Chapter 4

The Jing empire was vast, but to its north lay the Hurong, and to its south, Japanese pirates.

The southwest was thick with poisonous mists, snakes, and vermin. The coast was rainy, and the raiders were skilled in the water. Only after years of General Lin’s defense had the coastal unrest been subdued.

The Hurong kingdom in the northwest was another matter.

Those desert nomads were all fierce, skilled fighters. Their kingdom was practically a nation of soldiers. Even a three-year-old could ride a horse and fight a wolf.

For years the two countries had kept out of each other’s affairs. But the Hurong had excellent troops, and clashes kept breaking out along the border. Clearly, they were growing restless.

His Majesty plainly did not want a war.

Or rather, he did not want Lin Yuanshan fighting the Hurong again.

Lin Yuanshan already had a brilliant military record and was deeply loved. Another victory would only swell his standing among the people. With the tiger tally of military command in his hands as well, he embodied the emperor’s greatest fear: a servant whose achievements overshadowed his sovereign.

In my previous life, however, Lin Yuanshan had chosen to subdue the Hurong for the sake of the common people. And he had died at the hands of a pawn the emperor planted in his army, all his honors buried in the earth with him.

This life would be different.

After repeated persuasion from his family and my sister’s written appeals, General Lin chose to retire on grounds of age.

He returned his command tally. As we had expected, the emperor accepted his resignation. But to avoid alienating his military officers, he gave the tiger tally to Lin Shao and ordered him to campaign in his father’s place.

I cut off my long hair, bound my chest, disguised my face, and formally joined the army as an ordinary soldier.

General Lin took me to the camp himself but gave me no special treatment. I understood: he did not want my identity to attract attention.

Before we left, I sat on my horse and looked back one last time at the towering capital.

Once I left, who knew when I would see it again?

“Sijun?”

I turned. “Coming.”

A lone plume of smoke rose over the desert. The sun sank beyond a long river.

The northwestern desert looked utterly empty. The border city was heavily guarded.

After months of marching, we finally reached our post.

Lin Shao began drilling the troops. The exercises left the new recruits in misery. I completed them easily, coming first every time.

The recruits treated the veterans with the utmost respect and deference. I was neither meek nor arrogant; I treated everyone alike.

That, together with my silence and habit of keeping to myself, soon brought trouble.

“Hey, boy.” After drills, I was dressing a scrape when a veteran clapped my shoulder. “I hear General Lin brought you here himself. You look like you’ve got some ability. How about a little spar?”

Around us, people began watching with unreadable expressions.

There was rivalry in the army, of course. Soldiers respected fighting skills and liked a fight, so these challenges were common enough.

You could refuse. But in a place like this, conceding before you fought would inevitably earn contempt.

I would not refuse.

I was not my sister. I had no gift for dealing with people. But I had my own methods.

I wound the bandage around my wrist, turn by turn, and looked up. “Anyone else want a bout?”

The crowd erupted. The veteran’s face changed at once.

“Arrogant little bastard,” he said at last with a cold laugh. “Looks like you need a lesson in how this camp works!”

I did not use a sword in that fight.

Only my fists.

When I slammed the burly man into the ground hard enough to send dust flying, I seized his throat. I met his terrified eyes, then slowly let go.

I stood and flexed my wrists. “Next.”

Thud!

“Next.”

Crash!

By the time I knocked down the last veteran who challenged me, everyone was looking at me as though I were a monster.

There was no disdain in those looks. Only amazement.

The veterans I had left sprawled on the ground, bruised and battered, burst out laughing.

“Now that was a fight! That was a fight!”

“You look like a delicate little scholar, but you can really hit!”

“No wonder the general values you but didn’t give you a post. He knew you’d fight your way up soon enough, eh?”

“Bloody brilliant! How did you train? Give us a few pointers!”

“Looks like our camp’s got another secret weapon.”

“My wife sent me some dried meat. I’ve been saving it, but I’ll give you a couple of pieces.”

Surrounded by them, I smiled. “All right.”

That was how this place worked. If they would not accept you, beat them until they did.

In an army camp, of course the hardest fists earned the greatest respect.

…

A short distance away, a man in armor watched in silence.

“This is the person you wanted to recommend to me?”

Lin Shao smiled. “Not bad, eh? A promising youngster.”

The man’s eyes never left that figure. “So alike.”

He did not say whom he meant. They both knew.

Lin Shao was silent for a few seconds, then patted his shoulder. “Ying Chi, we’ll all be at ease if this child is in your care. She can’t be connected to the Lin family. At least, not yet.”

“I understand.” He turned and walked away. His cloak snapped behind him. A character embroidered on its lining had worn almost beyond recognition.

It looked like “Yin.”