177 The ending of an Era [part 1]

 They were all there now, the whole of the Twin Hammers. They had assembled in their regiments, banners flying, tents up and the siege was in full swing. Tangun was completely locked down, both by water and by land. Any troops coming from across the border were intercepted and either detained or sent packing, their tails between their legs.
Most civilians had also fled, but a few die-hards remained. They were invariably tied to the Mu in some way, usually financial.
Second Master had arrived. He had left Yiran in the capable hands of the apothecaries. She didn't know where she was and was being kept under heavy sedation. He couldn't bare to watch as she thrashed about, screaming and calling for her children. It was from these screams and shouts, he had been able to piece together what probably had happened.
Yiran had taken the two children up to Niao's house in the hills above the forge. Both children had been told to be extra careful, but the youngest was only four, and she was inquisitive. Without realising, she had led a couple of men to her house and the rest, as one would say, was history.
Yongle had listened to it all and couldn't take it any more. He realised he would be more productive on the front line in Tangun even though he wanted desperately to stay with his wife, but.....
He had left that day and took a ferryboat up the river to the outskirts of the town, where he met up with Băo and Xin.
"Tell me, what's happening right now?" Second Master called out as he stopped to pay the ferryman. He looked up and smiled towards the pair of them, standing on the quayside. "Good to see you both by the way. I should have said that first. And alive and presumably uninjured?" they nodded warmly, "that's even better. Hate to lose you two." With that he stepped off the boat and walked up to Băo, arms open. They gave each other a hug of deep kinship, "brother!" He turned to Xin, "You too, come here, sister-in-law, I want a hug from you, too."
Once hugs and introductions were complete, they got down to serious chatter as they walked to the tent, arms looped across shoulders.
"Yes, Niao is here, off somewhere, following one of her hunches. She'll come back with something she's killed." Xin shook her head and laughed, "when she first arrived, she came with a large group of released men, women and children she just happened to free on her way." Xin laughed again, "she never ceases to amaze me. Give her those twin knives of hers and she will achieve anything."
"I have a message for her from Hao. I'll pass it on when I see her," he turned round only to see the wanderer return with a medium sized deer slung over her shoulders. "Talk of the devil, here she comes." Calling out to her, "what's this? A celebratory meal for my arrival?"
"Pardon?" She'd been in that far away world of hers and not taken much notice of the three as they stood by one of the kitchen tents.
The following morning, Second Master assumed his position as head of the Twin Hammers, and called a meeting of all the heads of regiments and battalions. General Li and General Lui Xian stood at the head of the tables with Second Master.
"Gentlemen, I've called you together so as to discuss our tactics for clearing the Mu and their militia out of Tangun and back where they belong; their own territory." He looked around the room, "suggestions?"
The discussion deepened and plans began to form. The sweep would start in the outer suburbs to the north of the town and work through the streets, pushing anyone who didn't belong out the door. It was agreed they would go door to door and check every where. This was going to be a thorough sweep which, if done well, wouldn't need redoing later.
"So," Second Master reiterated, "we sweep in an arc, using this camp as the centre of that arc. We sweep southwards, flanking them, here and here," he pointed to the northerly aspect of the area and westerly, along the back edge of the town and into the countryside beyond. "I'm thinking we do have the manpower to do this, but I would like to use the Blades as the outliers." He looked towards the Blade leaders, who all nodded in agreement. Second Master nodded in acknowledgement." Good, their stealth and speed can work these outer edges whilst the rest of us, do the main job of flushing the rats south to their own border.  If they bolt in any direction we do not agree with, shoot to kill."  
The plan seemed foolproof, but what they hadn't counted upon was the planted Mu soldier who had been serving in their ranks for some time. He had listened in on their decisions and was now racing to relay that to the head of the Mu army, who sat at the border, with all his troops, ready to go to war.
 

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