Bloodlust

Chapter 45

A New War

Zhou Yu crossed his arms and looked at the hunched over form of Zhuge Jin. "I'm told you have something to tell me."

The elder Zhuge jumped and looked behind him at the Wu strategist. "Yes…I was looking through my brother's notes…"

"Does Yue Ying know you have these?"

"Yes." He picked up the book and showed Zhou Yu. "She gave it to me upon my request."

"She did not see it contained valuable information?"

"My sister-in-law was not exactly in tune with Kongming's thoughts. She probably just assumed they were old notes. He used a diluted ink so the notations would look aged." Jin opened the book and pointed to the said notes.

Zhou Yu hated the bastard more in death than life. At least while he was alive he didn't know everything the man was doing. In death it was becoming all the more evident that Zhuge Liang's plans were extensive and brilliant. "I have to imagine she would have shown Pang Tong."

"Even then…"Jin cleared his throat. "I think it's something a brother, someone he spent his childhood with, would see through. Not a classmate or a sexually frustrated spouse…..not anyone he was guarded around. They never knew him like I did. I knew him before he became a hermit."

"Very well." Zhou Yu couldn't argue. He sat down and looked at the man. "So what did you find?"

"Liu Shan is meant to kill Liu Bei, not Lu Xi. I think what happened, it was a distraction. I haven't figured out how he knew Sima Yi would try that…but nonetheless it's not the point. Kongming and Jiang Wei tutored Liu Shan to kill his father."

"Jiang Wei defected from Wei." Zhou Yu mused and saw the perplexed look on Jin's face. "The connection you were looking for. Nevermind. You're positive this is what he was working towards? That this isn't just a smoke screen?"

"No. This is what he had planned. Along with a million other things….but this is the most important to us."

"Yes." Zhou Yu nodded. "What did he have to gain from it though?"

"In case Lu Bu didn't eliminate Liu Bei, Shan would have. Shu would have never expected it, and with the boy's attempt on Lu Xi's life….it makes it seem like his target will be Lady Sun's new child."

"Liu Bei will blame himself." Zhou Yu smirked. "Perhaps spend more time with his son to make up for everything. Give the boy a chance to kill his father."

"In Shan's mind, Kongming and Jiang Wei cared more for him than his father." Jin closed the copy of the Art of War. "My brother planned for failure and success. There are so many intertwined strategies….by second-guessing him you can easy step in a trap."

"So we are still rivals then, Kongming." Zhou Yu smiled.

"It seems like you're always running off after men." Zhao Yun mused.

"I usually am." Cal shrugged, immune to the jesting insult.

"I'll have to come visit. I almost forgot how boring it is without Ma Dai humping everyone, Chao serving justice or you getting into trouble." Zhao Yun toyed with his spear.

"You have Shang's cousin." Cal chuckled. "What's up with her?"

"She's not my type."

"Not as beautiful as a Qiao or Diao Chan, huh?" Cal asked.

"She's always talking about cross-stitch or knitting….I just don't care about what yarn can be made from what." Zhao Yun shrugged. "I like a girl who can fight."

"Really?" Cal asked. "So you just screw the pretty ones and keep your eye open for a battle vixen, huh?"

"Stop teasing me." He hugged her. "I'm having a hard enough time saying goodbye without you making me aware of what I'll be missing."

"I'm worried." She squeezed him. "I'm worried I'll never see you again. I'm worried that even if I do you'll do something gay and cut your hair."

"You bitch." Zilong squeezed her hard. "Hey, stop by and see my parents with me."

"Why? Some sort of punishment?" Cal asked.

"No, I just think they should meet you. You're the only sibling I have."

Zhou Yu looked over at Sun Shang Xiang. "Your father would be proud of you."

"I hope so. I doubt he'd like that Quannie became a transvestite and is in love with his pirate bodyguard." Shang swung her feet off the pier and sighed. "I'll probably never see you all again."

"Shang I'm not here to say goodbye." Zhou Yu sat down next to her and flattened out his robes. "I don't believe your brother capable of being a good king. He's made several bad decisions and continues to put his officers in unacceptable roles. Cao Cao has retreated because he knows Sun Quan will do something ridiculously stupid and ruin our alliance. I think he's brilliant for doing so."

"Yeah. He goes home, watches us get worn out and walks in to pick up the pieces. Why didn't you think of that?" Shang teased.

"I want you to rule Wu." He said and looked at her to make sure she understood he was genuine. "I have already discussed your brother's inadequacies with your mother. She is not pleased and agreed with me that your father's kingdom is not safe in his hands."

"I won't leave Liu Bei."

"I'm not asking you to. I'm asking you to keep your damned army intact until our countries can be united into one." Zhou Yu sighed. "It won't be easy. You're going home to fight the Nanman with hardly more than a division. Ma Chao is taking his army home to fight an even more powerful enemy. I think all your loyalties will be tested, you must determine what your true duty is." Zhou Yu shook his head. "I don't mean to lecture. I just need you to know that I will serve you as my queen, not Sun Quan."

Shang watched him get up. "Gongjing….are you telling me you're a traitor?"

"I serve Wu and will give my life to see it flourish. I will not let a King destroy it. I am not a traitor."

"What are you going to do?" She asked.

"I don't know." He smiled. It wasn't often that he said that. "Will you help me save your father's kingdom?"

"As long as it won't hurt my husband…."

"I have no intentions of harming your husband." Zhou Yu assured her. I have no intentions of saving him, either.

Cao Pi whipped his robe behind him and made sure his wife followed him obediently. He was going to strut past his father, just as his mother had instructed. "Retreating despite the numbers being in your favor? What's wrong, Father, Chibi still giving you nightmares?"

"I liked him better when he was tied up and gagged." Sima Yi grumbled and took another drink of wine. He watched the young Cao's eyes as he provoked his father. He had to wonder what purpose this served.

"You insolent little bastard, I can name your brother as heir just as quickly as I can lop your head off." Cao Cao hissed and threw a soggy meatbun at him.

Zhen Ji sat down and smiled. Two angry Caos was almost more than she could handle. She crossed her legs and squirmed.

"I'm just curious if you're trying to take your kingdom with you when you die or if age is rotting your mind." Cao Pi gracefully took his sword apart and used one blade to launch the meatbun in the air, while the other sliced it in half. "Perhaps you can enlighten me as to what great strategy you were using when you decided this."

Xiahou Dun watched his cousin rub his temples. The headaches were back. It seemed like they were so much more frequent now. He looked to Pi who seemed to find some delight in this. "If we preserve our forces, we will be ready to conquer more than just China when this current war is over."

"Mmm…" Cao Pi whipped his cape around and snapped his fingers to his wife. "Very well. I'll see you in the morning."

"We're now divided." Sun Shang Xiang said quietly.

"At least I'm not going back to Wei." Cal shrugged. "Unlike someone who is sleeping with the enemy."

"Sleep?" Yue Ying queried. "What's that?"

"Tigress Generals of Shu, you must remember your duty. Our loyalties will be tested." Shang sighed. She sounded like she was echoing Zhou Yu.

"You sound like a queen." Cal chuckled.

"I am going to have to side against my family." She said somberly. "I chose my side."

"I will not waver. Tai knows that. He'll force me to leave before he will allow me to be placed in that situation." Yue Ying boasted.

"Oh…so this is about me?" Cal raised an eyebrow.

"He's not going to want to come back. He's headstrong and he is a Lord of a land bigger than Shu…" Yue Ying began.

"He is no traitor." Cal snapped and stood up. "You're confusing my husbands."

"No, but he's damned near the most stubborn general we have. He wants to whisk you away back home where he can make up for your terrible life and protect you. Only you are going to be able to change his mind." Yue Ying stated simply.

"Don't treat Chao like he's the enemy." Cal growled.

"You are his rational side. Just remember that." Yue Ying apologized.

"Are we done here?" Cal asked "Or since we're on the topic of betrayal, maybe we should talk about Liu Shan?"

Yue Ying gulped. "Shan?"

"Yeah, Zhuge's little minion who tried to give my kid to Wei."

Shang frowned. "I guess you picked up on that huh?"

"Why wouldn't I?" Cal asked. "He was playing at my game."

"He's a child, all we can do is try and undo what Kongming has…"Ying stopped as she watched Cal scowl.

"He's ruined. I can't kill him, he's a damned kid and my Lord's son…as much as I'd like to drop him in the river and fish him out with a harpoon." Cal cracked her knuckles. "So we leave him in your care Shang. Watch him, never relax around him."

"I know." Shang had already wondered what the brat had thought of doing to ensure he stayed Liu Bei's only child.

"Zilong, is that your army?"

Zhao Yun sighed and looked behind him at the fangirls and shook his head. "No, mom. They're just fangirls."

"You can't find one of them to be your wife? I'd like grandchildren, before I die." Lady Gong smiled and kissed her son when she saw the exasperated look on his face. "Welcome home, son."

Zilong kissed his mom on the cheek and heard the fangirl horde begin to swoon. They only got worse after his naked escapade at the last battle. "Mom, I want you to meet my sworn sister, General Calpurnia Quinerus."

Cal rolled her eyes at the pronunciation of her name. Mrs. Ma Chao sounded better than that. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Gong."

"Are you protecting him from those women?"

"I try. He recently streaked through the enemy camp, so it's difficult to keep them at bay."

Zilong growled and looked at her with a scowl.

"I heard." Lady Gong smiled. "Way to make me proud son."

"Sorry mom."

"Come inside; see your father before those women start foaming at the mouth."

Cal smiled as Lady Gong wrapped her arm around her. "I do try to help him as much as I can; he's just too obsessed with work."

"Well at least I know he's being looked out for."

Cal smirked. "More than you know."

"You're supposed to be on my side, remember?" Zhao Yun snorted and saw his father in the kitchen enjoying tea. "Sir."

"Son! About time you came home to visit, those fangirls keep bothering us. Can't you do anything?"

"Like, get married?" Lady Gong asked and went to refill her husband's tea.

"You brought home a girl!" the elder Zhao exclaimed.

"My fellow general, Calpurnia Quinicirus." Zilong smiled proudly.

"Quinirius, idiot." Cal muttered.

"Mrs. Ma Chao." Zhao Yun grabbed her by the arm and presented her to his father. "We're sworn siblings."

"Oh." He chuckled. "So no one else wanted to be your sworn sibling?"

"Nope." Cal shook her head. "I'm just a stray."

"Cal, stop it. They're nothing wrong with you." Zhao Yun snorted and sat down at the table and looked at the latest graphic novel entailing his adventures.

"Other than I'm a girl, Lu Bu's widow, a murderer, negligent mother, traitor and the minor fact that I'm Roman." Cal sat down beside him. "Nothing much. At least the fangirls think you're so cute and thoughtful for taking me under your wing."

"Can you help him find a wife….or two?" Lady Gong asked. "Zilong's always been so shy with the girls."

"I try." Cal sighed. "Maybe if you convince him he needs to come to Xiliang with me…"

Zhao Yun rolled his eyes. "I have to take care of everything now that you're abandoning us. Why don't you rein in your husband and make him stay in Cheng Du?"

"He'll break things." Cal shrugged. "You tell him, you're his supposed best friend. Grow some balls and stand up to him."

"That's your job." Zilong chuckled when he saw the artist's rendition of him saving Liu Shan at Chang Ban.

"So you're Lord Ma Chao's new wife." Lady Gong smiled. "Does he have a sister?"

"Mom…." Zhao Yun whined.

"Ask your lord to help you." Zhao Deng said simply. "He can arrange something I'm sure."

"Our queen has already taken care of that." Cal smirked. "If you ask me I think she's a nice catch. She's beautiful and is a great homemaker. She's made about three dozen booties in anticipation of being your wife…."

"Shut up."

"What's wrong with that one, son?" Deng sighed, all too familiar with his boy's refusal to wed.

"She's boring, father."

"You're never home anyway." Cal rolled her eyes. "Just knock her up and come home to see the kid, name it and knock her up again. Do I have to tell you everything?"

"Exactly, I'm never home." Zilong stated simply. "It's not fair to put a woman through that."

"Where is home, now?" Deng asked. "You change alliances so much your mother and I have a hard time keeping tract."

"Cheng Du is home." Zilong snapped curtly. "Shu is my one and only alliance until I die."

"Just like the others. Why can't you fight for someone who is going to win?" the elder Zhao asked.

"The others? How many people have you served, Zilong?" Cal asked. Finally there was a weakness in his shining white hero armor!

"First there was Yuan Shao…then Gongshun Zan…then Liu Bei…" Lord Zhao continued

"You slut." Cal chuckled. "You've changed sides as much as me!"

"It's different." Zhao Yun snorted. "They were lords that held promise for leading the people, you just served everyone who wanted to conquer the world."

"What's wrong with winning, son?" Zhao Deng asked.

"Doing what is right is more important!"

"Keeping the country at war….that's hard to see the positive."

"Lord Liu Bei is the only man who should run this country." Zhao Yun stated simply. "Cal, some help please?"

"It's nice to die for something worthwhile, instead of just dying to further someone else's ambitions." Cal smiled summing up his whiney statements.

"So glad you're both so ready to die." Deng huffed. "Take a wife soon then, at least let your mother have some happiness before she has to clean your temple everyday."

"What about your family, Cal?" Lady Gong smiled. "I can call you Cal, yes?"

"Please do." The Roman smiled. She couldn't imagine anyone else being Zilong's parents. "My family…is complicated."

Zhao Yun sighed. "To say the least."

"Well, we have time. We are waiting for grandchildren, so I suppose we have a few centuries to hear your story." Lady Gong smiled.

Cal chuckled and winced as Zilong smacked her for finding humor in his plight. Seeing the expectant look upon his mother's face, she filled the Zhaos in on her background.

Yue Ying watched the last of the Shu army disappear down the road to the west. "I already miss them."

"I'll make it up to you." Zhou Tai smirked.

"Zhou Yu is being very friendly, why?" She looked to her husband and watched him shrug.

"I'm a bodyguard, not a tactician."

"Why." She repeated.

"You know why or you wouldn't be asking." Tai kissed her as she leaned into him.

"I suppose I'll just have to play along." She rubbed Tai's chest and tugged at his armor. "For now, I think you should console me. I don't want to think about never seeing my friends again. Remind me why I just don't get rid of Sun Quan and claim you for Shu."

"Statements like that will ensure you never get to tie me up again." He led her back to their tent. "I'll just have to keep you occupied so you can't do much damage."

Yue Ying allowed him to turn her around, to the east. Her eyes took in the scenery and she could see for quite a ways on the horizon. East was Wu territory and her new home. She was not only leaving behind her friends and country, but fully immersing herself in a new world. She had enjoyed the time after Kongming died, she had been able to relax. There were no enemies to have to be on guard around, no competitors to constantly outsmart. However she was going to have to deal with Zhou Yu on a daily basis and his small army of strategists. Lu Meng was sweet, obviously misused by his lord, so she actually looked forward to getting to know him better. Lu Xun was a very talented kid who wanted to learn, but she would only cooperate with him so much. There was no point in encouraging the enemy, even though Pang Tong did his part. She knew Shiyuan well; he only did it in order to gain some knowledge of an opponent's arsenal. Now if they ever met in battle, he had a clear vision of what the kid was working with. The one that worried her most was Zhuge Jin. Though not anywhere near the strategist his brother was, the elder Zhuge was quite capable. She was also pretty sure he knew her better than she thought.

"You're back!" Ma Chao galloped down the road with a huge smile on his face. Soon they would be separating from the main army and heading North, towards Xiliang. His wife had been on a road trip with her sworn brother and he missed her a lot. The pressures of being the Lord of Xiliang were getting heavier and he just needed more than his dismal cousin to support him.

"He is observant isn't he?" Zhao Yun toyed with his new uniform that his mother had made for him. She had received his request to make something a little less revealing so that fangirls wouldn't be so rabid at the sight of his bare biceps. He liked it, it was actually quite fancy. A nice green tunic with dragons embroidered into it and a nice form fitting blue vest to compliment it. For extra fangirl protection his mom had even added another layer, a white and blue sash that buckled over his left shoulder. He didn't want to admit how many times his nipples had been attacked in public, but Cal had chimed in that benefit before he could shut her up. Overall, it was a great trip home and he wished he could have taken everyone with him to meet his family.

"As long as he doesn't see a chance to kill Cao Cao." Cal sighed. He could be so very narrow minded.

"That's why you're his bodyguard."

"You try getting within 10 feet of him when he's swing that spear. I'll be his body servant, let someone suicidal take that bodyguard job."

"We're pretty close to having to split up." Zilong sighed as Chao came to a sliding stop then trotted his mare in circles around them. "Did we miss much?"

"Word's come back that Cheng Du is under attack by the Nanman and all we have to defend the city are Zhang Fei and Guan Yu's kids." Chao leaned over and kissed his wife.

"Can't we just go to Xiliang by way of Cheng Du? I'm sure I recall some roads leading North from the city." Cal watched his expression sour. "We'll still go home! Dammit! Our capital is under attack!"

"Xiliang will be under attack by the time we get there." Chao sighed. "Cao Cao is already dividing his army up to send a force to capture and occupy. The peasants are turning out to be the best spies ever."

"Don't worry." Zilong patted her shoulder. "Just remember how much we did when we were just a few officers instead of an army."

"We need to destroy our enemies not just send them away for a little while!" Cal snapped. "Look at us! We hardly have an army left! It's a war of attrition!"

"What's gotten into you?" Chao asked. This was as bad as dealing with Ma Dai who was less than enthusiastic about returning home.

"I want to win." Cal nudged Ares and he began to walk away from the two warriors. "Not just die for a cause. I want to win."

"What the hell was that about?" Chao asked Zilong.

"My dad." The mighty warrior sighed. "He just has that effect on people."

"Oh." Chao watched his wife ride away, determined on spending every last minute with the people she cared for before he took her away with him. "We will win, we have to."

"Sure." Zilong nodded. "Let's just go enjoy ourselves for now, huh?"

"There aren't any Qiaos, dancer rapists or leper whores in camp right now. Are you sure you can enjoy yourself?" Chao chuckled and kicked his horse into a gallop to catch up with his wife.

"I'm going to miss you two very much." Zhao Yun sighed and let Tsunami walk on.

Liu Bei left Sun Shang Xiang and Pang Tong to talk strategy; she seemed to be more invested in ruling Shu now than ever. He was happy for the relief; this war was wearing him down. He didn't understand how men like Cao Cao and Shu Jian thrived on it. Maybe he wasn't meant to be a King after all.

"What's wrong brother?" Guan Yu looked up at his lord as he slumped down next to him at the campfire.

"Better not be any more of that 'I'm not a good king' bullshit." Zhang Fei grumbled and handed his bottle of musou wine to Bei.

"How can you both support me? Your children are back in Cheng Du fighting alone. I've left you to fight on your own so many times, Yu. How…."

"Quit your bitching already." Fei shoved him off the log. "If I wanted to listen to this whining I'd have brought my wife along."

"You keep us humble thou." Guan Yu mused. "Without you, I think we might actually enjoy this war."

"You two are not helping." Bei adjusted himself and got back up on the log.

"The way I look at it…" Yu smiled. "You're not really running the country anymore anyway."

"Yeah. What's up with that? What the hell got into Shang? Well other than you…"

"Uh…" Bei felt his cheeks begin to flush. "She wants to take Wu from her brother."

"Good idea." Fei nodded.

"I'll go to Cheng Du to assist and you and the army can turn around and have another food fight with Wu." Yu bit into a meatbun.

"What's going on now?" Zhao Yun was reluctant to approach. He always felt like the outsider when the three brothers were together.

"I'm going to Cheng Du." Guan Yu stated. "Alone."

"What?" Liu Bei realized this had all turned serious in a few seconds.

"Pang Tong asked me already. I agree, it makes sense. I'll ride ahead and support our kids and take command. We cannot lose the city, this fragile army must be allowed to refit and be protected while doing so." Guan Yu then added. "I'll take Red Hare and be there in a few days."

"So you volunteered so you can play with a horse." Fei chuckled. "Nice."

"Cal gave him to me." Yu smiled.

"Does Ma Chao know that?" Zilong asked.

"You gave him away?" Chao stammered.

"He's a warhorse. He deserves to be someone's only warhorse." She pet Red Hare and then added. "Besides, he's mine not yours."

"But…"

"I'm sure you can breed whatever mares you want to him, but he needs a job." Cal scratched the stallion and gave him a treat. "Besides, they are a good match."

"I guess." Chao sighed and chose not to pursue it any further. Sure he wasn't going to give up Lotus, but a cavalry commander could use a horse like Red Hare. He was unstoppable. Chao looked up as Guan Yu arrived with his tack. "Going somewhere so soon?"

"Cheng Du." The giant replied.

"Oh." So it really was an emergency. Chao nodded. "Good luck."

"I'll need more help with my kids than the Nanman." Guan Yu tried to be upbeat; he had to keep everyone's morale up.

"Easy for you to say…you don't have to deal with Xing Cai flirting with you every second you're near her." Guan Ping trudged up with his tack and dropped it beside his father. "Uh…by the way I'm coming with you."

"How do you intend to keep up?" Yu looked at his son and watched him brush down his own horse.

"I don't." Ping admitted. "But you'll need reinforcements. It will be a surprise…two days after you get there."

"You've already made your last stand…twice." Chao remembered. "I suppose you're a good team."

"Alright." Yu stroked his beard. "Only because I think you'll get in trouble here if I leave you in Zhang Fei's care."

Pang Tong yawned and stretched as a concubine cuddled closer and kissed his nipple. Morning was here and it was time to play master strategist again. He rolled out from underneath the girl and dressed. Guan Yu was already gone and Guan Ping was probably already 50 miles behind him. Now Cheng Du would not be as much of a concern.

Today however, the Ma Clan would take the road north and leave them. He knew that would be more of a morale hit than anything. Zilong was already moping around and Liu Bei never was good at hiding his emotions. Sun Shang Xiang was investing all her energy in planning to make Shu an Empire that her father would be proud of and he liked it. She barked orders and played the part well, which helped take some of the attention away from Liu Bei.

He finished dressing and grabbed his staff before leaving the tent. He donned his hat before opening his eyes in order to shield himself from the sun. He wasn't quite prepared for what he saw.

"I said get those tents down and packed, NOW!" Zhang Fei bellowed and emphasized his point by slicing a dog tent in half with his spear. "We have to support my brother and I'll be damned if I let some stupid tents slow us down! If you value it, pack it quick!"

"I was wondering who would take command." Pang Tong chuckled and made his way to the breakfast table. His lord was weary-eyed and quiet. His Queen nowhere to be found.

"I sent him off before and he was almost killed."

"That's why I sent him." Pang Tong sat down and rested his staff on the table. "Don't worry, Guan Yu is a big boy. Though, on second thought, I should have sent Shang's cousin with him. She could have distracted Meng Huo."

"Now I'm letting Ma Chao go too…"

"Look boss, we're at war. You have to stop getting clingy." Tong began to shovel eggs in his mouth. "He did pretty good against Cao Cao before we had him on our side. All he needs to do is take that damned gate back and keep it. I'll talk with Cal before they leave and give her an idea of what she has to get him to do. Just do me a favor and play fetch with Zilong, he's getting depressed. I can't handle everyone's separation anxiety."

"Tong…"

"Xuande, I do have a plan. Just because I'm not an arrogant ass who makes everyone endure my self-glorifying lectures, doesn't mean I'm not working. I'll let you in on a little secret."

"Oh?"

"When I went to get Cal's little crazy horse, I stopped off to visit Cao Cao's harem. I switched out their herbal remedy with a fertility treatment. When he gets home, every one of his whores will be impregnated. Quite possibly by me…."

Liu Bei had to smile. In fact, he had to start laughing.

A/N: This story is becoming more difficult for me to write with each new DW game. I can't promise this will ever end, but I will try to at least finish up the chapters I have written.