47. Believe in the God of War
The next day Xie and Rushuang went to the military camp as Rushuang had requested. Zhu, Yan and the marquis had gathered around the large maquette in the study of the marquis. Su had joined them, because Yan had told her to stay close to him. He didn't need to explain that he had missed her and wanted her next to him this day. During the morning several scouts came to report on the movements of the rebel troops. Flags on the maquette showed the positions of the different rebel troops. With every movement reported the flags were moved to show the new position.
There were three rebel troops: one located near the border town, they seemed not to move much. Another troop was close to the military camp, several times there had been minor altercations, which would grow to large battles. And the last was positioned more towards the army of General Xuo Ling. The fights between the general's army and the rebel troops were of a larger scale, often requiring the troops of the Marquis to come and help. The reports from the scouts were read and the flags moved accordingly. On some occasions there was a need for new flags, which Su mindlessly handed to either Yan or the marquis when they asked her for a flag. After a while no more scouts came in and the men stood around the maquette. Su wasn't really paying attention, but when Yan started to speak she heard the frustration: "This maquette is exactly the same as the one in my study. I've been thinking about these rebel troops many times, but I can't figure out what they want and how their moves might come to a goal." He continued to point out some movements and what those might achieve. The marquis concurred with all of Yan's inferences. He then read the next and last report in his hand and asked for a blue flag, which Su handed to the marquis. Zhu remained silent, watching his brother and the marquis. After a short while Yan noticed that Su seemed to be uncomfortable, so he kneeled next to her and placed his hand over hers, which was stroking her stomach. The marquis and Zhu didn't hear the whispered words and kept reading and comparing reports, until the marquis glanced at the yellow flags indicating the rebels close to the town. "Lady Pei, I asked for yellow flags." He said after he noticed some blue flags mingle din I with the yellow.
"I gave you yellow flags, marquis." Su slowly said. Quickly assessing the situation Yan rose and stood next to the marquis and whispered, so Su wouldn't hear: "Marquis, my wife is pregnant, which sometimes makes her forgetful. Please excuse her. Let me changes the flags." Zhu was already reaching for a blue flag when Yan stopped him: "No, wait!" Yan let his eyes swiftly drift over the maquette. Yan took in the positions and mentally changed the colors of the flags. "…That's what was wrong." He mumbled under his breath, more fully turning to the maquette.
"Husband." Su stretched her hand to Yan, who reluctantly turned away from the maquette. But when he saw her discomfort he quickly said: "Don't remove any of the flags, but place blue flags next to the yellow and green. I'll return shortly." With that he helped Su to rise and slowly walked with her to their room. While they walked to the room Xin came upon them and was directly invited to sit with Su. When Yan had placed the covers over Su he turned to Zin and Fei Yuan, who had of course followed. "I suppose she is tired from these last few days. Please stay with her. Xin, you should also rest some more. If you need something you can aske Fei Yuan." Both nodded after which Yan hurried to get back to the marquis and his brother.
After she had rested a few hours, during which Fei Yuan had served her some delicious tea and food, which they shared. Xin walked around the rooms. She couldn't contain her curiosity and so she sat down at the vanity table which Su used to get ready. There among the few jewels and powders she found a familiar small jade pendant. "I bought it the last time we visited the border town." Su said as she got up from the bed. She had woken a little earlies and had observed Xin's wandering around the room. "It's an amulet that's supposed to protect against the Ghost Army." She continued. Xin turned back to look at Su: "I wouldn't have thought that you believed in these things." Su smiled and held out her hand. Xin placed the tablet in her hand: "I don't. But the words the sales woman used moved me. Have you seen this before? You seemed familiar with it." Su walked to the table where Fei Yuan had poured her tea. "Thank you Fei Yuan."
Xin turned in the seat where she was seated, so she could look at Su directly and then said: "Many of the villagers carry this amulet. Each day they pray to the God of War to come and help them. The circular symbol is the mark of the army of the God of War." Xin rose and pointed out the mark closest to Su's heart.
"I know the mark. Please come and join me." Su invited Xin to sit opposite her. "Tell me about your village." After drinking some tea Xin started to talk about the village where she had been born and brought up. She told about the good and happy times, the times that had been challenging and all that was in between these times. Xin explained that until the festival that Su had visited during their last visit, there hadn't been much trouble. But during the festival some tradesmen had been sought out by unknown men. At first no one paid any heed to it, as this was common practice. But these men kept coming and rumors about smuggling, unfair trade, advantages to Beirong started to fly. Some of the tradesmen immediately accepted the offer and they got a lot of profit from it. Those that resisted met with misfortune and accidents. When Xin closed her story with the retelling of the horrific night in which she lost her parents and her home, Su placed a comforting hand over Xin's trembling hands. "I'll find who did this to your family. Don't worry." Her head bowed Xin brushed away her tears, then Su rose, which she had to admit was getting more difficult. She went to one of the cabinets and retrieved a small packet. She placed it in front of Xin: "You parents also prayed to the God of War, we found these in their hands." Xin already knew what was in the package, she folded it open and took the amulets in her hands, one in each. "Thank you. They believed like the others who are resisting, that the God of War would come to protect them against these unfair trades men. The situation now is so bleak that I haven't the heart to tell them that putting their faith in a mythical being, a God in heaven, won't help them. They still have hope, I can't take that from them."
"You don't believe the God of War exists?" Su asked, letting her curiosity speak. Most people living in more remote villages usually were much more willing to accept the existence of monsters, ghosts and gods. That Xin would think otherwise was interesting. Xin let her thumbs glide over the amulets in her hand, feeling the ridges of the symbol carved into it, she shook her head: "I've never seen monsters, but I have seen people do monstrous things. I have never seen ghosts, even those that have been called soldiers in the Ghost Army are living men. I've read the stories and folklores about Prince Qi, about whom it's said he is Liang's God of War. But one man couldn't have done all of what is recorded in the folklores and still live. A man can't be a God. Besides, why would the God of War care for a small simple border town where glory of victory can't be found? We should resist from our own strength, not to hold on until someone else comes to rescue us. I have lived here my whole life and I have seen the strength, I often tell them this, but now I can't remind them of it and I fear they will forget." Su, who had live in a small village herself when she was younger could understand Xin's sentiment behind her words. Suddenly Su wondered if Xin would return to her village and the sense of belonging she had with this place. If Zhu's feeling for this girl where as deep as she and Yan thought they were, would that be enough for Xin to remain in the capital once they reached it in several days. Now though was not the time to consider this.
"Let the Marquis and my husband handle the rebels in town." Su said.
"Can your husband help? I thought he was a tradesman." Xin asked and Su mentally berated herself for not considering her words more carefully.
"My husband has served in the army and is a great friend of the Marquis." She quickly amended, then she rose and sighed in contentment. "Come, I've rested enough. Let's see if the men have finished their business so we can interrogate the men that have been captured." Together the ladies walked to the study, where the three men were still gathered around the maquette.