11 Brothers

"The flowers are a little overdone, don't you think? We are supposed to be joining the Guards, not here to participate in some sort of pageant."

"I am more interested in how they managed to get them. It's barely Spring, so they couldn't have all bloomed. Some of those over there are supposed to blossom only in the late Summer. And they only grow in the Steppes below. How did they get them up here? And out of season?"

Wumu Qian and Duman Junhe were chatting about the decorations that lined the walkways leading to the Audience Chamber where they would be announcing their results and their subsequent postings. Wuying, on the other hand, was more concerned about the path that their guide - a young boy barely in his early teens, and dressed in a eunuch's uniform, was showing them. He had gotten lost before, and he didn't quite enjoy the experience.

"They must have hothouses, I suppose, to get those ready this early in the year," Wumu Qian replied to the taller, and more elegantly dressed Junhe, as he waved at the said flowers.

"Probably. Well, I do hope that they get this over quickly. I'm a little concerned about who else is going to be around, when they announce this. The Palace Staff are unlikely to do this for just the three of us. Even if we have made the Royal Guard."

Wuying shook his head at Duman Junhe, as soon as he heard that. "You have clearly not been to many military-run observances and ceremonies. The most junior officers - I am sticking to officers, since there is no point talking about the enlisted men! The most junior, as I was saying, have to show up early and wait for their superiors. Then their superiors' superiors. And so on.

"So you can well guess how this is going to turn out, since we are barely accepted, and are not even on the list of junior officers, regardless of what Lieutenant Ah Man had told us earlier."

Duman Junhe looked almost aghast, while Wumu Qian simply acknowledged his words with a grim nod. But it was the merchant's grandson who gave voice to their primary concern in the end:

"I'm glad that we ate well for lunch then. Otherwise, it would be torture, having to sit there with an empty stomach, and wait for our new Commanders to pick us out from the crowd!"

That was enough to start the trio chuckling again. As Duman Junhe had said, they were more than happy that their stomachs were nice and warm from all the noodles that they had earlier.

Although they were soon surprised at just how far they had to walk!

Apparently, the Lower Western Palace Complex was a larger place than Wuying knew, and a more beautiful one he had never seen. At least, outside of the Guard-governed Lower tiers where they had been that morning. Even the beautiful balustrades and wall-hangings that he had seen in Kangning City was nowhere near the sort of ornamentation that decorated the Inner Halls of the Palace he was being led through by the immaculately dressed pages.

The pair that walked beside him were likewise stunned by the richness that they passed beneath, and even Duman Junhe looked awed by the beauty that he saw around him. This was not something that they could say they saw every day!

But he managed to keep his eye on where they were going. They were led into a rather large room - a gathering hall of some sort, Wuying thought. And all three of them were led right to the front of the same, to be seated a short distance from where five chairs were placed, on a slight rise. An arrangement that drew howls of protest from the men behind them. Some were better dressed, and some more richly adorned that they were. At least, these had protested until they were silenced by the ones in-charge of the gathering. Then the words, Royal Guard, was whispered through the room.

"Ah! I see that that has shut up the idiots from their posturing," whispered Junhe as he settled into his chair next to Wuying, "This place packs more drama than the bloody theater! Had I known about this, I might have made an attempt last year!"

"Oh? And would you have succeeded?"

The merchant's grandson smiled at Wumu Qian. "Probably not," he chuckled, "I doubt that I would have made it without your advice. Both of you are good luck!"

Qian blushed at that, and he quickly drew attention to their seating arrangements, as well as that in front of them. "Five chairs. That's a little unexpected. I had thought that there would be only three, to represent each of the military services," he said.

"The Regular Army, the Town Guards, and the Royal Guard, hmm?"

Junhe shook his head and sighed back at him. "You know, we are the only three that has passed the Royal Guard's test this year. That's as good as painting a big target on our own backs, if we have to work with any of the other units."

"Well, you know what I am going to pick," Wuying told the pair, "I had sort of promised Lieutenant Yen Ah Man that. Along with most of the men back there."

"I will agree with him that the additional pay is tempting. I am considering it myself," Wumu Qian admitted as he nodded his agreement to that, "And the chance to earn even more outside the Gate is almost irresistible, considering my finances."

"Ah! That is putting a lot of pressure on me, I'll have the two of you know. Part of me wants to head back to the South, so that I can show off to all of my friends. But somehow, I have a feeling that I will not be that successful, if you two aren't around," Duman Junhe sighed.

Wuying laughed at the younger man's weak joke, but Wumu Qian merely nodded in agreement. "That is part of the reason why I have decided to head West myself. Given my Northern manners and my size, I am likely to attract the derision of the other guardsmen, if I appeared in the South or the East Regions. And the situation in the North isn't suitable for me.

"Only in the West, where my friendship with Wuying ge here, and through him, the rest of the White Tiger Guard, would make my life less complex."

Junhe seemed to consider that seriously, while Wuying turned to the youngest in the trio with a look of surprise. "You don't really need to depend on me! Lieutenant Ah Man and the rest of the veterans there have already a good impression of you. Both of you! You must have seen that already, from the way that they behaved earlier," he reminded them.

"But we would not have met them, if it was not for you."

Wumu Qian delivered that reminder in his usual stoic voice. But another loud sigh burst from Duman Junhe's throat before Wuying could even begin to frame his response.

And he found the richly dressed fellow shaking his head, the moment that he turned to face him. Wumu Qian, as usual, did not look too surprised to see that.

"It seems that my choices are extremely limited, after all. But the skin on my face is very thick, and I am not in the least bothered by the fact that I would be depending on the two of you, to make my life in the military a little more comfortable. Or, at least, a little more tolerable."

Wuying was confused by what Duman Junhe was trying to say. "What do you mean?"

"Well, as Brother Wumu Qian here had just reminded me, we are new and are likely to be the target of pranks and bullying and all that sort of nonsense the moment that we enter into proper service. And there are likely to be more senior lieutenants and such pulling rank and stealing the best leave and rest periods.

"Since that's the case, why not just join the White Tiger Guards in the West. The people there know you, and that means that they aren't likely to bother the two of us. And we all know that they only have one other Lieutenant Yen Ah Man there, so there's less chance of bullying and all that. So ... doesn't that make the White Tiger Gate our best choice?"

"That is, of course, correct. You have pointed out many of the points that have crossed my mind as well," Wumu Qian replied, before Wuying's brain could process what he had just heard.

Duman Junhe merely grinned as he turned the latter, and clapped a hand on the stunned fellow's shoulder. "So we will both be depending on you to look after us in the West, big brother! After all, you are the only one among the three of us who has been there!"

"Who are you calling Big Brother? I'm the one who only scored a single high rating in all the Tests, remember?"

"Ah! But it was a Perfect rating. Don't expect us to forget that!"

Wumu Qian agreed with the laughing Duman Junhe as well. "There is no point in denying it. Besides, in the North, we usually do this by age, rather than by capability. And I think I am the youngest one among you. I have barely turned fifteen!"

"Which barely makes you an adult by Northern custom, doesn't it? Well, I am sixteen myself. I took a year to wander about the South, and to ... spread my sparkling personality about, as they say. What about you, Big Brother?" Junhe chuckled as he turned to Wuying.

"If I remember correctly, the Administrator earlier had said that you were seventeen? That still makes you our Big Brother, doesn't it?"

A gong sounded then, saving Wuying from having to make a reply. And that was a clear signal for all of them - the candidates, to rise to welcome the guests. So everyone stood up, and took the opportunity to tidy up their dress, before they heard one of the doors open with a bang.

Five men, all clad in a variety of military dress, walked into the room then, and made their way to the chairs at the fore. They moved slowly, although there was nothing graceful about their walking stances. Instead, they conveyed a certain power, and menace. And with a start, Wuying realized that he recognized not one, but two of them!

"Candidates! You have passed the examinations that qualify you for military service. As required by your oaths, you must now declare for your selected units. The leaders of the same commands are assembled before you now, to accept or reject that request!" came the announcement from the rear.

Then the same voice began to introduce the Guard Commanders:

"Representing the Royal Palace Guard is Major Bu Longtian. Representing the Royal Engineers is Major Luo Jinqiu. Representing the Imperial City Guard is Captain Ye Mosheng. Representing the Southern Red Phoenix Gate is Captain Tian Cheyang. Representing the Western White Tiger Gate is Captain Jinnan Kermulong."

Wuying smiled as the Royal Engineers turned to look his way, and he nodded his respect to the Captain of the White Tiger Gate as well. Neither of them gave any indication that they noticed the same, though they did smile as their names were mentioned. That was just the way that they had to behave, he supposed, since they were in uniform, and participating in a formal ceremony.

"Now the candidates shall be introduced. We shall begin with Yue Wuying, of the Royal Guard!"

Wuying rose then, and bowed. He felt strangely calm despite where he was. His goals have not changed, after all.

"What is your choice of posting, Candidate Yue?"

"I choose the White Tiger Guard."

A titter ran through the crowd at his back then. But Wuying held himself still and kept looking in front of him. The other Captains looked in askance at the pale-haired one in their midst but the same merely nodded and agreed with his choice. "Accepted. Welcome to the White Tiger Guard, Wuying. I shall look forward to having you under my command," he said then, with a slight smile on his lips.

At his side, Major Luo of the Royal Engineers grinned as well. He had positioned himself there, no doubt, should the Captain had refused. The old man had always looked out for him.

"Next! Wumu Qian, of the Royal Guard!"

Wumu Qian stood up, perhaps a little more stiffly than usual, and bowed, as Wuying had done. "I choose the White Tiger Guard."

The noise at his back was louder then, and Wuying turned to the Northerner with a smile. It should be enough to give the Captain a signal, if Lieutenant Ah Man did not have a chance to brief his commanding officer about their little escapade earlier. And how he had tried to work his magic on the trio! But Qian merely held his position and waited.

"Accepted. The White Tiger Guard welcomes Wumu Qian."

Junhe sighed then, and he stood up the moment that the announcer began to pronounce his name. "I guess the Fates are playing a hand here," he whispered as he shook his head then, "Who am I to reject something so obvious?" And he chuckled as soon as the man was done.

"This one is Duman Junhe, and I too, seek a place in the White Tiger Guard," he said clearly, as he bowed, over the noise that now filled the room.

By this time, Wuying could see that there was a fire, a gleam in the Captain's eyes. And the shock on the faces of the other senior officers were more than evident. But the pale-haired Captain simply smiled and his voice was no different than before:

"Accepted, of course. The White Tiger Guard welcomes you too, Duman Junhe."

*

"That was a bit of surprise. I did not expect both of you to join the White Tiger Guard too, before we went in there." Wuying announced as soon as the ceremony was over and they got out of the room, "I half-expected Qian di to go for it, but I certainly didn't think that you would too, Junhe!"

Wumu Qian shrugged at Wuying. "It was the stipend, of course. It's more generous than any of the others, and as you might have noticed, I am in need of coin. Not that the rest of the conditions weren't alluring as well," he replied candidly.

"And it will be boring indeed, if I had to go through three years without you two to spice things up for me. Not to mention, all the sniping and backstabbing that is likely to occur, hmm? At White Tiger Gate, we've only got Lieutenant Ah Man, like I said, right? And he seems like a nice guy. I think I should be able to endure what bullying he dishes out. Besides, I'll have you two around, to help share the load!"

"That is good to hear."

All three candidates looked up then,and bowed when they saw that it was the Captain closing on their group. Who waved aside their bows impatiently. "Enough of the useless formalities. The next time we meet, I expect to see you three in uniform and saluting! Bows are for civilians! Now, the time frame for reporting is a moon. It is a little shorter than the forty days that most other services have, but White Tiger Gate is still facing trouble, so we need you there quickly. Is there a problem with that?"

All three of them shook their heads, although Junhe hesitated a moment before he agreed. But the Captain ignored that. "Excellent! Now, I suggest that you let your families know. The clerks here also have the documentation for the same - the details of your remuneration, and such. If you need to make any financial arrangements, as many in service do, I suggest that you find a notary, and have it all settled here. The towns in the West are ... well, they tend to be a bit backward compared to here in the West Gate."

He paused then, and took pains to look at each of the three young men in their eyes. And nodded gravely, as if he was reassured by what he had seen.

"We would usually give the new officers reporting to the post a little leeway, to settle their family matters and to deal with their gear and such. But seeing how there are only three of you, and how you have Wuying to help you fit in the West, I think that you won't need too long to get everything in order."

Then the man turned and waved at them with a smile. "So I'll see you at the Gate in a moon's time then," he said coolly, as he walked away.

Leaving the trio to wonder just what they had gotten themselves into.

*

Fortunately their unease didn't last very long, and the trio recovered enough to smile and laugh at their new condition in life. And that reminded them that they had yet to find out exactly what sort of remuneration they were due. So they quickly found themselves assembled outside the clerks' office, to deal with their pay and such.

"Ah. Military Stipend. That has a nice sound to it, doesn't it? Let's go find out just how much we will be getting, shall we? This is the first time that I'll be earning my own way, and I'm interested to see what I'm going to get!"

Junhe had led the way to the clerks, and he was the first to pounce on them, while the other pair hung back at little way behind him. Wuying was more concerned about the sudden frown that had appeared on Wumu Qian's face, almost as soon as the Captain had left. "What is the matter? Are you worried about the Captain? That's just his way, you know."

But the younger man shook his head at that. "No. I am just wondering. Is the work at the White Tiger Gate really as profitable as they say? You cannot have missed that my family is in debt and there are lands that have been ... used as collateral. I want to reclaim that, if I can. But I wonder if that is an option, even as a Royal Guard. It seems like it will take some time, to gather up the coin," he said quietly.

"Well, as the Captain had said, we had best get someone to manage that for us. By that, I suppose he means someone who is used to the businesses at Gold Street, down at Jiancheng City, where they know of ways for money to generate yet more money. But I have never understood it myself. There is always a risk, I suppose, and it will have to depend on one's appetite for risk."

"It is unfortunate then, that my debts are immense. Perhaps I should trouble you for an introduction," Qian told him then, with a rather bleak smile.

"Oh ho! An introduction? Who to? A pretty girl? I'm afraid that I missed the rest." laughed Junhe as he slipped back to the pair.

From the broad grin on his face, the news that he had just received from the clerks must have been pleasing to his ears. Which was enough to put a slight smile on Wumu Qian's face. Perhaps this military stipend was better than his expectations, after all.

"I was just asking brother Wuying if he knew of any notaries - investors, I think they are called. I have a need - a great need, to make my money grow. And quickly too. Simply saving what I can of my stipend every moon doesn't seem ... up to the task."

"Ah!"

For a moment, it seemed as though Junhe had gone speechless again. But he soon recovered, although his smile was little less convincing. He was also a little more serious when he spoke again:

"I do know of one. And I trust him implicitly. In fact, I was about to go meet him, after all of this is done. Come, let's go get our documentation completed and I'll lead you to him. A workaholic like him will still be in his office now, this late in the afternoon."

"Oh? Who is he? A friend of yours?"

"Worse! He's my brother!"

* * *