Purple River - Chapter 6

Tiger of ZiChuan

After the battle concluded at Fort Warren, Central Army Commander Stirling didn't wait to regroup with Central Army Deputy Commander Qin Lu's Infantry Divisions. Instead, he only delayed slightly for the wounded to settle in before he led the thirty thousand Central Army Cavalries in pursuit of the Rebel Army fleeing towards the heart of Province of Yun. The quickness of his advances could very well be considered as reckless. Even the Capital was worried: “Could it be another Battle of Red Lake?!” The memories of the Battle were still fresh on everyone's mind, how three hundred thousand of House ZiChuan’s finest were defeated at the Beach of Red Lake in the Province of Yun. They almost lost the entire army!

Both the Headmaster and the High Command had sent several urgent messages after Stirling, telling him to exercise caution! In their eyes, going after the heart of the rebel territory with only thirty thousand men was pure suicide! And House ZiChuan could not afford another Battle of Red Lake!

Yet the usually cautious and obedient Stirling acted very uncharacteristically of himself, responding only in short messages: “Opportunities in battle are fleeting. When the General is far away in battle, he does not have to obey all of Emperor’s orders.^[1]” As if he was in such a hurry that he didn’t even have the time to explain.

At the time in the entire Capital City, only ZiChuan Xiu and Di Lin understood Stirling’s intentions:

First, due to the rapid development of the rebellion situation in the Far East, the Far Eastern Army which bolstered over a million troops seemingly collapsed over night. It was obvious that great deal of local garrison and border defence units still operated within the Rebel controlled provinces, but were unfortunately separated or surrounded by the Rebel forces. If he could get in touch and regroup with them, slowly and surely, he would be able to rebuild a force of respectable size.

Second, there were still two provinces, Deja and Iriya, under House ZiChuan’s control. The majority of the population within those two provinces were Humans, and thus they were not easily swayed by the rebellion. Through the rebel prisoners, Stirling had learned that the traitor Lei Hong was already on his way to Deja, with fifteen divisions under his command. No matter from a strategic or a humanitarian point of view, it was Stirling’s duty to rescue the five million citizens residing in those two provinces, who had remained loyal to House ZiChuan despite being heavily surrounded by the Rebel Army.

Third, and the most important reason, the couple hundred thousand Rebel Army after their defeat at Fort Warren, were now like a burnt child who dreads fire. They would likely run at the first sight of trouble. In ZiChuan Xiu’s words: “Anyone who doesn’t take advantage of the situation is a fucking idiot!”

Stirling knew all too well how difficult it was to come by another opportunity like this again. If he let those hundreds of thousands Rebel Army rest up, regroup and come back at them. The situation in the Far East would likely drag on for months if not years. When both House ZiChuan and the Rebel Army had weakened each other, if House Liu Feng or the Demon Empire then decided to come and crash the party, the Far East would be forever lost to House ZiChuan!

However, given the amount of troops currently available to Stirling, to surround and completely annihilate the enemy was simply out of the question. Besides, if you back an animal into a corner, it’s going to bite! Therefore if the huge Rebel Army had no place left to run and decided to fight back, thirty thousand Cavalries would not stand a chance! But then, Stirling remembered six years ago, when ZiChuan Xiu defeated Liu Feng Xi Shan at the Capital…

Every time the Rebels stopped to recuperate or dined, Stirling’s pursuing forces would appear behind them, and several thousand lightning fast sabres would find its way between the Rebels and their meals. The Rebel Army might be large, but after a devastating loss, joining another battle was the last thing on their mind. And thus, “whoosh”, couple hundred thousand Rebels quickly scattered to the winds.

Stirling’s Calvary didn’t try to stop them either, only focussing their attention on dealing with those who chose to stay and fight. Not that there were many of those idiots to begin with, but soon there was none left! It was also a great consolation to the Rebels that Stirling only tried to hunt down those who got left behind, because that meant for the Rebels, they didn’t need to outrun the riders per se, they just needed to outrun their own!

After the same had repeated many times over, running as soon as they saw Stirling’s rider had quickly become a conditioned reflex.

Once it became a habit, many patterns began to appear:

The best time to get attacked was before the breakfast, because then the air would be fresh, they would be fresh. It was the best time for a jog. Besides, jogging in the morning increased your appetite and provided many other health benefits as well…

Getting attacked during dinner was… acceptable. Five thousand human riders shouting warcries chased behind them, as hundreds of thousands rebel army of different races trampled over each other trying to get away, all the while holding their bowls and utensils. Due to all the practise opportunities they were getting, some even learned how to eat and run at the same time…

“What we really can’t stand is if Stirling attacks after dinner!” Rebel Army claimed: “It is the single most inhuman act! When you just filled your belly, and had to run for miles on end, can you even imagine how painful that is?!”

And it happened all the time, when a rebel soldier on the run would suddenly fall to his knees, screaming in pain. Since diarrhea and appendicitis were so common amongst the rebels, sometimes they would even catch the pursuing riders unawares and trip them over, and whose fault was that…

It would even be ok if was only during the meals, but frankly, Stirling had given a new meaning to the phrase “make sure they are cared for”. Every morning he would come and say “Good morning”, every noon he would “pay them a visit”, every afternoon he would show up to “say hi”, and every night he would tell them “Good night”! Even after midnight he would still express his “concerns” by making sure that everyone could have a good night’s sleep. Of course, the way he showed his affection and friendliness might have been a bit crude, with several thousand sabres swinging and all.

As the chase went on, Stirling’s attack became more frequent as well, often when a group had just gone by, another had already appeared. As a result, many of the exhausted Rebels would rather be taken as prisoners than to keep running. Many of them did wonder: “Why does Stirling’s Army never get tired?”

Stirling divided his thirty thousand Cavalries into six groups, with five thousand riders in each, and ordered them to attack in turn. Which was why whenever a group attacked, they would have the stamina to carry through. He even gave each group the specific instruction: “Never chase too far, always leave a road for them to escape.” Due to Calvary’s superior mobility, no matter how fast or how far the Rebels ran, Stirling’s forces could always be found within ten kilometres from them.

Chasing superior forces and do so by dividing a smaller force into even smaller groups. A manoeuvre that directly contradicted everything the military strategists believed in.

If the manoeuvre wasn’t executed by a famous General such as Stirling, and even succeeded, the commanding officer in question would likely have been condemned as an idiot by all the military experts and historians alike. But now they could only accept it as a miracle, and then hectically try to find theoretical basis to support Commander Stirling’s tactical genius.

Either way, whatever happened, happened. Some historians would even claim it was inevitable.

But Stirling knew that the chase only appeared to be dangerous, it had in fact very little risk. Under his relentless attacks, even if the rebels wanted to set up traps or ambushes, they wouldn’t have the chance to do so. The Rebel Army of mixed races had to fend off over a dozen attacks a day, harassing them when they ate, and when they slept. Every day, their numbers grew smaller and their morale grew weaker. Other than keep on running, there was very little else they could spare the time or energy for!

This long drawn out pursuit took them across six provinces, over three thousand kilometres and lasted twenty three days. It would later be known as “The Great Race of Far East”.

Close to a “million” Rebels had gathered at the feet of Fort Warren on August 12th. (Based on Far Eastern Army Deputy Commanders, Luo Bo and Lin Bing’s rough estimation, they had at least seven hundred thousands) By September 9th, only less than hundred thousand made it back, with tails between their legs, to where the rebellion first began, the Province of Yun.

And so, Stirling had thoroughly avenged House ZiChuan’s defeat at Red Lake. He peeled away at the large Rebel Army like an onion, one layer at the time.

In the midst of countless gazes, a shining new star rose over the Far Eastern Region of the continent! Its blinding radiance reached all the way to the Demon God Fortress of the Demon Empire in the east, and the Great Square of House Liu Feng’s Capital City in the west. From Di Du’s High Command down to every secret hideout of the Rebel Army in the Far East… Everyone, everywhere across the continent, mixed with all kinds of different emotions, spoke repeatedly in every language in every way, the exact same name: “Tiger of ZiChuan – Stirling!”

 

Imperial Calendar, Year 779, Early September, upon receiving High Command’s conscription order, the first group coming from the fifty six provinces of House ZiChuan, two hundred thousand draftees had assembled in the Capital City – Di Du, and would soon be sent for the Far Eastern Front.

The officers and soldiers assembled came from all provinces and districts of the House. Some had strange local dialect, some had terrible facial hairs, and most of them wore all kinds of strange outfits. The poor ones from the City dressed like beggars; the sons of the wealthy dressed suavely in expensive suits, as if they were here to attend a banquet, and the rural aristocrats had their rusty armour on, so ancient that one could easily mistaken them for something stolen from the museum, even their war horses were so old they would be eligible for nursing house if there was such for horses. ZiChuan Xiu saw for the first time ever, an old man dragging a fifty kilo heavy machete behind him, gasping. His nefarious mind worked quickly: “What could he do with that machete I wonder? He couldn’t even kill himself with that thing if he tried!”

The new recruits attended the military inspection ceremony holding all kinds of horrible banners, like “Reaper’s Guard”, “Skeletal Avengers”, and the ones from Rockswig even called themselves the “Merciless Volunteers.”

Just based on the appearance alone, they were at least millions times more brave than the soldiers fighting on the frontline, and many times more confident as well, waving their sticks whole day drivelling with distain: “Forget those savages in the Far East; they are not worthy to stain our blades! I can club them all to death with my cane alone, eyes closed!”

Supreme Commander Luo Ming Hai had always considered himself to be a man of sophistication and patience. And right now, his most important task was to inspect the new recruits coming from every corner of House ZiChuan’s territories. As each not-so-square square formations marched past the Inspection Podium, many empty shoes would always get left behind on the otherwise empty parade ground. (Apparently, soldiers on the back keep stepping on the shoes of those marching in front of them.)

The other officials attending the Inspection Ceremony all had a strange and painful expression on their face, trying desperately not to laugh. Only Supreme Commander – Luo Ming Hai was somehow able to retain his calm as he made his speech to the former owner of those shoes, complimenting them for their diligence and altruism, thanking them for their loyalty and bravery, and finally inspiring them to fight for the House and contribute to the greater good.

The soldiers rejoiced loudly: “Long live House ZiChuan! Long live the Headmaster!” As if all those shoes bathing under the sun while filling the empty parade ground somehow were never theirs.

Luo Ming Hai probably thought himself a saint right now! But on the day of September 10th, when the new recruits from Kesan province walked past the Inspection Podium in casual clothing while smoking cigars, as if they were here on vacation. The “Saint” finally lost it! Even their banner had the paint job done by a five-year-old. He had to look very hard through the magnifying glass to make out what looked like the character of “Xiu” written in the center of the banner…

“Who is that angry old man up there? He looks awfully familiar!”

“Are you stupid! Don’t you read the papers? That is Supreme Commander – Luo Ming Hai, a man of importance!”

“Really? How come no one told me there was a signing session planned for the Xiu’s Company tour? I would have brought my little brother if I did! Yo, Sir Supreme Commander. How are you doing?”

“Everyone look, the Supreme Commander is smiling! And his nose wiggles up and down when he smiles, how cool is that?”

“Look, he is trying to speak! The way his mouth opened and closed, reminded me of a hooked fish!”

“Hey dude, where are you going?”

“It is my first time in the Capital; I’m going to ask for an autograph!”

Restraining his anger, Luo Ming Hai asked ZiChuan Xiu as calmly as humanly possible: “Sir Xiu, would you mind telling me what you see down there?” The way he gestured at the new recruits, was like pointing at a pile of dog shit left on the side of the road.

Rising slowly to his feet, ZiChuan Xiu gave Supreme Commander an extremely generalized and accurate description: “Men, Sir!” then quickly left through the backdoor.

The judicious Luo Ming Hai barely managed to keep himself in check, glaring sideways at Inspector General – Di Lin here to attend the Inspection sitting beside him. Then turning his gaze skywards as if he wasn’t speaking to Inspector General – Di Lin directly: “How does Inspector General feel concerning Deputy Commander ZiChuan Xiu’s dereliction of duty in regards to the recent recruitment efforts?”

Di Lin smiled as he took a sip of his tea, then speaking softly: “He has character; I like it.” And left the parade ground, completely ignoring the furious Luo Ming Hai who was about to explode any second.

ZiChuan Xiu ran back home like a terrified rabbit, inhaling deeply: “That was close! Luo Ming Hai almost caught me!”

ZiChuan Ning handed him a cup of warm tea: “I heard our Supreme Commander, Sir Luo Ming Hai’s high blood pressure acted up again during the Inspection Ceremony… Surely it has nothing to do with you, right? Brother?”

“Well, the weather is too hot and he has high blood pressure. He really shouldn’t work so hard and should take better care of himself!” ZiChuan Xiu spoke with a very sad look on his face, while secretly praying to every deity regardless whether he believed in them or not: Hear my prayer, O thy mighty Gods, may Supreme Commander fall ill to terminal disease, and never to awake again!

Bai Chuan hurriedly rushed into the room: “Sir, it is bad! Our soldiers mutinied again!”

“Again? Don’t they get tired of this shit? Monday they complained about the food, Wednesday they complained about the lack of strip shows. Today is the third! We gave them all the food they can eat, and free lap dances every night, why do they still want to mutiny?”

“Well, Sir. They are complaining about the dancer’s proportions. You know… not sexy enough! Those fuckers, they even asked me to… dance for them! We should punish them severely!”

Bai Chuan was furious, but embarrassed at the same time: “Though I’d have to agree, those fuckers have great taste…”

“Nice try! Unbelievable, they have barely been soldiers for three days, now even damn cows are good enough to pass as angels!” Ignoring the hateful look on Bai Chuan’s face, ZiChuan Xiu continued: “But as their commanding officer, it’s my duty to look after them, or no one would risk their lives for me in battle! So, Bai Chuan, can’t you perhaps make a small sacrifise? You know, it is all for the greater good, to bring peace to the Far East and rescue our people from turmoil…”

“Sir, next time when you try to sound all wise and sincere, can you please not drool while doing it? You don’t sound convincing at all!”

“Oh, I was just moved by the thought of finally doing the right thing for once. Anyways, I will try my best to satisfy the need of our brave warriors who are about to risk their lives in battle for the future of House ZiChuan! What else do they want?

“They say they want Lady Ning to give them a lap dance as well…”

“……”

“Sir, are you all right?”

“Inform my brother, Di Lin. Tell him to send the Constables… better yet, tell him to kill them all!”

……

In the second week after the battle at Fort Warren, following Stirling’s arrival, Commander Ming Hui had led the powerful Black Banner Army all the way from the western border, through the Fort Warren and into Far East.

Commander Fang Jing was supposed to be leading the Black Banner Army, but due to his sudden illness, Border Army Commander Ming Hui led the army instead.

Ever since his arrival at the Far East, the High Command was confronted with two extreme opposite problems: One was the reckless advancement of Stirling’s Central Army in the north; the other was the sluggish display of Ming Hui’s Black Banner Army in the south.

Two weeks had passed since then, the hundred twenty thousand Black Banner Army were still crawling through Felmick, the province directly east of Fort Warren. He would spend days trying to chase after small group of rebels, taking one step forward and two steps back. ZiChuan Xiu described Ming Hui’s speed as: “A healthy snail could outrun him any day in the week!”

Supreme Commander – Luo Ming Hai probably wanted to whip his ass personally if he could, but Sir Ming Hui had all the excuses in the world: “If the reckless advancement leads to another Battle of Red Lake, who will bear the responsibility?”

The fact was, no one could. And thus Ming Hui felt even more justified in his actions. Back when he fought the terrifying Liu Feng Shuang, he was so overly cautious and quick to run away, he never once “lost a battle” against her. This time he turned his extreme caution even up a notch: Every hill could have a Rebel hideout, every forest could be an ambush, and every road could lead to a trap. Even a rock on the side of the road could have several rebels hiding behind them.

Then again, he wasn’t completely idle either. Once he encountered a dozen stray rebels defeated at Fort Warren, he exaggerated as having found the bulk of the enemy force of two hundred thousand strong! The other day a guard was bitten by a snake, and the day after, Ming Hui sent the report, informing High Command of a huge Serpent invasion! Of course, many of his men were wounded by the attack, so he had to slow down even more to recuperate."

Even the High Command didn’t know what to do with Ming Hui’s battle reports anymore. In his reports, Ming Hui claimed to have killed a million Serpents the first day, two million Beastmen the second and three million the third…” The juxtaposition of their reports made Stirling’s major victory at Fort Warren suddenly seem insignificant. Even adding the entire population of the Far Eastern regions together and multiply it by two, it would still be fewer than the total casualties Ming Hui claimed to have inflicted over the last two weeks. And yet, he still couldn't advance because another "five million" rebels suddenly came out of nowhere, blocking his path.

Stirling’s battle reports on the other hand were a lot more believable… and more bitter as well…

 

To the utmost honourable Supreme Commander, Sir Luo Ming Hai:

On September 15th, the Central Army has arrived at the Beach of Red Lake in province of Yun.

-Acting Central Army Commander, Stirling.

The Beach of Red Lake in Province of Yun was neither a place of strategic importance nor a military stronghold, and yet, Acting Commander Stirling (he didn’t know he was officially promoted) saw fit to make an exception by taking some time off to write a report to High Command despite his busy schedules. It clearly showed how important it was historically, for House ZiChuan to regain control of this area.

Imperial Calendar, Year 779, summer, who would have thought a place so insignificant, it wasn’t even marked on the maps, would cause so many nightmarish memories for House ZiChuan. A month ago, here on a narrow plain separated by river and hills, three hundred thousand Far Eastern Army’s elites engaged five hundred thousand Rebels and hundred fifty thousand of traitor Lei Hong’s army in an unprecedented battle of massive scale.

Royal Historian – Tang Chuan once gave the following assessment of the Battle of Red Lake: “Here, House ZiChuan lost over two hundred and thirty thousand loyal and battle-hardened soldiers. Their two hundred years of control over the Far Eastern Region, seven generations of honours and dreams, the foundation that would eventually allow them to unite the continent of Western River… everything was mercilessly trampled under the iron hooves of Lei Hong’s Army the moment he appeared on the Beach of Red Lake. The defeat of Red Lake had greatly weakened House ZiChuan’s military strength, leading to a series of disastrous events that would soon follow. The Battle of Red Lake was essentially the turning point that changed House ZiChuan from strong to weak.”

Stirling was in shock of the carnage displayed in front of him.

At the foot of the hill, a vast plain covered in bodies and broken armors, extending as far as the eyes can see. The pride of House ZiChuan, the armoured lancers lay completely exposed in the open. He didn’t know whether it was due to hatred or relish, the victor of the Battle of Red Lake did not find the kindness within them to bury the fallen. Even across several miles of distance, the powerful, thick stench of the rotten corpses in the air was already unbearable.

The sea of broken lances continued until the end of the horizon, where a crooked banner still stood across the distance. The torn-up fabric, swayed by the nightly gale, could still read the words “Far Eastern Army – XX Cavalry Division”. Even though the banner still stood, the Banner Bearer had long turned to bones.

Everywhere, huge groups of vultures ravaged the dead, shrieking loudly in a way as if to celebrate their good fortune. Suddenly, anger flared up uncontrollably inside of Stirling as he unleashed a flurry of arrows towards the sea of shrieking vultures, dropping several in quick succession, only then did he let go.

The high ranking officers standing behind him, all watched with concern at the usually calm and composed young Commander, not knowing the reason for his sudden outburst.

“We halt here. Bury our comrades. They died honourably for House ZiChuan; we’ll not leave them exposed in the open like this.”

A wave of irritation washed over the officers. The Banner Master in charge of the third Cavalry Division, Ma Yuan stepped forward: “Sir. That will waste us a lot of time. We won’t catch up to the Rebels like this.”

Stirling replied coldly: “And we will if we don’t?”

Ten days ago, Stirling’s twenty thousand Central Army Cavalries pursued the Rebels into the province of Yun.

After passing through the provincial borders, the rebels took the mountains like duck to water. It was their home after all. They knew the surrounding hills and forest like the back of their hands.

In contrast, the steep mountain and the rugged mountain paths of province of Yun made the lives of the pursuing human Cavalries incredibly difficult. Coupled with their unfamiliarity of the local terrain, the riders often found themselves riding through the morning mist, circling through the confusing mountain paths, after a long day on horseback only to end up back in front of their camp fires from the day before.

Their only source of direction was based on a book called “Far Eastern Tour Guide” from twenty years ago. A place marked with roads ended up being a river, a place with bridges appear to have nothing more than a few broken piers, and a place said to be the perfect camping site with a great view, turn out to be a pond of quicksand. If they weren’t quick on their feet that night, twenty thousand Cavalries would have been buried in the ground by now.

Much to Stirling’s dismay, the erroneous tour guide was in fact a pirated copy!

Stirling had naturally considered hiring a local as guide, but no matter how much money he offered, the villagers would always stare at him like an idiot. (or thought him was an idiot.) Either way, it was the kind of look that made his skin crawl.

Eventually, an old Beastman did “volunteer” to be his guide. The venture however, quickly led to an entire squad of riders buried under a sinkhole, not a single one had survived. So Stirling had no choice but to give up on the idea of relying on the locals for help. As a result, he had to watch helplessly as the Rebel forces got further and further away from him as they slowly disappeared from the horizon…

Another important reason causing Central Army’s slow progress was the extreme hostility from the local population.

Even though the Rebellion in the Far East first began in the province of Charo, it was in province of Yun where the Rebellion had gained traction. When the news of the Rebellion reached the province of Yun, the entirety of the local population responded as if they came from a single voice. Wielding their rusty weapons, they rose up against the local garrison forces and surrounded the provincial capital, massacring hundreds of thousands human soldiers and civilians trapped inside.

When the provincial governor, Red Banner Master – Yang Li surrendered after the rebels broke through the gate, the rebels tortured him for three days before finally showing him the mercy of death. It was probably accurate to say that there was no one left but the rebels and their relatives at that point.

Even though Stirling was mentally prepared in advance, he never could have guessed how “intense” the citizens of Yun would welcome their arrival… Within twelve hours, the scouting party was attacked over a hundred times. Ambushes, traps from different groups of rebels, their size varied from a small regiment of over a thousand men to the suicide squad of one or two.

Hidden arrows and spears flew constantly through bushes and trees while they inched forward through the enemy territory. Whenever the army made camp, the locals would sound horns and drums around the camp, causing confusion. The guards were never able to find the source of the disturbance, and sometimes, they never found the way back at all.

When Stirling saw the prisoners they had captured, he was shocked. Almost every one of them was elderly men, woman or children. There was not a single young man amongst them. Where did their young men go? The answer was obvious.

Only then did Stirling realize; how the crafty Luo Bo and the brave Lin Bing, together with all those battle-hardened soldiers from the Far Eastern Army could have been defeated so badly on the Beach of Red Lake.

When an entire race had made up their mind to fight you to the death, the destruction they were capable of was something beyond imagining.

Stirling did ask himself once: “What was the reason that after two hundred years of benevolence House ZiChuan has bestowed upon this land, every single soul living in it still wants to fight us until their last breath? What have we done wrong?”

But his unwavering loyalty and excellent self-restraint quickly stopped himself from seeking the answer.

Stirling always had a notion that: “A soldier should not get involved in politics. When an Army has a mind of its own, it would be the death of a country.”

……

Ma Yuan kept his mouth shut, for he had known Stirling was in a foul mood today. He quickly exchanged a look with the other officers, reminding themselves that it would be unwise to get involved right now. Just that nobody could figure out what Stirling was thinking: If we are not giving chase, are we supposed to retreat?

It wasn't the first time the officers had suggested such, their lonesome army of cavalries had extended too deep into the enemy lines. They have left the Infantry Divisions and Logistic Corps far behind, several thousand kilometres from their current position. In the thousand kilometre radius, other than Rebels, there were only more rebels, endless rebels and all kinds of rebels. The barbaric Beastmen, the cunning Serpents, the sneaky dwarves, the vicious demons and the wild dragonkins…

The only thing keeping the army moving forward was Stirling’s unwavering determination. As the respectful and prestigious Central Army Commander, he lived and dined like a common soldier. He would eat the unpalatable dried vegetables, sleep in the muddy grass and fight side by side with any other soldier. He stayed until late every night dealing with affairs of importance; he even took shift on guard duty. Every night he was the last one to rest, and every morning he was the first one to rise.

The soldiers loved him; they admired him; they would carry out his words to the letter and without question.

It was the officers who were worried. No matter how high the morale was, a battle could not be won with morale alone. Many have tried to make their case to him over the weeks.

“Sir, it is time to retreat!”

“We have done more than anyone could have asked for. We crushed hundreds of thousands rebels. We have done enough!”

“Sir, let the men rest. We have fought continuously for almost fifty days, and run a distance over five thousand kilometers!”

Every time, Stirling would listen closely to their pleas, and agree with them wholeheartedly: “Yes! You are right! I agree with everything you just said!”

Next morning, when the time came for Stirling to assign new orders, he would always casually brush everything aside saying: “Stay the course.”

Naturally, it caused his officers to complain fervently. Some thought Stirling was being too harsh, some even believed Stirling was gambling with the soldiers’ lives, using their sacrifices as his stepping stone to riches and prestige.

Even Supreme Commander Luo Ming Hai warned him several times through his letters: “Sir Stirling, your recklessness and stubbornness has endangered our war efforts in the Far East. If another Battle of Red Lake occurs under your watch, I assure you, the court martial is the last thing you will have to worry about!”

Even when all his officers misunderstood him, even when the High Command threatened him, Stirling did not say a word in his own defence. In his heart, his personal honour was completely irrelevant.

The only question plaguing his thought was: why after so many victories, defeating one rebel army after another, the situation in the Far East had not improved one bit. The Far East was still in turmoil; the rebellion was still at large.

It was just like Di Lin mentioned in his letters: “Hundred victories would not turn the tide, but one defeat, and all would be for naught.” His situation was like treading on thin ice. He had to contain superior enemy forces with very little of his own, keeping hundreds of thousands rebels in check and preventing millions more from joining the Rebellion. He could only keep winning; he could not afford to lose!

Even though he had crushed hundreds of thousands Rebels already, Stirling knew none of it really mattered: The Rebels was like a nine headed hydra, cutting one off, another head grows right back! They were easily defeated, but once the tide turned, they would come back even swifter. So what does he need do to win this war?”

He firmly believed, the only way to truly stop the rebellion was to root them out at their source, to wipe everything out all together! The Rebel Army might have been defeated, and might look weak, but Stirling knew, the Rebel Army’s strength never truly diminished. They were only temporarily stunned by his rapid attacks! If he allowed them to recover, House ZiChuan would have to pay a toll in blood hundred times heavier if they ever wanted to quell the rebellion in the future.

Headmaster ZiChuan Shen Xing was the only one who understood Stirling at the time. In his letter to him, there were only a few words: “Your troubles, I understand. Your heart, I know.”

When Stirling first read the letter, he burst out in tears: He never sought rewards for any of his efforts; he was only trying to serve the House the best way he knew how, and at the very least, Headmaster understood his noble intentions.

Sometimes, all you needed in life was a friend. The danger of the battlefield, the endless devotion, the tireless efforts and the pain of not being understood, everything was suddenly worth it.

A moment of hesitation later, the Officer in charge of the First Cavalry Division, Wen He finally asked the one question everyone wanted to know the answer to: “Sir, do we……”

Stirling did not answer; he merely turned towards the sea of soldiers dressed in black lining up behind him. They were hungry, exhausted. Their sleeves were torn and their uniforms were barely holding together. The way they walked was more akin to ghosts than men and their trembling hands struggled to keep the lances straight. Their skinny bodies trapped under the weight of their heavy armour made the riders looked like a band of skeletal wraiths. Compared to the rows of excited soldiers in shining armor when they departed from Di Du, they were no longer the same. Stirling suddenly realized just how small his army had become!

Looking back at each young and languished faces with their determined eyes, he couldn’t help but think about how many young sons of the same age and the same determination would forever rest here, in a land far away from their pining loved ones. On average, there was a cross planted for a son of Di Du's every fifty meters along a three thousand kilometer long road, stretching all the way from the foot of Fort Warren to the Beach of Red Lake in the province of Yun.

Stirling felt haunted by the thought: What rights did he have, to ask these boys to give up their lives for his stubbornness?

He took advantage of their love and loyalty, and led them to their deaths. Was that a crime?

For the dream that one day House ZiChuan would unite the land, for the cause to return peace to the Far East, he had given everything he got. Had the Central Army sacrificed too much?

Was his decision really the correct one, will there really be a decisive battle that would bring an end to the war in the Far East?

Could an army like this really go through another battle?

He repositioned himself to face the entire army. His deep and coarse voice sounded clearly in every soldier’s ear.

“Resting in front of us, are our Far Eastern Army’s comrades. They fought bravely and valiantly. They died honourably in the name of House ZiChuan. What we must do now is to bury their bodies, and then……” Stirling closed his eyes, as tears streamed down the side of his cheeks: “We retreat.”

A wave of uneasiness spread through the soldiers, but their excellent disciplines kept them from making a sound.

“Over the last month and more, you have gone through seven major battles, twenty five small battles, and two hundred and eleven skirmishes. You have not lost once! You have defeated enemies twenty times of your size! Your actions have made House ZiChuan proud. You have brought honour to the hawk flying over House ZiChuan’s banner everywhere in the world! Your youth will not have gone noticed; your blood will not be spilled in vain. Believe in House ZiChuan, for it will not forget the bravery and loyalty you have shown to this day! I implore everyone, to continue with your efforts in this time of crisis. House ZiChuan needs you! Hereby, on behalf of House ZiChuan, I salute you; you have done well, brothers! House ZiChuan thanks you!”

Stirling saluted solemnly to everyone under his command, and the response came like a tidal wave: “We will follow you to the end of the world!”

Imperial Calendar, Year 779, September 15th, Stirling’s Central Army had taken control of the Beach of Red Lake in province of Yun.

On the same day, Stirling gave the order to retreat from Red Lake, leaving the province of Yun and thus, brought an end to the mad chase across the Far East.

On the day of September 21st, the revitalized Rebel Army began its frenzied counter attack, in an attempt to once again, sweep the Far East under its fury. After having regrouped and reinforced, Stirling’s army stood its ground and nailed the great road into Yun’s mountains shut. Like grabbing the Rebel Army by its throat, Stirling had firmly locked the Rebel Army inside the province of Yun.

And soon, a long drawn out battle began between the fifty thousand Central Army and the two hundred thousand Rebels over the control of Yun’s mountains. If the rebels broke through, they would gain access to vast open plains of the Far Eastern Regions.

High Command immediately gave the order, urgently requesting Ming Hui to reinforce Stirling at any cost. They could not afford to let the bulk of the Rebel Army escape Yun. At the same time, the High Command had ordered the first group of the newly drafted militia to march for the Far East.

 

September 16th, City of Di Du and a night of stormy rains, an unwelcomed guest suddenly arrived at ZiChuan Ning’s mansion.

The newcomer asked ZiChuan Ning candidly: “Is this where Xiu lives?”

ZiChuan Ning stared alarmingly at the newcomer. She was a graceful and mature woman. The way she called ZiChuan Xiu directly by his first name, ZiChuan Ning couldn’t help but ask: “What business do you have with him…”

“Well. I’m his former lover. I’m here to get him to pay for the child support and the damages he caused to my youth.”

The tea cup in ZiChuan Ning’s hand splattered over the floor.

Seeing ZiChuan Ning’s paled expression, the newcomer smiled bluntly and said: “Just kidding. But you really need to work on your sense of humor!”

Before ZiChuan Ning’s heart rate and surprised look could return to normal, the newcomer had already put down her tea cup. She asked respectfully: “You must be Lady Ning?”

“Coming here at such late hour without prior notice, I suppose it was quite presumptuous of me. I’m Far Eastern Army Deputy Commander – Lin Bing. I’m here on urgent business with Sir ZiChuan Xiu. Would you let him know?”

ZiChuan Ning exhaled in relief, but the calm only lasted for a second before Lin Bing sent her right back to hell with her next set of words: “This time, I’m here on official business. The child support and everything else he owe me, will have to wait.”

……

ZiChuan Ning got up and told the servants to wake ZiChuan Xiu up while muttering to herself: “Now I finally understand why the people of Far East wanted to rebel…”

The moment ZiChuan Xiu saw Lin Bing, he instinctively straightened his back and saluted. Back when he was still serving in the Far Eastern Army, he had always paid extra respect to his candid and joyful female commanding officer.

Lin Bing returned the gesture: “I wouldn’t dare, Sir Xiu. We are of the same rank; we are both Deputy Commanders. You don’t have to be so modest.”

Even though on paper they both held the same rank, there was a big difference between the two. Lin Bing was a Deputy Commander with real power. She commanded over hundred thousand troops and was put in charge of million people’s welfares. She was literally a vassal lord. In comparison, a Deputy Commander like ZiChuan Xiu had to worry every month whether he would get paid or not.

ZiChuan Xiu replied sincerely: “No matter where or when, you are always my commanding Officer.”

Lin Bing clapped loudly: “You didn’t forget your past, that is good!” She went straight to the point: “I need you to help me save Luo Bo. He is in big trouble!”

During the Far Eastern Rebellion, Luo Bo and Lin Bing had to fight off nearly a million rebels with their weakened and wounded Army at Fort Warren. They waited desperately for reinforcement’s arrival, to the point they were about to take their own lives in order to preserve the family honour. Finally, the reinforcement came in the form of Stirling’s Central Army, but with them also came the Military Investigation Squad from the Ministry of Supervision. Bunch cold-hearted and atrocious army officers sought to investigate the cause for Battle of Red Lake’s defeat. In order to not implicate anyone else, Far Eastern Army Staff Officer – Luo Bo took all the blames upon himself.

Despite several officers’ complains and many soldiers’ protests, the Judicial officers still dragged the heavily wounded Luo Bo from bed and put him in chains, escorting him to Di Du for Court Martial.

Naturally, Lin Bing followed their footsteps closely and arrived in Di Du as well, hoping to exonerate Luo Bo. However, since the death of Commander Ge Ying Xing, the Far Eastern Army branch had lost its most important and respected spokesperson to represent them in the heart of the decision making, the High Command.

Lin Bing continued infuriated: “Right now, the Far Eastern Army is like a bastard child. No one cares, and everyone thinks they can bully us!”

Especially after they found out that it was Supreme Commander – Luo Ming Hai who was behind the accusation, no one wanted to help.

After exhausting all her options, Lin Bing suddenly remembered, Luo Bo had a subordinate, who was always after his drinks, serving as a Deputy Commander here in Di Du. Even though she heard he wasn’t doing so well for himself either, she had no other alternatives, might as well give it a try…

ZiChuan Xiu’s had a serious look on his face. Luo Bo was his direct commanding officer while he served in the Far East. Back then, when Yang Ming Hua wanted him dead, it was Luo Bo, Ge Ying Xing and other officers of the Far Eastern Army who protected him, a naïve child in his teens. The reason that he could rise up from an exiled convict to the high rank of Banner Master within six years, other than his own merits, Luo Bo’s patronage was also an important factor.

In other words, other than Commander – Ge Ying Xing who recently passed away, he owed the most of what he had to Luo Bo.

ZiChuan Xiu answered resolutely: “I owe everything I have to Sir Luo Bo. I will do everything in my power to secure for his release!”

Lin Bing was stunned by ZiChuan Xiu’s determined gaze, and a wave of warmth washed over her. She had gone through so many of them over the last couple of days, and each time, she was kept at arm’s length. Every time she asked for help, she was met with a wall of excuses:

“Well… about that; let me think about it.”

“Believe in the High Command and the Headmaster. They will not put an innocent man in jail! He will be released soon, I’m sure.”

Some gave her the sarcastic remark: “Three hundred thousand casualties. If Luo Bo is not the one responsible, are you the one responsible? You should worry about yourself first!”

And some even ridiculed her: “Who is Luo Bo to you? Why are you trying so hard to save an old fart…?” then followed their sentence with a lewd gaze, assessing Lin Bing’s captivating figure. One even came in close: “Deputy Commander Lin, I feel we should get to know each other… As long as you are willing, I promise to help Luo…” Before he could finish, Lin Bing’s two inch heels was already planted in his face.

Over the past few days, this was the first time she was given such determined affirmation. Even though it came from a powerless and insignificant Deputy Commander, it provided her with a great deal of moral support.

ZiChuan Xiu and ZiChuan Ning both looked surprised at the watery sparkles filling Lin Bing’s eyes. ZiChuan Xiu asked confused: “Sir, you…”

He didn’t know the right word to say.

As a fellow woman, even though ZiChuan Ning didn’t know the reason behind it all, she understood very well how Lin Bing had to be feeling right now. She quickly interrupted her brother’s line of questioning by handing her the handkerchief.

Lin Bing took the handkerchief and dried her eyes, quickly regaining her composure: “I’m sorry. I got something in my eye.”

ZiChuan Xiu and ZiChuan Ning both nodded, accepting her clumsy excuse.

Lin Bing continued on the subject: “Xiu, Luo Bo was not wrong about you. Sir Ge Ying Xing was not wrong about you. He had such high hopes for you.” When she mentioned the name of the deceased Far Eastern Army Commander, in her eyes there was more than just nostalgic admiration for the man, but also the look of an unexplainable sense of sadness. ZiChuan Xiu thought to himself: Lin Bing and Ge Ying Xing were probably more than just comrades in arms…”

“When Sir Ge Ying Xing died, I was with him the whole time. He once mentioned your name. He said that you were the only one who could bring peace and prosperity to House ZiChuan for the next hundred years.” ZiChuan Xiu was feeling flattered, but he responded modestly: “Sir Ge Ying Xing was too kind, I’m hardly that capable.” However, his big satisfied smile had betrayed his intentions, not to mention he kept making eye gestures, hinting at ZiChuan Ning: Do you see how great I am?

Lin Bing nodded: “I also thought it was impossible, perhaps Sir Ge Ying Xing’s mind had dulled by then.”

ZiChuan Ning burst out in laughter.

“He also said, after his death, Yang Ming Hua might be truly out of control. He was afraid that none of you would be able to stop him. He said if such day comes, I was to give you this box. He wants you to find the master of this box, and kill Yang Ming Hua! That was his words. I didn’t understand what he meant, but he said you would.”

Lin Bing handed him a small black ornate box, with a Golden Pansy flower carved on top. It was obviously an antique. Two hundred years ago, the Empire of Light used the Golden Pansy flower as their national symbol.

ZiChuan Xiu accepted the gift earnestly with both hands. He was awed. Even at the final moment of Ge Ying Xing’s life, he was still worried for the future of House ZiChuan, and how to preserve its eternal glory. How does one even speak of such unwavering loyalty!

Yet, the world often moved in a way we least expected. The outcome of Di Du’s rebellion, ZiChuan Shen Xing’s surprising victory and Yang Ming Hua’s quick demise were events even the wise Ge Ying Xing could not have predicted.

After Lin Bing left, unable to restrain her curiosity any longer, ZiChuan Ning quickly got hold of ZiChuan Xiu and bombarded him with a series of questions: “Brother, who did Sir Ge Xing Ying tell you to look for? When Yang Ming Hua was the most powerful man in House ZiChuan, who could have killed him so easily? This box, it is an antique right? Who does it belong to?”

ZiChuan Xiu carefully put away the box. Unable to dodge her questions, he finally relented and responded with a few words: “Duke Zuo Jia Ming.”

ZiChuan Ning inhaled deeply, feeling the chill filling her longs. She kept her mouth shut.

……

Every generation had its heroes; each directed the flow of its time.

Over the long history of the war ridden continent of Western River, many incredible warriors and heroes were born.

In the Militaristic Society of House ZiChuan, every generation had its “Number one fighter”. For example Lei Xun held the title not so long ago. In some sense, the trio, ZiChuan Xiu, Stirling, Di Lin who killed Lei Xun together, now shared one third of the title “Number one fighter”.

Contemporarily, the arch rival of House ZiChuan for the last hundreds of years, House Liu Feng also had its “Number one fighter.”

ZiChuan Xiu used to make fun of it: “In the hundreds of years of our combined history, if we add all the ‘Number one fighters’ all together, they could form a whole division.”

But amongst all these top fighters, there was only one who was recognized by all, every factions on the continent, to be the true number one.

“Number one fighter” of House Lin, Duke Zuo Jia Ming. A top tier fighter who had lived for over three hundred years.

Zuo Jia Ming was born during the twilight years of Empire of Light. He was quickly recognized for his incredible skills. He wasn’t even twenty one years old, when the Emperor of Light at the time, (The last Emperor of the Empire of Light) Lin Jian Yi made him the Head Advisor to the Emperor. He was given great power and even greater title, hence “Duke Zuo Jia Ming.”

Zuo Jia Ming was grateful for Emperor’s trust, and had sworn his loyalty to the crown, but his relationship with the Empire didn’t last long and fractured soon after. The real reason behind their break up however, would forever remain a mystery.

Some believed that the Field Marshal at the time, Lu Dan Yan was jealous of him and deliberately alienated him from the Emperor. And some believed that Duke Zuo Jia Ming was involved with one of Emperor’s concubine, an unparalleled beauty at the time. (This version of the story was also the most commonly believed one. In the end, everyone wanted to hear about stories with Heroes and forbidden love.) Naturally, some denied anything of the sort ever took place, and there was nothing between him and the Emperor…

However, one thing was certain. When then Battle of Blue River reached its most critical moment, and its outcome could directly alter the fate of the entire Empire, the most powerful fighter of the Empire – Duke Zuo Jia Ming was fishing at the coast of the Western Sea, tens of thousands miles away from the greatest battle of its time.

In the end, the last Emperor – Lin Jian Yi, the Field Marshal – Lu Dan Yan, and the five hundred thousand soldiers of the Royal Army all perished on the open battlefield of Blue River.

A week after the battle took place, a young man dressed in white appeared in front of the Main Camp of the Demon Army, calling the name of the Demon General, demanding a duel.

The Demon Legion laughed at his face. Everyone thought it was a joke. The Demons had just annihilated the last remaining, and the most powerful Human Army. They were about to conquer the entire human world. Who would have time to care for the idiotic demand of a silly Human?

When the Demon General – Yun Long received the report from his scout who couldn’t stop laughing, he simply gave the order without so much as raising his head: “Kill him.”

A moment later, three thousand Demons’ bodies lay sideways on the ground. The massive Demon Army, endless blades and lances, nothing could even delay the man dressed in white from moving through the camp. Everywhere he went, only death remained in his wake.

When the figure in snowy white walked with blade in his hand and into the Tent of the Demon General, Yun Long somehow managed to retain his composure: “I have never known someone as strong as you. What is your name? The times for Humans are at an end. Why would you not join us? We shall shape the future to our will! Fame, riches, anything you want…” (He spoke in Demon tongue.)

Duke Zuo Jia Ming gave him a frown, and admitted freely: “I didn’t understand a word you said.”

Unsheathe, stab, wipe the blood, retract, sheathe, turn and left.

Hundreds of thousands Demons watched silently as everything took place, overwhelmed by shock and terror, no one dared to even approach.

A Demon Officer who spoke the human tongue recorded the whole exchange in their Book of Records, called the “Divine Code”.

After the collapse of the Empire of Light, Duke Zuo Jia Ming became the central focus of all competing factions on the continent, but he politely refused every one of them (ZiChuan Yun, Liu Feng Heng, Ming Lin and many other faction leaders) with the simple phrase of: “I’m not interested.”

However, when the last Emperor, Lin Jian Yi’s daughter, the seven year old princess – Lin Feng Xi who was being hunted by other rival factions, came to him and begged: “Uncle Zuo, I have nowhere else to go, will you help us?”

Duke Zuo Jia Ming gazed deeply into the eyes of the child, and said: “I will.”

His decision came as a great surprise. One of the faction leaders he refused earlier, Ming Lin cursed indignantly: “But why? House Lin has no money, no army and no power! Zuo Jia Ming must be a bloody pedophile!”

Zuo Jia Ming never dignified that insolent remark with an answer.

A week later, Ming Lin was found dead in his own estate, a heavily guarded fortress. At the time of his death, no traces of foul play were discovered, nor did he suffer from any known illness.

Following his death, the covetous ZiChuan Yun and Liu Feng Yun quickly joined hands and destroyed House Ming, dividing his territories amongst themselves.

Not long after, a small faction, House Lin was founded on the continent of Western River. Despite its weak military, it was driven by an incredibly large economy of unprecedented wealth.

In that Era of war where the strong and the powerful destroyed the weak and the small, House Lin was like a pig made of gold walking down the street without a leash. The only thing stopping the other factions from wiping them out was the number one fighter of all time, Duke Zuo Jia Ming.

Naturally, over the course of hundreds of years, not everyone believed in the myth. Like the fourth generation Headmaster of House Liu Feng, Liu Feng Rui.

Unable to resist the temptation any longer, he gave the order to invade House of Lin, a small faction with no respectable military strength, in possession of greatest amount of wealth and holding the richest land of the entire continent.

When the Army of House Liu Feng effortlessly reached of the defenceless Capital City – He Qiu of House Lin, Duke Zuo Jia Ming also effortlessly wiped out the entire House Liu Feng’s Army trying desperately to fend him off, killing Liu Feng Rui in the process.

The younger brother, Liu Feng Li became the next Headmaster of House Liu Feng, and his motto was: “Never give away what you have taken!” He refused to retreat from House Lin’s territory. He even deployed the elite of House Liu Feng’s army, the “Knights of Wind” to defend the Capital, in an attempt to defeat Duke Zuo Jia Ming for good.

Soon, Liu Feng Li died as well and the embodiment of House Liu Feng’s highest form of military strength and combat prowess, the “Knights of Wind” was defeated. Over seven thousand riders, half of them were dead, and half of them were crippled.

Within the week, House Liu Feng welcomed their third Headmaster, Liu Feng Di. He was the unlucky one. He didn’t want to be the Headmaster in the midst of crisis, but he lost the bet and was forced by his compassionless brothers to take the seat.

He said: “I’d rather die than to become the Headmaster!”

House Liu Feng’s elders and nobles replied in unison: “Even if you die you have to take the seat of Headmaster!”

The first order he gave as the Headmaster was: “Retreat from He Qiu immediately!” He was terrified of the idea that Duke Zuo Jia Ming would come for him at any minute.

Since then, no one had dared to invade House Lin ever again, and Duke Zuo Jia Ming had also firmly established his position as the undeniable “Number one fighter of all human kind”.

Well, at least that was what the story suggested. It had been hundred years since then, but it remained to be the most classic and the most legendary story in the world of Western River.

It was said that Duke Zuo Jia Ming had left the Capital – He Qiu after the war, and went to travel the world. No one had ever seen him again, but everyone strongly believed: He was still alive and true to the promise he made that day, to always and forever defend House Lin’s honour.

No matter when or where, if any one ever dared to threaten House Lin in anyway, they would have to answer to his invincible blade…

……

ZiChuan Ning whispered softly: “After all this years, Duke… is he still alive?”

ZiChuan Xiu answered casually: “Probably. That old fart still owes me shit tons of money. You better hope he is still alive somewhere!”

ZiChuan Ning was stunned.

Meanwhile, ZiChuan Xiu had something else on his mind. He was caught in the moment when he made the promise to Lin Bing, but how was he going to save Luo Bo?

Headmaster – ZiChuan Shen Xing was no doubt the most powerful person in the Capital, but… ZiChuan Xiu shook his head: ZiChuan Shen Xing probably felt the same way about him as he felt about ZiChuan Shen Xing right now… which was… “Great.” He was certain.

What about Supreme Commander – Luo Ming Hai? ZiChuan Xiu stopped himself, not even considering the option.

Looking sideways at ZiChuan Ning sitting beside him, ZiChuan Xiu shook his head again. Even though ZiChuan Ning would be the next Headmaster, no one really cared about the seventeen year old “Reserve Headmaster” right now. Even ZiChuan Xiu didn’t take her seriously most of the time.

Central Army Commander – Stirling would no doubt be a good option, and a good friend. Besides, he recently won a big battle, and he had Headmaster’s trust. His words could easily sway Headmaster’s decisions in his favor. The only problem being, he was fighting a war in the Far East, thousands of miles from where he needed him to be.

Out of all the members in High Command, only Fang Jing could be considered as a friend, but he had been ill lately and should be resting at home, away from the Capital.

After pondering for a while, ZiChuan Xiu could only think of one person: He had Headmaster’s trust, the power and influence to turn the tide. He controlled the Ministry of Supervision and Court Martial was under his direct jurisdiction. Most importantly, he was his “good friend”.

Inspector General – Di Lin.

The only problem however, was that ever since the coup in the Capital, ZiChuan Xiu had purposely tried to avoid his “good friend”. Now if he was to visit him only in time of need, would Di Lin even want to help?


 

Imperial Calendar, Year 776, May 7th, Far Eastern Army Academy…

“Fellow students, welcome to the Academy! Let’s begin.”

Newly appointed Banner Masters from all over House ZiChuan had signed up for the advanced military studies at the Academy, and over fifty of them attended the class taught by a sixteen year old Deputy Banner Master – ZiChuan Xiu.

“The subject of today is the Art of War. ‘Move like wind, Compact like forest, Fight like fire, Unmoving like mountain!’^[1] So what does it mean? It is quite simple really. It basically says, when you are on the run from your enemies, make sure you run faster than wind, and hide in trees whenever possible. In case enemy set fire to the woods, then you may as well be ‘unmoving like mountain’ and die. Everyone got that? Good, next.”

“‘War, vital to a nation, matter of life and death, the path to survival or to destruction.’^[2] In other words, war is our livelihood. Without war, we would be without a job, and without job, we wouldn’t get paid... Our Headmaster is a generous ruler. He intends to let us keep our jobs. That is why he keeps fooling around with House Liu Feng on the other side of the river. So let’s not make his job more difficult than it already is. If someone accidently wipes out House Liu Feng, we will all be sleeping on the streets!”

“Here is another quote on the same subject: ‘Without capable men from within, without dangerous enemies from abroad, a nation wouldn’t last.’^[3] The meaning is obvious. In order to remain strong as a nation, the key is to stir more trouble and make more ‘enemies’ from outside. Only then will the nation be ‘everlasting’.”

“What if the enemies are too strong?”

“Too strong? If you can’t win by force, then try diplomatic solutions! Are you stupid or something? Did you bribe your way to the rank of Banner Master? There are many ways to resolve a conflict without bloodshed. We have international treaties, conventions and Humanitarian principles. Show them that we are vivid supporters of world peace. Just reason with them all right? Anything works! If House Liu Feng for some reason wouldn’t listen however, that would be a whole different matter all together, which is unfortunately beyond the scope of our class today.”

The officers quietly mumbled to each other: “Where did they find an idiot instructor like that?”

“Sir Ge Ying Xing personally invited him as an Instructor for the Academy. I heard they are close relatives or something… But why did you choose to attend his War Stratagem Class knowing he was a bloody idiot?”

“Why do you think? For the good grades of course. As long as you take the test, you get an A+, even if you don’t you still get a B+. It doesn’t even matter what you write on the test paper at all, as long as you get your name right, you get a bonus! Besides, he never starts his classes on time, always leaves before the half time mark, and he never assign any homework… Where else do you find an instructor like that?!”

Another officer raised his hand, asking: “Sir, can you explain what this means? ‘Accessible ground, entangling ground, temporizing ground, narrow ground, precipitous ground, distanced ground.’^[4] And how it affects us in actual battle?”

“Nice. Finally a good question. A meaningful question, a timely question, an educated question, a thoughtful question, a…”

“Sir, please answer the damn question!”

“Hey, slow down. How could I not know the answer to such simple question? Let’s see, it is like this. The question is in fact a different question, I mean like. Ha. See, you’re getting it now. That wasn’t too hard was it? So… was that clear?”

“Not at all!”

“Sigh, I didn’t expect you to be this stupid. Very well. I’ll have to find someone with similar intellect to explain this to you! Comrade Stirling, wake up, stop napping during my class!” ZiChuan Xiu forcefully shook Stirling’s chair.

“Instructor Xiu, I’m too dumb for this. I don’t understand the question at all.” Stirling quickly followed up with a whisper: “You are paying for next week’s meal at the Golden Pavilion!”

“Comrade Stirling, feel free to take your time, I’m sure you know the answer!” ZiChuan Xiu followed up with a whisper as well: “Fuck off, that’s like daylight robbery! Fried noodles at the noodle shop. My treat!”

“Sir, I still can’t think of anything!” Stirling whispered again: “Final discount: Five meals at the Golden Pavilion Restaurant!”

“Comrade Stirling, I have faith in you, believe in yourself!” ZiChuan Xiu whispered back: “This is a bloody extortion! Three nights of fried noodles, that is final!”

“Urgh, I’m going to faint, Sir!” Stirling rolled his eyes backwards, toppling from his chair.

ZiChuan Xiu caught him as he fell, shaking him profusely: “Wake up! Hold on! Comrade Stirling!” While whispering: “Fine! You win! Golden Pavilion it is!”

“Aha, Sir. I think I remembered!” Stirling, who was barely conscious a moment ago, suddenly regained his vigour, answering loudly: “So called Accessible Ground is a place where both you and your enemy can come and go as you please. In a place like that, it is important to seize the high ground first, secure the side that faces the sun and protect your supply line. Entangling Ground is a place that is easy to get in but hard to get out. In a place like that, it is only recommended to attack the enemy if you can catch them off guard, however if they have fortified themselves, it will be very dangerous. Next up, a place that is hard to attack into for either party is called the Temporizing Ground. In a place like that, your best option is to defend and ignore your enemy’s provocation…”

“Good. That was not too terrible of an answer. You got most of the basics right at least… So, was that clear?” ZiChuan Xiu turned towards Stirling and reprimanded him harshly: “Comrade Stirling, I’m so very disappointed in you! It took you forever to come up with an answer to such a simple question. What would you have done if you were on the battlefield right now, where death could come at a moment notice and your decision could decide the fate of thousand of soldiers’ lives? Do you really expect your enemies to give you time to think about it first?”

Stirling lowered his head in shame. He was terribly ashamed for having disappointed Instructor Xiu’s expectations.

ZiChuan Xiu continued angrily: “What is a genius? A genius is ninety-eight percent of sweat and two percent of inspiration! If you think you are clever, and do not work hard, you will never achieve anything in life! Stirling, I will see you in the Dean’s office this instant! Everyone else, it is self-study time!”

……

The duo left the classroom.

“Hey, Xiu. Was that a bit too much? You ended the class in just over ten minutes! Also, didn’t you already use this excuse the last time you skipped class? I mean, I have totally lost track of how many times you have called me to the Dean’s Office so far.”

“No way, you remembered it wrong! Last time it was your Parkinson’s disease acting up and I had to bring you to the infirmary… And if that class goes on any longer, I’ll have to declare bankrupt! Where did Di Lin go? Why isn’t he at the class today?”

“He went to collect the protection money.”

……

In an enclosed dark alleyway, several lower ranked students at the Academy were forced into a corner. Through the unspeakable terror reflected in their eyes, Di Lin’s alluring smile slowly approached: “Hello there. How is your day? Are you hungry?”

A slightly brave one answered: “Boss, we already paid last week…”

Before he could finish, Di Lin’s big army boots already landed square on his face.

Di Lin gently handed him a tissue for the blood coming out of his nose as he continued to speak with a smile: “Just because you took a shit last week, does that mean you don’t have to shit this week? Last time it was for the hundred-and-twenty-fifth Anniversary of His Highness, this time it is to celebrate the two-hundred-and-fifty-third birthday of our great founder, ZiChuan Yun. Those are two completely different things! As a future officer of House ZiChuan, do you not feel proud to be able to celebrate a historic day like this? Do you not feel the patriotic fever burning inside you? If not, I will be very disappointed…”

Di Lin cracked his knuckles loudly, showing his intense patriotic feelings and how “disappointed” he was to the “lack of patriotism” in his fellow officers.

Seeing Stirling and ZiChuan Xiu coming around the corner, the few low ranked officers immediately cried out for help: “Help! Sir Xiu! Di Lin is forcing us to pay him protection money!”

“Comrade Di Lin, you are bullying other students again! Looks like I will have to punish you severely this time! ZiChuan Xiu declared with indignation: “Fear not, fellow officers! If Di Lin dares to bully you again, report to the instructor’s office and I will skin him alive! Remember, you’ll need to file a report!” While his voice overflowed with righteousness, ZiChuan Xiu quickly dragged Stirling away from the alleyway…

Di Lin looked back at the few disappointed low ranked officer with a nefarious smile: “To let you in on a secret! Sir Xiu and I are thick as thieves! Anyways, enough with that. It is time to show your patriotism with your actions! But know this; I hold a serious grudge against those unpatriotic bastards!”

……

Later, in the peach forest behind the academy, Di Lin gave Stirling and ZiChuan Xiu a candy bar each.

ZiChuan Xiu seemed disappointed: “That is all?”

Di Lin replied: “Not much I can do. It is the economy. Can’t even be a mafia nowadays. Nobody seems to have any money.”

Stirling furiously devoured the candy bar while trying to speak: “I don’t approve of you guys bullying the other students……”

Di Lin frowned at him: “Stop eating it then if you hate it so much… You are always the first one to finish it too!”

Stirling instantly shut up, and swiftly finished the left over candy.

ZiChuan Xiu spoke: “Did you hear? The officers from the Advanced Study program will be allowed for an early graduation next week!”

“Yeah!” Stirling said: “We heard! There are simply too many vacancies everywhere. They can’t wait to put us on active duty. I volunteered for the Border Army. Di Lin, where do you want to go?”

Di Lin smiled: “Border Army is good! That is where the battle against House Liu Feng is taking place, a good way to get some of those medals on your shoulder. I haven’t decided yet! I’m so envious of Xiu. He gets to live like a king and stay here in the Academy as an instructor!”

“Haha!” Stirling laughed: “I doubt that is going to last! Someone filed a complaint, saying that he was a failure of an officer and an instructor. I heard Sir Ge Ying Xing is considering moving him out of the Academy and send him to serve under Sir Luo Bo.”

“C’mon, Stirling. Some things are best left unsaid!” Di Lin could barely catch his breath from all the laughing: “Look at him. His face is all red! You better not make him angry!”

“I’m angry now! No more dinner for either of you tonight!”

“You dare break your promise?! Does your ass itch for my boots?!”

“That is right! Fuck him up! Let’s see if he dares!”

……

Golden Pavilion was the most exclusive restaurant near the Far Eastern Army Academy, but also the most expensive.

Stirling and Di Lin rushed forth in big strides, instructing the waiter: “We are going to bleed someone dry today! Bring the best of everything!”

ZiChuan Xiu followed behind with a troubled look, with the words “bitterness and severe loathing” written all over his face. Unhappy would be a grave understatement.

After the trio had their fill, Di Lin rubbed his belly in satisfaction, smiling: “I haven’t had this much for such a long time! I always feel so great whenever I get to enjoy a meal in Xiu’s expense, like everything just tastes so much better all of a sudden!”

ZiChuan Xiu touched his pocket briefly with his hands before quickly taking them back out. His face was all kind of strange. He asked: “I have got a question for the Mafia Boss – Di Lin, how many ways are there to properly do an eat and run?”

Di Lin considered for a second, and answered: “Number one, the way of cockroach and flies; Number two, the way of run for your lives; Number three, the way of food poisoning; Number four, the way of big bad wolf… But, why are you asking? Are you telling me you didn’t bring your wallet?!”

“I didn’t say that, but I brought something else as well with my wallet…” ZiChuan Xiu pulled his pocket inside out, exposing a huge hole in his pocket, the size just big enough for a wallet to slip through.

Stirling asked surprised: “Didn’t you lose your wallet the last time? How is it that you keep losing your wallet repeatedly, and each time with such impeccable timing as well?!”

ZiChuan Xiu explained: “They are totally different! Last time I was only faking it, this time I lost it for real!”

The trio exchanged a look, Di Lin sighed: “Very well. Normally a high class mafia like me wouldn’t resort to underhanded tactics like this, but…” As he said that, he unbuttoned his shirt and rolled up his sleeves. Like a madman, he rose to his feet, flipping over a plate of sweet and sour carp fish all over the floor. Not feeling satisfied, Di Lin kicked over another bottle of wine on his left, shouting: “Is this something you feed the pigs with?! I have never tasted something so bad in my whole life! I demand to have a word with your chef right now!”

ZiChuan Xiu held on to his stomach, screaming in pain: “Urgh, I have food poisoning! Help!”

Stirling hastily moved aside, avoiding any of the shattering glass.

One of the senior waiters quickly came forward to access the situation and apologized: “Yes, of course! Please remain calm. Our chef will be with you shortly to address any complaints you may have.”

And that was the moment, when the most monumental event took place in the lives of the three young heroes of House ZiChuan.

……

Imperial Calendar, Year 779, September 16th, Di Lin’s estate.

Inspector General – Di Lin spoke with a smile: “I still remember the look on your face when Lin Xiu Jia came out of the kitchen with the chef apron on. You were literally staring and drooling more than when you saw the sweet and sour carp fish being served for the first time.”

ZiChuan Xiu protested: “I was no way the only one drooling! What about you? You instantly put up your gentle face even though you just broke their plate. I remember you asking: ‘Miss, did you prepare the dishes? I have never tasted anything so good my entire life! Miss, I would like nothing more than to enjoy your cooking for the rest of my life!’ And that was the first time you saw her. Did you really think you were being romantic?”

Di Lin laughed: “What do you know? Girls dig that stuff. The sappier the lines the better! But Stirling was definitely the worst. He instantly turned on us: ‘Miss, I’m telling you, both of them are up to no good. They are planning to do an eat and run! I’m the only good guy here!’”

“I still can’t believe he would betray us like that!”

ZiChuan Xiu agreed wholeheartedly: “Indeed. We were this close to finding out who the real Number One fighter of House ZiChuan was.”

It was getting late; ZiChuan Xiu had bid his farewell. On the way home, ZiChuan Xiu kept thinking about what Di Lin told him before he left. The more he thought about it, the more he realized how incredible his words were...

“Xiu, I know, you are about to leave for the Far East soon. That Xiu’s Company of yours, you know better than anyone what they are made of, so I won’t bother. But you need to know what is going on in the Far East right now. We may win one battle, two, three, or even a hundred, but you will never win this war, no matter how many reinforcement we send. The reason is, we lack the deciding factor that can turn the situation around, and that kind of deciding factor is not something you can gain on the field of battle. I said the same thing to Stirling once, but considering what he has been doing, he clearly didn’t hear a word I said. He is trying so desperately to plug the gap in the crumbling dam with his bare hands.”

ZiChuan Xiu asked: “Then in your opinion, what is this deciding factor that can turn the tide in our favor?”

Di Lin shook his head: “I don’t know. But do you want to hear one final warning?”

“Do tell.”

“Whatever you do, never move further than three days of march distance away from Fort Warren. Always be prepared for sudden turn of events.” Di Lin was being very serious.

Looking back, what was once an estate surrounded in lamp light, was now swallowed by darkness, shrouding it in an aura of mystery.

……

Two days later, something unexpected happened in the City of Di Du: Inspector General – Di Lin suddenly did a one-eighty, and began actively investigating Far Eastern Army Deputy Commander Luo Bo’s case. It seemed that he intended to make an example of him, as he declared resolutely: “I will make sure to involve the High Command with this, and show Luo Ming Hai who the boss is!” He even purposely spread the word that he would personally act as the prosecutor in this case: “I dare anyone to speak in his defence!”

The news quickly reached Supreme Commander – Luo Ming Hai’s ears. He only needed a few minute to consider before he took on a complete different stand, speaking greatly in Luo Bo’s favor. He even volunteered to be Luo Bo’s defender during the court martial, which the Headmaster - ZiChuan Shen Xing himself had promised to attend.

The court martial began as scheduled, but the entire trial had turned into Supreme Commander – Luo Ming Hai’s solo performance. He spoke vividly in Luo Bo’s defence; his every word filled with passion and strength: “The defeat at Red Lake was beyond the means of any one man! Despite the devastating loss, Luo Bo defended Fort Warren against all odds. He did House ZiChuan Proud. If we are still to punish him for his valiant efforts, how could we face the hundreds of thousands soldiers who are sacrificing their lives over at the Far East as we speak? His speech was received by a sea of applause coming from Lin Bing and the Far Eastern Army officers present at the trial. Luo Ming Hai seemed even more satisfied of himself as he basked in the glory of his triumph.

In contrary, Di Lin’s performance came as a great disappointment to ZiChuan Shen Xing and everyone else present. His words lacked common sense and were often out of place. His argument contradicted each other, and even his indictment failed to clearly specify whether Luo Bo was accused dereliction of duty or failure in his command. And thus it wasn’t too surprising to see his accusations being mercilessly torn apart and dissected by Luo Ming Hai’s counter arguments.

As a result, ZiChuan Shen Xing declared publicly, that Luo Bo was clear of all charges. After the trial, the way Di Lin stared in defeat could only be described as a dog who had just lost a fight.

Luo Ming Hai gave Di Lin a scornful look, before returning to happily receive the congratulations from his fellow men: “Congrats, Sir. You definitely gave Di Lin a taste of his own medicine this time!” The words made Luo Ming Hai so happy that night he even made an exception and had a glass of wine.

 

“Huh, who told you that?” ZiChuan Xiu sounded surprised, as if someone had just found out about his darkest secret.

“Don’t even try to deny, Sir. Lady Ning told us everything. You are secretly the fifth generation disciple of the Number One fighter of all time – Duke Zuo Jia Ming. You’ve also mastered every technique he taught you, such as the ‘Wave technique’, ‘Lightning Blade’, ‘Thunder Kick’, ‘Iron Head’^[1], ‘Nine Swords of DuGu’^[2], ‘Buddha’s Palm’^[3], ‘Sunflower Manual’^[4] and even the legendary ‘Hamehamea’^[5]… anyway, you knew all the kickass stuff~!”

“Sigh, I told Ning many times to keep it a secret…” ZiChuan Xiu knew woman could be like children sometimes. If you wanted her to help you spread certain rumours around, the best way was to keep reminding her: “Don’t tell anyone!” And as expected, the result was impressive. It didn’t even take a full day before the trio came to him like dogs wiggling their tails, hoping to catch their master’s attention. All rumours naturally had the tendency to mass produce and mutate each time it did. In the end, ZiChuan Xiu was “confirmed” as Duke Zuo Jia Ming’s favourite disciple!

“Very well. I admit. That is the truth! I’m Duke Zuo Jia Ming’s fifth disciple!”

“Sir, don’t worry. We’ll guard your secret with our lives! We just… have a very small favour to ask…”

“Oh. I see. You want me to teach you some martial art techniques!” ZiChuan Xiu appeared to have come to a realization.

The trio nodded rapidly.

“But you should know, it is not like I don’t want to…”

Bai Chuan quickly pulled out a bag of coins, and Luo Jie dragged a box of Porn Mags behind him. ZiChuan Xiu exhaled in defeat: “Why do you guys keep doing this to me, what do I even say to that? Fine, since you all asked so sincerely, I’ll teach you the highest form of martial technique of Zuo Jia Sect, the Universal Invincible Thunder Palm Manual! For two thousand only! Anyone interested?”

Bai Chuan asked curiously: “So cheap?” She immediately paid him in cash and ran away as fast as she could with the manual.

Luo Jie and Chang Chuan realized too late what had just happened, crying like lost sheep: “Sir, help us! If that evil bitch masters the Thunder Palm technique, we’d all end up as her slaves for sure!”

“Hoho, worry not! Her Thunder Palm Manual is in fact incomplete, it has several weaknesses! I have another Great Sun Technique Manual here for sale. It is specifically designed to counter the Thunder Palm Technique, only for eight-thousand-and-eighty-eight and it is all yours! If you master this technique, I guarantee your victory over her! Also, when you do, will you ask her for me if she would be interested in the upgraded version of the Thunder Palm Manual, this time complete with all the extra’s, it will only cost her another ten thousand!”

……

Next morning, Red Banner Master – Li Qing came to visit ZiChuan Xiu on behalf of the High Command. The first thing she saw after arriving at Xiu’s Company’s camp however, was Luo Jie crawling over the floor like a toad, with his head tilted in the direction of the sun and his mouth gaping wide. It sounded as if he was chanting some mnemonic phrase: “I’m an idiot… I’m an idiot… I’m an idiot…”

“Master Luo, what are you doing?”

“I’m an idiot… Please don’t interrupt me. I’m practising the Great Sun Technique by absorbing the essence of the sun. I’m an idiot… Once I master this, I’ll be invincible!”

Li Qing frowned at him, asking:”If I may ask, where can I find Sir Xiu?”

“I’m an idiot… Go through the front gate then turn right. I’m an idiot… The door with the naked girl poster hanging outside leads to his office!”

“Thanks.” Even after Li Qing had passed through the gate, she could still hear Luo Jie’s shout clearly from a distance: “I’m an idiot!” In fact, he was being so loud the whole camp heard him.

“I know! You don’t have to keep repeating it!” Li Qing shouted back without so much as a backward glance.

……

ZiChuan Xiu quickly got up and greeted Li Qing as she came through the door. They had known each other and were friends for a long time.

Li Qing studied Xiu’s Company’s headquarter for a moment, posters of naked girls hanging on every wall, piles of stinky trash all over the floor, and more behind his old desk, dirty clothes, empty bottles, and even a few dead mice from several days ago.

She coughed slightly, complaining: “Xiu, what a nice bunch of soldiers you have! Did all of them just come out of prison?” She had made up her mind, without a brigade or a bigger contingent of guards, she would never again walk through Xiu’s Company’s front gate. Those lecherous gazes from the soldiers outside was short of nerve racking.

ZiChuan Xiu spoke with a playful smile: “What are you talking about? Don’t I look normal to you?”

Li Qing replied with a smile without smiling: “Right, so reading an adult magazine right after the sun comes up is somehow considered normal here?”

ZiChuan Xiu hurriedly ditched the book underneath his bed, clearing his throat: “So what brings you here, Master Li?”

Li Qing retracted her smile: “Sir Xiu, by High Command’s order, you are to gather your men… Hey! Let me finish… Stop, give me my orders back! Wait, don’t open it… Sigh!” She complained: “I’m supposed to be the envoy here, show some respect, will you?”

“Xiu’s Company will be placed under Commander Fang Jing’s command, and shall depart immediately for Fort Warren.”

“Strange, didn’t they promise the new recruits a month to train? We barely have had two weeks! Not to mention we are still missing half of our equipments. Several of our squads don’t even have the tents to weather the winter with.”

“It is Supreme Commander’s idea. The official reason is, the sudden development at the Far Eastern Front has demanded urgent reinforcement for Stirling. The real reason however, is Di Du’s Police Corp. Their chief cried his eyes out to Luo Ming Hai, saying: “The City of Di Du will never have peace as long as Xiu’s Company remains here.” He demanded your immediate removal. Xiu, do you even know what the people of Di Du think of your unit?”

ZiChuan Xiu answered with all the seriousness in the world: “Whenever the people of Di du see the magnificent banner of Xiu’s Company, they would always show their respect and admiration: They are men of strength, the embodiment of righteousness… Such disciplined force, as expected from the young hero, ZiChuan Xiu!”

Li Qin smiled lightly: “Do you even believe that yourself? You know it better than anyone. Everyone calls you the three plagues of Di Du: cockroach, rats and Xiu’s Company!”

Li Qing stood up and said her goodbye: “All right, that settles it. If there is anything you still need to do but haven’t, I suggest that you make haste. Meanwhile, I can help you with your equipment problems. As you may or may not know, in order to get rid of you and your men as quickly as possible, the Logistic Corp has gone all out. You should take this opportunity and grab what you can from them.”

“Oh, there is one more thing. I have a letter for Stirling. Since you are headed for the Far East, would you deliver it to him?” ZiChuan Xiu felt a jolt going through him. It had been so long since he kept the secret from her how Stirling loved Princess Ka Dan. If she hadn’t mentioned it, he almost forgot that officially, Li Qing was still Stirling’s fiancé.”

“Remember, deliver my letter to him in person!”

ZiChuan Xiu quietly took the letter: “Ok.” But his heart lamented: Woman are such fools sometimes, they think going to the Far East is like going to their backyard. How do they not understand the Far Eastern Front is an area stretching across hundreds of thousands square kilometers? Stirling’s Army isn’t a garrison unit either. How is he supposed to run into Stirling’s forces in a huge area like that?”

He escorted her to the gate. Li Qing turned to him, staring deeply into his eyes as she spoke with deep sincerity: “Take care, and for Ning, please be safe.”

ZiChuan Xiu felt another jolt going through him, but he kept a straight face: “Right, for our future Headmaster, we need to take care of ourselves.”

Li Qing pushed her fine long brows together, as if she didn’t approve of his answer. But without another word, she turned around and left.

……

“Brother, you are back?” ZiChuan Ning seemed especially happy today seeing his unexpected return. “You even brought me flower… Woah, brother. That is so nice of you! I almost thought you forgot about my eighteenth birthday!”

“Today is your birthday?!” ZiChuan Xiu was shocked: He only bought the flowers in preparations for what he was about to tell her. He did not expect to stumble onto her birthday… Seeing how overjoyed she was holding the flower he gave her, he couldn’t say a word of what he had planned: Should I really say those things to her right now?

Ka Dan came out of the room: “Let me see… Is it normal to give yellow daisies^[6] to someone as birthday gift?”

“Ah, you are right! He is always a bit dim-witted that way!” Even though ZiChuan Ning complained, her face told a different story: As long as ZiChuan Xiu remembered her birthday, she would be just as happy even if he had given her nothing at all.

Luo Jie, Bai Chuan and Chang Chuan attended her birthday party as well. They kept saying: “We are here to cherish our friendship with Her Ladyship and congratulate her on her birthday!” But ZiChuan Xiu quickly saw through their disguise, they came here for the free and expensive gourmet. Bai Chuan brought her a cute makeup box, while Luo Jie and Chang Chuan, “two idiots who never had more than a nickel left in their pocket by the end of the month”, brought her a bag of sunflower seeds together.

Luckily, ZiChuan Ning was in a great mood, she gave her sincere thanks to anyone who brought her anything. ZiChuan Xiu knew however, that she was usually very picky; she rarely cared for stuff made of common quality.

The meal was quite extravagant; it was a great eye-opener for the couple commoners from the Far East. Ka Dan smiled: “This reminds me of the Royal dinner back at the Imperial Palace.”

During dinner, ZiChuan Ning raised her cup to ZiChuan Xiu, giving him her blessing: “I wish you ever victorious and a safe return.” Only now did ZiChuan Xiu realize, Li Qing had to have told her of his new assignment already. He emptied his cup without another word, and everyone else quickly followed suit. Even Ka Dan and Bai Chuan who usually never drink had their cheeks flushed that night from the alcohol.

Everyone was having a good time. Luo Jie however, only sought out pretty girls to drink with. Sometimes he raised his cup in honor of Stirling fighting in the Far East, sometimes he did it hoping the peace would soon return to House ZiChuan, and every so often he gave his blessing to everyone who was about to depart for the frontline. He was being so overly courteous, even ZiChuan Xiu started to doubt whether he had any ulterior motives.

Was he trying to get the girls drunk, hoping to take advantage of them that way? Then again, it didn’t seem all that possible. Luo Jie was so simple-minded; he couldn’t possibly think that far ahead. It would have been a lot more suspicious if it was Chang Chuan.

The conversation kept going around the war in the Far East. Since ZiChuan Ning had a good friend like Li Qing working inside the High Command, she knew a lot about what was going on in the Far East.

Like how the High Command had plans to establish an unified command structure in the Far Eastern Theater, but they weren’t able to agree on the candidate who was supposed to be in charge.

Based on merits alone, both the High Command and the Headmaster supported Stirling, but Stirling had only been promoted to Commander recently. If they put him in charge, he probably would have a hard time controlling the old fox, Ming Hui who held the same rank. If they had to find someone else other than Stirling or Ming Hui, then the only suitable candidate would be the Supreme Commander – Luo Ming Hai.

When his name was mentioned, all the officers laughed. Luo Ming Hai was known for his lack of understanding for warfare.

Chang Chuan told the party a story of Luo Ming Hai: Once, he was put in charge of a battle. He could see House Liu Feng’s lancers coming his way. Yet, he just stood there, not saying a thing. When his men saw how calm and how fearless he was, they instantly felt empowered by him and were able to repel the enemy attack. After the battle, when everyone started cheering, Luo Ming Hai dragged an orderly to the side in secret and asked: “Did we win or lose?”

It was a terrible joke, but everyone laughed hysterically.

…

Meanwhile, Ka Dan tugged at ZiChuan Xiu’s sleeves without anyone looking and he understandingly followed her outside to the hallway.

Ka Dan handed ZiChuan Xiu a letter: “Please, deliver it to him…” Obviously, she meant Stirling.

ZiChuan Xiu numbingly took the letter from her, sighing. He had finally made up his mind: “Would you tell Ning to come out for a second?”

Ka Dan gave him a dubious look, and seemed amused: “I see, it is time for the quiet talk! Ok, I will go get her.”

A moment later, ZiChuan Ning came out: “Brother, what is with the secrecy?” Not sure whether it was the alcohol or something else, her cheeks were flushed.

ZiChuan Xiu smiled but didn’t answer her directly, saying: “Hold on.” He unsheathed the sabre on his side and flipped it in an arc behind him. The blade effortlessly penetrated the wooden door, and Luo Jie and Chang Chuan’s scream quickly followed.

After realizing she was being eaves dropped on, ZiChuan Ning laughed with delight.

ZiChuan Xiu channelled his acute senses as he scanned his surroundings. Once he was absolutely certain that no one else was around, he inhaled deeply, for what he was about to say required all the courage he could muster.

Under the clear sky, the sea of shiny stars watched the world in silence like countless pair of eyes. When the softening breeze of the nightly gale washed passed him, he could feel his senses sharpen as the dizziness of the alcohol slowly began to wear off.

“Brother, you seem troubled tonight. You barely said anything.” ZiChuan Ning’s voice sounded clearer.

ZiChuan Xiu slowly began: “Ning, I still remember. You were scared of dark when you were young. You cried a lot, and often for hours on end. Before your father ZiChuan Yuan Xing passed away, he told me to take care of you. But I’m a failure of a brother, in the end it was you who ended up taking care of me most of the time.”

“Brother, we are family. We are supposed to take care of each other. I know you have always protected me, even when I cannot see you. Do you really think I don’t know? That year, Di Du was in turmoil and Father wasn’t around. When the angry rebels bashed through the doors and scared the guards away, I was so scared I cried hiding myself under the blanket, it was you guarding at my bedside with a sword in hand. You were only eight years old. I remember, because I keep peering from under the blanket, and each time I saw your brave shadow in front of me. You made me feel safe.”

ZiChuan Xiu rubbed the back of his head: “Let’s not talk about that, I attacked the first person coming through the door, and he sent my ass flying. As it turned out, it was your father. I ended up spending the next week in bed.”

ZiChuan Ning chuckled: “But I think you look just as good when you got your ass kicked!”

The memories of their childhood filled them with emotions. ZiChuan Xiu smiled: “And now look at you, that fragile crying little girl has all grown up now. I have at least fulfilled that part of my promise to Sir ZiChuan Yuan Xing. Ning. We will forever be brother and sister, what do you say?”

ZiChuan Ning’s eyes widened: “We are brother and sister!”

ZiChuan Ning clearly didn’t understand what he meant; ZiChuan Xiu sighed in defeat, and tried again: “Ning, I’m leaving for the Far East soon and I may be gone for a long time.”

ZiChuan Ning replied calmly: “No matter how long it takes, I will wait right here.”

ZiChuan Xiu could feel the pressure mounting: “I may never come back.”

Her pair of eyes was as bright as the stars. She stared intensely at ZiChuan Xiu’s handsome face: “You will, and I will wait.”

ZiChuan Xiu was getting so desperate he wanted to kill himself: Why doesn’t she get it?! He hesitated slightly but continued: “Yes. We are brother and sister, so of course you will wait for me! But what I meant was, while waiting for someone, you can do other things too, like hmm, like…”

ZiChuan Ning looked at him, slightly confused. In her memories, her carefree brother had never once been so lost for words.

ZiChuan Xiu mustered every last ounce of his courage: “For example, going out, get to know other boys of your age. That is right. I just realized you don’t have any male friends. That is totally weird for a girl at your age.”

ZiChuan Ning seemed surprised: “I have many male friends! Like Stirling, Luo Jie, Chang Chuan. I’m good friends with all of them”

ZiChuan Xiu didn’t know if he should laugh or cry: “I’m not saying all guys are also friends… Hmm, wrong, what I meant is, not all male friends are also that kind of “friends’.”

He tried his hardest to come up with something, he finally thought of a good example: “Like, Ka Dan and Stirling that kind of ‘friends’.”

ZiChuan Ning’s eyes widened even more: “That kind of ‘friends’?”

ZiChuan Xiu sounded certain: “Yes, that kind of ‘friends’!”

“You want me to find that kind of ‘friends’?”

ZiChuan Xiu nodded in silence.

ZiChuan Ning stared at him; she had no words. Slowly, sparkling bubbles began to appear in her eyes. It was a feeling too difficult to describe. As if she was about the cry, her elegant form began to tremble slightly in the dark.

ZiChuan Xiu steeled his heart and pretended to not notice. He turned and looked down at the roses planted in the garden behind him, as if he had suddenly developed a keen interest in botany.

The endless silence seemed as if it would stretch to the end of the universe. Just when ZiChuan Xiu was about to give up and turn around, footsteps sounded from behind him, moving further and further away. Leaving together with the sound, was also his most precious first love.

By the time he turned around, the white dress had slowly disappeared from sight, vanishing behind the darkness at the end of the hallway.

He just stood there, unmoving. The girl’s face from moment earlier kept flashing before his eyes. It was filled with untold sadness.

He laughed as if he mocked himself: “ZiChuan Xiu, you are the worst that ever was, there is nothing but hell for you now.”

Looking up, in the midst of the shining stars far in the distant sky, it was as if a pair of angry eyes stared at him. The passing of time had not diminished its power over him one bit. And once again, the thunderous shout sounded next to his ears: “Ling He, don’t you dare forget who you are!”

ZiChuan Xiu titled his mouth slightly: Yes. I know; she is royalty. She is not meant for a fatherless bastard like me. I also know; the name ZiChuan is but a layer of gilded gold. With the slightest touch, the smallest hole, it would expose the ugly and cheap bronze underneath. In the end, when it comes to the honourable name of ZiChuan, I will always be an outsider.

Why else, after seeing me and Ning getting along, did you send the nine year old me to the distant Far Eastern Army Academy without a second thought? If they really saw me as one of your own, would Yang Ming Hua really have dared to arrest me back then without elder’s permission? And given my abilities, why is ZiChuan Shen Xing now the Headmaster of the House and not me?

In the end, gilded gold is still not real gold! Sir Yuan Xing, father, is this the outcome you have always intended for me?

The shiny stars looked again like ZiChuan Ning’s teary eyes. I’m so sorry. Ning. Today is your eighteenth birthday. I shouldn’t have made you cry. From this day forth, begins the most beautiful and dazzling moment a woman can have. But a woman’s beauty is always fleeting. I don’t want you to waste your precious youth on waiting for something that wasn’t meant to be.

Goodbye. Ning. Forgive me for my heartlessness. When your vision is now longer limited by my shadow, you will realize the world has many more fine men out there worthy of your love. If the day comes, when you truly become the Headmaster, I wonder, will you know how I have felt at this moment? And if the day comes, when you and your beloved walked down the aisle hand in hand, will you still remember the kid you used to love?

By then, I would probably be in a place far away, silently watching you from afar. You would only need to call out my name, and I would instantly appear before you, no matter how many mountains or seas I had to cross.

My beloved lady, may you live forever and your beauty everlasting.

And I, would protect you till the end of days. My life is yours and my heart as well.

Eight thousand soldiers and officers from “Xiu’s Company” departed from Di Du that night, heading for the Far Eastern Front.

When ZiChuan Xiu left ZiChuan Ning’s Mansion that night, he did so quietly and didn’t wake her, leaving only his house key and over a year worth of rent behind on the table in the Guest Hall.

Looking back, ZiChuan Ning’s room was pitch-black.

He sighed. Racing forth on horseback, he left the place he had called home for over a year.

Behind her pitch-black window, the curtain was secretly pulled to a gap, a pair of bright eyes closely followed the shadow casted by his broad shoulders, all the way until his dark blue officer uniform completely merged with the sea of light brown soldier's uniform in the background.

ZiChuan Ning prayed silently: “God, my only wish for my eighteenth birthday is – please keep him safe.”

And her tears rained.

 

“Ambush!” Scout’s warning quickly turned into a scream as a handcrafted javelin pierced the soldier’s chest with pinpoint accuracy, signalling an array of javelins raining down on their position and turning that single scream into a dozen.

When under attack, the soldiers from the Central Army immediately narrowed their ranks, forming a circular defensive formation. Wielding sword with one hand and shield with the other, the shieldbearers instinctively formed the outer circle. Hundreds of square-shaped shields pushed together into a defensive wall. Archers, grouped in the center in a half kneeling position, returned the favour, unleashing a barrage of arrows over the shieldwall and towards the depth of the forest. Javelins continued to rain in, but most simply fell short in reaching the soldiers hiding behind the shieldwall.

The Captain, Banner Warrior – Dukla shouted: “Fifth platoon, attack! Bring me the heads of those underhanded bastards!”

Thirtyish sabre wielding soldiers roared: “Woaah!” as they charged towards the dense forest of shrubbery. Even though they were initially Cavalries and due to the inaccessible terrains in the forest they had to fight on foot, it did nothing to change their fearless style. Three soldiers fell to the incoming spears during their charge, but the rest all managed to close in on the enemy, surrounding over a dozen Beastmen in melee.

Beastmen fought back just as valiantly with their simple javelins against the sharpened sabres, completely ignoring the soldiers shouting in Beastmen’s tongue – “Surrender and be spared!” Blood, screams and death continued to stalk the muddy jungle after the rain. Neither side gave ground. A Beastman who had just lost one of his arm fought on holding the javelin in his other hand, another who had his shoulder crushed pounced on his enemy with his teeth. On the other side, a soldier with a broken leg continued to swing his sabre wildly, slashing at his enemy’s feet while tumbling over in the mud.

Soon, over half of the Beastmen had either fallen or were incapacitated. Captain Dukla shouted backwards: “Make way for the archers! Finish them!”

Several rows of archers moved forward, just as they were about to notch their arrows and draw back their bows, sudden warcry sounded all around them. Hundreds of Beastmen poured through the dense forest wielding javelins and clubs alike, surrounding them and hungry for blood. Soldiers readily fell back behind their defensive formation, and another brutal battle began beyond the shieldwall.

Dukla realized the situation he found himself in. “It was a trap!” He shouted loudly: “Fifth platoon, fall back to the defensive position!”

Three dozen soldiers from the fifth platoon separated from the battalion tried desperately to get back, but over a hundred club-wielding Beastmen had already surrounded them, roaring. Everywhere around them, weapons clashed and no quarters were given. Several of the soldiers instantly had their heads caved in and their bodies torn apart, turning a few screams into an endless wail.

Dukla’s battalion struggled desperately trying to narrow the distance between them and those separated men, but several hundred Rebels had severed their path. Both side fought fiercely over every inch of the ground, felling either men or beast every second in a pool of blood. Even though they could already see and hear each other, they were unable to move an inch closer despite being less than thirty meter apart. It looked like the surrounded fifth platoon would get wiped out before Captain Dukla could reinforce them.

A clear whistling and a shadow flashed by, not sure how, but it broke through several layers of the encircling enemies and through to the surrounded soldiers. A not-so-tall human nimbly moved between the taller enemies with incredible speed with nothing but his bare fists, dropping a score of Beastmen left and right without so much as making a sound, no one even saw how he did it. The bulky Beastmen who were well known for their physical prowess fell like flies around him and a tight encirclement was suddenly torn into a gap, allowing the surrounded soldiers to escape and return to the main unit.

Seeing the ambush had failed, a slightly taller Beastman’ officer shouted a few unintelligible words, and instantly, what was once a large group of angry Beastmen scattered like scared rabbits in all directions, disappearing into the shadows behind the overgrown underbrush. Thus, they vanished as sudden as they had appeared.

Gone was the sound of combat in its place came the chirping of the birds, the falling of the raindrops from the trees and wailing of the wounded still lying on the ground. In the once again quiet forest, the dim sunlight on a late autumn afternoon barely shone through the heavy foliage, leaving speckles of brightness against the green moss of the jungle, over the murky puddles and on the pale faces of the young fallen warriors.

Soldiers breathed heavily, gasping for air. Their muscles tightened, their fingers clenched firmly around the sabres, and their eyes filled with bloodthirst scanned their surrounding constantly, seeking out their next target. They couldn’t believe that the soul-stirring battle had already ended.

Dukla was the first one to regain his senses; he shouted the order: “Don’t just stand there like idiots! Help your wounded brothers! And you there, cut down a few trees and make stretchers.”

Like waking from a nightmare, soldiers awkwardly unpacked their med kit, patching up the wounded, checking whether the person on the ground was still alive and if they could capture a surviving rebel as hostage.

Only now did Dukla remember: “Who was the brave soul who rescued my men?”

Several archers pointed him towards a young soldier examining the area: “He did! He saved our brothers; he is a hero!”

“That is me.” Feeling slightly embarrassed, the young soldier smiled mildly while showing his white set of teeth… Unfortunately it was about the only clean place left on his face. Everywhere else was practically covered in mud. Even though he wasn’t very tall, he looked like a man capable of holding his own. His gazes were sharp and focused. His uniform was covered in mud and blood; one couldn’t even tell what colour it used to have. He seemed to have lost his hat somewhere during the battle as he searched methodically through the battlefield.

“Good work, son. You fought well! You are not from my unit right?”

“Right, I’m just passing through. You must be the Captain…?”

“Right your ass!” Dukla roared: “Didn’t your officer teach you anything? When you are talking to a superior officer, you need to use honorific and do so with conviction. Say: ‘Right, Sir! Yes, Sir!’ Now try again!”

The amiable young man smiled and stood at attention: “Yes, Sir!”

“Good, now you look like a soldier! Very well, tell me your name, rank and your unit. I will make sure you are rewarded!”

“You are too kind, Sir.” The young man showed a pleasant smile: “My name is, Stirling. I’m currently serving in the Central Army; rank – Central Army Commander and a member of the High Command… So, when are you planning to reward me, Sir?”

He finally found his hat. Shaking off the dust and wiping off the sludge, the golden hawk badge once again shone brightly on top.

……

“Sir, you are acting out again!” Central Army Staff Officer - Tang Ping complained, he sounded as if he was talking to a child unwilling to take his medicine: “You were only supposed to inspect our defences, how did you end up in the frontline again? What if something happens…”

“Exactly!” Second in command, Deputy Commander Qin Lu chimed in: “All the division leaders are complaining: ‘We welcome Sir Stirling to inspect our defences, but can he please not rush into battle every opportunity he gets? We cannot afford if something happens to Sir Stirling!’ Sir, we all know how brave you are, but as the Commander of the Army, your duty lies beyond that of a normal soldier. You are responsible for our overall strategies, planning and leading us in battle…”

“Yes, yes. I know.” Stirling hastily changed the subject: “Today I went to check up on the three divisions on our left flank. Lu Ning’s division did a decent job on the defences; good trench work. Wen He’s division was terrible, not a single person knew what they were doing. I walked through his territory for almost half a day, not even a single guard stopped me for questioning, and his trenches were more like ditches, so shallow no way a soldier can hide behind. There was even an idiot Captain who led a small force of three hundred men into the forest, trying to stir up trouble for the rebels. Didn’t I specifically give the order: ‘Never chase into the forest?!’” By then, Stirling’s voice was throbbing with anger.

Qing Lu hurriedly explained: “Wen He’s division was originally a Cavalry division. They were used to be on the offence, not defence. All his officers were not trained to hold the line. I will talk to him about this later.”

“We can’t attack anymore. Our casualties are way too high. That damned forest; we’ll never have enough bodies for that!”

Stirling sighed, his voice turned from angry to stern: “Wen He must be held responsible for his negligence. Tell him, he has been demoted, from Red Banner Master to Banner Master. He will however remain as the commanding officer of the third division. Warn him, if he messes up again, he can go report to the constables himself.”

Both Qin Lu and Tang Ping couldn’t help laughing: It was already the third time Wen He got demoted this week, and every time Stirling sounded seriously angry. Yet, every time he managed to find some excuse to promote him right back to his old position.

It wasn’t just Wen He, almost every officer knew, Stirling was strict but fair. When serving under his command, one could easily get promoted, but could very easily get demoted just the same. Stirling had a zero tolerance policy for failure. Almost all of the officers had to regularly check in with the Staff office first thing in the morning, asking: “Am I still a Banner Master today or Red banner Master?” or “What? I’m only a Banner Warrior now?! I was still a Deputy Commander just yesterday!”

Finally, Tang Ping found the opportunity to inform Stirling, the Acting Commander of the Black Banner Army – Ming Hui had arrived. He had been waiting for him at the Army Headquarter.

Stirling was overjoyed. Ming Hui’s arrival signalled the presence of the powerful Black Banner Army nearby. The soldiers of the Central Army would no longer have to fight without support and would finally have time to take a breather!”

……

Inside the simple and crude Headquarter held together by branches and sticks, two highest ranking officers in the Far Eastern Region met face to face.

Stirling saluted: “Greetings, Commander. As ordered, I’ve held the line.”

Ming Hui returned the courtesy: “Greetings, Commander. As ordered, I’m here to provide support.”

Ming Hui and his escort wore the identical deep blue uniform; their snow white gloves were spotless. In contrast to their polished black boots, the golden epaulettes on their shoulders shined brightly under the sun. Each of them looked well rested. On the other hand, Central Army Officer’s uniforms were more like filthy rags. Every one of them looked completely exhausted with their muddied bandages wrapped around their body. Some of the officers even came to the meeting stripped to their waist and having half of their foot exposed through their rotten boots. Even the highest ranking officer, Stirling wasn’t doing much better either. Covered in sludge from top to toe, he didn’t even have a hat on when he came to welcome the guests, which could be considered as an unacceptable behaviour for someone of his stature.

Black Banner Army officers exchanged a look amongst themselves, revealing their imperceptible intention to laugh. Was this what the most elite army of House ZiChuan looked like? They were hardly much better than a group of baggers.

Normally a high level meeting between two major armed forces was a very important and historical moment, but Ming Hui spoiled it t completely when he whined: “Stirling, don’t you guys in the Central Army eat? We’ve come a long way and we are tired. Not a single person has offered us anything to eat.”

Stirling smiled bitterly, apologizing: “I apologize on behalf of my men. Prepare dinner for Sir Ming and our other guests, now!”

Deputy Commander Qin Lu returned with a pained-look. He was in charge of the logistics, and his motto was:”You can take my life, but you can’t take my food!”

Seeing how determined Stirling sounded, he hurriedly gave the order: “Prepare the dinner!”

Freshly cooked rice was quickly prepared. Several Central Army officers immediately turned sideways, hiding their famished look from their guests… the alluring scent of the rice was too much for them to bear…

Ming Hui asked curiously: “Stirling, don’t you want to eat?”

Stirling explained: “I already ate with my men earlier, please pay me no mind.”

Ming Hui laughed: “I see, so even the great Stirling has learned how to cut corners. Indeed, the soldier’s meal is pretty good, but why isn’t there any meat? Stirling, you are being too stingy, hiding all the good stuff from us. I know you have it difficult here on the frontline, but it is not like I’m asking you for fresh steaks or fish or something, how about some cured pork meat at least?”

Stirling and his men looked at each other. In the end it was still Stirling who answered bitterly: “I’m sorry, I don’t have any. Once I catch some wild rabbits or boars tomorrow, I promise I will send some of them you way.”

Ming Hui was too hungry to argue. Despite his constant complains he still finished his meal in record time, all the while instructing Stirling: “If soldiers don’t eat well, then they won’t have the will to fight. That is why, when it comes to war, having the necessary provisions is the most important! Stirling, you have much to learn still!”

What he really meant was, he had tasted more salt than Stirling had tasted food. An inexperienced brat like him better not try to take the Far Eastern Front Commander position from him!

Standing on the side, all the Central Army officers looked angrily throughout the entire exchange. The Central Army had to depart abruptly from Di Du due to the urgency of the rising threat in the Far East. They were given no time to gather all the necessarily supplies before they had to set off for the battlefield. Not only that, they had to fight deep behind the enemy lines, exposing their supply lines to constant cut offs. On the other hand, not only did Ming Hui’s Black Banner Army purposely arrive later than supposed to, they constantly avoided any frontal engagement with the enemy forces while stripping every province they passed through of all its usable resources. Yet, he had the gall to mock them in front of their faces.

Central Army Staff Officer – Tang Ping finally lost his cool: “I have had the pleasure to read Sir Ming Hui’s incredible reports, killing seven million rebels in a week. I doubt anyone in the history of ZiChuan can outdo what you have accomplished, Sir!”

All the Central Army Officers barely kept themselves from laughing out loud. They despised Ming Hui and his fictitious reports. Apparently he had single-handedly killed all the rebels; we might as well all go home now!

Ming Hui wiped his mouth, uncaring: “Thank you. I’m just doing my duty as a servant of ZiChuan!” As if he couldn’t detect any hint of sarcasm in Tang Ping’s words.

Stirling gestured with his hand, stopping any of Tang Ping’s further attempts. He already had the honour to witness Sir Ming Hui’s “thick skins” in action when he took part in the campaign against Liu Feng Shuang back at the western border, and it was “thicker” than Stirling’s, ZiChuan Xiu’s and Di Lin’s combined. Mocking him would be like trying to poke a hole in a set of metal armor with a bundle of hay, it wouldn’t even tickle. Otherwise, Ming Hui would never have run as fast as he did whenever he saw Liu Feng Shuang’s Army.

After the dinner, the meeting officially began.

Stirling explained the situation of the Central Army to Ming Hui: “The Central Army left the Capital with a force of hundred fifty thousand, of which fifty thousand were Cavalries and hundred thousand were Infantries. After the battle at Fort Warren, the Great Race of the Far East, and the defensive operations around the Forest area of Yun… We have suffered over forty thousand casualties, most of which were Cavalries. From the initial fifty thousand Cavalries, we barely have twenty thousand left. We have also run out of spare horses, in other words we have lost most of our mobility. The soldiers are tired and sickness is common. Therefore, I request the Black Banner Army to take over Central Army’s defence line for the mean time and let us recuperate.”

Ming Hui listened attentively while holding his chin. He cleared his throat and said: “About that… It’s problematic! Sir Stirling. As you know, my Black Banner Army is originally the reserve force guarding the border to House Lin. None of our soldiers have any real combat experience. I’m afraid they won’t be able to hold the lines. Besides, we came a long way; we need time to recuperate too! Also, none of us are native in the Far East. Many of us haven’t yet acclimatized to the region. Many of my men are sick, greatly affecting our battle capacity. In addition, we have lost our supply of fresh fruits recently. Everyone has been complaining…”

Listening to Ming Hui’s long list of excuses, Stirling was about to burst: Black Banner Army hasn’t acclimatized; is everyone from the Central Army born in the Far East then? Over half of my men are suffering from dysentery! You have run out of fruit supplies; all we have are wild vegetables. You claim none of you have any combat experiences, is everyone in the central army naturally born accustomed to war? Not to mention, it is a lie anyway. Black Banner Army already took part several times in the battles against House Liu Feng!

Stirling managed to suppress his anger, asking: “Since the High Command’s order was for your army to support ours, what kind of support does the Black Banner Army wish to provide?”

‘Well, my advisors already proposed a plan to me before I got here, and I believe it is a good plan! Someone bring me the maps!”

Ming Hui began to draw on the map: “Here is the forest area leading to Yun. The bulk of the rebel forces are concentrated within. The blue line represents your current defensive positions. We plan to deploy around the line marked in red to support the Central Army in your efforts and wipe out the rebels together!”

Stirling was this close to completely losing it: The red line Ming Hui just drew for the Black Banner Army positions were almost entirely behind the blue line of Central Army’s current defensive positions. He sounded sincere when he said: “wipe out the rebels together.” In reality he fully intended to hide behind the Central Army to preserve his strength.

Stirling quickly got hold of his temper. In the end, Ming Hui was not under his direct command. He didn’t have the authority to give him any orders. The best he could do was going through the High Command or Headmaster – ZiChuan Shen Xing to give him an order indirectly. Unfortunately he found himself in a place thousands of kilometers from Di Du, sending a message and receiving it would take weeks. Besides, he couldn’t be certain if the High Command or ZiChuan Shen Xing would approve his suggestion. Even if they did send out the new order, Ming Hui could voice his protest, telling his side of the story. They were both members of High Command; it was within their rights to do so. With messages going back and forth, who knew how long it would take for the case to finally be settled.

But the situation in the Central Army couldn’t wait; they really needed time off the frontline. Every day was like years and every day they would lose hundreds of soldiers to hunger, sickness or any other non-combat related issues. Instead of saying they could still keep fighting, it was probably more accurate to say they could still get out of bed. All of his men were about to become walking corpses at this point.

Stirling had no choice but to put up his best manners when talking to Ming Hui, but no matter how passionate or how hard he tried to reason, to promise or to plead. Ming Hui would still remain the old slippery fox that he was, responding to every request the exact same way: “About that… It’s problematic!”

Stirling seemed to have lost all of his confidence, he even let an unthinkable thought cross his mind: He considered to wait until Ming Hui’s forces has settled in, then take his men and move under the cover of the night, never to return, leaving Ming Hui to deal with the Rebel Army on his own. But then again, he knew he would never do something like that. If that bastard Ming Hui followed his example and left as well, who would be left to defend the forest? It had cost him dearly to pacify the few surrounding provinces, if the Rebel Army was allowed to spread through the Far East again, who could bear the responsibility?

Unknowingly, the night had dawned on them. Ming Hui got up and took his leave: “It’s late. Let’s continue our conversation another time. I need to get back.”

Stirling ran out of ideas. He couldn’t possibly hold him hostage, can he? All he could do was leaving a group of Central Army Officers and their troubled looks behind.

Stirling forced himself to sound confident, instructing: “It is all right. The war goes on with or without the Black Banner Army. We still got a dinner to eat.”

The orderly brought everyone their “dinner”. A big pot of wild vegetable soup so thin one could see their own reflection on the surface of the liquid. Normally there was a bit more substance to their wild vegetable soup, but they had already gone through today’s allotment of ration when they made the dinner for Ming Hui and his escorts. So that was all they had left.

Stirling poured a bowl of watery soup, with barely any vegetable in it. He smiled bitterly and reminded himself: The key to drink wild vegetable soup is to drink as much as you can, until you are so full you can’t drink another drop, and hold your pee for as long as you can because the hunger will quickly return once you do.

While everyone worriedly consumed their meal, Ming Hui’s joyous voice sounded from the entrance: “Aha, Stirling, you terrible liar! Keeping all the good stuff for yourself again only to take them out when after I’m already gone! Luckily, I caught you red-handed this time! I want some of that too.” It was too dark for the Black Banner Army officers to find their way back, and so they had to return to the Central Army’s base camp, planning to stay for the night.

Ming Hui looked curiously over Stirling’s shoulder before he could cover everything up: “Let’s see, so what have you been hiding from me?”

Just one look, Ming Hui’s face turned sour: “That is all you got?”

Stirling was too embarrassed to speak. Tang Ping muttered a few words under his breath: “If not this, what else? You ate everything we got for today.”

Ming Hui held his silence for a moment, finally opening his mouth: “Give me a bowl.” He poured himself some of the soup, but it took him only one sip, before the sickening expression found its way to his face. He pushed the bowl to the side and stared at Stirling: “How long has it been?”

Knowing he could no longer hide it from him, Stirling answered truthfully: “Two weeks. We haven’t received any supplies for a while now.”

Ming Hui’s looked very intense. He couldn’t believe the slick and political savvy officer from moment earlier was the same person standing in front of him: “Why didn’t you report?” hurriedly correcting himself, he added: “Who did this? Luo Ming Hai? Why don’t you file an impeachment?”

Ming Hui already knew the answer. It was Luo Ming Hai being jealous of Stirling’s accomplishments in war. He was afraid of Stirling surpassing him and overtaking his position. He did this on purpose to hamper Stirling’s efforts.

Stirling answered honestly: “I have no proof of such, and anything that can lead to potential troubles for the Headmaster, is a fault of mine.” He didn’t want to fight Luo Ming Hai as well while the House was already in peril.

Ming Hui pondered for a long while, then speaking slowly: “Stirling. You are a good man! But I’m not a coward! I won’t make any promises, but two weeks, my Black Banner Army can managed that much at least! Tell you men to fall back.”

Stirling was delighted. He gave Ming Hui a deep bow: “On behalf of everyone from the Central Army, we are incredibly grateful to you, Sir Ming Hui. I’ll be in you debt!”

Three days later, the Black Banner Army had overtaken the defensive position to replace the Central Army. Over hundred thousand soldiers from the Central Army, since the war in the Far East first began, were finally allowed to take a breath of fresh air as they retreated to the province of Deja nearby.