Post by exiled on Jul 17, 2010 19:59:42 GMT
His lord had wished to be personally present, but as usual things did not turn out as planned. It was another day, another dollar for Xu Shu, as he rode on his horse towards the Han Capital. His horse plodded on, hot but able to bare the difficult conditions as his master urged him on. Lord Cao Cao wished to improve his standing within the Han, his ambition knowing no limits, but tied down it was left to Xu Shu to make a good impression and hopefully extend his lord's power.
"Please! I beg of you!"
The words were exclaimed through the village he was currently passing through. A peasant, no more than 20 screamed for help and Xu Shu immediately halted his march.
"I am a busy man, but I see you are distressed. Pray do tell, if I can help, I will."
"It's those Yellow Turbans! They've come through here, took all our money, our food and our women! Please my Lord, you must help us!"
Flattered by the man calling him Lord, but no less shocked by the news, Xu Shu dismounted his horse, checking the surroundings, witnessing the now obvious destruction and desolation left by a marching army. He had seen it all before, but had never done anything about it, unable to as his forces lacked any power, or his abilities shackled for other reasons, yet this time he was determined to help however he could.
"How many of them were there? I have but 200 men, a parade at best in these times, I am sad to say my Lord Cao Cao left me ill equipped to be of much use against presumably a large force."
He was apprehensive, his abilities were undoubted to most, yet inside he had his doubts. He doubted he could first of all catch up with the enemy, secondly he doubted he had the forces to take out a yellow scarf army and thirdly the lay of the land was unfamiliar to him having only recently joined his lord in the central plains of China.
"A lot! They said they will be back and if we do not give them more money and food they will kill all us who survived. Please help us, do anything, do something!"
He was distressed and rightly so, a tear visible in the man's eye. Xu Shu knew something had happened to someone he loved, whether it was family, a friend or a certain someone who caught his eye. His mind told him to carry on, leave the village and do what he was meant to do, as his abilities were useless here and the situation far too dangerous, yet his heart made him stay.
"I can do what I can do, but my presence here could be more harmful than good. I can leave to get help, I am myself on my way to the Han capital as we speak and I am sure they will help in some way. Then again if you cannot pay them, which I assume you cannot, then either way you must stand and fight these cowards and with that i will also help you."
Perhaps this was to be his fate and a fitting one as well. He had always dreamt of reaching the heights he knew he could, he had visions in his sleep of great victories, ideas so far untried, but today he was potentially condemning those to death along with his self. After a short chat it was also revealed the enemy army would appear in three weeks, it brought some hope to Xu Shu, knowing it was time he needed and time he was thankful to have and work with.
His concentration left him as he heard the sound of marching, his troops shouted for Xu Shu to turn around and the glimpse of a marching army, much the same size as his own could be seen in the distance, the banners symbolising Liu Bei's forces.
"It can't be...?"
Xu Shu's eyes focused on one man and one man only - Zhuge Liang.
"Please! I beg of you!"
The words were exclaimed through the village he was currently passing through. A peasant, no more than 20 screamed for help and Xu Shu immediately halted his march.
"I am a busy man, but I see you are distressed. Pray do tell, if I can help, I will."
"It's those Yellow Turbans! They've come through here, took all our money, our food and our women! Please my Lord, you must help us!"
Flattered by the man calling him Lord, but no less shocked by the news, Xu Shu dismounted his horse, checking the surroundings, witnessing the now obvious destruction and desolation left by a marching army. He had seen it all before, but had never done anything about it, unable to as his forces lacked any power, or his abilities shackled for other reasons, yet this time he was determined to help however he could.
"How many of them were there? I have but 200 men, a parade at best in these times, I am sad to say my Lord Cao Cao left me ill equipped to be of much use against presumably a large force."
He was apprehensive, his abilities were undoubted to most, yet inside he had his doubts. He doubted he could first of all catch up with the enemy, secondly he doubted he had the forces to take out a yellow scarf army and thirdly the lay of the land was unfamiliar to him having only recently joined his lord in the central plains of China.
"A lot! They said they will be back and if we do not give them more money and food they will kill all us who survived. Please help us, do anything, do something!"
He was distressed and rightly so, a tear visible in the man's eye. Xu Shu knew something had happened to someone he loved, whether it was family, a friend or a certain someone who caught his eye. His mind told him to carry on, leave the village and do what he was meant to do, as his abilities were useless here and the situation far too dangerous, yet his heart made him stay.
"I can do what I can do, but my presence here could be more harmful than good. I can leave to get help, I am myself on my way to the Han capital as we speak and I am sure they will help in some way. Then again if you cannot pay them, which I assume you cannot, then either way you must stand and fight these cowards and with that i will also help you."
Perhaps this was to be his fate and a fitting one as well. He had always dreamt of reaching the heights he knew he could, he had visions in his sleep of great victories, ideas so far untried, but today he was potentially condemning those to death along with his self. After a short chat it was also revealed the enemy army would appear in three weeks, it brought some hope to Xu Shu, knowing it was time he needed and time he was thankful to have and work with.
His concentration left him as he heard the sound of marching, his troops shouted for Xu Shu to turn around and the glimpse of a marching army, much the same size as his own could be seen in the distance, the banners symbolising Liu Bei's forces.
"It can't be...?"
Xu Shu's eyes focused on one man and one man only - Zhuge Liang.