Post by The Butcher on Jun 11, 2010 3:39:47 GMT
As the sun started to crest through the clouds, the big man let out a yawn fit for an ogre. He stretched his arms out wide as though waking from a pleasant dream. In truth he had not been asleep, though he had very much wanted to before. With a glare from above, though, it would be harder to do so. So he flicked his nose with his thumb in attempt to wake himself up just a little bit more. He watched the as the head of his horse bounced up and down in a rhythm with the road before them, and again he flicked his nose as he started to drift again. He was riding through southern China, and he knew better than anyone the dangers that lurked here. Giving his head a good shake, he looked about trying to reoriented himself to his surroundings.
The land before him was very wet, much like most of the southern country, with mountains on both the south-west, as well as east. It was something of a gentle land, in which just so happened that it hid many secrets within. And the place where Mao was heading happened to be a little village about three leagues away from the main city of Chai Sang. It was at that place that Hui Dan lived, a man who had been part of a posse that the Butcher had run. The man had retired from the life of banditry and bloodshed, something Mao himself could never do. Of course the man had also decided to settle down and start a family, and Mao had let him go with his blessings.
The ride from when the sun peaked out, to when Mao arrived closer to the village was only an hour, but as he got closer, he noticed that group had gathered outside. He assumed it was some festivity, but as he got closer, he noticed that they were cavalrymen of Ma Tan, the local governor of Chai Sang. They had surrounded a man dressed in fine silks of purple and green, yet they looked more like guards than raiders. In either case, Mao simply shrugged his shoulders and kept on by as it was no concern of his. They were roughly a quarter of mile from the village, and yet they were not heading toward it in any hurry. Of course, as he passed, all the men gave him an evil glare, and he guessed it had something to do with his impressive size and the two nasty looking weapons that were sticking out on either side of the saddle, he had not tried to hide them, as bandits took measure and knew better to attack.
By the time he had arrived at the top of the road that would start it’s decent into the rice village, the soldiers had turned back to the other man, who was giving them orders. Several peeled off in different directions, and when Mao was certain they were not coming for him, he clicked his horse back towards the village.
As he entered the village, many of the citizens came out to stare at him, many of the children wide eyed, and many of the adults in silent acknowledgement. Sima Mao had come through this way several times when he was in a different life, these people had sheltered his gang, and more recently, when he, Sun Dao, and Liang Xun had needed to hid after there little crusade from the Man who tried to have them killed. He was friends with them, as friendly as he could possibly. So as he dismounted he got to occasional handshake and a kiss on the cheek from many of the younger women. Yet he made his way to Hui Dan’s house, and hitched his horse to the railing outside it.
The other man was sitting out on his porch bouncing one of his kids on his knee, making faces as the child who proceeded to break out in fits of giggles and laughter. As Mao approached, Dan did not even glance up at the man, but beside him was spare chair that Mao proceeded to sit down in. He dropped into it quite heavily, yet it did not break under his massive weight. It only gave a slight squeak of annoyance at him. They sat there for a couple of minutes, not saying a word to one another, though the other man kept the child amused constantly. Finally his wife came out, smiled and patted Mao on the shoulder before taking the kid. Finally Dan was able to turn his attention to his new arrival and guest.
“Surprised to see so early, Mao, you generally arrive late. Like can’t see your hand late. Always scares the death out of the wife.” He said with his own amused chuckle. A joke that went over Mao’s head, but he laughed just the same.
Leaning the chair back, the Butcher spoke. “Planned all ahead this time, you’d have been impressed. But then again, I got myself servants to do a lot of the thinking part of travel. I got me a title now and everything. Field Marshal they call me up in Xiang Yang, a general in Liu Biao’s army.” His rough voice seemed somewhat playful as he spoke his old friend. He rested his hands on top of his muscled chest as he continued onward. “So what’s with them Chai Sang boys out yonder? Didn‘t look like they was planning anything friendly.”
Hui Dan grunted at the question and grabbed a cup close to his chair. It was tea, mixed with something else, a favorite of the former bandit. To all of his companions, they found it nasty. Mao himself refused to even smell it. Taking a few gulps of the dangerous brew, Dan took a glance at his friend. The Butcher could tell that he did not wish to speak about what was going on, but he knew that eventually he would have to. Mao would find out later as to why.
“Ma Tan’s ‘peacekeeping’ force. They are nothing more than tax collectors and bandits. They are worse than even you were, if that can be possible.” He shook his head as he spoke. Sima Mao was somewhat surprised as he had not known that Ma Tan was even corrupt, to which Mao glanced at Dan. “To answer your question, I don’t believe Tan knows that they take more than they should. Though they shouldn’t be taking anything, considering that we don’t do anything but trade with Chai Sang.” Dan spit down at the ground in frustration at the fact that there was very little he could do about it.
The two spoke for a time about the politics of the land, and the expanding influence of the warlords that the Han government had allowed given rise. Hui Dan asked if the rumored honor of Liu Biao was true or not. Mao himself had no real knowledge one way or the other, as he didn’t really pay attention or even really care for that matter. Yet as they spoke, the man that had been surrounded by guardsmen was approaching them. They came before Hui Dan’s house and positioned themselves in a defensive half-circle. Sima Mao wore a cocky smile, but Dan wore a face of disgust. Mao wondered quickly if he finally figured out that the tea he was drinking tasted like piss.
“So,” The man in purple started. “Are you going to pay up now, Hui Dan, or do we need to burn your house down?” The man wore a sneer that was a mixture of contempt and arrogance. It was one of those faces that other people want to bash into a blood mess, but the Butcher restrained himself. But he could not help but crack a laugh at the man. He whipped his head around at Mao, who simply let his own cruel smile show. Hui Dan touched Mao’s arm to make sure the large man didn’t do anything to foolish.
Shaking his head, Mao’s friend spoke. “I already told you, your government has no jurisdiction here. I won’t pay you, and if you think burning my house down will accomplish something, you are welcomed to try.” He ended the last part with a growl at the men, who proceeded to back up a little bit. The clown on the horse did not, he didn’t see the animal rage in Dan’s eyes. Very protective of his family and home, as any true father would be.
The fool continued on without noting that his back up had taken a step backwards with their mounts. “This land has been granted to Governor Ma Tan by Emperor Liu Xian. One would be wise to understand that Emperor Liu Xian controls all under-the-heaven, including this dump you call a home. If you will not surrender the money that makes sure our troops are able to protect you from,” he glanced at Mao. “Riff-raff. Then I will be forced to take it by force.” He waited for Hui Dan’s own rebuttal, as did Mao...
The land before him was very wet, much like most of the southern country, with mountains on both the south-west, as well as east. It was something of a gentle land, in which just so happened that it hid many secrets within. And the place where Mao was heading happened to be a little village about three leagues away from the main city of Chai Sang. It was at that place that Hui Dan lived, a man who had been part of a posse that the Butcher had run. The man had retired from the life of banditry and bloodshed, something Mao himself could never do. Of course the man had also decided to settle down and start a family, and Mao had let him go with his blessings.
The ride from when the sun peaked out, to when Mao arrived closer to the village was only an hour, but as he got closer, he noticed that group had gathered outside. He assumed it was some festivity, but as he got closer, he noticed that they were cavalrymen of Ma Tan, the local governor of Chai Sang. They had surrounded a man dressed in fine silks of purple and green, yet they looked more like guards than raiders. In either case, Mao simply shrugged his shoulders and kept on by as it was no concern of his. They were roughly a quarter of mile from the village, and yet they were not heading toward it in any hurry. Of course, as he passed, all the men gave him an evil glare, and he guessed it had something to do with his impressive size and the two nasty looking weapons that were sticking out on either side of the saddle, he had not tried to hide them, as bandits took measure and knew better to attack.
By the time he had arrived at the top of the road that would start it’s decent into the rice village, the soldiers had turned back to the other man, who was giving them orders. Several peeled off in different directions, and when Mao was certain they were not coming for him, he clicked his horse back towards the village.
As he entered the village, many of the citizens came out to stare at him, many of the children wide eyed, and many of the adults in silent acknowledgement. Sima Mao had come through this way several times when he was in a different life, these people had sheltered his gang, and more recently, when he, Sun Dao, and Liang Xun had needed to hid after there little crusade from the Man who tried to have them killed. He was friends with them, as friendly as he could possibly. So as he dismounted he got to occasional handshake and a kiss on the cheek from many of the younger women. Yet he made his way to Hui Dan’s house, and hitched his horse to the railing outside it.
The other man was sitting out on his porch bouncing one of his kids on his knee, making faces as the child who proceeded to break out in fits of giggles and laughter. As Mao approached, Dan did not even glance up at the man, but beside him was spare chair that Mao proceeded to sit down in. He dropped into it quite heavily, yet it did not break under his massive weight. It only gave a slight squeak of annoyance at him. They sat there for a couple of minutes, not saying a word to one another, though the other man kept the child amused constantly. Finally his wife came out, smiled and patted Mao on the shoulder before taking the kid. Finally Dan was able to turn his attention to his new arrival and guest.
“Surprised to see so early, Mao, you generally arrive late. Like can’t see your hand late. Always scares the death out of the wife.” He said with his own amused chuckle. A joke that went over Mao’s head, but he laughed just the same.
Leaning the chair back, the Butcher spoke. “Planned all ahead this time, you’d have been impressed. But then again, I got myself servants to do a lot of the thinking part of travel. I got me a title now and everything. Field Marshal they call me up in Xiang Yang, a general in Liu Biao’s army.” His rough voice seemed somewhat playful as he spoke his old friend. He rested his hands on top of his muscled chest as he continued onward. “So what’s with them Chai Sang boys out yonder? Didn‘t look like they was planning anything friendly.”
Hui Dan grunted at the question and grabbed a cup close to his chair. It was tea, mixed with something else, a favorite of the former bandit. To all of his companions, they found it nasty. Mao himself refused to even smell it. Taking a few gulps of the dangerous brew, Dan took a glance at his friend. The Butcher could tell that he did not wish to speak about what was going on, but he knew that eventually he would have to. Mao would find out later as to why.
“Ma Tan’s ‘peacekeeping’ force. They are nothing more than tax collectors and bandits. They are worse than even you were, if that can be possible.” He shook his head as he spoke. Sima Mao was somewhat surprised as he had not known that Ma Tan was even corrupt, to which Mao glanced at Dan. “To answer your question, I don’t believe Tan knows that they take more than they should. Though they shouldn’t be taking anything, considering that we don’t do anything but trade with Chai Sang.” Dan spit down at the ground in frustration at the fact that there was very little he could do about it.
The two spoke for a time about the politics of the land, and the expanding influence of the warlords that the Han government had allowed given rise. Hui Dan asked if the rumored honor of Liu Biao was true or not. Mao himself had no real knowledge one way or the other, as he didn’t really pay attention or even really care for that matter. Yet as they spoke, the man that had been surrounded by guardsmen was approaching them. They came before Hui Dan’s house and positioned themselves in a defensive half-circle. Sima Mao wore a cocky smile, but Dan wore a face of disgust. Mao wondered quickly if he finally figured out that the tea he was drinking tasted like piss.
“So,” The man in purple started. “Are you going to pay up now, Hui Dan, or do we need to burn your house down?” The man wore a sneer that was a mixture of contempt and arrogance. It was one of those faces that other people want to bash into a blood mess, but the Butcher restrained himself. But he could not help but crack a laugh at the man. He whipped his head around at Mao, who simply let his own cruel smile show. Hui Dan touched Mao’s arm to make sure the large man didn’t do anything to foolish.
Shaking his head, Mao’s friend spoke. “I already told you, your government has no jurisdiction here. I won’t pay you, and if you think burning my house down will accomplish something, you are welcomed to try.” He ended the last part with a growl at the men, who proceeded to back up a little bit. The clown on the horse did not, he didn’t see the animal rage in Dan’s eyes. Very protective of his family and home, as any true father would be.
The fool continued on without noting that his back up had taken a step backwards with their mounts. “This land has been granted to Governor Ma Tan by Emperor Liu Xian. One would be wise to understand that Emperor Liu Xian controls all under-the-heaven, including this dump you call a home. If you will not surrender the money that makes sure our troops are able to protect you from,” he glanced at Mao. “Riff-raff. Then I will be forced to take it by force.” He waited for Hui Dan’s own rebuttal, as did Mao...