Meeting New Allies...or New Enemies(Ma Chao)

[Cao Cao]

Zhi took a deep breath as he looked at all the villagers of Xia Pi. Buisness was booming there at the village center. Zhi is there at Xia Pi for no offial buisness, he was there for a short vaction. Zhi thought that he deserved a little rest. Zhi walked towards a stand selling dim sum."I will take one please, and take the change." The man thanked Zhi and gave him the dim sum. Zhi bowed at the man and began to walk around again. He took a quick bite of the food, very good. This was a great way to start off a great vaction.

[link]

Xia Pi.

Ma Chao walked up to the fruit stand, tossing a few coins toward the seller and receiving a smiling, polite exchange of a plum in return. Nodding silently in response, he continued down the street, biting into the fruit. Juicy, sour yet sweet at the same time, it was one of his favorite edible objects. Walking down the large main street of the large city known as Xia Pi, Ma Chao looked left and right as he observed the many structures, forms, and the common society of peasants of the city.

Why was he here? Eh, he needed a break for once, even if it meant leaving Xin Ye for a short while. The city would be safe, and just in case, he had left the entirety of his army there. After all, any guards would never be able to catch up with his own speeding horse. Quick trips were best made alone, and it drew less attention. Ma Chao himself wasn't really a usual sight either; full-clad in his plate armor, donning tiger-headed helmet and strapping Stallion Fury onto his back, the warrior himself was venturing throughout the bustling crowds.

The people, of course, were obliged to make way for him, whether he preferred it or not. It did make it easier for him to move around, as everyone stared at him nervously and attempted to avoid any close contact with him or his spear, but at the same time it wasn't really comfortable, it supposed to be being a short vacation and all. Hmm. Maybe things didn't turn out so much as planned, if he had any plans at all. Walking over to a bench a good distance away from the bustling crowd, Ma Chao placed himself on it and bit into his plum again.

[Cao Cao]

Zhi took a final bite of his snack. Zhi noticed a man sitting on a bench. Normally, Zhi would not notice him but it was really hard not to. The man had full plate armor on and he had a large spear on his back. No wonder why people were going on the other side of the road to try and avoid the man. Curious, Zhi walked up to hi and said,"Hello sir, my name is Zhi Fang. May I ask you your name and why you are fully dressed as if you are about to go to war?"As Zhi said this he bowed at the man, to showing him respect.

[link]

Ma Chao looked up at the man. Quite casually dressed in comparison to himself, yet the showing garments clearly stated that he was a man of uncommon build. Long dark hair, a dark impression in the man, not a common sight indeed. Was the man's inside also of different build? As he began to engage in conversation with Ma Chao, the latter signaled silently to him to join him on the bench as they talked, chewing on and gulping down the rest of the piece of plum that he had had in his mouth before replying.

"Greetings, I am Ma Chao, styled Mengqi, of Xi Liang. My attire is something that I am quite used to, and will not easily exchange for common clothes, being a lifelong warrior myself. It's just how I prefer to clothe myself, along with my trusty spear, as you can see.

"You yourself seem like a man of no ordinary origin. May I ask if you have any association with the battlefield yourself?"

[Cao Cao]

Zhi sat down beside Ma Chao and listend to him talk. He then said to him,"I have not been on any large battlefield except for the one inside of me that i fight on everyday. Though that is not here or now. What brings you here to this beautiful, peaceful city?" As Zhi talked abou his personal battle, Zhi began to think about all the choices he has made up unto this point. Had Zhi made the right choices? No, he could not think of that now, now is not the time for that. Zhi snapped out of his quick daze and turned towards Ma Chao and listened to his response.

[link]

"I am but on a short break from my work back in Xin Ye. It is not a close place, but I decided that I might as well come to look at this beautiful city before things fall apart in the Han. You see, I am in service of Lord Liu Bei, so I spend the majority of my time working for him in his own city. Might as well take a vacation to somewhere nice, and here I am. What about you? What brings you here to Xia Pi?"

Fall apart... Yes, he had mentioned it. He was foreseeing and expecting the Han to break apart eventually. It was just how things worked, and it would happen soon enough with how matters managed recently. Many knew it; they looked forward to that day with either happy anxiety or concern. Ma Chao just knew that the Han would be gone soon enough.

[Cao Cao]

"The same as you, vacation, a well deserved one if you ask me haha. I have heard many good things about Liu Bei, I wonder if they are true. Are the rumors true?"Zhi heard what Ma Chao said about the Han. Even though Zhi served the Han, he knew that it would eventually fall, and it seems that as every day passes, it just keeps getting more and more clear that it will happen very soon. When that day comes, Zhi shall be there with his lord, Lu Bu to make sure that Lu Bu becomes the new force of power that controls all of China.

[link]

"Lord Liu Bei is a virtuous man, kind and forgiving, caring and yet strong. I find no man better than him in virtue, not even my father. Damn Cao Cao for his evil deeds... I cannot forget what he did to my clan every time I mention my late father. The murderer, the vile villain, who must be punished severely for his crimes...

"But on a more lighter tone, I am truly impressed that you have not backed away from me like all the other common folk. I do wonder for real... Could you be a warrior at all at any chance? After all, your stature is quite the imposing, and your bold forwardness suits one of the blade. Am I not speaking the truth?"

[Cao Cao]

Zhi smiled at Ma Chao and said,"I too have a vendetta with Cao Cao, he burned my village down and for that I can not forgive him. Yes, your guess is correct, I am indeed a warrior. I am sure you will not think about it, but i serve under my lord, Lu Bu. Right now, even though kindess is important, strength is what is needed to cut out a living in this cruel place. Once we have that living, the time for fighting will be over and the land shall know peace. That is my goal that I know with Lu Bu's strength, can be accomplished."

[link]

"Lu Bu, the mighty warrior of the land? Hmm, I offer no meanings of offense, but I have always wanted to challenge him to a friendly duel, to see how strong he is. I too delve into the pursuit for a greater power in my spear, and he would make a perfect challenge for me... But then again, does Lord Lu Bu have many talented officers other than yourself, General Zhi? I have met Zhang Liao before, and know that he was in Lu Bu¡¯s service... no?"

[Cao Cao]

"Yes Zhang Liao is under Lu Bu. We also have the beautiful Diao Chan, and Lu Bu's strategist, Cheng Gong, That is all I am afraid. Though, we shall get more men. Anyways the size of a group isn't always the most important, but how you use that group. No offense to your ablilites Ma Chao, but you will find yourself hard-pressed against my lord. He is as strong as people rumor him to be...and more. His power even intimidates me, even when he tries not to. How about Liu Bei? Does he have any warriors of value beside yourself? I have heard of his sworn brothers Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, and that they are beasts on the battlefield."

[link]

"Hmm, the more the challenge, the more I will to stand up to face him in battle, ha. As for Lord Liu Bei, he does have his brothers, but at the moment, it is only I and my cousin, Ma Dai, who are actively serving my lord with utmost loyalty. We are in heavy lack of generals, yet we believe that virtue, pure strategy, and the cause for justice on my part will eventually overcome opposing threats. Peace will never reign in this land, but over time, there will be one who will stand on top of the others... We all strive to be that one, every man his own dreams."

[Cao Cao]

"I agree, I hope that i will not have to face you on the field of battle. So how long do you think that the Han will last before it crumbles? I think it shall be very soon."Zhi got a little closer to Ma Chao, so he could listen closely. Zhi was very interested in Ma Chao's answer to his question.

(Sorry for shortness )

[link]

"Ah, the Han is already falling due to the fact that the eunuchs and regents are corrupting it. The court is failing already, they care not for the people at all, only for their own greed and lusty needs. The people suffer, they rebel, and they even turn to fools like that retard Zhang Jiao. And even the Ten Eunuchs and their followers are corrupting the court more than ever. It is a disaster, and the empire itself is as good as gone. The emperor remains, and whoever grasps him will self-declare protector of the Han, but, well, all that is bull now."

[Cao Cao]

Zhi listened to Ma Chao and Zhi could not agee more with what he said. Ma Chao hit a bullseye with everything he said."I agree Ma Chao, and I believe, no, I know that the faster the Han falls, the better off we will be. It will open up reasons to fight so people can gain control. Many people will fight for that power, and from those powers, one will rise up above the rest and gain control and bring an age of peace, even if it is a short one to this land."

(Okay, if you can understand what I just posted than good job...because I can't haha )