Xun Wenruo clasped his hands together and bowed to both men.
“Brother,” Xun Chen said with enforced disappointment as he returned the bow.
“Mister Xun Yu,” the adviser Guo Tu replied icily; he did not return the bow.
“…So that’s how it is, Guo Tu,” Xun Wenruo retorted. “I call you ‘Gongze’ because I see no cause for bad blood between us.”
“Do you not…?” Guo Tu said theatrically. “You abandoned your lord: what sort of man would-!”
“This is not like our joint departure from Han Fu’s service, Mister Guo, which could just as easily be called ‘abandonment’,” Xun Wenruo retorted. “Did I join Yuan Shu, or Dong Zhuo…? No, I joined your lord’s closest friend who this day joins your lord in this house for an informal banquet… a friend who, if I recall, had just lost Zhou Renming… to your lord. I was simply correcting a balance, if defending my decision is required.”

“…Well met… Wenruo,” Guo Tu grumbled.
“Now… am I to understand that you both ambushed me to prod my conscience and coerce me to return to Yuan Shao’s service…?” Xun Wenruo asked calmly.
“How could you think such things of me, brother?” Xun Chen replied with exaggerated emotion in his tone. “We were merely passing by, saw you, and thought that we would greet you!”
Xun Wenruo bowed again and said, “And that you have done. I hope that we shall meet again in less uncomfortable circumstances.”
“…Good day, brother,” Xun Chen replied as he returned the bow and started to back away.
“…Good day, Mister Xun,” Guo Tu said with obvious irritation.
“What a pair of fools,” Xun Wenruo muttered once Xun Chen and Guo Tu were far enough away. “Chen… how can he and I share blood and a name…?”
Moments later, Xu Yòu returned.
Aiee… that Dian Wei!” Xu Yòu chuckled. “He frightened every man that set eyes upon him, except, perhaps, Zhang Hè and Yan Liang… though they might be better actors than the rest of us… … …Is something wrong, Wenruo…?”
“Guo Tu and my fool brother leapt on me as soon as you were gone,” Xun Wenruo replied bitterly. “They were not subtle in their intent.”

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