Author's notes: Hello, guys. So this is the eighth chapter. I tried to search on the internet about battle tactics to incorporate in my fic and this was the result. I hope I did not mess up.
"I don't see why I have to take lessons from you, of all people. Can't I just read a book, and show up for the test only?" Chiro asked while smiling impishly.
"Assuming you know how to read, my hairless monkey," Mandarin responded, a smirk on his aged face.
Chiro blushed, his hands shaking with fury. He looked around the medieval-looking training room he was currently in, depicting images of war generals and maps until his eyes fell on the windowsill. There were chess pieces, modified to look like army soldiers and just above them a gaze into unreachable freedom.
As he stared at the small, beautiful rainbow-colored bird chirping outside, he began calming and said "Jeez Mandarin, you old people put so much importance in reading. Ever heard of television?"
"Television? The bane of our existence, Otto used to watch it for hours on end before-" Mandarin said, stopping abruptly.
"Yes?" Chiro asked, prompting him to continue.
"But, those times do not matter anymore. The fools chose their path," Mandarin grumbled, his voice darkening.
The young boy wanted to snap at the orange simian, to defend his family and to insult him to boot. Maybe not particularly in that order, yet he detected, in Mandarin's earlier reminiscing, something different like longing. He wanted to understand him better. How could he have betrayed the monkey team, when he was part of their world, when he had the greatest family anyone could ask for? It was obvious he missed them. Could he ever be turned back?
"I know I'm going to regret this but, let's, make a deal, Mandarin," Chiro whispered.
"Ah, quid pro quo. Interesting. What kind of deal, nephew?"
"I let you teach me whatever it is Skeleton King wants you to teach me and in return, you tell me about the monkey team,"
"I should think that after years of living with them you know them already, my hairless monkey," Mandarin said jokingly.
"And your relationship with them, who you loved, what drove you apart, everything," Chiro continued, determined.
"Ah, I see. You want family stories, isn't it? But what I will tell you is no fairytale, little Chiro. Do you still wish to continue?"
"Bring it!"
"Indeed, I shall. But firstly, bring those wooden pieces to me, Chiro," he said calmly, using the kind of voice a teacher would to his student. A rather old way he used to attract Otto's attention in the past.
Chiro moved swiftly, taking the colored army soldiers, and the board resembling a chessboard, moving them to the only small table in the center of the room.
Mandarin stepped forward.
"Today, you're going to learn the maneuvers in which to defeat an enemy, even if outnumbered."
Chiro's eyes widened then they both sat on two very uncomfortable wooden chairs.
"Pick a general," Mandarin instructed, pointing towards two figurines, which resembled each other in clothes and ranks.
The boy picked one of them, feeling a bit silly.
'I can't believe Mandarin spends his free time playing with dolls.'
Then the sixth robot monkey began arranging the pieces. There were generals, along with infantry, cavalry and artillery.
Mandarin arranged the pieces in such a way that Chiro was numerically advantaged. Then he began lecturing.
"Listen carefully, my young apprentice, even when you're outnumbered, you can still crush your foes beneath your booth. One such tactic is called the pincer tactic."
"Pincer tactic?" Chiro asked.
"What a strange name.' the child thought.
"When two opposing forces battle each other, the cleverest general moves his forces to the enemy's flanks to surround it," Mandarin said, then he demonstrated by moving his army around Chiro's, using double envelopment.
Despite himself, Chiro's eyes were transfixed to the scene, mouth gaping.
"A second pincer can form later to envelop the distant flanks and make sure reinforcements do not become knights in shining armor, as your fairytales say. This maneuver has proven very efficient in the past, but can you tell me one of its disadvantages, Chiro?" Mandarin asked.
"Other than its lame name?" Chiro asked while Mandarin smiled and crossed his arms.
"Tell me, child, what happens when you're surrounded? Let's imagine, you're trying to save the monkey team, but the adversary outflanks you. How do you feel?"
"A-angry," Chiro stuttered.
"And desperate. Do you not fight even harder than before in order to win?"
"Yes!" Chiro said, not understanding anything.
"But if there's the risk of getting your butt whopped, why would anyone use this tactic?" he questioned.
"Because, my hairless monkey, it has proven fortuitous before. Other than that, one can always give the enemy the impression that they are not surrounded completely, leave them a small opening, and the issue is solved. They are surrounded and don't they don't fight as ferociously. And speaking of ruthlessness, do you know what other tactic could be employed to weaken the enemy, Chiro?"
The boy shook his head.
"This one is another example, of course. One could always lure the general and a few of his forces out of their camp and into a ground of your choosing. After that, it is only a matter of time until your cavalry can route the outnumbered cavalry, like a fly in a web. Then the rest of your enemy's artillery can be outflanked by yours." he said, and, like a master puppeteer, demonstrated on the board.
"Wait, what do you mean to route the enemy?" Chiro asked a bit confused.
"Ah, isn't it obvious? To make the enemy panic and withdraw, like a headless chicken towards 'safety'. It is much easier to deal with a disoriented and scared opponent than with an organized one who respects the authority, no?" Mandarin asked while smiling.
"I see. And the terrain chosen beforehand must be important then," Chiro said while Mandarin smiled and said, "You're a quick study, nephew."
And as promised, after the lesson, Mandarin started to, reluctantly tell Chiro a bit about his childhood.
"Now, your father, he always had to be right about anything, although he was clearly my inferior (Chiro rolled his eyes). If you so much as happened to have a different opinion, he would shove philosophy down your throat until you began questioning not only if your point of view was right, but what the meaning of life was also."
Chiro began laughing.
End of chapter eight.