A Mere Soldier

"Ambassador, We'd rather be a ghost of the Nam than be a lord of North" (North here meaning the people of Yuan since it is north of Dai Viet.

"You…" the ambassador got angry. "How dare you to say that?"

"It is not that I am trying to anger you, ambassador. I think it is obvious that a servant must follow his master, even if he is not powerful. The words I just said will only upset cowards who would betray their master to seek wealth."

The ambassador was furious when he heard this. He raised his hands attempting to slap the soldier, but the soldier caught his hands, which would be a sin at that time for a lower class to go against a higher authority. The soldier looked up to the ambassador while still holding his hands in the air.

"Ambassador, you must be tired from traveling which makes you can't think straight. Our king is generous and he understood your hardship coming here. So your action today will be overlooked. But if you cause any more trouble, even though Dai Viet is a small nation, we still have our pride, rules, and disciplines."

He stopped and dropped the ambassador's hand, continued to walk. The ambassador had to hold his hand the entire time from being squeezed too hard.

"Here we are at your place to rest. Tomorrow our prince Tran Hung Dao will guide you around the city. Sleep well"

He turned but the ambassador stopped him and asked, "How many people like you in Dai Viet?"

The soldier smiled and answered,

"Throughout the nation, as many as you can see."

"Even the soldier next to you?" the ambassador pointed at another soldier.

"If I am not here today, any single one of them would be in my place, and if none of them are present, the maids will be in my place"

"The maids?"

"Yes ambassador"

"How?" the queston from the ambassador has two purpose. How can a small soldier speaks with such confident? and how is he not have a higher rank? The ambassador, again, tried to test the Annam's intelligence.

"First: Every one of us and every children of Dai Viet and will protect our nation's pride.

Second: I am only a mere citizen, don't need the ambassador thinking too much.

Have a nice rest ambassador."

The soldier answered the ambassador tricky question easily and walked away along with the other soldiers and maids. The ambassador stood still, he was amazed by the soldier. Then he walked inside and rested, not causing any more trouble that night.

The next morning, the ambassador woke up and walked out to the guest room. Once he was there, he saw a man already seated in the guest chair, enjoying his tea. The guest looked up, saw the ambassador, and got out of the seat, greeting,

"Honor to meet you, ambassador, I am here as my duty to guide you around the city."

The ambassador, still remembered from the incident last night, is less than his usual self,

"Yes, and who are you?"

"I am prince Tran Hung Dao, nephew of the king."