4 The War

As i went back to the tent the girls were there waiting for me.

"Princess, thank you for saving us!" The eldest girl said.

"Are youll siblings?"

"Yes, princess!"

"How old are you'll?and what are your names"

The youngest replied,"Im Mei Lee and still 13, my elder jiejie(sister) is Yuan and she's 17 and my eldest sister is Aira and she is 21"

"Im 21 too. So you'll may call me Huwanuwei or jiejie."

"Yes jiejie" the youngest replied. Shes cute. How could that monser even think of hurting this child?

"Well take youll to your parents after the war not now.sorry about that, but if things go worse,then leave as soon as possible. However can you'll aid the medical staff to treat the wounded if needed."

"Yes we will princess, we are glad to help." Aira replied.

Telling them to stay in my tent i changed my blood stained clothes back to armery this time with the help of Aira on my wounded shoulder.

As we planned we all mounted to the enemy camps which was still covered with smoke.

We didnt have to fight by the way. The only thing we did was attack. I only used my arrows a bit. 2000 men already have accepted failure and were backing up from the camp as we showed up. We found some inside the camp holding on to their stomachs.They couldnt fight with all the distractions they had to deal last night. They were exhausted.

"So your medicine has worked pretty well, isnt it princess?" Commander declared infront of the generals.

"If the number of men was more than that, it wont have worked that much."

Commander slightly nodded and smiled. We have got the camp. Only few of our men were wounded too.

"Lets keep them for questioning," commander suggested at the meeting in our new base.

"Its useless to kill them." The generals agreed.

"We'll wait for the japanese army to join us. Cause this victory is nothing when compared to our next challenge." General Shing stated.

"Princess, what do you think?" General Shing directed the attention towards me. This time with great interest and hope everyone looked at me. I have convinced them.

"Thats the best option. But we should be prepared by that time because the enemies will also there at the valley in the same time. Well have to delay the enemies a bit before the true final battle. And its true, we shall never underestimate our enemies. They are well known to have great strength and union. They've got 10000 men to fight but not that much than ours too. But working with the japanese is a new stage and will be a challenge. Our next movement might be our last. But we cant give up because of any reason cause this cant be our last chance to stand straight as the sons of the dragons."

Everyone agreed and applauded . Then the Commander explained the rest of the plan.

"Princess, do you have anymore tricks or ideas which can help us to delay them?" Commander asked.

"Ah?"

"Like things you did at the enemies camp before the fire?" General Shing explained.

So the commander has explained them.

"Thank you for reminding. Chengseng please bring their work!" As Chengseng left curiosity rose among the old hawks.

"But what work princess?" General Seol asked curiously. I nodded at him and turned to Ming Zeng.

"Commander, can you remember me telling some of the men at the training to look for a way to steal the sweets assuming they are village kids without weapons?" He then realized my potential in shock.

"So you have being indirectly asking them for some war tricks?"intresting....

"Yes that was the purpose and I told Chengseng to choose the best."

Chegseng arrived with 25 scrolls. Everyone were truelly intrested and curious.

" These are distractions not fighting methods sir. Please consider that."

I placed all the plans on the desk. "They have lots of ideas, specially the young men. But remember we are only using these to equalize the strength of the armies. We wont be fighting like cowards. We'll fight them face to face with equal strength with justice though we cant call any war as justice. "

General Shing and all the Generals studied them. They were truelly works of kids but will do right as good life saving distractions.

"So we are gonna have some fun too." General Seol said surprising others about his change over me. All nodded in agreement.

"Ill make Bojan arrange the traps princess.You should take a rest." Commander said.

"Ok Commander, but Chengseng will assist him to find the essential herbs for the gas bombs."

"We'll make them cry!" Commander Shing made everyone burst into laughter.

I thought of sleeping but it was useless.It was already dawn. So i meditated a bit walking inside the tent relaxed without armery on, letting the girls sleep on my bed.

The night passed as the men enjoyed their victory upon this enemy base. I couldnt stay inside anymore either so i joined Chengseng my old friend along with the other men. First i made an uncomfortable situation among them but later we all ended up laughing an joking.

"Princess, would you like to have a drink?" Chengseng asked mocking.

"You know that i dont," i tapped his head a bit hard.

"So thats the only feminine quality the princess has?" One of the already drunk soldiers whom i didnt know by name stated.

"No shes got more!" Bojan interrupted and all started to laugh.

"Pervets!" I still enjoy them. They are nice.

"Sorry princess!"Bojan said seriously making everyone feel uncomfortable.

"No worries..... You stupid men!" I ignored their mood.

Then Bojan started to break a new story of his own. He is the same brother i saw those days.

"Please take a rest all of you. Weve got lots of work tommorrow." I wished them good night and skipped back towards the tent. Its then i noticed that ive been watched all that time.

"Commander! General Shing!"

"It seems like the princess has enjoyed the evening!" General asked fatherly.

"They are nice and humble. And it was after a long time i met Bojan and Chengseng back again." I said a bit excited.

"Then please excuse me princess" as i nodded general Shing bowed and left leaving me alone with the commander.

I didnt want him to watch me having fun with a flock of men. I dont know what he was thinking and why i feel uncomfortable by that idea.

"Princess did you eat your dinner?"

"Not yet. I even forgot about the girls."

"They had their dinner while the princess was enjoying. "

Why does his voice sound so dissapointed?

P.o.v. of the commander:

Why do i sound dissapointed. Why am i intrested. Its true shes so free spirited, brave, and talkative. The way she said pervets to them. Shes childish yet also majestic and serious and changes from time to time.

The way she slept on me last night, she looked so innocent like a newborn child. Her cheeks were red after hours of shedding tears.

after discovering her mother's death im glad she didnt keep everything caged.

I just wish that i could take all her pain.....

However Now shes like a bird with wings. Ready to face anything.

Now you, commander, the most loyal servant of the emporer, she is the princess. learn to serve your duty to the empire properly and stop thinking the unsuitable things.

"Commander! Are you listening?" She broke my stare on her.

"Sorry princess! I beg your pardon."I bowed. She looked concerned.

"I said that i dont feel hungry, but i will need a huge meal tommorrow morning and i think its you who has to take a good sleep. Now move." Without letting me speak more, she pushed me inside my tent.

" Good night Ming Zeng!" She smiled and dissapeared into her tent.

Now did she call me by my name? It was fine inside the enemy base but.....fine... i feel good when she says it.(Ming Zeng) I couldnt stop letting a small chuckle at that thought.

I changed my clothes and thinking about last night i went to sleep.

Princess:

A new day arrived. I washed myself changed my clothes . I meditated for about half an hour and woke up the girls.

"Wake up everyone! ",

"Good morning jiejie", "Good morning princess!"they greeted.

"Good morning. Now get yourselves washed and dressed and youll may go out and help Bojan to prepare some medicines.". As they nodded i came out of the tent and greeted everyone i met on the way to the main tent where about 50 other men were making traps and stuff. The distractions.

The Commander was also their looking over their work.

"Good morning Commander!"

"Good morning Princess!" He bowed.

"Commander! Princess! The spy has returned." Bojan said that the generals were already informed and all are waiting at the meeting tent.

All the generals have arrived at the meeting tent as we approached there. One of our spies who was there at the main enemy base has arrived and was standing infront of us. Everyone bowed us and we all got seated.

"Explain the situation without further delay soldier!" Commander demanded the spy.

"Sir the the whole army are already on their way to attack us. They left their base today morning and by sunrise they will reach the valley." Everyone was startled by the new information. They are acting fast.

The spy went on explaining the number of troups and their other supplies which we have already estimated and werent new.

"They must have thought first to defeat us then later attack the capitol cause theyve got enough supplies in their base which is now under us. The fire might have startled them and seeing their men return even without any fight might have heated them up and then getting to know that we are going to have the help of the japanese their plans must have got collapsed. So the frightened monsters wants to get everything back to control." Commander explained.

As the spy left everyone gave their ideas.

"We must get prepared faster. Well have to delay them tonight before they arrive the valley." Commander said under everyones agreement.

"We'll only need 1000 men tonight to play the distractions cause only about 3000 men will try to attack us first, as the soldier said and through other information gathered and i guess they know that we have only 2000 men here. They wanted to attack before the Japanese arrive. We'll have to work hard to delay them until we get the help. Commander do you have my baggage. The plans we gathered that night might help us."

Then he asked Bojan to bring it and apologied for not returning it earlier. As Bojan bought the bag i unrealed all the plans on the desk. The Generals and the Commander studied them.

"These are no war plans. I guess these are their attacking methods." Commander suggested.

"Thats better information commander. All these time they used to attack us in so simple ways but we were incapable of defending ourselves. And Thanks to the princess's and your hard work now we are capable of atleast understanding those monsters' formations."

I smiled turning to Commander.smiling from the corner of his lips at me he continued.

"Bojan tell everyone to get ready with the traps right now. We'll fight them tonight."

"According to these formations i guess they'll use this method like the eagles. First, few will attack and then will come the spreadened huge wings. If they have brains thats the best way of guiding 10000 men in a low valley. They wont take the risk of all being attacked from the mountains." All were pleased by my guess.

"What the princess is saying is right, we have no other option either. Well delay the front troups and with the japanese army let attack their core. Since we have both the mountains under our control we can split and attack from both sides. We cant let them pass the valley. Now are there any questions." Commander went on with the planning. We all brought more suggestions.

So as discussed the plans went on. Our first 1000 of men were dressed in green clothings which blended up with the woods. So they were settled in the woods. They have applied all the tricks along the river bay, woods and the entrance of the valley. We got to know that the japanese army could reach us before midday. Our plans related with them were sent through a messenger.

Night has fallen. The enemies marched towards the valley.

There were no lights on the mountains which confused them a bit. Only the hooting of the owls and the buzzing of the insects were heard. They were looking forward for an army but there were no signs of human life.

Row by row stepped into the valley.

Hssh! The poisened arrows started to rain on them as one of the rows stepped on a rope. But no human was to be seen.

"Run forward!" One of the men shouted. But already about 8 (10×8 men)rows had gone down. As they started to run they didnt see the the next pile of traps. In seconds about 4 rows(10×4) were hanging from trees from one of their feet unconscious and got caught in another set of arrows. Some fell into deep holes digged on the ground and covered making them unconsious. The rain of arrows stopped. Understanding there are traps layed they became more contious and stepped forward. They could now only here the heavy flowing of the river which was a bit distanced from them.

Puff! Puff! Some balls started fall to the middle of the enemy troups from trees.

And they blasted covering the air with a yellow dust. They started to cough. Their eyes started to burn with pain like they are being pinned by thousand needles. They screamed and without any clear vision most of them ran towards the river where our men were ready with nets for fishing. They all started to wash themselves but then someone commanded.

"Attack!"

Some enemies were caught in nets and were left to drown. The enemies still without clear eyesight became the victims of our men's swords. This mascared could only be survived by about 1500 men of the enemy troups out of the 3000.

The survived enemies all got together in a circular formation.

"For the empire!" Our men started to fight bravely with the enemies face to face. Commander and i entered the valley on horse.

Commander:

Though i didnt like the idea of the princess coming here she was riding beside me holding a red painted bow patterned in silver with a small phoenix on the front where she released three arrows at a time straight away to the enemies' heart. She didnt even mind at looking at them as if her weapon is a part of her body. Steady and straight on the horse she went through the enemies passing me. I couldnt concentrate on her anymore.

As a result of ages of practice i swayed my sword cutting everything on my way sharp and strong. My silver sword was covered with blood. I could see my men battling bravely.

After few hours our surrounding got cleared. But,

"Princess!","princess?" Where are you? Even the survived men called out for her.

Then she appeared from the woods.

"Good news! There are no more enemies left from the 3000." The men shouted with joy.

She raised her hand to stop.

"Bad news! The number of enemies has rose upto 8000 somehow and they will reach us in an hour" you are collapsing them princess. The men acted in fear of loosing.

"Good news! Our 7000 allies will also reach us in an hour" the men cheered.

"Commander!" Bojans voice came from behind. It was nearly sunrise.

"Whats wrong Bojan i told you to stay in the camp until the japanese arrive,"

Bojan smiled and bowed." Sir they are already at the camp."

Everyones face brightened up with hope!

"Everyone get back to the camps. We'll start attacking from above!" Commander said making everyone mount back to the camp.

The japanese in red uniforms were lined in rows. 3500 on each camp.

As soon as they saw the princess they bowed."long live the princess!" They saluted in japanese.

Our men didnt question about that. The severely wounded ones were aided by the medical staff. Only 1200 men were left from ours and they joined the japanese army.

The princess took the stage. She spoke in japanese as i translated them to our men.

"Today two nations will rise as one against the monsters who are craving for what we have. The history of these two nations has never being peaceful. But today we fight together cause we are humans having families,loved ones, kids and and many more things to protect from those evil monsters still beyond the valley. If we fail right now the Chinese empire will die may be even without a clue. It wont stop there. Theyll move towards the japanese empire and without any help will also get kneeled. But we wont let it happen. We'll stand for us. With strength we rise together. Lets make those monsters kneel down infront of this great unity which even our ancsestors were not capable of. We'll show them who we are!For the future!"

All the men started to cheer. Then all the men with great confidence took their places on the mountains. The generals, were also alligned infront of the valley as our fellow men were alligned behind. The princess by my side we kept ourselves on horses steady in the front of everyone. The archers were on top of the mountains ready to rain arrows on the first rows of the enmies. In distant we can see the dust rising up. The angry monstrous men on horses came towards us holding their spears up. The princess was holding to her bow and a lighted arrow while her sword attached to her belt.

"Steady!" My voice echoed through the mountains. The enemies got closer. I turned and nodded to the princess.

She then placed the arrow on the bow, her eyes glazed like a tiger's at the enemy, she pulled the string behind until it stucked behind her shoulder and then she released it.

It flew up high fast and furious and landed on a front row enemy knocking him dead. Following the arrow our men started to rain more at the enemies, taking down row by row. They got closer to us. The arrows stopped.

Then we started racing towards them. The japanese and the chinese together we went forward. My sword swayed through the heads of the demons.

Now again The princess! Where is she!, Then i noticed her shooting arrows on the heads of our poor enemies. She turned my way and saw me. She screamed something. Its then i noticed a spear heading right towards me. I ducked but was unable to keep balance on the horse which made me hit the ground. I looked at the direction were the spear came from. A musculiar man on horse rode towards me with his sword swaying. I took my sword and defended his strike but my shoulder blade was scratched by his sword's tip. Though he passed me as if im his main target he rode back to me, but unluckily this time while i was busy dealing with four other demonic men. He was almost going to cut my throat as an arrow with a red feather attached pierced his chest letting the dead body on the ground. It was the princess back again saving my life. I turned to face her.

She has already dropped her bow and taken the sword out of its place. She let it shine from the sunrays. Then she let the air around her cut by her gleaming sword. Sweat rolled down her ear. The sunrays made ger eyes gleam with bravery.

Then sword in hand she flew and tossed in the air piercing five other men on the way.

Clank! I defended the sword which again nearly killed me because of being distracted. She'll take care of herself! Smilling at the thought i continued fighting along with the other men.

We fought for hours until dawn, until we could hunt no more. The surrounding went silent except for few small metal striking sound.

"Victory for us!" One of our men shouted. They all started to gather. They shouted with joy. Surrounding me they cheered!" Victory for the dragons!" Without any nationality devision they all voiced the same. The mountains echoed with it. I joined their cheers while scanning around for the princess. Our gaze set together. She was standing in a distant and kept smiling at me. She then raised her hand and swayed it. I nodded at her letting my chuckle escape.

Then her glorious face changed. It darkened. Just like before she said something but i was too late to react. something pointed stuck behind my shoulder. The world went dazzling. I heard the men shouting something in chaos. All i could see was blood and darkness.

I opened my eyes. My head felt so heavy and my vision was dazzling. I felt my limbs glued so i only could turn myself to the right where i was lying letting my left shoulder scream in pain. I noticed that i am in my tent. I was topless and had some bandage across my chest. My vision cleared making me notice a figure right next to me lying her head on my bed kneeling on the floor. She has fallen asleep holding a wet towel on her hand. She has being treating me all the time without proper sleep. I might have fallen unconsious by the arrow. It must have got poison. And since we won they might have brought me back to the camp.

She has changed her clothes into something white which is still men's. I carefully curled Strands of her black hair which has fallen on her rosy cheeks behind her ear letting her smooth soft skin expose. She looked tired but even in her sleep she had a smile on her face.

Then she moved a bit waking up from her weak sleep. I shut my eyes back again pretending im still unconsious. Then i felt her taking off the towel on my forhead which i didnt notice before. She then placed her hand on my forehead to check fever. Calm down.

Then i heard her exhale a deep breath and leave the tent.

I quickly sat on the bed neglecting the pain.

"Commander! Your awake." Princess popped her head into the tent and said.

I just nodded then preventing from looking at her i kept looking for my clothes.

She came towards me with a bronze bowl, a towel and a box which looked like a doctor's.

As she came nearer i tried to stand up and bow,

"Please be seated sir. Your not yet healed." Obeying her i just bowed a bit letting my arm on horror. She kept all her things on the bed.

"Commander let me check your wound" she moved her hand to my shoulder.

I flinched." No need princess! Ill make the doctors do it."

"Im sorry sir, but they are busy with more severe injuries .please understand and help me treat you." But i wasnt ready to accept.

Then as if hearing our conversation stupid Bojan came in.

"Sir its nice to see you awake. But i should say the princess is the best person to treat you. None of our doctors were capable of identifying the poison in the arrow or could guess any kind of treatment. But it was the princess who found out and even told the other physicians to treat so for others. And its true that there are lots of men severly wounded." Saying so even without asking for permission he bowed . Then he flinched one of his eyes, and dissapeared from the tent. What does he mean... that stupid bustard....

I turned to the princess.

"Its not proper princess ill do it myself.i cant let you princess"

"Dont act foolish Commander. Do you know how to work with needles? can you even reach your wound behind your shoulder? By the way you sir has treated and has taken care of me at the woods and MING ZENG, im the one who started treating you and you are my patient. And since the war is done im no longer under your command so the patient should obey the doctor's commands! Now stay still while i do my part"

Wow she was shooting arrows at the enemies and now shooting words at me.

Letting her remove the bandage i let her hand crawl throgh my shoulder and undo the bandage making me feel itchy. Then she put her hands arround me and took off the whole bandage. Whe then let the towel soak whatever in the bronze bowl and then cleaned my wound softly from it. I felt the coolness. She then opened the box she carried.

She took out a needle, let it burn by the candle lighted next to me, then she placed it on the bronze bowl and then she planted it on my bare shoulder. She then removed it carefully. I kept my eyes closed preventing from her stare. She then again did the same with the other needles and placed them on some places on my chest telling me to lie down. I did as she said trying to ignore her touch. In few minutes she was done. She again rapped a new bandege around me with something applied. Then she ponted a small pouch for me.

" Now commander, in this pouch there are some pills which will help yo heal. Everymorning swallow one. Youll have to continue a week. And right now im going back to the palace as the empress has asked for. And i already sent the girls to their Aunt's house. You can rest and come with the men. General shing has already informed about our victory to the palace. The japanese troups will leave back to their mother land tommorrow. I made some preparations for everyone to enjoy tonight so Please join if you want, but take care of yourself.

And Lets meet again in the celebration at the palace." She finally paused her train of words. Then She smiled and turned away to exit the tent.

"Princess!"

She turned again and frowned "Now what?"

"Thankyou!"her frown changed into something pleasant and genorous. She smiled again innocently and went out of the tent.