[Three Kingdoms] The Gauntlet

Mother, I cannot end this troubled age, nor can I keep you from going hungry, but I can make sure you never have to feel ashamed. Every traveler and merchant heading toward Luoyang was being stopped and searched. From the looks of it, they were plainly trying to intercept officials carrying petitions from the commandery government to the capital. It was obvious they were after him. "It's official grain, after all. We have a travel permit issued by the provincial government. What is there to fear?" He wondered if his steps had faltered. He thought they must not have faltered at all. He stamped hard on his own shadow with the sturdy leather boots his mother had made by hand. "Rough hemp shoes won't carry you far, and you can't ride a horse in them. You need a good pair of boots." It is not the little things that change the world. "I have the courage," he had said then. "I will do it." A derivative work set against the backdrop of real history. (The final sentence is quoted from the Wu section of Records of the Three Kingdoms.) To see my other works, click the image below to visit my profile. Please follow and bookmark. Statement: A short story with no romantic pairing. It originated as an entry for an event called "Words Through the Lens" held in the literature section of another forum that I manage. It was freely inspired by a short film provided by the organizer, which had nothing whatsoever to do with the story. Taishi Ci is a hero in my heart. The fragrance of a hero's blood has lingered for more than eighteen hundred years, and his legend will continue to be told. .volumnfont{font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:0.2em;font-size:14px;font-family:Tahoma,Arial Black,Arial,Georgia,sans-serif;color:#000080;} Theme: