Favargo, it was a small garrison to the South.
TLN: fá bā gòng —> Favargo
In the local dialect ‘bā gong’ meant pointing towards the mountains. Here the rivers criss-crossed with each other, the mountains extending forever into the distance, Favargo was situated on plain within these mountains, it’s area covering less than a 100 li.
Hearing someone was coming to replace him, the local official was a bit wild with joy, he was afraid after Aiwa entered here, he would change his plan of remaining here; therefore he quickly packed his luggage to leave this ghost region he had overseen for 5 years. During this 5 years time, he had never spent a single peaceful day here.
He had requested the Queen for troops to attack the Tanzya tribe two times, however the result was that the Queen had sent Federer this incompetent generation, resulting in reprisals from the Tanzya tribe, if it weren’t for the sturdy city wall’s protection, both the young and old of his family would have already been dealt with by the Tanzyanians.
Aiwa along with a few soldiers came to the southern city walls, going towards the Tanzya tribe’s direction. Shrouded by the bloody sunshine of the setting sun, dust rose till the sky, inside the dust, there was a squadron of troops slowly moving towards the South.
A few of those chamberlains were left behind by the old general, they were very familiar with this region, in order to thank Aiwa for replacing him, the old general specially chose a few able assistants as a present to Aiwa. Aiwa didn’t refuse, this was an unfamiliar region to him, this kind of manpower was quite essential.
[Those Tanzyanians are again fighting over our frontier people’s property!]
A chamberlain sighed with regret and said. Aiwa could barely see using his naked eyes, most of those mounted soldiers were women, and their strong and healthy bodies were clearly distinguishable under the setting sun.
[Don’t we also have cavalry?]
Aiwa turned and asked the chamberlain at his side. [They are a nomadic tribe, living their daily lives on horseback, very swift and fierce, our so called cavalry have only ridden a horse during their training time, which could also be treated as having fun, and how can they overcome them?]
The chamberlain said. This chamberlain was the one who held the highest expectation in the ex-senior officer’s eyes, however, after the attacks by the Tanzyanians intensified, those cruel reprisals made the Hass Empire’s frontier people not able to speak of their sufferings. Therefore, he also didn’t fantasize about this Aiwa who came from a General’s house in being able to change anything; if only he didn’t provoke anything, and then steadily lived his life it was good enough for him.
[Does our cavalry train regularly?]
Aiwa’s sight watched the backs of those victors, although they didn’t have eyes on their backs, from their leisurely appearance Aiwa could make out that they loathed and made fun with regard to Hass Empire’s defenders.
A kind of rage rose within Aiwa’s mind.
Aiwa’s sight moved away from their backs, looking at the mountains all around, after seeing the valley between these extending mountains, Aiwa concluded that these Tanzyanians were surely infiltrating from within this valley.
[Every path inside the valley could be their attack route, our numbers are also limited, making it is impossible to cover each and every mountain pass, moreover our fighting strength is unable to compare to our enemy. Must not see that they are mostly woman, their fighting strength doesn’t differ even a bit when compared to a man.]
The chamberlain wanted to warn Aiwa: Guarding inside the city walls is the safest, if are overconfident of our cavalry, then that would be delivering their small life to its end.
[What you want to say is, we can only get plundered by those Tanzyanians?]
Aiwa could make out the actual meaning of his words. His sharp gaze attentively watched the chamberlain at his side.
[Answering the Chief, What I want say is, if we don’t want the Tanzyanians to harass us, then it wouldn’t be possible by just relying on our current army.]
The chamberlain quickly explained.
[Then do you have any good ideas?]
Aiwa kept asking questions. Actually he didn’t have hope that this chamberlain would be able to propose a good idea, if not, the ex-senior officer would have already recommended him to the Hass Empire making his name famous.
[No.]
That chamberlain had already realized the general idea; he quickly retreated to the back.
[Transmit an order down, during this 1 month, nobody is allowed to act blindly without thinking, carefully train their troops, after a month I’m going to conduct a big martial arts competition, giving a heavy reward to the victor!]
A grand plan was brewing inside Aiwa’s mind.
At this border town small garrison, an army of almost 2000 men were stationed, among them one-third consisted of the infantry, and cavalry another one-third. The remaining portions of soldiers were those who were banished here after violated orders. In an average persons eyes, these soldiers were only criminals, therefore, the senior officer never looked at them as humans, to fight a battle it was necessary to charge and breakthrough the enemy lines, but to speak of it there had never been any kind of reward for it. Thus, when that chamberlain heard the victor would be bestowed a heavy reward by Aiwa, he didn’t dare to believe what his ears had heard.
But from Aiwa’s tone of speaking, he could feel this was a man who kept his promises! The contempt he held previously lessened a bit.
Aiwa made some persons plant many scarecrows, to be used as an imaginary enemy to train the soldiers. The cavalry was trained twice every day, those who had experience were made as the senior officer’s trainers, once during the day, once during the night, due to Aiwa’s promise, the soldiers put out all their energy into training, some soldiers still intensely trained while the others rested, because they were thinking of standing out during the competition.
When the soldiers were intensely training, Aiwa often sent a group of soldiers to inspect the situation at every mountain pass.
By a week, he already knew all the regions around Favargo from the inside out, especially the southern mountain pass terrain near Tanzya.
After a week, Aiwa took half of his infantry visiting every mountain pass, making them make grotesquely shaped things from the trees and mountain rocks. The soldiers all didn’t mind this, believing this newly appointed senior officer was an immature child, merely wanted to have fun, however as Aiwa was a swift and decisive man, no one dared to disobey his order.
During the time the soldiers were undergoing every kind of training at Favargo city walls, the Tanzyanians once again plundered the Hass Empire’s frontier population, those frontier people could only organize a self-defense organization and resist the Tanzyanians, however they could only run away while fighting the Tanzyanians, without having any other choice.
The reason why the Tanzyanians only fought over their things and never injured a person was that they had strict discipline, during the course of plundering; they only took what was absolutely essential, not allowing anyone to injure a Favargo person’s life. Therefore, each plunder didn’t cause any casualties to the staff of Favargo. This was also the reason Hass Empire hadn’t sent troops to attack Tanzya.
After half a month of training had passed, the skill of many officers and men made a quantitative leap forwards, their hands started to itch, because the ex-commander was afraid of the soldier’s casualties and was met by the Queen’s blame, he didn’t dare to send troops out, making the soldiers fighting strength decline. And after Aiwa took the commander post, he began to bitterly train them, making the soldier’s secretly scold Aiwa in their hearts, but gradually, after they found their fighting strength increase, their hearts admired this newly appointed senior officer.
As a result of their confidence increasing due to Aiwa, some officer’s thought of striving for Aiwa’s first class merit, hence a hundred man general called Samo led a squadron of troops to loot a Tanzyanian stronghold. However, they suffered an ambush by Tanzyanians on their way back; Aiwa led some troops to save Samo still suffering more than half casualties and returned. Aiwa had previously sent an order, without his order, no one was allowed to act blindly without thinking; violators would receive a heavy punishment. The officer Samo thought this time’s attack would increase his deeds, but he didn’t expect Aiwa to make him get hit by a rod hundred times, those hits made his flesh lacerated. Since then, the discipline within the army became more firm, no one dared to hold Aiwa’s order as a joke.
After a training of 1 month finished, the competition also began. Aiwa personally looked at the fights. Majority of them were sporting events, cavalry had equestrian archery, waiting to assassinate on horseback, the infantry compared their sword teachings and marksmanship, doing battle with the assassination pike was also popular becoming the infantry’s main sporting event.
Especially within the equestrian archery, a large number of experts who could shoot with great precision were fished up. Aiwa asked the chamberlain at his side: [When compared to before, haven’t they made progress?]
The reply was: [Not at all the same! They cannot be compared!]
[If this army fights again with the Tanzyanians, what are the odds of success?]
Aiwa proudly asked.
[If we use our current military strength to attack Tanzyanians, then it was sure to be like passing a hot knife through butter, sweeping everything before us!]
That chamberlain wasn’t speaking senselessly; rather he was shocked seeing the martial arts competition before his eyes. Those soldiers’ each had their own abilities, relying on their current fighting strength beheading those Tanzyanians was like a small appetizer. Aiwa made a slight smile, he had seen the strength of those Tanzyanians with his own eyes, when he rescued Samo, the opponent was merely the rank of a chieftain, those roundabout spears and rain of wooden arrows had already made Aiwa extend his scope. According to his judgment, these soldiers current fighting strength was still insufficient to contend against the Tanzyanians. Because he knew, Tanzyanians only killed as a last resort, only if to guard a life would they openly kill. If the counterpart didn’t have the skill, this bit was impossible to do. During that first fight, even disregarding their lives the Favargo soldier’s couldn’t even injure a single Tanzyanian. This point was most clear in Aiwa’s heart. Therefore, he once again transmitted the order that without his order no one was allowed to go out to fight.
However, the troops garrisoned at Favargo weren’t like soft mud anymore, if a Tanzyanian saw them, they would surely be surprised.
Aiwa didn’t think of immediately going out to fight, rather requested the Queen to dispatch troops as reinforcement, also specially mentioning to send Junior Officer Federer who was very familiar with this region. He had to let that youngster Federer get humiliated again, tear down his overweening attitude.
After a week, Federer really arrived at Favargo town under the Queen’s orders carrying 2000 troops with him. In the capacity as the supreme commander of 2000 troops, it was inevitable for Federer to act high and mighty in front of Aiwa. [Aiwa, don’t you have any abilities? How? Just arrived at Favargo and so quickly asking for the Queen’s help? The counterpart are only a few women, at once making you so much frightened, hehe, this really is not worthy of a General’s later generation!”]
Federer looked at everyone here condescendingly, after suffering two continuous defeats at the Tanzyanians, he still wasn’t ashamed standing in front of Aiwa, making Aiwa baffled. After so long, he had found such a scapegoat like Aiwa, at long last he could recover a little face, therefore, he wasn’t going to miss this opportunity.
[Junior Officer Federer, my hopes rest on you, I have suffered the harassment of those Tanzyanians here every day, especially I heard that their soldier hoot that if they could boil and eat my good friend Federer, it would increase their vitality, they are very aggressive, therefore I specially requested the Queen to send your group to humiliate those Tanzyanians!]
Aiwa knew that what Federer most disliked were negative remarks about him, if he shifted the thoughts Federer had in his heart towards the Tanzyanians, which would provoke Federer. As soon as those words were finished, Federer’s face became completely red.
[Aiwa, don’t worry, I don’t need even the least bit of your soldiers assistance, I’ll make those group of Tanzya sex slaves obediently lick you foot, wait and see!]
Federer said fuming with rage.
[You’ve come to help Favargo, in the capacity as this region’s senior officer, how can I not help you? If the Queen knew that I was watching with folded hands, then isn’t it asking me to get punished?]
Aiwa intended to make Federer think that he himself refused Aiwa’s assistance, and take a good look at the moment he is humiliated, therefore Aiwa deliberately incited him.
[There’s no need for you to get involved in this matter, I can go by myself, naturally, if my boy wants to contribute a bit, you can come outside the city walls to meet me as I bring back the enemy’s head. Hehe, it isn’t that I Federer am not convinced of your soldiers, they can toy with women or play cards, as for fighting a battle, it’s best for them to wait inside safely.]
Federer looked at Aiwa and spoke with contempt.
According to what Aiwa had found out, Tanzyanians had an unwritten rule, every time they plundered, they never murdered, but if someone dared to take the initiative to attack them, then they would openly slaughter. It was because of this reason, Aiwa’s subordinate who had disobeyed his orders and attacked them suffered cruel reprisals, resulting in more than half casualties. Federer also suffered their cruel reprisals because he came to Favargo and took the initiative to attack them, resulting in a disastrous loss. Federer was after all the prime minister’s son, his couldn’t bear to lose this face, therefore his belly was filled with fire looking for an opportunity to make reprisals towards those Tanzyanians, but he didn’t know where was his weak point, he only knew how to take revenge, and gladly came here after receiving the Queen’s order. All of this was within Aiwa’s prediction.
Federer rested at Favargo for 2 days, his investigators informed him that there were some Tanzyanians plundering at the East, but their encampment didn’t have anyone at guard there.
This news made Federer very excited, but he didn’t tell this news to Aiwa, he thought of alone possessing this service, and request a good reward from Her Majesty Queen. Aiwa had already heard about this news from his scouts, but he knew, those Tanzyanians operated very quickly, never spending the night at the place they plundered, they quickly returned to their stations, protecting their home.
When Federer’s army was setting off early in the morning, Aiwa was standing on top of the city walls as if he was sending some one off. Federer showed a certain victory attitude.
[Junior Officer Federer, I’ll arrange a victory feast for you by the time you get back!]
Aiwa said with a loud voice standing on top of the city walls. Federer turned around and laughed, whipping his horse, a cloud of dust rising behind his back.
After the army entered the valley, they advanced towards the Tanzyanians current residence. The whole journey, the scouts returned back to inform about the Tanzyanians situation, seeing that those Tanzyanians didn’t dispatch their troops, also had not gone out to plunder and return.
Federer’s heart was secretly delighted, thinking to himself: [This time have to destroy the Tanzyanians old nest, giving a heavy hit to them, spitting out the resentment in his heart. Because of the fear of getting their army found out by the left over Tanzyanians, when they were still 2 li away from Tanzyanians living area, Federer who was eager to seek victory quickly ordered to charge fiercely, the attack noise shaking the sky.
At the time they hadn’t appeared at the distance of several hundred meters from the Tanzyanians living area, several squadrons of Tanzya cavalry surrounded them, Tanzyanians didn’t have an official professional army, but they always brought the entire nation to arms, even slightly older 10 years children would go to do war, including those who were just 10.
Originally Federer was afraid of being killed by Tanzyanians and merely showed a brave face, looking at the coming to kill Tanzyanians from all directions he was immediately defeated.
Federer have a loud shout, using that horsewhip and battle cutlass to drive those soldiers to rush forward, but those soldiers quickly left his side and escaped, making the yelling from his worn out throat be of no use. Soon his 2000 men army was split up after fighting with the Tanzyanians, Federer didn;t have any option but to personally accompany them guiding them to kill the Tanzyanians.
A girl wearing the Tanzya attire rushed over, her hand holding a long sword, wearing a military officer rank officer clothes; she stabbed towards Federer! Federer’s dou qi was no match for the girl’s sword qi, the battle cutlass in his hand flew out, Federer hastily took out a dagger from his waist to welcome the enemy, but how could it handle the long sword in the enemy’s small female hand. That girl’s body was strong and healthy, looking pretty, turning over on horseback, her sword cut the reins of Federer’s horse.
Federer lost his balance for a moment, and tumbled down the horse. Some of his imperial guards were killed by that pretty girl, and the others escaped out, Federer still hadn’t gotten up, and was quickly subdued and bound by a few Tanzya girls. The conceited Federer had become the Tanzyanians captive!
The soldiers under Federer’s control quickly returned to Favargo city walls, but Aiwa didn’t appear to personally meet them, merely letting the city wall guard let them come in, letting them gather again at a region.
Dusk.
In a region almost 10m away from the Tanzya encampment, there was a small enclosure used for surrounding the horses. Federer was stripped, leaving him with nothing but his small trouser, confined to a stake, although he hadn’t suffered beatings, the cold wind was already enough suffering for him.
[Kayseri, this time’s yield was due to my first class merit. He was the one who had attacked my encampment last time, this time I have to make him taste our ferociousness!]
An individual 17,8 year old girl, her long and elegant golden hair tied into a ponytail, a mature individual, who resembled a woman chief said.
[Wuya, then this Federer is yours, you can handle him. If you want him to lick your foot in the evening, this gigolo ought to be pretty good.]
After Kayseri shot a glance towards the bitter and exhausted Federer, she changed direction towards a thin, whole body supporting a deputy soldier’s armor girl and said.
Wuya held a horsewhip in her hand came over in front of Federer, she used to handle to twist around his ribs, making Federer give out a blood-curdling scream, his rib region had already caved in due to Wuya’s this one twist. When Wuya took out the horsewhip, Federer’s skin and flesh immediately spun around coming out, beads of sweat appearing on his face.
[Dog shit!* I still thought you were some kind of hero, not even able to bear this amount of pain!]
*TLN: Saying ‘Dog shit’ is cursing the other person here.
Wuya swung the horsewhip in her hands however she wished, leaving scarlet moldings all over Federer’s face.
[You carefully watch him, don’t let this youngster escape, let him nicely taste the flavor of our Tanzya’s cold nights!]
Saying thus, Wuya turned around to leave with her attendant.
After sundown, the curtain of night enveloped all over Tanzya’s sky, making those tents disappear in the darkness, only their outlines could be faintly seen.
Aiwa sent four elite troops under the night’s screen, quietly approaching the enclosure where Federer was tied up. There were Tanzya soldiers all around the enclosure in 2’s and 3’s, after all Federer could be considered as one of Hass Empire’s military leader, although he was only a school ranked officer, nevertheless he was also the supreme commander who attacked Tanzya, therefore the reason for the strict guard.
But those Tanzyanians were soaking in victory and glee, although the chief had warned them, but those who were guarding Federer couldn’t have ample rest post-war, however even they didn’t predict that someone would come to rescue him during the night on the same day he was captured.
The soldiers stationed at the front were shot to death by the poison arrows of two Favargo elite troops, collapsing silently; the other two Favargo elite troops continued to go near Federer.
At Federer’s side, there were two Tanzya soldiers who were holding pikes and incessantly stamped their foot to warm themselves, it was late autumn at Tanzya right now, the nights became very cold.
Federer had long ago started to freeze and tremble, in the beginning he used his dou qi to resist the cold, but it was also limited, very quickly he exhausted his dou qi, clenching his teeth to endure.
The two Tanzya soldiers holding the pikes could apparently heard some sounds, and suddenly turned their bodies, they didn’t have time to even see clearly, however a poison arrow had already pierced their throats. When the distance is less, those arrow was enough to be fatal when penetrating a throat, moreover the poison would quickly act in a second, letting them meet a violent death.
By the time Federer could even understand what had happened, one of the elite troops had already cut open the ropes binding him with a dagger.
[You must not speak, follow behind us, we were sent by Aiwa to come rescue the General!]
That elite troop said in a low voice, hear Aiwa had sent them to save him, Federer was incessantly excited but at the same time he was also felt hate and shame simultaneously, if changed with another person, he surely would have had a feeling of gratitude, but unfortunately it was that damned Aiwa!
But in order to live, he had no choice but to follows these elite troops and escape the enclosure. He had already forgot about the chilling night, unable to feel the thistles and thorns under his foot, he ran the whole journey, going beyond the fence.
There was another squadron standing at a distant place to provide support. A soldier draped a cloak over Federer’s shoulders, supporting him with one hand. These party of troops moved towards Favargo under the night’s guise.
The tired Federer had already fallen asleep on the horse, if it weren’t for the two elite guards protecting him, he would have already fallen down.
The Favargo elite troops carried the battered and exhausted Federer and directly came to the Aiwa’s headquarters. Aiwa was sitting upright inside a chair, just like a talented and dignified high ranking military official, the military management this past month was not only to train his soldiers, but also to train himself; making his open and childish face appear a bit more experienced, especially his two eyes became more keen and sharp, giving him more self-confidence.
And Federer also didn’t think he would be brought here, as matters were wouldn’t he be humiliating himself in front of Aiwa? When he looked at Aiwa sitting upright inside the chair, he turned his sorry figure around and immediately tried to leave.
[Commander Federer, why are you in such a hurry to return? It can’t be that you don’t even have the strength to wait for 5 minutes right?]
Aiwa stood up from the chair, implying that he wanted Federer to go up to the chair to his right side.
[Don’t you just want me to say ‘Thanks’ this word? Aiwa your courage and wisdom are both large, saving me from inside the enemy camp; I Federer can’t thank you enough for it. However, if you are thinking of using this to threaten me, making me promise something; then you are wasting your energy!]
Federer’s nerves were already tense, he quickly thought about this question on the road. Since is Aiwa dispatched the persons to save his life, he naturally had a grateful feeling, but he could in no way promise the condition of marrying his sister to Aiwa.
[Haha, Junior Officer Federer, I in the capacity ass Favargo’s highest senior officer, being a soldier of Hass Empire like you, when you were trapped in the enemy camp, I naturally have the duty and responsibility to rescue you, I am here at the Queen’s command, how can you speak of such selfish motives? If I Aiwa am trapped at the enemy border, don’t tell me Junior Officer Federer won’t dispatch men to rescue? Therefore, regarding this rescue matter, you can be completely carefree, because this is a public matter, and isn’t due to selfishness, within my memory, relying on our personal relations, it seems Junior Officer Federer still haven’t what achievement and virtue to be capable of letting me go take risks right?]
Aiwa attentively watched Federer whose face had already become pale. There was another idea behind his words, that was, if isn’t because of the devotion and loyalty towards the Queen, Aiwa wouldn’t have sent someone to save him.
Federer’s face became blue. Then white. Originally he was ashamed and unable to show his face due to suffering a crushing defeat, now he had again appeared in front of Aiwa in such a sorry state, he really thought of finding a hole to bury himself in.
[Come person, still haven’t exchanged a tidy military uniform for Junior Officer Federer?]
Aiwa yelled towards a imperial guard. A chamberlain immediately left, after some time bringing back a whole body army clothes. [Junior Officer Federer, You’ll accept to wear right? In my barracks there aren’t any specially allocated Junior Officer clothes like yours, but it’s more important to stop your body from freezing!]
Aiwa’s concerning words were like daggers thrown towards Federer’s body. But he could only bear getting humiliated by Aiwa right now, because this first class soldier’s dress was also offered by Aiwa, he couldn’t refuse.
Under the soldiers lead, Federer went to a changing room, completely discarding the shameful emotions; he threw away the cloak on his body and changed into the soldiers dress.
When Federer came out of the changing room obeying the soldier, Aiwa humorlessly said: [Still have to say, the appearance of Junior Officer Federer wearing these soldier clothes is very fitting!]
What he actually meant was, Federer shouldn’t be the commander, and be a small soldier. This was no doubt a humiliation for a arrogant officer like Federer, he was left speechless for a moment, his complexion changing to a purple color.
And Aiwa continued to say: [Although you were captured by the enemy this time, however, I don’t think this is a bad thing, at least we could rescue you from under their eyes, this was a major hit towards the counterparts confidence, only after this time’s lesson, Tanzyanians would surely become angry, I suggest you to not have any military operation in the meantime, if next time you again fall into Tanzyanians hands, then the would certainly not be this comfortable!]