Exploring the River

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The evening sky was approaching on the horizon, and Liang paused in his thoughts to look at the distant mountains. He had been traveling along the Wei River for some time now, seeking it's source. To the south lay many more mountains as the country rose up into the southern Liang province and farther still to Yi. A simple pack rested on his shoulder for the moment, his crossbow strapped securely in place.

The rush of water nearby was soothing to the mind, and allowed him to contemplate various things. He had been traveling along the river for some days now. Ranging out to the sides, front, and back from him, his companion Huaji was never far away, yet never close either. Her unique view of things was as chaotic as the land was set to become, and this afforded him an unusual way of thinking.

A rustle nearby exploded into a flock of birds, screeching angrily at him and flying off towards safety in the distance. His gaze followed the flight, eyes flicking back and forth as they examined each bird before the flock drifted out of sight. Soon he would need to stop and prepare a place to camp. A few days more and he would reach the city of Tianshui.

[Sima Yi]

(For events which precede Sima Yi's involvement in this thread, please refer to the Black Dawn thread.)

Sima Yi found himself walking along the riverside--his satchel slung over one shoulder, walking stick in hand--the same as he had done when he went to visit that village of his younger days. Although not old by any means, he felt older in spirit; worn out and tired. The trip had changed him and made him even more resolute in his convictions. He would not soon forget his encounter with the impish young girl who unflinchingly locked gazes with him. Her temerity and unabashed foolishness was an insult.

Furthermore, he was angry that because of her, he was unable to seek the aid of the village elder in the hopes of procuring aid for his elder brother. Because of her foolishness, the chance--albeit a slim chance, but a chance nonetheless--of Sima Lang rebounding was greatly reduced. But was he working against the tides of nature in this regard? Did not Sima Yi believe that the laws of natural world purged those unfit to survive? Zhongda could not bear to answer this question, not even to himself.

A school of fish then caught his eye, reminding him of the tale of Zhuangzi and his friend, Huizi, and happiness, although the exact details eluded Sima Yi at the moment. As he continued along his way he noticed a someone else taking in the scenery, and while he did not strike Zhongda as impressive, but he knew better than to measure a man based on appearances. Sima Yi approached, standing a few paces distance from the man as not to startle him.

"Nature...it has always fascinated me," Sima Yi said, folding his arms as he looked into the water of the Wei River. "It is both beautiful and powerful, and mankind strives to master it."

Sima Yi turned his head towards the man and said, "Are you familiar with the tale of Yu of Xia?"

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Liang did not turn to look at the man who approached him, though he was well aware of his presence. At his mention of Yu, Liang nodded, those his eyes still took in the sight of the river. Nearby the sounds of animals came, startled to silence by the man's voice, yet quickly returning to normal.

"The Master of Water. He who took the power of the river and turned it into an advantage, rather than a disadvantage. Much can be learned from his story."

Liang lifted an arm and gestured to the rippling waters before them. A last flicker of sunlight before it dipped beneath the mountains seemed to light the white of his robes aflame as his hand seemed to caress the waters.

"One should never seek to stand against the flow of power, whether within nature or within our daily lives. For to do so would invite being swept away by the force of it."

Liang's hand slid back down to his side as he turned to inflict his gaze upon this stranger, peering intently into Sima Yi's eyes. Liang's held that of a man weighing what he saw. After a moment he spoke once more.

"Rather, the wise man is the one who rides with the power, using his intelligence to guide it to where he wishes, expending the force and intensity of it until it flows calm and steady. In the direction he desires."

With those words, Liang fell silent once more, allowing the birds and frogs to begin their evening serenade once more. His robes hung loosely at his sides and he waited with an intrigued thought at the next words the man before him might make.

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Tagged: Sima Yi

[Sima Yi]

It pleased Sima Yi to observe that this man was no mere simpleton, but an adroit individual. But the story of Yu of Xia was a common tale, and therefore it would be unsurprising that one could draw upon its allegorical lessons, provided one had even a modicum of sense about the matter.

More to the point, something the man had said intrigued Sima Yi and he wished for him to further expound on this point.

"Rather, the wise man is the one who rides with the power, using his intelligence to guide it to where he wishes, expending the force and intensity of it until it flows calm and steady. In the direction he desires."

"If the wise man is capable of such feats, what role does he have in these times? Is the rising chaos not akin to a mighty river--rushing, wild, and untamed?" Sima Yi asked his companion, breaking gazes with him and looking back across the water. "And is not this chaos perpetuated by those individuals of menial intelligence, whose only achievements have been to erect empty pedestals upon the shoulders of those giants who came before?"

Sima Yi turned back to face the man. "What role does the Taigong Wang of our time have aside from fishing in the hopes of encountering a sage-king? How long must the Zhang Zifang of this era remain in obscurity until he meets one worthy of his talents?"

Zhongda folded his arms and awaited a response. It occurred to Sima Yi that the two of them had not yet exchanged introductions, but he did not yet feel inclined to divulge this information.

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Liang smiled briefly at Yi's questioning of his words, and his own retaliatory speech. Liang thought the words over briefly, before he made his response.

"I see many rushing rivers at the moment. The Han is by far the largest, yet there are other waters rising to threaten it. Yet to move in haste will serve no one, least of all he who makes such a move."

Liang watched as Yi folded his arms. The night air stirred and a cool breeze wafted down out of the mountains, shifting his robes about him.

"Those of lesser intelligence, as you say, make up quite a number of these rivers of power. I believe it is better to observe first, without blindly rushing in. Only then can you decide which river your boat should flow down."

As Yi brought up Taigong Wang and Zhang Zifang, Liang began to evaluate this stranger. He was surely no simply man, to be so versed in all of these names. It was interesting still to find one such as he, out here alone in the wilderness of the land.

"Yet unless one is willing to be at the forefront of rushing power, to start his own river in order to drown out the rest, he must wait. The age may pass him by, yet if destiny calls, one worthy of his service will appear."

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Tagged: Sima Yi

[Sima Yi]

"Your words bring such clarity, they provide light to those who wander aimlessly in the dark." Sima Yi said, nodding with approval. Zhongda had traveled to the village in search of stimulating conversation with men of true intelligence, and while there was none to be found, he met such a man as this on his return.

"Pray, tell me your name so that I may have something to recall you by?" Sima Yi asked politely, bowing at the waist. "I am Sima Yi, son of Sima Fang. I will be sure a speak of you when I am next in the Eastern Capital."

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Liang accepted the bow and returned one of his own after the man had introduced himself.

"My name is Zhuge Liang. It has been a pleasure to meet you, Sima Yi. I look forward to conversing with you again some time in the future."