Chapter 653: Book 36 TBA

Chapter 653: Book 36 TBA

The Central Citadel came alive with celebration as the triumphant army streamed through the Western gates, but Luo-Luos heart was not in it.

The people of the Empire cheered because they only knew a great victory had been won out on the fields of Central, but Luo-Luo was privy to all the disheartening details which were kept out of the public eye. Almost every soldier serving on the Western border had been dispatched to help secure the second line, and of those, at least one tenth would not return. A third of the remaining were injured enough to require medical leave, and the final numbers had yet to be tallied, so they could only go up from here. So many lives lost in a single day, the Empire would be mourning them for weeks to come as news trickled back to their families and loved ones. A great victory had indeed been won, but one which came at great cost.

Regardless of her inner turmoil, she let none of it show as she stood on stage to welcome the returning heroes. Colonel Generals Mitsue Juichi and Shuai Jiao entered first, flanking the titular star of the hour, Brigadier Chen Hongji. Soon to be Major General Chen Hongji, judging by the reports and how chummy Colonel General Shuai Jiao was behaving, no doubt seeking to take the rising star under his wing. With Ryo Dae Jung busy leading the charge to retake Castle Jianghu, the former was attempting to steal a march, but Luo-Luo was confident the good Brigadiers allegiance lay firmly with Lord Husband first, who was sure to reward his loyalty handsomely.

A minor political struggle in the grand scheme of things, for though Chen Hongjis star was on the rise, his political power and influence had yet to catch up, nor would it so long as he continued to serve on the front lines. The love of the masses was a marked advantage for anyone to have, but they were a fickle bunch with memories measured in weeks, if not days. Worse, those in power could easily ignore popular opinion so long as they had enough strength, for the Empire was a world in which might makes right, regardless of what Lord Husband might claim otherwise. Thus, as the ceremonial welcoming party ushered the returning delegation on stage, Luo-Luos attention was largely focused upon the most troublesome of the bunch, the oldest Colonel General in the Empire, Mitsue Juichi.

Luo-Luo always thought it strange that a man so fond of white face powder would be called The Obsidian Shadow, but today, she learned that mocking titles were not reserved for the likes of Mother-in-Law Akanai alone. Bereft of makeup and accessories, Mitsue Juichi appeared to have aged three decades since she last laid eyes upon him, though part of it was due to his slack expression and slumped posture. He rode poorly for a military man, only marginally better than Father-in-Law Baatar who just recently started learning, and his cold-shouldered reaction to the warm reception did him no favours either, making him seem grumpy and cantankerous to the extreme. The defining factor for his startling appearance however, was the dark, patchy birthmark which covered a good third of his face, one which usually went unnoticed underneath his cosmetics. For good reason too, since the blemish began just below his right eye, passed over half his nose and covered his lips before ending well south of his chin somewhere inside his lapel, giving his features a frightening cast as if a third of his face had been consigned to darkness.

The Obsidian Shadow indeed.

How cruel and hateful of Centrals people to disparage their greatest warriors based on appearance alone, but Luo-Luo understood the reasoning behind the logic. Martial Warriors were held in the highest regards not solely based on strength alone, but also appearance. To the common man and woman, Martial Warriors were demi-gods of a sort. Though their stature and physiques might differ, beauty was a defining trait of Martial Warriors, at least in comparison to anything less than a mortal paragon of good looks, whereas ugliness was a Defiled trait. The Mother marked those with ill-intent so that all could see their true villainous self, or so it was believed, which led Luo-Luo to wonder how much prejudice and discrimination Mitsue Juichi had to overcome in order to reach the lofty heights he stood upon today. Though aged and weary, he was still a handsome older gentleman, but seeing the great lengths he went to in order to hide his blemish showed the depths of his self-contempt. This from a man who began with less than nothing, the son of a brick-maker who lost his entire family in a disastrous fire and went on to become one of the most powerful and influential Warriors of the outer provinces, and still he felt the need to hide his face from the world.

Had circumstances not conspired against them, Luo-Luo wholeheartedly believed Lord Husband and Mitsue Juichi would have gotten along like two peas in a pod, but alas, fate was not kind to the Living Legend.

Despite her best efforts to stifle the rumours, word of Mitsue Hideos defection had spread like wildfire throughout the Citadel, and there was likely not a single person currently living within the walls who hadnt heard the news. Some reacted with sympathy, and others with anger and disdain, but for Luo-Luo, this presented a most troublesome tribulation for which she was not equipped to handle. Imperial Law dictated Mitsue Hideo be openly denounced as Defiled, the crime for which was Nine Familial Extermination. Were this anyone else, she would not hesitate to do so, but going through with it meant executing every single one of Hideos cousins, uncles, and aunts, yet leaving Mitsue Juichi untouched. A grand-uncle was not within nine degrees of relations, but it would have been easier if he also shared in their punishment, because she could not imagine a world in which the Living Legend stood idly by and watched as his beloved children and grand-children were gathered up and beheaded.

To further complicate matters, during his brief trip to Castle JiangHu, Lord Husband set a troublesome precedent for the exoneration of Defiled traitors. By publicly absolving Yomen Hoon, a common-born Warrior without fame or power, of treason, Lord Husband showed exceptional mercy to a man who admitted to not only murdering and torturing Imperial soldiers in wartime, but had also taken up arms in the Enemys name. There was no doubt in anyones mind that Yomen Hoon had succumbed to the Fathers foul lies, and while the circumstances were extraordinary to be sure, showing mercy to the Enemy was the same as being cruel to the Empire. The only upside to all this was Lord Husband had Yomen Hoon executed for other crimes on the spot, meaning his mercy only extended to the traitors still living relatives, who by and large would still have to start new lives in new locations where no one knew their names.

Which shouldnt be all too difficult since Lord Husband expressly insisted Yomen Hoons widow receive her full benefits, a substantial amount of coin that would serve her and her family well.

Unfortunately, this made Luo-Luos dilemma all the more prickly, and she had no idea what to do. Seeing how Mitsue Hideo evaded capture, she was unable to execute him out of hand, but she also couldnt absolve him of treason since he had yet to repent for his crimes. How would it look if she pardoned a known traitor, one who was still fighting for the Enemy and killing Imperial soldiers, all because his Mentor and Grand-Uncle was the famed Mitsue Juichi? Condemning him sight unseen was not an option either, since it would be equally foolish to carry out Nine Familial Execution without the culprit responsible for bringing this calamity down upon them. A moot gesture, one which would be doubly foolish considering Mitsue Juichis record of doting upon his children and relatives, and triply so when the Mitsue familys military contributions were taken into account. Though the main family lacked talents of note, Juichis daughters had married good, strong husbands, and his grandchildren helped him make even more connections with the outside world. At the latest count, there were no less than thirty-thousand soldiers serving under the Mitsue Family banner, and more than twice that number serving with closely allied forces.

All of whom might well choose loyalty to the famed Living Legend over fealty to a far-off Emperor.

That was one thing Luo-Luo kept forgetting, that these citizens of the outer provinces had never seen the Emperor in person, or any Emperor at all. Theyd never felt His majestic presence standing on stage and known they were looking at the Son of Heaven Himself. Instead, they paid lip service to a man theyd never met and would happily rebel if given half a reason, for out here, the Emperor was merely a distant figurehead, rather than a man ordained by the Heavens to lead them.

Though Mitsue Juichis ninety-thousand theoretical troops were merely a drop in the bucket when taking the entire Empire into account, they still constituted a sizable force which could not be ignored outright. Not that she expected him to rebel unless pushed, or for all of his allies and soldiers to stand with him if he should, but desperate people had done crazier things. The Empire could ill-afford a rebellion at this critical juncture, no matter how minor or ineffective. It might seem like an overreaction to worry so much about one man, but most men were unable to bring down entire fortified buildings with a single stomp, which made it all the more likely for Juichi to lash out and plunge the Empire into chaos if she should choose poorly.

Luo-Luo hoped to avoid such a disastrous outcome, but if only she knew how...

Putting her woes aside for the moment, she joined Lord Husbands War Council in welcoming the returning delegation. Never letting her smile slip, she covertly studied the crowds reaction while Brigadier Yari Hagane gave an unscheduled, unprompted, long-winded, and frankly uninspiring speech, one which no one cared to listen to, not even the recipients of his flowery praise. Amidst the thunderous applause, deafening cheers, and a never-ending trickle of coloured paper confetti fluttering through the air, Luo-Luo spotted more than one confused expression or wandering gaze, no doubt belonging to an individual wondering why their beloved Legate wasnt leading the delegation, or at least a part of it. Herein lay the crux of her misfortunes, for Lord Husband had been injured in the chaos of battle and had yet to regain consciousness. Hardly unheard of considering Lord Husbands history, and she harboured an inkling suspicion his deep sleep might have something to do with the unnatural storm which drove the Defiled army to retreat, only shortly after plunging the entire Western border into temporary darkness not seven hours ago.

Luo-Luo was sorely lacking in proof, but she knew it had to be so. Lord Husband was a man blessed by the Mother Above, a brilliant man capable of making miracles happen.

Whether she was right or not, only time would tell, but Luo-Luo had faith Lord Husband would make a full recovery. The problem was, his prolonged slumber came at a most inopportune time, when his guiding hand was sorely needed to direct the Empires efforts. Even the three Colonel Generals of Central couldnt work out their differences and join hands in harmony, so how could the three provinces be expected to do the same? Without Lord Husband standing above them, the regional Marshals and Colonel Generals would each go their own way. A grand victory had been won today, and the Colonel Generals of Central wasted no time playing politics, with Shuai Jiao and Ryo Dae Jung fighting over the scraps of glory yet to be claimed. The only reason Mitsue Juichi wasnt taking part in their rivalry was because he was too preoccupied with his grief and misfortune, which only encouraged the other two to contest even harder since there was no need to guard against a third.

Theoretically, Luo-Luo herself could put a stop to their squabbling, and perhaps even retain control of the outer provinces as a whole. Prior to leaving for Castle JiangHu and lapsing into insensibility, Lord Husband had bestowed upon her his personal token of office, one which represented his word in all official documentation and effectively made her Minister of Finance and Legate of the outer provinces in all but name. The problem was, as both a woman and an Imperial Servant, the officials of the Empire had already shown a reluctance to heed her orders, and only followed through due to the threat of what Lord Husband might do upon his return. Now that hed fallen unconscious, and more importantly, had been seen passed out on the battlefield, his political rivals would suspect something amiss if she continued ruling over the outer provinces in his name. She was no king or emperor, not even a queen or empress, merely the Legates concubine whom he indulged too much, or so the leaders of the outer provinces would believe.

Worst of all? Even if they did respect her authority and heed her orders, Luo-Luo wasnt sure if she was capable of leading the outer provinces through these trying times without the benefit of Lord Husbands guidance. Already, his War Council was urging her not to make decisions, but to give them unfettered authority to do as they pleased. Mere minutes after word of Lord Husbands victory arrived, Major General Han BoHai, Major General Inthavong, and the long winded Brigadier Yari Hagane all waylaid her in her office to discuss their own agendas. Once Father-in-Law Baatars army finished cleaning up the Defiled forces at Castle Youxia, Colonel General Nian Zu wanted to drive the remaining Defiled back into the Western Province, a dangerous proposition with so many Defiled forces still in the field. The South was demanding assistance to fend off the Defiled army laying siege to Castle Wulin, an army led by Mataram YuChun of the Ten-Thousand Spears. Yet another misnomer, considering the reports estimated his reinforcing army contained more than two-hundred and fifty thousand Defiled soldiers in total, a force which outnumbered the southern reinforcing army which had been dispatched to aid Lord Husband. The fighting was still going on down in Castle Wulin, and while she was more than happy to authorize aid, she had no fresh troops to spare. All three Citadels had been emptied of soldiers in order to achieve this victory, and while North and Central had emerged victorious, their soldiers were either too tired or too poorly positioned to reinforce Castle Wulin in the south. With Colonel General Ryo Dae Jung busy retaking Castle JiangHu and Brigadier Hongjis army dog tired from a long day of marching and fighting, the only force available was Father-in-Laws mobile army. However, even if they took the most direct route along the second line, it would take a day and a half of hard riding to reach Castle Wulin, and Major General Han BoHai rightly pointed out that this route ran the risk of being intercepted by Gongsun Qis retreating forces.

It wasnt all bleak news, as Lord Husbands initial plans meant that the Southern Citadel still had yet another sizable army in the field, one led by Colonel General Tran Hoang, the Tiger Slayer of the South. His army had set out early this morning and was scheduled to arrive at Castle Wulin in fifteen hours, and half that if they ran. However, if YuChuns forces were to take the castle before they arrived, then the South would have no soldiers positioned to defend their Citadel, and a tired army out in the field with no walls to defend. This had all the markings of a disaster in the making, but what was she to do? Until now, shed muddled her way through command by following the guidelines Lord Husband laid down, but despite making plans for any and all disasters, he never planned out what to do in the event of a victory. Judging by the subtle questioning glances directed towards her by Colonel General Shuai Jiao and Brigadier Chen Hongji, she suspected Major General Inthavong was using Brigadier Yari Haganes long-winded speech to Send word to the returning heroes and inform them that the Legates stand-in was not doing her job, since she had yet to make a decision regarding Castle Wulin.

She was sorely out of her depth and she knew it, but she couldnt go to just anyone for help. Mother-in-Law Akanai would be the best candidate, considering she was a Warrior of renown and a commander of note, but she was also about as subtle as a sledgehammer hidden inside a sleeve. It wouldnt be proper to be seen taking advice from a Lieutenant General, then turn around and tell a group of Colonel Generals what to do, but what other choice did she have?The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

Surprisingly enough, it wasnt either of the Colonel Generals who put a stop to Brigadier Yari Haganes jabbering, but Brigadier Hongji himself, jumping in while the blowhard drew breath to suggest that his troops (and by extension, himself) might be tired after a long days march and would appreciate if they made it through the gates before midnight. Technically, the gates were to be kept closed after nightfall, but the Citadel was awake and well lit despite the late hour, as citizen and soldier alike waited up to welcome back their victorious heroes. Their motives werent entirely unselfish since many of them wouldve had to stay up regardless, since the returning troops would require their services. Food had to be cooked, clothes laundered, alcohol served, and flesh peddled, all the customary businesses a battle-worn soldier might indulge in. All of which had recently seen a marked increase in price, with unscrupulous merchants taking advantage of Lord Husbands luxury tax to pass the costs onto their customers alongside a significantly increased profit margin. No doubt he had an idea as to how to counter this, but Luo-Luo herself was at a loss on how to proceed here as well, especially since the merchants were more than happy to tell anyone with ears how the increased costs were the Legates fault and speculate on how much coin his taxes were earning him.

Indeed. Switching to Sending, Mother-in-Law explained what happened after the storm broke overhead, and Luo-Luo was filled with wonder at the miracles of Heaven. I can not claim to understand it, Mother-in-Law concluded, turning to gaze off in the distance, But these men and women are Warriors newly forged, and devoted to the boy, one and all, so I would be a fool to let others profit in our stead. Switching back to speaking out loud, she added, So, about those lodgings?

The military barracks in the heart of the Citadel sit empty, Luo-Luo supplied, signalling for Gunan to get the process started. Not the most lavish of settings, but better than what they have here. Being commoners, the Irregulars had been billeted wherever they might fit, including warehouses, stables, and buildings next to midden heaps where no one else cared to sleep.

It will have to do for now then, Mother-in-Law said, and Luo-Luo wasnt sure if she was imagining the relief in her tone, likely because it wouldnt cost her a single copper to set these newfangled Warriors up in the barracks. At least they will be close to the training grounds, an added benefit to this arrangement. Now, is there a reason why you have come out to see me?

Yes, Mother-in-Law, but... Catching on immediately, Mother-in-Law put up a Sound Barrier, or at least Luo-Luo presumed she did since she paused before nodding. This one seeks Mother-in-Laws guidance with respect to Liu Xuandes concerns regarding the second line.

Mhm. Jaw set in an unreadable expression, Mother-in-Law Akanai studied Luo-Luo closely. You believe his arguments hold merit?

By the Heavens this woman was intimidating, her casual gaze stripping Luo-Luo bare and leaving her vulnerable and exposed. What would Lord Husband do here? Oh how she wished she had the benefit of his guidance...

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A buzz stirs me from my blank stupor, and I find a cell phone sitting on the cubicle desk, all lit up with alerts and messages. Weird. I dont remember making that. Picking it up without thinking, I find a familiar text messaging app with a white and green UI, which opens up to Luo-Luos internalized distress laid bare. Silly girl. She is more competent than almost anyone I know, yet still she cant find the confidence to believe in herself. I should help her out, not only because she deserves a farewell too, but also because Ill never be able to sever all ties with the mortal world if I dont, since Ill regret treating her so poorly.

I can feel how she feels from reading her texts, delivered to me in the form of hopes and prayers. She admires me, but its not truly love, just infatuation still. She doesnt know love well enough to love someone else just yet, and still has a way to go before she learns to love herself. I admire her as a person, and despite my attempts to ignore it, am more than a little infatuated with her as well, because she is a brilliant, talented, and competent woman in ways utterly unlike anyone else I know. Perhaps in time, this mutual admiration might even have blossomed into love...

Yea right. Thats wistful thinking for sure. Why would someone as beautiful and brilliant as Luo-Luo fall in love with a scrub like me? Noodle is looking really unhealthy though, so I should send a Natal Soul to do something about that...

Tapping the phone screen brings up a keyboard, and I type in the three, simple words she needs to hear. Once that is done, I hesitate and wonder if I should say anymore, but I cant find the words just yet. Backing out of the chat, I find a list of other messages from various different people and floofs, all neatly arranged by order of last message received and constantly updating with new ones. Fighting the urge to rekindle hope and reconnect, I put the phone to sleep and place it back on the table. In the seconds before the screen flickers off and plunges me back into darkness, I divest myself of all emotion and struggle to find the peace and tranquility of empty nothingness.

Soon enough, I will figure this out and sever all hope, all regret, all desire, and more. Then, and only then, will I finally find the oblivion I so desperately desire.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Believe in yourself.

Yes, Luo-Luo declared, before repeating herself with more certainty. Yes. The time and manpower spent reinforcing and resupplying the second line could be much better spent repairing the harbour and putting up a seawall to ensure the next naval attack is not so successful.

What will you tell the people of the Empire? We have won a great victory today, but to withdraw might send the message that even this was not enough to hold back the Defiled tide.

We spin it as our original goal all along, to relieve pressure on the second line so we can safely withdraw. The more Luo-Luo thought about it, the more it made sense. The Wall was designed from the ground up to facilitate the speedy delivery of soldiers and supplies, especially with Lord Husbands grand thoroughfare in the works. This is the optimal decision, and abandoning the castles now means we only risk Castle JiangHu and Castle Wulin falling into the Enemys grasp.

Mother-in-Law Akanai stayed silent for several minutes before letting out a small sigh. I understand battle, she began, catching Luo-Luo off-guard with the seemingly nonsensical declaration. I understand the flow of combat and tracking ones quarry. I understand supply lines and scouting patterns, tallying the costs of equipment and maintenance, but what you and Liu Xuande speak of, this cost benefit of time, this accounting for percentage spoilage and loss, the effective hours spent on duty and its correlation to decreased morale... I am unable to comprehend how it all ties together, but I believe if you are concerned, then it is worth acting on. Even Sarnai does not wholly understand, but she too shares my faith in your abilities. The boy picked you as his voice for good reason, so we would be foolish to ignore your suggestions. Nodding slowly, she added, If you believe this is the best course of action, then I will back you, and woe befall anyone who dares stand against us.

Relief flooded through Luo-Luo as she pressed her hands together and bowed. Thank you, Mother-in-Law.

Bah. Clapping Luo-Luo on the shoulder, Mother-in-Law Akanai offered a frightening smile and said, What thanks are needed between family? The billets are settled? Again, Luo-Luo was caught off-guard, this time by the sudden shift in topic. After relaying her query through a Death Corps Guard and receiving a confirmation from Gunan, Luo-Luo nodded in reply to Mother-in-Law Akanais query. Good, good, she said, gently directing Luo-Luo back onto Mafu. Then off with you now, girl. Go collect the boys War Council, and send word if you need me. There is much to do before I am able to rest, and I grow cantankerous when denied my bed for too long.

As she rode away, Luo-Luo was still awed by how easily Mother-in-Law Akanai had been swayed, all because she believed in Luo-Luos abilities. Glancing towards the manor where Lord Husband was resting, she realized it was the same direction Mother-in-Law Akanai had turned when speaking of the miracle regarding the Irregulars. Thousands of common men and women had marched out to war, and almost a third returned as Martial Warriors. Granted, even more didnt return, but such was the way of battle and bloodshed, and she could hardly even imagine how the people would react once word of this miracle spread.

The Irregulars, the commoners who fought for their Legate Falling Rain, had been Blessed and baptized by the falling rain and transformed into holy Warriors. Whatever the truth of the matter might be, Luo-Luo would use this version of events to her advantage, and with a little luck, this might give her all the influence she needed to keep the outer provinces from tearing themselves apart through infighting. No, she should believe in herself and aim higher, seek to direct them as Lord Husband would and carry out his vision. There was so much she could still do, both with regards to the war, to improve the economic welfare of the Empire as a whole, and so much more, so it was high time she put her talents to good use.

Hopefully, she wouldnt have to hold out on her own for long, because once Lord Husband awakened, she wholeheartedly believed he would work another miracle and perhaps even lead the Empire to victory against the Defiled. High expectations, but deservedly so, for he was Legate Falling Rain, her Lord Husband and the man who would father her future children. This was the truth, for she would make it so, no matter the cost or obstacle.

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