The Battle

[Liu Bei]

Gongsun Du noticed Xiu was avid at his response. Perhaps Xiu wasn't the blood-lusting Wei officer Du had imagined him to be. As Xiu outlined the conditions and finished, Du had been taken aback by his words. That's it, Du thought puzzled, fifteen-thousand men for that?

"Well that doesn't sound like a surrender," Du said softly to himself, he turned to his entourage to see that they too had the same puzzled face.

Du stiffened again, his anger had left his face and it seemed as if the world had lifted off his shoulders. So maybe there was a few strings attached, and a portion of the taxes did, infact, end up in Cao Cao's coffers, that was definitely worth the lifes of forty-four thousand civilians, and an entire city. Du hoped, that the Wu delegates that Sun Quan had sent, had already fled to Goguryeo, for if Wei wished to search the city; they would surely be executed.

Du dismounted, slightly contented, this sudden act of survival had overshadowed the fact that his pride was non-existent. But it takes courage, Du thought sympathetically, to kneel to invades to save the lives of your own civilians. The prefect approached Xiu's horse on foot, and drew his sword.

He knew that would draw the wrong kind of impression from Xiu's bodyguard, so he, almost instantly, switched to holding the sword by the tip, and then he offered the hilt to Cao Xiu.

"You have my word general, and though this is a surrendering gesture, this is also a sign of trust." Du smiled weakly, knowing he had avoided a huge catastrophe.

[Liang Zhi]

Dian Zhang was rather alarmed by Gongsun drawing his sword, but made no rash moves. While Cao Xiu watched Du's actions with delight and dismounting from his own saddle recieved the general courtesously. "You don't need to humble yourself below such a youngful officer such as I." He personally put Gongsun's sword back in its master scabbard, "Let us bear weapons no longer, since we have reached an agreement, I bid you to recall the civilians you sent beyond our borders and let them return to their homes."

Xiu lifted his battle robe and knelt himself folding his hands in respect, "General, I bid you return to Xiangping and resume authority and announce the change of rule. The people have suffered much shock these past couple of days. I will send Cao Zhi to meet you and your honoured brohter, as he is a far better speaker than my kind." Xiu bowed his head and remounted his horse.

Clasping his hands again Xiu said, "Your mercy shown on the people today will be engraved in my heart, expect the Imperial edict confirming your psoition as Overall Governor of these lands and Prefect of Xiangping, your clan will also be offered psoitions, take care General, perhaps someday we will meet again."

Xiu bowed from the waist in appreciation from his saddle and nodded his head once to Du, before turning his horse around galloping back to camp.

* * *

Upon reaching camp, Xiu was recieved by Tai Ming who asked about the meeting, Xiu replied happily "General Du, is a high minded man, worthy of ruling over these lands in the long run. He agreed to submit, for such benevolence to his people I will petiton Lord Cao for his confirmation as Governor of his lands."

Ming congratulated the Commander, Xiu refused the honour replying that he only share a drink with Ming and Zhang, who readily accepted.

After having the drink laid out food and drink and summoned Cao Zhi to the celebratory meeting. He regretted not using Zhi's letter, but he feared it would have killed the tone of the discussion at the time.

When Zhi arrived, he stated, "Cousin Zhi, I have accepted the allegiance of General Gongsun and now I require a good speaker to announce the new rule to the city." Xiu continued after a brief pause. "You are a well known scholar, I am not, you are my superior in letters and speaking. I need you to do this for me, it will also give you a chance to meet the Prefect."

Xiu took a drink of his wine, and continued, "I will take my army home shortly, you have your army remain here until you are ready to head home after speaking to the Prefect."

The siege weapons were completed under Tai Ming's supervision and Xiu ordered his men to pack their things, and prepare for the journey home, leaving the encampment for Cao Zhi's use. The men began to carry out the order.

[Liu Bei]

Gongsun Du was relieved to hear how elated Cao Xiu was. Xiu's intentions were actually true, he really did not want to fight this day, and the fabrication of this order by the self-proclaimed 'Imperial Secretarist' was only a scare tactic. Du said his farewells to the general, whom he had originally perceived to be another one of Cao Cao's blind followers. Du had gained respect for the nephew of the tyrant. The prefect and his entourage journeyed back to the shelter of the walls. Du sent a courier to Goguryeo to fetch back his scared civilians.

~

Du had thought that he would return as a savior, and that the people would clap at his success. When he returned, he saw scared, innocent civilians in his ranks. Du looked at them quizzically. He saw Gongsun Fan and approached him;

"Why are they here, cousin?" Du asked incredulously.

Rather bored he answered, "Kang dragged them out of their houses to fight." Fan sighed, knowing for sure what was to come.

"WHAT!?" Du's flush of anger returned to him once more, he frantically searched the crowd. The monster would be an easy one to sight. But he was no where in sight. As if he couldn't be bothered; Fan measely pointed to a house almost sighing whilst doing it.

Du witnessed Kang kick in a door, and screams followed. Three of the swordsmen went in with him. On impulse Du galloped towards the house and yelled into the ajar door whilst dismounting. He saw Kang looking back at him, as if he had seen a ghost. Kang had his hands wrapped around a boy's throat, a crying mother was in the corner, the scene made Du sick.

"Where have you been?! I've been getting ready for the-" Kang said hysterically. Du was horrified.

"Get your hands off of him!" Du growled, and approached Kang, yanking his hands off of the terrified boy. Kang was about to protest when Du punched him in the stomach. The soldiers looked at one another. Kang did not double over as Du expected, Du looked up at his brother and wondered what he would do.

In answer, Kang threw his older brother against the wall, a shelf knocked over, the foundation of the house rumbled, the woman in the corner screamed. Du felt the wind get knocked out of him, he had been protected by his armor however. His head had been thrown backwards though, and he seemed to have a splitting headache.

Kang approached Du with fire in his eyes like a madman, Du had never expected to be afraid for his life from his brother. Kang had had a history of temper problems, he was under extreme pressure, Du knew his intentions were being blinded by immense rage.

But he couldn't help him now, Du realized that he had indeed not given his sword to Xiu, Xiu had declined honestly, on instinct, Du whipped his sword from his sheath, Kang was close enough for the sword to cut across his chest. Du's brother fell over, his rage spell had been abruptly cut short. Kang looked up to his older brother with worry in his eyes. Du dropped his sword, helpless, a tear rolling down his cheek, and he rushed to his brother's side.

~

Du had rejoined Fan by his side back on his horse. Fan had witnessed Kang be carried out by three soldiers, and rushed to the palace. Fan asked, and a nonchalant way: "So what happened?" He asked, in a almost 'yawning' type of way, as if he couldn't have cared much. His attitude agitated Du.

Du responded in the same way, to see if Fan would respond in anyway, "Brotherly fight."

Fan raised an eyebrow, yet showed no emotion.

Rewards

Liang Zhi - Awesome consistent great posts dude. *High Five*

Diplomacy + 5 (Oh wait a second...)
500 Gold
200 Low Trier troops (Retrieved Garrison)

Cao Zhi - You're a very interesting person. <-- Compliment

If there was a poetry stat, you'd get a level up.
250 Gold
200 Low Trier troops

[Cao Zhi]

YAY MONEY!