The Demon of Wei

[Zhang Liao]

He Stood in silence, hands gripping the railing on the balcony. His eyes sweeping over the miles of landscape before him. It was lush, green, healthy. From afar, he could hear the sea tumbling against a distant shore, bringing with it the sweet smell of the sea. It was as close to paradise as Wei had in their kingdom as of yet.

And Zhang Liao hated it.

Not for it's outright beauty. Many loved the lands of He Fei, crown of Shou Chun. It was a thriving castle, with many of the outlying towns and ports attracting many traders, travellers and merchants. The sun always shone here, and just miles and miles of it stretched out far, from Wei all the way to Wu. But that was why he hated this place. For Wu.

It was only a few short weeks ago, he was riding out to the ford, Li Dian at his side, along with the meager force he could muster in the defense of the city. He entrusted Yue Jin with the city, simply because Zhang Liao didn't trust him at his back. The sight of the Wu hordes, of Sun Quan himself, of Gan Ning....

Yes, it was that day he became the 'Demon of Wei', the beast Cao Cao used to make sure Wu stayed south, and it worked. He had never fought so hard in his life, never tested his might to that limit, but he succeeded. Though he was not able to put that damned pirate down, legends would speak well into the years of how he, Li Dian, and his trusted men pushed back the tides until Wei reinforcements finally arrived to secure victory.

That was weeks ago, the Wei commanders already had gone, their jobs done. However, Cao Cao would not make the mistake of undervaluing this place again. Zhang Liao now had a full compliment of men. Archers, cavalry, soliders, and ranked men all fell under his command now. FOr the duty was his to defeat Wu now, to cast them into the sea. But war, and bloodshed, were never that easy. And so he watched, from the top room of He Fei Castle he watched, and waited.

Li Dian placed the scroll back down on the desk, grabbing a glass of cool rose wine, and walked out on the balcony to stand alongside his commander and friend. He took a sip, choosing his words carefully as he always did. The message sent along with the men from Cao Cao was definetely an important read.

"Grand General of the East? That is a very noble honor Lord Zhang Liao. I am suprised not to see you at any of the victory feasts before our comrades returned to Xu Cheng."

Zhang Liao spat off the railing. "To celebrate what?" He asked bitterly. "Sun Quan escaped, Gan Ning escaped, no major general or Wu Commander died in those battles out there. Just a mountain of corpses of men whose might was wasted by facing us. A gatekeeper does not celebrate doing his job, for until Wu crumbles under my heel, there is no reason to celebrate."

Li Dian took another long sip, giving him more time to think. This was not going nearly well enough of his liking. He tried switching tact, giving Zhang Liao something better to think about.

"Well, you have the forces we need to start making an advance upon Wu, what is our next plan of attack?"

"To stand" Zhang Liao replied, gazing as far as his eyes could see. "Cao Cao said simply to use these men to reinforce the garrison. He never mentioned a march. Besides, I would not risk men's lives on a revenge march, there is no honor in being hunted and slaughtered in Wu jungles. No, we train, we rebuild, we wait. Then, when Cao Cao allows me, I will move in Wu, and put an end to this campaign."

"Spoken like the Demon of Wei!" Li Dian replied, happily raising a glass to that. "You know, I heard there are rumors in Wei you feed off the blood of those you slay, and that makes you stronger. Funny, I can barely get you to drink with me!"

Zhang Liao allowed himself a rare smile. "Only when you beat me in Go."

"Which you still need to train with by the way." Li Dian then paused. "Speaking of practice, I haven't seen you train in a few days. That's not like you. You have been up here, waiting out the feasts, pouring over maps and watching the main roads." Li Dian smiled knowingly over the rim of his cup. "What else are you looking for?"

Zhang Liao's smile turned into a scowl, as he looked at his smug companion. He knew damn well what the newly appointed General of the East was looking for. The small Wei caravan the messenger told him about just 5 days beforehand. There was no point in hiding it from his trusted friend any longer.

"The moon." Zhang Liao replied. "Been too long since i've seen it. Who else knows?"

"Just me." Promised Li Dian

The door on the far side of the room then opened, and the last person Zhang Liao wanted to talk to came in, brushing past the guard and striding over the chamber toward them. His face lit with anger and annoyance and he strode toward the two. Zhang Liao now grimaced as he looked at Li Dian, now looking very guilty back into his glass.

"Oh, and him...."

Zhang Liao turned to face their new guest as the man strode onto the balcony. "Lord Yue Jin, how can I assist you?"

[Zhang Liao]

Yue Jin was bristling. He was furious about this whole situation. Having to first sit out the defense of He Fei, then having to sit through these victory feasts for Zhang Liao, for Li Dian, for Wei, but not for Yue Jin. And now, to have to sit and use his watch, his new soliders and command, so simply wait for marching orders, for this woman. It was unacceptable!

And there he was, the damned 'Demon of Wei', standing before him, calmly waiting for Yue Jin to attack. Zhang Liao was always ready to riposte, to counter. But not this time. This time he would explain what he was doing. And get to the bottom of this damned wait, this damn caravan. All of it.

"So, this is what you do with your time Lord Liao? You hide in these quarters, eyes to the road. We have the advantage, the momentum, the support, and you wait here. And for what? Answer me!"

Li Dian was suprised to see Zhang Liao smile. It wasn't a warm smile, more like a lion letting a lamb walk right into it's jaws. He took a single step forward, calmly stroking his thin goatee before answering.

'Did Lord Cao Cao tell us to mobilize. Did he give us any marching orders?"

"No, but..." Yue Jin started

Zhang Liao continued. "Then we wait, he gave us these men not to die in Wu, but to build this castle up and prepare for Cao Cao's plan."

"Wu does the same thing!" Yue Jin countered. "We wait, gives them a chance to make new plans. To return."

"Let them come then! They came at this place in full force, and we had a fraction of their numbers. And we turned them back. If they wish to return, I'll finish the grave I started at the Ford."

Yue Jin was not convinced. He wanted to test himself, to prove he should be the Demon of Wei. But there was sense in what Zhang Liao said. However, he would never admit to Zhang Liao that. He switched tact, he needed to engage Zhang Liao on his terms.

"I knew you were a beast like your old lord Lu Bu, but to have a weakness for a woman as well. You do not fail to disappoint expectations."

Li Dian waited. Zhang Liao wasn't known to rise his temper, but this was not about him, but Cai Wenji. And was now being compared to Lu Bu, a man he lost all respect for. But Zhang Liao took a small breath, and composed himself.

"The caravan we wait for contains our next orders from Cao Cao. Regardless of who brings them. You want to march off to war, then you will do the same as me, prepare and wait. For when those orders arrive, we march. Then, we can end Wu. Does that sate your bloodlust?"

Yue Jin finally saw reason. He didn't like it, but he knew Zhang Liao was right. There was nothing they could really do without Cao Cao, so they had to wait for orders. He turned and walked back to the door, not bothering to turn back to Zhang Liao as he responded.

"Then I will prep the men to move at a moment's notice. Someone has to talk to the men..."

"Lord Jin?"

Yue Jin turned back to Zhang Liao, whose eyes were now on fire as he stood still, staring at his rival and ally.

"If you ever compare be to that Beast again, be prepared to test your might against me."

[Zhang Liao]

The door closed loudly, the guard returning back to his post. Zhang Liao waited a few moments, before letting out his breath. He turned back over the bannister, back to his silent vigil, as Li Dian watched him. There was little that could be said after that. So he mentioned the one thing that was weighing down on him, regardless of what answer he was bound to receive back.

"So, is Lady Wenji returning with order?"

Zhang Liao said nothing, only facing out over the landscape. His destiny was not here, in this castle. His destiny was out there. Wei, the kingdom his was sworn to protect. Wu, the kingdom he seeked only to crush. Gan Ning, that damned fool he had missed two times to kill. Lu Bu, the beast he once respected and served, now a man who angered and disgusted him. And Lady Cai, who was riding with orders from his Lord, and to assist Zhang Liao on the eastern front.

"Yes, Lord Dian, she rides with the orders of Cao Cao himself. Soon we will be mobilizing, either into Wu, or somewhere else. Regardless of where we go, we must be ready."

"Is that all she comes with, my Lord?"

There were few people in all the Three Kingdoms that Zhang Liao would have tolerated that question from. Lord Cao Cao, Lady Diao Chan, The other Tigers of Wei, Lord Guan Yu. Li Dian was very lucky he considered him a close friend.

"Love has no place on the field of battle. Lady Wenji is pledged to marry whoever our lord wishes. Until then, she serves whomever she will. I will not take a wife, not until this conflict has been decided. She is just an old friend."

"If you say so..." Li Dian said, with an air of uncertainty. He drained his glass, and walked back into the room. "Regardless, I am tired of waiting around. I am going to check ranks, supplies, and maybe gamble a bit."

Zhang Liao nodded. He knew he was being distant from his men, from the people that he fought for. But this was strange times. War was everywhere, and even here under this sun, dark clouds were gathering. He knew he would go to war again. It was just up to that letter, those orders, as to whom his opponent would be. He hoped they would come soon. Zhang Liao was never good at hearing the words 'wait.' Especially when it came to fighting.

"Would do you some good to spend some time with your men, Demon of Wei." Li Dian said, making for the door. "They need you too."

Facing away, Zhang Liao had to smile. Damn him, for being able to read his mind on the subject. He gave one last long look out into the horizon, trying to catch even a small glimpse at what lay ahead for him, before turning to his friend, waiting for him by the door.

"Yes, let us see how strong these men of Wei really are."