Journey to the East 32

“First, Hero of the Siege of Bajian, my General Gu Zhuxin, rise and receive your honors…”

Gu Xiulan kept herself sitting meticulously straight as father’s voice boomed over the whispering and small sounds of the filled hall, and a man she recognized vaguely as second cousin once removed, a man of her fathers generation… a descendant of her grandfather’s brother, she thought.

He rose to bow his head before her Father all the same, while father extolled his deeds, in breaking a Dead siege over the viscounty’s second largest city, after phoenix home itself. Father’s Oratory rang in her ears, and sizzled in the air. If she concentrated hersenses enough she could feel the flow of energy from his words bouncing from the walls catching on the bonfires heat.

Father was not just a warrior, he knew how to inflame the passions of his men as well. The rafters shook with the stamping feet of the men who had been under General Zhuxin’s command, as he bowed his head to Father and turned to them, his scroll of commendation and merit in one hand, and in the other the raised jade case containing their own commission for meritorious service.

Some might look down at spreading base wealth so liberally, for expected service, but privately, Gu Xiulan thought the older clans foolish in their disdain for this. While she had never wanted for resources, she knew that wealth and cultivation were tied hand and hand. What was base for providing for that?

She found herself leaning forward as her Father called up the next and the next, his words extolling the virtues of the other heroic generals among his cadre. They painted the images of battles she yearned to have seen.

But that really wasn’t the only thing on her mind. Mother’s words came back to her, whispering in the back of her head. Was this what she wanted, to be the one standing where Father was, the ruby and gold circlet of the clan head on her brow?

She… didn’t know. She certainly knew she dreaded the idea of working through everything she had seen on Father’s camp desk, on overseeing the organizing swarms of men and clashing personalities.

Did she just wish to be a warrior then, like General Zhuxin? To be a hero whose footsteps made the sands tremble and the armies of the clan cry out in joy at her approach?

That did appeal more. Thundering out of the desert on refeng’s back, her outriders fanned out in a charging wedge at her back, were the moments that had her heart thundering the most, her cheeks almost split by the spread of her grin.

But a niggling doubt remained. Was that glory enough for her, could it stoke her fires as hot as they could be, ignite the core of something greater? Something that could push her to father’s level, grandfather’s level? Beyond it?

She didn’t know.

“Now, we turn to our young heroes, the rising generation, the future of the Gu Clan, and in this, no other has so brought merit to our name than my daughter, Gu Xiulan. Rise, commander of the third outrider battalion, stand and receive your honors.”

She rose from her seat with poise, brushing her wandering thoughts away to think about later. This was no place to display any hint of lacking self confidence. As her Father’s daughter there could be no doubt about her discipline.

Head held high, she could feel every eye in the hall upon her as the heels of her boots clacked against the polished floor, bringing her to stand before Father.

“Who has not heard the deeds of Gu Xiulan, the rider  who tirelessly blazed the dunes from battle to battle, who trampled the Dead underhoof, who brought relief to my own siege, guiding the strength of the Guo to where it was most needed,” Father said. His voice pitched to boom across the room ringing in her ears as she stood before him with her head bowed.

“My daughter, who was calling to ride again before the sun had even risen again, so eager was she to put to dust the enemies which assailed our people. Who proved it was not merely youthful recklessness, driving through the cordons which surrounded a dozen villages and outposts, harrying the enemy and remaining on the tip of the spear as our forces arrived to crush the Dead.”

She caught the longer pause on the end of his words, and clasped her hands together before her chest. “My honored father, I accept your great praise, though I am certain I could have done better, that I will do better in the future. This I swear upon my name and honor.”

“Ambition, drive, demand to better the self, these are all virtues of the Gu, yet I say now, daughter, enjoy the fruits of victory, and receive the rewards your deeds have reaped,” her Father said. “Raise your head, Commander Gu Xiulan, and receive now your permanent Commission, Captaincy of the Third Outrider company, to be maintained and ready for deployment by your efforts.”

“I accept this duty and honor, Father, and will never disappoint,” she said, pushing down the shake which wished to enter her voice.

She had only received a temporary charge before but this… this was a proper rank and duty within the family, and at her age. Father was showing great confidence in her, if she failed it would be a black mark on his judgment. She was suddenly even more appreciative of her crash course of the upkeep and logistics of command. Which she would now be fully responsible for.

She accepted the scroll containing her commission and the marks of rank to add to her armor, and stepped away. The hand clasping it trembled for just a moment. She had to hope it would be seen as excitement.

But she meant her words.

***

After the junior officers like herself came the meritorious soldiers, those who had deeds enough to receive individual recognition, whether it was only a bonus to pay, or being given the chance to be mentored by an officer or even in one case raised directly to rank for their deeds. She used the time to calm her nerves, though she did keep an eye on them all, most had their units and connections still, but one or two might be poached from the general forces for her company.

That was the kind of thing she had to consider now.

Things grew much more raucous after the last of the merit was given out, the order of the tables dissolving into the rowdiness of men who would live for another day, and the lines between the officers and the men were allowed to blur a little for celebration.

“...And of course, I will be pleased to perform the work you might find outside your expertise, Lady Gu.”

“Captain, if you would,” she said mildly, swirling the shimmerwine, in her cup in boredom. The heat haze around the cup was at least entertaining. “I appreciate the offer, but I must live up to my father’s expectations, not shirk them.”

She hated the ones who squirmed under her stare. She thought she might hate the ones who talked to her like she was a child clomping around in her father’s boots even more. This one… she had already pushed his name from her mind but he was a visitor from a neighboring viscounty, so she did have to be respectful.

“Of course, but, my experience could be most helpful in that, and thus Lady Gu need not strain herself…”

“I shall think on it,” Gu Xiulan said, smiling straining, she felt a spark jump between her teeth. Gods, how she wished she had a fan right now, it made it so much easier to obfuscate and signal. “Oh, one moment. It seems my Uncle wishes to speak with me.”

She lied through her teeth, but Gu Ke was nearby and looking vaguely in her direction.

“Unfortunate, perhaps…”

She was already striding away though, let him take a little insult, she did not have the temperament to deal with that, right this moment.

She was swift in weaving through the crowd.

“Captain Gu.”

Only to find her way barred. This one was pleasantly broad shouldered at least, and respectful in the way they bowed their head, fists clasped in front of their chest as they barred her way. Oh, what were those colors… Baronial. Which one though… the Yu… no the Shan, the family assigned to oversee the eastern gold pits. Her age, only just in the third realm.

“Later,” she dismissed, stepping around him. She did need a moment.

He stepped back into her path, without hesitation, raising his…

Oh. No, that wasn’t right at all, she realized. 

“Shan Qiao begs leave to speak,” the other girl, who was quite tall and broad, spoke fervently, raising her head.

“...I suppose I will allow it.”