173 Madam Min

 Min watched Second Master go up the hill toward his wife. She shook her head. 'I feel for him. I feel for her. She needs help otherwise she will not get through this ordeal.' She shook her head again, then, with resolve, ' this won't get the move done', she called the adults together for a meeting. It was time to move out and take everything they had salvaged back to Chenxi, ready for the rebuilding. She was under no illusions as to just how bad it would be.

They needed carts, wagons, anything they could muster to get them all back.

Assigning jobs to people, she sent them off to complete their tasks, then lifted herself off her chair and straightened her back. She was getting too old for all of this.

Slowly, she left the make shift hut and started the trek up the hill to where she knew Yiran would be sitting. She heard it before she saw it. Reaching into her apron pocket she pulled out a vial in preparation.

Yongle looked at her with obvious worry.

"Its alright, she gets like this. I have some tablets which I have been giving her to soothe her nerves. Niao gave them to me and told me to give her one each time she had a fit of screaming. She'll stop quite quickly and you can carry her back down the hill so we can put her to bed."

Yongle nodded. There was no Second Master in his posture, just a frightened man who, for the first time in his life, had no answer.

"Would it be better if she got to the apothecaries in Chenxi?" He asked.

"Well, yes. If you can get her there quickly."

"How long do these tablets last?"

"About six hours."

"So, if she takes it now, I can tie her to my back and start making my way back?"

"Yes, but are you sure you don't want to rest first?"

Yongle shook his head. "No, her welfare comes first. She is my wife, my life, everything I live for."

Madam Min nodded. "Then we get you prepared. I will give you some food and water in a small overnight bundle. When she wakes up, give her some water and another tablet. That will give you another six hour stretch. Hopefully twelve hours will get you most of the way. The last stretch you will have to do with her awake. She will be groggy so she wont struggle, but Hao told me she cries and moans a lot. Don't let her come truly awake. Tied to you, she will start reliving something and fight you."

"Okay."

Preparations for his immediate return began.

The three buildings burned with a ferocity Hell would have been proud of. Many of those inside died where they sat. The men, high on intoxicating incense only realised something was wrong when it was impossible to escape burning to death. The women ran with their clothes on fire; they were killed as soon as they left, burning on the veranda and adding to the fires. Men, carrying jars, money, anything they could, ran out of the drinking house, only to be met by a wall of men wielding knives and swords. Unarmed the men fell to their knees, begging to be spared. They were cut down where they trembled.

Băo had a look of death on his face. Each of the women was greeted by is blade. For what they had inflicted on his sister, he paid them back with a slow, lingering death, screaming in their agony. There was no compassion in him. As he allowed to be consumed by the fires which raged, he understood Xin and why she had reacted to those men in the Zhang Pass. 

Once it was done, he took a deep breath and let the anger pass. "Next," he said, looking at the men, we finish this job. We free Tangun with the rest of the forces, then we go home!"

There was a loud cheer from the men. Xin gave him a hug and they returned to their makeshift quarters on the edge of the town.

 

Hao sat, surrounded by paperwork, men, missives, scouts and requests. 

The latest was from Madam Min. He directed all available transport which could navigate the coastal route to dispatch to her immediately.

Next, he turned to the scouts and collected in all the latest intelligence; Mu movements, build ups and activities. He then directed groups of soldiers to either Tangun, or into the area up river from Chenxi.

 "We want no re-infiltration of troops. Set up out posts along the river and watch out for movements from the Mu borders. I also need information regarding the fight for Tangun. Send some scouts out as soon as you are established. I need to know how much longer is it expected to take and when will the troops be returning. Reparations will need to have this information ahead of time, so they can create basic barrack blocks for them to return to. They have had enough of living in tents, lets aim to give them something better.

Find the head of Reparations. I want reconstruction details as soon as possible. Let them know there will be an influx of civilians within a few days and they will be bringing a large number of children. We must have shelter for them which is suitable. Some of these children have never seen a real cot, let alone a proper room."

He turned to the apothecaries next. "You will get an influx of potential patients within days. Make sure you are ready." 

All nodded and went about their business.

"Steward?"

"Sir."

" If I am correct, my brother will be bringing his wife back here very soon. If I am correct, that could be with in the next day and a half. She is very sick and will need directing straight to the apothecaries. I want you to be responsible for the handover, okay?"

The steward nodded and went to the apothecaries to inform them of the latest, expected arrival.