“Turmoil”: Battle for the Han Empire sample (Act I) -- T. P. M. Thorne
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“…Someone local told me about a ‘Dian Wei’… that he was paid to kill someone
once, and instead of just killing that one man he went in the house and killed everything; men,
women, children, animals, everything!” ‘Thin Wang’ explained. “They said the people
that found ‘em couldn’t tell who was who and what was what, ‘cause he didn’t leave
enough of ‘em to be sure!”
The other bandits chattered nervously.
“They call him ‘The Coming Evil’ in that village!” Thin Wang continued. “The
people that pursued him to kill him, he tore them apart with his bare hands and just walked away! He-!”
“I heard a very different version o’ that story, a version told by someone other than friends o’
the man that he killed,” Fixed Gaze said irritably. “And even if that was true, he’s one man!
One man! We’re going to get ourselves in a knot over one man…?”
“But you want to run!” Big Eyes shouted. “It’s ‘Nobody’s
Chanyu’ there that wants to stay and pick a fight, isn’t it?”
Yufuluo growled and raised his sword; Fixed Gaze gestured that the Xiongnu chieftain should calm down and
turned to his bandit ally, replying, “I’m saying that we may have to consider running, yeah. But
only if we really have to; if we’re seen to run from a bogeyman like ‘Dian Wei’, we’ll
look stupid, especially if Cao’s not so dangerous besides that. His men surprised ours, and I have to
factor that into it: in a fair fight - or better yet, one where we get the drop on them -
we’ll-”
“CAO CAO’S COMING!”
Every man turned and either gasped or groaned as a scout staggered into the meeting area, fell to the
ground and struggled to find the strength to follow his warning with some information.
“…Enough talk!” Yufuluo bellowed. “I go to meet him! Any real men here can
join me; the rest can scurry back to Bing!”
The Xiongnu contingent left the meeting and started down the hill; a few bandits followed, but most waited for
Fixed Gaze to tell them what to do.
“…We can’t stay here on a wooded hill, can we, in case he uses fire,” Fixed Gaze murmured.
The bandits looked at each other disconcertedly.
“…C’mon lads; let’s be real men and see if we can’t chase Cao back to Dong
Prefecture!” Fixed Gaze said with feigned determination. “Damned if want to run again away:
we’d only be running away to come back, anyhow!”
The Black Mountain Bandits hollered and chanted as they took up their weapons and started down the
hill after their Xiongnu allies.
“Ah, so they decided to meet us,” Cao Cao chuckled as Yufuluo and Fixed Gaze
led their forces toward the patch of ground that Cao Cao had carefully chosen to be intercepted on.
“Orders…?” Xun Gongda prompted.
“Your topography notes were most helpful,” Cao Cao replied. “I know exactly what to do, and
I think you do as well… so why don’t you give the orders…?”
Xun Gongda smiled, nodded, and turned to the eager officers Dian Wei, Xiahou Dun and Yu Jin.
“Dian Wei… you’ll remain here, by Lord Cao Cao, because Yufuluo will certainly try and charge
at us,” Xun Gongda began. “If his charge falters or he fails to charge, then you, Yu Jin, will lead
a force forward, feign weakness and allow the repelling force to drive you toward the hills to the southwest.”