“Turmoil”: Battle for the Han Empire sample (Act I) -- T. P. M. Thorne
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“I’m sorry, Wenruo, and I swear that I know nothing of it,” Xu Yòu insisted.
“You value your friendship with Lord Cao too much to be involved in such a blatant and nonsensical stunt,”
Xun Wenruo replied. “Forget about it. Shall we go to my hotel…?”
“You’ll have quarters on the grounds,” Xu Yòu explained. “I’ll take you now…”
*************
3
“…I was saying to Wenruo, on the way here…
how much has changed in recent times.”
Cao Cao uttered the words as he sat cross-legged on the floor, facing his old friend
Yuan Shao: the two were strong, nourished noblemen that were close to 40 years of age,
but their grey hairs and leathery skin betrayed years of military service and political
stress. They both wore expensive patterned robes and had their uncut hair wound
and covered by silk turbans: an empty banquet tray and a small tea kettle separated them.
“…Does something bother you, Benchu…?” Cao Cao asked.
Yuan Shao turned his gaze toward the doorway, where the titan Dian Wei was stood: he now wore plain robes
rather than armour, but he carried a halberd, wore a sword at his side and had a hate-filled expression
that filled Yuan Shao with dread.
“…You fear Dian Wei…?” Cao Cao chuckled. “You shouldn’t.”
“…Perhaps, but does his presence not imply that you fear me?” Yuan Shao countered.
“I… I don’t fear you, but… I trust no-one fully anymore,”
Cao Cao admitted. “After Zhang Miao… how can I…? How can we…?”
Yuan Shao exhaled loudly.
“You were right,” Cao Cao muttered. “I should have let you kill him back then, when he
was rude to you. You said that he didn’t ‘understand’, and you were right…
I’m sorry I obstructed you.”