Diary 5.1
We are on our way to go back to the capital for five days now, and it is tiring. The distance from the border back to the capital is not even that long. If it is a single person traveling then they can get there in four days. But because our troop has a lot of soldiers, going slow is easier to manage. And because of that, after five days, we are only halfway there.
While marching, I was able to see for myself what Lai actually looked like. In the first two days of traveling, we went through mountains and rivers, only on the third day that I was able to see some farms and a few people. Even though we have so many soldiers, around five thousand I think, we tried to not disturb civilians' daily activities, and we did not abuse our power to steal stuff or cause any trouble.
The troop traveled all day except for a thirty-minute rest for lunch and dinner and slept for six hours. It was tiring, but I felt lucky to have some training a few days before, or else I would not have that much stamina to follow them. When looking at the soldiers, I was admired at how they didn't even break a sweat at all. I guess they are used to it.
Anyway, on the fourth day, we finally reached a busy city. Like all others, this one is protected inside a tower.
When we were in front of the city gate, the height and size of the walls were breathtaking to me. When we went inside, now I was able to observe what Lai is like. Right after the gate entrance, I saw shops and restaurants fill up on both sides of the street. The market was alive with people eating from big restaurants to small food carts. Some people were buying ingredients for the day, and they even have money for jewelry as well.
Seeing that, I guessed that at least in this city, civilians are living well and happy. When our troops entered the streets, as if they have done this many times, the civilians who were walking enter any shops to clear the path for us, and they still continue with their things without any worries.
Walking past the market, the street is now a separation line, the residence, where people live on the left, and the court and government department on the right. I think this is a very simple yet effective design of the city where people can get to both the market and the government department fast.
I thought that since we are soldiers, we would stay on the right side in the government department, but no. From a soldier that I have become friends with during our travels, that I still can not remember his name, he told me that we will have to individually ask to stay in civilian houses. I asked him, "Why? Is that how Lai works?"
"No. Actually, the city mayor has probably been preparing all day to welcome the general because, you know, of her background. She didn't like to be treated differently from other generals like her, and at the same time doesn't want the governor to get in trouble for not treating her well. So she decided that every time we stayed in a city, each of us asked civilians to let us stay for the night."
"That is very considerate of Long Dao," I was surprised to know that she is an independent individual. "But what would happen to the soldiers that couldn't find a place to live?" I asked again.
"For that, she said, 'Because of my decision that some of you might not have a place to stay if that happens, feel free to stay at an inn. Your room and food cost will be on me."
I was surprised again. "Well, that will cost a lot if most of us can't find a place. Her salary as a general wouldn't be able to support herself and all the cost if she doesn't want to use her family money," I was curious to see how a decision would sound as bizarre as that could really happen.
I want to dig deep to understand, not like many stories that 'oh, you know, we are able to pull that off and you don't need to know how to.' No-no-no. I won't allow that in my story. Mine has to be detail and logical. Everything needs an explanation, and this one too.
"Let me tell you this small story. We once stayed in a very small city, and because there weren't many houses for us to ask, almost all of the soldiers stayed at inns. Because the general is stubborn, don't tell anyone I say that, even though she had her family money, she didn't touch a coin and went to the loan shark nearby.
The general did that in secret and we happened to know when one of us saw her walking out of the loan shark shop. He was curious as to why the general came there because money should not be a problem for her. When he went in and asked for detail, he ran right back to the inns and told us about what the general did. We were so touched that we decided to combine our money and paid the loan shark. When the general found out about it, her face got red.
That was the first and the only sign of femininity that ever came out of her. After that incident, every time one of us could not find a place to stay, we would stay silent and sleep outside." he was smiling while having fun remembering.
"Dude, stop talking, or else I would think Long Dao is a goddess, and we are the noblest men in all of Lai," I joked.
"Haha," he laughed. "Well, it is time for us to part now. Hurry and try to find a place," the sky was getting dark.
"With my charm, I will find a place in no time." I confidently replied.
And… I should not have said that. I went house to house to ask but there was always a soldier that was already faster than me. Slowly, lights started to turn off and the people went to sleep.
I was panicking at then not because of having to sleep outside because we have done that for the past few days, but because I will have to sleep outside by myself. Now don't tell me that I am childish because I'm afraid of darkness even though I killed people. I know I am. You don't need to put more salt on the wound.
"I am not as noble as you guys are," I admitted to myself. "Soooooo… to the inn it is!"