'Mitsuko you awake?' Zang Ba asked as he knocked on her door.
'I am now, just give me 5 minutes to get dressed and I'll get out there.' She replies groggily as she opened her eyes due to the loud knocking.
'Ok just making sure.' He responds before walking away. Mitsuko yawns as she dragged herself out of the bed. It was a few weeks after their victory over Cao Cao. The officers and troops moved and made themselves at home including Mitsuko who had grown a new appreciation for having a solid roof over her head. Because of Lu Bu's victory being spread all over the province Warlords began to pledge their allegiance to Lu Bu, rebelling against Cao Cao. Word even spread to the north as shortly after their victory Lu Bu received a message from Yuan Shao who was at the time trying to conquer Ji Province.
He thought having Lu Bu at his side would be beneficial for his ambitions in the future. He sent a messenger to him asking for reinforcements with his battle against Zhang Yan. Chen Gong advised him that it would be beneficial for Lu Bu as he could be a potential puppet to be used in the future would he get in his good graces. Lu Bu however didn't care much though he wanted a good fight so he ordered the preparation of the main army to march. Lu Bu left behind his daughter along with a couple of other officers including Mitsuko and Zang Ba to look after their new home while they were away with a handful of troops. This was their first morning alone though Mitsuko still has a bit of trouble getting up early. She rubs her eyes to wake herself up more as she sits up on the side of her bed. She groaned for a second as she clasps her hands around her mouth as she leant backwards before forcing herself to stand up. She puts on her usual attire and grabs her scythe from her bed. The moment she opens the door she is greeted with the sun shining brightly in her face. That was something that Mitsuko has yet to be adjusted to. She used her hands to cover her eyes. As she got adjusted to the sudden bright light she sees Zang Ba snickering to himself.
'is there something funny I should know about?' She asked unamused. Mitsuko was a bit cranky for the first 10 to 20 minutes of waking up as she walks up to Zang Ba.
'Funny? I don't see anyone laughing.' he jested as he patted her shoulder.
'Whatever lets report to Ling Qi.' She said as she starts walking past him.
'I thought you would be a little more joyous seeing as the castle is a lot emptier.' He replied as he catches up to her.
'Well its definitely quieter I'll give it that but I think I've already established myself as 'that woman that hates mornings'.' She states out loud.
'Oh c'mon that's not true...you're also the woman that brings us a bad omen.' He laughs as she shot him a glare. Eventually they found Ling Qi ordering some men to do some tasks for her. She finished ordering the soldiers and walked up to them.
'Looks like you're taking this whole being in charge thing seriously.' Mitsuko states.
'Do I have any reason to not do so?' she questioned looking quite offended by that.
'No of course not I was just saying...I erm...that is to say I don't not like it I just...argh.' Mitsuko began to get visibly frustrated with herself as Ling Qi chortles to herself.
'Don't worry Mitsuko I know what you meant. I just want to do the best I can for my father while he's away.' She turns to the side slightly, Mitsuko thought she saw a glimmer of sadness but also a bit of determination in her eyes as she stares to the side where the sun was rising. She wondered why that was or it could very well be her mind playing tricks on her but she doubts it.
'Anyway we have a fresh batch of recruits that need training that are just outside the barracks. As far as I know they're all green so feel free to use whichever methods you think will be the most efficient.' Ling Qi orders.
'Wait...we're supposed to train them? How the hell are we supposed to do that I have no idea how to train them...how about you Ba you know anything?' Mitsuko asked hoping he was in the dark as much as she was.
'Not really.' He admits.
'Don't worry this is a good way to get experience no? Try gauging what they're weakest at and start from there.' LingQi suggested.
'All right since you're the boss my lady. We'll do it right away.' She said as show bows with Zang Ba mimicking her movements and walked away. LingQi smiled at her without her knowledge of doing so and went back to her duties.
'Training new recruits huh...why would she entrust that to us? Especially since we have no experience on this?' She asked Zang Ba as she puts her hands behind her head.
'Hmm not sure maybe she's trying to help you?' He stated.
'How?' She questioned curiously.
'You said you wanted to be taken more seriously right?'
'Yeah but I never said that to anyone else.'
'Maybe she knows and just wants to help you? I mean if you do this well people will have to start respecting you.' He replies.
'I guess so, still would help if I knew what I was doing you know?'
'Oho is the great Mitsuko scared of a simple challenge.' Zang Ba jested.
'O-of course not! I'm not scared, it's just being cautious is all.' She stammers her words as he laughs. She thought that if Ling Qi's intention was to help her then she was actually flattered though she'll do her best not to show it. After all many officers and soldiers in the army didn't exactly treat her as an equal which infuriated her to no end. But with Zang Ba and Ling Qi present she remained in the army rather than just leaving and travelling again to somewhere else. Besides its not like she would be treated better anywhere else, at least here she doesn't have to face against Lu Bu in battle. Along with Ling Qi who she would have a more difficult time even attempting to fight her than her father. They reached the barracks where they see the fresh recruits in single file. They stood in front of them as they stood at attention as soon as they came into view.
'So do you want to do the honours?' She whispers to him as he nods excitedly.
'All right listen up! My name is Zang Ba and this is my partner Mitsuko and we're going to train you to be the best damn soldiers you can be!' he bellows which made them tense up. Mitsuko chuckles at Zang Ba trying to make out like he's a strong leader. She leans on the barracks wall with her arms crossed as Zang Ba did his thing.
'You there!' He points to a random recruit.
'What did you do before you enrolled?' He asked.
'Farmer my lord.' He answered.
'And you?' He points to another one.
'Stable hand my lord.'
'Right...and how about you?' He points to another one at random yet again.'
'I helped my parents tended the farm my lord.'
'I see so you're all green then. No matter I'll whip you all in to shape! So what should be your first training task?' He puts his finger on his chin as if he's thinking. After a few moments of silence Mitsuko realises he doesn't know where to start. She tries to remember if there was anything she watched or read about that could help her. As her stomach growls she got an idea as she walks up to the green recruits.
'Why don't we start with something simple like a run? Five laps around the castle should be fine.' She orders.
'The whole castle my lady?' one of them asked as she tilts her head slightly.
'Did I stutter? Get a move on!' She orders.
'Yes my lady!' they yell back and began their run around the castle. As they got out of sight Zang Ba sighs a breath of relief.
'Thanks for that save.' He rubs the back of his head.
'Don't worry about it. I didn't exactly have breakfast so I figure we could keep them busy while we go and get some meat buns or something.'
'Ahh yes good idea!' He laughs as he pats his stomach. The two of them begin to walk to a meat bun stall. As they purchased the meat buns and start to return to the barracks when Zang Ba asks Mitsuko a question.
'Why don't you get a new set of armour the one you're wearing now seems a bit too worn and standard no?' She looks down and notices that what he was saying was true. Compared to other officers her armour wasn't the best and it seemed too...standard for an officer like her.
'I guess so but I never really thought about it since it seemed to do its job.' She stated.
'True but you'll want something more...fresh and not look like something that's going to crack at any strike you know? Besides don't people mistake you for a normal soldier anyway?' Mitsuko would hate to admit it but that was true she did look like a normal soldier with a worn out piece of armour strapped to her clothes. He took a huge bite out of the meat bun before Mitsuko responded.
'All right you have a point but where can I find a blacksmith then? There was only one here and he fled as soon as we showed up remember? Since we investigated the building and there was no one there and we haven't found a replacement.' She reminded him.
'Yes but remember you're an officer of the mighty Lu Bu's army. Give one of the recruits a horse and some coins and send him to a village with a blacksmith and request some armour there.' Ba suggested to Mitsuko however she had her concerns.
'What if they mess up or get lost? And what if LingQi prefers that I don't send them for simple quests?' She didn't want LingQi to be annoyed at her for anything even if it is something trivial since she had enough on her plate as it is.
'It'll be fine you worry too much. Besides she doesn't really need to know, think about it she's busy running everything while our lord is away you can't really ask her something so menial can you? Also regarding the fresh recruits they're not as incompetent as you may think I'm sure they can do one request for you.' Mitsuko stopped suddenly and put her hand his forehead.
'Are you feeling ok?'
'Yeah...why?' he questioned with confusion.
'You're just making too much sense for one day.' She responds as she walks off ahead of him chuckling to herself.
'Hey I'm not that bad!' He yells as he catches up to her. They arrive at the barracks a long time before the fresh recruits finished their little marathon being noticeably exhausted as a result.
'All right listen up, Mitsuko has a question for you all!' he yells as he steps forwards and steps back as Mitsuko 'took the stage' so to speak as she coughs before starting.
'Yes well does anyone know a blacksmith in a village nearby?'
'Yes my lady.' The former stable hand answered as he shot his hand up.
'Oh good a volunteer step forward if you don't mind.' He did as he was ordered.
'How long does it take to get there?'
'Only about half a day on horseback it's in the southeast.' He replied.
'Good, Request a new piece of armour for me then ok? Take one of the horses and get back here as quickly as you can, is that understood?' She orders. He salutes in response. She wanted to make sure that they knew she was in charge but she didn't want to be one of those sergeants in training scenes who pushed them a little too hard she thought.
'Yes my lady.' He started to go to the stables as Mitsuko and Zang Ba returned to training the rest of them.
'Ok as for the rest of you show me the power of your thrusts in your spears let's go!' Zang Ba shouts at the others. Meanwhile Dodomeki and Gyuki oversee everything from the mountains.
'It's about time she inquired about some new armour.' Dodomeki thought out loud as he keeps his eye on the young green recruit as he leaves the castle.
'Quite but don't you think it will be...you know...out there?' Gyuki questioned.
'Of course it is but it'll protect her and that's the important part. Plus she'll need something more recognisable to help spread her influence when the time arrives. Besides having her in something standard is an insult to her anyway.' Dodomeki concluded. He starts to move to follow the green recruit however when Gyuki follows him he holds his hand up.
'No you have to stay here and keep an eye on her just in case.'
'I think her friend can protect her well enough though.'
'You know what these mystics are like, some of them are too sneaky for them to notice. No you'll have to stay here.' He tells him.
'But what am I supposed to do while you're gone I'm going to get bored.' Gyuki replies sadly.
'I don't know bird watch or something I'll only be gone for like a day at most.' He finishes as he starts following the recruit leaving Gyuki to his own devices. He plops down on the edge and was rather miserable. But as his eyes went back to Mitsuko that feeling disappeared.
'Well if it's for Mitsuko I think can manage.' He thought to himself as he smiled brightly.
It was nightfall when Dodomeki and the recruit arrived in the village though Dodomeki arrived later than the recruit did. He slides down the mountain carefully as to not alert anyone of his presence. As he reaches the ground he quickly pussyfoots to behind the house that he saw the recruit enter and tries to see if he can hear anything. There was not much he could listen to at first but suddenly an older man raised his voice in there.
'I TOLD YOU NO! I won't abandon our lord like the rest of you, he's the only one capable of defeating the chaos!'
'But uncle he has the world against him. Lu Bu defeated his defeated him handily and numerous officers are rebelling against him as we speak. We can't win against Lu Bu.'
'Ha what nonsense! He's just a man like any other and men can be killed by weapons and armour. Weapons and armour I'll only make for my true lord Cao Cao. The rebels and Lu Bu will get their just reward soon enough for betraying him I can promise you that!' He rambled as Dodomeki hears a door opening.
'Uncle please see reason, stop being so stubborn!' The recruit argued.
'Silence! I will no longer hear any more of your treason! Tell your new commander I wish she be the first slain! A woman in the army, how laughable Lu Bu must indeed be weak if he's having women fighting under him!' He slams the door in the recruits face. He sighs in frustration.
'Ahh uncle why do you have to create trouble for me. That Mitsuko woman is going to eat me alive...something about her scares me but I'm not sure what. Oh well, I'll have to worry about it tomorrow. It's a little late to get back now...I'll see if sir will have a place for me to stay for the night even if it is in the stables.' He sighed to himself as started to walk away. Dodomeki meanwhile clenched his fist in anger...how dare he refuse a request from Mitsuko and even talk such things about her without her knowledge! He wanted to kill him but he knew he had a task to do for her so for now he'll be patient. Clearly he is not going to be as co-operative as the blacksmith in Jian Ye.
About roughly half an hour later the old man mumbles to himself about being loyal to his lord Cao Cao and how he feels betrayed by having a family member be under his lord's enemy. Well no matter, he won't do the request and soon he'll be slain in battle he thinks to himself. He was sweeping his workshop when all of a sudden a knock on the door was heard. He was annoyed as he thought it was his traitorous nephew again. He walked up to the door and opened it.
'Listen I told you-' He was greeted by a fist which knocked him out cold. Dodomeki chuckles as he drags the body further in the workshop and closes the door behind him.