Burning Ambition

1. The Yellow Turban Menace

~~~ Hey guys, I'm back with another Cao Cao x Liu Bei story. I feel like this one is a little more serious than the previous one, but I hope you enjoy it anyway. Thank you for stopping by and reading this if you choose you to do so. I love and appreciate all of you! ~~~

Time: 184 C.E.

Liu Bei and his sworn brothers, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, walked up to the leader of the government forces that were fighting against the Yellow Turbans. The three were responding to a recent request for volunteers that they saw posted in a nearby village. The leader of the government forces, a man known as He Jin, eyed them carefully, he was clearly very against the idea of some commoners joining the army, but he seemed to change his mind as he talked with them. As He Jin conversed with the three, trying to figure out where he was going to send them, a man leading a massive army caught his eye. The approaching man carried himself with pride and his face showed no trace of emotion as he gingerly got off of his horse and approached He Jin, bowing to show his respect.

"Master He Jin, we have managed to successfully repel the attack on Ye." The man stated, his voice like silk, as he curiously eyed Liu Bei and his brothers.

"Excellent work, Cao Cao!" The commander stated, pausing as he glanced back at the three brothers. "Do you have room for anymore in your unit?"

"Of course. Why do you ask?" Cao Cao asked as Liu Bei stared at him, unable to take his eyes off him for some reason.

"Well, these three and their small group of troops want to join, but I have nowhere to send them. The only one that's actually done anything remotely close to combat is the fellow with the long silky beard. The big, short one was a butcher, so I guess that kind of counts, too." He Jin replied with a shrug. 

Cao Cao didn't really care about the details, he could figure it out later on his own time. As he listened to He Jin droning on about the background of the three, Cao Cao felt strangely attracted to the delicate looking man in the group, and that caused him to blurt out that he would take them quicker than he planned on doing it.

Liu Bei felt his heart beat faster as Cao Cao gazed upon him, gesturing for him and his group to come over to him. He carefully walked over to the man, his legs feeling like jelly, as he timidly gazed at the ground beneath his feet. Cao Cao took the time to get to know everyone individually, and as Liu Bei's turn grew near he felt his stomach leap and twist with some unknown feeling. He was the last one, and he didn't want to mess up and ruin his chances at fighting to bring peace to the land.

"And who might you be?" Cao Cao asked, his voice almost sounding like a purr.

Liu Bei bowed to show his respect, his nerves starting to get the best of him. "U-Um, my name is Liu Bei, Master Cao Cao."

"Hm, is that all? No life story?" The man asked, gently forcing Liu Bei to look at him with the use of a single finger. "You're too pretty to be here." Liu Bei gasped, shocked at the man's words. "And please, call me Mengde."

Liu Bei gulped nervously and nodded as the man gazed at him, almost like he was waiting on something. Oh, that's right! 

"U-Um, my name is Xuande, b-but Liu Bei is fine since I am of a lower rank than you." His response earned a dissatisfied head shake from Cao Cao, who walked away to two menacing looking generals. 

Liu Bei presumed that the two were his most trusted generals and stood there in thought as Guan Yu and Zhang Fei waddled up to him. It surprised him greatly when Zhang Fei lightly punched his shoulder, and his nervousness caused him to jump.

"Brother, where are you supposed to go? Me and Guan Yu here get to go to the front lines! I'm itching with excitement!" Zhang Fei exclaimed excitedly.