application: hometrail
player info.
name/handle:
Herit
contact info:
EmergencyShank (AIM)
personal journal:
srs99d_s2am
previous characters:
snipinggod (red vs blue), brb_napping (halo 3: odst), failmaleficar (dragon age: origins)
character info.
character name:
Zhou Yu; styled: Gongjin
[note: Zhou is the family name here, just writing it in that order since, well - they said their family name and given name together, as one name, and yes, in this order. feel free to disregard that, though, and note it the normal way in the dossier and all]
canon & medium:
Dynasty Warriors / Video Game Series
[note: The series in general, as it's the same characters, personalities, and battles every time. Just adding where that canon doesn't deliver, from The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which the games were based on. Also timeline-wise, since that's a mess in Dynasty Warriors with all the alternative timelines and story modes... let's just stick to The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, i.e. the "historical"/standard timeline, far as that is possible without contradicting the games' overall canon. That takes priority, of course.]
age & species:
35 / human
appearance:
DW5 outfit, and a better look at the face! ... the guy in the background, not the guy with the beard. Also that outfit, because the outfit in 6 is just... yeah, what. Description: Asian, long hair (as you can see), 178 cm or 5'10" tall... yeah. You get an idea.
previous rpg memories:
none.
timeline:
210 CE, during the conflict with Zhuge Liang, after receiving (and worsening) his eventually-fatal arrow wound, and not very long before his death.
background:
[introduction to the han-dynasty / historical biography / comprehensive rotk biography]
Born in 175 CE into a family famous for producing capable officers who served in various high military and political positions, Zhou Yu was the son of Zhou Yi, the Prefect of Lu Jiang Commandery, where he grew up in Shu County with his parents and at least one older brother. In 190 CE, the minor warlord Sun Jian, head of the rising Sun family that traced its origins back to the philosopher Sun Wu (better known as Sun Tzu), prepared to lead the vanguard in the attack against Dong Zhuo under Yuan Shu's command, and therefore moved his family to Lu Jiang Province, where they stayed with the Zhou family, who were apparently on friendly terms with the Sun already. Both Zhou Yu and Sun Jian's own son Ce joined his troops and accompanied him on the campaign. Sun Ce and Zhou Yu met for the first time when Sun Jian asks Zhou Yu to find his son and watch his back, commenting that while Ce was capable and strong-willed, he had a habit of being careless. Zhou Yu did as he was asked, and joined Sun Ce to fight side-by-side with him after relaying both Sun Jian's message and his comments on Ce. From there on, they would quickly become inseparable friends, and Sun Ce's mother would comment that Zhou Yu was like a son to her.
After Sun Jian personally fought Dong Zhuo at Dagu Pass and managed to drive him off, his forces fought their into the ruined capital. There, his soldiers made an impressive find among the rubble: the Imperial Seal. While Sun Jian commented that it was worthless, and that the legends that whoever held the seal would become Emperor were nothing but old wives' tales, Zhou Yu, respected by Sun Jian for his intelligence and skills, managed to convince him that despite that, the seal still held symbolic power, and the Sun should hold on to it.
After this, Zhou Yu would continue to follow and look after Sun Ce, and the two would eventually become blood brothers, both fighting for Sun Jian in the Battle of Si Shui Gate (or Sishui Pass) and in the Battle of Xiangyang (known in the game as the Battle of Jing Province), in which Sun Jian was killed and Sun Ce took over the command of the army.
After the battle was won and the commanders of the Sun army held another meeting to discuss how to proceed now. During this meeting, it was Zhou Yu who convinced Sun Ce that even though his father had fought faithfully for the Han Empire, this empire was now dead and it was up to them to conquer territory and create a country of their own. Sun Ce, at first somewhat hesitant, let his friend convince him to trade the Imperial Seal for troops and support for their conquests from Yuan Shu, who was quickly swayed to agree to the deal, desiring the seal as much as Zhou Yu had predicted. For the next years, Zhou Yu would accompany and support Sun Ce, frequently fighting side by side or back to back with him; just as under Sun Jian's command, and throughout the conquests Sun Ce achieved for Wu (which are described in more detail here), he also served as Sun Ce's advisor, both sharing the ambition to prove themselves and create a new kingdom.
One of his and Sun Ce's more famous fights was the battle for the "Two Qiaos", the daughters of the Duke Qiao Xuan, in which the girls challenged Sun Ce and Zhou Yu to defeat first Duke Qiao's men and then the Qiao sisters themselves in order to gain permission to marry them - as their late father had requested. After they succeeded in this, Sun Ce married the older and calmer Da Qiao, while Zhou Yu married the younger and more temperamental Xiao Qiao. Contrary to what Koei's character design for the two and personality for Xiao Qiao may want to make you believe, they were both in their late teens at that time. They're just late bloomers or something.
In another famous incident in 200 CE, Sun Ce was cursed by the Taoist priest Gan Ji, whom he killed. This curse would haunt him till his death in the same year, causing sudden weakness and chest-pain that would let him break down on occasion. After Sun Ce's death, Zhou Yu - though devastated and briefly discouraged almost completely - continued to advise Sun Ce's brother, Sun Quan, who had inherited the land and title from Sun Ce. While Sun Quan trusted and respected him, even considering him an elder brother, Zhou Yu never actually reciprocated this completely to the same degree, never crossing the line and instead always addressing Sun Quan as his lord. It became obvious in his game cut-scenes (both immediately after the incidents and even ten years later) that Zhou Yu never really recovered from the blow of losing his sworn brother.
During the Battle of Xiakou against Huang Zu, during which Sun Jian's death was finally avenged with Huang Zu's death, Zhou Yu was in charge of the vanguard, but was made Commander-in-Chief in time for the famous battle of Chi Bi. It was Shu's strategist Zhuge Liang who managed to win Zhou Yu's support for the battle, convincing him that Cao Cao intended to attack Wu after attacking Shu, in order to capture the two Qiaos. Zhou Yu, now seeing a reason to take on Cao Cao's far superior forces and navy, convinced Sun Quan against the advice of his other strategists to join Shu in the fight and refuse Cao Cao's demand to surrender. Convinced by his words, Sun Quan famously chopped his table in half with his sword before his assembled advisors and declared that the decision had been made and anyone speaking of surrender from this point onwards would share the fate of this table.
During the preparations for the battle, which would be fought against Cao Cao's approaching fleet, Zhou Yu fell ill, apparently due to stress, but made a recovery after conferring with Zhuge Liang and having the latter promise to summon the southern winds as support for Zhou Yu's planned fire attack against Cao Cao's ships. Against all expectations, Zhuge Liang was indeed successful - however, seeing the apparently magical powers Zhuge Liang possessed, Zhou Yu was quickly beginning to consider Zhuge Liang a potential danger and future enemy to Wu.
His mistrust was confirmed when briefly after the battle, word reached him that Liu Bei's troops have taken over some of the fortresses in Wu territory that had previously been conquered and now been left behind by the fleeing Cao Cao. He confronted Zhuge Liang, and after the other strategist's explanations for Shu's need for land, allowed to leave alive - but informed him that he had to leave. Privately, however, he had already formulated a plan to rid himself of this new enemy, even making it clear to Zhuge Liang that now that Cao Cao was defeated, there was nobody left to fight for them - nobody but each other. Zhuge Liang understood and agreed, before following the order to leave.
After this, in the aftermath of Cao Cao's retreat, Zhou Yu led Wu's forces into various battles against the retreating troops of Wei, among others to capture the territories of Jingzhou, trying to take them before Shu had a chance to. According to an agreement between Sun Quan and the ruler of Shu and lord of Zhuge Liang, Liu Bei, Shu was permitted to make another attempt to capture the city of Nanjun in this region should Zhou Yu's attempt fail - and, as predicted by Zhuge Liang, the forces of Wu were driven back by those of the defender Cao Ren. Zhou Yu himself was wounded severely by a poisoned arrow and forced to retreat. Cao Ren's plan to discourage the Wu troops by shouting insults after hearing of their commander's wound failed when Zhou Yu personally inspected the troops the next day in order to boost morale. However, the territory could not be taken back by Wu and eventually fell to Shu's soldiers, who had already captured various other towns in Jingzhou while Wu had still been busy trying to capture Nanjun. Eventually, the entire region fell to Liu Bei.
From then on, Zhou Yu, greatly infuriated and also mad with jealousy and a desire to best Liu Bei's strategist Zhuge Liang, would attempt to capture Jingzhou and return it to Wu several times, but fail no matter what strategies he would use. While a brilliant commander and tactician, he proved no match for Zhuge Liang as a strategist, part of his disadvantage being that Zhuge Liang simply understood him too well, and could predict whatever Zhou Yu was planning. His final plan was to offer Liu Bei to capture Xichuan for him in return for Jingzhou. This was only intended as a pretence for passing through Jingzhou and taking Shu's army by surprise, however. Unfortunately, the plan was spoilt by Zhuge Liang yet again, when the strategist expected Wu's troops and stopped them when they attempted their attack on Jingzhou. On top of this humiliation, Zhuge Liang sent a mocking letter to Zhou Yu, pointing at the latter's lack of consideration that with this campaign, he was leaving Wu itself open and vulnerable against an attack by Cao Cao, who, as Zhuge Liang further noted, still desired revenge against Wu for his defeat at Chi Bi.
This was the last straw for Zhou Yu, whose arrow wound had never properly healed and had reopened various times due to overexertion and his anger at Zhuge Liang's provocations. He finally died, weakened by the mental and physical exhaustion of his unsuccessful campaigns, when the wound tore open again as a result of his anger. On his death bed, he named Lu Xun (in the games; in history it was Lu Su instead) as his successor in a final letter to Sun Quan. He died a bitter man, cursing the heavens and voicing his envy with his famous words, "After creating me, Zhou Yu, did you have to create Zhuge Liang?"
personality:
The first impression Zhou Yu leaves is mostly not entirely positive, unless you belong to the group of people he holds dear; for all others, it could be summarised as a block of ice burning on the inside. While highly intelligent and level-headed, able to keep a clear and analytical mind in the most stressful situations, he can - and often does, upon first view - appear cold, even arrogant. He knows how great his strategic skill is, and it shows. However, in the presence of friends, his countrymen and comrades, or superiors he genuinely admires, he acts with honest devotion and modesty, even when praised. His cool temperament and tendency to analyse "the greater picture" are in stark contrast to the hot-headed and straight-forward attitude of his lord and sworn brother Sun Ce, and he often has to hold his overly eager childhood friend back to prevent him from getting in trouble or losing his life, acting as the voice of reason of the pair and equally learning the value of acting instead of over-thinking from the older. Despite his more mature, often even a bit instructional acting towards Sun Ce, he does and will always follow his lead and stand by his side without question. His bond with Sun Ce is as deep, even deeper than that of actual brothers, and often enough, Sun Ce manages to prove that laying tactics aside for a while does not necessarily hurt. In fact, Zhou Yu is never as cheerful and likely to joke - in his own dry, ironic way - as when he is around Sun Ce, who occasionally even manages to talk him into doing nonsense that would normally be unthinkable for him - such as having fun.
Despite his cold and determined nature on the battlefield, Zhou Yu is capable of deep emotions, as his friendship to Sun Ce and his love for his equally spirited wife Xiao Qiao show, over whose security he is always highly concerned. He has a tendency to be overprotective and underestimate those he cares for, but can also show appreciation when they prove their capability to function without him. His greatest weakness is his inability to accept defeat, and the stubbornness with which he clings to success can, when his plans do not work out, turn against him quickly. He cannot take being outwitted or beaten, which only worsens his antipathy towards Zhuge Liang, even when the success of the Battle of Chi Bi was their combined effort. In such situations, he is prone to losing his cool and his head sometimes, which is otherwise an unusual trait for him. The inability to beat Zhuge Liang frustrates him immensely, and even - along with his regarding Zhuge Liang as a potential danger to the kingdom of Wu - caused him to order an attack on him immediately after their success at Chi Bi. When faced with potential danger for his loved ones and his kingdom, he acts with cold and ruthless efficiency. However, failure or the loss of loved ones can also lead him to severe depressions, to a degree where they may cripple his ability to judge and use the situation properly, as his reaction to Sun Ce's death showed, where Xiao Qiao had to urge him to remember the promise and the dream of Wu's glory that he had shared with Sun Ce, in order to shake him out of his emotional palsy.
Zhou Yu's serious and strict attitude gives a wrong impression. In his case, it is not self discipline that lets him hide his true emotions, but the lack of any ability to voice his feelings at all. Even when he compliments Xiao Qiao on her unexpected success and professes his will to devote himself entirely to her, or when he asks about Sun Ce's well-being when the latter breaks down from the curse that will kill him not much later, he still appears reserved, hardly as touched as the situation would ask for. He is a man who is unable to externalise his emotions, and on the other hand, builds them up inside him, which becomes apparent in his rigid persistence to outdo Zhuge Liang, calling him "a devil" - not in the positive sense of the word - for his genius. Rather than admiring the other's skill and taking the cooperation as a chance to learn from him, he breaks it, betrays him, and would rather have him killed in this dishonest way than accept being second to him; this is also reflected in the dying words the Zhou Yu of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms utters: "Having born Yu, wherefore also Liang?" That in combination with his perfectionism can become very dangerous for him, since when his expectations are not met, especially his expectations to himself, his frustration builds up to a maddening degree and takes his ability to think clear and judge the situation from him, crippling all the skill he has, and making it impossible for him to forget about the failure. This again only leads to even more feelings of inferiority, frustration, and depression - a vicious circle that can go to fatalistic and extreme levels; for instance, after Sun Ce's death, regardless of how close they were, he let himself be pulled down by his feelings of loss so much that he questioned what the kingdom of Wu, which he fiercely loves, or the entire land was worth at all without Sun Ce to rule it. Even at the end of his story-mode, long after Sun Ce had died and after Wu had claimed victory, he is still unable to let go, as his conversation with Sun Ce's voice, which he imagines, shows.
His fighting style in the games mirrors this part of his personality well: While moving gracefully and almost dancing through the enemy lines normally, in his musou attack, he simply charges and slashes his sword through the air wildly, until he manages to hit something. However, despite this merciless face that his enemies will see of him, he is fiercely and passionately devoted to the kingdom of Wu and its rulers, most of all, of course, Sun Ce. He also acts as a guardian and mentor to other characters from this kingdom, such as the hot-headed Lu Meng whom he teaches to use intelligence as well instead of only raw power, and the young Lu Xun, whom he instructs to succeed him after his death, which comes true. In this function, he is more relaxed although still a little withdrawn, acts as a patient and calm guide, in a reserved way even friendly, and - just as towards Sun Ce and to a lower degree towards Xiao Qiao - with a trace of humour that shows itself mostly in dryly ironic statements and mild sarcasm, or, in Sun Ce's case, even the occasional joking scolding.
It is interesting to note that he also has an, if not really quite manipulative, very well convincing and ambitious nature. He has ambitious plans, and makes no secret of them, and he has, moreover, the ability to convince all of the three successive rulers he serves under to follow the path he sees. Naturally, Sun Jian, Sun Ce, and Sun Quan all three knew that they could trust his intelligence and that the Sun family and the kingdom of Wu were his highest priorities, but he manages to direct a lot more of the course of the conquests than would be expected from a mere (and at the time of most of these incidents very young) army commander. He does not only convince Sun Jian to keep the Imperial Seal despite its apparent worthlessness, but also sets the future path for Wu very soon after Sun Jian's death - explaining rather than suggesting to his friend Sun Ce that the Han Empire, which Sun Jian had served, is dead, and that they together should build a new empire to take its place. This ambitious plot is the starting point of Sun Ce's conquests of Wu's territory, after selling the Imperial Seal in exchange for men and weapons (again on Zhou Yu's suggestion), and even during their travels later, it is Zhou Yu rather than Sun Ce who clarifies that he has no intention to stop with what they achieved, and details which conquests should follow next. Even though loyal to the Sun family and Wu, and without aspirations to rule himself, it is true that he is one of the driving forces behind the steps Wu takes, and the mastermind behind many, if not most of its conquests. This goes as far as for strategists from other countries to take note that in order to sway Sun Quan later, one usually has to sway Zhou Yu first - which eventually leads to Zhuge Liang provoking Zhou Yu into joining Shu's war against Cao Cao. True to Zhuge Liang's analysis, that is all that is needed to make all of Wu join their cause, the ruler Sun Quan included. Despite being a tactician, he is not a man to stand back and wait for things to happen on their own.
Despite all these seemingly negative traits, however, it would be wrong to think of him as a terrible person in general. He is ambitious and can be cold, but these are primarily traits displayed towards enemies. In his own country, he is actually very popular, considered a family member by the ruling family, and a friend or teacher by many of the generals. In his later years, he is often shown advising, educating, but also complimenting the younger generals and strategists, or getting involved in conflicts like that between Ling Tong and Gan Ning, trying to make Ling Tong see the other's qualities, and making them work together. So it would be wrong to consider him an entirely bad person, even if he has a tendency towards extreme reactions - he is just very protective of his friends, his land, and his rulers, and has devoted his life to his country.
abilities:
He's a good fighter, using a Dao as his preferred weapon and an unconventional fighting style with many attacks that remind of dancing moves. His main strength as Wu's strategist is his tactical genius and intelligence, in which he considers Zhuge Liang his rival, although for a strategist, he is comparatively more focused on actual combat and leading his troops from the front line. He has his experience from actually serving in an army and fighting alongside Sun Ce, although his skill is nowhere close to that of Sun Ce himself and other legendary fighters. But still, like everybody in Dynasty Warriors, he has some ridic superhuman fighting abilities, including strength, speed, gravity-defying moves, endurance, the scary time-slowing musous... but I'd honestly like to cut that all, since it's mostly there in order to enable the player to take out whole armies by himself, and isn't actually showing in cutscenes normally either - i.e. I don't consider it real canon, and to make things easier, I'd rather treat it as him being a regular human being.
any plans for your character here?
Honestly, no. No plans in particular, except that since he's a general and all, he's gonna help with the defence, and be fucking amazed at everything that's new technology.
possessions:
Clothes and sword as seen in the picture above, also a flute. Don't look at me like that, he likes music.
samples.
sample journal entry:
What- What is this? Impossible! Kongming, where- What work of magic is this?!
[The voice cuts off suddenly, only to come back a few seconds later, low and astonished.]
... "Recording"?
[The recording stops for a moment, then starts again, clearer this time.]
It... My voice inside this... thing? How is this possible?
[Well, he clears is throat at least, a bit encouraged by the other voices he can hear (and the things he somehow can read) in this ... thing. Well, very official sounding now, and a bit more srsbsns than before.]
Whoever hears this - where is this place? I am Zhou Yu of Eastern Wu, and I hereby request an audience with your ruler. I furthermore wish to know the reason why - and how - I was brought here.
third-person sample:
It had not been meant to end like this. Nothing - nothing had been supposed to turn out like this. It had not been the plan, not even the worst case scenario he had judged as realistic. No... Not like this. Not this time again. Never, not even in his nightmares, had he been defeated so completely.
Had his genius been betrayed? Or had he simply been careless? Even now, on his death bed, Zhou Yu could not stop thinking. He had dismissed the officers and doctors, against their protest. Being subjected to such humiliation, he wanted to die alone at least. What worth could he have for the Kingdom of Wu now, a broken, bitter man, a failed strategist? He, the man who had been famed for his ability to read the battlefield to perfection, to predict the moves of every enemy, the hero of the battle of the Red Cliffs, who had sent the troops of the fearsome northern conqueror Cao Cao home in disastrous defeat and humiliation? He was reduced to this; a pale, trembling shape, defeated in body and mind. It had been one arrow, poisoned, that had signed his fate and marked a defeat that was far more severe. What had destroyed him was not the arrow that had hit his chest and left a wound that had never fully healed. The arrow that had destroyed him was more vicious; carried a deadlier poison and was aimed with more precision. It did not need a physical form. But thanks to them both, he was lying here, the man who had dreamt of a kingdom's glory under three successive rulers, now with glazed eyes, his hands and blankets splattered red, his chin covered in dried blood; more a corpse than a man, even when his heart was still beating.
What had gone wrong, where had he failed? What had been the mistake that had spoiled his strategy? He ached; it anguished him, more than the death at hand. What worth did life have now? Why live at all, if it was in a greater man's shadow? He could not take it, he failed to accept it. Death was more desirable than living his life forever as the second.
Where had he gone wrong?
The pretence of circumstances was exhausted. This was a battle he had not lost to fate or chance, and his last defeat had been the proof. He had been outwitted; nothing else. A battle of skill in which he had failed to keep up with his opponent. As always when gloomy thoughts pulled him down, depression so grave it left his eyes dry of tears, his face was pale and devoid of emotion. A heavy weight pulled down his heart, felt as intense as if it was physical. It drained him, left him paralysed. He was not normally a sentimental person; his reason and ability to see through all masks and circumstances had been famed from his very first battles onward. Sun Jian himself had noted his ability in not only appreciation, but admiration that had left the young man embarrassed at that time. Even Sun Ce, hot-headed as he had been, had been stopped and calmed by his logic whenever it had been needed. But after he had been gone, after Zhou Yu had lost his brother-in-arms... It was meaningless. At another time, with Sun Ce or his wife, Xiao Qiao, by his side, with thoughts of the rising talents like the young Lu Xun or the impatient, but learning Lu Meng in their army, who would secure a future for a dream of Wu's glory that he had shared with Sun Ce, he could have been able to overcome his grief, to remember and concentrate on his duty. He served the country, not himself. He would have remembered that he could not leave like this; not with Cao Cao threatening from the north, not with their borders in danger. But they were not here, Sun Ce was long since dead, and with him, his resolve had begun to die as well. There were few things that could bring Zhou Yu to lose his calm, or affect him enough to lose his ability to analyse, but when something managed to affect him, it could destroy him. That had happened, even though he was only half-aware of it at best. For now, there was only humiliation and defeat. And this defeat would be the last.
He had mocked him. Seen through his scheme and mocked him. Zhuge Liang's troops had been prepared, warned by him, and had caught his invasion - intended as a surprise - before they had had a chance to start, but too late to deny their purpose. His masterful plan had been brushed off like the attack of a wasp. And to finish his blow, Kongming had sent a greeting.
Director General for the Han, Imperial Corps Commander Zhuge Liang, addresses the eminent Chief Commander of the Southland, Master Zhou Yu: Since we parted at Chaisang, you have been much in my thoughts. When I heard that you were planning to take the Riverlands, I felt it could not be done. The people are sturdy, the terrain is rough, and Protector Liu Zhang, admittedly a bit foolish and feeble, can still manage to defend it.
Now your army has commenced a long campaign and will face many trials and uncertainties before victory is secure. Even the great strategists of old, Wu Qi and Sun Wu, could not guarantee their calculations nor ensure an outcome. I must remind you that revenge for the defeat at Red Cliffs is not absent from Cao's thoughts for a single moment! If he strikes while your army is far off, the Southland will fall. To prevent such an unbearable loss I have written this note in which I hope you will favour with your situation. *
A pained sigh escaped his trembling lips. His breath was lacking, his chest shaking at even this little strain. There was no point in living any more. Sun Ce was gone - what worth did the country have, without Sun Ce to rule it? What worth did his life have, eternally second to that devil from the north? His strength was fading quickly, and his eyesight faded into mottled blackness. With his purpose gone, so was his resolve to fight. He could never beat him. Caught in depression and despair, he closed his eyes. "Fair lands and rivers of Jiang Dong... Farewell." He was not sure if he actually moved his lips.
It was not the first time that he lost consciousness, only to wake up again and with a fit of breathless coughing spray red all over his blanket. By now, he hardly had the strength left to cough the blood out of his lung, and the pain tearing in his chest, back, even reaching his arms became more unbearable by the minute. Side by side with Sun Ce, he had been known for his determination, fighting to the very last, defending the kingdom the Sun family was creating regardless of the ruler, regardless of the place or time or circumstances. He had had hopes. Even after Sun Ce's death, even when the memories of their conquests and battles had always haunted him, never let him go. He had had hopes for the future, for the kingdom, for the men who served with him. He had enjoyed watching Lu Xun grow from a hot-headed prodigy to the reliable youth he was. He had enjoyed the warm, even if sometimes immature adoration Xiao Qiao had had for him, her helpless kind of helpfulness, the determination she had put into everything she did, worrying him half to death at times, making him smile in pride he had never been able to properly express at others. There had been hope even under Sun Quan, Sun Ce's brother and heir, who had been inexperienced, but eager and determined, even if too honest in his ideals. It had been different after Sun Ce's death, but there had still been hope, still things that were worth fighting for. With Sun Ce, everything had seemed easy, everything possible. Together, he had thought they had been unstoppable, the idea of a strong and proud kingdom they would create had seemed so close despite how powerless they had been, how unfavourable their circumstances. And it had been true. Sun Ce had been a force pulling him forward, while he, in return, had been the force to stop the Little Conqueror from losing his head - figurative and in actual fact. After Sun Ce... life had continued, but even with new hopes, it had turned bleak. He had grown up, despite his maturity even before this turn, and had become the responsible man, the master-strategist he was now known as. But if their world had not been meant for men like Sun Ce and him, maybe afterlife could offer what life had been too short to take for them. The world belonged to the living; to Lu Xun and Sun Quan. Wu had a future, and not even Kongming was eternal.
It was only soothing temporarily. His life, despite all his struggling, despite all his devotion and brilliance, was meant to end in failure. A pain he could not overcome. His breath was shallow and empty now, his lung filling with blood he had no strength to cough out. He groaned, shivering, unnaturally pale skin stretched tightly over his bones, almost transparent and allowing a view of red and bluish veins along his arms, temples, neck and hands, where bones shimmered through in pale yellow framed with red. His glazed eyes, half-blind in dizziness, stared at the sky without focus. The last thing he uttered was a strained breath, accompanied by a choke of nameless despair.
"Why do you choose Zhuge Liang over me...?"
[ * The letter can be read in the actual novel, The Romance of the Three Kingdoms. ]
name/handle:
Herit
contact info:
EmergencyShank (AIM)
personal journal:
srs99d_s2am
previous characters:
snipinggod (red vs blue), brb_napping (halo 3: odst), failmaleficar (dragon age: origins)
character info.
character name:
Zhou Yu; styled: Gongjin
[note: Zhou is the family name here, just writing it in that order since, well - they said their family name and given name together, as one name, and yes, in this order. feel free to disregard that, though, and note it the normal way in the dossier and all]
canon & medium:
Dynasty Warriors / Video Game Series
[note: The series in general, as it's the same characters, personalities, and battles every time. Just adding where that canon doesn't deliver, from The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which the games were based on. Also timeline-wise, since that's a mess in Dynasty Warriors with all the alternative timelines and story modes... let's just stick to The Romance of the Three Kingdoms, i.e. the "historical"/standard timeline, far as that is possible without contradicting the games' overall canon. That takes priority, of course.]
age & species:
35 / human
appearance:
DW5 outfit, and a better look at the face! ... the guy in the background, not the guy with the beard. Also that outfit, because the outfit in 6 is just... yeah, what. Description: Asian, long hair (as you can see), 178 cm or 5'10" tall... yeah. You get an idea.
previous rpg memories:
none.
timeline:
210 CE, during the conflict with Zhuge Liang, after receiving (and worsening) his eventually-fatal arrow wound, and not very long before his death.
background:
[introduction to the han-dynasty / historical biography / comprehensive rotk biography]
Born in 175 CE into a family famous for producing capable officers who served in various high military and political positions, Zhou Yu was the son of Zhou Yi, the Prefect of Lu Jiang Commandery, where he grew up in Shu County with his parents and at least one older brother. In 190 CE, the minor warlord Sun Jian, head of the rising Sun family that traced its origins back to the philosopher Sun Wu (better known as Sun Tzu), prepared to lead the vanguard in the attack against Dong Zhuo under Yuan Shu's command, and therefore moved his family to Lu Jiang Province, where they stayed with the Zhou family, who were apparently on friendly terms with the Sun already. Both Zhou Yu and Sun Jian's own son Ce joined his troops and accompanied him on the campaign. Sun Ce and Zhou Yu met for the first time when Sun Jian asks Zhou Yu to find his son and watch his back, commenting that while Ce was capable and strong-willed, he had a habit of being careless. Zhou Yu did as he was asked, and joined Sun Ce to fight side-by-side with him after relaying both Sun Jian's message and his comments on Ce. From there on, they would quickly become inseparable friends, and Sun Ce's mother would comment that Zhou Yu was like a son to her.
After Sun Jian personally fought Dong Zhuo at Dagu Pass and managed to drive him off, his forces fought their into the ruined capital. There, his soldiers made an impressive find among the rubble: the Imperial Seal. While Sun Jian commented that it was worthless, and that the legends that whoever held the seal would become Emperor were nothing but old wives' tales, Zhou Yu, respected by Sun Jian for his intelligence and skills, managed to convince him that despite that, the seal still held symbolic power, and the Sun should hold on to it.
After this, Zhou Yu would continue to follow and look after Sun Ce, and the two would eventually become blood brothers, both fighting for Sun Jian in the Battle of Si Shui Gate (or Sishui Pass) and in the Battle of Xiangyang (known in the game as the Battle of Jing Province), in which Sun Jian was killed and Sun Ce took over the command of the army.
After the battle was won and the commanders of the Sun army held another meeting to discuss how to proceed now. During this meeting, it was Zhou Yu who convinced Sun Ce that even though his father had fought faithfully for the Han Empire, this empire was now dead and it was up to them to conquer territory and create a country of their own. Sun Ce, at first somewhat hesitant, let his friend convince him to trade the Imperial Seal for troops and support for their conquests from Yuan Shu, who was quickly swayed to agree to the deal, desiring the seal as much as Zhou Yu had predicted. For the next years, Zhou Yu would accompany and support Sun Ce, frequently fighting side by side or back to back with him; just as under Sun Jian's command, and throughout the conquests Sun Ce achieved for Wu (which are described in more detail here), he also served as Sun Ce's advisor, both sharing the ambition to prove themselves and create a new kingdom.
One of his and Sun Ce's more famous fights was the battle for the "Two Qiaos", the daughters of the Duke Qiao Xuan, in which the girls challenged Sun Ce and Zhou Yu to defeat first Duke Qiao's men and then the Qiao sisters themselves in order to gain permission to marry them - as their late father had requested. After they succeeded in this, Sun Ce married the older and calmer Da Qiao, while Zhou Yu married the younger and more temperamental Xiao Qiao. Contrary to what Koei's character design for the two and personality for Xiao Qiao may want to make you believe, they were both in their late teens at that time. They're just late bloomers or something.
In another famous incident in 200 CE, Sun Ce was cursed by the Taoist priest Gan Ji, whom he killed. This curse would haunt him till his death in the same year, causing sudden weakness and chest-pain that would let him break down on occasion. After Sun Ce's death, Zhou Yu - though devastated and briefly discouraged almost completely - continued to advise Sun Ce's brother, Sun Quan, who had inherited the land and title from Sun Ce. While Sun Quan trusted and respected him, even considering him an elder brother, Zhou Yu never actually reciprocated this completely to the same degree, never crossing the line and instead always addressing Sun Quan as his lord. It became obvious in his game cut-scenes (both immediately after the incidents and even ten years later) that Zhou Yu never really recovered from the blow of losing his sworn brother.
During the Battle of Xiakou against Huang Zu, during which Sun Jian's death was finally avenged with Huang Zu's death, Zhou Yu was in charge of the vanguard, but was made Commander-in-Chief in time for the famous battle of Chi Bi. It was Shu's strategist Zhuge Liang who managed to win Zhou Yu's support for the battle, convincing him that Cao Cao intended to attack Wu after attacking Shu, in order to capture the two Qiaos. Zhou Yu, now seeing a reason to take on Cao Cao's far superior forces and navy, convinced Sun Quan against the advice of his other strategists to join Shu in the fight and refuse Cao Cao's demand to surrender. Convinced by his words, Sun Quan famously chopped his table in half with his sword before his assembled advisors and declared that the decision had been made and anyone speaking of surrender from this point onwards would share the fate of this table.
During the preparations for the battle, which would be fought against Cao Cao's approaching fleet, Zhou Yu fell ill, apparently due to stress, but made a recovery after conferring with Zhuge Liang and having the latter promise to summon the southern winds as support for Zhou Yu's planned fire attack against Cao Cao's ships. Against all expectations, Zhuge Liang was indeed successful - however, seeing the apparently magical powers Zhuge Liang possessed, Zhou Yu was quickly beginning to consider Zhuge Liang a potential danger and future enemy to Wu.
His mistrust was confirmed when briefly after the battle, word reached him that Liu Bei's troops have taken over some of the fortresses in Wu territory that had previously been conquered and now been left behind by the fleeing Cao Cao. He confronted Zhuge Liang, and after the other strategist's explanations for Shu's need for land, allowed to leave alive - but informed him that he had to leave. Privately, however, he had already formulated a plan to rid himself of this new enemy, even making it clear to Zhuge Liang that now that Cao Cao was defeated, there was nobody left to fight for them - nobody but each other. Zhuge Liang understood and agreed, before following the order to leave.
After this, in the aftermath of Cao Cao's retreat, Zhou Yu led Wu's forces into various battles against the retreating troops of Wei, among others to capture the territories of Jingzhou, trying to take them before Shu had a chance to. According to an agreement between Sun Quan and the ruler of Shu and lord of Zhuge Liang, Liu Bei, Shu was permitted to make another attempt to capture the city of Nanjun in this region should Zhou Yu's attempt fail - and, as predicted by Zhuge Liang, the forces of Wu were driven back by those of the defender Cao Ren. Zhou Yu himself was wounded severely by a poisoned arrow and forced to retreat. Cao Ren's plan to discourage the Wu troops by shouting insults after hearing of their commander's wound failed when Zhou Yu personally inspected the troops the next day in order to boost morale. However, the territory could not be taken back by Wu and eventually fell to Shu's soldiers, who had already captured various other towns in Jingzhou while Wu had still been busy trying to capture Nanjun. Eventually, the entire region fell to Liu Bei.
From then on, Zhou Yu, greatly infuriated and also mad with jealousy and a desire to best Liu Bei's strategist Zhuge Liang, would attempt to capture Jingzhou and return it to Wu several times, but fail no matter what strategies he would use. While a brilliant commander and tactician, he proved no match for Zhuge Liang as a strategist, part of his disadvantage being that Zhuge Liang simply understood him too well, and could predict whatever Zhou Yu was planning. His final plan was to offer Liu Bei to capture Xichuan for him in return for Jingzhou. This was only intended as a pretence for passing through Jingzhou and taking Shu's army by surprise, however. Unfortunately, the plan was spoilt by Zhuge Liang yet again, when the strategist expected Wu's troops and stopped them when they attempted their attack on Jingzhou. On top of this humiliation, Zhuge Liang sent a mocking letter to Zhou Yu, pointing at the latter's lack of consideration that with this campaign, he was leaving Wu itself open and vulnerable against an attack by Cao Cao, who, as Zhuge Liang further noted, still desired revenge against Wu for his defeat at Chi Bi.
This was the last straw for Zhou Yu, whose arrow wound had never properly healed and had reopened various times due to overexertion and his anger at Zhuge Liang's provocations. He finally died, weakened by the mental and physical exhaustion of his unsuccessful campaigns, when the wound tore open again as a result of his anger. On his death bed, he named Lu Xun (in the games; in history it was Lu Su instead) as his successor in a final letter to Sun Quan. He died a bitter man, cursing the heavens and voicing his envy with his famous words, "After creating me, Zhou Yu, did you have to create Zhuge Liang?"
personality:
The first impression Zhou Yu leaves is mostly not entirely positive, unless you belong to the group of people he holds dear; for all others, it could be summarised as a block of ice burning on the inside. While highly intelligent and level-headed, able to keep a clear and analytical mind in the most stressful situations, he can - and often does, upon first view - appear cold, even arrogant. He knows how great his strategic skill is, and it shows. However, in the presence of friends, his countrymen and comrades, or superiors he genuinely admires, he acts with honest devotion and modesty, even when praised. His cool temperament and tendency to analyse "the greater picture" are in stark contrast to the hot-headed and straight-forward attitude of his lord and sworn brother Sun Ce, and he often has to hold his overly eager childhood friend back to prevent him from getting in trouble or losing his life, acting as the voice of reason of the pair and equally learning the value of acting instead of over-thinking from the older. Despite his more mature, often even a bit instructional acting towards Sun Ce, he does and will always follow his lead and stand by his side without question. His bond with Sun Ce is as deep, even deeper than that of actual brothers, and often enough, Sun Ce manages to prove that laying tactics aside for a while does not necessarily hurt. In fact, Zhou Yu is never as cheerful and likely to joke - in his own dry, ironic way - as when he is around Sun Ce, who occasionally even manages to talk him into doing nonsense that would normally be unthinkable for him - such as having fun.
Despite his cold and determined nature on the battlefield, Zhou Yu is capable of deep emotions, as his friendship to Sun Ce and his love for his equally spirited wife Xiao Qiao show, over whose security he is always highly concerned. He has a tendency to be overprotective and underestimate those he cares for, but can also show appreciation when they prove their capability to function without him. His greatest weakness is his inability to accept defeat, and the stubbornness with which he clings to success can, when his plans do not work out, turn against him quickly. He cannot take being outwitted or beaten, which only worsens his antipathy towards Zhuge Liang, even when the success of the Battle of Chi Bi was their combined effort. In such situations, he is prone to losing his cool and his head sometimes, which is otherwise an unusual trait for him. The inability to beat Zhuge Liang frustrates him immensely, and even - along with his regarding Zhuge Liang as a potential danger to the kingdom of Wu - caused him to order an attack on him immediately after their success at Chi Bi. When faced with potential danger for his loved ones and his kingdom, he acts with cold and ruthless efficiency. However, failure or the loss of loved ones can also lead him to severe depressions, to a degree where they may cripple his ability to judge and use the situation properly, as his reaction to Sun Ce's death showed, where Xiao Qiao had to urge him to remember the promise and the dream of Wu's glory that he had shared with Sun Ce, in order to shake him out of his emotional palsy.
Zhou Yu's serious and strict attitude gives a wrong impression. In his case, it is not self discipline that lets him hide his true emotions, but the lack of any ability to voice his feelings at all. Even when he compliments Xiao Qiao on her unexpected success and professes his will to devote himself entirely to her, or when he asks about Sun Ce's well-being when the latter breaks down from the curse that will kill him not much later, he still appears reserved, hardly as touched as the situation would ask for. He is a man who is unable to externalise his emotions, and on the other hand, builds them up inside him, which becomes apparent in his rigid persistence to outdo Zhuge Liang, calling him "a devil" - not in the positive sense of the word - for his genius. Rather than admiring the other's skill and taking the cooperation as a chance to learn from him, he breaks it, betrays him, and would rather have him killed in this dishonest way than accept being second to him; this is also reflected in the dying words the Zhou Yu of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms utters: "Having born Yu, wherefore also Liang?" That in combination with his perfectionism can become very dangerous for him, since when his expectations are not met, especially his expectations to himself, his frustration builds up to a maddening degree and takes his ability to think clear and judge the situation from him, crippling all the skill he has, and making it impossible for him to forget about the failure. This again only leads to even more feelings of inferiority, frustration, and depression - a vicious circle that can go to fatalistic and extreme levels; for instance, after Sun Ce's death, regardless of how close they were, he let himself be pulled down by his feelings of loss so much that he questioned what the kingdom of Wu, which he fiercely loves, or the entire land was worth at all without Sun Ce to rule it. Even at the end of his story-mode, long after Sun Ce had died and after Wu had claimed victory, he is still unable to let go, as his conversation with Sun Ce's voice, which he imagines, shows.
His fighting style in the games mirrors this part of his personality well: While moving gracefully and almost dancing through the enemy lines normally, in his musou attack, he simply charges and slashes his sword through the air wildly, until he manages to hit something. However, despite this merciless face that his enemies will see of him, he is fiercely and passionately devoted to the kingdom of Wu and its rulers, most of all, of course, Sun Ce. He also acts as a guardian and mentor to other characters from this kingdom, such as the hot-headed Lu Meng whom he teaches to use intelligence as well instead of only raw power, and the young Lu Xun, whom he instructs to succeed him after his death, which comes true. In this function, he is more relaxed although still a little withdrawn, acts as a patient and calm guide, in a reserved way even friendly, and - just as towards Sun Ce and to a lower degree towards Xiao Qiao - with a trace of humour that shows itself mostly in dryly ironic statements and mild sarcasm, or, in Sun Ce's case, even the occasional joking scolding.
It is interesting to note that he also has an, if not really quite manipulative, very well convincing and ambitious nature. He has ambitious plans, and makes no secret of them, and he has, moreover, the ability to convince all of the three successive rulers he serves under to follow the path he sees. Naturally, Sun Jian, Sun Ce, and Sun Quan all three knew that they could trust his intelligence and that the Sun family and the kingdom of Wu were his highest priorities, but he manages to direct a lot more of the course of the conquests than would be expected from a mere (and at the time of most of these incidents very young) army commander. He does not only convince Sun Jian to keep the Imperial Seal despite its apparent worthlessness, but also sets the future path for Wu very soon after Sun Jian's death - explaining rather than suggesting to his friend Sun Ce that the Han Empire, which Sun Jian had served, is dead, and that they together should build a new empire to take its place. This ambitious plot is the starting point of Sun Ce's conquests of Wu's territory, after selling the Imperial Seal in exchange for men and weapons (again on Zhou Yu's suggestion), and even during their travels later, it is Zhou Yu rather than Sun Ce who clarifies that he has no intention to stop with what they achieved, and details which conquests should follow next. Even though loyal to the Sun family and Wu, and without aspirations to rule himself, it is true that he is one of the driving forces behind the steps Wu takes, and the mastermind behind many, if not most of its conquests. This goes as far as for strategists from other countries to take note that in order to sway Sun Quan later, one usually has to sway Zhou Yu first - which eventually leads to Zhuge Liang provoking Zhou Yu into joining Shu's war against Cao Cao. True to Zhuge Liang's analysis, that is all that is needed to make all of Wu join their cause, the ruler Sun Quan included. Despite being a tactician, he is not a man to stand back and wait for things to happen on their own.
Despite all these seemingly negative traits, however, it would be wrong to think of him as a terrible person in general. He is ambitious and can be cold, but these are primarily traits displayed towards enemies. In his own country, he is actually very popular, considered a family member by the ruling family, and a friend or teacher by many of the generals. In his later years, he is often shown advising, educating, but also complimenting the younger generals and strategists, or getting involved in conflicts like that between Ling Tong and Gan Ning, trying to make Ling Tong see the other's qualities, and making them work together. So it would be wrong to consider him an entirely bad person, even if he has a tendency towards extreme reactions - he is just very protective of his friends, his land, and his rulers, and has devoted his life to his country.
abilities:
He's a good fighter, using a Dao as his preferred weapon and an unconventional fighting style with many attacks that remind of dancing moves. His main strength as Wu's strategist is his tactical genius and intelligence, in which he considers Zhuge Liang his rival, although for a strategist, he is comparatively more focused on actual combat and leading his troops from the front line. He has his experience from actually serving in an army and fighting alongside Sun Ce, although his skill is nowhere close to that of Sun Ce himself and other legendary fighters. But still, like everybody in Dynasty Warriors, he has some ridic superhuman fighting abilities, including strength, speed, gravity-defying moves, endurance, the scary time-slowing musous... but I'd honestly like to cut that all, since it's mostly there in order to enable the player to take out whole armies by himself, and isn't actually showing in cutscenes normally either - i.e. I don't consider it real canon, and to make things easier, I'd rather treat it as him being a regular human being.
any plans for your character here?
Honestly, no. No plans in particular, except that since he's a general and all, he's gonna help with the defence, and be fucking amazed at everything that's new technology.
possessions:
Clothes and sword as seen in the picture above, also a flute. Don't look at me like that, he likes music.
samples.
sample journal entry:
What- What is this? Impossible! Kongming, where- What work of magic is this?!
[The voice cuts off suddenly, only to come back a few seconds later, low and astonished.]
... "Recording"?
[The recording stops for a moment, then starts again, clearer this time.]
It... My voice inside this... thing? How is this possible?
[Well, he clears is throat at least, a bit encouraged by the other voices he can hear (and the things he somehow can read) in this ... thing. Well, very official sounding now, and a bit more srsbsns than before.]
Whoever hears this - where is this place? I am Zhou Yu of Eastern Wu, and I hereby request an audience with your ruler. I furthermore wish to know the reason why - and how - I was brought here.
third-person sample:
It had not been meant to end like this. Nothing - nothing had been supposed to turn out like this. It had not been the plan, not even the worst case scenario he had judged as realistic. No... Not like this. Not this time again. Never, not even in his nightmares, had he been defeated so completely.
Had his genius been betrayed? Or had he simply been careless? Even now, on his death bed, Zhou Yu could not stop thinking. He had dismissed the officers and doctors, against their protest. Being subjected to such humiliation, he wanted to die alone at least. What worth could he have for the Kingdom of Wu now, a broken, bitter man, a failed strategist? He, the man who had been famed for his ability to read the battlefield to perfection, to predict the moves of every enemy, the hero of the battle of the Red Cliffs, who had sent the troops of the fearsome northern conqueror Cao Cao home in disastrous defeat and humiliation? He was reduced to this; a pale, trembling shape, defeated in body and mind. It had been one arrow, poisoned, that had signed his fate and marked a defeat that was far more severe. What had destroyed him was not the arrow that had hit his chest and left a wound that had never fully healed. The arrow that had destroyed him was more vicious; carried a deadlier poison and was aimed with more precision. It did not need a physical form. But thanks to them both, he was lying here, the man who had dreamt of a kingdom's glory under three successive rulers, now with glazed eyes, his hands and blankets splattered red, his chin covered in dried blood; more a corpse than a man, even when his heart was still beating.
What had gone wrong, where had he failed? What had been the mistake that had spoiled his strategy? He ached; it anguished him, more than the death at hand. What worth did life have now? Why live at all, if it was in a greater man's shadow? He could not take it, he failed to accept it. Death was more desirable than living his life forever as the second.
Where had he gone wrong?
The pretence of circumstances was exhausted. This was a battle he had not lost to fate or chance, and his last defeat had been the proof. He had been outwitted; nothing else. A battle of skill in which he had failed to keep up with his opponent. As always when gloomy thoughts pulled him down, depression so grave it left his eyes dry of tears, his face was pale and devoid of emotion. A heavy weight pulled down his heart, felt as intense as if it was physical. It drained him, left him paralysed. He was not normally a sentimental person; his reason and ability to see through all masks and circumstances had been famed from his very first battles onward. Sun Jian himself had noted his ability in not only appreciation, but admiration that had left the young man embarrassed at that time. Even Sun Ce, hot-headed as he had been, had been stopped and calmed by his logic whenever it had been needed. But after he had been gone, after Zhou Yu had lost his brother-in-arms... It was meaningless. At another time, with Sun Ce or his wife, Xiao Qiao, by his side, with thoughts of the rising talents like the young Lu Xun or the impatient, but learning Lu Meng in their army, who would secure a future for a dream of Wu's glory that he had shared with Sun Ce, he could have been able to overcome his grief, to remember and concentrate on his duty. He served the country, not himself. He would have remembered that he could not leave like this; not with Cao Cao threatening from the north, not with their borders in danger. But they were not here, Sun Ce was long since dead, and with him, his resolve had begun to die as well. There were few things that could bring Zhou Yu to lose his calm, or affect him enough to lose his ability to analyse, but when something managed to affect him, it could destroy him. That had happened, even though he was only half-aware of it at best. For now, there was only humiliation and defeat. And this defeat would be the last.
He had mocked him. Seen through his scheme and mocked him. Zhuge Liang's troops had been prepared, warned by him, and had caught his invasion - intended as a surprise - before they had had a chance to start, but too late to deny their purpose. His masterful plan had been brushed off like the attack of a wasp. And to finish his blow, Kongming had sent a greeting.
Director General for the Han, Imperial Corps Commander Zhuge Liang, addresses the eminent Chief Commander of the Southland, Master Zhou Yu: Since we parted at Chaisang, you have been much in my thoughts. When I heard that you were planning to take the Riverlands, I felt it could not be done. The people are sturdy, the terrain is rough, and Protector Liu Zhang, admittedly a bit foolish and feeble, can still manage to defend it.
Now your army has commenced a long campaign and will face many trials and uncertainties before victory is secure. Even the great strategists of old, Wu Qi and Sun Wu, could not guarantee their calculations nor ensure an outcome. I must remind you that revenge for the defeat at Red Cliffs is not absent from Cao's thoughts for a single moment! If he strikes while your army is far off, the Southland will fall. To prevent such an unbearable loss I have written this note in which I hope you will favour with your situation. *
A pained sigh escaped his trembling lips. His breath was lacking, his chest shaking at even this little strain. There was no point in living any more. Sun Ce was gone - what worth did the country have, without Sun Ce to rule it? What worth did his life have, eternally second to that devil from the north? His strength was fading quickly, and his eyesight faded into mottled blackness. With his purpose gone, so was his resolve to fight. He could never beat him. Caught in depression and despair, he closed his eyes. "Fair lands and rivers of Jiang Dong... Farewell." He was not sure if he actually moved his lips.
It was not the first time that he lost consciousness, only to wake up again and with a fit of breathless coughing spray red all over his blanket. By now, he hardly had the strength left to cough the blood out of his lung, and the pain tearing in his chest, back, even reaching his arms became more unbearable by the minute. Side by side with Sun Ce, he had been known for his determination, fighting to the very last, defending the kingdom the Sun family was creating regardless of the ruler, regardless of the place or time or circumstances. He had had hopes. Even after Sun Ce's death, even when the memories of their conquests and battles had always haunted him, never let him go. He had had hopes for the future, for the kingdom, for the men who served with him. He had enjoyed watching Lu Xun grow from a hot-headed prodigy to the reliable youth he was. He had enjoyed the warm, even if sometimes immature adoration Xiao Qiao had had for him, her helpless kind of helpfulness, the determination she had put into everything she did, worrying him half to death at times, making him smile in pride he had never been able to properly express at others. There had been hope even under Sun Quan, Sun Ce's brother and heir, who had been inexperienced, but eager and determined, even if too honest in his ideals. It had been different after Sun Ce's death, but there had still been hope, still things that were worth fighting for. With Sun Ce, everything had seemed easy, everything possible. Together, he had thought they had been unstoppable, the idea of a strong and proud kingdom they would create had seemed so close despite how powerless they had been, how unfavourable their circumstances. And it had been true. Sun Ce had been a force pulling him forward, while he, in return, had been the force to stop the Little Conqueror from losing his head - figurative and in actual fact. After Sun Ce... life had continued, but even with new hopes, it had turned bleak. He had grown up, despite his maturity even before this turn, and had become the responsible man, the master-strategist he was now known as. But if their world had not been meant for men like Sun Ce and him, maybe afterlife could offer what life had been too short to take for them. The world belonged to the living; to Lu Xun and Sun Quan. Wu had a future, and not even Kongming was eternal.
It was only soothing temporarily. His life, despite all his struggling, despite all his devotion and brilliance, was meant to end in failure. A pain he could not overcome. His breath was shallow and empty now, his lung filling with blood he had no strength to cough out. He groaned, shivering, unnaturally pale skin stretched tightly over his bones, almost transparent and allowing a view of red and bluish veins along his arms, temples, neck and hands, where bones shimmered through in pale yellow framed with red. His glazed eyes, half-blind in dizziness, stared at the sky without focus. The last thing he uttered was a strained breath, accompanied by a choke of nameless despair.
"Why do you choose Zhuge Liang over me...?"
[ * The letter can be read in the actual novel, The Romance of the Three Kingdoms. ]