Chapter 743

Chapter 743

Nestled in the warm embrace of his cot and blankets, Hongji did his best to enjoy the comfort while he could rather than lament its ensuing inevitable loss, for though the day was young, there was never a dearth of work to be done when out on campaign.

Back when he was a younger Warrior, one hungry for fame and fortune, spending his nights in a field tent was no worse than life in the soldiers barracks, and in many ways even better. There was less chance of waking up in the morning to find your cot infested with lice or bedbugs, a constant concern with groups of young men of questionable hygiene sharing a living quarters. While enemy attacks were a concern, if woken in the middle of the night, he could at least turn his weapons against them to alleviate his stress, unlike the drunken louts stumbling home past midnight every night and never punished for breaking curfew because of who their parents were. In contrast, sharing a tent with seven other soldiers seemed akin to paradise, and while the base wages for an unranked soldier were far from impressive, hed grown up on a farm where his parents earned less in three months than what he earned in a week, so even after sending half his wages home to support them, he felt wealthy indeed. Those were simpler times then, but as he progressed along the Martial Path and military career both, he learned just how high the Heavens truly were.

Cotton stuffed mattresses, goose down pillows, silken bed-sheets, covered braziers, scented incense and more, Hongji fell in love with the lifestyle of the wealthy elite as soon as he was exposed to it. Luckily, he had enough good sense to wait until he could afford these comforts before buying them as opposed to going into debt, all thanks to his humble upbringing as a lowly farm boy. Now, as an older man, he still enjoyed all these creature comforts, but he would trade them all to go back to simpler times when he was but a boy sitting at his fathers side and hearing how his day went. While his parents had long since passed, he still missed them each and every day, but it was a small solace knowing theyd died proud of their boy whod become an esteemed Colonel of the Empire. Then again, they would have been proud of him no matter what so long as he did not lose himself, and they often said theyd be happier if hed become a father instead.

His greatest regret was that his parents never met their grandchildren, for his sons and daughter could have learned much from Papa and Mama both. No matter how high Hongji soared into the skies, they never let him forget his roots, a calming influence that helped reign in his growing hubris. Alas, they passed before he met his beloved wife, a wildcat of a woman twenty years his junior who loved him more than the luxuries he provided, which didnt sound like much, but was far more than what most of his peers could say. A merchants daughter, born Yom Min Seo, his Min was a wonderful wife and mother both, but as with any woman willing to marry a man old enough to be her father, she had ambitions and aspirations aplenty, ones she never forgot despite forgiving him for failing to live up to her lofty expectations.

Which had since become a point of contention in recent days, her yearning to rub elbows with the wealthy elites and show her childhood friends that shed made the right choice marrying Chen Hongji. Truth be told, he owed her this much, for she stood by him when his career stalled and reputation faded away to nothingness, leaving him a mere Colonel after so many decades of dedicated effort. As such, against his better judgment, he brought her and the children to the Citadel and introduced them to all manner of powerful and influential people, including two of the most incredible Warriors he had the honour of fighting alongside in the entirety of his career, Lieutenant General Akanai and Legate Falling Rain.

Unfortunately, this wasnt enough for any of them, and they all wanted more from him. None of his children followed in his footsteps to form their Cores, another sore spot in his family life, but truth be told, Hongji was glad they remained commoners, even if it meant his family line faded into obscurity after he passed. Too many second generation heroes lay dead on battlefields far from home, and much like his parents, he only wanted his children to grow up healthy and happy so that they could start a family of their own. Min however, was not so pleased at the thought of her children and grandchildren living out their lives in mediocrity, and thus wanted to secure jobs for each of them in the future. Initially, she was adamant that they all work in her fathers merchant company when they became of age, rather than letting them follow their dreams as youths should, but now she saw better prospects looming just over the horizon, for her fathers business would ultimately never go to her. It wasnt a large company as far as such things went, but not small either, and if her eldest brother wasnt such a spendthrift wastrel, he might have made something of his inheritance. Instead, he let it lie fallow and plundered whatever profits it produced each year to pay off interest on the debts he took on in order to fund the lavish lifestyle he could not afford.

To make matters worse, his children saw the way their favourite uncle lived and believed it a better life than the one their own father provided. While they missed out on inheriting his Martial abilities, they shared their mothers drive and ambition, and thus all believed he should leverage his friendship with Legate Falling Rain to secure favourable contracts for the family company. Never mind that it wasnt his family, or theirs for that matter, for his children were surnamed Chen, not Yom. A simple enough request, they all insisted, to ask the Legate for this minor favour, but Hongjis pride would not allow it. Hed come this far on his own merit without throwing in with a faction or professing allegiance to anyone besides the Emperor Himself, and thus his children should strive to do the same, but they were not brave enough to even try. Come up with a business proposal and I will bring you to present it to the Legate, he told them, but they couldnt even do that, but to be fair, the boys were barely even old enough to grow a proper beard, much less put together a plan that the Legate wouldnt laugh at. Thankfully, Hongjis children were not so shameless as to directly go asking for a handout. No, they wanted their father to do it for them, because they were not truly interested in securing any actual work, as that would require too much effort on their part to fulfill.

Granted, the Legate had a reputation for threatening death or bankruptcy to merchants who failed to uphold their contracts, but as far as Hongji could tell, hed only lashed one merchant in all his time as Legate and offered more than generous repayment schedules to the victims of his admittedly predatory compound interest schemes. He had no pity for those willing victims however, for Mother knows how many of them did the same to the commoners under their thumb, and most were not even half as benevolent as the Legate. Truth be told, Hongji had hoped his children would at least make the effort and fail, for they needed a swift kick in the pants to set them on the right path, but he loved them too much to treat them so harshly. How could they all be so blind as to think failing to uphold a contract would ruin the family company? Becoming indebted to the Legate was no different from tying themselves to his wagon, for as he rose, so too would they, because if there ever was a problem he needed a merchant to solve, who better to go to than a company that was already firmly in his pocket?

These contentious issues made home life less than blissful, and as much as he loved them all, he also needed some time apart. Then, as soon as the campaign began, they stumbled across the atrocity in LuZhuo and suddenly his familys failings didnt seem so important anymore. It was all a matter of perspective, and now he missed them dearly once again, but he was not a man who would shirk his duties even if he could. Thus, even though no one would say a thing if he stayed in bed a little longer than usual, he smacked his lips and sighed as he emerged from his blanketed cocoon to brave the chilly late-autumn morning. Repressing a shudder as his bare feet touched the frosty ground, he dressed himself as quickly as he could and regretted not leaving his socks on while sleeping. As a younger man, hed gone to bed in full armour most nights on campaign and suffered nothing for it, but there were some luxuries he could no longer deny himself, and sleeping in comfort was one of them.

Min often told him he should take on a maid or manservant to make his life easier, but he knew his wife better than to fall for her ploys. Though still as beautiful as the day he met her, shed grown more and more concerned of late that he would take another lover, or worse, another wife. That was a vice for younger, more foolish men, for Hongji had his hands full with just the one, and taking on a maid would only make her that much more jealous. As for a manservant, that was even less needed, as he was more than capable of trimming his beard and laying out his clothes himself. For everything else, he had eager military aides waiting around every corner to see to his needs, many of whom had their own manservants who could darn Hongjis socks or launder his clothes just as well as any other, so why waste coin hiring a servant for himself?

As if summoned by the mere thought of them, two young aides arrived with breakfast and tea, carrying the trays in as if theyd cooked everything themselves, when in reality they had their own servants do all the work save for these last few steps. Those same manservants busied themselves lighting the brazier and cleaning up around the yurt, a wonderful travelling domicile that made campaigning a hundred times more tolerable, as the leather warded off the cold far better than the thick canvas walls of his standard issue Officers tent. One of the servants even went so far as to make Hongjis cot, a wonderfully comfortable contraption of supple leather stretched over a sturdy cast-iron frame, all of which folded up for easy transport. Sleeping in the cot was like sleeping in a grassy hollow, neither too hard nor too soft and so functional it appealed to his simple and subdued nature. Other Brigadiers had whole squads of servants accompanying them out on campaign, but while Hongji enjoyed the luxuries of home, there were risks associated with getting too comfortable while out in the field.

Ah, he said, stopping one manservant in his tracks as he moved to tidy Hongjis desk. Only two roughly bound books, a used fraying brush, and a dried inkwell sat atop it, but servants to noble elites were nothing if not meticulous about keeping things tidy. Leave that for now. My own personal work you see, which Id rather not have anyone read.

The manservant simply nodded and puttered off to clean something else, while the young aides responded with understanding and enthusiasm as they lied through their teeth about how itd be an honour to hear him wax poetic, but he knew their hearts werent in it. They were here for one reason and one reason only, to be taken under his wing and hopefully nurtured into capable Warriors and outstanding commanders. That was the way of it with young Warriors whose families had plenty of wealth but were lacking in powerful connections, and there were few more noteworthy than Hongji himself these days. The two aides were not his first choice for protege by far, but they were neither lacking in ambition nor potential, so he took them on to give them a chance, as well as four others who were of more humble origins and were thus currently busy getting themselves fed and dressed. The advantages of wealth were not small in life, but he was determined not to allow these minor gestures get in the way of his final verdict of who to take on as his true successor.

That was yet another sore spot for Hongji of late, finding someone to inherit all of the lessons hed learned over so many years of service. It wasnt just about Martial strength or tactical acumen, but also his ethos and philosophy, for he had come so far based on merit alone, which in his opinion, should not be the exception, but the norm. If there was anything to be gleaned from the past few months, it was that there was no room for politics in the military. Much as he still respected Colonel General Shuai Jiao, Hongji was devastated to see the Living Legend fail to live up to standards and be the impartial hero Central and the rest of the outer provinces so desperately needed. Without Ryo Dae Jung and Mitsue Juichi to keep him in check, Shuai Jiaos true nature was revealed to all as he consolidated his power base in the aftermath of Bai Qis devastating siege, gathering allies and subduing enemies with a wanton lack of his prior magnanimity. The people of Central were either with Shuai Jiao or against him, an ultimatum delivered not in so many words, but in actions which spoke much louder. Merchant companies were forced to kowtow to Marshal Yos demands while Officers were denied rewards and promotions if they failed to swear fealty to their Commander General, with the unspoken implication that they were all expected to obey his commands above all others, save for the Emperor or those who spoke in His name.

A move to set himself up against Legate Falling Rain, anyone with eyes could see as much. Even if backed by an Imperial Family, Hongji could not for the life of him understand why Shuai Jiao could not bring himself to work alongside the Legate, for hed proven himself time and time again to not only be a commander and Warrior worthy of admiration, but also a man willing to compromise and make allies of former enemies. Even Situ Rang Min sat firmly in the boys camp now, driven there by circumstance but never made to eat crow for his failures and even elevated to a position of no small importance. The former Clan Patriarch was now second only to Marshal Yuzhen in terms of political and mercantile powers of the North, and no slouch when it came to military power either, having clawed out a place for himself in the hierarchy of factions after his fall from grace not even a year past. If Shuai Jiao were to approach the Legate with a willingness to cooperate, then Falling Rain would have welcomed him with open arms and likely given the Commander General everything hed already claimed for himself and more.

Which perhaps was the crux of the issue, for much like Hongji himself, Shuai Jiao had arrived at his lofty heights based on merit alone, but alas, he did not seem too keen on allowing others to follow in his footsteps.

A shame Shuai Jiao had not seen fit to try and win Hongji over to his camp, for there were many things he wouldve liked to say. Thankfully, the Legate smoothed things over without having to resort to bloodshed, though to be honest, when Hongji heard tell of the Legates impending arrival in the Citadel, hed said a small prayer for the boy and Shuai Jiao both, for he was certain one of the two would not live through the night. One mountain cannot hold two tigers, but the Heavens were merciful and both men merely butted heads before agreeing to work together, though even Hongji was not so naive as to believe this was the end of it. No matter how he approached the matter however, he only saw one of two ways this could end; either this offensive would stall or fail and Falling Rain would return home in disgrace, or he would set out what he hoped to accomplish and return home with an unshakable foundation from which to rule no matter what Shuai Jiao did to oppose him. If the Legate could truly drive the Enemy out of the West, then he will have won over the hearts and minds of every man, woman, and child of the Outer Provinces in a way even the Emperor could not match.

Which in turn could give rise to another whole host of issues, but one problem at a time...

Answering questions for his two aides while enjoying his hot breakfast, Hongji put off discussing actual work until the rest of his aides arrived, for there were no pressing matters at hand which couldnt afford to wait. Outside his yurt walls sat Meng Sha, the second of four Western harbours the Imperial Army had retaken in a single night, and the new headquarters for the entire Western offensive. This meant that there were many storied Living Legends on hand to deal with the day to day minutia of military management, leaving Hongji uncharacteristically free these past two weeks to put brush to paper and write. A more difficult task than he expected, to put his thoughts into words others might read and understand, and he envied young Han BoShuis ability to turn a phrase into lyrical verse and paint a vivid picture in his readers minds with only a few strokes of the brush, an ability Hongji tried to emulate without success. Were those bound papers on his desk meant for his own perusal, he could hardly care less, for he was quite fond of scribbling poetry in his spare time for no one to read besides himself. Only rarely did he care to share his work, a mere handful of occasions over a lifetime of composition, so to make the jump and present what amounted to a full-fledged dissertation was something of a shock to say the least.

Once all his aides were readied and gathered, including the most promising of the bunch, Tam TaeWoong, Hongji stood from his chair and set out to make his rounds. Stopping at his desk to retrieve his notes, he held the two stacks of paper in hand and for a moment, considered feeding it all into the blazing brazier which was fast turning the yurt into a steam house. A waste of charcoal just to heat his breakfast, but Hongji couldnt muster up the will to stop the manservant in time. Now, those alluring flames offered him a different temptation, a chance to consign these literary atrocities to the flames and start anew, or perhaps give up altogether and never try his hand at it again, for anything worth doing was worth doing right, and he feared he lacked the capability to do this justice. What did it matter anyways? Who in their right mind would care to read about Hongjis Insights into the Dao? Though a Peak Expert by definition, he stood firmly in the rear of the pack, a Warrior of middling renown who stood out only because of his tactical acumen rather than Martial abilities. Almost any Peak Expert in existence could defeat him in single combat, for his speed, strength, agility, and reaction time were all lacking to say the least. His only saving grace was his unique Insights into the Dao which he used to create his own personal fighting style, wherein he formed his Domain into the shape of an Ethereal Palm to affect the physical surroundings, but even that wasnt impressive enough to warrant coveting. It was far from the most effective or efficient method of combat, overly reliant on the element of surprise and wholly lacking in raw destructive power, while being costly and draining to utilize for more than an instant. Though visibly impressive, he rarely won his fights with the Ethereal Palm alone, and it was not as versatile as it might appear, lacking any and all dexterity and resembling a hand only in image alone.

When he first tried to use the Ethereal Palm in a duel, his opponent had laughed and called it the Ethereal Flyswatter, which, loath as he was to admit, was a better interpretation of the skills function. It was a hammer strike of Chi that was spread out over a wide surface area, making it useful for battering weaker opponents about and keeping them at bay, but not so useful when it came to killing someone of equal or greater strength. That being said, the Legate had personally expressed interest in the Ethereal Palm, so much so that he carefully requested Hongji share his methods without applying any pressure or obligation. It was done in such a hesitant, roundabout manner, Hongji hadnt even realized what the Legate wanted until long after their meeting ended and he recounted the exchange to Min, whose eyes immediately went wide with excitement. He wants you to teach him! shed said, clinging to his arm with a vice-like grip as if afraid hed run away. Oh, imagine it now husband, you could be Mentor to the Legate himself!

All nonsense of course, as the boy already had a Mentor and a formidable one at that, the fierce and intimidating Lieutenant General Baatar, a successor to not one, but two Living Legends, Akanai and Nian Zu. Some even whispered that Baatar was the strongest of them all, due to an errant comment Akanai made about Baatars ability to easily dispatch Bai Qi. Having seen all three Warriors in action, Hongji wholeheartedly agreed, for though the Colonel General was a fearsome combatant few could match and Akanai on a level he could not even discern, if given the choice, Hongji would much rather fight either one of them than the Bloody-Fanged Wolf. There was something utterly unnerving about Baatars piercing blue eyes, a wild look within that promised death and violence to spare. It was far more than mere bestial fury, for as reckless as he might appear, his actions hinted at a core of iron discipline from which he would never waver, a fact which made him all the more fearsome. A crazed man is feared because he is unpredictable, but a sane man who could match that was far more terrifying to oppose.

With what?

Our scouts report Bai Qi is mustering an army in Pan Si Xing, Akanai declared, so casually one might think she was speaking about buying groceries on her way home rather than the Commander General of the Defiled forces. Im of a mind to send the pup out to take his head, but I would like you to go with him to keep him in check. So it would seem there was something to the rumours then, or Akanai believed her efforts were better spent elsewhere. In answer to his unasked question, Akanai gestured at one of the targets Hongji picked out and added, I will be leading the attack here, at Tian Zangli. Heavenly Funeral? This was just too much. Bai Qis head is a prize to be sure, but the pup can handle him well enough and will benefit more from the honour and glory. I will content myself with the head of the Mataram Patriarch instead.

This woman did not do anything by half measures, and he feared to ask who was waiting at Shi Bei, but she simply sat in silence and waited for his answer, which meant she was not yet ready to share. Regardless of what she intended, it was clear she had the means to feasibly accomplish her plans, so there was no point bringing up minor matters like terrain or travel time. Then I will offer Lieutenant General Baatar my utmost support, whatever that might be worth.

More precious than gold and diamonds, Akanai replied.

No titles in private friend, Baatar added, clapping Hongji hard on the shoulder while fixated on something only he could see, visions of slaughter and bloodshed no doubt. Not from a man who matched wits with Bai Qi and emerged victorious.

High praise from anyone, but it meant so much more coming from one of the stoic Bekhai, and Hongji felt his cheeks warming from the compliment. Before he could come up with a response however, Akanai interrupted and said, We will discuss the details in depth, but first, what brought you here to my doorstep?

Nothing of importance, he stammered, instinctively reaching for the notes before thinking better of it, and his movements did not escape her notice. Even knowing she was seven or eight times his age, it was still difficult to accept that he was standing before a senior, and his pride protested having to behave like a startled schoolboy before his teacher. Not enough to sway him from his actions however, so he simply swallowed his pride and explained, The Legate asked me to share my thoughts on my Martial Path and the Ethereal Palm in particular, and though I agreed to do so, it turned out to be much more difficult than expected. Ive no shame in admitting that Ive given up, and hoped to be rid of what I have by handing them over to you. When the Legate wakes, I will be happy to discuss the Dao to his hearts content, but I could not rest easy without handing these notes over to someone for safekeeping. Shrugging, he adopted a stoic manner and stated in his most matter-of-fact tone, Nothing is certain in life except death.

To his surprise, everyone smiled upon hearing Hongji quote his father, but Nian Zu explained readily enough. Young Rain has a similar saying, only he adds, and taxes, at the end.

That got a rise out of him, and Hongji laughed without restraint. That certainly sounds like the Legate, both wise and fatalistic.

Do you mind if I read through this? Of all the people to ask, Hongji was surprised to see the fabled Great Teacher Du Min Gyu chomping at the bit to get his hands on the notes, already reaching over as he asked for permission while Akanais hand slammed down to pin the notes in place.

Of course, Hongji said, and then he froze as Akanai disappeared from in front of him and reappeared at the other end of the yurt, flipping through the pages like a woman possessed. So she wasnt just being respectful of his privacy, but also keeping the notes so she could read them first, and he could not for the life of him understand why.

Grumbling in disappointment, Du Min Gyu glared daggers at Akanai before heaving a helpless sigh. Hmph. A woman her age should give way to her juniors, but some manners can never be taught.

As he turned to reach for a chest behind him, he was beat to the punch by Baatar who offered the Central hero a passing nod of commiseration, his smile so full of mirth and lacking in bloodlust it almost seemed out of place. This is for you, he said, removing a stack of papers so tall he needed both hands to bring it out of the chest, with more still waiting within as he pressed them into Hongjis hands. You will have to memorize it all here, as it is not safe to make copies just yet, but it is not so difficult once you pick up the boys trick. No need to read the page in its entirety and memorize the words themselves, simply commit the image before your eyes to memory and you can read it whenever you like.

Blinking in confusion, Hongji stared at the papers and back at Baatar, for he was the only one still paying him any mind. The others were busy committing Hongjis notes to memory, passing them down one after the other like one of the Stonemasons assembly lines. What is this?

The notes we and many others have written regarding our respective Martial Paths. Turning to stare beyond the wall at what Hongji could only assume was the Legates hidden location, Baatars features relaxed as he smiled in the most calm and peaceful manner Hongji had ever seen from the man save for the recent New Years celebration which coincided with the Legate awakening from his coma. My son has grand dreams, ones my Mother shares. Where she sought to spread the teachings of the Martial Dao to the people of the Saints Tribulations Mountains, the boy now seeks to do the same for the rest of the Empire. He has not yet given voice to this particular aspiration, but we all know him well enough to see what he intends. He has written his own primer as well, there at the end, though you should take care when reading it as his perspective is rather unique and difficult to follow at times. For example, he opens with a statement regarding a powerhouse, and it took some time before we understood that he was using the term not to denote a powerful faction or individual, but instead as a synonym for a source of power.

Taking a moment to steady his breath, Hongji stared at the papers before him without daring to blink, for within these pages sat a wealth of knowledge no amount of coin could buy. These were the experiences of some of the strongest Warriors of this time, so to read their personal notes was akin to becoming an unofficial Disciple. Hardly a fair trade, his experiences for theirs, not to mention a priceless look into the mind of the Legate who defied all common sense. Were he to study these notes, he would undoubtedly uncover a weakness which could be used against them, which showed just how much they trusted him. Allowing him to read this was the same as giving him a dagger to hold over their heads, and they didnt even bother to ask him for an Oath.

A gift too precious to accept, Hongji said, holding fast to his conviction and pushing the papers away before he could read them. I appreciate the gesture, but I could not rest easy knowing I have taken advantage of you so.

If anything, we are the ones taking advantage of you. Cackling as he looked over Hongjis notes, the famed Sanguine Tempest seemed more crazed than fierce, the glint in his eyes approaching madness. Your Ethereal Palm? The boy, he believes it to be an advanced form of Domain Plating, a skill which thus far can only be learned, but not taught. However, Ive barely scratched the surface of your notes and already have an inkling of where to proceed, and yet you say you have taken advantage of me? To think that a talent like yours could languish in mediocrity for so long... Pei! Between the two of us, you are far more worthy of the title Great Teacher than I, a fact I will proudly admit to all.

He is correct. Nodding as he pushed the papers back over, Baatar promptly added a second pile beside it, followed by a third and a fourth. The Brotherhood believes strength is a poor measure of progress along the Dao, and I have recently come to agree. Even among Divinities, your mastery of Domain Plating is exceptional, it is only your ability to apply it that is lacking. For example, rather than a direct attack, have you tried condensing it in a similar manner to how Brother Du uses Wind Chi, targeting the ears to deafen your foes and throw them off balance?

Its not as easy as simply condensing the attack, Hongji replied, happily accepting a cup of tea from the fearsome Husolt, only to cough as he discovered it was a cup of wine instead. Matching the hulking mans grin, he nodded in thanks and set to discussing the Dao with Baatar, while Nian Zu, Du Min Gyu, and Akanai listened in. Gratifying as it was to be taken so seriously, it was even more gratifying to learn, for this single discussion with so many great minds helped him find where to place his next steps along the Martial Path.

This was the Legates dream, a world in which Martial Warriors shared their experiences rather than hoarding their secrets like gold, and while there were risks associated with openly sharing their methods, there were many benefits to be had as well. So many that Hongji did away with his initial intention to choose only one successor out of all his military aides, for so long as he was willing to put in the time and effort, then there was no harm in taking all of them under his wing and instilling them with not just his tactical acumen, but his morals and ethics as well. A matter for later however, as he spent the rest of the afternoon parsing through those notes and progressing leaps and bounds along the Martial Path, and while he was still no match for Bai Qi, perhaps he would have a few new surprises to unleash against the Enemy in Pan Si Xing.

Hopefully effective ones at that, for from the looks of things, they would need every bit of help they could get and more...

Chapter Meme