The Eagle in Wei (Cao Cao)

[Lee Shang]

Lee Shang was visiting the city of Chen Liu. She looked around never been in this city before she was kinda a bit nervous to get jump not knowing how was the people in the village. She went close to the market and looked at the fruits they had for sale but they seem all have rotten.

She then went in the corner between two stores and sat down for a moment to rest her feet since she been walking for a few days now. The guards were watching her really carefully since she had both of her weapons with her making people suspicious of her and what was her ideal reason to be here in the city were there lord Cao Cao was residing.

A man went close to her when she fell asleep and goes and started to take off her helmet seeing her cute little face. He then caress her hair slowly trying to slide his hand under her armor. She then woke up and pushed the guy to the wall behind him making him hit his head on the stand. She then took her spear and stabbed the man through the location of his heart then pulled the blade out and stabbed the guy in the head until a guard came to stop her.

The guards was there with there weapon looking at her even do they knew she was just protecting her self they did not trust her since she can handle her self with a weapon like a true warrior that you would see during a real war against the other army.

[Xiang Yu]

[[yay, arrest time! Though know it’s only for story purposes and under no circumstances will I actually detain you without purpose. Oh, I’ve also spoken to Zhou Yu, he will be posting in this thread as well, after your response to help support your claim. Don’t worry, I won’t kill you lol, but you introduced yourself by killing citizens so….this is our wonderful meeting]]

Fresh guards arrived at a scene of blood and carnage. They had expected, as was stated by the report handed in, that a small fight had broken between the lower classes of society; and that a woman, recorded to be within her early twenties or late teens, was the victor, but when they arrived – they found a woman with a spear driven through the socket of a man’s eye, a comment left behind when the filed report was handed into the guard office. Blood was everywhere, though the guards had long since been used to such horrific sights, especially as capital guards beneath Cao Cao’s eye, still – it was enough for them to look hastily to the woman, who now dripped with the blood of another.

“Madam….please, put the weapon down!”

One of the guards stepped forward hastily, the speaker – and raised his own sword for what he assumed would be a fight, “You have committed an offense, please accompany us to the palace so that an attendant can review your case. You are in our lord, Cao Cao’s jurisdiction – and he has no taste for murderers.”

The guard swallowed and bitterness flew through his mouth. He gasped, and turned a steady head to three more guards who protected his flanks, “Please, I will not repeat myself. Come with us.”

All four of the guards stepped forward.

---

[[Assuming you comply]]

The guards escorted the woman to the office attendant who had returned from affairs regarding their new ruler’s status within Chen Liu. Cao Cao had just been elected as the governor, and although it was indeed great news – attendants and ministers of his state were now busy with filing paperwork of the local masses.

Still, it was better than nothing, and when the guards arrived with the woman he reviewed the document and the guards review quickly, scanning the wooden plank and discarding it.

“I see no reason to let this continue. You killed a man without just cause according to these reviews. Have you anything to say regarding these claims, or would you prefer to answer to the governor himself, lest you be prepared to pay with death should you be found guilty?”

[Lee Shang]

She did not say a word while the guards was asking her to drop her weapon. She did not drop the weapon right away and placed it on her back not caring what the guards would of thought. She followed them in the castle and did not even try to convince them of anything that was true or not. Arriving at the palace for the judgment she did not care.

She looked at the person that asked her if she wanted to see lord Cao Cao to risk her own death. Her weapon was on her back but she then placed them both on the bench of the one that asked her the question and she also placed her helmet of the warrior in the same bin. Her eyes were glowing not in tear or guilt.

She knew the reason she did it was to protect her self even do she might of have gone to far she still had the right to protect her body from strangers. She looked at all four of the guards that seems to want her to die for what she did. She then looked back at the other person.

"I am Lee Sheng" she decided that her name might as well be in the words that she would say." I would like a audience with the one you people call lord Cao Cao. I am guilty of killing the person but it was a act of self protection and that is the reason I would like a fair trial." She did not say it in a angry tone or nothing she was really calm and she did not care what the other people would think.

[Xiang Yu]

The attendant could do nothing but sigh as he heard the woman’s request to see Lord Cao Cao, and he shifted gently within his seat as he pushed aside another row of planks.

“Well, I better not keep you then.”

He nodded to the guards, and two of them begrudgingly escorted her to the inner sanctum of the palace, where the walls shone it’s forever lustrous aroma and where the carpet of royalty lay spread out in designs of falcons and other birds of prey. It was magnificent, yet the room only brightened as the large golden doors were pushed ajar, revealing the red carpet that rolled to the very bench of Cao Cao himself.

He sat by a desk with a multitude of scrolls and books, reading over the odd one whilst discarding the others. He seemed bored, yet peeked up at the sight of the woman and the guards. He did not speak, he only beckoned a fist and the two guards exchanged a glance before proceeding to the table.

“My Lord.” The guard to the right started, bowing low, “This is Lee Shang. She is here for a trial regarding the death of a man. She has been spoken her rights.”

Cao Cao nodded, and the two guards hurriedly left, leaving the two alone for a brief moment before other ministers arrived. Lee Shang stood several paces away, her long hair flowing down past her shoulders and beckoning her slightly curved frame. Her face, although pale was blemish free, and for a moment Cao cao gazed in what appeared as admiration for such a startling creature.

“Tell me.” He rose from his seat, and guards arrived at the end of the room, lining up in groups of three and four, “Are you always so boisterous or untamed, or is there justice behind your act.”

[Lee Shang]

Lee Sheng watched him examine her in a few minutes before he speak. She then looked at him when he talked. She was not really happy to get in the trial of her future. She then was started to think before she said her words. She was scared to offend the lord that she was only a few weeks from her face. She then wondering why would he even see her after she killed a person.

"Lord Cao Cao, my action might of have been reckless so I know why that I am in front of you in these days." She was trying to make him see that she is kinda scared for talking to him cause she does not know if he will listen to the truth or just judge her from what his guards say that they do not even know anything and does not trust her.

"I am only hear for defending my self from a male person that was trying to do something with me when I was sleeping in a corner of the building. I did not even plan to fall asleep but it was a few days since the last time I sat down since I left my home." She looked at him to see if he was at least listening to her or if he decided to make her go to the execution room.

She then knell down in the sign of respect and also to wait the decision of the lord if he wanted her to tell more about what happened or if he already made his decision if she is going to do something or not. "Lord Cao Cao I will continue if you wish or I will hear your decision if you have made up your mind already." She was trembling hopping that he knows that she did not do it just to do it and actually to protect herself. She wanted to protect her virginity to make sure that her true love was really her first.

[Zhou Yu]

(( Few moments after the Murder))

After stopping to pick up vital supplies for his army from the shops that made up Chen Liu, he started heading back to the stables where he had stored his horse an hour or so before shopping for supplies, on the way back the street ahead of him was blocked by what looked like a group of peasants maybe there was show going on or could it be more serious.

As Yu had no other way to get back to the stable, at this point he decided to check out what the crowds are looking at, as well as wondering where Lee ran off she was always exploring little did he know that she was the course of this murder he would soon come across.

As he began to push the crowds aside, the sight of a body began to come into sight it looked like a blood bath, but who would dare to such a deed within Lord Cao Cao town that would be signing your own death warrant. After Yu studied the crime scene more closely, a reflection of what looked like a tip of spear shined into his right eye.

After picking the spear up and reviewing it the shape and style reminded him of Lee’s spear, could she be behind this or was she framed he was going to get to the bottom of this.

((Present Time))

By this time the reports where all of a young dark blue haired girl being taken away by the guards, that is Lee without a doubt. “Dam it what has she done if she’s been taken to Cao Cao she will be put to death,” With that Yu begins to run towards the building which Cao Cao resides in the guards stop him before he gets to close so he speaks saying.

“I have important news concerning the murder that took place here, you are about to condemn and innocent girl. Let me see your lord I am Zhou Yu the famed Strategist im sure your lord would not pass up an offer to hear what I have to say.

[Xiang Yu]

The Guards

Guards watched as Zhou Yu came spluttering across the palace, his words strained and in haste. The guards nodded, though only two of them had come to greet the young strategist.

“Please.” One stated calmly, turning to face his friend, “Relax a little. We’ll get you into the palace.”

They did as they had stated, and arrived shortly after at the palace, where they saw Cao Cao laughing, “My lord. A strange man by the name Zhou Yu is pleading for an audience?”

Cao Cao nodded, and the man was sent before the Hero of Chaos.

---

Cao Cao

Cao Cao had listened as intently as he could to the words of the woman standing before him. He did not know the details of the crime, nor did it bother him that she stood with defiance, even if the voice was broken and frail – no bow was given, no beg of mercy or plea for freedom.

He smiled.

“You have been convicted.” He started, gazing down her soul with each word. He was cold, a face that bore much meaning and regret. He was a man that had endured the world’s very pain, and in response he would merely shrug it off. He was Cao Cao – a man without pain, without fear.

“and yet you do not bow before me. You do not plea for a life that means nothing in the grand scale of things.”

He turned to a maid, and ordered for cups to be brought forth, “I do not doubt your case is just, but…”

He poured a glass, and then nodded for the maid to hand over a glass to the woman. He did not know why he offered her refreshments, but something forced the hand, and he allowed it to do its bidding, “You have taken a life, even if he deserved punishing, does his family deserve to be left without a father, brother or husband. Do the lives you have potentially ruined been just because of what you describe to be a simple act of touch?”

He smiled again, and then turned to face the woman, “Tell me, is your way of living, your ambition – your desires…are they more important than others, is your resolve so firm that you would kill anyone who defied you your pride and honour, or did you act merely on impulse?”

He laughed, and he turned quickly to two guards who had approached the throne, they brought with them a warrior, a strategist in fact, a man Cao Cao knew and had learned to respect according to the old written text books.

“Bring him here.”

He turned back to Lee Shang and smiled. What she said would now determine her fate, was she truly a marvel, a woman with resolve and cunning – or was she but another fool with a trigger finger, only time would tell, and Cao Cao had plenty of time.

[Lee Shang]

Lee Shang looked at the smiling lord that was really confusing her. She then looked down and was confuse on the reaction and the way they looked at her. Then she noticed that her friend that she meet earlier Zhou Yu was there. She felt guilty seeing him there cause all she was thinking about is what does he think of her being touched by a guy and killing them and not stopping until the head was pretty much gone.

She Then noticed the question that Cao Cao finally asked her and was wondering. She falls in a sitting position from embarrassment. She then looked at Cao Cao and then Zhou Yu and she had a tear going down her little cheek she was scared since she really likes Yu from the moment they meet.

"Lord Cao Cao, I did the action to protect my honor and the name of my family." She was still having a tear but she cleaned it and it stop leaking. "I do not regret killing the person even do, cause if I did not he might have done it to another women that might be less good to defend her self. " She then looked back at Yu thinking that she is going to die for this and makes her sad thinking she never been able to tell him how much she wanted to try to be with him.

Lee Sheng was ready for the call that Cao Cao wants to give her even do she might not agree with the thing that he wants to do with her. She started to pray in her head apologizing to her family that she never had a chance to make them proud of there daughter in the field of battle.

[Zhou Yu]

Zhou gracefully began to walk into the throne room of the great Lord Cao ,even if he pushed the fact to get himself an Audience with Cao he had to do something or lee would be dead by the day break. With that, he bows to Lord Cao and begins to address him hoping to save the life of young Lee.

“Lord Cao my name is Zhou Yu and I come before you today in order to stop you making a huge mistake by deciding to senesce Lee to death, I have been watching her actions for some time now, and it was self defence the guards made the first move on her and you would do the same if your felt your life was at risk.

Therefore, if you where to put Lee to death you would have to make dozens of other people share the same fate, this stuff happens under your very nose I do not want you to think I am telling you what do but I have seen the heavens and they smile upon you, so here is what I Suggest.

Given she needs to be punished for her crimes, but from what I have seen you are lacking officers and as a State Governor you can invoke rights within your city so how about you invoke the rule of Conscription on her into the army, that way she will be punished for her crimes but she will also have a chance to redeem herself everyone deserves a second chance my lord.

[Xiang Yu]

Cao Cao nodded to the woman, releasing a final sigh as he steadied his hand once more, “So you act on behalf of others. That is not a quality I am interested in.”

He turned to Zhou Yu, who, with gracious feet and a humble tone stepped forth. He presented a case, though much of it seemed spluttered with the words of children and idiocy. He sighed again. “Your name precedes you Zhou Yu, yet I do not see a man of wisdom beneath me.”

He raised his hand again, waited, and then dropped it back to his side. He was now tired, and he allowed the words of Zhou Yu to seep in a little further.

“She murdered a civilian; she laid no hand on my guard – for if she did…she would be dead, as would you if you would dare defend a woman convicted of assaulting members of my office.”

His eyes turned cold for the moment, before shrugging it off and gazing back to the woman. He did not really wish to kill her, but he felt that maybe Zhou Yu was right. To be firm to the law was always important, but the woman was young, and the details of the man’s death were said to be gruesome. He wondered how she would fair in battle.

“There is a conduct of law that we all follow, even I.”

He walked over to the woman, touching her thin shoulder blade and brushing the hand down the arm. He did not do it seductively, but was placing fingers along certain parts of the muscle. “I would not have killed you for killing a man in self-defence.” He said, till touching the woman’s arm, “Though I would kill your saviour for interrupting me.”

His eyes turned back to Zhou Yu, and he smirked, “But then I would be the fool.”

He laughed, and finally turned back to his chair, “Very well.” He muttered, “You have two options Lee Shang. Either join the ranks of Cao Wei, and continue to perfect your…killing abilities – or leave Chen Liu by the morrow. Failure to do so will result in a more….severe punishment.”

He turned to Zhou Yu next, and smiled, “And what can I do for you Zhou Yu, wise warrior of the south and protector of this here warrior?”

[Lee Shang]

She looked at the lord and then at Zhou Yu then back at her talented lord after he had touch her. She almost wanted to kill him but she stopped her self since she was scared he want to do something with her little body. She was scared and confuse when he touched her but she new it was not for anything except trying to see the reason that she possessed skills of battle.

She then smiled when he asked her if she would want to join the army of Wei under his command or leave the land. Her dreams could be happening in this moment. She was a shy person but she knew that with her friendship with Zhou Yu they will be good to be able to protect each other well on the battle field.

"Lord Cao Cao, I am honored of your request of either joining your army or leaving the city." She said thinking she was going to leave the city no mater what but she always wanted to be a warrior under a lord with a pure hearth and she believed that Cao Cao was the one she might find the talent she waned to see in a lord.

"I will be honest with my words lord Cao Cao. I was not planning to stay in this region for to long since I was here to see the merchants to get there order for my farther the blacksmith that works for lord Yuan Shao." She then looked at her friend that made him let her live. "To be honest I am honored if you would really let me join your force."

[Xiang Yu]

Cao Cao smiled at the woman as he heard her plight. He had never intended to harm the woman, but to see the feint glow rise when she gazed at Zhou Yu made him feel content with the decision he had made, she would be a fine addition to his ranks. He only hoped her dreary eyes would not focus too highly to a man he currently sought as ill news. Warriors either gave it their all when in love, or they hesitated and died.

Still, he was not really in a position to argue with the simplicity of emotion, so he nodded his head and turned back to the maid.

“Of course, of course.” His smile brightened for a moment, revealing teeth and gum, “Please, be at ease. I welcome the service to all who have the affinity of death.”

He laughed again, but then turned cold as his eyes flickered to Zhou Yu. He did not know why the man was there, but the way he rushed his council was annoying, he also did not appreciate the man declaring his name as if the man had done anything worthy of merit.

“You are free to join my army Lee Shang, but care not for the opinion of others.”

He sighed slightly, turning his gaze back to the woman, “There will always be people who jeopardise our efforts, men whose ideals clash with mine – it is why war exists. But…you must never let them turn your resolve. Declare to me your allegiance and fight beside me in war, so that one day soon we can all live in an orderly realm without extreme poverty and without corruption. Let us bring justice and law back to this beautiful country, and you will be forever remembered in the passages of time itself.”

He smiled again, the invitation open and his hand laid out to show the simple act. He was offering her whatever he could as a ruler, as a governor. All she needed to do was bow and recite the words of pledge.

[Zhou Yu]

Zhou allowed Lord Cao Cao to say his peace cutting in now could be the end for him and the girl if he was to die today he could sleep easy knowing the girl would be safe with Cao Cao . His reasons for being here was his own but he wished to Join the soon to become hero of Chaos and bring the world under his banner. But the first thing he should do is offer an apology for being rude to one such as Cao Cao he was not afraid to admit he was wrong but who knows how Lord Cao would react. “First Lord Cao I am sorry for busting my way into your throne room but I could not let Lee die like this, I see great things in her further like I do in yours.

I Zhou Yu request the honer of joining you in your quest to bring the land back from the pending chaos that is soon to start if you will allow me. With that, he gets down on one knee and awaits the Response off the man who may one day rule the lands, with fame and respect Zhou and seen stars that showed him that Cao Cao was the right choice, but it also showed him how Cao Cao would fall from grace if he did.

[Lee Shang]

Lee Shang was looking at her new lord that was asking her to join there forces and ranks. The people that was known in the army like Cao Cao him self and also the one that convinced the lord to keep her around to be a help in there army Zhou Yu. She started to smile and was wondering how to say it not sounding to happy.

"Lord Cao Cao I will server you and the people of Wei until my last breath, I will serve you until my body is in the floor missing its hearth and also its head. I will serve you until the land is freed from the Chaos that was made by the other lord's that you will be the chosen one to get rid of the chaos in the lands."

She then got back her weapons from the back and then goes back to knell down in front of her new commander and place the weapon on the floor with the blade of her spear in the air in the sign of respect.

She then looked at Zhou Yu and smiles at him. She wanted to thank the man once again and this time it was to save her life and not only from guards that does not trust other people that easily. She did not know what was his interest in her little body that she has to want to make sure she survive each time they see each other a few time a day.

[Xiang Yu]

Cao Cao bathed in the moment as his hand sliced through the air. He was finally contempt with the events of the day, and turned a bright eye to the woman who had bowed in servitude. He did not know it then, but he would grow fond of the two warriors before him, and he took the moment to smile and show the appreciation they deserved for bowing their heads.

“You will serve me in my conquest.” He stated, still smiling, “And together the will of the heavens will bend to our ideals.”

He moved over to Lee Shang, placing his arms on her shoulders and brushing her face to meet his own. He smiled, his eyes piercing deep, “Remember this moment, for now on you are a member of Cao Wei and a member of my household. Be watchful of the events you will see, for your spear and sword will help carve a new era in these dark times.”

He patted her again as he rose up, and turned an eye to the man who had now bowed in service.

“Zhou Yu.” He spat the name, grinning, “You have come to offer a woman life and yet she was in no danger, and now that she has bowed – you have followed.”

He stood back from the two generals, grinning. He thought the two of them were lovers, but their appreciative eyes suggested otherwise. Lee Shang had no yet declared anything, and he returned his gaze to Zhou Yu, a man whose longing was evident through the words he spoke.

“I shall accept your service Zhou Yu, and pray that your wisdom and your valor guide us through the hardships to come…but I warn you now.”

He bent down touch the young mans shoulder, and then nodded, “You are no Xu Shu, and you have only warranted distaste with your rash behavior. I am not a fool Zhou Yu, I can see the longing in your words. But do not let your feelings misguide your judgment. Serve me and me alone – and maybe you shall find the answers we all seek. But disobey me, or fall within the bottomless pits of love and my sword shall severe your head from your body.”

He smiled as he finished, clasping the shoulder. “But I expect great things from a man of your renown, and I am honored to have you both with me.”