Post by Cheng Mao on Jun 29, 2010 23:28:23 GMT
The wooden sticks rolled. A hand moved the ivory piece according to the number the sticks had shown. The man grunted, luck was not to be his today. Every night, when the small armed force had set up camp, many would play liubo, some for fun, others for wealth in small measures. The soldier knew that his lord did not approve of gambling and therefore only played for distraction the board game brought.
"Good thing that he doesn't gamble... " several soldier thought as the game was coming to a close. Their lord had won most of the games he had played. It seemed that he could read the enemies minds, but when asked if he could, he plainly answered:
"Not minds, just faces. "
After the unfortunate soldier's turn, Cheng Mao had to throw the sticks. The soldier packed around the table were waiting for a finishing blow, but Mao did not move an inch. His thoughts were elsewere, as they often were lately. nervously his opponent asked: "My lord?"
Suddenly, Cheng Mao stood up and began walking to his tent. He stopped, considering the scene, and said:
"The game is over, you win today."
Mao walked back to his tent, silent and swift.
Darkness surround the warrior, all his men asleep. Thoughts of war shot through his head. Then, a whisper came:
"Why do we fight? "
A voice in his head, sounding like Mao remembered his father, answered:
"Because the land is in peril, the peace is threatened and people are being killed. "
Mao was aware of this answer, but he wasn't satisfied.
"But then why did this war start? Why does anyone start their war? I feel like I am an eagle that has lost its wings, for I am the warrior without the spirit to fight. "
His head sunk in his hands in despair.
"The Han dynasty has guided us through the years."
"Years have been bad..." the voice put forward.
"But surely that can't be blamed on bad intentions and corruption? No, I think I know. There will always be men with ambition, and when cracks emerge in the top layer of society they will grasp the moment, and create chaos and war. What they do not see is the suffering of the commoners. "
"But why then will you fight?" The voice said, steering Mao to the last revelation.
"I will fight... I will bring war to those who start one. I will kill the killers, and murder murderers. Those who bring chaos, will end up in oblivion by the point of my spear. "
No voice answered, and Mao realized that his voice had risen in strength, and he was talking out loud now. Dawn had come. Men were moving. In a rush of inspiration Mao grasped his warhorn, and sounded it loudly, three times.
Men crawled from their tents and looked around. No enemy attack, and no earthquake.
After several moments, when the 400 men were assembled, Mao began to speak.
"I have been pondering our cause. I know now what we've been fighting for. They tell us we fight for the Han, that we fight for the emperor, but that is only partly true. We fight for our families. We fight for our beliefs. We fight to end the suffering. And that is all that matters. Are you with me!"
The cheers were heard all across the empty plains, and with a new courage in their heart, the army got ready for the journey. When Mao stepped on his horse he realized that not only had he traveled many physical miles to get where he was now, he had also walked another mile on the mental path toward enlightenment.
"Good thing that he doesn't gamble... " several soldier thought as the game was coming to a close. Their lord had won most of the games he had played. It seemed that he could read the enemies minds, but when asked if he could, he plainly answered:
"Not minds, just faces. "
After the unfortunate soldier's turn, Cheng Mao had to throw the sticks. The soldier packed around the table were waiting for a finishing blow, but Mao did not move an inch. His thoughts were elsewere, as they often were lately. nervously his opponent asked: "My lord?"
Suddenly, Cheng Mao stood up and began walking to his tent. He stopped, considering the scene, and said:
"The game is over, you win today."
Mao walked back to his tent, silent and swift.
Darkness surround the warrior, all his men asleep. Thoughts of war shot through his head. Then, a whisper came:
"Why do we fight? "
A voice in his head, sounding like Mao remembered his father, answered:
"Because the land is in peril, the peace is threatened and people are being killed. "
Mao was aware of this answer, but he wasn't satisfied.
"But then why did this war start? Why does anyone start their war? I feel like I am an eagle that has lost its wings, for I am the warrior without the spirit to fight. "
His head sunk in his hands in despair.
"The Han dynasty has guided us through the years."
"Years have been bad..." the voice put forward.
"But surely that can't be blamed on bad intentions and corruption? No, I think I know. There will always be men with ambition, and when cracks emerge in the top layer of society they will grasp the moment, and create chaos and war. What they do not see is the suffering of the commoners. "
"But why then will you fight?" The voice said, steering Mao to the last revelation.
"I will fight... I will bring war to those who start one. I will kill the killers, and murder murderers. Those who bring chaos, will end up in oblivion by the point of my spear. "
No voice answered, and Mao realized that his voice had risen in strength, and he was talking out loud now. Dawn had come. Men were moving. In a rush of inspiration Mao grasped his warhorn, and sounded it loudly, three times.
Men crawled from their tents and looked around. No enemy attack, and no earthquake.
After several moments, when the 400 men were assembled, Mao began to speak.
"I have been pondering our cause. I know now what we've been fighting for. They tell us we fight for the Han, that we fight for the emperor, but that is only partly true. We fight for our families. We fight for our beliefs. We fight to end the suffering. And that is all that matters. Are you with me!"
The cheers were heard all across the empty plains, and with a new courage in their heart, the army got ready for the journey. When Mao stepped on his horse he realized that not only had he traveled many physical miles to get where he was now, he had also walked another mile on the mental path toward enlightenment.
