Dragon's Soul: An End's Beginning

by Tony Tran

  “Okay I will look into this later myself but for now make preparations for lord Jian Wei’s arrival.” Zhang said before riding away from the city and back to the army.

  Jian Wei was currently atop a fine war steed and slowly making his way back to Aurora City while Zhang had ridden ahead.

  “How great it feels to be back here alive.” Jian Wei thought with a cheerful smile present on his face.

  Despite Gan Ning’s successful raids against the enemy when they were trapped in the gorge, Jian Wei had always thought that perhaps the gorge would become his burial place.

  Although the gorge’s abundant resources were able to support their entire army it was only a matter of time before overconsumption played its part. His army would have dwindled until the enemy was able to easily overtake them and then his life would have ended or so he thought.

  But thankfully Zhang came with reinforcements and the tides of war changed, bringing about salvation.

  “Once we get back I’m going to hold a massive feast to celebrate, and then we can get to working on that wedding for those brats. I’ll hold the largest wedding the world’s ever seen for them hehehe” Jian Wei thought with a very broad smile on his face.

  He was going to plan a wedding fit for an emperor for his dear foster son, with guests from everywhere being invited to share in the festivities.

  “A celebration so large that people will make a holiday out of it.” Jian Wei chuckled as he spotted Zhang riding toward him from the city.

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  At another place and another time something unbelievable had happened.

  “Lord Sima Yi we have captured the lord of this city and are awaiting your orders on how to deal with him...” A soldier clad in black armor said with his arms clasped.

  “If he is willing to cooperate with us then tell him he may keep his position as city lord, if not then expose of him and his family.” Sima Yi said coldly as moonlight shone on his face.

  Before him were large masses of people surrounded by soldiers, these people were not soldiers but regular everyday common folk. Sima Yi had taken one hundred thousand soldiers and plunged straight into the Heavenly Sword Province. Simply heading north from Aurora one would arrive at one of the villages on the border of the Heavenly Sword Province.

  With their forces that were sent to the Green Clover Province and the Aurora Province gone the entire Heavenly Sword Province was severely lacking soldiers. This meant that with enough soldiers in hand Sima Yi could single handedly conquer the entire province in one fell swoop. He figured at most there would be only a few thousand soldiers left to protect the cities in the Heavenly Sword Province so with his one hundred thousand strong army even if he had to siege the cities his army would vastly outstrip the defenders.

  After arriving in the Heavenly Sword Province village after village fell under his control and as of tonight Sima Yi has obtained control total control of Twilight City, the third largest city in the province. With this city under his command Sima Yi had taken one third of the Heavenly Sword Province. Like a tidal wave his forces swept through the defenseless villages and cities.

  Of course the entire campaign had not been smooth sailing, roughly two thousand of his men had been lost during the process of occupying the villages and cities and another three thousand or so were injured. Thankfully they had not run into any high level mage or warrior or else their casualties may have been much higher.

  As Sima Yi stood watching his men securing the buildings in the city to ensure that no enemy soldiers were hiding in them a thought suddenly appeared in his head.

  “To think not too long ago I was practically a beggar with an empty stomach and rags for clothes and now I’m commanding armies and taking cities. Thank you for the opportunity I won’t let you down my lord to return your kindness I’ll start by presenting to you this province on a platter and then the rest of the region.” Sima Yi thought was a slight smile on his face as he remembered when Zhang offered him a way out of the dark abyss he was in. To repay this kindness the flames of war will soon spread across the entire Warring States Region.

  “My lord all of the buildings in the city have been searched and every commoner within the city has been rounded up.” A soldier walked up beside Sima Yi and said.

  “Good gather them all here I have a few words to say to the people of Twilight City. As for the merchants and more influential people within the city have them detained in their mansions I’ll personally pay them a visit later.” Sima Yi said to the soldier.

  Not long after a sea of commoners were brought forth and crowded the streets. Every single soul within the city was currently out and amidst the crowd on the streets. Hundreds of thousands of commoners consisting of men, women, children and the elderly were not standing under the moonlight while being warmed by the flickering torches illuminating the streets. All of these people were gathered in the main street of the city and were gazing up at a two story building that was known as the Four Seasons Inn where a young man dressed in dark blue robes was standing out on the second floor balcony.

  Once the commoners were gathered in one area the soldiers of Aurora appeared clad in armor with weapons in hand and marched forth in neat rows. Their duty tonight was to stand guard and make sure no thoughts of rebellion could possibly appear in the minds of the civilians of Twilight City.

  “People of Twilight City! My name is Sima Yi and under orders from the lord of Aurora I’ve come to lay siege to the entire Heavenly Sword Province for daring to attack out Aurora Province. But instead of putting you all to the sword I would like to give you an offer. As our lord’s heir often says a kingdom is its people. So I am going you the opportunity of renouncing all of your connections to the Heavenly Sword Province and pledge your undying allegiance to Aurora.” Sima Yi said from the balcony while peering down at the sea of people below before clapping his hands to signal his men.

  Chatter soon occurred amongst the civilians of Twilight city. Some looked forward to change and thought it was an opportunity to attain something better while others were afraid that their decision today may come back and haunt them tomorrow. These people were afraid if they didn’t take Sima Yi’s offer they would be killed while also being afraid of what might happen if somehow the Heavenly Sword Province was able to regain control of the city. They could possibly be branded as traitors and executed for choosing to side with the forces of Aurora.

  Moments later the rumbling of wheels was audible. A dozen wagons that were escorted by tens of Aurora’s soldiers appeared with tarps covering their cargo. Once these carts arrived at the front of the two story building the tarps were removed revealing mounds of glistening gold coins. The doors of the Four Seasons Inn swung open and soldiers walked out carrying tables and piles of white sheets of paper along with brushes and ink.

  “This is the first of many benefits to those who wish to join us. Our lord and his heir are kind people and will ensure prosperity for all under their domain. Everyone who signs one of these forms stating their allegiance to Aurora will be given a gold coin.” Sima Yi said holding up a white piece of paper while everyone was staring at the wagons fill with gold or were trying to catch a glimpse of it from afar.

  Once someone signs the piece of paper they would officially be pledging their allegiance to Aurora and if they go back on their word then he would simply need to spread these forms to whoever’s rule they end up under and there was a chance they would be executed for treason against the Heavenly Sword Province.

  The common folk of Twilight City were torn at the moment because they wished to receive the gold coin for signing the form but did not know if they should sign or not.

  But that was when a young man was seen squeezing his way through the crowd and up to a table set in front of the Four Seasons Inn with the white paper on them. Once he reached the front of the table he picked up a form and brush then dipped the brush in ink and proceeded to sign it. After si
gning he dipped his thumb into the ink and pressed it onto the piece of paper leaving behind his thumb print.

  Soon as he was gone a soldier handed him a shiny gold coin and the man disappeared back into the crowd. After this young man a few others made their way up toward the desks and signed the forms. Seeing this the people of Twilight City began following suit and filled out the forms too.

  Seeing this a smile appeared on Sima Yi’s face as he walked into the Inn and into a large room.

  “Tell those men they did a great job and has made a large contribution to establishing our rule in this city and they will be awarded accordingly.” Sima Yi said to a soldier standing inside the room.

  “Yes my lord I will make sure to tell them.” The soldier replied.

  Sima Yi had arranged for a few of his men to mix into the crowd of commoners and be the first to walk up and sign the form which would help manipulate the rest of the people in the city.

  “Also prepare the army we must strike when the iron is hot and continue our conquest of the Heavenly Sword Province. Having someone send word back to Aurora stating our progress, the battle at the Beast’s Gorge should be over by now and our lord should have returned to Aurora City by now.

  “Right away my lord I will have someone send a correspondence to Aurora. Also may I ask if you would like an escort readied for you?” The soldier said.

  “Yes ready me a small group of guards I’ll be paying the various clans and powers in the city visits tonight.” Sima Yi said with a sign, tonight would be a long night because he had to visit every clan and every influential family in the city and obtain their support or to suppress them.

  Chapter 85: White Crane

  After leaving the Four Seasons Inn, Sima Yi headed toward the home of one of Twilight City’s wealthiest men, Mi Zhu. In fact, he could also be considered one of the Heavenly Sword Province’s wealthiest men.

  This man controlled nearly fifty percent of the city’s rice and salt trade and was the owner of a very large trading company called the White Crane Trading Company that did business all over the province.

  If Aurora was able to obtain his support, then running Twilight City would be a breeze, because as one of the richest men in the province Mi Zhu certainly would have many connections throughout the province and by obtaining his support they would in turn gain those connections.

  The Aurora Army needed military provisions to continue their invasion and this man could supply them with what they needed.

  Sima Yi was not short sighted and didn`t forget to have his men bring lots of provisions but if he were able to secure a steady supply line, then even if the campaign dragged on he would be able to feed his armies.

  If he requested supplies from Aurora, there was a possibility that the supplies could be intercepted or would take too long to arrive but if he obtained the support of the merchants of the Heavenly Sword Province then there was no need to worry about food and supplies.

  Upon arriving at the front of a large pair of sturdy wooden gates decorated with gold in the form of a beautiful looking crane.

  Seeing his arrival, Sima Yi’s soldiers who had the Mansion surrounded saluted and proceeded to open the mansion gates.

  “My lord, mister Mi Zhu has been instructed to wait for your arrival in the main hall.” A soldier said while saluting Sima Yi.

  “Lead the way.” Sima Yi said excitedly.

  “Hopefully this man isn’t an imbecile, I’m tired of having to negotiate to imbeciles…” Sima Yi thought with a sigh. He truly loathed having to negotiate or strike deals because of how often fools reject his proposals due to their idiocrasy.

  In one particular village that he and his men took over, were many fools spouting nonsense about how the soldiers of Aurora were going to slaughter them all if they surrendered, thus a large portion of its populace, consisting of farmers and the likes took up arms.

  Thankfully all they had were simply farming equipment and had no real weapons or else the repercussions would have been disastrous.

  Only after quelling the rebellion, detaining everyone involved, and then executing the one who had spread the nonsense, were Sima Yi and the Aurora Army able to continue their invasion

  .

  After being lead through the large halls of the mansion, Sima Yi soon found himself in a large hall where a middle aged man dressed in exquisite looking light blue robes could be seen sitting at a round table with various foods on it. Sitting beside the middle aged man was a woman whose face could not be seen.

  The moment Sima Yi entered the room the middle aged man and woman turned around and then quickly got up and to greet him.

  “My lord welcome to our humble abode.” The middle aged man said respectfully while the woman curtsied. Once she turned around, Sima Yi was able to see that this woman was extremely beautiful and looked to be in her early twenties with skin white and clear as jade, and delicate looking features that looked as pure as snow.

  “No need to be too modest Mister Mi Zhu.” Sima Yi said with a kind smile on his face.

  “Please have a seat my lord.” The young woman said politely.

  “You men stand guard outside I wish to speak to Mister Mi Zhu.” Sima Yi said to his men as he walked toward the table and sat down.

  Soon after Mi Zhu and the beautiful young woman joined him at the table. The woman was then introduced as Mi Zhu’s younger sister Mi Yang.

  “I prefer to be referred to as Yang Mi though.” She said with a smile as she poured some tea into a cup for Sima Yi and her brother.

  “So my lord how may I be of assistance to you tonight?” Mi Zhu said after sipping some tea.

  “I would like Mister Mi Zhu to join me on a business venture that could possibly end up with you having control of the rice trade in the entire Heavenly Sword Province or well at least what was the Heavenly Sword Province.” Sima Yi said with a grin.

  “I’m listening.” Mi Zhu said without trying to be roundabout like he had been up until now.

  If cooperating with Sima Yi gave him a monopoly of rice trade over the Heavenly Sword Province, then his clan’s wealth now would be but a grain of sand in a vast desert compared to what it will be in the future.

  After discussing for a few hours Sima Yi left the Mi residences with a smile across his face.

  With a contract signed by Mi Zhu.

  “It appears not everyone is an imbecile.” He chuckled as he headed back to the Four Seasons Inn to rest for the night before heading out tomorrow to meet the other wealthy and elite of Twilight City.

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  After concluding his business in Twilight City and establishing a supply line Sima Yi’s invasion of the Heavenly Sword Province proceeded as swift as a raging river, every obstacle in his path was crushed and every village and city was taken over. With a more direct supply line in the Heavenly Sword Province, Sima Yi no longer feared that his men would go hungry if their supplies from Aurora were cut off thus his attacks against the Heavenly Sword Province became many times more aggressive.

  Currently the forces of Aurora had Heavenly Sword City surrounded from all sides and were making preparations to take over the city. Once Heavenly Sword City was taken the remaining thirty percent of the province would automatically fall under Aurora’s rule and with only roughly twenty thousand soldiers there was little hope of repelling Sima Yi’s forces. Most of these twenty thousand men were conscripted and forced to join their lords final stand, this

  meant that most of them had no actual combat experiences or were not even properly trained.

  While the last of the Heavenly Sword Army stood atop the walls they witnessed thousands of soldiers clad in black or white armor below. Despite having arrived for many days these soldiers did not begin attacking the city but rather all they did was march to the front of the city every day. Of course they stood out of the range that any archer could shoot so they were perfectly safe but they did not show any signs of attacking t
he city.

  Sima Yi’s forces had simply surround Heavenly Sword City and cut off all access to it. Sima Yi even had his men set up a makeshift dam to block all of the water that traveled into the city by river. His goal was to make the city exhaust its supply of water and after a few days it would be ready for the taking.

  Unlike the Beast’s Gorge where water and food was abundant, a city had a set amount of provisions and once that was gone there was no way of obtaining more with the blockade outside.

  A few miles away from the city a large camp had been erected and in a large tent, Sima Yi could be seen reading a book with the words “Art of War” written on its cover.

  “My lord a correspondence has arrived from Aurora.” A soldier said peeking his head in through the tent’s curtain.

  “Bring it here.” Sima Yi said while placing his book down on his desk. A few short moments later a letter was in Sima Yi’s hands.