Chapter 1: Beginnings	
	Walking into his chamber of war, the tall, powerfully built figure looks
into the
faces of his generals. Seated around the triangular table, a mixture of
anxiety to frustration
could clearly be seen. Not only were his generals from his home province
here, but also
the leaders and representatives of the surrounding lands were making their
audiences
today, so Ranma could get them all over with at once, and avoid having to
repeat himself.
	"It's about time you showed...," one of the generals from the province to
the East
stood and began his grievance.
	"Sit, and all will be explained" Ranma interrupted him with a brisk,
polite, but
overall stern tone of voice. "All of you, I believe, are here for the same
reason. I am going
to make one thing perfectly clear from the beginning. The attacks and raids
to your
homelands was not caused, ordered, or otherwise conspired by me, or any of
my allies.
This includes The Swordmaster Kuno, The Nomad Ryoga, The Magician Mouse or his
betrothed warrior society. I must stress that given the numerous attacks and
the speed and
precision of the strikes, we may be dealing with a new foe." 
	Ranma's personal guards stayed back by the door as he fully entered the
chamber.
Circling the table to his high chair of power, he takes his seat on the
hard, uncomfortable
thronelike surface. Looking, he now notices eighteen faces from at least
eight different
provinces. Most are solitary leaders and have little power, the largest with
two. Ranma
himself had three of his own provinces, all built up and fortified from many
years of
holding. The new attacks had him worried however, and the private meeting he
had with
his more powerful allies confirmed his fears.
	"I wish to hear what each of you have to say before I give any information"
I must
be cautious, Ranma thought, I don't know where alliances lie.
	"I, for one, don't believe you. I feel that either you know who is
responsible for the
attacks, or you yourself are involved." Good old Yong of the Liu family. He
always states
his mind. Not because of the law that nothing said at the Tri-fold table
could be used
against another person, and that all were open to speak their mind here
without fear of
reprisal. No, that was just the way Yong was, and with two medium sized
provinces, he
was the strongest of the small.
	"I'll comment on that after everyone speaks Master Liu. Anyone else believe
similar?"
	"I trust you Master Saotome, but I am a little dubious. Rumors that chase
sometimes like a barking dog in front of us speak on the wind that you know
the attackers.
Thrice now they sacked my cities without mercy." The poet Qian of Tao.
Peaceful to a
fault, he wouldn't invade if the other province asked him too. Completely
non-aggressive,
he and his son Seth rule two very small provinces to the extreme north.
	"I am sorry about your cities Master Tao, and thank you for your trust. Is
there any
others?"
	The remaining leaders kept silent. Ranma assumed it just happened to be that
everything  that people came to say was already said and they now wanted to
hear what he
had to say.
	"Leaders, generals, and delegates. Thank you all for being patient as I
figure out
what's happening. As you know, we have all been victims to these vile
attacks that rack
our lands. We have not been able to put a definite source to them, however I
received
reports a week ago that a new force is mobilizing to the north. I have
personally been to
see Lord Cao and Lord Liu and they both have not claimed responsibility for
the attacks. I,
myself, believe that Lord Liu is telling the truth. Cao Cao on the other
hand is an all
together different matter. He has been spreading himself kind of thin
however, and I feel
that it is unreasonable to think that he would merely raid. If he wanted
you, he would just
take you." The silence that held after that was profound. It was the truth
and they all knew
it. If the mighty force of either Liu Bei or Cao Cao came against them
unchecked, there
would be little hope. Cao Cao held tightly to at least ten provinces and has
a loose hold
over six newly taken lands. Liu Bei held seven and has not taken any new in
a long time.
Neither had ever given the lands of Saotome any problems in Ranma's
lifetime. "So I,
from rumors and other sources of information have given this new threat the
name Purple
Hoard. This is from the purple uniforms that they have been seen to wear. We
also...." The
large door crashed open as the caller ran into the room.
	"Battle my lord! The province of Ling Ling is being attacked in force by the
unknown army. Your father, Genma, requests aid!!"