Chapter 4: Surrender of the army, Part 3 of 7
Gu Yun slowly got up, her gaze swept towards the cliff, perhaps gloating over their misery or secretly rejoicing, her tone cheerful she laughingly said: “you need not just watch. You must also do it. After two hours, the two teams will swap with the training exercises. Everyone must accomplish my commands. I’ll give you five days’ time. Whoever cannot do it, I’d personally help him!”
Personally?! Gu Yun uttering this word with abnormal sweetness sent shivers down everyone’s spine simultaneously. Pleased to watch their deeply grieving faces as if they were wishing for death, Gu Yun in good mood laughed, saying: “Alright, start practicing!”
As expected, within the mountain valley unceasing hollering and anguished wailing could be heard from every direction. Managing with great difficulty to hang on until sunset, everyone had sore and limp arms, their legs suffering from cramps. However even though they were like this, when Gu Yun yelled “Line up” everybody automatically moved at maximum speed to complete the formation. [Her threat of 100-tree-trunk-kicks penalty if getting in line exceeds 10 seconds works wonders! ? ]
“Today I am dissatisfied with your performance. Tomorrow I do not want to see the same situation happening again. Tomorrow assemble in the forest at mao shi. Do you understand?” Her hands behind her back, Gu Yun coldly stared at their exhausted faces. Her heart also felt sorry for them, but the training had only just begun. They were still too far from her expectations. She must harden her heart.
Standing straight and grinding their teeth, the soldiers all replied: “Yes!”
Waving her hand, Gu Yun ordered: “Head back to the camp.”
Under Ge Jing Yun and Leng Xiao’s leading, the soldiers unexpectedly went back to the camp by trotting forward. Gu Yun, delighted, smiled faintly. Very well, she likes this kind of toughness and obstinate refusal to concede. Training them for the whole day, giving them demonstrations countless times, Gu Yun was also a little bit tired. Turning around, she saw Han Shu who was surprisingly standing behind her. His eyes were staring at her uncannily.
He actually observed for the entire day! Gu Yun snickered mockingly: “Vanguard [or second-in-command] Han had lots of free time today, eh?” Does he not disdain a woman training an army?
For the first time, Han Shu did not spout his usual sarcastic retort. Unflustered, he asked: “The daggers you need — how long should they be?”
Briefly startled, Gu Yun hesitated for a moment before replying back: “blade around five cuns[1], hilt about two cuns.” Recalling the short swords she saw this morning, Gu Yun laughed in spite of herself. What she wants is something that is convenient to carry — a compact and practical small knife.
“Alright, I’ll prepare them.” Leaving such a cold, laconic reply, Han Shu turned around and left.
Watching his departing strong and muscular figure, hurriedly leaving, he frantically left as if his ass was on fire, the corner of Gu Yun’s lips once again curved — the men in the camp, they’re quite cute.
General Manor study.
Placed on top of a small, exquisite yellow rosewood table was a tiny cup of warm tea. The air was filled with the faint fragrance of tea and wood. Slender fingers lightly pinched a piece, slowly it was put aside. The white Go chess pieces seemed to have the upper hand. Long fingers again pinched a black piece, but it was not put down for a long time. On the chessboard, black and white pieces were grappling with all might in a fight. While on the low, small table there were two sides, yet for both there was only one white-clad figure playing.
This scene which ought to be elegant and quiet was broken by a low angry snarl, “The Ministry of Justice lost this kind of thing, to give us an explanation it changed secretly the army provisions case la? This is clearly looking for a scapegoat!”
Su Yu put down the furled scroll he was holding in his hands heavily on the low, small table. Unable to bear the strong impact the porcelain teacup rocked. Tea spilled on the table. Su Ren put down the board game piece. Shaking his head in frustration, when would Yu learn to be calm?
Picking up the scroll to read it once through, Su Ren’s thin lips lifted high, clearly understanding he chuckled saying: “You just calm down, don’t get excited, regarding this matter Shan Yu Lan has already intervened, he will not let it go like this.”
In a military war campaign, the army provisions are transported in advance. Come to think of it, that is to show evidently how important provisions are to the army. Such matter of secretly switching army provisions, the Ministry of Justice naturally has to give them an explanation. Since this matter arose up until now, already a month has gone by. The Ministry of Justice should come up with something to account for it.
Compared to that pack in the Ministry of Justice indeed Shan Yu Lan is a reliable court official. But still Su Yu’s heart felt uneasy, coldly he snorted, “Who knows! He’s already a man of the Ministry of Justice. It’s hard to guarantee he will not and give vent his anger to those official noses!”
Knowing perfectly well that he said these words in a fit of anger, Su Ren didn’t feel like reasoning with him again. Grasping a black piece, his attention once again returned to the unresolved chess game.
Su Ren stared concentrated at the chessboard. He appeared to be so engrossed in it. It’s really beyond Su Yu to understand, how much fun is there in playing chess by oneself?
[1] Cun – a traditional Chinese unit of length equivalent to the width of a person’s thumb at the knuckle; about an inch. (Source: Wikipedia)