One Small Step

Seventh Year of the Sonwa Era
Second Moon, Tenth Day
Hairyu County, Village of the Sage

Gin, or rather Ginshi, groaned as she lay atop a straw mattress in Ranka’s clinic. Ren sat awkwardly next to her, alongside Ranka, who shook her head in disbelief.

“Your highness,” Ranka said. “I believed I told you that you still needed at least a week of rest before doing anything strenuous.”

“Yes… You did…” Ginshi grumbled. “I got carried away…”

Ranka sighed before shifting the target of her annoyance.

“You too, Ren,” said she, causing Ren to flinch in response. “That was reckless what you just did. I know you distain the nobility, but…”

“It’s not just the nobility,” Ren said, cutting Ranka off. “It’s the entire system. But that’s beside the point.”

Ren turned his attention to the metaphorical elephant in the room.

“General, I must apologize,” Ren said. “Had I known you intended to save the Princess, I would not have acted with that much hostility."

At this, General Kai shook his head, his beard struggling to keep up with his chin as he did so.

“On that regard, I too must apologize,” said he. “For the same reasons as you.”

The general switched his gaze to Ginshi.

“Milady,” said he. “If I may, I would like to explain to Chief Ren the exact nature of our situation.”

(…Did he just call me Chief?) Ren thought. Sure, he functioned as the de facto leader figure in the village, but no one elected him to that position, nor did he inherit it. He just found himself there.
Ren personally believed he did not deserve such a position, but that was beside the point right now.

Ren sighed, finding it possibly more tedious to explain his actual position as opposed to just letting the General’s misunderstanding slide.

Considering Ginshi’s teasing smile, she probably noticed Ren’s predicament.

“Yes, General,” said she. “That seems like a good idea.”

--------------------------------------------------------

The Duchy of Burin, one of the many such Duchies within the Imperial Realm of Northern Gen (北元), in turn one of the seven administrative Imperial Reams of the Empire of Ka, long maintained a hardy and militarized society, making it a formidable power amidst the chaos following the implosion of Ka. Despite limited resources, they maintained their independence from other neighboring factions through sheer grit and tenacity.

Five generations prior, the ruling Duke of the time, Li Hougen (李 法原), became the first Duke of Burin to expand the Duchy’s borders through military action, absorbing five neighboring counties to the forested north, including Hairyu. Hougen ruled with an iron fist but proved to be fair and just, using said iron fist in a competent and rational manner.

His successors, however, did not.

Over-taxation, military and economic stagnation, bureaucratic corruption, factors which caused the implosion of the Empire, soon took root in the Duchy.

By the Seventh Year of the Sonwa Era, a powerful multi-factional regency split the ruling Li family in a bloody shadow war at court.

They targeted the politically weakest first: Ginshi.

--------------------------------------------------------

By the next day, most, if not all, the snow from the days prior had melted. The air refreshed all in the Village of the Sage with an uncharacteristically warm morning.

Said physical warmth soon found itself balanced out by a psychological chill.

A carriage, flanked by roughly two dozen armed and lightly armored men, rushed towards the Village of the Sage.

Those nearby, including Ren and Ginshi, turned out after hearing the commotion.

“…They’re hurt!” Ginshi observed. Ren nodded in response.

“Those guys are from the castle,” said he. “What in the world happened…?”

Ren rushed towards the carriage as its armed escort collapsed from fatigue, wounds, or both.

The one riding the carriage opened its curtains before stumbling out into the open.

Ren gasped in surprise.

“Governor!” he exclaimed. “Are you all right!?”

Shou Ki (蕭 季), governor of Hairyu County, coughed twice before propping himself up against the carriage.

“Ren!” said he. “It’s an emergency! A large band of bandits are headed this way!”

As he struggled to catch his breath, Shou Ki noticed the presence of Ginshi, at whom he bowed towards.

“Your Highness,” said he while bowing. “These bandits seem to be on the payroll of one of the Ducal regents…”

Eyes wide, Ginshi stepped forward, demanding an explanation.

According to Governor Shou, emissaries from the Ducal capitol arrived bearing treasures and a letter stamped with the seal of the Li family. They demanded the governor hand Ginshi over or risk the castle city being burnt to the ground by a great bandit army.

Unable to think of a better option, Governor Shou declined what he saw as a request, causing the emissaries to draw their swords and attempt to cut Governor Shou down for “harboring traitors.”

Ren sighed as he listened.

(He really is a capable bureaucrat and administrator,) Ren thought. (But by the gods is he a terrible politician.)

The governor, perhaps demoralized by his mistake, sat slump on the ground against his carriage, muttering something about not wanting this job in the first place.

A relatable sentiment from Ren’s point of view, perhaps, but the situation called for different priorities.

He glanced quietly at Ginshi, who seemed deep in thought, pondering her options.

(I bet she’s considering leaving here, or worse, turn herself in,) Ren thought. (I’ve only known her for a few days or so, but even so, that’s obvious.)

“Governor,” Ren asked. “How far out is this bandit army?”

Shou blinked at the question, still reeling from his mistake, but soon gathered himself back together.

“Roughly a four-days march away,” said he. “The emissaries claimed an army of ten thousand men, though I doubt there actually are that many.”

Ren nodded, after which he noticed Ginshi looking at him with a concerned look on her face.

“…You don’t plan on fighting this army,” she asked. “Do you?”

“Do you seriously think we have any other choice?” Ren countered, some sarcasm and a pinch of sadness mixed in his voice as he did so. “I know you want to say that this is your problem and not ours. But, unfortunately, regardless of anything else you try to do, everyone here will probably die if we do not fight.”

“…At least let me…” Ginshi tried, but Ren cut her off.

“In your physical condition?” Ren rhetorically asked. “No. You’re not fighting.”

At this, Ginshi’s expression clouded, but soon turned into that of confusion when Ren began quietly chuckling.

“Yeah, you’re not fighting,” he said. “Not at the front anyway.”

As Ginshi’s eyes widened at this comment, Ren switched his attention back to Shou.

“Governor,” Ren asked. “How many men do you have at your disposal?”

“About two hundred men of the castle garrison,” Shou replied, his voice still shaking. “We had more, but I had to defund and downsize them to keep everyone else from starving.”

Ren nodded.

“How many men can you mobilize,” Ren asked, to which Shou widened his eyes in horror.

“Mobilize?” he asked. “You mean to arm the townsfolk?”

“I don’t want to do it either!” Ren snapped.

He then blinked in realization before taking a deep breath to calm himself down.

“We have roughly a hundred cavalry,” said he, “courtesy of General Kai, and two hundred infantrymen from the castle garrison. Even if I somehow managed to mobilize the entire population of this village, something just over fifteen-hundred soldiers is the best we can do.”

Ren, brushing his hair out of his eyes as he did so, sat down on a nearby wooden crate before continuing.

“Sure, fifteen-hundred verses ten thousand is barely winnable in theory,” said he, causing Ginshi to lift her eyebrows in surprise, “but I don’t have the ability nor confidence to make that happen.”

(Teacher might have, though) Ren thought. He then shook his head in an attempt to clear his thoughts.

“Anyway,” said he. “We need to level the playing field numerically as much as possible. The more resources we have to work with, the more likely our odds of victory and survival.”

Ren sighed.

“Mina,” he called. “How’s our inventory?”

“Just enough for three thousand men,” Mina replied. “Plenty of supplies and ammunition. Thank Teacher for stockpiling so much.”

“Then all we need is the manpower,” Ren concluded.

--------------------------------------------------------

A crowd gathered in the central square of Hairyu Castle, in front of the Governor’s Mansion.

The air buzzed with the whispers and murmurs of the crowd, some excited, some bored, some nervous, some scared.

Usually, the governor posted his notices to the people on a large sign board staked in front of the mansion, and occasionally a representative stood in front of the crowd to announce it verbally.

Most in the crowd assumed the latter pattern to be the case today.

As such, when the gates of the mansion opened and Governor Shou himself stepped onto the podium in front of the gates, gasps of shock and surprise spread across the crowd.

Shou, still nervous, took a deep breath before speaking.

“People of Hairyu County!” he called. “You must pardon me for this sudden call to gather, but I must confess that an urgent matter has come to my attention, which must be conveyed to you all!”

“We gettin’ less food, governor!?” someone in the crowd sarcastically shouted, at which Shou solemnly shook his head.

“An army comes!” he exclaimed, causing the crowd to shut up in surprise. “A bandit army comes, ten thousand strong!”

Shou took another deep breath, his confidence slowly returning, before carrying on with his speech.

“They come demanding the head, the head of Princess Li Ginshi, daughter of our liege, the late Duke of Burin, claiming they are here to punish her on false charges of treason! But even that is a vile lie, for the bandits’ true intention is to raid, plunder, and pillage your homes! To violate your wives, mothers, and daughters! To burn this entire county to the ground!”

A panicked murmur spread through the crowd.

“You ask,” Shou continued. “You ask how I know this. Bless Princess Ginshi and her gentle heart, for she offered to hand herself over to the bandits to save YOUR lives! And how did the enemy respond!? They TORE the offer to shreds and marched their army towards us anyway!
Now, at this very moment, her highness, her small retinue of soldiers, and the Four Disciples of the Great Mountain Sage, prepare for a desperate and honestly forlorn defense against this bandit army. They aim to buy time so that you, ALL OF YOU, can escape with your lives.”

Shou paused, briefly, catching his breath as he did so, before continuing.

“I too plan to join that defense,” said he. “As you know, I am no military man. I can not swing a sword properly, nor do I possess the strength to handle a bow. I know nothing of battlefield tactics and strategy. However, I pledge to fight regardless to defend all of you, even if I cannot defend this land which we call home.
That being said, when I visited the Village of the Sage earlier, I heard one of the Disciples muttering how if he had more men, not only can we buy time to escape, we can ROUT the enemy!”

Murmurs, this time of a more excited nature, spread through the crowd.

“I inquired the Disciple on this,” Shou continued. “But he and the Princess refused to put any of you in harm’s way, especially without your consent.”

Shou then knelt down on his knees, in front of the crowd, causing gasps of surprise to erupt among them.

“So,” Shou said. “I ask, nay I BEG of you. For the safety of your families, for the defence of this land of your ancestors, grant your strength to the Princess. Please.”

Shou kowtowed deeply at the crowd, as they watched in astonished silence.

--------------------------------------------------------

Seventh Year of the Sonwa Era
Second Moon, Fourteenth Day
Hairyu County, Eastern Road

The sound of marching men echoed across the hills.

Eight thousand bandits, armaments ranging from bamboo spears to matchlock arquebuses, moved in a formidable column towards Hairyu Castle.

Their ragged banners fluttered above them: a caricature of a raven tearing flesh off of bone.

This bandit army, popularly known as the Raven Brothers, originally formed as a mercenary group. However, as their leadership strove for more power and wealth, the group turned to banditry as well, raiding and extorting anyone who failed pay big enough a bribe.

Eight oxen followed, mooing as they struggled to drag four bronze medium-sized cannons, decorated with ornate castings of dragons.

One of the subordinate commanders of the group rode up to their leader.

“Boss,” he reported. “We’re about a day away from the castle. Once we’re through those woods up ahead there’ll be only the castle and farmland for miles around.”

“Mm,” the leader acknowledged, stroking his magnificent beard as he did so. “Remember. No plundering until we get to the castle, as per our employer’s orders. Once there, we can have some fun.”

“Heh heh,” the subordinate snickered. “I know boss. I’m excited already.”

The leader also laughed before turning to face his men.

“Right fellas!” he called. “We set up camp here! Tomorrow, we do what we do best!”

At this, the bandits shouted and cheered before breaking out of their column.

Then, a single gunshot silenced them all.

When the leader turned around, he widened his eyes in horror as he witnessed, just in time, his subordinate collapse from his horse.

The leader desperately looked around, confused, for he smelled no distinct odor of burning match-cords.

He barely made out a tiny cloud of smoke, drifting in his direction as it rode the wind, from the direction of the woods up ahead.

Then the trees started shooting.