The shriveling cold winter wind beat against Ba Zeng's body. A silhouette, he stood on a rather empty section of Tong Gate's ramparts. His old grey robe billowed fiercely with the gust, and another layer of snow gathered on the wall. Ba Zeng's un-intimidating stature almost drew no attention from the wandering Han soldiers, being the petite man he was. He stood atop the famed Tong Gate. A gate that would most likely be under threat in a matter of an hour. The armies of the 'enemies' drew nearer, the dust and snow swept up by their feet, polluting the air and nature of it's natural serene state.

"This land in the winter is so beautiful, so desolate, so quiet, so tranquil..." He let the sentence trail off as he extended his arm, catching a snowflake, and watching it melt with a solemn feeling. In the distance he saw the armies, gathering to do battle with one another, to think the generals would have the audacity to decide how they would condemn their men's lives. Yet, Ba Zeng was always amused by how simple it is to cause a stir in morale, to rally people for a cause. No matter how unjust. All it took was a charismatic person. Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, Liu Bei, all the same.

The picture of the land would betray one's thoughts, persuading him to believe the land was not in such political chaos. The earth lay dormant beneath a white blanket. "Forgive me my dearest, if we have awaken you..." Ba Zeng whispered into the wind, as if in a response there was another gust, knocking down a weapon rack on the rampart from it's upright. A soldier nearby dashed to pick it up.

"Ba Zeng...?" A voice from behind him called.

Kao Ba appeared from the stairs, the shrouded figure wore what seemed to be like an entire wardrobe. Above his usual cloak, leather armor, and hood, was a thick fur coat. Probably from a moon bear. "Lord Zeng, we should be going."

A beat...

Without word or warning Ba Zeng moved from his position, past his bodyguard, and down the steps.