170 Reunion

 The fight in Tangun had been going well. The ghost soldiers, dragging their swords on the cobbled streets had left a lasting impression on the public and soldiers alike. People were seen bolting their doors at night, only to pack up and flee to the outer suburbs during the day. The centre of Tangun, once a thriving market place, was now a ghost town.

The Blades deployed each of their three packs independently, operating in separate parts of the town. One targeted the wealthy district, setting small fires, walking with flaming branches, swords clattering, moans loud enough the scare the gentry.

Another went to the retail district where stores of food, clothing and jewellery were housed in small warehouses. The owners lived above, now so scared they did not open their storefronts.

The final pack focused on the dock area, collapsing wharf infrastructure, sinking small vessels and sending boatmen into the water. Poles were mysteriously broken, boats drifting down river, still with cargo on board. Their aim was to cause as much mischief as possible, leaving bits of blooded fabric, signs carved into wood, daubed signs of the Twin Hammers on warehouse doors.

The men were freaked by it all and left as fast as they could.

Slowly, the whole commerce of the town was collapsing, civilians had left and all was left was the Mu who now became the targets.

It was during one of these routs that a new road was uncovered. It was narrow and shabby, not one of the main thoroughfares they had come across before, but it seemed by the lights, as to a popular centre of recreation.

Signs had been hastily painted; Watering Hole, Resting Views and another Pleasure Palace. 

Bặo and his pack approached the back of the Watering Hole. As expected, it was a place where the soldiers and mercenaries gathered to drink and gamble. They watched a group as they played Go, each game lost costing the loser a silver ingot. Other men watched, jeering at losses, patting winners, only to persuade the winner to "buy a round of drinks. The drinks are on him!" and everything gained went straight over the bar into the hands of a very lecherous man, who delighted in the money, even if he was a little apprehensive of their anger. "What do you mean you're running low on wine! Get some more if you value you hands!"

Sir, Sir," he said as he ran backwards into an ancillary room. Bặo watched, even in his agitated state, tip what smelled like vinegar into a bottle and returned to the bar.

"Is this all you got!" someone shouted as he spat out the liquid. Bặo heard a thud as the man took a slap to the side of his head and landed against the counter. "Bring something decent or you with lose this place and your life as well!"

The man ran again, this time, blood dripping from his head. He entered the ancillary room and pulled up a jar, unopened, bearing the hallmark of The Emporium, Madam Min's hostel in Chenxi. One of the men noticed and pointed it out to Bặo who nodded. The man was scared and this was the good stuff no doubt stolen from Chenxi, sold in Tangun and being drunk by the very men who had stolen it.

They'd seen enough. Bặo signalled for the men to with draw and they moved further along the back alley to Resting Views. This, they presumed was a whore house, a mix of dedicated courtesans and enslaved Chenxi women. They were right. Men lazed on beds as women drifted around them in scant clothing, pouring more wine into their mouths and eyeing their pouches for money. Women, with even less clothing, danced hypnotically as the men grew restless in their loins. Some men smoked on pipes given to them by their appointed lady. When they were considered 'ready', they were escorted through a side door for fun and frisking.

Again they moved on. 

Pleasure Palace, a name which should conjure rich fabrics, fabulous wall hangings, draped windows and the smell of opulence which follows the rich. 

This was none of this. The place looked dirty and the smell, a mixture of body fluids and sweat. They watched as the drunken man, high on more than just alcohol, was taken through to a room. It was the same one they had watched being escorted to a side door. 

The woman who had lead him there, came out of the room with a few ingots of silver in her hands. She grinned as she walked, unaware she was being approached from behind. 

Without making a sound, Bặo reached forward and grabbed her from behind, placing his hand over her mouth. She was so startled, she didn't initially resist. Struggling now, she tried her best to break his grip, but he held her tightly and the more she struggled the tighter the hand became. In the end the fight left her and she hung limply against his chest. Not trusting her, he nodded to his men who tied her arms behind her back whilst another placed straps around her knees and ankles. They picked her up and dragged her off like a roll of carpet.

Xin and her pack were busy. They had scared most of the rich neighborhood into total surrender. In their compounds they could be heard chanting to the gods for protection. One of the men threw money for the dead over the wall. Screams and panic could be heard as they fled indoors.

She drew signs on their courtyard doors and left to terrify the next.

By the time she had completed her night vigil of this area, she was grinning from ear to ear. Her pack and she sat down at the edge of the safe zone and lit a small fire to make tea in celebration. This was the final area of the wealthy, and they, like all the others would be leaving tomorrow.

"Who attached that dead dog to the courtyard beam?" she muttered with amusement, "nice touch!"

"Me Sis, saw it and thought it would add to the cat Six had found earlier." He grinned. They had played all night and to be honest, had come across no opposition.

"I think playtime is over. Time to get down to business and start the eradication of those Mu dogs." They all looked at Xin. She was right. They had played a good game and the general public were so scared they were packing up and moving to the countryside. It did mean whoever was left was the enemy and an easy target.

Xin suddenly felt a tightness, like a band round her temples. She stopped. The men looked at her. "Are you alright, Sis?"

Xin had gone pale and was holding her head. It felt like she had been stabbed, "Bặo!" she looked toward he others, horrified, "something's happened."

Scuffing the fire out and collecting all their bits and pieces, they headed towards the centre of the town, where Bặo and his pack were working.

 

Second Master looked around the remnants of his beloved Chenxi. It was going to take time to rebuild, but he knew they could, and would! Word had reached him of the refugees gathered to the east of the forge. From what he could fathom, they were in the capable hands of Madam Min. They had gathered together women and children as well as the remnants of the seventh infantry who had valiantly attempted to hold Chenxi against the might of the Mu soldiers and mercenaries.

He understood the original plan setup by old man Mu; remove the Chen army from Chenxi, enter the town and surrounding areas and ransack them for anything valuable. Once again he cursed his father, ' if you had kept your buttons done up, this would never have happened.'

Looking around it was clear he was superfluous to requirements, so taking his two trusted Hammers, he prepared to set off in the direction of the forge, see what state that was in after so long and then continue to Madam Min. There had been reports, his wife had been found.

He was just on his way when two familiar figures came into view. Niao and his brother!

His face brightened and started toward them.

Breathless, the two saw him and continued their jog toward him. "Brother!" He hugged Hao with all his might. His brother was still alive and, looking to Hao's left, he saw the diminutive figure of Niao. "I am so pleased to see you both, I honestly didn't dare hope you would still alive." He looked from one to the other, "Yiran?"

Niao nodded, "Yes, she's safe, and with Madam Min. We left her to recover, she is very traumatised by all she's been through."

Second Master looked worried, "Is she alright? I must get to her. What about the children?"

Hao took his brother by the arms and looked directly into his face, "Both of the children are lost. We haven't been able to find out what happened because Yiran hasn't spoken since we found her. She either screams and cries or becomes blank, emotionless. There is something she cannot tell us, but one thing is certain, she needs you."

The initial happiness left him instantly. War was a dreadful thing. Bad enough for those who were the fighters, the soldiers, the comrades, but the bystanders, the men and women who did not fight, those who were the unfortunate ones who sat and took the brunt of the aftermath...... His mind raced. What had she had to go through whilst he was fighting this non-war? He hated his father with renewed vengeance. Not only had the man caused this war, but he now had killed the very children who would inherit the estates he had clung to in life. His grandchildren!

"I must get to her. We were just leaving." He turned to look at the two Hammers behind him. "We move right now. You prepared for a jog as far as the forge?" They nodded, "then we go. I will continue onto where Yiran is, I must see her."

"We understand, Sir. We'll go to the forge and bring it back to life. We will need it to be functional as soon as possible."

Niao and Hao turned and headed toward Chenxi. What they saw surprised even them. Men were preparing to leave to fight in Tangun, whilst others were already hunting the final few Mu, rounding them up and sending them to the General, who had taken up residence in the remnants of Chen Manor.

Hao quickly fell into his role as logistics manager, pulling together inventory lists, soldier numbers and distribution, available kitchens and cots. 

Niao found herself redundant. Then it hit her like a wave. She sensed Xin and she was experiencing an emotional explosion, the like of which Niao had never registered from her before. She looked around. Seeing some Twin Hammers men, she went over to them. "I need you to give a message to General Chen, Hao Chen. Can you tell him his wife is heading to Tangun, something has happened to my sister, Xin."

The men looked confused. They'd never met Niao in person, only heard about her. "Who are you Miss?" one of the asked.

"Niao. My name is Niao."

They looked at each other. This tiny, skinny creature, dressed in skins and carrying two curved blades at her belt..... they stopped, then looked at each other. So this was the ruthless killing machine? Somewhat in awe they stepped back. Niao looked on in amusement. "You recognise the name?" She paused as it sunk in, "no, I'm nothing like how you imagined, am I? Never mind. Please pass on the message, its very important. You'll find him in knee deep in scrolls somewhere, organising the rebuilding of Chenxi."

"Yes, Ma'am." They both looked at her differently now. So this was the one they had reports about on the front line? They went away muttering to each other. Niao grinned, 'I do hope they let Hao know.' With that, she returned to the barracks, collected the bundle, told another guard who promised to pass on the message, and then left. It would be a long jog but she was used to it. Across the two bridges, onto the forsaken island of snakes, follow the river round and hope there was a ferry or boat to get across the river.