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Post by Xiang Yu on Aug 18, 2010 14:49:21 GMT
Warning. Long Quest/Post. It has been broken up into segments.
The battle of Hu Lao gate had loomed over the world ever since Lu Bu had put his faith in the dreams of Dong Zhuo. A man of tyrannical design. He had hoped Lu Bu had a reason for the act, but he had learned not to put faith in the acts of men or women. They all sought their own ends, and in his own strange way he could at least accept that fact. After all, he too followed his own twisted path.
And it brought him to Qiao, a small city filled with rubble and carnage. It had not been the result of a war, but the city had fallen after the turbans, and Dong Zhuo sure as hell didn’t finance its restoration. So the city was left in a desolate wasteland, where bandits could thrive whilst the imperials hammered the doors of rich innocents to the west.
He had brought only a handful of men with him, and most of them had been newly recruited peasants and worshippers. None had any experience in fighting, but they followed him nevertheless, looking to him as their sage and guide.
He did not mind their disturbance.
“When will we be there sire?”
He heard the rambling of a man behind him, and decided that the comment was not worth replying too. If he had answered every question they threw at him he would have died of exhaustion, and so he kept on the march – silently with only the wind to erase his thoughts.
It had not been a long journey, only a few days at tops, but it had been enough to throw his newly acquired soldiers into a state of depression. They were worn, tired...even battered – and he regretted the kindness when he led them to a nearby inn just outside the county of Qiao.
He said nothing as his men gathered around the tables, booking almost the entire place for the night before their perceived departure the following day. He had given them all envelopes, and he assigned one man in every group these envelopes who he knew could read and write.
“Read these.” He finally said, “And follow them to the letter. We leave tomorrow – and upon your return there will be rewards.”
His men smiled, though none had dared ask a question about what was printed on the sheets. They had already made their vow to serve Xiang Yu, and he had no doubt in his mind that they would do just that.
“Remember...follow them precisely.”
He grinned as he spoke, and then turned in for the night. Tomorrow would be a busy day.
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Post by Xiang Yu on Aug 18, 2010 14:49:34 GMT
[01]
Waking up to a bright sun and a busy dining area below was not the worst of his troubles. He had overslept, something he had not done for quite some time. He would blame the journey, discarding the fact that alcohol lay dormant within his system. He was a man; he would say proudly, a man who can take back liquor like no other. It was not true of course, and as he rose from his morning slumber he felt a wave of dizziness pass through him.
He called for water, and a maid brought it to him as he sat by the bed. He was naked, and the maid only glanced at him a few times before scurrying to the dining area below. He did not mind. These people would never see him again – and they certainly wouldn’t know of his name, or his intentions.
He left a few hours later, preparing his bag and a few other tools for the mission ahead. He would hear of his own work soon enough, and when he reached the open doors leading into the beating sun he felt another wave of dizziness wash over him.
“More water.”
He called to the maid by the desk, and he was given three sacks of water for the journey. It would do for now, and since he was already late he needed to hurry his steps.
“Thank you for your hospitality.”
He bowed to the maid, who only blushed in return. She had not spoken at all, and he wondered for a moment if she was either ignorant, shy or a mute. It had not been unheard of, mutes...but he had always found the disease disturbing. To remove the soul its passage of speech was an awful thing, and he shuddered at just the thought of it.
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Post by Xiang Yu on Aug 18, 2010 14:49:49 GMT
[02]
He was right. It had not taken long before peasants and travelling merchants from the various towns and villages reported bandit raids and theft. No serious harm had been created, but the people speaking of the crimes felt frustrated at the act. One had even gone on to say: ‘It’s a shame Dong Zhuo isn’t dead, at least the coalition can defend its people...and who has jurisiction here...The Court...and what do they do...fuck all!’ Of course, it didn’t matter what they thought...or wanted. The plan would succeed, as it was destined to do so.
He took the time to visit the first village he had raided, and found that no one had died, but a few had been hurt, and there was a report that a woman had been raped. An issue he would save for after the plan to resolve.
The next few villages were the same, and this time he had his two comrades take a look at the scenes, again – no murders and this time...no rapes. He was a happy man.
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Post by Xiang Yu on Aug 18, 2010 14:50:01 GMT
[03]
A few days had passed, and he had stayed as low as possible as his men ravaged the lands around him, stealing gold and storing it in depots set up on the outskirts of his camps. He had placed his professional soldiers to protect the forts whilst the bandits feigned arrogance and stupidity. It was perfect, and it had only taken a few days before citizens were fighting back. By the end of the week he had ravaged almost every county near the city of Qiao.
“Now we go.” He said to the man beside him.
“And go we must.”
The two stared at each other, their eyes green and red. No one would expect what was about to happen, but it was required nevertheless. An empire was on the rise, and he needed an easy way to gain supplies, gold and troops all at once.
He separated from his assistant at a crossroad north of the city and met up with his professional army at the keep he had quickly assembled. It was a very simple, boxy design – but it held the rooms for the loot and a small camping area where tents were erected.
His army followed him past the keep and towards the first stretch of villages. He could see imperial soldiers now, though only a few, probably sent from the city of Qiao. They gazed the surroundings before spotting Xiang Yu’s army. They did not move against him, though banners were holstered and their army assembled. The two met.
“State your business.” One of the officials cried.
Xiang smiled at the man, “I have come after hearing a plea from the inhabitants of Qiao. I am Xiang Yu, a neighbouring force to this county. I wish to destroy the bandits for the sake of the people.”
The officials gazed at him suspiciously, something anyone body would have done considering the circumstances. First raids start to hurl themselves around and then all of a sudden an army appears claiming to save them. It was dubious, but what choice did the officials have other than to accept the mans gesture. After all, if Xiang Yu was just – the bandits would indeed stop, and he wasn’t about to betray the word he had just given. They would stop – but he had no plans on destroying anything. Not today at least.
“Fine. I’ll move south back to Qiao, I suspect the bandits will raid Qiao next, and truth be told – we do not have the resources to defend against raids.”
Xiang bowed, “Of course. Leave this to us.”
He knew the official was lying. Qiao was hardly in any need of reinforcement, its error was in the fact the governor was retarded. A man who would watch his counties fall to shreds before his very eyes whilst bathing in the riches of his so called people. He despised the man, but he would not act against him today. He would savour that moment for the next century of war and bloodshed.
He watched the Imperials leave, and then turned to the village. He had a few hours at best to prepare himself, for that was when his bandits would ravage the city, and that is when he would kill them all...
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Post by Xiang Yu on Aug 18, 2010 14:50:23 GMT
[04]
As the sun faded behind the blanket of dark clouds, the rustling of an approaching horde was heard. He had not sensed it immediately, but after pausing in his conversation with an officer for a minute he could distinctively hear the charging formation of a disorganised army.
“It’s time to go.”
His officers all knew what they were to do and they followed Xiang Yu out into the outskirts, where the cities citizens had fled after hearing the drums of war. They would hide within their shelters, scared and alone, whilst the fighting pursued outside. It did, for hours and hours – though no actual battle was being held. A few bandits were wounded, left on the floor to scream and cry, whilst others merely banged swords together as ordered by Xiang Yu. The battle screeched to a halt in the middle of the night, so that citizens would not discern the difference between friend from foe.
“VICTORY!”
Xiang cried the statement suddenly, and without warning. More men cheered, others fell to their knees whilst other fled north as ordered in the letters. It had seemed, with the blood soaked earth that the bandits had come, fought, and then gave up quickly.
Xiang Yu returned to the city the following morning, and the crowd had gathered to witness the result of the battlefield. Over the night, the troops had placed dead bodies on the fields, merchants and peasants found in other villages and then switched. Not many had died, only 10 or so innocent people, but it was required to make the story look plausible to the people. After all, everyone craved death in some way or another.
“Citizens!” He cried his roar, and then settled himself as they turned their weary eyes upon him.
“I have defeated the bandits – look, place your eyes upon those slain in battle!”
He pointed a finger behind him, and the stench of the rotting bodies in contrast with the beating sun put smiles on their fresh lips. They were so idiotic.
“Look at the men who have harmed you. But do not fear them; do not worry for their souls – for they have found an ending fitting for men of their abilities. I on the other hand, I have sought only victory – and peace.”
He smiled to the people, a sickening grin that he had never been able to perfect.
“I seek nothing in return, only the aide of young able bodied men. I am Xiang Yu and my master is the FEARED and the POWERFUL Lu Xiang. We have decided to create a training arena, where we will be training the best of the best. I ask that, on pardon for my good service to you – that you take me up on this offer. Only when we are strong and able – will bandits fear us and avoid us. There is no charm in words when bandits roam the land, there is no good to preach justice when all that sis around us is DEATH and SUFFERING. I can change that....I WILL change that, but first you must join us in our conquest. Follow me, I have many more towns to visit and many more areas to spread our good name, and with you beside me...we WILL prosper.”
He did not need to say much. The citizens had spent the last week or so in fear of the bandits, and now they believed them to be dead. They would join him, and they would fall for the dark ways of his nature.
“But first. I wish to offer you a symbol of my justice system.”
He called an officer, and one of the bandits was brought forth, cuffed and bound like a slave.
“Do you recognise this man?”
A woman shrieked, and then men in the town started to yell.
“This man raped a woman of this good county; this man....DESTROYED....a woman’s CHASISITY.”
He turned upon the man, his eyes dark and cold. The bandit was afraid, and yet he did not betray his master’s plans. He had fucked up, and he was willing to accept that now.
“I offer you his blood.....that is his way of removing such a harsh sin from his hands.”
The crowd jeered surprisingly enough, and his sword fell down in one single swoop. The head rolled, and the woman he had raped burst out in tears at the sight. She had not wanted death, or revenge – only a memory worth forgetting. Now she was a killer, and she fell to her knees in darkness.
“Join me....and we will fix what is broken.”
They did, and Xiang Yu moved to each town he had raided to report his success. His army would grow – and he would be proud of it.
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Post by Xiang Yu on Aug 18, 2010 14:50:39 GMT
[05]
Xiang Shu had moved to each keep and depot, followed by only a few hundred cavalrymen. He picked up each of the reserves, every cargo ridden carriage and then moved north to the citadel. It was time he met this...Lu Xiang.
FINISHED
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Hiei
Strategist
The Staff Of Cold Humour
If you have no enemies, you have no character.
Posts: 531
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Post by Hiei on Aug 18, 2010 19:51:31 GMT
And so, with Xiang Yu's cunning and clever plan, the people of Qiao were stuck between the choice of following their saviour or going on with their lives. While some stayed, a number followed. And Xiang Yu's numbers grew. Rewards:- 300 Gold
- 25 Fame
- 5 Intelligence
- 5 Cunning
- 150 Volunteers
- 50 Light Cavalry
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