Post by Cheng Mao on Aug 3, 2010 23:02:16 GMT
Honorable Hooves
Part one: The Plan
Voyage to the home of the horselords. The rejection, the approval, the plan.
After the long and bloody battle of Pu Yang, Cheng Mao and his remaining troops turned back to the north, looking for more men in the regions of the horselords. Chaos has befallen the land, and to emerge from the turmoil living, one must gain strength.
Mao had discussed his plan with his friend, Er Ren, and some of his most trusted soldiers. They had decided that Xiang Ping would be the destination.
As soon as they left the area of Bei Ping, and entered the dominion of the free horselords, a messenger came to them, bearing a scroll made from leather. Before it had been opened the messenger rode away.
"The tribes reject you, spirit of war! Go now, and leave us at peace. "
Upon the opening of the scroll, a smaller notice fell out, as if it was added at a later moment. This read:
"May the light of night shine brightly on you path. "
Cheng Mao smiled, and called Er Ren to his side.
"What will we do my friend?" He asked, as he moved next to Mao.
"Will we retreat, like dogs with their tails between their legs, or move on, and ignore this.... threat. "
Mao looked up at the sun, and determined that night would almost be upon them. "Give the troops the command to settle down, but to be ready. We're staying. "
Er Ren looked frustrated. "This is not like you, Mao. Indecisive?"
Mao smiled again. "You'll see. "
That night, as soon as the stars were visible, Mao commanded to douse all the fires. The plains were suddenly dark. Completely? No, there was a big campfire further to the northeast. "And that is our direction. Move out!" Mao shouted, and soon the plains were again abandoned.
Mao had rode ahead to see what the campfire meant. When he came closer, he saw figures outlined in the lonely light of the fire. They were armed, and ready for action. When Mao came into the light, they requested him to dismount, and step into the only tent that had been set up near the fire. The inside was furnitured by only two improvised chairs, one of which was occupied by a man clad in leather and fur with a cavalry scimitar on his knees. He introduced himself as Huang Shi.
"I know of you, Cheng Mao. I know of your purpose here. "
Mao wanted to react, but the look on Huang Shi's face told him not to.
"I know you intentions to be true, your heart to be as pure as the heart of a warrior can be. I am willing to aid you. "
Silence fell as Mao shifted his mind to the new information.
"Why? "
Shi smirked, and said: "many reasons, does it matter?"
"Alright then, how can you help?"
"I am one of the eight recognized horselords of this area. The council that sent the letter of threat to you had decided to do so, even though I was against the proposal. The seven others were all in favor of it. We believe in the voice of the majority."
"And?" Mao asked, confused.
"Think about what I just said. " Shi said, clearly believing that Mao's intelligence could see the truth behind the truth.
"Well, I suppose that... Yes... If the voice of the majority would call me worthy, and would support me, that would mean that the entire council will support me. "
"Indeed. " Shi nodded.
"But what in case of a tie? There are eight members. "
"Then both sides elect a champion, and they fight over it. "
As the night progressed, Mao and Shi discussed plans. Mao then left, to meet with Shi on a chosen day. If he could get at least three horselords to support him, he would have achieved his goal.
Part one: The Plan
Voyage to the home of the horselords. The rejection, the approval, the plan.
After the long and bloody battle of Pu Yang, Cheng Mao and his remaining troops turned back to the north, looking for more men in the regions of the horselords. Chaos has befallen the land, and to emerge from the turmoil living, one must gain strength.
Mao had discussed his plan with his friend, Er Ren, and some of his most trusted soldiers. They had decided that Xiang Ping would be the destination.
As soon as they left the area of Bei Ping, and entered the dominion of the free horselords, a messenger came to them, bearing a scroll made from leather. Before it had been opened the messenger rode away.
"The tribes reject you, spirit of war! Go now, and leave us at peace. "
Upon the opening of the scroll, a smaller notice fell out, as if it was added at a later moment. This read:
"May the light of night shine brightly on you path. "
Cheng Mao smiled, and called Er Ren to his side.
"What will we do my friend?" He asked, as he moved next to Mao.
"Will we retreat, like dogs with their tails between their legs, or move on, and ignore this.... threat. "
Mao looked up at the sun, and determined that night would almost be upon them. "Give the troops the command to settle down, but to be ready. We're staying. "
Er Ren looked frustrated. "This is not like you, Mao. Indecisive?"
Mao smiled again. "You'll see. "
That night, as soon as the stars were visible, Mao commanded to douse all the fires. The plains were suddenly dark. Completely? No, there was a big campfire further to the northeast. "And that is our direction. Move out!" Mao shouted, and soon the plains were again abandoned.
Mao had rode ahead to see what the campfire meant. When he came closer, he saw figures outlined in the lonely light of the fire. They were armed, and ready for action. When Mao came into the light, they requested him to dismount, and step into the only tent that had been set up near the fire. The inside was furnitured by only two improvised chairs, one of which was occupied by a man clad in leather and fur with a cavalry scimitar on his knees. He introduced himself as Huang Shi.
"I know of you, Cheng Mao. I know of your purpose here. "
Mao wanted to react, but the look on Huang Shi's face told him not to.
"I know you intentions to be true, your heart to be as pure as the heart of a warrior can be. I am willing to aid you. "
Silence fell as Mao shifted his mind to the new information.
"Why? "
Shi smirked, and said: "many reasons, does it matter?"
"Alright then, how can you help?"
"I am one of the eight recognized horselords of this area. The council that sent the letter of threat to you had decided to do so, even though I was against the proposal. The seven others were all in favor of it. We believe in the voice of the majority."
"And?" Mao asked, confused.
"Think about what I just said. " Shi said, clearly believing that Mao's intelligence could see the truth behind the truth.
"Well, I suppose that... Yes... If the voice of the majority would call me worthy, and would support me, that would mean that the entire council will support me. "
"Indeed. " Shi nodded.
"But what in case of a tie? There are eight members. "
"Then both sides elect a champion, and they fight over it. "
As the night progressed, Mao and Shi discussed plans. Mao then left, to meet with Shi on a chosen day. If he could get at least three horselords to support him, he would have achieved his goal.