I enter the meeting's tend as everyone's gathering, I notice Qin Luo looking around and smiling fondly as he catches a glimpse of me.
How much things have changed... I've always been with him since I departed from the Imperial Capital. First as a simple soldier and then as colleague Liutenants, standing beside eachother at every meeting. While now he is there as a Head General, with his own duties, and I am back here as a commander under another General.
-Let's begin now- says General Cai putting aside his over polished axe and coming toward the table at the center. General Tian takes out a letter and throws in on the table -We have been informed that a new Armada will join us soon, they're currently on their way here and should join us in less than a week. It's from this same region as us and was working one step behind us as they earned a lot of ground thanks to us opening a path for them... They're under General Wu-
A lot of murmuring goes around the hall, either because they know someone in there or because they feel proud of our work -Silence!- hits his hand General Cai on the table -This isn't the main reason why we're riunited here today- he looks toward me briefly before continuing -A new theory has arisen while investigating those weird occurrences- finishes Tian XuWen leaving some men to gulp down, anxious about what's to come -Ying Chuangzhu, come forward- and so do I, standing in front of the 3 men -Explain the theory-
-Yessir- I bow down and turn around to all the other men -I remind you all that this is just a theory for the moment but, I have a doubt that these men made of sand are remnants of the fallen soldiers- I can see everyone's pupils becoming smaller and the eyes popping out of their sockets -I happened to see one of them without the helmet before killing him, and he was that same enemy's man who recently committed suicide in our camp. But no emotions crossed his face nor life-
-How do we know it's not a sosia or a trick of the brain?- General Tian places an hand on my shoulder to stop me from replying myself -And that's exactly why we Head Generals came up with a strategy to prove this theory either true or false, go ahead Chuangzhu- -Mhn. We will behead every enemy's corpse left on the battlefield and display them behind the camp for everyone to see and remember their faces... Then we'll have to work together and try to capture those sand men alive and match them with the heads. Still, to avoid the possibility of them committing suicide before that, we'll have to remove their helmets right on the battery and hope someone recognize them-
General Cai nods in agreement -This strategy is indeed rushed and risky, as it may lead to nothing due to the tons of possible outcomes and obstacles... But it's the only one we have so bear with us, even if that means looking at dead heads everyday n throw up your breakfast haha- -Soldiers, you once sworn loyalty to this country and placed your trust and lives in our hands... Today we ask you to remember that vow and trust your Generals- finally says General Tian, finally earning a positive shout from the men.
-Well then, now we come to the last topic of today... As the General in charge of this Army I promote Miss Ying as a Liutenant General. She will be my second in command, capable of acting and taking decisions for the whole Armada in my absence-
I widen my eyes and turn to face him at these words -Sir, are you sure about that?- I ask, completely clueless as I didn't expect this. He rises his chin and places and hand on my shoulder -We're in your hands-
-Take care of us, Ying Tongjun!- all the men bows down, no matter the rank, being now all my men and subordinates.
...
-Man, that's... Unbelievable- He Rang's jaw drops and he finally seats down -How the heck are you almost a General in less than a year since joining the army? One normally spends his whole life as a soldier and doesn't even reach the Shuzhu rank-
-It's more than deserved- smiles Qin Luo while passing an arm around my waist -Haha man, talk about yourself! She's so strong that even General isn't enough- I cleanch a fist over the table -I'm not one who aims for ranks, but if that will make the men listen to me and keep on fighting then I'll take any role- -Well said- smiles again Qin Luo, creating a very awkward atmosphere
-Uhm... So... You two...- starts He Rang but Zhou hits him behind the ribs -Anyway, now we have that new problem to solve- finally says Xu Lei -Do you think it will work?- -Yes, even if it's just a couple of men it can still prove my theory- He Rang fidgets with his index fingers before speaking nervously -Do we really have to... I mean... Take the heads of the corpses? Doesn't that count as disturbing the dead souls?-
Zhou rolls his eyes at that sentence -As if we didn't kill them in the first place- -But that's different, war is a thing but what if their ghosts...- -Oh Shut up!-
-He Rang Ge, I will do anything if it means getting to end this war... Let those ghosts come and haunt me if so!- I tell him and he nods reluctantly -How... Do I do it tho? They're already dead so it's different than when fighting, there just one stroke is enough to behead someone...-
-You might not like it... There are a few ways to do it. You can lay down the corpse and hit their neck or throat with an axe if you have one, like with a chicken. Or you will need someone to hold the corpse for you if you want to use a sword and do it in one quick move... But if you find yourself in a situation where you need to take more than one, you might lay them out and use a saw to work on the bones- he covers his mouth with one hand and tries to catch back the gag reflex -I... Don't think I can do it...-
-Mhn... Well after that, you charge the heads on a cart and once you're back at the camp you need to help in displaying them. You'll have to take a wood stick and pass it through the throat, don't make it perforate the cranium tho or the head will slide down... Make sure to let the blood flow out before bringing them back, we want to avoid illnesses as much as possible. We'll burn their corpses as we're used to-
He turns green and begins gagging severely. I end up laughing at his reaction, we all face death everyday and yet he can be so sensitive -It's not funny Miss Ying... I'm really feeling sick- -Ah sorry sorry, I was teasing you too much I guess. Anyway, you don't have to worry about it... Unless you're more than ready for it, every other soldier is simply required to fetch the corpses and I will handle everything-
-Oh god... Oh dear gods above, I really felt my knees going weak...- he murmurs while laying flat on the table -Give me just a moment... I might faint-
-Come here you idiot, let her rest!- yells Zhou while Xu Lei takes him on his back and leaves the tend.
-Lai'Er... Will that really be okay with you? It surely is too much for you too- -They what am I supposed to do? Wait for a miracle to occurs and have them displayed overnight? Wars are ended only if you're willing to do everything necessary, even loosing your humanity... Anyway, Gege- I look at his arm -Don't let what we talked about the other day interfere with this war and our roles- he nods but his smile still doesn't dissipate
-Oh stop it...- I roll my eyes, feeling a smile aproach me to. Happy in seeing him finally able to smile like this, instead of feeling down, at any rude sentence of mine -Sure sure, Tongjun...-