Vol.1 Chapter 15 - A ‘Trip’ towards Luoyang
A.D. 182 'Pei-State', 'Qiao-County', 'Cao-Estate
**********************
***After Two hours had passed since 'Cao-Ce' started training his 'Spear-Play' 'skill'..***
/povMC/
Alright!.. 'Spear-Play' just hit 'level-three' I think to myself as I start to think about bringing up my 'status panel'.. it is displayed in front of my eyes for only me to see. It read..
******************
/Status Panel/
/Name: Cao Ce/
/Age: 5/
/Status: Healthy/
/Height: 3' 10"/
/Weight: 75.0lbs/
/Attribute Panel/
/Physique: 0.45/
/Strength: 0.45/
/Dexterity: 0.45/
/Spirituality: 1.3/
/'Vitality-Points' - (100/100VP)/
/'Magic-Points' - (130/130MP)/
/'Materia-Skill' Panel/
/'Fire' - lvl 1 (1/100xp)/
/'Ice' - lvl 1 (1/100xp)/
/'Bolt' - lvl 1 (3/100xp)/
/'Cleanse' - lvl 1 (3/100xp)/
/'Heal' - lvl 1 (4/100xp)/
/Combat Skill Panel/
/'Basic' Boxing : lvl 3 (1/300xp)/
/'Basic' Dagger-Play : lvl 3 (1/300xp))/
/'Basic' Axe-Play : lvl 1 (10/100xp)/
/'Basic' Sword-Play : lvl 1 (10/100xp)/
/'Basic' Spear-Play : lvl 3 (1/300xp)/
/'Basic' Archery : lvl 1 (10/100xp)/
/'Basic' Throwing - lvl 3 (1/300xp)/
/'Basic' Horse-Riding : lvl 3 (1/300xp)/
/Crafting Skills Panel/
/'Basic' Carpentry : lvl 1 (10/100xp)/
/'Basic' Black-Smithing : lvl 1 (10/100xp)/
/'Basic' Farming : lvl 1 (10/100xp)/
/'Basic' Tailoring : lvl 1 (10/100xp)/
/'Basic' First-Aid : lvl 1 (10/100xp)/
/'Basic' Beast-Taming - lvl 3 (0/300xp)/
/Commander Skills/
Leadership : lvl 1 (10/100xp)
/'Infantry-Commander' : lvl 1 (10/100xp)/
/'Cavalry-Commander' : lvl 1 (10/100xp)/
/'Artillery-Commander' : lvl 1 (10/100xp)/
/'Siege-Commander' : lvl 1 (10/100xp)/
*******************
I checked out my 'stats' after the 'status panel' was displayed.. still, no store or mission or anything else new or different was added to the system.
"Eldest-Grandson the 'Xiahou-Cousins' have arrived at the 'Manor',.. your grandmother has called for you!.." Jade-Phoenix said to inform me it was time to go.
"Very well let us go then.." I told her as we both started to make our way to the manor.
After we had walked along the dirt path that led to the manor. I could see two large young men who were barely in their twenties.. both men had horses and 'leather armor. 'Xiahou-Dun' carried a spear and 'Xiahou-Yuan' had what looked like a two-handed-bladed weapon.
'Xiahou-Dun'.. 'courtesy-named' 'Yuanrang' was 'historically.. a Chinese 'military-general' and politician serving under the warlord 'Cao-Cao'.. during the 'late-Eastern'. 'Han-Dynasty' of China.
He served for a few months under 'Cao Cao's' successor. 'Cao-Pi'.. before his death. As one of 'Cao Cao's'.. most trusted generals. 'Xiahou-Dun' aided the warlord in his 'campaigns' against 'Lü Bu'. 'Liu-Bei'..' Sun-Quan' and others.
'Xiahou-Dun'.. was from 'Qiao-County' (譙縣).. 'Pei-State' (沛國).. which is near where present-day Bozhou, Anhui is. He was a descendant of 'Xiahou-Ying'.. who served under the 'Han-dynasty's' founding emperor.
'Liu-Bang' (Emperor Gao) and though the family didn't reach 'national prominence'.. in the centuries since.. they were a leading family in 'Pei-State'.. often 'intermarrying' down the generations with other prominent local clans the 'Dings' and the 'Caos'..
Then we have 'Xiahou-Yuan'. Dun's younger cousin.. courtesy name 'Miaocai' was 'historically' a Chinese 'military general and politician serving under the warlord 'Cao-Cao'.. in the 'late Eastern Han dynasty' of China.
He is known for his exploits in 'western China (in parts of present-day Gansu, Ningxia and Shaanxi provinces) in the 210s, during which he defeated 'Cao Cao's' rivals 'Ma-Chao' and 'Han-Sui'.. in 'Liang-Province' and the surrounding areas, and forced several Di and Qiang 'tribal-peoples' into 'submission'.
He was eventually killed in 'battle'.. at the Battle of 'Mount-Dingjun'.. defending 'Hanzhong-Commandery' from attacks by a rival warlord 'Liu-Bei'
"Kin!.. Powerful warriors!.. Mighty!.. Warriors of the 'Xiahou-Clan'!.. Greetings!.. I am the 'eldest grandson'. My name is 'Cao-Ce' no courtesy name as of yet.. unfortunately, I have only been living for five years or so I am told.. they tell me that am not yet of age to receive a courtesy name.. No matter what!.. I wish to taste a 'measure' of the clan warriors' mettle in' the heat of battle. Who will be tasked with protecting me on my trip to Luoyang Protect yourselves!.." I scream the last two words as I dig into the ground kicking my feet.. shooting towards them.. my little feet making blinding quick strides closing the space between me and the brothers..
As I was nearing three meters of space still left between us. I launched into the air with a 'mighty-leap' skill I'm calling it. While they were confused they were competent warriors and 'martial-artists'.
Dun blocked my feet slamming at his face with both his arms.. whilst Yuan went for a straight 'right-jab' that was quick.. but it lacked the power to free Dun from me stomping at his face with the leg and foot.. I didn't use to kick Yuan's jab back at him jamming his arm and pushing him back. I finished my 'eagle-stamps' skill on Dun's upper body and head area.. my last stomp. I used the force from kicking down on Dun's face.. to do a long and slow.. graceful backflip.. and land smoothly on the ground..
"Great reactions!.. I can see you have spent the hours training and bleeding needed to become the competent 'martial artist'.. that you are! Good!.. let's have a good trip to fetch my father from the 'capital'.. let's make haste we have an entire day of covering ground ahead of us.." I said to the still-shocked young men.. who recovered quickly enough.
"Yes!.. 'Eldest-Grandson'!.." they both knelt at one knee and both clasped their fists.. solemnly giving me their words to serve me without having to say the words.
*******************
***After Traveling till the sun 'went down' for the day to transform into the early evening..***
/povMC/
"Alright one last song before we set up camp for the night.. this one was sent to me in a dream by the ancestors of our clans.." I say as we've been on horseback for the entire day traveling through 'Pei-State'.. headed towards the 'capital city' Luoyang..
I decided to sing 'America's' song. 'Horse-with-no-name'.. by playing the strings of my 'qin'.
Then I opened my mouth to sing. "On.. the first part.. of the journey..
I was.. looking at all.. the life..
There were.. plants and birds.. and rocks and things..
There was.. sand and hills.. and rings..
The first thing.. I met.. was a fly.. with a buzz..
And the sky.. with no clouds..
The heat.. was hot.. and the ground.. was dry..
But the air.. was full of.. sound..
I've.. been through the.. desert..
On a horse.. with no name..
It felt good.. to be out.. of the rain..
In the desert.. you can.. remember your name..
'Cause there.. ain't no one.. for to give.. you no pain..
La, la, la, la, la, la..
La, la, la, la, la, la..
La, la, la, la, la, la..
La, la, la, la, la, la..
After.. two days in.. the desert sun..
My skin began.. to turn red..
After three days.. in the desert.. fun..
I.. was looking at.. a river bed..
And the story.. it told of.. a.. river.. that flowed..
Made me.. sad to think.. it was dead..
You.. see I've been.. through the desert..
On a horse.. with no name..
It felt.. good to be.. out of the.. rain..
In the desert.. you can.. remember your name..
'Cause there ain't.. no one for to.. give you no pain..
La, la, la, la, la, la..
La, la, la, la, la, la..
La, la, la, la, la, la..
La, la, la, la, la, la..
After nine days.. I.. let the horse.. run free
'Cause the desert.. had turned to sea..
There were plants.. and birds and rocks.. and things..
There was.. sand and hills.. and rings..
The ocean.. is a desert with.. it's life underground..
And.. a perfect disguise above..
Under the cities.. lies a heart.. made of ground..
But.. the humans will.. give no love..
You.. see I've been.. through the desert..
On a horse.. with no name..
It felt.. good to be
.. out of the rain..
In the desert.. you can.. remember your name..
'Cause there ain't.. no one for to.. give you no pain..
La, la, la, la, la, la.."
It is written.