The Tale of the Shi Dynasty
Part 1: The Rise of the Stars
Part 2: The Power of the Red Moon
Part 3: The Romance of the Four Leaders
Part 4: The Fall of the Flaming God
Part 1
The Rise of the Stars
Chapter 1
Initiative
It was a rainy night in ancient China. Two men inside of a small hut were discussing plans. "I need a bodyguard, Zhang Fei, times are becoming dangerous." Said a man in his late twenties. "I do agree with you there" Answered Zhang Fei "The Han looks as though it will be gone any day now."
"You are lucky, with your many sons, no one could ever bring your entire family down! You and your brother are very fortunate indeed." The man said, stroking his short beard.
"I would be willing to let you have on of my sons to train as a bodyguard" Zhang Fei said slowly "For a price though."
"Well, this seems very important.name your price!" He said straightening up.
Zhang He listened silently to his father's conversation with the guest.
"I cannot be made to leave here." He said quietly to himself. He climbed higher into the tree he was perched in. "They couldn't possibly find me up here." He said relaxing a bit. "They'll pick someone older anyway. Probably Jiao, he's an excellent fighter."
Zhang Fei and the man exited the hut and walked towards the quarters where all of Zhang He's brothers lay sleeping.
"I'm looking for someone a bit younger, perhaps 15 years or so" He heard the man say. 15 He thought I'm 15.
"Ahh, I have just the one! One of my sons is exactly that age!"
"He speaks as though we are cattle be surveyed." Zhang He said, quite perturbed.
Zhang Fei poked his head inside the building and looked around. He then withdrew it, surprised to find every one of his 15 sons there, save Zhang He.
"H-he must be." Zhang Fei said, scratching his head and looking around.
Zhang He sighed, "This fate is inevitable." and he leaped from the tree, landing as gracefully as a cat. "Here I am, Father!"
"Ahh, my son, it is time we said goodbye!" Zhang He didn't like the way he sounded so happy about parting with him. "This is Yuan Shao, you will be trained as his new bodyguard!" Said his father, a broad smile across his face. Yuan Shao stepped up and looked up and down Zhang He's skinny body.
"He's got a handsome face but.He doesn't look very strong, and not very tall either." Yuan Shao said, sounding disappointed "and by the looks of things, he is not very obedient.Eavesdropping is not a desirable quality." Zhang He looked at the ground.
"Look up at me, boy, and tell me your name." Yuan Shao ordered.
"I am Zhang He," He stated. The son of a cruel man. He thought.
"Well, Zhang He, you are my bodyguard now, you will obey orders from me, and follow the rules, or be abandoned, is this clear?"
"Clear, sir." Zhang He said sadly.
He turned to bid farewell to his father, but Zhang Fei was already walking back inside, pockets jingling. He followed Yuan Shao into the rainy night and stole one last glance at the only home he'd ever had, silently saying goodbye to his old life. Yuan Shao Mounted a white horse, and he set off, Zhang He following close behind. He walked for what seemed like hours, the cold piercing through his thin clothes. Rain beat down on his long hair making him colder than he ever remembered being. Yuan Shao, dressed in his thick armor, and metal helmet paid no never mind to the freezing cold. Zhang He began to shiver violently, but nonetheless followed behind his new master. His feet felt numb, and mud crept its way into his feeble shoes. After what seemed like forever, they reached the hill that led down to Yuan Shao's house. Zhang He stared down at the wonderful building. Never in his life had he seen such a splendid place. Yuan Shao owned a gigantic palace that looked as though it stretched on for miles. It had stables, servant's chambers, and huge chambers that were probably just there for looks! In the very front of the magnificent structure there was an enormous red gate, surrounded by Sakura trees all the way from Japan. "Take my horse to the stables, Zhang He. After your done with that, wake up the man called Hua Zhu, and he will show you to your quarters." Yuan Shao said smiling a little. "Yes, sir!" Zhang He said excitedly. Maybe this wasn't going to be as bad as he thought! He was going to get his own chamber. He hadn't ever had anything of his own before! He walked happily down to the large stable area. He found an empty stable and hitched the pure white horse inside. He tiptoed around looking for anyone that might be Hua Zhu. He came upon a large, but friendly looking man who was fast asleep on the ground. He judged by the empty wine keg lying next to him, that he had drank himself to sleep.
Zhang He approached him cautiously. Would it be ok if I woke him up? Would I get in trouble on my very first time here? Yuan Shao said he SHOULD wake him up. He gathered all the courage inside of him and shook the man gently. "Sir? Would you please wake up? Sir?" He said shaking him a bit more roughly.
"Wha- What's going on!?" The man said, springing to life. Zhang He stood surprised, the finally found his voice.
"Um, so very sorry to wake you sir, but I was wondering whether you know the whereabouts of a man named Hua Zhu, sir!" Zhang He said, hoping he hadn't done something wrong. Then, to his great relief the man laughed.
"Yeah, I know who he is" He laughed some more "I think he's. oh, that's right, I'm Hua Zhu!"
Zhang He realized that Hua Zhu was still a little drunk, and the worry returned.
"Well, I am Yuan Shao's new bodyguard, uh, in training, an he informed me that I should come to you." Zhang He said, hoping this would register with the man.
"Well, you should have said so! Right this way!" Hua Zhu said, teetering towards the castle. He followed Hua Zhu into the warm inside, and began to look around at the beautiful structure. There were expensive paintings, vases, and swords on display everywhere. Hua Zhu led him through hall upon hall of treasures. They finally came to a stop outside a giant red door. On the door was a painted golden symbol, the symbol for "bodyguard". Zhang He stared at the door, and gasped as Hua Zhu pushed it open.
The impressive red door only hid a more impressive looking room. It had more space than Zhang He had ever dreamed of and objects his father didn't even own. There was also a large, luxurious looking bed. Not only my own chambers, but also a bed! Zhang He gazed in ecstasy at his new room.
"T-this is my room?" He asked in awe.
"Yup, sure is!" Hua Zhu said happily.
"Are you sure there isn't some mistake? I mean, this is just amazing." Zhang He said, looking around.
" 'Course not! I've lived here most all my life, and if you think this good, just wait until you see the rest of the place!" Hua Zhu said with a laugh "Now, put on the clothes in that wardrobe tomorrow morning when you wake up, and go to the courtyard, which is right through that door." He said pointing "Also, your free to walk around and explore this entire building, just don't enter Yuan Shao's building without permission, that's the really big building on the east side. The baths are down the hall, the to the left, and you can just leave your clothes on the floor, the servants will pick them up. See you in the morning!" He said as he shut the door.
Zhang He stood there for a moment, dripping water all over the floor. Did that really just happen? Was he really going to live here? "I'll never have to sleep on the floor again!" He cheered, and ran over to the wardrobe to look at his new attire. Inside lay some of the most expensive and lovely clothes he had ever seen. He held a dark blue embroidered shirt up to himself and looked at himself in the looking glass. He smiled and laid the shirt down on his bed.
"Thank you father, this is the only good thing you've ever done for me." He said to himself. "Well, I'm going to go take a bath!" He said, taking a fresh pair of clothes with him.
Zhang He walked down the long painted halls, and found his way to the baths. He looked inside the room, discovered it was empty, and then took a look around. There were many baths, each able of fitting two or three people, all over the place. He laid his unused clothes on a dry shelf and let the soaking wet ones slide off. He went over to the closest bath and sunk into the deliciously hot water. He removed the tie in his ponytail and let his hair drop into the water. He lay there for a long while, letting the water cleanse his tired body. Then, all of a sudden, someone whipped into the room, also holding a pair of clothes. He had a cold, cruel face, and steely gray eyes. He had his jet-black hair up in a bun, save two long, thick strands on each side, which were tied at the end. He looked at Zhang He in contempt and walked over to a bath. Zhang He decided it was best to leave now, the man looked a little older than him, and a lot meaner. He quickly rose from the water, dried off quickly, and pulled on the new clothes. Just as he was exiting, the man spoke.
"I suppose you are the new bodyguard?" His voice was as cold as his face.
"Yeah, that's me." Zhang He said nervously, turning back to face the man.
"What's your name, then?" He snapped.
"Z-zhang He." He replied softly.
"Well, my name's Guo Tu, I'm Yuan Shao's strategist. You'd better be prepared, his training is extremely hard." Guo Tu said superiorly "He's really just finding them now, isn't he? Who were you before, anyway, a servant?"
"I am the son of the great Zhang Fei, for your information, I was never, and I will never be a servant!" Zhang He said, very offended.
"Right, my mistake, do forgive me." Guo Tu said smiling.
Zhang He stood there for a moment, and then rushed out of the room. Was everyone around here as mean as Guo Tu? Was Yuan Shao really going to train him so hard that he couldn't walk? Maybe all that glitters isn't gold.Zhang He thought, and he lay down on his comfortable bed. Despite the worried thoughts that shot through his head, Zhang He fell asleep surprisingly fast.
Part 1: The Rise of the Stars
Part 2: The Power of the Red Moon
Part 3: The Romance of the Four Leaders
Part 4: The Fall of the Flaming God
Part 1
The Rise of the Stars
Chapter 1
Initiative
It was a rainy night in ancient China. Two men inside of a small hut were discussing plans. "I need a bodyguard, Zhang Fei, times are becoming dangerous." Said a man in his late twenties. "I do agree with you there" Answered Zhang Fei "The Han looks as though it will be gone any day now."
"You are lucky, with your many sons, no one could ever bring your entire family down! You and your brother are very fortunate indeed." The man said, stroking his short beard.
"I would be willing to let you have on of my sons to train as a bodyguard" Zhang Fei said slowly "For a price though."
"Well, this seems very important.name your price!" He said straightening up.
Zhang He listened silently to his father's conversation with the guest.
"I cannot be made to leave here." He said quietly to himself. He climbed higher into the tree he was perched in. "They couldn't possibly find me up here." He said relaxing a bit. "They'll pick someone older anyway. Probably Jiao, he's an excellent fighter."
Zhang Fei and the man exited the hut and walked towards the quarters where all of Zhang He's brothers lay sleeping.
"I'm looking for someone a bit younger, perhaps 15 years or so" He heard the man say. 15 He thought I'm 15.
"Ahh, I have just the one! One of my sons is exactly that age!"
"He speaks as though we are cattle be surveyed." Zhang He said, quite perturbed.
Zhang Fei poked his head inside the building and looked around. He then withdrew it, surprised to find every one of his 15 sons there, save Zhang He.
"H-he must be." Zhang Fei said, scratching his head and looking around.
Zhang He sighed, "This fate is inevitable." and he leaped from the tree, landing as gracefully as a cat. "Here I am, Father!"
"Ahh, my son, it is time we said goodbye!" Zhang He didn't like the way he sounded so happy about parting with him. "This is Yuan Shao, you will be trained as his new bodyguard!" Said his father, a broad smile across his face. Yuan Shao stepped up and looked up and down Zhang He's skinny body.
"He's got a handsome face but.He doesn't look very strong, and not very tall either." Yuan Shao said, sounding disappointed "and by the looks of things, he is not very obedient.Eavesdropping is not a desirable quality." Zhang He looked at the ground.
"Look up at me, boy, and tell me your name." Yuan Shao ordered.
"I am Zhang He," He stated. The son of a cruel man. He thought.
"Well, Zhang He, you are my bodyguard now, you will obey orders from me, and follow the rules, or be abandoned, is this clear?"
"Clear, sir." Zhang He said sadly.
He turned to bid farewell to his father, but Zhang Fei was already walking back inside, pockets jingling. He followed Yuan Shao into the rainy night and stole one last glance at the only home he'd ever had, silently saying goodbye to his old life. Yuan Shao Mounted a white horse, and he set off, Zhang He following close behind. He walked for what seemed like hours, the cold piercing through his thin clothes. Rain beat down on his long hair making him colder than he ever remembered being. Yuan Shao, dressed in his thick armor, and metal helmet paid no never mind to the freezing cold. Zhang He began to shiver violently, but nonetheless followed behind his new master. His feet felt numb, and mud crept its way into his feeble shoes. After what seemed like forever, they reached the hill that led down to Yuan Shao's house. Zhang He stared down at the wonderful building. Never in his life had he seen such a splendid place. Yuan Shao owned a gigantic palace that looked as though it stretched on for miles. It had stables, servant's chambers, and huge chambers that were probably just there for looks! In the very front of the magnificent structure there was an enormous red gate, surrounded by Sakura trees all the way from Japan. "Take my horse to the stables, Zhang He. After your done with that, wake up the man called Hua Zhu, and he will show you to your quarters." Yuan Shao said smiling a little. "Yes, sir!" Zhang He said excitedly. Maybe this wasn't going to be as bad as he thought! He was going to get his own chamber. He hadn't ever had anything of his own before! He walked happily down to the large stable area. He found an empty stable and hitched the pure white horse inside. He tiptoed around looking for anyone that might be Hua Zhu. He came upon a large, but friendly looking man who was fast asleep on the ground. He judged by the empty wine keg lying next to him, that he had drank himself to sleep.
Zhang He approached him cautiously. Would it be ok if I woke him up? Would I get in trouble on my very first time here? Yuan Shao said he SHOULD wake him up. He gathered all the courage inside of him and shook the man gently. "Sir? Would you please wake up? Sir?" He said shaking him a bit more roughly.
"Wha- What's going on!?" The man said, springing to life. Zhang He stood surprised, the finally found his voice.
"Um, so very sorry to wake you sir, but I was wondering whether you know the whereabouts of a man named Hua Zhu, sir!" Zhang He said, hoping he hadn't done something wrong. Then, to his great relief the man laughed.
"Yeah, I know who he is" He laughed some more "I think he's. oh, that's right, I'm Hua Zhu!"
Zhang He realized that Hua Zhu was still a little drunk, and the worry returned.
"Well, I am Yuan Shao's new bodyguard, uh, in training, an he informed me that I should come to you." Zhang He said, hoping this would register with the man.
"Well, you should have said so! Right this way!" Hua Zhu said, teetering towards the castle. He followed Hua Zhu into the warm inside, and began to look around at the beautiful structure. There were expensive paintings, vases, and swords on display everywhere. Hua Zhu led him through hall upon hall of treasures. They finally came to a stop outside a giant red door. On the door was a painted golden symbol, the symbol for "bodyguard". Zhang He stared at the door, and gasped as Hua Zhu pushed it open.
The impressive red door only hid a more impressive looking room. It had more space than Zhang He had ever dreamed of and objects his father didn't even own. There was also a large, luxurious looking bed. Not only my own chambers, but also a bed! Zhang He gazed in ecstasy at his new room.
"T-this is my room?" He asked in awe.
"Yup, sure is!" Hua Zhu said happily.
"Are you sure there isn't some mistake? I mean, this is just amazing." Zhang He said, looking around.
" 'Course not! I've lived here most all my life, and if you think this good, just wait until you see the rest of the place!" Hua Zhu said with a laugh "Now, put on the clothes in that wardrobe tomorrow morning when you wake up, and go to the courtyard, which is right through that door." He said pointing "Also, your free to walk around and explore this entire building, just don't enter Yuan Shao's building without permission, that's the really big building on the east side. The baths are down the hall, the to the left, and you can just leave your clothes on the floor, the servants will pick them up. See you in the morning!" He said as he shut the door.
Zhang He stood there for a moment, dripping water all over the floor. Did that really just happen? Was he really going to live here? "I'll never have to sleep on the floor again!" He cheered, and ran over to the wardrobe to look at his new attire. Inside lay some of the most expensive and lovely clothes he had ever seen. He held a dark blue embroidered shirt up to himself and looked at himself in the looking glass. He smiled and laid the shirt down on his bed.
"Thank you father, this is the only good thing you've ever done for me." He said to himself. "Well, I'm going to go take a bath!" He said, taking a fresh pair of clothes with him.
Zhang He walked down the long painted halls, and found his way to the baths. He looked inside the room, discovered it was empty, and then took a look around. There were many baths, each able of fitting two or three people, all over the place. He laid his unused clothes on a dry shelf and let the soaking wet ones slide off. He went over to the closest bath and sunk into the deliciously hot water. He removed the tie in his ponytail and let his hair drop into the water. He lay there for a long while, letting the water cleanse his tired body. Then, all of a sudden, someone whipped into the room, also holding a pair of clothes. He had a cold, cruel face, and steely gray eyes. He had his jet-black hair up in a bun, save two long, thick strands on each side, which were tied at the end. He looked at Zhang He in contempt and walked over to a bath. Zhang He decided it was best to leave now, the man looked a little older than him, and a lot meaner. He quickly rose from the water, dried off quickly, and pulled on the new clothes. Just as he was exiting, the man spoke.
"I suppose you are the new bodyguard?" His voice was as cold as his face.
"Yeah, that's me." Zhang He said nervously, turning back to face the man.
"What's your name, then?" He snapped.
"Z-zhang He." He replied softly.
"Well, my name's Guo Tu, I'm Yuan Shao's strategist. You'd better be prepared, his training is extremely hard." Guo Tu said superiorly "He's really just finding them now, isn't he? Who were you before, anyway, a servant?"
"I am the son of the great Zhang Fei, for your information, I was never, and I will never be a servant!" Zhang He said, very offended.
"Right, my mistake, do forgive me." Guo Tu said smiling.
Zhang He stood there for a moment, and then rushed out of the room. Was everyone around here as mean as Guo Tu? Was Yuan Shao really going to train him so hard that he couldn't walk? Maybe all that glitters isn't gold.Zhang He thought, and he lay down on his comfortable bed. Despite the worried thoughts that shot through his head, Zhang He fell asleep surprisingly fast.