The True Art of War, The journey begins...

[Sun Ce]

Shang Xiang was reading the scroll that a messenger had given her.
"So, the Wei and Shu are up to their plans for domination again... I thought we had settled this before..." She said as she folded the scroll up and carried it in her tunic. She had to talk to her father about this, but perhaps he already knew...
Xiang left her room, looking for Sun Jian.
She only had a short distance to go, because she found him and her brother in the war room, planning again.
"Father, what is going on?" She asked.
"Ah, Shang Xiang, I have received word that the Wei and Shu have mobilized again. Apparently they still entertain the idea of uniting our world under their rule... They have attacked several of our locations already."
"Which ones have they attacked?" She asked.
"The Wei have attacked Chi Bi along the Yangtze River, in hopes to sever our communication and supply lines, but we have managed to hold them off for now, but we need to take action to stop them before they overrun it." Jian said.
"What was the other place that was attacked?" Xiang asked.
"The Shu attacked Chang Sha after massing their troops to try to overrun it, but once again, we have managed to hold them at bay. My first priority, however, is to secure Chi Bi and keep our lines open and I need one of you to go there." Jian said.
"I will be more than happy to go Father." Xiang said, before Ce could answer.
"Then you may go, but let us finish with our plans here." Jian said as Xiang and Ce joined him to study the maps of their territories, talking and making plans to retake their possessions currently under siege...

[Lu Bu]

Akira walked in, looking at the siblings. "Where is Lord Quan, as well?" He asked, speaking of Ce's younger brother. But, before an answer could be heard, he asked. "Is there anything I can help with? It has been quite a long time since I've had a mission and battle."

[Sun Ce]

"Ah, Akira, I did not expect to see you. Quan is at Chang Sha, he is in command there. Ce I want you to go aid him, take what you need and move quickly, we don't have much time." Jian said.
"I will father." Ce said as he prepared to leave, but Jian stopped him, "Not just yet, Ce. We do have enough time to send supplies and reinforcements, I want you to guard the supply cargo on its way to Chang Sha, beware, the Wei and Shu are out in great numbers." Jian said.
"Father, what else do we need to send to Chi Bi?" Xiang asked.
"I will send reinforcements there as well. Akira, will you go with Xiang to Chi Bi?" Jian said.

[Lu Bu]

"Certainly." He said, glancing at Xiang. "Shall I also guard the reinforcements and supply lines, along the way, as well?"

[Sun Ce]

"Yes, I am sending you two to protect the supply lines as they travel to Chi Bi. Once there, we can resupply our troops, which will no doubt increase their morale... After they are done downloading everything, I would like for you two to stay there until we can force the Wei to retreat. However, if something should happen, and you must retreat, return to me and we will make another plan. Xiang and Akira, do you understand?" Jian said.
"I do father." She said.
"Now, Ce, should the same happen at Chang Sha, I want you and Quan to return to me as well. We will have to reanalyze the capabilities of our enemies. I have faith in all of you, now please, prepare yourselves for departure." Jian said.
Ce said nothing and quickly left the room, anxious to leave, but Xiang and Akira stayed behind, checking to see if they had any questions to be answered....

[Lu Bu]

"Are you ready?" Akira asked Xiang, as he was well-prepared to leave, already.

[Sun Ce]

"Just let me get Snowfire and we can go.... Would you like a horse?" Xiang asked as they left her father's presence and she collected her knapsack, which she always left near the exit from the palace.
The Princess led Akira to the stables, where Snowfire, her horse was stabled and repeated her question....

[Lu Bu]

"I have Negro." He said, and whistled. A black horse galloped into the stables. Akira prepared him, and his own bellongings. "I let him roam around, sometimes." Akira said, as he turned to get on his horse.

[Sun Ce]

"Very well then, come Snowfire!" She said as a gorgeous white stallion galloped up to them and looked curiously at Negro, and he neighed a greeting.
"I think that these two will get along nicely, usually Snowfire is not so nice to other stallions." Xiang said, assuming that Akira's horse, like most war horses was a male.
"Let's go, Snowfire, hiyaah!" Xiang said as she settled herself elegantly upon her horse's back and the magnificent creature rushed off with her, a white flash of speed.
Negro, of course, was not about to be left behind, and took off right after Akira settled himself and gave him the command to go....

[Lu Bu]

Negro caught up to Snowfire, Akira to Xiang. "Let us hurry." He said. "Where to first, my lady?"

[Sun Ce]

"We will have to go through He Fei, I have just recieved a message that Wei troops have massed their soldiers there and plan to attack Jiang Ye to seize it. Perhaps we can disrupt their plans a bit and give my father more time to prepare..." She said, and then a dove landed on her shoulder with a small scroll, which she read as she gave the bird some seeds.
"Take this to father..." She said as she stroked the bird's head a certain way three times.
"Come, we must move quickly!" She said as she sent the bird into the air....

[Lu Bu]

"What was all that about?" He asked, staring at the bird, as they rode on.

[Sun Ce]

"That bird just delivered me a message that our troops are in dire straits. They are in desperate need of supplies, but our trains have not yet arrived. We may be too late..." Xiang said as she urged Snowfire into a gallop and rushed on....

[Lu Bu]

Akira galloped quickly after her. "Where are teh trains currently?" Akira asked, as he caught up to her.

[Sun Ce]

"They are already in Chi Bi, but they just have not arrived at the location our troops are at." Shang said as the two galloped on...