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The Past
Far Eastern Army Fort Warren Staff Department
“Ah Xiu, do you realize why Yang Ming Hua promoted you straight to Deputy Commander? Luo Bo glanced at him with a gloomy expression, lacking any of the usual joy he should have when promoting one of his own men.
“Yes Sir, I do.”
“Oh?”
ZiChuan Xiu spoke with the same kind of seriousness: “It basically means… that I can start hiring a pretty doll like secretary too, for science of course and hiding alcohol in the office without fearing the inspection from the Ministry of Supervision!”
“Dickhead, why don’t you use that head of yours for once and take a good look at the decree: It is ordered by Supreme Commander Yang Ming Hua!”
“So then…”
“You should know better than me what kind of person he really is, right?”
ZiChuan Xiu readily recited: “Our esteemed Supreme Commander Yang Min Hua, at work he is wise, decisive in battle, brilliant and shows great foresight; at home he is morally impeccable, in possession of a great character, kind to his men, strict with himself, lenient towards others, loved by all, loyal to a fault to the Head of the family and most importantly, he is completely selfless as he always puts the family interest above his personal gain. No matter whether it is his kindness, wisdom or bravery, he can be seen as the role model for every soldier in the Army in service of House ZiChuan. He has my utmost respect! We are blessed by god to have someone like him amongst us, may he live forever, his contribution to the cause has been…”
Luo Bo interrupted him: “Enough, I don’t have “Eyes and Ears” around here, you may speak your mind.”
ZiChuan Xiu revealed his signature smile of innocence again: “What do you mean, Sir? Those were the words from the bottom of my heart. Please believe me Sir, my love and admiration for the Supreme Commander is coming from the bottom of my heart…”
Luo Bo stared at him, eyes unflinching, trying to detect the slightest hint of pretentiousness in his smile… “ZiChuan Xiu’s smile” later became a common idiom used to describe people like sales agents or insurance companies making false promises. And like always, Luo Bo was left empty handed.
“I hope you haven’t forgotten what happened seven years ago.”
…
Imperial Calendar, Year 771 March, House Liu Feng launched a large scale invasion against House ZiChuan. The Army of House Liu Feng took a hidden path and circumvented Border Army’s defence lines, appearing undetected outside the walls of the Capital. The former Head of the Family, ZiChuan Yuan Xing thought it was a small group of enemy separated from their main force, instead of waiting for the reinforcements, he attacked with the Central Army and Imperial Guard Army stationed inside the Capital. The result was a bloody massacre that almost completely annihilated the Central Army and Imperial Guard Army. The death toll numbered over eighty thousand and ZiChuan Yuan Xing was gravely wounded during the battle as well. Only then did they find out, the ambush was led by the heir to the House Liu Feng, the cunning and calculated Liu Feng Xi Shan. His forces numbered over hundred-thirty thousand!
Liu Feng Xi Shan believed the outcome to be certain, thus instead of trying to breach the thick walls of the Capital, he divided his remaining forces in two and sent fifty thousand back to encircle the Border Army while leaving fifty thousand infantry to besiege the Capital. The Far Eastern Army at the time found themselves at a critical juncture in the war against the Demons, while both the Border Army and Black Banner Army were pinned down by the Army of House Liu Feng. With barely any able bodies and capable generals left inside the Capital, and no help on the way, fear overwhelmed the City. Everyone thought that was the end of House ZiChuan!
With Far Eastern Army Commander Ge Ying Xing’s acquiescence, (He was also the Principal of the Far Eastern Army Academy) ZiChuan Xiu who was only a student at the time, used “Military Exercise” as an excuse and led a group of 800 Calvary trainees back to the capital, where he got to see his stepfather ZiChuan Yuan Xing for the last time.
After Yuan Xing’s death, the House was left in disarray. The Council of Elders, the House of Headmaster, the High Command and the Army Administrative Office all blamed each other, and while denying their own responsibility. They each advocated their own plans which they believed would save the House from its imminent destruction, but could not agree on a single course of action. Endless votes were taken, and countless conferences, debates and elections were held, but no one knew how to handle the fifty thousand menacing Liu Feng soldiers outside the city walls. In a sudden burst of rage, ZiChuan Xiu led the 800 Calvary trainees he brought back from the frontlines and instigated a coup, seizing power and control of the House of Headmaster, the High Command, Army Administrative Office and other military sites of strategic importance. After seizing operational control, he immediately gave out the emergency order to every commander in every garrison; ordering them to return to the Capital within the month, which was impossible of course. Even if they did, after dealing with the ambushes on the way back, there wouldn’t be much of an army left by the time they arrived. Not to mention the other Liu Feng forces they would have freed up in the process.
Everyone in the Liu Feng camp laughed hysterically at the new Headmaster of House ZiChuan, an eleven year old child who just gave the order to send every last one of his men to their doom. The laughter continued till that dreadful night, the same night the orders were given. 800 riders under ZiChuan Xiu’s command snuck into the main camp of Liu Feng Army wearing their uniforms. Once inside, they set the camp alight, killing and spreading rumours that the main force of Far Eastern Army has arrived and all of House ZiChuan’s forces have gathered, over a million strong in total!”
The Army of Liu Feng woke up into a nightmare of fire and swords… they couldn’t possibly have put up an effective defence… not that there was a way they could have defended in the first place. Everyone was wearing the same uniform and the one shouting: “Don’t attack! We are on your side, the enemies are over there!” was often the one stabbing you in the back… Under such situation where one could not separate friend from foe, the only way to survive was to be the first one to strike. As a result, over half of the twenty thousand casualties the Army of Liu Feng sustained that night, was due to friendly fire.
Even Liu Feng Xi Shan himself only barely escaped with his life. He had hoped to able to regroup and counter attack when the light dawned, but before he could gather his forces, ZiChuan Xiu’s riders had already appeared. Another battle later, the defeated army was defeated once more. Later that night, Liu Feng Xi Shan tried again, hoping to regain control of his scattered forces and yet again, just when his forces were about to gather, the hooves of the pursuing riders sounded behind them…
The exact same scenario happened seven times!
By the eighth time, Liu Feng Xi Shan’s forces have already retreated to the border of the two houses. Waiting in front of them, was the three hundred thousand vengeful and angry soldiers of the Border Army of House ZiChuan, and behind them, was the ferocious pursuing riders led by ZiChuan Xiu… He would rather kill himself than to face ZiChuan Xiu again. The only reason he escaped alive that day, was due to his daughter, Liu Feng Shuang’s reinforcement, and a little bit of luck… Many war historians later believed that if ZiChuan Xiu was allowed to continue his pursuit, even with Liu Feng Shuang’s reinforcement, Liu Feng Xi Shan wouldn’t have been able to escape, even less inheriting the seat of House Liu Feng on his return.
But the two hundred thousand soldiers brought here by Liu Feng Xi Shan did not have such a daughter or luck, less than one third of them made it back alive.
On the side of House ZiChuan, the victor fared even worse than the loser. ZiChuan Xiu had hoped to be received by pretty girls with flowers, but instead, all he got was a rude awakening in the middle of the night during his pursuit, and to find out that his personal guards had all been disarmed. His entire camp was surrounded by a sea of Military Constables from the Ministry of Supervision and if he had so much as moved a muscle, he would have been executed on the spot…
A rather well mannered Constable shamelessly informed him: “By Supreme Commander Yang Ming Hua’s order, you have been accused of “Inciting a mutiny”, “Insubordination”, “Unlawful force deployments” and “Intentional misconduct”. Therefore you have been removed from active duty, effect immediately. You have the right to remain silence, and you have the right to appeal at the Court Martial.
Every one of those crimes was punishable by death.
Luckily, the outcome was influenced by the support of ZiChuan Yuan Xing’s daughter, the help from the Far Eastern Army Commander Ge Ying Xing, and a fierce protest from the frontline soldiers. Also, his good friend Stirling, one of the three legendary young generals of House ZiChuan, delivered a heartfelt testimony at the Court Martial, declaring: “Loyalty is not a crime!” Thus, ZiChuan Xiu was absolved of the death penalty.
Yang Ming Hua wanted to imprison him for life, but Far Eastern Army Commander Ge Ying Xing took the initiative: “Why don’t we let him serve in the harsh Far Eastern Regions? We need more men over there.” Due to Ge Ying Xing’s reputation, and the undeniable strength of the Far Eastern Army, Yang Ming Hua still had to respect his wishes… That was how ZiChuan Xiu ended up in the Far Eastern Army. From slave soldier, to Warrior, Banner warrior, Red Bannerman, Deputy Banner Master and finally, Banner Master…
…
And now Yang Ming Hua wished to promote him directly to Deputy Commander!
“My memories has never been very good, I’m not sure what exactly you are referring to from seven years ago? Can you give me a hint, Sir?”
Luo Bo: “Ah Xiu, you know what they say, keep your friends close, but your enemies closer… A certain someone might want to keep someone of your skills and abilities very close indeed. If he lets you become a Red Banner Master like you are supposed to, you would have seventy thousand Far Eastern Army soldiers under your command… and that would cause certain someone many sleepless nights.”
ZiChuan Xiu: “But promoting me to Deputy Commander, won’t that certain someone have even more difficulty getting a good night sleep?”
“The problem is, the Far Eastern Army’s military structure only allows for three active Deputy Commanders at a time, we don’t have extra divisions to place under your command…Now do you understand?”
“But I heard two days ago, Deputy Commander Lei was having some irreconcilable differences with Commander Ge Ying Xing and wanted to resign… which means you do have a place for me here.”
“Well, they reconciled this morning, and Deputy Commander Lei has retracted his letter of resignation.”
“I also heard our Deputy Commander Lin Bin is getting married, and will go on a honeymoon for three months?”
“Well, her fiancé fled before the wedding, leaving only a note saying: I can’t take this anymore! So that old virgin who just had her love turn into hate is about to send a kill squad after him…”
ZiChuan Xiu sighed in defeat: “Then you are my only hope, Sir. Is there any chance for your gastrohelcosis to turn into cancer any time soon…”
Luo Bo: “…”
“As I said, now that you are promoted to Deputy Commander, your only choice is to return to the Capital and be on reserve duty till further notice. Commander Ge Ying Xing believes that to be the best course of action as well, because Lady ZiChuan Ning has almost come of age (16), and will soon reach the lawful age for her succession. It is very likely that certain someone may try to assassinate her. By going to the Capital, you can protect her.”
“But I’m terrible in a fight…”
“Drop the act… save it for the idiots like Luo Jie! The one who assassinated the Demon Commanders in Heng Chuan was you right? I understand, you don’t want that “someone” to know about your true skills and abilities, but do you really think you can fool me?”
ZiChuan Xiu looked surprised: “You…”
Luo Bo revealed a cunning smile: “I’m a servant to the House ZiChuan, not a servant to Yang Ming Hua. The one I made my vow to is named ZiChuan.”
“But Yang Ming Hua is your superior…”
“I’m a Deputy Commander in the Far Eastern Army; my direct commanding officer is Commander Ge Ying Xing.” Lu Bo spoke amiably: “Commander Ge has asked me to take good care of you!”
Thinking back over the past six years and the meticulous care and kindness Luo Bo had shown him, ZiChuan Xiu couldn’t help but feel a sudden surge of warmth in his chest. He gave the old man in front of him a deep bow: “My humble self does not deserve what you and Commander Ge Ying Xing have done for me over the years… I can never repay your kindness in this life time! But if you ever have the need of me, I will do everything I can even at the cost of my own life!”
Luo Bo stood up gracefully: “Current Supreme Commander Yang Ming Hua is above the law and unmatched in power; he has already shown his unwillingness to serve! I, as an elder of the Family, am ordering you, Deputy Commander ZiChuan Xiu; keep Lady ZiChuan Ning safe, no matter what! She is the only surviving bloodline of the former Headmaster, ZiChuan Yuan Xing.”
He gave a bow to ZiChuan Xiu in return: “Ah Xiu, I’m counting on you!”
ZiChuan Xiu held his head up high: “Yes Sir! As long as I’m alive, I will not let harm come to Lady Ning! You can count on me!” Then he bowed deeply in return, feeling a sense of pride swirling in his chest.
“Oh, there is one more thing. Didn’t you just say you would repay me with your life? Well, how about my bottles…”
ZiChuan Xiu answered defiantly: “No way! I was just being polite… three hundred year old wine and royal brandy… they worth way more than my life! I won’t give them back even if I die!”
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