65 Arrival

We had arrived at our destination. Some town on the edge of beyond. When we came to the gates, the mists from the mountains hung heavy and a fine drizzle fell.

I'd never been to this area before but I could see the mountains were steep and unforgiving, the surrounding land, flat a fertile. The people eyed us suspiciously as we progressed into the town, through those imposing gates.

Inside it was a typical town, with houses lining the streets and people crowding to see what had been dragged in this time.

Hao Yang's father led the procession full of his self importance and carrying the red scroll from the Emperor and his seal. 

The train came to a stop at the furthest outpost of the town. Here the buildings were less decorated, less inviting; this I presumed was where we would be garrisoned.

A man came out in full armour, which dripped with rank, "You have arrived," he said in a condescending manner, "any incidents on the way?"

"None Commander Zhang, it was an easy journey. No losses, no interruptions in our travels." Our illustrious leader, Old Master Chen replied, holding out the scroll and seal in front of him. Why did I get the impresson he was not looked upon with much friendship, in fact I would go so far to say these two men did not enjoy each other's company what so ever.

"I hear you have both your sons with you? What ranks have they attained?" The commander sneered at him, it was obvious he gave none of the Chens face .

There was much coughing and blustering on Old Master Chen's part, desperate to cover up his heated demotion of his youngest. It was Second Master who spoke, "Yes, we have both come. I am a Master Bladesmith and am looking forward to working with your masters in their Smithies. My younger brother Hao Yang is a Detachment Officer. He too is eager to work with others of his rank as are the other detachments."

Commander Zhang seemed impressed by these words, "Certainly Young Masters, it seems we have potential here." Turning, he beckoned us forward. "Come, let me take you to your section within the garrison. It isn't pretty but with work I am sure you can bring it up to scratch."

We looked around at the almost derelict buildings, "Its been some time since we had a visiting House, so please excuse the dusty state." There was a slight grin on his face when he said it. I have a feeling this was a silent slap in the face, he wished to give Old Master Chen; not popular, not wanted and taken only under orders.

It took several weeks of dirty, hard work but the buildings were coming together. Needless to say the first to be completed was the Old Master's place, who, I noted, did nothing to contribute to the work. Instead he brooded in a one of the tents awaiting his rooms to be completed. 

Still complaining and making his displeasure known to all around, he and his servants retired to their rooms much to everyone's relief and delight.

The atmosphere lightened and the soldiers set about creating somewhere they could live which was not under canvas all the time.

It was agreed the field tents would remain and be the main sleeping and living quarters mainly because they housed so many and needed no renovation. 

Two of the buildings became the mess hall and kitchen, and another, the map room and campaign planning suit.

I didn't belong anywhere, so took my bundle and left. 

Hao Yang watched me go. I felt sad but this was right. In a piece of quick thinking by Second Master, Hao Yang had been reinstated and had a group of men back which he could train in methods he had learned and used.

Xin Yi was in the town already, at a milliners once more. Her sewing skills were good and she was hired immediately. She was given space in the dormitory there and was fed twice a day.

Xin Yi had one other job though and that was to collect gossip, information, which would be casually tossed around as both workers and customers, 'spread the word' in idle chatter.

Wáng Bǎo was from the catering core, so, acting in a similar vein, left the garrison in hunt of work in a street café. The aim was to earn a living but also to gather gossip from a different source. 

It also meant he could see Xin Yi and they could spend time together. These two seemed to be gelling into more than just work-partners. I grinned to myself and was pleased for them. 

Me? Well my job was to leave the town and settle in the foothills outside, gathering information on the terrain, the mountain pass we were covering and the waterway which snaked through it. There were people who lived outside the walls; so were they friends or would they side with the opposing army?

In this area settling on both side of the pass was normal and the ethnic mix was apparent. 

In some families there had been intermarriage, a wife from the north to a husband from the south and vice versa. So where would their loyalties lie? Hard to tell but the more we knew the better.

I was also interested in the surrounding hills. They were stark and forbidding, but their colours were unbelievable. Truly mesmerizing.

Heading out, I looked up. The mist was lifting and the hills came into full focus. The dampness had sharpened the colours: I had never experienced such a landscape. The pinks and whites and yellows of the rock formations as they pierced the sky. The shifting sands of reds and a dusky blue, it didn't seem real. What on earth would live in this hell?

I was told not to stray far from the town as this was indeed a formidable place. The only water was the river coursing through the mountain pass and the oasis which had surfaced and the town subsequently grew up around it.

Artesian wells could be dug, but the shifting sands filled in the work faster than the work could be done.

Apart from the rivers then, what managed to thrive out here?

There was little cover. Just miles of multi-coloured sands and large sand slips. 

I shuddered. I had to thrive out here. The question was, where?