“Turmoil”: Battle for the Han Empire sample (Act I) -- T. P. M. Thorne
JavaScript is off/unavailable on your browser. You will not be able to experience this website as it was intended without JavaScript enabled.
“We… I… fear for the future.”
Emperor Xian was sat in his
private quarters with his beloved consort Lady Fu, who had recently been created his empress: the two were
as close as ever, and they were also as insecure and afraid of their own court as ever. Emperor Xian had
dismissed his courtiers so that he could abandon protocols and tell Empress Fu how he felt, although there
was no need: she knew him well and felt the same.
“I want to believe that my elevation is some form of sign that the court is once again loyal to Your
Majesty and peace is restored,” Empress Fu replied “But like Your Majesty, I am tired of groundless
optimism. The court does nothing about the regents!”
Emperor Xian smiled sadly, straightened the left sleeve of his dragon-patterned robes and said, “The loyal
men that followed me here from Luoyang have been repeatedly purged; very few of them remain now. I can only hope
that nearby relatives, like Liu Biao and Liu Zhang, are mindful of the consequences of the house of Han collapsing.
But what can they do? What can anyone do…?”
Empress Fu sighed loudly and lowered her head; Emperor Xian touched her hand and held his false smile.
*************
11
Cao Cao’s forces started to fragment as Cao’s desire to end
the campaign against Yufuluo overtook his instinctive caution; the vanguard reached the
outskirts of an abandoned village that was the perfect place for any number of misfortunes.
“We should really tighten the formation,” Xun Gongda suggested.
“My head…!” Cao Cao complained. “These blasted bandits and savages are
vexing me to the point where I fear that my brains will explode!”
“Rushing and tripping isn’t advised,” Xun Gongda retorted. “We’re
now open to an ambush, and I strongly suggest that we-”
A sudden cry ended Xun Gongda’s advice; arrows felled men and horse alike, and Cao Cao
was suddenly in danger.
“Ayah! We have to get out of here!” Cao Cao cried.
“I will protect you!” Dian Wei said. “Go to the east, Lord Cao,
and I will follow!”
“I’ll send a man to alert the army!” Xun Wenruo promised. “Cao
Xiu, accompany the lord!”
Cao Cao galloped away from the village ruin while Xun Gongda and Dian Wei did their best to distract
the ambush party; but within minutes of his escape, Cao Cao was being pursued again and Cao Xiu was
forced to stop and keep the enemy busy.
“…Damn these headaches! They are my ruin!” Cao Cao lamented as he rode
further and further away from the ruined town and his army. One rider after another volunteered
to keep the enemy busy until Cao was completely alone.