161 Final push to freedom

 The battle in Chenxi had changed. Twin Hammers were advancing and the Mu garrison was emptying, like rats leaving a sinking ship. 

As they ran, they were mown down by arrows firing from hidden vantage points they couldn't, in their panic, counter. 

There was no escape. 

Some threw themselves to the water ways, only to find swords, blades and more arrows, ready to cut off their retreat.

There was little sound, just that quiet throng of bow strings, the slice of swords as they sliced the air, and screaming. Lots of screaming.

Then the Arrows loaded their cross bows, lit their flaming bundles and raising the bows high, lofted them into the garrison itself. Their aim? To destroy the whole construction. What had been built to control and conquer was to be burned to the ground in a show of force that reminded them who was in charge.

Men now fled, their clothing, their skin alight. The stench of burning flesh added to that of the garrison.  

The body count grew. 

Few of the Twin Hammers were lost, the operation had been meticulously planned and executed. Within two days what was left were rounded up and fed into the numerous armoured wagons which had originally been used to transport women, children and old men for sale at the slave markets. 

"Poetic justice to a ruthless army!" one officer was heard to say.

"Now what?" Xin asked.

"We head west towards Tanguin. Our scouts tell us there is trouble brewing and two groups of our men are already encamped in the area."

"Who's going east? There's many people waiting to return? I heard Madam Min has salvaged quite a haul and she has almost a village with her?" Bǎo looked at the commanding officer.

"You after the assignment? To be honest , you and Xin are far to useful here. We need as many Blades as possible for this final mission." He looked around, " Where's that scout? Bring him to me as soon as you find him. I want to let him know its safe to return."

"Sir."

"As to you and your Blades, rest well, we have a long journey ahead if we are going to get to Tanguin 

 

Madam Min was watching the river. The body count was increasing and useful goods were now a thing of the past. Looking west she saw the first signs of smoke in the region of what was the dhopping district of Chenxi. She smiled. ' Maybe it'll soon time to go home, what's left of it.' 

Standing up she turned to the children. "Shall we explore further up the hillside?" Taking two of the youngest ones by their hands, she turned to three of the women, "We're taking the little ones further inland so take everything you can carry. We are breaking camp and moving away from here." They nodded and set about rounding the children up and gathering their belongings.

"You." Madam Min gestured, "I want a detail together. Move the entire camp away from the water's edge but stay away from Chenxi. Its still not safe to go west. We will know when the time is right." 

He nodded, "Yes, Ma'am."

Turning to another group who had, up until now, been pushing the bodies out towards the sand banks, "Pull the bodies up, remove arrows if there are any and then burn them. There really are too many for the waterways to absorb now, and we don't want to pollute itany further. Let's face it, we'll be fishing here some day soon."

Another nod and a separate detail began clearing the bodies from the water. They were coming thick and fast now, some charred, some cut and some still carrying the arrow which had sent them to hell. They would burn well. Chenxi would see this and send someone to investigate even if her scout had been detained or killed. 

Madam Min looked once more to the west and smiled. It was coming and she would be able to return to what was left and begin rebuilding, one shop at a time. She had salvaged plenty. Patting herself on the thigh in a gesture of pleasure, she turned from the river one final time and started barking orders, whilst swinging her arms with numerous children swinging off them. 

 

Second Master looked at the men. 

"Those who want to stay move to my left," he gestured with his hand, "those who still wish to go home, to my right," again gesturing. There were no restraints now, the men moved slowly and methodically. Second Master could see many moving, with their heads down, weighing up the pros and cons of their decision. Some started moving to return, but changed their mind part way, shifting direction voting to stay. Others began walking in the other direction and, often with tears in their eyes, changed direction and joined the group to go home. It was interesting. That group, the return group, was small, maybe a hundred out of the six hundred remaining.

Second Master nodded. "This is your decision. I will give you tonight to come to a final choice and I will ask you again at first call." 

A murmur went round the men. Some nodded, others stood with their heads down absorbing the enormity of their decision.

"Those who choose to stay will be given the Twin Hammer brand" he paused, and revealed his, on his right chest muscle. Closing down his armoured breast plate and securing it in place, he continued addressing the men. "Together with this you will receive a second one, a small letter "R" standing for Restorations. This will mean you will work alongside members of the Twin Hammers and others to rebuild what has been destroyed. It will entitle you a bed, regular meals and a small wage. After five years you will be entitled to marry and settle down if you so wish. You will be given freedom to be part of the Chen, Shipao or the Lui provinces, whichever is your preference. If you are caught breaking the law, then you will have your branding obliterated and be sent back to Mu territories, to face whatever fate awaits you."

He paused and allowed this to sink in. They would have to accept branding but it would be as part of the Twin Hammers. They would gain their freedom in five years. It was a lot to process.

"For those who have chosen to return to your homeland, you will be escorted back to your frontier and handed over the the garrison there. What happens after that....." His voice trailed off and he shrugged. "Now gentlemen, go back to your tents and consider what is on offer." Second Master looked at the men assembled and smiled a genuine smile. With one final sweep of the audience, he said, "choose well. Think long and hard about your decision. This is perhaps the most important one of your life."

Slowly, the men filed away already talking, thinking, coming to conclusions only to reconsider them over and over. Yes, this was the most important decision of their lives and they wanted to be sure, absolutely sure.

Second Master turned to one of his Sargeant at Arms, "there won't be much sleep tonight. Double the watch, shoot to disable anyone who runs."

"Sir."