AN ACT OF WAR

POV: HANFU SONG- GENERAL OF THE IMPERIAL HAN FORCES.

LOCATION: THE SONG FAMILY MANOR- THE CRANNIES.

TIME: THE NIGHT AND MORNING AFTER THE IMPERIAL FEAST.

After the young prince left the hunting feast, you watch with a bit apprehension as the emperor orders the feast to continue non chalantly.

"Do you now believe what I was saying about the young prince taking too many liberties?" Zhang Rang inquire

"If that woman wanted either of us would we be left with our heads still attached?"

Unwilling to answer the man (if you can even call him that), you simply opt to divert the topic

"What I am worried about eunuch, is how did he managed to train a woman to be that strong."

"Are your soldiers not usually that strong?" The eunuch queries

"The royal guards are known as the best in all of china." You say with a slight frown.

"They are best trained, best armored and said to be worth at least fifty regular soldiers on the battle field."

"And yet a woman went through them like a knife through a flower?" Zhang Rang ponders

"I think I see your concern general"

"Exactly." You confirm

"If one of them can do this to all our royal guards, imagine what an army of them can do to all of us?"

"And you do not think the emperor should be warned?"

You look from the emperor's slightly shaking hands to the half conscious guards who were trying to limp towards the door and you burst into a small smile.

"I do not think any of them needs to be warned anymore." You say proudly

Just then (knowing that he should not run in room filled with his betters) a servant of yours begins to walk towards you in hurried impatient steps. When he got to you, he leaned close to you and whispered in your ears that all twenty of your geji slaves have escaped.

"Are you sure of what you are saying?" You ask with a stern tone.

"I am sure you are aware what the penalty for falsehood is."

"I swear by the heavens my lord I speak the truth." The servant pleads

"The house captain has....."

You quickly stop him with a wave of your hand before he talks too much and then walk up to the emperor and Kow-tow.

"O son of heaven, may your reign be long and peaceful." You begin

"This lowly servant has been called back home due to an emergency. I humbly beg your leave to attend to this matter."

The emperor slowly whispers to the empress (who has reclaimed her rightful place as soon the young prince left) and then turns to you.

"You have the mercy and grace of your emperor." He replies in a solemn voice.

"Go see to your affairs."

You bow to him again, leave the grand hall and together with the servant, do not stop riding until you arrive at the song family manor.

At the manor, your servants tries to welcome you with an elaborate ceremony but you quickly stop them.

"Has anyone been sent after the wayward slaves?" You bark

Your servant look at each other with fear in their eyes as though they were afraid of something.

"What happened?" You ask

"Well my lord, the captain of the guards took twenty of his best men to chase after the slaves but the slave who accompanied them as a guide said that..." The head slave who had been speaking paused abruptly.

"Well speak you imbecile!!" You bark

"What did the slave say?"

"Maybe it is best if you hear this from the slave himself." He replies and turns to whispers to one of the lesser slaves.

Within moments the slaves bring before you a heavily beaten man.

You turn to your head slave and ask

"Is he the guide?"

"Yes my lord"

"Why was he beaten like this?"

"I had to punish him for cowardice." He replies pointedly

You simply nod and turn to the slave

"Tell me everything that happened." You order

"Every single thing."

"Yes my lord." He replies as he kow-tows to you

"I was doing my work in the kitchen when I received an urgent summon from the captain. He told me about the runaway slaves and how he needed my guidance as he felt that they would flee towards the farming districts."

"And?" You ask calmly

"What happened?"

"The slaves were clever my lord." You hear a hint of admiration in his voice.

"They knew they could not outrun our horses so they began going through pathways and crowded street. Eventually the captain was able to out smart and outflank them and we surrounded them. However just as we were about to put them in chains, a group of armed men armored in red led by a man in a lion helmet showed up and surrounded us while demanding we give them the slaves. The captain refused to give them the slaves of course but those traitors would not take no for an answer. (He then bows his head) They killed every single one of your men sir and they took the slaves with them."

"Where did this happen?" You ask in a trickling rage.

"What farming district did this happen?"

"The neighbors calls it the crannies my lord but I don't ....."

His words were cut short as the trickle becomes a roar and you slam the table to pieces.

"Send a message to general He Jin informing him of the situation here." You say

"And do not forget to tell him to bring every available guard he can afford. If this young BASTARD wants a war then I swear by heaven and earth that even his father will save him this time.

If that bastard wants a war then I swear by heaven and earth I WILL GIVE HIM WAR.