A Tale of Two Cheng Du's [OBJ]

[Tan Zhi Han]

The morning had been like any other, bright and sunny with a light breeze. The Guo family was without renown or ambition. There was elder Guo, father Guo, mother Guo, and eight children, the eldest already with wife and child. Every Guo was already awake and at the till. Of the eight children, there were seven boys and one girl. Each child had been born a year from the other except for the girl who had been born a twin with the second son; the eldest son was eighteen, and the youngest son twelve. The Guo family grew rice and assorted grains for their daily meals, and whatever was left over was spread other villagers. The Guo were lucky to have been blessed because in all their days they never went without. And yet the Guo never wanted for more either. They were happy simply growing crops and living their days. At least most of the Guo were without ambition.

The daughter, Guo Zi Mei, always dreamt of living in a palace, wearing wonderful silk dresses, and having strong powerful men woo after her with mountains of treasure and acts of heroism. It was these same dreams that lead to the debacle in the coming weeks. Occasionally, the eldest and second son would go into market to sell rice and buy tools and seed for the next harvest, as well as some meat and seasoning for festivals. It was on one of these days that Mei asked for permission from father Guo to accompany the elder and second son.

”Father, I only wish to learn how to properly trade. Elder brother already has his own family, and soon second brother will have his. They will not be able to continue this trip every month for much longer.”

”Mei, you are still unmarried, if you go out the way you are, surely someone will take notice, perhaps some who are not good men. I would rather you meet some nice men of the village, why not the men of the Yan family? They make fine soldiers, and they will surely become officers soon enough.”

Mei began to pout as her father went on about the Yan family. Sometimes she wondered if the father was not himself in love with the Yan the way he would prattle on about their deeds and accomplishments.

”Father, the Yan are brutes alone. They are not heroes or men of worth. I would go to the market and learn a skill to help the family. Please.”

At this point the elder son stepped in.

”Father, why not invite some of the Yan brothers to come with us along with Mei. They have nothing else to do until the next battle, and Mei seems insistent on coming along. A compromise.”

At this the father waved his hands in surrender. And shook his head and went back to tilling the field.

”You children always gang up on me, how can my voice alone stand against a tide of nagging. Go go go. Leave me to my field.”

Mei smiled with glee and excitedly packed her things and jumped into the cart with her second brother as the elder brother laid the whip to the oxen. The dirt road was smooth with constant use. As the three made their way toward market, they happened by one home after the next until finally at the end of the village, they found the Yan house. After a quick chat, three of the Yan brothers hopped in alongside Mei. Each one pushing and shoving the other to show how strong they were; each of the Yan brothers was older than Mei, but they were all around the same age. The Yan brothers were actually cousins, but because of their closeness, everyone simply called them brothers. Mei smiled and pretended to be impressed by their odd shows of manliness.

After a few hours, the group finally reached the market and the Yan brothers and elder brother unloaded the supplies and began to sell their goods. Second brother and Mei sat in the cart with nothing to do.

”Brother, let’s go to a tavern. I hear a song being sung.”

”Mei, I don’t think that’s a good idea. Taverns are not good places for young women.”

”It will only be a second, you worry far too much. You are starting to act like father.”

With that last comment, second brother scowled and then jumped off the cart and started moving towards the tavern. Mei followed with a sly grin. She always got what she wanted. When they entered the tavern, everything was as second brother feared. Men were hooting and hollering, and falling over each other drunk. But Mei only saw one thing, the woman on stage in beautiful dress and singing a ballad. Her voice lulled those nearby to blush and smile. All those men were in love with that woman. Once the song was finished, the men all began to tussle again, and the woman bowed politely and left the stage. The men in the tavern began hooting and hollering for another, some even throwing trash at the owner. Second brother pulled for Mei to leave, but Mei resisted.

At this time, one Fu Long took notice of the two. Fu Long was a handsome man with long flowing hair and handsome dress. Fu Long approached the two.

”Young lady, you are much too beautiful to be standing here. Why are you not on stage soothing the crowd?”

Mei was taken entirely with the handsome stranger, and didn’t know how to reply, but second brother was not so impressed.

”Listen, we aren’t here for that, we are leaving.

Fu Long pulled second brother’s arm away with a terrifying strength, and then put his arm around Mei and moved her towards the stage. At this time, two of the men that had been sitting with Fu Long stood and moved on second brother. Second brother was quickly put out the tavern. Second brother quickly raced back to the cart and found elder brother, informing him of what had happened.

”You idiot, this is what father feared. What will we tell him now. Damnit, let’s just get her back. Yan brothers, come on, we have to get Mei from the tavern.”

The five men moved to the tavern and entered swiftly, but when they entered there were only a scattered few left in the building. No Mei, no strangers, just some merchants and the owner. Elder brother approached the owner.

”Good sir, where is the girl that was just here?”

The owner looked about and quietly whispered into elder brother’s ear. As the owner spoke more and more, elder brother’s eyes grew wider and wider. The other brothers leaned in to listen. They also became shocked by what the owner had to say. After the conversation, the five went back to the cart.

”We have to report this… No other way to go about it, we can’t handle this ourselves.

…………………………………………………………………….

Han had only been in the Cheng Du area for a few days, but he was already quite familiar with the city. He loved the market and often patrolled the area personally. His past careers had often led him to the market. It was this fateful day that he would be stopped by a group of burly men...

(To be continued soon)

[Tan Zhi Han]

Immediately Aisin Kuro and Liu Gong stepped to block the way with weapons raised. Han immediately knocked both of their arms down. We will not raise arms in the city. The five men were taken aback by the two formidable warriors before them, but the elder brother again moved forward when he saw the official seal on Han’s robe.

”Please officer, my name is Guo An. My sister Guo Zi Mei has been abducted… I turn to the government for aid in this matter…”

Guo An knelt to the ground and clasped his hands as he begged for help. Han immediately slipped through Kuro and Gong and raised Guo An.

”Please, come with me, this is no place for important discussion.”

Han and his men brought Guo and the others into the nearest magistrate’s office where Han had tea brought out for all.

”Take your time… Regain your breath before you tell me what has happened.”

The men drank. Guo An took one sip before beginning his illustrious tale… After telling of the details from the farm up to the market, he then told of what the owner of the tavern had said…

”The owner told me thus: My sister Mei was led to the stage, where the spokesman of the organization, Fu Long announced that my sister would be the next Princess of Hei Long Fei. Hei Long Fei is one of the most notorious crime organizations in all of Yi. Fu Long is only the Cheng Du representative. And all other crime bosses in the area pay tribute to him. These men are not simple bandits or highwaymen. They are not simple pickpockets or miscreants. These criminals are officials, ministers, officers, soldiers, merchants, etc. They are wolves in sheep skin. And their power and control run deeper than the underground world… The last thing the owner told me before scurrying away was that pursuing my sister was pointless. That only death would follow, best to just forget her…”

At this Guo An began to lose control of his emotions, sobbing behind his arm. Han stood up and placed his left hand on Guo An’s left shoulder to motion some comfort. He also motioned to a runner with his right hand.

”Inform Lord Liu Yan and the other officials immediately.”

Han turned back to Guo An.

”Leave this matter to the officials. We will bring her back.”

At this the Yan brothers moved to argue, but Han swiftly raised a hand to them.

”This matter is much more dangerous than you know. Return to your homes. I will meet you all back in your village. Please, go in peace.

With that Han had information written down for other officials to look over referring to the case, and to the location of where Han was headed. And so Han, Kuro, Gong, and two squads of troops left the office for the underground…

……………………………………………………………..

Having been a street rat for a good part of his life, Han made the underground one of his first stops whenever entering a new city. Without any other clues, this could be difficult, but already Han had begun gathering news from the underground.

The underground is not hell or chaos. Quite the opposite, the underground was a place where order and humanity reigned. True, the underground’s order was against the law, but what cannot be done through law, can be done in the underground. And so Han found himself in this place, not too far from the palace, in fact, some rumors were that an entrance led to the Palace interior itself, an artifact of original design perhaps, or maybe a new work in progress. The latter placed some worry on Han, but for now he had other business at hand. Han entered into a shabby horse shelter beside an equally trashy tavern at the easternmost edge of the market district. Han walked up to the horse handler boy.

“I require passage to the underground.”

The boy looked up from his work, and then went back to combing a horse.

”To what underground are you speaking of?”

Han saw Kuro move slightly to his weapon, but stop when Han glared. Han looked back to the boy.

”I go to where Cheng Du ends and Cheng Du begins. Where laws fail and laws rule.”

The actions of Kuro had been enough to shake the boy up. The boy ignored what Han had to say and just motioned to the end of the barn and went back to his horse. Han and his men moved to the end of the barn… Han looked around, there was no lighting in the barn. After some examination, he found a latch to a hidden door. Han motioned for a lamp. Kuro brought forth the lamp and lowered it somewhat into the hatch… The light revealed a narrow passageway that went in two directions, one leading east and one heading north. Han looked up at his comrades, and then entered the hatch.

The smell of mildew was heavy, and the air was dank. The light of the lamp only went for three meters in this place. Han had to duck considerably to even move. The party entered one by one… Han looked closely at the ground. Footsteps moved both ways… Han looked at the footsteps, searching for a girl’s footsteps… Nothing obvious came up. Han wasn’t sure which way to go, but he decided they would go east. Han and his men moved east…

After some time of nothing but the shuffling of feet and the heavy breathing of men unused to thin air, Han found a divergence in the path: one left, one right, and one straight. Han had no idea what to do now… But decisiveness was important. Han knew these paths had to go somewhere, and that anywhere would have some underground agents, and thus, some source of information. Han continued straight.

Soon enough, the passageway opened up into a small room with lighting. Han doused his lamp and those behind did the same…

(At this time, the runner has spread the word to officials of Liu Yan in Cheng Du. If
You would like to participate, please go to the Magistrates office near the market district. The style of this roleplay will be a detective type. Also, there is a time limit. It is common knowledge to those familiar with crime that whenever a girl is kidnapped in this manner, pursuers usually have about 3 days before the girl will be far from the region and her whereabouts nearly impossible to recover.)

[Norion]

Magashi was still laying in his room in the palace, breaking down the letter Kuzumi had given him. Was there some hidden meaning behind it? Was she trying to tell him something? Of course she was trying to tell you something, Magashi. You idiot. You dolt.

Thank You.[/i]

He held the piece of parchment in his hands. She had used his quill. His ink. He lifted the pen to his nose, closed his eyes, and smelled. It smelt of lavender... had she bathed while he was out.

Magashi, are you little teenage girl? You're acting like this is a love note. Calm down."[/i]

Magashi sighed as as he sat up in his bed. He tossed the note to his nightstand just before a quick slam on his door made him stand even quicker. A messenger stood in the doorway to his room. The messenger bowed.

"Yes? What is it?"

"There's been a kidnapping, sir. You've been requested at the Magistrate Office in the Market District."

Magashi's heart skipped a beat, and he pushed the messenger out of the way as he bolted through the halls of the palace. He screamed down the stairs, and could only think of one thing. At this point, Magashi could only think of one person who could have gotten kidnapped. Only one.

Kuzumi.

Magashi just about sprinted through the streets of Cheng Du, weaving his way through men, women, and children alike. He arrived at the Magistrate's Office almost breathless, but his heart was pumping so loud in his ears he could hardly tell. He took a deep breath to compose himself, and he walked into the Office a completely different man than the one who had sprinted there.

Magashi knew enough about crime to realize that he didn't have much time if he was to save her. He also realized he had an upper-hand in this situation because of the people he and Kazi knew. Magashi knew all the wrong people in Cheng Du. Hell, he just secured a smuggling ring for Liu Yan. As an assistant to the Demon of Ba Shu, he had a certain amount of lee-way among the crooks of this city. They knew of the Demon's reputation, and what he could do to them.

However, Magashi also realized that his brother's reputation wouldn't be enough. He might even need his brother's help in saving this girl who had already been through so much.

"I've been told there was a kidnapping, and to report to here for details. Magashi Shimazu, brother of Kazi Shimazu and loyal officer of Liu Yan, reporting."

((I know that the girl's name is Kuzumi, but this works really well into a thread I just did for Magashi where he met a girl named Kuzumi; she left abruptly. So, having a kidnapped girl works really well for Magashi's story.))

[Tan Zhi Han]

Day 1

The officer in attendance at the magistrate’s office immediately saluted Magashi as he entered.

”We have been waiting sir. The dispatch is... here.”

The officer detailed exactly what the situation with the girl was.

(Her name is Guo Zi Mei. Fu Long of Hei Long Fei abducted her. Tan Zhi Han headed east towards a ratty tavern to find entrance into the underground. Do not underestimate Hei Long Fei.)

.......................................................................

Han observed the room as he inched closer. The smell of alcohol was mixed with the heavy smell of oil. On closer examination there was the reflection of metal. Two voices could be made out, one heavy and angry, the other one low and tired.

”Why’d I get the bad job? What did I do to the boss? Damnit, I fell asleep once. So yeah, some thieves stole some jewels. How was I supposed to know that the wine was poisoned? Am I right?!”

”Mmm… Jewels… Poison… Zzz…”

”Damn right I’m right.”

Han could now make out the two figures. One was definitely passed out in a chair on the right side, facing Han. The other man was quite horizontally obese. The man was pacing back and forth on the left, staring at the barrels piled up. Liquor stained both men’s clothing. Han signaled Kuro and Gong to draw arrows. Han drew his own bow, and knelt down on his right knee. He drew bow and arrow, and readied his shot. Kuro knelt on his left knee and prepared his shot. Gong remained standing and readied his shot. Han aimed right, Kuro and Gong aimed left. Ten meters… Han let loose. Almost simultaneously, Kuro and Gong fired as well. The unconscious man flew back with his chair and slammed into the wall, an arrow pinning the man’s right arm against the wall. The larger man felt two arrows puncture both his lungs. The man was not finished though.

”Grahhh, you think that’ll finish me?! Come out you damn bastards! Feel the wrath of Pang Jiu Gui!” (If you understand Chinese… Ha. Otherwise, ask me what it means.)

The large man drew a large battleaxe, but as he rushed forth he slipped on his own spilt alcohol and crashed to the floor, axe in his chest. The other man was still bewildered with wide eyes as Han and the others drew up around him, melee weapons drawn. Han sliced the man’s scabbard off and Gong readied his Dao in sight of the man.

”Right answers and you live. Are you Hei Long Fei?”

The man looked around at the men surrounding him and gave a nervous shake of the head.

”Then tell me, who are you, who do you serve, and why are you collecting oil down here?”

The man hesitated, but a quick kick by Kuro brought the man into howling pain.

”Aoowww! I’m Pang Jun, I serve Hong Hua. The oil is for the ceremony!”

Han had no idea what ceremony this man was talking about, but he would play the game.

”Where is the ceremony taking place? And when? Why so much oil? This is enough to set a village ablaze.”

”The ceremony is at the North crossroads, to take place tomorrow night when the moon is at its highest. The oil… it…

”It what?”

”It will ignite the midnight revolution. And you will all BURN!!!”

The man seemed to have regained his senses and began thrashing about, the arrow managing to restrain him. Gong looked to Han and Han looked to Gong, Han shook his head, and Gong immediately punched the drunken man in the face. The man slumped with a sigh.

”You five, take this man back to the magistrate’s office. The rest of us will now head north…”

One squad took the prisoner and escaped the tunnels west. The rest of the party traced back their steps to the previous intersection and left north.

[Tan Zhi Han]

Magashi continued to stand there, absorbing the information, and the officer on duty, stared at the warrior for a while longer before returning to other duties… Something about a missing cat, a roaming panda, and a mad duck…

………………………………………………..

The team assigned to the prisoner returned him to the magistrate’s office where he was placed into jail to be given trial after he regained consciousness. The magistrate was given a briefing as to what the situation was with the underground and this so called “Midnight Revolution.” The team then hurried back to join Tan Zhi Han.

The party headed north. Han quickly came upon another path leading east, this timing the light flickering, and the faint smell of perfume heavy in the air. Han heard the sound of heavy breathing, and the giggling of what had to be prostitutes, or possibly very rich and flirtatious girls, the latter being highly unlikely because based on Han’s geographical analysis of the city, this area was in fact the red light district of Cheng Du. Han motioned to those behind to go by twos, silence necessary. Han and Kuro saddled along the wall, swords drawn. Upon closer examination, there was only a ladder leading up to a hidden door, which, from Han’s expectation, would lead to a “comfort house.” Han held a sword in his right, and climbed up with his left. Han slowly raised the trap door… Light filtered through, and Han let his eyes adjust before examining further. Han raised the door a little more and saw what he had expected.

A heavy set man wearing a minister’s robe and two scantily clad petite women were rolling on a large mattress. Their rolling around occasionally blocked the small lantern’s light, which was the only source of light. Han slowly swept the room; the door was a way’s to the right. Han carefully pushed the door up and over, careful not to let it slam. Han then crawled onto the floor, Kuro quickly following suit. The room was dimly lit, it was difficult to make anything out, and the loud heaving of bodies on the mattress made it even more difficult to hear anything. Han was near the bed now, and five men already out of the tunnel.

Another soldier was coming out the tunnel when the large man gave a huge sigh, and the two girls stopped giggling. The room was deadly silent as the last of the soldiers exited the tunnels. Han and the others surrounded the bed, while two more soldiers stayed near the doorway. Han gave the signal, and every man rose slowly up. Each man took out wrappings and gagged the girls who had been quietly whispering to each other. The girls were bound, blindfolded and placed aside. The large man was snoring at this point. The men did the same with him, bound, gagged, and blindfolded, not in that order. The girls were very silent, but the larger man gave some attempt to struggle kicking with his stubby legs. Han held his blade close to the man’s throat, letting the man feel the cold steel. The girls were similarly interviewed by Liu Gong and Aisin Kuro each.

”You are surrounded by Hei Long Fei. Struggle and you will die slowly. Cooperate, and you may live. Do not yell, do not blubber…”

Han nodded to a soldier who ungagged the man. The man began sputtering in a hushed, but serious voice.

”I am Hei Long Fei! I am with you! Didn’t Fu Long tell you about me? I am the inside job... I am the minister of taxes! I have been funneling a portion off to our endeavors every season! I would have expected him to have told every member to stay away from me. Didn’t you see my men right outside? They were Hei Long Fei too, you can ask them, we are all Hei Long Fei.”

Han considered his next step before continuing.

”We are the Zi Tong branch, we have come to partake in the midnight revolution. Where can we locate Fu Long now?”

”There is a trap door here, take it north, do not leave the main northern tunnel, and you will eventually get to the mountain base, there is where you will find Fu Long. Strange… I thought all the underground bosses were meeting there tonight, were you not informed?”

Han nodded to his soldier who immediately gagged the man again. Han then punched the fat man in the throat. The large man’s head tilted down as he fell unconscious. Han, Kuro, and Gong discussed their findings. Gong had discovered that the girl had only been taken 5 days ago, and that she had been abducted near the merchant district as well. Kuro found out that his girl had been abducted 2 nights before this, and knew a general description of the place where the girls were brought. The place was near here, smelled of herbs and spices, and girls were transported in large crates. Han had everyone escorted out, the party left the area, making sure to leave no trace behind, Han closed the trap door behind him.

………………………………………………..

The other squad arrived at the broken down barn as Han and the others came out. Han ordered them to bring the prisoners to the magistrate’s office. Han, Kuro, and Gong assembled the army.

[Tan Zhi Han]

…………………………………………………

Han had Gong scout the tunnel paths with several squads, mapping out the entire system. Meanwhile, Aisin Kuro was to prepare three battalions and scout the areas near the mountain to the northwest. Han with several squads moved to the red light district where he would settle this prostitution ring of the Hei Long Fei.

Gong travelled the dark areas, occasionally running into riff raff. Gong’s men had no trouble scouting everything out, minor injuries were incurred, mainly due to running into things in the darkness. The main route to the north was mapped, and Gong and his men found themselves underneath the large mountain base. The underground room had a table and several voices echoed from the closed door before them. Gong took note and reported back to Han with the map and a message: Entrance to enemy mountain base found. Guarded by half a dozen men.

Kuro’s men found and dispatched a dozen scouts or so with several quick and accurate arrows. The areas around the mountain base were mapped, and the location marked as well. Kuro’s own observations led to this conclusion: Base well guarded. Professional grade enemy. Five crime bosses in attendance. Many men and women moving in, none coming out.
Han’s job was slightly more complicated. Han and his men did not wear banners or colors as they entered the red light district. His men feigned drunkenness as they asked around for the best house in the district. As more and more gold was passed to the houses, word was spread throughout the district: big money coming in! Immediately house wardens came out to offer their “services” in the houses. Han would keep insisting that he wanted a girl without any training, a virgin. Many of the wardens turned away at this, but then Han offered one hundred gold, which brought three back. These three argued over each other, calling each other cheats, thieves, and liars. Finally, one man, left the argument in a fury. The other two laughed and continued to barter with Han. Very soon though, the third man who had left, returned with four armed guards.

”I believe that we should have no trouble here… The Hei Long Fei would be most obliged if you two left this customer for me.”

The two other wardens scowled and left for the other soldiers. Han and a squad of men went with the warden to a rather small building. Outside the building an old blind man sold herbs and spices. The scent was what the girls had described. Han went to the warden.

”If I were to want… A delivery… Is there a way for someone of my stature to not have the delivery… Identified?”

”Ahhh, but of course. Please take a look here…”

The warden brought Han to the rear of the building where a dozen carts were hidden that would allow any thing or person to be escorted without revealing the contents without thorough search. And the carts also had hidden compartments the warden explain, if a search is required. Han nodded with a smile.

”I think we can set up a permanent deal for the future if this night works out.”

The warden grinned excitedly and nodded and bid Han enter the house. Han and his men entered. The smell of vapors and alcohol was thick. Several men were drinking and flirting with broads. Han observed eight guards including the four that had gone with the warden. Han looked to the warden and asked for the virgin he had been promised. The warden clapped his hands and two of the guards went to a backroom and came out with a girl who was covered in sweat, her hairs a mess, and her body writhing in struggle.

”I don’t want to be your sacrifice! Please, someone help me! I want to go home, I want to go home!”

Han asked for the girl to be placed in a VIP room, and bid his men to go to their own rooms. His men moved to rooms conveniently located by the guards. The warden waited patiently next to Han, and Han sighed as he brought out one hundred gold and paid him. Han then walked into the VIP room where he was immediately assailed by a pillow to the face. Han blinked and ducked as he grabbed the girl and threw her onto the bed, kicking the door closed behind him. A guard’s chuckle could be heard from outside. Han spoke quickly and quietly as he moved to cover the girl’s mouth and lock her arms and legs.

”Your brothers have sent me. I am Tan Zhi Han, Field Marshall of these lands, and I am here to rescue you. Stay quiet, very quiet… I am going to let you speak now, first tell me if you are ok and unhurt.”

The girl could not believe it, she was silent as Han lifted his arms and untangled his legs from hers. The girl continued to cry as she hugged Han tightly.

”Thank you lord Tan, thank you… They told me I was lost, that no one would come, but… but I knew someone would! Thank you.”

Han held her for a while because she wouldn’t let go. After the moment had passed, Han released her, and her him. Han told her to wait here and pretend to moan loudly in pleasure. Her puzzled look explained everything. Han pointed to the door, and explained that they had to convince the guards. She nodded and put on the act. Han crept to the door and looked for shadows under the door, listening closely.

The shadows came, one person seemed to be pointing towards the door and listening closely. A voice seemed to say, “Hey, check this out…” Han back away and cocked a heavy kick back, and then released, knocking the door and two soldiers off the ledge and onto the tavern floor. It had begun. The loud bang in the building caused twenty more bangs as well, as Han’s soldiers did the same. Immediately seven guards were taken out. The warden came running from the back room only to be captured by one of Han’s troops. The last soldier was dealt with by two of Han’s men. Han had his squad take all present prisoner, taking all of the girls of the house under his care, a total of thirty nine young women were in the house and another fifteen in the back room.

Han walked outside and gave a loud shout to a squad that had been left outside. The squad broke up and ran into every house his men had gone into. Immediately, men started pouring out of the houses with similar effects in terms of prisoners and girls.

Han nodded to his men, and all moved out to the magistrate. All were placed under guard by his own men at the office. They had taken fifty prisoners in the form of guards, wardens, and clients, some big time and some small fry. There were three hundred young maidens and harlots under Han’s care; all were taken to a sanctuary Han kept near the palace. The servants there were only female and they attended to the women’s needs. Guards were to not allow any to leave until Han returned. Han now received the maps and news from Gong and Kuro.

Mountain Base



Underground System


………………………………………………..

[Tan Zhi Han]

………………………………………………..


It had come down to the final crescendo. Aisin Kuro had set 6 batallions hidden around the mountain base. The enemy had been pretty loose with security for the past hour. The time was now two hours before midnight. He awaited Han’s orders now.

Kuro and another battalion awaited in the underground, they were ready to breach the door and decimate anyone inside. Kuro waited for the word.

Han had been questioning the prisoners and girls for hours now. Most were unaware of this “ceremony,” but a few were part of the loop. The five great lords of the coin ruled the literal and figurative underground with an iron fist. Their word was law, and their numbers were many. The five intended to set the palace ablaze as a part of their show of power to put the people and the government in their place once again. Ever since Liu Yan had come into governance of Cheng Du, business had not been the same. People had had better livelihoods and begun to forget of the chaos that the five great lords had created. And so the midnight revolution was enacted, a plan to destroy the central government and then thousands of members would cause havoc and panic in the city. These thousands of men had infiltrated the city for years and years, coming from different branches all around Ba Shu, Chu, and other regions.

Han needed assistance in this matter, and fast. Han could handle the matter at the mountain base alone, but could he maintain the safety of the people of Cheng Du and his lord Liu Yan? The crime members would probably create havoc knowing their heads were dead… Han considered carefully what he had to do. Letters were issued to the other generals of Cheng Du, calling them to patrol and maintain order throughout the city. As Field Marshall of Liu Yan’s forces, Han had the garrisons on constant patrol throughout the city, setting guards around and in the living quarter districts for the safety of the people. Liu Yan had his own palace guards that would handle anyone trying to attack the palace, and the underground passages were in Han’s control…

Han then remembered that he had never actually confirmed the girl’s name from before. Han looked among the few hundred girls for that face. The girl was staring at him already. Han walked over to her and she stood up.

”Lord Han, what is to happen to us?”

”All of you will be taken care of and rehabilitated until the medical professionals here deem you able to go home. Most likely most of you will go home immediately after the inspection. But I have a question for you. What is your name?”

”Hua Ji, why?”

Han’s eyes visibly widened and his nostrils flared before Han regained his composure. Han set the guards to identify the names of every girl in the sanctuary, but no Guo Zi Mei was reported. Han was mortified. The initial mission he had set upon was not yet complete… But the matter at hand was now of greater importance. Han bid all farewell and safety before calling up two battalions. Han sent messengers to both Gong and Kuro to wait until midnight to strike.

Aisin Kuro looked towards the south at the sound of movement, and sure enough, riders appeared from the dense fog of the night. “How did the Thirteen know where to go?” shouted Aisin Kuro. “Because the spirits told them where,” replied the lead rider wearing the garb of a monk. “Brother, your timing was impeccable,” stated Aisin Kuro with a smile. “Down to the last second,” replied the monk.

Han led the van with two batallions. Aisin Kuro sent messengers to all battalions to prepare to attack, maintaining stealth until the signal was raised. As the night wore on, wolves could be heard from deep within the mountain forests. Adrenaline pumped through the veins of every soldier in those trees. All was set… It was about to be midnight. Han kept a lookout, wary of any mishap. Luckily, the Five lords had never planned for any contingency plans if attacked at the mountain base.
After leaving the forest, the road to the base was relatively quiet. There were no signs of the enemy other than those immediately at the base. The fog made sight difficult, and Han could only tell by the glimmering lights in the distance. The area between the forest and the mountains was grassland. A soft wind whispered through the thick grass. Han breathed in deep. The breeze was soothing to the mind and Han let his mind relax for a moment. Han opened his eyes and breathed deep once more before pressing forward towards the mountains. Han whispered to Kuro who raised his bow to the sky and fired a fire arrow high up above the mountain base. The arrow fell into the center of the base. Immediately thousands of arrows and bolts fired into the base. You couldn’t hear anything but the whistling of missiles. The arrows and bolts cleared the fog above and around the base as screams of pain and agony wrenched the night silence.

Liu Gong was about to breach the door when six men burst through carrying barrel of oil and torches. The six men were as surprised as Liu Gong himself. Luckily, Liu Gong’s discipline had him at the first two men in an instant, Gong’s men following suit and the six men tied down by the incendiary supplies were hacked to pieces. Gong secured the room and headed up the staircase. Opening the door allowed Gong to hear the cries as men and women died. Gong lifted the trap door completely and he saw that the room was a nicely decorated meeting room. Five chairs surrounded an oval table. The five occupants were on their feet and at the door looking out, observing the carnage outside, completely bewildered. Gong and his men quietly flooded the room.

Outside the base guards fired randomly into the dark, hitting nothing but shields or nature. The guards were vastly outnumbered and within a few minutes were all but dead. Only twenty guards remained and the only lights from the base were those of men lying dead on the ground. Kuro fired another fire arrow and the firing stopped. Han and Kuro advanced. The base gates was filled with arrows and wide open as men outside had tried to escape into the cover of the base. Han and Kuro and a few dozen men stepped over the bodies, observing the area. The fog in the base was now gone. Han immediately sighted the five crime lords. The five drew their swords and called for guards to come forth. The guards came out from their hidden positions in the different buildings, but were shot down by Han, Kuro, and their guards. The crime lords had been well equipped. Their armor was of fine quality, even from the industrial district of Cheng Du. Han looked again to the crime lords and sighted Gong and his men already flooding into the room. Han surged his own men with Kuro forward. The five crime lords were surrounded.

The only woman, Hong Hua, Han surmised, spoke first.

”Who are you people?

Han answered offhandedly as his troops slowly poured into the fort, taking up the evidence and taking over the fort.

”I am Field Marshall Tan Zhi Han under Liu Yan. And you are all the greatest crime lords north and south of the Yangtze River. What brings you to Cheng Du?”

The handsomest of the group now answered.

”Hah! Liu Yan!? That fool was able to discover us? Bah. I knew joining forces was a bad idea.”

The crime lords began arguing amongst each other, threatening each other even though thousands of weapons now surrounded them. Han gave the signal to his archers and the weapons in each of the lord’s hands were knocked away. This caught the lords’ attentions.

”Tell me your names now that I have told you mine. It is only courteous.

One by one the lords introduced themselves.

The eldest man with a long flowing beard exclaimed himself to be one Fei Gu, the Lion of Han Zhong.

The youthful woman with very noticeable curvature introduced herself as Hong Hua, the flower of Zi Tong.

The handsome man was Fu Long, the joker of Cheng Du.

The rat-like man was Lao Yin, the mastermind of Yunnan.

The burliest man was one Xu Rong, devil of Jiangzhou.

Han nodded to each as they introduced themselves. Han then spoke very seriously and but with a light tone.

”I have single handedly captured you five and thousands of your men in Cheng Du. I understand the underground and respect the system. You see, I believe in balance. Without the government, you would be under threat of foreign powers, and without you we would have chaos in the streets as each common rat with a coin would try to bid for power. I offer you this one time offer. You continue as you are, doing as you always have as long as you do not try something this foolish again. You give me all your contacts and business processes. I will in return guarantee your safety and continuous rule as the lords of the underground. I will even let you pick a few hundred of the men I have captured and set them free and you can tell them you were the ones who handled the government to back down. You answer to me, and thus to lord Liu Yan and you live like kings. You disagree or commit obscene crimes against humanity and…”

Han sliced the neck of one of the dead base guards, splattering blood all over the lords.

”Do we have an accord?”

Han brought out his hand and signaled for a guard to bring forth a pot filled with wine. Han raised his hand above the pot and nicked his hand dropping blood into the pot. Han then had the wine brought to the five, the guard presenting a ceremonial dagger. Each lord one by one nicked their own hands and dropped blood into the pot. Han then had cups brought out and the blood mixed wine spilled into each cup. The five lords, Tan Zhi Han, Aisin Kuro, and Liu Gong drank deep, each presenting his or her empty bowl.

Fu Long spoke.

”To a new friendship then.

Hong Hua spoke.

”To continuity.”

Fei Gu spoke.

”To keeping my damn head.”

Lao Yin spoke.

”To the flow of knowledge.”

Xu Rong spoke.

”To the battlefield.”

Aisin Kuro spoke.

”To fraternity”

Liu Gong spoke.

”To honor.”

Tan Zhi Han spoke last.

”To loyalty, unity, and eternity.”

Han spoke with Fu Long and found Guo Zi Mei in a cave where two other girls were as well. They would have been sacrificed for the ceremony. Han was glad she was safe. The crime lords one by one left the base to reclaim their prisoners that Han had promised to release in the dead of night. Han now set up the mountain base as a military fortress to guard the city against attack. The fortress sat upon mountains overlooking all paths that headed to Cheng Du from the north or east. The fortress was in a perfect position to counter any would be invaders.

As the dawn began to fade, the air began to feel heavy with dew. The men’s uniforms stuck to their skin. Yawns began to rise out of the men’s mouths. Han congratulated the men on a job well done, happy that casualties were only limited to minor injuries.

The sun was just rising over the horizon when Han and his generals reached the city again. The jail cells had emptied in the dead of night and several hundred prisoners were released. The many other hundreds were to be punished. The troops laid down in the barracks for a long needed rest. Han, no, Cheng Du had been lucky. A revolution could have occurred, but everything had been stabilized without mishap. And the people were as of yet unaware of how close they were to imminent chaos. All they knew was that the next day was a little better than the last, and every day things seemed to get better as the underground and the government cleaned up their acts. Working for their own benefit of course, but luckily their own benefit was to the benefit of the people.

Results:

Guo Zi Mei was reunited with her family, there were heartfelt hugs and tears of joy as stories were past back and forth. The village locals thanked Han profusely offering him foods and wines which Han tasted and tried and complimented, being overwhelmed by all the foodstuffs. Han was sent off with warm feelings and the memory that he would always be welcome in their village at any time.

The crime lords maintained an iron fist of their activities, slowly legalizing their acts, while still making vast sums of money. The new term that everyone coined was ‘privatization.’ No one questioned why there had been such a huge change because everyone was too busy with their successes.

The government identified and punished or rehabilitated those officials who had been given up by the crime lords. Examples were made and examples were set as rewards were given to loyal and talented officials while corrupt and immoral officials were removed through different measures.

The people saw their livelihoods overnight shoot to the stars as gangs no longer visited and men and women saw their government joining in the effort to bring the people to new heights. New businesses were established, people flooded in from all over at the stories of success of Cheng Du. Buildings were built, programs were enacted. The city soon expanded to greater sizes and heights to account for the growth.

The troops found themselves feeling greater pride and honor as the military became one of the prides of Cheng Du. Their successes on the battlefields time and time again finally resonated with the people as the military’s success was the people’s success.

The fortress was named Tan Cheng in honor of Tan Zhi Han and Cheng Du. The fortress received vast improvements once it came under government control. The city was also bulked to new heights as mining, agriculture, and others became on the rise industries in the mountains, forests, and plains of Cheng Du. More raw resources meant more supplies to construct better walls, better structures, etc.