: What are you waiting for, Steve! It's been months already, that Mi Zhu is waiting to hear from you!
: Walau eh, alright woman!
: Ah, Shi Difen! I have been waiting for you!
: Lord Mi Zhu, I am here to help.
: Of course, of course! I have not forgotten about your...support during my previous predicament. I will be glad to have you!
-------------
: HAHAHA! WHAT? Managing farming colonies? I was Prime Minister of the nation and Mi Zhu has me farming colonies?
: He wants to see your talent Steve! Wah, you know nothing that it?
: I'm already regretting this.
: Ah, good work Difen! If this keeps up we'll have no more food shortages in Xiapi.
: Just doing what I can, lord.
Promotions.
In the west, Liu Yan dies.
The land there is ravaged. The populated is reduced by 2/3rds and the region is still wracked by revolt and famine events every 3 months. It will not recover soon. It may never do.
: Steve! That guy Yu Ba is here to see you again.
: Oh? What is it this time?
: He here for chit-chat. Remember Steve, connection are important! Quick, go see him liao.
: Great talking to you lord Difen. I'll be going now.
: Weird guy. Seems he doesn't like Mi Zhu as much as you'd expect.
: Wah! Thats good lah! Why should that nobody Mi Zhu be master of the province? Couldn't even do it without your help!
: Now is not the time for that.
: That comes later.
: Lord Difen! Bandits are approaching the city! I need you to accompany the punitive expedition.
: As you wish.
--------------------------------------
: Perfect time Steve! Now you can make sure he never returns to the city!
: Not now, Yin Yin. First you need a solid power base. Followers. Money. We've only the money right now.
: Fine. Let me get your armor then-
: Haha! What armor? Not even gonna leave the carriage.
----------------------------------------------------------------
: Alright, we're approaching the bandit army! Shi Difen, you have the vanguard.
: Of course.
: We're not gonna cut it like this. Begin Plan B. Send in the moles.
: Again! Plant the seeds of confusion.
: I-I can't believe it worked! Lord Difen is superhuman!
: Mop up the remains!
: Good. Now head for the rest.
: Roast the pork.
: W-what?
: Order the KFC.
: I don't get it...
: Burn them alive, numbnuts.
: Well done lord Difen! Taking on 16000 men by yourself! You're my Zhang Liang is what you are!
: It was nothing.
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: Wah! Steve, you're back! How it go?
: Like Korean BBQ. Even brought little Steve a toy to play with.
: Wahh
: I also brought him a maid to go along with it.
: A maid? I don't understand-
: You don't, but he will, soon. You'll see.
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: Lord Difen, in recognition of your talents, I am appointing you as the prefect of Xiao Pei.
: I am unworthy of the honor, lord.
: I insist! There are none more capable for the task.
: In that case, I have no choice but to accept. Thank you.
--------------------------
: A palace! All my friends back home would be dead with envy if they knew!
: Meh. Not as big as I thought it'd be.
: It's a start, Steve.
: A pretty bad one. I have to go.
: What? Go where? But we just arrived-
: Now I have both money and a power base. Now I need the last and most important piece.
: An army?
: Talent.
-----------------------------------------------------
:...and you are?
: My name is Shi Difen. Perhaps you have heard of me-
: Komodo Difen?! The one who plunged the west into misery? You're no better than a common criminal-
: Am I? I had no choice but to act as I did. My main subordinates betrayed me as enemies closed all around me. It was either flee or condemn my men to their deaths.
: Even if that is the case...what do you want with me?
: I need capable men to help me restore the city of Xiao Pei. Out of all the men in the nation, none are said to be as strong as Zhao Yun.
: Very well. I will join you, for now.
===================================
: So you back in action now Steve?
: Got everything set lah. Now all I need is someone to drive this Mustang.
: Fuck China Before China Fucks You. I'm in.
============================================
And the development of Xiao Pei takes off.
: Lord Difen, we have begun drafting troops as you requested. Though I cannot see why-
: It will soon be revealed to you. In the meantime, could you help instruct me as to the best way to drill new recruits?
: Of course, it will be no problem.
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: Dad, why do birds fly all together?
: Because they are animals, son. They have no sense of individuality, just like chinks. And animals exist to be eaten by humans. You don't wanna be an animal, do you?
: No...
: Walau, Steve, he still a little kid! He already go to pen every morning to see pork being prepared, you gonna damage him more!
: Did he start molesting the maid with the sword I gave him yet?
: What- no!
: Then he still has a ways to go. Steve was not made in a single Bloodbowl session.
: Sometimes I just don't get you.
: I gotta go. The final preparations are being made.
: What? Why, what's happening?
: The boar is about to be let loose.
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: Lord Difen! Message from Mi Zhu! He has noticed your military buildup and orders you to march south!
:...and what do you think I should do, Yu Ba?
: Raise your banners and march east to Xia Pi instead. It's about time someone Xu Province had a governor worthy of the title.
: Great minds think alike. Return to Xia Pi. You will soon be needed.
------------------------------------
: Lord Difen, there are men at the gate asking to see you.
: Is there three of them?
: How did you-
: Let them in.
: Lord Difen!
: Commander!
: We are here, as promised.
: Gao Shun, Zhang Yan, Jia Xu. It is good to see you all again.
: Wouldn't miss this for anything sir.
: Lord Difen, what is going on-
: It's about Xu Province had a new master. A capable one, for a change.
: A rebellion?!
: Zhao Yun. Are the men ready?
: The armies are ready to march. But I am not convinced.
: Honor is cheaper than dirt in these days. My former subordinate did not understand that. And because of that, millions died and keep dying in the west.
: Your former subordinate?
: You can either follow in his footsteps and desert-I will not hold it against you, for the sake of friendship. But doing so will cause the millions in Xu Province to suffer the evils of war. Famine, riots, conscription. Mothers will lose their sons, sons their fathers and old men will die destitute. If that price is not steep enough, you may go.
:...
: Otherwise, go and prepare the legions.
: I will do as you command. *leaves*
: Zhang Yan.
: Here!
: If he leaves, kill him.
: Goes without saying, commander.
: Jia Xu! Draft the proclamation and send a man to Yu Ba in Xiapi.
: Already prepared, my lord.
: Han Ba will hold Xiao Pei. The rest of you, prepare to march.