Departure

Chen Mo carried the thank-you gifts and pushed open the door. He Ma Guan was inside, comfortably puffing on his pipe. Seeing Chen Mo enter, he instinctively rose to greet him.

If it had been before, he wouldn't have bothered. But now Chen Mo was one of General Sun's personal guards—far above him in rank and status.

Even though Chen Mo still treated him with considerable respect, he didn't dare take Chen Mo lightly.

"Master He, just sit. I'm no stranger here." Seeing him stand, Chen Mo quickly urged him back down.

"I've relied on your care all this time in camp. I know you have a sweet tooth, so I bought you some sugar pastries."

He laid out the gifts one by one on the table, finally unwrapping the paper packet holding a catty of tobacco.

"And I got you a catty of fine tobacco too. I don't know good from bad—try it and see how it is."

He Ma Guan nodded, tapped the ash from his pipe bowl, and packed himself another load.

"Not bad." His expression showed satisfaction, though inwardly he felt a twinge of regret.

No matter how he looked at Chen Mo, he found him excellent—except for one pity: he couldn't take him as a disciple.

"Once I leave this time, I doubt I'll get many chances to come back and see you. Actually, Ding Bao's not bad—it's just that he's too straightforward and doesn't think things through.

Don't hold it against him that he sold horse manure behind your back before. With his brains, he really couldn't have thought that far." Chen Mo reasoned.

He could tell that ever since He Ma Guan found out Ding Bao had hidden the manure sales from him and Ma Cai, he'd been nursing some anger toward Ding Bao.

That was understandable. Ma Cai hiding it was one thing—he hadn't been around long. But Ding Bao had been with him over two years and still kept it from him—that was what stung.

With himself and Ma Cai leaving, Ding Bao would have to stay and tend the horses. For the sake of Ding Bao having helped him out, Chen Mo decided to persuade He Ma Guan to let it go.

He Ma Guan took a long drag on his pipe and said nothing.

He knew Chen Mo was telling the truth. Ding Bao was simple and honest—he never would have thought of selling horse manure on his own.

"Keep an eye on him from now on. On his own, he won't stir up any real trouble." Chen Mo urged.

"I hear you. I'll keep a tighter rein on him from now on." He Ma Guan thought it over for a long moment before speaking slowly.

He'd originally planned to have Chen Mo take over his post, but that was no longer possible.

The two new soldiers—he'd seen them before. He knew what they were worth.

Good for grunt work and odd jobs, but expecting them to learn horse care and see him through to the end? Not a chance.

Ding Bao had made a mistake, sure, but he'd been with him for nearly three years. He'd picked up some of the trade by stealth.

And his character was decent. A straightforward nature was better than a bad one.

"Ding Bao! Get in here!" He Ma Guan exhaled a puff of smoke, stood by the window, and shouted outside.

Ding Bao hurried in, head tucked like a startled quail.

"Today, for Chen Mo's sake in pleading for you, I'll let the matter of you and Ma Cai secretly selling horse manure slide." He Ma Guan said, his old face stern.

Ding Bao looked utterly confused. Hadn't this already blown over? Why was his master scolding him for it again today?

"Kneel and kowtow. I'm taking you as my disciple today!" He Ma Guan added.

Though Ding Bao had no idea why he was being scolded, he dropped to his knees at once.

If he could truly become He Ma Guan's disciple, he'd learn his horse-keeping skills and eventually become a horse officer in the camp.

Being a horse officer was a cushy job—good monthly pay.

Just the sight of He Ma Guan's daily bowl of sugar water was proof enough.

"You'll bear witness today. I'm taking this disciple." He Ma Guan looked at Chen Mo.

The reason he suddenly decided to take Ding Bao as a disciple was exactly this.

Chen Mo handled himself well and remembered favors. If he served as witness to the apprenticeship, then should Ding Bao ever turn unfilial, he could ask Chen Mo to help settle the matter.

"Alright." Chen Mo nodded, not refusing.

The apprenticeship ceremony was simple. In front of Chen Mo, Ding Bao kowtowed and offered tea to He Ma Guan, who drank it, officially accepting him as a disciple.

"Go tidy up the currycombs. Tomorrow I'll teach you how to brush a horse." He Ma Guan said. Since he'd taken the disciple, he'd have to start passing on some real knowledge.

How much and how well he taught would depend on Ding Bao's performance from here on.

"Yes!" Ding Bao's voice trembled with excitement, barely holding back from jumping for joy.

"Get lost." He Ma Guan waved him off with a look of frustration.

"I'll head back and pack some things too." Chen Mo added.

He stepped out of the barracks and saw Ding Bao waiting outside the door.

"Mo-ge, I really have to thank you this time. But there's nothing I can do for you." Ding Bao said earnestly. He wasn't sharp, but he wasn't stupid.

He knew that He Ma Guan agreeing to take him as a disciple had to be because of Chen Mo.

He truly wanted to thank Chen Mo, but he had no way to—he had nothing worth giving.

"If you want to thank me, buy a catty of pork head meat and treat me. And don't forget to get your master a proper apprenticeship gift." Chen Mo smiled and patted his shoulder.

"Alright, I'll do it right away." Ding Bao agreed, ready to follow Chen Mo's instructions.

Having said his piece, Chen Mo walked back to his own barracks and began packing lightly.

His belongings were few—the bedding and mattress weren't his to take. All he had to bring were a few sets of clothes and some odds and ends.

By evening, Ma Cai finally hurried back into the camp.

Taking advantage of an errand to dump manure, Ding Bao brought Chen Mo two catties of pork head meat and a gift for He Ma Guan as a token of apprenticeship.

After accepting the gift, He Ma Guan looked at his newly taken disciple with noticeably more favor.

The value or weight of the gift didn't matter; what he wanted was Ding Bao's sincerity.

After spending the night in the camp, Chen Mo woke early the next day, washed up, stepped out of the barracks, and began to stretch his limbs.

The sky was just barely light, still only the Mao hour. Converted to the time before his transmigration, it was roughly around five o'clock.

But with no entertainment at night in this era, most people went to bed very early, so they also woke very early.

On the training ground, a few soldiers who had passed the selection were already waiting. After another two or three quarters of an hour, the remaining soldiers trickled in one by one.

Since they had volunteered for the selection, they all wanted to escape their current situation, at least showing some ambition, so they took this matter very seriously.

"Standing around doing nothing won't help. Let's find a place to sit and wait," Chen Mo called out, then found a relatively clean spot and sat down.

After waiting for about half a Chen hour, as it neared the Chen hour, dust kicked up by galloping horses could be seen in the distance.

Mo Hu arrived first on horseback. The two personal guards who had come with him earlier followed behind, leading the other soldiers at a slow pace.

"Fifth Brother," Chen Mo said, stepping forward to greet him as he approached.

"You'll come with me. The others follow the rear team," Mo Hu said, dismounting to give his orders.