Rebuilding Hundred Stars Village vs. conscription in Sunset City

The night slipped quietly by as the villagers slept soundly.

Before day had fully broken, villagers began rising and putting away their bedding, preparing to rebuild their homes. Hearing the commotion, the old village chief sat up too. After the long, arduous journey, he had slept more soundly the previous night than he had in a long time.

"Is it morning already?" Hearing the commotion, more villagers woke one after another. When they saw that even the old village chief was up, they hurried to put away their bedding.

"Everyone, today's the day we rebuild Hundred Stars Village! You've all worked hard on the journey here. Hold on a little longer. Once we've rebuilt Hundred Stars Village, at least our children will be able to sleep soundly. It won't be too late for us to have a good rest then!"

Though the old village chief had no children of his own, his heart was set on the village and its future. The villagers respected the white-haired old man from the bottom of their hearts.

"Today we rebuild Hundred Stars Village! Let's get to work, everyone!" a villager shouted to the others after putting away his bedding.

"Get to work, get to work!"

"Oh, oh, let's get to work!" Wrapped in her bedding, Xiao Ke'er also raised a hand and cried out.

Though the villagers were brimming with enthusiasm, the work still had to be done one step at a time. Clearing the weeds that covered the ground would take a while. They divided into several teams. The young, strong men were responsible for hoeing weeds and cutting down the thorny brambles to clear the site for rebuilding the village. The older villagers hauled the weeds away and piled them elsewhere. The women of the village went to find a spot by the river where the current was gentle, so they could wash the clothes worn over the past few days.

The work was clearly divided and kept everyone busy, and all the villagers were full of vigor. Patch after patch of wild grass was cut down, and cartload after cartload was hauled away. If one listened closely, one could even hear the laughter of the women washing clothes by the river. The old village chief sat alone at the edge of the weeds, watching the villagers work with a joyful expression. Good days had finally come. Perhaps the old village chief would not live to see them, but he was still happy for the younger generation.

As noon approached, everyone was busy rebuilding the village. Seeing that it was nearly time to eat, the old village chief called out, and the women who had finished washing clothes tied on their animal-hide aprons and began setting up pots to cook. Of course, the little cook Xiao Ke'er was among them.

Cooking smoke rose as several older women gathered the villagers' dry rations together. Two or three people took wooden buckets to fetch water from the river, while the others brought out the pots. And so the villagers' first communal meal since leaving the village began.

The commanding general's residence in Sunset City!

"Grand commander, may I ask why you summoned me at this time?" Commander Chahar was training the soldiers when a messenger suddenly arrived to say that the grand commander had summoned him.

"Deputy General Qin, don't be impatient. Let's wait a moment for Commander Zha!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Commander Zha entered with a saber at his side.

"Grand commander!" The commander cupped his fists in salute.

"There's no need for formalities, either of you. I summoned you both today because I have a matter to discuss!"

"Please speak, Grand Commander. We will obey your orders," the two said in unison.

"Early this morning, I received a secret order from the imperial capital. The Wu Kingdom has sent out its troops!"

The two exchanged glances, but neither was particularly surprised. The Wu Kingdom was bound to send out its troops sooner or later; it was only to be expected.

"May I ask, Grand Commander, how far has the Wu Kingdom's army advanced?"

"According to the secret report, Cloud Mountain Fortress!"

"It lies right on our border. Beyond Cloud Mountain Fortress is our Qian Kingdom's Wuling City! It seems the Wu Kingdom intends to invade Wuling City first!"

"Grand Commander, Wuling City is only a little over half a month's journey from Sunset City. I think we should make preparations early, in case anything unexpected happens."

"Gentlemen, the secret report also said that all reinforcements being sent will make camp at Wuling City. Our Sunset City won't receive any reinforcements in the near future!"

"It seems those above share our view. They all believe the Wu Kingdom will use Wuling City as its breakthrough point!"

"Sunset City borders the Endless Mountains, making a military advance fraught with difficulties. If they use Qixia City as their breakthrough point, their battle lines will be stretched too far, making it difficult for the Wu Kingdom to concentrate its forces. Of the three cities, only Wuling City is suitable as a breakthrough point! Once they tear open that breach, they can attack Sunset City to the north or seize Qixia City to the south. By pushing deep into the heartland, they can cut our Qian Kingdom in two, separating north from south. The person leading the Wu Kingdom's troops this time is no simple opponent!"

"Grand Commander, how many troops has the Wu Kingdom sent out this time?"

"Approximately 600,000. Their commanders are all veteran generals of the Wu Kingdom: Yan Fengxiao and Guo Youshan; Chen Haoran, a scion of a military family; and Sima Heru, a senior minister of the Wu Kingdom!"

"So it's those two! Back when I was still a thousand-man commander, those two repeatedly led troops across our border to harass our army. They were utterly detestable!" Commander Zha slapped his saber and spoke angrily.

"Don't be hasty, Commander Zha. Since the grand commander summoned us here, he must have military arrangements to make. Let's hear his orders!" Deputy General Qin had served under the grand commander for many years and knew his temperament well.

"Deputy General Qin, how is our army's training going?"

"Reporting to the grand commander, ever since receiving your orders, the 30,000 city defense troops have drilled daily and dared not slack off!"

"Reporting to the grand commander, ever since receiving your orders, the 50,000 soldiers of the three major camps have drilled daily and dared not slack off!"

"Good. Generals, the Wu Kingdom's army faces our Qian Kingdom across the city. If the Wu Kingdom leads 600,000 troops against Wuling City, Wuling City will be in grave danger! Once the nation's gates are opened, the consequences will be unthinkable. Deputy General Qin, I order you to lead 30,000 city defense troops to support Wuling City. The army is to set out today! There must be no mistakes. Commander Zha, beginning today, you are to post notices and conscript soldiers throughout Sunset City to replenish our army!"

"We obey!"

The two cupped their fists, accepted their orders, and withdrew from the commanding general's residence. "I hope those two old bastards, Yan Fengxiao and Guo Youshan, don't yet know I'm stationed in Sunset City!"

Cloud Mountain Fortress!

"Sima Heru, how dare you speak to me like that! You have some nerve!" Yan Fengxiao slammed the table and roared.

"General Yan, General Guo, this concerns the survival of our nation. Even if you intend to kill me, I have to speak! Dividing our forces is the worst possible strategy. It will only give the Qian Kingdom a chance to defeat us one by one! Only by combining our forces will we be sure of victory, Generals!"

"Senior Minister Sima, considering how difficult it has been for you to reach your present position, I won't punish you for now. But if you dare spread alarmist talk again and undermine our army's morale, you will be executed without mercy!"

"Guards, take Senior Minister Sima away! Keep him under strict guard. No one is to approach him!"

"Yes!" Two soldiers supported Sima Heru, one on either side, and led him away.

"Generals, you must never divide the troops! Only by combining our forces do we have a chance of victory. If we divide them, defeat is certain! Generals, please reconsider!" Sima Heru shouted, unwilling to give up. But his voice grew more and more distant.

"General Guo, what do you think now? Should we combine our forces or divide them?"

"General Yan, don't tell me that fellow's words have frightened you! It makes no difference whether we divide or combine our forces, but there is one thing: I, Guo Youshan, must lead the army as the vanguard!"

General Yan gave no answer. After pondering for a moment, he said, "General Guo, return to your tent first! I still need to consider this carefully!"

"Farewell!"

After Guo Youshan left, General Yan glanced outside the tent. "That old bastard has to compete with me over everything!"

(Today is the Dragon Boat Festival. I wish you all health and peace!)