Three Kingdoms: Chapter 1

Chapter 1



Merchants always placed tea among the most valuable commodities. Commoners dared not dream of obtaining an amount as minute as a mustard seed. Even for wealthy, tasting tea involved a task as difficult as plucking a star from the night sky.

Who would have ever guessed identity of the next customer for this jewel?

Certainly not the ship owner himself.

Qian hustled around the deck like a bee, much busier than usual. Chests containing jade and silver were neatly stacked in a corner. The abrupt change in weather had obligated the crew to remain in local inns for three days at the least. This meant a delay in the original schedule, complaints from his precious patrons, and other extra – but necessary – spendings. Aside from the business loss, however, Qian did not wish to risk the preventable. Remote areas such as these constantly attracted Huans. They always wildly roamed about in secluded countrysides, knowing that royal troops could not reach them there. Plus, it was raining. What use could he make of beacon mounds?

“To hell with precarious river,” Qian muttered.

And that’s when he heard the roars. At first, whether it was the thunder or the crowd, Qian could not tell. He turned around to find the sound’s origin. He frowned when his eyes were met with another pair of his kind, looking rather weary. The young man stood still on the deck, shabby but not presumptuous. His clothes were ragged from long travel, but his eyes shone as clear as sunlit dew.

“What business does a beggar have with Qian?!” Landlords and other customers shouted from the ground.

“He won’t tell us where he’s from! Must be one of Chang’s filthy spies!” Some of his men cried.

“Hand him over to the landlord!” Yelling and screaming continued.

Qian frowned again, though not at the youth this time. Being an old salt, he knew exactly what it was like to be in the traveler’s worn-out straw sandals. Deep down inside his stern mind, something stirred. The thought of facing the wrath of an angry mob, however, was slightly less than desirable. Casually, he smiled at them and said, “He’s on my ship. He must have some important matter to discuss with me here. Don’t harass him, for he is in my care now.”

To his surprise, screams and sneers died away. The crowd departed, scattering themselves to mind their own matters.

Qian sighed. He and a fatigued, starved young man would certainly be no match for such a crowd.

Breaking the silence, “I appreciate your kindness,” the young man said.

Regaining the composure, Qian asked, “What business do you have here?”

“I wanted to purchase some tea.” The words flowed out of his mouth without hesitation. If Qian wasn’t mistaken, there was even a note of slight excitement in his voice.

Though he had dealt with such customers before, so great was Qian’s astonishment that he almost fell flat on his back. “Did you just say tea?” he asked the young man in disbelief.

“Yes, sir.”

“Do you know what tea is? The teas we sell are the best of the best. We don’t have the kinds that we can freely give out to people like you.”

“I am fully aware of that. The kind I want is the one processed with great care. For over a year now, I’ve been saving my petty income to surprise my mother.”

“What a commendable young man you are!” Qian said as he stared at the youth in wonder. “I will give you this in reward for your filial heart. But I can’t bargain much, for I am in business.” He spoke as he led the youth to his own chamber, disposing the most expensive tea in his possession into a small porcelain jar.

“This is more than sufficient. The image of my dear mother rejoicing is already vivid before my eyes. Farewell now!” He departed, smiling.

“You will honor your mother well! I have no doubt of it,” Qian shouted after him.

Liu Bei was eager to return home. So thrilled was his heart, that he did not see a pair of foul eyes monitoring him behind a mountain of silks.

As if by magic, the rain ceased. The moon pushed its way through a shell of heavy clouds, and soon the sky was covered with crystal clear gems. On his way to the inn, Liu Bei noticed an awfully bright red star that shone above all others.

“Elders back in hometown used to tell of an unusually brilliant star that was a prelude to disorder and chaos…” he whispered to himself, trying to forget his grandfather’s words that echoed off his mind’s quiet walls.

‘It’s a legendary omen that disorder and confusion will reign throughout the realm of men,’ the old man had spoken to him grimly.

The small inn seemed to be full. All the windows were lit, and as Liu Bei stepped inside, the innkeeper stopped him. “Hello sir. I’m sure you’re aware of it, but all the rooms are occupied with Luoyang’s crews.”

“I just need some place to close my eyes for a bit. You don’t have to worry.”

“All right. If you insist…” The innkeeper led him through the halls. Merry laughter and hushed conversations arose from each door as he and Liu Bei went past it. At the end of the hall lay a small room that appeared to be a lounging area for servants. The host opened its door.

“Here. Will this be okay?”

“Of course.”

“Ok. Have a good night. I’ll tell the maid to prepare breakfast in the morning.” He stepped out and closed the door.

Liu Bei stripped his father’s sword from the waist and laid it on the table next to the bed. Exhausted from the day’s events, he then cast himself on the untidy bed. The linens were old, but he was used to sleeping on the floor. ‘This will do for tonight,’ he told himself, and promptly strayed into dark dreams. He could hear the haunting cries in his sleep, but simply neglected them as strands of childhood reminiscences.

The scarlet star was still shining outside.