A Cause for Concern [Cheng Qi]

[Cao Cao]

~The King of Wei~

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Three candles lit the round dark-oak table in the still Xuchang morning. The capital was always so crowded and busy, even in the morning and especially in the markets, but an hour or so after the sun had risen meant that the palace grounds were mostly empty. Court officials were, after all, the most gifted men in China, and why must men of such talent convene early in the morning when they could sleep in?

Among the few who were actually awake were the few in the capital that were of true worth. Cao Cao, the Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty and the formally crowned King of Cao Wei sat in a chair beside his council. He had a thick, but trimmed goatee that housed hairs black as night tight along his skin, and his brow was bent downward, the hairs curling out as if they were horns, as if Cao Cao was a demon. He was powerful… damn powerful, but he was no demon.

Fan Xiang sat at one end of the table, shoulders slouched and yawning as if he wasn’t in the presence, but like most of the time he let it slide without a word. Cao Cao had invested far too much in the young man to scorn him every time he displeased him, and his father was the wealthiest man in Xuchang, no less. Cao Cao had all the power in the world, but the power to straighten out Fan Liang’s son. If I say a word, Fan Liang’s flow of swords will suddenly turn out lighter than usual. A bastard, but a cunning bastard. Fan Xiang turned his attention to Cao Cao, and almost sensing disapproval, he straightened up slightly, wiped his morning gaze off his face and became as attentive as the man to Cao Cao’s right.

Cheng Qi was a man whom Cao Cao never needed to say a word to. He was of age with his son Pi, but Cao Cao saw more of a king in Qi. Ang was fine with a sword and finer with a quill and finer still with a tongue. Doubtless, he would finish my conquest. Pi, however, will need Cheng Qi, and Fan Xiang as well.

Behind him stood Shen Ha, lightly armored and in the battle robe Cao Cao thought he most likely wore to sleep. Cao Cao had faced many fine warriors in the field and seen first-hand what the likes of Guan Yu, Zhang Fei and Lu Bu could do. But both he had seen both Guan Yu and Lu Bu defeated, and the worst he saw of Shen Ha was a little bit of fear when he was ready to die defending his lord as they fled the Red Cliffs. Shen Ha was as fine a warrior as Cao Cao had ever seen, and since that day he had never been away from his side for more than a night’s sleep.

Cao Cao tapped his fingers against the wooden table, each falling separately but within the frame of a second. Five independent taps against the hard wood, that echoed two or three times down the empty halls that darkened down the path from the table he sat at. In his other hand he held an unrolled parchment, the details within his eyes had scanned five times over, but he read them again.

“My lord,” Fan Xiang broke the silence, halting both the tapping of Cao Cao’s fingers and the scanning of his eyes as they shot up at Fan Xiang, a cold look returning a simple formality. “I don’t mean to press you, but…” He slowed down and thought carefully. “That letter?”

Cao Cao thundered his fist down to the table, and his hand that held the unrolled parchment pushed it across the table toward Fan Xiang. The young man read it quickly, his eyes simply skimming the words before his hands dropped it to the table once more.

“A King in the North? What of it?” Fan Xiang sounded hardly impressed, and hardly concerned. “If this is the first we have heard of it, he cannot have more than a few thousand men. A minor revolt; and larger armies has my lord sent back, bloodied and broken.”

“It is not fear that holds my tongue!” Cao Cao boomed. Fan Xiang’s cheeks went pale. “It is only a year since a mere rebel with a son and a spear took Han Zhong from my sharpest weapon. Do not doubt the abilities of a rebel, especially one so bold to call himself a King when he knows clearly that no king can exist without being mine enemy.”

There was something about Cao Cao’s voice. Ever since he was a kid, his voice was louder than anyone else’s. And more important than that, he had never met a single person who had ever cut him off, or spoke quickly in response. Whatever he said was deemed important enough to merit a moment’s thought, for the simple fact that it was Cao Cao’s mouth that spoke them. And in council, even to friends, no word seemed warm.

“A coalition in Liang Province stands at Ma Teng’s back. Stalwart is Ma Chao, that much is certain. Conquer them we shall, but conquest takes time. That much is known to Cao Cao, for he is he who shall conquer the world.”

Cao Cao did not smile, as Fan Xiang’s slight frown implied he hoped his words would make him. “Liu Bei, Sun Ce, Ma Teng, they are all rebels. This King in the North is no different. A rebel, and my enemy. Only those who bend their knee to me shall be spared from my wrath. Conquest awaits the lands they call their kingdoms,” Cao Cao spat the last word, “And death awaits those who pledge their fealty to rebels.”

Cao Cao turned to Cheng Qi, who looked back silent. The Red Cliffs, red as the flames that shredded my dreams of unification. He tried not to think of it, but he did so every time he looked upon Cheng Qi. The man was dear to him as his own sons were, but he could see the fires on the Chang Jiang in Cheng Qi’s eyes every day.

“This is not news to you, Cheng Qi. You received a letter the same time as I. What say you on this… King in the North?” The last words of his tongue were vile, and he spat them out as if they were poison in his mouth.

[Cheng Qi]

It had been a quiet morning, not a peaceful quiet, but a tension, a calm before the proverbial storm. Cheng Qi had been with Xie Yue scarcely an hour passed, in the comfort of her arms, in the seclusion of his residence. His cares vanished, his duty felt deserted within those walls of tranquility, of security. But, the second he walked beyond those gates, those walls, he was himself again. He felt weak inside, and strong without. The imperial palace was his playground, and he had come to play today.

Cheng had received a letter in the night, from his own acquaintances north of the Yellow River. No doubt his lord had spies of equal or greater aptitude to get him the same reports, but he got his own information, he was always in the loop, deeper than anyone else in the matters of state.

The King of Wei's wrath had been great this morning, he had arrived to the fuming of his King. He had taken note of the letter set in his lord's fist as he leant over his huge council table, which was decorated with a great map, illustarting the country and the boundaries of what were the three kingdoms of Wei, Wu and Shu.

Cheng entered as a shadow, saying not a word, nor paying attention to the others present, those getting an earful of Cao Cao's indirect wrath. He stole himself to a chair at the king's side, and fell into it casually, as if it were his own. Propping himself up on his right elbow, he reclined and oversaw what was the current events of the council, rolling his beard around his right forefinger, utterly unflustered by the volume and protection of his king's voice.

The council were procrastinating, they were bringing up past successes to appease Cao Cao, they fear his moods. Cheng smiled to himself, words of flattery, nothing more. The King of Wei's wrath seemed little nearer to deflation when his tiger eyes swung to him. Time to play. Cheng Qi's introduction into Wei had been rather unique, he had came to Xuchang with nothing but the clothes on his back, and yet he had rose to be one of his most treasured ministers, an amazing feat, and to think he had entered service on the power of insults, baffling.

Cheng Qi continued casually twiddling his beard, looking away from his lord almost teasing the man's patience, which had already ran it's course. Releasing his beard he yawned into the back of his hand, "Another rebel." Cheng Qi's answer was brief and to the point, but he wasn't done yet.

"Another rebel with power, your grace. And what of it?" He leant forward from his seat and secured his elbows on the great table before him. "While now this King in the North is a mere itch. Given time he will gather more power to him, ignore him and he becomes a pain."

"Ally with him, bend him to your will." Cheng fell back into his chair, as if the thought was nothing, he did not fear backlash. He knew his lord was unlikely to go for the suggestion, but it was worth saying. "He seems able enough, any man with charm enough to raise so many, so suddenly and actually become a noticeable problem, must have a ability."

He reached into his sleeve and flung another letter onto the table, it landed with a hop and seated itself in the reach of the King. Cheng pulled himself to his feet and stood, he started ponderously walking around the right side of the table, his left hand tracing the outline as he went about it. "There, lies in our larger threat." He changed the topic back the King in the North, giving his liege lord time enough to devour the contents of his new letter.

"This King in the North it was given him by his people. The people of the Wall, in reality he is but a freerider, a sellsword, or so I am told." He reached the seat of Fan Xiang opposite Cao Cao, and stood behind the young man resting his arms on his chair. Talking over him he continued, "He controls the Great Wall, has heavily invested in territory in Bingzhou, and is reported to have been seen in Jizhou as well. He is no usual rebel we've had to deal with."

"My friends in the north tell me he has raised thirty thousand. Men and horses both. My thoughts? I'd say this Bai Kun, yes, that is his name. Is a man from the Wall. He's been fighting the Xianbei reports say, why he would suddenly make a bid for hegemony seems a bit incomprehensible to me." He moved away from Fan Xiang, gliding back in the direction of his seat, fondling his beard with his right hand.

"Employ him. He seems able enough to make trouble for our good friend Yuan Shao." There was something in his tone that betrayed hidden knowledge - the contents of the letter perhaps? "Replace the useless clod, he's unfit for service. The Xianbei are barbarians, yet he proceedes to lose more and more of Youzhou as the days pass." Cheng Qi reached his seat and stood by it, his left arm resting atop it, as he held it's arm with his right hand.

He looked directly at the King, "I'd rather have a rebel remove his head, than an old friend. Don't you agree, m'lord? This King int he North seems fierce enough, having the reputation of leading a host of riding demons even." Cheng shook his head in disbelief, he scoffed casually with a chuckle, "Demons...can you believe that? It's amusing what people see when they are scared." He turned on Fan Xiang and pointed, "Hey boy, did you see demons when the King was just bellowing at you?" He laughed and seated himself again, keeping more knowledge of the affairs of the north in reserve, lest he be asked again and need to answer with more detail.

"Yuan Shao, your grace. Is now your enemy again."

[Fan Xiang]

~The Prodigy~

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As Cheng Qi spoke his words of advice, Cao Cao was leaning so far forward that the only thing keeping him from being directly upon Cheng was the table that was pressed hard against his chest. Fan Xiang scowled at that. What is it he says that is so much more valuable than the words from my tongue? He looked back at Cheng Qi, just almost wearing a the tail end of his scowl as his eyes met Cheng’s.

As Cheng Qi continued, Fan Xiang chuckled to himself as some of what he said he knew would spark Cao Cao’s fury. He was not a man to easily secure an alliance with an upstart bandit, let alone one who had risen so bold to call himself a king. The land has too many kings when there are two, let alone four. I am lucky my master is the Hero of Chaos, the true king.

The experienced statesman stood up and threw a letter Cao Cao’s way. His eyes clearly hated whatever it was he was reading. Cheng Qi proclaimed its contents for the rest of the council to hear. Declared king by the people, subjects of the Han Dynasty, and invested in lands in the north. Fan Xiang could not help himself.

“And what of that?” He spat aloud, attracting the gaze of most the councilors, most importantly including Cao Cao. “He has the support of the people, just as every newcomer to business in the game of Warlords. No bandit lord would ever draw the ire of the Imperial Army lest he had support from some kind of entity. Rather it be the peasants of a far-off province than lords in the capital! And I would wager my life that 30,000 soldiers, likely only some few thousand horse and bow, would stand for less than two days against the Imperial Army. All this tells us is that Bai Kun is not as foolish as past would-be-usurpers such as Yuan Shu or Lu Bu.” I will never call him the King in the North!

Cao Cao didn’t change the expression he wore on his face, but he nodded acceptingly. Fan Xiang’s blood began burning with pride. He turned back to Cheng Qi and listened on. Fan Xiang could start to see, by watching Cao Cao’s eyes flutter, exactly what Cheng Qi was implying. Brilliant. But I doubt Cao Cao’s ambitions would waver to allow a false king to thrive while two others fight him in the field. It took him some willpower to refuse to bite the bait left by Cheng Qi, and as he was thinking of anything he could say, Cheng Qi continued. Curse you. "Yuan Shao, your grace,” Cheng Qi emphasized, “Is now your enemy again.”

Cao Cao took a while to speak, but when he did, his voice seemed to shake the room.

“Yuan Shao,” He boomed, “Has been my enemy. No man of ambition can thrive in the north, this I know. And do not think that I would waver to crush him militarily, for we are not friends. I knew him as a youth, but as a king, one has no friends. Only subjects , and enemies.”

He stood up and circled around the table, looking over the map. The eyes of each and every councilor followed him, utterly refusing to talk. Fan Xiang looked over to Cheng Qi, making sure he was as attentive as himself in this decisive moment.

“Ignore him? No, that would be foolish. If you let a weed stay in a garden, soon the beauty of the entire garden with be rotten with its filth. It is the same with bandits, more-so with kings. But to ally with him? Absolutely not!” His voice made Fan Xiang shiver, but not enough to make anybody notice. “I will destroy him, but not before he has lessened what little of Yuan Shao’s remaining resources. Then we may sweep in and deal two decisive defeats in one effort.

“As for his people,” Cao Co turned back toward the table and planted both his fists down, leaning forward to loudly address each and every councilor. “They wish to appoint this King in the North, then he may be the king who supports them. Cut them off from every trading port’s shipments, and garrison an increase at the passes on the border to ensure no caravans may come in or out of his lands. He may defend from the Xingbei and launch continuous attacks against Yuan Shao with what little the lands along the Great Wall can harvest and he can watch as his loyal subjects starve and plead to a king who can do nothing to help!” He thundered his voice at each of his councilors, eyeing them carefully with each shift from one to the other.

“How long will it be until they decide their great king is mayhap not so great after all, and they dream of the days when they were subjects of the Wei Kingdom? And then they shall learn the great crime of treason! They shall learn the price you wager when you choose to betray Cao Cao!”

Fan Xiang shivered once more. There was something about his lord enraged that brought out the greatness within him. The Hero of Chaos indeed.

“I will have the heads of both Yuan Shai and this King in the North in two years no more. But we will not attack either directly.” Cao Cao shot up from the table suddenly, his loose clothing twirling behind him as he returned into an encircling pace as soon as Fan Xiang blinked. “For now, we shall work to cut this man’s power from its base. I have been informed of treasonous songs being sung of his greatness across his kingdom. I will have such singers discovered and silenced.”

Fan Xiang tilted his head, “Killed, my lord?” Our side won’t appear the greater with civilian blood on the edge of our swords.

“Absolutely. What else would there be to do? Bribe them? No. Gold would buy their silence for a month or a season, but steel across their throat will buy it eternally. It is treason to sing of the greatness of traitors besides. Loyal subjects should cheer at public executions of such fools, but that is bloody business this war could do without. Knives under moonlight would suffice.”

Fan Xiang stood up, and the eyes of the room shifted to him. For a second, he felt like he was wearing his ornate black armor. “It is bloody business, dealing with death through knives beneath the stars or beheadings upon a balcony, whether the crowd is hundreds or the simple stillness of the night. Allow me to be the one to carry out such a sad command. My heart is heavy, but my lord would be better off with his hands clean of this, and my father’s assets would be better used here than those of the imperial courts.” Fan Xiang could see Cao Cao’s eyes shine bright as he returned the intense stare. A smile seemed to almost creep across Cao Cao’s ever-balanced lips.

It felt like it was ten minutes passed while Cao Cao simply stared back, when it had only actually been a few moments.

“Fan Xiang’s and mine are of the same mind.” He said, and Fan Xiang looked back to Cheng Qi with a look of victory.

[Cheng Qi]

Cheng Qi endured the rubuttal of the council while he and the watchful guard Shen Ha simply listened. Does he think that one of us will rush the King in the next few minutes with steel? He stroked his mustache outwardly with his thumb as he absorbed the words what were being said. "...one has no friends. Only subjects, and enemies" Cheng relected a moment, he has a good many who could atest to being his friend. Enemies, I'll give him that one.

Cheng Qi listened to the outplay of the council, the threats of Yuan Shao, Bai Kun and the Xianbei, did not test the resolve of his king. His will is iron. That was what Cheng liked about his lord, he believed in what he was doing, and little else could take him from the path he had laid before him. not that he wouldn't listen to sound advice when it was laid before him. Fan Xiang is his yes man, there's only so far such a stance will get you. Cheng Qi was nobody's yes man.

He let his king and Fan Xiang exhaust their speech, seemingly reaching a decision, but then Cheng Qi spoke again, the sound of tedium rank in his voice, "And while we are off silencing entertainers, we are being pressed on four sides by our enemies." He pulled himself to his feet, and planted his palms on the great table, leaning forward he spat out his wrds in irritation, "Liu Bei to the south, Sun Ce to the east, Ma Teng in the west! And now, three more powers in the north, the Xianbei, Bai Kun and Yuan Shao!" He turned his head to his King, peering indirectly over his shoulder, "Will the petty slaying of entertainers plying their trade across the land, defeat them, your grace?"

He turned his gaze to Fan Xiang at the far end of the table, "You have a reputation boy, would you so readily sully it with the blood of the innocent?" Cheng spat on the ground near his feet. "That's what I say to that!" Travelling bards made an honest living under harsh conditions, making coin for their trade is all they care about, all they mean to do is survive. Hard enough when there is no war.

"Let them sing of the King in the North," Cheng would not shirk from saying his title, "they'll have time enough to think about joining him when his ravenous parties slaughter their children and burn their homes. If the tales are true."

"As to letting this King strave. You'd have a lengthy wait." He took a moment to seat himself again, before continuing, "We've been supplying the wall with arms and men since the Qin dynasty built it, supplying it with grain and fodder to see them through hard times. In addition with the recent inclusion of the Xianbei in our country, Yuan Shao has been sending fresh resources to bolster the strength of the wall."

"This Bai Kun, could have years of supplies in readiness. He has captured lands in and around Bingzhou, taking with him what he finds. He does not mean to starve, he means to thrive. But thrive to accomplish what? I have no idea."

"Getting back to Yuan Shao however. He will revolt, and the north will join him or Bai Kun. The commons are followers, they will follow whoever they are under the rule of, as long as they have food on the table and water in their cups, they will be content. Not to mention that Yuan Shao was the former ruling lord of Hebei, I have no doubt there are still Yuan loyalists in great number. But I digress!"

He pushed himself forward on his seat and knocked on the great table, and raising slightly he pointed in the direction of Yizhou, which was to the left of Fan Xiang's vision. "Our true problem is there. Liu Bei. I did warn you, my king."

[Cao Cao]

~The King of Wei~

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Cao Cao had rarely seen Cheng Qi so adamant in his words, working to sway Cao Cao’s favor from Fan Xiang, a rival in the council, back to him. Cao Cao had ignored him before, and that resulted in losing a fleet of a million men, and seeing the reality of conquering China come to a close. Had Cao Cao been more patient, perhaps he would have crossed the great river and laid siege to Sun Ce’s lands, crushed him, then gone on to seek out Liu Bei when he had only a puny force.

Cheng Qi spoke on, turning toward Fan Xiang and baiting him once more. This time, the youth took a bite. “A boy, am I? Very well, Master Cheng, but rather a boy with an influential father than a peasant who was risen above his station. My father can-“

“Enough!” Cao Cao bellowed. Three opposing kings and my most favored advisors cannot even offer counsel without getting at each other’s throats. “I’ll have no more of that. You will offer your lord your counsel or you will have no business at the council.” Speaking briefly to both of them, he looked on them both harshly, expecting his words to carry a weight. He looked over to Cheng Qi to continue.

As he finished, Cao Cao felt a dagger enter between his shoulder blades as Cheng Qi said, “I did warn you, my lord.” Cao Cao’s teeth grit against each other and his mouth was making a move to spew out poison like he had just took down a whole goblet of blackened wine. “So you did,” Cao Cao said simply. And I should have listened. But hindsight is always straight and true, and no king’s reign would be threatened by a king who could cure the past.

“But this is war.” The mood of the council seemed to grow bleaker. Eyes lowered down, voices whispered to one another. Declaring a war, even against an enemy, was no simple thing. “And that king knew what it was the moment he stylized himself a king. He will be reminded that since the history of men, no king has reigned forever. And that most reigns end upon the king’s death. We must stop the infestation, and to do that, we must silence those who spread word of his deeds. If you are foolish enough to sing praise to Cao Cao’s enemies, you are foolish enough to die.

"And for the one who claims we are at the most danger with the threats in the north, you seem far too sympathetic to this King in the North's tale. If his influence has spread to the capital already, I'll marshal the armies to defeat him this instant. Until then, we will defeat Ma Teng, Sun Ce and Liu Bei in the field, and Bai Kun in the shadows."

Fan Xiang stood up to speak. “Master Cheng, what makes you believe Yuan Shao will revolt now, when he still hasn’t the manpower since losing his entire force as the Red Cliffs burned? What makes you think this Bai Kun would make a good ally for our lord when a thief is he?”

“Because he would be,” Cao Cao answered for him, “But so long as he calls himself king, he shall never be my ally. He will be my pawn. Continue trading with them, for Cheng Qi has swayed my decision, but offer them one stone of grain when they offer us three. Tax them three times as much to trade their resources with ours. We are at war, we must make money from trade, and if they are no longer our subjects, they are no longer welcome to goods I give my people for free.”

Cao Cao was fixed on the map, staring at the tracing of the Great Wall. It isn’t even complete. “Offer him terms of peace for now. Soon enough, he will strike Yuan Shao. We will wait out the battle in the north until it is proper time to deal two decisive blows in one sweep.”

[Cheng Qi]

It had been seven years since Cheng Qi had first joined Wei, his began with a sound thrashing in front of the imperial court. I wouldn't have had it any other way. Cao Mengde was not one to suffer the disdain of man before his own people with punishment. Cheng looked back on the day fondly, it was a beating of his past troubles to him, the flaying of his back had forged a new purpose and his lord had given him reason to continue. Reason to forget his past, or try at least.

Seven years later he was one of that man's most powerful retainers, and the fact that he had just made his lord make a reverse decision, was a testimony to his influence over the King of Wei. They call me a peasant, but they don't know the truth of it. He still never quite grasped the purpose behind King Cao, why did he spare him all those years ago?

The King of Wei's demand for a cease and desist order on his and Fan Xiang's bickering, silenced the mouth of the schoalr, but his nature remained intact. Cheng took in his lord's displeasure in silence, he cared not for Fan Xiang's comments on his background.

When Cao Cao reconfirmed his intent to have those who would sing of King Bai executed, Cheng shook his head, "This will gain you no love, your grace." Cheng bit into the finger nails on his right hand, stripping them of whatever length they had regenerated since yesterday, he spat his clippings onto the stone floor of the hall. "But I will follow my king's directions. I am here to serve the rightful King."

Cheng wrestled with a bit of nail that had trapped itself between two of his teeth, damn and blast. When he finally released it he spat that out on the floor too, and wiped the saliva from his fingers across his robe. "And for the one who claims we are at the most danger with the threats in the north, you seem far too sympathetic to this King in the North's tale."

Cheng rested on his right arm, and looked across the way of the king with his eyes, "I wouldn't call it sympathy. Curiousity, perhaps." He ran his finger up and down the right side of his mustasche, "I would discover the purpose for his rise before you offer any terms." Took enough time to call himself king, but never bothered with any sort of declaration. He didn't plan this out, that much is clear. "He's a native of the wall, so he must have some underlining purpose, those men live and breathe loyalty to the realm. Their families choose to live their to serve and defend. It curious. Very, curious indeed."

Cheng seemed to ponder a moment, running his fingers through his fine beard then spoke thoughtfully, "Send a man to treat with him, to sound him out. Or we can wait for him to reveal his purpose voluntarily. Either way requires a degree of patience."

"As for Yuan Shao, we know he has been acting suspiciously since he joined us, he's kept to himself and that Ju Shou is always close by. Since Red Cliff, I know he blames you for Shang's death, do we need any more motive? The Yuan family holds it's blood very dear."

"A knife wound from ear to ear will serve that old bastard well enough. It should have been done fifteen years ago; the same could be said of Lu Bu, how that man is still udner our banner, I will never understand."

[Cao Cao]

~The King of Wei~

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As Cheng Qi spoke, Fan Xiang held his tongue and listened, and the councilors around Mengde were beginning to finally agree. The King of Wei crossed his arms at his chest and nodded as Cheng Qi spoke. Now, when all the hostilities are put to rest and the true issues are discussed, is when we may finally get to solving our problems.

Cheng Qi seemed intent on allowing the legend of Bai Kun to spread, but Cao Cao cared not. That was one issue he would not be swayed from. To sing of the greatness of my enemies, what fools. To draw my ire is to invite death into your bed at night. “This will gain you no love, your grace,” Cheng Qi said, and that beckoned a hearty chuckle from Cao Cao.

“It is not love I need, but obedience. From those I mean to rule, and from you.” Cao Cao waved his hand, and as soon as he did, the matter was put to rest. Cheng Qi and I are of the same mind, we must send somebody to treat with this king, but that alone is a difficult task to assign. Whom do I send? Cao Cao’s eyes panned over the ministry, fearing that each of these men was too incompetent for him to assign them as a foreign dignitary to a man he sought to conquer.

“If I may speak, my lord?” Fan Xiang asked. Cao Cao nodded, issuing Xiang to continue. “I will travel north, with a handful of my father’s best men. We will tear out the root of this legacy this Bai Kun intends to build by silencing those who sing his name, discreetly, while also meeting with the man and gauging his capabilities and just how much of a threat he actually is. If he is dangerous, then I will report back to you and we can begin preparations to destroy him. If not, we may let him play a king while sitting on the border of our country, fighting off those who think to invade.”

Cao Cao thought for a minute, scanning over Fan Xiang then back to Cheng Qi. “Very well. But Cheng shall go with you,” Fan Xiang looked to jump and spur to say something, but Cao Cao’s sharp glance held his tongue, “He will aid you in dealing with the diplomatic matters, being the most seasoned statesman I have currently at my disposal, and you may establish a base to learn more about the would-be king and root out the fools who praise him.”

Cao Cao walked over to Cheng Qi, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Whatever you think of this king or his subjects, put it aside. They have turned from me, so now they must die. If a vassal is unable to carry out a king’s command, then what use is he?”

[Cheng Qi]

Cheng Qi lounged as his king directed the council, his King seemed unfazed by the thought of the common man, those who look to him for protection and guidance, what does a man do, if their king starts silently butchering them in their sleep? Who can defend them but their king? Cheng didn't like the idea of murdering entertainers, innocent men and women across the country.

A flash of blood hit him in the face, and he flinched. He raised his hand to wipe it off his face, but his hand came away clean. Strange... His head throbbed for a split-second and went away, he closed his eyes and reopened them, healed. He looked out at the council, nothing was perculiar. What the f-

"If I may speak, my lord?" Fan Xiang raised to his feet, and Cheng Qi observed. He sure knows how to talk. Then he said it, "We will tear out the root of this legacy this Bai Kun intends to build by silencing those who sing his name, discreetly..." Cheng rested his chin in his palm as he listened on, butchers work. But, it is the king's command.

Cao Cao accepted the butcher's proposition, but Cheng was thrown under the wagon as well. "But Cheng shall go with you..." Cheng brow raised, oh gods. The king stepped over and placed a hand on Cheng Qi's shoulder, who kept his gaze straight, away from his king's downward glance. At least he still speaks highly of me, but sending me along to hold this boys hand. "I am forever your man sire, I'll do whatever is bid of me; but don't mistake my interest with compasssion, for I bear none for the enemies of my King."

Cheng turned his gaze upward to his king, almost reluctantly, a hidden fire burned in his eyes, "Do you believe in feelings, sire?" His brows arched back, and he looked blank, unattentive. Then his gaze fell away from Cao Cao's. "Bingzhou has fallen." He didn't know what it was, but he felt it, and saying it aloud, made it ring with a certain truth.

Cheng Qi nodded, "I will go north with Master Fan and treat with this King. We will report back within forty days, it is not too far to Bingzhou." I haven't seen Hebei for a long time. Ugh, and I'll have to cross that dreadfully deep river... If there was one thing that unnerved him in this world, it was deep water.

"When do we leave, your grace?" He thought of Yue, the peace of his little home, it will be nice to see the country again...A break from peace, I could do with being away from my thoughts, and time to reflect on my own matters. Who am I kidding, they'll follow me wherever I go...

[Fan Xiang]

~The Prodigy~

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Fan Xiang tried very hard to hold his excitement within. His shoulders begged him to wave his arms wildly and cheer, but he was calm without. His eyes wanted to scream of pride but he wore a mask over them, still and grey and stoic and mundane, Fan Xiang’s eyes told nothing. That was a talent in and of itself, hiding emotions. It was something Fan Xiang could do well at, given care enough to do so. Often times his ego overwhelmed him more than his emotions. If there was one thing holding the young man back, it was his ego. But he was not the kind of man to put it in check, regardless of the implications.

Cheng Qi said, “Bingzhou has fallen,” and the councilors seemed to grow dire. Fan Xiang looked at Cao Cao, who almost had a twisted laugh on his face. He spoke up, his voice cold and unforgiving. “Then we shall take it back. You will both be prepared to leave on the morrow. Gather your belongings and summon your best men to accompany you by tonight. Dismissed.” The councilors scattered like waves retreating from a pebble splashing in a still pond. Cao Cao turned and left toward the throne, and Fan Xiang followed, catching up to him in the dark halls leading to the throne. Peaking around the imposing posture of his lord, he saw the throne was empty. That is well, we may speak out minds if the Emperor is still asleep.

“My lord,” Fan Xiang said, turning Cao Cao to meet him.

“Fan Xiang,” He said. If the young man didn’t know the man well enough, he’d think the voice he used was without any compassion or endearment. But he knew how much Cao Cao had invested in him. His father told him often, as a reminder to stay focused on his studies. As a reminder to always be perfect. No man can be perfect, Fan Xiang often thought, Perhaps I have failed my father.

“Disgusting business, dealing with a man who’d proclaim himself king. More the fool he is, drawing the ire of Wei on himself.” Fan Xiang said, trying to ease his lord up. Fool, this man is stone. All this time and it’s like you still don’t even know him.

“If you think I need reassurance that I can crush this man, you are wasting breath. Cheng Qi says not to underestimate him, which I would never be foolish enough to do. He has the backing of the people, and that is disgusting business. To bow your head to another man and pledge fealty to him is to betray oaths sworn to me. That is punishable by death. I littered the ground of Xu Province with the dead of my father’s murderers, and innocent people as well. I gained power and respect for it, but if Bingzhou has fallen and its people turned cloak… I’ve slain counties for lesser offenses.”

Cao Cao’s voiced sounded heavy. The Red Cliffs were a mighty defeat, and even with Zhang Liao holding the east firm, Fan Xiang knew Cao Cao could not launch an invasion into Wu. He’d have to enter through Jing, by dealing with Liu Bei, a man he almost had years ago, but now was powerful far beyond one could have though he could rise. And in the west, Ma Teng and his Stalwart son dealt him a defeat at Han Zhong and trapped the greatest weapon alive, Lu Bu, at Tian Shui. All the while, Yuan Shao is a thorn in his back, with the ever-looming threat of a revolt. Enemies at all sides, and now another false king jumps to join them.

“You could always consider the path of mercy, my lord.” Fan Xiang suggested, thinking it would cheer his lord up to be advised to spare those who bend the knee to his enemies. It did not.

“I am not without mercy!” Thundered he who was notoriously without mercy. “But justice is justice. My justice. Law dictates that no man who bends their knee to another may live again as my subject. If these northern lands fancy a new king, they may cherish him eternal in the afterlife.”

Cao Cao turned his head and walked heavily to the throne, each step thudding against the ground like thunder from a storm. The King in the North… Fan Xiang thought, Cao Cao already grows tired of him, hearing about him just today. No good may come from his rise.