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Post by Sam on Jun 7, 2011 0:21:52 GMT
A note on this thread: This is just an introductary post, it takes place a few months after the Fall of Hanzhong, upon the return to Xuchang, so is a few months behind the current events of the game. It takes place just before the events in Jing begin. ~~~~~ Clap, clap, clap, clap. Rhythmically beating on the stone. Clap, clap, clap, clap. Resounding loudly. Clap, clap, clap, clap. The royal slippers beat the ground in harmony with steps of equal space, advancing at an unnatural pace for one the age of their wearer. Finally he had returned. Officially in the masses swarmed in greeting over the stairs like a horde of working ants. Yet working they were not. Their faces were as unmoving as the stonework in which the rhythimatical steps of their master were beating against. The King entered the horde at the base of the steps, yet all was silent 'cept the clap of the advancing slippers and they slapped the stairs under which they trod. The eyes of the ministers that made up the horde followed their lord in unison as he slipped on by without a word toward the halls of the court. Court was about to begin. The King advanced up the stairs his face unmoving no fatigue upon his aged body. He entered the hallowed hall without a word and disappeared from the sight of the officials. Who looked on worse ofr the wear. They stood there in silence. Then what seemed to be an earth shaking drum beat was sounded, like thunder, startling one and all on the stairs, who jumped into movement. Court was in session. The day was overcast, fitting really. Gloom, for a gloomy situation and turn of events. The sound of the drum took a while to die away at it ricocheted throughout the court down into the courtyard. The russling of the officials burned at the elements as they lined the hall before the two thrones. One was vacant. The King was slumped in his seat to the right of the officials. His head bent resting his brow upon his clenched right fist in his armchair. The officials bowed and slumped to their knees and prostrated himself and were about to offer a greeting in unison when before the first syllable had left their throats, a deafening yell came from the King, "Shut up!"The officials quivered under their caps as they kowtowed to their glaring lord, but it didn't take long before the anger past and the tension eased. True thunder sounded beyond the eaves of the hall and a stroke of fresh lightning illuminated the hall for a split second, and trinkles of rain began to hit the steps before the hall. As the anger passed, the officials eased in their posture. As the storm commenced the King had brought himself to his feet, and as the thunder and lightning died away, the rain intensified, yet another load crash was heard within the hall. The officials jumped once again. As the setting of the Emperor was upturned and srprung towards the nearest pillar followed by a deafening yell of anguish. Eagerly looking up frightfully they saw the King on his knees broken, his shoulders hunced and arms crossed into his lap. The destruction of the Emperor's place-holder lying before him. The amassed stack of petitions and report bundled scattered across and below the dais. The King maintained his composure as he spoke quietly, "There will be no court today, retire to your posts. Go."The officials lingered for a moment or two, but without a word the court session adjourned as the officials dispersed leaving the palace, the way they came in - through the gate, leaving the King slumped on the dais, with the onlooking guards in the hall wondering how to react...
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Post by Sam on Jun 7, 2011 0:43:44 GMT
Nothing is as it was, Nothing is as it seems. The world is changing, The days grow old with the years. The world passes by, Like a fleeting dream. All shall fade. The King sat, slumped, in position for a good while. Outside, the rain only intensified as the storm raged on. After a good hour of silence and shared concerned glances between the guards, the King stumbled to his feet. He was not the same, his feet no longer moves fluently, they kicked under him, barely leaving the ground as he groggily made each step towards the entrance of the hall. To the storm. He staggered into the rain, and warily made his way down the stairs. He was soon drenched under the volume of rain drops pelting at his robes and hat. Half way down the stairs he halted, as he brought himself back to full height. Emitting a cry that hit every raindrop 'til it hit the walls of the palace and came back ringing in his own ears. The King slumped once more weeping. It had been many months, yet the pain was still so fresh. The falling rain water masked the tears, but they were ever there. Many months had passed since the fall of Hanzhong, yet holding back the pain of that loss was easy, forgotten one could say. It was the fall of his kindred that aggravated him,. His general. His comrade. His friend. His family. "Yuan...I'm sorry..."Some officials who had lingered in the arch of the gate concerned looked on unhelpfully, not knowing what to do. The anguish had aged the King all the more. Even recent victories in Jing had come with loss. Xiangyang and Xinye had fallen. It had been a bad year. Being a King had never been so rewarding... end.
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Post by Sima Yi on Jun 7, 2011 4:49:22 GMT
The months had treated Zhongda well while his lord Cao Cao was away. The past years all seemed to leading Sima Yi down the path he envisioned himself taking when he finally submitted to the Hero of Chaos. He did not join the Prime Minister’s ranks on his own, in fact he often used ploys to avoid speaking with him, such as faking illness and restraining himself to his bed for an entire night while anticipating Cao Cao would send spies to check on him at night. Eventually, however, Cao Cao’s power was unavoidable, and he forced Sima Yi’s audience, where the reclusive genius could no longer deny his brilliance from the Hero of Chaos.
Since then he served as a glorified civil officer, governing small provinces with no military force. Sima Yi could not believe the waste of his talents, and was dumbfounded as to why Mengde was so forceful to employ him when he did not utilize him properly.
As time passed, though, he began to gain opportunity. He gave voice to Cao Cao’s intentions multiple times, and Cao Cao began leaning to him more and more for council. But after Zhang Lu was defeated and Han Zhong fell into the Duke of Wei’s hands, Zhongda suggested they move on Yizhou to destroy Liu Zhang, the last feudal warlord that held no power. Cao Cao would have crushed him, as he held no reign of power like Cao Cao or Sun Quan did, and did not command the respect of the people like Liu Bei did.
Sima Yi could read the situation in Jingzhou turning sour for Liu Bei. His alliance with the Southlands was failing after he stole Jing from Zhou Yu’s victorious army, and the commander was insistent on seeing Jing returned to the Sun family. He could tell Liu Bei needed somewhere to run. Seeing as he could not run north to his powerful rival Cao Cao, he would run west to Yizhou, where the scion of the Imperial family would greet him. Liu Zhang was a weak ruler with few good generals, and Liu Bei’s influence was bound to either take the land by default, or by arms.
He warned Cao Cao not to let Liu Bei gain Yi, but his words fell on deaf ears and the Prime Minister listened to the majority voice against Sima Yi, and as Zhongda foresaw, Liu Bei gained Yi. Cao Cao, a man who respected the talent of those who followed, saw the flaw and gained trust in Sima Yi’s foresight and advice. With that, Sima Yi’s power within the Han grew.
When Liu Bei launched the attack on Han Zhong, Cao Cao marched to defend it, leaving Sima Yi to defend the capital of Xuchang. Sima Yi sat beside the emperor in Cao Cao’s stead, running the dynasty just as Cao Cao had been for years, and he loved every second. But Cao Cao was defeated at Han Zhong, and he would return soon.
Sima Yi governed well in his stead, but was frustrated this day, knowing the Prime Minister would return. He sat near the throne, leaning forward and resting his head on his lap as he heard the clamor outside, the people flocking to the Prime Minister as he returned. He glanced over to the emperor and saw the fear in his eyes; he loathed the Prime Minister’s return to the capital more than Sima Yi did.
He heard the clapping of sandals against the stone of the palace steps, and looked up as he saw Cao Cao approach. Hiding a grimace, he stood, and descended the stairs that led to the throne as Cao Cao took the seat Sima Yi desired to retain. Zhongda did well to hide his distaste for losing the power he held for those months, but he still lowered his head to a bow.
“A small set back,” Sima Yi said, anticipating the downed mood of the Prime Minister, “My lord lost a lion at Wancheng, but gained the north still. My lord lost an army of a million strong at the Red Cliffs, yet he lost nothing but the chance at a campaign. My lord lost to Ma Chao at Tong Gate, but gained Xiang Liang still.
“By now, surely My Lord realizes that singular defeat can match his success, and nothing can purge his ambition and power. Han Zhong is Liu Bei’s but only temporarily. He will seek to press the advantage he’s won and take the western capital. Lord Cao Cao, allow me to station a host at Chang’an. Xuande will not gain ground, because I will take Han Zhong back before he even plans a northern campaign.”
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Post by Sam on Jun 7, 2011 14:54:07 GMT
Cao sat letting the rain pound his official cap and soak his robes as he contemplated the events of the year. To his surprise Sima Yi was there with him. He sighed as he said through his remourse, "Zhongda. Not since the defeat at Wancheng have I suffered such a setback. Armies can be rebuilt, lands retaken, but bonds like mine and Yuan's cannot be mended or replaced."Cao sighed again as he continued, "I've spent all my life in war, yet still I was not prepared for this. Heaven has gave speed to Xuande's rise, power I cannot impend. I always knew he would be the one to challenge me, but this is too much."The King didn't cry in the presence of an officer, not that he could have told for sure in the pouring rain. "Am I a fool Zhongda? For letting this one bite me so hard? I should have deciphered Guan Lu's riddles, I could have saved him." He returned to silence. Cao listened to Sima Yi's proposal in deep thought still seated on the stairs, when he was done he rose and face the minister as the truth dawned on him. "No. Liu Bei will seek to follow up on the momentumn, but it will not be in the north.""Long has Guan been idle, he'll be the one they turn to for a further push. That's where we must look to for the next strike. I understand the thought of your proposal, but now is not the time, I would require you to do something else first.""The one fundamental thing that is helping Liu Bei is Sun Quan, that bond needs severed or I will never sleeep easy. I will trust you to go to the Southlands and set them against each other. Sun has ever desired Jing, and held that against Liu Bei for many a year. It will save us the trouble of having to repel Guan Yu's attack which will endanger the capital here""Once you return, and Sun and Liu are against each other we will talk of your proposal to be stationed in Yong. Leave when you are ready and return soon Zhongda."~~~~~ ((Remember this thread is set before Jing. You don't have to role play anything in Wu, just reply here then post in the palace to talk in the present as you return from Wu and after the events in Jing.))
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Post by Sima Yi on Jun 7, 2011 17:56:28 GMT
Sima Yi had served Cao Cao long, and while he did not wish to join his employ, the two had grown close. Cao Cao was known to be a ruthless tyrant who held the emperor, and the emperor hated and feared him enough to try and have him assassinated twice. But Mengde’s power succeeded the emperor’s twice, and all the men who tried to kill Cao Cao soon fell to him, their lands giving only more influence to the Prime Minister’s control.
Sima Yi did aspire for power and his lord’s return did anger him by taking away the temporary control of the state he possessed. But he could not help but weaken for his lord in such a disheartened state.
“My lord lost a lion at Wancheng,” Zhongda said, his head returned to the low state of a bow, “And my lord’s cousin was a valiant general, such a loss could compare. Xiahou Yuan must be mourned but we must not linger on him, if we do, Xuande will press the advantage.”
Cao Cao went on to speak of his defeat in a way that Sima Yi did not understand. Never had his lord been like this.
“Defeat strikes us all the same. In our hearts we always see victory, and the unwelcome result of defeat is like a cold rain on a summer day. But that is all it is, and it only ruins but a single day, my lord. You knew this at Red Cliffs, you knew this at Tong Gate, you must realize it now. Your army will return and tomorrow your victories will swallow China whole.”
Sima Yi listened as Cao Cao rejected him from taking the western capital at the moment. It stung, as Sima Yi could rule the Western Empire alone if he was seated in Chang’an. However, the opportunity that Mengde proposed to him was most important, and if he succeeded, nothing would be able to halt Zhongda’s rise to military and civil power. He would be leading the armies of Wei one day, and this task was nothing more than a stepping stone to regency.
“My lord is wise,” Sima Yi said, “and has seen through my ruse of words. Liu Bei has taken what he wanted, Han Zhong, and is ill prepared to march on Chang’an. But he will want to fortify his position by establishing himself in Jing. Long have the allied Sun Quan and Liu Bei bickered over that land, and if anything shall destroy their questionable friendship, it shall be that.”
Zhongda rose to a stand and smiled a menacing grin.
“I bid you sleep, my lord, for when I return it will be with the promise of a Wu army to slay Guan Yu!”
Sima Yi spoke proud, an ambition in his eyes that would wash away Cao Cao’s very despair. He spun around with such speed that his robes twisted around his waist, and he proceeded to exit the halls. When he exited the palace, he beckoned his men to ready banners and envoys. He’d be in the Southlands by a month.
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Post by Mikey on Jun 11, 2011 6:36:53 GMT
I admire your writing ability Sam, your posts are just so great to read--I'm pretty sure I've read all of them, I'm surprised at how interesting a character you've made Cao Cao. Some of this reward is also probably coming from the Palace thread, but simply because of my own etiquette I can't reward Palace threads. Zhongda you also did a good job, though I expected Sima Yi to be written in such a way--still good writing.
Cao Cao - 20 Reputation points.
5 Notoriety Points (negative alignment) for yelling at your advisers.
Sima Yi - 15 Reputation Points
Upon rewarding, this thread is locked.
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