Chapter 11 - FORTE-Bi

King was sitting in his jade work throne with empty impression; this throne was crafted by best artifact designer and was most expensive one with the work of jade and bronze. He sent his men to bring the famous artist to erect another statue of Ancestor with Jade Stone.

The artist was present he had designed many other bronze statue and works but jade was expensive and any mistake would incur the wrath of King yet he was not in position to deny either. He dismissed him with order then.

In order to secure Royal State of North, it was necessary to build forte wall, three troops of five hundred each under the command of King marched toward North.

It was raided by the north tribes which were not part of Kingdom.

Four States were under the jurisdiction Shang Kingdom and there many rebel tribes who were living independent without any jurisdiction and administration.

Shang Kingdom flourished under order of Shang Kings and farmers were courage to grow more crops and grains.

It was prosperous in terms.

Many new inventions made the development leaps and bounds.

Kingdom was responsible for the safety of civilians.

They pay taxes in order to support Kingdom.

Being prosperous was also threat, many enemies keep eye to attack and snatch resources especially who were not under any order.

In necessary times King himself would take army command and would lead his army. This was common idea, since General was missing so King was commander General of Army. Only General was on horse and common soldiers were walking in front and rare, their food and resources were on charts.

Fifty villages that bordered on north were always on threat and this affects crops greatly and it would result feminine for the whole area.

When they entered north section but food stealers sent by rebel tribes were creating havoc in villages, soldiers intervened and chase after them from villages and they build their long stay camps in the North.

Close to four thousand men were recruited for the construction work and they would work day and night to complete forteBi.

Its height 32 feet and bottom thickness would be 20 m or 65 feet while after seven meter height its thickness would be 7 to 9 m, it length cover area would be 7 km or it would run four mile around north, the basic design was affirmed by King himself.

The took one week to start construction, it was not easy to hire such huge amount of labor in short amount of time and assign them duties, nine watch towers were also designed on top of wall with measured distance for purpose of guard.

It was giant project; five hundred fully armed soldiers were stationed there to tackle any sudden situation by the other side.

Villagers were happy on this decision of administration.

Four thousand men were working day and night to build the wall.

Its foundations were dug deep for its durability. It was titanic project and many resources were used to create this miracle.

After staying two month at the north camp King went back to Palace but someone needed to be there so he sent for his son to talk about this matter, he was sixteen now and after all he would succeed his crown.

Wan Hu entered in his father's study after his permission.

"My son is growing big, I am glad to see you after these months, I have something for you to attend, North forteBi is under construction and now I am here there should be someone reliable to look into matters," wan Hu bowed his head in approval, "I will head toward North in the morning," King nodded and he came out.

He prepared and went to inform his mother.

Henan was sitting in the hall and Queen was talking about her routine or did she learn household? "Wan Hu pays respect to Mistress Mother," he came and greeted his mother.

"Wan'er my son since you happen to be here help mother to solve something," she said with a sigh. "Prince Wan Hu I also wanted," Wan Hu got anxious why both mother and Henan need help. "Say it mother I will try my best to help," what else he could say until the matter was unknown.

"Henan wishes to go North to see the construction of forteBi while I am saying that it would be impossible to send her alone, if King heard about it he would be angry by then, because is always concern her wellness, instead she should learn her embroidery and sewing, she should learn these thing before she get fifteen."

He can see helplessness in Henan's eyes, she can't tell anyone that she don't bother being girl either, what she wanted was to find her father. Henan spoke, "But the farmer women of north are master in best designing embroidery and I wanted to learn from them, she created another excuse, in reality she wanted to check the north to ensure that her father was not send in north to tackle Fang Groups.

"King ordered me to go and stay for few months in north in order to keep check of resources and I am heading tomorrow," saying this he looked at his mother and then Henan, both looked at him. "Queen Please," Henan pleaded with innocence, Queen was worried that despite being around eleven years old, Henan was still behaving like child, she should know that at fifteen she would be betroth to someone.

But she can't strictly force her to do anything because five years ago Henan was more unreasonable than this, when she heard that her father was missing.

She could only coax her to do something of her benefit can't force.

"Mother I can settle things for Henan if you wish?" "Then handle carefully, I will talk to King," Queen concluded after long objection of Henan.

Why Queen could not force her, it was due to her guilt she thought that to send General on dangerous mission without any precaution was ruthless decision for the future of little child of his and she was already motherless too.

She felt sympathy whenever she talked to Henan.

Her father was treasure for her and one careless decision snatched treasured father from her.

She always tried to console her but she was adamant to listen anything.