22 The Chosen One

After the dust cleared from the small dirt road, the ten soldiers and Haitao continued to walk towards the training camp. As soon as they reached the gate, Altan stood talking at the gate with ten other guards. As soon as Altan saw Haitao and his ten men, Altan walked towards them.

Altan stared at Timicin, and then at Haitao. He taunted with an ugly smiled, "You guys are always late, even a tortoise beat you."

Haitao laughed and said, "What kind of tortoise are you talking about? When we got here, we didn't see no tortoise." He looked around on the ground. He turned around and looked at his ten men. "Do you see any tortoise walking behind, in front of or beside us?"

"I didn't see it before, but now as you mentioned it, I did see three turtles while we were talking," Chinua said.

Chagatai smiled and said, "I saw it too, but what should those turtles be called?" He elbowed Timicin. "You are good at naming things. What kind of turtles do your fine eyes see?

Timicin smirked and said, "I see three dumb turtles standing not far from us."

Altan stepped forward and said, "Really? But I saw a lazy and useless thousand-year-old tortoise and his stupid little tortoise that was always walking behind the others."

Haitao laughed and said, "I thought you were going to talk about tortoise, one thousand-year-old tortoise is good, it means I will live longer than you." He laughed, and so did his ten soldiers.

Altan reached out to grab Haitao's collar, but Od quickly grabbed his hand. Od squeezed Altan's hand hard, and said, "Respect people who are higher than you." He pushed Altan's hand away. "Otherwise, you may be punished...Military rules number ten…"

Och said, "Or is this comrade, whatever your name is, unfamiliar with the military rules and regulations suggested by General Batzorig?"

A soldier ran to Haitao and said, "Captain Haitao, General Batzorig is asking for you."

Haitao handed the two baskets to Och and said, "Go back and prepare dinner. Remember to save some food for me."

Haitao walked slowly towards Batzorig's tent When he entered the tent, the other nine captains were already seated on the ground. He went and sat next to one of the captains. After a while, Dzhambul and Batzorig walked in with Lixin. Dzhambul walked over and sat on the chair next to Batzorig's chair, and Lixin stood beside Dzhambul.

Batzorig said, "A soldier brought urgent news that the food supplies sent to the south were stolen by bandits."

Dzhambul said, "I just received a letter from father asking me to form a team to bring another food supply to the southern border."

Chengzhi said, "We are still training recruits, it is difficult to leave here and send out the food supplies."

Dzhambul looked at the ten generals and said, "Are any of you willing to volunteer?"

Dawa said, "I will volunteer."

Dzhambul said, "Uh...Captain Dawa, you are the best captain in the North, and I don't allow you to go out. You have a lot of responsibilities here. I want a captain with the least responsibilities." Dzhambul looked at Haitao. "Captain Haitao, how many recruits do you have under your command?"

Haitao looked at Dzhambul and said, "Grand general, I have ten recruits under my command."

Dzhambul smiled and said, "That's great. Hmm... I decided that Captain Haitao and his ten recruits will go south to deliver the supply to general Mönkhbat." He smirked and stared at Haitao. "Do you agree?"

Haitao knew that the person who gave the order was the king's son. He is not an ordinary prince, but a prince loved by many ministers. He lowered his head and said, "When does grand general want us to leave?"

"The sooner the better," Dzhambul said. "What about tomorrow? Do you have any questions?"

Haitao said, "No."

Dzhambul said, "Okay, so be it. Tomorrow morning before sunrise, you take your ten soldiers to the pier and the boat will take you to Nta-tsua. From there, you will meet Captain Taban. You and Ten of your men will join Captain Taban's crew and head south to Da-av."

Haitao said, "Understood."

Dzhambul said, "General, first give all soldiers three months' salary in advance."

Batzorig nodded, "I will make arrangements as soon as the meeting is over."

Dzhambul said, "Thank you all for your hard work. Dismiss."

After the ten captains walked out of the tent, Batzorig turned around and approached Dzhambul. He said, "Your highness…"

Dzhambul stood up and walked towards Batzorig. He asked, "What's wrong?"

Batzorig said, "Chinua is one of Captain Haitao's recruits."

Dzhambul put his hands behind his back and asked, "So?"

Batzorig said, "I just don't think it's appropriate for Chinua to go."

Dzhambul turned around and said displeasingly, "General, you must remember that as soon as Chinua stepped into the northern training camp, she was a soldier without special treatment."

Batzorig said, "I understand, but the person who sent Chinua here is King Batukhan."

Dzhambul said, "If father said something, I will be responsible for today's decision. You don't have to worry." Lixin lifted the curtain, and Dzhambul walked out of the tent and entered the training ground.

Dzhambul and Lixin stepped up to their horses, and the three soldiers followed a long way behind them. Looking to the far right, Dzhambul saw Haitao approaching his ten soldiers, who were sitting around a small campfire.

Lixin asked, "Aren't you afraid? What Batzorig said makes sense."

Dzhambul smirked, "I will be more afraid, if she came back alive."

Lixin glared at Dzhambul, then smiled lightly and said, "Why are you so determined to kill her?" He knelt on one knee, Dzhambul stepped on his other thigh and jumped onto Dzhambul's horse. Lixin quickly jumped on his horse.

Dzhambul said "Because the second in line is the Queen's son, even though he is disabled, the crown on his head has not fallen. I know what the Queen Mother is thinking. Since her disabled son cannot enter the battlefield, she trains Chinua to walk his steps for him."

Lixin gave Dzhambul a white look, and said, "You are scary."

Dzhambul said, "Not as scary as you."

Lixin asked, "What do you want?"

Dzhambul said, "Tell your men to get rid of her once and for all." He whipped his horse and let his horse rush down the training ground and towards the archery range.

Lixin turned his head and said to one of the three soldiers, "Send a message to Drystan. Tell Drystan to get rid of captain Haitao and his men before they reach Da-av."

The soldier nodded and turned to leave.

Ten soldiers sat around the campfire cooking dinner, talking and laughing, talking about the food they got from the villagers. Haitao walked slowly in front of them, pushed Chaghatai away, and sat between Chaghatai and Terbish.

Haitao looked at the young soldiers with a smile and asked, "What's for dinner?"

Erden said, "Sweet potatoes, dry beef, and eggs."

Haitao said, "Keep the beef."

Timicin frowned and said, "In order to help those villagers, we have spent a lot of effort. Why are you so stingy and don't let us eat beef jerky?"

Haitao said, "Keep it for the road."

Muunokhoi asked, "What road? Are we going to help another village?"

Haitao shook his head. He said, "I was called to a meeting, and the general ordered us a mission. We are going down south."

Hearing the word south, Chinua was excited. "How far south are we talking about?" she asked.

Haitao said, "To Da-av."

Khunbish asked, "Is that the city next to the southern boundary?"

Haitao said, "Yes."

Erden asked, "Why?"

Haitao said, "The supplies given to general Mönkhbat, and his soldiers were stolen by bandits. We're going to meet Captain Taban at Nta-tsua and help him take the food supplies to Da-av."

Timicin looked around at the ten people. He thought it was funny and said with a smile, "Us? Eleven of us?"

Haitao said, "Well, we are the least needed here, and the number of people is small. I also think this is also a good learning opportunity for you."

Chinua asked, "When shall we leave?"

Haitao said, "Early tomorrow morning."

Od grabs the basket of eggs and Erden grabs Od's hand. He hurriedly asked, "Where are you going with these good eggs?"

Od pulled his hand away and said, "I'm going to boil them and take them with us." As soon as Od turned around, he saw Batzorig walking towards the group. "General."

Batzorig handed Haitao eleven small pouches. He said, "It's three months' advance payment and some extra travel expenses."

Captain Haitao smiled and said, "Thanks."

Batzorig looked at Timicin and said, "You come with me."

Timicin stood up and walked with to his private tent. Inside the small tent, Batzorig sighed and said, "Timicin, your father had asked me to take care of you, but now you are chosen to send supplies to the south."

Timicin said, "General, I don't mind it at all."

Batzorig looked at Timicin and said firmly, "You and Chinua had disagreements before, but this is a very important matter. You must put aside your differences and work together."

Timicin said, "I understand. I will take your teaching to heart."

Batzorig said, "I believe you will do well. Bandits appear one after another along the way, so be careful. Also, I have a side mission for you."

Timicin asked in surprised, "A side mission? What is it?"

Batzorig said, "This mission is very important and cannot fail, otherwise the price of failure is the lives of you and your family."

Timicin looked up at Batzorig, "Then I can't accept this mission, if it is so important."

Batzorig said, "You have no choice."

Timicin asked, "What is the mission?"

Batzorig said, " Whether or not you manage to get the supplies to Da-av, you can't let anything happen to Chinua."

Timicin asked, "Why?"

Batzorig said, " Do as I tell you, and don't ask any more questions."

Timicin was still dumbfounded, but he didn't dare to ask more, because he knew that Batzorig must have his reasons. He sighed and said, "I will try my best to bring Chinua back alive."

"Anyone can get hurt or die, but not Chinua," Batzorig said, patting the side of Timicin's left shoulder.

Timicin nodded, "I understand."