Chapter 1

Before the Storm 

“We should worry more about Li Jue than Liu Biao. Jue may not be the smartest, but at least he has a backbone. Biao is soft and won’t move against us.” Admiral Yao Huan said.  The war council was underway, “Let us watch our northern borders. In return, I hear Shang Yong doesn’t have its allegiance with anyone yet. Perhaps we should move in, take it, and fortify our position, having a stronger presence in the river.”  Yao was one of the younger men at the council, but his weather beaten face and scared arms showed him a man who went through much peril. His eye patch hid a ghastly wound in which he received at sea many years ago.

Wen Chun smiled and shook his head, “No Admiral Yao, you must understand the position that Liu Biao is in. His has much strength in his positioning. Now with Sun Ce amassing an army, he may move to secure his lands by coming north or going south. He is not a smart man, but he isn’t the man to just sit idly either.  He will move.”

“Alas, I doubt Lord Wen’s father-in-law will be hostile” Wen Shao, Lun’s younger brother and chief strategist began, “Let us not forget about Yuan Shu. That man has taken the Imperial Seal, I am told, in exchange for those troops to Sun Ce. How Sun Ce came across the imperial seal I shall never know. He’s a man with great ambition. I would take much care.”

No matter what it seemed, there was to be enemies, which was all clear to Wen Lun. He nodded several times before speaking, his green eyes looking at the faces around him, “I agree with the first course of action set forth by Admiral Yao. The fact that Shang Yong has no allegiances yet is great for us. However, we need my father-in-law to be at our backs. Father, do you both still believe you are friends?”

Chun smiled and nodded, admiring the way his son thought, “He wished me to sup with him in the next month.”

“Good, let us expand westward, take Shang Yong, and cement an alliance between us. That will be our first course of action. Has your sister left yet?” Wen Lun asked his son, Wen Qian.

His son nodded, “She left last night father. Why is it that we want this Huan Jie so bad anyway?”

“We want Huan Jie, for his skills in governing, and for no one else to have him. He could be of great use to us. Now, let us begin preparation for battle. While we are at it, I heard the loyalties of Yuan Shu’s officers aren’t what they should be. Let us see if we can steal some from them. And Li Jue’s while we are at it. We are sure to come to blows with them anyway.”

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And like that, Wen Lun started his conquest. Months passed by as he raised his troops and forged an alliance with Liu Biao, who graciously accepted to an alliance. Huan Jie, was swayed over not by Wen Xiang as originally intended, but was visited by Wen Chun a week later, who persuaded him to join him, against all other offers.  Yuan Shu foolishly proclaimed himself Emperor of the Cheng, an many began to mobilize against this usurper.  Liao Hua, an ex-Yellow Turban commander and warrior, was recruited by Meng Rui, Wen Lun’s Infantry commander, and the strength of Wen Lun only grew.

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The night was young and Lun stood overlooking his balcony, Lady Liu Jia lay quietly in the room. His chest was bare, showing the benefits of his training. He was a fighter, that much was true, and he would rather fight on the front lines then hide in the back. His wife always said that it would be the death of him. He smiled to himself and slid back into the room, kissing his wife sweetly on the cheek he strode from his chambers in a robe and patrolled the governor’s palace.

A quaint place it was, it was devoid of an overbearing luxury, being simple yet refined, as dictated by Lun’s wife, was an attractive place. Quietly he walked through the halls, not making a sound. Guards nodded towards their lord as made his rounds. He often walked through the night when he couldn’t sleep.

As he made his rounds, he stopped by the gate. He smiled at the gate captain and stood by him, “How goes the watch?”

The captain smiled warmly, “It goes well Lord Wen, it’s always a pleasure to see you up here.”

Wen Lun smiled and looked out at the road, “It seems to me as if there is a rider. And it seems urgent.”

The rider moved quickly, on small chestnut horse, lean and cut, a scout’s horse, Wen Lun thought to himself. But the poor beast seemed to be strained. The rider on its back looked rougher. He was caked in mud, his hair swept back behind him in the wind. When he reached the gate he immediately dismounted yelling, “Open the gate, I have news of Shang Yong!”

Wen Lun nodded to the captain and strode down the steps to the gate.  The gate opened and the man stepped in. He seemed taken back when he saw his lord and bowed graciously, “Lord Wen! I was not expecting you so soon! I had no idea you were out. I would have cleaned up first!” The man stammered out.

Wen Lun shook his head, “No worry.  What news of Shang Yong? I planned to march the troops out recently.”

“Your Lord Father-In-Law has taken it for himself!” The man said still catching his breath, “I came to stop you from marching out.”

Damnit! Father was right; Liu Biao still had plans of his own. “Thank you for this information. Clean yourself up and rest, you’ve earned it.” Wen Lun stepped back and shook his head, this wasn’t good at all. His only safe option was now taken from him, and Wan was still out of the picture. He didn’t want to provoke Li Jue. His mind raced with ideas and plans, but he knew he would have to have another war council.

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The next day, Wen called his council once more, “My friends, Shang Yong now rests in Liu Biao’s hands, so our first option cannot go as planned.”

Admiral Yao groaned, “Gods damn him! Then north! Let us take Wan!”

Wen Chun shook his head, “That would provoke Li Jue, and possibly even Cao Cao, since he has taken Luo Yang.”

“I agree,” Wen Shao said, fanning himself, his clean shaven face made him look much younger than he was, “If there is to be a fight, let Li Jue and Cao Cao fight. I believe we must strike eastward.”

There was a murmur in the council, “But what of Yuan Shu?” Wen Qian asked, looking at his uncle quizzically.

Wen Shao laughed, “Yuan Shu sealed his own fate when he declared himself emperor, we can use this as a pretense to go to war. Others will join us in this war, you have my word on that. Let us be the first to strike out.”

“We should take Wan! Li Jue will be threatened and fight us. Then we could take Chang An!” Yao said loudly.

“Why? So we can have the emperor?” Shao sneered.

“ENOUGH!” Wen Lun bellowed out, silence soon followed and Wen Lun closed his eyes, “Father, what would you suggest?”

Wen Chun smiled warmly at his son, “I would choose to fight Yuan Shu, as your brother suggested.”

“Yao, I appreciate your counsel, but as my brother and father said, it would be wise for us to not provoke Cao Cao or Li Jue. We will not occupy Wan. However, we shall move east, let us take Ru Nan from the usurper. His men will perish for turning their backs on the Han Empire!” Wen Lun roared at the last few words, “East we shall go!” And east was the way they went.