The Phoenix of Cheng Du (Cao Cao)

[Kang Ren]

It was a long and hard travel. Cheng Du to Xu Chang. He came here on a wim. He wanted a lord. And he heard that Cao Cao was looking. Not only that, but his ambition was strong and firm. Something he widely looked forward too. Something he wanted. He was tired of talking to these stupid small time lords who needed the Phoenix's services. It was time for him to seek out a strong lord, not wait for a lord to come to him. He strode into the city on a small but lean black horse, his black hair tied back into a ponytail with it flaying out on the end. He was dirty. Covered in grime, grease, and dirt, he didn't look like a warrior. He looked like a straggler, like a beggar. However, the long sword at his side was his teacher's. And he wasn't like most common bandits you come across. He is the kind of man that will kill you without second thought.

He arrived at the gates. The guards said nothing as he entered, but took note of his appearance. A beggar with a sword on a horse? Not something you saw everyday, but they blew it off. On the horse sat a pack, which in turn held his scale mail armor, all black, with his helmet and its red plume sitting on his lap as he rode on. He wandered the streets taking in the scenery of the city, the people, the kids, and especially the guards stationed. He nodded to a few merchants, many of whom he met on his travels. One even came out and greeted him friendly. He was someone he used to work for on one of his many jobs. He had saved the man's life. However, he couldn't linger. He had to keep moving.

He came across the palace of Xu Chang and dismounted. He brushed some dust off of himself and removed his armor. There, right in front of the palace he adorned himself in his black armor. It must have been an odd spectacle. To see a man just change into his armor in front of the palace. He had many weird looks from guards, but he kept putting his armor on. After he was done, he placed his helm upon his head and he know looked like a warrior. But he also looked like a general. He stepped forward to the guards and asked, "I wish to speak to Cao Cao. I wish to serve him."

[Cao Cao]

The guards looked the man over as he stood there, wanting to see their lord. He looked fine but the guards had to be sure. One of the guards said to the man,"Okay, you can enter, but first, you must hand over your weapon, it is for safety purposes, you understand."As he said this, he held out his hand while another guard went and opened the door for the man to walk through.

[Kang Ren]

Kang Ren nodded quietly as he slid his sword out of his holster and handed it over to the guard. He walked on it and waited unsure of what to do next. He stood erect and firm, while he was covered in dirt and grease, he looked like a man who deserved praise. A tone tall body and a scarred face. He was knew a lot of trouble in the past. He knew how to lead.

[Cao Cao]

Cao Cao looked down at a man as he entered his court room. Suddenly, a guard came up from behind and told Cao Cao in his ear that this man has come to join Wei. Smiling, Cao Cao got up and walked towards the man, saying to him,"Greetings sir, I have learned that you would like to join Wei, but first I have a couple of questions, the first being what is your name, while the second is why would you want to join Wei over the other people who are looking for officers?"Cao Cao asked this to test the man, to see where his loyalties lied.

[Kang Ren]

As Kang Ren was lead into Cao Cao's throne room, he stood still and stoic looking at the man before him. He had a correct vision of the man. Tall, strong, and a narrow face that spoke of a leader. He nodded, "My name is Kang Ren, nicknamed the Phoenix of Cheng Du. I have come to serve you over other leaders because I believe that your rule is something that China needs. I hate the ones I've studied. Yen Wang is so self centered, Lui Bei is too self righteous, Sun Jian is so family centered, it makes me sick. You... You, Cao Cao, are something different. You have goals. I have goals. They fit together. You need some officers as I know, so I have come before you, asking if you shall take me." He said. he did not bow, but he never bowed.

[Cao Cao]

Cao Cao liked this man, he looked smart and he knew that he was no man's dog. He was his own man, and that was the kind of men that Cao Cao needed, not the sick little dogs who are always trying to get on their lords good side, never thinking for themselves. Cao Cao stopped right in front of Kang Ren and put his hand out to him, saying,"I would be honored to have you as an officer, together we can do great things."

[Kang Ren]

Kang Ren clasped Cao Cao's hand and held it firm, "Thank you. Cao Cao. Wait..." He said thinking, "My Lord Cao Cao." He nodded his head slightly. Kang Ren was a proud man, but believed no man was better than the other, just different sets of skills. He believed everyone had something to contribute, and he was about to take his part in this war. He looked at Cao Cao and asked, "Do you mind if we speak? I know what others and scholars have said about you, but I wish to know the man from the man. Not from someone else. Tell me about yourself if you want to my lord." Kang Ren said.

[Cao Cao]

Cao Cao nodded his head and let go of Kang's arm. He turned around and walked towards a table that was beside his throne, he took a seat and he held out his arm, telling Kang to sit down beside him. When Kang sat down, Cao Cao said to him,"There isn't much to know about me, my life is not really interesting, the only thing of importance to me is about one topic, unifying China, not to bring peace, but to unify. We can't experience peace because we are always fighting, it is in our nature. Even during peace, we just lick our wounds until we are strong enough to get back out there and fight. What I am fighting for, is for China to be unified, which will stop a large amount of the fighting and when fighting comes, and I know that it will, my unified China will be strong enough to cast it back down. May I ask what you have heard from other warlords?"Cao Cao snapped his fingers and a guard came to him and bent over as Cao Cao whispered in his ear to bring them some wine.

[Kang Ren]

"Hmmm..." Kang Ren wondered. It had seemed he had made the right choice. This lord was something unlike any other. Something... so... different. He had experience and there was definitely more to him than just that, but Kang Ren wouldn't pry any further. If his leader wanted to keep things secret or if he indeed didn't find them interesting, he wouldn't want to jeopardize his new chance. He sat and asked, "Do you have any question for me my lord? I am sure you want to know more about me?" He should be, but of course, it is said a great leader should size a canidate up before he takes them.

[Cao Cao]

"Tell me more about yourself. Where you came from, how you got here, stuff like that. Unless you would rather not talk about it of course. I would not like to intrude."Cao Cao saw that a guard came towards them with some wine. He dropped two glasses on the table and began to pour wine in them. Cao Cao grabbed the glass and put it forwards as to cling his against Kang's, after he grabbed it of course.

[Kang Ren]

Kang Ren smiled slightly and took a drink of the wine, "Well, I grew up right outside Cheng Du from the west. Yes I know it is quite a bit of distance from there to here, but I decided to get money on the way over here. I became a mercenary and helped traveling caravans. Helped them for quite a distance. All the way til Wu Ling, then I headed north." Kang Ren paused only to take a sip of the wine, " As I worked my way up North, my original target was Xiao Pei, I heard of a battle and thought that might be a good place for a wandering warrior to find someone. However, later on, I learned more about the lord's of the land, and decided to work for you. Anything else?" Kang Ren asked. He didn't want to delve into the darkness of his past, even though he doubted his lord would care.

[Cao Cao]

There seemed to be more to Kang than he was letting on, but Cao Cao did not want to intrude on the man's private life. Cao Cao took a drink of the wine and said to Kang,"No there is not anything else, unless you would like to add anything of course. If not I shall escort you to your private room which I think you will enjoy."

[Kang Ren]

"Oh that would be wonderful my lord, but I'd like to see your barracks if you don't mind?" Kang Ren asked. He wanted to see the condition of the troops.

[Cao Cao]

Cao Cao nodded and stood up, after he finished his glass of wine. He motioned for Kang Ren to follow him as he walked out of the court room and towards the palace. Once Cao Cao reached the door to the barracks, he opened the door and motioned for Kang Ren to go ahead and take a look.

[Kang Ren]

Kang Ren looked inside and saw men training in the courtyard. He looked at them and nodded. Their condition wasn't bad, but it wasn't like old bandit troop. The lived on the brink of death. They ran, climbed, hunted, and fought every single day for survival. For men like these it wasn't much about survival than it was for honor and becoming stronger. For Kang Ren, it was about living. Honor was non existent. It wasn't something many turn too, they believe that they are above that, but in reality, it is better to be a warrior wanting survival than a warrior wanting honor. It is always said that the most dangerous enemy is one backed into the wall.

Kang Ren stood up and yelled loudly, "ATTENTION! LORD CAO STANDS BEFORE YOU!" The soldiers jolted up and formed up ranks. Kang Ren turned to Cao Cao and asked, "You don't mind if I don't run a few drills do you? Just to check them?"