Yun-Men Khan's armies rode the desert. This was now the most crucial point of her quest - the invasion of Shou Lung. The scouting teams, masquerading as regular nomads, were riding ahead and sending information to the command center. Yun-Men's system of communication kept the force organized in spite of its massive size. The Khan herself rode in the head of the army, her raven plait whipping in the desert wind, her savage feral beauty and confidence inspiring the followers. Some of them regarded her with almost religious reverence.
Should she expand on that idea, fortify the belief that her leadership was of divine origin? Yun-Men found the idea distasteful for more than one reason. First of all, that was how the empire of Shou Lung worked, and she wanted an empire that would look like it truly was hers. Also, what she held in greatest respect was what was achieved by work, courage and talent, not put into your lap like divinity. However, she should not dismiss the advantages of being perceived as a goddess too readily. She would have time to dwell on that after the initial victories.
- "Khan." The messenger approached, and Yun-Men nodded at her.
- "In our sector there is no sign of increased military activity. The spies inform us that the Shou are yet unaware."
- "Good," Yun-Men smiled. "And the stealth troops are ready to lead the light cavalry?"
The young messenger nodded.
- "Well done," Yun-Men said. "Rest now, and you can return to your unit with the initial troops. Dismissed."
She glanced at the siege machines, catapults and siege towers, clumsily dredging after her swift ruthless army. There was no joy or elegance in warring with those - the T'aghur were born to be on move - but they were needed to penetrate the Dragon Wall. After the initial shock the kidnapped siege master had made the most of unpleasant circumstances and instructed Yun-Men's own blacksmiths in constructing them, and the commanders in the strategy involved. Yun-Men had taken care that the man was treated well, both materially and with respect. It seemed to her that he already felt some kind of loyalty to the Khan's empire. He was a military man after all, and in spite of himself enjoyed being a part of an ingenious quest of conquest.
- "All right then. That was the last of the messengers," Yun-Men said to her generals. "We are ready to proceed. A seemingly weak force will attack the wall in twelve different spots, drawing the Shou armies apart. And then, here, the heavy infantry will storm the wall, protected by our archers. The left companion will fire when the right one loads, and the other way around."
Yun-Men showed her map to the generals, whose eyes were intent on it. Yun-Men did not know how to read, but she surely understood what the symbols on the map stood for.
- "Now, that will keep them occupied long enough that we get the siege machines there... we bombard the wall and then the infantry will penetrate it. And once it is through the cavalry will ride in. If all goes as I have planned, they will never see it coming, and we don't have to engage in a long siege."
- "And if not?" asked Batu, the voice of caution.
- "Then," Yun-Men said, a frown of irritation on her forehead, "we will make another plan. Have I not always said that my warriors will have to be able to think on their feet?"
- "You have, Khan," Batu amended.
- "And," Yun-Men continued, "it is true that the Shou have a superior army, in numbers and technology if not in spirit, but they are unaware and scattered all around the vast continent. My army is ready to kill, on the move, and organized. Have faith, Batu."
Batu nodded. Yun-Men was sometimes irritated with the older man's caution, reminding her of her old father, but she understood enough to appreciate Batu's council. A woman with her position and personal strength could easily get a platoonful of yes-men too frightened to speak their mind, flattering her and avoiding to tell bad news. They were just as useful as the war elephants, the symbols of the stupidity of the previous leadership of the T'aghur.
- "The goal is to take all garrisons from the north side of the wall, naturally," Yun-Men went on. "It is my hope that we manage to capture some of those battle wu jen of theirs. That is a definite disadvantage of our army - we don't know how to use magic to our advantage, nor do we have skilled magic-users."
- "The tribal leaders have always regarded magic with distrust," Batu said.
- "The tribal leaders have always been stupid!" Yun-Men snapped.
- "I was just making an observation," Batu said in a mild tone.
- "Yes... but the thing is, we are going to carve the greatest empire ever on the Red Earth, and anything at all that is useful in order to further that goal is valuable. Treachery, bribery, murder, intimidation, lies... for in the end, when our darkening bones lie forgotten in the sands of these plains, it is the victors who write the history and the results that matter. Now, advance! As I have said, life gets no sweeter than this!"
The Khan of the six tribes smiled like a wolf and led her conquering army toward the oldest and mightiest nation on Toril.
