Safe Harbor

Lu Ling Qi dipped the brush in the pot of paint and stepped back from the mural to see if the color was to her liking. “Wenyuan, I’m not sure how to depict the Wu soldiers pissing their pants. It sort of looks like they’re the ‘Yellow Crotch Rebellion’.”

Of course there was no answer but her own voice echoing off the tomb walls. Her husband, Zhang Liao, was lying peacefully at rest behind her. Though it hadn’t stopped her from being with him. She spent most of her time now in this tomb working on murals to tell future generations the ture story of the Three Kingdoms Era. It was about all she could do to pass the time, waiting for death was hardly her style.

Things had been quiet these past few years, after what seemed to be a bombardment of funerals as prominant Wei generals and Kings were laid to rest in the dirt they bled on. Though things were beginning to get tense again and everyone suspected the Sima clan was going to try and despose of Cao Rui. Good ridence. He was a weak link.

“Grandma?”

“In here, Han.” Ling put the paint brush down and waited for her grandson to appear. He had only vague memories of his father, Cao Cao, as they had buried him when the boy was merely 7. Her daughter had still managed to raise a fine son.

“You wanted to see me?”

She looked at his young face and his tall, lanky body. She hoped he’d fill out eventually. “You need to eat more.”

“I am.” Cao Han smiled and looked at the painting she was working on. “Are they wearing their cavalry trousers backwards?”

“Ugh.” Ling crossed her arms and sat down on the stool. “I don’t know how to make them piss their pants!”

He chuckled. “I’ll try.”

She watched him begin to paint and try to salvage her work. He was his father’s son, a master of just about everything he touched. “How are things in the capital?”

“Sima Yi is ready to strike, I can feel it. He’s so pissy.”

“Then you better take control of your father’s empire before he does.” Ling watched him stop painting. He daughter, Yu Ming, didn’t know how to encourage her son to be a usurper. So the task fell to a woman who still hadn’t learned tact. “I’ll kill Sima Yi for you.”

“What?”

“Han, he has his armies ready to strike and once a man has the notion to rebell in his head….well he’s only going to make you his puppet until he finally gets tired of it. He’s an old friend, we both knew this day would come.”

“Grandma…” Han turned to her and watched her smile. “He’ll kill you.”

“That’s the plan. We take each other out.” She stood and felt some joints pop and her bones creak. “I hated your father for taking mine from me, but now I almost feel like he saved him from this hell. To bury the ones you love, to stare longingly at an empty casket wanting more than anything to be with your lover again. I’m ready, more than ever.”

“There has to be some other way.”

“If the Sima clan takes control of this kingdom they will eliminate everyone tied to the old regeme, I don’t need to tell you that. Cao Pi’s line is weak so we need to replace him with a more suitable heir. You. Son of Cao Cao, grandson of Zhang Liao, greatgrandson of Lu Bu. You have the support of your cousins and Uncle Hu, in addition the Xiahou family will be by your side. You have the charisma your father lacked, everyone you meet likes you. You’re brilliant and a master of every weapon you get your hands on. I don’t know of a better candidate that has ever set foot on this earth.”

He blushed. Grandmothers always thought that about their grandkids.

“However you’re 15, and you lack the accomplishments to back you. The experience that is isnvaluable. I can help, some. I had the weapons that defined your family brought to your mother. The Luna Spear, Gold Wyvern, Sword of Heaven and my own Sword of Truth and Light. When the time comes, she’ll have them placed in your throne room to remind everyone who you are. When you define yourself, when the world knows who Cao Han is, please return them to their owners.”

This was all so very well thought out. Like he was being read a will…”Is this goodbye?”

“Yes. I’ll take out Sima Yi tonight before your mother can tell your Uncle Hu what I’m doing. He has always been my protector.”

“Unify this country, Han. In doing so you’ll protect your family.”

“I will.” He began to cry and ran over to his grandmother, knowing once he left this tomb the next time he returned would be to bury her.

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