93 Moving Out

Midday arrived. All was ready,  it was just Senior Master Chen and he was being difficult. 
"But I don't want the soup, it tastes bitter." He pushed it away from his face making things very difficult for the attending physicians. How come he was awake already? Second Master shook his head, 'stubborn old coot'.
"Here," Second Master said, "give me that bowl." With an annoyed flourish his took the bowl and supporting his father's head so he couldn't move, "father, drink this. We have to move quarters today and it will be better if your nerves are calmed."
With that he held the bowl to his father's lips, and like a recalcitrant child, tipped his head back as he poured. The mouth automatically fell open and the liquid went in. "Swallow, father, or you'll choke!"
His father attempted to fight him,  but age, coupled with the first bowl effects administered several hours before, meant there was more strength with Second Master. 
He swallowed. 
"There, that wasn't so hard was it?" How many times had Second Master said that line in the past, and how many times had he seen that look come his way. Hatred.
Inwardly, he laughed,  his eldest was like this at eighteen months.
"Now, eat these sweet treats." He offered his father a small plate of pastries.
"Don't want them!" His father pushed them away.
'Yep, just like my eldest.'
"Have it your own way father, but I know you'll feel better if you eat one of these beautiful pastries."
With that, Second Master turned to the two attending physicians. "When will the calming effects fully kick in?"
"In about....."he heard an odd sound. Rapidly turning his head he saw the old man had slumped in his chair, out cold and gently snoring. "About now Sir." He said with slight, rye smile.
Second Master turned to leave,  laughing as he went. "Load him up and travel with him. He is not allowed to open his eyes until tomorrow when he will have had a good rest."
Second Master left chuckling to himself. 'Not only did I get one over on my father but we'll have peace until tomorrow.' Still laughing, he left his father's quarters to issue the orders. 
"Time to load up and move out."
Mounting his horse he did not look back. He did not take his leave of Commander Zhang and he did not regret the chaos they had left behind. The Mu would walk into a nightmare of laziness and mismanagement. It was their turn to carry the can.
The Chen army was returning home, but first it had to circumnavigate the approaching Mu army itself.
'Firstly,' he thought to himself, 'I have to tell the troops the truth, but I'll do that in a few hours when we've put distance between this place and us.'
"Forward, we have some distance to travel to get to our new quarters!"
With a gesture to the convoy, and a squeeze on his horses flanks,
"Move Out!"
'Then I'll tell them of the Mu army coming our way. I want to avoid confrontation. We'll need to leave the route and let them pass.'
He kept his fingers crossed those who he sent ahead would give them clear signals as to when and where they needed to hide.

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