Chapter 414
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Chapter 414
Though Yan first saw them on the horizon two days past, the newly constructed gates of SuiHua were even more impressive from up close. Chest swelling with pride, she took in the surroundings and marvelled at all the changes while waiting in line to speak with the guards. When she first saw SuiHua in the spring three months ago, it was a sleepy little harbour bursting at the seams with ships, soldiers, and supplies. Now, summer was upon them, the year was half over, and the bustling town had transformed into a burgeoning border fortress, one still under construction but with much of the groundwork already laid out. Stone blocks, iron rods, bags of lime and more sat in scattered piles up and down the developing wall while thousands of workers toiled beneath the hot afternoon sun. Each one played a part in this monumental construction project and the fruits of their labour could readily be seen in the several kilometres of grey granite wall, all in various stages of completion. Starting at the shoreline and extending southwards into the grassy plains, the completed sections of wall stood ten meters high, not an insurmountable height, but were decent enough defence against leaping garos and Defiled infantry.
Off in the distance, Yan spotted the half-built base of a bell tower. As construction on the wall continued, it would soon reach the bell-tower and proceed further south to connect with another bell tower or fortress cropping up along the border. Eventually, this would form a single, unbroken barrier and warning system spanning over a thousand kilometres from Azure Sea to Arid Waste. The Empires first (and likely the last) line of defence against a united Defiled army, it was to be a massive undertaking which Yan assumed would take decades to complete, if not centuries. However, if SuiHuas speedy progress was typical, then this historic effort might be completed by years end, a staggering accomplishment in Yans admittedly uneducated eyes.
She knew next to nothing about building fortifications. How many resources had this project consumed and how much more had yet to be spent? An Emperors ransom no doubt, a debt shouldered by the Eastern province as a sign of their goodwill and solidarity. When the pretty-boy Legate made his announcement during the Grand Conference a few months back, Yan had scoffed and muttered something about how theyd be better off if the Emperor dispatched more Death Corps Legions and Royal Guardians instead. In response, Grandpa had scolded her for being short sighted, and now that Yan had seen the power one could wield through coin, she wholeheartedly agreed.
Luckily, her future husband and sister-wives were all wealthy or poised to become wealthy...
When she reached the front of the line, Yan presented her token and papers to the guard for inspection. Warrant Officer Du Min Yan, here in SuiHua for rest and resupply. I have forty-three soldiers who require lodging. Less than half her full complement had survived their latest outing, and shed left almost four times their number behind in the fields of Sinuji. Shed had plenty of time to mull over her results during the five-day journey from the front lines to SuiHua, and she didnt like what she concluded. Shed spent sixty days fighting on the front lines, took part in four patrols, a shit-tonne of skirmishes, and lost one-hundred and sixty-two soldiers, losing almost three soldiers a day on average. Not a record to be proud of, but evidently, it was the best she could do.
Inadequacy was hard to accept, but Yan couldnt argue against cold, hard facts.
Citys full. Lodgings are for officers and grievously wounded only. Your soldiers can camp out on the plains with the slaves and labourers. The guards callous disregard ignited Yans ire and her regret and self-pity melted away in a blaze of fury. Blanching at her dark scowl, the guard handed her an entry pass and stammered, Humble a-apologies Officer Du, b-but my orders come from the Marshal herself. Nothing I er, this one c-can do.
This is fucking bullshit. Snatching her entry pass out of the guards shaking hand, Yan stormed off to share the bad news with her retinue. Making no effort to hide her displeasure, she grumbled, My people fought and bled on the front lines, endured hardship, lost comrades, and this is the thanks we get? Cant even get a roof to sleep under, I shudder to think what theyll feed us.The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))
A few nights on the plains is but a minor inconvenience. Blunt and to the point as always, Kyung followed closely on Yans heels and all but pushed her along. Make haste and inform them of the situation so we can be on our way. There could be a message from Master waiting inside.
Having long since grown accustomed to his abrasive attitude and complete lack of deference, Yan let the matter slide. A handsome and mature man, the stony-faced Expert wasnt much like a typical Central slave, an outspoken warrior who didnt hide the brash arrogance engraved in his bones. Grandpa blamed it on the half-cats wild blood, but Yan figured it was something else. It wasnt that he couldnt be respectful, Kyung merely didnt respect anyone who wasnt Du Min Gyu. He treated Grandpas instructions like divine mandates from Heaven, while every task she asked of him was done grudgingly with a scoff. She didnt take it personally, because to him, even the Emperor was an insignificant bystander who should kneel at Grandpas feet, and Yan ranked even lower still. Although she held his chain and could command him with impunity, in his heart, Kyung only had one Master and everyone else was unworthy.
Grandpa and Kyung had such a cute dynamic together, more like a stern, overbearing father and his doting, deferential son. Such a shame Grandpa didnt see it the same way or share the Peoples view of slavery. While he would never mistreat a slave, Grandpa didnt pay them much mind either. In his eyes, a slave was property and he took care of them much like one would take care of a tea set or saddle. Yan hoped to change his attitude for the better, but like everyone else his age, Grandpa was stubborn and set in his ways.
Yans retinue took the bad news better than she wouldve. Stroking his elaborate moustache, Sutah shrugged and asked, Camp here?
Wherever you think is best.
Hoarding his words like precious gold, Sutah saluted and set off to work. After their encounter during the disastrous Captains contest, Yan thought theyd never meet again. Imagine her surprise when the burly, moustached southerner arrived in SuiHua with her second wave of reinforcements. From what she pieced together through his single word replies, the tight-lipped former Captain had offended his superior by refusing to forfeit against and subsequently defeating said superiors relative during the Captains contest. As retribution, Sutahs superior left him in Nan Ping to oversee the distribution of small clothes, a duty Sutah eloquently derided as womens work. Then, whilst drunk and considering ritual self-incineration to reclaim his honour (Yan didnt ask), he heard about her disastrous first mission in which she led her retinue headlong into an ambush of three hundred plus Defiled and lost almost half her force fighting them off. Luckily for her, by the time the news arrived in Nan Ping, the story had been told and retold so many times, her foolish blunder had been twisted into a stunning victory. This, along with the impression shed made during their brief time together in the Contest, convinced the taciturn warrior to request a demotion and reassignment to Yans retinue.
A Heaven sent blessing if there ever was one. Yan was an incompetent buffoon of a commander and Sutah was capable and experienced enough to pick up the slack.
Sorry. Id hoped for better conditions, but the orders come from up high. Even though shed been looking forward to sleeping in a nice, comfortable bed, Yan stifled a sigh and said, Have someone pitch my tent. Ill return to camp before nightfall. A leader must share in weal and in woe, meaning that if her soldiers suffered, then she should suffer too.
Nah. Shooing her away with a wave of his hand, Sutah continued, Benefits of rank. Take advantage. Rest well.
Cuddling the affectionate pup, Yan listened and laughed along with Lins narrative and forgot about all her worries and regrets for a few short hours. In the middle of tea and snacks provided by the accommodating Death Corps, Yan steered their conversation to Rain. Do you know when hell be back? Yan asked, praying the answer would be soon. Though she wished it were otherwise, theyd been stationed at different zones and working on different timetables. While he defended Sinuji, she would be off on patrol, and vice versa.
Mother in Heaven, why must you tease your children so? They shared one, incredible night together and had been separated ever since. The worst part was, Yan couldnt even fantasize about sating her needs with another man, and imagining Rain only made her that much lonelier...
Raising her arms in an exaggerated shrug, Lin replied, He keeps writing he hopes to come back soon, but in his latest letter, he said he thinks the commander hates him or something.
You mean Colonel Hongji is denying his request for reprieve? If so, then it was an abuse of power and he had a rude awakening before him. An unaffiliated Colonel dared to keep Yan from reuniting with her lover? As Grandpa had recently started saying, this was simply seeking death.
Hang on. Running inside for a moment, Lin returned with a sheaf of documents and shifted through them before holding one up for Yan to see, the barely legible scribbles a sure sign it was written by Rains hand. See? It says, Commander Hongji seems friendly, but he works my retinue hard. We are sorely in need of a break but I may have offended him somehow as he has yet to provide us with one. I hope to visit soon, but I dont know when he intends to schedule our reprieve. Thats what hubby wrote, so I dunno.
...That idiot. No wonder he hasnt had a leave of absence yet. Re-reading the passage with a wry grin, Yan rolled her eyes and shook her head. Hes waiting for Commander Hongji to schedule them a reprieve, but thats not how it works. Rain needs to put in a request, which Im sure will be approved.
...Hubby is a big dummy. Thoroughly angered, Lin puffed her cheeks in a childish pout and tossed the rest of the documents down for Yans perusal. You know whats the worst? He writes a letter every week, but he never talks about anything important. He just drones on and on about something stupid like he feels obligated to fill the page. Slumping her shoulders and pretending to sulk, Lin gave her best impression of Rain speaking slowly, as if hed taken a head-injury. Pong Pong loves shrimp, but when the shrimp arrives, its almost spoiled. Can you send more shrimp? Faster too. A faster delivery, not faster shrimp, because that would be silly. Can we get ice in Central? Frozen shrimp might last longer. Also, please look into dried shrimp and see if this is a feasible option, as well as any other shrimp preserving methods you can think of. Pong Pong really loves shrimp, so I need a way to provide him with more shrimp. Crossing her arms, Lin crinkled her nose and huffed, too angry at Rain to continue with the mockery. Stupid Rainy. Stupid Pong Pong. Luo-Luo! Why didnt you say anything?
Apologies Lin-Lin, but this one has little experience in military matters.
Write hubby a letter and tell him what Yan said! If he doesnt come back soon, Im gonna eat all his stupid rabbits. Pointing angrily at Luo-Luo, Lin barked, Dont write that last part!
Doubled over with tears streaking down her face, Yan gasped for breath and silently begged Lin to stop, her stomach cramping and lungs burning from laughing too hard. It wasnt just Lins spot on impression or uncharacteristic anger, or even how she bullied the concubine like a stereotypical evil wife. What she found most comical was that Lin wasnt even exaggerating, but repeating a passage Rain wrote word for word. Communication had always been Rains biggest problem, right above his trust issues and inability to read social cues, but the problem seemed so much worse in writing.
When she finally got her laughter under control, Yan felt like a weight had been lifted off her chest. This was what she needed, an afternoon of relaxation and cathartic release. So she wasnt Officer material and would never command an army of thousands. It wasnt important. She was Du Min Yan, grand-daughter and terminal Disciple of Du Min Gyu, betrothed to the love of her life, Falling Rain, and sister-wife of Lin and Mila.
...Zheng Luo too, but as a concubine, she barely counted. Lin was already bullying her, so Yan had no qualms against joining in.
Aside from this wonderful life, Yan also had her Martial skills which had won her the title of third strongest young talent in the Empire, losing only to Wu Gam and her beloved husband-to-be. With her skills, her options were limitless. She could have her pick of Officers to serve under, whether it be her childhood hero Akanai, her former idol and future father-in-law Baatar, or if needed, she could even join Grandpa and learn at his side. Better yet, she could join Rains retinue and they could learn the ins and outs of command together. As evidenced by his misunderstanding, Rain had just as many gaps in his knowledge as Yan did, except his issues were largely social in nature. It would be so romantic fighting side by side, just like they used to when they were younger, but this time as comrades in arms on the battlefield and lovers in the bedroll, their days filled with glory and nights filled with pleasure.
...
Perhaps itd be better if she stayed with Grandpa. If Yan and Rain served together, then neither one of them would ever get a wink of sleep. Regardless, Rain had best return, and soon. Having tasted the sorrows of separation during these long weeks apart, Yan yearned to see his smile and feel his touch again, raving like a silly, sappy, love-struck maiden straight out of one of her favourite novels.
Not only that, but she was curious to know what he could do with all his limbs intact...
Chapter Meme
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Chapter 414
Though Yan first saw them on the horizon two days past, the newly constructed gates of SuiHua were even more impressive from up close. Chest swelling with pride, she took in the surroundings and marvelled at all the changes while waiting in line to speak with the guards. When she first saw SuiHua in the spring three months ago, it was a sleepy little harbour bursting at the seams with ships, soldiers, and supplies. Now, summer was upon them, the year was half over, and the bustling town had transformed into a burgeoning border fortress, one still under construction but with much of the groundwork already laid out. Stone blocks, iron rods, bags of lime and more sat in scattered piles up and down the developing wall while thousands of workers toiled beneath the hot afternoon sun. Each one played a part in this monumental construction project and the fruits of their labour could readily be seen in the several kilometres of grey granite wall, all in various stages of completion. Starting at the shoreline and extending southwards into the grassy plains, the completed sections of wall stood ten meters high, not an insurmountable height, but were decent enough defence against leaping garos and Defiled infantry.
Off in the distance, Yan spotted the half-built base of a bell tower. As construction on the wall continued, it would soon reach the bell-tower and proceed further south to connect with another bell tower or fortress cropping up along the border. Eventually, this would form a single, unbroken barrier and warning system spanning over a thousand kilometres from Azure Sea to Arid Waste. The Empires first (and likely the last) line of defence against a united Defiled army, it was to be a massive undertaking which Yan assumed would take decades to complete, if not centuries. However, if SuiHuas speedy progress was typical, then this historic effort might be completed by years end, a staggering accomplishment in Yans admittedly uneducated eyes.
She knew next to nothing about building fortifications. How many resources had this project consumed and how much more had yet to be spent? An Emperors ransom no doubt, a debt shouldered by the Eastern province as a sign of their goodwill and solidarity. When the pretty-boy Legate made his announcement during the Grand Conference a few months back, Yan had scoffed and muttered something about how theyd be better off if the Emperor dispatched more Death Corps Legions and Royal Guardians instead. In response, Grandpa had scolded her for being short sighted, and now that Yan had seen the power one could wield through coin, she wholeheartedly agreed.
Luckily, her future husband and sister-wives were all wealthy or poised to become wealthy...
When she reached the front of the line, Yan presented her token and papers to the guard for inspection. Warrant Officer Du Min Yan, here in SuiHua for rest and resupply. I have forty-three soldiers who require lodging. Less than half her full complement had survived their latest outing, and shed left almost four times their number behind in the fields of Sinuji. Shed had plenty of time to mull over her results during the five-day journey from the front lines to SuiHua, and she didnt like what she concluded. Shed spent sixty days fighting on the front lines, took part in four patrols, a shit-tonne of skirmishes, and lost one-hundred and sixty-two soldiers, losing almost three soldiers a day on average. Not a record to be proud of, but evidently, it was the best she could do.
Inadequacy was hard to accept, but Yan couldnt argue against cold, hard facts.
Citys full. Lodgings are for officers and grievously wounded only. Your soldiers can camp out on the plains with the slaves and labourers. The guards callous disregard ignited Yans ire and her regret and self-pity melted away in a blaze of fury. Blanching at her dark scowl, the guard handed her an entry pass and stammered, Humble a-apologies Officer Du, b-but my orders come from the Marshal herself. Nothing I er, this one c-can do.
This is fucking bullshit. Snatching her entry pass out of the guards shaking hand, Yan stormed off to share the bad news with her retinue. Making no effort to hide her displeasure, she grumbled, My people fought and bled on the front lines, endured hardship, lost comrades, and this is the thanks we get? Cant even get a roof to sleep under, I shudder to think what theyll feed us.The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))
A few nights on the plains is but a minor inconvenience. Blunt and to the point as always, Kyung followed closely on Yans heels and all but pushed her along. Make haste and inform them of the situation so we can be on our way. There could be a message from Master waiting inside.
Having long since grown accustomed to his abrasive attitude and complete lack of deference, Yan let the matter slide. A handsome and mature man, the stony-faced Expert wasnt much like a typical Central slave, an outspoken warrior who didnt hide the brash arrogance engraved in his bones. Grandpa blamed it on the half-cats wild blood, but Yan figured it was something else. It wasnt that he couldnt be respectful, Kyung merely didnt respect anyone who wasnt Du Min Gyu. He treated Grandpas instructions like divine mandates from Heaven, while every task she asked of him was done grudgingly with a scoff. She didnt take it personally, because to him, even the Emperor was an insignificant bystander who should kneel at Grandpas feet, and Yan ranked even lower still. Although she held his chain and could command him with impunity, in his heart, Kyung only had one Master and everyone else was unworthy.
Grandpa and Kyung had such a cute dynamic together, more like a stern, overbearing father and his doting, deferential son. Such a shame Grandpa didnt see it the same way or share the Peoples view of slavery. While he would never mistreat a slave, Grandpa didnt pay them much mind either. In his eyes, a slave was property and he took care of them much like one would take care of a tea set or saddle. Yan hoped to change his attitude for the better, but like everyone else his age, Grandpa was stubborn and set in his ways.
Yans retinue took the bad news better than she wouldve. Stroking his elaborate moustache, Sutah shrugged and asked, Camp here?
Wherever you think is best.
Hoarding his words like precious gold, Sutah saluted and set off to work. After their encounter during the disastrous Captains contest, Yan thought theyd never meet again. Imagine her surprise when the burly, moustached southerner arrived in SuiHua with her second wave of reinforcements. From what she pieced together through his single word replies, the tight-lipped former Captain had offended his superior by refusing to forfeit against and subsequently defeating said superiors relative during the Captains contest. As retribution, Sutahs superior left him in Nan Ping to oversee the distribution of small clothes, a duty Sutah eloquently derided as womens work. Then, whilst drunk and considering ritual self-incineration to reclaim his honour (Yan didnt ask), he heard about her disastrous first mission in which she led her retinue headlong into an ambush of three hundred plus Defiled and lost almost half her force fighting them off. Luckily for her, by the time the news arrived in Nan Ping, the story had been told and retold so many times, her foolish blunder had been twisted into a stunning victory. This, along with the impression shed made during their brief time together in the Contest, convinced the taciturn warrior to request a demotion and reassignment to Yans retinue.
A Heaven sent blessing if there ever was one. Yan was an incompetent buffoon of a commander and Sutah was capable and experienced enough to pick up the slack.
Sorry. Id hoped for better conditions, but the orders come from up high. Even though shed been looking forward to sleeping in a nice, comfortable bed, Yan stifled a sigh and said, Have someone pitch my tent. Ill return to camp before nightfall. A leader must share in weal and in woe, meaning that if her soldiers suffered, then she should suffer too.
Nah. Shooing her away with a wave of his hand, Sutah continued, Benefits of rank. Take advantage. Rest well.
Cuddling the affectionate pup, Yan listened and laughed along with Lins narrative and forgot about all her worries and regrets for a few short hours. In the middle of tea and snacks provided by the accommodating Death Corps, Yan steered their conversation to Rain. Do you know when hell be back? Yan asked, praying the answer would be soon. Though she wished it were otherwise, theyd been stationed at different zones and working on different timetables. While he defended Sinuji, she would be off on patrol, and vice versa.
Mother in Heaven, why must you tease your children so? They shared one, incredible night together and had been separated ever since. The worst part was, Yan couldnt even fantasize about sating her needs with another man, and imagining Rain only made her that much lonelier...
Raising her arms in an exaggerated shrug, Lin replied, He keeps writing he hopes to come back soon, but in his latest letter, he said he thinks the commander hates him or something.
You mean Colonel Hongji is denying his request for reprieve? If so, then it was an abuse of power and he had a rude awakening before him. An unaffiliated Colonel dared to keep Yan from reuniting with her lover? As Grandpa had recently started saying, this was simply seeking death.
Hang on. Running inside for a moment, Lin returned with a sheaf of documents and shifted through them before holding one up for Yan to see, the barely legible scribbles a sure sign it was written by Rains hand. See? It says, Commander Hongji seems friendly, but he works my retinue hard. We are sorely in need of a break but I may have offended him somehow as he has yet to provide us with one. I hope to visit soon, but I dont know when he intends to schedule our reprieve. Thats what hubby wrote, so I dunno.
...That idiot. No wonder he hasnt had a leave of absence yet. Re-reading the passage with a wry grin, Yan rolled her eyes and shook her head. Hes waiting for Commander Hongji to schedule them a reprieve, but thats not how it works. Rain needs to put in a request, which Im sure will be approved.
...Hubby is a big dummy. Thoroughly angered, Lin puffed her cheeks in a childish pout and tossed the rest of the documents down for Yans perusal. You know whats the worst? He writes a letter every week, but he never talks about anything important. He just drones on and on about something stupid like he feels obligated to fill the page. Slumping her shoulders and pretending to sulk, Lin gave her best impression of Rain speaking slowly, as if hed taken a head-injury. Pong Pong loves shrimp, but when the shrimp arrives, its almost spoiled. Can you send more shrimp? Faster too. A faster delivery, not faster shrimp, because that would be silly. Can we get ice in Central? Frozen shrimp might last longer. Also, please look into dried shrimp and see if this is a feasible option, as well as any other shrimp preserving methods you can think of. Pong Pong really loves shrimp, so I need a way to provide him with more shrimp. Crossing her arms, Lin crinkled her nose and huffed, too angry at Rain to continue with the mockery. Stupid Rainy. Stupid Pong Pong. Luo-Luo! Why didnt you say anything?
Apologies Lin-Lin, but this one has little experience in military matters.
Write hubby a letter and tell him what Yan said! If he doesnt come back soon, Im gonna eat all his stupid rabbits. Pointing angrily at Luo-Luo, Lin barked, Dont write that last part!
Doubled over with tears streaking down her face, Yan gasped for breath and silently begged Lin to stop, her stomach cramping and lungs burning from laughing too hard. It wasnt just Lins spot on impression or uncharacteristic anger, or even how she bullied the concubine like a stereotypical evil wife. What she found most comical was that Lin wasnt even exaggerating, but repeating a passage Rain wrote word for word. Communication had always been Rains biggest problem, right above his trust issues and inability to read social cues, but the problem seemed so much worse in writing.
When she finally got her laughter under control, Yan felt like a weight had been lifted off her chest. This was what she needed, an afternoon of relaxation and cathartic release. So she wasnt Officer material and would never command an army of thousands. It wasnt important. She was Du Min Yan, grand-daughter and terminal Disciple of Du Min Gyu, betrothed to the love of her life, Falling Rain, and sister-wife of Lin and Mila.
...Zheng Luo too, but as a concubine, she barely counted. Lin was already bullying her, so Yan had no qualms against joining in.
Aside from this wonderful life, Yan also had her Martial skills which had won her the title of third strongest young talent in the Empire, losing only to Wu Gam and her beloved husband-to-be. With her skills, her options were limitless. She could have her pick of Officers to serve under, whether it be her childhood hero Akanai, her former idol and future father-in-law Baatar, or if needed, she could even join Grandpa and learn at his side. Better yet, she could join Rains retinue and they could learn the ins and outs of command together. As evidenced by his misunderstanding, Rain had just as many gaps in his knowledge as Yan did, except his issues were largely social in nature. It would be so romantic fighting side by side, just like they used to when they were younger, but this time as comrades in arms on the battlefield and lovers in the bedroll, their days filled with glory and nights filled with pleasure.
...
Perhaps itd be better if she stayed with Grandpa. If Yan and Rain served together, then neither one of them would ever get a wink of sleep. Regardless, Rain had best return, and soon. Having tasted the sorrows of separation during these long weeks apart, Yan yearned to see his smile and feel his touch again, raving like a silly, sappy, love-struck maiden straight out of one of her favourite novels.
Not only that, but she was curious to know what he could do with all his limbs intact...
Chapter Meme
Chapter 414Though Yan first saw them on the horizon two days past, the newly constructed gates of SuiHua were even more impressive from up close. Chest swelling with pride, she took in the surroundings and marvelled at all the changes while waiting in line to speak with the guards. When she first saw SuiHua in the spring three months ago, it was a sleepy little harbour bursting at the seams with ships, soldiers, and supplies. Now, summer was upon them, the year was half over, and the bustling town had transformed into a burgeoning border fortress, one still under construction but with much of the groundwork already laid out. Stone blocks, iron rods, bags of lime and more sat in scattered piles up and down the developing wall while thousands of workers toiled beneath the hot afternoon sun. Each one played a part in this monumental construction project and the fruits of their labour could readily be seen in the several kilometres of grey granite wall, all in various stages of completion. Starting at the shoreline and extending southwards into the grassy plains, the completed sections of wall stood ten meters high, not an insurmountable height, but were decent enough defence against leaping garos and Defiled infantry.Off in the distance, Yan spotted the half-built base of a bell tower. As construction on the wall continued, it would soon reach the bell-tower and proceed further south to connect with another bell tower or fortress cropping up along the border. Eventually, this would form a single, unbroken barrier and warning system spanning over a thousand kilometres from Azure Sea to Arid Waste. The Empires first and likely the last line of defence against a united Defiled army, it was to be a massive undertaking which Yan assumed would take decades to complete, if not centuries. However, if SuiHuas speedy progress was typical, then this historic effort might be completed by years end, a staggering accomplishment in Yans admittedly uneducated eyes.She knew next to nothing about building fortifications. How many resources had this project consumed and how much more had yet to be spent? An Emperors ransom no doubt, a debt shouldered by the Eastern province as a sign of their goodwill and solidarity. When the pretty-boy Legate made his announcement during the Grand Conference a few months back, Yan had scoffed and muttered something about how theyd be better off if the Emperor dispatched more Death Corps Legions and Royal Guardians instead. In response, Grandpa had scolded her for being short sighted, and now that Yan had seen the power one could wield through coin, she wholeheartedly agreed.Luckily, her future husband and sister-wives were all wealthy or poised to become wealthy...When she reached the front of the line, Yan presented her token and papers to the guard for inspection. Warrant Officer Du Min Yan, here in SuiHua for rest and resupply. I have forty-three soldiers who require lodging. Less than half her full complement had survived their latest outing, and shed left almost four times their number behind in the fields of Sinuji. Shed had plenty of time to mull over her results during the five-day journey from the front lines to SuiHua, and she didnt like what she concluded. Shed spent sixty days fighting on the front lines, took part in four patrols, a shit-tonne of skirmishes, and lost one-hundred and sixty-two soldiers, losing almost three soldiers a day on average. Not a record to be proud of, but evidently, it was the best she could do.Inadequacy was hard to accept, but Yan couldnt argue against cold, hard facts.Citys full. Lodgings are for officers and grievously wounded only. Your soldiers can camp out on the plains with the slaves and labourers. The guards callous disregard ignited Yans ire and her regret and self-pity melted away in a blaze of fury. Blanching at her dark scowl, the guard handed her an entry pass and stammered, Humble a-apologies Officer Du, b-but my orders come from the Marshal herself. Nothing I er, this one c-can do.This is fucking bullshit. Snatching her entry pass out of the guards shaking hand, Yan stormed off to share the bad news with her retinue. Making no effort to hide her displeasure, she grumbled, My people fought and bled on the front lines, endured hardship, lost comrades, and this is the thanks we get? Cant even get a roof to sleep under, I shudder to think what theyll feed us.The source of this content novelbinA few nights on the plains is but a minor inconvenience. Blunt and to the point as always, Kyung followed closely on Yans heels and all but pushed her along. Make haste and inform them of the situation so we can be on our way. There could be a message from Master waiting inside.Having long since grown accustomed to his abrasive attitude and complete lack of deference, Yan let the matter slide. A handsome and mature man, the stony-faced Expert wasnt much like a typical Central slave, an outspoken warrior who didnt hide the brash arrogance engraved in his bones. Grandpa blamed it on the half-cats wild blood, but Yan figured it was something else. It wasnt that he couldnt be respectful, Kyung merely didnt respect anyone who wasnt Du Min Gyu. He treated Grandpas instructions like divine mandates from Heaven, while every task she asked of him was done grudgingly with a scoff. She didnt take it personally, because to him, even the Emperor was an insignificant bystander who should kneel at Grandpas feet, and Yan ranked even lower still. Although she held his chain and could command him with impunity, in his heart, Kyung only had one Master and everyone else was unworthy.Grandpa and Kyung had such a cute dynamic together, more like a stern, overbearing father and his doting, deferential son. Such a shame Grandpa didnt see it the same way or share the Peoples view of slavery. While he would never mistreat a slave, Grandpa didnt pay them much mind either. In his eyes, a slave was property and he took care of them much like one would take care of a tea set or saddle. Yan hoped to change his attitude for the better, but like everyone else his age, Grandpa was stubborn and set in his ways.Yans retinue took the bad news better than she wouldve. Stroking his elaborate moustache, Sutah shrugged and asked, Camp here?Wherever you think is best.Hoarding his words like precious gold, Sutah saluted and set off to work. After their encounter during the disastrous Captains contest, Yan thought theyd never meet again. Imagine her surprise when the burly, moustached southerner arrived in SuiHua with her second wave of reinforcements. From what she pieced together through his single word replies, the tight-lipped former Captain had offended his superior by refusing to forfeit against and subsequently defeating said superiors relative during the Captains contest. As retribution, Sutahs superior left him in Nan Ping to oversee the distribution of small clothes, a duty Sutah eloquently derided as womens work. Then, whilst drunk and considering ritual self-incineration to reclaim his honour Yan didnt ask, he heard about her disastrous first mission in which she led her retinue headlong into an ambush of three hundred plus Defiled and lost almost half her force fighting them off. Luckily for her, by the time the news arrived in Nan Ping, the story had been told and retold so many times, her foolish blunder had been twisted into a stunning victory. This, along with the impression shed made during their brief time together in the Contest, convinced the taciturn warrior to request a demotion and reassignment to Yans retinue.A Heaven sent blessing if there ever was one. Yan was an incompetent buffoon of a commander and Sutah was capable and experienced enough to pick up the slack.Sorry. Id hoped for better conditions, but the orders come from up high. Even though shed been looking forward to sleeping in a nice, comfortable bed, Yan stifled a sigh and said, Have someone pitch my tent. Ill return to camp before nightfall. A leader must share in weal and in woe, meaning that if her soldiers suffered, then she should suffer too.Nah. Shooing her away with a wave of his hand, Sutah continued, Benefits of rank. Take advantage. Rest well.Cuddling the affectionate pup, Yan listened and laughed along with Lins narrative and forgot about all her worries and regrets for a few short hours. In the middle of tea and snacks provided by the accommodating Death Corps, Yan steered their conversation to Rain. Do you know when hell be back? Yan asked, praying the answer would be soon. Though she wished it were otherwise, theyd been stationed at different zones and working on different timetables. While he defended Sinuji, she would be off on patrol, and vice versa.Mother in Heaven, why must you tease your children so? They shared one, incredible night together and had been separated ever since. The worst part was, Yan couldnt even fantasize about sating her needs with another man, and imagining Rain only made her that much lonelier...Raising her arms in an exaggerated shrug, Lin replied, He keeps writing he hopes to come back soon, but in his latest letter, he said he thinks the commander hates him or something.You mean Colonel Hongji is denying his request for reprieve? If so, then it was an abuse of power and he had a rude awakening before him. An unaffiliated Colonel dared to keep Yan from reuniting with her lover? As Grandpa had recently started saying, this was simply seeking death.Hang on. Running inside for a moment, Lin returned with a sheaf of documents and shifted through them before holding one up for Yan to see, the barely legible scribbles a sure sign it was written by Rains hand. See? It says, Commander Hongji seems friendly, but he works my retinue hard. We are sorely in need of a break but I may have offended him somehow as he has yet to provide us with one. I hope to visit soon, but I dont know when he intends to schedule our reprieve. Thats what hubby wrote, so I dunno....That idiot. No wonder he hasnt had a leave of absence yet. Re-reading the passage with a wry grin, Yan rolled her eyes and shook her head. Hes waiting for Commander Hongji to schedule them a reprieve, but thats not how it works. Rain needs to put in a request, which Im sure will be approved....Hubby is a big dummy. Thoroughly angered, Lin puffed her cheeks in a childish pout and tossed the rest of the documents down for Yans perusal. You know whats the worst? He writes a letter every week, but he never talks about anything important. He just drones on and on about something stupid like he feels obligated to fill the page. Slumping her shoulders and pretending to sulk, Lin gave her best impression of Rain speaking slowly, as if hed taken a head-injury. Pong Pong loves shrimp, but when the shrimp arrives, its almost spoiled. Can you send more shrimp? Faster too. A faster delivery, not faster shrimp, because that would be silly. Can we get ice in Central? Frozen shrimp might last longer. Also, please look into dried shrimp and see if this is a feasible option, as well as any other shrimp preserving methods you can think of. Pong Pong really loves shrimp, so I need a way to provide him with more shrimp. Crossing her arms, Lin crinkled her nose and huffed, too angry at Rain to continue with the mockery. Stupid Rainy. Stupid Pong Pong. Luo-Luo! Why didnt you say anything?Apologies Lin-Lin, but this one has little experience in military matters.Write hubby a letter and tell him what Yan said! If he doesnt come back soon, Im gonna eat all his stupid rabbits. Pointing angrily at Luo-Luo, Lin barked, Dont write that last part!Doubled over with tears streaking down her face, Yan gasped for breath and silently begged Lin to stop, her stomach cramping and lungs burning from laughing too hard. It wasnt just Lins spot on impression or uncharacteristic anger, or even how she bullied the concubine like a stereotypical evil wife. What she found most comical was that Lin wasnt even exaggerating, but repeating a passage Rain wrote word for word. Communication had always been Rains biggest problem, right above his trust issues and inability to read social cues, but the problem seemed so much worse in writing.When she finally got her laughter under control, Yan felt like a weight had been lifted off her chest. This was what she needed, an afternoon of relaxation and cathartic release. So she wasnt Officer material and would never command an army of thousands. It wasnt important. She was Du Min Yan, grand-daughter and terminal Disciple of Du Min Gyu, betrothed to the love of her life, Falling Rain, and sister-wife of Lin and Mila....Zheng Luo too, but as a concubine, she barely counted. Lin was already bullying her, so Yan had no qualms against joining in.Aside from this wonderful life, Yan also had her Martial skills which had won her the title of third strongest young talent in the Empire, losing only to Wu Gam and her beloved husband-to-be. With her skills, her options were limitless. She could have her pick of Officers to serve under, whether it be her childhood hero Akanai, her former idol and future father-in-law Baatar, or if needed, she could even join Grandpa and learn at his side. Better yet, she could join Rains retinue and they could learn the ins and outs of command together. As evidenced by his misunderstanding, Rain had just as many gaps in his knowledge as Yan did, except his issues were largely social in nature. It would be so romantic fighting side by side, just like they used to when they were younger, but this time as comrades in arms on the battlefield and lovers in the bedroll, their days filled with glory and nights filled with pleasure....Perhaps itd be better if she stayed with Grandpa. If Yan and Rain served together, then neither one of them would ever get a wink of sleep. Regardless, Rain had best return, and soon. Having tasted the sorrows of separation during these long weeks apart, Yan yearned to see his smile and feel his touch again, raving like a silly, sappy, love-struck maiden straight out of one of her favourite novels.Not only that, but she was curious to know what he could do with all his limbs intact...Chapter Meme
